Chapter 636: 473

Li Xuanfeng emerged from the ancestral hall; the rain outside had lessened considerably, yet its patter persisted on the stone steps, where his black-gold boots stepped, accumulating a stream of clear water in front of the door.

His grey eyes gazed into the water for a moment, where the reflection showed a somewhat aged face, with temples graying, sparse eyebrows, blurred facial lines, thinner lips, and eyes that were sunken. There was no joy of great achievements reflected there, only the weariness of life and death partings.

Li Xuanfeng was surprised at how much he had aged. In that instant, he finally realized the toll that eighty years of struggles and torments had taken on his body, just like most cultivators in the world, vigorous in the prime of life, yet aged beyond recognition.

He stepped into the main hall, where the threshold was much higher than in his youth, reaching up to his lower legs.

To both sides stood his juniors, his elder brother Li Xuanxuan already looking unrecognizably old, tremblingly standing at the highest spot, with a young man in mourning clothes behind him, presumably Li Ximing.

Slightly lower was Li Qinghong from the second branch, with brothers Li Xijun and Li Xihong standing behind her, and scattered behind them were a few other juniors, with Li Yuexiang standing in the corner, accompanied by a dark-clad man, enveloped in demonic qi, silent.

Li Xuanfeng recognized the Hooked Serpent without saying much, but Li Xuanxuan, with tears welling up, approached him, only tugging at him and saying,

"Come, come over here."

When Li Xuanfeng was present in his younger days, Li Xuanxuan would speak little and subtly make way for his gifted younger brother. Just as always, he let this brother take the highest seat, and those below bowed and said,

"We've seen the old ancestor, welcome the old ancestor's return!"

Li Xuanfeng said,

"Rise!"

Li Xuanfeng's grey eyes swept over them lightly. He saw who could meet his gaze calmly, and who averted their eyes, silent. The situation in the family was clear to him. His return from the bloody battlefields of the Southern Border, marked by an intimidating presence, was met with silence, immediately drawing the gaze of everyone.

He first said in a low voice,

"Yuanjiao was killed in the Cave Heaven; I have brought back his belongings on my return."

The people were prepared and fell silent; Li Xuanxuan slowly closed his eyes, seemingly prepared, for although the juniors had all kept it from him, he had long discerned much from their expressions.

Now it went without saying what had happened in the Cave Heaven as Li Xuanfeng returned alone.

Li Xuanfeng, heart aching, said no more, first taking out several jade slips from his storage bag, his gaze directed downwards as he said in a deep voice,

"Li Wushao!"

The black-clad youth knelt in the hall with a thud, as rain outside went pitter-patter. Li Xuanfeng squinted slightly; he had slain countless demons, enough to terrify this Hooked Serpent, who now pressed his head against the ground as Li Xuanfeng's eyes narrowed, a Foundation Establishment demon beast in submission.

Li Xuanfeng simply said,

"Li Wushao... Qinghong says you have been diligent, and Yuanjiao freed your spirit nature before his demise. You are no longer under my family's control; if you have a place to go, I allow you to leave on your own."

Li Wushao did not dare to say much. Not to mention the Li family had treated him well over the years, and he had been a loyal servant in the Li family. If he returned to the East Sea, he would be nothing but a minor snack for the Dragon Kind. How could it compare to the comfort of staying in this affluent land? His voice raspy, he said,

"Wushao is but a minor demon; I am grateful for the old master's kindness and dare not betray it."

Li Xuanfeng, unsure of the level of his Demon-Subduing Technique, hesitated slightly; at this moment, a handsome youth stood up from below, carrying a sword on his back and with clear eyes, he respectfully said,

"There are rules for such matters in the family; perhaps it would be best if Xijun handles it."

Li Xuanfeng nodded in agreement, then laid out the jade slips in hand, saying softly,

"These three are ancient techniques obtained from within the Cave Heaven: 'Qian's Mingyang's Barrier Method,' 'Xiao's Inquiry into Thunder Dharma,' and 'Serpent's Sea-ward Scripture.' All are related to ancient techniques of the family. Apart from the Thunder Dharma, none require spiritual energy, and you may cultivate them if the opportunity arises."

"As for 'Xiao's Inquiry into Thunder Dharma,' Qinghong might want to take a close look."

Li Qinghong nodded and accepted it, and Li Xuanfeng continued,

"The three are Fetal Breathing cultivation techniques, two Fourth Grade 'Six Chapters in Search of Immortals' and 'Scaled Beast Inquiry Method,' and one Fifth Grade Fetal Breathing technique 'Contemplations from the Great Hua Sutra.'

"A Fifth Grade technique!"

This immediately caused a stir among everyone. Li Xuanfeng did not stop there but took out a deep-gold colored long halberd, its long shaft curved like a crescent moon, taller than the average person.

"This is the magic artifact of ancient Mingyang; it can be of use to the family."

He continued to take out a variety of spiritual objects one by one, eventually bringing out a purple circular talisman, saying with due gravity,

"This is a Zifu Talisman. I've tried it, and by infusing mana, one can release its power. Let the family use it to anchor our legacy."

He looked around and, seeing no greed in anyone's eyes, felt considerably pleased. With a wave of his hand, he spoke softly to Li Xuanxuan,

"Big brother, let's have a good talk."

Li Xuanfeng hadn't seen his elder brother for decades, and having been stationed in the East Sea for the past year and a half, couldn't freely return home. Now that they met, he wasn't sure what to say.

Li Xuanxuan just waved his hand, a few of his mystical apertures faintly emitting a clear light. The array of Clear Heart suppression that Hengzhu Taoism had set up in him was straining to operate. He took the jade box from Li Xuanfeng's hand and said in a hoarse voice,

"I shall go and bury Jiao'er."

He staggered away, and Li Xuanfeng could only step forward, wandering around for a while. Although the Precious Medicine from Tulong Jian was potent, his injuries had not yet fully healed, so he went to tend to them first.

As the two retired to the backyard, the rest in the main hall rose, with Li Ximing gently saluting and saying,