Chapter 986: Chapter 980: Establishing An Army
[Year 807]
[Your descendant, Li Yunlin, under the command of the Spear Saint, participated in the Void Refinement battle and obtained a massive amount of spiritual medicine as a reward.
Your descendant, Li Yunbing, led the Azure Cloud Army to trace the whereabouts of the “Lotus Ferry Nunnery” and fought a great battle against the Wu tribe.
Your descendant, Li Xinnian, captures members of the Yun Clan at regular intervals to suck their blood.]
[The war in Deston Prefecture escalates, with various factions launching expeditions.]
…
Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Li Wei appeared at the clan’s garrison, his face calm.
“Bi Shihu and the Yun Clan are merely two worthless things. If they cannot reach the Body Integration realm, how can they survive in this era of great chaos?”
Having achieved the true Void Refinement realm for many years, Li Wei was now also probing into deeper realms.
Accumulating his own Spiritual power was actually easy; using Clan Will to consume spiritual medicines, elixirs, and spiritual materials, he could reach the extreme limits. It simply required a massive amount of Clan Will.
But that was merely the realm boundary. For the Void Refinement realm, the most important thing was comprehension.
Comprehending laws to fill the Void Refinement space was like building a house step by step, with “laws” acting as the materials.
Once the house was built, how to “design” it became the crucial point.
Once the “design” met the standards, one could attempt to break through to the Body Integration realm, which was further divided into the three sub-stages: Glimpsing the Dao, Questioning the Dao, and Integrating with the Dao.
The clan members now held considerable status in the world and had learned many secrets.
In the past, when the Human Emperor suppressed the world, those seeking to break through to the Body Integration or Mahayana realms had to tread carefully.
For example, the Old Ancestor of the Zhao Clan devoured the people of his entire clan and the Qi-Destiny of the commoners across an entire prefecture.
If he had done this during the Human Emperor’s peak, he likely would have been beaten so badly that not even dust would have remained.
Would Min Tiange have dared to cause trouble? I’m afraid his father, Min Youguo, would be nailed to the dynasty’s pillar of shame.
“Yunlin and the others are searching for Body Integration opportunities in Deston Prefecture.
As for that kid Zhiheng, he doesn’t need to search; his Body Integration opportunity is already upon him.”
He looked ahead.
Li Zhiheng was currently at the clan’s garrison.
Since Li Xinnian had gone to Deston Prefecture, clan affairs had been handed over to Li Jianshu to manage.
Li Jianshu’s cultivation wasn’t quite there yet.
The Wu tribe still caused trouble from time to time in the lands of the Westfall Prefecture and Azure Cloud Commandery.
Moreover, the Wu tribe’s unrest had given rise to many evildoers committing crimes. Dealing with these people was also left to Li Zhiheng.
The grandson managed the house, while the grandfather acted as the enforcer. What a harmonious scene.
“Grandfather, there are many Wu tribesmen in the Westfall region. Please be careful,” Li Jianshu bowed to see Li Zhiheng off, with Huang Xiujin standing behind him.
“It’s just a round trip. The fact that the Qi-Destiny on the enemies can be consumed is a good thing.”
Li Zhiheng, his white robes fluttering, led the descendants of the Immortal Martial lineage gathered from all over the world, stepping onto an auspicious cloud and heading toward the Westfall Prefecture.
After bowing, Li Jianshu led Huang Xiujin back into the estate.
In the past, when Li Xinnian managed the clan, there was rarely any letters.
Since Li Jianshu took over as Patriarch, the desk was piled high with intelligence reports from the Heavenly Principle Hall.
In addition to that, there were two seals: “Guilty” and “Innocent.”
Just looking at those two seals filled Huang Xiujin with complex emotions.
For the Li Clan, a different era of governance came with each generation’s Patriarch.
When Li Xinnian managed the family estate, he mediated between all parties and excelled at assassination.
In the eyes of outsiders, Li Xinnian was absolutely the kindest Patriarch of the Li Clan, presenting a beautiful image to everyone in the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
During the short few years since Li Jianshu took over, it wasn’t as if no one in the Azure Cloud Prefecture had attempted to rebel by taking advantage of the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems incident.
Even though the Blue Moon Immortal Sect had already shown what happens when an egg strikes a rock, human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.
Yet, over these two years, Li Jianshu had shockingly suppressed everything.
And it was all because of these two seals: the innocent lived, and the guilty were killed.
“The world is in chaos. Steward, have someone draft a letter inviting the large and small factions of the Azure Cloud Prefecture to come and discuss the matter of establishing an army.” Li Jianshu frowned, having already made a decision in his heart.
“Establishing an army?” The muscles on Huang Xiujin’s face twitched.
When Xinnian was Patriarch, his methods were subtle and gentle; this kid Li Jianshu, however, used iron-blooded methods.
“Patriarch, establishing an army will consume a massive amount of spirit stones and resources; otherwise, the supply will be insufficient.
The Azure Cloud Army maintains a standing force of three hundred thousand, and two hundred thousand have already gone to Deston Prefecture, demanding a huge amount of resources. Now…”
“I have already made my decision.”
Li Jianshu said in a deep voice,
“Steward Huang, you have seen it too.
In recent years, the Wu tribe’s harassment has grown increasingly severe, and there are also evil cultivators and those with sinister intentions harming the world.
Sooner or later, there will be more and more incidents.
Recent reports from Deston Prefecture state that the two great races are fighting with true fury, and the Body Integration mighty figures are each seeking their own opportunities.
Even in a street brawl between thugs in a bustling market, it’s not uncommon for bystanders to suffer.”
“Do the people of my Azure Cloud Prefecture want to wait for death in ignorance, or seek survival under my heavy pressure? They will make their own decisions from now on.”
“Go and issue the order.
I want every Region, city, and town, every sect and noble family in the Azure Cloud Prefecture to search the mortal realm for those with Spiritual Roots and cultivate them.
Send the seeds of our cultivators’ spiritual plants down to the mortal realm and instruct the cultivators to plant them.”
“Cultivators are to prepare for military service.
They must gather every half-year to cultivate and practice array formations and Spiritual arts without delay.
For the remaining half of the year, they will return home to grow spiritual plants.”
“To encourage cultivators in their practice, there will be annual martial arts competitions where opportunities can be won.”
“Establish laws. If anyone commits a grave crime, their family and associates shall be implicated and punished together.”
Huang Xiujin’s expression changed.
“Patriarch, are you trying to… put the entire Azure Cloud Prefecture in a state of combat readiness?”
“Mm,” Li Jianshu said.
“Reduce and exempt taxes. Allowing the major factions to bolster their strength in this way will surely delight them, thus earning their support. I imagine they won’t refuse.
As for whether they will rebel, you needn’t worry. As long as our Azure Cloud Li Clan is here, they will only ever be able to see the shadow of our forward progress.”
“Understood.”
Huang Xiujin pondered for a moment and also felt it was a good idea.
“I will go mediate. Patriarch, you focus on your cultivation. There is also the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven; the clan’s descendants should lead by example.”
With the arrangements settled.
Li Jianshu had already begun cultivating. Sitting cross-legged, he chanted the incantations of the method from the Divine Art. In an instant, thunder rolled in the sky.
Off to the side.
Li Wei had also listened to the changes Li Jianshu was making to the clan, and he didn’t stop him.
Li Jianshu was the new Patriarch appointed by Li Xinnian, so naturally, Li Xinnian had his reasons.
And this kid Li Jianshu, ever since losing his son Li Qiukong and obtaining the Heaven and Earth Spirit Spring, had become the most battle-adept person among the clan’s descendants.
[Your descendant, Li Jianshu, has obtained a Heaven and Earth Spirit Spring and possesses the “Physique of Lightning Punishment.”
He has been the most driven to advance over the years, never forgetting the death of Li Qiukong in battle, nor the battle at the Immortal Domain.
He holds “the strong are revered” as the ultimate truth.
Obtained Trait: Supreme Veneration of the Law – Only by pursuing absolute strength can one become supreme. Cultivation speed increased by 20%.]
[Your descendant, Li Jianshu, is unwilling to be subordinate to others.
Having tempered his body with lightning punishment, and after obtaining the Divine Art, his Physique of Lightning Punishment endures lightning strikes daily.
From the Skyveil Sect’s Golden Scripture of Lightning Attraction, he has comprehended a profound method: Heavenly Lightning Body-Attracting Technique.]
[Obtained Trait: Heavenly Lightning Receptacle – Each time he bathes in heavenly tribulation lightning, his Spiritual power will experience varying degrees of enhancement.]
[Your descendant, Li Jianshu, has properly tempered his Nascent Soul and is currently comprehending his Spirit Soul Dharma Body.]
“This child is not bad. It’s no wonder Xinnian values him, though it’s also thanks to Yaoqing.”
Glancing roughly at the course of Li Jianshu’s life, Li Wei nodded slightly.
Ever since Li Jianshu obtained the Divine Art, his path of cultivation had been incredibly smooth.
It was the only Divine Art of its kind.
Li Jianshu, strangely enough, liked being struck by lightning, which also made him the person with the highest natural talent below Li Zhiheng.
…….
“I wonder how the battlefield in Deston Prefecture is faring.”
Westfall Prefecture.
Li Zhiheng still retained the appearance of a young man. His father, Li Xinnian, was an elegant young master, while Li Zhiheng was a transcendent Daoist.
With his handsome appearance clad in a Daoist robe, mentioning Deston Prefecture brought him some worry, but even more anticipation.
His ancestors were battling the people of the world in Deston Prefecture, yet his cultivation and comprehension were merely average. He could only stay behind to guard the home.
He didn’t know what year or month he would be able to step onto the grand stage of the world alongside his ancestors.
“It truly buries a treasure like the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart, something that belongs on a Body Integration mighty figure.”
“Thump… thump…” The heart beat violently, as if expressing its dissatisfaction with Li Zhiheng’s poor use of it, and also as if tempting him.
Li Zhiheng frowned, immediately understanding that the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart was bewitching him.
He immediately stabilized his mind.
Taking action in the Westfall Prefecture, within ten days, he had already led the clan’s descendants and the experts of Azure Cloud to slaughter all the cultivators who had intruded into the prefecture.
While passing by the Eternal Immortal Sect, however, he was called to a stop by Duanmu Qi.
“Zhiheng boy, why don’t you come over for a chat?”
Li Zhiheng had the younger generation of the clan return first, then descended toward the Eternal Immortal Sect.
Over these years, with the elders away, he and Jianshu managed the clan’s affairs, while Yuanshang took his place in managing the Immortal Martial lineage.
The Eternal Immortal Sect was close by, and although Duanmu Qi had succeeded as the Sect Master, he never used his power to oppress others.
This was also due to his father’s good management; the cultivators of the Duanmu family had gained a place in the imperial court through the Li Clan, making the relationship between the two families increasingly harmonious.
Upon arriving in the quaint and simple great hall of the Eternal Immortal Sect, Li Zhiheng looked around and saw that Zhangsun Buhuo and Jiang Tianjun were both present.
“Zhiheng boy, the elders of your family are not present, and affairs in Deston Prefecture are heavy. It’s not convenient for us to disturb them, so we could only seek you out,” Duanmu Qi smiled amiably.
“May I ask what the matter is, Perfected Sect Master?”
Although Li Zhiheng had a pure heart, he retained a bit of vigilance.
His father had said that when discussing matters with an old fox like Duanmu Qi, one had to be extra cautious.
“It is naturally regarding the Immortal Suppression Department.”
Duanmu Qi smiled bitterly.
“Ever since your Li Clan focused on Deston Prefecture, and with the Sword Pavilion not making a move, the Immortal Suppression Department has only had our three families acting. It has been quite inconvenient.”
Jiang Tianjun’s expression was solemn. “We have a major matter on this trip, one that must not be spread outside.”
“We suffered heavy losses in the battle at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
For many years, we have been using the convenience of the Immortal Suppression Department to find a way to make up for it.
We heard that your Azure Cloud Li Clan has a path in the Endless Forest leading to the Auric Empire and the Cultivator Alliance…” Zhangsun Buhuo’s tone was chilling.
“Those two great immortal nations, isolated year-round by the Endless Forest, are now also at war with the Wu tribe.”
“That region is free from restrictions. We have many methods. The opportunities to break through to the Divinity Transformation and Void Refinement realms lie in those two nations.”
Li Zhiheng furrowed his brows.
The elders had said that in this world, people eat each other, and these three families were no exception.
The heart within his chest thumped.
There was an endless amount of Qi-Destiny there available for devouring.
But the moment he thought of the terrifying appearance of the Zhao Clan’s Old Ancestor back then, and the thought of reaching out with a giant hand to grab the descendants to eat them, Li Zhiheng shuddered.
Li Zhiheng took a deep breath.
“I will not participate in this matter, but I will inform the elders of my family and let them decide.”
“What a pity.”
Seeing Li Zhiheng leave without being bewitched, Zhangsun Buhuo shook his head and sighed.
“This child of the Li Clan is in the Divinity Transformation realm at such a young age. It’s a pity he cultivated his Dao until he became foolish.
Those two nations and the rear of the Wu tribe hold an enormous temptation. If he went with us, breaking through to the Void Refinement realm in a short period wouldn’t be impossible.”
“I actually think this child is not bad,” Duanmu Qi smiled faintly.
“Strictly adhering to his original heart. Such a kind person, under the protection of the Li Clan, will definitely achieve great things.”
—
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