15: Establishing authority by smashing stones, ten disciples

After the crowd's excitement subsided slightly, Li Yinglong drained the remaining wine in his cup and suddenly let out a hearty laugh:

"Today is a festive day, with the moon full and people gathered; there must be joy. I have been in seclusion recently and have gained some insights into the Martial Dao. I shall perform a segment here to add to the drinking merriment and also to stretch my old bones."

Everyone looked on with curiosity. Was the Clan Chief in such high spirits?

Li Yinglong did not take any weapons; he simply walked slowly to an open space in the center of the courtyard.

He did not act immediately but first closed his eyes, as if adjusting his breath and focusing his mind.

The surrounding clamor gradually quieted down, and everyone watched intently.

After a few breaths, he slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of brilliant light seemed to pass through them.

Immediately, he assumed an opening stance, which was precisely the "Establishing Heaven and Earth" opening move of the Li Family's overlord spear, but his movements were incredibly slow, as if each weighed a thousand pounds.

Initially, everyone found it ordinary, but gradually, the expressions of all the knowledgeable people changed.

An invisible current of Qi seemed to surge around Li Yinglong, stirring up fine dust on the ground. As his palms moved, there was a faint, low hum of wind and thunder. Although his movements were not fast, they gave people a sense of being as heavy as a mountain and irresistible!

Suddenly, his body paused, and his right palm seemingly casually pressed forward towards a discarded stone lock used to adorn the courtyard!

There was no contact; a distance of more than a foot still separated them.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, the stone lock, weighing over a hundred catties, shattered in response, turning into fine powder that scattered and drifted away!

The entire venue fell silent; a pin drop could be heard!

Everyone's eyes widened, looking incredulously at the pile of stone powder, then at Li Yinglong, who stood still after his move.

Shattering a lock from a distance?!

This... could this be the legendary Internal Energy projection? Protective Aura?

The Clan Chief... could he have broken through the limits of an Acquired Martial Artist and stepped into the mysterious Innate realm?!

In fact, they did not know that this was merely a manifestation of Li Yinglong's recent application of Wood Spirit True Qi after diligently cultivating the Five Elements Spirit Control Art.

Even Xia Donghai instantly sat up straight, a look of horror flashing in his eyes!

This Li Yinglong... his cultivation has advanced so much?! Wasn't it rumored before the New Year that his old injuries had recurred?

Li Yinglong surveyed the entire scene, taking in everyone's astonishment:

"A mere trick; I have made you all laugh. The Martial Dao is boundless, and I have only just begun to glimpse its threshold."

These words left people even more speechless.

If this was just a trick, then what were they?

With this display, the awe of all the clansmen reached its peak, and the non-clan guests completely abandoned any ulterior motives.

With such a stabilizing force in the Li Family, who would dare to provoke them easily? Loyalty was once again solidified and enhanced.

After establishing his authority, Li Yinglong revealed his true intention.

"However, the strength of one person is ultimately limited."

"The future of the Family lies in the continuation of its Legacy, in having successors!"

"Therefore, I have decided to personally select a group of promising Disciples, keep them by my side, meticulously instruct them, and pour resources into them, to become the pillars of the Family's future!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves in the crowd!

The clamor of the reward ceremony and the excitement brought by the contribution point System had not yet fully subsided, and this sudden announcement made everyone's hearts jump into their throats.

Especially those clansmen with children of suitable age almost simultaneously held their breath, their eyes erupting with an incredible, fervent light, staring intently at Li Yinglong, afraid to miss a single word.

The Clan Chief personally instructing them! Pouring resources!

What did this mean? It meant no longer the ordinary, step-by-step training in the clan academy, but genuine personal instruction, the core Legacy of the Clan Chief's astonishing skills! It was a shortcut directly to the Family's highest power, a symbol of future authority and status!

Given the Li Family's current flourishing state, becoming a Personal Disciple of the Clan Chief held significance far beyond any monetary reward; it was a heaven-sent Opportunity capable of changing the Luck of a branch Family for decades to come!

In an instant, the entire courtyard was utterly silent; a pin drop could be heard.

The young Disciples clenched their fists, their chests heaving violently, their faces flushed with extreme longing, their eyes burning like flames.

Their elders were even more uncontrollably excited; some's hands trembled slightly, some continuously swallowed, and some even subconsciously straightened their backs, as if this would make their children more noticeable.

Everyone's emotions were stretched to the breaking point.

"After days of my observation, the preliminary list of ten individuals is as follows!"

Li Qingzhu stepped forward and unrolled another silk scroll:

"Main Family Disciples: Li Changyun, Li Changyu, Li Changxue!"

"Branch Family Disciples: Li Changxuan, Li Changyue, Li Changxing!"

"Non-clan Disciples: Stone Iron Pillar (Uncle Zhong's grandson), Thunder Frost (Deputy Escort Chief Lei's daughter), Zhao Mingyuan (Mr. Zhao's son), Lin Xiaowan (Physician Lin's granddaughter)!"

Each name announced caused a stir and envious murmurs in the audience.

The ten young men and women whose names were called were all stunned, then struck by immense joy. Amidst the excited nudges and tearful eyes of their families, they hurriedly left their seats and jogged to the front of the stage, lining up.

Their faces were beaming with excitement, honor, and disbelief, their eyes fixed on Li Yinglong with fervent admiration, as if gazing upon a deity.

Li Changyun's fists were clenched, his body trembling slightly; Li Changxuan looked at Li Changyun, his eyes showing a challenge; Stone Iron Pillar's honest face was full of determination; Little Wan, on the other hand, carried a hint of shyness and excitement... "Good! Good! Good!"

Li Yinglong looked at these ten young yet promising faces and exclaimed "Good!" three times:

"I hope you all study diligently, practice hard, cultivate yourselves, and establish virtue, not failing the Family's high expectations! The future glory of the Li Family must be borne by you all, hand in hand!"

"We swear to be loyal to the Family unto death! We swear to follow the Clan Chief unto death!"

The ten young men and women, as well as their highly emotional families behind them, and even all the clansmen present who were infected by the atmosphere, spontaneously shouted loudly, their voices shaking the sky and pushing the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to its climax!

Li Yinglong stood at the front of the stage, accepting the gaze of thousands, his heart calm and undisturbed.

The System's prompt had already informed him that his objective was achieved.

Rewards, establishing authority, reforms, talent cultivation... one link after another.

The foundation in Linhai City was stable, the people's hearts were united, and there were no worries from behind.

Next, it was time to lead these seeds of hope across the seas and embark on the true path of the Li Immortal Clan's rise!

Moonlight filled the courtyard, illuminating the excitement and hope on everyone's faces, and also illuminating the profound and resolute future in Li Yinglong's eyes.

However, in this fervent atmosphere of unity and soaring emotions, no one noticed a figure quietly rising in the shadows of a corner of the banquet.

Li Qingchuan's face was ashen.

He took one last look at his father on the stage, bathed in dazzling light and receiving the homage of the crowd, then swept his gaze over the "lucky ones" who had been chosen and were weeping with joy. Many complex emotions flashed in his eyes—unwillingness, resentment, loss—finally turning into a cold silence.

He turned around silently, using the cover of the crowd, and quietly withdrew from the noisy banquet, merging alone into the cold night in the depths of the mansion, as if he had never appeared.