Chapter 395 286: To Govern the Household, One Must Be Merciless

The Li Family Ancestral Home.

Just before dawn, as the eastern sky began to whiten, Li Changming sat cross-legged high on the eaves of the roof, facing east and quietly awaiting the sunrise.

Before long, a red sun leaped up, its myriad golden rays piercing the clouds and showering the mountains, rivers, and the great earth. The oppressive clouds of Blood Qi that blanketed the world retreated slightly.

'The Great Sun is rising, bringing the purple qi from the east. This is the perfect time to cultivate.'

Li Changming formed a hand seal, regulated his breathing, and waited until his mind and body were in perfect harmony. Only then did he open his mouth to draw in the dense Spiritual Energy.

Countless continuous wisps of faint purple light, like trickling streams, converged into a single current that flowed down his throat and into the cauldron of his body.

An hour passed in a flash, and the morning sun now hung high in the sky.

Li Changming's aura grew increasingly powerful, surging like a mighty river and causing his wide robes to billow and snap.

This cycle repeated over and over until his aura reached its peak. It washed over his physical body in wave after wave, like an ocean tide rising and falling, squeezing every inch of his muscles and bones.

Li Changming frowned slightly, gritting his teeth to endure the pressure. Before long, a scorching heat rose within his body. His blood felt like boiling water, and a flush spread across his handsome, youthful face.

BOOM!

Li Changming's entire body shuddered as if he had smashed through some kind of shackle. A deep, muffled thunderclap boomed in his ears, nearly causing him to relax his tightly sealed mouth and nose and let his Primordial Qi leak out.

If his family's secret manual hadn't clearly explained that Primordial Qi was likely to leak out at this stage, and that one must focus their mind to contain it, Li Changming would have surely failed his breakthrough and lost any chance of achieving perfection.

He slowly guided the dense Primordial Qi, letting it sink into his lower abdomen to gather into a fist-sized ball. Only then did he feel relieved.

'I've broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.'

Li Changming opened his eyes, a purple light flashing within them—a clear sign his cultivation had been successful.

Now firmly at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, the young man of the Li Family had a completely different air about him. He faintly exuded a transcendent aura, his face was suffused with a crystalline, jade-like luster, and his features had become clearer and sharper.

'The other families around Luoyue Lake, and even Wanxiang Hall, all gather Blood Qi and nurture Yin Sha. But my Li Family is different. I have no idea where our techniques originated.'

Having concluded his cultivation, Li Changming mused to himself. He was sixteen this year, not yet of age, but already at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

Such a cultivation speed was considered prodigious in the Luoyue Lake region.

Even compared to the disciples of Wanxiang Hall, he was by no means inferior.

'Uncle only said that in his youth, my father had a fortuitous encounter and obtained two sets of superior Qi Cultivation Essentials—one for the Wood Element and one for the Fire Element. Because I was born with a Spiritual Aperture and my destiny is aligned with fire, he bestowed the Fire Element Essentials upon me.'

Just as Li Changming was pondering the origin of the object enshrined in the clan's ancestral hall, he heard a voice from outside the courtyard.

"Changming."

Li Changming looked toward the sound and saw Li Conglin standing at the entrance, his hair and beard white, his figure slightly stooped.

"Uncle!"

Li Changming quickly rose, leaped down from the roof, and rushed forward upon landing to welcome Li Conglin into the courtyard.

"The Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer?"

Li Conglin, a Jade Box in his hand, said with a smile:

"Worthy of being the pride of our Li Family. At your age, your father and I were only at the Qi Cultivation Second Layer, having just managed Bone Transformation. Our foundations were nowhere near as solid and firm as yours."

Li Changming lowered his head and said bashfully:

"You praise me too much, Uncle. I know my own talent is merely average; my only advantage is my diligence."

"You boy, too much humility seems insincere and can push people away. If it were your father, he would have undoubtedly declared, 'The Li Family bloodline is extraordinary. If I can't become the best of the best, how could I be worthy of the name Li?'"

Li Conglin handed the Jade Box over, his tone gentle:

"Open it and see."

Li Changming took the box. It felt surprisingly heavy. When he opened it, he found three emerald-green elixirs nestled inside.

Their surfaces were marked with clear patterns, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out, a clear sign of their exceptional quality.

"Nourishing Essence Pills?"

Li Changming was slightly taken aback.

"That's right."

Li Conglin nodded.

"I worked day and night for three months to finally refine these. They're perfect for helping you consolidate your progress at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer."

A warmth spread through Li Changming's heart. For years, his uncle had supported him by pouring in more than half of the Li Family's resources, ensuring he never lacked for anything.

One had to understand that every single one of the Spiritual Materials needed for alchemy was priceless, and the losses incurred during the process were not insignificant.

If these three Nourishing Essence Pills were sold, they would fetch at least a hundred Spirit Stones.

Not even the Luo Family would be so extravagant as to give them all to a junior clansman to consume and refine for the sake of increasing their cultivation power.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Li Changming accepted them solemnly.

Li Conglin waved his hand and chuckled:

"We're uncle and nephew. There's no need for thanks."

He paused for a moment before continuing:

"The Ascension Ceremony of Wanxiang Hall, held once every sixteen years, is just two years away. They will be selecting Immortal Seeds to induct into the sect. Changming, if you can advance another step and break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, you are certain to catch the eye of an Immortal Master."

"I will not disappoint you, Uncle!"

Li Changming's voice was firm and resonant. He had always been competitive by nature, and hearing Li Conglin's words, he resolved to redouble his efforts to avoid tarnishing the Li Family's name.

...

...

After leaving Changming, Li Conglin returned to the main hall.

He was now acting in place of Li Conglong, who was stationed year-round at Cyan Sheep Mountain. His days were spent handling clan affairs, apart from his necessary alchemy sessions.

He had just found a rare moment of peace and was taking a sip of mountain tea when a clan elder came seeking an audience.

Li Conglin sighed.

"No wonder Second Brother aged so quickly. This position is truly exhausting."

After his casual sigh of complaint, he immediately summoned the elder inside.

The visitor was Li Pingde of the third branch, a man past eighty, at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and of extremely high seniority within the clan.

Behind him followed two other clan elders, both also from the third branch.

"Family Head."

After Li Pingde paid his respects, he was offered a seat and tea.

Li Conglin asked with a broad smile:

"Third Uncle De, what important matter brings you here today?"

Li Pingde sighed at his words and, without beating around the bush, got straight to the point:

"Family Head, this old man has come about that boy, Changming."

"Changming?"

Li Conglin feigned confusion.

"What about Changming?"

"You may not be aware, Family Head."

Li Pingde said in a grave and earnest tone:

"That boy uses his cultivation to run rampant through the clan, even daring to strike his elders. Just a few days ago, he trapped an elder from our third branch in an alley and beat him with a wooden club..."

Another elder behind Li Pingde chimed in:

"Indeed, Family Head. The boy Changming is truly... insolent! If this continues, what will become of our clan's rules? What of the respect owed to elders?"

The third elder was even more direct:

"Family Head, forgive this old one for being blunt. Changming is your nephew, but you also have two sons of your own, Changying and Changwen. Aren't they both more sensible than Changming? Changying is clever, and Changwen is steady; both are exceptional talents. You have always shown favoritism to Changming, prioritizing him for all resources and Spiritual Materials. We understand this is out of respect for your brother and sympathy for Changming losing his father at a young age, but you cannot neglect his discipline!"

Li Conglin lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said coolly:

"The three of you speak the truth. Changming can indeed be reckless. I will be sure to discipline him properly."

He set down his teacup and added with a smile:

"However, that boy Changming is of the Li Family bloodline; it is my duty to nurture him with care. As for Changying and Changwen... one is too placid, the other too lazy. They are nowhere near Changming's level."

"Besides, as the direct heir of the main branch, the clan is obligated to support his cultivation and pave his way. If I were to show favoritism to my own sons, wouldn't that invite criticism and dishearten the other young disciples of the clan?"

Li Conglin stood up, walked over to Li Pingde, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Third Uncle De, please, don't get up. Rest assured, I will take the matter of Changming's discipline to heart. However, you are of advanced age, Third Uncle De. It would be better for you to worry less about clan affairs. That's right, I heard your household was recently blessed with several great-grandchildren. They must need looking after. Why not stay home and enjoy your golden years with your family? How does that sound?"

Li Pingde's expression shifted several times before he finally lowered his head.

"Since the Family Head has spoken, this old man will take his leave."

In the blink of an eye, the main hall was empty once again, leaving only Li Conglin behind.

He called out in a low voice:

"Someone, attend me."

"What are your orders, Family Head?"

A trusted subordinate entered silently.

Li Conglin said in a grim voice:

"If Wanxiang Hall comes to conscript clan disciples to garrison Iron Horse Pass, send those few elders from the third branch."

"Yes, sir."

The subordinate acknowledged the order and retreated.

Li Conglin let out a cold laugh. Gazing at the world outside, he murmured to himself:

"When a tree grows large, some of its branches will be uneven. They must be pruned. That is the lesson in managing a family that Second Brother taught me."