CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 364: REOPENING THE UNDERWATER SECRET PASSAGE

Between heaven and earth, dazzling starlight blooms, a star appears in the daytime, transforming into an ancient celestial body, rotating with a rumbling sound, carrying incomparable heavenly might.

The Demon Suppression True Monarch descends here, appearing as a valiant young man, around thirty years old, with an imposing build, radiating righteous energy.

Although he formed his Nascent Soul less than a hundred years ago, the fluctuations of his mana are in no way inferior to those old monsters who have been cultivating for many years, with starlight surrounding him, turning into traces of the Dao.

"The weeping heaven phenomenon..."

He observed the pouring blood rain, lightning and thunder, and the raging heavenly winds.

The Demon Suppression True Monarch was momentarily stunned by this scene, and a sense of incredulity surged in his heart.

"Did you kill that old demon of the Blood River?"

He looked at the young man clad in armor in front of him, full of youthful vigor, far younger than he imagined, yet already possessing such achievements.

"Thank you, True Monarch, for coming from afar and offering your aid; the Green Jade Li Family is endlessly grateful. Now that the old demon of the Blood River has been vanquished, please honor us with your presence at our humble abode, to drink and converse as a token of our sincerity."

Li Quanqing extended his invitation.

With guests coming with such enthusiasm to jointly combat the demon cultivator, it was only fitting to treat them to a meal, especially with inevitable future interactions with the Star Sect.

The Demon Suppression True Monarch looked at the Whale Emperor Sacred Armor on Li Quanqing and then at the Fourth Rank Array enveloping the entire Qingyu Cave Heaven.

In the end, he dared not step into this dragon’s den and tiger’s lair and tactfully declined.

"Although you, young friend, are not yet on the Nascent Soul Path, you are already qualified to be my peer. It is truly a pity to be confined here. Do you have aspirations to ascend to a Nascent Soul Clan?"

The Demon Suppression True Monarch asked, clearly showing genuine admiration for the young person before him.

As a child, the Demon Suppression True Monarch had lost family and parents to rampaging demon cultivators, which fostered a deep hatred for evil, swearing to eradicate all demons.

Thus, upon learning that Li Quanqing had slain the old master of the Blood River, his attitude became increasingly amiable and he did not hesitate to express his appreciation.

"A Nascent Soul Clan..."

Li Quanqing shook his head slightly, not a bit moved: "Thank you for your kind words, True Monarch, but the Li Family is ultimately of humble beginnings, with few cultivators. The territory we currently oversee has already reached its limits, and any further expansion is beyond our means."

This is not a lie; a hundred years ago, the Green Jade Li Family was merely a Foundation Establishment Family, with only the Old Clan Chief, a lone Foundation Establishment cultivator, barely supporting it.

Now, having ascended to a Golden Core Family for just a tortoise cycle, aspiring to leap again to become a Nascent Soul Clan is truly beyond our reach.

The development of a family requires time to accumulate its foundation; taking too large a step could easily lead to many problems, outweighing the gains.

Of course, Li Quanqing said this also to alleviate some of the concerns of the other party.

After all, the Star Sect is a Nascent Soul Sect, and although righteous, it has not reached the point of sharing territories and resources with other cultivators.

On the path of cultivation, only the word ’struggle’ prevails.

"Well then, I shall wait until the day you, young friend, truly ascend to Nascent Soul, and come to congratulate you."

The Demon Suppression True Monarch smiled faintly, never showing the slightest hostility throughout, indeed a righteous person’s demeanor.

The stellar illusion roared like thunder as it did upon arrival, as he departed once more, treading on brilliant starlight, transforming into a bridge of the Dao, traversing thousands of miles, coming and going freely.

Li Quanqing watched him disappear at the end of the sight, and only then did he completely relax.

Immediately afterward, the Five Elements Sealing Heaven Array behind him roared and opened a gap, and he slipped through in an instant.

"Quanqing, it’s so fortunate that you’re unscathed, that was a Nascent Soul old demon!"

Li Kunlun, surrounded by thunderbolts and with sword Qi like a rainbow, scrutinized him up and down before finally letting out a long breath.

"I told you, I’m confident enough, even if other Nascent Soul True Monarchs were to attack, I could resist them with this Fourth Rank Array."

Li Quanqing removed the armor, revealing his face once more; his momentum plummeted from the Nascent Soul Realm, feeling empty throughout, and his body somewhat unaccustomed.

"Golden Core reversing Nascent Soul, you kid, truly remarkable, you have the potential for Divinity Transformation!"

Li Kunli stood beside, clicking his tongue in amazement, never imagining that the boy who once sought his advice on artifact refining would grow into such an imposing figure today.

Now he has even condensed a Fake Pill, looking much younger, sturdy as an iron tower, with fierce flames burning in the void around him, giving an immense sense of pressure.

"What a pity the family is holding you back; if Quanqing were born into a Nascent Soul Sect, perhaps there wouldn’t be so many burdens."

Beside Li Kunlun, a large cauldron glowed as divine light whistled, condensing into Li Zongyao’s Incense Body, exuding a majestic divine presence.

Now, the Li Family’s incense is flourishing, and the Old Clan Chief has also ascended to the seventh-grade divine spirit of the Golden Core Realm, strong enough.

Li Quanqing, however, doesn’t think so.

There are benefits to a family, and also negatives to a sect, with internal strife, conflict of interests, and opposition factions.

Better to have a united family like this.

Besides, all his cultivation so far relies on his own Golden Finger, valuing external resources like cultivation resources not highly.

Li Zongyao, surrounded by golden divine light, appeared magnificent and grand, with a hint of regret in his words: "Thankfully, it was the Demon Suppression True Monarch who came, upright and honorable. If it were the nearly thousand-year-old Star Ancestor, he might have acted against you for the sake of the sect."

"So... how should the family develop next?"

Everyone looked at each other, feeling quite conflicted for a while.

Currently, the Li Family’s Golden Core combat power is just those present, aiming to ascend to a Nascent Soul Clan is really not enough.

Moreover, although the Star Sect is a prominent righteous sect, would they just watch as we grow stronger and encroach on their territory?

"The news of this great battle will surely spread, which benefits our Li Family; perhaps without much effort, the nearby Golden Core Sects will submit."

"Our Li Family does not seek more; steadily developing, initially occupying a hundred thousand miles of sea should be the limit, and continuous cultivation of family cultivators is needed."

"From now on, Quanqing, you should not leave the Qingyu Cave Heaven, to avoid any great cultivators coveting the treasure armor on you and launching a secret attack. It’s better to stay within the family, with the array’s protection, and focus on cultivating peacefully."

The Old Clan Chief, having lived long and seen much, proposed several development strategies.

A true Nascent Soul level force governs a million miles of sea, extending from the Central Continent to the depths of the East Sea, vast and boundless.

The Li Family occupying a hundred thousand miles already seems a bit gluttonous and requires gradual digestion.

Li Quanqing has no objections to these development strategies but also has his ideas.

"Why not... reopen that underwater passageway? Directly connecting to the Human-Demon Battlefield in the outer seas, it’s now the territory of the Four Seas Sect; we can seek the protection of the Four Seas Sect."

"With the passageway open, instantly traversing hundreds of thousands of miles, it will certainly initiate thriving cross-sea trade. With the Four Seas Sect’s protection, our Li Family can not only develop vigorously but also deter the Star Sect from acting recklessly."