The Cliff of Repentance.
Li Jianning arrived here to enter secluded cultivation, simply because this place was, in reality, the location where the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was most abundant.
High Ancestor Li Yunlin was practicing secluded cultivation here.
It was rumored that because he was frequently thrown into the Cliff of Repentance for confinement during his youth, he now harbored a peculiar affection for the place.
He particularly enjoyed the life of guarding the cliff and was determined to provide the clan's children with the "best" Cliff of Repentance possible.
Sure enough, when this descendant of his—who had committed no fault—arrived at this place, he suffered not the slightest hardship from the wind and snow.
Instead, he was favored by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
"Thank you, High Ancestor, for lending this place to this child for cultivation." Li Jianning spoke with apprehension and awe.
The voice of the High Ancestor rang in his ears: "You have a good eye, child. You recognize that my Cliff of Repentance is an excellent location for stabilizing the mind and cultivating in secrecy."
Li Jianning dared not speak further; he simply found a spot nearby to begin his cultivation.
Immediately, he swallowed the Primordial Blood Fruit without hesitation.
His father was right: if he himself did not dare to forge a path, how could he hope to control Chuyuan?
Moreover, his Great-Grandfather had gifted him such a precious treasure. If he achieved nothing with it, how would others view his Great-Grandfather?
In an instant, his blood began to boil.
The Spiritual power of the Blood Fruit flooded his body.
Li Jianning's cultivation realm soared, easily reaching the Peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.
His meridians surged with activity, and even his Three Spirit Roots began to grow wildly!
"Three Spirit Roots... why are there still Three Spirit Roots?"
Li Jianning's face turned pale.
This process of "cleansing the essence and cutting the marrow" was tantamount to defying the Heavens to change his fate—akin to undergoing Foundation Establishment a second time.
At the very least, transforming his Three Spirit Roots into Double Spirit Roots would have allowed him to achieve twice the results with half the effort.
Yet... they remained Three Spirit Roots...
Suddenly, he noticed the spiritual energy drifting in from all directions.
That was the spiritual energy of the High Ancestor, who controlled Myriad Laws!
"Father said I must forge my own path, so... I shall forge it!
Cultivating with Three Spirit Roots is already slow, so I might as well forge the Five Elements Spirit Roots and seek boundless Spiritual power instead!"
In an instant, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy surged down like a pillar.
At this moment, even Li Yunlin, seated within the Skyveil Hall, opened his eyes.
He gazed in astonishment at this junior who possessed such "a good eye."
Beside him, Fairy Hongxiu, who was also sitting cross-legged, had a peculiar glint flash through her eyes.
"The Five Elements Spirit Root? Yunlin, this junior of yours certainly has some audacity, doesn't he?"
"No."
Li Yunlin's eyes erupted with profound light as he observed Li Jianning's meridians and Dantian.
He watched as the Dantian Qi Sea began to split in two.
"His audacity is far greater than either of us imagined.
I have cultivated in this Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven for many years and watched this child grow up.
He has spent his entire life strictly abiding by the rules, yet what he is attempting today is truly a gamble."
At this moment, the Old Cat leaped onto Li Yunlin's shoulder.
Seeing the pained look on Li Jianning's face amidst the dense mist of spiritual energy, the Old Cat spoke solemnly:
"This is nothing short of seeking death.
I don't know which fool taught him to be so radical.
Absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to forge Spirit Roots, and simultaneously forging a Dantian Qi Sea?
He hasn't stopped to think if his body and meridians can withstand it. Without external aid..."
The words had barely fallen when the Old Cat's expression changed drastically.
"You... what are you doing?"
Li Yunlin waved his hand casually, instantly detaching a corner of the Skyveil Hall.
Li Yunlin was all smiles.
"Jianning's luck is quite good. He lacks Metal and Fire Spirit Roots, but his foundation is solidly built.
By expending some Metal and Fire Laws, we can protect his body and forge the Dantian for him.
Old Cat, don't be so anxious; it's merely two or three Fifth-grade Spiritual Items. They'll be replenished in the future."
"Do you call that human speech?!" The Old Cat went berserk.
"Ten years of seafood."
The Old Cat's expression turned solemn.
"It is only human nature to act when a junior of your family meets with disaster. Dismantling some of the Power of Laws from the Skyveil Hall is understandable.
Even if you had not spoken, This Seat would have offered full assistance. However, let this not become a habit in the future."
[Your descendant, Li Jianning, consumed the Primordial Blood Fruit. Through the Primordial Blood Fruit, his cultivation broke through to the Peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.]
[Aided by the unprecedented Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, Li Jianning decided to make a bold gamble: forging Five Elements Spirit Roots and opening up additional Dantians to fill his body with combat power and increase his future cultivation speed.
With the assistance of Li Yunlin, he survived the crisis and obtained the Trait: Five Elements Dao Body.]
[Possessing Five Elements Spirit Roots creates a state of perfect fullness.
His Spiritual power intensity will surpass cultivators of the same realm by several times, though his Spiritual power consumption will also be greater.
Opening up additional Dantians allows for the storage of vast amounts of Spiritual power.]
[His bloodline was cleansed by the Primordial Blood Fruit, granting the Special Bloodline: Primordial Spirit Physique.]
[Perception of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power increased by 60%. Spiritual Power intensity increased by 30%.]
...
[Year 790]
Another thirty years passed.
The family developed peacefully.
Good news flowed constantly into Li Wei's system panel: descendants were multiplying, and the various Grotto-Heavens were continuously sending back resources.
This was especially true for Li Dalong.
By now, he had occupied a massive territory.
However, the "Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw" was truly vast; despite having been in the Underworld for so many years, Li Dalong had not yet traversed its entirety.
Inside the Underworld, a gray mist obscured the view, and ruined walls and debris were visible everywhere.
One could never be sure if the next step forward would reveal a lava purgatory or a river of blood—such was the scenery of the Underworld.
[Your descendant, Li Dalong, reports to you: He has occupied numerous Spirit Mines within the Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw and will now lead his subordinate zombies and malicious ghosts to investigate the Second Layer of Hell, the "The Rending Vows."]
As Li Dalong walked forward with his arm around Xu Cuihua, figure after figure emerged behind him.
Nowadays, the number of zombies under Li Dalong's command was growing steadily.
The Boundless Blood Sea within the Heaven-Piercing Coffin was spontaneously gestating zombies, becoming his greatest asset in conquering the Underworld.
Ding-ling-ling... Ding-ling-ling...
As the sound of bells rang out, three figures emerged behind Li Dalong:
Xuan Tianzi, a petite girl dressed in zombie robes; the Moon God, a regal woman in dark palace attire with a crescent moon hovering behind her back; and Soul Duke, a short old man hidden beneath a black hooded robe.
Together, they had formed a powerful and nefarious syndicate within Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw—truly an imposing sight.
Countless zombies and malicious ghosts radiated powerful auras.
Behind them lay a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood; clearly, they had just survived a ferocious battle!
"Wifey, now that this battle is over, let's rest and recuperate for a few years.
We need to subdue at least a million malicious ghosts before it's time to march on the Hell Layer II: The Rending Vows."
Li Dalong's gaze burned with intensity.
He could increasingly sense the fluctuations of that chain inside the Heavenly Coffin; it would not take more than one or two hundred years for it to awaken.
"It would be better to rest and build up our strength for a few more years.
The Moon God senses that Hell Layer II: The Rending Vows is far from ordinary, so it is best to play it safe.
Two nearby Ghost Venerables are eyeing us covetously; until we eradicate them, I cannot be at ease." Xu Cuihua's gaze was grave.
Hearing this, Li Dalong raised an eyebrow.
"What you say makes sense. It is all thanks to you these past years; otherwise, things would not have gone so smoothly."
"Husband, do you think I held the title of Saintess of the Fox Clan for nothing?"
Xu Cuihua smiled captivatingly.
"My Master taught me not only techniques but also the strategies of racial warfare.
It is simply that within the Imperial Dynasty, there are too many shackles—an environment better suited for the children to navigate.
But here in the Underworld, we need not have any scruples."
"I see."
As the husband and wife chatted as if making idle domestic conversation, the zombies, malicious ghosts, and Yin spirits behind them also murmured amongst themselves.
"Jie jie jie jie jie!"
"..."
Li Wei felt his scalp go numb.
It seemed he had still underestimated this cloyingly affectionate couple.
Back in the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Li Yaozu had already arrived at the border.
After chasing the Tang family for decades, Li Yaozu looked just the same as ever.
As soon as he returned, he frowned incessantly.
"Are Father and Mother still away? I need to ask the Old Ancestor what Father and Mother are doing, and if they are safe in the Underworld."
Li Wei rubbed his nose.
Your parents are building an empire in the Underworld—and a massive one at that.
He made a quick calculation: Li Dalong's colossal forces were strong enough to wipe out the territory of at least two Prefectures!
However, I'd better not tell the children. I'm afraid it might scare them.
---
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