How could Li Linfeng not be aware of the ruthless schemes within? His gaze swept over Li Hong, who was seated below his right-hand side. It was evident that his second brother intended to take advantage and challenge him.
The purpose was clear, aimed at the position of Patriarch.
"The traitor within the clan must be related to my second brother..."
A trace of coldness passed through Li Linfeng’s eyes. He knew that there was a traitor within the Li Family, and he’d long suspected it was connected to his second brother. However, his brother acted so cleanly and efficiently that Li Linfeng couldn’t catch him.
A hundred years ago, their branch separated from the Ancient County Li Family. The Patriarch at the time, now their family’s Li Ancestor Li Heqing, was a Fourth-Grade Daoist Cultivator and a Half-Step Profound Realm expert.
This was the foundation that allowed their branch to establish itself firmly in Donglai County. But after a hundred years, the ancestor secretly summoned him and the elders in the Council Hall years ago to convey that his lifespan was nearing its end, and he would try to break through the Upper Three Grades in seclusion for the last time.
Months after the secret meeting, the Zhou Family and several families in Donglai began targeting the Li Family, and Li Linfeng was confident it wasn’t a mere coincidence.
"In three months, it will be the autumn examinations."
The Zhou Family set the duel date for three months later, intentionally coinciding with the Great Yan’s triennial autumn examination. The examination place, in the Ancient Qingzhou, would soon gather scholars from all counties, including Donglai County.
And Donglai County would host a banquet to send off the scholars participating in the autumn examination, during which many grand events would be held, bringing various forces of Donglai County together in the Commandery City.
This was clearly another scheme of the Zhou Family, planning to unite various factions within Donglai County to pressure the Li Family, leaving little room for maneuver.
On the other hand, the Zhou Family likely feared the Ancient County Li Family. Once the duel news spread, it surely would reach their ears within months.
Donglai County families awaited the stance of the Ancient County Li Family. Despite over a century of separation from the main family, no one dared to easily move against the Donglai branch.
Otherwise, relying solely on Li Ancestor as a Half-Step Fourth Grade Daoist Cultivator might have established a footing in Donglai County, but rapid development and growth within just decades were impossible otherwise.
The Ancient County Li Family is one of the Four Great Families of Qingzhou. Their descendants are spread throughout Qingzhou, including many in court, making them a complex and immense presence.
Any movement against this branch by other Donglai families must consider the Ancient County Li Family’s reputation.
If the Ancient County Li Family remains uninvolved and indifferent to the duel, this branch would inevitably face a complete siege by other families.
Conversely, if the Ancient County Li Family intervenes, this crisis could be averted. Though the price would be heavy, opponents wouldn’t dare to eliminate this branch entirely.
The duel with Zhou Family three months later poses external threats and internal crises, truly an autumn of troubles!
"Since the Zhou Family has already delivered the challenge, they likely won’t act further against the Li Family for the time being. Given this involves the Li Family’s survival, let me deliberate for a few days. Elders and Clan Uncles, if there’s no urgent matter today, please retreat and reassure our family youths."
"Hmph, hopefully, the brother will not personally bury our Li Family and can lead us through this crisis."
Li Hong coldly snorted and left with a swish of his sleeve.
Once the Council Hall emptied, Li Linfeng suddenly sighed deeply, his face seemed to age by ten years in an instant, shedding his dignified aura for deep exhaustion and worry.
"This matter surely targets the Ancestor."
"Currently, the Ancestor is fully committed to breaking through into the Upper Three Grades. If he succeeds, only the Tao Family in Donglai County could rival us. Disturbing the Ancestor now would nullify all previous efforts..."
"But if the century-old foundation of the Li Family is ruined by my hands, what kind of sinner would I become? How could I face our ancestors in death..."
The flame in the Li Family Council Hall flickered incessantly throughout the night, with Li Linfeng sitting dryly, accompanied by intermittent sighs.
Defeat in the duel three months later seems certain.
The game seems to be moving step by step into a dead-end, without a hint of breakthrough or opportunity for change.
...
Night winds howled unceasingly on Jinmen Mountain.
"Boom!"
A powerful wave of Qi Blood surged upward from the thousand stone steps, Su Mu’s last drop of old blood completely vanished, replaced by new blood that was more vivid, fiery, and vibrant following the transformation.
With a shift of his mind.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh!"
The flow of Qi Blood accelerated, creating the sound of crashing waves. As the Qi Blood reached a certain critical point while circulating, an invisible force erupted centered around the tall figure on the stone steps.
Su Mu’s Martial Arts foundation was incredibly strong, possessing Cross-Training Martial Arts and Jiao Tendon Jade Bone. After five Refining Force sessions, the Gangjin Pill formed by twenty-two forces, further refined by the White Tiger Martial Momentum, Arhat Realm, and Relic Washing Marrow.
Such a nearly perfect Martial Arts foundation created an exceptionally robust Qi Blood presence. Ordinary people would need months for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence upon breaking through to the Middle Third Grades, but Su Mu’s Qi Blood was incredibly solid and required no time or effort for the process.
All these eventually accumulated to a qualitative change induced by a single drop of pale golden blood from the Sun Family Ancestor, resulting in a complete transformation.
Thus, at this moment, Su Mu merely accelerated his Qi Blood with a thought, and the energy contained within didn’t need to ignite; it directly condensed into tangible strands of Qi Blood smoke in the void.
The Qi Blood smoke rose like a billowing column from Su Mu’s crest, even more tangible than the smoke anomaly produced by Zhou Qing when burning Qi Blood, unconcealed by the darkness with its rich blood color.
Su Mu did not ignite his Qi and blood, yet his momentum surpassed Zhou Qing!
"Whoosh—"
Su Mu let out a long breath, his breath also infused with traces of Qi and Blood Power, swirling from above to a height of two zhang before slowly dissipating into invisibility.
In the state of introspection, it was clear to see every drop of new blood faintly emitting a slight golden glow, each drop containing a surging Qi and Blood Power, more than doubling that of the old blood!
Moreover, after completing the first blood exchange, as the new blood nourished the five viscera and six bowels, coursing through the limbs and meridians, every cleansing and tempering of the viscera, bowels, and bones made them stronger—an imperceptible process.
Though slow, the benefits were astonishing. If he calmed his mind, Su Mu could clearly feel himself slowly improving with each breath.
After the fifth refining force, the Gang Force continued endlessly. Even if Su Mu neglected the Martial Dao, the Gang Force would still grow stronger over time.
Now with the completion of the first blood exchange, not only the Gang Force, but also the organs, meridians, and bones nourished by the new blood could all grow stronger with time and tend towards perfection.
"Is this the wonder of the blood exchange... or the wonder bestowed by the Sun Family Ancestor’s drop of golden blood?"
Su Mu inclined towards the latter, believing that ordinary martial artists, even after completing the first great blood exchange, could not achieve this. Otherwise, why were the Lin Family Siblings still so weak after cultivating for so many years?
In his joy, Su Mu overlooked one point: a normal Sixth-Grade Martial Artist needed to temper all five viscera completely before achieving the first great blood exchange. Yet, Su Mu had not even completed the third viscera and was already ahead in completing the great blood exchange.
Completing the blood exchange after merely tempering two viscera would cause quite a stir if this news were to spread.
Feeling the surging Qi and Blood Power within and his seemingly reborn body, Su Mu was confident that if his pre-mountain self became his enemy, he could fight two opponents, endure a hundred rounds without disadvantage, and not be defeated even if he couldn’t win.
This was not arrogance on Su Mu’s part; all confidence came from his increase in strength!
"Thank you, Ancestor, for the gift of blood!"
Su Mu stood up, expressed his gratitude with a solemn salute.
"It’s just a drop of blood; not worth mentioning. The Ancestor is tired now. If you have any questions, speak up early."
Su Mu’s heart stirred at these words; he indeed had questions he wanted to ask the Sun Family Ancestor.
"Ancestor, what is a lone warrior?"
"Hmph, you’re only thinking to ask this now? I thought you didn’t care."
The Jade Pendant trembled slightly, and Su Mu gave a sheepish smile before the proud voice continued, "It’s indeed true that a martial artist is a lone warrior; the literary Qi within you is indeed a scourge."
"The Martial Dao pursues the sanctification of the physical body. If it is mixed, it is difficult to reach the Upper Three Grades realm. If a martial artist wants to reach the Grandmaster realm, they need to unify Spiritual Power, Qi and Blood, and Martial Momentum into three flowers, then, using oneself as a furnace, forge a Martial Arts Golden Body."
"As the saying goes, a miss is as good as a mile. The process of forging a Golden Body is exceptionally perilous, and there cannot be any impurities outside of the martial body’s physical body, otherwise, a pure Golden Body cannot be forged."
"You used to forge iron; let’s use that as an example. The methods of the Three Religions are like inscribing inscriptions on a weapon: sharp, sturdy, amplification. They can be inscribed individually or simultaneously."
"The Martial Dao is different; in forging iron, it is not the inscription, but the iron billet on the forging platform. To shape it, one must first beat out the impurities; you in me and I in you, this is where things get tricky."
Using iron forging as an example, the Sun Family Ancestor spoke, and Su Mu’s eyes lit up with contemplation.
He could vaguely understand the concept the Ancestor was conveying: the cultivation methods of the Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian are like different sorts of inscriptions or forging techniques, which can be used individually or blended together.
But the Martial Dao pursues the ultimate physical body, and thus cannot be mixed.
Only purity—pure to the extreme physical body power—can complete the forging of the Golden Body. For instance, the Vast Qi cultivated by Confucian methods is an impurity within the iron billet.
"What if one disperses the Confucian Literary Qi on their own?"
"It’s unfeasible; this method is hard to fully implement. Compared to martial artists, the cultivation methods of the Three Religions pursue the mysteries beyond the physical body. Confucian Literary Qi involves the Destiny of the Dynasty, Buddhist Karmic Force involves rebirth and karma, Taoist Spiritual Qi involves the laws of heaven and earth. Once involved, they are difficult to completely eliminate."
"For example, Confucian Literary Qi involves Dynasty Destiny, and Dynasty Destiny is extremely mysterious. As a citizen of the Great Yan, born on this land with Great Yan blood running through your veins, how can you forget your roots and stand completely alone?"
Su Mu keenly noticed that in the last half sentence of the Sun Family Ancestor’s words, the tone suddenly became threefold more intense. The Ancestor seemed aware of this and shifted the topic.
"In ancient times, Pre-Qin used the Imperial Dynasty’s Destiny to suppress the Martial Dao, which led to its collapse and weakening. Yet, Martial Emperor Xiang Yu could still renew the Martial Dao, so it’s not entirely without a solution."
"Take a look at the items on this list; they might prove useful in the future."
As the voice fell, a list of information entered Su Mu’s mind, and then the Jade Pendant fell silent. As the Sun Family Ancestor went to sleep, the Gu Insect beneath Su Mu’s chest also returned to dormancy.
"Profound Nether Turtle Essence Blood... Celestial Snow Cicada’s Third Transformation Exuviae..."
Su Mu murmured. Just by looking, it was clear that the items on the list handed over by the Sun Family Ancestor were extraordinary, but Su Mu was not worried. Instead, he felt joyous.
Given that the Sun Family Ancestor provided this list, it was evident there was a way to resolve the issue of ’impurities’. Having a solution was indeed a good thing!
"No rush on the list; I am still some distance from the Upper Three Grades at present."
"First, I’ll descend the mountain to escort Li Lu to Donglai County... Tao Family it is!"