Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

This news came like a bolt from the blue, shocking the entire Li family.

The Immortal Sect's Inspector General had secretly infiltrated this realm three days ago and is likely already within the Thick Earth Golden Cliff! They were completely unaware of this!

Li Mutian quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and forced himself to remain calm, saying:

"I see... The steward's actions are indeed unpredictable. In that case, we must return immediately and not delay!"

He immediately instructed Li Changhu and Li Xiangping to organize a team to escort the delegation back.

Boarding the Li family's flying boat, the two boats sped off one after the other towards the Thick Earth Golden Cliff.

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was completely different from when they arrived, carrying an invisible tension.

Li Xiaoyao leaned closer to Li Daoyun, his tone a mix of probing and curiosity, and asked in a low voice:

"Fellow Daoist Daoyun, may I ask how to address this steward of ours? So that we may know his name and avoid any disrespect."

Li Daoyun glanced at him, then at Li Mutian who was listening intently to the side, smiled slightly, and slowly uttered a few words:

"Sir, your surname is Xiao and your given name is Chulan."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the instantly grave expressions on their faces, and added meaningfully:

"The Xiao family of Yunzhou. I presume... you two haven't heard of them?"

"Xiao Chulan".

"The Xiao family of Yunzhou!!!"

These six words struck Li Mutian and Li Xiaoyao like a heavy hammer.

Li Mutian and Li Xiaoyao exchanged a glance, both seeing the deep chill and wariness in each other's eyes.

This so-called "routine inspection" is probably far more complicated than they imagined.

The flying boat cut through the turbid air and flew towards the thick, golden cliffs that were already in sight.

The airship landed rapidly outside the Thick Earth Golden Cliff stronghold. Li Mutian and Li Xiaoyao didn't even wait for the airship to come to a complete stop before jumping off.

Although the two maintained a calm demeanor, their hearts were in turmoil.

The Xiao family, a behemoth deeply rooted in Yunzhou, with its extensive and intertwined influence, and known as the "Number One Purple Mansion Family of Yunzhou"!

Their clan leader is one of only three Purple Mansion True Persons in Yunzhou, apart from the main branch of the Qingxiao Immortal Sect!

What was the purpose of such a powerful and influential inspector who secretly infiltrated the area three days in advance?

As soon as the two landed, they saw Li Mude rushing towards them in a panic, his forehead even covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Upon seeing this, a glint flashed in Li Xiaoyao's eyes, but his face instantly filled with a warm smile.

Before Li Mude could speak, he darted forward.

He grabbed his arm, gently channeling a peaceful and warm spiritual energy into him, and laughed heartily:

"Brother Mude, what's the matter that you're so alarmed?"

"Speak slowly, speak slowly! The Grand Envoy of the Immortal Sect, Vice Envoy Li, is right here. Please don't be impolite and make a fool of yourself in front of him!"

He subtly channeled spiritual energy into his hands, both calming Li Mude's tense mind and conveying a message of "calmness."

At the same time, he turned to the side and raised his hand, gesturing to Li Daoyun beside him:

"This is Li Daoyun, the Deputy Inspector of the External Affairs Hall of the Immortal Sect! Lord Li! Quickly pay your respects!"

He sensed the spiritual energy that Li Xiaoyao had transferred and heard the words "Lord Li" spoken with emphasis.

Li Mude understood immediately, took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his panic, adjusted his facial expression, and respectfully bowed to Li Daoyun:

"Junior Li Mude greets the Vice Envoy! I was out of line just now, please forgive me."

Li Daoyun stroked his beard and smiled, his gaze sweeping over the members of the Li family without revealing his expression:

"It's alright. Steward Li must have something important to report to the master. Please speak freely."

Li Mude then turned to Li Mutian and Li Xiaoyao, speaking quickly but with much greater clarity:

"Master, Second Master! Less than an hour after you two left, a blue light suddenly flashed in the southeast direction of the camp's perimeter, and then a figure landed."

"The patrol guards spotted him and immediately informed me. When I arrived, the man was calmly waiting outside our 'Rock Solid Golden Lock Formation'."

He paused, a flicker of lingering fear crossing his eyes:

"Upon seeing my arrival, the man didn't say much, but simply casually sent a jade tablet through the air to the front of the great array's light screen."

"The jade tablet activated on its own, revealing a clear mark of the Azure Sky Immortal Sect and the runes of the patrol officer."

"He said... he was the inspector for this inspection, ordered to complete the sect's mission, and asked me to open the great formation and let him in."

"I have doubts in my heart. I fear that someone is impersonating me, but I also fear that if it is indeed you, I will be negligent and ruin the important matter of the family."

"With no other choice, we had to bite the bullet and temporarily reduce the protective range of the formation."

"It only covers the core inner government area and key locations of the family, while temporarily exposing the surrounding civilian residential areas and some workshops to the outside."

Li Mude's tone was strained:

"Then, I personally went out and knelt down before that lord to beg for forgiveness."

"It is said that both the head of the family and the second master have gone out to greet the celestial messenger and have not yet returned. There is no one in charge of the household, so we can only ask you to wait in the waiting room of the outer residence..."

"After hearing this, the official simply smiled and said..."

Li Mude imitated the man's tone:

“‘You’re quite bold. But it’s certainly impolite of me to show up without prior notice and without a gift. It’s alright.’”

"Then he asked me where the civilian housing area was?"

"I wanted to personally guide him, but he waved his hand and refused, saying he wanted to see for himself."

"I had no choice but to point him in the right direction."

"Then...then in front of me, he made a hand seal with one hand, and a flash of light appeared on his body, instantly changing his appearance—his clothes became simple and ordinary, like an ordinary merchant, except that he had a jade fan in his hand that was fiery red and had a warm texture."

He tossed me the jade token that proved my identity, instructing me to wait here for the patriarch to return and hand it over.

"After saying that, he took the red jade fan and headed straight for the commoners' district."

After Li Mude finished speaking, he took out a warm, bluish-white jade pendant from his bosom and presented it to Li Mutian with both hands.

The jade plaque is of extraordinary quality. The front is engraved with cloud patterns of the Azure Sky Immortal Sect, while the back has the ancient seal characters "Inspector Xiao" and a unique magical mark, making it undoubtedly authentic.

Li Mutian took the jade token and exchanged a glance with Li Xiaoyao, both seeing the solemnity and confusion in each other's eyes.

This Steward Xiao's actions were indeed quite extraordinary.

Li Xiaoyao broke the silence first, a smile returning to his face, and cupped his hands to Li Daoyun, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Daoyun, look at the mess this has made. The steward's carefree actions have caught us, the hosts, off guard."

Please forgive any negligence.

"How about this, let my cousin lead you fellow Daoists to the inner guest courtyard to rest for a while and have a cup of coarse tea?"

The strange smile on Li Daoyun's face hadn't faded. Upon hearing this, he waved his hand and said meaningfully:

"Fellow Daoist Li, you are too kind. Since the Steward has already gone to investigate the people's conditions, how dare we be lazy and rest? Let us disciples who accompanied you take care of the arrangements."

"As for this humble Taoist..."

He looked at Li Mutian and Li Xiaoyao.

"Let's go with our two fellow clansmen to greet the steward. After all, the sect's mission is more important."

Li Mutian knew that the other party was unwilling (or dared not) to keep Steward Xiao waiting, and even more unwilling to miss the first opportunity to meet with the chief envoy.

He nodded immediately:

"The Vice Envoy is absolutely right. Then we will lead the way."

"please!"

"please!"