Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

3: The Qiankun Brocade Pouch contains a secret universe.Li Yinglong’s fingertip caressed the strange pattern on the surface of the brocade pouch.

The touch was cool and smooth yet resilient, definitely not ordinary fabric.

That faint, almost imperceptible tremor just now was not an illusion.

He focused his inner vision, and his newly born Spiritual Sense, like a nascent butterfly, tremblingly extended a wisp to touch the brocade pouch.

”Ding! Unclaimed Low Grade qiankun bag detected. The original owner’s Spiritual Sense imprint has dissipated. Do you wish to probe with your Spiritual Sense to bind it?”

The System’s prompt was cold and precise.

A qiankun bag!

Li Yinglong’s heart suddenly constricted, yet his face remained as calm as an ancient well.

As expected! Li Qingzhu’s mother was certainly no ordinary Jianghu woman!

Only Cultivators possessed such an item!

And the dissipation of the Spiritual Sense imprint... meant that the original owner had already perished, their Dao extinguished.

His clan brother, Li Yinghu, probably also... A wave of sadness settled deep in his heart.

But he immediately suppressed this emotion; now was not the time for grief.

He looked up at the anxious Li Qingzhu, his voice softening:

”Qingzhu, do you know what this is?”

Li Qingzhu shook her head blankly:

”Mother only said... this should have been hers, it’s very important, but she couldn’t open it...”

”This item is called a ’qiankun bag.’ It contains a hidden dimension and can hold various objects.”

Li Yinglong spoke concisely, and at the same time, his thoughts stirred slightly:

”Today, your uncle will show you what your mother left behind.”

Before his words finished, he focused all his attention, painstakingly extending that faint wisp of Spiritual Sense into the opening of the qiankun bag.

There was no obstruction, as if pushing open a slightly ajar door.

The next moment, he flipped his wrist, turning the bag opening downwards.

Whoosh ~!

A faint light flashed, and several items abruptly appeared on the stone floor of the secret room.

Li Qingzhu’s eyes widened suddenly, staring in disbelief at the things that had suddenly appeared on the ground, stammering:

”Un-uncle... Where did these things come from? This bag... it was so light...”

Li Yinglong handed the qiankun bag back to her:

”This bag is indeed mysterious. It appears small, but it has its own space inside. Its weight doesn’t increase because the items it holds are all in another miniature dimension. This is a method used by Cultivators.”

He paused, observing Li Qingzhu’s expression, and continued:

”Your mother carrying this item makes her identity obvious. She was definitely not a Mortal, but rather a Cultivator who suffered a great calamity, lost her memory, and drifted into the Mortal world.”

He deliberately omitted the cruel truth represented by the dissipated Spiritual Sense imprint.

Li Qingzhu listened dazedly, her gaze shifting from the qiankun bag to the items on the ground. Her eyes turned red again, but she forced herself not to cry, only murmuring:

”Mother... was she a Fairy, then...?”

”Our Li Family ancestors also produced Cultivators.”

Li Yinglong said, seizing the opportunity:

”Although the Legacy has dwindled, the Clan Chief has passed down some methods of sensing and utilizing Spiritual Qi for generations, which is why your uncle was able to open this bag.”

This explanation was reasonable and sufficient to reassure the naive young girl.

Li Qingzhu nodded as if understanding, her gaze already drawn to the items on the ground.

There weren’t many things:

About fifty thumb-sized, lustrous, translucent green jade beads scattered on the ground, subtly emitting a refreshing aura that cleared the mind and cheered the spirit.

There was also a pair of short swords, less than two feet long, exquisitely crafted with smooth lines. Even unsheathed, one could feel a sharp edge emanating from them.

Li Yinglong’s eyes were blazing, his thoughts racing.

”System, scan these jade beads and the twin swords!”

”Ding! Scan complete.”

”Item One: Low-Grade Spirit Stone, containing pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, can be used for assisting Cultivation, restoring spiritual power, setting up formations, Artifact Refining, etc.”

”Item Two: Purple Clarity Twin Swords (Low Grade Spiritual Artifact), forged primarily from purple-veined steel and clear-heart jade. Unparalleled sharpness, with a faint calming effect. Requires spiritual power to unleash its full potential.”

Spirit Stones! Spiritual Artifacts!

Li Yinglong’s heart pounded like a war drum in his chest!

It truly was a case of needing a pillow when one was sleepy!

Just now, he was still troubled by the thin Spiritual Qi in this world and the slow progress of his Cultivation, yet in the blink of an eye, he had obtained dozens of Spirit Stones!

This item was precisely the key to solving his immediate problem! And that pair of Spiritual Artifact twin swords was an unexpected bonus.

Ecstasy surged through his mind like a tide, but his experiences from both his past and present lives instantly calmed him down.

These items were Li Qingzhu’s mother’s only mementos, and even clues to her background.

By both reason and sentiment, the right to dispose of them belonged to Li Qingzhu.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and turned his gaze to Li Qingzhu, who was still in shock, his expression becoming incredibly solemn:

”Qingzhu, come and see.”

He pointed to the Spirit Stones:

”These items are called ’Spirit Stones.’ They are formed from condensed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. For Cultivators, they are like the food Mortals need to satisfy hunger, fundamental to Cultivation.”

Then he pointed to the twin swords:

”These twin swords are named ’Purple Clarity.’ They are Magic Treasures used by Cultivators, their power far exceeding that of ordinary Mortal blades. Your mother leaving these behind shows that she was no ordinary Cultivator.”

He paused for a moment, looking into Li Qingzhu’s eyes, and said each word distinctly:

”These are the most precious things your parents left for you, and also the key to unraveling your mother’s identity. How to dispose of them should be decided by you.”

Li Qingzhu was influenced by his extremely solemn tone, and her small face also became serious.

She looked at the Spirit Stones and Spiritual Artifacts on the ground, then looked up at Li Yinglong’s pale but resolute face, remembering his mention of the Family’s impending crisis and his need for Spiritual Qi to Cultivate.

The little girl bit her lower lip, a look of determination beyond her years flashing in her eyes. She suddenly knelt down, looking up at Li Yinglong, her voice clear and firm:

”Uncle! Qingzhu is young and doesn’t understand these immortal items. These heirlooms from my parents, Qingzhu is willing to entrust them to Uncle for disposal! Qingzhu only hopes that Uncle can recover soon and lead the Li Family through this difficult time! If... if we can use this to find my parents’ whereabouts and uncover their enemies, Qingzhu will be content!”

”Ding! Clan member Li Qingzhu’s loyalty has increased. Current loyalty: 98 (Unwavering loyalty, entrusts life and death)”

Li Qingzhu was just young; she wasn’t foolish.

Li Yinglong’s frank decision had already made her understand that her uncle genuinely cared for her and was not greedy.

A soft spot in Li Yinglong’s heart gently trembled, and he reached out to help the girl up.

This child was precocious to a heartbreaking degree.

”Good child.”

Li Yinglong gazed into Li Qingzhu’s clear yet resolute eyes, already having a plan in mind.

This girl had a pure Heart-Nature and also possessed a Spiritual Root. She was one of the keys to whether the Family could overcome this calamity, and a power with a promising future.

He reached out and helped Li Qingzhu up, saying in a deep voice:

”Good child, your uncle will not fail your trust. These resources are indeed crucial for the Family’s survival at this moment. Your uncle will temporarily borrow them, hoping to recover from his injuries and improve his Cultivation as soon as possible to deal with the Lin Family’s tribulation.”

Then, his tone shifted:

”However, the Dao of Cultivation is never a solitary endeavor. Since your mother was a Cultivator, it’s highly probable that you, as her Bloodline, also possess a Spiritual Root. If you also have the Aptitude for Cultivation, then our Li Family will truly have a Foundation for continuation.”

He motioned for Li Qingzhu to extend her wrist.

”Let your uncle examine you, and we shall know the truth.”

Li Qingzhu obediently extended her slender wrist. Li Yinglong placed two fingers on her pulse, feigning examination, though he already had a conclusion.

After a moment of pretense, Li Yinglong’s face appropriately showed an expression of incredible surprise and joy, his fingers even trembling slightly. His acting was perfectly natural.

He took a deep breath, as if calming his inner excitement, before slowly saying:

”Qingzhu! Heaven bless our Li Family! You... you indeed possess a Spiritual Root! Although your Spiritual Root is not yet manifest and its quality is hard to determine, you certainly have the Aptitude for Cultivation!”

Li Qingzhu, hearing this, was struck as if by lightning, frozen on the spot.

Her parents being Cultivators had already shocked her immensely, but she herself might also embark on the immortal path?

These successive impacts made it difficult for her small mind to process everything at once.

Before she could fully react, Li Yinglong struck while the iron was hot, laying out the plan he had already conceived:

”Since you possess a Spiritual Root, you can no longer be regarded as a Mortal. Our Li Clan’s ancestral ’Evergreen Art,’ though an introductory Cultivation Technique, is perfect for guiding Qi into the body. From today onwards, you will Cultivate this technique with your uncle! These dozen or so Low-Grade Spirit Stones, we will each take half, to sense Spiritual Qi and break through bottlenecks.”

His gaze was fervent as he continued to paint a picture of the future, as if also firming his own beliefs:

”You are still young, full of vigor and vitality. Perhaps your Cultivation will be smoother than for an old man like me. If our ancestors bless us, and our Li Family can survive this calamity and produce two Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators, that would not only resolve the crisis but also be a sign of the Family’s resurgence!”

”By then, with Cultivation in your possession, you will no longer be a weak woman at the mercy of others. In the future, when you seek your parents’ whereabouts and face potential enemies, you will have the power to protect yourself and maneuver, rather than only relying on others’ protection.”

Li Yinglong’s words not only highlighted the practical benefits of Dual Cultivation for the Family but also subtly linked Cultivation directly to Li Qingzhu’s deep-seated desire to find her parents.

Indeed, when Li Qingzhu heard phrases like ”power to protect yourself” and ”seek parents’ whereabouts,” her eyes instantly shone with unprecedented brilliance.

The hardships and displacement along the way, the painful memories of her parents sacrificing themselves to protect her, and her own powerlessness to do anything but flee – all seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

She didn’t want to be a protected person forever; she wanted power, she wanted the ability to uncover the truth, and she wanted to contribute to her Family.

”Uncle!”

Li Qingzhu knelt again, this time with immense determination:

”Qingzhu is willing to Cultivate! Qingzhu is not afraid of hardship! Please teach me, Uncle! Qingzhu will diligently study and practice, never slacking, only to... only to no longer burden others, and in the future, with my own strength, find clues to my parents and repay Uncle’s kindness for giving me a new life!”

Her words were choked with emotion but exceptionally firm.

Li Yinglong watched the fighting spirit ignite in her eyes and nodded secretly.

The heavy pressure of the impending crisis seemed to lessen somewhat due to these faint lights discovered consecutively in the darkness.

Two Cultivators from one Family, resisting a powerful enemy together --- this path, which originally seemed impossible, now finally showed a glimmer of tangible possibility.

He seemed to already see two seeds of Cultivation quietly sprouting in desperation in this Linhai City, where Spiritual Qi was sparse.