Chapter 380 271: Man's Killing Intent

Cyan Sheep Mountain was festooned with lanterns and draped in red silk.

Today was the day the Li Family was marrying off one of its daughters. This marriage alliance with the Xu Family was one of the most significant and joyous events in the entire Luoyue Lake area.

From the foot of the mountain to its peak, the path was lined with colorful flags. Musicians played festive tunes, and the crackling of firecrackers was incessant.

The tenant farmers below the mountain had stopped their work, gathering with their families by the roadside to watch the spectacle.

Children chased each other playfully, while the women huddled together, whispering. Their talk of the Li Family's Third Miss was filled with admiration.

"The Li Family's Third Miss is a real beauty, and I hear she's educated, too."

"Isn't that the truth? The Li Family had an Immortal Master among their ancestors. Even though they've fallen on hard times, they still have a bit of heritage."

"The Xu Family is a major clan. For the Third Miss to marry into it, that's marrying up..."

Before she could finish, someone tugged her sleeve and whispered in a low voice:

"Watch your words! The Xu groom is the son of a concubine. He's being matched with a legitimate daughter of the Li Family. It's hard to say who's really marrying up."

The woman fell silent at once, shutting her mouth in embarrassment.

In front of the Li Family's ancestral home, Li Conglong stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a brocade robe with a Jade Belt at his waist.

He had already reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. A faint, cyan Spiritual Light emanated from his body, like a thousand branches swaying, like a spring breeze brushing through willows, endlessly vital.

Just by standing there, he exuded the air of a High Cultivator, inspiring awe and reverence in others.

The wedding procession had reached the mountainside.

The Xu Family's concubine-born son, Xu Ruowang, sat atop his horse. When he saw Li Conglong from a distance, his expression couldn't help but tighten.

'So this is Li Conglong?'

Xu Ruowang was inwardly astonished.

He had originally thought that with only Li Conglong as a lone pillar supporting the family, the Li Family was bound to decline sooner or later.

But now, seeing him with his own eyes, this prospective "Elder Brother" of his had such profound Cultivation. The Spiritual Energy surging around him was clearly the mark of the Great Perfection of the Sixth Layer.

Although Xu Ruowang was the son of a concubine, he had attended the clan's school and understood a few things about cultivation.

For Li Conglong to reach the Great Perfection of the Sixth Layer before the age of fifty, with such a solid foundation and powerful aura, meant he had a high chance of climbing to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer in the future.

In a place like Luoyue Lake, he would absolutely be considered a pivotal figure.

After all, the Hall Master of Ten Thousand Forms was only at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer.

As these thoughts raced through Xu Ruowang's mind, a pleasant smile had already formed on his face. When he drew near, he dismounted and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Second Brother."

Li Conglong's gaze fell upon the young man before him.

Xu Ruowang was in his twenties, with refined features and a cultured demeanor. He didn't make a bad impression.

But his eyes, which darted about, revealed a shrewd and calculating nature that made Li Conglong frown slightly.

"Younger Brother, there is no need for such formalities."

Li Conglong spoke coolly, his tone neither warm nor cold.

"Caiwei is my own flesh-and-blood sister, whom I have doted on since childhood. Today, I entrust her to you, Younger Brother. I hope you will treat her well."

Xu Ruowang heard the warning in his words and quickly replied:

"Rest assured, Second Brother. Once Lady Caiwei enters my Xu Family, she will be the mistress of the house. I will certainly respect and love her, and would not dare to neglect her in the slightest."

Li Conglong nodded and said no more.

The auspicious hour had arrived. Li Caiwei, dressed in a magnificent red wedding gown and wearing a phoenix coronet, emerged from the ancestral home supported by two wedding matrons.

Her face was covered by a red veil, obscuring her expression, but she stood perfectly straight, possessing a calm and composed air.

"Little Sister..."

Li Conglong took a few steps forward, took over from the wedding matrons, and personally helped his sister into the bridal sedan.

He said in a low voice:

"If you are wronged in any way, send word, and Second Brother will come and bring you home."

From behind the red veil, Li Caiwei said softly:

"Second Brother, on this joyous day, you shouldn't say such things."

She paused for a moment before adding:

"I am a daughter of the Li Family. I will not bring shame to our name."

Li Conglong was silent for a moment, then took a step back and announced in a clear voice:

"Lift the sedan!"

The festive music swelled, and firecrackers went off in a deafening barrage.

Li Conglong vaulted onto his horse and personally escorted the bridal sedan down the mountain.

The common folk along the path quickly made way, calling out auspicious phrases.

Li Conglin stood before the ancestral home, his eyes turning red as he watched the procession gradually recede into the distance.

He had grown into a young man, taller now, with a hint of Li Zhengde in his features.

But right now, his handsome face still held a trace of youthful immaturity.

"Conglin."

Li Conglong's voice carried from the distance.

"You are no longer a child. Don't be so sentimental.

In a couple of days, Second Brother will ask an Immortal Master to test the Spiritual Apertures in your body, and then we can teach you the methods of Qi Cultivation."

Li Conglin quickly wiped the corners of his eyes and replied:

"Yes, Second Brother."

The main reason the Illustrious Sect established branches and halls everywhere was to search for those with Spiritual Apertures who were fit for cultivation.

If they found someone with outstanding talent, they would be accepted directly as a disciple. Those with merely average potential were sent back to their clans to cultivate on their own.

Riding his horse, Li Conglong's heart was filled with complex emotions.

On one hand, he hoped the Li Family would produce a genius, one who could even startle an Immortal Master of the Illustrious Sect.

That would guarantee the Li Family at least thirty years of peace and security, with no one daring to bully them.

On the other hand, he was deeply worried.

Over the years of visiting the Marketplace, he had heard too many rumors about the Illustrious Sect. It was said that its cultivators consumed lifeblood and qi, harvested sinister yin energy, and acted with extreme viciousness. Sending Conglin to them would be a near-certain death sentence...

'Forget it. We'll test his Spiritual Apertures first and worry about it later.'

Li Conglong shook his head, casting the distracting thoughts from his mind.

When the procession reached the mountainside, Li Conglong reined in his horse and stopped, watching the bridal sedan move farther and farther away.

Xu Ruowang turned around on his horse, clasped his fists, and said:

"There's no need to see us off further, Second Brother. Please head back."

Li Conglong nodded and said in a grave voice:

"Take good care of her."

"I understand."

The bridal sedan disappeared at the end of the mountain path, and the festive music slowly faded away.

Li Conglong remained seated on his horse for a long time, until even the shadow of the procession was gone, before finally turning his horse around and heading home with Li Conglin.

「Eight years passed in a flash.」

Luoyue Lake was a world of white, cloaked in a silvery blanket of snow.

Winter had come early this year. It was only the beginning of the eleventh month, yet three heavy snows had already fallen. The lake was frozen over, the distant mountains were the color of dark jade, and a vast whiteness stretched between heaven and earth.

On Cyan Sheep Mountain, the green pines and cypresses were heavy with snow, looking like jade trees with pearly branches.

Inside the Li Family's ancestral home, a charcoal fire burned brightly, filling the room with a pleasant warmth.

"Second Brother! Second Brother!"

Li Conglin burst into the main hall excitedly, calling out loudly before he even had a chance to catch his breath.

"The Xu Family sent a messenger! Sister Caiwei has given birth to a son and a daughter!"

In the hall, Li Conglong was engrossed in an Ancient Book. He looked up at the news.

Now over fifty, his temples were lightly frosted with white, yet his face remained as youthful as ever, showing no signs of age.

This was a benefit of practicing the Wood Armor Technique: it solidified his life force, preserved his qi and blood, and kept his body light and healthy, preserving his youth.

However, whenever he went out, he would deliberately affect an older appearance to avoid arousing suspicion.

"Wonderful."

Li Conglong put down the Ancient Book, a smile touching his lips.

"Now that Caiwei has borne children for the Xu Family, her position there will be more secure."

Li Conglin drew closer and lowered his voice.

"Sister Caiwei also had her attendant pass on a message."

"Oh?"

"She said the Xu Family has discovered a Resource Land a hundred li west of Luoyue Lake, and they want to share it with the Li Family."

Li Conglong raised an eyebrow.

'A hundred li to the west?'

He pondered for a moment, and then his gaze suddenly turned cold.

"A hundred li to the west... isn't that next to the Luo Family's Floating Cloud Mountain?"

"That's right."

Li Conglin nodded. His handsome face had long since lost its youthful immaturity, replaced by a steady composure.

"With this move, the Xu Family undoubtedly wants to use our Li Family to test the Luo Family."

He paused, then continued:

"If we can hold on to that Resource Land, it proves the Luo Family is all bark and no bite, lacking in real strength.

If we can't hold it and end up angering the Luo Family, the Xu Family can just push us forward as scapegoats and retreat without getting involved themselves."

Li Conglong remained silent.

Li Conglin looked at his brother's expression and asked:

"Second Brother, that Resource Land is bait. Are we going to take it or not?"

The hall fell silent, the only sound being the crackling of the charcoal fire.

After a long while, Li Conglong spoke slowly:

"Let me think."

He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the swirling snowflakes outside.

"Later, send a few of our best men over there to gather information. See what kind of Spiritual Materials it produces and whether the Luo Family has any personnel stationed there."

"Yes."

Li Conglin acknowledged the order but didn't leave immediately. He looked at his brother's back and suddenly said:

"Second Brother, you've been shouldering too much these past few years."

Li Conglong didn't turn around, only replying faintly:

"I am simply fulfilling my duty as a member of the Li Family."

...

...

Within the [Foundation Establishment Realm], the faintly glowing Copper Lamp suddenly flickered, its wick sputtering into a flower-like shape.

Jiang Yi slowly roused from his meditation. He reached out, pinched a cluster of the flame, and activated a profound art.

In an instant, all the recent events concerning the Li Family flooded into his mind.

Li Conglong marrying off his sister, Li Conglin growing into a man, Li Caiwei giving birth, the Xu Family casting their bait... one event after another flashed before his eyes like scenes in a revolving lantern.

Jiang Yi's gaze was profound, and an enigmatic smile played on his lips.

"Interesting."

He murmured to himself:

"Li Conglong's 'Seven Killings' fate has turned from auspicious to ominous. A murderous intent now lies hidden..."

Jiang Yi calculated with his fingers. Within the Copper Lamp, the trajectory of a fate faintly appeared, wavering like a tumbleweed, flickering like a candle in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished.

This was a death trap.

The Xu Family, the Luo Family, Wanxiang Hall—undercurrents from all these powers were surging, and Li Conglong had already been swept into the vortex.

'If Li Conglong can overcome this hurdle...'

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Yi's eyes.

'I can bestow upon him a superior 'Gang Sha', help him step into the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, and bring all of Luoyue Lake under his control.'

He used [Illuminating the Dark and the Light] to observe himself. Ever since he had hidden within the [Foundation Establishment Realm] and begun using the Li Family as his chess pieces, he had, in the grand scheme of things, avoided a great deal of karmic entanglement.

'The Southern Domain is vast. Those of the [Immortal Dao] cannot divine my whereabouts. I'll just wait for them to step into the light, which will be the perfect chance for me to test the profundity of [World Burner].'