Chapter 12: What? I Became the Head of the Li Family Overnight in This World?
“Don’t rush; I’ve roughly figured things out for you.”
“Look, the rumor is that your family head was killed by a planet-destroying cannon in the Tianhuang Star Domain, but I don’t think it’s that simple. He became an immortal; there’s no way he died that easily. It’s most likely a fake death.”
“Then, your upper echelons fled first, supposedly to seek revenge, but it’s just as likely they ran away early.”
“Next, your new family head cut off your funding. From my experience, it wasn’t intentional. Your new head was left behind to transfer the family assets and naturally had no time to manage your pocket money. If he were killed, the main force of your clan would still be intact. But he’s quite capable—he took everyone and fled, quietly taking the family fortune with him.”
“To sum up, your Li family is in the process of transferring assets, and you… congratulations, you’ve been forgotten by your family and become a pauper.”
“Congratulations my ass!!”
Damn it!
“Thanks, Uncle Han,” Li Xiang forced a fake smile.
“No problem. By the way, if you ever need spirit stones or want to sell your villa, remember to contact me immediately.”
*Beep beep.*
Li Xiang was stunned.
He had thought that today Uncle Han would send the law firm’s lawyers to surround the Li family and fight a brilliant lawsuit.
Preferably, they’d take down that ungrateful new family head and double his pocket money.
But who would’ve thought things would turn out like this?
“What the hell happened???”
Li Xiang still couldn’t process it. He looked at the sprawling estate with tearless eyes. His pocket money was truly cut off now, and in such a vast universe, the chances of finding family members were slim...
Overnight, he had become a complete pauper. His only possession was everything inside this villa.
*Knock knock.*
At that moment, the doorbell rang. Li Xiang opened the door with a bitter expression. Even Yuexian’s smile couldn’t bring a flicker of joy to his numb heart; instead, it felt hollow.
Damn that new family head! He forgot about him while fleeing!
“Master, there’s a letter at home. Please take a look,” Yuexian said, frowning at Li Xiang’s expression as she handed over the letter.
Li Xiang tore it open.
The sender was Li Zhengdao, that blasted new family head!
“Li Xiang, remember when you beat me as a child, saying I’d never be family head and it’d be better for you to take the role? I think you were right. Now, as the last bloodline of the Li family on Earth, I hereby appoint you as the family head. Please carry forward our Li family’s legacy!”
“You damn Li Zhengdao! I hope I never see you again in this life!”
It had to be a conspiracy! It had to!
Li Xiang took a deep breath and decided not to dwell on it. He frowned at Yuexian, who still didn’t know the whole story. “What do you think we should do if I become poor?”
Yuexian furrowed her brows, thinking seriously for a long moment.
“Master, actually, we could do this: there are 108 households in Jixian Village. We could visit one each day to mooch a meal and gather some spirit stones to get by. The frequency isn’t high, so we won’t be disliked.”
“You still have many classmates; you can mooch at their houses too.”
As she spoke, a flash came from the ring in her hand, and she waved a book before Li Xiang’s eyes.
“The Secret Art of Divine Thievery.”
Hmm, very considerate.
Li Xiang forced a smile and left the house, heading to Granny Ling’s doorstep.
*Knock knock knock!*
He knocked on the door.
This time, Granny Ling was not as kind as the last time. She looked at Li Xiang with a face torn between anger and hesitation.
“Little Li, here for your things? They’re not ready yet.”
In a foul mood, Li Xiang didn’t want to waste words with the old woman and simply held out his hand.
“Neighbors all know each other. Granny Ling’s craftsmanship is unmatched. How could it be unrefined?” Li Xiang smiled brightly. “Besides, even the security guard Old Chen praised your skills.”
“You...” Granny Ling’s face flushed red for a moment. She slammed her cane on the ground. “Don’t think you can threaten me just because of Old Chen!”
“That’s going too far. Threaten? No. But it’s wise to be cautious. Granny Ling knows I’m careful, so she left a contingency.”
Li Xiang kept smiling, though his smile was painfully fake.
“Hmph!”
At this point, Granny Ling said no more. She threw Li Xiang a ring and snorted coldly: “Boy, you used to rely on the Li family’s backing to get respect in Jixian Village. But I hear…”
She paused, watching Li Xiang’s retreating figure and sneered, “Without the Li family, you’re nothing! You’ll soon be swept out of Jixian Village, and no one will give you face. Let’s see how you manage then!”
*Bang!*
Granny Ling slammed the door shut.
Li Xiang’s face darkened. He knew he had completely fallen out with Granny Ling. No, perhaps the fallout began the moment he handed her the mysterious spear.
Everyone in Jixian Village knew Granny Ling’s weapon-smithing was extraordinary but ruthless in business.
The reason Li Xiang had talked with her so long back then was to see if she would replace his mysterious spear. The result wasn’t good, which is why he sought out Old Chen the security guard.
“Damn, no family left and now a ferocious old lady too!”
He cursed inwardly.
Li Xiang suddenly looked up at the sky, rubbing his face. “Granny Ling’s right. Without the Li family, I’m nothing. But now…”
“It’s time to fight!”
He recalled the struggles of the Li family in the game.
As an ancestor, how could he disgrace his clan?
“From today on, I’ll be a hardworking clan leader!”
...
“Master, are you discouraged? Are you okay?”
At Villa No. 1, Yuexian saw Li Xiang return home excitedly and couldn’t help but be nervous.
Li Xiang grinned from ear to ear. “What do you think I am? Just because I lost the family and pocket money? Do you think your master is the type to give up when things get tough?”
Yuexian thought for a long time and hesitated, “No.”
“...”
No more words. Li Xiang felt heartbroken and instructed, “Contact No. 104. Tell Boss Qi to come see me in two hours.”
Then he hurried back to his room.
Li Xiang knew now that with the Li family gone, his only support was the Cultivation Family Simulator—his cheat tool!
He focused intently.
On the computer screen, the Li family’s development accelerated rapidly. Villagers had formed a fighting force. Two cultivators emerged among them, and a patrol squad of twenty villagers guarded the village.
“Year 19 of the Li family: Refugees under the Li family’s protection have formed a modest village named Zhi’en Village. The villagers worship and are sheltered by the Li family.”
“Gained 200 Reputation Points!”
“Whoa? I was only gone a short while, and it’s developed this much?”
Li Xiang was overjoyed, sure his choices had been right.
Soon, the screen shifted—
“Year 20 of the Li family: Your descendants have prepared an altar to hold a grand ceremony held once every twenty years!”
“Your descendants have prepared offerings—”
“50 First-Stage Beast Blood Fruits!”
“One male and one female Baile Pigeon hatchling!”
“Detected Baile Pigeon hatchlings as living creatures. Consume 10 reputation points to retrieve?”
“Can really be retrieved!”
Li Xiang’s eyes lit up.
All these offerings were sent by the Li family descendants through the temple guardian beast’s communication. Though his family in the real world had fled, Li Xiang wasn’t flustered. These offerings could bring him great benefits and a chance to turn things around!
“Retrieve!”
Soon, fifty blood fruits appeared beside the incense burner on the desk.
The fruits gleamed with vivid colors, the scent of blood sharp in the air.
A smile broke across Li Xiang’s face.
[First-Stage Beast Blood Fruit]
“Cultivated by blood and refined with essence of heaven and earth, each contains 50 points of spiritual energy, with 80% digestibility by humans!”
Divine fruits!
Li Xiang grinned, realizing the cultivation simulator was more intelligent than he imagined.
In the game, spiritual energy wasn’t measured in points.
But in reality, thanks to science, humans had quantified spiritual energy intake during cultivation. A Qi Refining stage 1 cultivator needed only 100 points of spiritual energy to breakthrough.
Each additional stage required just 10% more spiritual energy.
The worse the talent, the slower the absorption of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Such fruits could directly store spiritual energy for slow digestion.
Li Xiang couldn’t imagine how many wealthy heirs would scramble to buy these divine fruits.
Next came the Baile Pigeons.
“Chirp chirp...”
Two blind hatchlings in the nest made sounds. Normally, these common spirit beast hatchlings were worthless.
But in the real world, these two Baile Pigeons were a brand-new species!
If Li Xiang brought them to a beast expert, those secretive scientists studying spirit beasts would fight tooth and nail for them, possibly awarding Li Xiang a “Beast Discovery Prize.”
But Li Xiang had no intention of handling them that way.
“The stuff has arrived. Looks like no more mooching meals for a while.”
Li Xiang exhaled in relief.
As he caressed the blood fruits, he suddenly froze— a box appeared on the computer screen.
“Quickly absorb the spiritual energy from the Beast Blood Fruit? 1 spiritual energy point costs 1 reputation point.”
“Wha... what???”
Li Xiang was stunned.
Quick absorption? Such a function?
Medicinal power is hard to absorb into the meridians.
He instantly realized how terrifying this feature was!
As long as he had enough reputation points and enough Beast Blood Fruits, he could...
*Whoosh!* Directly soar to Immortal Realm!
Yet, Li Xiang resisted and clicked “No.”
“This little spiritual energy isn’t even worth it.”
He shrugged and looked back at the game interface.
“Offerings delivered. Grant your descendants a blessing?”
Li Xiang sprang up, clearing the surrounding area.
He glanced at the mysterious spear Granny Ling had unsealed in his ring. It now gleamed brilliantly.
But inside the ring was one more thing.
An illicit item for ordinary cultivators in this world.
It was the item he and Granny Ling had discussed for an hour. In her joy, she agreed to give it to him. Though their relationship soured afterward, she still kept her promise.
“Teleport.”
With a click, a massive object thundered into the room!
“Delivering the ancestor’s blessing—”
“War Puppet...”