Chapter 1186: Admonition (II)

Li Zhouluo watched them take the item away. Kong Guxi showed no embarrassment and nodded repeatedly, saying, "This type of dharma artifact is now very rare and extremely useful in combat. Every dharma artifact and spirit item has a mystical usage, and it is all recorded in the jade slips within the box. I shall take my leave."

After the gate master hurried out, Li Zhouluo returned to his seat. The guard came up again, knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and presented the small cymbals in both hands, saying, "Family head, the treasure's grade has not been determined. In which treasury should it be stored?"

Li Zhouluo was slightly surprised. He looked at the dharma artifact in the man's palm and asked, "You are quick-witted. Which family are you from?"

The guard answered, "I am named Guang, with the surname Dili. I come from the royal family of Northern Mount Yue."

Dili... a lowborn surname among the old Mount Yue tribes, and now they call it a royal line...

Li Zhouluo nodded slightly. The name of Northern Mount Yue royalty sounded impressive, but in truth it could not compare to the An, Chen, Dou, or Hsu[1] families, and was only marginally better than a common lineage.

Dili Guang was perceptive and wanted confirmation, but Li Zhouluo truly had no intention of coveting the artifact. He said, "It is a top-grade Foundation Establishment Realm artifact. Deliver it to Qingdu and have the elder appraise it."

Dili Guang was about to withdraw when Li Zhouluo stopped him and said, "You are on duty the twenty-second day of the month... For the next two years, report to the main hall first. After that, follow me. I have received word from the elder and am about to head over."

Before he could step out of the hall, a message arrived saying that Chen Yang was waiting outside. Li Zhouluo respected this trusted aide of his elder brother and gestured for Dili Guang to leave first.

A young man wearing soft armor entered with a broad smile. Before he even reached the center of the hall, he dropped to his knees and offered a full formal salute before speaking, "Chen Yang greets the family head!"

Li Zhouluo nodded. "Congratulations. This breakthrough to Dharma Protector has resolved a pressing crisis in the family."

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Chen Yang listened, then rose to his feet. His eyes carried a sharp, ruthless gleam as he said, "Family head, I heard several devil cultivators have been causing trouble on the eastern shore. At a time like this, those few demonic practitioners dare set their sights on Moongaze Lake. Please allow me to go and teach them a lesson!"

This aligned perfectly with Li Zhouluo's intentions. Among his trusted aides, Chen Yang had the strongest Immortal Foundation and excelled at combat. He said, "That is precisely why I summoned you. Profound Peak Gate even sent over dharma artifacts under the pretext of assisting the eastern shore. Take them with you. First, they will increase your strength; second, it serves as a response to their goodwill."

Li Zhouluo took the Muddy Red Jade Treasure chain from the jade box, then retrieved a shield and a pagoda from the lower layer and placed all of them into Chen Yang's hands, speaking in a low voice, "Choose whichever suits you between the shield and the pagoda. Take one. Keep the Muddy Red Jade Treasure with you. Use these two dharma artifacts and head to the eastern shore.

"Above all else, prioritize your own safety. With your strong Immortal Foundation and these artifacts, a few devil cultivators will not be able to trouble you. However, be cautious."

Chen Yang read the jade slip, pondering for a moment. He picked up the shield, and a doubtful expression surfaced as he said, "Family head, at this point I doubt these devil cultivators are acting under the orders of any Purple Mansion Realm cultivators. Anyone who intended to offend us has already done so, and those who didn't would have withdrawn. If this were simple robbery, one or two groups would make sense. But why so many devil cultivators? Several of them are even at the Foundation Establishment Realm. What treasures can Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators possibly seize on the eastern shore?"

Li Zhouluo frowned and said, "Your meaning is..."

Chen Yang replied quietly, "It is not yet clear. It looks like someone has ulterior motives, yet it does not seem directed at our clan. The eastern shore and the Wilderness have no strict boundary; they interlock like jagged teeth. Once I reach the eastern shore, I will inquire around. If the Capital Immortal Dao on the Wilderness side was also attacked, it might very well be that these devil cultivators are acting under another master, and we were merely caught in the fallout."

Li Zhouluo found his reasoning sound. "Then I leave this matter to you."

Chen Yang withdrew. As someone who always respected his elders, Li Zhouluo still remembered Li Xuanxuan's summons. He flew straight toward Qingdu without delay.

Once he crossed the lake, he saw the shifting colors of the Heaven-Guarding Formation of Five Waters. He stepped lightly through the air and landed on a side peak. Inside a pavilion waited an elderly man who was dressed formally in dark blue robes.

Li Zhouluo descended before the courtyard and walked into the pavilion. This elder's rank was so high that even his father would enter on foot. Inside, he knelt and bowed.

"Greetings, Elder."

"Come." Li Xuanxuan saw him, smiled kindly, and had tea brought in.

After Li Zhouluo was seated and the attendants had withdrawn, he asked, "I heard you used an Essence Gathering Pill on the third boy?"

Li Zhouluo instinctively sensed trouble coming and forced himself to answer, "Yes, Elder."

Li Xuanxuan hesitated slightly, speaking in a weary voice, "The Essence Gathering Pill is precious. Any time a single one is used, all family elders are informed. I asked Jiangxia about it, and it turns out he had requested it for a friend... In this matter... you were careless."

Cold sweat ran down Li Zhouluo's back. Li Xuanxuan spoke privately only because he always shielded the younger generation. With this elder's influence, a single sentence could doom Li Zhouluo's reputation as head of the household, regardless of future performance.

He replied, "I ask the elder for guidance!"

Li Xuanxuan sighed. "One pill itself is not the issue. No one would quibble over that. The problem lies in taking it privately. You have only just begun managing family affairs and have no established prestige. The optics of this are terrible...

"Pei Xie is said to be exceptional in combat. You could have at least arranged a competition, let the peak Qi Cultivation Realm outer-sea rogue cultivators participate, and awarded it as the top prize. That way people would accept it. You have no prestige, and the pill was not even provided by you. How is this appropriate?"

The elder looked troubled. His withered hand tightened and released the teacup repeatedly as he rasped, "But your order has already been issued. The family elders all know. I cannot stop you now... You have only just taken this position. If I publicly block you even once, you will never be able to accomplish anything again."

Li Zhouluo had never lacked resources since childhood, so in his subconscious the Essence Gathering Pill did not seem like a major treasure. Even dharma artifacts others coveted were nothing special to him. He had agreed too quickly.

Now, with the elder's explanation, he understood at once and said urgently, "I will return immediately and deduct the one allocated to... to myself, to show fairness."

Li Xuanxuan finally relaxed his brow and advised earnestly, "The few things I said were spoken behind closed doors. Whether it is your fifth brother, you, or even Han'er, I have watched over all of you and will not let these matters spread. But managing the household is not as simple as taking your seat in Qingdu. You must be more mindful in the future!"

A genuine sense of emotion welled in Li Zhouluo. He had always respected this elder for his dignified bearing, but now he felt something closer to affection.

He said solemnly, "Rest assured, elder. Though I am dull-witted, I will consult you often and ensure peace within the family."

Among the Zhouxing generation, aside from Li Zhouwei, Li Xuanxuan relied on Li Zhouluo the most for administration. He did not reproach Li Zhouluo further and simply said, "Go on... go on... Everyone is watching at this time. Do not stay here too long. Consider this just a formal greeting."

Li Zhouluo understood, bowed deeply, and withdrew. Li Xuanxuan took a sip of tea and sighed inwardly,

The third one is truly formidable... After this spectacle, even when Luo'er gives up his own pill, everyone will think the family head Li Zhouluo is siding with Li Jiangxia...

1. Previously known as Xu (徐) but it clashes with the other Xu (许) so it has been changed to Hsu. The surname was related to characters like Xu Gongming (Hsu Gongming), Xu Gongyu (Hsu Gongming); and places like Xu State (Hsu State) ☜