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

"Grandmother, there is one more thing."

"you say."

"Grandmother cultivated a secret technique that can conceal one's cultivation level." Li Changsheng took out a thin booklet from his bosom and handed it over. "This technique is called 'Turtle Breath Concealing Yuan Technique.' After cultivating it, one can suppress one's cultivation level to any realm, making it impossible for outsiders to see through. Unless one's cultivation level is two major realms higher, it is absolutely impossible for them to detect it."

Every family needs to have one or two hidden trump cards.

His grandmother will be one of the foundations of the Li family that he is preparing.

Grandmother took the booklet, flipped through it, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She had never heard of this secret technique before, but judging from the profound meaning in the words, it was clearly no ordinary thing.

"Grandmother possesses a mutated wind spirit root, a second-grade aptitude, and her cultivation speed far surpasses that of ordinary people." Li Changsheng looked at his grandmother, his tone solemn. "Grandson hopes that Grandmother will become the Li family's hidden trump card, so her cultivation level should not be known to outsiders beforehand. In these past three months, Grandmother has broken through again, hasn't she?"

Grandmother smiled slightly, neither denying it nor denying it, only saying, "You've reached the sixth level of Qi Refining."

Li Changsheng was overjoyed.

In just three months, my grandmother went from the fifth to the sixth level of Qi Refining. Her cultivation speed would be considered genius-level in any aristocratic family.

It's time to prepare for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

The Foundation Establishment Pill in the Heavenly Book Space will take another 60 years to mature. However, even the ninth-rank Yun family does not have the formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill; it is controlled by the imperial court.

But he possesses the Book of Destiny, so perhaps he will have the opportunity to find it in the future.

……

The grandmother and grandson came out of the side hall, passed through the moon gate, and walked towards the courtyard where the grandmother lived.

The courtyard was small, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and several spirit mulberry trees planted in the middle, their branches and leaves swaying gracefully. Pushing open the door, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out. On the bed in the inner room, the mysterious female cultivator lay quietly, her face pale, her breathing weak, and her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were trapped in a nightmare.

The grandmother walked to the bedside, reached out and touched the female cultivator's forehead, and sighed, "This child's condition is getting worse and worse. She's been like this ever since she woke up last time. I'm afraid that the forbidden technique used last time completely triggered the injuries that had been suppressed for many years."

Li Changsheng walked to the bedside, looking at the pale, paper-like face, feeling a pang of guilt. The belt was formed from the brand she had imprinted on him; after entering the Ten Thousand Ghosts Cave, the belt's replenishing energy and blood had allowed his body-tempering technique to advance from the Skin Refining Realm all the way to the Bone Forging Realm. He remembered this kindness.

He patted his storage bag, and a jade box appeared in his hand. The box opened, and inside was a small sapling, completely black, no more than three inches tall, with two tender leaves just unfurling, and a faint, eerie light flowing between the veins.

Seedlings of the Soul-Nourishing Wood.

Li Changsheng took out a bonsai from his storage bag, set up a simple small spirit-gathering array at the bottom of the pot, carefully transplanted the Soul-Nourishing Wood sapling into it, and watered it with some spiritual spring water. He placed the bonsai by the female cultivator's bedside, its branches and leaves facing her face.

Grandmother suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Chang Sheng, look!"

Li Changsheng looked up and saw that the female cultivator's tightly furrowed brows had slowly relaxed. The pain on her pale face gradually faded, replaced by a sense of peace. Her breathing also became much more even, no longer intermittent as before.

"This soul-nourishing wood will be useful to her," the grandmother said with delight.

Li Changsheng nodded, feeling relieved. The Soul-Nourishing Wood could soothe and nurture the soul, and the female cultivator's injury was to her soul. With this sapling by her side, he hoped it would help the goddess awaken soon.

……

Footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard, followed by a young boy's clear, cold voice: "Grandmother, your grandson is back."

Li Changmo.

Li Changsheng and his grandmother exchanged a glance, then walked out of the room and into the courtyard.

At the courtyard gate, a boy of about seven or eight years old stood on the porch, carrying a medicine basket on his back. He was thin and had delicate features, but his eyes held a coldness that was incongruous with his age. When he saw Li Changsheng there, he lowered his head even further, not asking anyone, but just standing there quietly, like a rootless blade of grass.

Li Changsheng looked at the line of text above his head that only he could see—

Loyalty: 55/100

Nothing has changed.

He sighed inwardly. The child had been brought back almost two years ago, and his grandmother had cared for him meticulously; no one in the clan had mistreated him, yet his heart remained closed off. The healing spirit, the seed of eternal life—he should have bestowed it upon him long ago, but the child's loyalty was insufficient, and he dared not give it rashly. The seed of life was precious; he couldn't give it to such an ungrateful wretch.

"Changmo," Li Changsheng said.

Li Changmo raised his head, glanced at him, and then lowered his head again.

"Did you go up the mountain to gather herbs?" Li Changsheng asked.

nod.

"What did you pick?"

Silence. Li Changsheng waited a moment, but Li Changmo still didn't answer. His grandmother, unable to bear it any longer, said gently, "Changmo, the clan leader is asking you a question."

Li Changmo then took out a few herbs from the medicine basket, held them up, and put them back. He still didn't say anything.

Grandmother shook her head and said to Li Changsheng, "This child doesn't talk to anyone. He only talks to me a few words."

She turned to Li Changmo and said gently, "There's some food left for you in the kitchen. Eat it while it's hot."

Li Changmo responded, slung his medicine basket over his shoulder, and walked away with his head down.

After he walked away, his grandmother sighed and whispered, "This child is very interested in medicine. I had him learn from the town doctor for a few months, and he picked it up very quickly. He's very talented. Plus, he's a cultivator, so treating mortals' illnesses is a piece of cake for him. Later, he felt there was no challenge left, so he liked to go up the mountain to tinker with herbs and research prescriptions on his own."

Li Changsheng pondered for a moment and said, "Grandmother, help him open a clinic on the mountain. Cultivators can also get injured; let him treat them."

Grandma's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea. Interacting with more people might help her gradually become more outgoing."

Li Changsheng nodded and said nothing more.

But he didn't tell his grandmother that he had deliberately said those words to Li Changmo. The child hadn't gone far; he hid under the shade of a tree outside the courtyard.

His consciousness clearly perceived that small, thin figure—Li Changmo was leaning against a tree trunk, head down, clutching a herb in his hand, motionless.

Healing spirits, an inexhaustible seed of life. He must subdue such a clan, no matter what.

With the beast tide approaching, a cultivator capable of healing spirits is of paramount importance to the family.

He glanced at the loyalty rating above Li Changmo's head.

Loyalty: 55/100 → 58/100

It went up. Not by much, but it did go up.

Li Changsheng withdrew his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips. No rush, take your time.

......

Council Hall.

Bright lights.

Li Changsheng invited his father, Li Shouyi, into the hall, dismissed those around him, and the hall doors slowly closed.

Li Changsheng patted his storage bag, and a burst of light emanated from it. Items flew out and were neatly arranged on the long table. Elixirs, talismans, magical artifacts, cultivation techniques, secret arts, spiritual flowers and rare herbs... filled the entire long table to the brim.

Li Shouyi's eyes widened.

"Chang Sheng, these... these are all things you obtained in the Cave of Ten Thousand Ghosts?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

Li Shouyi didn't ask any further questions.

It's normal for a son to have his own secrets now that he's grown up. Besides, he's now the head of a clan, and his status is different from before. As his father, he needs to understand his place.

"Chang Sheng, what should we do with these supplies?"