"Father."
The brothers, Li Jianshu and Li Jianning, were supporting Li Yuanwu as he sat down.
In this battle, their father had been valiant. Relying on the Martial Dao, his strength had reached the level of the Peak Golden Core Realm—a feat likely unique in all the world.
Yet, in the chaos of such a great war, who could possibly look out for everyone? Their father had lost an arm. Had the Old Ancestor not noticed it in time, their father might have...
Li Jianshu and Li Jianning dared not dwell on the thought. With faces full of worry, they tended to their father's wounds.
"It is merely a lost arm." Li Yuanwu offered a word of comfort to his two children. Usually obsessed with his martial arts practice to the exclusion of all else, seeing the worried expressions on his sons' faces now brought a rare warmth to his heart.
He smiled and said:
"The clan possesses spiritual medicines that can regrow severed limbs. And even if that fails, using Spirit Puppet parts to strengthen my physique is also a viable path. There are plenty of methods, so there is no need to be dejected."
[Your descendant, Li Yuanwu, has practiced martial arts for many years. After studying the methods of Demon Beasts in the Ethereal Immortal Grove, he strengthened his own body, utilizing formation arrays to increase the surrounding gravity for his training.
Obtained Trait: Meridians Like Rivers]
[Under heavy pressure, his meridians flow like great rivers, possessing ten times the capacity of an ordinary Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.]
[Obtained Trait: Extreme Martial Artist]
[Being in the Foundation Establishment Realm and lacking the aptitude for the Golden Core, he instead expanded his meridians.
His Martial Dao realm has surpassed Foundation Establishment cultivators, reaching the strength of a Peak Golden Core. His mental fortitude is increased by 50%.]
[Obtained Trait: The World's Strongest Foundation Establishment]
[Possessing average Spirit Roots and aptitude, he took an alternate path to cultivate the Martial Dao.
Firmly believing that human determination can conquer the will of Heaven, his true strength at the Foundation Establishment Realm has reached the Peak of the Golden Core.]
"Father, if you reach the Golden Core Realm, you will be able to regrow your severed limb yourself."
Li Jianshu said in a deep voice, "We have earned merit in this battle. I will go and beg Great-Grandfather for a pill to help you break through."
Li Jianning nodded solemnly.
"Father, please put your mind at ease. Big Brother and I will strive even harder. Ten years ago, you refused the 'Primordial Blood Fruit.' Next, Big Brother and I will head to the Eastern Border to do battle with the Wu Tribe, all to earn a Blood Fruit for you."
"I appreciate your intentions." Li Yuanwu waved his hand dismissively, his gaze shifting to Li Zhiheng, who was meditating with his eyes closed.
"Your grandfather already asked the elders about this long ago."
"Huh?"
The two brothers were slightly stunned as they looked toward their grandfather, Li Zhiheng.
Their grandfather had always been one for secluded cultivation, seemingly indifferent to worldly affairs; yet, in truth, he had been silently looking out for them all along.
Li Jianshu furrowed his brows and asked, "Then why did you refuse it, Father? If Grandfather asked the clan for it, he certainly would have received it."
Li Yuanwu's eyes burned with intensity.
"Hmph. Most people in this world possess mediocre aptitude. Even my Foundation Establishment Marrow Cleansing produced only average results. Heaven does not favor me.
But I take the Martial Arts as my Dao, and I insist on carving out my own path. I told you long ago: the path is walked by oneself. Within ten years, I will surely break through to the Golden Core and achieve minor success in the Martial Dao!"
"...."
The two brothers exchanged a glance and fell silent, feeling helpless about their father's stubbornness. Yet, they also felt a profound sense of admiration; in the entire family, their father was the only one who relied on no external forces whatsoever.
Just then.
A sudden sense of alertness rose in the hearts of the father and his two sons.
Three figures had abruptly appeared on the Spirit Boat.
Upon seeing the arrivals, everyone furrowed their brows. They looked toward the young man among the three, but in the end, by tacit agreement, they paid him little heed.
The young man bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Great-Grandfather, Grandfather, Granduncle."
"En."
Li Yuanwu closed his eyes. Li Jianshu and Li Jianning nodded slightly.
Sensing that the cultivation bases of the visitors were extraordinary, Li Jianshu couldn't help but bow and ask,
"I wonder what business brings you two seniors from the Eternal Sect here? If you are seeking our family elders, this junior will go and report it at once."
Unexpectedly, the white-bearded old Daoist's eyes lit up.
He stared straight at Li Jianning, and then fixed his gaze on Li Jianshu—staring so intensely that the two brothers felt their scalps go numb.
"Good! Good! Good!"
The old Daoist stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"This Daoist is Lan Qi, known to the world as Ancestor Lan. To think... to think that this Daoist would actually encounter such rare prodigies as you two brothers!"
The two brothers furrowed their brows even tighter.
They had lived their entire lives with aptitude that was utterly ordinary.
This was the first time they had ever received such praise, and they couldn't shake the feeling that there was some trickery involved.
"Ah, this Daoist has been too abrupt."
Ancestor Lan realized he was being too rash and laughed.
"This Daoist was cultivating back at the sect. I performed many divinations regarding the affairs of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, yet in doing so, I unexpectedly divined the existence of a Five Elements Dao Body."
"What kind of heavenly aptitude is this? I originally thought that finding a Five Elements Dao Body was already a tremendous blessing, but never did I imagine I would also encounter a Body of Heavenly Punishment!"
"What?!!"
Duanmu Qi's eyes went wide with shock. A Five Elements Dao Body... their Sect had once nearly produced one—a senior of his. Regrettably, that senior had perished and his Dao dissipated while attempting to break through to the Golden Core Realm.
This incident had become the greatest regret of Ancestor Lan's life; he only hated that he hadn't been able to serve as a Dharma Protector for that senior at the time.
As for the Body of Heavenly Punishment, Duanmu Qi cast a glance at Li Jianshu; sure enough, the boy possessed a Lightning Spirit on his person.
The Body of Heavenly Punishment was special, yet in a way, it wasn't.
To achieve this physique, one had to pay a price: it required the assistance of heavenly thunder punishment to cultivate. Ordinary spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth could not be absorbed into the body at all.
This was because the meridians, Golden Core, and physique became accustomed to thunder tribulations and thus immune to other forms of Spiritual power.
But where in the world could one find enough heavenly thunder to aid in cultivation? Cultivating the Body of Heavenly Punishment was manageable before the Nascent Soul Realm, but beyond that, it became incredibly difficult.
"Are the two of you willing to return with me to the Eternal Immortal Sect for cultivation?"
The more Ancestor Lan looked at the two of them, the more delighted he became.
Upon hearing this, Li Chuyuan, who stood to the side, remained dazed, his eyes dull with shock. He simply couldn't believe it.
His grandfather clearly had mixed and impure Spirit Roots and was still only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment despite being over seventy years old. Yet last night, he had witnessed his grandfather's cultivation surpass his own, slaughtering enemies in all directions on the battlefield with Five Elements Spiritual power.
"What exactly happened? What has happened over these years?!!"
Li Chuyuan's mind went blank. His grandfather, who had once doted on him so dearly, seemed to have completely transformed; now, he looked upon him with cold eyes.
Li Chuyuan suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart, as if he had lost something vital.
This tangle of complex emotions made his nose sting, leaving him at a loss for what to do.
However, what surprised him even more was that his granduncle and grandfather exchanged a glance, then bowed to Ancestor Lan, who looked like a celestial being descended from the heavens.
"We thank Senior for your kindness. That we brothers have achieved what we have today is entirely due to the grace and care of our family elders. We dare not make such a decision on our own."
Li Jianning remained unfazed by the honor. "We ask that Senior please accompany us to consult our elders first."
Li Chuyuan was stunned.
The Eternal Immortal Sect that he had once fought tooth and nail to join—now, its founding patriarch had come in person to accept disciples, yet his elders considered it merely a matter worthy of discussion!
With a hearty laugh, Ancestor Lan replied, "Good."
Li Chuyuan watched the retreating figures of the group.
He stood all alone on the Spirit Boat, the wind of the high clouds messing up his hair.
Though there were many clansmen on the boat, not a single one looked at him; it was as if he were a stranger.
He vaguely realized that he could no longer fit in among them, could no longer be a part of...
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