Li Changyao's expression was grave. "I had the people from the Hall of Heavenly Principle investigate it carefully. The name of this Peerless Art is pretty much the same as its origin."
"Peerless Hall?"
The expressions of the Li family members changed.
"That's right." Having been in charge of the Hall of Heavenly Principle for many years, Li Changyao was rarely this cautious.
"This Earth-rank cultivation method of Xinnian's is the inner sect cultivation method passed down through generations in the Peerless Hall from sixty thousand years ago.
There is a restriction on the cultivation method; without a special secret art and a Peerless Hall elder to dredge the meridians and Divine Soul, it's impossible for an outsider to cultivate it."
"A Peerless Hall elder?!!" Li Xinnian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Only an elder can transmit the cultivation method.
How, then, does Su Chen know the method for dredging the meridians and Divine Soul?
And ever since he was badly injured many years ago, it's as if he became a different person, rising abruptly and cultivating to this day. Which means..."
"Possession, or reincarnation. But in my view, nine times out of ten, it's reincarnation."
Li Xinghuo, with a habit learned from who knows where, sat at Li Xinnian's side, rolling two round jade stones in his left hand.
"I checked his things when he was unconscious. He has a ring, and carved upon it are the characters 'The Divine Ring gathers the soul; in an age of chaos, it grants the bearer Heaven's Mandate'. The ancient, time-worn aura was something I've never seen before."
"Which means, this kid has a status above that of a Peerless Hall elder, and has been reincarnated."
Li Tianyi raised an eyebrow slightly; this matter wasn't surprising to him.
The old seniors in his storage ring were over a hundred thousand years old, after all.
As for reincarnation, Fourth Grand-Aunt was the most familiar with that.
"No, not just an elder!" Li Changyao said in a deep voice.
"My old brother always told me to think bigger in all matters.
I suspect he was the Hall Master of the Peerless Hall from sixty thousand years ago.
Back then was his most powerful period, yet he suddenly vanished from the world, and the Peerless Hall went into seclusion because of it.
Perhaps he died back then. Xinghuo said his ring isn't ordinary, which further proves my suspicion."
"He... reincarnated from sixty thousand years ago to the present day!"
The members of the Li family were all horrified. Sixty thousand years ago was an ancient era to them.
After a long while, Li Yunlin smiled and said, "No matter what, we will keep this secret. Xinghuo has already recognized him as his godson. Although this child is a bit reckless and arrogant, he also counts as half a Li family member.
Third Uncle was schemed against by people from the Peerless Hall; this debt will have to be settled sooner or later. We can only hope Su Chen will be of use."
Everyone nodded slightly. Setting aside Peerless Hall, Su Chen's innate talent as a reincarnated cultivator alone was worth them helping him out.
"Changyao."
Compared to Su Chen, Li Kuangren was more concerned about the family's hidden enemies.
"Have you found any intelligence on the Immortal Zhao Clan?"
"Nothing at all." Li Changyao rubbed her head.
"Whether it's Peerless Hall or the Immortal Zhao Clan, they are both skilled at concealing their traces. Trying to find intelligence on them in the world is truly exceptionally difficult."
Just at this moment, a black shadow landed in the center of the great hall.
Everyone hurriedly rose and bowed to the suddenly appearing woman in white.
"Old Ancestor!"
Li Xinnian shot to his feet, bowing respectfully, his gaze filled with admiration.
In his eyes, the first two generations of the family were undoubtedly mysterious—even more mysterious than the seven ancestors buried underground.
He couldn't help but raise his head to look at the Fourth Illustrious Ancestor; seeing her gentle and warm smile, he also felt a bit more at ease.
This Illustrious Ancestor must be a gentle person.
"Sit." Li Yaowen waved lightly to the younger generation.
After everyone was seated, Li Yaowen smiled and said, "That Longevity Zhao family... I have already investigated them roughly. This Longevity Zhao family rose to prominence one hundred and sixty thousand years ago."
"One hundred and sixty thousand years ago?!!"
Li Yunlin's expression changed drastically. Peerless Hall was sixty thousand years, and the Longevity Zhao family was one hundred and sixty thousand...
"Just because their era is ancient doesn't mean they are powerful." Li Yaowen said indifferently.
"Many have existed in this world for a long time.
Cultivators have long lifespans, passing things down from generation to generation; for an era to be a bit more ancient is quite common.
I've heard that before the Imperial Dynasty was established, there were many powerful Immortal Clans and sects in the world. However, I saw a line in an ancient record."
"When Zishu became Emperor, the Void Realm went into seclusion."
Hearing this, the expressions of the Li family disciples were filled with shock.
It was hard to imagine how majestic the Human Emperor had been over a hundred thousand years ago, suppressing the entire Azure Dynasty's Void Refining realm with his power alone, to the point that they dared not step into the mortal world.
"Baimei daring to cause disaster back then, and the Three Great Immortal Sects wanting to support Prince Qian—it was only because that restraint was gone.
The emergence of Void Refining realm experts into the world will also become more common."
Li Yaowen continued, "The Immortal Zhao Clan is one of them. Existing for one hundred and sixty thousand years, the Zhao Clan was once incomparably powerful, and the clan even possessed Integration realm experts.
Unfortunately, they flourished to the extreme and then fell into decline.
The Integration and Void Refining realm cultivators in their clan were slaughtered in a single night.
If not for a trace of their bloodline surviving and escaping with the family's treasures, I fear they would have long since been annihilated in the long river of history."
As Li Yaowen recounted the intelligence on the Immortal Zhao Clan, the family disciples were all fascinated, while also feeling a trace of worry.
They were fascinated by that magnificent and turbulent era of the past, but also worried about the coming chaotic age now that the Human Emperor's fated lifespan was nearing its end.
Li Yaowen's gaze then turned sharp. "But that Immortal Zhao Clan—they got what they deserved! "
"Got what they deserved? "
The clansmen's expressions turned cold. It seemed this Immortal Zhao Clan was truly no virtuous bunch.
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