With the hidden dangers within already resolved, Li Chen acted far more openly, spending money, treasures, manpower, and material resources like flowing water.
Not only did outsiders believe Madam Zhang was favoring her beloved son and preparing to stake everything on him regardless of the cost, but Madam Zhang herself believed so too.
Only Li Chen understood that he had effectively taken control of the Xia Family Main Branch's finances and gained the power to allocate its funds and provisions.
This was hardly worth mentioning compared with the forces he had commanded in the past, but in terms of overall resources, it already rivaled Broad Cloud Peak in its early days.
In little more than a month, Xia Ziyi's cultivation soared at a visibly astonishing pace, while his innate aptitude underwent a transformation as profound as shedding his old flesh and bones.
Li Chen had completed the second phase of the Spirit-Particle Memory Meme implantation within his brain, creating a biological Auxiliary Brain exclusively for him. In practice, this sharpened his five senses, accelerated his neural responses, and greatly enhanced his brain's ability to process information, allowing him to withstand more intense combat.
Li Chen could not make sweeping changes to anything outwardly visible, where others might notice, but the brain concealed its mysteries within. Even accomplished cultivators would not dare make rash judgments about it, making it an ideal place for him to show his skills.
Naturally, Xia Ziyi's own cooperation was indispensable throughout this process.
Li Chen discovered that the youth was actually rather resilient and intelligent. The deaths of his father and elder brother had shaken him deeply; it was merely his mediocre aptitude that had kept him from accomplishing anything.
For this reason, Li Chen also tried teaching him some Puppet Dao knowledge and methods of