Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Completing the First Main Mission
“Family Head, now that the Mangshan Su Clan has been destroyed, the Li family’s crisis can be considered temporarily resolved.”
The Grand Elder stroked his beard and smiled.
At those words, a smile appeared on Li Xingge’s face as well.
But then he added, “Even so, we still cannot slack off, because we never know on which day danger may arrive.”
The Grand Elder nodded solemnly.
“Now that the Mangshan Su Clan has been destroyed, their industries naturally belong to us. Third Elder, I am placing the matter of taking over the Su family’s industries entirely in your hands.”
Li Xingge gave the order.
The Third Elder’s eyes shone brightly, and he gladly accepted.
“Family Head, we have just checked the Su family’s genealogical records and discovered that there are still some fish that slipped through the net.”
Li Yanzhao, the Sixth Elder, spoke with a grave expression.
“I understand.”
Li Xingge glanced at the Second Elder beside him and said calmly, “Those fish that slipped through the net must be the so-called remaining sparks. Second Elder, you are the elder of the Enforcement Hall. I leave these sparks to you. We absolutely cannot leave future trouble for the family.”
“Please rest assured, Family Head. I will personally oversee this matter.”
The Second Elder answered sternly.
Li Xingge nodded in satisfaction.
After that, the group returned to Qingfeng Valley.
...
In the Family Head’s courtyard, inside the cultivation stone chamber,
Li Xingge sat cross-legged.
In front of him, a transparent screen of light appeared.
【Main Mission: Lead the Family Out of Crisis】
【Mission Progress: 100%】
【Mission Description: After the old Family Head’s death, the family 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】
When Li Xingge saw that the progress of the main mission on the light screen had reached one hundred percent, the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.
Every reward from the System was extremely tempting.
Especially the first two group buff rewards—both were exactly what the Li family needed most at present.
The first increased the cultivation speed of the entire group. Though it only raised cultivation speed by ten percent, which did not seem like much at first glance, over time the accumulated benefits would be astonishing.
As for the second, Many Sons, Many Blessings, it directly increased the birth rate of the Li family.
What was the foundation of a thriving clan?
First, strength.
Second, population.
Sufficient strength could shield the clan from danger.
Population, meanwhile, meant the clan’s continuation and expansion.
As for the cultivation art and martial technique, though precious, compared to the first two rewards, they could only be considered embellishments on top of an already beautiful picture.
The final reward, meanwhile, directly raised Li Xingge’s own upper limit.
Almost unable to wait any longer, Li Xingge immediately chose to submit the mission.
...
【“Mission submitted: distributing System rewards.”】
【“Ding. Congratulations, Host. The Basic Cultivation Speed Increase Buff has taken effect. All Li clan members’ cultivation speed has increased by 10%.”】
【“The Many Sons, Many Blessings Buff has taken effect. The birth rate of family newborns has increased by 10%.”】
【“Ding. Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Mid Profound-Grade cultivation art—Clearheart Art.”】
【“Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Mid Profound-Grade martial technique—Lion’s Roar Art.”】
【“Congratulations, Host. Your cultivation talent has improved. It is now Seventh Grade.”】
A string of System notifications rang out one after another.
.........
At the same time,
the entire Li family was enveloped in an invisible white light.
Countless points of starlight descended upon the Li family,
“silently merged into the bodies of every Li clan member.”
Inside one of the Li family’s cultivation rooms,
a Li clansman who was in the middle of cultivating suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of confusion flashing across them.
He turned his head toward the friend beside him and said, “Li Ze, I suddenly feel like my cultivation speed has increased quite a bit!”
“It seems... mine has too!”
his friend said in surprise.
“What’s going on?”
Li Ze shook his head.
“I don’t know. Maybe today’s battle gave us some kind of insight?”
“That’s possible. Hahahaha...”
“Then we need to hurry up and cultivate!”
“Brother, let’s encourage each other!”
.....
Enforcement Hall.
Li Xuanzhong, the elder of the Enforcement Hall, was instructing the disciples of the hall when a sudden inspiration struck him, and his steps halted.
He suddenly sensed an opportunity to break through to Physical Body Realm Perfection.
Opportunity could not be missed.
He turned to the disciples of the Enforcement Hall and said, “This old man has had a realization. I am going into seclusion now. All of you are to cultivate diligently and must not slack off!”
“Yes!”
The disciples of the Enforcement Hall answered in unison.
Li Xuanzhong nodded in satisfaction.
Then he hurried away from the Enforcement Hall and entered seclusion.
.....
“You damn man, what are you doing in broad daylight?”
A woman cursed, her face flushed red.
A middle-aged Li clansman rubbed the back of his hand, which had been slapped red, and gave a foolish grin. “Wife, I don’t know why, but the feeling suddenly came over me. Bear with me a little—I’ll be quick.”
“Bear your head...”
“Mm...”
“Didn’t... didn’t you say... you’d be... quick?”
“Ah...”
“I... I don’t know either... it feels like... I’ve suddenly gone back to when I was seventeen or eighteen...”
“Mm...”
“Just bear with it a little longer.”
“Shut up.”
......
Elsewhere,
inside a hidden cave,
a group of more than ten people huddled in the corner, exhausted, staring blankly toward the mouth of the cave.
At their head stood a middle-aged man.
After a short while,
hurried footsteps rang out from outside the cave.
The middle-aged man shot to his feet, drew the saber at his waist, and stared toward the entrance with vigilant eyes.
The footsteps came closer and closer.
In a hoarse voice, the middle-aged man called out, “Who is it?”
A voice came from outside.
“Elder, it’s me!”
Hearing the familiar voice, the middle-aged man finally relaxed somewhat.
But he did not lower the saber in his hand. He only said in a lowered voice, “Come in.”
A moment later,
a young man dressed like a beggar walked inside.
The instant he saw the middle-aged man, the tears in the young man’s eyes could no longer be held back.
He dropped to his knees and howled in grief, “Elder, the Su family is gone! The Supreme Elder, the Second Elder, all of them are dead! The Li family didn’t even spare the old, the weak, the women, or the children. The entire Mangshan Su Clan has already been flattened to the ground. It was too tragic—far too tragic...”
The middle-aged man was none other than Su Qiong, the Seventh Elder of the Mangshan Su Clan.
When Su Qiong heard this news, his face instantly lost all color, and his entire body began trembling violently.
In that instant, he seemed to age twenty years.
The others began crying as well.
After a long while,
Su Qiong, his eyes bloodshot, threw back his head and roared, “You Li family bastards! The hatred of extermination cannot be shared beneath the same heavens! If this blood feud is not avenged, I swear I am not human!”
He looked at the others, who were still weeping.
Then he shouted angrily, “What are you crying for? What use is crying? Will crying bring our clansmen back to life? Will crying restore the Mangshan Su Clan? Put away those womanish manners of yours! In the dictionary of the Su family, there is no such word as ‘cry’!”
Everyone was frightened senseless by the sight of Su Qiong in this state.
No one dared make another sound.
Su Qiong drew in a deep breath, then slowly said, “You must all remember today’s hatred of extermination and the bitterness of losing our home. You must cultivate with all your strength. One day, we will repay the Li family tenfold, a hundredfold, for the pain they have inflicted upon us. Do you understand?”
Thinking of the clansmen who had been slaughtered, thinking of their present condition like homeless dogs, blazing hatred ignited in everyone’s eyes.
“In the future, we will kill every last member of the Li family.”
A Su clan boy of eight or nine said viciously.
“That’s right! Xiao Jiu is right! Kill every Li family member and avenge our clansmen!”
“Kill them all!”
“Kill them all!”
Seeing the remaining sparks of the Su clan united in shared hatred, Su Qiong could not help but feel a trace of comfort.
The Su clan’s sparks were still alive.
The Mangshan Su Clan had not yet truly perished!
“Elder, what should we do from now on?”
The young man who had gone out to gather information finally stopped crying and asked.
“There is no longer any place for us in Baihe County. We must leave this place first.”
Su Qiong said.
“But the main roads out of Baihe County have already been blocked by the Li family. Right now, the Li family is searching everywhere for our whereabouts.”
Su Qiong’s face instantly became extremely ugly.
He thought in silence for a while.
Then he said slowly, “Then we can go first to the Jiang family. The Jiang family has intermarried with the Mangshan Su Clan for generations and is an ally of my Su family. We can have them think of a way to send us away. There is no time to lose—we leave now!”白河大营