The Calm Before the Storm

The sun hung low in the sky as the Li Clan gathered to mourn the passing of Li Wuhao, the former clan head. The funeral, solemn and quiet, had ended. The once-bustling courtyard of the Li Clan manor now stood silent, a stark contrast to the ceremony that had just taken place. Li Bao stood apart from the elders, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains, his mind turning over the events of the day. Though he felt no deep emotional connection to Li Wuhao, who had been more of a figurehead than a father, he respected the old man for his kindness toward the previous owner of the body he now inhabited.

The elders, their expressions grim, lingered for a moment longer in the ex-clan head's room. They too had known Li Wuhao for decades, and their sadness was palpable, though tempered by the duties they knew were soon to come. The air around them crackled with an unspoken tension. This day was not just about mourning the loss of a leader; it was about preparing for the challenges to come.

As the group dispersed, Elder Li Yuele approached Li Bao. "Clan head," she said in a low voice, "I have received troubling news from our spies."

Li Bao turned to her, his calm expression unchanged, though his interest was piqued. "Go on."

"The movements of the Zhou and Peng clans have been suspicious. Our spies report that forces from both clans have been mobilizing near Maple City. It's highly likely they'll attack tonight, seeking to take advantage of the former clan head's death."

Li Bao's eyes narrowed slightly, though his calm demeanor did not falter. "I suspected as much," he replied. "It's an obvious move, but no less dangerous because of it."

Li Yuele nodded. "What are your orders?"

"Elders," Li Bao began, his voice steady but firm, "today, we will face a test. The Zhou and Peng clans will likely make their move, but they do not yet understand the strength we now possess."

The elders exchanged determined glances.

"Elder Yuele, you will lead the defense," Li Bao continued. "The defensive array will be activated, and our forces are to remain within the estate walls. Only those in the Qi Condensation realm will engage the enemy. All other members are to stay indoors."

Elder Yuele bowed her head in acknowledgment. "As you command, clan head. We will crush them."

"I have full confidence in all of you," Li Bao said, his tone commanding yet calm. "The Zhou and Peng clans are nothing more than small obstacles. I will leave the battle in your capable hands."

Li Bao's gaze turned cold as he spoke. "The elders will handle the attack. They have advanced enough that their combined strength is more than sufficient to crush any invaders from the Zhou or Peng clans. I will not engage unless absolutely necessary. Our enemies are not yet worth my attention."

Elder Yuele looked slightly relieved but still wary. "And what of the other members of the clan?"

"All non-combatants will remain within the estate. No one is to leave the manor grounds. Only the elders and those in the Qi Condensation realm are to take part in the defense. We cannot afford unnecessary casualties, especially among the younger generation."

Li Yuele bowed her head in acknowledgment. "Understood. We will make preparations immediately."

"Good. Make sure the defensive array is fully activated as well. I trust you to coordinate the defenses," Li Bao said, his tone dismissive but respectful. He trusted the elders to do their part, and he was confident that the invaders would be dealt with swiftly.

The elders rose from their seats, their faces set with grim determination. Tonight would be their first major test since the clan's resurgence, but none of them doubted the outcome.

As they left to prepare for the night's defense, Li Bao sat back, his mind already moving beyond the Zhou and Peng clans. They were merely the beginning. His true goal lay much farther ahead.

Once the room had emptied, Li Bao retreated to his chambers, seeking a moment of solitude. Sitting cross-legged on a finely crafted mat, he closed his eyes and called upon the system that had become his most valuable tool since his rebirth.

"System," he whispered into the quiet, "open clan status."

In his mind's eye, the familiar translucent screen flickered into existence, displaying the state of the Li Clan in meticulous detail.

---

[Clan Name: Li Clan]

[Population: 57]

[Spirit Vein: 9th Tier] 

[Defensive Array: Tier 9 Defensive Array] 

[Clan Estate Area: 169km²]

[Cultivators: 45]

[Qi Condensation Realm - 11]

[Level: Tier 3] 

[Assets: Li Clan Manor, Maple City, Tier 1: Spirit Field, Tier 1: Breeding Farm, Spirit Wood Farm]

[Spirit Stones: 23,670 Low-Tier Spirit Stones]

Li Bao studied the information carefully. The improvements made over the past month were astonishing, even by the standards of a top-tier clan. The Tier 9 Spirit Vein had proven invaluable, accelerating the cultivation of the clan's top members. The Qi Condensation Realm pills and Earth Level cultivation techniques had done their part, pushing the elders to the peak of the Qi Condensation realm.

Li Bao himself had reached the Foundation Realm, a milestone that placed him well beyond the capabilities of any rival in the region. He knew that, should the need arise, he could personally annihilate the Zhou and Peng clans. But that wasn't his style. He preferred to let his subordinates handle such tasks.

He took special note of the clan's assets. The Spirit Field, Breeding Farm, and Spirit Wood Farm were productive enough to provide a steady stream of resources, but they were not enough to elevate the clan to new heights. The 23,670 low-tier spirit stones in the clan's coffers were a modest sum for a clan their size, but Li Bao knew it wasn't nearly enough for the ambitions he had in mind.

His true goal was to expand the Li Clan's influence far beyond Maple City. To do that, he needed more than just a defensive victory over the Zhou and Peng clans. His sights were set on something far greater.

Li Bao's gaze hardened as his thoughts drifted to the Dawn Sect, the Tier 3 power that dominated the southern region of the continent. The Dawn Sect had been in control for as long as anyone could remember. Even the founding of the Li Clan had only been possible because the previous clan head, Li Wuhao, had taken permission from the sect to establish his family. The same was true for the Zhou and Peng clans.

This arrangement had worked for generations. The Dawn Sect allowed smaller clans to exist and squabble among themselves, provided they didn't disturb the sect's own affairs. But Li Bao had no intention of remaining a small fish in this pond. His ambition reached far beyond the confines of Maple City.

For the Li Clan to truly rise to power, they would need to take control of the entire region, and that meant eventually challenging the authority of the Dawn Sect itself. But such an endeavor was no simple task. The Dawn Sect was a Tier 3 organization with access to resources and cultivation techniques that far surpassed anything available to the clans under its rule.

To break through to the Foundation Building Realm would require a cultivation technique above Top Tier Green Technique and one of two things: an individual of talent above Top-Tier or a Foundation Building pill. Such pills were incredibly rare—Even the Dawn sect had a hard time obtaining this pill as it can only be prepared by Tier 3 & above Alchemists.

Even Li Wuhao, in his prime, had only managed to obtain a low-tier Green technique by sheer luck. For most cultivators, access to these higher-tier techniques was a dream out of reach.

But Li Bao was different. His system gave him access to abilities and resources that transcended the limitations of the world around him. He had already acquired Earth Level techniques through the gacha system, and he was certain that even more powerful techniques lay in his future.

Still, before he could even think about confronting the Dawn Sect, he needed to consolidate his power in Maple City and the surrounding areas. The Zhou and Peng clans were the first stepping stones on his path to dominating the region.

To take control of the southern continent, he would need to tread carefully, gather more resources, and build his strength. But for now, the first step was securing his hold over Maple City.

Victory was inevitable, but Li Bao knew that true power was built slowly and deliberately. The road ahead would be long, but he was patient. The southern continent would one day belong to the Li Clan. Of that, he had no doubt.

He had the system after all, he was bound to be the greatest. 

Mean while outside the Li Clan estate both the Zhou clan and Peng clan were present with more than one-fifty warriors and a dozen of them were Qi-Condensation realm cultivators.