CHAPTER 353: CHAPTER 348: CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY

Looking at the cultivation progress of his two disciples, Li Quanqing was still quite satisfied; their talent was top-notch even among their peers.

He nodded gently, uttered a sound as a greeting, then calmly sat on the fish pond embankment and started feeding with a handful of fish food.

Li Jingui watched him, also sitting on the cold embankment, smiling as he spoke: "Master, your centenary birthday is approaching, and the family’s decision is to make the celebration grand!"

"Anything is fine, just follow the family’s arrangements."

Li Quanqing nodded casually, not particularly concerned.

The Water Element Mana inherently nurtures the body and nourishes vitality. Besides, he had taken a Lifespan Extension Elixir in the past, and rarely engaged in combat these years.

In terms of longevity alone, he could live for a full six hundred years.

A centenary birthday is just a trivial matter.

However, while he could be indifferent, the family could not.

Over the years, his fame as a Golden Core patriarch became increasingly prominent. Due to Li Kunlun’s obscurity, he was even hailed as the greatest talent within tens of thousands of miles of sea area.

Nowadays, all those newly grown loose cultivators see this vast sea figure as an idol, essentially a life goal to chase.

Not to mention the young generation of the Li Family, who are nearly fanatical, with many vying to become disciples under Li Jihan.

"Has there been any change in the Shuihua Sword Sect in recent years?"

Li Quanqing stroked the light group on the forehead of a Green Jade Carp and asked, casually picking a topic.

"None, the Sword Sect has continued to decline over the years, its strength neither hot nor cold, with many older Foundation Establishment cultivators having passed away and the younger generation of cultivators not taking the lead."

"Unfortunately, the talents among the children in the Qingyu Sea Domain are being taken away by Golden Core sects like the Yanyue Sect, and the quality of disciples recruited is declining."

"However, the foundation of Golden Core sects still exists; relying on that Secret Realm, the Shuihua Sword Sect still has the ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pills and hasn’t fallen to a third-rate power."

Li Jingui spoke candidly; over the years, the Li Family has been thriving, and even without spies planted, people have come forward to voluntarily offer up the sect’s secret insider information.

After listening, Li Quanqing’s expression remained placid, his heart unwavering.

Even if the Shuihua Sword Sect produced another Golden Core cultivator, he wouldn’t mind, and could directly deploy several Spiritual Beasts to kill them forcefully.

Even if the Star Sect later sought accountability, he could easily disassociate himself with a simple "Demon Beasts ran wild, nothing to do with me."

With his current strength enhancement and having the Ice Phoenix Puppet at hand, he was no longer particularly afraid of the Star Sect.

"Uncle, I also have a matter to report to you."

At this moment, the graceful Li Jihan also spoke, becoming more radiant, her eyebrows like distant mountains and her eyes like autumn waters, her skin fairer than snow, with a subtle fragrance embracing her sleeves.

"Speak, let me hear it."

Li Quanqing’s interest was piqued; knowing his niece’s character is extremely silent and reserved, she rarely takes the initiative to speak.

"Last month, while out training, I inadvertently came across a group claiming to be from the Situ Family, wanting to return to the Qingyu Sea Domain and requested me to report to you."

Li Jihan openly recounted the encounter, clearly orchestrated with no evil intent, nor posing any life-threatening danger.

"Taiyuan Situ, unexpectedly, it’s this remnant family..."

Li Jingui slightly frowned. When the Situ Family was destroyed years ago, he hadn’t embarked on the cultivation path and though he hadn’t interacted with Situ cultivators, he had heard of them.

Li Jihan differed, as she hadn’t even heard of them, only gaining understanding later from reading ancient texts.

"After years of hiding like turtles, the Situ Family sees the Sword Sect’s declining influence and seems ready to emerge again."

Li Jingui smirked coldly; he held no fondness for this family as they had once been opponents to the Li Family.

"Inform the Yun Family of Carefree Island. When the Situ Family was destroyed years ago, they were the ones who occupied the Taiyuan Islands, so they should be the ones worrying."

Li Quanqing spoke indifferently.

He recalled killing Situ Lu, and with the Situ Family lacking Golden Core protection, their days these years wouldn’t have been easy, hence their discreet return.

Unfortunately, over the years, the Li Family has developed rapidly, and the little brothers following in their footsteps have also prospered significantly in strength.

Take the Carefree Yun Family, originally the second family under the Situ Family, now increasingly flourishing, with as many as six Foundation Establishment cultivators on the surface.

Baoshu Xie Family and Tonghua Wang Family are similar, with numerous newly emerged Foundation Establishment families having divided the Second Rank Spirit Vein islands.

The Situ Family’s ambition to return would be fraught with difficulty.

Li Quanqing contemplated leaving this hidden trail, and when he breaks through to Nascent Soul in the future, perhaps he could follow it to locate the Yellow Springs Sect’s reclusive region.

Then, team up with several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Four Seas Sect to thoroughly obliterate this substantial threat lurking in the shadows.

The Four Seas Sect presently only lacks the Green Sea legacy, and since they share a common origin with the Yellow Springs Sect, he couldn’t believe they wouldn’t be tempted.

...

In the blink of an eye, several months elapsed, and finally, Li Quanqing’s centenary birthday arrived.

A full half-month ago, the entire Green Jade Li Family began bustling, decorating everywhere with lights and festoons, the golden character for longevity paired with red ribbons, creating a splendid and festive atmosphere.

Those who received invitations were without exception prominent powers and cultivators in the sea domain today.

Even sect masters in the Foundation Establishment Perfect Realm faced with Old Quanqing’s centenary feast had to be respectful, not daring to show even the slightest neglect.

An invitation from Qingyu Cave Heaven even became a hot commodity in the black market, with practically every cultivator eager to glimpse the patriarch’s true essence.

On this day, the birthday bell tolled, white cranes soared; spiritual light was dazzling, transforming into a rainbow thread traversing the entire Pocket World, countless cultivators gathered like a swarm of bees.

In a rare sight, Li Quanqing finally took off his green Daoist robe, donning a bright red robe embroidered with a hundred longevity characters, appearing especially festive.

He sat cross-legged in the grand hall hovering in the Heavenly Vault, overlooking the dense crowd of cultivators below, exuding a sense of controlling the shifting of mountains and rivers.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on enduring the eternal spring and autumn, and may you quickly ascend the Nascent Soul path!"

Only true Golden Core cultivators had the privilege to enter this grand hall.

Such as the two Golden Core members from the Yanyue Sect, the sect master of the Biwu Sect, and the City Lord of Cold Chi Immortal City.

Even the special envoy from the Star Sect from years ago arrived, having a deep friendship with him, and regularly discussing the Alchemy Dao.

Li Quanqing laughed and responded to each one, inadvertently revealing a strand of late-stage Golden Core power, instantly striking awe into the hearts of those present, their smiles growing more sincere.

As the auspicious hour arrived, the Li Family was ready to commence the birthday banquet when suddenly the weather changed in Qingyu Cave Heaven, a powerful aura swept across, gathering tribulation clouds.

"Is this... someone forming a Golden Core?"

Li Quanqing was momentarily stunned, filled with curiosity, along with the others, casting their gaze downward.