"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
[Year 95]
Within the Thunderfire Cave, the sound of metal striking metal resonated every single day. For three hundred and sixty-five days, the Thunderfire Cave trembled constantly. The only difference was that the true energy fluctuations emanating from the convergence of magma and lightning grew stronger and stronger, even gradually reaching the level of spiritual power.
The demon cultivators even began to fear that the Thunderfire Cave might collapse one day due to the constant tremors.
"Hey, look at those three kids, still running."
"Day after day, for an entire year. Those three kids are quite something."
"I wonder where they get their perseverance."
The demon cultivators in the Thunderfire Cave had almost grown accustomed to the presence of these three children. No one knew what kind of belief supported their relentless cultivation. The only thing they knew was that the children stumbled and fell repeatedly on the first day, then stumbled and fell again after taking pills on the second day, until they gradually grew used to moving forward with the heavy burden.
But such days wouldn't last long. They would soon return to the state they were in on the first day.
And today was no different.
Another iron bar was removed from the front of their armor!
"Thud!"
With a thud, Li Kuangren and Li Kuanghua, who were trudging forward like elderly people, turned around.
"Kuangtu!"
They quickly turned back and helped the fallen Li Kuangtu to his feet.
The three children were drenched in sweat. Every day, they were pushing their limits!
In just one year, a remarkable transformation was already visible in them. Because they couldn't remove their armor, their original inner linings had long since rotted away due to their sweat and the constant wear and tear, revealing their toned muscles.
Li Kuangren, who had ordinary features, now had tanned skin.
Li Kuanghua, the most delicate of the three, had also grown taller. She used to have adorable pigtails, but she had cut her hair short like a boy to prevent sweat-soaked hair from hindering her cultivation.
As for Li Kuangtu, he was almost as tall as Li Kuangren now. He also had a muscular build, and his handsome face showed a newfound determination.
"Elder Brother, Sister Kuanghua," Li Kuangtu gasped, out of breath, "I... I can't go on anymore."
Li Kuanghua gritted her teeth. "Youngest," she said, "get up! Don't disgrace our Li family!"
With just those words, Li Kuangtu's expression changed, and he gritted his teeth, standing up again.
Such exchanges had occurred countless times over the past year.
Li Kuangren looked at his younger siblings with concern. Words formed in his throat, but he couldn't speak them. He could only turn his head away. When he could no longer see his siblings, his gaze became determined. "Run," he thought, "continue cultivating. Let everyone in the Thunderfire Cave know that we are worthy of being descendants of Second Great-grandmother!"
Eldest Great-uncle said it long ago: we must accept our destiny. We agreed, so we cannot go back on our word!
"We are—"
"—descendants of the Li family!"
...
In front of the screen, Li Wei's expression gradually softened.
[Your descendants, Li Kuangren, Li Kuanghua, and Li Kuangtu, have undergone a year of continuous cultivation. Every day, they endured physical and mental challenges, pushing their limits. Acquired trait —]
[Limit Breakers!]
[They seek limits, they achieve limits, and they will never forget what they have endured. Combat power increased by 10%, resilience increased by 20%!]
Li Wei watched their transformation bit by bit. Li Kuangtu, who had once lived a pampered life, would occasionally want to give up, but in the blink of an eye, he would become resilient again, always getting back up to continue his cultivation.
Li Kuanghua, the young girl whose combat power had been reduced due to the "Striving Victim" trait, also saw an increase thanks to "Limit Breakers."
It wasn't just her traits that changed. Li Wei also saw how the hardships this girl had endured were gradually being buried deep within her heart. She would now become a worthy member of the Li family, bravely facing any challenge.
And then there was Li Kuangren.
He could see that Li Kuangren was actually feeling quite guilty. Perhaps he didn't know about the lifespan Li Yaoqing had sacrificed for him, or perhaps he didn't understand why Li Yaotie was so harsh with them. But he seemed to vaguely sense that everything was because of him, that the elders were pushing him to grow stronger, and that his younger siblings were suffering alongside him because of it.
Every night, while his younger siblings luxuriously enjoyed their daily sleep, Li Kuangren would take out an invigorating pill and swallow it, then continue running through the Thunderfire Cave in the dead of night.
The reason for their continuous breakthroughs.
Li Wei clicked on the equipment they were wearing.
[Nine-Layered Profound Heavy Armor]
[Grade: low-grade Spirit Artifact]
[Description: Forged by Li Yaotie from the heaviest Ninth-Grade ores, the Profound Heavy Armor suppresses the wearer's spiritual power while nourishing their body every day. The more exhausted the wearer becomes, the more spiritual energy they absorb from heaven and earth. It has nine levels of weight. Each time an iron bar is removed from the chest, the weight increases exponentially!]
Li Wei felt that these children had finally grown up, catching up to the footsteps of their elders.
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