49: Chapter 49 Third-Order Talisman Crafting Inheritance

The walls on both sides were not built from ordinary bricks and stones, but were embedded with "Family History Jade Tablets" that recorded major events of the Family.

These jade tablets were all crafted from First-Rank Spirit Jade. Important deeds concerning the rise and fall, glory and disgrace of the Family were all inscribed by successive Clan Chiefs or Foundation Establishment Cultivator elders using their Divine Sense. As light and shadow flickered across them, it was as if one could see the vicissitudes of hundreds of years passing before their eyes.

The core area of the ancestral hall was the memorial tablet area where the tablets of past ancestors were enshrined.

Those memorial tablets were not made of simple wood, but were meticulously crafted from special Second-Rank wood-attribute spirit materials, each containing remarkable spirituality.

The most prominent memorial tablet at the very top naturally belonged to the founder of the Li Family, Ancestor Li Anping.

This memorial tablet was completely different from the others; it was not a dull or lusterless object. Instead, it emitted a faint, soft halo that was connected to the Bloodline of the clansmen present, as if that ancestor had not truly departed but was still silently watching over his descendants, symbolizing the mysterious life connection between the progenitor and the ancestral hall.

Below it, the memorial tablets of past Clan Chiefs, Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage and above, as well as those who had made outstanding contributions to the Family were arranged in order, orderly and neat, demonstrating the Rank and glory of the Family.

In the center of the ancestral hall stood an ancient and heavy bronze tripod incense burner, with spiritual incense lingering in it all year round, and the spiritual fire never extinguished.

The incense burned was also not an ordinary item; it was specially made by mixing "Spirit-Condensing Grass" produced in the Family's Spirit Medicine garden with other rare auxiliary materials. That unique fragrance could not only calm one's mind but also had the faint effect of assisting in the perception of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Directly below the tripod burner, rows of bronze soul lamps were neatly arranged.

These lamps had an ancient design, with the Family emblem and complex Talisman array patterns engraved on their surfaces, and clusters of flames were burning quietly within them.

The colors of the flames varied, mostly gentle crimson or bright yellow, with a few presenting a cold cyan-white or pale white.

Each soul lamp was closely connected to the Divine Soul of a core clansman.

The brightness and color of the lamp flame intuitively reflected the life state and Cultivate Realm of that clansman:

If the light was vigorous and stable, it represented that the person was full of vitality and had a stable Cultivate level; if the flame flickered or dimmed and brightened, it might indicate that they were seriously injured, their mind was damaged, or they were old and approaching the limit of their Lifespan; if the flame suddenly extinguished, it was the tragic news of their death.

Besides this, these soul lamps had another extremely important function—identification.

When a Family Cultivator entered the ancestral hall, if their Divine Soul had not been tampered with or subjected to Possession by external demons, upon approaching their own soul lamp, that cluster of flames would slightly leap, as if responding to its owner, symbolizing a seamless fit of the Divine Soul.

Clan Chief Patriarch Li Huaping stood at the very front, holding three freshly lit sticks of high-quality incense, with a devout expression, bowing to deliver a speech, his voice echoing in the vast hall:

"Remembering our Li Family, ever since Ancestor Li Anping carried a solitary sword to establish our Foundation, we have endured hardships, passing through a thousand years of wind and rain without falling."

"Today, fortunately, we have a member of the Chang generation, Li Changqing, who has achieved a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment at the age of thirty-nine. This is the good fortune of our Family, all relying on the protection of the spirits of our ancestors in heaven, blessing our Li Family to pass on the torch!"

After speaking, Patriarch Li Huaping solemnly inserted the three long incense sticks into the tripod burner, then bowed three times, his forehead touching the cold bluestone ground, the sound like a ringing bell, shaking the heart.

Afterwards, Clan Leader Li Huaming and Li Changqing, who had accompanied him, stepped forward in order of seniority to kneel and bow, performing the rites as required.

After the ceremony ended, the three moved to the Family Council Chamber.

At this time, another Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator still in the Family, Li Xuanji, also heard the news and rushed over to attend this temporary meeting.

This usually stern old man was also ecstatic after seeing with his own eyes that Li Changqing had achieved a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, the gratification in his eyes almost overflowing.

The four sat around an oval table made of Awakening Wood, the wood grain on the tabletop resembling a flowing sea of clouds.

The gazes of the three elders all fell upon this newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Family, their eyes filled with undisguised gratification and expectations.

Patriarch Li Huaping stroked his beard and smiled, speaking first, his voice gentle yet filled with unquestionable power: "Changqing, with your four-inch Spiritual Root aptitude, achieving the Foundation Establishment of your Dao before forty is truly a fortunate event unprecedented in our Li Family for hundreds of years."

"Since you have already achieved Foundation Establishment and joined the core layer of the Family, some top-secret matters concerning the Foundation of the Family, which only Foundation Establishment Cultivators are allowed to know, should also be shared with you."

Li Changqing quickly stood up and bowed, saying: "Thank you for the cultivation of the Family and the protection of our ancestors. Changqing dares not claim the primary credit. Regarding the secrets of the Family, I ask that the Clan Chief instruct me."

Patriarch Li Huaping nodded slightly, waved his hand to signal Li Changqing to sit down, then his expression became stern, and he said in a deep voice:

"The outside world knows that the Li Family stands on our Second-Rank Talisman Making Legacy, and the highest-Rank Talismans sold in the market are also Second-Rank Talismans."

"But this is not the whole truth, it is not even the tip of the iceberg. The true Foundation of the Family is a complete Third-Rank Talisman Making Legacy."

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Li Changqing's heart.

Third-Rank Talismans correspond to the power of the Golden Core Stage, and the value of their Legacy far exceeds that of the Second-Rank, enough to make Golden Core Stage forces green with envy and covetous.

He raised his head in disbelief, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the elders: "Third-Rank Legacy? But in the Family, we have never..."

"Never revealed, and never allowed Qi Refining disciples to come into contact with it." Li Xuanji, the elder with the highest seniority present, interjected, his tone carrying the vicissitudes and solemnity of one who had experienced much, "Since the day the ancestor obtained this Legacy, strict rules were established: those who are not Foundation Establishment Cultivators are not allowed to know, and certainly not allowed to practice."

"There are two reasons: First, Qi Refining Cultivators lack sufficient magic power and Divine Sense; forcibly studying high-Rank Talisman Dao is very easy to damage their Foundation, or even suffer backlash from the Legacy, leading to Qi Deviation; Second, if the Third-Rank Legacy is accidentally exposed, for a Family still in its growth phase, it is not a blessing but a curse, which may attract powerful enemies that we cannot resist, leading to disaster."

Patriarch Li Huaping nodded, looked at his sixth uncle in agreement, then took out an ancient token from his Storage Pouch that was neither gold nor jade, engraved with complex cloud patterns, and gently placed it on the wooden table, making a crisp, light sound.

"This token is the key to the fifth level of the Family treasury. With your current Cultivate level, you are qualified to use this key to enter and learn all the Talisman Making methods from First-Rank Low Grade to Second-Rank Peak Grade in the Family's Talisman Making Legacy. That is the true hidden treasure of our Li Family."

Li Xuanji interjected at the right moment, his words earnest: "Foundation Establishment, for you personally, is the beginning of truly entering the hall. From now on, your Lifespan will extend to three hundred years, and you have the capital to pursue the Dao, however—"

He changed the subject, his gaze like a torch, staring directly at Li Changqing: "For the Family, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is no longer just a protected disciple, but a pillar supporting the future of the Family. You must also understand that with the improvement of your status, the responsibility on your shoulders is also heavy as a thousand jun."

Afterwards, the sharpness in Li Xuanji's eyes faded, revealing deep expectations.

"The future of the Family needs to be maintained by generations of Foundation Establishment Stage clansmen."

"This Legacy is the Foundation, and also the spark. I hope you, Changqing, will Cultivate diligently without stopping. Perhaps one day in the future, you will be able to achieve a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage and lead the Family to go further on this Talisman Dao."

"In the future, if you have any questions regarding your Cultivate or Talisman Making, you can come directly to me, and I will teach you everything I know."