Explosive Development

"It's the Su Family! The Su Family reinforcements have arrived!"

"We actually have allies?"

"Charge! Kill every last one of these turtle bastards!"

As the Su Family experts entered the fray, the tide of battle turned instantly.

The head of the Su Family, a refined middle-aged man dressed in cloud-patterned robes, appeared beside Li Dalong. Seeing an Ancestral Tablet explode in front of his opponent, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he didn't hesitate to join Li Dalong in fighting the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage expert.

With the two of them working in tandem, the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage expert, already wounded by the blast from the Ancestral Tablet, was quickly killed.

"You must be Brother Li Dalong, right?" A strained smile appeared on Su Yun's face.

"That is indeed me."

Li Dalong let out a sigh of relief, though he seemed to have anticipated the Su Family's intervention. He cupped his hands toward Su Yun naturally, "Thank you, Brother Su, for your immense help today."

"You're too kind."

Su Yun's mouth twitched; helping out today was truly a matter of necessity!

In truth, before the Li Family had even approached him, he had received invitations from the other two families to join them in resisting the outsiders. However, the Su Family had never wanted to get involved in this mess, nor did they want to suffer any losses.

But he never expected that just as the battle in Tailin Town began, the fourth daughter of the Li Family, Li Yaowen, would appear right at his doorstep!

Li Yaowen had given him three choices.

First, stand with the Hu Family and the Wang Family to besiege the Li Family. In that case, the Li Family would abandon their territory and the three thousand citizens of Zhien Village without hesitation, leaving behind all their resources!

Second, stand with the Li Family. From then on, the Su Family would be the sole power in Tailin Town, with the Li Family as their ally.

As for the third, if they chose to remain bystanders, they would be branded as fence-sitters by everyone and would be liquidated once the battle concluded!

"Brother Li, we must not let a single person from the Hu Family or the Wang Family escape, lest they cause trouble in the future."

Su Yun said this to the battle-scarred Li Dalong before heading off to provide support elsewhere.

As he moved, he looked at the War Puppet flying toward the outskirts of Tailin Town and the Purple Thunder Heavenly Sun Python rampaging through the streets. His expression remained filled with shock!

"The Li Family... they are formidable."

He was afraid!

At the beginning, although the Li Family had been trying to trade with the Su Family for years, Su Yun had never really taken them seriously. But today, seeing them storm the city, he finally understood the true terror of the Li Family!

The Li Family had only risen to prominence for twenty or thirty years.

Yet, they already possessed the foundation of a major clan that had existed for centuries, even capable of fighting two families alone.

This was the reason he chose the Li Family after Li Yaowen gave him those three choices!

Even if the Li Family had lost today, if their members escaped, no one would have been able to stop them. So, what would happen in the next twenty, thirty, or even a hundred years?

"Patriarch, if we help the Li Family, will they swallow us up later..."

Beside Su Yun, an elder looked grave.

Su Yun shook his head, "In such a short time, the Li Family has already become this powerful. Previously, the Hu Family and the Wang Family had them blockaded, suppressing their development. Now that they have access to resources, they will reach another level. As long as we keep to ourselves, we can enjoy the shade under a big tree."

[Congratulations, you have led your family and clan forces to break through the economic blockade of Tailin Town and defeated two major families. Your clansmen are cheering for you!]

[Obtained Incense +5000!]

"We won!"

Li Xiang finally deactivated his control over the War Puppet and punched the air in joy.

In truth, he had prepared for both the worst and the best outcomes for this battle.

If they lost, he wouldn't be foolish enough to sit and wait for death. He would have taken all the members of the Li Family and retreated, breaking everything to build it back up later, abandoning the years of accumulation in Zhien Village. Once the members had successfully developed elsewhere, they would return for revenge.

And the best-case scenario was the Su Family.

This was the key to the entire battle!

He still remembered the conversation he had with Li Yaowen in the ancestral hall that day; the Su Family had always been the most critical link.

This time, it was also he who sent Li Yaowen to the Su Family, giving them three choices—and simultaneously giving them a way to survive!

"This time, it's a massive haul!"

Li Xiang could not hide his joy.

As the battle ended, the cleanup of the battlefield had already begun.

A delightful list appeared in the event log.

[You have obtained loot: Low-grade magical artifact, Rapid-Fire Gun.]

[You have obtained one copy of Alchemical Scripture.]

[You have obtained one copy of Spear Forest Formation Map.]

[...]

Isn't it said that war is the simplest way to accumulate wealth?

Following the Li Family's search, all the cultivation manuals and classics of the Hu and Wang families were gathered into the Li Family's coffers.

Not only that.

[Your family has occupied two gold mines.]

[Your family has occupied one 'Azure Stone Mine'.]

[Obtained 'Spirit Fish Lake', discovered ingredients capable of enhancing human true qi...]

The sheer variety of resources made Li Xiang's eyes dazzle.

[Your family head has obtained a low-grade spirit tool--Tianjun Seal!]

The low-grade spirit tool that had repeatedly caused trouble for Li Xiang during the battle with the War Puppet had now appeared in the hands of Li Dalong!

This spirit tool could not only grow in size to strike enemies with immense weight, but it could even form rune arrays for sealing; Li Xiang knew full well how powerful this thing was. A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator using a spirit tool could fight across a minor stage.

Yet, while the harvest was bountiful.

The heavy casualties suffered by the Li Family were also a reality that had to be faced.

Over a thousand civilians from Zhien Village had made the trip, and more than half were casualties. The Li Family's hundred-plus spirit beasts had also lost over half their number in the first wave of the Hu Family's spear-forest array, leaving only twenty-something remaining.

Of the four spirit beasts, only the weakest Eight-Leaf Flower Demon had survived.

Even the members of the Li Family were not unscathed.

Even though Li Xiang had tried his best to help his clansmen avoid danger, Li Yaotie had still narrowly escaped death during the battle, resulting in the loss of his left arm. The 'Ancestral Embrace' could only heal injuries, not regrow severed limbs.

Once the family develops further, I'll find a way for him.

Soon, the scene in the game shifted.

Everyone had returned to the Li Family stronghold with their spoils of war.

At this moment, Li Dalong was comforting the bereaved villagers of Zhien Village. They had received Li Dalong's promise: as long as the Li Family stood, they would protect the entire Zhien Village.

From this moment on, every child born in Zhien Village would receive guidance from cultivators, gain access to more farmland and resources, and even receive seeds for spirit herbs.

"Next, it's time for the Li Family to develop at high speed!"

Li Xiang grinned.

This war had not been without its impact on him.

He increasingly felt that his descendants in this game were truly real people; they possessed emotions and qualities that he himself had to admire. Often, Li Xiang even felt that if the Li Family in reality were like the Li Family in the game, he might also be willing to dedicate himself to the entire family.

Amidst his thoughts.

[Your descendant Li Yaotie has returned with a severed arm. Seeing this, Bai Rourou is heartbroken and takes the initiative to propose to Li Yaotie!]

The game screen was once again decked out in lanterns and colorful streamers, and all the villagers of Zhien Village came to the Li Family to attend the wedding.

It wasn't just them.

The Chen Family, who had returned to Tailin Town, and the Su Family head, Su Yun, also came to attend the wedding.

The one-armed Li Yaotie and Bai Rourou, dressed in wedding attire, stepped into the hall of marriage.

Immediately after, they arrived at the Ancestral Hall.

"Wuu wuu, Ancestor, Yaotie has finally gotten married. If I had known that losing an arm would let me marry Rourou, I would have chopped it off myself long ago." Li Yaotie wept like a two-hundred-pound child.

"..."

Li Xiang had previously been worried that losing an arm would affect Li Yaotie's state of mind, but now it seemed...

[Your descendant has married. Congratulations, you have gained +50 Incense!]

This joyous occasion washed away the sorrow of the heavy casualties in Zhien Village.

The entire Li Family and Zhien Village began a new round of development.

[Li Family Year 34]

At the start of this year, the Li Family's digestion of the gains from Tianlin Town began to show results!

[Li Yaozu has killed his enemy Hu Wei. His state of mind has cleared, and having grasped the path to Foundation Establishment, he has begun secluded cultivation!]

"The Li Family's third Foundation Establishment cultivator."

A smile appeared on Li Xiang's face.

However, the only downside was that after his divorce from Qu Xiaoxiao, Li Yaozu seemed heartbroken and had no intention of taking a wife.

"Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes." Li Xiang did not intend to force Li Yaozu to marry.

Just as he was pondering this.

"Ancestor, I did it, I did it again!"

The game screen instantly switched to the Spirit Herb Garden.

Li Yaoqing was seen holding a spirit tablet, spinning around in joy. The same Li Yaoqing who had coldly and ruthlessly shot enemies with poison arrows back in Tailin Town had returned to the Spirit Herb Garden like an innocent, naive child.

[Your descendant Li Yaoqing, after years of research, has finally developed a new medicine, Golden Spirit Powder!]

[Golden Spirit Powder (Grade 9 Potion): Increases Metal Spirit Root by 1-8 points.]

"Finally developed it!"

Looking at this notification, Li Xiang almost jumped up on the spot.

This Grade 9 potion was practically a miracle drug for the novice stage; it was something capable of changing a person's aptitude.

Even if placed in the real world, it could sell for an astronomical price!

At the same time, it meant that the aptitude of the Li Family members would improve once again. Among them, the one who would benefit the most was Li Dalong; his Metal Spirit Root had reached 68 points after entering the Foundation Establishment Realm, and as long as his luck wasn't too terrible, he would be able to break through to 70!

"Ancestor, we can now obtain many resources from Tailin Town, and I have already prepared to develop two new medicines!"

After bowing to the spirit tablet, Li Yaoqing began to tinker with her new medicines.

Li Xiang took a brief look.

Clear Wind Powder, a potion that could keep one's mind clear while practicing cultivation techniques, was equivalent to increasing a person's comprehension!

Black Jade Intermittent Ointment, an extremely potent healing medicine, could treat both internal and external injuries; it could even reattach severed limbs as long as they had been broken for no more than 30 seconds.

"Yaoqing, you really are my greatest treasure!"

Li Xiang's mouth stretched almost to his ears.

As long as Li Yaoqing increased her efforts in refining, and once the Li Family grew stronger in the future and she trained more disciples, Li Xiang could even open a pharmaceutical company directly in the real world.

To get rich and prosper!