Li Wei had been watching the scene of the three children cultivating.
They had already entered the Heavenly Pond of Azure Phoenix Mountain.
It was a pool of thick liquid, with spiritual energy swirling around like mist. There were about a hundred meditation cushions floating in mid-air.
[Azure Phoenix Heavenly Pond]
[Effects: When Qi Refining cultivators cultivate within, it can strengthen their bones and refine their meridians, doubling their cultivation speed. There's a chance for their Water spirit root value to increase by 2-6 points. It gathers spiritual energy every thirty years, and the energy lasts for a hundred days, allowing for use by a hundred people.]
As soon as the three children entered, they marveled at the wonders of the Heavenly Pond, but they were still chatting about the difference between their Eldest Great-uncle and the legends they had heard.
Perhaps they felt disappointed by their legendary Eldest Great-uncle, but Li Wei felt genuinely relieved!
"As terrifying as ever."
Now, ironically, it was he, the ancestor watching the computer screen, who could discern some of the underlying details just from the images.
Li Yaozu seemingly acted like an ordinary person all along, using simple moves when competing with the swordsmen from the Sword Pavilion. When approaching Azure Phoenix Mountain, he didn't even lift a finger to fight.
But in reality, above the clouds where Li Yaozu was located, sword shadows constantly flickered. All around him were translucent swords. Standing before the gates of Azure Phoenix Mountain, his sword case trembled, its sharp edges fully revealed.
That was... a hint of his sword intent.
[Your descendant, Li Yaozu, is honing his sword intent. He has collected 5,000 sword techniques, each "hidden sword" representing a technique learned from others. Li Yaozu uses his opponents' sword techniques to enter into the essence of their swords.]
[By collecting ten thousand swords, his 'Thousand Swords Body' can break through to the 'Ten Thousand Swords Body.' His Sword Core can then match a Heavenly Core, and his body will become as strong as a mid-grade spirit artifact!]
A body with the strength of a mid-grade Spirit Artifact would be comparable to a peak Golden Core cultivator.
Li Yaozu undoubtedly had the most ordinary talent. Unlike his other descendants, he didn't have any special encounters or opportunities. His swordsmanship was almost entirely self-taught through his own comprehension.
The young Li Yaozu practiced swordsmanship every day. Now, he was like an ascetic monk, traveling the world with his sword, seeking the true essence of sword intent.
A few days quickly passed.
This Azure Phoenix Mountain was once Xuan Tianzi's sect. Now, Li Yaozu had entered the mountain with the three children, but the elders of Azure Phoenix Mountain remained silent. Initially, they even sent people to monitor them.
But now, an old woman, frowning, approached Li Yaozu, who was sitting in meditation before the entrance to the cave where the Heavenly Pond was located, a sword resting on his lap, his former sharpness now concealed.
She was a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, and this was her territory. Moreover, Grand Elder Xuan Tianzi had been killed by the Li family. Yet, now, she had something to ask Li Yaozu, but she found it difficult to bring herself to speak.
"Lord Sword King," she began, "I have a matter to discuss."
Li Yaozu opened his eyes and stood up, speaking politely, "Senior, please speak freely."
The old woman said, "This Heavenly Pond belongs to my Azure Phoenix Mountain. This year is also the time for our disciples' grand competition, and the reward is the opportunity to cultivate in the Heavenly Pond. I wonder..."
"...if..."
Li Yaozu immediately understood her meaning. He sat back down, closed his eyes, and continued to sense the undigested sword intent within his sword case. "Senior, you jest," he said. "Azure Phoenix Mountain is your territory. This junior is merely borrowing it for my family's younger generation. I have no intention of seizing it. Afterward, I will also send a sum of spirit stones to Azure Phoenix Mountain as compensation. It's essentially a transaction. My Li family has its principles; I wouldn't want you to misunderstand."
"...."
The old woman's lips twitched. Her emotions were complex. She felt that something was amiss, but she couldn't quite articulate it. With a forced smile, she simply replied, "Thank you."
After hesitating, she asked again, "Lord Sword King, previously, our Grand Elder at the Skyveil Sect..."
Before she could finish, Li Yaozu's lips moved.
"Let's not confuse matters," he said. "After many years of cultivating the sword, I've learned one thing: the world is unpredictable. If you're trying to say that Xuan Tianzi's matter has nothing to do with Azure Phoenix Mountain, that's a bit of a stretch. If I were to say that my Li family has forgotten about Azure Phoenix Mountain, you wouldn't believe me either. If one day, someone asks Azure Phoenix Mountain to besiege the Li family, what choice will you make? That is the most important question."
Li Yaozu smiled nonchalantly. "I've said what needs to be said, Senior. There's no need to ask further."
"Hahaha, Lord Sword King, you are truly open-minded!"
The old woman happily departed, knowing that the Li family was still reasonable.
Watching the old woman's retreating figure, Li Yaozu turned his head and glanced towards the cave where the Heavenly Pond was located, where the three children were cultivating.
"Twenty years to defeat all the geniuses? That's enough time."
He had already received intelligence from his Fourth Sister that Li Kuangren's growth and gaining the favor of the Jun Prince's Mansion were crucial.
That was also, the key to returning to their homeland!
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