Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror

Chapter 411 352: Buzi Arrives

East Sea.

Of the Four Seas, the East Sea is the vastest, waves tumbling endlessly, jade waters sparkling; across its surface, all manner of monsters ride the wind, treading the waves as they advance.

Among the East Sea monsters, those of the Dragon Kind reign supreme, each establishing deep sea palaces, forming their own influence, and making the East Sea the most flourishing and vigorous of all the Four Seas.

Islands lie scattered, like stars on a chessboard, growing larger and more expansive as one approaches Linhai County of Yue Country; everywhere there are Loose Cultivators and sects, even more Devil Cultivators and Exotic Practitioners and Shamans, truly a chaotic realm.

Furthermore, the East Sea teems with demons and monsters, with slaughter playing out daily; sixty percent of monster materials across the seas originate from the East and South Seas, and as the seas themselves are broad and vast, widespread Spirit Rice farming has been practiced for a millennium, exported overseas in mutual benefit.

Thus, the East Sea sects are ever contemplating migration into the domestic territories; among the Three Sects and Seven Doors of Yue Country, many attained Nascent Soul in the East Sea before relocating inland.

In the depths of the sea, passing through layer after layer of mysterious Forbidden Formations, one arrives at an underwater broken cliff, corals scattered across the ground, ruined walls and shattered tiles sunk into the seabed.

Xiao Chuting sat cross-legged, robed in gray, his expression calm and tranquil as he faced a wall of shimmering brilliance, the stone wall crystalline and radiant, flashing with clear light—upon it appeared, one after another, rows of tiny golden characters:

"The Nine Techniques of Unity reside in Clear Firmament, Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations are bestowed by Heaven, Great Void Wind and Fire—Spirit Mechanism is Qi…"

Xiao Chuting studied carefully; after the characters finished appearing on the wall, another large line emerged:

"'Harmonious Golden Core Technique'"

And so, the smaller lines reappeared one after another; Xiao Chuting said nothing, watching silently. He had been trapped here for years, staring at the stone wall day after day, never showing a shred of impatience.

"Chuting, Taoist Fellow, still unwilling to speak?"

Beside him, Zhang Tianyuan stood in golden robes, hands clasped behind his back, gently saying:

"This profound art is a legacy from before the ancient upheaval; even upon seeing it, one soon forgets all. Don't waste your efforts!"

Watching as Xiao Chuting did not utter a word and continued to regard the stone wall, Zhang Tianyuan's brows finally flashed with a trace of impatience; he spoke in a low voice:

"Beneath the Harmonious Immortal Wall, even those Perfected Lords cannot investigate; only you and I know. What else have you to fear?"

"Which Nascent Soul was it who struck during the Furious Moha event!?"

Xiao Chuting paused and finally looked at him, speaking gently:

"Tianyuan, Taoist Fellow, I only met that senior once, and only know the senior's divine skill—nothing else."

"Heh!"

Zhang Tianyuan sneered, voice cold:

"Would someone use a single Fate divine skill to fend off eight, simply to spare the life of Li Tongya? The Li Family is but a small Foundation Establishment clan, where comes such favor?"

"If he's the one behind you and masterful in Fate divine abilities, then surely there's a plot afoot!"

He stared at Xiao Chuting deeply, speaking softly:

"Since you won't talk, we'll continue to drag this out and see if that Taoist Fellow is willing to rescue you. The Xiao Family may be mighty, yet without your support, they may not last long."

"Taoist Fellow, you exaggerate."

Xiao Chuting paid his words no mind, seeing right through Zhang Tianyuan's bluff, sitting firm and steady, even revealing a faint smile:

"You and I may endure, but Green Pond cannot; if my calculations are correct, now that Chen Taojing is dead, the demonic calamity already sweeps toward the domains of the Seven Doors."

Mentioning Chen Taojing's demise, Xiao Chuting's eyes flashed with some regret as he continued:

"Were I not in the domestic realm, relying on Chi Buzi and Yuan Su alone—even with Chong Zhuo and Cave Spring Sound—they couldn't mobilize that many Foundation Establishments; if Perfected Lords' efforts are ruined, you, Tianyuan, could not bear the blame either."

These words made Zhang Tianyuan's expression darken; his golden robe quivered slightly, voice sharp:

"Scheming, are you… No wonder you hid away five years to await just this opportunity… Fine! Fine…"

Zhang Tianyuan gritted his teeth:

"First setting up my Zhang Family, then using the Green Pond Sect; well done! Walk your perilous path—you'll see how long you can hold out!"

He flicked his sleeve, his figure vanished into the distance. Here in the maze of Forbidden Formations left by the Ancient Immortal Sect, entry into the Great Void was barred; even Zifu Monks could only fly honestly and openly.

After Zhang Tianyuan departed, Xiao Chuting likewise rose and clasped his hands behind his back.

For the sake of protecting Li Family's hidden agent for that Nascent Soul Perfected Person, Xiao Chuting had exhausted all schemes, piecing together clues to pin the mastermind behind Li Family on himself—he had now thoroughly offended Zhang Tianyuan.

"Let's hope that senior… has his own arrangement in mind."

...

"Chen Mufeng."

Li Yuanjiao silently picked up the small letter in his hand, finished reading, and looked at the youth kneeling before him:

"Not yet thirty and already at Fetal Breathing Peak—truly a genius!"

Chen Mufeng bowed his head, responded in a loud, clear voice:

"The clan brother is the Taoist Body and immortal seed; Mufeng is but a flicker of fire, unworthy to be compared with the clan brother's brilliance of the full moon."

Chen Mufeng's words held no hypocrisy; Li Yuanjiao was only six or seven years his elder, already at the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation, so he never thought to compete.

Li Yuanjiao, hearing the "clan brother" address, paused, then recalled that Chen Mufeng was the son-in-law of his uncle Li Qiuyang, husband to his clan sister, thus making him a brother-in-law by marriage—a connection if one stretched the kinship ties.

"Have you decided which cultivation technique to pursue?"

Chen Mufeng bowed again and replied:

"I await the clan's decision!"

"Good."

Li Yuanjiao nodded and answered:

"Then let it be 'River Qi Decision!'"

"Thank you, clan brother! Thank you, family! Mufeng shall serve the clan with all his life…"