Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 224 - 208 An Zhiyan Seeks Refuge

An Zhiyan flew for a while, then descended into the forest to continue on foot. He cast an Invisibility Technique and made his way undetected to the Li Family's territory. After walking for more than ten miles, he saw a stretch of houses. Another several dozen miles out, Lijing Town could be seen in the distance.

Along the way, he observed the peace and prosperity, the people content and their doors unlocked even at night. This left An Zhiyan in silent reflection. He pinched his fingers to cast a spell, then drew closer to observe. Crowds on the street were all smiles and laughter. An Zhiyan roamed around the streets twice and bought a bowl of wontons to eat.

An Zhiyan had always been one to indulge in the pleasures of food. A bowl of steaming hot wontons settled in his stomach eased his anxiety and sorrow considerably. He took out a gourd of Spiritual Wine from his Storage Bag and drank more than half to fortify himself. Then, with flushed cheeks, he stepped out of the crowd and approached a patrolling Li Family clan soldier, calling out:

"Go and inform your Family Head that the An Family…"

Just as An Zhiyan was about to say "An Zhiyan from the An Family," a wave of despondency washed over him, and he continued:

"Loose Cultivator An Zhiyan has come to visit."

The clan soldier was only slightly taken aback and respectfully said:

"If the senior could please wait a moment."

Having said that, the soldier hurried away, leaving An Zhiyan standing next to the wonton stall for a while. Shortly after, two clan soldiers invited him to sit in the guest quarters. An Zhiyan nodded in agreement, musing to himself:

"Well, after all, I am a Fifth Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator. Even if that Li Tongya is formidable, if I wish to die, I can still do so. There's no need to stay and be tormented, as there's nothing left in this world for me to cling to."

————

Ever since Li Tongya entered seclusion, Li Xuanfeng had seldom done likewise, mostly keeping an eye on his family affairs. Even when in seclusion, it would only be for a short half-month at a time, for fear that staying away too long might lead to trouble at home. He was in the courtyard reading "Spirit Eye Qi Clearing" when Li Xuanxuan rushed over with startling news:

"Xuanfeng, something's gone wrong in Secret Forest County!"

"What?"

Li Xuanfeng tucked away the Jade Slip in his hand and looked up in slight shock, murmuring:

"The Yu Family's Secret Forest County?"

"Precisely!"

Li Xuanxuan nodded and with a somewhat gleeful expression, answered:

"According to the information gathered by our men below, the Earth Dragon has turned over in Secret Forest County, leaving the County City in ruins. The Great Formation of the market city there has been affected by the upheaval of the Earth Vein, which also compromised the entire Spirit Vein, causing a decrease in the concentration of Spiritual Energy."

Li Xuanfeng, filled with doubt, shook his head repeatedly and said in a low voice:

"How can this be possible!"

"When the Yu Family built the Great Formation, they would have surely linked it to the Earth Vein to suppress the land. That formation has the power to lock down the sky and the earth, capable of resisting even Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm. How could the Earth Vein beneath have issues that lead to an uprising of the Earth Dragon and such extensive damage?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Li Xuanxuan smacked the table, settled into a seat, and accepted a cup of tea handed to him by a servant, continually saying:

"Exactly, it's a preposterous affair... Had it not been for my sending people to investigate several times and confirming that Secret Forest County indeed suffered collapsed walls, extensive damage, and rivers of blood, I wouldn't have believed such a thing."

Li Xuanfeng thought for a moment and then, remembering something Li Tongya had once mentioned about the Fei Clan stalling the Yu Family for eight years, laughed heartily and spoke softly:

"Fei Wangbai once said he could stall the Yu Family for eight years, and this must be their doing! Indeed a bold move... I suspect Yu Mugao and Yu Xiaogui are now fuming with rage but have no choice but to swallow this bitter pill."

"The Fei Clan's methods are probably not limited to this, it's just a beginning."

Li Xuanxuan chuckled mischievously, his expression one of Schadenfreude, and answered:

"Who would have thought that Fei Wangbai, known for his dashing appearance, would employ such unpredictable tactics? In my view, he must have secretly tampered with the Earth Vein of Secret Forest County more than a decade ago. It was later that the market city was constructed, and its outbreak was within the Great Formation of the city. How could it be stopped?"

"Indeed, brother, you make good sense."

Li Xuanfeng nodded, scanned with his Spiritual Sense, then frowned slightly and instructed:

"Xuanxuan... I've noticed that your Cultivation Level hasn't improved at all in the past six months, still at the early stage of Qi Refinement. Why is that?"

Li Xuanxuan smiled awkwardly and spoke in a low voice:

"In the last half year, I've made rapid progress in the way of Talismans. I've been focusing all my energy on creating Talismans to supplement our family income, and then there's managing the clan affairs, so naturally, my progress has slowed down..."

Li Xuanfeng shook his head; now at the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation himself, he couldn't help but remind his elder brother:

"Talismans provide Body Protection, but the Dao is of the utmost importance. You have to remember that, brother!"

Li Xuanxuan waved his hand nonchalantly, clearly having thought this through. He set down his teacup and responded,

"I naturally considered that, but within our family, you and Uncle are most adept at offensive strategies—while I have never been good at spell battles, only able to delve into the study of talismans. On one hand, to increase our family's profits, and on the other, to provide some protection for the younger generation."

He sighed softly and continued,

"I'll be forty years old after this year's end and there's no way I can break through to Foundation Establishment before I'm sixty. Even if our family obtained a second Sui Origin Pill, it would only increase my chances by a mere five percent. My life is already devoid of any connection to Foundation Establishment. It's better to spend more time researching talismans to enhance our family's foundation."

Li Xuanfeng, hearing this, found himself at a loss for words and could only sigh, replying,

"Brother, since you have made up your mind, it is not my place to say more..."

Li Xuanxuan, however, smiled quite relaxedly and consoled,

"In the end, our family has to rely on you and Uncle. You're just thirty and have already reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Training. You will certainly make it before sixty."

As the two were talking and laughing, Li Xiewen hurried into the courtyard and bowed,

"Informing the Family Head! An Zhiyan has come to visit!"

"An Zhiyan?! He didn't die on Huazhong Mountain..."

This name made Li Xuanxuan slightly startled. He exchanged a glance with Li Xuanfeng, and both men's lips curled into a smile. Li Xuanfeng said with a beaming smile,

"Damn, double happiness has arrived."

"Bring him up."

Li Xuanxuan gave the order. With the Great Formation's support on this mountain and the Jin Geng Longbow in Li Xuanfeng's hands, he wasn't afraid of An Zhiyan, this stray dog, playing any tricks.

"This man is already a homeless dog, yet he has fled to our family. It seems he intends to take refuge with us and seeks revenge against the Yu Family."

Li Xuanxuan spoke in a low voice after Li Xiewen had left.

After waiting for the duration it takes an incense stick to burn, An Zhiyan had still not arrived. Li Xuanxuan, already far off in his thoughts, shared a smile with Li Xuanfeng and seriously said,

"The news of An Jingming's breakthrough was leaked by An Zhiyan himself. This man can't keep his mouth shut and cannot be trusted. Now that he has come to our family, we still don't know if he harbors ulterior motives. We should extract the An Family's cultivation techniques from him first, then we can use him as a hired hand while keeping a close eye on him for some time."

Just as Li Xuanfeng was about to reply, a man slowly walked into the courtyard. He wore a beast skin hat, was slightly pudgy, and his face showed nervous unease. He bowed and said respectfully,

"An Zhiyan greets the... elders."

Having reached a dead end, An Zhiyan, now akin to meat on the cutting board of the Li Family, had to humbly greet these two juniors of his son's generation. Li Xuanxuan wouldn't let him stand awkwardly, so he quickly stepped forward, looking utterly alarmed, and said in a low voice,

"Why would you say that, senior! Xuanxuan is truly frightened!"

An Zhiyan's face immediately looked much better, even showing a touch of gratitude, his eyes reddening as he bitterly said,

"I only regret not heeding my son's advice to ally with noble families against the Yu's. Look at the state I'm in now—it's all my own doing!"

An Jingming had first advised An Zhiyan to cede Huazhong Mountain and to let him marry a direct daughter from the Li Family, providing mutual support and together opposing the Yu Family. An Zhiyan, however, was too greedy and stingy to cede Huazhong Mountain. An Jingming had to seek another way out, ultimately ending up in this situation.

"Where would you get such an idea, senior!"

Li Xuanxuan, very respectful, asked in a low voice,

"Only, I'm not sure how the An Family is doing now?"

The question caused An Zhiyan to feel a sharp pain in his heart, and with tears in his voice he replied,

"It has been taken over by my bastard brother, and has become a vassal to the Yu Family... Poor child, I fear he does not even have a place to be buried!"

Li Xuanxuan offered consolation,

"You are now a loose cultivator, senior, and our Li Family shares a deep blood feud with the Yu Family. Presumably, you've come to us with the intention of joining forces... Why not stay with us for a while?"

Li Xuanxuan's words sounded appealing, greatly moving An Zhiyan who, while grateful, realized that as soon as he agreed, he would probably have to swear the Xuanjing Spirit Oath and hand over all of An Jing's secret techniques and heritages. But now, he had nothing left, no room to retreat.

Thinking of the words An Jingming uttered before his death, An Zhiyan's eyes reddened, and he thought to himself,

"Ming'er advised seeking refuge with the Li Family for a reason before he passed. All I need to do is obey! Now, I can only let go of other thoughts!"