Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

2: Shared talent, but lacking spiritual energy.The System’s notification sound still echoed in his ears, like celestial music from the Nine Heavens, dispelling the gloom in Li Yinglong’s heart.

Ecstasy surged through his mind like a tide, but the composure honed by his past life’s trials in the business world allowed him to instantly suppress this emotion.

His face was as calm as an ancient well, with only a glint of sharpness flashing deep in his eyes.

His gaze fell on the little girl in the hall, her tear stains not yet dry, and thoughts whirled in his mind.

Then he slowly rose and walked with steady steps to Li Qingzhu.

He extended his broad hand and gently caressed Li Qingzhu’s thin shoulder; his touch felt only protruding bones, which was heartbreaking.

He surveyed all the Clan members in the hall, his voice authoritative:

”My brother Yinghu, though not born of the same mother, I regard him as my own son, as close as flesh and blood! Now that he has met with misfortune, leaving his Bloodline to wander outside, drifting to the Clan, this is Heaven’s will, ensuring our brotherly bond does not sever!”

He paused slightly, his gaze like lightning, sweeping over everyone:

”Li Qingzhu, as the direct Bloodline of my brother Yinghu, is therefore my, Li Yinglong’s, daughter! From this day forward, Qingzhu is the Third Young Miss of the Li Family, with a status equal to a direct descendant! All members of my Li Clan must treat her with respect and reverence. Should anyone show neglect or insult her—”

His voice suddenly turned cold:

”—Clan rules will not tolerate it, and do not blame me for being merciless!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

The Clan Chief’s words were not merely an acceptance but also elevated her status to be on par with the two Young Masters, which was of extraordinary significance.

Upon hearing this, his eldest son, Li Qingshan, instantly replaced his worry with comfort and joy.

He was honest and valued kinship, so he immediately stepped forward, bowed solemnly to Li Qingzhu, and said gently:

”Your elder brother Qingshan greets Third Sister! Sister, you must have had a hard journey. From now on, the Li Family is your home. Should you need anything, please tell your elder brother.”

His words were sincere, and his gaze was genuine.

His second son, Li Qingchuan, reacted a beat slower, a hint of hidden surprise and incomprehension flashing deep in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He put on a smile and likewise bowed:

”Your elder brother Qingchuan greets Third Sister.”

Although his smile was warm, his gaze quickly swept between Li Yinglong and Li Qingzhu before he lowered his eyelids, concealing the fleeting doubt and calculation within.

He was skilled at calculation and instinctively felt that his father’s action might not be merely out of nostalgia, but he dared not show any hint of it at this moment.

Seeing the two direct sons express their stance and the Clan Chief being so solemn, the other Clan members all bowed in salute:

”Greetings, Third Young Miss!”

How had Li Qingzhu ever seen such a grand display?

She had fled all the way, experiencing countless cold stares and indifference, and had long become a startled bird.

Now, suddenly receiving such solemn acceptance and courtesy, she felt as if she were dreaming.

Her small face was pale, and she stood there at a loss, tears uncontrollably streaming down again. Yet, she forgot how to speak, only staring blankly at her dignified yet benevolent uncle—now her ”father.”

Seeing her like this, Li Yinglong knew she was still shaken, so he instructed Li Qingshan:

”Qingshan, you personally make the arrangements. Tidy up that quiet courtyard in the east wing for Qingzhu to live in. All her food, clothing, and daily necessities should be of the best standard, and assign two careful maidservants to attend to her. Have the kitchen immediately prepare some easily digestible meals and send them over.”

”Yes, Father!”

Li Qingshan accepted the order, his tone solemn.

”Qingzhu,”

Li Yinglong then looked at the little girl, his voice gentle:

”You may go with elder brother Qingshan and rest well. Once you are settled, have Qingshan bring you to the secret chamber to see me, so we can discuss the matters of my brother Yinghu in detail.”

Li Qingzhu finally came to her senses, clumsily imitating the others’ actions from earlier, bending her knees in an imperfect bow, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz:

”Thank... thank you... Uncle... Sir.”

After speaking, she was carefully led away by Li Qingshan.

Seeing this, the others also dispersed, each with their own thoughts.

Li Yinglong no longer delayed; he turned and went straight back to the secret chamber.

The stone door closed with a rumble, isolating the inside from the outside.

He could no longer suppress the surging emotions in his heart and immediately communicated with the System deep within his consciousness.

”System, use [Aptitude Sharing] on Li Qingzhu!”

”[Command confirmed. Target: Li Qingzhu, shared talent: Latent Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Root.]”

”[Sharing in progress...]”

In an instant, Li Yinglong felt a cool yet vibrant, strange energy emerge from nothingness. Through some incomprehensible connection, it slowly flowed into the depths of his Dantian Qi Sea.

The process was brief, lasting only three to five breaths.

”[Sharing complete.]”

That energy completely merged into his body and disappeared.

But Li Yinglong clearly felt that deep within his body, something that had slumbered for eons, related to the Origin of life, had been quietly awakened.

A profound and mysterious feeling spread throughout him.

It was as if his once dust-covered spiritual platform had been wiped clean, becoming clear and transparent; as if his long-blocked ear passages had suddenly opened, allowing him to perceive more subtle sounds—no, not just sounds, but he sensed a formless, intangible yet truly existing ”energy” pervading the Heaven and Earth that he could never have perceived before.

They were so sparse as to be almost nonexistent, ethereal and hard to find.

But at this moment, he truly ”felt” them.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi!

This term instinctively appeared in his mind.

He, Li Yinglong, in this desperate situation, had finally stolen a sliver of Immortal Fate and possessed a Spiritual Root!

Forcibly suppressing the excitement that almost made him want to let out a long cry to the sky, Li Yinglong sat cross-legged, cleared his mind ofDistractions, and, following the instructions of the Evergreen Art, attempted his first true Cultivation.

The Cultivation Technique circulated, and his intent focused on his Dantian.

This time, the effect was completely different from the self-destructive pain he had experienced before!

Previously, forcibly circulating it was like sailing a boat on dry land, only consuming Qi and Blood and harming himself.

Now, as soon as the Cultivation Technique was activated, the Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Root vibrated slightly like two magnets, actually drawing in faint, extremely weak cool Qi from the nearly depleted Heaven and Earth.

This Qi entered his body and slowly circulated along the specific Meridians of the Evergreen Art.

Because it was a wood-attribute Cultivation Technique, it complemented his Water-Wood Spiritual Root. Although as weak as a stream, it circulated smoothly and continuously.

Wherever the Spiritual Qi passed, the Meridians that were previously blocked and congested due to his severe injuries now felt a subtle sense of comfort, like a long-parched land receiving sweet rain.

Although this restorative effect was a drop in the bucket compared to his severe injuries, it undoubtedly proved that a grand Dao had unfolded beneath his feet!

However, after only an incense stick’s time of Cultivation, Li Yinglong’s brows furrowed slightly.

It was too slow.

The speed of Spiritual Qi absorption was painstakingly slow, almost imperceptible.

It wasn’t that the Cultivation Technique was ineffective, nor that the Spiritual Root was useless, but rather that the Spiritual Qi in the surrounding Heaven and Earth was so sparse that it was despair-inducing!

”So that’s how it is...”

Li Yinglong slowly ended his Cultivation, opened his eyes, and a look of understanding and solemnity flashed in them.

Fragments of memory from his original body flooded in:

Linhai City and even the vast surrounding region had indeed not had confirmed rumors of Cultivators for several centuries. Occasional strange tales were mostly fabrications.

People only knew of martial Cultivators, not the Immortal Dao.

Previously, he had only thought it was due to a severed Legacy or rare Spiritual Roots. Now, having personally perceived it, he finally understood the root cause.

The Spiritual Qi in this world was so barren!

The ”drawing Qi into the body, abundant Spiritual Qi” described in the Evergreen Art’s ancestral notes was completely different from the situation here.

Could it be that this depletion of Spiritual Qi led to the disappearance of Cultivators, which in turn caused the Physiques of living beings here to degenerate, making it difficult for Spiritual Roots to form?

And Li Qingzhu’s mother was from another Clan, and she was born in another place, which is why there was a different change?

Li Yinglong felt he was getting somewhere.

But... this was not good news for his own predicament.

If it continued like this, even with a Spiritual Root, his Cultivation progress would be incredibly slow. The battle for the Clan’s survival in twenty-seven days... Just as his thoughts raced, calculating all possibilities, his eldest son Li Qingshan’s steady voice came from outside the secret chamber:

”Father, Third Sister has settled down and eaten. Your son has brought her to pay respects.”

Li Yinglong’s eyes flashed, he collected all his thoughts, and said in a deep voice:

”Come in.”

The stone door slowly opened.

A slender figure stood somewhat awkwardly outside the door, looking like a completely different person from the ragged, dust-covered little beggar she had been before.

Li Qingzhu had clearly been carefully washed and groomed. Her dry, yellow hair was neatly tied into two simple buns, revealing a clean but slightly pale forehead.

She wore a half-new, lotus-root colored jacket and skirt, obviously temporarily borrowed by Li Qingshan from a girl of similar age in the Clan. It was slightly too big but clean.

Her small face was washed clean of dirt, still showing the sallow and haggard look from her long journey, but her features were now clearly visible.

She had a delicate nose, well-shaped lips, and especially those large eyes, which now flickered slightly with unease, adding a touch of Spiritual Qi compared to before.

Her foundation was indeed good. With some time to recuperate and shed this look of hardship, she would surely become a beautiful and refined young lady.

However, her overly thin frame and slightly hunched shoulders still spoke of the hardships she had endured.

Li Yinglong’s gaze swept over her, and he nodded slightly, satisfied.

”Father, Third Sister is properly settled.”

Li Qingshan bowed outside the door and replied.

”Hmm, Qingshan, you may withdraw and wait outside. No one is to approach.”

”Yes.”

Li Qingshan respectfully assented and carefully closed the stone door again.

Inside the secret chamber, only Li Yinglong and this newly recognized Clan daughter remained.

Li Qingzhu nervously twisted her slightly oversized sleeves, not daring to look directly at this dignified ”uncle.”

Li Yinglong did not rush to speak, merely quietly observing her. The invisible pressure made Li Qingzhu’s head droop even lower.

After a moment, he slowly said:

”Qingzhu, there’s no need to be so reserved. Since you’ve entered the Li Family, you are one of us. Sit down and speak.”

He pointed to a nearby cushion.

Li Qingzhu obeyed, carefully kneeling on the cushion, her posture still stiff.

”Now, tell me in detail... about your parents.”

Li Yinglong cut to the chase:

”My brother Yinghu left home to travel more than ten years ago, and news of him has been scarce. What exactly did he experience all these years? And how did he end up... being pursued by enemies, his life or death unknown?”

At the mention of her parents, Li Qingzhu’s eyes instantly reddened again.

She suppressed her tears, sniffled, and began to recount her story haltingly.

It turned out that after Li Yinghu left home, relying on his impressive martial arts, he traveled westwards, venturing into the land of Shu.

About seven or eight years ago, he rescued a heavily injured and unconscious Jianghu woman by a treacherous mountain path.

The woman’s injuries were extremely severe, almost fatal, and she seemed to have suffered a head injury. After waking, she had completely forgotten her past, not even remembering her own name or Origin.

Li Yinghu, being kind-hearted, settled her in a mountain villager’s home and took meticulous care of her.

During this time, the two spent day and night together and gradually developed feelings for each other.

By the time the woman’s injuries improved, although her memory had not returned, the two were already inseparable. They simply performed a simple wedding ceremony in that small town in Shu and became husband and wife.

A year after their marriage, Li Qingzhu was born.

The Family of three lived in seclusion there. Although their life was not wealthy, it was peaceful and happy.

Until a year ago, disaster suddenly struck.

Batch after batch of black-clad figures, whose Origin was unknown, began to constantly seek out and hunt them down.

Their methods were ruthless, and their martial arts were bizarrely powerful, far beyond ordinary Jianghu practitioners.

Their Family had no means to resist, and they were even ignorant of why they were being pursued. They could only flee constantly like startled birds.

The last time they were cornered by a river, her parents, to protect her escape, desperately pushed her onto a passing merchant ship, instructing her to remember the destination ”Linhai City Li Family” at all costs.

Her parents, to distract the pursuers, turned back and rushed into the vast mountain forest, and there has been no news of them since.

By the end of her narration, the little girl was sobbing uncontrollably.

Li Yinglong listened quietly, his expression calm, but thoughts raced in his mind.

An amnesiac woman? Unexplained pursuit? This was definitely not an ordinary Jianghu grudge.

It seemed that Li Qingzhu’s mother had another identity.

”Don’t cry anymore.”

When her sobbing subsided slightly, Li Yinglong spoke in a deep voice.

”According to what you said, your parents only entered the mountain forest to distract the enemy. You didn’t personally witness them being harmed. The mountain forest is vast, and there might still be a glimmer of hope. Perhaps they are just temporarily trapped somewhere, or severely injured and unable to move.”

He paused slightly, then continued:

”Currently, my Li Family also faces a powerful enemy, which concerns the Clan’s survival. After twenty-seven days, once I resolve this matter, I will personally take you, follow the traces of your journey, and go to Shu to search for clues about your parents. If they are alive, we will find them. If they... have died, we will also retrieve their remains, so that my brother does not wander in a foreign land.”

These words were both comfort and a promise.

Li Qingzhu, a lonely child who had just experienced a great upheaval and was filled with apprehension throughout her journey, now heard such confident and resolute words from this dignified ”uncle.” It was as if she had suddenly found her backbone.

The accumulated fear and helplessness in her heart instantly found an outlet, transforming into a surging warmth and gratitude.

She nodded heavily, choked up, and said:

”Thank you, Uncle! Qingzhu... Qingzhu will listen to Uncle!”

”[Ding! Clan member Li Qingzhu’s loyalty has greatly increased. Current loyalty: 92 (Deeply grateful, sworn to follow to the death).]”

The System’s notification sound quietly rang out.

Li Yinglong’s heart stirred slightly, his expression unchanged. He asked as if casually:

”Hmm, did your parents leave any letters, or mention any special words about the past? Especially regarding your mother. Perhaps we can find some clues from them to know the Origin of those pursuers.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qingzhu quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve, then lowered her head and fumbled a few times on her newly changed clothes. She untied an old, dull brocade pouch, slightly smaller than a palm, from her waist, and then laboriously pulled off a red string from her neck. Tied to the string was a grayish-white jade tablet of ordinary material, carved with blurry cloud patterns.

”Uncle, here...”

She held the two items out to Li Yinglong, saying softly:

”Mother... Mother doesn’t remember anything. These things were on her when she was rescued. This brocade pouch seems to be sewn shut, I can’t open it. Mother said to always wear this jade tablet, maybe... maybe it will be useful later. Nothing else... there’s nothing else.”

Li Yinglong calmly reached out and took them.

He first picked up the brocade pouch. To the touch, the material felt neither like silk nor leather, exceptionally tough, yet light as air. Its surface was embroidered with a strange pattern he had never seen before.

”Huh? This feeling!”

Suddenly, a familiar yet strange sensation made Li Yinglong’s heart tighten!