A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 227 Shameless

The morning mist had not yet dissipated at the Five Elements Sect when Li Weizhou, who was closing his eyes to comprehend the mysteries of space in the Five Elements Hall, suddenly opened his eyes.

Because the Heavenly Mirror issued a warning.

This was the first time such a situation had occurred. The Heavenly Mirror issued a warning, clearly indicating that he was in a situation beyond his control...

However, there doesn't seem to be any major ominous sign...

At this juncture, who else could it be besides the Hu family patriarch...?

He frowned slightly, not understanding what was going on with the Tingyang family.

The Hu family actually came knocking on our door.

Fortunately, we didn't rely on them completely and hid the whole family beforehand; otherwise, we would be in real trouble now.

Even if there aren't many ominous signs, I still wouldn't dare take such a risk...

His divine sense expanded outwards again through the Five Elements Array but found nothing until the Heavenly Mirror warned him again, at which point he discovered an unusual figure.

Li Weizhou took a deep breath and disappeared into the Five Elements Hall.

……

Fifteen miles outside the mountain gate, an old man in a black robe stood in the morning mist.

He was thin and frail, yet he stood perfectly upright.

He just stood there, not emitting any aura, just like an ordinary old man.

If it weren't for those crimson-gold eyes, no one would have noticed such a person...

Li Weizhou appeared in a flash, and at a glance he guessed who it was. He bowed and asked, "Are you a relative of the Ancestral Master?"

Hu Wanshan looked at him indifferently, but there was still a slight fluctuation in his eyes. Clearly, he hadn't expected Li Weizhou to be able to detect his arrival and find him...

"Indeed, there are some differences."

His tone was flat, revealing no emotion, but his gaze swept over Li Weizhou and found that this boy was neither tense with spiritual energy nor stiff and pretending to be calm. His eyes narrowed slightly. This boy from the lower realm was much stronger in character and courage than he had expected.

only……

Why should he?
Li Weizhou, unperturbed by the gaze he was being scrutinized, stepped aside to make way for the mountain gate and gestured for him to enter, saying, "The morning mist at the mountain gate has not yet dissipated. Since you have come, why don't you come and take a look at the foundation that our patriarch personally established?"

Hu Wanshan didn't move. He had lived for countless years, how could he be led by the nose by Li Weizhou? He asked bluntly, "Do you have the 'Five Elements Revolving Scripture' left by Hu Yue?"

"exist."

Li Weizhou nodded readily without the slightest hesitation.

He took out a spirit jade box from his storage bracelet, but did not open it immediately. Instead, he looked at Hu Wanshan and said, "Old man, the scriptures and jade slips are inside the box, including the formation of this Five Elements Grand Array. The inheritance left by my master in the Northern Spirit Domain is kept by me for three years. Today, it is returned to the Hu family."

Hu Wanshan looked at Li Weizhou indifferently and said calmly, "You have the Five Elements Grand Formation as your foundation, which can withstand a True Monarch. Knowing that I have come with ill intentions, why don't you try to resist? Do you not even have this much courage?"

Li Weizhou laughed easily and shook his head, saying, "It's not that I lack the courage to make a move, but I heard from Young Master Tingyang that the old man's tribulation is not far off... If I were to make a move, even if I couldn't stop you, it would definitely delay your efforts to stabilize your cultivation. After all, our patriarch comes from the Hu family..."

Hu Wanshan rudely interrupted, saying, "He has long since severed all ties with the Hu family of Zhongzhou! So, you don't need to try to get close to him."

Li Weizhou glanced at Hu Wanshan in surprise, wondering what had offended him. He knew this man was really counting down the days; the tribulation was approaching, and his temperament was severely affected, fluctuating wildly...

This was the first time Li Weizhou had a relatively clear understanding of the lightning tribulation.

He paused, then shook his head and smiled, "Tingyang Xiao made it very clear. Back then, our ancestor was able to take that half of the 'Thunder Sword Manual' from the Tingyang Clan and offend the three major merchant alliances, yet he remained unscathed entirely because our ancestor was from the Hu Clan. Otherwise, even with our ancestor's extraordinary talent, he wouldn't have been able to stop the wolves and tigers eyeing us from the outside. Therefore, regardless of whether the Hu Clan acknowledges it or not, we have benefited from it, so we cannot pretend to be ignorant. We must show the respect we deserve."

Hu Wanshan glanced sideways and said, "When Hu Yuan came, you didn't show any respect when you attacked him?"

Li Weizhou shook his head and said, "That person came up shouting for a fight and treated me like a lowly servant. How could I dare to accept it? People respect me, and I respect them. It's nothing more than that. The old man, with his profound cultivation, still waited patiently outside the mountain gate. But those three were practically defecating on the mountain gate. Moreover, they showed great contempt for the patriarch, cursing him like pigs and dogs... If it weren't for my shallow cultivation, I would not have let them off so easily."

He didn't continue complaining, but instead changed the subject, saying to the old Hu man opposite him, whose face was as red as gold paper, "Old man, you might as well open it and take a look. It was left by our ancestor himself."

Upon hearing this, Hu Wanshan finally opened the jade box. A jade slip, set against a yellow silk background, gleamed with a warm, spiritual light. The seal script on the jade slip was vigorous and powerful, and it was Hu Yue's handwriting.

Hu Wanshan gently brushed his fingertips across the jade slip, his fingers trembling slightly.

He missed out on so much in his life...

Hu Wanshan ran his fingertips along the seal characters on the jade slip. The warm spiritual light seemed to seep into his meridians through his fingertips, calming his restless immortal spiritual power slightly...

This is the aura of Hu Yue, the genius that the Hu family should never miss.

It was his son, too.

His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it turned into a very soft sigh, hidden in the morning mist.

Li Weizhou noticed his expression and spoke up at the right moment: "Old man, although the Five Elements Sect is not as grand as the Immortal Mountain in the Central Plains, it is the foundation that our ancestor built inch by inch in the Northern Spiritual Domain. The spirit fields, springs, and even the array core of this Five Elements Grand Array were all personally determined by our ancestor. Since you are here, why don't you come with me and take a look at what our ancestor left behind?"

These words, like a fine needle, gently pierced through Hu Wanshan's outward indifference.

He looked up at Li Weizhou, his crimson-gold eyes losing some of their sharpness and showing a hint of barely perceptible softening, and slowly said, "Very well."

Li Weizhou was unsure of the exact relationship between this person and the Five Sacred Mountains Patriarch, but based on the current situation, they seemed to have a deep connection.

So good.

He smiled and turned around, saying, "I'll go first. If you get tired, you can stop anytime." With that, he walked along the bluestone path deeper into the sect.

After a moment of silence, Hu Wanshan finally took a step and followed.

The morning mist slowly dissipated behind them, revealing the scenery along the way.

The spiritual fields at the foot of Qingmu Peak were growing well, with pale golden spiritual dew condensing on the rice ears. Hu Wanshan stopped at the edge of the spiritual fields, his withered fingers gently brushing across the rice ears, the spiritual dew clinging to his fingertips, cool and refreshing.

This was something that was the most ordinary thing in the spirit world, but the old man stared at it for a long time.

Li Weizhou didn't urge him. It's only natural for a dying person to begin reflecting on their life...

The old man and the young boy spent two hours to tour all five peaks, finally arriving at Hunyuan Peak, the core of the Five Elements Sect.

Inside the Five Elements Hall, the old man looked up for a long time, and Li Weizhou didn't know what he was looking at that moved him so much...

He sighed inwardly, thinking that perhaps it was a backup plan left by the patriarch back then... Just as he was thinking this, the Heavenly Mirror in his sea of ​​consciousness suddenly moved again. Li Weizhou was startled, and then looked up and sensed that the Five Elements Formation was like a plastic greenhouse, with its lid casually lifted, and then an extremely powerful pressure fell down.

A crack had appeared in the roof of the Five Elements Hall!
Li Weizhou's breath hitched, as if a mountain had been placed on his body, making it hard for him to breathe.

Fortunately, the Eastern Emperor Bell in his sea of ​​consciousness shook slightly, emitting a barely perceptible chime, which helped Li Weizhou recover.

"what?"

A voice came from the clouds, accompanied by the tremor of lightning.

Li Weizhou looked up and saw a gap open in the clouds, through which a figure in black descended on lightning. The lightning patterns on his black robe shimmered with a pale purple light in the sunlight, and the pale golden lightning mark on his forehead was particularly striking. This person must be a Heavenly Venerable expert from the Tingyang Clan.

What a bitch!

Ting Yangcang glanced at Li Weizhou indifferently before looking away and said, "Hu Wanshan, you're in quite a mood. Why aren't you dealing with the tribulation in Zhongzhou? What are you doing in the Northern Spirit Domain?"

Hu Wanshan's crimson-gold eyes instantly filled with vigilance, and the immortal spiritual power around him began to stir again. He said in a deep voice, "Ting Yangcang, are you following me?"

"You think you're worthy to follow me?"

After speaking rudely, Tingyang Cang landed beside Li Weizhou, his gaze sweeping over the jade slip in Hu Wanshan's hand before turning to the Five Elements Hall. His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable air of authority as he said, "I only came to check on you because I heard you left the Hu family and was worried you might get lost in the Northern Spirit Domain. After all, Li Weizhou is someone my Tingyang clan has chosen, and he has already agreed to join us. If you continue to be shameless and bully the weak, I will not tolerate it."

Upon hearing this, Hu Wanshan flew into a rage. His eyes gleamed with golden light as he stared at Li Weizhou and said, "How dare you betray the sect?"

Li Weizhou lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Back then, our ancestor obtained half of the Thunder Sword Manual from the Tingyang Clan, and my wife mastered it. This technique is a secret art of the Tingyang Clan, and they offered us the conditions to join the Tingyang Clan, to be part of the core lineage, and not to interfere with our ability to live independently in the Five Elements Sect. Rivers and seas do not discriminate against small streams, thus they can reach great depths. Compared to Hu Yuan treating me like a servant, I have no reason to refuse such an invitation and promise. After all, you couldn't even tolerate our ancestor back then, let alone his disciples and descendants."

Upon hearing this, Hu Wanshan's anger suddenly froze, and he stared blankly at Li Weizhou, who had raised his eyes and was looking at him with an open and honest gaze.

Li Weizhou sighed and said, "Old man, if there were even one filial member of the Hu family, they would have risked their lives to stop you, so that you could cultivate peacefully within the family and conceal your inner energy. Those people, for their own selfish interests, dare to trouble you at this time, to come here and take such a risk. If I disregarded the relationship with the founding patriarch and fought with you, the consequences would be... How could I dare to join such a Hu family?"

After staring at Li Weizhou for a while, Hu Wanshan suddenly let out a bitter laugh, a laugh that made Li Weizhou's heart tighten.

His withered hand clutched the jade slip, the last glimmer of sharpness in his crimson-gold eyes faded, replaced by weariness and pain. He said, "You're right, the Hu family, the Hu family..."

He didn't finish his sentence, perhaps not wanting to be laughed at by others. He looked up at Tingyang Cang, his tone no longer wary, but serious: "Tingyang Cang, I know that the Tingyang family has taken a liking to this young man's family's talent, and I know that you want to bring them into the Tingyang family. But the Hu family... is their true home! They will return to the Hu family in the future, and you must not stop them."

Tingyang Cang raised an eyebrow slightly, the lightning patterns on his black robe trembled gently, and he said indifferently, "Tell me about this after you've survived the tribulation. If you can't, their fate is none of your concern."

"it is good."

After Hu Wanshan responded in a deep voice, he looked at Li Weizhou and suddenly smiled. His smile was full of resolute determination, and he said, "If I can survive the tribulation, I will definitely come to the Northern Spiritual Domain to find you. At that time, I will take care of the Hu family's affairs. If I cannot survive... then it is my fate. For Hu Yue's sake, I will leave a continuation of the Hu family line if there is an opportunity in the future."

After saying that, he took out a black storage ring from his sleeve. The ring was shaped like a blue fox, with its tail held in its mouth.

Hu Wanshan handed the ring to Li Weizhou and said, "This was given to me by Hu Yue when he left the Hu family. Keep it; you may need it in the future."

Li Weizhou took the ring, his fingertips touching the cool metal. He felt a faint trace of spiritual energy still lingering on the ring. He bowed and said, "Thank you, sir."

Hu Wanshan didn't speak again. He only took one last look at the Five Elements Hall on Hunyuan Peak before transforming into a pale golden streak of light and flying towards Zhongzhou.

Only after Hu Wanshan's aura completely dissipated did Ting Yangcang withdraw his gaze and look at Li Weizhou, saying, "You know how to handle people; you got Hu Wanshan to bring out his most treasured possessions with just a few words."

Li Weizhou carefully put away the storage ring and said frankly, "This junior was just telling the truth and putting myself in others' shoes."

Ting Yangcang snorted upon hearing this, and the lightning pattern between his brows flickered. Li Weizhou thought to himself, "It's like a power bank..." Then he heard Ting Yangcang say, "Let's not talk about that anymore. Since he gave it to you, you can keep it. I came here this time not only to stop Hu Wanshan, but also for another matter. Thirty-Six said that you and your husband are exceptionally talented, and after seeing it today, I can confirm that you are indeed extraordinary. Staying in a place like the Northern Spirit Domain is ultimately a waste of your talents. Come with me to the Central Plains. Thunder Mountain has the best spiritual veins and the most complete cultivation techniques. I guarantee that you will advance another step within a hundred years."

Such a personal invitation from a celestial being is truly a great pressure.

Li Weizhou shook his head, his gaze fixed on the outside of the Five Elements Hall. His tone was firm yet respectful as he said, "Thank you for your kindness, Ancestor. However, I am deeply indebted to my master and mistress, and entrusted with important responsibilities in times of crisis. I cannot bear to betray their kindness. Besides, this place has become my home. Even a dog doesn't mind a poor home, let alone a cultivator. Furthermore, I am not in a hurry for cultivation. In just three years, I have already reached this point. I believe that a slower pace in the future is not a bad thing."

Tingyang Cang frowned slightly, and the lightning around him intensified. He said domineeringly, "Do you know that if you miss this opportunity, you'll have very few chances like this in the future? Even the direct descendants of the Tingyang Clan have to put in tremendous effort to live on Thunder Mountain. You're so young, yet you're already full of dejection. Don't be ungrateful!"

"I understand."

Li Weizhou nodded, then changed the subject, becoming more positive, and said, "But I have a favor to ask. The Five Elements Sect has very little spiritual energy, and my cultivation progress is slow. Since the Ancestor is willing to help, why not sell me a spiritual vein? A Heaven-level spiritual vein will do."

Upon hearing this, Ting Yangcang was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, his laughter like thunder. After a long while, he said, "You're quite direct. You rejected my good intentions, yet you dare to ask me for a spiritual vein?"

"I don't want it, I buy it."

Li Weizhou explained, "We will definitely pay an equivalent price. Of course, if we don't have enough spirit stones for the time being, we would appreciate an extension of one or two hundred years from now..."

"..."

Tingyang Cang stared at Li Weizhou for a while, as if trying to re-evaluate him. Seeing Li Weizhou's consistently open and honest demeanor, he nodded and said, "Such shamelessness is the mark of someone capable of great things. The Tingyang Clan only has three Heavenly-grade spiritual veins; there's no way they'd give them to you. If you want to use them, come to Zhongzhou. Earthly-grade spiritual veins... that's somewhat possible. You can talk to Thirty-Six about it yourself later."

Li Weizhou's eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands and smiled, "Thank you, Ancestor."

Tingyang Cang looked at him, the lightning pattern between his brows flashing, and slowly said, "Although you are unwilling to move your whole family to Zhongzhou, you still need to make a trip to be included in the family genealogy. Furthermore, your wife wants to study the Great Tingyang Scripture, so she also needs to come to Leiming Mountain as soon as possible."

"I've got it. I'll go as soon as possible."

After Li Weizhou agreed, Tingyang Cang did not linger any longer. He didn't even see Situ Qingyue once before transforming into a bolt of lightning, breaking through the clouds, and flying towards Zhongzhou.

……

(End of this chapter)