Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Qingfeng Li Clan
【Brain Storage Area】
【A clan-focused story, a weak system, half wish-fulfillment, not an invincible-protagonist tale. The protagonist leans toward the dark side, so bleeding hearts may find this uncomfortable. Dear godfathers, please take this warning in advance. And since I’m calling you godfathers, please don’t be ungrateful—hurry up and add your godson’s book to your library!】
【Talent: First Grade is the highest, Ninth Grade is the lowest】
The Great Zhou Dynasty.
Yangzhou, Shenglong Prefecture, Baihe County.
At the northeastern corner of Baihe County lay a vast natural valley.
Within the valley, rows upon rows of green maple trees stood upright like the valley’s natural guardians. The locals called it Qingfeng Valley.
Two hundred years ago, a Li family migrated here and put down roots.
After two centuries of development, they had become one of Baihe County’s most prominent great clans—the 【Qingfeng Li Clan】.
...
And yet, Qingfeng Valley today was draped in mourning white.
The members of the Li Clan who came and went were all dressed in sackcloth and filial garb. Their faces were filled with grief, and beneath that grief lay confusion and unease.
All of it stemmed from one thing: three days ago, Li Xuanfeng, the current Family Head of the Qingfeng Li Clan, had been found dead in his seclusion chamber.
Li Xuanfeng had not shown himself in public for a very long time—so long that the outside world had already grown suspicious. There had even been rumors that he had already passed away in meditation.
Only when the Li Clan could no longer withstand the pressure, and their repeated calls went unanswered, did they enter his seclusion chamber and discover that he had been dead for several days.
His death had come far too suddenly.
Because Li Xuanfeng was not only the Family Head of the Qingfeng Li Clan, but also its strongest expert.
With the younger generation still not yet fully grown, his death was an enormous blow to the Qingfeng Li Clan.
It could even be said that it would cause the Li family, now basking at the height of its power, to decline after reaching its peak.
Because while Li Xuanfeng had still been alive, he had offended too many people in the course of expanding the family.
The Li family’s reputation in Baihe County had never been very good. They had always been known for their domineering ways.
...
Inside Li Xuanfeng’s mourning hall, the place was packed with people.
Numerous members of the Li Clan, dressed in mourning hemp, gathered together in clusters. Those with close ties huddled together and whispered among themselves.
“Now that the old Family Head is dead, life won’t be easy for our Li Clan from here on out.”
“Isn’t that the truth? The old Family Head was the only expert in our Li Clan who broke through the Qi-Blood barrier. Without a Qi-Blood Realm expert to hold the line, how are we supposed to intimidate the petty schemers?”
“Sigh...”
“I heard that after the Zou and Zhang families learned of the old Family Head’s death, they’ve already started getting restless.”
“They’ve long been dissatisfied with how the market’s profits were divided. Before, they feared the old Family Head’s strength and could only behave themselves. But now that he’s dead and there’s nothing left to fear, of course they’re finally showing their daggers.”
“The Zou and Zhang families are nothing but jumping clowns. With our Li Clan’s strength, what is there to fear?”
“That may be true, but how do you know there isn’t someone backing them from behind?”
“This...”
“It’s just a pity that the new Family Head is only seventeen. Otherwise, with his talent, give him another ten years and breaking through the Qi-Blood barrier to reach the Qi-Blood Realm would have been a certainty. Then every problem before us would solve itself.”
“That’s a nice dream, but do you really think our enemies will give us ten more years?”
“The new Family Head may be gifted, but he’s still too young. He hasn’t grown fully yet, and he has no experience managing the family. Does he really have the ability to lead our Li Clan out of this crisis?”
“Watch your tongue... You dare question the Family Head?”
“...”
At the same time, inside the solemn and dignified council hall, ancient in style and heavy with gravitas—
Several figures with deep, powerful auras sat rigidly in their seats.
These men were all elders of the Qingfeng Li Clan, the true core of the Li family.
Every one of them possessed Major Accomplishment cultivation in the Physical Body Realm.
Among them, the oldest and most senior, Grand Elder Li Xuantong, had remained at Physical Body Realm Perfection for over ten years. He was only one step away from breaking through the Qi-Blood barrier and advancing to the Qi-Blood Realm.
In this world of cultivation, the first three realms were the Body Tempering Realm, the Physical Body Realm, and the Qi-Blood Realm. Each major realm was further divided into four minor stages: Initial Entry, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection.
The gap between every major realm was immense. A Qi-Blood Realm cultivator could live for two hundred years.
Just then, a hurried burst of footsteps sounded from outside the door.
“The Family Head has arrived!”
Along with the loud and ringing announcement, the great doors of the council hall were slowly pushed open by two clan guards.
The Li elders all turned their heads and swiftly cast their gazes toward the entrance.
A young man in white robes strode inside. He stood seven feet tall, wore a jade belt at his waist, and had refined, handsome features.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the young man slowly walked toward the Family Head’s seat, turned, and sat down.
Once he had settled in place, the other five elders, all except the Grand Elder, rose to their feet and cupped their fists in salute.
“We greet the Family Head!”
The young man was none other than the Li family’s new Family Head—Li Xingge.
Li Xingge was the direct grandson of the former Family Head, Li Xuanfeng, and the Qingfeng Li Clan’s proudest heaven-born genius, the most talented individual the Li family had produced in two hundred years.
At the age of five, he had begun tempering and polishing his body. At six, he broke through into the Body Tempering Realm and officially stepped onto the path of cultivation.
At ten, he reached Body Tempering Perfection. At eleven, he successfully broke into the Physical Body Realm, his strength already comparable to that of the clan’s older generation of experts.
Five years later, he reached Major Accomplishment in the Physical Body Realm, shaking all of Baihe County.
Those who loved sensational talk called him a monster, saying that if he did not fall young, he had the makings of an Innate expert.
However, only the upper echelon of the Li family knew just how terrifying the new Family Head’s true talent really was.
Major Accomplishment in the Physical Body Realm?
What a joke.
Li Xingge had already reached that level three years ago.
It was only out of fear of arousing the suspicion of other forces, and for the sake of protecting Li Xingge, that the Li family had chosen to conceal the news.
Now that three years had passed, even the Li family’s upper ranks no longer knew just how far Li Xingge’s true strength had advanced.
But in their view, reaching Physical Body Realm Perfection should have been no problem for him.
“Elders, there is no need for such courtesy. Please, be seated.”
Li Xingge sat upright in the main seat and spoke in a mild tone.
The elders lowered their robes and sat back down.
“Elders, this is the first Council of Elders I have presided over since inheriting the position of Family Head. As for the purpose of convening this council, it is to deal with the crisis our Li Clan is about to face. Grand Elder, explain the specific situation to everyone.”
“Yes.”
The Grand Elder nodded and accepted the order at once.
He cleared his throat, faced the assembly, and slowly began.
“Elders, three days ago, the old Family Head passed away. The Li family has only just entered mourning. Not long after this news spread, under the urging of interested parties, the Zou and Zhang families quickly joined forces. The heads of both families met at the Flying Snow Tower for two hours before departing.”
“From that point on, the Zou and Zhang families completely abandoned their usual respectful attitude toward our Li Clan and began allowing their shops to engage in vicious competition.”
“The younger members of their clans even openly declared that our Li family should get out of the East Street Market.”
“And the vassal forces that once followed our Li Clan are also showing signs of slipping out of control.”
“The monthly tribute from the Jin and Hao families was not handed over on time. They have been stalling with one excuse after another, while the sect master of the Great Saber Sect drove away the Li clansmen we had stationed there the very next day.”
As the Grand Elder spoke, the expressions of the other Li elders all darkened.
This was a blatant provocation against the Li Clan.
The hot-tempered Second Elder suddenly sprang to his feet. With a face full of fury, he said to Li Xingge, “Those brats have gone too far. Family Head, please give the order. I am willing to personally lead the Enforcement Hall and kill these traitors!”
The Second Elder, Li Xuanzhong, was the elder in charge of the Enforcement Hall.
Li Xingge glanced at him and said expressionlessly, “Sit down. Let the Grand Elder finish first.”
Though his tone was calm, it allowed no challenge.
Even though Li Xuanzhong was Li Xingge’s elder by generation, he did not dare defy him in the slightest.
Carrying a bellyful of anger, Li Xuanzhong sat back down, unwilling though he was.
Only then did the Grand Elder continue.
“Besides that, the Mangshan Su Clan and the Baibo Song Clan have each sent envoys as well. They claim to be here to offer condolences, but in truth they are applying pressure and demanding that our Li Clan hand over the Silver Ridge mineral vein.”
At these words, even the Grand Elder—who had always remained unruffled in the face of events—grew grave.
The Mangshan Su Clan and the Baibo Song Clan were nothing like the Zou and Zhang families. These two were true great powers of Baihe County.
Each clan had a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator seated within it. Together with the Li family and six other great clans, they were known as Baihe County’s Nine Great Families.
Even if Li Xuanfeng were still alive, he would have had to proceed with extreme caution when facing those two clans at the same time.
Not to mention that Li Xuanfeng was now dead, and the Li family no longer possessed the strength to speak to them as equals.
But how could the Silver Ridge mineral vein possibly be surrendered so lightly?
The Silver Ridge mineral vein produced iron ore. The profit from its yearly output accounted for nearly half of the Li family’s income. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the economic lifeline of the Li family.
If they lost the Silver Ridge Iron Mine, the Li family would likely fall at once into the ranks of Baihe County’s second-rate families.
And sure enough—
This time, the other elders could no longer remain seated.
They all began speaking at once.
“Family Head, Grand Elder, we can discuss any other condition, but the Silver Ridge mineral vein absolutely cannot be handed over!”
“The Silver Ridge mineral vein is the economic lifeline of our Li Clan. How can it be ceded to others?”
“If we lose the Silver Ridge mineral vein, our Li Clan will never rise again.”
“What the Su and Song families are doing is simply too much. Even if it means mutual destruction, our Li Clan must never hand over the Silver Ridge mineral vein. Otherwise, after we die, what face will we have left to meet the Li family’s ancestors?”
“That’s right. Family Head, Grand Elder, please think it over carefully.”
Looking at the crowd’s agitated reaction, the Grand Elder could not help sighing.
He pressed a hand to his brow, shut his eyes in pain, and said in a low voice, “Mutual destruction? They would probably welcome that outcome. Easy words to say—but with the Li family in its current state, do we even possess the ability to drag the Su and Song families down with us? We would only be smashing eggs against stone.”
“I know you are not afraid of death. But dying is a small matter. If your actions bring about the family’s destruction and the severing of its bloodline, then that is what would make you the true sinners of the Li Clan for all ages.”
The other elders fell silent at once.
The Grand Elder was right. If they chose mutual destruction, then yes, they would die swiftly enough.
But the Li family’s more than one thousand clansmen would also be slaughtered to the last by those two clans.
All at once, the council hall sank into a strange silence.
“Must we really hand over the Silver Ridge mineral vein?”
After a long while, the Second Elder finally spoke, his face full of unwillingness.
“When a man lacks the strength to protect a treasure, the treasure becomes his crime. Without a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator to hold the line, our Li Clan has no right to bargain.”
The Grand Elder’s tone was thick with desolation.
“It is all this old man’s fault for being useless, for failing to break through the bottleneck of the Physical Body Realm. Otherwise, how would the Su and Song families dare humiliate our Qingfeng Li Clan like this?”
“Grand Elder, why belittle yourself? Everyone has seen with their own eyes how much you have given to the family all these years.”
From the main seat...
The silent Family Head, Li Xingge, finally spoke.
The Grand Elder’s talent was naturally not lacking for him to have cultivated all the way to Physical Body Realm Perfection. Compared to his grandfather, Li Xuanfeng, he was not inferior.
It was only that the clan’s resources were limited...
Now that he was older, the qi and blood within his body had begun to decline, and he had missed the best opportunity to assault the Qi-Blood Realm.
The Grand Elder opened his mouth, still wanting to say something more, but Li Xingge raised a hand and stopped him.
“There is no need to say more, Grand Elder. The fault does not lie with you. Has our Li Clan not fallen into danger today simply because we have no Qi-Blood Realm cultivator seated within the clan? In that case, the solution is simple. I shall become one.”
At those words, hope burst into the eyes of the assembled elders.
But very quickly, that hope dimmed again.
If the Li family truly produced a new Qi-Blood Realm cultivator, then every crisis now facing them would vanish in an instant.
But the Qi-Blood Realm—how could it possibly be so easy to break through into?
The Li family had lived in Qingfeng Valley for more than two hundred years, and in all that time it had produced only seven Qi-Blood Realm cultivators.
At present, there were only two people in the Li family qualified to attempt the breakthrough.
One was the Grand Elder. The other was the Family Head, Li Xingge.
The Grand Elder’s qi and blood were already in decline. If he tried to break through into the Qi-Blood Realm, his chances of success were less than ten percent.
As for Li Xingge, he was simply too young. For someone his age to have cultivated to Physical Body Realm Perfection would already be shocking beyond belief.
Asking him to break through into the Qi-Blood Realm? No one dared hope for that.
It was as if Li Xingge had seen straight through their thoughts.
He gave a faint laugh.
Then his aura abruptly changed. Scarlet strands of qi and blood rose from his body like steam, gathering in midair to form the phantom of a savage, overbearing lion.
The lion lifted its head and let out a great roar. In an instant, a terrifying pressure crashed down on the elders’ hearts like storm-driven waves.
Under that oppression, they felt as though an invisible giant hand had seized their hearts in a death grip, making it hard even to breathe.
The elders all widened their eyes.
This pressure—they had only ever felt it from the old Family Head, Li Xuanfeng.
The Grand Elder was the first to react. His cloudy eyes fixed on Li Xingge without blinking.
His voice trembled, and his face was filled with shock as he said, “Qi-Blood Manifestation... This... this is Qi-Blood Manifestation. Family Head, could it be that you... you...”
Under the Grand Elder’s anxious, hopeful, terrified gaze—
Li Xingge slowly nodded.
“I successfully broke through the Qi-Blood barrier yesterday and advanced to the Qi-Blood Realm.”
Though they had already guessed as much, the moment Li Xingge confirmed it with his own mouth, the Grand Elder first froze, then suddenly burst into booming laughter.
As he laughed, his eyes began to moisten.
“Good... good... good! My Li Clan has a worthy successor! My Li Clan has a worthy successor!”
If even the Grand Elder had lost control of himself like this, there was no need to mention the others.
“I... am I dreaming? The Family Head... actually broke through to the Qi-Blood Realm?”
The Second Elder slapped himself hard across the face, wanting to make sure he was not dreaming.
When the burning pain confirmed that this was real, he too could not help shedding old tears.
Who could understand this?
The contrast between the before and after was simply too great.
One moment earlier, they had been worrying over the Li Clan’s future.
The next moment, they were being told that the Family Head had broken into the Qi-Blood Realm, and that the Li Clan once more possessed a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator.
Every problem would no longer be a problem.
Who could possibly withstand such a reversal?
“Our Li Clan has gained a new Qi-Blood Realm cultivator. Our ancestors are protecting us. The heavens are protecting us!”
“Heaven has not cut off the Qingfeng Li Clan’s path!”
“The Family Head truly deserves his title as the Li Clan’s monster. A seventeen-year-old Qi-Blood Realm cultivator! This old man has lived many years and never heard of such a thing!”
“A seventeen-year-old Qi-Blood Realm cultivator—looking across the hundreds of years of Baihe County’s history, there has never been one before.”
“With the Family Head’s talent, he may even have hope of entering the Innate Realm.”
“If our Li Clan truly produces an Innate cultivator, then in all of Baihe County, who would be able to stop us? And in the future, even Shenglong Prefecture will surely have a place for the Li family!”
...
“I will spread the news at once that the Family Head has broken through to the Qi-Blood Realm, so as to stabilize the hearts of our Li Clan and frighten off the schemers.”
The Grand Elder had just recovered from his excitement and was already eager to act.
But the moment he took a step, Li Xingge stopped him.
“Grand Elder, wait.”
The Grand Elder halted and turned back toward Li Xingge, only to hear him say slowly, “For the time being, keep the news of my breakthrough to the Qi-Blood Realm sealed.”
The Grand Elder frowned tightly, puzzled.
So he asked, “Family Head, why is that?”
Li Xingge let out a cold laugh.
“The former Family Head has only just passed away, yet some jumping clowns already could not wait to leap out and provoke our Li Clan—wanting to carve flesh from our bodies and drink our blood. This is intolerable. It seems our Li Clan has been too low-key all these years. They have forgotten what the word ‘fear’ means.”
The Grand Elder paused for a moment, then understood Li Xingge’s meaning.
He drew in a deep breath and asked in a low voice, “Family Head, are you planning to use them to establish your authority?”
“Exactly.”
Li Xingge’s expression was cold to the bone.
Before this, though he bore the name of a genius, in the eyes of outsiders he was still only a junior.
Even if he had inherited the position of Family Head, there would still be people who relied on their age and status and refused to take him seriously.
Now that some people had kindly delivered their heads to his doorstep for him to use as a display of power, why would he not accept the favor?
The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
“The Family Head’s foresight reaches far beyond this old man’s.”
The Family Head was right. The Li family had lain silent for far too many years—so long that people had already forgotten whether the Li family’s blade was still sharp.
.........
Cultivation realms: Body Tempering Realm, Physical Body Realm, Qi-Blood Realm, Innate Realm, Divine Palace Realm, Heavenly Human Realm, Longevity Realm.
A Physical Body Realm cultivator can live up to 120 years; a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator, 200 years; an Innate cultivator, 600 to 800 years; a Divine Palace cultivator, 3,000 to 5,000 years; a Heavenly Human cultivator passes through nine tribulations, and each tribulation lasts 18,000 years. (Each of the nine Heavenly Human tribulations can be regarded as a major realm of its own.) As for Longevity—one lives forever and never dies.
Talent grades: First Grade is the highest, Ninth Grade is the lowest. Below Ninth Grade is unranked.
Cultivation arts and martial techniques are divided into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow grades.