The survivors from the Grand Tower and the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems concealed themselves deep within the Devil Cave. Having barely survived a catastrophe, they now cherished their lives dearly.
Holy Monk Yidian personally stood guard over the abyss; any entry or exit required his permission. As for the threat of outsiders intruding, the Li family was unconcerned.
The Thunder-Fire Devil Cave was a gathering place for devil cultivators. Back when Li Yaoqing presided here, righteous cultivators who came to subjugate demons and eliminate evil often ended up becoming devil cultivators themselves.
This place had long been notorious, and the major sects avoided it like the plague. Furthermore, with seals and formations laid out everywhere, ordinary cultivators were unwilling to venture here and invite trouble.
Upon Su Chen's arrival, the clan members heaped praise upon him, causing this Celestial Venerable from ancient times to appear somewhat reserved.
Over the past century or so, it was thanks to Su Chen's investigation of the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the Grand Tower that they had succeeded.
Having reincarnated and re-cultivated, he had reached the Void Refining realm at just over three hundred years of age; I fear there is no one else in this world who would dare call themselves a "monstrous prodigy" in front of Su Chen.
"Back then, I fell victim to Min Tiange's schemes and did not wake up for sixty thousand years. He bullied me because I was a solitary force, alone and without support. But now..."
Su Chen looked around the Thunder-Fire Devil Cave, his face full of smiles.
Thinking back, the title of Celestial Venerable of the Peerless Hall had seemed so exalted, yet looking at it now, it was terribly laughable.
He had once looked down upon all the people of the world, imagining that after emerging from that ancient secret realm, he would be invincible under the heavens.
But how can one person stand against the entire world? At the very least, even his former self had been powerless against the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the Grand Tower.
But now, he too had a backer.
With these thoughts in mind, Su Chen couldn't help but gently stroke the black ring in his hand—the very artifact that had brought him back through reincarnation.
"The Great Calamity... that wretch Min Tiange is wildly ambitious. Is Min Tiange the so-called Great Calamity?"
...
The consolation gifts from the Immortal Suppression Department also reached the family's hands.
Upon merely opening the storage ring, Li Dalong's face darkened.
It was no wonder Chang'an had said that Wu Neng was petty and narrow-minded.
The Dharma Treasure had indeed been delivered, but it was trash among artifacts of the same rank.
[Top-Grade Dharma Treasure: Mountain-Suppressing Ring]
[A mountain peak is suppressed within the ring. When deployed, it is incomparably heavy; a single strike can slay a cultivator at the Void Refining Limit.
When the Mountain-Suppressing Ring is worn, the body becomes as steady and heavy as a majestic mountain, allowing one to shatter techniques with sheer force.]
Li Dalong had barely placed the Mountain-Suppressing Ring on his hand when he was crushed flat against the ground; the thunderous boom startled the entire Devil Cave.
Only after removing the ring was he able to stand back up. Li Dalong could even sense the artifact spirit within the ring mocking him without restraint.
"Husband." Xu Cuihua hurriedly helped her husband up.
She glanced at the crimson bracelet on the ground and cursed, "That Wu Neng is truly a piece of Sh... To give us such scrap—even you can't use it."
Li Dalong eased the frustration weighing on his chest.
"Wearing this item imposes a burden of weight as well. If the body cannot withstand its force, one's movements in battle will be sluggish.
Not to mention, even if one manages to unleash it, what Void Refining cultivator doesn't possess a few escape techniques?"
The surrounding clan members all frowned, momentarily stumped by this dilemma.
However, they suddenly saw Li Yaoqing step forward.
The crowd froze.
The Mountain-Suppressing Ring, which even Li Dalong could not easily lift, seemed as light as nothing in Li Yaoqing's hands.
Even the artifact spirit within it was left dumbfounded.
Seeing the astonished gazes of her clansmen, Li Yaoqing batted her eyelashes.
"The Old Ancestor said that it suppresses a mountain peak within the ring. I gave it a try—my Primordial Spirit technique is the 'Mountain God.'
I have cultivated this technique from a Divine Art to its pinnacle; I can summon mountains, and I can move mountains."
"Second Sister, come out with me and let's test it!"
Li Yaozu's eyes lit up.
Li Yaoqing said no more and stepped into the void with her big brother to test the Dharma Treasure within the spatial dimension.
After only a moment, Li Yaozu emerged from the Void Refining dimension, lingering fear still gripping his heart.
"Second Sister is a Mountain God in her own right. With this treasure, she possesses the power of a majestic mountain.
Although throwing the Mountain-Suppressing Ring is only as fast as a Golden Core cultivator's attack, if she uses it when the opponent is unprepared, they will surely regret it for the rest of their lives."
"In that case, I will use it for now. Once Kuanghua breaks through to the Void Refining realm and can wield this item, I will hand it over to her."
"Dispose of it as you see fit."
Li Dalong indulgently stroked his daughter's head, then turned his gaze toward another Top-Grade Dharma Treasure.
A Golden Toad.
[Top-Grade Dharma Treasure: Golden Toad Divine Palace]
[Transforms the Golden Toad into a divine palace containing three thousand six hundred formations.
Possesses astonishing defensive power.
The Golden Toad Divine Palace can move while retaining the form of a Golden Toad.]
"This item is actually useful; one can set up a palace instantly with it. But the appearance is extremely ugly."
"Croak!"
Li Yaotie quipped, but the Golden Toad in Li Dalong's hand suddenly turned its head and bellowed, giving Li Yaotie a fright.
As for the other consolation gifts, they were nothing remarkable.
Yet even so, for the current Li clan, they were decent additions to the treasury's collection.
Soon after, the clan members distributed the remaining treasures.