Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 932: The Pillars and the Heirs

The elevated head table of the Li Clan’s grand banquet hall was carved from a single slab of ancient white jade. It overlooked a sea of thousands of cultivators, a gathering that represented some of the pinnacle of martial and spiritual power in this area of the cosmos.Li Yu took his seat beside his parents and Zhan Tian sat at the center of the table alongside Patriarch Li Muchen and Patriarch Zhan Yue. The sheer concentration of authority radiating from the head table was enough to make the ambient Qi in the hall tremble in submission.

Before the formal presentations of the vassal forces could begin, Patriarch Muchen gestured gracefully to the side of the hall.

"Before we introduce the vassals of our clans, it is only proper that you meet the inner pillars of what could be your own generation, even though at your age you’d technically be a generation below them." Muchen said softly to Li Yu.

From the right side of the hall, a young man and woman approached. The young man wore loose grey trousers, his torso completely bare to reveal a physique carved from impossibly dense muscle and crisscrossed with countless pale scars. He moved with a rhythmic and terrifying momentum, yet his eyes were calm and grounded. Beside him walked a young woman in heavy armor that clicked faintly with every step with her features sharp and calculating.

This was the heir of the Zhan Clan and his sister who was also a prodigy in her own right.

"Li Yu," Patriarch Zhan Yue announced with a booming and proud voice. "This is Zhan Chen, the current official Heir of the iron continent and his sister, Zhan Ling. They are your cousins."

Zhan Chen stopped before the table and offered a deep and respectful bow to the table of powerhouses. There was no hesitation or hidden malice in his movements. When he looked up, his eyes shone with genuine camaraderie.

"It is an honor to finally welcome you, Cousin," Zhan Chen said in his deep and resonant voice. "The return of the Worldkeeper and your arrival is the greatest blessing our clan could receive. When the cosmic tides turn and the wars begin, I look forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you on the front lines."

Li Yu stood up and returned the bow, immediately sensing the sincerity in Zhan Chen’s words. The young man was a pure warrior through and through. He valued the survival and strength of the clan above the petty politics of his title or at least that’s what Li Yu’s instincts told him.

"The honor is mine, Cousin Chen," Li Yu replied warmly. "I have heard of your dedication to the physical path. I would be glad to share pointers in the training courtyards soon."

Zhan Ling offered her own polite bow. "Welcome, Cousin Li Yu. Your return has certainly shaken the realms."

Li Yu returned her greetings and nodded back to her. He could feel a faint and lingering caution in her Qi but it was heavily suppressed. She was a political creature and deeply protective of her brother’s position but she was smart enough to recognize that Li Yu was a force of nature that should not be schemed against.

As the Zhan siblings stepped aside, a new group approached from the left.

They moved with the effortless grace of flowing water. Leading them was a young woman possessing delicate beauty. She wore pristine white silk robes embroidered with silver lotus patterns and a pale blue sword rested elegantly at her hip. She was flanked by a younger brother and sister, both possessing bright and curious eyes.

"And these are the children of the main branch," Patriarch Muchen introduced. "Li Mei, the official Heir of the Li Clan, along with her brother Li Jian and her sister Li Hua."

Li Mei stopped at a perfect distance and offered an elegant bow.

"Cousin, Li Yu," Li Mei spoke and her voice was as smooth and pleasant as a calm stream. "The entire Li Clan rejoices at your return. Uncle Canghai has carried the burden of the front lines for decades. To know that his legacy is alive and standing before us brings joy to our hearts. We are family and this estate is your home."

Li Yu returned the bow but his senses flared slightly.Outwardly, Li Mei was the picture of a supportive and gracious heir. Her smile was perfect, her words were welcoming and her posture was relaxed. But deep within her eyes, Li Yu caught the faintest glimmer of coldness and he wasn't wrong.

She viewed the world through a lens of extreme ambition and she saw him as an unpredictable variable on her chessboard. One that just appeared out of nowhere and had the background to take her role within the clan.

'She is dangerous,' Li Yu thought to himself but his own smile never wavered. 'A true schemer hiding behind a scholar's robes. Whether she uses those schemes for the benefit of the family or her own personal gain is yet to be seen. Someone like that is quite fitting of the clan leader role though.'

"Thank you, Cousin Mei," Li Yu replied smoothly. "I look forward to learning the depths of our clan's sword path."

Li Jian and Li Hua immediately broke the formal tension with bright smiles.

"It is so great to meet you!" Li Jian laughed lightly. "We heard you grew up in the lower realms! The stories say the Qi there is as thin as paper. How did you build such a terrifying foundation?"

"I had some very unique encounters," Li Yu answered with a chuckle, instantly liking the younger siblings. "And some incredible luck and people that helped me along my way."

"We must have tea soon," Li Hua added warmly. "We want to hear all about the realms outside our borders."

With the family introductions concluded, the heirs took their respective seats near the head table while the siblings went elsewhere. The grand doors of the hall were then ceremoniously opened wider which signaled the beginning of the vassal presentations.

While the two clans were not empires, their influence commanded territories and populations that rivaled the greatest empires in the cosmos. They achieved this, in one part, through a vast network of fiercely loyal vassal clans.

Patriarch Zhan Yue stood up first while raising a massive chalice of glowing wine.

"To the shields and hammers of the Zhan Clan!" Zhan Yue roared.

From the center aisle, two massive groups marched forward. The physical density of their combined auras made the floorboards groan.

"The Ironbreaker Clan," Zhan Yue announced while pointing to a group of towering men and women carrying massive and blunt weapons. They possessed skin that looked like polished granite. "These are our premier heavy front line forces. When a hostile realm hides behind defensive formations, the Ironbreakers are the ones we send to physically shatter the sky. Their Patriarch, Ba Hong, has broken realm barriers with his bare hands."

Patriarch Ba Hong, a man who looked wider than a doorway, pounded his chest in a brutal salute to Li Yu. Li Yu nodded respectfully, recognizing the pure and unyielding physical path they walked.

"And beside them, the Ironblood Vanguard," Zhan Yue continued.

This group wore heavy leather and dark iron plates. A distinct, primal scent of blood and wild demonic beasts clung to them. Their leader, Commander Kai, had a massive scar running down the center of his face. It was most likely given by the very beasts he tamed.

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"They are the masters of the demonic beasts," Zhan Yue explained. "They ride heavily armored demonic beasts directly into the enemy lines, causing chaos and breaking the morale of opposing armies."

Following the two powerful vassals, two smaller, yet equally vital groups approached to offer their respects.

"The Crag Bear Tribe," Zhan Yue gestured to a group of squat and incredibly muscular cultivators. "They temper their bodies in the extreme zones of the heavy pressure. They do not fight on the front lines often but their physical endurance is unmatched, making them perfect for harvesting metals in the toughest conditions."

"And finally, the Ember Forge Clan," Zhan Yue pointed to a group of men and women whose skin literally radiated waves of intense heat. "They are the premier blacksmiths of our territories. They take the metals harvested by the Crag Bears and forge the armors our disciples wear into battle."

Li Yu memorized their faces and their specialties, recognizing the synergy of the Zhan Clan's military machine. They were an ecosystem of physical dominance. The introductions went on for several other groups and after a while, Patriarch Zhan Yue finally sat down and Patriarch Li Muchen rose to his feet. The atmosphere in the hall immediately shifted from heavy and aggressive weight to a sharp and refined stillness.

"To the blades and the breath of the Li Clan," Muchen spoke softly, yet his voice carried effortlessly to every corner of the massive hall.

Two distinct groups stepped forward and their movements were so smooth they seemed to glide over the jade floor.

"The Phantom Blade Sect," Muchen introduced the first group. They wore flowing grey robes that seemed to blur at the edges. This made it difficult to focus on their exact positions. "They specialize in swift and untraceable sword arts as well as the laws of shadow. They are our silent blades in the dark. Sect Master Shenying has ended wars before the enemy even knew they had begun."

Sect Master Shenying offered a bow so fluid it looked like a wisp of smoke dissipating and reforming. Li Yu's eyes narrowed slightly; their movement techniques were incredible.

"Beside them, the Jade Stream Pavilion," Muchen gestured to a group dressed in pale green robes. A soothing, incredibly pure aroma of medicinal herbs washed over the head table as they approached. "They are the masters of Qi manipulation, healing arts and spiritual medicine. Pavilion Master Su can reforge shattered meridians and pull our greatest warriors back from the brink of death."

Pavilion Master Su, an elegant woman with a warm and maternal aura, smiled at Li Yu. She gave him a look once she sensed the dense vitality locked within his body. Following them, three lesser but highly specialized clans approached.

"The Whispering Bamboo Sect," Muchen noted a group of cultivators whose eyes darted around the room and seemingly recorded every single micro expression of the guests. "They are our intelligence gatherers. The eyes and ears of the Li Clan across the cosmos."

"The White Jade Clan," Muchen pointed to a pristine and immaculate group standing proudly. "Master cultivators of rare spiritual herbs and the refiners of the specialized pills that ensure our younger generations build great Qi pathways."

"And the Crane Flight Pavilion," Muchen concluded, gesturing to a group of cultivators who looked so light on their feet they appeared to be hovering a fraction of an inch above the floor. "Masters of movement arts and aerial sword formations. They control the skies above our battlefields as well as the perimeters."

As before, the Li patriarch continued to introduce different groups before sitting down. With the formal presentations concluded, the Patriarchs raised their cups, officially opening the banquet for natural mingling and conversation.

The strict formations broke apart as the thousands of cultivators began to move about the hall, exchanging toasts, discussing the shifting political landscape and debating the Dao.

In a quiet corner of the hall, Pavilion Master Su of the Jade Stream Pavilion pulled her most talented disciple aside. Su Yan was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman with a gentle disposition and a mastery over healing Qi.

"Listen to me carefully, Yan'er," Pavilion Master Su whispered with her eyes tracking Li Yu as he stepped down from the head table to mingle. "The boy carries the blood of two supreme clans, the protection of the Worldkeeper and the silent backing of who knows what else."

Su Yan nodded as her hands clasped nervously in front of her green robes. "Should I present him with the Nine Leaf Lotus pill as a formal offering of engagement from our Pavilion?"

"Absolutely not," Pavilion Master Su commanded sharply though she kept her voice low. "Put such thoughts out of your mind instantly. I know we have done that with some other clans but this situation isn’t the same. Do you know why the Li and Zhan clans are so terrifyingly unified? Because Commander Tielan and Patriarch Canghai married out of genuine love. Zhan Tielan’s father also married out of love and so did Li Canghai’s father. That specific family seems to despise arranged marriages and wouldn’t force one on Li Yu."

The Pavilion Master gripped her disciple's shoulder firmly.

"If we attempt to use official channels to set up a marriage, Li Canghai will view it as a political insult and the Worldkeeper might misunderstand it as us scheming against his grandson." Su warned. "They let their children decide their own fates so that is what we must do."

"Then what should I do, Master?" Su Yan asked while looking at the young man who was currently speaking with the heir of the Ironblood Vanguard.

"You go over there, you pour a cup of spiritual wine and you talk to him naturally," Su instructed with a warm and encouraging smile. "Ask him about his cultivation. Ask him about whatever comes to mind. Be yourself. If you manage to catch his eye and earn his genuine favor, our Pavilion will rise to the heavens. If you do not, then simply leave a good impression and walk away with your grace intact. There are no tricks tonight. Only conversation and fate."

This exact conversation was happening in dozens of corners across the banquet hall. The leaders of the Phantom Blade Sect, the Crane Flight Pavilion, and the Ember Forge Clan were all giving their talented daughters and female disciples the exact same instructions.

No traps. No schemes. Win his heart naturally, be friends or step aside. Slowly, the social dance began.

Li Yu stood near a massive pillar of carved spirit wood and was holding a delicate cup of glowing wine. He was currently listening to Kui Feng, the heir of the Ironblood Vanguard, loudly describe the process of taming a wild Demonic Armored Rhino.

"You have to establish dominance early!" Kui Feng laughed while taking a massive gulp of wine. "You project your killing intent straight into the beast's soul. If you flinch, it tramples you into paste!"

"It sounds like a delicate process," Li Yu replied with a dry and amused smile. Being somewhat of a tamer of beasts himself, he was interested in how others went about it.

"Delicate?" Kui Feng roared with laughter. "Li Yu, there is nothing delicate about—"

"I believe what Young Master Li Yu implies is that breaking a spirit requires a nuanced balance of force and patience, rather than just brute strength," a soft and melodic voice interrupted.

Kui Feng blinked and was slightly pushed aside as Su Yan glided into their circle. She offered a natural bow to Li Yu with her pale green robes fluttering slightly. Su Yan’s smile brightly as she slipped into the conversation that the group was having.

Li Yu navigated the conversation quite effortlessly himself. While he didn’t quite enjoy such events and seeing all these unknown faces, he had always been well spoken. His years spent traveling with others had prepared him quite well enough for this.

He remained polite, engaging and somewhat charming. He was answering the questions that others had for him while also allowing others to talk as well.

Throughout the night, several other young women approached him. A sharp eyed disciple from the Crane Flight Pavilion and a fiercely proud blacksmith from the Ember Forge Clan introduced themselves.

Li Yu treated all of them with equal respect. He did not act arrogant and he did not act aloof. He simply stood in the center of the swirling political currents as a polite and immovable mountain. Li Yu understood that these people would most likely one day support his father’s clan and he was no longer just representing himself.

It didn’t mean that he wouldn’t be himself but he had to start seeing the bigger picture as well. His father and grandfather had prepared him somewhat for this with lectures they gave on some of the days after their family had reunited.

From the head table, Zhan Tian took a long pull from his jug of wine and watched his grandson mingle with the various heirs and disciples.

"The boy is entirely too smooth," Zhan Tian grumbled playfully to Canghai, though a proud smirk tugged at the corner of his scarred lips. "Look at him. He is dodging their subtle advances better than a Phantom Blade assassin dodges a spear."

Canghai smiled with his eyes tracking Li Yu’s calm demeanor as he gently steered a conversation away from his personal life and back toward cultivation.

"He has survived all this time because he is at least tactful, Father," Canghai noted softly. "He knows how to read the room and he understands that tonight is not about finding a Dao companion. It is about proving that he is not a liability for the future as well as developing relationships of his own."

Muchen, sitting on the other side of Zhan Tian, nodded in quiet agreement.

"He possesses the martial weight of the Zhan and the refined intellect of the Li," Muchen observed with his sharp eyes missing nothing. "He is not the heir to either clan, yet every single vassal lord in this room is currently orbiting him like a sun. He has navigated the political dance quite well."

Li Yu took another sip of his wine and was smiling politely as a disciple from the White Jade Clan offered him a toast. It was a different kind of environment he found himself in since reuniting with his family but he couldn’t say he hated it.