The Grand Ceremony concluded much as it always had. Li Wei received substantial quantities of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, along with medicinal pills, all useful for enhancing his spiritual Qi. By this time, the Li Clan descendants had completed their ceremonial respects. Following the brief gathering, the majority dispersed once more to return to their various duties.
As there were no major battles on the border at present, Li Dalong and his wife, still an affectionate couple despite being over two centuries old, lay back down within the coffin. While doing so, they also stored the items Li Wei had granted them this time inside the Heaven-Piercing Coffin, which served as the repository for almost all the clan's most vital treasures.
Inside the fourth layer of the Heaven-Piercing Coffin at this moment, three cylindrical green objects were placed... On the floor rested a black, semi-transparent cube, roughly the size of a human head. Within the cube, a strange gas could be seen, flickering like a contained ball of black lightning.
[Heaven-Piercing Coffin: Fifth Layer]
Li Wei followed the couple inside the Coffin. Unlike the boundless Sea of Death found on the fourth layer, the fifth layer was filled with row upon row of black light screens.
[Heaven-Piercing Coffin Heavenly Screens]
[Pass through all eighty-one Heavenly Screens to obtain the complete Rule of Death. The Screens can also be refined into a Domain.]
This was essentially having the Rule spoon-fed to him...
"Husband," Xu Cuihua remarked, likely referring to the items now within the Coffin, "these items bestowed by the Old Ancestor Li Wei... they are truly terrifyingly powerful."
Within the fourth layer's space, Xu Cuihua gazed with amazement at the items Li Wei had sent into the game world. Those three green cylinders... she recognized them! Back during the confrontation with the three great Nascent Soul experts outside the Skyveil Sect, the Old Ancestor had deployed terrifying 'hidden weapons' just like these. What instilled even greater fear in Xu Cuihua, however, was the semi-transparent black cube. She touched it tentatively, just once, before hastily snatching her finger back. "The Old Ancestor said," she recalled, "that this object can slay a Divinity Transformation stage expert. It can shatter the minor world manifested by such a cultivator, leading to their demise."
"But the truly dreadful item," Li Dalong interjected, "is this one." Li Dalong regarded a different iron box with far greater apprehension. Using his Nascent Soul sense, he could perceive within it a lump of flesh constantly writhing. "The Old Ancestor called this a Spirit Object," Li Dalong said grimly. "He warned that once activated, it becomes a horrifying Demon, capable of undergoing unpredictable transformations. I have a distinct feeling," Li Dalong continued, "that activating this thing will lead to dire consequences. Perhaps we should have Seven Ironclad test it out?"
After having the Cosmic Variant from the school laboratory delivered into the game world, Li Wei was now able to view information regarding the item; there was even an accompanying research report.
[Cosmic Variant]
[An unidentifiable exotic lifeform from the cosmic depths. Integration into the host body will induce unknowable transformations. Failure to integrate signifies incompatibility, resulting in death via bodily explosion. If compatibility is achieved, profound changes will occur.]
This item had been under continuous study in the laboratory, yet generation after generation of researchers had passed without anyone truly figuring out its nature. However, Li Wei saw that the report mentioned that when such objects were first recovered, quite a number of individuals had used them. Some had even gone so far as to capture people specifically for forced experimentation. These details were documented in files recovered from a secret research institute that had later been exposed; the records indicated that those who perished during these experiments numbered in the tens of thousands.
However, the report also documented successes: some individuals who integrated a Cosmic Variant directly developed a Mutated Heavenly Spirit Root, while others instantly gained innate spiritual abilities.
"There were also some disturbing results... Inside that secret research facility, they found countless petri dishes (laboratory equipment) containing bizarre specimens—giant worms, strange stone-like growths—these were once humans, mutated into monstrous forms after being fused with the Cosmic Variant."
Upon hearing the Old Ancestor's explanation, through the Spirit Tablet itself, Li Dalong broke out in a cold sweat. "Thank you for the warning, Old Ancestor!" Li Dalong exclaimed. "If Seven Ironclad had used this item and transformed into those... worms, then this child would truly have made a terrible mistake."
Seeing that the Seven Ironclads had thus avoided disaster, Li Wei finally stepped out from the Heaven-Piercing Coffin.
....
Meanwhile, the 'children' of the second generation (the 'Yao' generation) were all still gathered within the Ancestral Hall. Li Yaowen typically managed affairs externally, returning only once every several years. Thus, even Li Yaozu was pushing through his injuries to spend this rare extra time with his Fourth Sister.
"Yaowen," Li Yaozu began, "I heard from the Old Ancestor that for these past years, you've been active within the Wu Clan's sphere, working to siphon away their Qi Luck." Li Yaozu frowned, studying Li Yaowen's frail state. "Last time, you finally managed to restore your youthful appearance after much effort," he said with concern, "and now you're pushing yourself recklessly again."
"Nothing escapes the Old Ancestor's notice, does it?" Li Yaowen smiled and shook her head. "Elder Brother, please don't worry. It's not what you assume. My cultivation of the 'Under Heaven Scripture' has reached the higher stage. This technique requires repeatedly cycling through youth and senescence – growing old, then rejuvenating – a total of eighty-one times. As for siphoning the Qi Luck, that is a process requiring accumulated effort over many years; it absolutely cannot be rushed."
"Ah, so that's how it is." Hearing her explanation and knowing he understood little of 'literary cultivation' methods, Li Yaozu didn't press further on the topic. Instead, he said, "Well, since you've returned this time, please try not to rush off again immediately. The Azure Cloud region is relatively stable now; the Wu Clan rarely launches major attacks against the Central Land these days. There's no need for you to wear yourself out so much."
"Very well," Li Yaowen agreed. "I shall stay for a longer period this time. Besides, as I said, siphoning Qi Luck is not the work of a single day."
Seeing the worry in the eyes of her elder siblings, Li Yaowen, who hadn't been home in many years, felt a comforting wave of security. "Elder Brother," she said gently, "your injuries are quite severe. Please, go back and get some rest."
"Alright. Remember to come visit me at the Sickroom Pavilion in three days' time. And please, don't run off again so soon." The residual Rule power in his wounds flared up painfully again, causing Li Yaozu to nod curtly, his brow furrowed.
Watching Li Yaozu leave, Li Yaotie let out a worried sigh. "Fourth Sister," he asked Li Yaowen, "Elder Brother has been suffering from this injury for well over a decade now. You're always full of clever ideas – do you know of any method that might help his wounds finally heal?"
Hearing Li Yaotie's question,
The two sisters, Li Yaoqing and Li Yaowen, exchanged glances, a peculiar look passing between them. As if reaching an unspoken understanding, they spoke in unison, "It can't be healed."
Off to the side, Li Wei silently glanced down at the information displayed on his panel.
[Your descendant, Li Yaozu, though grievously wounded for years, has actually been recuperating alongside the Demon Lord Fang Linglong. For over a decade, day in and day out, he has focused on comprehending the sword within his sword box. Obtained Trait: Sword Heart.]
[Sword Heart Effect: With sword in the heart, there is nowhere one cannot practice the sword. Comprehension +5%]
[Having been fellow 'patients' alongside Fang Linglong for many years, the two have gradually developed unusual feelings for one another...]
"Sharing the same sickroom for over a decade,' Li Wei chuckled to himself, 'Not simple at all, ah, not simple indeed."
Watching the pair Li Dalong & Xu Cuihua settle back down together again inside the coffin, a gratified smile touched Li Wei's face.
In one area, the long-separated brothers and sisters (the Yao generation) were catching up. Elsewhere, three old bachelors (Li Tianyi, Li Tianqi, and Li Tianming) were gazing at one another, their eyes brimming with emotional tears.
"Tianming!"
"We've just been waiting for you to get back!"
The moment Li Tianqi saw Li Tianming, he almost burst into tears. "Nearly twenty years!" he cried. "Big Brother and I have been squatting over at Clear Wind Sect for almost twenty years, and accomplished absolutely nothing! Quick, quick! Come with us, let's go deal with the Clear Wind Sect and avenge Grandpa Yaozu!"
Li Tianyi looked ready to cry, but had no tears left. "Tianming," he pleaded, "Hurry and think of something! This waiting is killing me! That old ghost at Clear Wind Sect – the Divinity Transformation stage expert – his Primordial Spirit is constantly scanning everything! Your big brother here hasn't had the slightest opportunity to start digging up their ancestral graves!"
"..."
Seeing the state his two brothers were in, Li Tianming just scratched his head blankly.
"Are... are you guys joking?"
"No joke!" Li Tianyi insisted, his expression deadly serious. "That old bastard is incredibly cautious. He hasn't even stepped outside his sect in nearly twenty years! There's been absolutely zero chance!"
"No, that's not it." Li Tianming looked perplexed. "No, what I mean is," he clarified, "if you knew perfectly well you had no chance of digging up the graves, why didn't you just choose a different target? Why focus on that?"
"Huh?" Both Li Tianyi and Li Tianqi were stunned. These two fellows, who'd been stuck in their post for nearly twenty years, simply stared blankly at each other.
Lines of exasperation seemed to appear on Li Tianming's face. He understood now. His two elder brothers were utterly one-track-minded...
A moment later, the three brothers left the family compound together, arms slung around each other's shoulders once more, heading off in the direction of Eternal Sun Prefecture.
---
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