Chapter 1184: A Request For Pill

A golden-eyed youth in armor soon strode into the hall. Li Jiangxia stood tall, taller even than Li Zhouluo, and bowed low upon seeing him, his massive frame sinking like a crouching bear as he said in a deep voice, "Greetings, fourth uncle."

Li Zhouluo hurried forward to lift him up. Li Jiangxia's expression was grave as he spoke quietly, "Uncle Zhouluo, I've been stationed at the eastern shore for many days now, yet there's been no word from my father. I grew too anxious to stay idle, and with matters pressing on that side, I came back myself to ask if you've heard anything."

Only then did Li Zhouluo recall that second young master Li Jianglong had returned with Li Minggong and the others. He had already been aware of the news and had attended Li Chenghui's funeral rites. At that time, Cui Jueyin had been away from the eastern shore, which was swarming with devil cultivators hoping to profit from the chaos. Li Jiangxia had been the only one capable of taking charge, and since the journey was perilous, he had remained there, offering only distant rites. Now that things had settled, he had returned with the cultivators of Profound Peak Gate to pay respects.

Li Zhouluo merely said, "No word yet, but he should be safe... How are the cultivators from Profound Peak Gate?"

Li Jiangxia replied, "Kong Guxi has returned. You may ask him for details, uncle. As for me... I've come to request manpower."

Li Zhouluo frowned. "For what?"

Li Jiangxia looked somewhat uncomfortable and said quietly, "The cultivators of the Capital Immortal Dao have ceased advancing westward and are even recalling their people instead. Meanwhile, the nearby devil cultivators, having heard rumors of our Purple Mansion Realm cultivator's misfortune, keep coming to plunder, thinking the law cannot punish the many. They come in groups of three or five to rob us...

"At first it was small skirmishes, but as time went on and nothing stopped them, the attacks had grown bolder. In recent days, even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators have appeared among them. Most of the Profound Peak Gate members have been injured. Only Master Kong remains to hold the line, but he's stretched thin. I was hoping the family could send a few to assist."

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Li Zhouluo looked slightly embarrassed as he replied, "It's difficult for anyone here to leave right now. The stronger seniors are all in seclusion, and there are devil cultivators in the great desert as well. I plan to send Li Wen and Qu Buzhi with Xinghan and her group soon, but it will take a few more days."

Li Jiangxia sighed softly, and Li Zhouluo continued, "Wait a little while longer. I'll speak to Chen Yang and have him go to the eastern shore. His combat skills are formidable, and his Immortal Foundation excels at fighting multiple opponents. He's the best candidate for the task."

Li Jiangxia could only nod, but he didn't leave right away. After a brief hesitation, he said, "This time... I also wish to exchange for one Essence Gathering Pill from the family's stock."

Li Zhouluo's brows furrowed, and he looked at the young man with some puzzlement. The boy was clearly only at the fifth stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm. He asked, "You're still a long way from the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even if you advanced further, shouldn't you focus on mastering your arts first? The family will naturally prepare the pills for you, so why such haste?"

Li Jiangxia hesitated slightly before replying, "It's an exchange I wish to make with the family. I have a close friend named Pei Xie, a man from the Wilderness. He has reached the late stage of the Qi Cultivation Realm and needs only one pill to break through. If the family has an available quota, I'd like to use mine to obtain one for him."

Li Zhouluo suddenly understood and shook his head, saying, "What do you mean by that? If you're confident he can break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and he's such a close friend of yours, the family is short-handed anyway. Even if the pill is granted to him directly, have him come to the lake to receive an appointment, I'll meet him myself."

At that, Li Jiangxia looked embarrassed and said softly, "Uncle, Brother Pei has other plans. He intends to attempt his breakthrough in the Eastern Sea and wander the outer-sea thereafter."

"What?!" Li Zhouluo was stunned, feeling a surge of irritation in his chest,

So that's it. He wants to use the family's resources to win someone over! And who knows if that man will even succeed in breaking through? Giving a pill to a rogue cultivator from the Wilderness is like throwing meat buns to a dog!

Li Zhouluo fell silent, and Li Jiangxia immediately caught his meaning, replying, "That's why I wished to exchange for it properly, uncle, through the family's channels."

Li Zhouluo let out a long sigh and shook his head. "How can such a thing be treated as a mere exchange?"

After all, Li Ximing had gone missing. If he was injured and recuperating in the outer-sea, it could be twenty or even fifty years before he returned. Every Essence Gathering Pill consumed was one less in existence. Its worth went far beyond its nominal value. In Jiangnan, where the Purple Mansion Realm families jointly monopolized the supply, the pill's significance had long since exceeded that of mere treasure.

The aloof and indifferent Xiao Family had always kept to themselves. Xiao Chuting wandered the four seas, and even his own kin seldom knew his whereabouts. They too relied on their dwindling stock of Essence Gathering Pills, making any exchange with them difficult.

But when he finished, the young man before him showed no surprise and bowed deeply, saying, "This junior is willing to forgo his own share and transfer one to my friend instead. When I reach Foundation Establishment Realm myself, if nothing changes by then, I'll not request another from the family."

"You..." Li Zhouluo shook his head and said, "Get up, what nonsense is this?! How could the family ever let you go without your own pill? You've always had a good eye for people; I'll trust your judgment. Tell me, what Dao lineage does he follow? Don't tell me it's Merging Fire?"

He made a small joke, and Li Jiangxia's face lit up as he replied, "Of course not! Brother Pei cultivates the Merchant Gazing Edge, a Dao lineage of the Metal Virtue."

"Metal Virtue... indeed, many Jiangnan wanderers cultivate under that principle. There should still be one pill in the treasury, take my written order and fetch it."

Relief washed over Li Jiangxia. He nodded repeatedly and quickly withdrew, while Li Zhouluo remained deep in thought,

Pei Xie must have been planning to attempt Foundation Establishment Realm long ago, but he didn't have the confidence to ask for a pill before. Now that I'm the one managing family affairs, this boy rushed here right away to request it!

Among all those who had managed family affairs before, Li Zhouluo was indeed the most accommodating in such matters. After all, he only expected to hold this position for three to five years. Given Li Jiangxia's outstanding talent, Li Zhouluo naturally wished to have him owe a small favor and leave a good impression.

He paced a few steps, composed himself, and sat once more in the head seat, calling out in a clear voice, "Summon the gate master of the Profound Peak Gate!"

In less than a dozen breaths, an elderly man entered hastily. His hair was white and his face gaunt. Upon seeing Li Zhouluo, he fell to his knees with a thud and said, "Greetings, family head! All of Profound Peak Gate is deeply grateful for your esteemed family's grace and mercy! I, Guxi, bow on behalf of our entire sect to offer thanks!"

Li Zhouluo was somewhat surprised; this was the first time Kong Guxi had ever knelt to his family. He had only ever bowed in such a manner before the Daoist Master himself. When meeting the Li Family's family head, he had always exchanged courteous bows, nothing more.

"Gate Master Kong, please rise quickly!"

But Kong Guxi did not rise. In Kong Guxi's eyes, the Li Family had already shown boundless grace and righteousness. The gate master of the Profound Peak Gate knelt with heartfelt sincerity, tears streaming uncontrollably as he let out low, choked sobs.

The Capital Immortal Dao's campaign had led to the disappearance of the Li Family's Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master Zhaojing, as well as the Purple Mansion Realm seed family head, Li Zhouwei. In Kong Guxi's view, all of it had stemmed from his Profound Peak Gate, so how could such guilt not move the old man to tears?

Even the younger Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of Profound Peak Gate had grown silent after the storm passed. The once-cautious and inscrutable Kong Qiuyan now personally aided in healing Li Family cultivators. The ever-meek Kong Xiaxiang patrolled the entire eastern shore for the Li Family's sake. As for the elder Kong Guli, the old man had nearly abandoned his own treatment just to come to the lake and beg forgiveness.

The bonds of blood and brotherhood pale before the promise of the Daoist Master. My Profound Peak Gate... owes the Li Family a great debt indeed!