Family Management Game In Immortal Continent

Chapter 1230: Chapter 1224: Only One Azure Cloud Prefecture

Stepping forth from the Northern Frontier, Li Wei relied on his family’s intelligence network, weaving through spatial rules to survey every corner of the Imperial Dynasty.

At the steep cost of one hundred thousand Family Will points per manifestation, failing to maximize his time would be a shameful waste.

His survey complete, he silently slipped back into the City of Merit.

After imparting his findings to his descendants, he retreated to a secluded corner of the family estate, his mind burdened by an invisible, crushing weight.

“Dao Seed… Empress… Ancestor Lan… Imperial Dynasty…”

Muttering the names like a mantra, Li Wei struggled to untangle the chaotic knot of thoughts festering in his mind.

The family had cultivated its strength for nearly a millennium, yet only now did Li Wei feel the Li Clan had finally peeled back the veil to glimpse the Imperial Dynasty’s true face—leaving them feeling like raw recruits stumbling onto a primordial battlefield.

In truth, the grand Imperial Dynasty was a labyrinthine amalgamation, a beast harboring a dizzying array of hidden factions.

No matter how ambitious these mighty experts were, while the Human Emperor stood at the zenith of his power, they were forced to masquerade as perfectly obedient children—or, like Min Tiange, exhaust every method to remain concealed in the shadows.

Now that the Human Emperor lingered at death’s door, the shadows writhed as they sprang forth, and even those ‘obedient children’ had begun to bare their fangs and stir up trouble.

“And then there are the objects of those gods…” Li Wei murmured, a chill tracing his spine.

Min Youguo had spoken of the matter with casual indifference, but who could truly see through the machinations of such an old fox?

Furthermore, Min Youguo had seemed entirely unsurprised that both the Zhao Clan Old Ancestor and Min Tiange possessed artifacts of gods and immortals.

Even the ‘Reincarnation Technique’ employed by Tian Xing seemed to bear a subtle trace of Min Youguo’s tacit approval.

“Which means… there are countless figures, both inside and outside the Imperial Dynasty, utilizing these unearthly things?” Li Wei’s eyes widened in realization.

Even within his own family, weren’t Yaowen and Zhiheng cultivating similar arts? There was also Yaoqing’s divine art, which had drawn heaven’s scourge… Such ancient secret arts did not resemble orthodox cultivation methods in the slightest.

Just as his thoughts drifted to Yaoqing.

He spotted a slender figure in a Daoist robe approaching, preceded by the rich, earthy fragrance of medicinal herbs. It was none other than Li Yaoqing.

When she wasn’t secluded away refining pills, Yaoqing maintained a pristine appearance. Her pale face was not the sort to inspire immediate awe; instead, she radiated a fresh, elegant charm that grew more captivating over time, accentuated by a faint glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

Glancing at his surroundings, he realized he had unknowingly wandered into Yaoqing’s pill-refining area.

“Old Ancestor!”

Upon catching sight of him, Li Yaoqing hitched up her robes and broke into a run.

Although the duration the Old Ancestor could maintain his manifestation had grown longer these days, his appearances in the mortal realm remained fleeting.

Reaching his side, she noticed him leaning tiredly against a tree and immediately stepped behind him to massage his shoulders.

Having spent ample time with him in the Ancestral Space, her initial awe had mellowed into a warm intimacy; she had even grumbled about her third brother to him on numerous occasions.

“Good girl,” Li Wei murmured, reaching back to gently pat Yaoqing’s head.

Every time he manifested and beheld the younger generation, a profound, weary sense of age washed over him.

Suddenly, he recalled the items he had collected from the Western Frontier.

He handed a spatial ring to Yaoqing. Under her pleasantly surprised gaze, he offered a warm smile. “I took a trip outside and briefly saw the children in the main hall earlier, but I forgot to give these over to you all.”

“Weren’t you squabbling with your third brother over the Golden Chapter? Take this second Golden Chapter for yourself.”

Hearing this, Li Yaoqing playfully stuck out her tongue, though her hands never broke their rhythmic massage.

The Spiritual power from her Divine Art gently smoothed out his weary meridians as she puffed her cheeks and muttered,

“I just can’t stomach third brother’s smug face. He insists on fighting me for every little thing; it’s so infuriating. I don’t truly need the Golden Chapter—leave it for the younger children to use.”

“Alright.”

Li Wei smiled indulgently, and the two soon drifted into idle chatter about trivial family affairs.

Perhaps exhausted by his long travels across the realm, a heavy wave of sleepiness soon washed over him. His eyelids drooped heavily, and his breathing soon grew deep and steady.

…….

“The Blood Moon in the Western Frontier now blankets the vast majority of Deston Prefecture. The Old Ancestor confirmed that Min Tiange and the others cannot leave.

The Blood Moon hanging over the Western Frontier is the true Dao Seed; it is that Blood Moon manipulating everyone trapped within its domain.”

Sitting at the head of the main hall, Li Dalong issued his commands. “Tianqi, after this, you will head out to measure the Blood Moon’s rate of expansion.”

“Yes, Great-Grandfather,” Li Tianqi replied, abruptly pushing himself up from his seat.

Li Dalong did not pause, continuing,

“The Old Ancestor brought back the Spear Saint’s corpse. Ba Siyu had trapped the Spear Saint’s remains using an array formation.

Tianqi, you are highly accomplished in arrays. I want you to decipher Ba Siyu’s true intentions behind it.

The Spear Saint’s remains must not suffer further insult; once the situation is clear, escort the body back to the Imperial Capital.”

“…Yes, Great-Grandfather.” Having only just lowered himself halfway, Li Tianqi hurriedly stood back up.

“The Dark Nest array formation must be delivered to the Hall of Heavenly Principles.

We also require a guardian to protect the Immortal Child as he attempts his breakthrough to the Void Refinement realm. Tianqi.”

“…”

When he wasn’t roped into the reckless antics of Tianyi and Tianming, Li Tianqi—clad in flowing green robes—exuded a gentle, scholarly air, showing absolutely no hint of his usual penchant for courting death.

Hearing this relentless barrage of orders, Li Tianqi looked helplessly at his gathered clansmen and buried his face in his hands. “Yes, Great-Grandfather.”

“And when you meet Ancestor Lan, there is no need for excessive courtesy. Relay every word the Imperial Preceptor said.”

“Yes, Great-Grandfa—”

Li Dalong paused, his brows furrowing as he looked up at the slumping Tianqi.

“I wasn’t speaking to you. Chang, take Jianning and Jianshu on this trip. Remember, if Ancestor Lan asks you to cultivate some bizarre, unorthodox method, politely refuse.”

Addressing the crisis of the Western Frontier Blood Moon, Li Dalong meticulously issued orders for every miscellaneous task, one after another.

Only then did he sweep his gaze across the assembled clansmen.

“The Old Ancestor took a trip to the Imperial Capital. The Empress is still demanding that we leave.

Our family has rooted itself in Azure Cloud Prefecture for many years; I need say no more. The world may be vast, but there is only one Azure Cloud Prefecture.”

“We understand!”

The younger generations took their leave in unison, leaving only the husband and wife, Li Dalong and Xu Cuihua, alone in the grand hall.

The couple had spent countless years secluded in the Underworld. Now, having finally returned, they found that everything remained exactly as it had always been.

Out front stood the familiar Old Tree, and just beyond it lay the quaint little dwellings of their four children.

They were no longer the simple mud-tiled huts of ordinary commoners, though in truth, they merely sported a few more refined decorations.

As the years passed, the number of descendants multiplied, their homes neatly separated by winding courtyard walls.

The couple strolled leisurely through their sprawling estate. As they ran their hands along the courtyard walls of their descendants, they were brushing against the faded memories of a bygone era.

Touching other, newer stones, they felt the presence of the family’s newest additions; every new birth meant another courtyard wall rising from the earth.

Whether they had been married off to distant lands or had lost their lives on the path of cultivation, the indelible traces of their existence remained carved into these small courtyards.

Stepping past the massive gates of the Li family compound, they entered the bustling market nestled safely within the Grotto-Heaven Paradise.

Numerous retainers could be seen returning from dangerous missions outside, while others busied themselves running taverns, wine shops, or stores selling fine paintings and calligraphy…

Even cultivators with heaven-reaching prowess needed a place to call home. Finding a single inch of tranquility amidst the turbulent waves of the outside world—that was the true meaning of being alive.

Further out lay the outer city, a picturesque expanse of verdant mountains and crystalline waters.

A farmer, surprisingly an expert at the Golden Core realm, was bent low, diligently plowing the fields.

Li Dalong didn’t know which generation of the clan he belonged to, nor did he recognize Li Dalong.

Upon being questioned, the farmer wiped the paddy-field mud from his face with his free hand, leaning on his hoe and flashing a wide grin of prominent yellow teeth.

“Me? My surname is Chen. I’m a sixth-generation retainer of the family, Chen Qing’an.

My old man even fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the great Master Xinnian from our city, driving back the Wu Tribe when they barged in from the outside!

Master Jianshu’s motherfucking orders dragged my son off to cultivate, leaving my fields completely barren. Fortunately, we had some new Masters step in.”

“Just don’t let me run into the old Master; otherwise I’ll report Li Jianshu and make sure he gets a proper thrashing.”

Li Dalong barked a laugh. They had spent so many years in the Underworld, and the place had been renamed the City of Merit, yet at its heart, it was still just Green Valley Village in the Azure Cloud Region.

The farmer went back to work. Xu Cuihua, clad in a loose robe and exuding a mature, natural charm, was a breathtaking sight that only Li Dalong could truly appreciate.

To outsiders lacking sufficient cultivation, she appeared as nothing more than an ordinary middle-aged aunt.

She giggled softly. “Shall we drag Jianshu out onto the street one of these days and give him a beating?”

“We’ll see.” Li Dalong grinned broadly. “The Blood Moon is approaching. There is much to be done, and we won’t be returning to the Underworld anytime soon.”

“That old bitch sitting on the dragon throne,” Xu Cuihua muttered, her eyes abruptly flashing with icy anger.

“Seizing her husband’s authority, completely disregarding the Zishu family, and to think she was originally just a mere concubine. I knew allowing things to progress this way would lead to disaster sooner or later.

I’ll go draft letters to Xinghuo’s concubines shortly; it is best we sever those ties early. Only Wandong has handled things appropriately.”

“Where there is an Underworld, there are gods. The Old Ancestor himself confirmed their existence. Min Youguo may have spoken of it casually, but I know his type; the more nonchalant he acts, the deadlier the trouble.”

Li Dalong sighed heavily. “For nearly a millennium, bizarre events have plagued us, and His Majesty falls into peril at a time like this.”

“An emperor capable of wiping out the Eternal Zhao Clan with a mere wave of his hand is now dying. Reincarnation techniques, divine hearts, and blood moons are emerging one after another.”

Xu Cuihua, having served as a cunning military advisor in the Underworld, had learned more than a few tricks from that old fox, the Fox Saint.

“The ancient terror the Human Emperor fought against… it might be the exact same entity we are facing now.”

“Yes. Exactly the same.”

Li Dalong picked up a spare hoe, strode over to a vacant patch of the Li family’s spiritual fields, rolled up his sleeves, and forcefully struck the earth.

“We are guarding Azure Cloud Prefecture, but he is guarding the entire world. If His Majesty falls, that is when the true nightmare begins. Cuihua, go ask for some seeds.”

Xu Cuihua retrieved a handful of seeds from a nearby farming family and poured them into Li Dalong’s calloused hand. “He doesn’t have many years left to live.”

“Then I will look down on him.”

Li Dalong bared his teeth in a fierce, defiant grin, driving the hoe deep into the soil.

“To hell with this so-called Blood Moon, to hell with that old bitch on the dragon throne, and to hell with whichever blind fool dares to cross our threshold.

If we fail to hold the line, everyone in Azure Cloud Prefecture will look down on our Li Clan.”

…

The Eternal Immortal Sect.

“Him? Doesn’t he look exactly like that hypocritical old pedant in our city—the one who openly runs a private school but secretly peddles smut to afford his wine?”

“What do you know? Let me tell you, truly capable experts all cultivate this look.

Whitening their own hair and beards while keeping their skin as tender as a baby’s—who knows what kind of bizarre methods they use.

It’s all just to command a bit more respect based on their appearance, so they can go out and… how does the saying go? Ah yes, exploiting one’s seniority to sell… sell birds.”

“Uncultured brute! The phrase is ‘an old dog stewing a bird’! This motherfucking old bastard—he’s the very one who lured that old bitch and the Min Dog to our doorstep.”

“…”

High upon the rear mountain, the old man—who otherwise possessed a transcendent, immortal bearing—was seated cross-legged in meditation.

On his pristine, youthful face, framed by flowing white hair, the blue veins at his temples were throbbing violently.

Standing before him, seven men and women built like towering iron pagodas completely blocked the sunlight shining upon the sect.

Despite looking utterly honest and simple-minded, they hadn’t made a single audible sound, communicating solely through overt eye contact and poorly concealed divine sense transmissions.

Shrouded in their massive shadows, Ancestor Lan finally snapped, his eyes flying open to glare furiously. “Enough!!!”

Ten minutes later.

Back on the rear mountain, Ancestor Lan continued to blow his beard and glare fiercely at the obediently cross-legged, severely bruised, and battered Seven Ironclads.

“So you seven are the Seven Ironclads of the Azure Cloud Li Clan? What overwhelmingly powerful demonic qi and Wu Tribe qi.

It seems you truly stumbled upon a heaven-defying opportunity, transforming into another living totem of this world. The eternal rules bind the seven of you together—this is no small fortune.”

“May I ask what brings you lot to seek out this old man?”

The Seven Ironclads exchanged sheepish glances. Originally, Li Chang and two of the younger generation were supposed to make this trip, but their own burning curiosity had gotten the better of them.

They merely wanted to see exactly which bastard had lured the enemy to their home. They just hadn’t expected their ‘subtle’ divine sense transmissions to be so easily intercepted.

After pondering for a long, heavy moment, the bruised Li Yundou puffed out his chest and stated solemnly, “It doesn’t hurt.”

“…”

Ancestor Lan remained silent for a long time, staring at them as if he had just been drained of all his strength and cunning. “Are you seven little friends here to ask why the Empress is moving against me?”

The seven iron pagodas nodded in unison.

“That story starts on a dark, windy night…”

With a thoroughly darkened expression, Ancestor Lan impatiently waved his hand, sealing the troublemaking Li Yundou’s mouth shut. “She wants me dead, so she can return my Dao to the world.”

—

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