Li Wei lowered his eyes, watching as the Li family members sat down one by one to meditate around him, each placing his spirit tablet before them with uncontainable reverence.
The arrival of the family members had already disturbed him.
And when Li Dalong shouted, "Our ancestor is right here!", it startled him.
So that's what...
"What in the world are you imagining?" Li Wei was both amused and exasperated. He couldn't help but admire Li Dalong's train of thought.
However, Li Wei also felt a sense of joy. When he first arrived, he would occasionally visit his descendants, but now that everyone was gathered together, it gave him a sense of familial warmth.
Although having so many people accompany him in secluded cultivation was a bit unusual, it wasn't unacceptable. Spirit tablets were lined up on the ground, and everyone was meditating with their eyes closed. The scene was somewhat eerie but harmless overall.
Especially when a translucent, light blue notification appeared before his eyes, resembling a pop-up window in a game.
[Your descendants have felt the blessings you brought from the Upper Realm. They can sense your dedication and are moved to tears.]
[Congratulations! You have received +2000 incense value!]
[The Li family has acquired the group trait: Ancestor's Blessing]
[Your family members, striving to live up to your expectations, have increased their cultivation speed by 20% and comprehension by 10% in the area where you have gathered spiritual energy!]
The moment the pop-up window appeared, Li Wei suddenly felt his mind clear, and even the Core Flame he was tempering burned more vigorously!
"Hmm???"
His eyes lit up. "There's such a benefit?"
Even as an intangible presence in this world, it seemed he was still recognized; after all, he was the ancestor of the Li family!
...
[Year 65th: You are inscribing the cultivation technique 'Yin-Yang Diagram, First Level: Heaven, Earth, and Human' onto your False Core, reaching 10% progress.]
[Simultaneously, you are comprehending the second level, Heaven, Earth, and Five Elements. Observing the cultivation of your fourth-generation descendants with their five-element mixed spiritual roots, you noticed the conflicting nature of their water and fire elements and gained insights into the mutual generation of the five elements, reaching 5% progress!]
After another year of cultivation, Li Wei opened his eyes again, a hint of joy flashing across his face.
He realized that having his descendants cultivate around him offered more advantages than he had anticipated.
At the center of it all, he could perceive the cultivation methods of his descendants' spiritual roots. And for his Yin-Yang spiritual root, what he lacked most for cultivating the second level was an understanding of the five elements!
Now, he was gradually finding the way.
He was growing alongside his descendants.
[Your descendant, Li Dalong, observing the mutual generation and overcoming of the five elements, suddenly gained enlightenment. His metal and wood spiritual roots began to generate each other, the spiritual energy in his dantian condensed, and he broke through to the peak of Foundation Establishment!]
"Hahaha, Ancestor, Dalong has succeeded!"
"The peak of Foundation Establishment! I thought it would take me ten years to achieve this, but unexpectedly, I broke through in just one year! Ancestor, your divine abilities are truly extraordinary!"
Li Wei opened his eyes slightly, also feeling joy for Li Dalong.
He soon closed his eyes again.
[Year 67th]
[You observe your descendants' five elements mutual generation... Heaven, Earth, and Five Elements progress 15%!]
[Your descendants cultivate together, gathering a vast amount of spiritual energy, which is further amplified by your five elements spiritual energy gathering. Cultivation speed increased by 5%. Progress in tempering the first level of the cultivation technique has reached 20%.]
As the tempering progressed, Li Wei grew increasingly proficient.
The Li family members continued to cultivate around him. Li Dalong even brought the Heaven-Piercing Coffin over and simply lay inside it to cultivate.
With all the spirit tablets scattered around... the scene looked quite bizarre no matter how you looked at it.
Li Yunbing, always busy with important matters, came and went frequently.
The others were much the same.
Especially Li Yaotie.
This guy brought his forging table over and, in order not to disturb others' cultivation, had the Blood Spirit Fruit Tree create a soundproofing formation for him. Every time Li Wei opened his eyes, he would see Li Yaotie swinging a large hammer, sparks flying everywhere.
As time passed, Li Wei witnessed the construction of exquisite pavilions and jade palaces throughout the Li family estate.
He saw rain and snow falling from the sky, the sun rising and setting. Although it seemed like he and the Li family's descendants existed in two separate dimensions, they were all experiencing the changing weather together.
The Blood Spirit Fruit Tree grew taller every year, just like the children of the Li family.
Everything about the Li family unfolded before his eyes, and he found himself watching it all without closing his eyes!
[You are observing the five elements of heaven and earth, realizing their intricate connection to the workings of all things. You understand that humans can cultivate the earth, control metal and fire, and grow alongside plants and trees, experiencing the cycle of seasons...]
[You begin to integrate with the five elements of heaven and earth!]
[Year 70th: The Grand Ceremony begins!]
For this year's Grand Ceremony, all the members of the Li family performed the ritual right there on the spot, offering the same sacrifices as before.
He still clicked "Yes."
As the Grand Sacrifice concluded, he closed his eyes.
The speed of tempering his Golden Core was faster than ever before.
Even the second level of the Yin-Yang Diagram, Heaven, Earth, and Five Elements, began to be inscribed onto his Golden Core!
[Congratulations! You have achieved enlightenment!]
[You have grasped the essence of the five elements of heaven and earth. Humans, existing within these five elements, are influenced by them yet can also harness their power. You have perceived the true strength of the five elements!]
[Your inscription of Heaven, Earth, and Human is complete. The inscription of Heaven, Earth, and Five Elements is commencing.]
The sacrifices offered by the Li family descendants in this Grand Ceremony were more than just mere offerings.
He could sense it, his Golden Core... Would be extraordinary!