Chapter 2 : Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Family System, and Secret Schemes
...
Once matters had been settled, everyone withdrew one after another.
Very soon, Li Xingge was the only person left in the council hall.
As the great doors slowly closed, Li Xingge silently called out in his mind, “System.”
A transparent, minimalist screen of light appeared in response, fixed before Li Xingge’s eyes.
On the screen, lines of data were displayed in neat, orderly rows.
Looking closely...
【Family Name: Qingfeng Li Clan】
【Family Head: Li Xingge (Initial Qi-Blood Realm)】
【Family Level: Level 1】
【Family Fortune: White】
【Number of Clan Members: 1,231】
【Number of Branch Clan Members: 103,456】
【Family Combat Strength: Qi-Blood Realm: 1 person; Physical Body Realm: 12 people; Body Tempering Realm: 478 people】
【Family Wealth: 20,578 taels of gold (Gold is the main currency for the first three realms; spirit stones are used beyond that)】
【Family Sphere of Influence: jpg (Your phone does not currently support viewing this image)】
【Family Buffs: None】
【Family Head Buff: Basic Cultivation Speed Increase (Family Head’s cultivation speed increased by 20%)】
【Family Cohesion: 71 (Fairly united)】
.......
【Novice Mission: Bind Family Fortune】
【Mission Progress: 99%】
【Reward: Clan Fortune Blessing (Note: When the host is within the family’s sphere of influence, they will receive the blessing of the family’s fortune, increasing their strength. If they leave the family’s sphere of influence, the farther away they are, the weaker the blessing becomes. At the same time, using Clan Fortune Blessing consumes family fortune. Once the family fortune is exhausted, both the host and the host’s family will be plagued by misfortune. Please use with caution.)】
......
【Main Mission: Lead the Family Out of Crisis】
【Mission Progress: 0%】
【Mission Description: After the old Family Head’s death, the family has lost the deterrence of its top combat strength, and the family’s enemies have already begun to act. Please lead the family out of danger as soon as possible!】
【Reward 1: Basic Family Cultivation Buff (All clan members’ cultivation speed increased by 10%)】
【Reward 2: Many Sons, Many Blessings Buff (Birth rate of family newborns increased by 10%)】
【Reward 3: 1 Mid Profound-Grade cultivation art】
【Reward 4: 1 Mid Profound-Grade martial technique】
【Reward 5: Host’s cultivation talent raised to Seventh Grade】
This Family System was Li Xingge’s greatest support. Not only did it give him a cheat-like advantage, it had also granted him eternal life. So long as he was not killed by someone else, he could live forever.
Aside from the System, there was another secret in his mind.
He was not originally from this world.
He came from Blue Star.
Seventeen years ago, after an accident, he had been reborn into this world in the womb.
He had become a direct-line descendant of the Qingfeng Li Clan, one of the great local powers.
This was not some so-called useless-trash opening.
On the contrary, everything had gone smoothly for him from the start.
From childhood, he had displayed exceptional talent in cultivation and had been heavily nurtured by the clan.
Two years ago, he had even been established as the Li family’s Young Family Lord.
He had become the heir to this powerful clan.
Until Li Xuanfeng’s sudden death.
He had hurriedly ascended to the position, and with it came the first crisis of his life.
But to him, this was both a crisis and an opportunity.
Li Xingge clenched his fists and spoke inwardly to himself.
.......
In the blink of an eye, another three days passed.
Flying Snow Tower.
Inside Room Seven of the Heaven Wing.
Four figures sat facing one another.
They were the heads of the Zou, Zhang, and Jin families, along with the sect master of the Great Saber Sect.
Aside from the Zou and Zhang families, the others had all once been subordinate forces of the Li family.
“Everyone, after our probing over the past few days, it seems the news is real. That old ghost Li Xuanfeng is truly dead.”
The bearded sect master of the Great Saber Sect drained the wine from his cup in one gulp and burst into gloating laughter.
The others likewise laughed loudly.
The Zhang family head raised his cup and said in a ringing voice, “Come, a toast! From this day forward, with no Qi-Blood Realm cultivator seated in the Li family, they can no longer lord themselves over us!”
“A toast!”
“Hahahahaha!”
The cups clinked and the wine flowed freely.
As they talked—
the Great Saber Sect’s sect master rose to his feet, his face full of a cold sneer.
“However, everyone, it seems the Li family still hasn’t recognized its own position!”
The others frowned.
“What do you mean by that, Brother Wang?”
The sect master of the Great Saber Sect let out a cold laugh and stood straight.
“Just yesterday, the Li family actually sent an envoy to my Great Saber Sect stronghold, demanding that we hand over this month’s tribute—or face the consequences.”
He drained another cup of wine.
Then, in fury, he smashed the empty cup onto the floor.
“How utterly ignorant of their place! What, do they still think they’re the same Qingfeng Li Clan as before? While Li Xuanfeng was alive, I gave him three parts respect. But without Li Xuanfeng, what the hell is the Li family worth?!”
That sentence struck a chord with everyone present.
In their eyes, a Li family without a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator no longer had any right to make them swallow their anger.
“Brother Wang is absolutely right. The Li family has lost its Qi-Blood Realm cultivator, yet they still dream of riding roughshod over our heads. What a fool’s dream. In my view, it’s time to wake them up.”
The sinister-looking head of the Zou family spoke in a chilly tone.
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
“What brilliant idea does Brother Zou have?”
The Zou family head sneered.
“Brilliant is too much. But as far as I know, tomorrow is the day the Li family’s former Family Head is to be buried. Since that is the case, why don’t our four factions join hands and go straight to the Li family tomorrow, force them into submission, and give them a taste of reality? We’ll make them spit back out everything they swallowed over the years, then cede their industries to us and apologize.”
“On the day of the burial? Isn’t that a little inappropriate? That would be completely tearing apart all pretenses with the Li family.”
The cautious head of the Jin family frowned in concern.
“So what? Our four factions are united. What can the Li family possibly do to us? Rely on Li Xuantong, that old thing?”
“Li Xuantong may be old, but he is still a Physical Body Realm Perfection cultivator. He cannot be underestimated.”
The Zou family head waved a hand.
“Rest assured, everyone. A mere Li Xuantong is not worth fearing. Besides, I came prepared.”
With that, he lightly clapped his hands.
There was a trace of respect in his tone as he said, “Mr. Su, please come out.”
Under everyone’s puzzled gaze, an elderly man in black robes with a stern, cold face slowly stepped out from behind the folding screen.
The moment they saw him, everyone’s expressions froze.
Clearly, they recognized the identity of this black-robed elder.
The old man smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and said casually, “Su Yun greets you all, fellow Daoists.”
The others came back to themselves and hurriedly returned the salute.
“There should be no need for me to introduce Mr. Su’s identity, should there? Tomorrow, Mr. Su will accompany us to the Li family.”
The Zou family head smiled as he spoke.
“Mr. Su’s great name is known throughout Baihe County. To have the fortune to meet you today is truly the blessing of three lifetimes.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
“With Mr. Su overseeing the field, tomorrow’s matter is certain to succeed.”
Their words were full of flattery.
Clearly, the black-robed elder’s status was anything but ordinary.
Su Yun, Grand Elder of the Mangshan Su Clan.
A fifty-year-old Physical Body Realm Perfection cultivator. Rumor had it that he had already sensed a trace of qi-blood power, and his strength far surpassed others of the same realm.
Though smiles remained on their faces, their hearts had already begun to thump uneasily.
They had not expected that behind this gathering to scheme against the Li family, the Su family would also be involved.
One had to know—the Su family was no minor household, but a colossal power with a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator seated within it.
His involvement made them realize that things might not be as simple as they had thought.
And sure enough—
Su Yun said with a smiling face, “Everyone, you should know the relationship between our Su family and the Li family. We have long been as incompatible as fire and water.”
“Li Xuanfeng is dead. Now is the perfect opportunity to wipe out the Li family. Naturally, our Su family will not miss such a good chance.”
“However, for certain reasons, it is inconvenient for the Su family to act openly. I will remain hidden in the shadows. Tomorrow, you need only anger the Li family. Leave Li Xuantong to me.”
“Once the Li family is destroyed, apart from the Silver Ridge mineral vein, my Su family will not take so much as a single coin from the rest.”
Su Yun’s words made everyone’s hearts pound.
The Li family was an old great clan that had endured for more than two hundred years.
The wealth and resources they had accumulated over so many years were bound to be substantial.
If those spoils could be seized, it would be an enormous boost both to themselves and to the forces behind them.
And in their view, with Su Yun acting secretly, wiping out the Li family would not be especially difficult.
This was a deal with no capital required.
Almost instantly, they made their decision.
The few of them exchanged looks, then all cupped their fists and said, “We will follow Mr. Su’s command in all things.”
After receiving the answer he wanted, Su Yun burst into hearty laughter.
“Gentlemen, you will certainly not regret the decision you made today.”
Inside the room,
the cups continued to pass from hand to hand, and the sound of laughter never ceased.