Now that the Li clansmen had identified several of Tian Xing's vulnerabilities, they collectively embarked upon a new phase of intensive, secluded cultivation. All their preparations and training proceeded with meticulous order.
This particular period of seclusion was exceptionally Long.
During it, Li Wei managed to find a brief moment to return to his real-world existence.
He found himself back in his familiar bed, in his familiar room, yet an unsettling sense of dislocation washed over him – a feeling that time and space had somehow become warped, making it difficult to tell one reality from the other.
More and more, the game world felt like his true existence, while his actual life seemed increasingly dreamlike, almost an illusion itself.
After all, it was his 'clansmen' within the game who now occupied the greater part of his thoughts and concerns. While back in the real world, he made a call to Boss Qi, requesting that he procure several more antimatter bombs for him.
[Year 240]
On this occasion, the Li Clan's period of intensive, secluded training had lasted for an entire decade.
Li Wei, too, had dedicated these ten years to his own cultivation within the game.
Throughout these past ten years, Li Wei had maintained a constant spiritual presence beside Xu Cuihua, thereby also being in close proximity to the Fox Saint.
This allowed him to continuously perceive the profound Rules and Laws that naturally emanated from the Saint's very being. And it was only through this prolonged decade of proximity that Li Wei truly came to appreciate the sheer, awe-inspiring power the Fox Saint had once wielded.
She was, without doubt, an absolute titan among cultivators, one of that rarefied echelon of supreme masters who walk the world. At her zenith, her power had reached a legendary realm!
Tragically, the sheer span of her existence had been too immense; age had slowly, inexorably, taken its toll, leaving her weakened. Now, she could only manifest power equivalent to the Void Refining realm.
The Fox Clan itself, moreover, had entered its twilight many ages past. They were now truly caught in a difficult transition, the old guard fading before the new generation was ready.
Indeed, besides the Saint herself, they now counted only two others who had reached the Void Refining stage among their ranks.
[System Notification: You are currently gaining insights into the Rule of Ice and aspects of the Rule of Space.]
During these ten years of relative quiet, various other Li family members had also, one by one, achieved their own cultivation breakthroughs.
[Descendant Update (Li Tianyi): Your descendant Li Tianyi has achieved a stable breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm! However, due to his current confinement within the Tian Xing Abode, where heavenly fate is obscured, he has been unable to face the corresponding Six-Nine Lightning Tribulation. Consequently, he currently wields only about ten percent of the true power expected of an Early-stage Nascent Soul.]
[Descendant Update (Li Changyao): Li Changyao has advanced to the Mid Stage of Golden Core.]
[Descendant Update (Li Changsheng): Li Changsheng's cultivation realm has regressed to the Sixth Level of Qi Refining.]
[Descendant Update (Seven Ironclads): During this latest Great Ceremony, your descendants, the Seven Ironclads, have again acquired a supply of Wu bones, resulting in a notable enhancement to their collective strength.]
[Descendant Update (Li Yunlin): Your descendant Li Yunlin has acquired several valuable items: two Rank 8 Spirit Objects, three Rank 7 Spirit Objects, and one Rank 6 Spirit Object. Consequently, the Skyveil Hall has been significantly augmented once more, and his personal combat effectiveness has increased by several-fold.
The Skyveil Hall is now imbued with the power of the Five Elements, and through this, Li Yunlin has mastered a new formation: the 'Five Elements Annihilation Array'. This array is primarily offensive, designed for utter destruction; within its confines, the Rules of the Five Elements manifest as five devastating beams of stellar energy to strike down foes.]
"Yunlin, you must continue to prioritize your own intrinsic cultivation. The Skyveil Hall, however mighty it may grow, remains at its core an external aid." This advice was delivered during their latest spiritual talk in Ancestor Space.
Li Dalong's recent tribulations – losing his artifact and subsequently discovering his inner strength – remained fresh in Li Wei's thoughts. More than ever, compared to reliance on external items, Li Wei now placed greater faith in cultivating one's own inherent power.
"Yes, Ancestor. This child understands completely." Li Yunlin promptly affirmed his understanding.
Within the Tian Xing Abode, however, progress for Li Tianyue and Li Tianqi had stalled; for a considerable while, neither had achieved a breakthrough.
The truth was, both had long since reached the threshold where they should have faced their respective heavenly tribulations.
Li Tianyue, however, was specifically holding back. Her path seemingly required her to slaughter a vast number of Wu Clan members to successfully transcend her Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Unable to do so while confined, she had chosen not to proceed with her breakthrough, allowing her power to steadily build and condense within her instead.
Regarding Li Tianqi... his lack of a breakthrough stemmed from an inability to 'dance with death' – that is, to engage in the kind of high-risk, life-threatening endeavors that often trigger advancement.
Meanwhile, within the Tian Xing Abode itself, thanks to Li Changsheng, ever the prudent one, managing the broader strategy, things had remained relatively stable among the Li group.
Li Wei prompted the system: Review historical event log.
[Historical Event Log – Li Family Year 232: Under the prudent command of Li Changsheng, your clansmen took advantage of a moment when Xu Dingsheng was engaged in conflict with a rival group. They executed a surprise raid on Xu Dingsheng's main encampment, securing a substantial amount of plunder.]
[Li Family Year 235: A successful stealth assault was launched against Nangong Yazhi's faction... Resulted in the acquisition of significant spoils.]
[Li Family Year 238: Another successful stealth raid executed...]
"Typical of Li Changsheng's handiwork..." Li Wei mused, reviewing the logs.
When Li Wei next focused his senses on the Tian Xing Abode, he perceived that the Li group there had consistently remained deep underground.
The subterranean levels of the Tian Xing Abode extended down to a maximum depth of three thousand meters. The Li group had established their sanctuary well over two thousand meters deep.
Moreover, they relocated their primary encampment at frequent, regular intervals, transforming the warren of tunnels beneath the Abode into a veritable labyrinth.
Beyond the Tian Xing Abode, the other scattered Li family members were largely continuing along the paths they had set for themselves a decade prior. Thus, it is often said that for cultivators, mundane time holds little meaning.
This is particularly true for those who have attained the Nascent Soul realm, whose lifespans can extend for millennia; for them, a single session of secluded meditation might well last for a century or more.
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