With Li Wei's appearance, the clan members gathered in the main hall to discuss major national affairs were all overjoyed.
The Ancestral Spirit Tablets in their hands, which had been silent for forty years, lit up!
"Old Ancestor!"
Li Yunbing led the clansmen as they headed together toward the Ancestral Hall.
As the Family Head, Li Xinnian hurriedly kowtowed to report on family matters.
"Reporting to the Old Ancestor: In the years you were away, our family has prospered, and Xinnian has spared no effort!"
As he spoke, Li Xinnian was a little nervous.
This was his first time formally reporting to the Old Ancestor since becoming Family Head.
He feared nothing except that his efforts might not be enough to satisfy the Old Ancestor and the elders.
"The Three Families and Six Sects of Azure Cloud have all grown and strengthened under our Li clan's protection.
Ancestor Tianye consumed numerous Human Elixirs and has broken through to the Divinity Transformation realm."
"The four great powers of Azure Cloud Prefecture obey only our Li clan.
Under the leadership of our in-law, Sun Haotian, twenty percent of the forces in the Duravia Trade Prefecture now look to our Li clan for leadership."
"Our Li clan has established branch families in many places."
"Uncle Xinghuo's Northguard City Branch Family, Xinjue's Silvermoon City Branch Family, Zhiheng's Perennis Branch Family, and Yuanshang's Imperial Capital Branch Family.
These branch families are spreading our bloodline in other places and seizing more business and resources.
I believe it won't be long before they can send back vast amounts of resources as our bloodline flourishes."
"..."
[Your descendants have conferred. Due to the flourishing of the bloodline, the family's descendants will have more marriage alliances.
To prevent this from harming family interests, descendants will go to various places to establish branch families, supported by the main family.
If there are outstanding descendants among future generations, they will be examined by the Ancestral Hall elders and, with the Old Ancestor's consent, be granted an audience with the Old Ancestor.]
Listening to Li Xinnian's report, Li Wei's thoughts drifted back to many years ago.
At that time, when the number of children had grown, the family had held similar thoughts. Unfortunately, the family's strength was insufficient back then, and they had encountered a figure like Tian Xing.
But now... the family possessed both the strength and the influence!
"Old Ancestor, this child... does not know if his actions over these years have disappointed your venerable self?"
Li Xinnian kowtowed respectfully.
As the words [You have done very well] floated in the air, Li Xinnian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Li Yaoqing and Li Yaotie, standing at the very front of the Ancestral Hall, held their heads high.
They exchanged a glance and bowed toward the Ancestral Spirit Tablet.
"Old Ancestor, we... have succeeded again!"
"What?!!"
Li Wei was overjoyed.
...
[Li Family Year 620 Great Ceremony: You bestowed a portion of "Power of Rules" upon your descendant, Li Dalong.]
To the west, at the end of the world.
On the desolate land, Li Dalong, holding the Seal of the Twin Serpents, his eyes bursting with red light, kowtowed toward the sacrificial altar.
"Thank you, Old Ancestor. Please rest assured, Old Ancestor, this child is safe within this Underworld.
It is just that this Underworld has long since lost its order; there are only wandering souls, wild ghosts, and yin beasts. It is quite interesting."
...
[Year 625]
At this moment, Li Wei's flying sword was still speeding toward the next planet.
He had only one portion of the Power of Rules left.
Yaoqing and Yaotie could now refine one set of materials every forty years, which meant that in eighty years, another portion would be needed. He had to reach the next planet within two days.
The descendants also needed to acquire a massive amount of resources during this period.
The flying sword paused slightly. He furrowed his brow, and his Divine Soul appeared within the Ancestor Space to briefly check on the children's situation.
Forty years had passed, and the family had added more than a dozen new children.
In the days to come, there would likely be even more; never mind him, even the clansmen themselves probably couldn't keep track of every single child's situation.
He saw that in Northguard City, Li Xinri still had the appearance of a profligate scion. At this moment, he was in a brothel listening to tunes...
To be honest, Li Wei actually admired Li Xinri a little. For a person to persist in being a profligate scion for so many years was a skill in itself.
He heard that when Su Chen went to teach Li Xinri, he ended up getting led astray into a life of dissipation himself for two whole years.
As for Li Zhijing, Li Wei liked this girl very much. She was a bit unruly and overbearing, but very filial and hardworking.
As for Li Xinjue...
...
Silvermoon City.
Li Xinjue was managing the affairs of the Li branch family in Silvermoon City. Walking past his mother's door, he paused his steps, let out a sigh, and then walked on.
Subsequently, walking toward the Li branch family's main hall, he saw numerous children cultivating.
[Your descendant, Li Xinjue, feels helpless in his heart because his mother was sent to Silvermoon City. Acquired Trait: Melancholic]
[Under his mother's arrangement, he married eight wives, all from wealthy and noble families. Acquired Trait: Blessing of Harmonious Wives]
At night.
Li Xinjue was sighing continuously. Just then, he froze in place, lowering his head in disbelief to look at the spirit tablet at his waist. The tablet was dazzling, shining as bright as the sun.
"Old Ancestor... Old Ancestor? Is that you, Old Ancestor?"
Unknowingly, he had already fallen to his knees without even realizing it.
Rumors in the clan said that only when the Old Ancestor's spirit tablet lit up did it mean one had received the Old Ancestor's acknowledgment.
He had never wanted to contend with Li Xinri, nor with Li Zhijing, and certainly not with the Main Family. But the affairs of the world are never that simple.
The family behind his mother was one that even his father was unwilling to provoke lightly, yet his mother had tried to harm Li Zhijing. By the time he found out, it was already too late.
Yet he knew that his mother had done it for his own good. In the end, he had been unfilial to both sides.
He had thought that after being driven out of Northguard City by his father, both the family and his father had abandoned him. But the Old Ancestor had not!
The Ancestral Spirit Tablet radiated a glow that fell upon Li Xinjue's body, and an inexplicable, ancient murmur sounded in his ear.
Just this simple murmur left Li Xinjue's face streaming with tears.
That night.
The entire Silvermoon Li family, from top to bottom, heard the loud laughter of their Family Head.
"The Old Ancestor still recognizes me! I am still a son of the Li family! Hahaha!"