69: Ancestral Hall

After a long silence, Li Ding sighed, "Back then, there were other hidden reasons for your parents' deaths, involving many complications.

We will discuss everything once I have finished handling my military affairs and returned to the Family.

These past years... you have suffered greatly."

Evidently, Li Ding was not entirely unaware of Li Jiangchen's experiences within the Li Family over the years.

Upon hearing this, Li Jiangchen frowned slightly, "In that case, I won't disturb Fifth Uncle.

Having been away from home for many years, your nephew will first return to offer sacrifices."

After speaking, his figure blurred, turning into an illusion that vanished from the spot.

Such a method startled Li Ding, who was a Guanshen Realm Martial Artist. He looked toward the horizon but could only see a faint afterimage.

This is... a Divine Ability Escape Technique!

Yet, according to his perception, Li Jiangchen was only in the Quenching Fiend Realm.

A possibility immediately surfaced in Li Ding's mind.

"A True Dragon Level Genius!"

"Wait, even a True Dragon Level Genius would only master one Divine Ability before achieving a God Observation Realm Breakthrough.

The Body Refining Divine Ability that transformed him into a thirty-meter giant earlier, the subsequent Sword Domain Divine Ability, and now this Escape Technique Divine Ability..."

In a daze, Li Ding's heart was enveloped by immense joy.

His Giant Spirit Divine General Family was likely about to give birth to a Genius who surpassed the True Dragon Level.

"I must immediately write a letter and inform the Family."

...Several hours later.

At the Ancestral Hall of the Giant Spirit Divine General Manor, Formations were arranged around it that could sense Bloodlines; those who were not members of the Giant Spirit Divine General Family could not enter.

If a powerful enemy were to enter, the heroic spirits of the Li Family within the Ancestral Hall would awaken and slay the intruder.

Suddenly, a figure appeared inside the Ancestral Hall.

"Is this the place..." Li Jiangchen gazed at the neatly arranged ancestral spirit tablets, which were lined up like a pyramid, and complex emotions arose in his heart.

This was the influence brought by the Bloodline inherent in his original body.

Just then, the one-armed old man who was sweeping the dust turned his head and saw Li Jiangchen's figure. He quickly rubbed his blurry old eyes, his tone carrying a trace of speculation: "Are you... Xiaojiu's Jiangchen."

"Thirteenth Lord, it is me." Li Jiangchen bowed respectfully.

The Thirteenth Lord, named Li He, was the clan uncle of the original body's father. When he was young, he loved traveling the world, making friends everywhere, and was carefree and unconventional, often being reprimanded by his elder brother, who was the Divine General at the time.

Ten years ago, the Li Family suffered a great catastrophe when several Great Demon Kings invaded the territory. The contemporary Divine General was ambushed and died, and Taizhou was nearly annihilated. At the critical moment, it was Li He who rushed in alone, forcefully resisting the Great Demon King's Divine Ability, allowing the Divine General Mansion to wait for reinforcements.

However, his injuries were too severe; not only did he lose an arm, but he also lost seventy to eighty percent of his cultivation, and his Dao path was severed.

Since then, he had been cultivating and recuperating in the Ancestral Hall, no longer venturing outside.

Just based on this elder single-handedly blocking a Demon King and preventing the annihilation of Taizhou, he deserved a bow.

At this moment, Li He looked at Li Jiangchen, a flash of brilliance crossing his eyes. Sensing the True Qi surging within him like a river, joy welled up in his heart.

"Xiaojiu's child has achieved success."

"A Quenching Fiend Realm expert so young will surely become Jiangling's right-hand man in the future."

"You've come to offer sacrifices to Xiaojiu, haven't you? I will go to the back hall and fetch the incense." Li He turned and left.

Hearing this, the corner of Li Jiangchen's mouth curved slightly.

Although the Thirteenth Lord was once a Guanshen Realm Martial Artist, his cultivation had regressed, and since Li Jiangchen hadn't made a move, he naturally couldn't see through his true power.

'Li Jiangling, is he the contemporary Divine General Candidate...' A figure appeared in Li Jiangchen's mind.

In his memories, this person was the son of the contemporary Divine General, possessing astonishing talent since childhood and ranking among the most outstanding of his generation.

However, during their interactions within the Family back then, the original body had always felt a faint sense of distance and aversion from him.

It was precisely because of his rejection that the younger generation of the Li Family isolated the original body.

But none of that mattered anymore.

The Li Family's incense was condensed from the Power Of Will of the Taizhou populace, making it incredibly precious. While Li Jiangchen was waiting, a sound came from behind him.

He saw several young men and women wearing mysterious armor walk in, chatting and laughing. One person was subtly surrounded in the center, bearing some resemblance to Li Jiangchen.

The moment he saw Li Jiangchen, he frowned, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes.

"Is that you? Your name isn't on the front courtyard's registration ledger. The clan has its rules; go outside and take ten lashes yourself," Li Jiangling said.

Hearing this, Li Jiangchen remained unmoved.

Suddenly, a figure stepped forward.

"Jiangling Ge is talking to you, didn't you hear?" Li Jiangming, who had followed them in, looked annoyed. His right palm transformed into a claw, sweeping through the air and emitting a thunderous sound like a tiger's roar.

He had previously used this move, the Tiger Roaring Thunder Sound, to lift the original body like a little chick multiple times.

However, the instant his right claw touched Li Jiangchen's clothes, it was as if he had struck a majestic mountain. A much stronger force rebounded, instantly sending him flying several meters away, where he groaned ceaselessly.

"Li Jiangchen, how dare you strike someone in front of the Ancestral Hall!" Li Mingyu's eyes widened, and she spoke sharply.

"I did not strike him. I merely circulated the force he used against me around my body and returned it to him," Li Jiangchen said calmly. "Furthermore, since you know that fighting is forbidden in front of the Ancestral Hall, why did you say nothing when he attacked me?"

"You..." Li Mingyu was instantly so furious she couldn't speak.

Beside them, Li Jiangling said coldly, "What, you cultivated a bit of Body Refining methods and now think you can show off in front of me."

He took a step forward, Protective Aura circulating around his body. His hands were covered in a layer of crystalline Protective Aura, appearing as if they were coated in colorful crystal.

"Giant Spirit Gang Yuan Body, Seventh Layer." Li Jiangchen recognized it instantly, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.

Logically speaking, cultivating the Seventh Layer requires seven hundred thousand catties of strength.

However, judging by the intensity of his Vitality and Blood, although powerful, it was far from reaching that threshold.

"You have some insight. It seems you've grown quite a bit outside, but you've forgotten the Family rules.

Today, I will make sure you remember them well."

Saying this, he took a step forward. Evil Qi swirled around his palm, transforming into a lifelike Golden Scaled Flood Dragon.

He had clearly also reached the Quenching Fiend Realm, with his True Qi activated.

Whoosh—

The Golden Scaled Flood Dragon roared past, and Saber Light appeared within its head. Once swallowed by it, one would suffer immense pain, as if struck by hundreds of Saber Qi strikes.

"Golden Flood Dragon Saber Qi Mountain Crushing Hand. You're using the method the Li Family uses to deal with Family prisoners." Li Jiangchen sneered and pointed a finger. The terrifying Golden Flood Dragon immediately shattered inch by inch, dissipating into specks of light across the sky.

The residual force of the finger strike erupted, instantly sending Li Jiangling flying several meters. His Astral Essence shattered, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Weak. Too weak..." Li Jiangchen shook his head.

To be fair, given Li Jiangling's age, reaching the Quenching Fiend Realm Peak so early made him worthy of being called the number one person among the younger generation of the Li Family.

However, Li Jiangchen had already killed more than five Demon Kings; a mere Quenching Fiend Realm Peak was truly not worth mentioning.

At this moment, hearing the word 'weak' from Li Jiangchen's mouth, Li Jiangling was overcome with rage, and he spat out another mouthful of congested blood.

Just then, several God Observation Realm auras flew over, instantly surrounding the Ancestral Hall.

"Who dares to cause trouble at the Ancestral Hall!"

"Ignorant junior, how dare you fight at the Ancestral Hall."

Li He, sensing the commotion, rushed over, still clutching a handful of sacrificial incense. Seeing this scene, his eyes immediately widened in shock.

"Thank you, Thirteenth Lord, for bringing the incense."

Li Jiangchen took out two sticks of incense, silently lit them, and placed them in front of the spirit tablets.

At the same time, several figures of Clan Elders arrived at the Ancestral Hall, their faces pale and filled with hidden anger. But upon seeing the scene before them, their expressions instantly changed, revealing looks of disbelief.

The contemporary Divine General Candidate had actually been injured by a junior member of the Family.