Chapter 393 284: Sorrow Within Joy

Cyan Sheep Mountain, the Li Family ancestral home.

Li Conglong had been blessed with a son in his old age, and the entire clan was brimming with joy. Everyone vied to celebrate, and even the stone lions by the front gate were tied with red silk.

It was well known that for Cultivators, continuing their bloodline was no easy feat. This was especially true after Opening the Yuan Barrier and establishing the Inner Mansion. Their True Yang would become locked tight, making it incredibly difficult to release, let alone to harmonize and conceive.

This was why Li Conglong had never had any children, despite having taken a wife and two concubines in his younger years.

Ordinary mortals were blessed with many children, but Cultivators often had few descendants. The higher their Cultivation, the harder it was to continue their bloodline.

For Li Conglong to have a son in his seventies was truly a joyous occasion of the highest order.

"Congratulations, Big Brother! My sincerest congratulations!"

Li Conglin stood to the side, smiling so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits.

'He secretly rejoiced. 'Big Brother is even more vigorous than I am! Now they probably won't have any reason to keep pestering me to take more concubines.'

Li Conglong, his face glowing, held the swaddled infant and said repeatedly,

"A joyous occasion for all! For all!"

He looked down at the small, pink face, his heart filled with a thousand emotions.

For seventy years, he had devoted himself to his cultivation and the family's affairs. He had thought he would never experience the blessing of having children in his life.

Who would have thought the heavens would smile upon him and grant him a son at such an old age?

When he one day passed on, he could at least say he had not failed his father or the ancestors of the Li Family.

As his thoughts swirled, the old steward's booming voice echoed from outside the hall.

"From the Zhao Family of Luoyue Lake, a three-hundred-year-old Spirit Ganoderma to congratulate Master Li on the birth of his blessed son!"

"An envoy from the Immortal Master of Wanxiang Hall presents a bottle of Nourishing Essence Pills, wishing Young Master Li a smooth immortal path!"

"From the Chen Family of Lichuan Harbor, a pair of Cyan Jade Ruyi to congratulate Master Li on gaining a son in his old age!"

The old steward announced the gifts one by one. The hall was filled with guests, and the banquet was a lively scene of celebration.

Li Conglong moved among the various guests, a faint smile always on his face. His words were proper and pleasant, making everyone feel at ease.

But his mind was a clear mirror; he could see that among all the guests in the hall, few had come with sincere congratulations. Most were here to gauge the Li Family's situation.

As he bustled about entertaining his guests, the old steward's voice outside suddenly paused. When it resumed, it carried a new note of solemnity.

"Master Luo Weiyuan of the Luo Family's second branch presents a gilded longevity lock and ten bushels of lustrous pearls to celebrate the new addition to the Li Family!"

At these words, the entire hall fell silent.

Who in Luoyue Lake didn't know that the Luo and Li families were on bad terms? If the Li Family hadn't taken a desperate risk back then, launching a surprise attack to annex the Xu Family and expand their power, the situation today, where the Luo and Li families divided Luoyue Lake between them, would never have come to be.

"The Li Family is growing more prosperous by the day. The Luo Family had to hold their noses and pay a visit," a gossiper whispered.

All eyes turned to the main entrance. Luo Weiyuan was dressed in a brocade robe, a smile on his face. Behind him, several Luo Family juniors carried heavy gift boxes, as if there had never been any animosity between the two families.

"Brother Li, congratulations, congratulations!"

Luo Weiyuan clasped his hands and bowed, his voice booming.

"To have a son in your seventies is a truly auspicious sign from the heavens. My Luo Family has prepared a humble gift to express our sentiment."

Li Conglong chuckled and returned the courtesy.

"Brother Luo, you are too kind. Please, take a seat of honor."

The two men looked at each other and smiled, talking and laughing so pleasantly they seemed like the closest of friends.

After Luo Weiyuan was seated, he glanced around the hall, accepted a cup of tea from a maidservant, took a sip, and began to speak.

"Coincidentally, my Luo Family has also had a joyous event recently."

He paused, then continued with feigned casualness.

"Our third branch has produced a great talent with a Spiritual Aperture. His name is Luo Tianyang. He is only twelve, and has already been chosen by an Immortal Master from Wanxiang Hall. He will soon be guided to the sect to formally begin his cultivation."

His words caused an uproar.

"A Spiritual Aperture Immortal Seed?"

"The Luo Family actually produced such a figure!"

"Chosen by Wanxiang Hall at just twelve years old... he's destined for a meteoric rise!"

"As expected of the Luo Family, their foundation is truly deep. Luoyue Lake is about to produce another great figure!"

The guests broke into discussion, and the way they looked at Luo Weiyuan changed.

There was envy, there was dread, and even more, there was sycophancy!

A Spiritual Aperture Immortal Seed was prime material, someone with the potential to reach Foundation Establishment.

The Qi Cultivation Clans of Luoyue Lake, large and small, were as numerous as ox hairs, yet not a single Spiritual Aperture Immortal Seed had appeared in several hundred years.

The Luo Family was already powerful. With the addition of an Immortal Seed, wouldn't they come to dominate Luoyue Lake in the future?

Li Conglong's expression remained unchanged, but he understood perfectly. Luo Weiyuan's words were meant specifically for him.

It was undoubtedly a warning to the Li Family, and the meaning was clear.

'Even if your Li Family is powerful now, my Luo Family has produced a Spiritual Aperture Immortal Seed. Once Luo Tianyang has matured, the Luo Family will still be able to keep you down. If the Li Family knows what's good for them, they'll abandon any thought of contending with the Luo Family!'

"Congratulations, Brother Luo! My sincerest congratulations!"

Li Conglong's tone was sincere as he took the initiative to raise his wine cup.

"For the Luo Family to produce another Immortal Seed is a blessing for all of Luoyue Lake. As a member of Luoyue Lake myself, I, Li Conglong, share in the glory!"

Luo Weiyuan's heart skipped a beat. 'This old fox really knows how to keep his composure,' he thought.

He couldn't very well refuse, so he also picked up his cup. The two men toasted each other from a distance and drained their cups.

As the wine settled in his stomach, Luo Weiyuan set down his cup and looked at Li Conglong with a smirk.

"You're too kind, Brother Li. But speaking of which, while it's a great blessing for you to have a son in your seventies, the path of cultivation is long. It will be many years before your esteemed son can climb to greater heights."

The words were a needle hidden in cotton, clearly implying that Li Conglong didn't have much lifespan left and might not live to see his son's success.

Li Conglong just smiled faintly and stroked his beard.

"You speak the truth, Brother Luo. But we Cultivators rely on Opportunity and good fortune. Perhaps my son's destiny is profound. No one can say for sure what his future achievements will be."

Before Luo Weiyuan could respond, he turned to Li Conglin and instructed,

"Conglin, entertain our guests well. Do not neglect them. I'm a bit tired, so I'm going to the rear courtyard to rest."

"I understand."

Li Conglin stepped forward in acknowledgment and urged the guests to drink.

Meanwhile, Li Conglong had the old steward hold the infant and quietly left his seat.

He passed through a covered walkway and arrived at the ancestral hall in the rear courtyard.

Li Conglong took the infant from the old steward's arms and said softly,

"You may withdraw. Stand guard at the entrance and allow no one to approach."

"Yes, Master."

The old steward bowed and retreated.

The ancestral hall was cold and solemn. The ancestral tablets of his father and elder brother were displayed in the place of honor, and next to them was enshrined the broken Copper Mirror.

Li Conglong gently placed the infant on a meditation cushion below the altar table.

The baby, still in his swaddling clothes, was as beautiful as if carved from jade. His pair of dark eyes darted about, full of spiritual energy.

Li Conglong straightened his robes, then kowtowed solemnly toward the Copper Mirror and spoke, word by word.

"I, Conglong, unworthy descendant of the Li Clan of Cyan Sheep Mountain, with humble incense and meager wine, do hereby report to the spirits of my father, my elder brother, and all the ancestors in heaven.

"Since our forebears migrated to Luoyue Lake, they carved out a home from the wilderness through toil and hardship. Over two hundred years have passed. During this time, we have weathered many storms and faced the danger of ruin on several occasions. It is only through the ancestors' blessing that our family line has endured, however tenuously.

"Since inheriting my position, I, Conglong, have been diligent and conscientious, daring not to forget my duties. Yet my aptitude is dull and my Cultivation is shallow. I have only been able to maintain what we have, struggling to advance. Furthermore, the Luo and Xu families watch us like circling predators, wishing for nothing more than the destruction of our Li Clan.

"It was by the grace and mercy of the Immortal Master that my Li Family was able to survive, barely clinging to life, and gradually achieve the prosperity we see today.

"That I, Conglong, have been granted a son at the age of seventy is truly due to the virtue of our ancestors and the grace of the Immortal Master.

"Though this child is but an infant, he is the continuation of the Li Clan's bloodline. But now, the Luo Family has produced a new Spiritual Aperture Immortal Seed who will soon enter Wanxiang Hall. Their power grows stronger by the day while our situation grows more perilous. The entire Li Clan is fraught with fear and unease.

"I humbly beseech you, Immortal Master, whose Divine Techniques are vast and whose Daoist Technique is boundless. For twenty years, my Li Clan has paid you homage morning and night, our incense never ceasing. We have offered Spirit Stones and delicacies with the utmost reverence.

"Today, I implore the Immortal Master to protect this child, so that my Li Clan's bloodline may long endure.

"From this day forward, the entire Li Clan shall become ever more devout, worshipping you day and night with incense that will never be extinguished. Should you have any command for us, we would go through fire and water and would not shrink from our duty.

"May you accept this offering!"