Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chen Li had originally planned to grab what he needed on this trip home and head straight back to Thunder Shock.

After all, he still had business to handle at the Black Market, and the matter of the Celestial Sword Sect and the Su Family trespassing into the Kao Mountain Cliff Little World was even more pressing. There was no room for error.

But an urgent summons from Gao Changhe had thrown a wrench in his plans.

The Governor’s urgency most likely had something to do with movements in the Court, which was also something he couldn’t afford to ignore.

Mirror Mountain and Liyang were separated by over two hundred li. Even on a swift horse, a round trip would take two days.

After weighing his options, Chen Li set the meeting for three days later.

Chen Li didn’t waste the rare opportunity of having three free days.

He dedicated most of his time to the Cultivation of his wife, Song Ying, and his concubine, Liu Yun.

Liu Yun was already at Qi Realm Perfection. After Chen Li transferred his power to her again, she naturally broke through the barrier on the morning of the third day and successfully stepped into the Spirit Realm.

Her face flushed, she rose from Chen Li’s embrace and moved to a nearby soft couch. Sitting cross-legged, she closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, guiding the vast Inner Qi in her body back into her meridians for Circulation.

Things were much more complicated with his wife, Song Ying.

Her Cultivation was already at the Spirit Realm Second Level.

Unlike the first two levels, which only required one to open their meridians and Acupoints and accumulate Inner Qi, this stage was different.

The Inner Mansion Pass required the tempering of the five viscera. Even with Chen Li personally handling the process for her, regardless of the cost to himself, it could not be rushed.

Chen Li estimated it would take at least two months. After that, creating the stable prototype of an Inner Mansion Little World within her body would require even more time. This, too, could not be rushed.

He wasn’t particularly worried, however.

The Cultivation of his wife and concubine was directly linked to the strength of his Wife and Wealth Rune Law.

When he had first condensed the True Wealth Rune and manifested its Law, the Rune Law he obtained from Qin Yirong had been very weak. It had grown stronger mostly by refining the immense Primordial Qi within the Cyan Lotus Seeds.

But a treasure like the Cyan Lotus Seed was an incredibly rare find, not something one could actively seek out. There was no telling when the Cyan Lotus would bear fruit again.

He only had five left now and had to use them sparingly.

Whether it was the "Wife’s Wealth," "Inheritance Wealth," or "Family Fortune" Rune Laws, the deeper their Cultivation, the stronger the manifested runes became, and the more he benefited.

Therefore, Chen Li was more than happy to spend time solidifying their foundations.

On the afternoon of the third day, Chen Li left Lingxi and sped toward Mirror Mountain.

By the time he reached Bamboo Forest Village at the foot of Mirror Mountain, the sky had completely darkened, and a light drizzle had begun to fall.

He rested for a short while in the small courtyard he rented in the village. It wasn’t until close to 9 p.m. that he pushed open the gate and stepped out into the misty curtain of rain.

At this late hour, Mirror Mountain was utterly still.

This was the desolate wilderness, with no one else in sight.

Chen Li no longer held back. The Primordial Qi in his body flowed naturally, extending outward to form an invisible barrier around him.

As the fine threads of rain fell, they slid silently aside as if hitting a shield about ten feet away from his body.

He strode casually up Mirror Mountain.

The flat expanse at the summit, strewn with jagged rocks, looked even more desolate and lifeless in the night rain.

Gao Changhe had been waiting here for some time.

In the darkness, Gao Changhe held no umbrella, nor did he wear a bamboo hat. He simply sat cross-legged on a relatively flat boulder, allowing the night rain to fall around him.

However, the raindrops could not touch him either.

For a Grandmaster who had condensed their Divine Sense, there was little difference between night and day; their vision was unimpaired.

When he saw Chen Li finally appear, the tension that had gripped Gao Changhe seemed to ease slightly. He immediately stood up and walked forward to greet him.

The location was the same as their meeting a few months ago, but Gao Changhe’s mindset was completely different.

The calm and calculating demeanor of a man who governed a region, wielded great authority, and sought to control the local powers was now completely gone.

In its place was a deep-seated anxiety and a hint of unease hidden in the depths of his eyes.

He walked to a stop about ten feet from Chen Li, clasped his hands in a salute, and forced a smile. "Patriarch Chen, it’s been a while."

Chen Li looked him straight in the eye. "Governor Gao, you’ve braved the rain late at night to summon a humble commoner like myself to this desolate mountain. To what do I owe the honor?"

Gao Changhe sighed, a touch of resignation in his voice. "Patriarch Chen, please, don’t mock me. I invited you here tonight to propose an alliance with the Chen Family, so we might weather this crisis together."

"A crisis?"

Chen Li raised an eyebrow. "And what crisis might that be, Governor Gao?"

Gao Changhe looked directly at Chen Li and spoke, enunciating each word. "The Duke of England and Xu State Governor will arrive together in Liyang in seven days."

Chen Li was surprised.

’These two are arguably the most powerful and high-ranking officials in all of Jiangzhou. What could bring them both to Liyang at the same time?’

He instantly considered several possibilities, but his expression remained impassive. "A visit from such high officials is a fortunate event for Liyang. Governor Gao need only focus on arranging a proper reception. What business could you possibly have with a common citizen like me?"

"Patriarch Chen!"

Seeing Chen Li feigning ignorance, Gao Changhe’s tone grew urgent. "When the Duke of England and Xu State Governor arrive, what am I supposed to say if they ask to see the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch and he’s nowhere to be found? We both know exactly what’s going on. If I can’t get through this, do you really believe that you and the Chen Family can simply walk away unscathed?"

Chen Li’s eyes narrowed, a cold edge creeping into his voice. "Governor Gao, is that a threat?"

Gao Changhe felt the pressure from his gaze, but at this point, he had no choice but to press on. "It’s not a threat. I am merely stating a fact. We officials of the Court must act according to its laws; we require evidence and cannot simply arrest people on a whim."

"But the Duke of England is different. He holds the Royal Decree Banner, which gives him the authority to execute first and report later—even with court officials. Your strength may be extraordinary, Patriarch Chen, but you are still, in the end, a commoner..."

As he spoke, his gaze remained locked on Chen Li, searching for any sign of panic.

He hoped Chen Li would realize the gravity of the situation—that they were now two grasshoppers tied to the same string and had to face this together.

To his disappointment, however, Chen Li’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He didn’t even blink.

The day he received the urgent dispatch announcing the impending arrival of the Duke of England and Xu State Governor, Gao Changhe had been on pins and needles, his mind in a turmoil.

The matter of the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch hadn’t been made public.

Therefore, Gao Changhe was almost certain their visit was related to the rumor that had recently been spreading like wildfire across Jiangzhou—the one about him and the Water-Participating Ape colluding to imprison and cripple the Cultivation of Luo Pingyuan, the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County.

The thought alone was a massive headache, and a chill ran down his spine.

’Making a move against Luo Pingyuan was, in hindsight, a miscalculation.’

’I was overconfident in my status as a Divine Intent Grandmaster. In a place like Jiangzhou, which has known long years of peace and where the Martial Dao is not particularly flourishing, I thought I was untouchable.’

’With the notoriously vicious Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch by my side, I thought that taking down a minor County Magistrate and absorbing the Jiang Family’s assets would be child’s play. I could even frame the Chen Family for Luo Pingyuan’s death—killing two birds with one stone.’

’But I never, ever expected to capsize in a ditch!’

’Not only did Luo Pingyuan survive, but Chen Li also made the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch disappear. My own Divine Sense was sealed, and with eighty or ninety percent of my Cultivation gone, I might not even be able to defeat a Divine Hall Realm Grandmaster.’

’My entire plan fell apart.’

’Now, it seemed there were only two paths left for me.’

’I could confess everything to the Duke of England, but there’s no telling if he’d even help me.’

’After all, I’ve had very few dealings with the Duke, and we certainly don’t have any kind of relationship.’

’Or, I could compromise with Chen Li and seek a sliver of a chance at survival.’

After turning it over and over in his mind, Gao Changhe ultimately chose the latter.

After all, even if the Duke of England could solve his political troubles, he could do nothing about his crippled Cultivation.

He had worked so hard to reach the Divine Intent level, and the Guiyuan realm had been within his grasp. How could he resign himself to being a cripple and living out the rest of his days in ruin?

Of course, compromising didn’t mean simply giving in.

Gao Changhe had been steeped in the politics of the court for many years; he knew how treacherous people could be.

A weak-willed retreat would only encourage the other party to take a mile when given an inch. He would be devoured completely, and his fate would be even worse.

He had to compromise through struggle, to seek a balance in this game to secure the best possible outcome for himself.

Therefore, in his meeting with Chen Li tonight, he had to adopt a humble posture and show weakness, but the power play had to continue all the same.

He had to make Chen Li understand that while he was at a disadvantage, he wasn’t completely powerless.

As long as Chen Li was wary of this, their negotiations could proceed on relatively equal footing, and he might be able to bargain for better terms.

Reality, however, dealt Gao Changhe a heavy blow.

In the face of his veiled threat, Chen Li’s expression remained as placid as still water, showing no ripple of emotion.

"It seems Governor Gao has yet to grasp the situation."

Chen Li’s expression was nonchalant. "I am in no hurry. Whenever you truly see things clearly, Governor, you can come find me then. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave."

With that, he turned to leave, clean and decisive.

"Wait!"

Gao Changhe never imagined that his carefully prepared trump card—the one he believed would give him leverage—would be so thoroughly dismissed, even completely ignored, by Chen Li.

In a moment of panic, he blurted out, "Patriarch Chen! Aren’t you... afraid?!"

Chen Li paused and turned slightly. "Afraid? I’m just a humble, law-abiding citizen. What do I have to be afraid of? You, on the other hand, Governor Gao, should be more concerned with your own affairs."

He didn’t linger, striding off the summit.

Gao Changhe instantly realized that Chen Li truly did not care.

A chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

’If Chen Li really leaves just like that, what will I do?’

"Patriarch Chen! Please wait!"

Gao Changhe’s expression shifted rapidly, his face turning pale then red. Finally, casting aside all thoughts of posture and power plays, he rushed forward a few steps.

Chen Li stopped but did not turn around.

Gao Changhe took a deep breath before forcing the words out through clenched teeth. "Patriarch Chen, what is it you want? Please... just tell me."

"If Governor Gao truly wants to negotiate, it’s simple."

Chen Li turned back, his gaze once again falling on Gao Changhe. "Pledge your allegiance to the Chen Family."

"Impossible!"

Gao Changhe’s expression changed drastically. The refusal was instinctual, blurted out without a second thought.

He was a Governor, a high-ranking official of the Court, a ruler of a province. Pledging allegiance to a local Noble Family?

Not only was there no precedent for such a thing in the Dynasty’s history, but he himself was from a prominent clan in the Northern Land. He had his own family, his own allegiances.

He might be able to swallow his pride and accept an alliance, but fealty? That was a line he would never cross.

"Then there’s nothing more to discuss."

Chen Li’s tone was nonchalant, as if he had expected this all along.