Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 255 Li Qianchang

With Li Qianxiong's support, Li Xiangming immediately went to find his elder brother, Li Xiangren.

Li Xiangren was equally interested in the "Enlightenment Spring" and, having received an imperial edict from the family head, readily agreed to Li Xiangming's request.

The two secretly left Danggui Mountain and traveled north on the "Green Cloud" flying boat.

In fact, Li Xiangren also had his own flying shuttle, which was much faster than "Green Cloud".

However, both flying boats and flying shuttles consume a huge amount of spirit stones.

Li Xiangming was on this trip to find an opportunity to eliminate the evil Green Robe's threat, so he naturally didn't want Li Xiangren to spend money on him.

On the flying boat, the two chatted idly, mainly Li Xiangming asking Li Xiangren about the secrets of cultivation.

After a long while, Li Xiangming suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, elder brother, shouldn't Jiye have entered the Dao by now?"

Li Xiangren, who was sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes and nodded: "Yes, Jiye is 6 years old. I intend to teach him myself."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming pondered for a moment.

He had originally wanted to ask Li Xiangren if he would send Li Jiye to the Qingmiao Academy.

Because Lee Sang-in wields considerable political influence within the Lee family.

He is the most successful prodigy his family has ever produced since Li Qiansu, without exception.

If he sends his child to the Green Seedling Academy, it will undoubtedly have a positive demonstration effect on other clansmen, making the Green Seedling Academy once again valued by the clan.

However, Lee Sang-in did not do so.

As a rare high-end combatant in the family, Li Xiangren did not want to have a specific position like Li Xiangming.

But that doesn't mean he can write with ease.

For example, Li Chenggeng was stationed at the northern mine, and Li Qianxiao was stationed at the Maojing mine.

Even after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivators in a family must still contribute to the family.

Since the battle at Maojing Mine, Li Xiangren has been cultivating at Tailai Peak for two years.

Based on what Li Qianxiong said, Li Xiangming deduced that Li Xiangren would soon be dispatched to receive orders.

At that time, the task of teaching Li Jiye would naturally fall into the hands of the eldest son's wife.

This also means that Lee Sang-in's choice actually follows the education system currently upheld by the Jikmai lineage.

This deviates somewhat from the political ideals upheld by Li Qianxiong.

However, Li Xiangming could understand Li Xiangren.

It is said that Li Jiye has exceptional talent, possessing three spiritual roots, with fire as the dominant element, and is expected to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

As a father, it's understandable that Lee Sang-in wants to create a superior environment for his child's spiritual practice.

Who can blame them when the guidance from the eldest son's family is so much better than that of the current Qingmiao Courtyard?

If it were Lee Sang-min, he would probably make the same choice as Lee Sang-in.

This made Li Xiangming realize even more deeply that innovation has always been a difficult thing.

You can't simply cut through a thicket of thorns with one stroke.

Because what hinders you from wielding your sword is never the demons and monsters around you, but your right hand.

Putting his thoughts aside, Li Xiangming changed the subject.

He was closely connected with the head of the family and equally inseparable from Lee Sang-in.

Regardless of Lee Sang-in's choice, he will not stand in his way.
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Ten days later, the two arrived at Hao County, Zhangning Prefecture.

Li Xiangming immediately contacted Li Qianchang, a monk from the local Jinfang Temple.

Li Qianchang looked rather old, appearing to be around fifty years old, with some baldness and slightly graying temples. He had poor aptitude, possessing only five spiritual roots, and despite working diligently for the first thirty years, he only achieved the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Later, he was sent to Dendrobium Market in Hao County to manage some of the family's businesses.

During this period, he also took the opportunity to find some opportunities and successfully entered the fifth level of Qi Refining.

But it seems that this was the end of it. As the Li family moved to Pu County and gradually sold off their Dendrobium Market properties, Li Qianchang lost his support and became a mere merchant, and his cultivation stagnated from then on.

However, Li Qianchang still did not want to leave Dendrobium Market and even took the initiative to apply to stay and become the family's eyes and ears in Zhangning Prefecture, responsible for collecting various intelligence.

Li Qianchang was very surprised to see Li Xiangming and Li Xiangren.

Although he was rarely home, through two clan gatherings, he knew that Li Xiangming was renowned in the family and was now the deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Hall, making him his superior.

As for Lee Sang-in, there's no need to say more.

Having already established his foundation, his status was far beyond that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators.

Both of them are important figures in their families.

Therefore, even as an elder, Li Qianchang was very respectful and personally brewed tea for the two of them.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Qian, with a hint of caution, inquired in a low voice, "Vice Hall Master, did you come here for the Green Cloud Cave, or for the Enlightenment Spring?"

Li Xiangming glanced at him calmly and asked in return, "What's the difference between the two?"

Li Qianchang looked troubled and frankly said, "To be honest, I don't have any more information about either Green Cloud Cave or Enlightenment Spring. I actually regret sending a message to the family before."

Li Xiangming frowned slightly; this was not the answer he had expected.

Seeing this, Li Qian felt a pang of anxiety and quickly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, explaining, "I hope the Deputy Hall Master will forgive us, as the manpower of the Shijinfang in Zhangning Prefecture is truly limited."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming pondered for a moment and then said, "Then tell me in detail what you know."

Li Qianchang didn't know whether Li Xiangming wanted information about Green Cloud Cave or about the Enlightenment Spring, so he took out a letter with delicate and beautiful handwriting and started from the beginning: "I received this two months ago, and it has the seal of Green Cloud Cave on it."

Li Xiangming took the letter, glanced at it, and immediately recognized it as Zhang Min's handwriting.

However, forging handwriting is extremely easy in the cultivation world, so it shouldn't be taken seriously.

He continued reading silently. The letter first inquired about the health of Li Huinan, the patriarch of the Li family, and then explained the recent situation of Fairy Green Cloud and Green Cloud Cave. Then there was a lot of empty talk. The whole thing was just to emphasize the deep emotional foundation between the two families and the expectation of further deepening their friendship and maintaining smooth trade in the future.

Such letters, though seemingly empty, actually carry a certain diplomatic significance.

Every year, the Li family sends out many similar letters to surrounding forces and receives many replies in return.

"What's special about this letter is that it mentions the trade of spiritual herbs."

As Li Qian spoke, he carefully observed Li Xiangming's reaction. "Green Cloud Cave claims that this year's harvest of spiritual herbs is poor and they may be unable to fulfill their agreement, asking us not to mind. But as far as I know, the Li family doesn't seem to have signed any spiritual herb cooperation agreement with Green Cloud Cave, right?"

Li Xiangming shook his head; the Li family's cooperation with Green Cloud Cave on spiritual herbs had long since ended.

A year ago, Zhang Min came to Danggui Mountain and made many efforts to try to restore the cooperation between the two companies.

However, this was resolutely rejected by Li Qianxiong and other senior executives.

Currently, the two companies have not even expressed any intention to cooperate on medicinal herbs, let alone cooperate on them.

Seeing Li Xiangming deny it, Li Qianchang breathed a sigh of relief: "If there were a cooperation between the two families, my family would definitely have notified me immediately. But I haven't received any news for so long. In addition, the person who delivered the letter was just a rogue cultivator and not from Green Cloud Cave. When I pressed him for details, he was vague. Therefore, I concluded that there was something wrong with the letter."

"Furthermore, the letter used humble language when asking for the Li family's understanding. Fairy Green Cloud is quite concerned about her reputation, and she rarely speaks like this when Green Cloud Cave breaks its promises in the past. Based on my personal experience, I judge that Green Cloud Cave may have encountered trouble, and this letter is actually an entreaty for the Li family's help."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming said in a deep voice, "But the letter you sent back to the family did not mention the matter of Green Cloud Cave seeking help."

At that time, the first letter Li Qian sent back to the Li family only mentioned that there might be a crisis at Green Cloud Cave.

Furthermore, it was mixed with intelligence from other Zhangning Prefectures, so Li Qianxiong didn't take it seriously at all.

Even Li Xiangming was unaware of this matter.

(End of this chapter)