Chapter 601 452: Silver Hook Spiritual Lightning

Li Xijun arranged the family affairs and reviewed the events that occurred during his seclusion. There were no major problems, and the family's income had slightly tightened due to the increase in the number of cultivators, but it was only by one or two spirit stones, which wasn't an issue.

"Not bad... Xihong is getting steadier at managing the household."

Li Xijun praised, looking at Chen Donghe who stood by the side in the hall, clad in jade armor and with white hair. He had been at the ninth layer of Qi cultivation for many years, and his swordsmanship had gradually deepened, but he had no confidence in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment level. He had, thus, spent more time on clan affairs.

Chen Mufeng, the former head of the Jade Courtyard Guards, had been demoted. The elder Chen Donghe took over the Jade Courtyard Guards, and now, with his prestige and ability, he was the only one in the family who could do so. After Li Xijun reviewed the situation, he suddenly asked:

"Have there been any additions to the female members on Wutu Mountain?"

Since Li Xijun had been in seclusion for some time, he was not aware of Li Ximing's current progress. Not finding any related messages, he asked the question, to which Chen Donghe replied:

"Wutu Mountain has sent down the women who were there before, and over the years, they have not let anyone else up the mountain, not even the An Clan has been there a few times."

Li Xijun was surprised and thought to himself:

"This Ximing! How he has changed his ways!"

After sending the old man away, he flew up on the wind and headed for Wutu Mountain.

The fire vein on Wutu Mountain had been stable for over ten years, steadily exhaling Earth Fire Fiend Qi day and night, which had changed the whole of Wutu Mountain. The vegetation had become sparse, birds circled above, strange rocks stood erect, and the climate was very hot and stuffy.

Li Xijun broke the formation and landed at the mountain peak, where the palatial buildings glistened with golden light, grand and magnificent. Two attendants, dressed in white jade, stood quietly in front of the jade steps.

"Greetings to Uncle."

Both were collateral descendants, grown up in the cave mansion with mediocre talents, so they had cultivated the "Jade Courtyard Guards Technique" from a young age, quickly breaking through to Qi Cultivation, but made no further progress.

After respectfully greeting him, Li Xijun asked:

"Is Ximing concocting pills?"

One of them went to inquire and soon returned, saying respectfully:

"The Elder is already waiting in the hall."

Li Xijun nodded and stepped inside, striding through several corridors before entering the main hall.

In contrast with the opulent forecourt, the hall's interior was elegantly simple, decorated only with a few pots of orchids. Li Ximing looked even younger than Li Xijun, dressed in golden robes and sitting in the hall with a tiny jade furnace in his hands.

Li Xijun sat down in front of him, and Li Ximing smiled and said:

"Xijun has arrived. I was just pondering over the principles of medicinal concoction."

Li Xijun looked closely and saw that the jade furnace in his hand was actually a magic artifact, with spiritual medicine inside being heated, seemingly in preparation for pill concoction.

"So that's what it is."

On his way here, Li Xijun felt the place was empty and quiet, with no pavilions or towers, mostly just various storages of spiritual medicines. He nodded slightly and said approvingly:

"I thought it would be bustling with ladies, but it turns out to be an excellent place for cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Li Ximing seemed even more helpless and replied softly:

"Ever since I broke through to Foundation Establishment, such matters have become pointless. Unless the other party also has a Foundation Establishment Cultivation... otherwise, it's useless… and since it's useless, I don't bother spending time on it."

"No wonder."

Li Xijun suddenly understood, his gaze sweeping over the decorations in the hall. He wiped his hands with the white cloth on the table and asked:

"How are the elixirs coming along?"

Li Ximing was prepared, pulling out a small white jade bottle from his chest and placing it on the edge of the table, saying softly:

"The Threefold Boundary-Breaking Spirit Pill can aid a Qi Cultivator in breaking through. I specially concocted this bottle first, you can take it and use it."

"This bottle contains six pills. If you don't use them all, you can distribute the rest to the family members."

In the past, Li Xizhi had brought back two prescriptions to the family— the Threefold Boundary-Breaking Pill and the Life-Extending Elixir Second Solution. Both elixirs were difficult to create and highly valuable, with the Threefold Boundary-Breaking Pill available in both Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment levels.

Li Xijun nodded and accepted it, and Li Ximing produced another green jade bottle, saying:

"This is the Threefold Boundary-Breaking Mysterious Pill, which can assist a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in breaking through. I've just barely managed to concoct this one."

Li Xijun paused and said softly:

"Keep it for yourself. How much did it cost?"

Li Ximing replied with slight embarrassment:

"The spiritual ingredients required for these elixirs are very precious. The Qi Cultivation level Spirit Pills cost me nineteen spirit stones in total, while for this Foundation Establishment Mysterious Pill, I was lucky to succeed on the first attempt… it cost me nearly thirty spirit stones…"

"As for the Life-Extending Elixir Second Solution, it's even more difficult, and I've lost a dozen spirit stones without success. Even the simpler ones might not turn out well, let alone..."

Pill concoction was like this, with a huge initial investment for each type of pill. Xiao Yuansi had previously taught him selflessly, making it easier. But now, studying on his own, the costs were naturally higher.

Li Xijun felt the pinch but still nodded encouragingly:

"To succeed in making a pill on your first attempt is not bad, and there will be more opportunities in the future."

Remembering this matter, Li Xijun reminded him:

"Xiao Yuansi was very kind to you in the past, graciously sharing his knowledge. Do you remember? Now that you have broken through to Foundation Establishment, both sentimentally and rationally, you should visit him..."

Li Ximing, still considering the formula for the elixir, was startled and nodded his agreement:

"You're right, you're right. I had forgotten about that, nearly falling into a dishonorable situation! I will gather my things and make a trip to the Xiao Family immediately."

Li Xijun nodded, and Li Ximing recapped the news of the past few years. He then pulled out two jade bottles of different sizes and said: