Chapter 271: Chapter 268: Will Life Be Different?

In the main hall.

A bold guess suddenly formed in Yan Hengchuan’s mind. When he saw his grandmaster’s beaming expression, he felt his suspicion was all but confirmed.

His expression a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, he immediately shot to his feet. "Grandmaster," he shouted excitedly, "could it be? Have you formed a Golden Core?"

Beside him, her husband’s excited shout drew Yu Peiling’s attention. She, too, stared in disbelief at Li Ping, who sat at the head of the hall.

A Core Formation Cultivator can live for five hundred years and earn the title of Master. They are the apex fighting force in the Western Wilderness’s Cultivation Realm, powerful enough to easily take over an entire kingdom to use as their personal domain.

Take the Jiang Kingdom they were in, for example. Its rulers are the Jiang family, a Cultivation Clan.

The only reason the Jiang family could dominate an entire kingdom was because their Supreme Elder was a Core Formation Master.

A single person, suppressing the entire kingdom’s Cultivation Realm!

’If Grandmaster has also become a Core Formation Cultivator, doesn’t that mean...’

Their minds reeled with the possibilities. But until they heard the confirmation from Li Ping himself, they couldn’t be certain.

The next moment, under their expectant gazes, Li Ping simply smiled and nodded. "I have indeed broken through to the Core Formation Realm."

At these words, Yan Hengchuan and his wife’s eyes lit up.

"This is wonderful!" Yan Hengchuan couldn’t help but exclaim with delight.

The couple immediately bowed in unison to congratulate him. "Congratulations, Grandmaster, on your great success in forming a Golden Core! The path to longevity is open!"

"Heh, rise," Li Ping said with a smile and a wave, gesturing for them to dispense with the formalities.

They obediently rose. "Yes, Grandmaster!"

With the joyous news of Li Ping becoming a Core Formation Master setting the tone, the subsequent small talk filled the hall with a cheerful atmosphere.

Finally, Yan Hengchuan tentatively inquired about Li Ping’s future plans.

’In his eyes, the Grandmaster was close to both the Yan and Ji families. If he planned to remain in the Western Wilderness and establish a domain, their two families, being so close to him, would surely be able to follow and reap significant benefits.’

When it came to future plans, Li Ping shook his head. He flicked his hand, and a Sound Insulation Shield enveloped the hall. Only then did he speak, his tone solemn. "What I’m about to tell you is a secret. You must not speak of it to anyone else."

Ji Shuchen’s life was drawing to a close. Li Ping planned to use the impending opening of the cavernous manor beneath Little Plum Mountain as an opportunity to reveal its secrets to Yan Hengchuan and his wife.

In truth, now that he had reached Core Formation, it was perfectly reasonable for someone of his realm to occupy a Tier Three Spirit Vein.

Theoretically, it wouldn’t be a problem even if the Tier Three Spirit Vein beneath Little Plum Mountain was exposed.

The problem was that after opening the manor, retrieving its treasures, and visiting some old friends, Li Ping intended to depart for the Great Zhou.

As long as he was in the Western Wilderness, no one would dare covet the Tier Three Spirit Vein.

But once he was gone, the combined strength of the Yan, Ji, and Yu families would be insufficient to defend a Tier Three Spirit Vein. Trying to hold it by force would risk annihilation.

Therefore, he needed Yan Hengchuan and his wife to keep the secret until the three families could cultivate a Core Formation Cultivator of their own. Only then could the Underground Spirit Vein be revealed to the world.

Hearing the gravity in Li Ping’s voice, Yan Hengchuan and his wife’s expressions turned grim. They both nodded firmly. "Rest assured, Grandmaster!"

Li Ping then told them about the Tier Three Spirit Vein beneath Little Plum Mountain.

To their stunned expressions, he added his plan to slay the Demon Beast in the Cold Pool and open the manor.

"I will take the heirlooms from within the manor," Li Ping said with a smile. "But the Spirit Vein and the materials from the Demon Beast in the Cold Pool are all for you."

Originally, these things were meant for the Yan and Ji families.

But now the Yu family was practically one with the other two. Besides, his own relationship with the Yu family was decent, so giving them a share was no issue.

Besides, with Yan Hengchuan married to Yu Peiling, it would be difficult to keep it a secret from them anyway.

As Yan Hengchuan recovered from his shock, he mulled over Li Ping’s words and gradually sensed something was amiss. "The Spirit Vein is for us? Then what about your own cultivation domain, Grandmaster? Are you not planning to stay in the Jiang Kingdom?"

Li Ping nodded, confirming his suspicion. "After I’ve taken care of some things in the Western Wilderness, I will depart for the Great Zhou. That’s why you must remember to keep the Underground Spirit Vein a secret. Exposing it will bring disaster upon you!"

The couple nodded, offering no words of persuasion.

They knew their grandmaster’s Dao Heart was resolute; once he made a decision, no one could change his mind.

This was especially true for Yu Peiling. Over the years, she had heard stories from her mother about her past with the Grandmaster.

She knew that when he was young, the Grandmaster had unhesitatingly rejected her beautiful mother’s proposal for him to marry into her family.

After that, he had risked his very life, traveling tens of thousands of miles to Fenglan Immortal City just to fight for a slim chance at Foundation Establishment.

’If the Grandmaster’s resolve to seek the Dao was so strong in his youth, after living for so many years, there was likely nothing in this world that could halt his steps now.’

She thought of her mother, who had passed away after her lifespan ran out. Then, she looked at the Grandmaster before her—ethereal, elegant, and ageless.

A strange thought suddenly popped into Yu Peiling’s mind.

’If her mother had abandoned everything back then, left the family, and followed the Grandmaster to Fenglan Immortal City to make a life there, would her life have turned out differently?’

She knew that before her mother passed away, she had harbored a deep regret.

With the Grandmaster right in front of her, she decided to ask the question on her mother’s behalf. "Grandmaster, there’s something I’d like to ask you."

Li Ping gave her a quizzical look, then smiled. "What is it?"

Yu Peiling summoned her courage and looked at Li Ping, her gaze resolute. "Grandmaster, I want to know... if ninety years ago, my mother had gone with you to Fenglan Immortal City, would things have turned out differently?"

"Turned out differently?"

Li Ping shot Yu Peiling a strange look.

He knew that not long after Yu Peiling was born, her father had died in a conflict, leaving her mother a widow to raise her alone.

At the time, Yu Peiling was just a babbling infant, so she had no memory of her father, nor any deep feelings for him.

But for her to ask such a question now left Li Ping at a loss for words.

’Did she even think about her father when she asked that?’

After a moment of thought, he shook his head. "I don’t know. Perhaps things would have been different."

Yu Peiling was not satisfied with his answer. She had hoped to hear regret in his voice, a sense of nostalgia, of somber reflection...

But she heard none of that. All she detected in his tone was nonchalance, as if her mother had been nothing more than an insignificant passerby in his life. And yet, her mother had never been able to let it go.

A sense of indignation rose within her, and she couldn’t stop herself from pressing, "How would they be different?"

Sensing the turn in her mood, Yan Hengchuan quickly took her arm and explained to Li Ping, "Grandmaster, Peiling’s mother passed away over twenty years ago, and she hasn’t been the same since. Please don’t hold this against her."

Li Ping just smiled and shook his head without a word. He wouldn’t lower himself to argue with a junior.

’The truth was, if Yu Xuewei had truly abandoned her family ninety years ago and followed him to the Immortal City, he would have done everything in his power to help her achieve Foundation Establishment after he had secured his own.’

’Even though she had five Spiritual Roots, and even if it would have delayed his own cultivation.’

’They would have become Dao companions. Perhaps they would have even had children.’

’In his heart, Yu Xuewei was different from Bai Lin and Xiao Yunzhi.’

’But in the end, she had chosen her family over him.’

’Li Ping respected her choice.’

’But by the same token, he would not turn back and try to reclaim a beautiful past that was long gone.’

’It was best to let some things remain as memories. If you tried to dig them up, you would only find they had soured.’

...

「That same day.」

After receiving directions from Yan Hengchuan and his wife, Li Ping went to pay his respects to an old friend.

Afterward, he and Yan Hengchuan flew toward Little Plum Mountain; Yu Peiling, meanwhile, remained behind at Bifeng Lake to watch over their home.

Aboard the Flying Ship, Yan Hengchuan seemed to have something to say but hesitated.

Li Ping glanced at him. "Is there something you feel the need to hide from me? Go on, what is it?"

"It’s about Fenglan Immortal City, actually..." Yan Hengchuan chose his words carefully. "About forty years after you disappeared, Grandmaster—so roughly thirty years ago—three people came to visit me. They claimed to be Cultivators from the Li family of Five Clouds Pool and even brought gifts."

"The Li family of Five Clouds Pool?" Li Ping frowned slightly.

He remembered Five Clouds Pool as a Tier Two Spiritual Land that the Bai family had seized from another clan during their peak.

’In that case, Five Clouds Pool should belong to the Bai family.’

’So where did this Li family come from?’

Yan Hengchuan watched Li Ping’s expression before continuing cautiously, "Yes, the Li family of Five Clouds Pool. And... the three of them claimed that you, Grandmaster, were their father."

Li Ping was stunned.

’Offspring? Since when did I have any?’

’Three of them, no less.’

’Who in the world is spreading such salacious rumors about me?’

But he quickly put two and two together. Since the trio claimed to be from the Li family of Five Clouds Pool, and Five Clouds Pool was the Bai family’s Spirit Vein, the Bai family had to be involved.

Seeing the change in Li Ping’s expression, Yan Hengchuan quickly explained, "I was quite surprised at the time. After some careful questioning, I learned that the three Cultivators were originally members of the Bai family. Apparently, they had voluntarily changed their surname to Li under the influence of their elder—your concubine, Senior Bai Lin."

Then, he simply told him everything he knew in a rush. "From what they said, after you disappeared, Grandmaster, Senior Bai Lin was deeply melancholic. She later adopted some orphans, raising them at Five Clouds Pool. She had them change their surname to Li, telling everyone they were your children, and planned to leave her entire inheritance to them."

"The Bai family Cultivators were furious, but because Senior Bai Lin’s brother is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they didn’t dare voice their complaints. Eventually, to get a piece of her inheritance, some Bai family members proactively had their own children with Spiritual Roots adopted by Senior Bai Lin, allowing them to change their surname to Li."

"Two years ago, Senior Bai Lin passed away. The Li family of Five Clouds Pool sent word, inviting me to her funeral."

...

Yan Hengchuan watched his grandmaster’s face closely as he spoke.

He saw his grandmaster remain silent for a long while, only to finally let out a sigh.

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