Chapter 205 - 204: The Pure Energy Phenomenon

Chapter 205: Chapter 204: The Pure Energy Phenomenon

The old ancestor raised an eyebrow: "Seclusion? Are you seeking a breakthrough?"

Li Jain nodded: "Yes. I plan to isolate myself for three days to advance into the Divine Palace realm."

Hearing the words "Divine Palace realm," the old ancestor’s hand trembled slightly on the table, and his eyes widened with shock, followed immediately by immense joy and relief. He thought Li Yiwei would be the first to reach the Divine Palace among his grandchildren, who knew it would be Li Jain?

The Divine Palace realm! Reaching such a height at Li Jain’s age was something that would shock the entire South River City! With a Divine Palace realm master standing at the core of the third generation of the Li family, their standing would become more unshakeable.

The old ancestor leaned forward, his expression becoming solemn and focused: "The breakthrough to Divine Palace is a major threshold. The condensation of the spiritual palace inside the dantian requires immense spiritual stability and cannot tolerate any external interference. Xiao Jain, do you have all the pills, spirit stones, and auxiliary materials you need? Is three days enough?"

Li Jain gave a reassuring smile: "Grandfather need not worry. My foundation is completely solid, and all preparations have been made. As long as there are no external disturbances, three days will be more than sufficient for me to advance successfully."

The old ancestor Li looked deeply into Li Jain’s calm eyes. Seeing that he really has everything under control made him relaxed.

He stood up and clasped his hands behind his back: "Good! Since you are confident, then leave everything outside to your grandfather. For these three days, I will personally oversee everything. Even if the sky falls, your grandfather will hold it up for you. No one, not a single soul will step within a hundred paces of your courtyard!"

Li Jain stood up and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Grandfather."

"This is what this old man should do."

...

After his visit to his grandfather, Li Jain returned to his own courtyard where his children were gathered chatting among themselves.

As soon as their father entered, seven pairs of eyes turned toward him. Li Jain sat down and gathered them around, softly explaining that he would be entering closed seclusion for the next three days to focus on his breakthrough.

"Three days?" Li Juanxin looked up, clutching his sleeves.

Li Jain nodded: "Only, it won’t be long. I will be out before you notice."

Li Jingxuan puffed out his cheeks, reluctant at the thought of not seeing his father or eating his freshly cooked meals for three whole days: "What about breakfast, lunch, and dinner?"

"There is enough food in storage. Also, you and Jingsheng can cook."

Li Jingxuan immediately straightened, realizing he was also a good cook: "Father, leave it to me."

Li Jingsheng looked at him: "Why are you saying that as if you are the main cook?"

"I didn’t say that."

"You sound like it."

"Whatever."

The two began arguing again. They are both equally competitive, but sometimes, Li Jingxuan feels that Li Jingsheng can be more overbearing.

Li Jain added: "Fu Seng and Uncle Liu Xiong will take care of you all. Fu Seng will take you to school in the mornings. After school, Uncle Liu Xiong will bring you home. Daddy has already arranged everything. Once I come out, I will cook an extra grand feast for everyone."

Hearing this, Li Yujian spoke up: "Father can rest assured. I will watch over my brothers and make sure everyone focuses on their studies."

Li Yuhan added with a light smile: "Don’t worry, Dad. We won’t cause any trouble."

Li Zhang leaned against the table and suddenly asked: "Dad, are you absolutely sure you’ll only spend three days, not seven days or a month?"

Li Cheng looked at him: "Why would three days suddenly become one month?"

Li Zhang folded his arms: "Cultivators always do that. They say they’re going into seclusion for a few days, and when they come out, someone’s grandchildren already have grandchildren."

Li Yuhan laughed so hard that he nearly fell on Li Yujian: "Where did you hear that?"

"From books. If you read like I do, you’ll understand."

Li Cheng rolled his eyes: "You need to stop reading strange novels."

Although reluctant to be separated from him even for a short time, the children agreed sensibly without making any fuss, wishing their father a smooth breakthrough before heading to their respective rooms.

...

Meanwhile, in the eastern courtyard, Elder Chu returned from her brief stroll through the bamboo groves. She sat down across from the old ancestor once more, a subtle smile touching her eyes.

"Brother Li," Elder Chu said warmly, pouring a fresh cup of tea: "Your Li family has truly become lively. Seeing how unified and disciplined your descendants are, it is no wonder you are in such high spirits."

The old ancestor stroked his long silver beard, his chest swelling with undeniable pride: "Hahaha! Sister Chu praises them too much, though I cannot deny it. Given another few years, our Li family will surely become the undisputed leading family in South River City. Just a matter of time now."

Elder Chu smiled, but a slight shadow crossed her eyes as she took a sip of tea.

Noticing the shift in her mood, the old ancestor asked: "Is something bothering you, Little Chu? You seem to have a weight on your mind."

Elder Chu sighed softly, not even noticing the change in her address. She set down her teacup: "It’s nothing major, merely internal sect affairs. Lately, my position as the Third Master of the Nine Spirit Sect has been targeted by several ambitious elders. They are eyeing my resource allocations and seeking any excuse to push me down."

The old ancestor’s expression darkened slightly, his aura surging with a hint of protective sharp sharpness: "If you need assistance, my Li family is ready to lend our strength. We may not match the entirety of the Nine Spirit Sect, but we will not stand by if someone seeks to harm a friend of ours."

Elder Chu shook her head with a thankful expression: "I appreciate your kindness, Brother Li, but there is no need. I have managed the sect’s affairs for centuries; these schemers are not enough to bring me down. I shall resolve it myself."

She was just discussing her struggle with an old friend; she had no intention of getting him and his family involved. Besides, if the Li family interferes in the internal matters of the Nine Spirit Sect at this time, they will only use that against her.

...

By midnight, the Li residence fell into complete silence.

Li Jain entered a secluded quiet room deep within his courtyard. With a wave of his sleeve, he activated multiple layer isolation and spirit-concealing formations around the room.

He sat cross-legged on a simple jade cushion, before the pill furnace. Although he was breaking through to the Divine Palace realm, Li Jain knew his path differed from ordinary cultivators. Because his cultivation method was unconventional and has left the path of standard techniques.

His upcoming heavenly tribulation and inner demon test would be fiercer and more dangerous than those faced by typical cultivators. The Dao of Seven Emotions and Six Desires were deeply intertwined with his cultivation. Every breakthrough affected far more than the amount of spiritual energy he possessed.

To prepare for this, he decided to refine the rare Clear Heart Demon Pill.

This pill was legendary among top-tier alchemists. It possessed the extraordinary capability to calm one’s soul, purify chaotic spiritual energy, and obliterate inner demons during crucial breakthroughs. However, its greatest difficulty wasn’t simply the rarity of its ingredients or the complexity of controlling the furnace. The alchemists themselves have to maintain immense concentration, absolute purity of intent, throughout the process.

The slightest disturbance in his thoughts could contaminate the medicinal energy and ruin the entire furnace.

Li Jain carefully arranged rare herbs on the stone table before him.

To the outside world, Li Jain was known only as a mysterious spiritual chef. But in truth, his talent in alchemy was far more astonishing.

With a flick of his finger, a brilliant, pure golden flame erupted beneath the furnace. One by one, he tossed the rare ingredients into the furnace, fusing the spiritual medicinal essences flawlessly.

...

Early the next morning, the sun rose over South River City.

As usual, Fu Seng drove the carriage to take the seven children to their respective academies before heading toward District Seven.

At the Spiritual Tavern, business opened as scheduled. Because Li Jain was in seclusion, Liu Xiong went in early at the tavern. He sat near the main entrance, drinking wine and keeping a watch over the bustling crowd. He made sure no troublesome cultivators or arrogant customers dared to make trouble while Li Lain was away.

Back at the Li residence, Li Jain’s alchemy had reached its critical final phase.

Inside the quiet room, the raw medicinal liquid inside the furnace was being compressed into a pill. As the essences fused, a wave of extraordinarily pure, spiritual energy leaked past the furnace’s seals.

Even with the room’s defensive formations, this incredibly concentrated, holy spiritual aura couldn’t be entirely contained. A faint beam of translucent, spiritual light shot skyward above the Li estate, followed by a soothing fragrance that drifted across the nearby streets.

In South River City, several powerful patriarchs and hidden old monsters immediately opened their eyes.

"What intense purity!"

"That aura... it’s coming from the Li family residence!"

"Could Old Patriarch Li be refining some divine artifact, or has someone reached a major breakthrough?"

"What are the Li family up to?"

"That cunning old Li! This old man must see for himself what’s going on."

Within minutes, several influential figures from major local factions and rival families arrived at the gates of the Li residence under the disguise of paying a friendly visit.

The old ancestor Li was already waiting for them. He had long anticipated that such pure spiritual energy would draw attention. Although he was inwardly bewildered by the sweet medicinal scent and pure aura. He knew his grandson was a spiritual chef, but what he hadn’t expected was the nature of the spiritual energy itself.

Standing at the front gate, the old ancestor met the arriving patriarchs and elders.

"Hahaha! Patriarch Zhang, Elder Chen, what brings you all to my humble residence so early in the morning?" the old ancestor greeted them with a hearty laugh, cupping his hands politely.

The visiting experts exchanged glances. None of them openly admitted that they had come because of the spiritual phenomenon.