Chapter 884: Chapter 878: Go Find Your Enlightenment
[Your descendant, Li Chuyuan, in his pursuit of the Immortal Path, has joined the Eternal Immortal Sect and become a Legacy Disciple of Sect Master He Hao.
Taking pride in his natural talent, status, and strength, he has gradually estranged himself from the clansmen of the Immortal Martial Lineage.]
[Humens strive for dignity just as the Buddha strives for a stick of incense.
You and your clansmen have decided to gift the “Primordial Blood Fruit,” as well as the opportunities to cultivate using the family’s foundations—such as the Dao-Pattern Heavy Water and the Myriad Dao Pagoda—which were originally intended for Li Chuyuan, to his grandfather, Li Jianning.]
“Great-Grandfather… this is too precious.”
The members of the Immortal Martial Lineage were mostly ascetics devoted to pure cultivation.
Li Jianning wore a set of worn-out, plain robes. He was already seventy-six years old.
Perhaps due to the worry caused by the early loss of his son and the matters regarding his grandson, his hair was streaked with gray, making him appear like a mortal man in his forties.
Now, holding a golden fruit suffused with flowing crimson light in his hand, Li Jianning felt his cultivation inch forward just by taking a deep breath.
His meridians strengthened, and his breathing became unusually smooth.
Anyone who glanced at it would know this object was extraordinary, and Li Jianning felt as though he were holding the weight of a heavy mountain.
“This item originally belonged to Old Ancestor Yunlin. A few years ago, the Old Ancestor no longer had need of it, so he had me harvest it to gift to Chuyuan.”
Li Xinnian continued,
“Given his current temperament, it would be improper for us to disturb his ‘Immortal Path.’
Since you are his elder, then you shall use it.
Even though you are at the Foundation Establishment realm with a Three Spirit Root, you must not belittle yourself.
While cultivation is indeed more arduous for those with Three Spirit Roots, they are not necessarily weaker than others.”
“I know you are seventy-six years of age.
Zhiheng tells me that you have not slackened in your diligence regarding cultivation and that your foundation is solidly built.
This in itself is a fine achievement.
The Blood Fruit can develop your bloodline and even supplement your Spirit Roots.
You must make the most of it; ultimately, the outcome depends entirely on your own fortune.”
Having said this, Li Xinnian clasped his hands behind his back and gazed up at the sky.
He still could not accept that an unfilial descendant like Li Chuyuan had appeared during his tenure as Clan Head—and from his own bloodline, no less.
Since his trip to the Eternal Immortal Sect, he felt none of the joy that should have come from sealing the blood oath alliance.
For several days, his mind had been so agitated that he could not even sit still.
Li Jianning hurriedly bowed. “This child shall bear it in mind!”
After his Great-Grandfather departed.
Li Jianning held the Primordial Blood Fruit in his hands.
After a brief internal struggle visible on his brow, he hurried toward a towering structure.
That high tower was a Dharma Treasure.
Rumor had it that it was obtained during a great war between the clan and a powerful existence known as the “Immortal Domain.”
At present, his father, Li Yuanwu, was cultivating inside it.
Upon reaching a distance of one hundred meters from the tower, Li Jianning’s steps suddenly sank.
He felt as though he had stepped into a quagmire, his body feeling many times heavier than usual.
The further inward he walked, the heavier his steps became.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of fists and wind whistled from within the tower.
Through the iron-barred window, he could see Li Yuanwu, looking like a fierce lion, stripped to the waist and sweating profusely.
He was drilling his martial arts, counting aloud: “Eight hundred and ninety-one, eight hundred and ninety-two…”
“What kind of crushing pressure exists inside that tower? It must be tens of thousands of kg, surely?”
Li Jianning muttered to himself.
Upon reaching the seventy-meter mark, he dared not approach any closer.
Holding the Primordial Blood Fruit high, he shouted:
“Father! Great-Grandfather has gifted this child a divine object; I beg you, Father, please deign to accept it!”
Inside the tower.
Li Yuanwu’s movements paused for a brief moment; through his blurred vision, he caught a glimpse of his son, Jianning.
He had fathered four sons and two daughters, yet only Jianshu and Jianning remained constantly by his side.
He was aware of the matter regarding Chuyuan, of course.
But descendants create their own destinies; the Eternal Immortal Sect is powerful, so if Chuyuan wanted to cast his lot with them, then let him go.
As for why the family was so furious about it, Li Yuanwu did not quite understand.
Seeing Li Jianning offering up the treasure the family had sent, Li Yuanwu let out a cold snort.
“Since it was gifted to you by an elder, what logic is there in you giving it away? Do not try to decline; the elders have their own plans.”
“Father, this child… this child possesses dull aptitude.” Li Jianning lowered his head.
He was seventy-six years old.
He had cultivated diligently all his life, and the family had supplied him with no small amount of resources every year.
Yet, he always fell short of others—and especially short of his older brother, Jianshu, whom outsiders regarded as a god-like figure.
Li Yuanwu ceased his movements and walked to the window.
Gripping the iron bars with both hands, he pressed his face against the opening—sweaty, disheveled, and grimy—looking for all the world like a vicious criminal thrown behind bars.
“Foolish son, what is this nonsense about dull aptitude?
Back in the day, your father was even duller than you!
All paths lead to the Dao, and each has its own heights.
If cultivating the Dao doesn’t work, then practice martial arts for me!
If martial arts don’t work, go refine pills.
And if even that fails, go learn from Yuanshang—engaging in commerce is a path of its own.”
“You are seventy-six.
It is not your cultivation that is lacking; it is your spirit that has diminished.
The family has opened the door for you, but when it comes time to actually journey forth, the path must be walked by your own feet.
You underestimate yourself too much, and you lack the courage to forge ahead.
If you don’t try, how will you ever know you can’t do it?”
The child stood stunned outside.
Li Yuanwu waved his hand dismissively.
“Take that fruit of yours and go. If you yourself do not dare to forge ahead, how can you expect to manage a child who is out there forging his own way?”
“Yes, this child understands!”
Watching Li Jianning depart with a brightened gaze, Li Yuanwu grinned broadly.
“Go and find your enlightenment. That is a profound truth your father realized only after being duped by a wretched old man.”
The Cliff of Repentance.
Li Jianning arrived here to enter secluded cultivation, simply because this place was, in reality, the location where the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was most abundant.
High Ancestor Li Yunlin was practicing secluded cultivation here.
It was rumored that because he was frequently thrown into the Cliff of Repentance for confinement during his youth, he now harbored a peculiar affection for the place.
He particularly enjoyed the life of guarding the cliff and was determined to provide the clan’s children with the “best” Cliff of Repentance possible.
Sure enough, when this descendant of his—who had committed no fault—arrived at this place, he suffered not the slightest hardship from the wind and snow.
Instead, he was favored by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
“Thank you, High Ancestor, for lending this place to this child for cultivation.” Li Jianning spoke with apprehension and awe.
The voice of the High Ancestor rang in his ears: “You have a good eye, child. You recognize that my Cliff of Repentance is an excellent location for stabilizing the mind and cultivating in secrecy.”
Li Jianning dared not speak further; he simply found a spot nearby to begin his cultivation.
Immediately, he swallowed the Primordial Blood Fruit without hesitation.
His father was right: if he himself did not dare to forge a path, how could he hope to control Chuyuan?
Moreover, his Great-Grandfather had gifted him such a precious treasure. If he achieved nothing with it, how would others view his Great-Grandfather?
In an instant, his blood began to boil.
The Spiritual power of the Blood Fruit flooded his body.
Li Jianning’s cultivation realm soared, easily reaching the Peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.
His meridians surged with activity, and even his Three Spirit Roots began to grow wildly!
“Three Spirit Roots… why are there still Three Spirit Roots?”
Li Jianning’s face turned pale.
This process of “cleansing the essence and cutting the marrow” was tantamount to defying the Heavens to change his fate—akin to undergoing Foundation Establishment a second time.
At the very least, transforming his Three Spirit Roots into Double Spirit Roots would have allowed him to achieve twice the results with half the effort.
Yet… they remained Three Spirit Roots…
Suddenly, he noticed the spiritual energy drifting in from all directions.
That was the spiritual energy of the High Ancestor, who controlled Myriad Laws!
“Father said I must forge my own path, so… I shall forge it!
Cultivating with Three Spirit Roots is already slow, so I might as well forge the Five Elements Spirit Roots and seek boundless Spiritual power instead!”
In an instant, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy surged down like a pillar.
At this moment, even Li Yunlin, seated within the Skyveil Hall, opened his eyes.
He gazed in astonishment at this junior who possessed such “a good eye.”
Beside him, Fairy Hongxiu, who was also sitting cross-legged, had a peculiar glint flash through her eyes.
“The Five Elements Spirit Root? Yunlin, this junior of yours certainly has some audacity, doesn’t he?”
“No.”
Li Yunlin’s eyes erupted with profound light as he observed Li Jianning’s meridians and Dantian.
He watched as the Dantian Qi Sea began to split in two.
“His audacity is far greater than either of us imagined.
I have cultivated in this Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven for many years and watched this child grow up.
He has spent his entire life strictly abiding by the rules, yet what he is attempting today is truly a gamble.”
At this moment, the Old Cat leaped onto Li Yunlin’s shoulder.
Seeing the pained look on Li Jianning’s face amidst the dense mist of spiritual energy, the Old Cat spoke solemnly:
“This is nothing short of seeking death.
I don’t know which fool taught him to be so radical.
Absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to forge Spirit Roots, and simultaneously forging a Dantian Qi Sea?
He hasn’t stopped to think if his body and meridians can withstand it. Without external aid…”
The words had barely fallen when the Old Cat’s expression changed drastically.
“You… what are you doing?”
Li Yunlin waved his hand casually, instantly detaching a corner of the Skyveil Hall.
Li Yunlin was all smiles.
“Jianning’s luck is quite good. He lacks Metal and Fire Spirit Roots, but his foundation is solidly built.
By expending some Metal and Fire Laws, we can protect his body and forge the Dantian for him.
Old Cat, don’t be so anxious; it’s merely two or three Fifth-grade Spiritual Items. They’ll be replenished in the future.”
“Do you call that human speech?!” The Old Cat went berserk.
“Ten years of seafood.”
The Old Cat’s expression turned solemn.
“It is only human nature to act when a junior of your family meets with disaster. Dismantling some of the Power of Laws from the Skyveil Hall is understandable.
Even if you had not spoken, This Seat would have offered full assistance. However, let this not become a habit in the future.”
[Your descendant, Li Jianning, consumed the Primordial Blood Fruit. Through the Primordial Blood Fruit, his cultivation broke through to the Peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.]
[Aided by the unprecedented Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, Li Jianning decided to make a bold gamble: forging Five Elements Spirit Roots and opening up additional Dantians to fill his body with combat power and increase his future cultivation speed.
With the assistance of Li Yunlin, he survived the crisis and obtained the Trait: Five Elements Dao Body.]
[Possessing Five Elements Spirit Roots creates a state of perfect fullness.
His Spiritual power intensity will surpass cultivators of the same realm by several times, though his Spiritual power consumption will also be greater.
Opening up additional Dantians allows for the storage of vast amounts of Spiritual power.]
[His bloodline was cleansed by the Primordial Blood Fruit, granting the Special Bloodline: Primordial Spirit Physique.]
[Perception of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power increased by 60%. Spiritual Power intensity increased by 30%.]
…
[Year 790]
Another thirty years passed.
The family developed peacefully.
Good news flowed constantly into Li Wei’s system panel: descendants were multiplying, and the various Grotto-Heavens were continuously sending back resources.
This was especially true for Li Dalong.
By now, he had occupied a massive territory.
However, the “Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw” was truly vast; despite having been in the Underworld for so many years, Li Dalong had not yet traversed its entirety.
Inside the Underworld, a gray mist obscured the view, and ruined walls and debris were visible everywhere.
One could never be sure if the next step forward would reveal a lava purgatory or a river of blood—such was the scenery of the Underworld.
[Your descendant, Li Dalong, reports to you: He has occupied numerous Spirit Mines within the Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw and will now lead his subordinate zombies and malicious ghosts to investigate the Second Layer of Hell, the “The Rending Vows.”]
As Li Dalong walked forward with his arm around Xu Cuihua, figure after figure emerged behind him.
Nowadays, the number of zombies under Li Dalong’s command was growing steadily.
The Boundless Blood Sea within the Heaven-Piercing Coffin was spontaneously gestating zombies, becoming his greatest asset in conquering the Underworld.
Ding-ling-ling… Ding-ling-ling…
As the sound of bells rang out, three figures emerged behind Li Dalong:
Xuan Tianzi, a petite girl dressed in zombie robes; the Moon God, a regal woman in dark palace attire with a crescent moon hovering behind her back; and Soul Duke, a short old man hidden beneath a black hooded robe.
Together, they had formed a powerful and nefarious syndicate within Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw—truly an imposing sight.
Countless zombies and malicious ghosts radiated powerful auras.
Behind them lay a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood; clearly, they had just survived a ferocious battle!
“Wifey, now that this battle is over, let’s rest and recuperate for a few years.
We need to subdue at least a million malicious ghosts before it’s time to march on the Hell Layer II: The Rending Vows.”
Li Dalong’s gaze burned with intensity.
He could increasingly sense the fluctuations of that chain inside the Heavenly Coffin; it would not take more than one or two hundred years for it to awaken.
“It would be better to rest and build up our strength for a few more years.
The Moon God senses that Hell Layer II: The Rending Vows is far from ordinary, so it is best to play it safe.
Two nearby Ghost Venerables are eyeing us covetously; until we eradicate them, I cannot be at ease.” Xu Cuihua’s gaze was grave.
Hearing this, Li Dalong raised an eyebrow.
“What you say makes sense. It is all thanks to you these past years; otherwise, things would not have gone so smoothly.”
“Husband, do you think I held the title of Saintess of the Fox Clan for nothing?”
Xu Cuihua smiled captivatingly.
“My Master taught me not only techniques but also the strategies of racial warfare.
It is simply that within the Imperial Dynasty, there are too many shackles—an environment better suited for the children to navigate.
But here in the Underworld, we need not have any scruples.”
“I see.”
As the husband and wife chatted as if making idle domestic conversation, the zombies, malicious ghosts, and Yin spirits behind them also murmured amongst themselves.
“Jie jie jie jie jie!”
“…”
Li Wei felt his scalp go numb.
It seemed he had still underestimated this cloyingly affectionate couple.
Back in the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Li Yaozu had already arrived at the border.
After chasing the Tang family for decades, Li Yaozu looked just the same as ever.
As soon as he returned, he frowned incessantly.
“Are Father and Mother still away? I need to ask the Old Ancestor what Father and Mother are doing, and if they are safe in the Underworld.”
Li Wei rubbed his nose.
Your parents are building an empire in the Underworld—and a massive one at that.
He made a quick calculation: Li Dalong’s colossal forces were strong enough to wipe out the territory of at least two Prefectures!
However, I’d better not tell the children. I’m afraid it might scare them.
—
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