The Xiao Family did not provide any proof, but the Li Family certainly wouldn't consider annexing a vassal they relied on. Seeing that Li Xihong remained silent, Chen Mufeng also stood still.

Rui Qiongcuo felt uneasy inside. After all, everyone knew about the attack on the Xiao Family, but he had no idea about the casualties they suffered, which unsettled this usually sly and slick old man:

"The Li Family... has been supported by the Xiao Family. Perhaps there won't be any trouble, right?"

As he thought this, another person arrived from outside the hall. Old Rui had not cultivated Spiritual Sense, so when he heard Chen Mufeng, who held a Long Halberd, respectfully call out "Master," he presumed it was a Qi Cultivator and quickly bowed his head, not daring to speak.

The newcomer was none other than Li Qiuyang. After all, these minor families were at best Fetal Breathing Cultivators, so there was no need for the Direct Lineage Qi Cultivators of the Li Family to act personally. They had merely sent Li Qiuyang and a few others.

Li Qiuyang tightened his robe, the snow still on him, his expression thoughtful. In his hand, he clutched a pale jasper-colored rhombic ore and said softly:

"I was ordered by the clan to investigate the Spirit Jasper Ore excavated jointly by the five families."

"It's a bother for the Clan Elder."

Li Xihong responded and saw that Li Qiuyang had something more to say but hesitated. He silently took the ore and said in a deep voice:

"Since the Rui Clan has joined our Li Family's protection, you should abide by our rules and not use people as material for 'rice flesh' or 'blood mince.' Our family takes this matter very seriously. I hope the Rui Clan does not test the law with your actions."

This matter was not honorable, and now Li Xihong spelled it out bluntly. Rui Qiongcuo's face couldn't hide his embarrassment, and he nodded repeatedly, lamenting bitterly in his heart:

"So domineering... When the Yu Family was in power, they took vital energy as tribute, and now the Li Family forbids rice flesh. Each Noble Family has its own temperament, but with such poor Earth Veins, if we do not harvest the old, weak, and diseased for medicine... what can we do?"

Although the area owned by the five families had good resources like the Spirit Jasper Ore, the Spirit Vein and Spirit Mechanism seemed to have been mostly absorbed by this ore vein, leaving a vast expanse of barren land where Spirit Mechanisms were extremely scarce. It was too difficult for the Rui Family to grow Spirit Rice and cultivate Spiritual Objects, so they could only survive by resorting to all sorts of means...

Watching his submissive manner, Li Xihong organized his thoughts and continued:

"Our Family Head is aware of your circumstances and doesn't ask for tribute for nothing. He allows the Rui Clan to send people to our boundary, at the base of Jade Court Peak, to grow rice and learn. Our family will only take a twenty percent share of the harvest."

The old man stood frozen in place for a moment, his eyes losing their usual cunning and instead reflecting profound confusion. He looked at Li Xihong and said somewhat dazedly:

"To go to the base of Jade Court Peak, to grow rice..."

Mumbling to himself, his eyes reddened. He hastily inquired:

"I wonder how much tribute the Shang Clan wishes to take?"

"Taking the water from your Spiritual Spring and those twenty percent shares as tribute will suffice!"

Li Xihong waved his hand dismissively, and the old man still couldn't believe it, staring blankly.

Rui Qiongcuo was of course aware of how rich the land of the Noble Families was and how abundant the Spirit Mechanisms were. He had harbored greedy thoughts before, but during his tenure, the Ji Family was at its most prosperous and Ji Dengqi especially domineering. It wasn't his turn to covet.

After the Ji Family came the An Family; when the An Family left, the Li Family arrived. With the "White Jade Hand," the "Moon Que Sword," and more, they became even stronger. A mere breath from them could annihilate his own family.

As for selling the ore secretly... The Xiao Family's techniques for seeking veins were profound. How much ore was missing from the mines and how much ended up in their hands, the Xiao Family knew very well. Once exposed, it would be a disaster leading to utter ruin.

The Rui Clan had considered fleeing from this poor place many times, but with the Xiao Family coming annually to collect ore, the Rui Clan truly didn't dare to make a move, and could only struggle year after year.

Now, seeing a glimmer of hope, decades of hardship surged into his heart, and he was moved to tears, saying respectfully:

"Thank you, young master!"

Seeing the old Rui kneeling down to the ground, visibly touched, Li Xihong was slightly surprised.

The command had been given by Li Yuanping, and he himself had not thought much about it. The Li Family was short-handed, and there were vast stretches of unused Spiritual Fields beneath Jade Court Peak; it was just a matter of leaving them idle or renting them out.

"Enough."

Old Rui had turned into a kowtowing bug. Li Xihong ordered someone to help him up, the old man's face streaked with tears, apparently truly moved.

The Rui Clan's gratitude was of little use to the Li Family, but Li Xihong, a man of good nature, felt pleased by the old man's moved appearance and said some comforting words. Meanwhile, Tian Zhongqing also arrived with his people.

The Pu Clan was equally grateful, having sent over two Fetal Breathing Cultivators.

"Then let's head home."

After making all the arrangements, Li Xihong repeatedly warned the Rui Clan and transcribed a copy of their cultivation technique. Upon closer inspection, he found it was all common fare, nothing the Li Family didn't already possess, so he prepared to return to the clan.

------------

This military campaign felt much like thunder that brought little rain; within a single day, two families had been subdued, and a triumphant return ensued. The Li Family had gained two vassals in the neighboring Rui and Pu Families, tying them closer through land leases, a bond much stronger than the usual tributes.

Li Xihong returned with over a hundred people, while the Jade Courtyard Guards had executed more than a thousand for disrespecting military and family laws. The rest were stripped of their clan titles and banished to Shanyue, purifying the clan.

The charges were firmly set, sparing Li Yuanping the hassle of arguing with the clan elders and uncles. It also allowed him to rectify the clan's discipline—resolving a major concern made his steps notably lighter.

"It's just that those clan elders and uncles aren't fools. Being seen through, my reputation will unavoidably suffer."

Li Yuanping heard some curses but didn't take them to heart. After spending a few days pacifying the elders and uncles, he cast the matter from his mind. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Sitting by a spacious desk, Li Yuanping picked up a small letter with a frown.

The letter was from An Zhiyan, stationed on Huaqian Mountain. The Spirit Spring from the Rui Family had already been sent over, filled in seven or eight jade bottles, but the old monkey adamantly threw each one out of the cave.

After jabbering away like a monkey with the elder for a long while, An Zhiyan finally understood—the Rui Family's Spiritual Spring was too cold and somewhat toxic. If they used it for irrigation as it was, they feared it could ruin the Spirit Root.

"This!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanping broke out in a cold sweat and silently rejoiced. If it weren't for the old monkey's vigilance, the Foundation Establishment level cash cow could have been wasted.

Internally giving credit to the old monkey, Li Yuanping pondered whether to investigate the spring water while summoning Li Qiuyang, who claimed to have an urgent report.

Li Qiuyang, with a serious expression, took out a pale green ore from his storage bag and said in a low voice,

"Reporting to the Family Head, we have investigated the ore that the Spirit Jasper five families claimed was Spirit Jasper Ore and brought back a sample."

As soon as he finished speaking, he handed the ore over. Li Yuanjiao took it and saw a pale green stone with dazzling golden glints. The ore, a Qi Cultivation level Spiritual Object, could harm the body. Fearing for Li Yuanping's safety, Li Qiuyang had already sealed it with a spell.

Li Yuanping couldn't discern anything special, but Li Qiuyang solemnly said,

"This is not Spirit Jasper. It is Copper Essence of the Green Jade, a rare and precious Spiritual Object. I learned of its nature during a casual conversation with a cultivator from the Xiao Family."

"Copper Essence of the Green Jade is a Qi Cultivation level Spiritual Object that requires Fetal Breathing Cultivators to mine. Its nature is cold and harsh, which severely harms the body. Those who haven't made a breakthrough in Qi Cultivation and enter the mine will face obstacles in their path and lose lifespan, making future breakthroughs even more difficult."

"The Spirit Jasper five families have been mining it for years without realizing the detrimental effects. The Copper Essence will also contaminate the Spiritual Fields, damaging the grown Spiritual Objects. The root cause for the Spirit Jasper five families not being able to cultivate much Spirit Rice and Spiritual Objects is this very substance."

A chill ran down Li Yuanping's back as he finally understood. Setting down the Copper Essence, he nodded and said,

"So that's why... No wonder the Spirit Jasper five families have remained at the Fetal Breathing level for so many years, without producing many Qi Cultivators. It's no wonder the Xiao Family wants to enlighten other clans. Firstly, the Green Pond Sect strictly forbids cross-peak alliances across regions, fearing provocation of the Green Pond Sect; secondly, they are reluctant to send people to mine it themselves."

After a brief contemplation, Li Yuanping solved the puzzles that had troubled him, murmuring,

"No wonder the spring water contains toxic metals. It must also be contaminated with Copper Essence of the Green Jade."

His mind eased considerably as he asked,

"Are the cultivators from the Rui and Pu Families all settled in?"

"They have been properly arranged on Jade Court Peak, marking territories for planting Spirit Rice."

Li Qiuyang responded, and Li Yuanping picked up a vermilion pen, scribbled a few words on the small letter from An Zhiyan, and handed it to him, softly saying,

"Please do me a favor, uncle, and deliver this to Wutu Peak."