Chapter 296: The Li Clan of the Tidal Flats (Bonus Chapter 4!)
Chapter 296: The Seafaring Li Clan (Fourth Bonus Update!)
As a genuine True Person of the Sword Pavilion with impeccable lineage, the Yun Family Patriarch was an absolute colossus in the eyes of these minor Qi Refining factions outside, no matter how weak he might be.
Thus, it didn't take long after his proclamation for representatives from various sects to arrive.
"Dan Yuan Sect, Myriad Formations Hall, Spiritual Treasure Courtyard, Beast Taming Sect, Dao Talisman Gate, Wine Immortal Sect, Spiritual Plant Valley... Good heavens, this practically covers the entire spectrum of cultivation arts!"
Lü Yang felt his scalp tingle. According to the Yun Family Patriarch, these factions were all more or less nurtured by the Sword Pavilion. Most of Jiangnan operated under such arrangements—organizations deeply skilled in cultivation arts but inept at combat, thus seeking refuge under the Sword Pavilion's governance.
This dynamic was evident in Jiangnan's structure.
In contrast to the north, where even Foundation Establishment sects existed—not to mention one or two Golden Core sects—Jiangnan astonishingly lacked any Golden Core sects!
This governance model had its pros and cons.
The downside was naturally the lack of subordinate forces. Jiangnan had always relied solely on the Sword Pavilion, whereas in the north, the Saint Sect could at least mobilize cultivators from various factions.
Yet the advantages were significant too. Jiangnan's resources were funneled entirely into sustaining the Sword Pavilion, elevating its influence to staggering heights while enriching Jiangnan to an extreme degree. In terms of resource cultivation and utilization, it could easily surpass the other three regions.
Consequently, Lü Yang soon found himself inundated with gifts.
"Thirteen sects—Geng Metal spiritual materials extracted from a full thirteen factions—have finally pushed my Immortal Spirit nurturing progress to seventy percent!"
With just thirty percent remaining, he would achieve perfection in the early Foundation Establishment stage.
At that point, all he needed was to fuse one Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend essence into his Immortal Spirit body to naturally break through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment—without any bottlenecks!
"Truly, the favored child of heaven," Lü Yang couldn't help but marvel.
Of course, such breakthroughs were only possible due to his unique circumstances. While still in the nurturing phase, he could actively seek resources—unlike most Immortal Spirits at this stage, who remained as clueless as infants, relying solely on heaven's providence. Merely surviving without premature demise was considered fortunate; those who did survive typically emerged midway, never reaching the perfected Foundation Establishment level.
"But where to find this final thirty percent?"
Seated at his desk, Lü Yang browsed through the records before raising an eyebrow. "The Seafaring Li Clan... Didn't this faction send anyone?"
"Hmm..."
True Person Xiuxin, who had been cultivating beneath the desk, took a moment to respond between breaths, "The Seafaring Li Clan is the only Foundation Establishment immortal family within a ten-thousand-mile radius."
"This family rose through maritime trade. They stumbled upon some ruins and excavated a superior-grade spiritual treasure—the [Territory-Expanding Ship]. With this treasure, they traveled between Jiangnan and the north, amassing vast resources until they managed to produce a Foundation Establishment True Person, thereby earning their status as an immortal family."
Lü Yang immediately understood.
As a Foundation Establishment immortal family, they naturally had more confidence than those minor Qi Refining factions. At the very least, a mere Yun Family Patriarch wouldn't intimidate them.
But since he still needed Geng Metal spiritual materials...
However, if True Person Xiuxin's intelligence was accurate, this Seafaring Li Clan was no pushover—certainly not someone the Yun Family Patriarch could handle casually.
"It seems I must intervene personally!"
With that thought, Lü Yang concluded his cultivation session with True Person Xiuxin, deactivated his superhuman state, and summoned a figure into the room with a wave of his hand.
The man who appeared bore Lü Yang's exact likeness—handsome and dignified, save for the vacant stare that betrayed his lifeless nature.
[Immortal Embryo Avatar]!
"Though limited by materials and hastily crafted, far inferior to my past life's avatars—likely to break down soon—it's better than nothing."
Lü Yang formed a hand seal, merging his Dharma Body with the Immortal Embryo Avatar before connecting it to his Immortal Spirit main body. A radiant glow of divine ability—the Geng Metal ability [Lord of War]—flickered at his fingertips. Now, unless he revealed his Dharma Body, anyone would perceive him as a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator.
The only flaw was the avatar's fragility, unable to withstand his immense magic power for prolonged combat.
With this in mind, Lü Yang swept his sleeve across the desk.
Three shimmering yellow talismans shot forth, landing in his palm, each exuding sharp sword qi.
[Yuan Tu Treasure Talismans]!
These were the fruits of his labor over the past few days—Fifth-Grade Foundation Establishment talismans that required minimal magic power to activate, ensuring the avatar's stability.
'Still, this isn't sustainable in the long run. Hopefully, the Seafaring Li Clan is wealthy enough to provide ample spiritual materials—especially that superior-grade spiritual treasure, the [Territory-Expanding Ship]. If I obtain it, I can refine a high-quality Immortal Embryo.'
The current one was barely serviceable.
To truly create an avatar capable of roaming the world and engaging in combat freely, he needed superior-grade spiritual treasures as materials.
Jiangnan, Dao of the Sweet Pear Tree.
This was a port city facing Jiangnan on one side and the Great Dragon River on the other. Beyond the port lay an endless expanse of ocean.
The Seafaring Li Clan had resided here for generations.
In a grand hall, a dignified young man stood by the window, gazing blankly at the boundless ocean beyond the port.
He was the pillar of the Seafaring Li Clan—Foundation Establishment True Person [Xiaohai].
Behind him stood a stern middle-aged man—the current head of the Li Family—waiting respectfully.
"True Person, should we really ignore that letter from the Yun Clan?"
The Li Family head was visibly anxious. In Jiangnan, the Sword Pavilion was the sole hegemon. Openly defying one of its True Persons was deeply unsettling.
"That declining family is nothing. Their so-called 'demon hunt' is clearly extortion. Pay them no mind." True Person Xiaohai scoffed. "Besides, I know that Yun Family Patriarch. He doesn't have many years left. Even if we don't comply, he wouldn't dare confront us."
"As for the Sword Pavilion... Hmph!"
At the mention of the name, resentment flashed across True Person Xiaohai's face. "Our Li Clan has been harvesting the seas for them for ten generations!"
"Even mortals would have amassed considerable wealth after ten generations of toil."
"But where is our money?"
The resources the Li Clan painstakingly earned—resources meant to nurture their clansmen and aid their cultivation—where did they all end up?
True Person Xiaohai didn't elaborate, merely sneering. The Li Clan had labored diligently for ten generations, yet despite enduring hardship after hardship, their suffering seemed endless. Had it not been for a stroke of heavenly fortune, would the Seafaring Li Clan even exist? They'd likely still be a minor Qi Refining family!
"Enough... Compared to some dying old man, [that place] is far more important."
True Person Xiaohai emphasized his words, and the Li Family head's expression turned grave. Between them, [that place] was an unspoken location.
[That place] was the Li Clan's origin.
The superior-grade spiritual treasure [Territory-Expanding Ship], which had propelled the Li Clan to its current status, came from [that place]. After years of investigation and deduction, True Person Xiaohai had reached a conclusion:
[That place] was almost certainly the remnants of a True Lord's collapsed Dongtian—somehow lingering in the mortal world, undiscovered!
Upon realizing this, everyone in the Li Clan who knew of [that place] had been silenced, leaving only True Person Xiaohai and the Li Family head privy to the secret. They never spoke of it directly, referring to its contents obliquely to avoid drawing attention.
'That will be the greatest opportunity for the Li Clan's rise!'
'Given time, if we can fully exploit that Dongtian fragment, our Li Clan will undoubtedly become Jiangnan's second-largest power beneath the Sword Pavilion!'
As True Person Xiaohai pondered this, he was about to issue further instructions when his expression abruptly changed.
The Li Family head reacted slower, only noticing moments later a streak of light streaking across the sky, accompanied by a sharp sword cry!
"Who goes there?!"
True Person Xiaohai soared into the air instantly, a shimmering azure light expanding behind him into towering waves.
Yet the next moment, a sword cry rang out!
The sword light slashed through True Person Xiaohai's surging tides as a sharp voice echoed across the land:
"Where is the True Person of the Seafaring Li Clan? Show yourself!"