"This child, Yuanshang, pays respects to the two Distant Ancestors!"
Merit City was like a paradise beyond the mortal world.
Under a thatched shed near a garden filled with spiritual medicine, Li Yuanshang felt a mix of terror and excitement.
It had been many years since he last met these two distant ancestors.
Li Yuanshang, whose physique was as round as a ball, knelt upon the ground.
A pill furnace stood near the shed in front of him.
As expected of the Distant Ancestors, he thought.
They have truly returned to simplicity and their original nature.
Just look at this immortal bearing.
A pitch-black, bald, muscle-bound man wearing only a pair of tattered shorts sat with his legs crossed, taking a massive bite out of a large chicken leg held in his hand.
Beside him, a woman dressed in Daoist robes sat sprawled out on a wide wooden chair in a completely unladylike manner, with a stalk of foxtail grass dangling from her mouth.
Without possessing a certain level of cultivation, it would be impossible for the two Distant Ancestors to be so... so...
Li Yuanshang mentally chastised himself for such blasphemy; for a moment, he truly could not find a single word of praise in his heart.
However, this aligned with the stories told by the mysterious High Ancestor Yundou from underground during his previous time in Merit City.
These two Distant Ancestors possessed secret histories that compelled one to feel respect.
These were masters who supposedly devoured children raw and commanded devils within the Thunder Fire Devil Cave—beings who would get cravings if they didn't snack on a devil for a single day.
I fear that the chicken leg in Distant Ancestor Yaotie's hand right now is actually the leg of some devil, disguised by illusion.
"Stand up. Immortal Child, fetch a meditation cushion for him to sit on. There is no need to be so uptight when seeing us."
Li Yaotie spoke casually.
He had intended to grab a beast leg from the table for his descendant to gnaw on, but upon seeing Li Yuanshang's physique, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he put the leg back down.
The Immortal Child had followed Li Yaoqing for hundreds of years, serving exclusively as a Dharma Protector.
Being naturally blessed by the Heavens and Earth and nourished by the spiritual energy of pills, his cultivation progress could be described as advancing a thousand miles a day.
However, having seen little of the outside world, the Immortal Child was dumbstruck the moment he brought the meditation cushion to Li Yuanshang.
He had already noticed Li Yuanshang's "magnificent" physique from a distance, but upon getting close, the sense of oppression was overwhelming.
"Say, Junior, how is the Pill Spiritual Energy on your body even more abundant than mine?
How greedy for pills must you be to have eaten yourself into this shape?
Do you not channel and disperse it on a daily basis?"
"..."
Li Yuanshang looked at the little bean standing in front of him and scratched his head.
For so many years in the Imperial Capital, no one had seen through his condition, yet now he had been seen through by this Immortal Child.
He felt a bit awkward.
Meanwhile, Li Yaotie and Li Yaoqing did not mention a single word about Li Yuanshang losing weight.
Li Yaotie said,
"Yuanshang, your lineage manages all the resources in the family.
Considering the contents of the Clan's Inner Treasury—excluding daily necessities—how much remains of those specific materials we usually require?"
"Distant Ancestor, allow this child to calculate."
Li Yuanshang's expression instantly turned grave as he began to calculate.
Over these years, he had managed the Inner Treasury while conducting business.
In the beginning, the family required a massive quantity of materials every fifty years; later, that interval shortened to every thirty years.
The sheer cost involved was simply staggering.
A single batch could easily drain the entire foundation of a Void Refining Noble Clan.
Fortunately, his trading endeavors had been highly profitable.
Combined with the Zhao Clan's foundation seized during the Battle of the Longevity Domain, and through his strategic buying and selling, he had saved the clan at least twenty percent in resources and Spirit Stones.
"We can still support it for... another three hundred years."
Li Yuanshang was drenched in sweat.
"This child has already accounted for the earnings from the Chamber of Commerce, in addition to the clan's accumulated savings and the gains obtained by the various Clan Elders abroad.
Based on the consumption rate of the two Distant Ancestors, we will be free of worry for the next three hundred years."
"That is good."
With a wave of the Distant Ancestor's hand, Li Yuanshang hurriedly scrambled to his feet and departed.
Behind him, the two Distant Ancestors were still bickering, leaving Li Yuanshang dripping with cold sweat.
As expected of the Distant Ancestors, the true foundation of the family.
Not only is their majesty like celestial deities descending to the dust, but the amount of heavenly treasures they consume is also immense.
As he spoke, Li Yuanshang's face broke into a broad smile.
"Hehe, the Distant Ancestor said that with me managing the household, there are no worries regarding internal affairs!"
"It is just as I thought: All walks of life are lowly, only commerce is high! Even the Distant Ancestors who eat devils are full of praise for me!"
...
At this moment, Li Wei's perspective shifted to follow Li Yaowen.
[Your descendant, Li Yaowen, possesses Reincarnated Bodies: 521 individuals]
Li Wei had once asked Li Yaowen about the nature of these Reincarnated Bodies.
The strongest among them had already reached the Divinity Transformation realm.
The day when all these clones perished would be the day her Fate Arts and Spiritual cultivation reached grand completion.
At this moment, Li Yaowen was in an elegant teahouse.
Present in the teahouse were Li Yunbing, Huang Xiujin, Qingyu, Li Chang'an, Dongfang Xuan, Feng Chunlin, Old Ancestor Tianye, and others.
Since Li Xinnian had taken charge of the family estate, these figures from the Azure Cloud Prefecture had secretly formed a "Think Tank" alongside the members of the Li Clan.
They presided over affairs regarding the formations and military forces throughout the Azure Cloud Prefecture, ensuring its safety and stability.
At the same time, through the connections of various clans, they arranged for the descendants of the Azure Cloud Prefecture to travel abroad for experience trials, ensuring that the younger generation would develop into capable talents.
As soon as Li Yaowen arrived, everyone hurriedly stood up.
Although Li Yaowen was rarely present year-round, they knew deep down that whatever decision Li Yaowen made, the Li Clan would execute it without the slightest hesitation.
However, over a century had passed, and Li Yaowen had not offered a single strategy since.
"Carry on, I shall merely listen. I will be heading out tomorrow."
The white-clad woman took the last seat, sipping her tea quietly, a smile unfolding on her face.
Immediately, everyone exchanged glances and resumed their discussion.
Li Yunbing spoke,
"Outside the Azure Cloud Prefecture lies the Westfall Prefecture.
Great mountains cut off the other prefectures, making the Westfall Prefecture the only territory through which other prefectures can reach our Azure Cloud Prefecture—aside from the direction of the Wu Tribe.
Nowadays, the Westfall Prefecture is presided over by a Hidden Immortal Sect, the Eternal Immortal Sect.
In a mere three hundred years, they have gradually come to influence every aspect of the Westfall Prefecture."
"Sect Master He Hao of the Eternal Immortal Sect is a man of good character.
He has ensured stability and peace in the Westfall Prefecture and maintains a policy of mutual non-interference with our Azure Cloud Prefecture.
However, as their disciples hail from a Hidden Immortal Sect, they are inevitably arrogant.
If friction arises between them and the various major powers of the Azure Cloud Prefecture during daily interactions, it would be best for us to handle matters with restraint."
Feng Chunlin nodded slightly.
"What you say is very true. Should disasters strike in the future, the Westfall Prefecture will serve as the first line of defense for our Azure Cloud Prefecture.
We truly should cultivate good relations with the Eternal Immortal Sect.
However, the Eternal Immortal Sect looks down upon small factions like ours; the Li Clan will need to handle the negotiations."
Seeing the grave manner in which everyone was deliberating, Li Yaowen's smile grew even wider.
Watching from the side, Li Wei smiled as well.
The less Li Yaowen participated in family affairs, the better it was.
Li Yaowen's methods were not designed for use in such times of peace.
---
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