80: The ancestral hall was completed, and Man En was appointed.

March 18th, an auspicious day and hour.

The Li Family's new ancestral hall was completed. With blue bricks, glazed tiles, carved beams, and painted rafters, it possessed an extraordinary Aura.

On the open ground outside the ancestral hall, a flowing banquet was set up. All the townspeople could take a seat; the air was filled with a hubbub of voices, making it exceptionally lively.

Unsurprisingly, those clansmen from the collateral branches of Li Family Village were flocking here at this moment, squeezing to the front of the crowd.

At a time like this, who could be bothered with old grudges about whether one's Bloodline was pure or not? A swarm of several dozen people arrived! Their faces were covered in flattering smiles as they crowded in front of Li Dashan, looking as if they wanted to bend their waists all the way to the ground.

“Uncle Dashan! Congratulations, congratulations! The new ancestral hall is completed, bringing glory to our ancestors!”

“Grandpa Dashan! Our branch finally has roots! We collateral branches are also members of the Li family! Let us go in to kowtow and offer a stick of incense to Great-grandfather and Great-grandfather!”

“Yes, yes! One stroke cannot write two 'Li' characters! We are all relatives connected by blood!”

Li Dashan looked at these relatives who had once treated his family with cold indifference or even kicked them while they were down in the village; his heart was as clear as a mirror.

With a smile that was distant yet polite on his face, he neither warmly agreed nor explicitly refused, only responding vaguely:

“We'll see, we'll see. Sit first, sit first, eat and drink well!”

He allowed them to surround him with flattery and fawning; the pleasure of holding his head high was something only he understood in his heart.

In contrast, the older generation of elders who prided themselves on being the orthodox direct line had much thinner skin and couldn't bring themselves to come in person.

They only sent a few younger juniors with slightly thicker skin, carrying gifts of modest value as they edged closer.

“Dashan... Uncle Dashan, the clan elders are indisposed, so they specially ordered us to come and congratulate you on the completion of the new ancestral hall...”

“Yes, yes, we wish the Li family's new ancestral hall flourishing incense and many descendants...”

Before these juniors could finish speaking, Li Qingfeng walked over with a wine cup and a half-smile. His voice wasn't very loud, but it was just enough for the people at the surrounding tables to hear:

“Oh? The clan elders are indisposed? Then they must take good care of themselves! Speaking of which, the very first page of our family's new Family Genealogy records Great-grandfather's name and deeds.”

“Thinking back to that year, my Great-grandfather almost couldn't even get onto the Family Genealogy, and there was no place to put his memorial tablet! This Feng Shui really does take turns! Fellow clan brothers, wouldn't you say so?”

These words were full of barbs, making those few juniors flush with shame, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The surrounding collateral branches and the people of the New Town all suppressed their laughter in a tacit understanding, their eyes filled with mockery as they looked at those few direct-line juniors.

How could these juniors dare to stay longer? They hurriedly put down their gifts and left dejectedly without even eating. This silent slap in the face made everyone in the Li family feel more refreshed than any words could!

...Five months later, at the Qingxuan Guards military camp drill ground.

The scorching sun was high in the sky, and the banners fluttered in the wind.

Nearly five hundred Qingxuan Guards, dressed in uniform leather armor, were lined up in neat formations. It was silent as their eyes focused on the high platform in the center of the drill ground.

Li Qingfeng, dressed in black martial attire, stood on the command platform. Beside him stood a one-armed man who was still burly but had a left sleeve hanging empty—Man En.

“Silence! I have gathered you all today to announce an important matter!”

He turned slightly and gestured to Man En beside him:

“From this day forward, this Man En beside me will be the Head Instructor of you Qingxuan Guards! He will be responsible for your daily drills and the arts of battlefield combat!”

As soon as these words were spoken, a slight commotion and whispering immediately broke out below the stage.

Head Instructor? A man with a severed arm? And he had the appearance of an outsider who didn't look like a local? Although no one dared to speak up and question it, doubt and confusion appeared in the eyes of many soldiers.

Li Qingfeng ignored the commotion below and said to Man En:

“Instructor Man, show them a move to open these boys' eyes and let them gain some experience! Let them know that there is always someone better!”

Man En nodded in acknowledgment, exerted force with his feet, took a step forward, and jumped steadily down from the three-meter-high platform to stand before everyone.

Man En was expressionless as his only remaining right arm suddenly clenched into a fist, and he took a step forward!

The next moment!

“Open—!!!”

An explosive roar erupted from Man En's throat!

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Four dull sounds like the beating of giant drums erupted almost simultaneously from his right arm, legs, and chest! A violent, fierce, bloodthirsty, and domineeringly terrifying Aura erupted with Man En as the center, sweeping across the entire drill ground!

In an instant!

All the guards on the drill ground, whether standing in the front or back row, felt a suffocating pressure descend upon them!

It was as if they were in a battlefield of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, targeted by a bloodthirsty beast! Their breathing became labored, their hearts hammered like drums, and their legs involuntarily weakened! A few in the front row with weaker wills even turned pale and uncontrollably took half a step back!

This pressure, condensed purely from blood-qi and killing intent, was more impactful than any words!

Man En only maintained it for a brief three breaths before retracting his Aura.

That heart-palpitating Savage Aura receded like a tide, and the sound of uncontrollable, heavy breathing rang out across the drill ground.

Li Qingfeng was very satisfied with this effect and asked loudly:

“Head Instructor, is he fierce or not?!”

“Fierce!!!”

The collective roar of five hundred people shook the heavens!

“Are you convinced?!”

“Convinced!!!”

“Do you want to become stronger like him?!”

“Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!”

Wave after wave of sound almost overturned the command platform!

“Good!”

Li Qingfeng waved his hand.

“I'm telling you! Your Head Instructor, just like you, has no Spiritual Root! The path he walks is a path to becoming strong even without a Spiritual Root! A heavenly path belonging to Mortals!”

His voice suddenly rose, filled with encouragement:

“At the beginning of next month! The Head Instructor will hold an all-army grand martial competition! Any of my Qingxuan Guards can participate! The top fifty winners will be personally taught this Body-tempering and strengthening method by the Head Instructor! The opportunity is right before you!”

“Whether you are a Dragon or a worm, whether you become stronger or continue to be a weakling, depends on your own ability! Everyone, perk up and train as if your life depends on it!”

“Roar!!!”

The entire military camp was instantly ignited! Feverish cheers and discussions pierced the clouds! This news was like a prairie fire, igniting all the guards who lacked a Spiritual Root and hungered for power.

After the appointment ceremony ended, Li Qingfeng and Man En returned to the study of the Town Guardian Residence.

“How does it feel?”

Li Qingfeng poured a cup of tea and handed it to Man En.

Man En took it, his face showing profound emotion:

“Thank you, My Lord, for giving this subordinate this opportunity to stand tall before everyone again. Subordinate...”

He paused and didn't continue, but there was a sense of relief in his eyes.

Li Qingfeng waved his hand:

“This is what you deserve. That day you risked your life to lead away the pursuers and draw the fire away from my New Town, this loyalty and courage are worthy of this trust and status.”

Mentioning that day, Man En's expression dimmed, then became firm again:

“After I woke up, I reported the events to My Lord. Among that second wave of pursuers, there was an expert named Man Gu who, like me, was at the fifth level of Blood Moving. He is Savage's confidant, and he had several others at the third and fourth levels under him.”

“I was already injured, and they were many. After a desperate fight, in the end... I only paid the price of my left hand to trade injury for life, heavily wounding Man Gu and fortunately escaping.”

He subconsciously touched his empty left sleeve.

“After changing into the clothes My Lord gave me and doing some simple bandaging, I didn't dare to stop. I deliberately exposed my tracks and dragged them all the way toward Qingshui Town, letting them watch with their own eyes as I escaped into populated areas before they gave up.”

“Afterward, I concealed my name and carefully inquired about news of Qingxuan New Town in sparsely populated small villages, traveling all the way... Fortunately, Heaven looked upon me, and I encountered Second Master early, allowing me to reclaim this remnant of a life.”

“Sigh! Being able to come back alive is already a great blessing!”

Li Qingfeng patted his shoulder.

“By the way, Youfu's mother...”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Has she been taking good care of you during this time?”