Chapter 391 282: 5 Elements Spiritual Aperture

Inside the ancestral hall.

Li Conglong pressed his forehead to the bluestone floor, not daring to lift it even an inch.

He knew full well that his ability to reach the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer and be hailed as "Ancestor Li" in the Luoyue Lake region was by no means due to outstanding talent.

It was all thanks to the gift from the battered mirror before him.

Without that Wood Armor Technique to absorb and refine Wood Attribute Spiritual Resources and advance his Merit, how could Li Conglong have broken through several stages in just a few short decades?

Without this heaven-sent opportunity, he, Li Conglong, would have been nothing more than an ordinary Qi Cultivation Cultivator, struggling to survive between the Luo and Xu Families. How could he possibly enjoy his current prestige?

...

...

「In the Foundation Establishment Realm.」

Jiang Yi sat cross-legged, a Copper Lamp hovering before him.

Its faint flame reflected the scene inside the ancestral hall.

He watched Li Conglong quietly, a hint of regret in his eyes.

'His talent is mediocre, and his fate is shallow. He doesn't have even half a chance of reaching Foundation Establishment.'

Jiang Yi shook his head slightly.

Li Conglong had only managed to reach the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer by brute-forcing his way there with the Wood Armor Technique. He was destined never to take the step into Foundation Establishment.

Even if he were given another three decades to try and refine Gang Sha, he still wouldn't be able to touch the threshold of forging a Dao Foundation.

'A pity,'

Jiang Yi muttered to himself.

When he had passed down the Wood Armor Technique, he hadn't expected Li Conglong to achieve much. It was merely a strategy of "using wood to nurture fire."

But now that he needed to harvest the [Celestial Fire] Dao Fruit, he had to seriously consider how to make the most of the Li family, this pawn of his.

The nature of [Celestial Fire] is that of the sun rising in the sky, shining upon all. To obtain it, one needs a glorious Great Enterprise, renowned throughout the world, to align with the concept of [Fire Virtue].

The mere Li Family, a single Cyan Sheep Mountain—it was all too small, too insignificant.

A glint flashed in Jiang Yi's eyes; a plan had already formed in his mind.

'I'll just start with the Li Family and gradually take control of Cyan Sheep Mountain, and even the surrounding thousand li.

If the Li Family can replace Wanxiang Hall and dominate the Southern Domain, then my Great Enterprise will be considered a success.'

With a flicker of thought from Jiang Yi, the golden paper slowly unfurled. Dense, tadpole-like characters flowed out, weaving themselves into a profound scripture.

The Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique was successfully derived in an instant!

Jiang Yi used his Divine Sense to interact with the mirror, transmitting this Technique into it.

...

...

Inside the ancestral hall, Li Conglong had been prostrated for a long time. Seeing no response, he grew anxious.

Mustering his courage, he slowly raised his head, his gaze falling upon the battered mirror.

The mirror suddenly trembled. A faint white light flowed across its surface, rippling out into rows of tadpole-like characters that swam in the air like living things!

"This is..."

Li Conglong's face fell in astonishment. He quickly focused his mind to get a closer look.

He saw that the tadpole-like characters were arranged in an orderly fashion, head to tail, forming a complete Technique!

"Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique..."

Li Conglong murmured the large characters of the first line, his heart pounding violently.

Not daring to delay, he quickly began to memorize them, committing each and every tadpole-like character to heart.

Once, twice, three times...

Li Conglong read through it a full five times, only relaxing slightly after confirming there were no errors or omissions.

He studied the Technique in detail. The more he read, the more shocked he became; the more he read, the more ecstatic he felt!

'How wonderfully profound!'

Li Conglong mused that this Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique actually allowed one to choose one of the Five Elements to major in, and then supplement it with the other four later!

In this way, whether in Magical Combat or cultivation, one's foundation would be far superior to others of the same realm!

'It's simply unbelievable!'

He currently majored in the Wood Element. If he used the Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique as his foundation, he could use wood to generate fire, fire to generate earth, earth to generate metal, and metal to generate water—an endless cycle of the Five Elements generating one another.

By then, the sheer depth of his Magical Power would likely be dozens of times greater than that of an ordinary Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator!

'This is a Supreme Technique! Even the Immortal Masters of Wanxiang Hall would be green with envy and try to steal it!'

Li Conglong grew nervous, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead again.

'Absolutely no one outside the family can know that the Li Family possesses such an immortal opportunity!'

He suppressed his elation, composed himself, and kowtowed respectfully to the battered mirror, asking in a low voice:

"Excuse me... Immortal, is this Technique being bestowed upon me, Li Conglong, alone, or is it for the Li Family?"

The mirror was silent. The white light on its surface gradually receded, and it returned to its battered appearance.

Li Conglong understood.

'It's meant for the Li Family!'

He kowtowed heavily once more, then respectfully bowed his head and backed out of the main door.

Upon returning to the birthday banquet, Li Conglong's expression was normal. He chatted and drank with the guests from various factions as if nothing had happened.

Only after the banquet ended and all the guests had departed did Li Conglong summon Li Conglin to the study.

"Brother, what's with all the secrecy?"

Li Conglin was a little puzzled. He had been dealing with guests all day and was exhausted. A hint of weariness showed on his face as he unconsciously rubbed his temples with his right hand.

Li Conglong, however, said nothing. He simply closed the doors and windows tightly, laid down several restrictive seals, and then took out the transcribed copy of the Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique from his sleeve, placing it on the desk.

"Look at this."

Li Conglin took it, and after reading just a few lines, his pupils contracted sharply.

He snapped his head up to look at his brother.

"Brother, this is..."

"It was bestowed by the mirror we worship in the ancestral hall."

Li Conglong lowered his voice.

"It's more than a hundred times stronger than our Li Family's Qi Cultivation Technique."

Li Conglin's fingers trembled as he continued reading. The further he read, the more rapid his breathing became.

"The Five Elements generate one another, choose one to major in..."

He muttered to himself, then suddenly closed the booklet and looked directly at Li Conglong.

"Brother, why didn't you cultivate such a treasure yourself? Why did you bring it to me instead?"

Hearing this, Li Conglong poured himself a cup of tea and said lightly:

"I said it twenty years ago: as brothers, we prosper together and we fall together."

He took a sip of tea, his gaze falling on Li Conglin's slightly aged face.

"I know how much you suffered in the years you were exiled from the clan and wandered outside. Now that you've finally returned to the Li Family, if I were to still be on my guard against you, how could I face Father?"

Li Conglin was silent for a moment, his eyes slightly red, but he quickly composed himself.

"I understand."

"Good that you understand."

Li Conglong stood up and walked to the window.

"The Immortal's intention was for this technique to be passed down to the Li Family, not just to me.

From this day forward, you will also cultivate this Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique. As brothers, we will work together with one heart to pursue our Great Enterprise."

"Brother..." Li Conglin began, but then hesitated.

"Speak your mind."

"This technique is too profound. I'm afraid my comprehension is insufficient, and I'll squander this great Opportunity."

Li Conglin said in a low voice:

"Why don't you cultivate it first, Brother? Once you have some insights, you can pass them on to me. That would be a safer approach."

Li Conglong turned around, looked at his brother who was six or seven years his junior, and suddenly smiled.

"Do you think I don't know your temperament? You can master something as delicate and complex as Talisman Making, so how could you possibly fail to understand this Technique?"

He walked back to the desk and patted Li Conglin's shoulder.

"Besides, I'm already seventy. How many more years do I have left? You're different. You're only sixty-three, in the prime of your life. The future of the Li Family rests on your shoulders."

Li Conglin opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say anything to refute his brother. He simply clutched the booklet in his hand.

"I will not fail the trust you've placed in me, Brother."

"Alright, go back and get some rest."

Li Conglong waved his hand.

"Start your closed-door cultivation tomorrow. Tell everyone you're meditating on Talisman Making. Don't let a word of this get out."

Li Conglin stood up to leave. He paused at the door, glanced back at his brother's back, and a mix of complex emotions washed over him.

...

...

「Several months passed.」

Within the [Foundation Establishment Realm], Jiang Yi opened his eyes. His Divine Sense extended out, once again focusing on the Li Family.

But what he saw gave him a slight surprise.

He saw auras of different colors floating above the heads of Li Conglong and Li Conglin.

Above Li Conglong's head was a jade-green aura, about three to four inches high, its glow dim—a clear sign of ordinary talent.

But above Li Conglin's head was a clear golden aura, an astonishing six to seven inches high.

"Oh?"

A flicker of interest crossed Jiang Yi's eyes.

'I didn't expect this Li Conglin's cultivation talent to be so outstanding.'

An aura six to seven inches high was almost on par with that of a direct Disciple from a Branch Sect.

'Looks like I stumbled upon a hidden gem.'

Jiang Yi smiled faintly.

'I'll have to wait until the Li Family grows stronger, until its branches spread and its leaves flourish, and it becomes the top Qi Cultivation Clan in this Southern Domain. Only then will it be of use.'

Jiang Yi retracted his Divine Sense, pondering inwardly.

Li Conglong was already seventy years old with not much of his lifespan remaining. Even with the Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique, it would be difficult for him to achieve a major breakthrough.

But Li Conglin was different. With his talent, plus the Five Elements Refining Acupoints Technique, it wasn't impossible for him to one day reach the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer.

'At that time, with a Great Cultivator of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer presiding over the Li Family, they could dominate Cyan Sheep Mountain and then gradually expand outwards... '

The corners of Jiang Yi's lips curled up slightly, and a flicker of anticipation flashed in his eyes.

'The Great Enterprise for the [Celestial Fire] will begin with this Li Family.'