Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 146 Xu Ci
"Shen Rubei?"

Li Xiangming raised his eyebrows. He had already recognized the other party as a member of the Shen family and couldn't help but ask, "What brings you here?"

"No, it's nothing, I just came to take a look."

Shen Rube said in a very soft voice, then added, "Curious."

"What are you curious about?"

Li Xiangming continued to press for answers.

"I wasn't curious, I was just browsing casually."

Shen Rubei stammered, her words disjointed, and after she finished speaking, she turned and left.

But after taking only a few steps, he suddenly felt a gust of wind and was lifted up by Li Xiangming.

"you you"

Shen Rubei blushed and shook the object vigorously.

Where is the young man who came with me?

Since the other party was unwilling to reveal their purpose, Li Xiangming did not press them, but instead inquired about Li Xiangyu's whereabouts.

"You mean Xiangyu? He went to Moxin Island."

"Ink Heart Island?"

"You don't know? Oh dear, I'm not really sure either. Anyway, Brother Xiangyu went with Fourth Brother and Sister Qing."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming frowned and asked for many more details before slowly piecing together a clue.

The Ink Heart Island that Shen Rubei mentioned is an unclaimed island near the center of the lake.

It wouldn't be accurate to say that it's unclaimed, because Mo Xin Island is jointly managed by the four major families of Mi Xian Lake; it's just that it's usually deserted.

The so-called four major families refer to the Shen family of Fengmo Island, the Lian family of Lingshe Island, and the Liu and Kang families of Ruyi Island.

For centuries, the Misty Lake region was in constant turmoil, ultimately resulting in victory for these four families.

To avoid further internal strife, the four parties agreed to hold a magical duel every three years on Inkheart Island.

The cultivation resources produced by Mixian Lake will be allocated according to the rankings achieved by each participant in the tournament.

The Shen family has always been more powerful than the Li family, but the younger generation in the Shen family is not as outstanding as the Li family's Xiang generation.

It just so happened that the martial arts tournament on Moxin Island only allowed young people under the age of 30 to participate, so the Shen family temporarily changed the list of participants and sent Li Xiangyu instead.

Hearing this, Li Xiangming was speechless.

All that talk about helping Li Xiangyu reinforce the sealing runes was just a lie.

The reason the Shen family summons Li Xiangyu every three years is for the martial arts competition on Moxin Island.

Of course, to say it's a lie would be an exaggeration; the Shen family did indeed reinforce the runes.

However, the Shen family's elaborate schemes are unsettling.

But Li Xiangming couldn't say anything either.

If Li Xiangyu himself doesn't want to go to Moxin Island, can the Shen family force him in front of Li Chengkang?

In fact, from Lee Sang-woo's perspective, he was helping his mother, and he did it willingly.

Even the Li family couldn't easily intervene.

As for why Li Xiangyu was able to represent the Shen family in the battle, the answer is quite simple.

Even if the other three families know a lot about the Shen family, surely they wouldn't look at the Shen family's genealogy?
The Shen family could simply change Li Xiangyu's name.

When the organizers verify Li Xiangyu's identity, they will be able to detect that he has the blood of the Shen family.

"Shen Qiushui!"

Li Xiangming silently recited a phrase in his heart, feeling a sense of apprehension towards the head of the Shen family.

As far as he knew, Li Xiangyu's mother was Shen Qiushui's biological daughter.

After Li Qianxia's death, this person resolutely recalled his daughter, separating Li Xiangyu and his mother, and also forbidding his daughter from remarrying.

This was done solely so that, more than a decade later, the familial bond would be used to manipulate one's grandson.

With such a heart of stone and such cunning, the other party is definitely not an easy person to deal with.

Thinking about this, Li Xiangming felt uneasy.

His Ruin Talisman only had three grass patterns carved on it; the rest were nowhere to be found.

I don't know what Shen Qiushui was thinking.

Won't they scheme against themselves too?

"Hey, let me go!"

Looking at Li Xiangming's gloomy face, Shen Rubei felt a little scared.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming snapped out of his daze and put Shen Rube down: "Do you know where my second uncle went?"

"The second great-uncle of the Li family? I don't know."

Shen Rubei shook her head, then suddenly thought of something and said, "If it's Sister Qing, she should know."

"Isn't your sister Qing on Mo Xin Island?"

“Yes, but we can go to Moxin Island and watch Xiangyu’s competition while we’re at it.”

Shen Rubei looked on with anticipation.

Li Xiangming ignored her. Although he was not well-liked by the Shen family, he was still living there. The Shen family would protect him no matter what.

Once you step out of that door, things might change.

What if we encounter a thief?
Didn't Li Chengkang specifically tell me not to wander off?

His current anxiety stems from the fact that the Shen family has been slow to inscribe the Return to Nothingness rune on him.

But given enough time, this rune will eventually be engraved.

Before this, doing too much will only lead to more mistakes and more losses.

Upon learning of Li Xiangyu's whereabouts, Li Xiangming closed the courtyard gate and returned to his room to continue refining the Weeping Spirit Desolate Sky Rope.

Upon seeing this, Shen Rubei was stunned for a moment, then stomped her foot in anger: "Coward!"
-
Ten days later, Li Xiangming was finally summoned by the Shen family.

The person who came to see Li Xiangming was Shen Fengyu, who had led the way earlier.

"Young friend Li looks quite well after half a month."

Shen Fengyu greeted him with a smile.

Seeing the other party's obsequious smile, Li Xiangming felt somewhat uncomfortable and said reservedly, "It's all thanks to the Shen family for their hospitality. By the way, do you know my family?"

"Both my second uncle and Xiang Yu are very good. Xiang Yu even won the championship of the Mo Xin Island Magic Competition a couple of days ago."

Li Xiangming was not surprised by this.

Li Xiangyu himself had the cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining, and also possessed the Crimson Flame Spirit Fire.

Once you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage, you're practically invincible in a tournament setting.

Upon learning that Li Xiangyu was already on his way back to the Shen family, Li Xiangming felt relieved and then tentatively asked, "Do you know about my talisman?"

"Don't worry, I'm here specifically for your rune."

As he spoke, Shen Fengyu led Li Xiangming to another courtyard not far away.

The courtyard was simply laid out, and inside was a very young boy.

"This is Xu Ci. The reason I've kept you waiting for so long is because I'm waiting for him to carve the grass pattern."

Li Xiangming was surprised, not expecting that the Shen family would inscribe runes for other cultivators with different surnames besides himself.

After giving the other party a quick look, Li Xiangming cupped his hands and said politely, "I am Li Xiangming, and I greet Fellow Daoist Xu."

Xu Ci quickly stood up and returned the greeting: "Greetings, Brother Xiangming."

He calls himself "brother"?

Li Xiangming's heart stirred; he figured the other party must also be related to the Shen family by marriage, and perhaps even have some connection to the Li family.

Sure enough, Shen Fengyu explained, "Xu Ci's mother is Xiang Yu's aunt. In fact, you two are neighbors."

"Neighbor?"

Li Xiangming was puzzled.

"Brother Xiangming may not know, but my mother and I currently live in Puxian County."

Xu Ci replied softly.

Li Xiangming was startled again and quickly asked, "Where is Pu County?"

"Jimu Rock".

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming was stunned. Wasn't Jimu Rock Liu's territory?

By the way, Xu Ci mentioned himself and his mother earlier, but didn't mention the Xu family.

Perhaps the Xu family was just a very small clan, dependent on the Liu family for survival.
Sure enough, Shen Fengyu and Xu Ci's subsequent statements confirmed this.

Unlike the highly anticipated marriage between the Shen and Li families, the relationship between the Shen and Xu families was quite complicated.

To put it simply, a rogue cultivator surnamed Xu abducted Shen Qiushui's daughter and they secretly pledged their lives to each other.

This infuriated Shen Qiushui. How could the Shen family, with its prestigious status, possibly agree to a Shen family daughter marrying a rogue cultivator?
The Shen family, not wanting to hide anything, repeatedly sent cultivators, determined to bring the two back.

As a result, Xu Ci's father and mother, in a state of fear, sought refuge with the Liu family, who were then in Zhangning Prefecture, as guest retainers, and later moved with the Liu family to Pu County.

The Shen family negotiated with the Liu family multiple times, hoping that the Liu family would return the person to the Shen family.

But the Liu family refused.

The Liu family was no less powerful than the Shen family. The Shen family was reluctant to confront the Liu family directly, so they adopted a strategy of waiting for them to come to them.

However, Xu Ci's father was also ruthless, staying indoors all day long.

Left with no other choice, the Shen family had to reluctantly accept the marriage.

Despite this, the Shen family never discusses this matter publicly.

Until Xu Ci was born.

Xu Ci possesses a rare Heavenly Wood Spiritual Root, and at only sixteen years old, she already has the cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Refining.

The Liu family refused to give up on the Xu family because of Xu Ci.

Similarly, after learning about Xu Ci's talent, Shen Qiushui's attitude changed completely. She not only spread the news of the marriage between the Shen and Xu families, but also sent gifts to the Xu family during festivals.

This time, the Li family applied to the Shen family to have the Guixu rune inscribed. After much consideration, Shen Qiushui finally agreed and also called Xu Ci over.

All this was to project the image of a good grandfather.

(End of this chapter)