Establishing a Clan in the Eastern Wilderness: A Daily Divination, Cultivating Longevity in a Grotto

"That kid looks unfamiliar..." Li Changsheng pointed to the boy.

Li Changming followed his gaze, a complex expression flashing across his face, and sighed softly, "That child... speaking of which, he's actually a collateral branch of your Ninth House."

"Oh?" Li Changsheng became interested.

"His name is Li Chang'an."

Li Changming whispered:

"His mother died in childbirth. His father... sigh, later he married a second wife. After that second wife gave birth to her own child, Chang'an was labeled as 'unlucky for his father and mother,' and his status in the family plummeted. He was practically abandoned and raised by servants."

Li Changming's tone carried a hint of displeasure:

"About half a year ago, he successfully guided the Qi into his body. According to custom, his whole family could move from the foot of the mountain to the top. But this child... stubbornly insisted that he didn't want his biological father and stepmother to come up the mountain to enjoy the good life, and only wanted to come up by himself."

Clearly distinguish between gratitude and resentment!

Li Changsheng nodded slightly.

"This child is not very filial," Li Changming said. "However, after coming up the mountain, he worked the hardest and cultivated the most diligently. He often says that he is where he is today because of the relocation order you, the clan chief, set back then, which allowed Wen Yuan to find him according to the list. Otherwise, he would have been bullied and abused to death by the servants long ago, and he would not have had the opportunity to defy fate today. He has been saying that he wants to kowtow to you in person to thank you for your kindness."

As he spoke, Li Changming called out towards the field, "Chang'an! Come here!"

The boy named Li Chang'an looked up at the sound, saw Li Changsheng, was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He dropped his sickle and ran over, stumbling through the muddy field, his little face full of excitement. When he got closer, without saying a word, he knelt down with a "plop" and kowtowed three times.

"Li Chang'an, a member of a collateral branch, thanks the clan chief for his kindness! Thank you, clan chief... thank you, clan chief, for giving me a way to live!"

Li Changsheng reached out and helped him up. Touching the child, he felt that he was so thin that he was almost painful to the touch, but his arms were quite strong.

"Stand up and speak. How old are you this year?"

Li Chang'an stood up, straightening his thin spine as he did so, and replied respectfully:

"Chief, Chang'an is eleven years old this year."

eleven?

Li Changsheng was slightly surprised. The child looked to be at most seven years old, which was obviously due to long-term malnutrition.

at the same time.

In his field of vision, a line of clear writing appeared above Li Chang'an's head:

Loyalty: 100%

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Changsheng's mind stirred.

The appraisal talent bestowed upon Li Chang'an by the Heavenly Book of Destiny in his sea of ​​consciousness quietly began to operate and fell upon him.

A new line of information appeared:

[Talent Assessment: Spiritual Plant (Sixth Rank Potential)]

Sixth-grade potential!

Li Changsheng was shocked.

His own talent for alchemy was only at the ninth rank.

Li Chang'an's talent potential in spiritual plants is actually as high as the sixth grade!

This is absolutely a pleasant surprise and a pillar for the family's future spiritual plant business!

He remained expressionless and said to Li Changming:

"Elder cousin, I really like Chang'an. Let him come with me to the quiet room for a chat. Please take good care of things in the fields."

Li Changming quickly agreed.

Li Changsheng led the nervous yet excited Li Chang'an back to his quiet room.

The stone door was closed, leaving only the two people inside.

Li Chang'an stood there, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, even her breathing became soft, her bright black eyes staring unblinkingly at Li Changsheng, full of awe.

"Chang'an," Li Changsheng said gently, "I heard about your story from Changming. Your success today is due to your own hard work and has nothing to do with others. However, it's good that you have both a heart that yearns for the Dao and a sense of gratitude."

Li Chang'an nodded vigorously, his little face tense.

Li Changsheng took out the [Abundant Harvest Destiny] seed from his bosom. It was obtained from the fourth page of the Heavenly Book, shaped like a tender sprout, and lush and green.

Once the seed of law is planted.

The quiet room was instantly filled with a refreshing and invigorating scent of greenery.

Li Chang'an's eyes widened instantly.

Although he didn't recognize what it was, he instinctively felt an attraction and desire from the depths of his blood, and his body trembled slightly.

"This item is called the 'Abundant Fate Seed'," Li Changsheng said solemnly. "After refining, it can greatly enhance your talent and perception in the cultivation of spiritual plants. I observe that you have a resilient character and a methodical approach to spiritual plant cultivation. Therefore, I bestow this item upon you today."

Li Chang'an was struck dumb, standing there in disbelief.

Such a precious treasure, whose very aura made his soul tremble... Clan leader, you want to bestow it upon this child from a collateral branch, a lowly one who was almost abandoned by the clan?

The enormous shock left his mind blank.

immediately.

An unparalleled surge of excitement, gratitude, and a burning passion—a willingness to die for a friend—erupted like a volcano!

He knelt down again with a "plop":

"Clan Chief! Clan Chief, you are so kind! Chang'an... Chang'an's life belongs to the Clan Chief from this day forward! Chang'an swears that he will dedicate his life to cultivating spiritual plants for the clan, even unto death! If he breaks this oath, may he be struck down by heaven and earth, and his soul be scattered to the winds!"

...

...

The next day, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

On the back of Qinglan Mountain, two figures quietly climbed onto Xiaobai's broad back.

We had just left the mountain gate about three miles away.

With a thought, Li Changsheng quietly activated his [Clan Leader's Authority - Malice Perception]. The vague perception spread once more, and the intense and concentrated malice in the northwest direction, like smoke signals in the night, became clearly discernible.

"They were indeed lying in wait." Li Changsheng's eyes turned cold.

The Cheng family really is a persistent ghost.

"Clan leader, are you from the Cheng family?" Chen Wenyuan gripped the ghost-head knife, his expression wary.

"Most likely." Li Changsheng patted Xiaobai's neck. "Xiaobai, take a detour and go the longer road to the south."

Xiao Bai, with its spiritual power, hissed softly and turned south, avoiding the surveillance area to the northwest.

This nearly doubled the distance.

As the sun began to set, the outline of the market town remained nowhere in sight.

"Clan leader, I'm afraid we won't make it to the market today. Traveling in the wilderness after dark could lead to attacks from evil spirits or monsters," Chen Wenyuan said, looking at the sky.

Li Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's go to the Du family's house. We'll stay there for the night."

Xiao Bai turned and sped towards the Du family's fiefdom.

The Du family's fiefdom, "Cuiwei Mountain," is not too far from Qinglan Mountain.

Half an hour later, a sizable town could be seen at the foot of the mountain and a light mist swirling around the mountainside.

Li Changsheng presented his visiting card, and shortly after, a flash of light appeared at the mountain gate, and Du Liuniang, dressed in a pale yellow dress, personally came out to greet him. Nearly a year had passed; she seemed to have grown taller, and the youthful naiveté in her eyes had faded somewhat, replaced by a more capable air.

"Clan Chief Li, Brother Chen, what brings you here?" Du Liuniang greeted them with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Li Changsheng for a moment before she exclaimed with delight, "Congratulations, Clan Chief Li, on your advancement in cultivation! You've reached the third level of Qi Refining!"

Li Changsheng also noticed that Du Liuniang's aura was much stronger and more solid than before, and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Congratulations, congratulations! Clan Chief Du has also entered the third level, hasn't she?"

The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Upon entering the Du family's reception room, Li Changsheng was offered spiritual tea and explained his purpose:

"I was on my way to Qinglan Market to buy some necessities, but I was delayed on the way. I would like to trouble you for the night and set off again early tomorrow morning."