Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 341 Invitation

"Why would Miss Ding come to this Dendrobium Market alone?"

On the way, Li Xiangming asked curiously.

"How do you know I'm alone?"

Ding Xia pursed her lips.

Li Xiangming smiled slightly. Before going to Hengyue Gate, he had instructed Li Qian to investigate Pei Si and Ding Xia.

Pei Si is most likely an alias; Li Qianchang couldn't find anything about him.

However, there were quite a few discoveries regarding Ding Xia, the array master.

Ding Xia arrived in Dendrobium Market more than a year ago. At that time, she had no companions, and now she is all alone.

“When cultivators travel, they inevitably encounter unexpected situations, and they can’t do without a helper by their side.”

Li Xiangming's words were pointed.

Ding Xia chuckled, "What, you want to be my helper?"

"It's not impossible."

Li Xiangming glanced at Ding Xia's delicate face with interest, then looked away: "But I'm going back to Pu County, and I'm afraid I can't protect you then."

"Pu County?"

Ding Xia was taken aback: "You're a cultivator from Pu County?"

Li Xiangming nodded: "Pu County is located in the southernmost part of Shun'an Prefecture, quite a distance from Hao County. In addition, the turmoil between Bailu Gate and Hengyue Gate has just subsided. Many cultivators from Zhangning Prefecture are cautious and unwilling to travel all the way to Pu County at this time. If you go to Pu County, you can at least alleviate the threat posed by the Fa Rong Cave."

Ding Xia was somewhat tempted upon hearing this, but she couldn't help but hesitate: "Pu County is too far away, and I know nothing about it."

In most people's eyes, Puxian, or rather Shunan Prefecture, was an undeveloped and wild land, fraught with danger.

Ding Xia was no exception.

In the bustling Dendrobium Market, she could easily become a VIP guest of various chambers of commerce and shops by simply showing off a few of her skills.

One can be carefree in both life and spiritual practice.

This is why she was worried about being held accountable by the Ouyang family and wanted to return to Dendrobium Market.

Even if the Ouyang family is furious about Ouyang Zhen's disappearance, they wouldn't bite like a mad dog and keep going.

Six months is enough time for them to calm down.

At this time, Ding Xia appeared in Dendrobium Market and chose to serve a chamber of commerce with a strong background, which would allow her to easily get rid of her troubles.

Afterwards, when the Ouyang family found Ding Xia, they didn't say much.

After all, they knew the real culprit perfectly well.

Ding Xia, the array master, was merely implicated.

There are always wise people in the Ouyang family who will not let this entanglement continue.

Otherwise, it would only damage the reputation of the Ouyang family.
Ding Xia herself can still live peacefully in Dendrobium Market.

Of course, this is on the premise that there are no caves.

But what if she went to Pu County?

Does Pu County have enough formations to allow her to earn spirit stones?

Does Puxian County have a place as impregnable as Dendrobium Market to protect her?

Does Puxian have enough resources that she can buy whatever she needs anytime, anywhere?

Ding Xia knew nothing about it, so of course he had many concerns. How could Li Xiangming not know this?

He smiled and said, "Miss Ding, there's no need to overthink it. Pu County is just a place to lay low for a year or two before returning to Dendrobium Market. Surely the disciples of Farong Cave aren't still around? Even if the 'Rotten Stone Hermit' of Farong Cave is heartbroken for his beloved disciple, how many of his disciples would be willing to waste their cultivation time on a dead man?"

Seeing that Ding Xia remained silent, Li Xiangming continued, "Currently, there are disciples of the Dharma Cave both inside and outside the Dendrobium Market. If I were still here, the guards would protect Miss Ding's peace for the sake of the spirit stones, but only within the market. Would Miss Ding prefer to stay in the entire Pu County, or just the mere Dendrobium Market? Moreover, I am about to head south, and the guards, unable to see me, will likely not be as diligent as they were today."

Ding Xia was somewhat deflated, then glanced at Li Xiangming: "Tell me, what is your purpose in going to such lengths to trick me into going to Pu County?"

Li Xiangming was speechless: "Miss Ding is overthinking it. Any normal person would want to get close to a powerful array master like Miss Ding, right? Only Fa Rongdong doesn't know what's good for him."

"It just so happens that I am returning to Pu County. I can escort Miss Ding along, thus forming a good relationship. If Miss Ding is unwilling, I will not force her. We can consider this a chance encounter."

Ding Xia hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Where should I stay in Pu County?"

Li Xiangming smiled brightly: "Danggui Mountain."
-
Li family of Danggui Mountain.

Li Qianxiong held his pen and leaned over the desk, the pen tip falling on the clean white paper, making a "rustling" sound.

Amazingly, the ink was absorbed by the white paper without leaving a trace.

Nevertheless, Li Qianxiong wrote very carefully.

After a long while, he put down his pen, picked up the blank sheet of paper and began to "read" it, saying as he read, "Xiangcheng, deliver this letter to the steward."

"Yes!" Li Xiangcheng, who had been waiting silently to the side, immediately stood up and took the Xuanwang paper with a blank expression.

Li Qianxiong glanced at him. "What, are you still blaming me?"

Li Xiangcheng shook his head: "I wouldn't dare."

"You might not dare to say it, but you're secretly dissatisfied, huh?"

Li Xiangcheng remained silent.

Li Qianxiong sighed, "This is not only my decision, but also the unanimous opinion of the clan elders. What's so good about that girl from Baolong Valley? The family has found a female cultivator from Qingju Mountain for you. She is said to be a talented woman, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

Li Xiangcheng clenched his fist: "When it comes to marriage, Xiangcheng only wants to make his own decision."

"Nonsense!"

Li Qianxiong said with exasperation, "Marriage is a major life event, decided by parents and matchmakers! How can you make your own decisions? Look at the physiognomy painting and the physiognomy match, they were all arranged by your family. The Wang family of Qingju Mountain is a prestigious family no less than our Li family. What else could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"

"Big brother makes his own decisions!"

Li Xiangcheng was somewhat unconvinced.

Li Qianxiong immediately flew into a rage and roared, "Your elder brother has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, what about you?"

Li Xiangcheng was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head.

Seeing this, Li Qianxiong regretted his words, knowing that they had touched a nerve with Li Xiangcheng.

But as the head of the family, he naturally couldn't apologize, so he could only wave his hand and say, "Send the message first. Don't come to Changlin House for the next few days. Reflect on your actions."

"Yes."

Li Xiangcheng lowered his head, took the letter, and turned to leave.

Looking at his lonely figure, Li Qianxiong shook his head.

The generational names of the Xiang family also have seniority distinctions.

People like Li Xiangren, Li Xiangyu, and Li Xiangming were among the first generation of cultivators to grow up.

This generation of talents is full of outstanding individuals. In addition to the aforementioned leading figures, there are also backbone members such as Li Xiangru, Li Xianghua, and Li Xiangfeng.

But one batch is not enough.

After the Xiang generation began to distinguish themselves, the Li family felt they were blessed with good fortune and began to invest more and more resources in the Xiang generation each year, hoping that more talented children would emerge from this generation.

Li Xiangcheng was exceptionally talented, and at a young age he was able to create his own magic, which naturally caught the eye of the clan elders early on.

Although Li Xiangming later returned to the family and became the most prominent member of the fourth branch, overshadowing Li Xiangcheng's talent.

However, Li Xiangming had an excellent relationship with Li Xiangcheng and valued his talent highly, recommending him repeatedly.

After careful consideration, the clan elders decided to focus on cultivating Li Xiangcheng, intending to make him the leader of the second batch of Xiang-generation cultivators.

For this reason, Li Qianxiong specially arranged for Li Xiangcheng to serve as the scribe in Changlinfang.

Its purpose is self-evident.

However, Li Xiangcheng was disappointing. At the age of twenty-five, his cultivation level remained stuck at the seventh level of Qi Refining, a far cry from that of Li Xiangren and Li Xiangyu.

Even Li Jihu, who is seven or eight years younger than him, has successfully caught up with his cultivation level.

Li Qianxiong and the clan elders were very disappointed by this.

But they did not blame Li Xiangcheng.

Cultivation is up to the individual; external forces are always just that—external forces.

It's not that if you're given good resources, you'll necessarily achieve good results.

If that were the case, there would be no declining sects or aristocratic families in the cultivation world.

After all, who doesn't know how to squeeze out the resources at hand?
Unable to elevate Li Xiangcheng, the Li family quickly adjusted their strategy and began searching for outstanding talents from other generations, including those with the character "Xiang" or even "Ji".

As for Li Xiangcheng, the Li family did not abandon him either.

This kid just didn't become a genius like Li Xiangren or Li Xiangming, which doesn't mean he wasn't outstanding in the eyes of his peers.

Moreover, Li Xiangcheng inherited the genes of the Li family patriarch, and had thick eyebrows and big eyes, with very handsome features.

So his family arranged a pretty good marriage for him.

Unexpectedly, the kid vehemently opposed it and even gave him the cold shoulder.

"Aimei is so much easier to deal with!"

Li Qianxiong picked up a jade slip from the table; it contained a signal from Changtai Xixiang.

Li Xiangming is back safe and sound!
　Single update today, just watching the game, hehe.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)