Ethereal Immortal Grove.
This place was now lush with greenery, the calls of birds and beasts echoing in unison through the mountain forests.
Deep within the mountain grounds lay a blood pool. A black-robed figure hovered a foot above it, surrounded by floating droplets of blood—a truly eerie sight.
Seated before him was a woman. It was Li Zhijing.
Years ago, after the battle in the Immortal Domain, she had stayed behind in the Azure Cloud Prefecture to cultivate.
She had originally said she would return to the Northern Region in a few years, yet one "few years" turned into another, and decades had slipped by just like that.
Li Zhijing sat cross-legged, her hair tied in a thick braid. Her beautiful features hadn't changed, yet clad in tight leather armor, she now bore a heroic, untamed air of the wilderness—resembling nothing so much as the Wu tribe women of the Endless Forest from the past.
Phantom shadows of beasts flickered behind her, while a black scale upon her brow shimmered with a dark luster.
"In the blink of an eye, over a hundred years have passed."
Li Zhijing exhaled a long breath. Turning her divine soul inward, she saw that the miniature figure sitting within her dantian had already reached adulthood.
"Mid-Nascent Soul stage. My advancement has been so rapid, thanks in large part to the clan's secret beast-taming techniques."
For over a hundred years, the Clan Head had taken great care of her, frequently sending resources. The clan elders, too, had been exceptionally doting.
This was especially true of Great Ancestor Li Yaotie. Upon seeing her cultivate beast-taming techniques, he would often stare at her, lost in a daze for a long time.
He had eventually gifted her numerous inheritances—beast-taming insights left behind by a deceased great-grandfather.
Rumor had it that this great-grandfather had once commanded a million demon beasts, slain the clan's most vicious enemies, and even ventured through the lands of the Wu tribe.
Between that, the teachings of her master, Daoist Mosquito, and the guidance of the various senior Great Demons within the Ethereal Immortal Grove, Li Zhijing had gained profound enlightenment.
"Caw!"
The cry of a dark raven interrupted Li Zhijing's thoughts.
"A clan missive?"
Daoist Mosquito also roused from his seclusion. Li Zhijing opened the letter, her brows knitting together in a deep frown.
"What is it?"
Daoist Mosquito made a sound of inquiry.
"Master." Li Zhijing had shed some of the petulance of her younger years. Her voice was deep and grave.
"My clan is at war. Some wretched 'Blue Moon Immortal Sect' seems to think my Li Clan is easy to bully."
Daoist Mosquito smiled faintly. With a mere wave of his hand, the blood-red water in the pool floated into the air, signaling the Great Demons of the Ethereal Immortal Grove to prepare for war.
When the Saintess had gone to that wretched "Netherworld," she had left him with strict instructions: he was to protect the Li Clan with his life.
Seeing her Master release his Spiritual power, Li Zhijing's eyes brightened slightly.
"Master, you mentioned before that you had scattered your Primordial Spirit, and that once you had devoured the flesh and blood of the Zhao Clan, it would be the time to forge your Void-Refining Blood Domain. Are you now..."
"Half-step."
A trace of arrogance flashed across Daoist Mosquito's expression.
"Thanks to the heart's blood of a Body Integration realm cultivator. But let us not speak of this. Disciple, do not go on this trip. You are at a critical juncture to stabilize your cultivation."
"No, I'm going." Li Zhijing grinned broadly.
"After over a hundred years of cultivation, I am already at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Since when have the people of the Li Clan ever shied away from a fight?
I cultivate the technique passed down by my Great-Grandfather. Great Ancestor Grandpa said that this technique left behind by my Great-Grandfather is one that fears absolutely no one."
Hearing this, Daoist Mosquito nodded in gratified approval.
This disciple had once been so unruly and willful that he had often wanted to give both her and her father a sound beating. But heaven had eyes after all; she had finally discarded those bad habits...
"Besides, my dad is still waiting for me to make something of myself, earn some Spirit Stones, snatch some heavenly treasures, and take him to the casino to have some fun!"
That damned Li Xinri!
...
Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven.
In the past, this Grotto-Heaven—formerly belonging to the Zhao Clan—was truly bustling.
It was the destination most frequented by the descendants of the various Li Clan branch families.
No matter which branch produced a genius of excellent aptitude, they would be sent here to the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven for advanced studies.
This location was closest to the Main Family, allowing access to cultivation sites such as the Main Family's Myriad Dao Pagoda, the Dao-Transmitting Secret Stele, and the Path to the Summit.
Various major Immortal Clans and Sects also had secret realms open for use here.
The Immortal Martial lineage, in particular, boasted a vast collection of tomes and techniques.
Here, one could receive instruction from the seniors of the Azure Cloud, or join sects like the Ethereal Immortal Sect and the Perennis Immortal Palace for training.
Once they achieved success in their studies and returned to their respective branches, they would find themselves in a completely different world of status and opportunity.
There were over three hundred clan disciples here, all cultivating diligently.
Suddenly, everyone looked in astonishment toward the depths of the Grotto-Heaven, in the direction of the Cliff of Reflection.
Five-colored radiance burst forth, and rosy clouds descended from the heavens!
"Golden Core! Someone in the clan has broken through to the Golden Core realm."
"That is the Qi of the Five Elements of Heaven and Earth.
It is a Golden Core forged from Five-Element Impure Spiritual Roots.
This... which kinsman is this? He is simply a supreme talent!"
"The fewer the spiritual roots, the easier the cultivation, but having more roots signifies stronger Spiritual power.
However, those in the world who can successfully form a Golden Core with Five-Element Spiritual Roots are barely a handful. Yet, once the Golden Core is achieved, the path ahead is smooth sailing!"
The clan members were all filled with envy. To form a Golden Core in such a manner meant the clan had surely gained a genius rarely seen in a thousand years.
At this moment, amidst the clouds of the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven, a figure wreathed in lightning observed the five-colored radiance.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, then transformed into an arc of lightning, shooting toward the Cliff of Reflection.
A moment later.
Li Jianshu, clad in black robes, let a smile flash across his dignified face.
He looked at the middle-aged man with hair streaked by gray walking out from the Cliff of Reflection.
"Jianning."
"Big Brother."
Li Jianning burst out after his breakthrough, unable to contain his delight as he prepared to report the good news to the elders.
Now seeing Li Jianshu, he immediately exclaimed with joy, "Big Brother, I did it! I am no longer a useless person!"
With these words, tears gushed from his eyes.
Hearing this, Li Jianshu let out a long sigh, his expression complex.
The elders of the family were all individuals of extraordinary aptitude. Yet, for some unknown reason, when it came to the recent generations, most possessed only average aptitude.
Across the Yuan, Jian, Qiu, and Chu generations, only Li Chuyuan had emerged as a supreme talent.
From childhood to adulthood, they had followed their grandfather and father in cultivation.
Their father, too, possessed average aptitude and had been forced to forge a new path, taking Martial Arts as his Dao.
As for him and Jianning, their aptitude was even worse.
If his son, Li Qiukong, hadn't brought back the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Spring to successfully cleanse his marrow and reshape his constitution, how could he have ever earned the title the people of the Azure Cloud bestowed upon him: the "Dharma King of Thunder"?
And Jianning, too, only possessed his current Five Elements Primordial Spirit Body thanks to the clan bestowing upon him the Primordial Origin Blood Fruit.
Now, seeing his younger brother defy the heavens to change his fate, shedding his former dejected state, Li Jianshu felt a wave of comfort in his heart.