10: Chapter 10: Hidden Gems

Since it had been over nine hundred years since the last large-scale beast tide, the Li Family could not predict the scale of this upcoming one in advance, simply because the Li Family's standing was not high enough.

They only knew that small-scale beast tides generally only involved 1st-grade and 2nd-grade Yao Beasts, medium-scale beast tides would involve 3rd-grade Yao Beasts comparable to the Golden Core Stage, and large-scale beast tides would involve 4th-grade or even 5th-grade Yao Beasts; it was rumored that large-scale beast tides could sweep across the entire continent.

In the nine hundred years since the Li Family was founded, they had experienced two medium-scale beast tides and seven small-scale beast tides. Those two medium-scale beast tides had almost caused a generational gap in the Li Family's Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators. When medium-scale beast tides occurred, even Xuanyuan Valley, Spirit Beast Sect, and Lingyao Mountain would suffer significant casualties.

Xuanyuan Valley, Spirit Beast Sect, and Lingyao Mountain were the three Golden Core Stage powers within Huangfeng Prefecture. Apart from Huangfeng Prefecture City, these three Golden Core powers occupied thirty-six of the seventy-two counties under Huangfeng Prefecture's jurisdiction, while the remaining thirty-six counties were mostly bestowed by the Tianxuan Sect upon those who had rendered meritorious service in opening up territory in the early years.

The Tianxuan Sect was the hegemon-level power of Tianxuan Prefecture. It was rumored that there was more than one Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator within the Sect, and Huangfeng Prefecture was merely one of the one hundred and thirty-seven counties under the jurisdiction of Tianxuan Prefecture.

Subsequently, the members of the Li Family discussed the topic of the beast tide for half an hour before concluding it.

"The third item of the meeting: the Family has decided to increase the cultivation of the clansmen in the hundred arts of cultivation in the future. In the past, the Family only focused on training Talisman Makers, but only about thirty percent of the clansmen had talent for Talisman Making.

Therefore, I and the two clan elders have discussed setting aside five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones annually for the next ten years, and selecting two to three clansmen each year, striving to select a portion of suitable Cultivators to learn cultivation skills. This will primarily focus on training in four areas: Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Spirit Planting, and Formation. If there are no results, we will discuss whether to continue this training at the next Family meeting.

Although most of the Family's other cultivation skills currently only have 1st-grade Legacies, just because we don't have them now does not mean we won't have them in the future. Let us first cultivate our talents, and we will slowly find ways to address the cultivation skills later. Now, please raise your hands to vote on this proposal; those who agree, please vote by raising your hand."

As Patriarch Li Huaping finished speaking, the thirty-three clansmen present began to vote by raising their hands. The result was undoubtedly a unanimous vote in favor.

Li Changqing, although it was his first time attending a Family meeting, had a very clear mind and voted in favor without hesitation. Any proposal that appeared at a Family meeting had already been discussed in advance by the three Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators of the clan.

The reason for allowing clansmen with Qi Refining 7th Layer cultivation and above to attend was mainly to check for omissions and deficiencies, as well as to brainstorm on issues that truly required discussion.

...

The fifth item of the meeting: voting on the proposal to increase the training of the clan's Mortal Martial Artists to cope with the beast tide...

The sixth item of the meeting...

The seventh item of the meeting...

The eighth item of the meeting...

"The ninth item of the meeting: regarding the opening of the Myriad Spirit Secret Realm in one year, the Family has three free spots. Those who wish to go, please sign up yourselves, and we will discuss and decide which three people to send after the meeting."

The origin of the Myriad Spirit Secret Realm was unknown; it was only known that it appeared in Tianxuan Prefecture once every two hundred years. It was a Secret Realm that only Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators could enter, and Huangfeng Prefecture had an entrance leading to the Myriad Spirit Secret Realm.

The Myriad Spirit Secret Realm was quite large, covering an area of about one million square kilometers, equivalent to the size of ten Anping Counties. The Secret Realm was rich in 1st-grade and 2nd-grade Spirit Medicine; for instance, there were many types of herbs used for refining various foundation establishment pills.

When the Secret Realm was not open, Cultivators could not enter it, because there were layers of Formations and Restrictions within the Secret Realm, and even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators could not forcibly break through to enter.

Since the Myriad Spirit Secret Realm appeared in Huangfeng Prefecture, Cultivators had rushed forward in succession. Some gained Opportunities, while others died. But regardless of the outcome, the Secret Realm always existed, like the breathing of heaven and earth, eternal and ceaseless. It was an Opportunity for Cultivators, a witness to history, and even more so, a riddle left by the Dao for Cultivators.

However, the Secret Realm was exceptionally cruel. Less than thirty percent of the Cultivators from Huangfeng Prefecture who entered the Secret Realm came out alive each time. Even so, there were still a large number of Cultivators who feared no calamity, just to pursue the path of cultivation.

The entrance to the Secret Realm in Huangfeng Prefecture was jointly controlled by the three Golden Core powers. The Li Family possessed three free spots, while some powers without spots and Loose Cultivators had to purchase them from the three major powers, with each spot costing one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Five Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators present from the Li Family signed up to go to the Myriad Spirit Secret Realm. They were Li Xuanwu of the Xuan generation at the Qi Refining 10th Layer, Li Xuanfu at the Qi Refining 9th Layer, Li Xuanzong at the Qi Refining 8th Layer, Clan Leader Li Huaming of the Hua generation at the Qi Refining 10th Layer, and Li Huayong at the Qi Refining 8th Layer.

Everyone who signed up had their own goals. Some were for themselves, some for the Family, some for their descendants, and some considered a combination of various factors. Li Changqing did not sign up, and he had no intention to do so; for him, developing in a low-key manner was currently the safest option.

...

Time passed quietly amidst item after item of the agenda, and it was not until nearly the third quarter of the Zi hour that this Family meeting came to an end.

Tiexuan Town was one of the eighteen towns under the jurisdiction of Anping County. The Li Family's black iron mine was located here. Three Qi Refining Cultivators were stationed here year-round, and the entire town had a population of 150,000, distributed across one town and thirty-six villages.

The next day, at the first quarter of the Chen hour, after handling personal affairs within the clan, Li Changqing left Qingfeng Mountain. He did not head back towards Xuanling Lake, but instead went in the direction of Tiexuan Town.

Li Changqing was born in Meihua Village in Tiexuan Town. He flew the whole way on his sword without resting for a moment. At the time of the Wu hour, looking at the small path among the hills before him, Li Changqing let out a long sigh.

For some reason, when his home was just nearby, his heart was inexplicably tugged by something.

The remaining ten-plus miles of road were very close; with his footwork, he could reach it in just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

The ten-plus miles of road were also very long; he had not returned in over ten years, and he did not know what the destination would look like now.

The roadsides of Meihua Village had flowers, grass, trees, small streams, and blooming plum blossoms.

Since he was detected to have Aptitude for cultivation at the age of six, Li Changqing had left Meihua Village. After more than twenty years of cultivation, this was his third time returning home. Walking step by step along the road under his feet, memories of childhood surfaced in his mind, unconsciously guiding him forward step by step. Li Changqing stopped, his eyes staring blankly ahead.

Surrounded by green hills, smoke curled from chimneys, and the occasional sound of chickens and dogs barking could be heard.

A medium-sized village came into view; the two hundred households of Meihua Village were located here.

Standing in front of his former home, Li Changqing was shocked by the scene before his eyes. He saw a red-lacquered gate standing in front of him, and the courtyard wall was over a zhang high. The original small bamboo-fenced courtyard was no longer there; it seemed the gold and silver he had sent home over these years had played its part.