Li Chengliao left to carry out his orders, while the two Li brothers surveyed the mountain. Milin Mountain had originally been the Jiang Family’s sect grounds, with its geomantic lines deep and stable. Though it lacked fire veins, its earth veins were exceptionally rich.

Li Ximing made a quick calculation with his fingers and praised, “These earth veins bear the qualities of a great river and mountain. Though the spiritual energy is somewhat lacking, its foundation is strong enough to rival an ordinary Purple Mansion Realm sect. It may even barely support a Purple Mansion Realm formation.”

Li Xijun nodded. Though their family possessed many immortal mountains, they had none that could truly be called a great mountain. They only had isolated peaks and strange formations.

Even Lijing Mountain, the birthplace of the Li Family’s rise, owed its importance mainly to its proximity to Lijing Town. By strict standards, it wasn’t truly an immortal mountain, it had simply been chosen for convenience when the family first ascended.

As for Qingdu Mountain in the lake, the current Foundation Establishment Realm formation it housed was already at its limit. It was only thanks to Liu Changdie’s exceptional skill in formation arts that it was even possible, anyone else would have struggled to construct it.

On Milin Mountain, about ten cave dwellings had been excavated. Only one or two of them had a spiritual energy density comparable to Qingdu Mountain but they still fell short of their family’s finest, Mount Wu’s cave dwelling.

The Jiang Family had passed down the Jade True Dao lineage for generations, and the Yu Family had also cultivated in this tradition. Though the mountain had been repeatedly ravaged and left in ruins, fragments of jade artifacts still littered the ground, with several jade statues lying haphazardly.

Li Xijun lifted one with his mana, examined it briefly and murmured, “I’ve heard that the Jiang Family’s ancestor was once a disciple of an immortal sect. He cultivated the Jade True Dao which was the same lineage as the Daoist Master of the Yue Cultivating Sect.”

Li Ximing sighed and said, “It won’t be long before Daoist Master Shangyuan breaks through. Our granduncle wrote back, saying that soon he will travel with Daoist Master Yuan Su to the Northern Sea for the ceremony… Yuan Su doesn’t have many years left either…”

Both of them sensed the impending storm. Even setting aside the Purple Mansion Realm immortal families, esteemed families like theirs also felt uneasy and uncertain of the future. The Xiao Family had already chosen seclusion and would likely be of no help when the time came.

One of their family’s few allies, Daoist Master Yuan Su, was also reaching the end of his lifespan. In this world, without the backing of a cultivator at the Purple Mansion Realm, one would unknowingly become a mere bargaining chip in others’ schemes.

Li Ximing’s tone grew heavier as he spoke softly, “My accumulations are sufficient now. After this, I will enter seclusion to break through to the late Foundation Establishment Realm… The family’s affairs will have to be entrusted to you, younger brother.”

Li Xijun’s expression was difficult to read as he suddenly brought up a concern, his tone laced with worry, saying, “The Radiant Lure generation all have sharp minds, but their cultivation is lacking. With our family’s resources, they can reach the Qi Cultivation Realm but breaking into Foundation Establishment Realm is far too difficult. Chengliao is doing well enough but Chenghuai’s innate talent is even worse. His parents are both exceptional, yet his luck is simply too poor…”

For cultivators, the higher their cultivation, the greater the probability of their offspring being born with spiritual orifices which increases their potential talent. But this rule was not always consistent. Li Xizhi had been fortunate, but even Li Ximing’s eldest son had been born without a spiritual orifice. It was a source of deep regret for him.

“We can only hope for the next generation,” said Li Ximing.

Though both had great confidence in Li Zhouwei, a single pillar was not enough to support a great structure. They often wished for one or two more exceptional children to strengthen their family’s future.

For a moment, they fell into silence, an unspoken shadow of unease settled in their hearts. The Li Family had long observed the fates of other esteemed families such as the Yu, Fei, Yuan, and Xiao families. Even the Chi Family of Azure Pond Sect, each represented a different aspect of esteemed lineage.

The Li Family had always risen through talent, allowing them to swiftly establish themselves by the lakeside. Their ancestors had been so gifted that some were recognized by those at the Foundation Establishment Realm and Purple Mansion Realm even while still in the Embryonic Breathing Realm. Against the older esteemed families, they had always been able to hold their own.

Yet now, despite their growing foundation, their younger generation lacked true prodigies. Their strict upbringing ensured they would not be easily deceived or manipulated but there was an unsettling sense that they were walking the same path as the fallen esteemed families before them.

Standing atop the Yu Family’s former sect grounds, this feeling became all the more palpable. After a brief silence, Li Xijun could only say, “We can only wait and see what the next generation brings.”

But today was meant to be a day of triumph, and they soon pushed these thoughts aside. Just then, Li Chengliao returned. He was accompanied by a middle-aged woman. She was dressed neatly, her expression subdued as he followed behind with her head lowered.

Li Chengliao bowed alongside her before explaining, he said, “Honorable uncles, this is Yu Xianghua, a former direct descendant of the Yu Family. She later married into an external family… During the Yu Family’s collapse, infighting broke out everywhere. She was hidden away by guest cultivators, which allowed her to survive.”

After finishing his explanation, Li Chengliao turned to the woman and spoke softly, “Speak before the ancestors.”

Yu Xianghua bowed deeply and replied, “Honored ancestors, this hidden chamber was not created with ordinary methods. Though I am of the Yu Family’s direct lineage, I was never taught the method to open it… However, my elder brother was also a direct descendant, he should know the way.”

Her expression carried a hint of fear as she murmured, “I beg the two ancestors to spare my family's bloodline… The Yu Family still has one hundred and sixty men and women imprisoned in various mountain dungeons… My elder brother is willing to offer up his spell arts, he only asks that…”

Li Xijun immediately understood and asked, “Do you think the methods of the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators are so easily underestimated? Whether or not he offers the spell, there are ways to extract what he knows.”

Tears streamed down Yu Xianghua’s face as she fell to her knees, she said, “We have no other path left. The sins of the past hundred years were all Yu Mugao and his son’s doing. Since their deaths, our family has loathed them and many even secretly colluded with esteemed families to escape their rule. Now, our entire family is being wiped out, this is clearly karma. I only plead for a way to survive!”

She knelt and kowtowed repeatedly, until blood stained the jade floor. Li Xijun watched in silence for a moment before speaking softly, “The seven families are being sent to Mount Yue, to fill the shamanic lands. That place still lacks proper overseers.

“Your remaining bloodline, the men shall marry into our family, the women shall wed our kin. They will receive military positions and be sent to oversee them.”

Yu Xianghua wept bitterly and cried out, “Thank you, Ancestor.”

She was quickly led away. Li Chengliao, deep in thought, nodded and remarked, “My lord’s plan… is truly a masterstroke of control.”

Li Xijun nodded indifferently. Though the Yu Family said nothing, who could know how much hatred still festered in their hearts? Many among them had betrayed their own kin to seek shelter under the Li Family, adding another hundred to that number made little difference.

“We’ll use them to watch over the seven families, letting their hatred drain itself dry. Once their children bear the Li surname, it will no longer seem like we destroyed their family. This will give them a justification for peace.” Though Li Xijun spoke these words casually, deep down, he remained cautious. He lowered his voice and told Li Chengliao, “Pair the talented among the seven families and the remaining Yu Family members with our own sons and daughters. In thirty years, the hatred will shift away from us and become a feud between the Easterners, the Mount Yu families and the Seven families.”

Li Chengliao answered in agreement. But beside him, Li Ximing stood frozen and gazed at his younger brother with an entirely new perspective. He was stunned by the cold, calculating nature revealed in his words. He thought to himself,

I had always believed that among all my brothers, Xijun was the kindest… But in the end, he is still a Li Family man.

Li Xijun reacted swiftly. Though his pause was brief, Li Ximing caught it immediately and asked, “What is it?”

Li Ximing shook his head and said with a chuckle, “Good thing you’re not Chi Zhiyun!”

Li Xijun was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a soft laugh. He said, “The Azure Pond Sect’s schemes are no worse. They just exploit every resource to the fullest and make them seem dirtier.”

As they spoke, the Yu Family man was brought forward. His body bore the marks of torture and his legs showed imprints left by shackles. He remained silent at first and only bowed respectfully before the two of them.

He then stood, bit his finger and performed a spell which formed a pale jade light in the air. He directed it toward the stone wall, illuminating it for a full fifteen minutes. Slowly, a thin door seam became visible.

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

A bitter smile appeared on the Yu Family man’s face as he bowed again and said, “Honored lords, the hidden vault is here.”

As he spoke, the vault doors slowly parted, revealing dazzling treasures glimmering with radiant light.

Li Xijun did not step inside. Instead, he smiled at the Yu Family man and instructed, “Chengliao, have a few men step forward and retrieve the items.”