It wasn't just Li Yunbing who achieved a breakthrough this year.
In the Northern Border.
After obtaining the Primal Origin Blood Fruit years ago, Li Xinghuo had consumed it and spent years refining its power.
High in the sky, numerous experts of the Northern Border watched Li Xinghuo amidst the thunder tribulation.
In the distance, the Grand Tutor's subordinates stood guard, acting as his protectors. Envy was visible in everyone's eyes.
Under the Grand Tutor's command, this young man, Li Xinghuo, had risen step by step from a mere scout to his current position, becoming the most favored rising star under the Grand Tutor.
And all of this had been earned by Li Xinghuo himself. After all, on the battlefields of the Northern Border, Li Xinghuo charged at the forefront of every great battle, always undertaking the most dangerous missions.
[Your descendant, Li Xinghuo, has consumed the Primal Origin Blood Fruit and acquired the bloodline: Bixie.]
[The Bixie is an ancient divine beast capable of suppressing demons, ghosts, and monsters through bloodline suppression.
The Bixie Bloodline increases technique cultivation speed by 100%, grants blessings from the heavens, and allows those close to the user to awe and deter evil entities.]
[Through the Bixie Bloodline, and with the aid of the Grand Tutor, your descendant Li Xinghuo has broken through to the Divinity Transformation realm.]
[Acquired Domain: Asura Domain. Within the domain, combat power is greatly increased.]
[Acquired Heaven-bestowed Primordial Spirit Technique: Life-Reaping.
Forms arrays through techniques; once the array is formed, life is extinguished.]
"What a murderous aura!"
"The Grand Tutor's most daring and combative godson has now broken through to the Divinity Transformation realm. I fear he will be even more favored by the Grand Tutor now."
"Hiss~ Now I really have to tell my kid to steer clear of that pest from the Li family and that unruly little girl, otherwise..."
In the sky, the numerous experts of the Northern Border observing the ceremony were buzzing with discussion, their gazes turning toward the Li residence.
There, Li Xinghuo's many wives, concubines, and children were also gazing up at the thunder in the sky.
Among them was a young man who cast a complicated look at the thunderclouds above, only to turn away indifferently.
He led a group of Northguard City's profligate scions to the streets to act like hooligans. Behind him, a young woman in red leather armor rode a high horse, charging recklessly through the streets.
The crowd sighed repeatedly at the sight.
Whenever Li Xinghuo was mentioned in Northguard City, people would say: "An unruly granddaughter, a useless son, a heroic father, and a wealthy house with no one to carry the torch." It had practically become a local rhyme.
That Li Zhijing showed not a shred of respect. Riding a high horse, she swept past Li Xinri, her ponytail bouncing in rhythm with the steed's stride.
Li Zhijing glanced back; having inherited Li Xinri's good looks, she was indeed beautiful, yet one look was enough to tell that this young woman was utterly lawless.
At that moment, Li Zhijing glared with her round eyes and cracked her long whip with a sharp snap, frightening the profligate scions beside Li Xinri into trembling.
The young woman shouted, "Listen well! If anyone dares to bully my father, causing him to lose money in the casino or lose face in public, I'll make you suffer the consequences!"
"Dad, you just go and have fun with peace of mind. Your daughter is going to offer congratulations to Grandfather. If anyone dares to bully you, just tell me. And if you run out of Spirit Stones, feel free to let me know!"
As Li Zhijing rode away, the profligate scions were all left sweating with shame.
Li Xinri was truly thick-skinned. Tossing the storage ring his First Mother had just given him in his hand, he glanced at his pack of scoundrel friends and let out a cold snort.
"Did you hear that? My daughter has spoken. You lot had better serve this Lord comfortably today, or else... heh heh."
Having said this, Li Xinri felt utterly gratified.
It didn't matter if he wasn't favored; his daughter was.
It wasn't a waste that he had taken her out to play and run wild since she was a child.
Just look at her—how respected is his daughter out in the world, and how filial is she?
Though only twenty-five years old, his daughter, Zhijing, had already reached the Foundation Establishment realm, had transformed her aptitude into a Single Metal Spirit Root, and was even a Beast Tamer!
And ahead.
Li Zhijing galloped on her spirit beast steed, gazing up at her grandfather breaking through in the sky.
"Uncle Su Chen said that we of the Li family should be fearless and unbridled.
The world reveres martial strength above all, and the members of the main family are all cultivating with all their might—that is the very foundation of how our Li family can stand tall and proud in this world."
As she spoke, Li Zhijing took out her Ancestral Spirit Tablet, a glimmer of anticipation flashing in her eyes.
"Grandfather said that only when we are outstanding enough can we earn the recognition of the Old Ancestor and the main family.
Only then will the Ancestral Spirit Tablet at our side begin to glow, allowing us to hear the Old Ancestor's voice and have our Divine Souls granted an audience with him."
"Spirit Tablet, oh Spirit Tablet, when will you finally glow?
When that time comes, I will definitely take Father to see the Old Ancestor. Then we'll see if that bastard Li Xinjue still dares to look down on my father!
And Mother, too—once I become powerful, she won't just listen to her family anymore, and Father and Mother won't fight all the time."
"Hmph!"
[Your descendant, Li Zhijing, influenced by her family environment since childhood and running wild with her father, has acquired the trait: Unruly.]
[Acquired Trait: Haughty]
[Acquired Trait: Father's Little Guardian]
The Li Residence.
Among the gathering of family and friends, there was another young man.
This was Li Xinghuo's second concubine-born son, Li Xinjue. Compared to Li Xinri, Li Xinjue was a dashing young gentleman. He was born later, even later than Li Zhijing.
Beside him, his mother, Ning Qingzhou, glanced at Zishu Wandong, who was guarding her husband in the sky, and said in a grave voice,
"Jue'er, that Li Xinri wants to rely on his daughter to elevate his own status. However, he is unruly and beyond redemption; no matter what he does, he is no match for you.
You must cultivate diligently. I have already had people seek out several marriage matches for you, all from families of great nobility."
Hearing this, Li Xinjue furrowed his brow.
Like Li Xinri, he was not favored by his father, yet he cultivated far more diligently than Li Xinri ever did.
"And there is your adopted brother, Su Chen," his mother continued.
"You have been cultivated by his side since childhood, so you must do your best to win him over. Only in this way can you gain the regard of the Main Family and your father.
If you do so, even when we return to the Azure Cloud Main Family, you will have a promising future.
Besides, your father is the Grand Tutor's favorite, and now he has broken through to the Divinity Transformation realm. In what way are we inferior to the Main Family?"
"..." Li Xinjue remained silent.
Su Chen had once taught him that the members of the Li family never fought for power or profit.
He had also told him stories about the clan, warning him that he must never contend for such things.
A few years ago, elders from the family had also visited and taught him for a time; their teachings were essentially the same as Su Chen's.
He took a deep breath, gazing up at his father's heroic figure in the sky, and said in a grave voice,
"This child will certainly cultivate diligently to continue the bloodline for our family. As for other matters, Mother, please do not speak of them again.
If Father were to hear these words, I fear it would not end well for either you or me."