"That's right. That person said the value of this place wasn't even worth his time to come down the mountain. He scolded me for a bit and left."

Hearing this, the group of cultivators following behind exchanged glances, all revealing self-mocking, bitter smiles.

A place that others couldn't even be bothered with was exactly where they had traveled thousands of miles to reach.

Li Cheng did not mind, simply curling his lips. "Isn't that better? If Condensed Origin cultivators look down on it, it means the ancient tomb is just right for us to explore. Moreover, without those troublesome Sect disciples around, it will be much easier for us to act."

Once they reached the courtyard, the Li family cultivators, led by Li Cheng, were immediately surrounded.

"Young Master Li, I am from the Fang family of Liuyun Town..."

"Greetings, Young Master. My daughter is from the Beiwu Ye family..."

"Young Master Li is a man of striking appearance with profound cultivation, truly worthy of a noble family's bearing! A model for our generation!"

Li Cheng was well-versed in handling such scenes, dealing with them flawlessly. With just a few words, he sent away the crowd of cultivators gathered around him.

Yang Lingrui had been waiting. Seeing that most of the crowd had dispersed, he stepped forward and bowed.

"Songshan Yang Family, Yang Lingrui, greets Young Master Li."

"The Yang family, you are..."

Li Cheng turned his head, about to speak, but when he saw Yang Lingrui clearly, the words he had begun to say abruptly stopped.

"What an aura of inner and outer purity, transcendent and refined!"

"He does not look old, and his Third Layer realm is quite outstanding. He is handsome, too!"

His gaze swept over Yang Lingrui several times, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

"Elder Yu told me previously that the Yang family decided to stand independent because a junior had condensed a Qi Mansion."

Li Cheng asked, "He was talking about you, right?"

"That is correct."

Yang Lingrui nodded and said, "Before leaving home on this trip, Elder Yu instructed me that if I met Young Master Li, I must sincerely thank you. That day at the market, you bought all our family's items in one go, which was a great help."

"Hahaha, Elder Yu is as courteous as ever. That little bit of stuff is nothing."

Li Cheng waved his hand, then suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Lingrui, how old are you this year?"

"Huh? I am fourteen this year."

Yang Lingrui was stunned for a moment. Although he did not understand why Li Cheng was asking, he still gave an answer.

"Oh~ Fourteen, huh. Mm, not bad."

As he spoke, he pulled Yang Lingrui to a corner of the courtyard and said in a low voice, "Actually, to tell you the truth, I have a younger sister. She just turned fifteen this year, only one year older than you."

Yang Lingrui's eyes widened, and for a moment he was dumbfounded.

But he quickly caught on, his cheeks instantly flushing red.

"Ah, this... um, Young Master Li, I... this..."

"Shh, shh, it's fine, it's fine. Don't be nervous."

Seeing that he had scared the boy into stammering, Li Cheng quickly soothed him. "Don't panic. I just think you're a good kid, so I had this thought. Whether it works out or not is a matter for later."

Hearing this, Yang Lingrui felt a weight lift from his heart and breathed a sigh of relief.

If Li Cheng had been serious and pulled something like that, he truly wouldn't have known how to handle it.

"Fellow Daoists, please listen to a few words from me."

After everyone had chatted for a while, Duan Yong walked to the center of the courtyard. "The ancient tomb has appeared in my Fengling Town. Duan is very grateful that you all are willing to travel thousands of miles to help."

"Based on past experience, the deeper the ancient tomb, the more treasures there are. But the deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes. I hope all Fellow Daoists will act within your means."

"Everyone has gathered today, so rest well. Tomorrow at noon, I will lead you all to explore the ancient tomb."

That evening, Yang Lingrui and Zhao Qi returned to their room early to rest.

"Senior Brother, I have inquired about everything. There are thirty-seven people on this trip, including three Qi Gathering Middle Stage cultivators. That Li Cheng is at the peak of the Qi Gathering Sixth Layer. The other two are Huang Yan from Fengling Town, Qi Gathering Fourth Layer, and Zheng Huaming from Liuyun Town, Qi Gathering Fourth Layer."

Zhao Qi relayed the information he had gathered today to Yang Lingrui. "I have observed both of them. Their strength should be inferior to yours, Senior Brother."

As he spoke, he took a paper scroll from his robes. Upon unrolling it, it was densely covered with the names, origins, and cultivation levels of all thirty-seven people on the expedition.

After reading it, Yang Lingrui had a clear picture. "I have never been good at remembering these things. I appreciate the trouble you took, Junior Brother Zhao."

"Senior Brother, why are you being so polite with me? If there is anything you need, just give the order," Zhao Qi smiled.

"Mm... Speaking of which, there actually is a matter today that leaves me somewhat confused."

"Huh? What matter could stump Senior Brother?"

Yang Lingrui then recounted what Li Cheng had said to him.

The result was that the two youths, completely inexperienced in matters of men and women, sat in the room staring at each other wide-eyed.

"Mm... Senior Brother, although I do not understand those matters of love, I feel this is not simple," Zhao Qi said.

Yang Lingrui also agreed. "I think the same. The Li family has immense strength and a Sect background. Why would they seek me out, or rather, take a liking to my Yang family?"

Both of them understood that although the Yang family had been thriving and developing rapidly in recent years, the Li family could crush the Yang family with a single slap just by sending one Qi Gathering Late Stage cultivator.

"If it is just about aptitude and appearance, I do not believe it. The Li family would not consider matters so simply."

Yang Lingrui's mind was still very clear. He did not feel he possessed the ability to attract the Li family's attention.

"If that is the case, Senior Brother, I have a thought."

"What thought? Speak."

Zhao Qi rubbed his chin and said, "This is Li Cheng's first time meeting you. Even with Elder Yu's old friendship, bringing up this matter seems a bit too hasty. Do you think... could it be that something has happened to his Li family?"

Just as Yang Lingrui and Zhao Qi were speculating in their room, on the other side, Li Cheng and his two trusted aides returned to their room to rest.

"Gulp, gulp... Ah! Good wine!"

Li Cheng took a large gulp of wine and asked the two men in front of him, "So? What do you two think of the kid I've got my eye on?"

"Uh... ahem, looking only at the boy, he is not bad, but isn't the gap between that Yang family and ours too vast?" one person said.

The other also nodded. "Besides, this matter needs to be asked of the young lady herself. It is not very appropriate for you, Young Master, to make decisions like this."

"Sigh, I understand. You just want to say the Yang family is too weak and unworthy, and that my sister must choose someone she likes," Li Cheng said, seeming somewhat drunk as his speech slurred.

"That is what we mean."

"Alright, alright. Are you drinking or not?"

"The Family Head instructed that we cannot drink on this trip."

"Tch, boring. Go back and rest. Remember to wake me up tomorrow."

Seeing him in this state, the two seemed long used to it. They excused themselves and left.

The moment the trusted aides exited the room, a stream of wine was drawn from Li Cheng's fingertips, pouring back into the wine jar.

The flush on his face faded, and his gaze shifted from cloudy to clear.

"Saying things like worthy or unworthy! Truly laughable! Does my Li family possess some heaven-shaking, earth-shattering ability?"

"Choose for herself... At this point, where is there so much room to choose for oneself!"

"With so many eyes watching from above, even the Ancestor wouldn't dare make any reckless moves!"

"Condensed Origin... If one does not reach Condensed Origin, which family isn't just fish and meat on the chopping block? It is merely a matter of being a large piece or a small piece!"

At this moment, Li Cheng completely shed his usual carefree demeanor. His fists were clenched so hard the veins bulged, his teeth ground together, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Others might not know, but as a direct descendant of the Li family, how could he not understand the inner workings?

Regarding the quelling of the rebellion, the Li family left their Ancestor behind to hold the fort, seemingly using their Sect background to smooth things over.

But in reality, this was nothing more than a transaction between the Wangchao and the Sect, passing things from the left hand to the right!

The Li family Ancestor had long since lost the right to choose. Staying or going depended entirely on whose hands he fell into.

"Have you forgotten how our Li family rose to power after living comfortable days for too long?"

"Do you really think the Li family's current position is so unshakeable?"

"Just because others offer a few flattering words about a 'noble family,' you truly believe yourselves a noble family? Utterly foolish!"

"If there is the slightest upheaval, they will wipe out the Li family today, and tomorrow the Zhou, Sun, or Zhu families will rise to take our place..."

Every time he thought of this, Li Cheng felt a splitting ache in his head.

He had brought this up at home long ago, but the elders were now so obsessed with currying favor with those in power that they would not listen.

On the surface, the Li family seemed perfectly peaceful, but if the Ancestor had even the slightest mishap, it would be utter and eternal ruin.

It was precisely for this reason that Li Cheng desperately sought every opportunity to go out and make friends far and wide, hoping to find a turning point or an escape route for his family.