Chapter 69

The three-day ceremonial gathering held its most anticipated events on the final day. Moon Watching City’s lord Song Kaiyang would join powerful forces like the Su Family in the heavenly cave, offering opportunities to promising young cultivators.

They distributed spirit pills and magical talismans, while select individuals received personal teachings from Condensing Essence stage experts. The gathering’s climax would feature the "Enlightenment Stone"—a Condensing Essence spiritual treasure rumored to enable instant breakthroughs through sudden enlightenment.

Yang Lingrui remembered being captivated by the first day’s brief performances. Had this been earlier, he might have eagerly anticipated the high-level cultivators’ guidance and the Enlightenment Stone’s allure for Gathering Qi practitioners.

But now? After seeing Su Lingyun’s true colors and the Li Family’s downfall, he understood the hidden agendas behind these grand gestures. Such "benefits" surely came with invisible chains binding entire bloodlines.

The Yang Family wanted no part of this.

Yang Lingrui visited Li Cheng at the Li Family’s separate courtyard to announce his early departure. Both men shared the same view—staying for the finale brought more risk than reward.

"Wise choice," Li Cheng agreed. "We’ll avoid the coming chaos beyond the city walls."

"Thank you for your support," Yang Lingrui bowed. "The Yang Family won’t forget this."

Li Cheng simply waved him off. As Yang Lingrui disappeared down the path, the Li clansman sighed and turned indoors—only to freeze at the sight of an unexpected visitor.

"Li Cheng pays respects to the Elder!"

Seated calmly before him was Li Yuande, the Li Family’s perfected twelfth-level Gathering Qi cultivator. The elder’s kind smile didn’t reach his eyes.

"At ease," the old man said. When Li Cheng rose, Li Yuande continued, "You’ve shouldered our family’s burdens well."

"Any Li descendant would—"

"I speak not of recent days," the Elder interrupted. "You’ve carried this weight for years."

Li Cheng’s hands trembled as understanding dawned.

"Our family’s destiny is spent," Li Yuande declared with unsettling serenity, his heart untouched by the words.

"Elder…!" Li Cheng’s voice broke as tears fell.

Li Cheng called out twice with a trembling voice, then slumped weakly to the ground, cradling his head as helpless sobs shook his body. He’d known this truth in his heart all along, but stubborn determination had refused to let him surrender.

This was the Elder who’d treated him as a blood grandson, the sister who’d shared every secret since childhood. How could he abandon these two?

He’d stubbornly struggled until now, desperately roiling the waters of the Li Family in search of opportunity. But hearing those words directly from the Elder’s mouth today confirmed the finality of it all.

Li Yuande’s heart ached seeing him thus. The old man approached, wrinkled palm gently smoothing the young man’s hair. "Child, this failure rests with me. When consumed by cultivation in my youth, I neglected family matters, believing higher realms would solve everything. Small conflicts snowballed until our foundation crumbled – shameful that youths like you must mend what I broke."

His steady voice calmed Li Cheng’s turbulent emotions. Wiping tears, the young man whispered, "Is there truly no hope left?"

"For me and the Li Family – none. But you and Qingwan still have futures."

At his sister’s name, light returned to Li Cheng’s deadened eyes. Li Yuande waved his hand, summoning an object that made the youth gasp – a male corpse in his twenties, nearly identical to Li Cheng himself.

"My contingency plan. The Li Family may fall, but you must survive." The Elder’s eyes burned with intensity. "Remember this – stay alive. Vengeance matters not. Just live!"

When Li Yuande mentioned securing fifteen years for Qingwan, clarity pierced Li Cheng’s despair. "But she’s already marked by that-"

"More than one faction covets this old life," Li Yuande interrupted. "The Zhuhu Dynasty will protect her for fifteen years in exchange for my demonstration of Gathering Qi to Condensing Essence."

Li Cheng froze. This was no mere demonstration – it was suicide!

Condensing Essence posed mortal danger even under normal circumstances. Li Yuande had once possessed the talent, until Solitary Moon Mountain designated him as Dao Stone for their talented disciples’ advancement. To this day, they blocked his progress.

The Li Family had leaned toward sects, never imagining they’d target both their Elder and Qingwan. Now Li Yuande turned to the dynasty. His "demonstration" meant publicly failing the breakthrough – displaying every mistake before self-destructing his primordial dan at the critical moment.

Within Zhuhu Dynasty, only a perfected twelfth-level Gathering Qi cultivator with Condensing Essence aptitude could provide such a lesson. Observing this would greatly benefit the princes’ future cultivation.

Yet even this sacrifice only bought fifteen years. The force eyeing Qingwan rivaled Zhuhu Dynasty itself.

"Enough to plant hope," Li Yuande said, gazing where Yang Lingrui had departed. "What think you of the Yang Family?"

"Great potential!"

"Good!" The Elder’s laughter rang out. "Fools fish in ponds, unaware of dragons waiting beneath! When winds rise and fish leap the dragon gate, all shall witness true righteousness!"

Stepping outside, moonlight bathed his face as if restoring his youth’s vigor. "Aid the Yang Family when troubles come. Though our path ends, we become stepping stones for others’ Heavenly Dao."

"Through century-long cultivation, I’ve wished but one thing – that all cultivators might break free from evil’s grasp. To behold moonlit rivers, wander vast lands, and chase the Dao unshackled!"