In the distance.
Li Tianniu stood together with his wives. His wives, who were always noisily bustling about in Merit City year-round, now all watched the children receiving their orders with complex expressions—filled with both worry and pride.
Li Tianniu stared intently at the children, head high and chest out. He had long heard outsiders saying the children he fathered were incapable—that's fucking bullshit!
Every single one of his descendants was incomparably more formidable than him, their father and grandfather. He knew himself that, as an elder, besides being handsome, he had no other merits. But... he had a group of children who strove to make him proud!
"Children! When you are out and about, you must pay attention to your own safety, and protect yourselves well! When you become strong, remember to send spirit stones and natural treasures back to support me!"
"..."
The other children of the Tian generation stared speechlessly at Li Tianniu. They had also had some kids over the years, but compared with Li Tianniu? They simply couldn't compete with him over the sheer number of wives. As the most 'useless' member of the Tian generation, this kid also seemed to be the 'strongest' member...
It wasn't just the Tian-generation children; even Li Tianniu's own descendants rolled their eyes at him.
But Li Wei particularly admired this kid.
[Traits: Amorous, Passionate, Super Fertility... Cultivator in Obscurity]
[Cultivator in Obscurity: He always diligently cultivates while being forgotten. When cultivating unnoticed, speed increased by 10%.]
This kid didn't fight or snatch; he silently had babies and silently cultivated them. By now, he had already reached the early Golden Core stage. His pace was steady, not rushed, and his foundation was extremely solid. Moreover, after cultivating for over a hundred years, he even created a Yellow-rank technique, which was very suitable for Li family bloodline cultivation, and even better when paired with Beast Blood Fruit.
Don't just see that this kid, Li Tianniu, was the 'most useless' in terms of strength among the Tian generation. He had many children. Basically, for every child born, the family would reward some resources, and each year the family would also allocate resources [to him]. He distributed it all to his children and wives, not keeping the slightest bit for himself, relying purely on absorbing Heaven and Earth's spiritual energy on his own...
He truly lived up to his name, like an old ox expending all its energy plowing the fields without ever asking for a reward.
Sometimes, Li Wei even suspected that if this kid had kept all the resources for himself, he might have been at the Nascent Soul stage by now.
After the Li family children received their orders one by one.
Under the watchful eyes of the Li family elders, they secretly headed towards the border between Azure Cloud region and Eternal Sun Prefecture.
This trip was a secret operation for the Li family. Most of these children were not well-known, and they would live incognito after reaching Eternal Sun Prefecture; naturally, others could not be informed. They would operate under the identities arranged by Li Changsheng, developing step by step within the major powers of Eternal Sun Prefecture. Even if they couldn't become important figures within the major sects, they could still become spies and play a crucial role in the future.
Under the setting sun, led by Hall of Heavenly Principle · Shadow Division Assassins, they headed towards Eternal Sun Prefecture from all directions.
At this moment, all the Li family children looked back one last time at the Azure Cloud region behind them. A trace of reluctance flashed in their eyes; they had grown up in the Azure Cloud region, which held everything familiar to them.
But very quickly, they looked towards Eternal Sun Prefecture, the reluctance in their eyes dissipating, replaced entirely by resolute gazes.
They had stepped out of the Azure Cloud region; the place ahead was unfamiliar territory. Here, they would no longer have the family's protection; here, no one spread the Li family's glory. The road ahead was like pioneering untamed land; endless dangers would await them.
But...
The people of the Azure Cloud region said they were the generation standing on the shoulders of giants, and that without the Li family, they were nothing.
No!
They had walked out of Azure Cloud region; they wanted to walk out of the shadows! They wanted to clear the road ahead for the giants and carry the giants forward!
When Eternal Sun Prefecture falls into the family's hands, on the day they return, let's see who dares utter half a word of dissent!
...
"This journey will span countless months and years. I don't know when—what year, what month—we'll meet again."
Li Dalong let out a long sigh.
At this time, the Old Tree also transformed into human form, standing beside Li Dalong. Watching the departing figures of the children, he smiled, "The children of our family are always like this. I've seen it; they live in your shadows, and they constantly want to jump out from those shadows."
"This departure is like young serpents leaving the mountain, each awaiting the day they ascend as dragons and return in glory."
Li Dalong frowned. "Did you see the future?"
The Old Tree shook its head.
Its voice drifted on the wind, "Aren't all Li family members like this?"
"I suppose so. I really am getting old now."
Li Dalong sighed deeply again. Immediately after, he led the Li family children still remaining there back to the main hall.
Not long after.
Mi Zhunqi of the Mi family from Starfall Region had been discussing matters with Li Dalong for a long time. This Mi family Region Prince looked joyfully at Li Dalong, "Old Family Head Li, are you saying you agree to help us retake Starfall Region?"
The six major powers of Starfall Region had come to Azure Cloud region. They had been stationed continuously at the border between Azure Cloud Region and Starfall Region, partly to avoid conflict with the people of Azure Cloud region. They had already begun fighting for the Azure Cloud region, resisting the Wu Clan, all so that the Azure Cloud region might lend a hand and help them drive the Wu Clan out from the Starfall Region side.
But the Azure Cloud region Commander, Li Yunbing—that kid was very sinister. He had discussed many conditions with Mi Zhunqi; it was almost tantamount to demanding the Mi family itself be handed over to the Li family.
Now, Li Dalong had finally relented.
"Correct. I will order Yunbing to go fight for Starfall Region. I have two conditions; I wonder if you agree?" Seeing Mi Zhunqi frown and remain silent, Li Dalong smiled, "First, if the Wu Clan is swept clean from Starfall Region, it will be renamed Azure Cloud Region, and the two Regions will no longer be distinguished."
"Second, I hope the major powers of Starfall Region remember that it was our Li family who retook your homeland for you; our cultivators sacrificed and shed blood for Starfall Region. When our Li family needs you to fight for us, I also hope you will spare no effort."
On that day, Mi Zhunqi pondered for a long time, but finally agreed. The other major powers had even fewer objections; what they wanted was the land where their ancestors had lived for generations. They didn't care whether the name was changed or not. Besides, the two regions had always provided mutual assistance over these years and had long become like brothers; the older generation among them were practically sleeping in the same bed.
As for helping the Li family when needed? Li Kuanghua was the direct disciple of Ye Xiu of the Myriad Arts Sect. If they didn't help, even Ye Xiu would beat them up.
As Mi Zhunqi departed.
Li Yunbing and Li Tianyue, clad in armor emerged from behind the wall. The two watched the departing Mi Zhunqi, revealing smiles.
"Second Uncle, you really have the most methods," Li Tianyue said. "You proposed so many excessive conditions. Now that Great-Grandfather came with two less harsh conditions, that old fox Mi Zhunqi finally agreed."
"It wasn't up to him to refuse," [Li Yunbing replied]. "Otherwise, if today's conversation between him and Grandfather got out, the six major powers of Starfall Region would definitely become dissatisfied. At that time, I couldn't be blamed [for what happens]."
Li Dalong slowly walked out of the room, gazing towards the direction of Eternal Sun Prefecture, a sharp glint in his eyes.
The children had gone to Eternal Sun Prefecture to plot the family's thousand-year grand plan.
Then he, as the elder...
would conquer an even more vast Azure Cloud region for the children!
---
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