The Li Family's Wangyue Lake, tucked behind Lixia County and the Mushroom Forest Plain, suffered no losses despite the threat of the Xiao and Yuan Families; in fact, it even reaped quite a few benefits.

Firstly, Loose Cultivators, fearful of the Devil Cultivators, retreated to Wangyue Lake. Some sought refuge in Da Li Mountain to establish their own Taoist lineage, while others settled among the various families scattered around Wangyue Lake. There were also those who had been fleeing and drifting, weary of their plight, and willingly became Guest Elders of the Li Family.

Secondly, since Guanyun Market was destroyed and the Four Territories were in turmoil, many Loose Cultivators found their channels for raw materials cut off. Moreover, the rampant Devil Cultivators made it dangerous to travel, so they had no choice but to sell their goods cheaply to the major clans nearby.

After being in seclusion for over half a year, Li Yuanjiao found that many changes had taken place within the family. Li Yuanping made a special trip to Wutu Mountain and sifted through family affairs:

"In Eastern Shanyue territory, counting Guest Elders, Shanyue, and Clan Cultivators, there are a total of sixty-five Fetal Breathing Cultivators taking care of Spiritual Objects. After deducting their salaries, the annual yield of Spirit Rice is 1,400 catties, which combined with the value of other Spiritual Objects, amounts to approximately twenty Spirit Stones."

"Our own territories of Lijing, Huaqian, Huazhong, and Jade Court Peaks have over seventy Fetal Breathing Cultivators. After deducting their salaries, the annual yield is 1,600 catties of Spirit Rice, which combined with the value of other Spiritual Objects, amounts to twenty-five Spirit Stones!"

Li Yuanping looked elated, his smile brimming with joy as he said:

"Our family now profits forty-five Spirit Stones annually, amounting to two hundred and twenty-five Spirit Stones in five years, finally matching the Tribute we owe to the Green Pond Sect!"

Li Yuanping had racked his brains to balance the family's income and expenditures, and now they finally broke even. His complexion appeared much rosier with relief.

After all, with the Li Family's extensive business and the astronomical expenses required to maintain it, absorbing these fleeing cultivators turned out to be a relief. Li Yuanjiao, too, displayed a happy expression as he listened to Li Yuanping continue:

"We have ten Qi Cultivators from Shanyue with mixed Qi and no significant combat power; they mostly handle transportation and errands within the clan. There are also five other Clan Cultivators and foreigners with mixed Qi who have been placed in various positions."

"As for Qi Cultivation, we've gained another Guest Elder, also surnamed Li, called Li Qilang, at the second level of Qi Cultivation. He used to run errands in the Mushroom Forest Plain but heard about the Li Family setting up at Wangyue Lake and came over to join us."

Since upright Qi Cultivators among Loose Cultivators were rare, attracting one was considered good. Li Yuanjiao was unconcerned about it and placed his sword aside as Li Yuanping said:

"I've already sent people to buy from the Yuan Family for the Spiritual Spring. Although it's expensive, we can plant the Wanling Flower right away. We can't wait any longer."

"Good."

Li Yuanjiao nodded in approval, and Li Yuanping summoned an old monkey to join them.

The old monkey was now clad in a Taoist robe, wearing boots on its feet, and had a Storage Bag tied around its waist. Its eyes were bright, its demeanor unassuming, and it strangely exuded an aura of someone who had attained profound cultivation as it moved.

The old monkey, with its snow-white fur hanging loose and dressed impeccably, had learned how to read. Though it couldn't speak, it bowed respectfully and presented two Jade Slips.

One of the slips was the "White Monkey Travels," an autobiography of the monkey's life, which Li Yuanjiao casually perused.

It turned out that the monkey demon originated from Qing Kong Mountain in Wu Country, where it started as an ordinary monkey demon, and after many years of cultivation, it broke through to Xuanjing, slowly gaining intelligence. It was captured for use in medicine-making.

After its captors from Qing Kong Temple were wiped out, it wandered into the borders of Wu Country and ended up at the Tu Jun Sect, where it continued to be employed in medicine-making. More than a decade later, when the Tu Jun Sect was destroyed, it finally ended up in the hands of the Yu Family.

The Yu Family, short on manpower, recognized its expertise in this area and continued to have it make medicine.

"Truly skilled in this art indeed..."

Subsequently, the records detailed the destruction of the markets. Li Yuanjiao quickly glanced over the passage and moved on to the other Jade Slip.

This one was "Discourses of a Medicine Mixer," documenting the properties and conflicts of more than a thousand types of Spiritual Medicine, which impressed Li Yuanjiao immensely. It also included two Pill Scripts whose origins were unknown:

The Jade Sprout Pill and the Bright Heart Pill

Both were commonly used Elixirs by Qi Cultivators. The family's own Pill Scripture already contained records of them; they were not of high value. However, the earlier record of medicinal properties pleased Li Yuanjiao greatly, a sentiment shared by Li Yuanping, whose eyes were smiling.

Regarding the Demon Cultivation Technique the monkey demon practiced itself, it relied on breathing techniques before Fetal Breathing and was given a Demon Cultivation Technique by the Yu Family after that. Due to a certain Spell, it couldn't recite it.

Li Yuanjiao gently consoled the old monkey, stuffing two bottles of Elixirs into its embrace. The old monkey unceremoniously placed the Elixirs in its pouch, nodded profoundly, and bowed.

"Peak Master!"

As the brothers exchanged heartfelt words, Shamo Li approached silently with an odd expression and whispered in Li Yuanjiao's ear:

"Family Head! A Pig Demon has arrived at the base of the peak... dressed impeccably, claiming to be a demon soldier from Dazhu Cave, coming for a visit..."

"Demon soldier? For a visit?"

Li Yuanjiao was taken aback. Although he had never heard of this Dazhu Cave, he promptly thought of the Pig Demon from the North Foothills of Li Mountain and asked softly:

"What is its Cultivation Level?"

"Qi Cultivating Peak." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Shamo Li responded quietly, and Li Yuanjiao frowned, saying:

"Please invite it up."

Shamo Li nodded and departed. Meanwhile, Li Yuanping contemplated and said:

"It seems that Pig Demon has something to discuss. Yet, perhaps because of the great reputation of our family's ancestor, it dares not come forward itself and instead sent a lower Pig Demon to convey the message."

"Exactly."

Li Yuanjiao gripped the hilt of his sword, his thoughts aligning with some rumors he'd heard. He said in a grave tone:

"I've heard some news; it's likely due to our family's rise and expanding territory. These demons can't obtain their blood meals and are often killed by cultivators entering the mountains, hence their dissatisfaction."

As they conversed in hushed tones, a six-foot-tall white pig walking on two legs, with a large head and floppy ears that made it look rather comical, swiftly approached. If not for the bone spear it held, one could hardly discern its ferocity as a demon creature.