Legacy of the Spirit Stone

Chapter 69 – Li Yuande

The conference lasted for three days, with the most anticipated events and highlights taking place on the final day.

At that time, Song Kaiyang, the lord of Moonwatch City, would join forces with several major powers, including the Su family, to appear in the mountain's paradise, extending olive branches to the young cultivators they favored.

During this period, they would bestow spiritual pills and miraculous medicines, bestow mystical talismans and treasures, and even have the rare opportunity to receive personal teachings from Core Formation stage cultivators.

Moreover, at the end of the conference, a Core Formation spiritual treasure known as the "Enlightenment Stone" would appear. It was rumored that this item could help people achieve sudden enlightenment and instantly break through several layers of cultivation!

Reflecting on the first day, even a quarter-hour of demonstration was mesmerizing, let alone the personal guidance from high-level Core Formation cultivators and the allure of the "Enlightenment Stone" for Qi Condensation cultivators.

If time were to turn back, at the start of the conference, Yang Lingrui might have been full of anticipation and extremely interested in it.

But now, well...

Having witnessed Su Lingyun's conduct and the current plight of the Li family, he realized the true nature of these higher-ups once they shed their disguises.

How could their benefits be so easily obtained?

In the blink of an eye, one might be thoroughly schemed against, with even future generations dragged into it.

Such fortune, the Yang family cannot bear, so we will not stay here any longer.

With a decision made in his heart, Yang Lingrui immediately took action.

He first went to the Li family's villa to bid farewell to Li Cheng.

Upon learning that he was leaving early, Li Cheng was very understanding. The two shared the same view, believing that staying for the last day was not a good idea.

"This is also good. Leaving now can avoid the chaotic situation outside the city three days later," Li Cheng said.

Yang Lingrui nodded, "Hmm, this journey, thanks to Brother Li's care, this kindness, Lingrui and the Yang family will remember."

Li Cheng just smiled without responding, waving his hand to let Yang Lingrui leave.

He watched Yang Lingrui's figure disappear, then sighed and returned inside.

But when he closed the door, he suddenly found someone already sitting in the room.

Li Cheng was momentarily stunned in disbelief, then hurriedly knelt down.

"Li Cheng, pays respects to Ancestor!"

Sitting inside was an elder with a kindly smile looking at Li Cheng, none other than Li Yuande, the Li family's ancestor at the peak of the Qi Condensation Twelfth Layer.

"Rise, no need to be formal," Li Yuande gently called.

Li Cheng stood up, looking at his ancestor, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"The family matters owe much to you, it has been hard."

"The Golden Scale Conference is significant. As a descendant of the Li family, I naturally think of the family, there's no talk of hardship, Ancestor overpraises."

Li Cheng thought the ancestor was referring to recent conference matters, but unexpectedly, the ancestor spoke again, "Not just these days, but all along, it has been hard on you, Li Cheng."

Hearing this, Li Cheng's heart trembled, as if he sensed something, his heart couldn't help but quiver.

Then, Li Yuande said, "It's just a pity, my Li family now, its fate is exhausted."

When he said this, his tone was extremely calm, as if discussing something unrelated to himself, his heart as still as a lake.

"Ancestor, Ancestor... sob..."

Li Cheng's voice trembled as he called twice, then sat powerlessly on the ground, holding his head, sobbing helplessly.

This matter, in fact, he had long known in his heart, but that obsession made him unwilling to give up.

That was the ancestor who treated him like a grandson, the sister who grew up with him, inseparable and with whom he shared everything.

How could he give up on them...

Previously, he stubbornly struggled, trying every way to muddy the waters of the Li family, seeking a turning point.

But today, hearing these words from the ancestor's mouth, he knew everything was over.

Seeing him like this, Li Yuande also felt immense heartache, stepping forward to gently stroke his hair with his wrinkled palm.

"Child, don't be sad, the Li family reaching this point, the fault lies with me."

Li Yuande slowly said, "In my youth, I only focused on cultivation, never willing to be distracted by family issues, always thinking that as long as my cultivation was deeper, my realm higher, these problems would resolve themselves. Because of this, small conflicts that could have been resolved grew like a snowball."

"By the time my path was blocked and I woke up, it was too late, the family was scattered, fragmented, and in the end, it needed a junior like you to mend it, truly shameful."

"Now, looking back, the way to family prosperity lies in managing the family, but unfortunately, I have no extraordinary talent in this area, the Li family in my hands has reached its end."

Li Yuande's steady words calmed Li Cheng's heart somewhat.

He wiped away his tears, softly asking, "Ancestor, is there really no hope for the family?"

"I and the Li family, both are completely finished."

Li Yuande paused, then his tone shifted, "But you still have hope, Qingwan still has hope."

Hearing Li Qingwan's name, a light rekindled in Li Cheng's previously lifeless eyes.

Li Yuande gestured, summoning an object.

Li Cheng looked closely, his mouth opening in shock.

It was a male corpse, appearing in his twenties, which was nothing unusual, but the key was that this person's appearance was ninety percent similar to his own!

"Ancestor, this is!"

"This is the contingency I prepared for you. The Li family may perish, but you cannot."

Li Yuande looked at Li Cheng, his eyes full of gratification, "Cheng'er, no matter what happens in the future, remember one thing from your ancestor, you must live. Revenge can be set aside, debts can be left unpaid, but you must live!"

Li Cheng's mind wavered, momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Yuande patted his shoulder, smiling, "As for Qingwan, the ancestor will personally secure fifteen years for her."

Hearing this, clarity gradually returned to Li Cheng's eyes.

"Ancestor, how can this be done, Qingwan has long been targeted by that person..."

"Heh, it's not just him who covets this old life of mine."

Li Yuande smiled calmly, "I have made a deal with the Dynasty, to demonstrate the complete process of Qi falling to Core Formation for their princes and grandsons, in return, they will protect Qingwan for fifteen years."

Li Cheng's body froze upon hearing this, looking at the elder who had always cared for him with love, tears streaming down his face.

The ancestor spoke so plainly, but that was Qi falling to Core Formation!

It was a death sentence!

For a Qi Condensation cultivator to attempt Core Formation was extremely dangerous, but with the Li family ancestor's exceptional talent, he had a chance of success.

However, during this time, he was schemed against by Lone Moon Mountain, designated as a stepping stone for a certain genius disciple's advancement, unable to make any progress to this day.

As an independent family, the Li family was more inclined towards sects, but unexpectedly, the other side not only targeted the Li family ancestor but also wanted Li Qingwan.

This was something Li Yuande could not tolerate, so he sided with the Dynasty.

The so-called Qi falling to Core Formation, in simple terms, was a Qi Condensation breakthrough to Core Formation failure.

This was also a form of demonstration, the difference being that it required Li Yuande to perform the process at the cost of his life.

What Li Yuande had to do was to demonstrate the entire process of breaking through from Qi Condensation to Core Formation in front of the Dynasty's princes and grandsons.

To fully display every mistake and flaw, and after enduring indescribable pain and torment, to self-destruct his core at the moment of forming the core, dying as the true essence burst through his body.

Such an opportunity was extremely rare, within the Tiger-Chasing Dynasty, to find someone at the peak of Qi Condensation Twelfth Layer, with the talent for Core Formation, capable and willing to demonstrate the entire failure process, only Li Yuande could do it.

If one could witness the entire process, it would be immensely beneficial for the observers' future Core Formation!

The Dynasty saw this value, which is why they agreed to Li Yuande's request.

But his life could only guarantee Li Qingwan fifteen years, beyond that, it would depend on the girl's own fortune.

Because the force that targeted her was above Lone Moon Mountain, possessing power equivalent to the Tiger-Chasing Dynasty.

So even with the Dynasty's intervention, it could only delay matters, unable to truly protect Li Qingwan.

"This is enough, you live, Qingwan can live, and there is hope."

Li Yuande finished speaking, his eyes gazing outside, in the direction Yang Lingrui had left.

"What do you think of the Yang family?"

Li Cheng did not hesitate, answering with certainty, "Full of potential!"

"Good! That's good!"

Li Yuande's face lit up with joy, repeatedly praising, then leisurely said, "Always thinking of fishing in this pond, not knowing a hidden dragon lies in the abyss, just waiting for the right moment, when the fish leaps over the dragon gate, to let you all know what the true path is!"

Li Yuande was overjoyed, walking slowly outside, looking at the bright moon in the sky, as if returning to his youth, feeling a long-lost sense of delight.

"Cheng'er, in the future, if the Yang family faces difficulties, you must lend a helping hand."

"The path to the heavens is perilous, since our family cannot walk it, we must become the foundation, paving the way for fellow cultivators to come."

"I, Li Yuande, have cultivated for a hundred years, with only one wish, that all cultivators here can be free from the constraints of evil winds, to view the bright moon and rivers, roam the four continents and five regions, indulge in the world, and joyfully pursue the great path!"