Chapter 1270: Immortal Decree (I)

As Li Jiangqian headed toward the riverbank, he looked up to observe the sky. The pure qi formed from Tian Zhongqing's fall had already vanished without a trace. The blazing sun hung overhead, and the lake shone so brightly it took one's breath away.

"The summers are growing drier with each passing year."

He descended on fire; below him, the town of Lijing Prefecture already had households hanging white mourning silk. Several branches of the Tian Family were all renowned families of Lijing. They had moved to Mount Yue years earlier and their power had declined, and they were later affected by the conflict between north and south; their history could be called a troubled one. Fortunately, Tian Zhongqing had returned safely back then. Even if the younger generation was lacking, the family still retained some lingering influence and connections. Li Jiangqian lingered for a while as quite a few people gathered along the riverbank.

Although Chen Yang had departed, the Chen Family, standing alongside the An Family as a great family, still had many who could uphold appearances. Moreover, Chen Donghe had come himself this time. Li Jiangqian swept his gaze around and saw that aside from Li Chenghuai and a few others who were in seclusion, nearly half of the real movers and shakers around the lake had arrived.

He was not surprised. The intertwined relationships among the prestigious families around the lake were no secret. The Li Family itself had long intermarried with the other surnames below and blended into one whole. The fact that Ding Weizeng, Qu Buzhi, and Miaoshui, several Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of the Jiangbei side, had not come already made him nod inwardly in approval.

The Tian Family elder, Tian Ling, was dressed all in white as he waited by the riverbank. He was something of a special case. His father Tian Rong had been stabbed to death by a maidservant, and he had grown up alone in Qingdu. He later held posts in the Jade Court and around the lake, but his cultivation was not high, and he had never counted as an important figure. He was currently serving on the eastern shore and had hurried back at once.

Stepping forward to greet Li Jiangqian, he said with meticulous formality, "Greetings, family head."

Li Jiangqian offered him a few words of comfort and landed by the river. He glanced over the layers upon layers of reed marshes, exchanged a few polite remarks, and showed his face just enough to give due respect.

After stepping away, he went to look for Li Xuanxuan. Worry weighed heavily between the old man's brows, and upon seeing him at a glance, he said, "Qian'er, are you returning to the island? Take me with you to fetch one or two items."

Li Jiangqian truly had countless affairs to manage each day and still needed to cultivate, so he had little time to waste here. He nodded, supported the old man by the hand, and then rode fire over the lake.

He asked along the way, "What is it that the old elder wishes to fetch, that you must go in person?"

Li Xuanxuan sighed. "I see that the younger generation of the Tian Family is truly lacking. Help that should be given must still be given. I have stored some spirit items; I will fetch them and pass some along to those who seem promising."

Li Jiangqian nodded thoughtfully and replied, "Leave it to me."

Before Li Xuanxuan could answer, Li Jiangqian activated his perception technique art and glanced up, freezing slightly in surprise.

"Eh?

"

He saw a man and a woman standing amid the clouds by the lake. Although the woman appeared ordinary, her bearing was quite refined. She cradled an icy, frost-like treasured sword in her arms, with a faint smile on her lips.

Beside her stood a strikingly handsome young man, looking to be around twenty eight or twenty nine. A jade belt hung at his waist, holding a short talisman sword. He was dressed in dark green robes and black boots.

Li Jiangqian greeted them with a smile, first saluting the woman. "Greetings, Aunt Xinghan."

Li Xinghan replied and quickly went to pay her respects to Li Xuanxuan. The young man followed in surprise to offer his salute as well, making for a lively moment. Li Jiangqian then turned to the man, pretending not to recognize him, and asked, "And this is...?"

"I am Zhuang Pingye of the Zhuang Family of Smoke Valley." Zhuang Pingye answered with a smile.

Li Jiangqian had recognized him at a glance as the famed talisman sword heir of Smoke Valley and praised him, "Daoist, you have a remarkably handsome countenance."

Zhuang Pingye was exceptionally handsome. His beauty was the kind born of wealth and splendor, refined and dashing. His face had a broad, open brow, red lips and white teeth, and a full chin. It was so richly noble that it was hard to look away, yet it could not be called dignified. He was better looking than Li Xizhi, though not as enduring to behold, and entirely different from Li Xijun's cool and austere beauty.

His appearance and bearing were first rate, and he was naturally accustomed to hearing praise. He politely saluted Li Jiangqian and replied, "Greetings, family head."

Even his voice was exceptionally pleasant, inspiring trust without effort. From this single glance, Zhuang Pingye truly seemed an impeccable match as a husband. Li Xuanxuan watched with a smile and nodded slightly.

Li Jiangqian nodded, and Zhuang Pingye immediately said, "I heard that Xinghan is fond of sword arts. I recently acquired a rather distinctive sword manual in the great desert, so I brought it to study with her."

Li Jiangqian glanced over to see Li Xinghan give a light nod. He exchanged a few polite remarks and offered some praise to Zhuang Pingye. Although the young man smiled, he returned every courtesy in kind. Li Jiangqian did not linger and soon took his leave.

This appearance and bearing are not a slight to Aunt, nor is he an empty headed fool. Though he is a few years older, there is still great hope for the Foundation Establishment Realm.

As Li Jiangqian rode the wind back, he formed a few impressions of the man. Li Xuanxuan said, "Since Xinghan is not averse to him, and that he has bearing and spends generously, matters of affection often rise and fall like overturned cups and spilled tea. It is best to inquire early. How many brothers are there in his family? Is his paternal line of high cultivation, and what of his maternal line? Are there any unsavory records? If it must stop, stop early, so as not to harm others or oneself."

Li Jiangqian answered solemnly, "Old elder, I have already inquired thoroughly. He is the legitimate son of Zhuang Cheng, the youngest one. His mother passed away early and was from a minor family. The subsequent wife bore no children, and thus Zhuang Cheng kept seven concubines. Yet there are very few legitimate sons. He is greatly favored, has many maids and singing girls by his side, and has no offspring."

Li Jiangqian described only three parts, yet his meaning was perfectly clear. Li Xuanxuan frowned, but his own children also lingered in such pursuits, so he hesitated and did not answer. As the two landed back on the island and reached Qingdu, the old man said with a sigh, "It is something that cannot be avoided. Let us watch and see."

He stepped down. Li Jiangqian returned alone on fire and took his seat in the main hall on the island. A guard came to report that Xia Shouyu was waiting outside the hall.

After all, she had been personally chosen by Li Ximing and was also a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Li Jiangqian held her in high regard and immediately invited her in.

Xia Shouyu was escorted all the way into the hall, where she offered a salute and said, "Greetings, family head. I have been looking for Young Master Zhouming these past few days, but could not find him early this morning. I heard from those around him that he went to the lakeside for an outing, yet there was no sign of him. Since the weather is less than pleasant, I came to ask about it."

In such blazing heat to go on an outing. Where else could he have gone? Off to some amorous affair,

thought Li Jiangqian.

Li Zhouming had been remarkably well behaved in recent times, so much so that Li Xuanxuan had almost thought the child was turning over a new leaf. In the end, a fox cannot hide its tail. Unable to restrain his restless heart, he had gone to meet some woman again.

Li Jiangqian felt awkward and smiled as he said, "My uncle does indeed have a habit of going on outings. He often rides out alone, and even the servants cannot find him."

Xia Shouyu already understood much in her heart from what little she had observed. Yet with the marriage agreement not yet finalized, a person as perceptive as she would never fuss over the slightest thing.

She smiled and said, "I understand now. It was merely a casual question. With the wedding date approaching, I came to see the family head to discuss the arrangements."

She continued seriously, "I originally intended for people from my family to come, but considered the matter of the Daoist Master. The Daoist Master instructed early on that nothing must be exposed. I fear that if cultivators from my family were to come, they might reveal traces along the way. Discussing it alone would be ill considered, so I came to consult the family head."

Li Jiangqian pondered for a moment while observing the other party's expression, weighing matters in his heart for a moment. Xia Shouyu's engagement had been personally bestowed by Li Ximing. Her background was unknown, yet Li Jiangqian had no right to question it, and moreover, she handled everything with care, leaving no room for fault.

Once she said this, even inviting her elders to meet would seem superfluous. Whether this was advancing by retreating or a genuine wish to discuss matters was unclear. Since Li Ximing's name was involved, Li Jiangqian could only say, "Senior has considered things carefully. The engagement may proceed according to the rules. With a Daoist Master present, it does not matter when the immortal gate is met."

He set down the letter in his hand and smiled as he said, "However, senior belongs to the rare Dry Fire Dao lineage, and such matters require proper consideration. If there is any place around the lake suitable for senior's cultivation, senior may mention it freely. After all, this is a lineage of an immortal gate. Since contact with the gate is currently impossible, senior should feel free to write down any spirit items needed for cultivating higher grade arts.

"The younger generation in the family is also quite curious about Dry Fire and wishes to seek guidance."

Xia Shouyu grew solemn in her heart, yet smiled on the surface as she said, "There is no need for spirit items. I brought enough with me when I left home. As for guidance, I would not dare instruct an immortal family. If juniors come to me, I will certainly not neglect the instruction that should be given."

Li Jiangqian was about to speak when a flurry of footsteps sounded before the hall. Cui Jueyin appeared at the entrance with an anxious expression. After giving a salute and stepping forward, he swallowed half his words before speaking, "Family head, people from the Golden Feather Sect have arrived. It is someone most trusted by Daoist Master Qiushui, Zhang Duanyan of the Golden Feather Sect. She is already waiting outside the island."

Qiushui? Zhang Duanyan!

If there were a list of the people in all of Jiangnan who must not be offended, one was the sole remaining Yuanxiu Daoist Master among the three Yuans, and the other was this Daoist Master Qiushui. Both had accumulated the time to challenge the Golden Core Realm, and even other Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Masters feared them greatly.

Moreover, Daoist Master Qiushui was a Grand Daoist Master of the Whole Pill Dao and a member of the Golden Feather Sect Zhang Family; her status was even higher than Yuanxiu's. Zhang Duanyan's authority within the Golden Feather Sect was scarcely less than that of the sect master.

Li Jiangqian's pupils widened slightly as he rose abruptly. While striding quickly down from the dais, he offered Xia Shouyu a brief apology, "A distinguished guest has arrived and I must go out to receive them first. I fear I will have to neglect senior for the moment."

How could Xia Shouyu care about any neglect? She was rather relieved at the turn of events. Li Jiangqian vanished from the hall in a few steps, and she hurriedly withdrew and returned to her own cave dwelling.

Li Jiangqian had no mind left to ponder anything else. Unease filled his heart as he left the hall and rode the wind upward. Sure enough, he saw a woman standing in a small pavilion at the edge of the island.

The tall, slender woman wore golden robes with a veil of gold gauze covering half her face, leaving only a pair of calm eyes visible. Her skin was fair, and her hands were clasped behind her back. Beside her stood a hunched elderly man with half closed eyes.

The woman stood serenely in the pavilion, smiling as she gazed at the scenery over the lake, as if greatly appreciating it. Yet the straightness of her posture and the faint hesitation in her movements revealed that her heart was not at ease.

Li Jiangqian hastily descended on fire outside the pavilion, walked inside, and saluted as he said, "Greetings, emissary of the immortal sect."

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Zhang Duanyan turned around, returned the salute as she glanced over him briefly, and said, "You are Li Jiangqian... Let us go inside and speak."

Li Jiangqian led the two inside with Cui Jueyin. After passing through the formations, they arrived all the way at the great hall. Zhang Duanyan took in the scenery and nodded as she said, "The Li Family has achieved considerable merit in governing the lake, surpassing the Jiang Family of old."

Li Jiangqian cupped his hands and replied, "The Jiang Family were descendants of the Origin Mansion. We cannot compare. We have merely benefited from the Daoist Master's fortune and gained some prosperity in recent years."

Zhang Duanyan smiled faintly. Faced with an envoy of the Golden Feather Sect, Li Jiangqian did not lead them to the main hall but instead headed toward the rear hall.

There was no other reason. The main hall had only a single central seat, requiring a distinction of precedence. Zhang Duanyan was not a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, yet she spoke on behalf of one, and her background was illustrious. With his own Daoist Master absent, allowing her to take the main seat would seem overly deferential, while taking it himself would appear arrogant. Thus they came to the rear hall and sat by a table, as Cui Jueyin served tea.