Chapter Fifty-Seven Li Ming

  First update! Still three updates today, I'll go write first, red envelopes and collections are up to everyone ~

  Songyan City Li Family Ancestral Hall

  It is said that inside the ancestral house there are the most superior martial arts and magic elixirs passed down from generation to generation of the Li family.

  But at the same time, there are also extremely cruel training programs in the ancestral house that can torture people to the point of being bedridden and unable to survive.

  In the hearts of all Li family disciples, their ancestral home was still the most coveted place for cultivation. As long as they could become stronger, what did it matter to suffer a bit, endure some pain?

  Unfortunately, the ancestral house is after all the core place of the Li family, and non-direct descendants and those with extremely excellent qualifications will have no hope of entering the ancestral house in their lifetime.

  Today, the tightly closed gate of the ancestral house slowly opened after several months.

  Plop! Plop! Plop!

  A steady and powerful footsteps echoed in the dimly lit corridor of the ancestral house, and a moment later, a young man emerged from the darkness, who was none other than Li Ming, the youngest son of Li Yitai, the master of the Li family!

  But at this time, he was like a completely different person from before. His clothes were tattered and dirty, his hair was messy and greasy, as if he hadn't taken a bath in several months. His once pale and delicate skin had become rough and dark, and his originally slightly puffy and gentle triangular eyes now seemed sharp and cold, shining brightly like an eagle's.

  "It's wonderful to have the feeling of having power."

  He clenched his fists, and the once fair palms were now covered in calluses, with thickened bones. As soon as he tightened his grip, a fierce and ferocious aura burst out from his body.

  "Second Master, the master of the house requests your presence."

  An iron hand shrouded in a dark aura emerged from the darkness, its sharp and cold voice like a venomous snake spitting out its fangs.

  "Please, Iron Hand Uncle, lead the way." Li Ming said respectfully, only now that he had power did he finally understand how terrifyingly powerful Iron Hand was, who had always followed by his father's side and was willing to be a shadow.

  Li Yizhen sat upright in the central position of the main hall, with the many elders of the Li family on either side. When Li Ming entered, everyone's eyes fell on him simultaneously.

  Li Ming could feel the shock and incredulity in those gazes, a feeling that was wonderful and made him extremely pleased. His face remained calm and composed, his steps unhurried as he bowed to greet them before sitting silently in his own seat.

  "In three months' time, from the Post-Heavenly realm to the Pre-Heavenly perfection, not bad, not bad."

  Elder Li Fengtu was the first to speak, with a joyful expression on his face. He smiled and said: "Now that Li Hua has followed Su Niang into the Nanyue underworld for over a month, he's probably already found the Sword Immortal's abode by now. If he can gain some opportunities from within, that would be even better! Yit Zhen, you have two good sons!"

  "The Great Elder has given his praise." Having obtained the Great Elder's approval, Li Yituo was also overjoyed.

  Li Fengtu smiled, then immediately became serious and said in a deep voice: "I have gathered everyone here this time, actually very simple, just to finalize the selection of our Li family's successor. Although Li Ming is not bad, he is still a bit young after all, and there is a big gap with Li Hua. I propose that Li Hua succeed as the head of the clan, what do you think?"

  "The great elder's eyes are like torches, Li Hua is indeed exceptional, his natural talent and intelligence are also outstanding among his peers."

  "Yes, I also agree that Li Hua should succeed as the head of the clan."

  "Haha, of course it's Li Hua. This time he returned from the Nanyue underworld, perhaps he has already captured Su Niang and put her at ease, which would facilitate the alliance between our Li family and the Longyuan Su family. In this way, wouldn't our Li family's status rise with the tide?"

  ……

  Many elderly people agreed with Elder Li Fengtu's opinion.

  Seeing this, Li Ming, who was sitting silently beside him, felt extremely uncomfortable in his heart.

  In the past, he wouldn't have cared about these things because he was too weak and couldn't be compared to Li Hua, who was like a son of heaven.

  But now it's different, he has acquired great power, although still inferior to Li Hua, but who dares to confirm that they will not surpass Li Hua in the future?

  "Since everyone agrees on Li Hua, then we'll... uh?" Just as Elder Li Fengtu was about to continue, the main hall's large doors were suddenly and roughly pushed open.

  Wu Guan's face was terrified as he rushed in, stumbling and tripping, and knelt down to shout: "Master of the house, esteemed elders, something terrible has happened! The primordial lantern of Li Huai's destiny... has gone out!"

  Crack!

  Li Yizhen's teacup fell to the ground and shattered into a puddle of powder.

  Li Hua is actually dead?

  Everyone's expression changed, gloomy as water. For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall became extremely depressing.

  This gathering of the clan was originally to determine the identity of the successor of the Li Hua family, but before the result was announced, they were informed of Li Hua's death. Who could accept such a sudden turn of events?

  "What unexpected event has occurred within the Nanyang Underworld?"

  "How is that possible? Li Hua was with Su Niang, and it's said that there were seven or eight young masters from the major powers of Longyuan City accompanying them. How could they have met with harm?"

  "Damn it! If I find out who harmed Huai'er, I'll wipe out his entire family!"

  ……

  After a brief silence, angry shouts thundered through the main hall.

  "Shut up!"

  The old man Li Fengtu suddenly shouted, seeing everyone close their mouths, and then coldly said: "Everyone knows that the trial of Nanman Mingyu only has a month's time. After a month, all cultivators inside will be sent out. Only those who enter the Jian Xian Dian Fu can continue to stay in Nanman Mingyu."

  "And the next time the Nanyuan Mingyu opens is three years later, so even if we are angry now, we won't be able to see the murderer in these three years. So, does it still make sense to discuss this matter now?"

  "What does the elder mean?" Li Yizhen asked in a low, hoarse voice, suppressing her grief over losing her child.

  "The most urgent task is to select a family successor. Since Li Hua is no longer here, let's have Li Ming take over instead." Li Fengtu took a deep breath and said word by word: "Everyone, losing one of our own is not a big deal, what's important is that we can't just indulge in grief, causing our loved ones to suffer and our enemies to rejoice!"

  "Yes!" The crowd's faces were solemn and they responded in unison.

  Li Ming stared at everything in front of him with a bit of disbelief. Did I really become the heir to the family fortune that easily?

  He did not feel sad or excited about the death of his brother Li Hua, because since childhood he lived under the light of Li Hua, and the relationship between the two brothers was not very good.

  But as soon as he thought that he had become the heir of the family because of Li Hua's death, his heart felt like he had swallowed a fly, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

  This is not what I wanted!

  Li Hua shouted in her heart, she already had the power and was no worse than Li Hua. One day, I will prove it to you!

  "Li Ming!"

  The old man's voice rang in his ears, Li Ming woke up from his complicated thoughts, stood up and bowed: "Great Elder."

  "Don't think that just because you're the heir of the family, you can automatically sit on the position of patriarch. You need to use your abilities to prove yourself, to prove it to all the members of the clan. Only when you gain everyone's recognition can you become a qualified patriarch!" The great elder said in a deep voice.

  Li Ming's eyes swept across his father and the elders, a surge of passion rising in his heart. With a resolute tone, he said: "Father, esteemed elders, I will not disappoint your expectations!"

  Li Ming hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and continued: "Since brother is no longer here, from today on, I have decided to take his place. Not only will I take over as the head of the clan, but I also want to marry Su Jiao, the daughter of Longyuan Su's family!"

  "Oh, what are you planning to do?" A strange gleam flashed in Li Fengtu's eyes.

  "Since Longyuan Su's family has agreed, as long as we humiliate Chen Yuai and his family to death, they will marry Su Jiao to me, the Li family. So I'll start from this aspect."

  "Of course, this plan has been done by my brother Li Hua all along, but please rest assured, Elder, I will do it more ruthlessly and better than my brother. Anyone who has a relationship with Chen Yu's family, I won't let them off!"

  "Have you got a target?" Li Fengtu asked.

  "Yes! The owner of Zhang's General Store in Songyancheng, all the apprentices under him, and all the neighbors within a hundred paces of Chen Yu's house."

  A glint of madness flashed in Li Ming's eyes, "I want them all to die, I want them all to be destroyed. I want to tell everyone in Songyancheng that they are all dead because of Chen Tai. I want everyone to know that anyone who has even the slightest relationship with Chen Tai will inevitably suffer a family breakdown and personal destruction!"

  What a poisonous and extreme personality!

  The elders present couldn't help but take a deep breath, their eyes fixed on Li Ming with a hint of worry. Is such a temperament suitable for succeeding as the head of the clan?

  "Good!"

  The old man Li Fengtu was silent for a long time, but unexpectedly applauded and praised, "The winner is the king, the loser is the thief, as long as it benefits my Li family, even if the means are a hundred times more ruthless, it's worth it!"

  Li Ming finished his plan, already somewhat nervous, suddenly got the approval of the Great Elder, and was overjoyed, cupping his hands: "Great Elder, please rest assured, not only for the marriage with Su Jiao, but also for the future development and growth of our Li family, I will definitely make Chen Yao into something that will satisfy Long Yuan and the Su family!"

  As he spoke, Li Ming couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret in his heart. What a pity that Chen Hao had already left Songyan City; otherwise, it would have been delightful to let him watch as his brother Chen Wei was slowly tortured and humiliated to death...

  "As far as I know, Chen Xiao also followed Du Qingxi into the Jian Xian Dong Fu. He won't be appearing in the next three years, which is enough time to do anything. Li Ming, do you understand what I mean?" Li Fengtu asked.

  Li Ming nodded.

  "Go, if you can do this well and satisfy the Longyuan Su family, I guarantee that the position of our Li family's master will be yours as the Great Elder!"

  "Ah!"

  Li Ming took a deep breath and turned away, knowing that this was a test for himself, and also an excellent opportunity to change his own destiny.

  This chapter is a transitional plot and must have some foreshadowing, it may be a bit dull, but later on it will only get more exciting!