Li Dalong went off to busy himself, and Li Wei was busy as well.
He arrived at another planet and continued to absorb the "Power of Laws."
The Sea of Stars was vast and boundless.
Li Wei simply stepped back into the family domain, deciding to just calculate the timing for when to go out and collect the Power of Laws.
Another year passed.
After the Immortal Domain Grotto-Heaven had been almost completely emptied, the Merit Grotto-Heaven underwent earth-shaking changes.
After the spiritual plants and Demon Beasts had settled in, the growth of the spiritual seedlings within the Grotto-Heaven Paradise was gratifying, and the commoners of Merit City—who were skilled at farming—were overjoyed.
This was especially true given the Grade 3 Spirit Vein underground; with such abundant Spiritual Qi, they even dared to attempt cultivating Grade 4 Spiritual Medicine.
It was particularly noticeable in their houses.
They looked like thatched cottages with earthen walls that seemed ready to crumble at a touch, yet they possessed the hardness of Grade 9 or Grade 8 steel.
In the distant groves, large numbers of Spirit Beasts were being raised.
It wasn't that they couldn't afford to raise Demon Kings, but simply that Demon Kings rarely produced manure, whereas Spirit Beasts were the true experts at producing fertilizer.
There is likely no other place in this world with people who understand farming better than the commoners of Merit City.
However, Merit City appeared even more simple and unadorned than before.
The tallest structure had become the nine-story Myriad Dao Pagoda.
An utterly ordinary-looking stone stele sat atop a high mountain, fronted by a winding path of bluestone slabs.
That stele was, naturally, the "Dao-Transmitting Secret Stele."
The cultivation methods and techniques recorded upon it were truly extraordinary.
The bluestone path was no ordinary object either; it had come from a Clan in the Duravia Trade Prefecture.
[Grade 5 Spiritual Object: Path to the Summit]
[The path consists of 3,333 steps. Based on the individual's realm, it tests endurance and disposition.
The higher one ascends, the more it tests the mind.
It contains numerous illusions and the oppressive pressure of powerful experts.
Those who reach the summit have a chance of achieving sudden enlightenment.]
At this moment, numerous cultivators from the Azure Cloud Prefecture could be seen arriving to ascend the peak.
Among them were Li Zhijing, as well as Li Yuanwu and Li Jianshu from the Immortal Martial Lineage.
Even Li Jianguo from the merchant branch of the Li clan in the Imperial Capital had arrived.
This was a boon granted to the people of Azure Cloud by Li Xinnian; the Path to the Summit would be opened once every ten years.
[Your descendant Li Xinnian, in order to foster the emergence of more talented individuals in Azure Cloud Prefecture following the years of great disaster, has launched the event: "Path to the Summit."]
[Every thirty years, a massive amount of Spirit Stones will be consumed to activate the spiritual object "Path to the Summit."
Those who reach the peak may cultivate before the Dao-Transmitting Secret Stele for three months.]
He was truly worthy of being the Family Head; in just one short year, Li Xinnian had implemented a vast number of reforms.
[Launched Event: "Ethereal Immortal Grove Hunt."
Every ten years, geniuses beneath the Golden Core realm will hunt Spirit Beasts within the Ethereal Immortal Grove.
Those who hunt down designated Spirit Beasts will receive Daoist techniques taught by the Great Demons of the Grove.]
[Launched Event: "Blood Fruit Contention."
Every fifty years, cultivators beneath the Nascent Soul realm may enter the Immortal Mountain to vie for the Blood Fruits produced by the offshoots of the Primordial Blood Tree.]
[Launched Event...]
These numerous activities not only served to motivate the cultivators of Azure Cloud Prefecture, but Li Xinnian also had no intention of letting the family come out empty-handed.
With the launch of these events, the family gained a significant number of powerful retainers every year, boosting the family's prestige.
Simultaneously, the various Clans and Sects began launching similar events to recruit retainers and disciples.
Whenever these times came around...
One could see cultivators struggling bitterly to climb the Path to the Summit, vying for the opportunity—available only once every thirty years—to cultivate techniques and cultivation methods before the Li family's Dao-Transmitting Secret Stele.
Even cultivators in the Qi Refining stage came to try their luck, striving to earn enough face.
The event had barely been running for an hour when the seniors from the major Clans and Sects outside let out a collective cry of surprise.
They saw that Li Zhiheng, the Head of the Immortal Martial Lineage, had already reached the summit!
"How could he be so fast? Each stretch of the mountain path brings a new layer of pressure.
I've climbed a thousand steps and already encountered five illusions; it feels like carrying a massive mountain on my back.
He... how could he reach the summit so quickly?"
"At the Nascent Soul realm, the higher one's cultivation, the harder the climb becomes.
This... we even have people from the Nascent Spirit Ranking behind us.
Just what is this person's background?"
"I don't accept this! Did you cheat, you brat?!!"
Someone shouted the question, but no one paid it any heed.
Outside the arena, many who knew Li Zhiheng's identity stood in a daze.
It wasn't that they hadn't suspected Li Zhiheng of cheating.
However... aside from Li Xinnian being famously impartial, there were many other Li family members on the Path to the Summit—including even Li Zhiheng's wife, Sun Sixiu!
Li Yuanwu had only climbed to the middle section, yet his face was already flushed crimson, and he had sustained injuries.
His nature was stubborn to the extreme; with blue veins bulging all over his body, he continued to charge upward.
Li Jianguo, who had come from the Imperial Capital, fared even worse.
He hadn't even climbed a hundred steps before he simply sat down, panting heavily, and began feeling the bluestone slabs.
He seemed to be studying how the path was constructed, but anyone with a discerning eye knew the brat was just trying to mask his embarrassment.
On the other hand, apart from Li Zhiheng, his cousin Li Zhijing had managed to climb to the upper reaches.
Dragging her heavy steps, her back bent under the pressure and sweat pouring down like rain, she continued to mutter something with glazed eyes.
No one else could hear her voice: "Gain strength... gain strength and go to the Northern Border... then no one will ever dare look down on my daddy again."
As for Li Zhiheng, he reached the summit, lightly pressed his hand against the stele, and then—without uttering a single word—departed upon an auspicious cloud.
"What an arrogant fellow!"
"He doesn't even deign to cultivate before the stele! The bastard!"
"Don't run! Fight me if you have the skill! Let's see if you have the right to be so dismissive in front of me, the sixty-third ranker on the Nascent Spirit Ranking!"
This behavior, however, only served to infuriate the multitude of cultivators struggling bitterly up the path.
Outside Merit City, Li Zhiheng blinked his eyes and headed toward the Immortal Domain Grotto-Heaven, wearing a guilt-ridden expression.
"Compared to the last time I ascended the Path to the Summit, I was only faster by two snaps of a finger.
My disposition is still lacking after all.
I must hurry and consolidate my cultivation; otherwise, if I cannot suppress the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart, what face will I have to meet the elders?"
Inside the Merit Grotto-Heaven.
Li Xinnian and Nangong Qingya watched the scene unfold.
They were not the least bit surprised by Li Zhiheng's departure; that boy never cared about the gaze of others.
They were also well aware of the stubborn natures of Li Yuanwu and Li Jianshu.
However, when their gaze fell upon Li Zhijing, Li Xinnian felt Nangong Qingya's grip on his hand tighten slightly.
"She is Uncle Xinghuo's granddaughter.
Life hasn't been easy for this girl and Xinri in the Northern Border.
How about this, Qingya? Find some good items from our couple's private stash and pick a time to give them to her—but don't let her know they came from us."
Hearing Li Xinnian's words, Nangong Qingya beamed with a smile.
"Then we'll have to go rob the Wu Tribe again."
"It wouldn't be the first time, anyway."
Li Xinnian waved his hand dismissively.
Looking back at the children struggling to climb the path, he felt immensely gratified.
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