Wan Tiancang wept as he described how brutal the Ji Family was and how precarious the situation of the Wan Family had become, emphasizing that the fates of the Wan and Li families were intertwined, with both prospering or suffering together.
Listening by his side, Li Yesheng couldn't help but be moved by the tale, while Li Mutian merely lowered his brow, unwavering as he gently sipped his tea and spoke.
"Has the Wan Family's situation really become so difficult?"
"Indeed!"
Wan Tiancang looked at Li Mutian, clenched his teeth, and realizing he was dealing with a tough negotiator, he pulled out a beastskin scroll from his chest and said:
"Before leaving, my clan brother specifically instructed the junior to bring a formation with him as he will be interfering quite a bit with the Li Family's daily life, to repay our noble benefactors."
Li Mutian waved his hand, and Li Tongya stepped forward to take it, listening as Wan Tiancang explained:
"This formation is known as the Maze Barrier Formation, bought by my grandfather at the market a hundred years ago. Once the formation flags are refined, the formation can be deployed. My grandfather loved formations the most, and it was he who set up the mountain formation at home."
"He originally purchased it to verify his own understanding of formation techniques, but after his passing, there were no longer any experts in the family."
Wan Tiancang sighed endlessly and reluctantly handed the beastskin scroll to Li Tongya with both hands.
Seeing Li Tongya nod, Li Mutian then said with a smile:
"This is too kind. The Wan and Li families are both under the jurisdiction of Green Pond and naturally help each other. Now that the Wan Family is in trouble, how could the Li Family take advantage of others' peril? We shall only take fifteen percent of the harvest!"
What could Wan Tiancang say in response? He simply offered a bitter smile and replied:
"Thank you, elder!"
Li Mutian acknowledged with a soft sound, and Li Tongya led Wan Tiancang, Li Yesheng, and others out.
No sooner had they left the courtyard than Wan Tiancang looked at Li Tongya with hope and asked:
"May I know where the noble family has placed that Spiritual Field? Please take Tiancang to see its quality."
"Of course."
Li Tongya nodded and began to walk along the bluestone path as he said:
"My Li Family has two villages along the ancient Lidao road, one is called Lidao Entrance, precisely from where Brother Tiancang came, and the other is Lichuan Entrance by the banks of Wangyue Lake."
"The leased Spiritual Field is located in Lichuan Entrance. Tongya has already instructed people to build a small courtyard there. The field is quite intact, with a yearly yield of around seventy catties."
Wan Tiancang nodded to show he understood, then turned his head to comment on the scenery of Lijing Village along the way:
"This road is well-built. Despite the comings and goings of common folk, it remains clean and tidy, which is truly remarkable."
"Brother Tiancang flatters us."
Li Tongya chuckled softly and continued:
"I've heard there are Immortal Sect markets around here, and my Li Family, being new, isn't very familiar with them."
"Brother Tongya always wants to dig out some news from us!"
Wan Tiancang laughed heartily, joking with Li Tongya before saying seriously:
"I've only reached Xuanjing Wheel in my cultivation and have never been to any markets. My clan brother and the family head have been together, and they have shared quite a bit."
"The market is located on a small isle in Wangyue Lake, opened by a Loose Cultivator at the peak of Qi Cultivation. During the full moon, large boats travel back and forth to the shore, bringing Loose Cultivators like me or Immortal Cultivators from smaller families to the isle."
"According to the family head, it's best to reach Yujing Wheel before heading to the isle to prevent accidents on the way."
Wan Tiancang, concerned that the Li Family might send people to their doom and then blame it on his family, hurriedly offered his advice.
"We naturally understand," assured Li Tongya with a nod, remembering this important information, and continued chatting idly with Wan Tiancang.
Soon they arrived at Lichuan Entrance. Chen Erniu, hearing that Li Tongya was bringing Cultivators from another family to Lichuan Entrance, hurried over with people to meet them, following cautiously behind Li Tongya and conversing in whispers with Li Yesheng.
Wan Tiancang surveyed the size of the field, tested the Spiritual Energy and soil quality, and nodded to Li Tongya to indicate his approval. Li Tongya then smiled and waved his hand.
"Brother Wan must be tired from the journey, and Tongya still needs to take care of family matters, so I will take my leave first."
After speaking, he instructed Li Yesheng and Chen Erniu to arrange everything properly with Wan Tiancang before turning around and heading back to Lijing Village.
————
The rear hill of Lijing Village had become much more lively these days, and the villagers even called it Lijing Mountain. Among the dense forests on the hill, there were now quite a few small courtyards built of blue bricks, with their green tiles lending a particularly pleasing sight.
The winding stone path stretched from the foot of the mountain to the summit, and there were villagers at the foot of the mountain keeping watch. Upon seeing Li Tongya, they greeted him respectfully, saying:
"Welcome, Immortal Master."
Nodding his head casually, he walked up the stone path, and after the time it took for an incense stick to burn, a small courtyard came into his view.
Master Han Wenxu was teaching there, with a group of children about half grown in the courtyard, roughly fifty or sixty in number, sitting upright under the trees, listening to his lecture.
Not only from Lijing Village and Jingyang Village, but from as far as Lidao Entrance and Lichuan Entrance, children came to seek education. Only those households with some savings would send one or two children to study, naturally they could only send them to Lijing Village.
Looking at Li Xuanxuan studying inside, Li Tongya thought to himself:
"In a few more months, when the child is six or seven and his physique is set, he can be tested for his Spirit Aperture. There are still three Mysterious Pearl Talisman Seeds left from Mirror, so I'm not worried about Xuan'er lacking a Spirit Aperture."
"Counting the days, Tian Yun is also due to give birth in a few months."
Somehow, the image of Liu Rouxuan flashed in Li Tongya's mind, startling him so much that he shook his head repeatedly and stood still for a few seconds before smiling wryly and continuing his walk up the mountain.
Past the school was a staircase of one hundred and twenty-six steps. At the top, a large gate with a red-lacquered finish stood on the platform with an elderly man with half-white hair sitting at the entrance.
"Uncle Tian!"
Li Tongya greeted him and saw Tian Shoushui holding a small hammer, happily working on a wooden horse that was halfway finished.
"Tongya is back."
Tian Shoushui nodded with a smile, scratching his head somewhat embarrassedly, pointing at the wooden horse in his hand.
"Tian Yun is about to give birth, so I was thinking about making something for the child to play with."
The old man had been injured quite a bit in his youth and aged quickly due to his injuries. Despite being about the same age as Li Mutian, he looked over ten years older.
"Alright then, you take your time," Li Tongya replied.
Treating this man with the respect of a father, Li Tongya greeted him before entering the courtyard.
Li Xiangping was slowly waking from meditation, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and looked at Li Tongya, asking:
"Have you reached the Zhouxing Wheel?"
"Yes," Li Tongya replied, raising his brows with a smile.
"Still one step ahead of me."
Li Xiangping acted frustrated but couldn't help but laugh, stretching as he got up.
After discussing Wan Tiancang's affairs and placing the formation on the table, Li Tongya picked up the teacup from the table and began to drink, seeing Li Xiangping in deep thought, he asked:
"What is it?"
"Wan Tiancang is much harder to deal with than Wan Yuankai."
Li Xiangping lifted his head, his expression calm.
Li Tongya chuckled lightly and was about to speak when Tian Shoushui poked his head in and called out:
"Lin Feng is here!"
The two exchanged puzzled glances, and when they saw Liu Linfeng hurrying into the courtyard, wiping off sweat, and looking at them, he said:
"An Immortal Master has arrived at the foot of the mountain, claiming to be from Qing Sui Peak."