Chapter 1104: Chapter 1098: Three Ways To Handle The Northern Frontier Matter
Azure Cloud Prefecture.
The intelligence Li Xinjue had gathered had also landed in Li Jianshu’s hands.
He was currently gripping two jade slips, frowning as he inspected them.
Over two hundred years old, Li Jianshu had his hair half-tied up, lacking the hair ornaments of others.
This was simply because whenever there were matters in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, Li Jianshu handled them personally.
He had once said that if it weren’t for adhering to the etiquette that ‘one’s body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents’, he would have shaved his head bald just like the First Ancestor long ago.
In the hall, Huang Xiujin stood by his side as a constant attendant.
When Li Jianshu handled matters, he was the type to ‘kill but not bury’; Huang Xiujin couldn’t afford to leave his side even for a single step.
Sun Haotian (Patriarch of the Sun Clan from the Duravia Trade Prefecture), and Feng Chunlin (Patriarch of the Feng Clan from the Azure Cloud Prefecture) were all present.
However, before Li Jianshu, they lacked the casualness they once had when facing the Li family members of the past.
They had no choice but to be this way. Throughout the entire Azure Cloud Prefecture, no one dared to make a mistake in front of Li Jianshu.
Even if a descendant of the Li Clan committed an illegal act outside, Li Jianshu would still strike them dead with a bolt of lightning.
“Under the Patriarch’s legal system, this year, the twenty-four commanderies of the Azure Cloud Prefecture have seen their newly added spiritual fields, cultivators, and spiritual beasts all meet expectations.”
Huang Xiujin read aloud solemnly.
“Seventy percent of the harvest is to be consumed by the Azure Cloud Prefecture, while the other thirty percent will be sold outside by the Heavenly Principle Hall, the major sects of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, and the merchant guilds of the immortal clans…
Cultivators breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm have registered with the government.
In these ten years, twelve people have reached the Nascent Soul realm… and one person has reached the Divinity Transformation realm…”
“Opening of secret realms, sea region wars, competitions among the various sects and clans…”
Huang Xiujin read through the development matters of the Azure Cloud Prefecture one by one.
Li Jianshu also asked a few questions and sought everyone’s opinions; this discussion had already taken half a day.
Feng Chunlin glanced at the jade slip in Li Jianshu’s hand and said deeply, “Patriarch Li, we have already heard about the matters in the Northern Frontier. If the Li Clan…”
But before he could finish speaking, Li Jianshu had already cupped his hands.
“Thank you for your concern, Patriarch Feng. However, the world is not peaceful right now, and you all must also guard the Azure Cloud Prefecture from external disturbances.
As for the matters in the Northern Frontier, we have our own plans.”
Hearing this, Feng Chunlin only nodded.
He also sighed inwardly at how times had changed.
If this had been in the past when Li Dalong was around, if something happened to the sects and clans of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, everyone would find a shady spot to discuss it, and then grab their blades and go out together for a massive brawl.
Now, the Azure Cloud Prefecture’s territory was vast.
Although the Li Clan and the Feng Clan still intermarried generation after generation, the Feng Clan was not what it used to be either; the sects and clans had also seen a new generation replace the old, and there were more things to consider.
After the others had left.
Li Jianshu asked Huang Xiujin, “Have the clan members who accompanied the major factions of the Department of Immortal Suppression to the Wu tribe’s rear all returned?”
“They are already on their way,” Huang Xiujin nodded slightly.
After the incident in the Northern Frontier occurred, this Patriarch hadn’t even given it a second thought.
He had immediately sent messages to the family’s major Grotto-Heaven, calling the clan members to come.
Huang Xiujin pondered for a moment and said deeply,
“Patriarch, the journey to the Northern Frontier is long and distant, and our Li Clan’s major Grotto-Heaven also needs experts to hold the line.
If we go to the Northern Frontier, I’m afraid there will be quite a bit of trouble. Why not ask the major factions of the Azure Cloud Prefecture for help…”
Li Jianshu interrupted Huang Xiujin.
“The family elders fighting Void Refinement experts and killing Body Integration experts in the Western Frontier have established an illustrious reputation, drawing the attention of the people of the world.
Behind massive prestige lies wariness and the fire of jealousy. This is what you taught me, Sir.”
Hearing this, Huang Xiujin stroked his beard and nodded, his face full of gratification. His years of assisting Li Jianshu had not been in vain.
“The matters in the Northern Frontier can only be handled by our Li Clan ourselves.
The elders obtained bountiful harvests in the Western Frontier. Those with ulterior motives who know of this will inevitably harbor thoughts of catching our Western Frontier elders all in one net,” Li Jianshu said.
“Sir, you must have heard what the Department of Immortal Suppression, the Wenren Clan, and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion are saying about us outside.”
“Mostly praise. They say that with the Li family members from the Western Frontier present, the Azure Cloud Prefecture will prosper without decline.
That we are the rising stars of the dynasty and can serve as the pillars of the dynasty,”
Huang Xiujin sneered.
“But there are many hidden tricks within this.”
“Killing with praise.”
Li Jianshu snorted coldly.
“Now that our family has gained immense benefits in the Western Frontier, it has instead placed our Li Clan in grave danger.
The numerous factions of the dynasty appear to yield to our Li Clan, yet they are itching to eat us clean and wipe their mouths, seeing just how delicious we are.”
Huang Xiujin shrugged.
Let alone outsiders viewing the Li Clan this way, over the years, they themselves had been quite covetous of the neighboring Eternal Immortal Sect.
More than once, Huang Xiujin had wondered what benefits the family could fish out from the Eternal Immortal Sect if Ancestor Lan were to unexpectedly fall one day.
“In this current situation, what should I do? Sir, please advise me,” Li Jianshu frowned.
The Azure Cloud Prefecture was developing, and he had many questions of his own about charging into the Northern Frontier.
However, Huang Xiujin, who usually played the contrary view in discussion, said,
“The Patriarch is doing the right thing. There are only three ways to handle the Northern Frontier matter.
The first is to ignore it, which would make others think the events in the Western Frontier were merely rumors, attracting many flies.
The second is to call upon friends and allies; with our current power, we could even invite Body Integration experts, but that would also make people think our Li Clan is weak.”
“The Patriarch charging in is just right. Deterring the petty scoundrels will induce greater wariness in those with ulterior motives.”
Hearing this, Li Jianshu breathed a sigh of relief.
“While the various Ancestors in the Western Frontier remain unmoving, the clan members from our Li Clan’s major Grotto-Heaven will march north to battle the Qiu Clan.
This will let the world see that not only are the elders of our Li Clan powerful, but we juniors are also extraordinary!”
Li Jianshu slowly walked out of the main hall.
“If they dare lay a hand on the elders of our Li Clan, they’d best consider whether they possess the strength to wipe out every last descendant—heirs who still carry the unbroken will and dignity of our ancestors.”
“Not bad, not bad at all.”
Li Jianshu’s words fell entirely into Li Wei’s ears, and Li Wei nodded in smug approval.
“This Lightning Kid quite has the demeanor of me, his Ancestor.”
He then looked at Li Jianshu’s historical log.
Over the years, while the family waged war in the Western Frontier, Li Jianshu had managed the massive territory of the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Coupled with the family’s major Grotto-Heaven and the rapidly growing number of bloodline descendants, he had also been slowly maturing.
[Your descendant Li Jianshu succeeded as Patriarch, implemented numerous laws and regulations, and organized the family rules, ensuring the family’s ancestral system remained orderly.
The family has numerous descendants, yet they have gradually come to adhere to etiquette and the law.]
The longer he served as the Ancestor, the more Li Wei understood the importance of etiquette and the law.
In his daily free time, when secretly observing his descendants’ lives, he had frequently seen them being deceived, acting as spies for others, or committing evil deeds while relying on the family’s power.
In Li Jianshu’s historical log, there were also many special events.
Events like [Annihilation of Thirty-Four Sects] and [Immortal Soldier System], along with another named [Bloodstained Imperial Capital].
The latter was nothing more than a former dynasty official who came to the Azure Cloud Prefecture to collect taxes, relying on his authority to demand bribes.
Well, Li Jianshu ran straight to the streets of the Imperial Capital, carrying the man’s head in his hand.
That day, Li Yuanshang ran over and thoroughly cursed Li Jianshu out, calling him entirely inflexible and stubborn.
The uncle and nephew had two completely different personalities.
If it were Li Yuanshang, he would have been eager to send even more gifts, precisely to grasp the other party’s leverage.
Aside from this, Li Jianshu’s cultivation level was also extraordinary.
[Your descendant Li Jianshu, over many years of constantly receiving the divine punishment of the “Divine Arts”, has been struck by lightning three hundred and sixty times, breaking through to the peak of the fourth layer of the “Divine Arts”, ready to break through to the fifth layer at any time.]
[Through lightning arts and the Heavenly Retribution Physique, your descendant created the Profound-grade technique manual “Essential Codex of Heavenly Retribution”, encompassing the secrets of heavenly lightning below the Nascent Soul realm, capable of both body tempering and technique cultivation.
Acquired Trait: Son of Lightning.]
[Only those who are frequently struck by lightning can receive the favor of lightning.
The chance of failing the Divinity Transformation Thunder Tribulation may be reduced by 30%, and the comprehension of ‘Lightning’ attribute cultivation methods is increased by 100%.]
As the person who had been struck by lightning the most in the entire Azure Cloud Prefecture, Li Jianshu had undoubtedly embarked upon a path uniquely his own.
It also had to be said that Li Yaoqing was a genius.
In her youth, she had seen her maidservant struck to ashes by lightning while cultivating her technique.
Later, seeing that Li Jianshu possessed the ‘Heavenly Retribution Physique’, she enabled the family to produce this ‘Lightning Kid’.
Having settled matters at home, Li Jianshu hurried toward the Eternal Immortal Sect without stopping.
…
The Eternal Immortal Sect majestic and grand, ancient and unadorned, yet also like a fairyland.
Above the immortal mountain, the silhouettes of immortal clouds and cranes could be seen, and every single disciple of the immortal sect was a genius.
Li Jianshu walked along the ancient path of the immortal sect.
This was not his first time here.
The elder leading the way was from the Duanmu Clan.
Because the Li Clan had assisted the Duanmu Clan in getting involved with the imperial court, this Duanmu Clan elder was quite polite to Li Jianshu, unlike the other disciples of the Eternal Immortal Sect who looked down upon everyone in the world.
“Patriarch Li, recently, the Sect master sent back a message. The major factions of the Department of Immortal Suppression have gained quite a few benefits in the Wu tribe’s rear.
The Sect master asked me to express his gratitude to the Li Clan upon seeing you.
Fortunately, with the Li Clan’s assistance, the Sword Pavilion sent people over to help significantly.”
The Duanmu Clan elder’s face was flushed with success.
“By the way, your Li Clan descendants who are fighting in the Wu tribe’s rear are already on their way back.”
Li Jianshu nodded slightly.
The Wu tribe’s rear was also a good place.
The major factions that had once been oppressed by the Department of Immortal Suppression had now all sent experts to lay out schemes in the Wu tribe’s rear.
By assisting each other, they had found quite a few opportunities amidst this chaotic world.
Before long.
Under the elder’s guidance, Li Jianshu arrived at the forbidden grounds of the Eternal Immortal Sect.
Hearing a muffled groan of pain, he saw his younger brother, Li Jianning, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
His clothes were already soaked in sweat, and his entire body was shaking continuously from the pain, yet ripples of Spiritual power belonging to the Golden Core realm fluctuated around him.
“The Daoist technique Ancestor Lan taught him…” Seeing his younger brother in such a state, Li Jianshu felt both shocked and heartbroken.
Li Jianning looked much older than Li Jianshu.
Back then, he already possessed an elderly body, and without reaching the Nascent Soul realm to shed his mortal body and exchange his bones, the current Li Jianning simply looked hale and hearty for his age.
A flash of lightning passed through Li Jianshu’s eyes.
Under his lightning art, he saw that the meridians and acupoints all over Li Jianning’s body had already opened one hundred and eighty-two dantians.
The numerous Golden Cores allowed Li Jianning’s Spiritual power to rival that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
“The human body has seven hundred and twenty meridians and acupoints, yet Jianning has only opened one hundred and eighty-two so far.
A Golden Core only has a lifespan of about five hundred years. How can he break through to the Nascent Soul realm using this kind of cultivation method?”
Li Jianshu frowned slightly. Seeing that Li Jianning had finished his cultivation, he muttered.
“High Ancestor Yunlin also said the path he cultivates is a broad and smooth road. I also need to prepare more life-extending medicinal pills for him.”
[Your descendant Li Jianning has opened one hundred and eighty-two meridians and acupoints to store Golden Cores.
Every single Golden Core is inscribed with a technique, refining one hundred and sixty-nine Human Cores, twelve Earth Cores, and one Heaven Core.]
[Li Jianning’s strength is immense. Last year, under Ancestor Lan’s arrangement, he fought a grand battle against an early-stage Nascent Soul expert.
Accomplishing the heroic feat of challenging someone of a higher realm, he fought and won at the cost of minor injuries. Below the Nascent Soul realm, he is peerless in the world!]
“…”
Watching the hale and hearty Li Jianning stand up, the corners of Li Wei’s mouth twitched.
He actually didn’t know Li Jianning had beaten a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Thinking back to when he was at the Golden Core realm, he had been chased all over by a Nascent Soul cultivator.
And he had possessed a Divine Core!
“As expected, when quantity reaches a certain point, it can induce a qualitative change.”
—
Donate on Ko-fi []
Get Early Access to 90 Chapters: Search for “Dark Tea” on Ko-fi (Explore tab) and join my membership to read ahead!