NOVPUB
Chapter 966: Chapter 952: Legal Decree
"You think the ancestors won’t come back, or do you think those mud-legged commoners won’t rebel? You actually dare to fantasize about completely controlling the entire family?!"
In the eyes of these faction leaders, the clansmen of secular background had no blood relation with them; they were merely sharing the same surname.
With this perception, they naturally didn’t harbor much closeness or identification towards the cultivators of secular origin.
That elder spoke flatly, "We just need to reclaim our own rights, ensure that the members of each branch have sufficient cultivation resources, and ensure they overpower those mud-legged commoners generation after generation."
"Anything more, and we’d risk committing taboos!"
Upon hearing this, everyone found it quite reasonable and chimed in agreement, expressing their approval.
"However, there is still one issue. The previous generations of Clan Leaders, should we inform them about this matter?" Suddenly, an elder’s voice resounded abruptly.
The position of Clan Leader in the Li family, from Li Shiqing to Li Zhizhun to the current Li Hongshi, including Li Zhirui who once served as Acting Clan Leader, most of the former Clan Leaders left descendants which continue to this day.
Though the Clan Leader Lineage was very low-profile, and one could hardly remember such a force existed within the Li family, their presence absolutely could not be ignored!
Not to mention, just speak of the few previous Clan Leaders like Li Xuefeng’s direct grandson, who was the first of the Li family to have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, Li Mingyao. He was not only in the Late Nascent Soul Stage with prospects of breaking through to Void Refinement, but he was also a Fifth-order Talisman Master!
And in their various factions, whether in terms of cultivation or skills, none could match him.
Of course, Li Zhirui’s lineage maintained a transcendent status within the Li family and could not be included among them.
"Why should we tell them? Not to mention needlessly sharing a piece of the pie, if they relay our plans to Li Hongshi, it would just add complications."
Immediately, some objected, saying, "You should know that their lineage has always followed the elders! Our relationship with them isn’t good."
The number of people in the Clan Leader Lineage wasn’t large because they didn’t engage in taking numerous concubines and fervently producing descendants like the other branches, which would otherwise increase the number and power of their cultivators.
These people, like breeding beasts, appeared no different from ordinary clansmen and even enjoyed better benefits but had no time for cultivation each night, as they had to strive for procreation.
Naturally, this was the fate of those with poor talent or no background; those benefits were just minor favors to appease them.
Li Zhirui and the Clan Leader saw all the sordid inner workings of each branch.
Why did they not expose and resolve this issue?
Because in a way, this contributed hugely to the family’s strength enhancement!
However, one thing Li Zhirui detested the most was the internal marriages within their branches or marriages with a few other friendly factions!
When Li Zhirui first learned of this issue, he immediately ordered the prohibition of intermarriage within five generations.
As soon as the edict was announced, each branch expressed their dissatisfaction and hoped he would revoke the order, citing a very sufficient reason: Cultivators marrying cultivators were more likely to produce offspring with Spiritual Roots.
There was another reason they dared not voice out: they despised the dirty bloodline of mortals!
But Li Zhirui paid no heed. Perhaps there was no concept of genetics in the Immortal Demon world, but the problems with inbreeding remained.
Initially, under the strong will of Li Zhirui, the edict was well enforced without any issues, but as time passed, they began to secretly alter the family records!
They realized that if they adhered to the edict, they wouldn’t be able to take numerous concubines and produce numerous descendants as before, which wasn’t favorable for the expansion of their own faction.
Li Zhirui saw all their little tricks, but he had gotten too lazy to care, letting them dig their own graves.
Why, after coming to the Primal Spirit Realm in the past couple of hundred years, did the family continuously see several Heavenly Spiritual Roots either born from the Clan Leader Lineage or from secular clansmen, yet none appeared in the branches with the most cultivators and children testing for Spiritual Roots?
It was because they thought their bloodline was noble and sought to maintain its purity.
Little did they know, such an attitude excluded them from the Heavenly Spiritual Roots.
Anyway, the family also needed many mid-level cultivators, and it was fine if these branches provided them, so Li Zhirui let them be, letting them dig their own graves as long as there were no major issues overall.
—
As they argued non-stop and concocted plans, Clan Leader Li Hongshi quickly became aware of them.
"Heh!"
Li Hongshi sneered, saying, "Then let me witness their tactics."
The biggest mistake of the branches was thinking that Li Hongshi, being younger and possibly naive about many things, but they overlooked one thing: he had studied for centuries under Li Xiansong and was also a Nascent Soul Cultivator!
So when the branches began to act, trying to reclaim their rights, they were shocked to find they couldn’t succeed! They were effortlessly blocked by Li Hongshi.
It was only then that they realized how monumental their mistake was!
But it was too late to retract now, and Li Hongshi, compared to his predecessors, was even more resolute and ruthless!
Dealing with the erring Elders and Executors, regardless of their status or background, he settled it all by the rules, and no one could find fault with his punishments.
