[Your family has received the compensation from the Immortal Suppression Department: Two Supreme-grade Dharma Treasures, a quantity of Fourth Grade Spirit Medicines and Spirit Materials...]
Inside the Ancestral Space.
Li Wei, who had previously appeared to outsiders as a figure shrouded entirely in black mist, was now clad in a suit of pale yellow armor.
He resembled the bright moon hanging high in the sky.
This was a legacy left behind by the Blue Moon Immortal Sect—a Supreme-grade Dharma Treasure known as the Bright Moon Divine Armor.
It possessed the ability to elevate a Void Refining cultivator's Spiritual power by one small realm.
The black mist surrounding Li Wei drifted out through the joints of the armor, while a black light burst forth from the helmet's visor—the exposed radiance of his Nether Eyes.
"Wearing this armor, my cultivation base has reached the Mid-Stage of Void Refining.
Combined with the North Star Spirit-Breaking Spear, if I have to fight a Limit Void Refining cultivator again—and if I borrow Yaotie's Nine Life-Siphoning Gates—it won't be nearly as difficult."
Recalling the battle at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, he had fought against Zhen Wu and He Hao inside the Void Refining Space for several full days before finally succeeding.
It was entirely due to the strength of his Spatial Laws, combined with the Spiritual power of Li Dalong's Heaven-Imprisoning Lock and the Heaven-Piercing Coffin, that he managed to completely capture the two of them. Otherwise, given their capabilities, there was a genuine risk they might have escaped.
"As for my cultivation base..." Li Wei sensed the state of his own Spiritual power.
When Void Refining cultivators break through, they absorb the Spiritual power of Heaven and Earth along with Laws to construct their internal dimension.
However, for his specific Spatial Cultivation, absorbing Spatial Laws was not so simple. He could only set his sights on Spirit Medicines.
"Yaoqing now holds the Enlightenment Golden Chapter. Coupled with her current state of Pseudo-Void Refining, once she fully comprehends the True Void Refining realm, her Divine Art will break through.
Creating Fourth Grade Spirit Pills and Spirit Medicines is undoubtedly the most material-efficient method."
Speaking of this, Li Wei actually envied Li Dalong and Li Yunlin.
With a flash, he appeared within the Sea of Blood inside the Heaven-Piercing Coffin.
The Sea of Blood was boundless; the blood of enemies slain over the past few hundred years had mostly been preserved within it.
Li Dalong sat cross-legged in the center of the Sea of Blood.
Thick threads of blood formed in mid-air, flowing continuously into Li Dalong's body, causing his cultivation base to increase day by day.
After thoroughly mastering the Sea of Blood upon reaching the Void Refining Realm, Li Dalong had also obtained a trait: [Master of the Blood Sea].
[Through the boundless Sea of Blood, one can refine the Spiritual power of flesh and blood, integrating it into one's own body to increase cultivation speed. The rate of increase depends on the concentration of Spiritual power within the flesh and blood.]
Coupled with the blood left behind by the Zhao Clan Ancestor, it won't be long before Li Dalong can break through to the Mid-Stage of Void Refining on his own.
Gazing at this cultivation scene filled with the thick stench of blood, Li Wei sighed inwardly. Indeed, ceasing to be human was truly the most effective method for cultivation.
He vanished from the spot once more.
Li Yunlin had returned to the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven and was cultivating within the Skyveil Hall.
The Skyveil Hall resembled a vast, misty, starry sky. The specks of light scattered throughout were naturally the Spirit Items the family had acquired over the years.
Since the Skyveil Hall was constructed from these very Spirit Items, they represented the various Laws of the world.
Just like starlight, they shone down upon Li Yunlin, and this Spiritual power allowed his cultivation to progress at a tremendous pace.
[Great Dao Cultivator]
[Through the Spirit Items, your descendant Li Yunlin is utilizing the Artifact Spirit "Old Cat" to observe and comprehend the Laws of the Three Thousand Great Daos.]
"Hiss... the Three Thousand Great Daos!"
Li Wei sucked in a breath of cold air. By now, Li Yunlin had completely refined the Skyveil Hall into his own body; the two had become indistinguishable from one another.
That gluttonous Old Cat was vastly knowledgeable. Although it was a bit arrogant, it was truly a premier mentor in this world, effectively making Li Yunlin the member with the strongest aptitude in the entire family.
While he was still marveling at this.
A notification appeared on the panel, causing Li Wei to raise an eyebrow slightly.
"The Immortal Suppression Department's compensation has arrived?"
...
There were guests within the City of Merit.
Heavenly Monarch Ning of the Heavenly Monarch Dao Sanctuary had perished at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems; of the three Heavenly Monarchs, only Heavenly Monarch Jiang survived.
Heavenly Monarch Jiang's injuries were yet to heal. Clad in a large white cloak with a sword at his waist, his middle-aged features lent him an imposing and martial air.
As he walked with a furrowed brow along the narrow field paths of the City of Merit, he drew sideways glances from the local commoners.
His female companion was Zhangsun Buhuo of the Zhangsun Clan, a woman of graceful and luxurious bearing.
These two had once schemed against one another within the Immortal Suppression Department, but the journey to the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems had unexpectedly left them finding common ground through their shared misfortune.
"According to the Immortal Suppression Department, both the Li Clan's Corpse Ancestor and Sword Venerable perished at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems. The Li Clan clearly intends to conceal the existence of those two."
Jiang Tianjun's eyes still held a lingering dread.
"From that fleeting glimpse we caught at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, those two Li Clan Ancestors were engaged in a great battle against He Hao and Zhen Wu.
Their power was truly extraordinary.
The Department's intelligence claims that He Hao and Zhen Wu also perished; I fear that part is true. The Azure Cloud Li Clan... they have hidden their strength deeply."
Zhangsun Buhuo nodded slightly. She couldn't help but think of Li Chang'an, causing her to grit her teeth in anger.
"We have all had the wool pulled over our eyes."
The world proclaimed Li Chang'an to be a "True Gentleman," but in Zhangsun Buhuo's eyes, that scoundrel was nothing but a "Hypocrite."
For over a hundred years in the Immortal Suppression Department, Li Chang'an had kept himself deeply hidden, which allowed the entire Li Clan to remain deeply hidden as well.
Whenever she recalled the disdain she had held for the Li Clan over this past century, a sense of shame would unwittingly well up in Zhangsun Buhuo's heart, making it impossible for her to look Li Chang'an in the eye.
She couldn't shake the feeling that for over a century, she hadn't been the one ignoring Li Chang'an; instead, Li Chang'an had been laughing at her behind her back, looking at her as if she were a mere clown.
"Do not be angry."
Jiang Tianjun also noticed the resentment in Zhangsun Buhuo's heart and spoke indifferently,
"We, hidden factions, all conceal our strengths and keep trump cards in reserve to deter those with ill intentions; this is simply human nature.
It is just that the Li Clan has been established for such a short time that underestimating them was a common mistake.
We have come here to discuss cooperation; you must not let your emotions disturb your state of mind."
"Naturally, I will not." Zhangsun Buhuo's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke calmly.
"I heard that the Blue Moon Immortal Sect fell into a trap recently. Their foundation, built over tens of thousands of years, has now completely fallen into the hands of the Azure Cloud Prefecture. The people of the world should take this as a resounding warning bell."
"That is good, then."
Jiang Tianjun nodded.
"The main branch of the Li Clan is headed by Li Xinnian, who is also Li Chang'an's grandson.
That child was a brilliantly talented figure in his youth. The entire Azure Cloud Prefecture is managed by him, and the clan is united from top to bottom.
The Li Clan has appointed him to preside over these talks as well. You must not underestimate him simply because his cultivation is rumored to be only at the Peak of the Nascent Soul realm."
These repeated warnings had already sparked anger in Zhangsun Buhuo's eyes.
"Thank you, Heavenly Monarch Jiang, for the reminder once again."
Jiang Tianjun replied, "That scoundrel Wu Neng from the Immortal Suppression Department is truly detestable. We must unite; this is a matter of utmost importance. If my words were inappropriate, please do not take offense."