Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 465 377: Jiao Knows the Lakes and Seas (Part 2)

"How could it be like this... If even you find it so difficult, how many in the clan can still achieve Foundation Establishment!"

"There were hardly any to begin with, Father, don't think Foundation Establishment is such an easy feat... Just look at how many from the Fei Clan and Yu Family lost their lives attempting it..."

Li Yuanjiao shook his head. Li Qinghong beside him didn't seem bothered, sizing up his elder brother, then laughed and said:

"How do you feel, Brother? How much does it differ from when Grandfather did it back then?"

Li Yuanjiao immediately withdrew his smile, his tone growing serious:

"That's exactly what puzzles me..."

After saying this, he slowly extended his hand. The black robe fluttered lightly in the wind, the Immortal Foundation circulating within him, and the three instantly heard the roaring sound of waterfalls in their ears.

"Splash!"

Gray-blue spring water suddenly surged up from beneath the floor tiles and cracks, swirling a circle around the trio's feet, climbing up along Li Yuanjiao's robe and, in an instant, transforming into a writhing snake-like flood dragon, its layered scales clearly visible as it coiled by his side.

Li Yuanjiao spoke softly:

"I achieved Immortal Foundation, but gained no ability of [Coalescing Talisman Water]. Instead I obtained another wondrous skill, which ought to be called [Jiao's Knowledge of Lakes and Seas]..."

His expression grew odd as he continued:

"This wondrous skill can listen and discern the language of water beasts, gives affinity to underwater monsters, control clouds and rain, move the water veins..."

Li Qinghong was stunned, an inexplicable word rising in her heart as she murmured:

"[Jing Dragon King]?!"

Li Yuanjiao nodded in approval, his voice solemn:

"I also find this Way closer to [Jing Dragon King], not [Vast Sea]... Yet everyone knows it's merely a different name for an Immortal Foundation skill! [Jing Dragon King] is but the ancient name of Vast Sea..."

"What's more!"

Li Yuanjiao's brows furrowed deeply as he voiced the concern weighing most heavily on his mind:

"I compared it to Uncle's account from years past—after condensing the [Vast Sea], it didn't show the improvement he described. My True Yuan recovery speed and Qi Sea are barely half of Uncle's..."

Li Tongya, able to exert such crushing force among those of the same rank, not only relied on that copy of the Moon Que Sword Manual, but also owed much to his astonishing True Yuan recovery rate.

That he could finally consume that precious medicine, the [Huashang Fruit], and persist without his body exploding was similarly thanks to the deep reserves of [Vast Sea]...

Now, with both these crucial wondrous powers much inferior to Li Tongya's, Li Yuanjiao's excitement was immediately dampened. He pondered for a while, then sighed:

"Perhaps this is truly [Jing Dragon King]! There really is a difference from [Vast Sea]!"

"Could it be that medicine?"

Li Qinghong asked softly, at once the three fell into silence.

Seeing Li Yuanjiao emerge from seclusion, Li Qinghong's mind grew assured in her plans, so she began to update him on the changes in the clan, smiling gently as she put forward her earlier proposal and asked:

"Brother, what do you think?"

Li Yuanjiao nodded, replying in a low voice:

"It's viable—only, the Divine Skills are mysterious. How can we know whether we're faintly influenced, or it stems from our true intent?"

Li Qinghong hesitated:

"According to the clan's Talisman Seed... It shouldn't be possible to be affected..."

"Not necessarily..."

Li Yuanjiao, always prone to doubt, had clearly considered it deeply. He murmured:

"From my perspective, the Talisman Seed can withstand Divine Skills, but it requires a direct application—the skill must act directly to trigger it. If it's subtly entangled with fate, stirring in the tumult of the mortal world, it's defenseless."

"Otherwise, why did Uncle claim he'd been guided by Divine Skills multiple times? Why did Uncle from Xuanling inexplicably head for Luoxia Mountain? Must be tied to fate!"

Li Yuanjiao, having broken through to Foundation Establishment and grasped many wondrous arts, saw with broadened horizons—what he hadn't understood before now surfaced one by one in his mind. Li Qinghong listened with increasing frowns, then asked:

"If that's so, then everyone's led by fate—where would anyone dare do anything in this world!"

"Who can deny..."

Zifu shouldn't wield so vast a skill, otherwise there wouldn't be only a Xiao Family among them. But our clan has twice been tormented by Zifu, so naturally we're left fearful."

Li Qinghong glanced at them both, gritting her teeth:

"If we don't become Zifu, we're nothing but ants!"

Li Xuanxuan sighed, the weariness deepening on his aged face. Li Yuanjiao, meanwhile, deftly touched the sword at his waist. Having just broken through to Foundation Establishment, years of pent-up gloom burst forth, and he replied:

"Still, there's no need to be overly afraid, don't ruin yourself for fear."

Li Qinghong glanced over immediately. Li Yuanjiao responded:

"Appeal to the Dharma Mirror, clear your mind—if all is verified, you may proceed."

Li Xuanxuan listened for a while, still unable to set it aside, his hands trembling violently, thoughts endlessly replaying scenes of the flames and demonic aura in the market, sighing ceaselessly.

The great calamity in the market years ago exhausted him body and soul. These years he'd lived in constant fear, always dreaming of Li Tongya and Li Mutian, startled awake even while cultivating, his heart palpitating.

Watching the two youngsters appeal to the Dharma Mirror and confirm all was well, Li Xuanxuan sat dazed in his seat, weary, and said:

"Qinghong, you stay. Let Yuanjiao go alone."

...

Dongli Mountain.

Dongli Mountain is a rare great peak in the northern Yue Country, mostly covered in maple trees. This season, the mountains blazed red, accentuated by occasional streaks of glittering light, strikingly beautiful.

The mountain was never home to many spirits; the Green Pond Sect had encircled it a century ago, entering regularly. When Dongli Sect fell, it left many Forbidden Formations—a fine place for Three Sects and Seven Doors disciples to train. Even Peak Master-level figures sometimes entered to hunt for Spiritual Objects.

At this moment, dazzling lights shimmered all around the mountain—Cave Heaven had yet to descend, yet already many Loose Cultivators and Devil Cultivators roamed about. From time to time, a streak of light would dart into the mountain, probing the Forbidden Formations within.

The sky above Dongli Mountain was cloudless for ten thousand leagues, brilliant and clear. A figure stepped from the Great Void, clad in pale golden Armor, wielding a massive Halberd, and wearing a Jade Seal at his waist.

This Zifu Monk hovered in the air for a while, another person soon broke through the void. Robed in gold, though her dress was loose, it was clear she was a woman. She wore a veil hat, and a curtain of white gauze concealed her face.

"Tiaoxiao."

This Zifu Female Cultivator called out, Yuan Su turned her head, swept a calm glance at her, then answered:

"So it's Qiushui Perfected Person. Congratulations, Perfected One, on practicing another Divine Skill and reaching late-stage Zifu."

The female cultivator said nothing. The two Zifu Monks stood quietly, silently gazing at the Cave Heaven drifting in and out of the Great Void. Yuan Su spoke in a low tone:

"Master Dongli concealed himself with hardship for all these years, now finally dragged out. After all, it's Luoxia Mountain—among all the Daoists now present in the world, only Luoxia holds sway..."

The Zifu female cultivator listened silently, then succinctly added four words:

"Daoism of all lands."

The two Zifu idly conversed as the Green Pond Sect's Rosy Cloud Boat pierced layer after layer of clouds, slowly descending onto Dongli Mountain, flooding the scene with dazzling radiance.

Li Xizhi stood atop the great vessel, looking down at the cultivators below, and murmured:

"Another bloodbath again. So many cultivators fell in this demonic disaster—who knows how many remain in Yue Country now..."

"Brother Zhi, you may not know."

Li Xizhi kept staring below, while Yang Xiao'er smiled at him:

"For the Three Sects and Seven Doors, there's never a shortage of loose cultivators. How vast is the East Sea? If the cultivators guarding the coast ever relax, hundreds or thousands of East Sea cultivators, lusting after Yue Country's wealth, will rush in to become loose cultivators."

Yang Xiao'er glanced at those nearby, speaking via Divine Sense:

"The cultivators of Yue get treasures and want to leave. The East Sea, lacking the Three Sects and Seven Doors' suppression, naturally welcomes new sects. East Sea cultivators, used to poverty, try to break in—after all, not everywhere can you sow a handful of Spirit Rice and raise something profitable..."

Li Xizhi nodded after hearing this, speaking in a low voice:

"I've heard the Changxiao Sect only migrated here less than two centuries ago. The Seven Doors are variable—move or scatter as needed. Only the Three Sects always hold sway."

Yang Xiao'er seemed to suddenly recall something and asked in confusion:

"But... Brother Zhi's ancestor—wasn't he called Li Mutian? Said to have joined our ancestor in the Shanyue campaign..."

At this, Li Xizhi's heart instantly sounded alarms. He put on an indifferent air, and replied, light and easy:

"That's right."