At 130, He Was Just the Right Age to Venture Forth!

Li Yuankai and the other three formation masters each held a Spirit-Testing Stone and took up positions in the four directions. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, they had tested all forty-odd martial artists, one by one.

The results were unexpected: nine of them possessed Spirit Roots!

In the Yuyu Realm, the chance of finding a Spirit Root was roughly one in ten thousand, yet here it was a full two in ten.

On second thought, though, it made sense. These Grandmasters were exceptionally gifted to begin with, each one a rarity among ten thousand. It was only natural that their chances of possessing Spirit Roots were higher.

The martial artists found to have Spirit Roots flushed with excitement. After this battle, they could see clearly that the Li Household was a true immortal sect of the righteous path. To follow such immortals in cultivation was a fortuitous opportunity earned over several lifetimes.

"Greetings, immortals!"

The nine cultivators knelt and bowed together. Li Zhengjun nodded in satisfaction, but he was in no hurry to impart cultivation methods to them.

He had previously taught the Fang siblings a Cultivation Method only because he had formed a connection with them first, and because he had wanted to test whether the natives of the Great Scarlet Realm could cultivate using the Yuyu Realm's methods.

But today was different. The Li Household intended to put down roots and establish a foundation here. These martial artists bore other surnames, after all, and could not cultivate the Li Household's direct-line Cultivation Methods.

As for which lesser Method Formulas they should be taught, he still needed to return and consult his grandfather and the clan elders before reaching a decision.

"Congratulations, everyone. You possess Spirit Roots and are blessed with a deep affinity for immortality. Those willing to stay and cultivate may first register at the Method Transmission Hall. Once the Devil Qi in your bodies has been cleansed, you will be taught Immortal Methods."

How could the martial artists be unwilling? They hurriedly bowed again.

Li Dongping stepped out from the crowd. He was temporarily serving as hall master of the Method Transmission Hall. With a smile, he called out, "Please follow me, everyone."

For a time, voices rose before the hall as people went their separate ways.

The cultivators in whom no Spirit Roots had been found silently withdrew to one side, unable to hide their disappointment, their expressions bleak.

Seeing this, Li Zhengjun comforted them:

"Do not lose heart. Though Spirit Roots are a threshold on the path of cultivation, they are not the only way forward. You can travel to the various commanderies on behalf of the Li Household and clean up the lingering harm left by the devil path. All who lend a hand will be rewarded according to their contributions and given Contribution Points. These can be exchanged for gold, silver, and land, as well as spiritual cultivation resources and even Cultivation Methods. In time, you may yet be able to pave a path to immortality for your descendants."

Their eyes lit up at his words, sweeping away their earlier dejection.

"We are willing to serve the immortals!"

Their cheers were fervent, without the slightest trace of hesitation.

Li Yuankai stepped forward and gathered them together. He registered each person in turn, then took out items he had prepared in advance and handed them out.

"This box contains two bottles of pills. One holds detoxification pills, which can neutralize the lingering poison of Devil Cultivation Methods and restore Qi and Blood. The other holds Qi-nourishing pills, which can strengthen Qi and Blood and nourish the body. There is also a copy of the Record of Devil Path Crimes, detailing the crimes committed by Devil Cultivators over the past eighteen years, as well as methods for identifying various Devil Cultivation Methods and devil pills. Take this record to the various commanderies and follow the map to find the steed. Whatever you recover, you will receive a corresponding number of Contribution Points."

He paused, then took several thin booklets from the box.

"In addition, there are several body-refining methods. The methods previously taught by the devil path did nothing but boost Qi and Blood and were exceedingly crude in martial arts and movement techniques. These Body Refining Cultivation Methods are all foundational chapters from the Li Household's body-refining branch, and even mortals can practice them. If any of you are interested, you are free to study them yourselves."

Li Yuankai had always been gentle and considerate in his dealings with others. His words felt like a spring breeze, and the hearts of the martial artists, who had been anxious and uneasy, warmed despite themselves.

"Your kindness to us is as weighty as a mountain, immortal!"

Everyone accepted the items with both hands, deeply moved.

"The immortals have slain devils and dispelled the miasma, and now you have bestowed Cultivation Methods and pills upon us. We shall keep this kindness in our hearts! We will devote ourselves to wiping out the Devil Cultivation Methods and will never let those methods and devil pills spread their poison among the people!"

Li Yuankai shook his head with a gentle smile.

"To eradicate the devilish scourge and restore peace to the people of the Ning Kingdom was the Li Household's purpose in coming here. There is no need to thank us."

He paused briefly, then continued:

"Besides the cleanup, there is another matter you must convey to the common people everywhere. Starting today, the Li Household will test people between the ages of six and forty for Spirit Roots in batches. Anyone who possesses a Spirit Root may join the Li Household and cultivate. After that, children who have reached the age of six will be tested routinely each year."

This was the policy Li Zhengjun and several clan elders had settled on after repeated discussions. The Lineage was newly established, and it was still unclear how many spiritual resources the Ning Kingdom possessed. Rather than cast a wide net and spread their resources thin, it was better to concentrate first on testing the young and direct their limited cultivation resources toward those with the greatest potential.

Besides, establishing a foundation required a great deal of manpower, and these people would be the first available to them.

Everyone's hearts shook at the news. This meant that all who could cultivate would be allowed to do so.

At the thought of their own children and grandchildren, the martial artists found fresh motivation.

Though they themselves had missed their chance to cultivate, if they could accumulate more Contribution Points as the first to go forth and pave the way for their descendants, wouldn't their descendants have an easier path into immortality?

Everyone carefully put their belongings away, gathered around Li Yuankai, and listened attentively to the remaining details.

Meanwhile, the other formation masters followed Li Zhengjun's instructions, leaving the palace first and announcing that the people of the capital would be tested for Spirit Roots.

The rain had stopped by then, and the leaden clouds were gradually dispersing. People were still worried about what was happening in the imperial city.

Just earlier, the light of treasures had soared into the sky from the palace, and thunder had rolled as though divine beings were battling with their arts inside. No one knew what momentous event had taken place.

As they were speculating, several figures suddenly stepped out of the palace gates and walked through the air.

"Immortals! They're immortals!"

No one knew who shouted first, but people all along the street fell to their knees in a rush, pressing their foreheads to the ground, not daring to look up.

In all their years, this was the first time they had seen so many immortals appear at once with their own eyes.

Even more surprising, these immortals all had kindly faces and carried themselves with grace and dignity, utterly unlike the sinister "immortal masters" they remembered.

Li Chenxuan swept his gaze over the crowd and spoke in a clear voice.

"Everyone, starting today, the Li Household will test those of suitable age in the capital for Spirit Roots. Anyone who possesses one may join the Li Household and cultivate, regardless of birth or station!"

The street fell silent for a moment when he finished, then erupted like a boiling pot.

"What? Everyone can be tested for Spirit Roots? Even if they aren't Grandmasters?"

The people were so excited they could hardly speak coherently. In the past, only those lofty Grandmasters had been qualified to seek an immortal opportunity. Ordinary families had never even dared to dream of one.

And now this immortal opportunity had fallen so easily into their own laps?!

Li Chenxuan stood in the air, looking down at the dense sea of people below. His face glowed, and his heart surged with excitement.

People! So many mortals with no master-back with the Lineage, this would be unthinkable! By a rough estimate, the Ning Kingdom has at least a million people. Even at one in ten thousand, that would mean over a hundred promising talents with Spirit Roots! These people are the foundation on which the Li Household will establish itself here!

The old man's face glowed, and for a moment he seemed to have recovered the boundless enthusiasm with which he had handled clan affairs in his youth.

When Li Zhengchen had first approached him, he had still been somewhat hesitant.

But now, seeing the people filling the city with his own eyes, he understood completely. He had spent most of his life in the Ancestral Law Hall, knew the clan rules and affairs by heart, and understood how to govern the people and administer affairs. Weren't those skills made for this very place?

At 130, he was just the right age to venture forth!

The Devil Cultivators had been eliminated. Next, in this foreign land and realm, he would build a true new city for the Li Household!

"Tomorrow at the hour of the dragon, tables will be set up outside the palace gates for testing in turn!"

He made the announcement in a loud voice. The people cheered and leaped for joy, kowtowing without end.

The remaining disciples of Subduing Tiger Pass cleaned up the battlefield, released Jiang Cheng from the pagoda, and ordered him to identify the Devil Cultivators' various strongholds in the capital.

Jiang Cheng had long expected that his master and fellow disciples would not escape this calamity. Yet when he emerged and took form, the sight of the palace still frightened his soul out of him.

Blackened traces of lightning strikes covered the ground, and the terrifying presence of the Thunder Method still lingered in the air.

His fellow disciples lay sprawled everywhere, their deaths gruesome. One glance was enough to tell that they had been crushed and slaughtered in a one-sided battle.

"Eleven... a mere eleven at Middle Qi Refinement killed all thirty-odd of my fellow disciples, and not one escaped alive... too terrifying. Who are these people... too terrifying!"

Jiang Cheng's face was ashen, and his legs were so weak he could scarcely stand. In all his years of cultivation, he had never seen cultivators with such overwhelming strength.

Driven along by the Li Household cultivator, he walked ahead in a daze. Knowing he had little time left to live, he suddenly burst into loud sobs.

"My lord, my sins are grave, and I dare not hope to live... I only beg... only beg that you give me a quick death afterward!"

The Li Household cultivator glanced at him and nodded expressionlessly. Only then did Jiang Cheng lead them away.

About half a day later, a detailed report was submitted.

The Devil Cultivators had spared no effort in exploring the Ning Kingdom over the past eighteen years. Their findings covered a wealth of information, including its population, terrain, products, and distribution of Spiritual Qi. Thorough and well organized, the report spared the Li Household much additional exploration.