Chapter 50: Elixir

"Are you from the Li family of Lijing? The Li family by Moon-Gazing Lake?" Ning Wan asked.

As Ning Wan spoke, the expressions of those below varied, and whispers broke out among them:"The Li family of Lijing? I've never heard of them. Why would the envoy personally inquire?""Who knows..."

Xiao Chuting also looked down, nodded at Li Tongya, and smiled faintly at him.

Li Tongya was initially startled. He looked up slightly, catching a glimpse of Ning Wan's fair skin and sharp jawline beneath her veil. He replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:"To answer the envoy, I am Li Tongya of the Li family. Our Lijing Mountain is located by Moon-Gazing Lake."

"What is Li Chijing to you?"

Hearing this, Li Tongya's eyes lit up, and his heart settled. He realized Li Chijing must have already made arrangements within the sect. He replied respectfully:"He is indeed my younger brother."

Ning Wan pursed her lips, raised her left hand, and a small brocade pouch flew out, gently landing in Li Tongya's hand. She said softly:"This is from your brother."

"Thank you, immortaless!" Li Tongya quickly took the pouch. Seeing everyone around him gaze in surprise, he couldn't help but smile wryly.

He was not one to seek attention, but he had suddenly become the focus of everyone's gaze, feeling as if thorns were pricking his back. He quickly offered his thanks.

Ning Wan nodded at him, then spoke quietly with Xiao Chuting beside her. The two chatted and laughed briefly, while the rest of the attendees below presented their offerings.

"To the immortal master, all thirty-four families from Lixia Commandery are present!" The servants below finished counting the items and respectfully announced to Ning Wan in a loud voice.

"Good," Ning Wan nodded, then said to Xiao Chuting: "I have other duties to attend to. Since all offerings have been collected, I won't delay any longer."

"Envoy, travel safely." Xiao Chuting cupped his hands, smiling as he watched Ning Wan board the flying boat.

Watching the cloud boat, bathed in rosy light, slowly ascend and disappear eastward into the horizon, Xiao Chuting finally turned to face the crowd below and spoke calmly:"You are all old friends. The rogue cultivators have arrived at the base of the mountain, and the market there has been open for a few days. You may now proceed to trade."

"The old rules still apply: this Guanyun Market is my Xiao family's property. Please show me some respect. If anyone dares to rob, force a purchase, or coerce a sale in this market, it will be considered a direct affront to my family."

"Yes," the crowd below responded, and one by one they descended the mountain. Several individuals approached, wanting to converse with Li Tongya. Wan Yuankai looked at him enviously and was about to speak when he heard Xiao Chuting cough and say with a smile:"Young friend Tongya, would you be willing to have a word with this old man?"

The few people nearby immediately stopped, and Wan Yuankai quickly closed his mouth. Li Tongya hastily replied:"You are too kind, senior. It is my honor to converse with a great cultivator such as yourself!"

Xiao Chuting chuckled, led Li Tongya into the main courtyard, and sat down at a bluestone table. Naturally, an attendant soon brought clear tea. Xiao Chuting took a small sip and said softly:"I don't frequent Guanyun Peak myself, so the hospitality might be a bit modest. I hope you don't mind, young friend."

Li Tongya took the teacup and took a small sip. Immediately, a sweet freshness bloomed on his tongue, and his mind became clear. Resisting the urge to drink it all at once, he quickly shook his head, repeatedly saying he wouldn't dare.

"My grandson trained with your brother on Qinghui Peak for several years, and he has spoken to me about him a few times," Xiao Chuting said with a smile. "Your younger brother's talent in swordsmanship is truly exceptional. Peak Master Si Yuanbai calls him the greatest Qinghui Peak has seen in hundreds of years; he truly cherishes him."

Li Tongya, born into a farming family where tea bowls were commonly used, felt a little awkward holding the small teacup. Hearing this, he was momentarily stunned, then replied with a touch of surprise:"Jing'er never mentioned this to the family..."

"Your brother is a good child. Have you looked at that brocade pouch?" Xiao Chuting asked, a nostalgic glint in his eyes as he looked at Li Tongya, seemingly recalling distant memories. He chuckled:"It contains five spirit stones. These are all the resources, such as spiritual rice and elixirs, that the child saved over five years. He must have consumed the rest himself, but he saved all these spirit stones."

Li Tongya was stunned, a pang of sadness in his heart. He murmured:"Our Li family has made this child suffer."

"Ah, don't think that way. We all rise and fall together," Xiao Chuting said, waving his hand. He then swept his hand across the table, and a small white jade bottle appeared. He continued:"I observe that you are still at the Embryonic Respiration stage. Here is a Divine Clarity Powder; use it to break through to the Jade Capital realm."

Li Tongya was caught off guard by these words. He quickly rose and repeatedly waved his hands:"Senior! This is too much!"

"Take the elixir and leave. Don't chatter on. Your family doesn't even have a single Jade Capital cultivator, which is an embarrassment to Qinghui Peak," Xiao Chuting said flatly, frowning as he stood up and walked towards the back courtyard, leaving only two words:"See him out!"

***

At the foot of Guanyun Peak, Li Tongya smiled wryly, clutching the elixir in his embrace, and looked at Wan Yuankai, whose expression was complicated. He began:"Brother Yuankai, about this market..."

"Oh," Wan Yuankai snapped out of his daze. He pointed to the path ahead and explained:"Just follow me along this path. There's an illusion array around the market that prevents ordinary mortals from entering, so don't wander off."

After walking for a while, the path indeed opened up. What was once a desolate mountain trail suddenly revealed a small, bustling settlement, filled with people coming and going, and incessant chatter.

"Brother Tongya, my clan has assigned me a task. Perhaps we should part ways here and meet later at the foot of the mountain to take a carriage back together," Wan Yuankai said with a cupped-hand salute, smiling at Li Tongya, then quickly headed east.

Watching Wan Yuankai disappear into the distance, Li Tongya shook his head and looked at a small stall by the roadside. The stall owner was reading a book, a somewhat troubled expression on his face. On the stall were several talismans, a few unknown spiritual items, and some small flags.

"Are these formation flags?" Li Tongya asked, looking at the small grayish-white flags without touching them, out of caution.

"Yes, the flag bodies are made from the refined hide of Jade Capital realm demonic beasts, and the flagpoles are white jade wood. They are only eight spirit stones."

Li Tongya couldn't help but recall the six flags Xiao Yuansi had sold to his family. He inquired:"I heard there are formation flags made from the skin of white-striped crucian carp for the flag body and red birch wood for the flagpole... How much do those cost?"

The stall owner was momentarily surprised. His gaze towards Li Tongya grew a little more eager, and his tone became more respectful. He said:"Senior, red birch wood is common enough, but the skin of the white-striped crucian carp is a material for Qi Condensation stage cultivators. Please take those artifacts to the shops in the east. The stalls here are all for Embryonic Respiration realm items."

"I see," Li Tongya said, suddenly understanding. He mused to himself:"It seems Xiao Yuansi sold those to my family at a good price. If these Embryonic Respiration formation flags cost eight spirit stones, then paying twelve spirit stones for those other formation flags wasn't expensive at all."