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

In the quiet room, Li Changsheng sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his sea of ​​consciousness.

The celestial book shimmered with golden light, and a new page slowly unfolded before us. A phantom image of a destiny seed, shaped like a cauldron and radiating an amber glow, materialized, accompanied by annotations:

[The Harmonious Flavors Destiny: Those born into this clan possess an extraordinary talent for culinary arts. They can sense the interrelationships of spiritual ingredients and control subtle changes in cooking time, enhancing the efficacy of their dishes by 20% and doubling their deliciousness. This destiny holds unparalleled value in the family's culinary repertoire.]

Li Changsheng nodded slightly.

My mother was already quite talented in cooking spiritual food, and this seed of magic was perfect for her.

Immediately afterwards, another golden light entered his consciousness:

[Clan Leader's Authority - Sharing of Cultivation Talents: The clan leader can designate a clan member to share half (no less than the original talent) of one of their cultivation talents with that member. Conditions: The clan member's loyalty to the clan leader must be at least 90%, and they must possess the basic potential for that talent.]

Li Changsheng's eyes lit up.

This means that he can share his alchemy talent with those in his clan who have the potential to refine pills, thus cultivating more alchemists.

However, the conditions are demanding—loyalty level must be above 90, and basic potential must also be present.

He continued to look at the celestial book.

[The clan leader's alchemy talent has been detected and can be improved. Do you want to choose a direction for improvement?]

"Improve your alchemy talent."

Mysterious power descended from the void.

[Alchemy Talent: Rank 9 (40/100) → Rank 9 (60/100)]

Li Changsheng opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Good things are happening all day; it's a good time to cast another divination.

"Today's divination result is 'open'."

A yellow light flowed, and the deduced text slowly emerged:

【Zhuo Family Territory - Sand Bamboo Rat】

To the southeast of the Zhuo family's fiefdom lies a desolate mountain called "Bamboo Rat Ridge." The ridge is covered in dense bamboo forests, inhabited by a first-tier spirit beast—the Sand Bamboo Rat. This beast is entirely golden, feeds on the roots and stems of spirit bamboo, and its meat is tender and rich in spiritual energy. When cooked using special methods, it can be made into the "Golden Jade Abundance" spiritual dish, which is beneficial for Qi Refining cultivators, replenishing their Qi and blood, and enhancing their cultivation. Sand Bamboo Rats reproduce rapidly; if live ones can be captured and raised, they can become a long-term, stable source of spiritual materials for the family.

Although Bamboo Rat Ridge is within the Zhuo family's fiefdom, it borders the Zheng family's territory. The Zheng family has long coveted these sand bamboo rats, but has hesitated to act due to their fear of the Zhuo family. Now, the Zheng family has secretly gathered its forces and will soon cross the border to capture them.

Li Changsheng was overjoyed.

If the sand bamboo rats could be captured and raised alive, the Li family would have a stable source of spiritual materials. Moreover, that place was near the desolate mountains where Ye Wushuang was hiding his family's wealth, making it a win-win situation.

……

The head of the house, the quiet room.

Li Changsheng called his parents and younger sister over, closed the door, and set up a soundproof barrier. Li's mother was completely bewildered, and Li's father also looked puzzled. Only Li Changle blinked, looking at her brother with curiosity.

Li Changsheng patted his storage bag, and two palm-sized gourds appeared on the table. The gourds were entirely greenish-blue, with a faint spiritual light flowing across their surfaces. He uncorked one of them, and a pure and peculiar spiritual energy emanated from it, carrying a faint fragrance that invigorated the spirit.

Li Changle leaned closer and sniffed, asking curiously, "Brother, what's this? It smells so good!"

Li Changsheng resealed the stopper and said solemnly, "This is spiritual water for cleansing the marrow and rejuvenating the essence. I obtained it by chance in the Cave of Ten Thousand Ghosts; there are two portions in total."

Upon hearing this, Li's mother quickly said, "Chang Sheng, you and Chang Le can use this spiritual water."

"Mother, I've already used it," Li Changsheng said.

Mother Li immediately said, "Then give it to your father and Chang Le. My spiritual root aptitude is average; it would be a waste to use such good stuff. Chang Le is still young; she has a long road ahead of her—"

"Mother," Li Changle interrupted her, her little face full of seriousness, "I'm still young, I'll have plenty of opportunities in the future. You and Father only started cultivating at this age, your foundation is weak. If you want to build a foundation in the future, you'll have to cleanse your marrow and refine your essence. I don't want to."

Li Changsheng glanced at his younger sister, feeling gratified.

Although my younger sister is young, she is more sensible than many adults.

"Chang Le is right." He picked up the two gourds and handed them to his parents, "Dad, Mom, you can use them."

Li's mother wanted to refuse, but Li's father held her hand, took the gourd, and said in a deep voice, "Listen to the child."

Li Changle took out several array flags from his storage bag and set up a magic array in the quiet room. The array was named "Yin-Yang Harmony Array," a first-grade high-quality array. It used the power of harmonizing Yin and Yang energies to assist in refining spiritual objects, maximizing the efficacy of the medicine and reducing waste.

"Father, Mother, please sit in the center of the formation," Li Changle said.

As instructed, Mr. and Mrs. Li sat cross-legged in the center of the formation and each drank the spiritual water. As the spiritual water entered their stomachs, a warm power rose from their dantian and flowed through their meridians to their limbs and bones. That power was like a frog being slowly boiled in water—not intense, but long-lasting and persistent.

Li Changle activated the formation, and the yin and yang energies within it slowly circulated, enveloping Li's father and mother. Guided by the formation, the medicinal power of the spiritual water gradually seeped into their meridians, bones, and internal organs.

Li's mother felt a surge of heat throughout her body, as if she were soaking in a hot spring, every pore opening up. The impurities accumulated in her body over the years—the turbidity from her food, the residual toxins from her medicine, the blockages left by improper cultivation—were gradually expelled from her body under the cleansing influence of the spiritual water. A layer of grayish oil seeped from her skin, emitting a faint, sour odor.

The same goes for Li's father.

His eyes were tightly closed, and his brows were slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that he was also enduring the same process.

Half an hour later.

As the medicinal power of the spiritual water wore off, the array's light gradually dimmed. Mr. and Mrs. Li opened their eyes and were startled to see themselves covered in filth. Mrs. Li exclaimed "Oh dear!" and blushed to her ears.

Li Changsheng was prepared. He took out two sets of clean robes from his storage bag and cast a cleaning spell to clean the dirt off the two of them.

Li's mother stood up, stretched her limbs, and suddenly froze. Her body felt lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. The flow of spiritual energy through her meridians was much smoother than before, at least 30% faster.

Mr. Li also noticed the change. He clenched his fist, then relaxed it, his eyes filled with surprise.

"This...this is what cleansing the marrow and rejuvenating the essence?" he murmured.

"My son has really grown up!" Li's mother felt more gratified and proud of her son's return to the right path.

Back in Lijiabao, her son was a disliked playboy who idled away his days and caused trouble. She and her husband were so angry that they couldn't eat or sleep, and they worried about him endlessly.

Now, their son has become the clan leader, leading the Li family from poverty to where they are today, and giving the elderly couple hope for the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Longevity..." she choked out.

Li Changsheng held his mother's hand and smiled, "Mother, don't cry. The better days are yet to come."

Li's father watched silently from the side, his eyes also reddening, but he did not shed tears. He simply patted his son's shoulder hard, conveying a thousand words in that single pat.

Li Changle walked over, took her mother's hand, and said with a grin, "Mother, don't cry. You won't be pretty if you keep crying."

Li's mother was amused by her and burst into laughter through her tears, scolding, "You have such a sweet tongue."

The Heavenly Book vibrated at the opportune moment:

[Li Shouyi: Spiritual Root Aptitude Rank 6 → Rank 5]

[Li Clan: Spiritual Root Aptitude: Ninth Grade → Seventh Grade]

......

"Little sister, come here." Li Changsheng took out a spirit beast bag from his storage bag. He opened the bag and a white light shot out, circled once in the quiet room, and landed on the table.

It was a small, snow-white snake, about a foot long, with fine, jade-like scales that gleamed warmly in the candlelight. Its eyes were amber, with a faint golden glint in its vertical pupils, and a delicate, ethereal aura emanated from it as it flickered its tongue.

What's most striking is its head—two tiny protrusions, like horns about to burst through the skin; though not obvious, they are real.

"Wow!" Li Changle's eyes lit up immediately. He leaned closer to examine it carefully. "Brother, what kind of snake is this? It's so beautiful! And it even has... horns on its head?"

"A mutated white jade snake." Li Changsheng held the spirit snake in his palm, letting it wriggle across his arm. "I obtained it by chance in the Qingmo Cave. This snake has a trace of dragon bloodline. If it can be properly nurtured, it's not impossible for it to advance to the second rank or even higher in the future."

"Dragon bloodline!" Father Li gasped.

Li's mother was also full of surprise, and the look in her eyes when she looked at the little white snake changed.

The dragon is practically at the pinnacle of ordinary spirit beasts. Even a trace of its bloodline is enough to make this white jade snake's potential far surpass that of ordinary demon beasts.

Li Changle extended her index finger and gently touched the head of the little white snake. The little white snake was initially wary, its tongue flicking as it sniffed her scent, but it gradually relaxed and rubbed its head against her fingertip.

"It's so well-behaved!" Li Changle's eyes crinkled with joy as she turned to Li Changsheng. "Brother, are you really willing to give it to me?"

"You naughty girl!" Li Changsheng shook his head with a smile. "You have outstanding talent in array formations, but you are still a bit weak in combat. With this protecting you in the future, I will feel at ease."

"Thank you, brother!" Li Changle scooped the little white snake into her hands, her face beaming with joy. She muttered, "I need to give you a name... You're so white, like snow... Let's call you 'Little Snow'!"

The little white snake flicked its tongue, seemingly quite satisfied with the name.

Li Changsheng took out an ancient scroll made of animal hide from his storage bag and handed it to his little sister: "This is the method for setting up a spirit pet contract formation. Study it. Once the contract is established, Xiaoxue will be connected to your mind and can protect you in critical moments."

Li Changle took the ancient scroll, unfolded it, looked at it, and nodded, saying, "A first-order contract formation is not difficult. I will set it up now."

She took out array flags, spirit ink, beast blood, and other array-setting materials from her storage bag, cleared an open space in the center of the quiet room, and began to set up the array.

Li Changle's technique was skillful and precise; the placement of each array flag and the stroke of each spirit ink were just right. Her talent in array formation had advanced by leaps and bounds after fusing her destiny, and she could now set up a first-tier high-grade array, so a mere contract array was naturally no problem for her.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a circular magic array with a diameter of three feet was set up. The array patterns were intricate yet not chaotic, and as the spiritual light flowed, there was a subtle, mysterious rhythm undulating within them.

"Alright!" Li Changle clapped his hands, sat cross-legged in the center of the magic circle, and placed Xiaoxue in front of him.

She made a hand seal with her right hand, and a drop of her essence blood fell onto the array's core. As the blood bead fell, the array was instantly activated, and streams of spiritual light surged from the array's patterns, enveloping her and the spirit snake within.

Li Changle closed his eyes, extended his divine sense, and established a connection with the little white snake's consciousness.

The little white snake was initially resistant, but under Li Changle's gentle spiritual guidance, it gradually lowered its guard. It sensed the kindness of the human girl in front of it, and also felt the aura of closeness emanating from her.

The contract is established.

A beam of light rose from the magic array and entered Li Chang Le's brow, while another entered the top of the little white snake's head. A subtle connection was established between the two—not master and servant, but partners.

Li Changle opened his eyes and looked down at Xiaoxue.

The little white snake also raised its head, its amber eyes looking at her, its tongue flicking in and out with a soft hiss. But this time, Li Changle could "understand" what it meant—it was saying "hungry".

"Pfft—" Li Changle couldn't help but laugh out loud, "This little guy, he just signed the contract and he's already saying he's hungry."

She took out a low-level spirit beast pill from her storage bag and fed it to Xiaoxue. The little white snake swallowed it in one gulp and narrowed its eyes in satisfaction.

Watching from the side, Li's mother looked on with loving eyes and couldn't help but reach out and pat her daughter's head: "Changle, this little snake is just like you when you were little, it gets sleepy after it's full."

"Mother!" Li Chang Le scolded, her face slightly flushed.

Mr. Li watched with a smile, his eyes full of satisfaction.

Within Li Changsheng's sea of ​​consciousness, the Heavenly Book trembled slightly:

[Li Changle's Contract with a Mutant White Jade Snake (Early Stage 1, Potential for Growth)]

[Family Luck Value +50]

[Current Luck Value: 13050/16000]

……

After Li's father and Li Changle left, only Li Changsheng and Li's mother remained in the quiet room.

"Mother, there is another opportunity for you." Li Changsheng took out the [Harmony of a Hundred Flavors] destiny seed from his bosom and held it in his palm. The seed was amber in color, emitting a faint warmth and a subtle aroma of food.

Li's mother looked at the tiny seed of Dharma with curiosity: "What is this?"

"The seed of Dharma can help you go further in the path of spiritual food," Li Changsheng said. "Mother, close your eyes and relax your mind."

Mother Li closed her eyes as instructed. Li Changsheng placed the Dharma Seed between her eyebrows, activated his spiritual power, and the Dharma Seed transformed into a warm current that entered her sea of ​​consciousness.

A moment later, Li's mother opened her eyes. Her gaze was much clearer than before, and a shimmering light seemed to dance deep within her pupils. She looked down at her hands, then looked up, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Chang Sheng, I..." She opened her mouth, seemingly organizing her thoughts, "I've been working on a recipe for a spiritual food, using silver-scaled fish as the main ingredient, along with spirit mushrooms, red marrow rice, goji berries, angelica, and other auxiliary ingredients, to make a pot of 'Silver-Scaled Qi-Nourishing Soup.' If this soup is successful, it will have excellent qi-replenishing and blood-nourishing effects for cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining."

She paused, then frowned. "But I've tried seven or eight times, and each time I failed. Either the fish fell apart, the broth turned bitter, or most of the spiritual energy was lost. I just can't figure out what went wrong."

"And now?" Li Changsheng asked.

Li's mother closed her eyes, as if recalling or re-examining the recipe. After a moment, she opened her eyes, her gaze filled with excitement.

"I know! The problem was with the heat! Silverfish meat is tender, so you can't use high heat; you have to simmer it over low heat. But the aroma of oyster mushrooms needs medium heat to be released. I've been simmering all the ingredients at the same heat, so either the fish meat fell apart or the oyster mushrooms didn't release their flavor. Also, angelica root and goji berries can't be added together; the goji berries should be added later, otherwise they'll taste bitter!"

She became increasingly excited as she spoke, standing up and pacing back and forth in the quiet room: "And the preservation of spiritual energy! When I used to stew it, I covered the pot lid too tightly, so the spiritual energy couldn't escape and instead fell back into the soup, making it greasy. There should be a gap to allow excess spiritual energy to dissipate, retaining only the most essential part!"

Li Changsheng listened to his mother's eloquent analysis, a smile playing on his lips. The effects of the Dharma seed were immediate.

"Mother, please study more recipes when you have time," he said. "Once you've accumulated enough, our Li family will open a restaurant in Qinglan County."

Li's mother was taken aback: "Open a restaurant?"

"Yes. You'll be in charge of developing the recipes; you don't need to worry about anything else."

A light shone in Li's mother's eyes. She rubbed her hands together, as if she had returned to the time when she was young and just learning to cook, full of enthusiasm.

"Okay! Mother will definitely think it over carefully!" She patted her chest to assure them, then rushed out the door without even saying goodbye.

Li Changsheng watched his mother's departing figure, then smiled and shook his head.