The shockwaves from the Skywood Village massacre and the fall of the Bone-Eroding Douluo continued to ripple through Heavenly Phoenix City and the surrounding forces over the following days.
Within the Li Family estate, the atmosphere was grim and tense. Under Li Yuanhui's strict orders, every Li Family descendant outside, regardless of what mission they were on, was urgently recalled with the highest priority. At the same time, the city's defenses were raised to the highest level, and patrols kept watch day and night, their sharp eyes sweeping every corner as an invisible tension filled the air.
At the center of this storm, Li Xuansheng announced his seclusion the day after returning home.
Inside the quiet chamber, Li Xuansheng sat cross-legged. His life-and-death battle with Qiu Wanhe, Gu Yi's sacrifice alongside so many clansmen, the impact of his memories from a past life, and the awakening of the system... all of it mixed together, forming immense pressure and motivation. Driven by this force, the Soul Power within him surged and circulated at an unprecedented speed. The barrier at level forty-nine was already on the verge of collapse after repeated assaults.
Gu Yi's resolute back as he stood before him flashed through his mind from time to time, along with scenes of his clansmen fighting in blood until they fell.
"Strength... I need greater strength!"
The thought burned through his will like a blazing flame.
Finally, late at night on the seventh day of his seclusion.
"Boom!"
An invisible roar seemed to erupt within the quiet chamber. The surging Soul Power around Li Xuansheng suddenly contracted, then poured back into his body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, becoming denser and more profound. An aura far more powerful than before rose from him, while the Divine Phoenix Halberd and the hidden Heavenly Heart Ring within his spiritual world hummed with delight at the same time.
Level fifty!
After enduring the tempering of life and death and a transformation of the heart, he had finally broken through the bottleneck in one stroke, reaching the threshold for obtaining his fifth soul ring!
[Ding! The host's Soul Power has risen to level 50. Reward obtained: 100 Summoning Points.] [Ding! Side Quest: Breakthrough completed. Reward: 100 Summoning Points issued.] [Current Summoning Points: 400.]
The system's notification sounded at just the right moment. Li Xuansheng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them before fading into calm. He felt the surging power within him, yet there was not the slightest trace of pride. He knew that level fifty, amidst this perilous situation, was merely a new beginning.
Meanwhile, outside Heavenly Phoenix City, several groups of travel-worn people passed through the tightly guarded city gates under the careful protection of family escorts and returned to the Li Family estate one after another.
Among them were the outstanding members of the younger generation of the Li Family, who had rushed back from their respective academies or training grounds after receiving the urgent notice.
Li Xuanqing, fifteen years old, a level forty-eight assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor. He was handsome, with sharp eyes, and though covered in travel dust, his fighting spirit remained high.
Li Xuanmeng, fourteen years old, a level forty-five control-type Battle Soul Ancestor. She was delicate and beautiful, with a hint of worry between her brows, though determination outweighed it.
Li Xuanyan, thirteen years old, a level forty-one assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor. He had a cold temperament and spoke little, but the faint chill radiating from his body revealed his considerable strength.
Li Xuanzhong, fourteen years old, a level forty-one assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor. He was steady by nature and efficient in his actions.
Li Xuanbei, sixteen years old, a level fifty control-type Battle Soul Ancestor. He held an ancient book in his hand, his gentle bearing carrying an air of mystery.
Li Xuanyao, thirteen years old, a level thirty-six food-type Soul Elder. She was the youngest, her face still carrying a trace of childishness, though her eyes were lively.
These were the future hopes of the Li Family. In the family's time of crisis, every one of them chose to return and stand or fall with the family.
Outside Heavenly Phoenix City, within a hidden stronghold.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
Qiu Miehun, the head of the Qiu Family, listened to his subordinates' report of no progress and smashed the stone table beside him to pieces with a palm strike.
"It has been a week! A full week! Other than seeing those Li Family brats run back to their nest like frightened rabbits, what else have you found out?! Where is the mysterious expert who killed Elder Wanhe? His identity, his strength, his origins—do you not have the slightest clue about any of it?!"
Several intelligence chiefs kneeling below fell silent in terror, cold sweat soaking their backs.
"P-Patriarch, please calm your anger! The Li Family is now heavily guarded, sealed up like an iron barrel. Our people simply cannot infiltrate it. That expert has not appeared publicly since that day, as if he has vanished... This subordinate... this subordinate suspects that the Li Family may possess some special formation or Soul Tool that conceals auras..."
"Excuses!" Qiu Miehun roared in fury. "What I want is results, not speculation! I will give you three more days. If you still fail to uncover any useful information, go receive your punishment from the Punishment Hall yourselves!"
The next morning, after stabilizing his cultivation in seclusion, Li Xuansheng stepped out of the quiet chamber. Warm sunlight fell over him, dispersing some of the gloom that had lingered for days. He strolled toward the training ground in the family's core area.
Before he even approached, he could already hear the howls of colliding Soul Power and the cries of exertion.
On the vast training ground, several young figures were cultivating diligently.
Li Xuanqing wielded the Sky Phoenix Halberd. His halberd techniques were fierce, and the scorching wind from its swings warped the air slightly, showing that his Soul Power had improved again.
Li Xuanmeng swung the Fate Phoenix Staff, streaks of green light filled with the aura of life flashing across the field. At times, they gathered into vines that bound the training dummies; at others, they turned into halos that healed the minor injuries suffered during sparring. Her abilities combined control and support.
Li Xuanyan's Ice Phoenix Halberd exuded the exact opposite kind of chill. Every thrust brought forth biting frost, leaving pale marks across the ground.
Li Xuanzhong's Sky Phoenix Halberd techniques were steady and proper, but his foundation was solid, each strike heavy and powerful.
Li Xuanbei was not sparring with anyone. Instead, he sat cross-legged at the edge of the field, the Book of Nature floating before him. Its pages turned without wind, while the surrounding flowers and grass swayed with it, releasing streams of natural aura that flowed into his body. His cultivation method was quite unusual.
Meanwhile, the youngest, Li Xuanyao, continuously activated her martial soul, the Phoenix Tree, condensing golden Vitality Phoenix Fruits that gave off enticing fragrances and pulses of Soul Power. She handed them to her older brothers and sisters whose Soul Power had been heavily depleted after sparring.
When they saw Li Xuansheng arrive, everyone stopped cultivating and gathered around him.
"Brother Xuansheng!"
"Young Master!"
The forms of address differed, but they carried the same concern and closeness.
Li Xuanqing spoke first, his tone carrying lingering fear and relief. "We rushed back the moment we received the news. We all heard about what happened in Skywood Village. Thank goodness you're all right!"
Li Xuanmeng carefully examined Li Xuansheng, then asked softly, "Brother Xuansheng, your aura seems stronger. Did you break through?"
Li Xuansheng nodded and smiled. "Yes, I just broke through to level fifty."
The moment he said this, everyone was startled, then delighted expressions appeared on their faces. Level fifty at fourteen—such talent was considered among the best in the entire East!
Li Xuanyan coolly uttered two words. "Impressive."
Li Xuanzhong patted Li Xuansheng on the shoulder. "That is great! Once you obtain your fifth soul ring, our high-end combat power will grow even stronger."
Li Xuanbei closed the Book of Nature and smiled gently. "Perfect timing. I just reached level fifty as well, so we can go obtain soul rings together. Asheng, your talent truly is remarkable."
Li Xuanyao immediately ran over with two freshly condensed blue Vitality Phoenix Fruits, their vitality at its fullest. "Brother Xuansheng, eat these! They just formed, so they are the best for replenishing vitality!"
Looking at these blood-related brothers and sisters before him, each blessed with outstanding talent, and feeling their sincere concern and unity, warmth surged through Li Xuansheng's heart. The family's hardships might be unavoidable, but as long as these people remained, the soul of the Li Family remained, and so did hope.
"It is good that everyone has returned." Li Xuansheng took the fruit from Li Xuanyao and bit into it. Sweet juice and gentle Soul Power flowed through his limbs and bones. "The Qiu Family has not given up on destroying us. The days ahead will likely not be peaceful. We must seize every moment to improve ourselves."
His gaze swept across everyone, his eyes resolute. "Through wind and rain together—the Li Family will not fall!"
The young men and women exchanged glances, each seeing the same determination in the others' eyes.
"Through wind and rain together!"
Young yet resolute voices echoed over the training ground, as though foretelling the unyielding will this family would unleash in the face of despair.
(End of Chapter Three)
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