Novel Full Chapter 69: Grand Elder of the Xi Family
Chapter 69: Grand Elder of the Xi Family
Li Yun slowly exhaled a breath of turbid qi before standing up and stepping out of the carriage.
The moment he emerged, Xi Luo hurried over and asked, “Young Master Li, did you break through to the Xiantian Realm?”
“Do I look like someone in the Xiantian Realm?” Li Yun replied with a light smile as he spread his hands.
Hearing this and sensing that Li Yun’s cultivation was only at the sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm, Xi Luo’s expression changed dramatically. Shock filled her beautiful face. “What? Young Master Li has not broken through to the Xiantian Realm yet? How can this be possible?”
In Xi Luo’s eyes, the aura that had erupted from Li Yun earlier had been nearly identical to that of a true Xiantian Realm cultivator. She had been convinced that he had successfully broken through using the Red Blood Jade Ginseng.
To think that he was still in the Body Tempering Realm was almost unbelievable. If someone at the sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm already possessed strength comparable to a Xiantian Realm expert, then how terrifying would Li Yun become once he truly stepped into that realm? The thought alone made her breath catch.
Her eyes widened as she unconsciously drew in a sharp breath.
“Miss Xi, are we close to Phoenix Flame City?” Li Yun asked casually, paying little attention to her stunned reaction.
“We are almost there. It is just ahead,” Xi Luo replied as she nodded and pointed forward.
After traveling for an entire day, they had already left the Misty Mountains behind. Li Yun followed the direction she indicated and immediately saw a grand city rising before them. It lay sprawled across the land like an ancient beast resting upon the earth.
Although Phoenix Flame City ranked lower than Azure Wind City, it was far more renowned than Azure Wind because of the Flame County.
The group headed straight toward Phoenix Flame City. After roughly ten minutes of travel, they reached the city gates. Two black armored martial artists stood guard there, while a long line of cultivators waited patiently to enter the city in an orderly manner.
Li Yun and the others did not join the queue. Instead, they walked directly toward the gate.
When the two black armored guards saw them approaching, they did not attempt to stop them. On the contrary, they quickly straightened their posture and saluted respectfully.
They were not fools. At a glance, they recognized the group as members of the Xi Family. As one of the two great aristocratic families of Phoenix Flame City, the Xi Family controlled nearly half of the city’s influence. How could mere gate guards dare to question them?
Moreover, the person leading the group was Xi Luo.
She was not only the treasured young miss of the Xi Family but also the acknowledged number one beauty of Phoenix Flame City. Even if the Xi Family chose not to pursue the matter, the many young talents of the city who admired Xi Luo would never forgive anyone who offended her.
After passing smoothly through the gates, the group, led by Xi Luo, continued into the city without delay.
They walked along the wide streets of Phoenix Flame City for another ten minutes before finally reaching the central district.
At the end of the road stood a magnificent estate that spanned several hundred square meters. Above its main entrance hung a large plaque bearing two gilded characters written with elegant strokes: Xi Family.
This was the Xi Family residence, one of the two dominant powers within Phoenix Flame City.
“Greetings, Young Miss.”
The moment Xi Luo and her group arrived at the entrance, the vermilion red gates were pushed open from within. Two Xi Family martial artists hurried out, came before Xi Luo, and dropped to one knee as they greeted her with deep respect.
“Rise,” Xi Luo said as she waved her hand, signaling them to stand. She then asked calmly, “While I was away, did anything happen within the Xi Family? Also, where is the Grand Elder at the moment?”
The two Xi Family martial artists rose to their feet and answered honestly. “Reporting to Young Miss, everything within the Xi Family has been normal over the past few days. Nothing unusual has occurred. As for the Grand Elder, he should be in the Family Head’s separate courtyard at the moment, discussing treatment options with the invited renowned physicians regarding the Family Head’s injuries.”
“I understand. You may return to your duties,” Xi Luo said with a nod.
After dismissing them, she led Li Yun into the Xi Family estate.
Once inside, Xi Luo did not immediately ask Li Yun to treat her father. Although she was deeply concerned about her father’s condition, she did not wish to appear discourteous. With a polite tone, she said, “Young Master Li, you must be exhausted after a full day of travel. I will arrange a guest room for you to rest tonight. We can discuss my father’s treatment tomorrow. How does that sound?”
“I would like to see your father’s condition first before resting,” Li Yun replied solemnly.
“Very well,” Xi Luo agreed without hesitation.
She then led Li Yun straight toward her father’s residence.
The two walked through the Xi Family estate, passing along winding corridors that intersected like a maze and threatened to leave Li Yun disoriented. After some time, they arrived before a secluded and elegant courtyard that stood apart from the rest of the estate. Without lingering, they headed toward the entrance.
Just as they took a few steps forward, a blue robed old man with white hair and a flowing beard emerged from the courtyard.
“Grand Elder,” Xi Luo called out immediately upon seeing him.
The old man looked up at the sound of her voice. When he recognized Xi Luo, delight appeared on his aged face. “Luo, you have finally returned. Since you came back safely, you must have brought the Red Blood Jade Ginseng with you, correct? Hurry and come with me. Doctor Zhao and the others are already inside, waiting to treat your father’s injuries.”
As he spoke, the Grand Elder grasped Xi Luo’s slender wrist and urgently pulled her toward the courtyard, eager to proceed with the treatment.
“Grand Elder, I am sorry. Luo has disappointed you. I did not bring the Red Blood Jade Ginseng back.”
Seeing the Grand Elder’s eager expression, a mischievous glint flashed through Xi Luo’s beautiful eyes. With a deliberately downcast look, she spoke in a tone filled with false regret, clearly intending to tease him.
Of course, her words were not entirely untrue. The Red Blood Jade Ginseng that had once been in her possession had already been completely consumed by Li Yun back in the Misty Mountains, so she truly had not brought it back to the Xi Family.
“What?”
The Grand Elder froze on the spot the instant he heard this. All the joy on his face vanished without leaving a trace.
In the next moment, it was as if he had suffered a devastating blow. Despair washed over his features, and his entire demeanor seemed to age by more than ten years. His body swayed unsteadily, like a candle about to go out, before he collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself in a broken voice.
“How could this happen? Did Luo not already obtain the Red Blood Jade Ginseng? Why was it not brought back to the Xi Family? Without it, the Family Head’s injuries cannot be cured. Does that not mean the Family Head is doomed? And if the Family Head dies, then the Xi Family is finished as well. It is over. Everything is over.”
His voice was filled with utter despair.
To an outsider, the Grand Elder’s reaction might have seemed excessive. After all, if a Family Head died, another could simply be chosen. However, anyone who truly understood the Xi Family’s situation would know that his despair was not exaggerated in the slightest.
For the Xi Family, Xi Dong was far more than a nominal Family Head. He was the backbone of the entire clan, the crucial pillar that upheld the Xi Family’s position in Phoenix Flame City.
Looking at Phoenix Flame City as a whole, the Xi Family’s overall strength was, in truth, only on par with an ordinary first rate power. By all logic, they should not have been capable of suppressing so many rivals and securing a position as one of the two dominant forces controlling half of the city.
Yet the Xi Family had done exactly that.
Why was this so?
All of this was because Xi Dong, the head of the Xi Family, was a Half Step Xiantian expert.
It was precisely Xi Dong’s formidable martial strength that allowed the Xi Family to secure its position as one of the two dominant powers in Phoenix Flame City. If they were to lose him, this Half Step Xiantian expert, the Xi Family would immediately lose the qualification to rule the city and be forced back to its former, much weaker state.
They might even be driven out of Phoenix Flame City altogether.
After all, the Xi Family had controlled half of Phoenix Flame City for many years and had undoubtedly accumulated vast resources. Such wealth naturally invited envy and greed. Who would not covet it?
In the past, with Xi Dong guarding the family, even those who harbored jealousy did not dare act recklessly. His existence alone was enough to deter them. However, once Xi Dong fell, those restraints would disappear. The wolves would bare their fangs, and countless enemies would pounce on the Xi Family like jackals, eager to tear it apart.
The most dangerous of them all was the Zhang Family, the Xi Family’s sworn enemy and another top power within Phoenix Flame City. Known for their ruthless methods, the Zhang Family would never hesitate to wipe out the Xi Family completely the moment they showed signs of decline.
When the Grand Elder imagined the foundation that the Xi Family had painstakingly built over generations collapsing the instant Xi Dong died, how could he not be overwhelmed by despair?
“Grand Elder.”
Seeing him in such a state, Xi Luo immediately realized that her teasing had gone too far. She hurried forward to support him and spoke quickly. “Grand Elder, I have not finished speaking yet. Why are you so anxious? Although I did not bring back the Red Blood Jade Ginseng, I brought back someone who can cure Father’s injuries.”
“Is that true?” The Grand Elder’s eyes lit up at once.
“Of course it is,” Xi Luo replied with a helpless smile. “This concerns my own father’s life. How could I possibly joke about something like that?”
“The old man has already consulted all the renowned physicians in Phoenix Flame City,” the Grand Elder said, his voice trembling with urgency. “They all agreed that curing the Family Head’s injuries requires at least a two star alchemist to have absolute certainty. Since you say the person you brought back can cure the Family Head, then he must at the very least be a two star Alchemy Great Master.”
After hearing Xi Luo’s words, the Grand Elder accepted them without the slightest doubt. He hurriedly climbed to his feet, excitement flooding his face, and spoke with barely contained impatience. “Xi Luo, where is the Great Master you invited back? Take this old man to see him at once.”
“Hehe, that Great Master is far away in the sky, yet also right in front of you,” Xi Luo said with a light laugh.
She then pulled Li Yun forward and introduced him with a smile. “Grand Elder, this is Li Yun. This is the Great Master Li whom I invited. He is a one star alchemist.”
The moment he heard this, the Grand Elder’s expression instinctively turned respectful. He was just about to bow toward Li Yun, for the status of a two star Alchemy Great Master was exceedingly lofty, and he dared not show the slightest discourtesy.
However, when his eyes truly landed on Li Yun’s youthful appearance, his movement froze in midair. The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a dark and stormy expression.
A furious roar burst from the Grand Elder’s mouth.
“Nonsense!”