HBWnovel Chapter 477: Meng Taizhi (II)
Chapter 477: Meng Taizhi (II)
Chapter 477: Meng Taizhi (II)
After imparting his advice, Li Yuanjiao felt a sharp pain in his back and tightness in his chest, and was reminded of the wound Zhe Ledai had inflicted on him. He knew he needed to address it urgently.
"I've sustained a minor injury and must recuperate. The seclusion of a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator is long, and so I might be unavailable for a few years. Manage the family well in my absence, your brothers will follow your lead. Always consult with your seventh uncle on any matter."
Li Xijun nodded thoughtfully and, as Li Yuanjiao left, he lifted Li Yuexiang from the ground, saying softly, "Come. Big Brother will take you on a walk."
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On Mount Lijing...
Dressed in brocade fur, Li Yuanping sat at the end of the hall as usual. Despite his pale face and slightly sunken eyes, he looked in better health after consuming a talisman pill, which had aided in his breakthrough to the Jade Capital stage recently.
This is as far as I can go...
Though the talisman pill had facilitated his breakthrough, it was but a fleeting reprieve. His cultivation still hung in a precarious balance, and another attempt at advancement could hasten his demise.
Setting aside the letter he had been reading without any apparent change in his expression, he motioned for Li Xicheng at his side and whispered, "Is Meng Taizhi and his daughter around...?"
Li Xicheng cupped his fist and replied, "Meng Taizhi had ventured out to gather qi and has only just returned. I have already sent someone to summon them."
As soon as he finished speaking, an old Qi Cultivator at the ninth heavenly layer, with a dignified demeanor, entered the hall. He came up, cupping his fist as he greeted, "Rogue cultivator Meng Taizhi greets Family Head."
Li Yuanping acknowledged him with a wave of his hand and then got straight to the point. "No need for such formality, Elder Meng. I heard that you can craft Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts... Is that true?"
Meng Taizhi nodded and replied confidently, "I have some expertise in crafting artifacts and am quite skilled with Embryonic Breathing Realm dharma artifacts. If you wish, I can craft such artifacts for your family to offset the cost of gathering Qi."
Li Yuanping smiled and inquired further, "Refining artifacts is no small feat, Elder Meng. How much time can you dedicate to this task?"
Meng Taizhi responded with a bow, "Should your clan provide the materials, producing one artifact every two months is feasible."
Li Yuanping nodded thoughtfully and remarked, "That's sixty artifacts over ten years... That's quite an impressive number."
"I am now at Bamboo Creek Island of the Eastern Sea..."
After Li Xicheng finished reading all the letters, Li Yuanping explained, "I've already sent people to each of the islands to trace the origins of Meng Zhuoyun and other spirit items, but there's no record of any cultivator surnamed Meng skilled in crafting artifacts, nor any recent departures of such cultivator from the Eastern Sea."
"Even the locations Meng Taizhi mentioned led nowhere," Li Yuanping added, tapping the desk.
"His background remains a mystery, making it difficult to trace his origins. Without definitive information about his past, can we just simply recruit him into our family?" he asked, prompting his junior to think.
Seeing the contemplative look on Li Xicheng's face, Li Yuanping continued, "There's no rush. We have a decade to investigate this matter thoroughly. Just stay vigilant and patient, and we'll eventually uncover the truth."
"I've arranged for a team to assist you once you assume leadership of our house. They will methodically follow up on these leads," he said.
Li Xicheng nodded, feeling the weight of his responsibilities. Having observed Li Yuanping navigate similar challenges over the years, he now understood the difficulties his cousin, Li Ximing, had faced.
Although he had only taken over the restructured Li Family, he could already imagine how much harder it must have been for Li Ximing to handle everything in the past.
Just then, a clan soldier approached to report that An Zheyan and his two sons had returned from their survey of the ore vein on the southern shore.
"Excellent! Bring them in immediately," Li Yuanping responded, his spirits lifted as he coughed lightly.
Soon, three men entered the hall together, led by a Qi Cultivator with a shiny shaved head, who was at the ninth heavenly layer.
He cupped his fist and greeted, "An Zheyan greets Family Head!"
Li Yuanping nodded.
Despite looking like a strong bear, An Zheyan's tone was deferential as he continued reporting, "I have completed my investigation on the fourteen anomalies along the southern shore, two were ore veins and seven water veins of high value. Congratulations are in order, Family Head!"
"Two ore veins?!" Li Yuanping exclaimed, rising quickly to his feet.
"What type of ore veins are they?"