Storage Bags, Tier 1 Magic Tools, Distributed!

When Li Qingyuan hurried to the ancestral hall, more than a hundred people had already gathered there.

Of those hundred-plus people, a small portion were cultivators, while most were the cultivators' direct relatives—mortals living on Cloud Mist Mountain.

Crying, wailing, white mourning clothes everywhere.

The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was heavy and oppressive.

When Li Qingyuan saw that his father was unharmed, he finally let out a long breath of relief.

But when he saw that four clansmen had died and everyone else was wounded, sorrow still showed on his face.

The Great Elder had already arrived and begun treating Second Elder, Li Dingming, and the others, cleaning their wounds, applying medicine, and bandaging them.

Of the family Hunting Team, only Li Dingzhou had escaped injury.

The Clan Leader said gravely, "Guangzong, what happened?"

"Did you encounter a Late Qi Condensation Spirit Beast? Did you venture into the depths of the mountain range?"

Second Elder Li Guangzong said, "Clan Leader, we encountered Evil Cultivators."

"What? Evil Cultivators?" The Clan Leader, the Great Elder, and the others all changed expression in shock.

Li Qingyuan looked at his father and asked, "Father, were the ones you encountered those Evil Cultivators rumored to specialize in abducting cultivators?"

Li Dingzhou nodded. "That's right."

"This time, we nearly suffered total annihilation. If not for you—" Li Dingzhou stopped there and did not mention the talisman paper Li Qingyuan had given him.

At that moment, Second Elder said, "There were four of them in total: one at the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer and three at the Qi Condensation Fifth Layer."

The Great Elder's expression changed. "One Qi Condensation Sixth Layer and three Qi Condensation Fifth Layer cultivators. That force is enough to contend with a Third-rate Qi Condensation Family."

"There is definitely nothing simple about the people behind these Evil Cultivators."

The Clan Leader asked, "Guangzong, Dingzhou, how did you escape that perilous situation?"

Li Guangzong said, "If not for Dingzhou, we would have been dead for sure."

"This is how the battle unfolded..."

Very soon, Second Elder Li Guangzong recounted everything: the enemy's sneak attack and murders, how he had been wounded and trapped, and how Li Dingzhou had thrown out a great handful of talisman paper and counter-killed the Evil Cultivator siblings.

The Clan Leader, the Great Elder, and the assembled clansmen listened with their eyes wide and mouths agape.

The Clan Leader said in astonishment, "Four Diamond Talismans, four Wind Blade Talismans, and four Explosive Fire Talismans, with one Premium Talisman Paper among each type?"

"And even a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper of astonishing power?"

The Clan Leader asked, "Dingzhou, where did you get a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper?"

Regarding the Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper, the Clan Leader had not suspected Li Qingyuan.

Could Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper materials, incomplete Tier 1 High-grade talisman inscriptions, Tier 1 Mid-grade talisman ink, and a talisman brush truly produce a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper?

No matter how one thought about it, it was a fantasy beyond the clouds—absurd and bizarre.

Li Dingzhou scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Clan Leader, you know me. I've always liked gambling on Mystery Boxes."

"I never expected my luck to be so good that I'd actually pull a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper."

Second Elder said, "This kid really does like gambling on Mystery Boxes. Every time we go to the Market to sell Demonic Beast Materials, he has to gamble once."

The Clan Leader said, "..."

For a moment, the Clan Leader did not know what to say.

Because of one lucky gamble, Li Dingzhou had actually saved the family Hunting Team.

Saving the Hunting Team meant saving at least a third of the family's combat strength.

If they had truly lost a third of their strength, the Li Immortal Clan would have suffered damage to its very bones and sinews, and its industries would inevitably have drawn the attention of other Qi Condensation Families and Rogue Cultivator factions.

Clan Leader Li Guangao patted Li Dingzhou and said, "You did very well, Dingzhou."

The work that followed fell to the Clan Leader.

The names of the dead family cultivators were entered into the immortal register, their places were made in the ancestral hall, and Spirit Tablets were erected for them.

Then came comforting the families and reassuring the clansmen.

For family members who cultivated, Spirit Stone subsidies were distributed.

For those who did not cultivate, compensation was distributed. They were granted a lifetime of wealth and honor, fertile land, and should an Immortal Seedling be born among them in the future, they could still receive three years of family resources free of charge.

By the time Li Qingyuan returned home, it was already late at night.

Chen Xiuyun was still shaken as she said, "Brother Dingzhou, you scared me to death."

"When the others and I were fertilizing the spirit fields, someone came running to say that the family Hunting Team had returned with heavy casualties. My legs went weak from fright."

"When I got to the ancestral hall and saw four bodies covered with white cloth, I nearly fainted."

"Luckily, I saw that you were all right. Otherwise, what would Yuan'er and I have done?"

Li Dingzhou tightly held Chen Xiuyun's hand, drew her into his arms, and comforted her. "Sister Yun, don't worry. For you, for Yuan'er, I will never let anything happen to me."

Li Qingyuan said thankfully, "This time was far too dangerous."

"Luckily, I..."

Chen Xiuyun asked, "Luckily what?"

Li Qingyuan said, "Luckily Father was blessed with great fortune and had luck shining over his head. He gambled on a Mystery Box, pulled a Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper, and slew a powerful enemy."

Chen Xiuyun nodded. "Yes, we were so lucky. The Ancestors must have been watching over us."

Li Dingzhou instructed, "Sister Yun, I'm hungry. Go cook me a bowl of noodles."

"Mother, I'm hungry too. Cook me a bowl as well." Li Qingyuan added, "And add a fried egg, cooked in Black Tooth Fragrant Pig lard..."

Chen Xiuyun smiled gently, her words coinciding with her son's. "Mother knows—an egg fried in Black Tooth Fragrant Pig lard."

"Hehe!" Li Qingyuan grinned happily.

In this life, his old dad was the pillar holding up their home, his fatherly love as steadfast as a mountain.

His mother was a gentle, beautiful, virtuous wife and loving mother, her maternal love soft as water.

Between mountain and water, he grew toward the sun.

Li Dingzhou laughed. "Sister Yun, make one for me too."

Chen Xiuyun laughed. "All right, all right, there'll be one for everyone."

Chen Xiuyun rose and headed to the back kitchen to get busy, leaving only father and son in the hall.

Li Qingyuan asked impatiently, "Father, when Grandpa Clan Leader summoned you for a private meeting earlier, did he give you quite a few good things?"

"Heh, you little rascal really are sharp as a monkey." Li Dingzhou formed a hand seal with his fingers. Another Storage Bag and two Magic Tools flew out from the Storage Bag at his waist.

"Wow, Storage Bags and Magic Tools?" Li Qingyuan's eyes lit up.

One had to know that the Li Immortal Clan possessed only three Storage Bags in total, with Grandpa Clan Leader, Great Elder Grandfather, and Second Elder Grandfather each owning one.

Grandpa Clan Leader's Storage Bag was the finest, having reached the Tier 1 Mid-grade level. It had even been passed down by the previous family head.

Storage Bags were expensive special Magic Tools containing spatial restriction refining techniques. Even a Tier 1 Low-grade Storage Bag sold for more than a hundred Spirit Stones.

Li Dingzhou smiled. "Back then, the Great Elder and Second Elder ached for their money for a long time to buy Tier 1 Low-grade Storage Bags. They saved up for three to five years."

"Now, you and I, father and son, each have one."

"However..." Li Dingzhou said, "The Storage Bags we seized were all Tier 1 Mid-grade. I gave them to the Great Elder and Second Elder."

"First, our strength is too low. Using Tier 1 Mid-grade Storage Bags would be too conspicuous and could easily attract Bandit Cultivators."

A Tier 1 Mid-grade Storage Bag was worth several hundred Spirit Stones—enough to buy some Tier 1 High-grade Magic Tools. For someone lacking strength to carry one was like a child holding gold in a bustling market; it easily invited disaster.

"Second, besides exchanging them for two Tier 1 Low-grade Storage Bags, the Great Elder and Second Elder each gave us fifty Spirit Stones in compensation."

"Moreover, the family discussed it and decided that the two Tier 1 Mid-grade Magic Tools seized this time would belong to you and me, father and son."

Li Qingyuan said, "Our family is still quite fair and just."

With this distribution, father and son had profited.

But it was also what Li Dingzhou deserved.

If not for him, the entire Hunting Team would have been wiped out. The family's strength would have been greatly diminished, drawing the attention of other factions and Rogue Cultivators and resulting in even heavier losses.

Li Dingzhou smiled, and father and son began dividing the spoils.

"Two Tier 1 Low-grade Storage Bags. One for me, one for you."

"Two Tier 1 Mid-grade Magic Tools. One for me, one for you."

"One hundred Spirit Stones. Fifty for me, fifty for you."

Li Qingyuan smiled gladly. "Thank you, Father."