The days passed, one after another.
[Year 680]
[Your descendant Li Yuanwu has broken through to the Golden Core realm (Heavenly Core).
He has achieved Small Success in the Martial Dao.
By studying and contemplating the movements of numerous Demon Beasts, he has created a Yellow-Grade martial art, the "Hundred Beast Method."
Obtained Profession: Grandmaster of Martial Dao
(Martial Dao comprehension increased by 10%, Combat Power increased by 30%).]
"Impressive."
Li Wei, rarely opening his eyes from his cultivation, sighed in admiration.
One shouldn't look down on it just because it was 'Yellow Grade.'
"Martial Arts" were typically techniques for mortals; for one to even possess a grade was already extraordinary.
To cultivate martial arts to this extent, he was truly a singular oddity in this world.
[Your descendant Li Zhiheng has broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.]
[Your descendant Li Yunlin's spirit object, the Skyveil Hall, has achieved a breakthrough after absorbing a vast amount of spiritual materials provided by the family forces.
Obtained Primordial Spirit Technique: Spirit Severance.
The Skyveil Hall transforms into a long halberd; a single strike severs both the physical body and the Primordial Spirit.]
[Your descendant Li Tianyi has been freely searching for the ancient divine souls of seniors within Azure Cloud Prefecture.
His Spirit Rhyme Talisman has evolved into the "Talisman of the Eighteen Profound Seals," reaching the grade of a Top-Grade Dharma Treasure.]
[Li Tianyue has campaigned in Duskwild Prefecture for many years.
Rewarded by Crown Prince Fei Heng, she has been promoted to a Second-Rank Official and appointed as the Dynasty's "Blood-Robed Great General," commanding an army of 200,000.
Obtained Spiritual power empowerment equivalent to the Mid-Stage Divinity Transformation realm; obtained the Mid-Grade Dharma Treasure "Four Symbols Blood Cloak"; obtained the Primordial Spirit Technique "Spirit Summoning"...]
Peaceful days had arrived.
The Li clan sat firmly in possession of Azure Cloud Prefecture and did not involve themselves in Crown Prince Fei Heng's affairs.
Especially since the Zhao Clan had met their end within Azure Cloud Prefecture, no one dared to covet this fertile land.
The unceasing wind and snow of Azure Cloud Prefecture faded away.
The common people multiplied and thrived, and the Li family continued to grow stronger.
[Your Family Population: 358]
[Family Branches (14): Immortal Martial, Demon Suppression, Merchant, Silver Moon, Hundred Treasures...]
In just ten short years, the family expanded from twelve branches to fourteen.
After all, the children had to establish their own families and careers.
While most of the branch lineages remained within the territory of Azure Cloud Prefecture, some youngsters even concealed their identities and ventured out to build lives for themselves, determined to carve out their own path in the world.
The Merit Grotto-Heaven grew increasingly vibrant with immortal energy.
At the same time, the family possessed other Grotto-Heavens.
It would have been a waste to leave the former Immortal Domain Grotto-Heaven empty, so it was renamed the "Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven."
Additionally, the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands of the major families that had been purged in the Duravia Trade Prefecture were also partitioned among the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Some family branches had already come to possess their own Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands.
[Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven: Presided over by Li Yunlin.
The Immortal Martial branch cultivates within.
Disciples from all major branches may cultivate within the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven...]
Inside the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven, training grounds were everywhere, along with array formations used for cultivation and secret chambers for closed-door seclusion.
Coupled with the fact that the members of the Immortal Martial branch were all "cultivation shut-ins," if disciples from the major branches encountered difficulties in their practice or couldn't understand a spell, they could all go to the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven to ask for guidance.
[Merchant Grotto-Heaven: Headquarters of the Light Division of the Hall of Heavenly Principle, and the distribution center for the annual stipends of family disciples.]
Li Xinnian could finally relax.
The family businesses had been entirely handed over to the Merchant branch.
Conversely, the Merchant Grotto-Heaven was swamped with work every year, while simultaneously sending vast amounts of Spirit Stones and treasures back to the family.
[Demon Suppression Grotto-Heaven: Location of Northern Border City, presided over by Li Xinghuo.
Family disciples and cultivators of Azure Cloud Prefecture may travel to the Demon Suppression Grotto-Heaven to battle the Demon Race alongside Li Xinghuo and accept demon-slaying missions for experience.
Produces a large amount of Demon Race materials and Demon Beasts annually.]
[Silver Moon Grotto-Heaven: Located where the northern Endless Forest borders the Azure Dynasty, amidst continuous mountain ranges. Presided over by Li Xinjue.
Family disciples and disciples of Azure Cloud Prefecture may go there for experience and mining. Produces a large amount of mineral materials annually.]
Watching Li Xinnian, who was presiding over family affairs from within the Merit Grotto-Heaven, Li Wei was filled with emotion.
Under the leadership of this [Destined Villain], the family was developing along a path that was both more strategic and more rapid; truly, everything was changing with each passing day.
However, even as the family grew stronger, Li Wei noticed a piece of unfavorable news.
[Special Event — Defeat in Shadowfell Prefecture]
[The Wu Race is gaining momentum. With the Fourth Prince currently campaigning in Duskwild Prefecture, the Wu Race has frequently seized the advantage, conquering eighty percent of the Shadowfell Prefecture's territory.
Your descendant, Li Kuanghua, is currently leading disciples of both the Buddhist and Demonic Daos in a retreat.]
At this moment, on a spirit boat, Li Kuanghua—dressed in a yellow skirt and looking petite and adorable—stood at the stern.
Her teeth ground together as she gazed back at the lands of Shadowfell Prefecture, now occupied by the Wu Race.
The soldiers of the Wu Race seemed endless, cheering in triumph.
Li Wei stood beside Li Kuanghua as well. This scene was strikingly similar to the time the Azure Cloud Region was breached years ago, yet this was on a far grander scale.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Breached, was it? As expected, in the entire Azure Dynasty, only my Li family can resist."
....
Reminder for the Wu Tribe progress in Volume 4:
Year 510 - The event "[Special Event—Shadowfell Prefecture in Crisis]" established that the Wu Tribe had invaded from the southwest and occupied half (50%) of Shadowfell Prefecture.
Year 686 - the Wu Tribe had now occupied eighty percent (80%).
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