Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Li Family (李家) |
| Alias(es) | Donglai Li Family 242 243 |
| Affiliation | A branch separated from the Ancient Commandery Li Family over a century ago 243 |
| Role | One of Donglai Commandery’s Four Great Families, alongside the Tao, Lin, and Zhou families 255 257 |
| Status | Under pressure from the Zhou Family; represented in the Donglai Grand Competition by its own members and invited attendants 242 282 |
Background and History
The Donglai branch was founded by Li Heqing, a fourth-rank Daoist cultivator described as a half-step Dongxuan expert. Its connection to the Ancient Commandery Li Family helped it establish and expand its position in Donglai. When Li Heqing’s lifespan neared its end, he entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Upper Three Ranks, leaving the branch without his active protection 243.
The Zhou Family subsequently encroached on Li businesses, absorbed affiliated forces, and injured the Drunken Wind Pavilion’s shopkeeper, Li Shan, and more than ten others. It then proposed a duel in three months, staking the Li Family’s ancestral shrine. Family head Li Linfeng feared both outside pressure and traitors within the clan; he suspected his younger brother Li Hong of seeking his position 242 243.
Holdings and Resources
- Drunken Moon Brew — a wine produced by the family and associated with the annual Drunken Moon Gathering 255.
- Treasure vault — its outer section holds pills, talismans, spiritual materials, weapons, magic tools, and ancient texts across three floors 275. Runes on the vault were carved by a deceased Li ancestor and have drawn talisman masters seeking insight 276.
- Competition intelligence — Li Linfeng supplies Wang Chan with an illustrated roster detailing prospective opponents’ cultivation, equipment, and techniques 275.
Members and Associates
- Li Linfeng — family head during the dispute with the Zhou Family 242 243.
- Li Heqing — ancestor of the Donglai branch; enters seclusion in an attempt to reach the Upper Three Ranks 243.
- Li Hong — Li Linfeng’s younger brother and a challenger to his leadership 242 243.
- Li Heng and Li Yao — Li Linfeng’s son and daughter; they investigate the Wang Family’s betrayal in Qifeng Town 255 256.
- Li Changshan — leads the family’s contestants during the Grand Competition 286.
- Wang Chan (Su Mu) — an invited attendant recruited to fight for the family, not a confirmed member of its bloodline 270 280.
Donglai Grand Competition
With the White Whale Gang siding with the Zhou Family and other major powers unwilling to intervene, the Li Family struggled to find a candidate for the large arena 268. An elder reached an agreement with Su Mu, competing as Wang Chan; Li Linfeng separately granted him a choice of treasure from the outer vault 270 275. Su Mu selected the fifth-rank Golden Flood Dragon Spear 276.
The family received fifteen preliminary places: ten for its members and five for affiliated or invited contestants. Seven Li entrants advanced from the first round, and Li Xin later defeated a Zhou Family opponent 282 283. After Li Changshan lost to Guo Zhen, Wang Chan became the family’s sole remaining hope among the top five 287.
Some Li members mistakenly concluded that Wang Chan came from the Ancient Commandery main lineage. Li Linfeng, however, publicly identified him as a family attendant 280 286. When the Tao Family threatened Wang Chan after the competition, Li Linfeng and Li Heng tried to help him escape rather than immediately severing ties 299.