Chapter 510 400 Deer Demon Invitation_2

"Now that my family already has four Foundation Establishment cultivators, we can consider setting up a branch overseas, For one thing, the Foundation Establishment Demon Generals within our lands all have some background, making them difficult to capture. Secondly, it would also facilitate internal and external communication, acquiring Spiritual Objects, and assimilating the population."

Li Xihong was just waiting for him to make a decision, nodding in agreement submissively. However, Li Yuanjiao still felt some unease and said to himself,

"Firstly, most of the islands overseas already have owners, making it difficult to find a safe and spacious foothold. Secondly, at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators are needed to secure a base. Deciding who to send... isn't so simple."

Li Wushao was a local snake of the East Sea, and ideally suited to lead the mission, but the mining veins in Wangyue Lake had just begun to be excavated. Without a Demon General to oversee them, a horde of demons would hardly behave themselves. If Li Wushao were to leave for too long, there would likely be problems.

As Li Yuanjiao was calculating in his mind, he saw An Zhiyan rushing up from below, respectfully saying,

"Ancestor! A fox has sent a message."

"Hmm? Bring it up quickly!"

Upon hearing it was a Fox Demon, Li Yuanjiao knew it must be a message from the White Banyan Fox, and he swiftly responded. An Zhiyan looked somewhat strange as he nodded and went back down.

Sometime later, An Zhiyan returned, riding the wind with a pillow-sized red fox in his arms. The fox had aquamarine eyes and held a Jade Slip with its mouth, appearing quite docile.

"So it's an actual fox... not a Fox Demon..."

It was then that Li Yuanjiao understood An Zhiyan's words and took the Jade Slip to read carefully.

"...The Demon Cave has already appointed a Demon King to come... It's a deer demon... with a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation level. It has brought significant gifts... wishing to discuss matters with our noble family..."

'So a new Demon General has taken the post... The response from the Demon Cave is slow enough...' he thought.

Li Yuanjiao nodded in realization, passing the Jade Slip to Li Xihong. After glancing at it twice, Li Ximing hesitated before saying,

"This deer demon... must be afraid of our family!"

"How could it not be?"

Li Yuanjiao laughed heartily as he explained,

"The predecessor died at the hands of our family just a few years ago, and the White Banyan Fox tidied up the matter so cleanly that not a whisper arose. This is usually the treatment reserved for the Three Sects and Seven Doors!"

"If it's coming here to take charge, it has to make terms with us, or wouldn't it just be foolishly sitting on that peak, waiting for us to take its life?"

Li Yuanjiao glanced at the obedient little red fox standing motionless before him and said softly,

"Let's see what this deer demon is made of."

Li Xihong nodded slightly, instructing An Zhiyan to take the fox down. Only then did he remind,

"Ancestor... Uncle Xuanxuan... his heart demons are growing heavier. Although the senior does not speak of it... we cannot remain indifferent."

Li Yuanjiao's expression darkened as he waved his sleeve and said with a heavy voice,

"Xijun and I have discussed this several times. After inquiring for a long while, I heard that Hengzhu Taoism has a way to resolve it. Find someone to take him there!"

After dropping that statement, Li Yuanjiao left, as if unconcerned, riding the wind away on his own.

Li Xihong stood there, stunned for a moment, then chuckled wryly. As he watched the fading figure float away, he muttered with difficulty,

"But... it will be a considerable expense, and Uncle Xuanxuan is unwilling to go either way!"

As he faced the dilemma, the Jade Courtyard Guards stood silently nearby. Li Xihong contemplated for a while, then murmured low,

"I can only ask brother Xijun then!"

...

The ancestral hall.

Li Xijun had spent another half a year on the mountain, which everyone assumed was house arrest, so no one disturbed him. He was happy for the quiet, practicing both Sword Dao and Spells, making progress in both.

Li Jingtian's news came back. Li Yuanjiao had come to talk to him several times. He changed into white clothes in the ancestral hall, his mind preoccupied with Li Xuanxuan:

"The elder's spirit and vigor were already weak. I wonder if he can withstand it."

After cultivating in the ancestral hall for another half a month, Li Xijun had planned to leave after three years had passed. However, Li Xihong rushed over, sharing the news on all sides, which made Li Xijun unable to sit still any longer.

'Neither side is giving in... what a headache!' he thought.

Li Xijun, worried about Li Xuanxuan and hearing that Li Qinghong was in seclusion while Li Yuanjiao was out and not to be seen, could no longer contain himself and left the ancestral hall, flying toward the Pill Pavilion.

Stopping at the entrance of the Pill Pavilion, he saw a woman standing quietly beside the door, fair-skinned and beautiful, who possessed a Qi Cultivation Level. Her eyes swiftly paused on his face, and she greeted him respectfully,

"The young lady has seen the senior before."

"So it's the Meng."

Li Xijun responded distantly, knocking on the door himself.

Li Ximing was engrossed in alchemy, using the Long-Range Prime Fire to refine elixirs. With a push of his hands, six pills flew out, which he neatly collected, before asking in a soft voice,

"Which Taoist Fellow is it?"

Li Xijun waited for a while, letting him put away the fire before entering the hall. Li Ximing was pleased to be caught in a rare moment doing proper alchemy by him, smiling as he said,

"Have you been cooped up for a year and are willing to come out now?"

Li Xijun shook his head and asked,

"Let me ask you, how many elixirs has uncle taken this year? Are they still within normal range?"

When it came to this topic, Li Ximing too had a troubled look on his face, speaking softly,

"It's difficult to manage. He's already taken many 'Tranquility Pills', 'Jade Ice Pills', and 'Cloud Turning Pills', and their effectiveness is waning... I'm afraid we can't delay any longer. Grandfather has always been reluctant to speak up, and my second father also seldom inquires..."

Li Xijun gently shook his head:

"Uncle has already visited the ancestral hall several times, just waiting for me to bring this up. Although the two elders seem distant on the surface, they are ultimately father and son."

Li Ximing felt a twinge of sorrow:

"Neither of them can put aside their pride, all so hesitant and awkward…"

His words were unclear, and it was hard to know whom he was talking about. Li Xijun glanced at him and shook his head with a sigh.

In recent years, Li Xijun had meticulously researched the family history in the ancestral hall and simply said:

"The father and son have had their barriers. The only one who could have resolved it, the eldest uncle, passed away early. The rift has deepened, Uncle Xuanxuan can't swallow his pride, and Uncle Yuanjiao can't speak soft words, yet both feel deeply distressed…"

Li Xijun took out a jade slip from his chest and said in a gentle voice:

"Uncle Yuanjiao may not say it, but he is clearly very concerned. He sent someone to inquire long ago. At present, the condition of Great-Uncle can't be cured by ordinary elixirs. There is a Tranquil Heart Immortal Incantation within the Hengzhu Taoism that should be able to help."

"I am also aware of it."

Li Ximing responded with a hint of helplessness:

"The spell requires many spiritual objects for assistance, costing forty to fifty spirit stones each time. Our grandfather, accustomed to frugality, would never agree to it!"

"That's easy to handle."

Li Xijun whispered:

"Under the pretext of searching for spiritual water, I will deceive him into leaving. Once we arrive in Hengdong County, I will present a fait accompli by inviting the Hengzhu Sect's people over, forcing Great-Uncle to comply."

Li Ximing nodded again and again:

"Good plan, it's just that the two of you are traveling south, and now there are many devil cultivators. I fear accidents might happen…"

Li Xijun replied:

"No need to worry. Let Kongheng escort us there. Born into the Buddhist Practitioner lineage, he is quite adept at cultivating tranquility and qi, so there should be no problems along the way."

He blinked his eyes and smiled:

"It's just that I am not in a position to bring this up; it has to seem like your own idea when you discuss it with Uncle Yuanjiao."

Li Ximing nodded with understanding:

"Understood."

Li Xijun, without further ado, nodded lightly and directly flew towards the cave mansion up the mountain to invite Li Xuanxuan.

Li Ximing was left alone and lost in thought in the Pill Pavilion, when Meng Zhuoyun gently pushed the door open and said in a soft voice:

"Brother Ming…"

Li Ximing exhaled in relief, beckoned her over, and the two exchanged a glance. Meng Zhuoyun took a seat beside him. After spending over a year together, they had already broken through the initial pretenses and had nothing to hide from each other.

Li Ximing naturally brushed aside her white clothes, pinching her smooth and delicate shoulder, his mind elsewhere.

His gaze lingered on Meng Zhuoyun's attractive features for a while, but then he noticed a deep blue osmanthus flower pin in her hair that seemed to be a magic artifact, which made her look particularly beautiful against her white dress.

Meng Zhuoyun seemed tender and affectionate as she detected his gaze and said softly:

"This was left by my father before he died, crafted by his hands for several days."

Li Ximing asked in a low voice:

"Meng old man passed away? When did this happen!"

"Last night."

Meng Zhuoyun replied quietly:

"He overestimated his abilities; just three months into his seclusion to break through, he lost his life."

Li Ximing suddenly let go of her shoulder, awkwardly trying to comfort her:

"Condolences... Condolences..."

Meng Zhuoyun chuckled softly and asked:

"So? We're not doing it today?"

Li Ximing rambled on:

"It's a pity about old Meng... Alas, such is life and death, we can do nothing about it... To live for nearly two hundred years, many of those at the Foundation Establishment stage don't live as long as he did... Think about how many cultivators can reach two hundred years of age..."

Meng Zhuoyun watched the man in front of her rambling on, couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter, and tears began to fall. She kissed him with teary eyes and bit his lower lip.

Li Ximing's mouth tasted slightly salty, knowing she was upset. He prattled on, trying to console her, and finally, the woman in front of him stopped pretending and cried out with tears:

"Are you going to do it or not!"

Li Ximing looked at her blankly for a moment, then pulled her into his embrace, and the woman in front of him began to weep openly.

"Oh! Just think about it, how many people can live to be two hundred years old..."

Li Ximing kept repeating the same few words, and Meng Zhuoyun cried and laughed at the same time, her eyes reflecting complex emotions, until after a while she sighed softly.

"Ah!"