By the time the Serpent Jiao had completely dissolved in the furnace, melting into a dash of vermilion elixir that floated above the flames within, Xiao Yuansi then extracted several auxiliary herbs, and added them into the furnace one by one.
Finally, he kept refining with the alchemical flames, and about an hour later, when the mist in the mountains had dissipated and the dew had all evaporated, eight pale red Spirit Pills emerged from the mouth of the furnace.
Xiao Yuansi pinched a spell, and the eight pills immediately rose into the air, landing in his palm that was emanating white light, he took out eight small white jade bottles and, one by one, divided the pills into them, keeping two bottles for himself, and handed the rest to Li Xiangping and another individual, explaining,
"These Serpent Origin Pills should also be stored in jade bottles, preserve them carefully. Open the wooden stopper only when you're about to consume them. If they're not stored securely, their efficacy will gradually dissipate, losing a pill for nothing."
"If sealed properly, these pills can be preserved for about twenty years, so there's no need to worry."
Li Xiangping and the other individual naturally agreed and carefully accepted the bottles. It was only then that Li Tongya exchanged a look with Li Xiangping and took out three bottles of Serpent Origin Pills, saying,
"Please, Immortal Master, take these three bottles of Spirit Pills to my younger brother, so he can cultivate well."
"Indeed, the Li Family is known for its sentimentality. Yuansi will certainly deliver them."
Xiao Yuansi nodded his head in approval, took the three jade bottles, and said with a bow, deeply moved,
"The Li Family ascended to immortality merely a few years ago, and its foundational depth is still somewhat shallow. The clan needs to pass on the arts of Alchemy, Formation, and Artifact Refining. You also need to recruit more members with Spirit Apertures to prevent the family from fading away after a few generations... Lixia Dao, unlike the ancient Lidao, has no dominantly strong families of immortal cultivators; the Li Family must seize the opportunity."
"There have been countless families in Lixia County that have risen abruptly over the past few centuries, only to disappear just as hastily. As one of the county's noble families, the Xiao Family has watched countless gatherings begin and end, countless buildings rise and fall, the Li Family must strive even harder..."
These heartfelt words from Xiao Yuansi moved Li Tongya, who couldn't help but sigh deeply,
"What the Immortal Master says is very true. My brother and I started from nothing. Now, there are only twenty or thirty descendants with the Li surname, with the side branch Ye Clan barely numbering two to three hundred people. Jing'er is practicing alone in the clan, but we cannot provide him with sufficient provisions for immortal cultivation."
Watching Li Tongya sigh continuously, Xiao Yuansi frowned and said softly,
"My Alchemy Dao cultivation was transmitted within the clan, and I've made the Xuanjing Spirit Oath. The Pill Script of the Serpent Origin Pill must not be divulged. You might find something if you search the markets; perhaps there will be some gains."
Hearing this, Li Xiangping, who had been patiently waiting beside him, quickly asked,
"May I inquire, Immortal Master, about this Xuanjing Spirit Oath..."
Xiao Yuansi was momentarily taken aback, then began to explain,
"Within the family and the clan, the Xuanjing Spirit Oath is used to secretly transmit Cultivation Techniques. Those who cast the spell make an oath with the Xuanjing Wheel as their vow, which is stirred by the heart. If the oath is violated, the Xuanjing Wheel shatters, a cultivator's cultivation level drains away like water, and within a mere moment, they regress to a mortal, exhausted in spirit and vitality, and die as a result of the oath."
"The Xuanjing Spirit Oath is indeed very useful for inheritance, but I wonder how it is valued..."
Li Tongya hastily interjected, but Xiao Yuansi waved his hand to interrupt him,
"It's just an inconsequential skill that everyone knows, I'll write it down for you."
So, he took the paper and brush offered to him and swiftly penned it down. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he finished writing and gently reminded them,
"However, you must be mindful that this Spirit Oath is not the clear and all-discerning Heavenly Dao that understands everything. It may be used to keep Cultivation Techniques or secrets safe, but it's not very effective in deterring others from harboring malicious intentions."
"After all, the goodness or wickedness of a person is difficult for even the Heavenly Dao to clarify, much less a mere Spirit Oath."
"Many thanks, Immortal Master, for the guidance! The Li Family will remember this kindness!"
The two of them expressed their gratitude in a hurry. With the incorporation of the Xuanjing Spirit Oath, Li Xiangping felt a great weight lift from his heart, considerably lightening his mood, and he pondered to himself,
"With this Xuanjing Spirit Oath, the final piece is in place. Once those two children have developed their Xuanjing Wheels and sworn their oaths, I can use them with confidence."
Xiao Yuansi took the reply letter from Li Xiangping, collected the Pill Furnace, summoned the Flying Shuttle, and with a light laugh said,
"My junior brother is quite talented in cultivation, though his root bone is only average; where he truly excels is in the path of swordsmanship. You all need not worry."
"Ladies and gentlemen, may we meet again if fate allows!"
With those words, he mounted his flying shuttle and soared into the sky amid their words of thanks.
After Xiao Yuansi was out of sight, Li Xiangping carefully tucked the remaining three bottles of elixirs into his chest and smiled at Li Tongya,
"Jing'er indeed has a good senior brother."
Li Tongya nodded, all the while reciting the Xuanjing Spirit Oath, before handing the jade slip to Li Xiangping, gesturing for him to take a look.
Li Xiangping hurriedly took the jade slip, gently unrolled it, and stared at the densely-packed tiny characters. He came to a halt, barely reading a few dozen words, then said in a daze,
"This is considered not difficult?"
————
Li Xuanxuan was distracted during the class, staring blankly at Han Wenxu, who was lecturing on stage.
Han Wenxu was almost fifty, with white hairs gradually taking over his temples. In his twenties, he had been an apprentice in a pharmacy in the county. After killing someone in a fit of rage, he had no choice but to flee to the Da Li Mountain and hide. For over twenty years, he looked after the villagers' health and taught the children, leading a rather fulfilling life.
Watching the children study earnestly below, Han Wenxu's face showed a hint of a smile. He had no children of his own but had raised those of the Li Family. These children, who grew up in his school, were no different from his own nephews and nieces.
"Hm? Fog?"
Noticing a thin layer of fog at his feet, Han Wenxu mulled with some unease,
"Why would fog arise at this time..."
Below, the somewhat sleepy Li Xuanxuan's eyes were sharp. He suddenly felt a jolt and nudged Li Xiewen, who was also dozing off next to him, whispering,
"Xiewen, look outside the window."
Li Xiewen hurriedly looked and saw layers of grey fog emerge outside the window. Somewhat unsettled, he responded in a low voice,
"Brother, what's going on?"
"This fog is too strange; our father is just up on the mountaintop. Let's inform our teacher and go up the mountain together to alert them."
Although Li Xuanxuan was not yet six years old, he spoke with the poise of an eight or nine-year-old child, his small brows furrowed as he said solemnly.
As Li Xuanxuan was speaking, he saw Uncle Liu Linfeng enter the school and whisper something to Han Wenxu. Han Wenxu nodded hastily and announced,
"Children, pack up your clothes and bedding. The school is closed for three days starting today."
The two looked at each other, then quickly set about gathering their bedding and clothes amid the cheers of the other children.
Liu Linfeng had informed Han Wenxu and now sat on the steps in front of the house, waiting for the children. He felt an itch in his mouth and reached for the tobacco pipe in his chest.
As he glanced up, he faintly noticed a figure peering around in the fog, squatting in the woods and stealthily looking about.
Liu Linfeng was so startled that he jumped up from the ground, and his treasured tobacco pipe was broken on the ground. He didn't have time to grieve for it; trembling, he called out,
"Who's there!!"