Chapter 36: The Li Family's In-Laws Are the Pig Demon King?

The members of the Li family gathered in the ancestral hall. Everyone looked at Bai Rourou, who was revealing her vulnerable, feminine side for the first time, with complex expressions.

"So, sister-in-law, you were an orphan from a young age, abandoned in the Silver Iron Forest and raised by the Demon King of the forest until you turned eighteen and left to live among humans?" Li Yaozu asked in a heavy voice. "No wonder you were ignorant of so many things; we understand now."

Li Yaotie held his wife tenderly, his heart aching. "It’s alright, my dear. You didn't have to keep this a secret from us. None of us would ever mind your background. Even if you had sprung from a stone, you would still be my wonderful wife."

"Say that again?" Bai Rourou glared at him instantly.

However, Li Yaotie’s words helped calm her down. She knew well that many held hostility toward spirit beasts, which was why she had settled in Zhien Village only after seeing that the spirit beasts and humans there lived in peace. She had long harbored feelings for the brash, rough-hewn Li Yaotie, but she had hesitated to accept his pursuit for fear that her origins would make her unacceptable to the Li family.

"Hahaha, I started out as a slave myself," Li Dalong laughed heartily.

"Daughter-in-law, I’ve spent more time interacting with spirit beasts than I have with my own husband," Xu Cuihua added with a smile.

"What kind of talk is that?" Li Dalong protested, feigning offense.

Suddenly, the Li family erupted into laughter, and Bai Rourou burst into tears of relief and joy. Seeing this heartwarming scene in the game, Li Xiang felt content. This was why he had gathered them; he knew the descendants he had raised were not narrow-minded people. The outcome had matched his expectations perfectly.

After the laughter died down, Li Dalong furrowed his brow. "In that case, the Demon King of the Silver Iron Forest is effectively our relative. We cannot simply sit by and watch. Yaowen, tell us, why is the Wu family of Lantian Town planning a crusade against the Demon King?"

Li Yaowen nodded slightly and recounted the situation. There were three towns near the Silver Iron Forest, and the families governing them knew of the Demon King’s presence. However, due to a prolonged drought, these families lacked resources and intensified their exploitation of the forest. Their actions grew increasingly reckless, involving mass hunting and environmental destruction, which finally enraged the Demon King. Last year, the Demon King killed over a hundred members of the Wu family who were mining in the forest. Now, taking advantage of their patriarch's 200th birthday, the Lantian Wu family had invited seven major clans to join a crusade, the Li family among them.

"The seven clans have already agreed to the crusade next year," Li Yaowen said gravely. "Including us. Sister-in-law, please understand, I had to agree at the time, or our shops in their towns would have had no place to stand."

"I understand," Bai Rourou replied reasonably.

"The most pressing matter now is how to resolve this," Li Dalong said, shaking his head. "Although our family’s influence has grown, even if our ancestor were to intervene, we cannot compete with six other major clans. Daughter-in-law, focus on your pregnancy; leave us to figure this out."

"Thank you all." Bai Rourou’s eyes reddened again. Only after all these years of being married into the Li family did she truly feel how kind her new family was to her.

...

"This is troublesome," Li Xiang murmured, rubbing his temples as he watched the dialogue.

First, it was impossible for the Li family to defeat the combined forces of six clans. Second, if word got out that the Li family was helping a Demon King, they would lose their place in the world. The high-and-mighty sects would label them as traitors who aided the demon race in harming humanity. After all, a Demon King was far more than a mere spirit beast!

Spirit beasts already possessed high intelligence, but a Demon King was capable of human speech and ruling over a vast territory.

Li Xiang immediately ordered the Purple Thunder Heaven-Sun Python to head toward the Silver Iron Forest. Checking the map, he saw the Silver Iron Forest had turned green.

"Does this mean the Demon King of the Silver Iron Forest already knew Bai Rourou had married into the Li family? That’s why it never attacked the Li family before. It had long prepared for her to enter human society, and the Zhien Village built by the Li family was undoubtedly the best place for her to land, allowing the Demon King to watch over her," Li Xiang mused, raising an eyebrow.

Before long, the Python was moving through the forest. Li Xiang was not worried about its safety; green signified an ally.

Sure enough, as the Python ventured deeper, Li Xiang saw many spirit beasts. Their nests were located in a valley at the heart of the forest, where they seemed to serve the King within. Upon entering the valley, a massive beast, resembling a mammoth more than a pig, came into view. It was covered in thick black fur, with only its bloated physique and snout hinting at its porcine nature. Its four legs were so sturdy that one wondered what kind of power would be needed to topple it. Its face was covered in black hair, giving this behemoth the air of a kind, elderly sage. Only the two sharp, thick tusks protruding from its mouth revealed the true ferocity of the Demon King.

[Ming-Earth Yin-Luo Swine]
[Demon King of the Silver Iron Forest; protector of all birds, beasts, flowers, and trees within the forest!]

"Little snake, I know you. You are the serpent from the Beast Blood Fruit tree. Subjugated by the human Li family, leading them into the Silver Iron Forest to hunt spirit beasts," the Demon King said, its voice deep and ancient.

The Purple Thunder Heaven-Sun Python was clearly terrified of the Pig Demon King; it lowered its massive body in fear.

"Do not be afraid. You have not committed excessive slaughter. Because you have restrained the Li family outside the forest under my warning, you have earned my gratitude."

Hearing the Demon King's forgiveness, the Python visibly relaxed. Li Xiang watched the exchange. He couldn't understand exactly what they were saying, but he guessed the gist from the Demon King's tone, and he was struck by the creature's intelligence. It was the first time he had encountered such an entity.

Li Xiang then communicated with the Demon King through the Python, explaining that Bai Rourou had married into the Li family.

"I am aware of this matter." The Pig Demon King’s black fur rippled, and Li Xiang felt as if the creature had smiled. "Please thank the Li family for me. They have been good to my daughter, and the child she bears is healthy. If possible, I would like my daughter to bring her spouse and child to see me."

The Python nodded repeatedly. Seeing that the Demon King held the Li family in high regard, Li Xiang no longer hesitated and brought up the crusade planned by the seven clans.

"Hmph! Greedy, selfish, and ungrateful humans!" The Demon King roared in anger. "What crusade? They challenge the limits of the Silver Iron Forest time and time again, and they challenge my limits. Let them come! The Silver Iron Forest will be ready!"

Li Xiang frowned. He continued to communicate through the Python, suggesting that the spirit beasts of the Silver Iron Forest should temporarily avoid the conflict. But the Demon King let out a long sigh.

"I thank the Li family for their kindness, but the Silver Iron Forest is not merely a place for spirit beasts to live; it is a sanctuary for the trees and the land itself. Humans say that one puts down roots where they land; countless beings in this forest have long since taken root here. Our lives are inextricably linked to this forest."

"Even during the years of great drought, we maintained the life force of the forest with our own. If another drought comes, all of us in the Silver Iron Forest will protect this land for the millions of creatures who call it home with our very lives!"

Li Xiang sighed as well. When he recalled the Python, his face was filled with admiration. He understood that this could not be persuaded; just as the Li family would fight to the death to protect their home from constant external invasions, the forest inhabitants felt the same. It wasn't just land; it was filled with generations of emotion, pure memories, and joys and sorrows that could never be abandoned.

"We must help with this!" Li Xiang’s eyes narrowed. Beyond the fact that the Demon King was a relative, he saw massive potential benefits. The Demon King’s favor toward the Li family was clearly very high. If the Li family helped the Demon King survive this crisis, they would effectively gain a Demon King as an ally. Furthermore, the difficulty of mining in the deep parts of the forest would be solved, turning the Silver Iron Forest into the Li family's backyard—an environment perfectly suited for cultivating spirit beasts.

As for the risks?

"Hahaha, when has our Li family ever been without risk?" Li Dalong laughed heartily after Li Xiang conveyed his plan through the Python. "The ancestor is right. With so many benefits, how can our Li family not help our relatives?"

"Thank you, Ancestor! Thank you, Father!" Bai Rourou wept with joy.

In the following days, the Li family busied themselves with matters concerning the Silver Iron Forest while continuing their own development. Li Xiang also contemplated solutions. The young Li Yaotie even surprised him by reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

[Your descendant, Li Yaozu, has formed the Black Blood Hall and trained 50 Qi practitioners!]
[After years of training, they have mastered the "Spear Forest Formation!"]

The Spear Forest Formation. It was the same formation the Hu family had used when they attacked Tai Lin Town. They wielded long spears, using them to create a formation where their inner energy connected, possessing immense lethality. A single wave had killed nearly 80% of the Li family’s hundred spirit beasts. Its power was undeniable.

At that moment, on the training grounds of Zhien Village, fifty young men in Black Iron Beast Blood armor—each carrying a magical longbow, quiver, long spear, and a saber at their waist—held their spears and threw them in unison toward the distance.

"Whoosh!"

As the air-piercing sound rang out, the spears, imbued with inner energy, formed a web of energy in the sky!

"Fifty people are this powerful?" Li Xiang watched the ground, which had been pierced into a web-like pattern, and his jaw dropped slightly. "If it were 500, or 5,000... what would the Lantian Wu family even be?"

Thinking of this, Li Xiang’s eyes narrowed. "The Lantian Wu family? You brought this upon yourselves!"

A bold idea suddenly took hold. They already dominated Tianlin Town; dominating another town, Lantian, was no big deal. If they could annex the entire Taiqing County, that would be even better.