Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 11

The Li family’s home was nearly the size of the Sun family’s palace. It wasn’t obnoxiously covered in gold, but its towers were tall and proud. They landed behind the two sky realm cultivators carrying Li Bowen in the courtyard just outside the main entrance. As they did, the guards at the front door parted as a man stepped out of the grand doors twice as high as the man was tall.

The man was a tall imposing figure with the same long hair and sharp face as the young master. He wore a silver robe and not gold. He wasn’t as muscular as a fire cultivator, but he was no less dangerous.

Chao tried to decipher the man’s realm, but he was having difficulty. It was clear that he’d reached at least the sky realm, though.

His Huifen whispered without bothering to lean close to him. “Peak sky realm.”

“Mmm,” he replied.

The man stopped at the foot of the stairs. “Lay him on his back,” he commanded.

When the bodyguards did as they were asked, the man removed something from his spatial ring and began to pour it on the young master’s face.

Li Bowen sat of with a screech. This one wasn’t Chao’s doing. The young man coughed until he realized where he was, then scrambled to his knees to kowtow to the man. “Father,” he proclaimed.

“Do you know why you’re here?

“No,” he said, gathering his nerve before continuing in an accusatory tone and sitting back on his knees. “Cousin Delun has betrayed the family when I was trying to defend its honor against two villains who were plotting against us.”

A blast of qi flew from the man’s hand, sending his son sprawling onto his back. “Has your arrogance really developed to such an extreme so quickly? Before you even left, Lady Hien arrived to inform me of what was going on.”

At his word, the sky realm woman who had been sitting at the young master’s side, exited the building to join him. “Master Li Jing,” she said with a bow. “As you requested, I’ve followed at Young Master Li’s side for the last year. It is my experience that he often bullies people, relying on the Li family name to force his will.”

“Thank you, Lady Hien,” the man’s father said. “Li Delun, what do you say?”

“Traitor,” Bowen cried.

With just a look from his father, the young master was left cowering.

“Lady Hien speaks true,” Li Delun replied. “He has grown more and more violent and less honorable since the trial began two years ago. At first, he would challenge those he sought to bully to duel. When he won, he would treat them was a measure of honor. It is only recently that he started sending Li Manchu and myself to fight in his stead. We of course didn’t carry out his will but informed the targets of what was going on and paid them to keep quiet. Today, was the first time he sought to bully someone so openly and with such murderous intent. It was then that I subdued him.”

It was then that Master Li Jing stepped forward and addressed his son would was leaning back on his hand, “Son, you have dishonored the Li family name by using your wealth and power to lord over your own countrymen. I’m disappointed.”

Li Bowen scurried back to his knees. “Trial?” He fell to his hands in a daze.

“It was the same for me when I was your age. Just as it was for Delun and Manchu in their time.”

“I failed…”

“Yes. I did as well.”

Li Bowen looked up. His brow creased, but he still seemed dazed.

“As did I,” Li Delun said.

“And as did I,” Li Manchu echoed.

As he watched the events unfold, Chao couldn’t help but to consider his own weakness. He’d only recently come into wealth. Immediately, he’d gone to auction and hadn’t backed down from trouble. He didn’t consider his actions bullying, but had they been right? There were so much worse things he could’ve done to Li Bowen. He’d certainly controlled himself, but if he followed the pattern of the young master, in a few years he might end up doing far worse and not even notice the progression.

This was a temptation that he may never be rid of. Despite the vast amount of resources they’d won, the Monolith continent still held countless hidden treasures, as did the rest of the world. If all of them were gathered, what they possessed would be a seed to a field of grass. It was said that some of the oldest, most powerful cultivators of the northern continent were even wealthier than the entirety of the Aureate Empire. One day, if they survived, their wealth would likely exceed even them...

“Now, come to your feet,” Master Li Jing said. “Your new lessons will start today. It’s appropriate that you first apologize to our guests.”

At his word, Young Master Li Bowen rose to his feet. He turned to face them. When he saw who it was his farther was speaking of, the young man glowered. “Them?”

“Friends,” he said, ignoring his son’s outburst. “Thank you for coming. My son has shown you much dishonor. For that, I beg your forgiveness. If you are willing, would you please reveal to my son your true cultivations to better teach him as he has erred? I don’t want to pressure you, but if you’re willing, my Li family will compensate you for your trouble and keep your identities a secret.”

Chao watched as the realization come over Li Bowen. The young man’s scowl had softened by a hint of distress.

He looked to Huifen to gauge her response.

“I see no harm in it,” she said plainly.

He turned back to Master Li with a grin. “Compensation is unnecessary and there is no need for forgiveness. Seeing how this is being handled by the Li family has left an impression and given me much to think about. For that, I thank you.”

Unfastening his sash and placing it in his spatial ring, Huifen did as well.

Master Li Jing smiled graciously but as his perceptions touched on Huifen’s cultivation, the expression fell from his face. He bowed deeply and declared so all could hear. “This one greets, Mistress Sage” Straightening while keeping his head bowed, he asked. “Might I ask your names?”

“I am Long Huifen, Lead Disciple of the Ice Phoenix Sect, and his is my husband, the Sage of Heaven’s Laws, Long Chao,” she said firmly.

Chao just smiled at her emphasis on his title.

“Young heroes,” Li Jing said, saluting them. “The whole continent has heard of your deeds. Welcome to the Li family manner. Please, allow me to prepare for you a feast.”

“Don’t trouble yourself. There is still much we have planned for today. However, there was a promise of some Icy Deep Tea, which my Huifen was excited to try.”

“Then tea it will be.” Li Jing started issuing orders. “Manchu, go and inform the great elder that we have company. Delun, escort Bowen to his room. And Lady Hein, I asked much of you, but would you mind accompanying the two sages to the tearoom? Please excuse me for a few minutes as I inform the house staff of your visit.”

“Thank you, Master Li.”

It was then that Li Bowen’s mind had had enough, and he collapsed into a heap. Delun had to carry him again. This time he used his qi.

Everyone set to their tasks in a hurry and Lady Hien approached them.

“Greetings,” she said with a bow. “This one begs forgiveness for not recognizing the two sages.”

“Don’t be silly,” Huifen replied. “It was our intention to go unnoticed.”

“And thank you, Sister Hien for trying to warn us about the young master,” Chao was quick to add.

The young woman became bashful at how familiar they were treating her. As she led the way, Huifen asked about her background. She wasn’t born to a family of high status, but she was found to have high talent as a cultivator at a young age. The Li family had taken her in. They even moved her parents close by and provided them with employment.

“That was gracious of them,” Huifen said.

“Yes. And please, don’t judge the Li family based on Li Bowen’s actions,” the woman insisted. “You won’t find another family that’s more generous.”

Seeing how sincere she was and after seeing how they’d handled Li Bowen, Chao couldn’t deny it.

They arrived in a grand hall where Lady Hien led them to one end with a cozy nook. There was a round table and chairs made of the same glossy wood that the nook was made of. There were carvings of trees and berries everywhere. The light came from red and gold paper lamps hanging overhead and the wall.

“Please be seated,” Lady Hien said. “I suspect Master Li Jing will be joining you with Great Elder Hao-Yu.”

It was as she said. Within a few minutes, Master Jing entered the hall following at the side of man with similar stature, but a more weathered face. They both wore silver martial robes.

“Overlord,” Huifen said under her breath.

They both rose to their feet and saluted the two men.

“Sage Li Hao-Yu,” she said.

“Great Elder,” Chao followed up.

“Young sages,” the man replied with a rigid salute. “Welcome to my Li family’s residence. I hope our young master didn’t offend you beyond pardon.”

“Not at all,” Chao said. Then to his surprise, Huifen hurried around the table and pulled a chair back as if taking over duties of hostess.

“I still remember your lectures on sword techniques,” she explained. “Thank you for joining us.”

Sage Hao-Yu seemed to have a severe personality, but even if he didn’t grin, Chao noticed a mildness to his reaction.

He stopped to measure her up before taking his seat. “I remember you were still a girl the last time I visited the Phoenix Cry lecture hall. I knew this day would come, but I didn’t think it would be so soon, and under such dark circumstances.”

As he sat down in the offered chair, Huifen hurried to sit back down across from him. That left only Lady Hien to pull out the chair for Master Li Jing. Chao sat as he did.

“Let this old man first apologize for not coming to help your Ice Phoenix Sect during Emperor Sun’s madness. I’m afraid that when the other overlords joined with him, it put my family in a very difficult position. Staying neutral was the most I could do, and even then, we feared we’d soon be absorbed by the Sun family. You two are an answer to this one’s prayers.”

“Sect Master Quinyuan would want me to thank you, Great Elder,” Huifen replied. “She understands full well the danger you were in. She will likely visit you in a few days.”

“We’ve already prepared. And rest assured. My Li family has no desire to become involved in the transition or extend our power because of it. We will only become involved if asked. Now, Fairy Huifen. Would you be so kind as to introduce me to this husband of yours.”

Chao and Master Li Jing shared a friendly nod but had been letting the two old acquaintances converse.

After introductions, the conversation took on less of a formal tone. The Icy Deep Tea arrived a few minutes later. Taking his first sip, it had a cool bite to it, almost frigid, but tasted normal to him. Watching his wife take her first sip, he saw it affect her much differently.

“The tea is wonderful,” she said lazily. It relaxed her so much?

When the topic of Li Bowen was brought up, Chao sat forward and asked. “What is to happen to him now?”

“You’re worried about him?” Master Li Jing asked wryly.

He chuckled at the man’s joke but continued soberly. “I don’t want to succumb to the same temptation.”

Huifen sent a gentle burst of qi to embrace him. He did the same back.

“Ah ha,” the great elder said. “Your fear is a healthy one.” He thought for a minute before continuing. “There was a time when the Li family didn’t have such trials. We focused on discipline and teaching the right principles, but it’s the curse of the younger generation to not be able to inherit the experience of the older. It was my father who first implemented this trial. Before that, steps were taken as circumstances deemed it necessary. It was necessary often enough that the trial was developed.”

“What will happen to young Bowen now is that his funds will be taken from him, and he will be put to work. He will learn what it takes to build wealth from nothing. Only then will he be given more authority. Once he is a little older and his cultivation improves, he will be given the duty of bodyguard to one of his younger cousins, just as Manchu and Delun were for him. After having to clean up the messes of an arrogant younger lord for a year or two, he will understand much clearer.”

Chao looked to his wife to discern what he could from her reaction. It was the same look she had when deep in mediation.

“Let me say this, young sages,” Hao-Yu said. If you fear making such mistakes, you’re already moved beyond the need to face such trials on your own. “The real danger you face is growing complacent over a period of time. Keep moving forward.”

He shared a looked with his Huifen and saw her determination. “Thank you, Great Elder, for your advice.”

“It is this one’s pleasure. Now, since you are here, shall we turn our discussion to cultivation? I have heard detailed testimony, but for ones at such a young age, even with your realms, I’m still having trouble grasping how you could defeat nine sages. No. It wasn’t just a defeat, but you were able to kill them. I have been in the middle of the overlord realm for more than a century. My Li family cultivates sword arts from the Heart of Jian Sect that is located on the boarder of Monolith and the Land Bridge continents. They are not nearly as large as your Ice and Fire Phoenix Sects, and not even the Lightning Celestial Sect, but we consistently produce overlords every couple of centuries. The reason for my confusion is this. The offensive power of sword cultivators is often equal to that of a cultivator a small realm higher.”

“Then you cultivate sword qi?” Chao said excitedly. He’d heard of such things from his father, but it was almost as rare as finding a sound cultivator. To have a genuine sword cultivator that had reached the overlord realm not less right in front of him was a great opportunity.

The old sage chuckled for the first time. “Oh yes. The sect’s lineage goes back almost as far as your Fire and Ice Phoenix Sect does, but alas, we have hadn’t contact with our divine realm sect in tens of thousands of years.”

He felt the weight of the man’s words. “Do you know what happened?”

“Only speculation.”

“Well, I’d very much like to see a demonstration, and of course my Huifen and I are more than willing to give you one of our own. I—I must ask. What element, or mix of elements, do you cultivate with your energy gathering techniques? Is it true that you cultivate sword laws even during energy circulation?” He said all that while his eyes were jumped back and forth trying to keep up with the questions appearing in his mind. He created a small blade of iron as long as a finger with his earth laws and held it up in hope the prop would help focus his thoughts.

Both sword cultivators leaned forward to get a look at the item he held in his hand. Noticing they were both interested, he created two more and sat them on the table and slid them toward them. “They will only last while I supply qi to them. I spent quite a lot of time examining iron when I was younger. The grains and its magnetic properties always fascinated me.”

“And you can create it just like that…” The great elder said, picking the little blade off the table. “To answer your question about our energy gathering technique, how about I show you? And as for the element we cultivate, I’d like to hear your opinion first.”

“Oh?” He replied.

“Come.”

When the elder stood, they all stood with him. They followed as he walked at a brisk pace, not even bothering to stay to the main halls. They cut through many rooms that were often decorate in carved wood and polished stone. A few minutes later, they approached a metallic door that looked like a large shield as much as a door.

“This is my personal cultivation chamber,” the great elder said.

“Father?” Master Jing replied pensively.

“You worry too much.” He turned to Chao and Huifen who was standing behind them. “It is against the rules for those from the Heart of Jian Sect to reveal our cultivation methods. Of course, I don’t intend to reveal our energy gather method itself, but much can be discerned by what you’re about to see. The family rule forbidding someone outside the sect from entering one of our cultivation chambers was created because it was deemed wise, not because it was the original purpose of the sect’s rule. It should help answer some of your questions, but I hope it will also be an opportunity for both of us. Let’s take a peek.”

Feeling Huifen’s lace her finger between his and her grip tighten, he realized she was nearly as excited as he was. “This is a great honor,” she said.

Master Li Jing stood to the side with a complicated look.

Chao watched carefully as the great elder undid the defensive formation. Soon it swung open and immediately he sensed the change. It was impossible to miss.

“Husband?” Huifen said. She’d been trying to get a closer look, but he had frozen in place. “What is it?”

“Concepts. So many, but what kind are they…”

“You—don’t know?”

The only elder called from inside the chamber. “Good. You can sense them already. Come take a look.”