Watching his eldest son retreat dejectedly, Yu Mugao's frustration simmered. He narrowed his eyes as he muttered coldly, "We can't let the Li Family run wild either... We simply can't allow Li Tongya to grow too powerful! We must think of a way to suppress them."
————
Mulu Town, as the capital of Eastern Mount Yue, boasted a population of twenty thousand, comparable to one of the four towns under the Li Family. When Mu Jiaoman was reigning, he had been diligent. He constructed four roads leading to the four borders, greatly facilitating the movement of the Li Family's troops. It only took them one night to reach Mulu Town. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
The town gates were wide open, and a group of Mount Yue's clansmen kneeled before them—including two Qi Cultivators, who were also bowed. The dark chariot ignored them and drove straight into the town, heading straight for the palace.
The chariot, carrying a host of soldiers, stopped in front of the blood-stained palace where more Mount Yue ministers were kneeling. Li Yuanxiu got off the chariot with Chen Donghe following behind him silently. His gaze swept over the crowd, finally resting on the woman at the front.
Li Yuanxiu took two steps forward and helped Li Feiruo to her feet with a smile on his face.
"Auntie has preserved the palace's formations for our family, and they were even strong enough to withstand ordinary Qi Cultivators... You're a great hero in this battle!"
Li Feiruo smiled faintly before she stood up gracefully to face him. She then said softly, "The clans heard that our family elder was coming and were so terrified that they wanted to surrender. I haven't done much... I just facilitated the connections!"
After modestly downplaying her role and efforts, Li Feiruo clapped her hands. Like clockwork, several Mount Yue tribesmen brought forward two bodies, dropping them with a thud in front of the steps.
Li Feiruo spoke again, but this time her voice carried some coldness.
"These two were Qimu's shaman and his loyal dog Zhong Yudai, both of whom have been executed."
Li Yuanxiu nodded in response, and two people behind him stepped forward to confirm their identities. Li Feiruo then had someone bring out Qimu's three children, and declared loudly, "Qimu had his brothers slaughtered... Now, only Shamoli and these three heirs of Mu Jiaoman remain. I thought the main family might find a use for them, so I detained them for the time being. The decision is yours to make, Young Family Head."
"What use could they be? Just kill them." Li Yuanxiu smiled faintly before walking past the crowd with Li Feiruo. Both entered the inner hall together, ignoring the children's desperate cries and pleas for mercy behind them.
In the spotlessly clean inner hall, the clan soldiers quickly took their positions on both sides, giving the empty hall a somber appearance.
"What is this?" Li Yuanxiu asked as he looked up at the throne. There, a brown spherical object was hanging, swaying, and overlooking everyone below.
"The Eye of Jianixi."
Li Feiruo answered flatly, causing Li Yuanxiu to pause briefly before she continued, "Mu Jiaoman obtained the remains of Jianixi and preserved his Foundation Establishment Realm eyeball, preventing it from decaying. They hang above the throne, overseeing everyone..."
"The customs of Mount Yue are indeed eerie..." Li Yuanxiu muttered as he glanced at the brown eyeball, feeling an inexplicable familiarity with it. Deciding not to dwell on it, he then gave a soft command.
.bg-ssp-10081{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} "Take it down to be used in a ritual for Granduncle Xiangping."
"Yes!"
As soon as that command was given, two clan soldiers immediately stepped forward to remove the eyeball. Li Yuanxiu took another look at it before turning to Li Feiruo.
"Auntie never had children of her own..?"
"I once did have my own... but they were harmed by Mu Jiaoman."
As she said this, Li Feiruo touched her stomach gently, her expression slightly weary. Li Yuanxiu was clearly taken aback by this revelation and felt a sense of guilt.
"You've endured a lot over the years, Auntie... is there anything you wish for?" he asked softly, his tone apologetic.
Li Feiruo's lips curved into a smile, and she slowly kneeled down.
"There is indeed one thing... I am only in my thirties, and I wish to choose a cultivator from our family to marry into mine; to have a son or a daughter. This would comfort me in my remaining years."
Li Feiruo's answer was unexpected yet reasonable to Li Yuanxiu, who nodded in agreement. Just then, the palace doors swung open. This was startling to all those present, as there were no strong winds at all.
The clan soldiers on either side bowed as a middle-aged man with a sword on his back stepped into the hall, revealing himself. He had another sword at his waist, and he exuded an extremely commanding aura.
"Greetings, Granduncle!"
Li Yuanxiu's demeanor immediately became solemn and submissive, bowing down.
Li Feiruo followed suit though she did not recognize the man, as she could tell from everyone's reactions that he ought to be of importance.
"Feiruo greets the elder!"
"No need for such formalities."
Li Tongya nodded approvingly as he glanced at Li Feiruo, saying warmly, "Well done, you have saved our family much trouble... Which branch are you from?"
"My father is Li Yesheng, who served Lord Xiangping. Li Xiewen is my elder brother," Li Feiruo answered respectfully.
Li Tongya clapped his hands, letting out a hearty laugh.
"So you are Yesheng's daughter? Then there's no mistake about it! You have your father's spirit! Back then, I had Xuan'er send a clan daughter over, never imagining it was you."
Li Feiruo smiled and thanked him. Li Tongya then made a quick gesture, and the eyeball, previously held by a servant, flew up and landed before him.
The brown eyeball, once filled with fierceness and slyness, now only held a vacant stillness. Li Tongya inspected it closely and sighed.
"Jianixi... a man that once drove our family into disarray. I have to admit, he was truly a remarkable person! Fortunately, he died at the hands of Mount Yue's Purple Mansion Realm cultivator..."
Li Yuanxiu, young and not very familiar with that history, listened intently. Li Feiruo, having spent many years in Mount Yue, was more knowledgeable and hence explained it to him softly.
"I heard that Jianixi was a half-brother of Mu Jiaoman—born of a slave, who acquired an ancient secret technique to cultivate his qi. He reached the Foundation Establishment Realm by the mere age of forty. He was truly a genius."
Li Tongya frowned when he heard this.
What ancient secret technique..? Even if one acquires such a method, it's impossible to cultivate without proper qi. That was most likely an opportunity arranged by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of Mount Yue...
He then raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you know what kind of immortal foundation Jianixi established?"
"Mu Jiaoman, when drunk and weeping for Jianixi, once mentioned that his foundation was profoundly powerful and mysterious."
After saying this, Li Feiruo thought for a moment and paused. When she spoke again, her voice was low and serious.
"It is called Emperor's Mandate."
.bg-ssp-10016{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;}