togophonebook Chapter 111: Selfish Motives
Chapter 111: Selfish Motives
Yunmeng Lake, Li Family.
Yang Jiuli, Li Yourong, and others arrived safely.
After saying goodbye to each other, Yang Jiuli returned to Snowfall Island.
In the cultivation room, Yang Jiuli sat cross-legged.
"Now my spiritual power has reached the first level of the 'Taiyin Evolution Divine Technique'... Once I have gathered all the ingredients to refine the 'Earth Soul Pill', I can naturally advance to the second level... and I will also be able to control the Foundation Establishment level immortal corpse for a long time."
Yang Jiuli whispered.
In this way, he would have the true combat power of a Foundation Establishment level cultivator.
"Next, it's time to improve my Qi cultivation!" With a thought, Yang Jiuli began to draw upon the essence of plants and trees to condense it into magical power.
Although Yang Jiuli has only reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, his spiritual root has now been completely repaired, and he can condense his magic power at an extremely fast speed.
If he focuses all his energy on Qi cultivation, the time it takes him to reach the eighth level of Qi Refining will be significantly shorter than his previous breakthroughs.
……
Seven days after returning from Longhu Town.
Li Yourong arrived at Earth Flame Island and met with the family head, Li Ruoyu.
In the hall, Li Yourong stood waiting.
"My Li family has been in arrears on dividends for seven years... Many alchemists are already suffering unbearably," Li Yourong murmured to herself.
Upon her return, she took the opportunity to visit Huang Cheng.
During their casual conversation, Li Yourong also detected a hint of resentment in Huang Cheng's words.
She also gained a clearer understanding of the mindset of these alchemists.
As Yang Jiuli said.
The immortal seedlings from various ethnic groups joined the Li family merely seeking a glimmer of hope.
Each ethnic group also has its own plans.
The spirit stones earned by these immortal seedlings from alchemy were not only used to purchase magical artifacts for themselves, but many alchemists' families originally intended to use them to expand their families and cultivate future generations. Now, with their dividends being owed for seven years, each person is owed nearly two thousand low-grade spirit stones, which has clearly affected the development plans of various clans.
In fact, people of all ethnicities have begun to worry.
If the Li family ultimately defaults on the payment of the spirit stones, wouldn't all their investments over the past few decades have gone down the drain?
This was unacceptable to all the major families.
After all, the most outstanding seedlings they sent to the Li family were all exceptionally talented.
Joining other clans also offers great potential.
But now...
……
Undercurrents have begun to stir.
The Li family, however, remained unaware.
Or perhaps they simply don't care.
Compared to the great undertaking of Core Formation, everything else is insignificant.
However, Li Yourong felt something was amiss, so she decided to come and meet the head of the family.
After waiting for a moment, Li Ruoyu entered the hall.
He sat upright in the main seat.
"You Rong greets the head of the family!" Li You Rong immediately straightened up and bowed to Li Ruoyu, who was in the main seat.
"Rong girl, is there something important that you're in such a hurry to see me?" Li Ruoyu gestured for Li Yourong to stand up straight and asked.
Li Yourong straightened up, raised her gaze to the rather dignified Li Ruoyu, hesitated slightly, and then bowed, saying, "Yourong does indeed have something to report!"
"What is it? Tell me!" Li Ruoyu said, his expression dignified and unreadable.
"As far as I know, my Li family has been in arrears on alchemists' dividends for seven years. Alchemists from various clans who have joined my Li family are beginning to feel uneasy. Patriarch, could you please distribute a dividend first to stabilize people's hearts?" Li Yourong said cautiously.
"Dividends..." Li Ruoyu's face darkened. He looked at Li Yourong with sharp, piercing eyes, but remained silent for a long time.
Only a sense of oppressive power spread out.
This made Li Yourong's heart skip a beat, but she pursed her lips and said, "Over the years, all of you alchemists have worked diligently and made great contributions to the Li family. Distributing dividends will not only reassure people, but also consolidate the great cause of alchemy in the Li family."
"Don't you know that my Li family's strategy this time is to mobilize the entire clan to assist your Hongtai Ancestor in forming his core?" Li Ruoyu's tone was icy, and a powerful surge of magical energy swept out from his body, causing Li Yourong to retreat repeatedly.
Li Yourong felt a chill run down her spine and said, "Yourong understands."
"Since you know this, as a direct descendant of the Li family, why do you disregard the overall situation and even disrupt my strategy? What are your intentions?" Li Ruoyu said angrily.
"You Rong did this for the sake of the family," Li You Rong said.
"For the sake of the family?" Li Ruoyu sneered.
"It's not easy for a family to train alchemists. If the dividends aren't paid out for a long time, those alchemists will become disloyal and it will be detrimental to the Li family!" Li Yourong said.
"Hmph, what disloyalty? They're just a bunch of third-rate little clans' seedlings. If it weren't for my Li family's nurturing, would they be where they are today? Once Brother Hongtai successfully forms his core, they'll be begging to stay in my Li family as retainers. How could they possibly have any disloyalty?" Li Ruoyu rebuked.
His tone was extremely cold and harsh.
"This..." Li Yourong was speechless. The family head's attitude was so tough that it caught her off guard and was beyond her expectations.
"Rong girl, you are the foundation-building seed of the family. You should prioritize the interests of the family. Don't let your selfishness lead you to be used by others and ruin your bright future." Li Ruoyu said coldly, looking at Li Yourong with a meaningful gaze.
"Personal motives?" Li Yourong was taken aback, then bowed and said, "Yourong has absolutely no personal motives in submitting this report; it is all for the sake of the Li family."
Her tone was firm.
"Hmph, for the Li family?" Li Ruoyu sneered, "Do you think I don't know that you went to Longhu Town a while ago to escort Yang Jiuli? If he hadn't told you something, why would you suddenly bring this up?"
These words struck Li Yourong like thunder, hitting her right in the heart.
Li Yourong trembled and staggered back. Then she raised her head, pursed her lips, and said stubbornly, "Yourong and Master Yang have absolutely no personal relationship. My trip to Longhu Town was only because I was afraid he would be ambushed and killed outside, leaving my Li family without a master alchemist..."
"I don't want to hear your sophistry!" Li Ruoyu said coldly. "The family has already begun preparing to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill. As a Foundation Establishment seed, you originally had a chance to obtain one... Now that your mind is elsewhere, go and reflect on your mistakes in seclusion for half a year. Come back to me when you've thought things through!" After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and turned into a rainbow light, leaving the hall.
Inside the hall, only the lost and dejected Li Yourong remained.
"Selfishness...heh, selfishness!" Li Yourong muttered to herself, laughing self-deprecatingly, her heart filled with bitterness.
After talking with Yang Jiuli, Li Yourong went to investigate the matter and found that many alchemists did indeed have grievances.
This matter should not be delayed any longer.
For the sake of the family's development, she risked being blamed to come forward about this matter.
She had initially thought that the patriarch would at most mention the clan's difficulties and delay the matter.
Li Yourong did not intend for the family to distribute all the profits; she only needed to distribute a portion to stabilize morale.
Who would have thought that Li Ruoyu not only spoke harshly, but also said that Li Yourong was acting out of selfish motives.
They suspected she had an affair with Yang Jiuli.
They even wanted to revoke her right to receive the Foundation Establishment Pill because of this.
This made Li Yourong feel a chill in her heart.
Over the years, she has devoted herself wholeheartedly to the development of her family.
Sixteen years ago, Li Yourong spent five years personally teaching Yang Jiuli and others to train alchemists for the family.
She then spent another five years escorting the family's caravan.
I noticed some flaws in the family strategy this time, and I would like to offer suggestions to find a compromise and balance.
Who would have thought that she would end up being accused of having ulterior motives?
But since things had come to this, she had nothing more to say.
As for regret...
She did feel a slight pang of regret at that moment.
But Li Yourong quickly felt relieved.
If she hadn't brought this up, how would she have known that in the eyes of the head of the household, she was just a selfish person?
How could she possibly know?
Even within the family, injustice abounds, and the situation is not as simple as it appears on the surface.
Growth always comes at a price!
……
Five days later, at Snowfall Manor.
Li Feiyu visited and told Yang Jiuli about how Li Yourong had been mistreated.
Beside the pavilion, Yang Jiuli poured Li Feiyu a full cup of wine.
Li Feiyu drank the wine in one gulp.
"I'm afraid Sister Rong will miss out on obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill this time!" Li Feiyu said.
"It was I who ruined her!" Yang Jiuli said after pouring the wine.
He looked at the distant island, let out a soft breath, and a look of guilt appeared in his eyes.
He naturally knew that if Li Yourong really mentioned this matter to the Li family head, it would offend him.
Yang Jiuli had not expected that Li Ruoyu would impose such a severe punishment.
The current outcome can only be described as Li Ruoyu's stubbornness reaching its limit.
He exhaled softly not only for Li Yourong, but also for the Li family.
Before the Li family patriarch can even form his core, the Li family will likely face a calamity.
However, he would never say such a thing to Li Feiyu.
He would mention the profit-sharing issue to Li Yourong, which was also based on his own considerations.
Firstly, Yang Jiuli's cultivation at the Li family was ultimately due to his gratitude for the second-tier spiritual veins they provided.
Secondly, as a member of the Li family, Li Yourong shares both honor and disgrace. The decline of the Li family will not benefit Li Yourong either.
Yang Jiuli only mentioned it because he saw that Li Yourong treated him sincerely.
If the Li family pulls back from the brink and distributes dividends, there is still a chance for things to turn around.
If the Li family persists in their own way, no matter what happens in the future, Yang Jiuli will have done his part and have a clear conscience.
This outcome is naturally good for Yang Jiuli.
Because he took the opportunity to see Li Ruoyu's attitude clearly.
However, this resulted in a huge loss for Li Yourong.
Yang Jiuli owed her a favor.
"Actually, this has nothing to do with you!" Li Feiyu said, taking a sip of his drink.
"Oh?" Yang Jiuli asked, looking inquiring.
"My Li family in Yunmeng Lake now has four Foundation Establishment ancestors... divided into four lineages..." Li Feiyu said.
"Sister Rong and I belong to the same lineage... Originally, if she couldn't obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill... I would also have a chance!"
"But... the patriarch convened a council of elders, and using that as a pretext... he revoked our lineage's eligibility!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Jiuli's eyes lit up, and he said, "Is Patriarch Li deliberately suppressing your lineage?"
"Foundation Building Pills are limited... Even a second-tier alchemist can only guarantee two pills from one batch..." Li Feiyu said. "Now that our lineage has been kicked out... the probability of the remaining three lineages obtaining Foundation Building Pills has naturally increased."
With the four sects vying for power, the probability of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill is naturally lower.
If the three lineages are vying for power, and the alchemist is lucky enough to refine three Foundation Establishment Pills, he can obtain one from each of them.
This would be a win-win situation.
Yang Jiuli understood that this was an internal power struggle within the Li family.
"What did your father say?" Yang Jiuli asked.
"The old master said he would try to raise spiritual items for our foundation building," Li Feiyu said.
"Oh!" Yang Jiuli's eyes flickered slightly. Li Changyan had obviously accepted the result and was planning to do his part.
"There's nothing I can do, my old man is only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!" Li Feiyu said helplessly.
Yang Jiuli understood.
In any place, if you are weaker, you will be bullied.
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Ninth Brother!" Li Feiyu picked up his wine cup, clinked it with Yang Jiuli's, and then drank it all in one gulp.
These were family secrets that Li Feiyu would never have told anyone else.
It's just that I have to keep it to myself and I can't help but get it off my chest.
In addition, he regarded Yang Jiuli as a brother, so he couldn't help but say it out loud.
"Resources are hard to come by, and some people will always miss out. Sometimes you really have to rely on yourself!" Yang Jiuli said with deep feeling.
He had seen many such things in his previous life, so he wasn't surprised.
Li Feiyu nodded, then stood up and said, "I'll be going now. I'll come find you for drinks again sometime!"
"Please apologize to Miss You Rong on my behalf!" Yang Jiuli said as he stood up.