Inside the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven.
"Thank you, Great-Grand-Aunt." Li Zhiheng hurriedly bowed to Li Yaoqing as she departed.
Following the battle with the Blue Moon Immortal Sect, nearly all three hundred clansmen of the Immortal Martial Lineage had taken part in the fighting.
There were casualties, both dead and wounded. His Great-Grand-Aunt had come personally to heal the injured, leaving behind numerous spirit pills and miraculous medicines.
The elders always came and went in a rush; Li Zhiheng had grown accustomed to it. Each generation had its own burdens to bear.
Li Zhiheng knew only one thing: the Blue Moon Immortal Sect, which had intruded upon the Azure Cloud Prefecture, was merely an insignificant minor player among the enemies the family faced.
The family's influence spanned the entire world.
The Demon Race of the Northern Region, the Wu Tribe of the Western Region, Fourth Prince of the Eastern Region, and those hidden forces lurking within the world—these were the true opponents of the family elders.
"Until I reach the cultivation realm of the elders, I will not be able to come into contact with such powerful existences."
Li Zhiheng sat cross-legged, his Primordial Spirit sweeping over the descendants throughout the entire Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven.
"The purpose of the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven is to cultivate outstanding descendants.
I wonder when Yuanwu will be able to take over my duties. When that time comes, I can finally break through to the Void Refining Realm and serve the family properly."
His Primordial Spirit drifted forth.
It soon arrived within the high tower where Yuanwu cultivated.
There, he saw Li Yuanwu, who had lost an arm in the great battle.
Thanks to the spirit medicine provided by the clan elder, his severed limb had already regenerated, and he was currently waving about his newly grown arm to test it.
Seeing that Li Yuanwu was impatient to resume martial practice the moment his heavy injuries healed, Li Zhiheng gave a slight nod of approval.
Of his three children, Li Yuanwu bore the strongest resemblance to his character; both were the type to devote themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation.
In fact, Yuanwu possessed a temperament even better than his father's, being more willing to endure loneliness and the mundane.
Unlike that brat Yuanshang, who was impetuous by nature, unable to sit still at home, and fond of worldly glitz and glamour.
"Mn?"
Suddenly seeing the power generated by the wind of Yuanwu's fist—a single punch striking out like a fierce tiger—Li Zhiheng felt a surge of joy.
"It seems Yuanwu also gained something from this great battle. Not bad."
Just as he was rejoicing, Li Zhiheng froze.
Boom!
Thunder rumbled within the Grotto-Heaven.
Heavenly lightning from outside was breaching the Grotto-Heaven's defensive formations.
He initially thought it was an enemy invasion, but his Primordial Spirit perceived a streak of lightning rising into the air.
"Is that Jianshu? Was this the opportunity Great-Grand-Aunt gifted him before she left?"
At this moment.
High in the cloudy skies of the Immortal Martial Grotto-Heaven, Li Jianshu stared, cold sweat drenching his forehead, at the thunderbolt that had suddenly crashed down from the heavens.
Arcs of electricity crackled across his body; his hair stood on end from the strike, and his entire form was charred black.
"This... just what kind of technique is the Divine Art that Ancestor Yaoqing cultivates?
I only practiced it roughly, yet it was enough to attract a Heavenly Lightning Tribulation?"
Li Jianshu swallowed hard. As he gazed at the dark clouds gradually dissipating in the sky, the shock on his face slowly turned into joy.
"Ancestor Lan said that with my Heavenly Punishment Body, I cannot cultivate without lightning tribulations.
Now that I have this Divine Art, even if I cannot fully master the art itself, it can attract lightning!
I no longer need to go mooch off the lightning tribulations of seniors when they break through. I can even study techniques now."
"Father, I've found a way for my Lightning Arts! I found a way!"
Inside the high tower.
Li Yuanwu abruptly raised his head. Hearing the shouting from outside the Grotto-Heaven, he fell silent for a moment, not knowing whether to laugh or sigh.
Immediately after, he finished another set of fist and foot drills.
He sat cross-legged, perceiving the meridians and acupoints within his body, his brows knitted into a tight knot.
"Spiritual power ultimately originates from Heaven and Earth, but the human body itself is the true source of strength.
It is rumored that in ancient times, there were living beings born at the Nascent Soul realm, or even realms surpassing Divinity Transformation. Why can humans not achieve the same?"
...
In the cloudy skies.
Li Yaozu rode the wind on his sword, heading toward the Sword Pavilion.
Traveling alongside him were Jiang Tianjun and Zhangsun Buhuo.
Zhangsun Buhuo stole frequent glances at Li Yaozu.
The Zhangsun clan was an aristocratic family that had grown powerful through marriage alliances.
Her husband had passed away, who knows how many years ago, so upon seeing Li Yaozu now, she couldn't help but admire him.
"Your Excellency Sword Venerable, are you truly no more than eight hundred years old this year?" Zhangsun Buhuo's eyes were brimming with amorous intent.
"Mn."
Li Yaozu nodded slightly.
Before Zhangsun Buhuo could say another word, her delicate brows knit together in a frown.
She saw that Jiang Tianjun was utterly tactless; he actually cut in and took over the conversation.
"Your Excellency Sword Venerable possesses extraordinary aptitude. Among the monstrous prodigies of the current age, I fear none can surpass you and your father. With the two of you, the Li clan is destined to flourish."
Jiang Tianjun did not stint on his praise.
The battle at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems had forced him to take the Azure Cloud Li Clan seriously.
Hearing this, Li Yaozu pursed his lips. He chatted idly with the two, offering sparse responses, while a look of helplessness settled between his brows.
It reached the point where the sword inside his sword case seemed ready to unsheathe itself in agitation.
Only he truly understood the limits of his own aptitude.
From childhood, his talent had been mediocre at best. Born with Four Spiritual Roots, he had spent his entire life contemplating the Way of the Sword. Yet, over these past few centuries, his Sword Heart had nearly faltered.
During the battle in the Immortal Domain, the Six Ancestors of the Zhao Clan proved to be the elite among the strong; Zhao Wan could defeat him with a single strike.
He had always believed that "beneath the flying sword, no saber blade can prevail." Yet, beneath Zhao Tingyu's saber, no metal could remain whole; his own sword had been unable to withstand a single blow.
In this recent battle at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, amidst He Hao's supreme techniques of talismans and formations, there were practically no flaws to be found.
And let alone Zhenwu—beneath those Nine Gates, even unleashing his full Sword Intent could not breach Zhenwu's Spiritual power.
Only by truly witnessing those monstrosities does one realize that even within the same cultivation realm, one can view another as nothing but an ant.
He decided simply not to mention it. On this trip to the Sword Pavilion, he wasn't entirely without the intention of "asking the sword"—challenging the Sword Pavilion to test his skills.
Traveling through the cloudy skies in this manner, half a month passed.
The three hovered above the clouds.
The Sword Pavilion was situated on a Sword Mountain, its peak piercing straight into the sky.
However, at this moment, flying swords were patrolling the mountain. Any who trespassed would likely fall within the attack range of the Sword Pavilion's defensive formation.
Li Yaozu called out, but received no response.
"When we came here last time, the Sword Pavilion was already like this. Now that half a month has passed, the mountain gate remains tightly shut."
Jiang Tianjun's expression was grave. "Perhaps some major event has occurred inside."
Hearing this, Li Yaozu felt shocked.
As a sword cultivator, he sensed a surge of Sword Intent from within the Sword Mountain, causing the long swords within his sword case to tremble in agitation.
Sister Fang's voice rang out.
"Inside Sword Mountain, someone is attempting to break through to the Integration realm!"
"A second Integration cultivator?"
Li Yaozu was startled.
Sword Mountain already possessed one senior at the Integration realm. Could it be that another senior was breaking through now?!!
Immediately, he sat cross-legged right where he was, placing his sword case across his knees.
There was no better time than this moment to comprehend Sword Intent.
This strange behavior drew side-glances from the two beside him.
Li Yaozu said, "Friends, I fear the Sword Pavilion is occupied with a momentous matter. I will keep watch here.
You two should proceed to the Western Region to seek out the Crown Prince first; my clan has someone there to make introductions.
Once matters at the Sword Pavilion are concluded, I will invite the senior from the Sword Pavilion to join us."