Chapter 190: Chapter 125: Returning Home with Beauty! First Glimpse of a Clue!

Giant Spirit Island’s outskirts.

Two rays of light sped forth from the distant horizon where sea and sky meet, reaching a clearing at the island’s center in an instant after piercing through the endless mountain forests at the island’s edge.

They revealed a man and a woman, two cultivators with extraordinary demeanors.

“We’re approaching the family estate,” the wife said with a soft smile, “Husband, please wait a moment while I send a Communication Talisman.”

Zhuang Guxue beamed a smile.

After speaking, she activated a Jade Talisman and swiftly shot it towards the Array before them.

Lu Li nodded and stood quietly in place.

It wasn’t long before the Array’s light flashed, revealing a passage in the shape of a person.

A middle-aged man slowly walked out from within.

The man was in the late stages of Qi Refinement, dressed in white, with a face somewhat similar to Zhuang Guxue.

“Xue Er has returned?”

Zhuang Zizhan brightened when he saw the newcomers.

He then turned his gaze toward Lu Li, his expression shifting to one of great respect.

“Might you be Senior Lu? I am Zhuang Zizhan, Xue Er’s elder brother,” he said politely, bowing courteously.

He wouldn’t dare disrespect a Foundation Establishment Expert.

“Mr. Zhuang, there’s no need for excessive formality,” replied Lu Li with a gentle smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze.

“Big brother, has something happened to the family? Father’s Communication Talisman was vague and seemed quite distressed,” questioned Zhuang Guxue with a puzzled look.

“You should ask father and uncle directly; they’re both in the family hall,” answered Zhuang Zizhan, his face briefly flashing with anger.

“Senior Lu, please,” he said before leading the way into the Array.

Lu Li and the others followed closely behind.

Before long, the group had passed through the forest on either side and arrived in front of a grand red hall.

The hall, constructed from low-level semi-spirit wood, featured round columns rising straight to the eaves, each adorned with carved dragons and phoenixes, quite imposing indeed.

Zhuang Guxue walked directly to the hall with Lu Li beside her.

They quickly arrived at the center of the hall.

At that moment, two elderly men with deeply worried expressions were sitting in the hall.

Zhuang Lintian’s countenance brightened when he saw Zhuang Guxue and her companion.

He then turned his gaze respectfully toward Lu Li and said, “I am Zhuang Lintian, Xue Er’s father, and I thank you for always looking after Xue Er.”

“This is Xue Er’s uncle, Zhuang Yaotian,” he continued, turning his head to introduce the other elder.

“Mr. Zhuang, no need to be polite. I am indeed quite fond of Xue Er,” responded Lu Li, smiling gently.

At that moment, Zhuang Yaotian sensed Zhuang Guxue’s aura and was instantly shocked.

“Xue Er has succeeded in Foundation Establishment?” he exclaimed.

Zhuang Lintian also suddenly stiffened upon hearing this, his Divine Sense sweeping over his daughter and feeling pressure emanating from her, leaving him rooted in place in stunned silence.

“Xue Er, where did you obtain the Medicine Pill for Foundation Establishment?” asked Zhuang Zizhan, also taken aback.

Before, he had not sensed it and thought Zhuang Guxue had merely fully refined her Qi.

For a small clan like theirs, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were like a stabilizing sea needle, capable of protecting the family for over a hundred years.

“It was a gift from my husband,” Zhuang Guxue said with a sweet smile, remarkably charming.

Zhuang Lintian and the others immediately prostrated themselves, their expressions filled with gratitude.

“We thank Senior for your great kindness. Going forward, the Zhuang Family will follow Senior’s lead,” declared Zhuang Lintian, clenching his fists and trembling slightly.

Their family had not seen a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for hundreds of years.

It was unexpected for Xue Er to be so favored as to receive a Medicine Pill for Foundation Establishment, a treatment usually reserved for Daoist couples.

Before, they had somewhat doubted Zhuang Guxue’s talisman message, thinking she was simply comforting them.

Small clans lacked a stable source of Medicine Pills for Foundation Establishment, and their clansmen lacked the determination to advance without Medicine Pills, making it extremely hard to break out of this predicament.

Once the clan had a Foundation Establishment Expert, they could accumulate power over the years and eventually have a chance to exchange for Medicine Pills at the Flowers Sect.

Such was an opportunity for a clan’s rise.

“My friends, there is no need for such grand gestures,” smiled Lu Li as he stepped forward to help them rise.

“I have no Daoist couple at the moment, but to me, Xue Er is no different than one.”

Zhuang Lintian and the others slowly stood up, hastening to invite Lu Li to sit down.

“Father, did the family encounter some trouble a while ago? You sent a rather urgent talisman to Xue Er,” asked Zhuang Guxue straight to the point as she took her seat.

“Ah…” Sighed Zhuang Lintian deeply.

“The Yong Family of Thousand Leaf Island is demanding ten batches of second-tier spirit wood from each Qi Refinement clan under their command. Failure to comply will likely bring disaster upon us.”

“Xue Er has established her Foundation, surely there’s a way to deal with this,” added Zhuang Yaotian, his face showing anger.

Zhuang Guxue did not reply but instead looked toward Lu Li, ready to follow his lead.

“Husband, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Zhuang Lintian was quite pleased with this attitude.

His daughter had not become arrogant due to her breakthrough in Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, since Xue Er’s husband could casually provide Medicine Pills for Foundation Establishment, he must have some connections within the Flowers Sect and should not be underestimated.

Lu Li sipped some Spiritual Tea, its aroma blossoming on his lips as a warm flow rose from within his belly.

“There’s no worry. Let’s just wait here a few days to see what motive the old ancestor of the Yong Family has,” he said, seemingly unconcerned.

“We thank Senior Lu for lending us aid,” said Zhuang Lintian and the others, bowing repeatedly with utmost respect.

The old ancestor of the Yong Family was a late stage Foundation Establishment Expert, difficult for Xue Er, who had just broken through to handle.

Now with the assistance of Xue Er’s husband, they felt a measure of relief.

Afterward, the group engaged in some casual conversation and then departed.

Zhuang Zizhan led the way out of the hall, with Lu Li and others closely behind, walking along a quiet path.

Trees on either side were lush and verdant, the midday sun failing to penetrate, offering a cool respite.

The path was flanked with flowerbeds, and various birds chased and called to each other overhead, the air carrying a faint fragrance.