Green Maple Li Clan

[Mind Storage]

[Family Novel, Semi-Satisfying Novel, Not Invincible Stream, the protagonist of this book may be too cold and cruel, which may cause you discomfort, enter with caution!!!]

[Realms from low to high: Body Tempering, Body Realm, Qi and Blood Realm, Innate Realm, Divine Mansion (to be determined later). After breaking through to the Qi and Blood Realm, lifespan can be extended to 130 years. Qi and Blood Realm Great Perfection can live to 200 years.]

[Talent: First grade is the highest, ninth grade is the lowest. Ninth grade talent has hope to advance to the Qi and Blood Realm, eighth grade talent has hope for Qi and Blood Realm Great Perfection, seventh grade talent has hope for Innate Realm, and so on (to be determined later)]

Great Zhou Dynasty.

Yangzhou, Ascending Dragon Prefecture, Baihe County.

In the northeast corner of Baihe County, there is a vast natural valley.

Within the valley, rows of green maple trees stand straight, like natural guardians of the valley, known by the locals as Green Maple Valley.

Two hundred years ago, a family surnamed Li migrated here and took root.

After two hundred years of development, it became a well-known powerful clan in Baihe County – the Green Maple Li Clan.

However, today, Green Maple Valley is entirely draped in white mourning.

Li family members coming and going are clad in sackcloth and mourning, their faces filled with grief, and their expressions revealing confusion and unease.

All this is because three days ago, the current Patriarch of the Green Maple Li Clan, Li Xuanfeng, was found dead in his seclusion chamber.

Li Xuanfeng had not appeared in public for a long time, so long that the outside world had become suspicious, with rumors even circulating that he had already passed away.

It wasn't until the Li family could no longer withstand the pressure and, after failing to contact him, entered his seclusion chamber that they discovered he had been dead for many days.

His death was too sudden.

This is because Li Xuanfeng was not only the Patriarch of the Green Maple Li Clan but also its strongest member.

With the new generation not yet grown, his death was a huge blow to the Green Maple Li Clan.

It could even be said that it would cause the currently flourishing Li family to decline from its peak.

This is because, during his lifetime, Li Xuanfeng had offended too many people in his pursuit of family expansion.

The Li family's reputation in Baihe County was not good; they were always known for their overbearing nature.

Inside Li Xuanfeng's mourning hall, the crowd was dense.

Many Li family members, dressed in sackcloth, gathered in the hall.

Those with close relationships clustered together, discussing in low voices, "With the old Patriarch's death, our Li family's future days will be difficult."

"That's right. The old Patriarch was the only expert in our Li family who broke through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Gate. With him, a Qi and Blood Realm expert, no longer guarding the family, how can our Li family deter lesser powers?"

"Sigh..."

"I heard that the Zou and Zhang families have already started to get restless upon hearing the news of the old Patriarch's death."

"They have long been dissatisfied with the distribution of benefits in the market. Before, they were wary of the old Patriarch's strength and could only behave themselves. Now that the old Patriarch is dead and they have no scruples, they will naturally reveal their true intentions."

"The Zou and Zhang families are just clowns. With our Li family's strength, what should we fear?"

"While that may be true, how can you be sure they don't have backing behind them?"

"This..."

"It's a pity the new Patriarch is only seventeen. Otherwise, with his talent, if he were given another ten years, breaking through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Gate and advancing to the Qi and Blood Realm would be a certainty, and all problems would be solved then."

"That's a nice thought, but when will our Li family's enemies give us ten years?"

"Although the new Patriarch's talent is strong, he is, after all, too young and has not yet grown. He also lacks experience in managing the family. Is he truly capable of leading our Li family out of this predicament?"

"Be careful with your words... you dare to question the Patriarch? Aren't you afraid the family's disciplinary team will invite you for tea?"

"Heh heh... I didn't say anything!"

"..."

Meanwhile, in the solemn and elegant assembly hall.

Several figures with powerful auras sat upright.

These individuals were all elders of the Green Maple Li Clan, the true core members of the Li family.

Each of them possessed the cultivation of the Great Perfection of the Body Realm.

Among them, the eldest and most senior, First Elder Li Xuantong, had been immersed in the Great Perfection of the Body Realm for over ten years, and was only one step away from breaking through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Gate and advancing to the Qi and Blood Realm.

Outside the door, a sound of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out.

"The Patriarch has arrived!"

Following a high-pitched and clear announcement.

The doors of the assembly hall were slowly pushed open by two clan guards.

The Li family elders all turned their heads, their gazes quickly shifting outside the door.

They saw a young man, dressed in white robes, seven feet tall, with a jade belt around his waist, his face handsome yet masculine, striding in.

Under everyone's gaze, the young man slowly walked towards the Patriarch's throne and took a seat.

After he was seated, the other five elders, excluding the First Elder, all stood up, cupped their fists, and said, "We pay our respects to the Patriarch!"

The young man was none other than the new Patriarch of the Li Family—Li Xinge.

Li Xinge was the legitimate grandson of the previous Patriarch, Li Xuanfeng, and the pride of the Green Maple Li Clan, the most exceptionally talented individual in the Li Family in two hundred years.

He began tempering his body at the age of five and broke through the Body Forging Realm at six, officially stepping onto the threshold of cultivation.

At ten, he reached Great Perfection of Body Forging, and at eleven, he successfully broke into the Body Realm, his strength comparable to the older generation of powerhouses within the clan.

Five years later, he achieved Body Cultivation Grand Completion, shaking the entirety of Baihe County.

He was called a prodigy by those who paid attention, with whispers that if he didn't fall, he had the potential to become a Innate True Person.

However, only the high-ranking members of the Li Family knew how terrifying the true talent of this new Patriarch was.

Body Cultivation Grand Completion?

It was a joke.

Li Xinge had already reached that realm three years ago.

It was only to avoid provoking the jealousy of other forces and to protect Li Xinge that the Li Family chose to keep this news a secret.

Now, three years later, even the high-ranking members of the Li Family did not know the true extent of Li Xinge's strength.

But in their opinion, Great Perfection of Body Realm should be well within his grasp.

"Elders, there's no need for such formalities. Please, all of you, take a seat."

Li Xinge said in a gentle tone as he sat in the main seat.

Everyone adjusted their robes and sat down again.

"Elders, this is the first Elder Council I am presiding over since my succession. The purpose of convening this Elder Council is to deal with the crisis that my Li Family will face next. First Elder, please explain the specific situation to everyone."

"Yes."

The First Elder nodded and gladly accepted the order.

He cleared his throat and addressed everyone.

He slowly said, "Elders, three days ago, the old Patriarch passed away. The Li Family is in mourning. Shortly after this news spread, with the instigation of some interested parties, the Zou and Zhang families quickly joined forces. The Patriarchs of these two great families met at Flying Snow Tower for two hours before leaving."

"Since then, the Zou and Zhang families have abandoned their usual respectful attitude towards our Li Family and have begun to indulge their subordinate shops in malicious competition."

"Their younger disciples have even publicly threatened to drive our Li Family out of East Street Market."

"Furthermore, our Li Family's former vassal forces are showing signs of slipping out of our control."

"The Jin and Hao families have not submitted their monthly tribute on time, using various excuses to delay. The sect leader of the Great Saber Sect, on the following day, expelled our Li Family members stationed at the Great Saber Sect."

As the First Elder spoke, the faces of several Li Family elders turned grim.

This was an undisguised provocation to the Li Family!

The Second Elder, who had always been hot-tempered, suddenly stood up and said to Li Xinge with a furious expression, "These scoundrels are going too far! Patriarch, please give the order. I am willing to personally lead the Hall of Law Enforcement to eliminate these traitors."

The Second Elder, Li Xuanzhong, was the Elder of the Hall of Law Enforcement.

Li Xinge glanced at him and said expressionlessly, "Sit back down. Let the First Elder finish speaking first."

Although his tone was calm, it carried an unquestionable authority.

Even though Li Xuanzhong was Li Xinge's elder, he dared not disobey his words in the slightest.

With his heart full of anger, Li Xuanzhong reluctantly sat back in his original seat.

Seeing this...

The First Elder continued, "In addition, the Mangshan Su Clan and the Baibo Song Clan have also successively sent envoys. They claimed to be offering condolences but were actually applying pressure, wanting our Li Family to hand over the Silver Ridge Mine."

At this point, even the First Elder, who was usually calm in the face of adversity, had a solemn expression.

The Mangshan Su Clan and the Baibo Song Clan were different from the Zou and Zhang families. These two great clans were genuine powers in Baihe County.

Both clans had cultivators in the Qi and Blood Realm, and together with the Li Family and the other six great families, they were known as the Nine Great Families of Baihe County.

Even Li Xuanfeng, if he were alive, would have to be extremely cautious when facing these two great clans simultaneously.

Not to mention that Li Xuanfeng was dead, and the Li Family no longer had the strength to converse with these two great clans as equals.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

But the Silver Ridge Mine was not something that could be handed over so easily.

The Silver Ridge Mine was rich in iron ore, and the annual income from its ore output accounted for almost half of the Li Family's revenue. It could be said to be the Li Family's economic lifeline.

If they lost the Silver Ridge Iron Mine, the Li Family would likely instantly degenerate into a second-rate family in Baihe County.

As expected.

This time, the other elders could no longer sit still.

They spoke one after another, "Patriarch, First Elder, other conditions can be discussed, but this Silver Ridge Mine absolutely cannot be handed over."

"The Silver Ridge Mine is the economic lifeline of our Li Family. How can we cede it to others?"

"If we lose the Silver Ridge Mine, my Li Family will have no chance to rise again."

"The Su and Song families have gone too far. Even if it means mutual destruction, my Li Family will never hand over the Silver Ridge Mine. Otherwise, when we die, how will we face the ancestors of the Li Family?"

"Indeed, please reconsider, Patriarch and First Elder."

Seeing the excited reactions of everyone, the First Elder couldn't help but sigh.

He rubbed his forehead, closed his eyes in pain, and said dejectedly, "Mutual destruction? They probably wish we would do that. It's easy to say. Does the current Li Family have the ability to fight both the Su and Song families simultaneously and achieve mutual destruction? I fear it would be like throwing an egg against a rock."

"I know you are not afraid of death, but death is a small matter. To implicate the family in ruin and the bloodline in extinction, that would make you true eternal sinners of the Li Family."

The words of the elders abruptly stopped.

The First Elder was right. If they chose mutual destruction, they would die quickly.

But the thousands of clansmen of the Li Family would inevitably be slaughtered by the two families.

The council hall suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

"Are we really going to hand over the Silver Ridge Mine?"

After a long pause, the Second Elder said with unconcealed unwillingness.

"Innocence brings about crime. Without a Qi and Blood Realm cultivator to guard us, my Li Family is not qualified to negotiate."

The First Elder's voice was filled with desolation.

"It's all my fault for being incompetent, unable to break through the bottleneck of the Body Realm. Otherwise, how would the Su and Song families dare to bully my Green Maple Li Clan so much!"

"First Elder, why be so self-deprecating? Everyone has seen your contributions to the family over the years."

At the head seat...

Patriarch Li Xinge, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

The First Elder's cultivation to the Body Cultivation Grand Perfection realm showed that his talent was not bad, no less than his grandfather, Li Xuanfeng.

It was just that managing clan affairs for many years had delayed his cultivation.

Now that he was old, his Qi and Blood were declining, and he had missed the best opportunity to break through to the Qi and Blood Realm.

The First Elder opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but saw Li Xinge wave his hand.

"First Elder, no need to say more. The fault is not yours. Isn't the Li Family in its current predicament precisely because there is no Qi and Blood Realm cultivator to guard the clan? What if my Li Family had a new Qi and Blood Realm cultivator?"

Upon hearing this, hope flashed in everyone's eyes.

But it quickly dimmed.

If the Li Family gave birth to a new Qi and Blood Realm cultivator, the current crisis would be instantly resolved.

But how easy was it to break through to the Qi and Blood Realm?

The Li Family had migrated to Green Maple Valley over two hundred years ago, and in total, only seven Qi and Blood Realm cultivators had been born.

Currently, there were only two people in the Li Family qualified to attempt a breakthrough to the Qi and Blood Realm.

One was the First Elder, and the other was the Patriarch, Li Xinge.

The First Elder's Qi and Blood were declining, and his chances of breaking through to the Qi and Blood Realm were less than ten percent.

As for Li Xinge, he was still too young. To have cultivated to the Body Cultivation Grand Perfection realm at his age was already astonishing.

Breaking through to the Qi and Blood Realm was something they dared not hope for.

As if seeing through their thoughts.

Li Xinge chuckled lightly.

His aura suddenly began to change. A wisp of scarlet Qi and Blood power emanated from his body, condensing into a ferocious and domineering lion phantom in mid-air.

The lion let out a sky-shattering roar, and a terrifying pressure instantly surged into everyone's hearts like a stormy wave.

Under the oppression of this pressure, everyone felt as if their hearts were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe.

Everyone's eyes widened. They had only felt this kind of pressure from the old Patriarch, Li Xuanfeng.

The First Elder was the first to react, his cloudy eyes fixed on Li Xinge.

He said, his voice trembling and shocked, "Qi and Blood Manifestation, this... this is Qi and Blood Manifestation! Patriarch, could it be that you... you..."

Under the First Elder's anxious, expectant, and fearful gaze.

Li Xinge slowly nodded.

"I successfully broke through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Gate yesterday and advanced to the Qi and Blood Realm."

Although he had guessed it, after Li Xinge's personal confirmation, the First Elder was first stunned, then burst into laughter.

As he laughed, his eyes became moist.

"Good... good... good, my Li Family has successors, my Li Family has successors."

If the First Elder was so unrestrained, let alone the other elders.

"Am... am I dreaming? The Patriarch... actually broke through to the Qi and Blood Realm?"

The Second Elder slapped his own face hard, trying to confirm if he was dreaming.

The searing pain confirmed he wasn't dreaming, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Who could understand?

The contrast between before and after was simply too immense.

The previous second...

He was still worrying about the Li Family's future.

The next second...

He was told the Patriarch had broken through to the Qi and Blood Realm, and the Li Family had a new Qi and Blood Realm cultivator.

All problems would cease to be problems.

Who could handle such a shock?

"My Li Family has a new Qi and Blood Realm cultivator! Ancestors' blessings, Heaven's blessings!"

"Heaven has not abandoned my Green Maple Li Clan."

"The Patriarch is truly a prodigy of my Li Family! A Qi and Blood Realm cultivator at seventeen! I've lived so long, yet I've never heard of such a thing!"

"A seventeen-year-old Qi and Blood Realm cultivator is unprecedented in Baihe County's history of several hundred years."

"With the Patriarch's talent, he might even have a chance to ascend to the Innate Realm."

"If my Li Family truly produces an Innate cultivator, then in Baihe County, who will be able to stop my Li Family? Even Ascending Dragon Prefecture will surely have a place for my Li Family in the future!"

"I will immediately spread the news of the Patriarch breaking through to the Qi and Blood Realm to stabilize the morale of my Li Family and deter any petty troublemakers," the First Elder said, regaining his composure from his excitement, unable to wait.

Unexpectedly, just as he took a step, Li Xinge called out to him, "First Elder, wait a moment."

The First Elder stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Li Xinge. Li Xinge slowly said, "For now, let's keep the news of my breakthrough to the Qi and Blood Realm under wraps."

The First Elder frowned, confused.

He then asked, "Patriarch, why is this?"

Li Xinge let out a cold laugh. "Just after the previous Patriarch passed away, some clowns couldn't wait to jump out and provoke my Li Family, wanting to carve up my Li Family's flesh and drink my Li Family's blood. If this is tolerated, what is not? It seems my Li Family has been too low-key these past few years, making them forget the meaning of reverence."

The First Elder's pupils contracted. He seemed to understand Li Xinge's intention.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "The Patriarch intends to use them to establish his authority?"

"Precisely."

Li Xinge's expression was incredibly cold.

Before this, although he had the reputation of a genius, in the eyes of outsiders, he was ultimately still just a junior.

Even after he succeeded to the position of Patriarch of the Li Family, he figured some people would still act superior and not take him seriously.

Now that someone was conveniently delivering themselves to his doorstep to establish his authority, why wouldn't he oblige?

The First Elder pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"The Patriarch has thought this through carefully; this old man is not as far-sighted!"

The Patriarch was right. The Li Family had been dormant for too long these past few years, so long that people had forgotten whether the Li Family's blade was still sharp.