Chapter 4: A Mysterious Offering from Descendants

In the game, this was the first time Li Xiang had seen intruders breach the family’s homestead.

"It seems they haven't been farming entirely peacefully; there is still a certain level of danger."

Li Xiang narrowed his eyes, quietly watching how Li Dalong would handle the situation. A line of text appeared above the heads of the bandits:

"Hand over all your money and food, or you'll regret it!"

Because of their superior numbers, the bandits appeared somewhat arrogant. However, that arrogance didn't last long.

After ten years of cultivation, Li Dalong had reached the fourth level of Qi Refining. The "Qi Refiner's Cultivation Manual" Li Xiang had provided included combat techniques and simple arts; moreover, Li Dalong frequently engaged in battles within the Wild Boar Forest and the Silver Iron Forest, making his combat prowess quite formidable. How could a gang of bandits formed by starving refugees be a match for him?

Furthermore, the Iron-Wood Horse charged out of the stable!

Li Dalong’s wife, Xu Cuihua, also revealed a fierce side. Usually occupied with farming and raising children, she now charged out of the kitchen brandishing a kitchen knife, forced to display her grit to protect her family. Even young Li Yaozu rushed out of the room wielding a wooden sword, a small speech bubble appearing above his head: "Stealing from our home? I'll kill you all!"

"They have a cultivator! Stop fighting! Mercy, my lord, we won't dare do it again!"

With the family charging at them and a horse rampaging through their ranks, the bandits were quickly defeated, kneeling in a row before the Li household.

"I’ll spare your lives today, but if you dare come back, I’ll break your legs!" Li Dalong shouted, glaring at them.

"Thank you, my lord! We won't dare again!"

The bandits scrambled away, kowtowing in gratitude. Watching Li Dalong’s display of misplaced kindness, Li Xiang frowned deeply. Clearly, Li Dalong had always focused on peacefully developing the family, and even when he fought, it was only against wild animals or demonic beasts. These bandits were human, after all, and Li Dalong had shown them too much mercy.

But Li Xiang felt that letting them go was a grave mistake. "Regardless of how these bandits found the Li family, it is a year of severe drought. They now know the Li family has enough food. Even if they don't dare return, won't they spread the news to other bandits?"

Li Xiang took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Even if Li Dalong has the strength to defeat these commoners, he will eventually have to leave to hunt. The three children are still young, and Xu Cuihua is just a slightly stronger woman. What if they get hurt?"

His mouse hovered over [Ancestral Protection]. Li Xiang found a skill:

[Ancestral Wrath: Launches an attack from the ancestral tablet. The more family members there are and the stronger they become, the more powerful the skill, at the cost of incense.]

[Use 'Ancestral Wrath'? Consumes 20 points of incense!]

Instantly, the ancestral tablet on the altar glowed brilliantly. It floated into the air, shot out the front door, and traced a graceful purple arc through the dark night of the game world. This time, Li Xiang realized he could control the tablet!

"The Ancestor has manifested again!"

The Li family members fell to their knees, and even the Iron-Wood Horse mimicked Li Dalong, kneeling down.

"What is that?"
"It looks like a spirit tablet!"

The bandits turned around, staring at the tablet in astonishment. Without hesitation, Li Xiang moved the cursor over the bandit who had run the furthest and clicked.

The tablet pierced straight through the bandit's chest!

"Didn't you say you wouldn't kill us? Run!"
"Help! I don't want to die!"
"Please, spare me!"

Li Xiang frowned, clicking the mouse to target every bandit attempting to flee. This was just a game, but even if Li Xiang were facing this situation in person, he would make the same choice. Since these people had already harbored malicious intent, he had to eliminate the threat once and for all; otherwise, if you don't uproot the weeds, they will grow back with the spring breeze!

However, Li Xiang did not kill all of them—only those who dared to run. Only five bandits remained. Li Xiang turned his attention back to Li Dalong.

"The Ancestral tablet has stopped."

Li Dalong looked around, seemingly hesitant. But soon, he stood up, gripped the knife he had previously set aside, and charged toward the remaining bandits.

"The Ancestor is angry. Wife, I understand now."
"Only by killing them all can we protect this home!"
"Thank you for the guidance, Ancestor!"

Sensible! Li Xiang admired this about Li Dalong; the man had great intuition. These five bandits were left for Li Dalong to finish off!

The ancestral tablet returned to its place. Under Li Xiang's gaze, Li Dalong killed the remaining bandits in front of his wife and children, and spent the night hauling their bodies away from the courtyard.

The eldest son, Li Yaozu, who had run out with a wooden sword, was still at an innocent age, yet he watched his father move the corpses with a calm, reverent look in his small eyes.

[Your descendants have resolved a family crisis. Incense +12.]
[Obtained loot: A small amount of silver, tattered clothing, a manure fork...]
[Watching Li Dalong kill the family's enemies, the young child seems to have understood something. A strange perception has been carved into the deepest part of his memory.]
[Li Yaozu gains the trait: Killing Potential.]
[Killing Potential: Becomes more ferocious when fighting enemies, strength increased by 20%, comprehension of attack-based arts and martial techniques increased by 5%.]

"Huh?" Li Xiang was stunned. He hadn't expected this slaughter to solve more than just the immediate threat, nor that it would bring the Li family more than just loot.

The greatest gain was Li Yaozu, a child barely four years old. Such potential was undoubtedly that of a natural-born killer and warrior!

After that night of slaughter, the Li family returned to their usual peace. Of course, Li Xiang could not see the deeper changes in the hearts of the descendants after killing their enemies. He increased the flow of time once more.

The Li family continued to develop. Their stone house became increasingly refined, and the original wooden fence was gradually replaced with stone, forming a spacious courtyard. They even built a dedicated training ground for practicing arts and martial skills.

What surprised Li Xiang the most was that during one of his hunting trips in the Silver Iron Forest, Li Dalong hauled back smooth stones, stacking them in the most prominent spot of the courtyard to build a small temple dedicated to the Ancestor, where incense burned perpetually.

[Li Dalong and his descendants have built an ancestral temple specifically for you. Incense +20!]

"Filial children," Li Xiang chuckled to himself, rubbing his chin, then paused. It felt a bit strange to have descendants build a temple for him while he was still alive.

Then, to Li Xiang's anticipation, the interface finally signaled the once-in-a-decade Grand Sacrifice!

Li Dalong, accompanied by his wife and three children, and leading the Iron-Wood Horse, arrived at the stone temple. They lit the incense and began to worship.

"Unfilial descendant pays respects to the Ancestor. Thanks to your protection over these ten years, the family has flourished."

Li Dalong kowtowed repeatedly, then turned to his eldest son, "Yaozu, quickly offer the gold and silver your father prepared to the bronze furnace for the Ancestor."

[You have received offerings: Ten jin of silver, one jin of gold.]
[Withdraw?]

Withdraw, my foot! Li Xiang rolled his eyes in front of his computer. In his era, gold and silver were no longer rare; even diamonds were discarded on the street. The hood of Li Xiang's sports car was made of pure gold, and his villa's bathtub was decorated with diamonds.

He clicked "No."

Li Dalong stared at the ancestral tablet. "Hmm? The Ancestor didn't bestow that warm blessing!"

"Does the Ancestor dislike gold and silver?" Xu Cuihua asked.

"Right, that must be it!" Li Dalong nodded repeatedly. "The Ancestor is so powerful; these common things can't catch his eye. Yaozu, go to the warehouse and find something valuable. We must satisfy the Ancestor!"

"Huh?"

Watching his descendants scurry about on the game interface, Li Xiang shrugged. In truth, he didn't want to bestow anything yet. The Li family was just starting out—what could they possibly have that was valuable? Instead, he had prepared a gift as an investment in their growth. Only by becoming stronger could they obtain things that would catch his eye.

Soon, Li Yaozu returned with a pile of items and placed them before the temple.

[You have received offerings: Wild Boar King's tendons, two jin of black rock ore...]
[Withdraw?]

A pile of odd items. He didn't want them, but it was the heartfelt sentiment of his descendants. Li Xiang scanned through the items, and his eyebrows arched slightly.

"Eh?"

One item caught his eye—a long spear covered in rust. He remembered seeing Li Dalong training with it when he checked the screen earlier.

[Mysterious Iron Spear (Sealed)]

The game interface even recorded how the spear was obtained: Li Dalong had found it among a pile of human skeletons in the Wild Boar King's cave!

"A sealed weapon?"

Li Xiang’s expression grew serious. In the world of cultivation, anything worth sealing possessed an extraordinary origin and was likely extremely dangerous. Clearly, with Li Dalong’s shallow cultivation, he hadn't realized the spear's true value.

"Withdraw the long spear!"

Li Xiang didn't hesitate. Even he was quite interested in this item.

[You have chosen to withdraw the offering—Mysterious Iron Spear!]

Instantly, a rusty long spear appeared on his computer desk in front of the incense burner. Li Xiang could actually smell the rust on it!

At the same time, he was drawn to the faint, intricate patterns on the spear, inscribed in a strange script. Li Xiang realized his own limited knowledge couldn't decipher them.

Ignoring the spear for the moment, Li Xiang took a brocade box and placed it before the bronze burner.

[You have bestowed upon your descendants: 36 assorted medicinal pills.]
[Deliver?]