The fairy forced me to marry into her family, so I retorted by throwing myself into the Pool of Fate

Shuangfeng Market, Li Family Shop.

Behind the counter, Li Ping spoke eloquently to the burly man: "Fellow Daoist, this bowstring is of utmost importance. If we use inferior ones after this repair, it will surely break in less than three months."

"I suggest using something better, like this gold thread dental floss, which is made from the shinbone of a second-tier sea beast, tempered by true fire, and polished over eighty-one days."

"Using this as a string, hunting first-tier sea beasts is as easy as slaughtering pigs and dogs. Even if you encounter a second-tier sea beast, you can still put up a fight."

The man seemed slightly tempted, but ultimately did not accept Li Ping's suggestion when faced with the additional offer of thirty spirit stones.

Watching the man leave, Li Ping couldn't help but sigh, "Money is hard to earn."

After waiting a while, he took out a red square box from under the cabinet. Inside the box was a long worm, about half the size of a finger, completely transparent except for two black antennae.

"Go, follow him."

The serpent immediately flapped its wings and flew straight towards the person from before.

It wasn't that Li Ping had any ill intentions, but rather that this person was a stranger.

The eight islands in the outer sea have unknown boundaries, and cultivators are as numerous as hairs on a cow. What can be done if this person does not pay the balance when he takes the bow?

Li Ping is only at the second level of Qi Refining. Let alone stopping him, he can't even keep people here. If they run away in a flash, where will we find them in the vast ocean?

This tactic is to guard against freeloaders.

Li Ping shook his head, put away the broken bow on the table, and sat down at the shop entrance.

Outside, the blue waves surged endlessly, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Li Ping was lost in thought, reminiscing about his past life.

That's right, he is a time traveler.

Three years ago, I stumbled upon this world and became a member of the Li family.

The Li family is a newly emerging small clan. Only three members of the clan have entered the Dao, and they have only managed to gain a foothold in Shuangfeng Market by relying on their skill in weapon forging.

Li Ping knew absolutely nothing about weapon crafting, which is why he came here to guard the shop.

The same applies to cultivation. With mixed spiritual roots, it took him five years to reach the second level of Qi Refining, and that was only after diligent and arduous practice.

Li Ping has truly come to understand the importance of talent.

"Ping-ge'er, Ping-ge'er, there's some incredibly good news!"

Just then, a figure hopped and skipped straight toward Li Ping.

Li Ping pressed his hand against the girl's forehead and said sternly, "Li Yan, a girl should walk with graceful steps. If you grow up like this, no one will dare to marry you."

The little girl had two pigtails and rosy cheeks; she was the daughter of Li Wang, the second uncle.

"Ping-ge, don't touch my forehead. People say it will stunt your growth." Li Yan shoved Li Ping's hand away, looking quite serious.

"Okay, okay, I won't touch it again." Li Ping smiled and asked, "What good news did you say just now?"

When this was mentioned, Li Yan suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked around. Seeing people coming and going, she pulled Li Ping into the shop.

"Ping-ge'er, you're getting married," Li Yan whispered as she leaned closer.

"Li Yan, are you being too cheeky again? Trying to fool me with something like this, do you want me to have your second uncle give you a good beating?"

"Also, that's not called getting married, that's called marrying into another family."

"I'm not lying to you, they even came to our house and brought two big boxes of things." Li Yan said earnestly, gesturing with her hands.

"Tell me properly, what exactly happened?" Li Ping suddenly seemed a little confused.

"This morning, three men went to our White Stone Island. From their conversation, it seems they are from the Mu family. They want to marry your daughter, whose name is..." Li Yan scratched her head, thinking for a long time, "Her name is Mu Yuebai."

Seeing Li Ping in a daze, Li Yan patted his shoulder and said in a mature tone, "Don't worry, Ping-ge'er, I've inquired about it. That woman is quite beautiful, so you won't suffer any losses. Besides, the Mu family is a powerful clan, so you'll definitely have a good life there. If anyone dares to bully you, just run back to our White Stone Island, and I'll definitely stand up for you then."

Li Yan's attempts to comfort him were ineffective; Li Ping was not only bewildered but also beginning to feel fear.

The Mu family is a powerful clan that has been established on the eight islands of the outer sea for five hundred years, with each generation building their foundation three times.

The Shuangfeng Market where Li's shop is located belongs to someone else.

He had also heard of this Mu Yuebai. He was a person with a superior spiritual root, a pillar of the younger generation of the Mu family, and extremely famous.

More importantly, this woman had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Is it right for a Foundation Establishment expert to want to marry a Qi Refining cultivator with mixed spiritual roots?

"It's a trap."

Thinking of this, Li Ping felt a chill run down his spine and felt extremely terrified.

Just as he was about to grab Li Yan and question her in detail, a middle-aged man appeared at the shop entrance.

The person who came was none other than his second uncle, Li Wang.

With just one sentence, Li Ping's heart sank to the bottom.

"Quickly close the shop and come back to the island with me."

……

……

White Stone Island is over a hundred miles from Shuangfeng Market. On weekdays, one needs to take a ferry to get to the market.

The ferry is slow and only departs when everyone is present. Although it takes time, it is cheap, with a ticket costing only two spirit stones.

The Li family usually takes a ferry to the market.

But today was different. When he arrived at the dock, Li Wang paid twenty spirit stones and called a private ferry.

Rushing back to White Stone Island, Li Wang pulled Li Ping straight to the council hall.

"Don't look so gloomy, be cheerful."

As they approached the door, Li Wang gave a stern reminder, then his expression changed, and he called out to the inner room with a grin, "I've kept Fellow Daoist Chongming waiting."

In the hall, the main seat is vacant.

On the right sat Li Ping's aunt, Li Lan.

The three on the left are led by a middle-aged male cultivator who is broad and stout, with small eyes staring straight at Li Ping.

The other two young men did the same, but their eyes, besides being probing, also carried a hint of hostility.

"What does this mean?"

"Why do these three seem to be seeing me for the first time?"

Li Ping, sensing the subtle signs, felt his heart sink again.

"It's alright, good things come to those who wait." The portly male cultivator waved his hand at Li Wang, then looked at Li Ping: "This must be young friend Li Ping, indeed a handsome and talented man."

"My Ping'er has always been popular with women. Her marriage to your Yuebai is a match made in heaven," Li Lan interjected.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone's expressions were friendly.

Seeing this, Li Ping knew that the marriage was a done deal and there was no possibility of reversal.

He just couldn't understand why his uncles and aunts were turning a blind eye to this obvious pitfall.

Especially the older woman, she's completely biased towards outsiders. Can't she at least show some of the authority of her own family?

Afterwards, Li Wang and the portly Xiu Mu Chongming began to discuss the details of their marriage.

There's not much to say, the main focus is on speed.

During their conversation, Li Ping learned that he was going to the Mu family's bridal chamber that night.

"How can a dignified Foundation Establishment clan be so careless about details?"

"Sigh, there's no way to escape now."

"Bitterness."

Li Ping secretly groaned, feeling utterly lost about the future.

"If that's the case, then the marriage is settled?" Mu Chongming asked.

Li Wang nodded and said, "My Li family is just a small clan. I'm afraid Ping'er won't know the rules. May I give him a few instructions?"

"That's how it should be."

After saying that, the three members of the Mu family left the council hall.

As if seeing a glimmer of hope, Li Ping rushed to Li Wang's side: "Second Uncle, I..."

Li Wang shook his head slightly, then took out a mute talisman to isolate himself from the outside world before saying, "I know what worries you, but we cannot refuse."

One sentence silenced Li Ping's thousand words.

Yes, what gives the Li family the right to refuse the Mu family?

Although Li Wang and Li Lan are both in the late stage of Qi Refining, it is nothing compared to the Mu family. Not to mention Foundation Establishment cultivators, those two young men could probably take down the Li family in no time.

Although he had already witnessed the survival of the fittest in the cultivation world, Li Ping still felt powerless at this moment.

"Don't worry too much," Li Wang said. "The Mu family is a Foundation Establishment clan, and they have acted quite uprightly over the years. Moreover, they will still care about their reputation when they run the Three Workshops. Besides, if they wanted to harm you, why would they go to such lengths as to arrange a marriage and drag a young genius into it?"

"That makes sense, and I actually think it's a good thing." Li Lan chimed in, "Think about it, the Mu family is large and powerful, and their clan land has a second-tier spiritual vein. If you go there, you can just focus on cultivation, which is definitely better than just guarding our family shop all the time."

Li Ping remained silent for a long time.

His uncles and aunts were right, but the chill in his heart had not completely dissipated.

But what can someone at the second level of Qi Refining do now that things have come to this?

"Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. What's done is done, and I should face everything with equanimity."

"As the saying goes, the great way is natural, and following the natural order is how it should be."

He took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing his fear and doubt.

The thought flashed through Li Ping's mind, and he looked at the two elders.

"I don't know when I'll be back. Take good care of yourselves. If you need anything, just let me know. I'll see if I can help out at the Mu family."

Li Ping took out a wooden box and placed it aside: "Li Yan has been wanting these two mother and child insects for a long time, so I gave them to her."

The two elders didn't say anything, but they were somewhat saddened.

After a long silence, Li Wang opened the window and looked out at the vast sea beyond the island, as if he were reminiscing about something.

"Back then, my two siblings and I seized this White Stone Island together, full of ambition and determination, but your father passed away first."

"I thought I could make it up to you, but things are so unpredictable, and you're going to become a member of the Mu family again."

Li Wang turned his head, opened his mouth, and placed a storage bag in Li Ping's hand.

"Once you're at the Mu family, keep your words and actions to the minimum, and prioritize your own safety."

"If things are hopeless, then... run."

Li Ping stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said solemnly, "Li Ping, a member of the Li family, will remember this."

"Second Uncle, Aunt, I'm leaving."

After saying goodbye, Li Ping went straight to his room.

Just as I finished packing my things and was about to put them into the storage bag, a flash of light suddenly appeared.

[Red-patterned iron has been discovered. Should it be surrendered?]