232: Li Xiner leaves

Li Xiangyun stood with his hands behind his back, his left hand still pressed down, lecturing like an Old Ancestor of a clan: "A Late Stage Nascent Soul, with a Phoenix Bloodline. Your talent is indeed good, but unfortunately, you are impetuous and your vision is too shallow."

The frozen youth's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Among his peers in the Ji Family, his talent was second to none, and even the Elders of his clan praised him highly. Yet, now, he was single-handedly suppressed by someone he considered a "country Cultivator," rendered utterly powerless, with even his proud Phoenix Bloodline frozen stiff.

This was not only an overwhelming display of cultivation and talent but also an extreme trampling of his dignity. A sense of humiliation instantly overwhelmed his reason, making him tremble with rage, yet he couldn't even utter a word of rebuttal.

Ji Mo's hand, gripping the Phoenix-patterned wooden staff, trembled slightly, and his gaze towards Li Xiangyun completely changed.

To have comprehended the Law of Ice at the Nascent Soul Pinnacle Stage—such talent is rarely seen even in secluded great clans, perhaps once in ten thousand years!

He was secretly alarmed, thinking it fortunate he hadn't acted rashly just now. Otherwise, if the other party had escaped, there would undoubtedly be endless trouble.

"True Monarch, please show mercy!" Ji Mo quickly spoke, the golden light around him dimming significantly, truly placing Li Xiangyun on an equal footing as he said, "A Junior of the clan, young and ignorant, has offended the True Monarch. I hope the True Monarch will spare him this once, for the sake of the Ji Family."

Upon hearing the words "young and ignorant," the youth on the bluestone slab struggled fiercely, his frozen face flushed crimson, and a muffled roar escaped his throat.

He, a dignified Genius of the Ji Family, was called an "ignorant child" by an Elder and had to rely on begging for mercy to escape. This humiliation was even more unbearable than being frozen. His spiritual Qi surged wildly, but it only caused a few thin cracks to appear in the ice layer.

Ji Mo, however, didn't even spare the youth a glance, his gaze fixed on Li Xiangyun as he slowly spoke: "Since the True Monarch inquires, this old man will no longer conceal it.

Your Disciple, Li Xiner, is actually the legitimate daughter of the current Ji Family Patriarch, Ji Hong. Twenty-seven years ago..." He paused, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes, "A collateral branch of the clan coveted the position of Patriarch and, while the Patriarch was in seclusion, made a move against the newly born Young Miss.

To save her life, her mother took her and desperately fled the secluded land, eventually ending up in the Great Zhou Dynasty. After that, there was no news of them."

"These past years, the Patriarch never gave up searching, until a few months ago, he sensed a fluctuation of a kindred Bloodline, which is why he sent this old man here."

Ji Mo sighed, "My earlier concealment of identity was not intentional deception. It's truly because the little princess's status is too important, and the internal strife within the clan has not yet settled. This old man feared the news would leak and bring her another deadly disaster."

"Heh." Li Xiangyun sneered, his dark sleeves fluttering without wind. "The affairs of the Ji Family have nothing to do with my Li Family. However, Senior Ji's explanation sounds as if my Li Family covets something of your Ji Family, which is why you are being so secretive."

His disdain was undisguised. The other party's "charitable" demeanor from beginning to end, as if revealing Li Xiner's background was a great favor, made him extremely displeased.

Although the grudge in his heart was hard to dispel, Ji Mo's words were logically sound and corresponded to Li Xiner's Bloodline fluctuations. Li Xiangyun temporarily suppressed his doubts and pressed on: "Since she is the legitimate daughter of the Patriarch, why didn't he come for such an important matter as finding a relative?"

"The Patriarch is currently in a critical period of seclusion for his Breakthrough, and all major and minor affairs of the clan require his decision. He truly has too many responsibilities to attend to." Ji Mo quickly explained, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Once the Young Miss returns to the clan, the Patriarch will personally apologize to her."

"Too many responsibilities?" Li Xiangyun raised an eyebrow, his ice-blue eyes showing a hint of mockery. "No matter how busy he is, can he be too busy to meet his own daughter for the first time?" Just as he was about to expose more loopholes in this explanation, a clear female voice came from below.

"Master, I am willing to go back with them."

Li Xiangyun suddenly turned his head, only to see Li Xiner had walked to the bluestone slab, looking up at him in mid-air. Tiny sparks still flickered at her fingertips, but the previous confusion in her eyes was gone, replaced by a sense of certainty: "Master, I also felt the Bloodline resonance they spoke of.

And... I want to know who my parents really are, and what exactly happened back then."

She paused, looked at the frozen youth, then at Ji Mo, her voice soft but firm: "I will go with you, but I have conditions. If you dare to harm the Li Family, even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will not acknowledge this 'family'."

Li Xiangyun's pupils constricted slightly. He was about to speak to stop her, but he saw Li Xiner shake her head at him, her eyes filled with entreaty.

He sighed inwardly, knowing that this child had always wanted to know her origins since she was young. Now that there was a clue, she ultimately couldn't hold back.

Seeing this, Ji Mo's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly said: "Young Miss, rest assured, the Ji Family will certainly not mistreat you! I agree to all the conditions you have put forth!"

Upon hearing this, the frozen youth trembled even more with rage, but he could only watch as Li Xiangyun slowly raised his hand, withdrawing the Law of Ice that enveloped him.

Although he was freed, he no longer had any trace of his arrogant demeanor. He merely glared fiercely at Li Xiner, then glanced fearfully at Li Xiangyun, retreating awkwardly behind Ji Mo.

Li Xiangyun gazed at Li Xiner's determined eyes, finally descending slowly, his dark Daoist robe brushing over the ice crystal shards on the bluestone slab.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of extremely faint black and white sword shadow condensed at his fingertips. He gently touched Li Xiner's smooth forehead. The sword shadow vanished upon touching her skin, leaving only an almost invisible shallow mark, like a miniature sword seal.

"This 'Sword Seal' is left by my vital spiritual Qi."

His voice was deep, carrying an undeniable solemnity, "If anyone in the Ji Family harms you, or if you feel danger, you only need to activate the Sword Seal with spiritual Qi, and I will be able to sense it, even from ten thousand miles away."

He paused, Li Xiner's figure reflected in his ice-blue eyes, his tone resounding: "At that time, even if I break through the secluded barrier and traverse all the mountains and rivers of the Ji Family, I, Li Xiangyun, will come with my ice sword and bring you home."

"Master..." Li Xiner's eyes welled up, and she could no longer hold back, suddenly throwing herself into Li Xiangyun's arms and hugging his waist tightly.

In the three years after Li Xiangyun returned, Li Xiangyun truly fulfilled his responsibilities as a Master, giving her warmth like a father.

Now that she was going to a strange "home," the one she was most reluctant to part with was this person who had given her all her warmth.

Li Xiangyun gently patted her back, his hand under his dark sleeve tightening slightly. In the end, he only whispered: "When you go to the Ji Family, always be cautious. If you suffer any grievances, don't just endure it."

A moment later, Li Xiner wiped away her tears, released her embrace, and bowed deeply to Li Xiangyun: "Master, please take care. Your Disciple will definitely return to visit you."

She turned to Ji Mo, her tone calm: "Let's go."

Ji Mo quickly assented, then bowed to Li Xiangyun before leading Li Xiner and the still sulking youth quickly out of the courtyard.

Beside the training ground, Li Zhongwen clutched his sleeve, his lips moving, but ultimately it only became a sigh.

Although he was reluctant to part with the girl he had watched grow up since childhood, he also knew that when it came to her background, others could not make the decision for her.

Li Xiangyun watched the gradually disappearing figure, a hint of understanding flashing in his ice-blue eyes.

How could he not know that while Li Xiner genuinely wanted to find her origins, it was even more so for the sake of the Li Family?

Previously, the Great Zhou Dynasty had pursued the Li Family because of her Phoenix Bloodline. Although that had been resolved, the arrival of a secluded great clan like the Ji Family undoubtedly pushed the Li Family into the spotlight once again.

Her choice to go with Ji Mo was merely because she didn't want to cause another disaster for the place that had raised her, all because of herself.

"Foolish child." Li Xiangyun murmured softly, raising his hand and waving. The ice crystals and Formation patterns in the courtyard all dispersed, leaving only the traces of spiritual liquid that had not yet dried on the bluestone slab.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, his dark Daoist robe rustling in the wind.

The Ji Family? If they dared to harm his Disciple, even if they were a secluded great clan, he would dare to turn their world upside down.