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Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Ownership of the Elixir
With a single call from Third Elder, though the voice wasn’t loud, it immediately subdued the entire hall into silence for a moment.
All the clan elders fixed their gazes onto Li Quanqing, showing a variety of exploratory and contemplative expressions, each different on their faces, committing this handsome youth to memory.
This was the leading figure among the Quan generation of the present, even slightly overshadowing the renown of Li Quangeng.
The oldsters watched the youth, as if seeing the once Foundation Establishment True Seed Li Kunli, with the same spirited and rising grandeur.
Thus many couldn’t help but reveal their amiable smiles, expressing their goodwill, even those elders from the Grand Elder’s faction did the same.
Though belonging to different camps, it did not prevent them from betting on both sides.
Who could say for sure about the affairs of the younger generation?
"Quanqing pays respect to all the elders."
Li Quanqing walked towards Third Elder, maintaining his composure and exchanging greetings with these old timers.
The one he was more familiar with was an old man dressed like a fisherman and farmer.
This was the Elder of the Evergreen Hall who managed the fishery acquisitions, with whom he had done business many times and was more recognizable.
"Hall Master, do we have a chance?"
Li Quanqing approached and asked quietly.
"That would surely be... none."
Li Kunli shrugged his shoulders, speaking bluntly, standing there like a towering iron tower: "Those old scoundrels from the Sword Sect really have no shame, coveting the talent of Li Quangeng, so they openly support that useless Li Yumiao in his rush to achieve Foundation Establishment."
"He has already wasted one Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, I reckon even another Foundation Establishment Pill would be a hopeless endeavor, his path was cut off long ago!"
His voice was loud, and when speaking these words, he did not temper his voice at all, echoing clearly throughout the great hall.
Many Elders couldn’t help but fall silent for a moment, then as if they heard nothing, continued discussing their own matters.
But Li Quanqing was somewhat incredulous, Third Elder was too calm, as if it was all expected, showing no apparent disappointment or anger. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
However, with so many people and eyes around, it was inconvenient to inquire in detail.
After another hour or so, all clan elders had finally arrived, with powerful mana fluctuation converging within the hall, spirit pressure surging, almost making the air feel sticky.
Li Quanqing counted, a total of 93 clan elders, among them 36 were Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators, the rest were at the Qi Refining Eighth Level.
Among these 36 influential elders, there were 13 at Qi Refining Perfection, most of them already aged and past their prime, with extremely low chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.
The Grand Elder’s son, Li Yumiao, was the youngest among them, not even fifty years old, a decorously dressed middle-aged man.
The age of Third Elder has always been a mystery, but it should be around sixty, not much more.
Thus, the likelihood of breaking through the bottleneck was still significant.
But his was a Fire Spirit Root, and he did not cultivate the Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill, and with dense aqueous essence qi in the sea areas, it was actually a disadvantage for him.
"How do I feel... with fifteen Copper Bean Puppets and the Azure Sea Sword Formation, I could kill all these old fellows present?"
Li Quanqing was bored out of his wits, and suddenly an outrageous idea popped into his mind, standing there amusing himself.
Thump thump!
While pondering, someone rang a magic artifact gong, the sound melodious and crisp, sweeping like a breeze through the hall, clearing away the noisy discussions of the crowd.
Without a sound, two Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators appeared behind the curtain, and even without saying a word, their invisible aura was enough to suppress everyone present.
"We pay respects to the Clan Leader and the Supreme Elder!"
All the family elders bowed in unison, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
While everyone was bowing, the curtain was suddenly lifted at one corner, and a figure darted out swiftly like a flash of sword light and squeezed into the group of elders.
Li Quanqing happened to witness this scene; to his surprise, it was Li Quangeng who had returned to the family from the Shuihua Sword Sect.
Trouble...
He instantly felt a sense of sinking in his heart, bracing for the worst-case scenario.
"Let’s discuss, whom should our Li Family bestow the Foundation Establishment Pill granted by the Upper Sect?"
The laid-back voice of Li Kunlun wafted out, its nonchalant tone almost visible through the curtain.
"In accordance with our clan’s tradition, I believe that the pill should be distributed based on the individual’s contribution to the family," someone reported to the Supreme Elder.
"For the sake of our Li Family’s prosperity, the Third Elder risked his life to delve into ancient ruins, securing the Foundation Establishment Pill with his life. It is only right that he should be the one to consume it!"
The one who spoke was actually an old man standing behind the Great Elder.
After he had finished speaking, he straightened his back, puffed out his chest, and strode confidently over to join the ranks of the Third Elder.
Ah, this...
Li Quanqing looked at the composed Li Kunli, thinking to himself that the Hall Master indeed knew how to play the game.
Upon seeing someone betray their side, the Great Elder didn’t get angry but just calmly gave someone a meaningful look.
The very next second, not far behind Li Quanqing, an elder stepped forward and proclaimed loudly, "This isn’t right. Had Elder Li Yumiao not timely informed the Sword Sect’s Senior Duan, it’s questionable whether our Li Family could have kept those thousand-year-old spiritual medicines or not!"
The speaker then stepped directly out from the group and moved to stand behind the Great Elder, adopting a strictly business-like demeanor.
Wow, this is like playing the game of undercover agents!
Li Quanqing watched as the elders argued back and forth over the Foundation Establishment Pill, revealing all sorts of private secrets about each other.
It was like watching a monkey scrambling around in a melon field.
Overall, however, the Third Elder seemed to be at a slight disadvantage, with only forty-two elders supporting him.
Finally, the Supreme Elder spoke up: "In my opinion, since the Third Elder was the one who fought for the pill, let it be given to him."
Once these words were uttered, no one dared to say a word in opposition.
"Undertaking Foundation Establishment in one’s later years is indeed much more difficult compared to younger cultivators."
"Moreover, I’ve heard from Quangeng that the primary ingredient of this Foundation Establishment Pill is a beast core from a second-stage aquatic demon beast, which conflicts with the Fire Spirit Root and isn’t appropriate."
The old raspy voice that spoke up belonged to the Clan Leader, Li Zongyao; his tone was measured and logical.
"Elder Clan Leader, that’s blatant favoritism. Everyone knows that among the cultivators with a Water Spirit Root in our family, the one with the greatest hope of establishing a Foundation is your very own grandson, Li Yumiao!" Li Kunlun, true to his Thunder Attribute, spoke bluntly and sarcastically.
"Yumiao cultivates the ’Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill,’ is young, has absorbed a Spiritual Object, and has attempted to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage before. Naturally, he has the greatest prospects, and it’s not a matter of favoritism," Li Zongyao responded calmly.
The Third Elder couldn’t help but laugh out of exasperation, "Clan Leader, if we’re following that logic, then I think there’s someone even more suitable."
"I hereby recommend Elder Li Quanqing from our family. He’s young enough, having reached the Qi Refining Eighth Level in his early twenties and cultivating the Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill with exceptional talent."
"I propose that we preserve this Foundation Establishment Pill for his future use!"
Li Quanqing, seeing himself suddenly thrust from the crowd and into the spotlight, felt a bit dazed.
How did it happen that while I was enjoying the melons, I suddenly became the new melon?
