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Chapter 1150: Chapter 1044: Fear
In the past century, the Li family has seen tremendous development and improvement in various aspects.
Firstly, there has been a significant increase in strength. For example, Jiang Fengwu successfully achieved Integration, becoming the fifth member of the Li family to do so. And behind her, Li Chengsheng, Li Xianxun, Li Mingyao, and others, now possess at least the cultivation of the Mid Nascent Soul stage.
There are now over thirty Void Refinement Cultivators and several hundred Divine Transformation Cultivators.
To this day, even though the Li family is not as established as old forces like the Zhang Family, they are rightfully called an Integration Family.
With the increase in strength, the Li family’s territory has also expanded significantly.
To the west and south lie even more powerful forces that the Li family does not wish to provoke, but to the east, in the sea, there are many areas of unclaimed territory. The Li family has constructed numerous islands and taken control of these regions.
The current territory of the Li family is smaller in the west and larger in the east, spanning only 500 miles centered around Mount Wanxian to the west, but extending 2000 miles eastward to the sea, with a north-south width exceeding 1000 miles.
Regrettably, they haven’t managed to directly merge with Wanling Island; some forces still lie in between.
However, as the Li family’s strength continues to grow, these interjacent forces will inevitably become their vassals, and the day when the territories will be connected is believed not to be far away.
The Li family’s current territory fully satisfies their developmental needs, but as the size of the territory influences luck, they have always been considering ways to expand their domain after gaining considerable strength.
Given the stronger forces to the west and south, the Li family wouldn’t dare provoke them, and their expansion to the east has reached its limit. Until their strength increases further, their only direction for development is to the north!
To the north lies an expanse of vast and rugged mountains, among which the Thousandfold Mountains where the Li family resides are but a small subrange.
Perhaps because it is situated at the border between the East Continent and the Northern Domain, the Spiritual Energy there is quite thin, making it extremely difficult to develop.
Moreover, this mountain range acts like a continuous barrier, soaring into the clouds, separating the two continents. To traverse, one must either detour through the sea, find narrow rugged paths, or climb over high mountains.
Even though Cultivators have the power to move mountains and fill seas, faced with such massive mountains, even those of Immortal Realm with Great Ability cannot move them.
Moreover, for many years, no Integration powers have emerged in the Thousandfold Mountains. Even the Devil Race could not be expelled, leaving no desire or extra effort for expansion to the north.
The Li family lacks the power to drastically alter the landscape; their development of the northern mountains is purely to take advantage of peaceful circumstances to allocate a large number of Cultivators for territorial expansion.
The mountains are rugged, steep, and mostly composed of rocks. Even though the Li family has put great effort into their development, the land cannot be used for cultivating Spiritual Objects. Yet, for the sake of family luck, regardless of the hardships, many Li family Cultivators have not given up.
It must be said, after such a long heritage, the Li family, despite having numerous internal issues both big and small, also possesses many commendable qualities.
For instance, the family members are very proactive for the development of the clan, unlike some forces that would prioritize securing benefits for their own factions before taking action.
The newly developed northern stony mountains by the Li family are not suitable for Cultivators, but they serve as a good place for mortals, because the sparse Spiritual Energy makes it difficult for Devil Beasts to manifest, so they do not have to worry about attacks.
As for the lack of food supplies, they can trade with the mortals of the Shanhai Plains to the south.
To establish control over this land, the Li family relocated 100,000 mortals, creating scattered villages and towns.
Beyond the increase in strength and expansion of territory, the Li family has also made significant advancements in other areas. For example, in the field of Cultivation Skills, the Li family has trained numerous high-level Skill Artisans. Currently, nearly fifteen percent of the Spiritual Objects in Shanyuan State are supplied by the Li family!
Do not consider this fifteen percent to be insignificant, knowing that in current Shanyuan State, there are five major Integration powers including the Li family, Zhang Family, He Family, Qingzhu Sect, and Huoyang Sect.
Of these five forces, the Li family is the weakest in strength and has the least depth of heritage. Being able to maintain a fifteen percent market share is quite remarkable.
And this is all thanks to the many Skill Artisans trained by the Li family.
In particular, when it comes to Spirit Beasts, the Li family occupies the largest market. Unfortunately, Beast Taming is ultimately a minor path and not many Cultivators practice it.
The rapid development of the Li family has naturally attracted many troubles. After all, Shanyuan State is only so big, and the resources only so plentiful. If the Li family takes more, naturally the others will have less.
Among them, the Zhang Family, due to their hatred for the Li family’s trap from years ago which left them defeated by the three Qingzhu Sect families and forced to relinquish the Thousandfold Mountains and part of the vast plains, had their territory substantially reduced.
So, for many years, apart from not taking direct action, they have always targeted the Li family both openly and covertly.
This specifically manifests in the Li family’s crafted Spiritual Objects being suppressed by the Zhang Family, which cannot enter any of the Immortal Cities and Marketplaces controlled by the Zhang Family. It’s only because some of the Li family’s Spiritual Objects are good quality and affordably priced, winning the favor of Loose Cultivators, that they can maintain a fifteen percent market share. 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
Also, when Li family Cultivators are training outside, they are targeted and killed by Zhang Family Cultivators upon encounter.
Such grievances have accumulated over time, and it is inevitable that a life-and-death battle will eventually break out between the Li family and the Zhang Family.
The only reason it has not yet erupted is due solely to the Li family’s restraint and concessions.
What can they do, when the Li family’s strength is not enough and their skills are inferior?
