Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

89: Fortune is unpredictable; proceed with caution.Sea breezes swept, and angry waves roared.

Li Yinglong stood with his hands behind his back, the hem of his dark robe wildly fluttering in the wind.

He gazed at Li Changxing, whose figure was tall and straight and whose eyes were calm, and a slight ripple appeared in his heart.

The changes in this child over the past few months could be described as a complete transformation. It was not just the rapid progress in his Cultivation, but also a leap in his vitality and spirit. That restrained wildness and vast vitality even subtly resonated with the roaring sea.

He mused for a moment, then a gentle and relieved smile slowly spread across his face, like the heartfelt joy of an elder seeing his own child succeed. First, he nodded to Li Qingzhu and said:

”Your Aunt Qingzhu did well. In the Dao of Cultivation, there is a balance of exertion and relaxation. A stable Foundation is far more important than a superficial Realm. Changxing’s progress today is largely due to your efforts, Qingzhu.”

After speaking, his gaze turned to Li Changxing, his tone filled with undisguised approval:

”Changxing, you’ve done very well, far exceeding this old man’s expectations. To break through barriers and reach the Fourth Level of Qi Refining in such a short time, relying on your own perseverance with a basic Cultivation Technique like the Evergreen Art—such talent and Heart-Nature are truly a blessing to our Li Family! It seems this old man did not misjudge you back then.”

Li Changxing’s face flushed slightly with excitement upon hearing the Clan Chief’s personal affirmation. His chest heaved as he clasped his fists and bowed, his voice choked with emotion:

”It’s all thanks to the Cultivation Technique bestowed by the Clan Chief, giving Changxing a new life! Changxing... Changxing will never betray the Clan Chief’s high hopes!”

Li Yinglong nodded slightly, his smile receding a little, and his tone became deep, imbued with the vicissitudes and wisdom of one who had experienced much:

”However, Changxing, the Dao De Jing says: ’Misfortune is what fortune leans on; fortune is what misfortune hides within.’ Your progress is extraordinarily swift, rarely seen in ancient or modern times. This old man has lived this long, walked many paths, and seen some storms. I deeply understand that the Heavenly Dao has its own cycles of gain and loss, and excess is as bad as deficiency—this is common sense.”

He paused, his gaze like an ancient well, looking into Li Changxing’s eyes:

”While your Cultivation speed is indeed gratifying, the reason for it is unclear to both you and me. Is it extraordinary talent and deep fortune? Or... does it conceal unknown dangers, overdrawing your future Foundation? Until this crucial point is clarified, this old man’s heart is uneasy. The intention of Qingzhu and I is not to obstruct your Dao, but quite the opposite; we hope your Dao can take root like an ancient pine, deeply embedded in thick soil, so that its branches and leaves can flourish, enduring wind and rain without breaking.”

He raised a hand and pressed it lightly, stopping Li Changxing from eagerly expressing himself, and continued:

”Xunzi’s ’Exhortation to Learning’ also states: ’Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand li; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas.’ Cultivation is the same. Steady and methodical, step by step, it may seem slow, but it is actually accumulating strength for climbing higher peaks in the future. Sometimes, slowness is not idleness, but wisdom; stopping is not retreating, but for the sake of going further.”

”This old man hopes you will temporarily slow down your absorption of Spiritual Qi, solidify your Foundation, and spar more with Changyun and Changxuan to hone your battle techniques and temper your Heart-Nature. After we ascertain the peculiarities of your Physique, we will then decide on the subsequent plan. Do you... understand this old man’s painstaking efforts?”

Li Changxing was not a dull person. Initially, he might have had a touch of youthful arrogance due to his rapid increase in Cultivation, but after months of deliberate tempering by Li Qingzhu, coupled with the Clan Chief’s well-referenced and heartfelt teachings, that slight impetuosity had long been suppressed.

He deeply knew that the Clan Chief had vast knowledge and far-reaching thoughts, and absolutely no intention to harm him. This arrangement was entirely for his long-term benefit.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and his expression became incredibly solemn. He bowed deeply again:

”Clan Chief’s golden words are like a profound enlightenment; Changxing will engrave them in his heart! The Clan Chief and Aunt Qingzhu are both thinking of me; how could Changxing be someone who doesn’t know what’s good for him? Everything will be as the Clan Chief and Aunt Qingzhu arrange; Changxing has no objections! From today onwards, I will temporarily slow down Qi Refining and focus on Body Tempering and refining my skills to stabilize my Realm.”

Seeing him so understanding, Li Yinglong and Li Qingzhu exchanged glances, both showing expressions of relief.

Li Yinglong patted his shoulder vigorously and laughed loudly:

”Good! Very good! Knowing when to advance and retreat, and understanding gains and losses, is the Foundation for becoming accomplished.”

He changed the subject, lowering his voice a few shades:

”Changxing, your rapid progress in Cultivation is currently known only to me, Qingzhu, and you. This is a secret of our Li Family. When you go to catch up with your brothers and sisters, just say you’ve made a little progress; there’s no need to elaborate on your specific Realm.”

He sharply scanned the surroundings, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then said in a deep voice:

”A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind; a pile that rises from the bank will be scoured by the current. This world of immortal Cultivation is full of dangers, and our Li Family’s Foundation is still shallow. We need the wisdom to conceal our sharpness. Your Cultivation is an unsheathed sharp sword of the Family! This old man hopes you can hide among the Disciples, not showing off your abilities normally, but at critical moments, you can strike unexpectedly, defeat enemies, and become a surprise force guarding the Family! Can you do that?”

These words, entrusting both trust and heavy responsibility, made Li Changxing feel a surge of hot blood rush to his head, filling his body with a sense of power.

He nodded vigorously, saying decisively:

”Clan Chief, rest assured! Changxing understands the gravity of the situation! I will definitely not fail the Clan Chief’s heavy trust and will be a hidden blade for our Li Family!”

”Good! Go, go see your brothers and sisters.”

Li Yinglong waved his hand with satisfaction.

Li Changxing bowed again, then turned and walked steadily towards the center of the encampment.

Although his back still carried the slenderness of youth, it already had a hint of unmoving, steady composure.

After Li Changxing’s figure disappeared around the bend in the mountain path, the gentle smile on Li Yinglong’s face gradually faded, returning to calmness.

He turned to Li Qingzhu and continued to ask:

”Qingzhu, there are no other ears here. Regarding Changxing, you still seem to have something more to say?”

Li Qingzhu had long anticipated this question from the Clan Chief. She lightly pursed her lips, organized her thoughts, and whispered:

”Uncle, you are discerning. Changxing’s situation is indeed extraordinary. The day you left, you instructed me to look after him. Initially, I took him to Cultivate by the Heavenly Lake, partly because the Spiritual Qi there was most abundant, and partly for convenience in watching over him. However, I soon discovered something unusual...”

”Whenever Changxing entered meditation to circulate the Evergreen Art, within a zhang or so around him, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi would become abnormally turbulent, as if drawn by an invisible immense force, rushing madly into his body! The intensity of it even formed a Spiritual Qi vortex almost invisible to the naked eye! Your niece once tried to meditate near him and was horrified to find that her own circulation of the Heavenly Cycle was greatly disturbed, as if the Spiritual Qi was being forcibly plundered, making it impossible to absorb even a jot. Only when he stopped Cultivating would the surrounding Spiritual Qi gradually return to calm.”

She looked up at Li Yinglong, her voice grave:

”Uncle, in your niece’s humble opinion, Changxing’s Physique, I’m afraid... I’m afraid it possesses some kind of ’plundering’ characteristic! It’s not ordinary absorption of Qi into the body, but rather a nearly tyrannical seizing of surrounding Spiritual Qi, taking it for himself. This might be the fundamental reason for his rapid progress in Cultivation! One person Cultivating, yet able to affect others—such a trait is unheard of!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yinglong’s pupils suddenly constricted. Even with his rock-solid Heart-Nature, he couldn’t help but gasp!

Plundering Spiritual Qi? What a terrifying phrase!

This could no longer be described as mere ”extraordinary talent”; it was simply Heaven-Defying! If word got out, it would surely cause a huge uproar!

He instantly thought of countless possibilities:

Possessing a treasure makes one a target. Could the Family protect him?

Was such a Physique a blessing or a curse?

If it went out of control, would it backfire on himself and even his Family members?

Li Qingzhu saw the Clan Chief’s solemn expression, knowing his heart was shaken, and quickly continued:

”After discovering this anomaly, your niece was worried, so I used the reason of solidifying his Realm to temporarily stop his direct absorption of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Instead, I instructed him to come to this eastern shore reef area to battle the waves, temper his Physical Body, and hunt those ferocious sea beasts. Firstly, to consume his overly vigorous Qi, blood, and energy, and secondly, to see if there was another path.”

She paused slightly, a peculiar expression appearing on her face:

”The result was that after Changxing killed a sea beast, he was actually able to draw a pure energy from the dissipating flesh and essence of the sea beast. Although it wasn’t as rapid as directly absorbing Spiritual Qi, it could also help him increase his Cultivation and temper his Physical Body! It just slowed down considerably, roughly similar to the speed at which Changyun and Changyu work hard to Cultivate.”

This discovery made Li Yinglong’s tightly furrowed brows relax a little.

This situation was equally alarming:

Simply absorbing the energy of sea beasts could keep pace with others Cultivating with pure Spiritual Qi, which was also incredible.

But... it was better than wildly plundering Spiritual Qi and causing unknown consequences.

He mused:

”In your opinion, should we let him continue hunting sea beasts to Cultivate?”

Li Qingzhu nodded:

”Precisely. Your niece believes that this method is the most stable for now. Let Changxing focus on hunting sea beasts, supplemented by battle skill training; then, at night, when no one is around, let him absorb Spiritual Qi at the Heavenly Lake to Cultivate, controlling the duration. This way, firstly, his Cultivation progress can remain synchronized with other excellent Disciples in the Family, not becoming too astonishing and attracting unnecessary scrutiny; secondly, the energy obtained from hunting sea beasts, though mixed, requires self-refinement, which implicitly tempers his Heart-Nature and control, benefiting the solidification of his Foundation. Thirdly, it can also hone his practical combat ability. After the origin of his Physique is clarified in the future, a decision can be made, which would be the most comprehensive strategy.”

After listening, Li Yinglong paced a few steps with his hands behind his back. The sound of the surging sea came in waves, making the night seem even more serene.

After a long while, he stopped, a flicker of resolve in his eyes:

”Qingzhu, what you said is very reasonable. The current situation is unclear, and this method is indeed the best choice after weighing the pros and cons. We will follow your suggestion and let Changxing Cultivate in this manner for now.”

”Regarding his Physique, besides the two of us, it must never be mentioned to a fourth person, including Qingshan and the others. There’s no need to inform them for now.”

”This trip back, with so many bothersome matters, I actually forgot to inquire with the Family about who picked him up and from where back then! I’ll write a letter later, using the pretext of arranging the Disciples’ order, and have Qingshan gather all the Disciples’ information. While doing so, we can subtly investigate Changxing’s origins!”

He knew that Changxing was adopted and raised by a collateral branch of the Family, but as Clan Chief, he didn’t usually inquire about minor matters of collateral branches, so he wasn’t aware of the details.

He looked deeply into the dark sea and said in a low voice:

”Changxing, this child, has unfathomable fortune, and may become the key to the future rise and fall of our Li Family. Before he truly grows up and possesses enough self-preservation ability, we must provide him with shelter! This matter, known only to you and me, we will observe in secret and plan gradually.”

”Your niece understands.”

Li Qingzhu nodded solemnly.

Having reached a consensus, the two said no more and walked side by side under the moonlight, quietly returning to the center of the encampment.