Chapter 209 - 208: After the Breakthrough (2)

Chapter 209: Chapter 208: After the Breakthrough (2)

The morning sun came out, casting shadows across the paved paths of the Li resident.

The distribution of the Grade Six pills brought far more happiness to the Li family than Li Jain expected. It also brought tons of resentments then he expected.

For several days, conversations about the pills could be heard throughout the different branches of the family.

Those who received nothing could only watch in envy.

In a secluded pavilion in the western corner of the resident, several branch elders and distant relatives sat around a stone table. The atmosphere was heavy with resentment. At the center of the gathering was Elder Gu. Since the distribution of the grade six pills a few days ago, he hadn’t stopped talking about it.

"Five Grade Six pills." The man speaking held up two fingers: "Five! Do you know how much those would cost outside?"

"That’s nothing," someone else said bitterly: "Elder Huang received nine. One of them was a healing pill."

"Enough."An elder said with a darkened expression.

One man looked toward him: "Elder Jin, aren’t you angry?"

"Why should I be angry? It’s other people’s things. They can do whatever they want with it."

He said he wasn’t angry but his tone clearly suggested that he was. The man wisely didn’t point it out.

Another relative sighed: "It’s only because we didn’t participate in the battle."

"We remained with the younger members of the family. Someone had to protect them." Another person said but no one responded.

The younger generation had already been placed inside protective formations. Everyone in the room knew that. They also knew why many of them had stayed behind. Once the fighting started, nobody knew what the final result would be. Those who were unwilling to risk their lives had found reasons to remain away from the front.

One of the younger relatives muttered, "Young Master Jain didn’t have to give them anything."

"What?!" Elder Gu’s gaze snapped toward him.

The young man immediately lowered his head: "I only meant that the clan members were already obligated to defend the family. The pills were his personal gifts."

"It is utterly outrageous," Elder Gu said as he tapped his fingers against the table: "He used the family’s protective array, drawn directly from the grand spirit formation that all our ancestors built. The Old Ancestor himself stood guard, and the family’s finest guards were injured on the front lines. Yet when it comes to distributing those Grade Six pills, he hands them out like private treats only to his small circle of favorites!"

The young man secretly rolled his eyes but said nothing. He knew with this group of people, whatever he said wouldn’t reach them, instead they might all turn against him.

As expected another younger branch relative leaned in, nodding in agreement: "Elder Gu speaks the truth. We are families! If he has the ability to refine Grade Six pills, shouldn’t those resources be placed into the clan treasury for equal distribution? Leaving the rest of us empty-handed is simply selfish and narrow-minded."

"He thinks he can buy loyalty with a few bottles," another woman sneered: "What about us? We stayed back to preserve the seed of the family in the underground shelters. Is that not also a contribution?"

Elder Gu narrowed his eyes, a calculating gleam surfacing in his gaze. He knew as well as anyone that directly demanding pills from Li Jain would only invite mockery from the Old Ancestor, who clearly doted on his grandson. If they wanted to reclaim leverage, they needed to hit where Li Jain’s independence truly lay.

"If he refuses to share the pills," Elder Gu said coldly, lowering his voice further, "then the family ought to take over the Spiritual Tavern in District Seven."

The surrounding relatives gasped, exchanging glances.

"The Spiritual Tavern?" the younger relative whispered: "Can we really touch that? The tavern was built by him. The family didn’t contribute to that, not even the old ancestor."

"So what if he built it?" Elder Gu countered coldly: "He is a member of the Li family. Everything he owns was cultivated under the influence of the surname Li. The tavern’s dishes utilize rare spiritual ingredients, and its income is huge. By rights, such business should belong to the clan treasury and be managed by the elder council for the collective benefit of all branches!"

Deep down, every person sitting around the table understood the reality: Old Patriarch Li would never agree to such a preposterous idea. The Old Ancestor valued Li Jain and recognized his potential. But logic mattered little to men blinded by jealousy.

By sparing this rumor among the lower branches and building public sentiment, Elder Gu hoped to create enough internal pressure to force Li Jain to make concessions, or at least draw the Old Ancestor’s scrutiny toward Li Jain’s private assets.

...

Li Jain knew nothing about the discussion. He was home examining Li Yuhan cultivation when a servant entered the courtyard and informed him that his second brother had arrived.

Li Jain looked up: "Second brother?"

The servant nodded: "Yes, young master."

"Let him in."

The servant bowed and left.

"Xiao Han, let’s continue later." Li Jain said to Li Yuhan, who nodded and left.

Li Jain hadn’t spoken properly with Li Yiwei since returning to South River City. Li Jain understood that the relationship between the original Li Jain and Li Yiwei was poor. Unfortunately, his memory wasn’t reliable.

A tall man entered. He was wearing dark robes, his hair neatly tied behind him. His posture was straight. It was Li Yiwei.

As the undisputed genius of the younger generation of the Li family, Li Yiwei possessed an innate pride that was etched into his very posture. He carried himself with solemn dignity, his dark eyes are sharp and unreadable.

Li Jain stood up and called out: "Second Brother. Please, sit."

"Thank you, third brother."

Li Yiwei walked over and sat across from Li Jain, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings before resting squarely on his younger brother. He picked up the teacup Li Jain poured for him, taking a sip.

"The tea is good," Li Yiwei said calmly: "I see your spirits have recovered well after the breakthrough."

"Thank you, second brother. The foundation is stable," Li Jain replied smoothly, keeping his tone light and unobtrusive.

Li Yiwei set the cup down. His expression remained rigid. He came here with a purpose, but his pride would never allow him to show vulnerability or admit that Li Jain had surpassed him.

"Reaching the Divine Power realm at your age is indeed remarkable," Li Yiwei said, his eyes narrowing: "Even in the major sects of the Southern Region, such speed would draw immense attention. But cultivation is a long road. The higher one climbs, the fiercer the storms. Refining Grade Six pills while breaking through... third brother, you must have had extraordinary guidance during your years away from the family."

Li Jain met his gaze calmly, unbothered by the probing: "It was merely luck and persistence."

"Luck?" Li Yiwei gave a dry chuckle, not believing it in the slightless: "There is no such thing as luck when it comes to condensing an Immortal Foundation or refining Grade Six Spirit Refining Pills. You need not be overly modest before me. We are, after all, brothers."

Despite using the word ’brothers,’ there was no warmth in Li Yiwei’s voice. He probed into Li Jain’s alchemical techniques, his future plans for the clan, and his stance on the family’s internal hierarchy. Yet, no matter how many questions he asked, Li Jain answer was the same, revealing nothing of substance while remaining polite.

Li Yiwei felt like Li Jain was making a fool of him.

The invisible wall between them remained as firm as ever. Li Yiwei’s pride prevented him from reaching out genuinely, and Li Jain had no interest in playing political games. Li Jain was very helpless. No matter how he said he wasn’t interested in the clan, Li Yiwei didn’t believe it.

Realizing that he couldn’t extract any secrets nor provoke any emotional slip from Li Jain, Li Yiwei decided to leave.

"It seems you have everything under control. Since you are busy, I won’t take up more of your time. As brothers and core members of the younger generation, we should stay in touch more often."

"Of course. Take care, second brother." Li Jain replied, standing to see him off: "The next time you come by, let’s have a proper drink. I have some fine wine in storage."

Li Yiwei turned and walked out of the courtyard without looking back, his tall frame disappearing down the stone path. Li Jain looked at the back of the departing figure and sighed deeply.

...

While the younger children were sparring and playing in the yard, an altogether different conversation was taking place in the study of the eastern courtyard.

Old Patriarch Li sat behind his desk, his face lined with deep contemplation. Standing near the window, gazing out at the bamboo grove with a wine gourd in hand, was Liu Xiong.

Ever since the battle, the image of Liu Xiong effortlessly deflecting a Holy Master’s palm strike with a backhand punch, had haunted the old man’s thoughts. A man whose strength clearly surpassed the Holy Master realm was staying inside his grandson’s courtyard, acting as a casual friend.

For the head of a major family, such an unknown variable was a constant source of anxiety. If he doesn’t get to the bottom of it, he’s afraid that he wouldn’t get enough rest for a long time.

Old Patriarch Li picked up his wine glass, cleared his throat, and broke the silence.