Li Ming felt puzzled. The second young master of the Li Clan wanted to see him?

  He didn't know the man at all. He had dealt frequently with the eldest young master, Li Yuanfa. When he learned that his most cherished great-granddaughter had been kidnapped by the notorious Twelve Heavenly Fiends, his first thought had been to seek help from the eldest young master.

  What chilled him to the bone was Li Yuanfa's immediate demand: hand over the girl in marriage, or no assistance would come.

  Li Ming refused outright. He knew exactly what kind of scheme Li Yuanfa was brewing. If he agreed, the fortune he had built through decades of hard work would fall into Li Yuanfa's hands within a few short years. Not to mention… he carried a heaven-shaking secret. One that could never be revealed.

  His refusal enraged Li Yuanfa, who promptly ordered the entire Li faction to withhold any aid, hoping to force Li Ming into submission. Despair gripped him. Even old acquaintances showed no mercy.

  Among the Twelve Heavenly Fiends were Spirit Soul Realm experts. Li Ming stood no chance against them. No one dared confront the Twelve Heavenly Fiends.

  Just when he thought he would have to watch white-haired bury black-haired, an elder from the Li Clan approached him with word that the second young master wished to meet.

  With a heart full of unease, Li Ming followed the elder to Su Chen's cultivation residence. He had long heard rumors about the second young master—the unparalleled prodigy the Li Clan had not produced in centuries.

  Meeting him now, Li Ming found the youth truly extraordinary. High-bridged nose, lips curved in a faint, natural smile; every gesture carried effortless grace, suffused with an indescribable air of nobility and dao charm.

  Most striking of all, this boy—roughly the same age as his own great-grandson—possessed a cultivation depth so profound that Li Ming could not see through it. The Li Clan's reputation was well deserved.

  Li Ming stood tense, terrified that this second young master would make the same indecent proposal as Li Yuanfa.

  Seeing the old man's rigid posture, Su Chen smiled.

  "I can help you deal with the Twelve Heavenly Fiends."

  Joy and apprehension warred across Li Ming's face. Gathering his courage, he asked, "May I know what the second young master requires of me in return?"

  Su Chen gave a soft chuckle, noting how Li Ming's heart seemed lodged in his throat.

  'This old fellow is worried I have designs on his great-granddaughter?'

  Did Su Chen seem like that sort of person?

  The last thing he wanted was for his old sworn brother from the second life to suddenly become his father-in-law. The thought alone made him shudder. If Li Ming ever learned the truth down in the Yellow Springs after death, he might just die laughing all over again. It felt distinctly awkward.

  Su Chen cleared his throat. "The Twelve Heavenly Fiends are hard to eradicate only because their movements are unpredictable. They've committed countless major crimes, harming numerous sects and clans, large and small. Everyone rages against them but dares not act. I only need Elder Li to assist me in wiping them out. That's all."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Li Ming stared in disbelief. "That's… it?"

  The youth wanted nothing more than cooperation? He had already steeled himself to be fleeced mercilessly.

  Su Chen raised an eyebrow. "What? Does Elder Li suspect I have ulterior motives?"

  Realization dawned on Li Ming. The person before him held far greater status in the Li Clan than Li Yuanfa ever could. To put it bluntly, crushing him would be easier than stepping on an ant. A fabricated charge would suffice, and no one would dare speak up for him. How could someone of such standing harbor petty designs on him?

  "He must intend to use the heads of the Twelve Heavenly Fiends to weave some grand scheme!"

  Li Ming's mind raced with guesses about Su Chen's true purpose. Unaware of the old man's wild speculations, Su Chen watched him freeze in fright and couldn't help but laugh inwardly. The old rascal had clearly spent these years walking on eggshells, turning timid as a mouse.

  After instructing the elder to escort Li Ming away, a genuine smile spread across Su Chen's face. Helping Li Ming required no grand justification. Reuniting with his "adopted son" from the past, he simply had to do something.

  Once Li Ming departed, Su Chen made his way to the Li Clan's ancestral grounds, where the faction's true foundations lay hidden. Even the clan head, Li Jiangqun, could not enter freely.

  Yet when Su Chen stepped inside, only a few faint gazes swept over him. Recognizing who it was, they withdrew without comment. The Li Clan's qilin child enjoyed such privileges.

  As Su Chen stepped into the ancestral grounds, a light chuckle reached his ears.

  "Little Chen, what brings you to the ancestral land? Need us old fogeys to handle something for you?"

  One by one, Spirit Soul Realm powerhouses materialized, their gazes warm as they looked at Su Chen. When they sensed his cultivation had advanced again, genuine, long-absent smiles spread across their faces.

  Su Chen bowed respectfully to each elder in turn before smiling and speaking. "I still can't hide anything from Grandfather Hongwen. To be honest, this disciple has a favor to ask of you."

  An old man with a broadsword strapped to his back laughed and cursed good-naturedly. "Just because I spoke first, you brat latch onto me?"

  The other elders exchanged amused glances, then quietly withdrew, leaving the matter to Li Hongwen. The Third Ancestor of the Li Clan. At the eighth layer of the Spirit Soul Realm, in the current era, experts of his caliber—both openly and in the shadows—could be counted on two hands.

  Su Chen grinned sheepishly.

  "Alright, you little rascal. What sticky problem have you run into this time?"

  Li Hongwen looked puzzled. Had that disloyal clan head Li Jiangqun shown favoritism again? Should they convene and simply depose him? Skip the formalities and install Little Chenzi as clan head directly?

  Li Jiangqun had no idea how close he had come to losing his position.

  Su Chen recounted the situation with Li Ming, then continued. "I would like Grandfather Hongwen to take action and eliminate the Twelve Heavenly Fiends."

  Li Hongwen pondered for a moment. If anyone else had dared make such a request—especially asking for free assistance—he would have cursed them out on the spot. Did they think Li Hongwen came so cheap?

  But this was Su Chen. In that case, fine. This was the future king of their Li faction.

  Still curious, Li Hongwen asked, "Chen'er, do you have some plan in mind?"

  He refused to believe his clever, quick-witted grand-disciple had suddenly lost his senses, offering free help and dragging a Spirit Soul eighth-layer powerhouse into it. In the eyes of the world today, that would be like using a cannon to swat a fly.

  Su Chen had prepared his answer long ago. He spoke softly. "The Twelve Heavenly Fiends have plagued the land for years and earned widespread infamy. If Grandfather Hongwen personally wipes them out, it will etch the Li Clan's name deeply into the hearts of people across the realm. It will steady our great ship and allow it to sail forward unhindered.

  "Moreover, Li Ming has always shown unwavering loyalty to our Li faction. If we ignore his plight now, it will inevitably chill the hearts of the other collateral branches. I want to set an example for every side branch of the Li Clan to see. As long as you remain loyal and handle affairs well, the main branch of the Li Clan will forever be your strongest shield!"

  Li Hongwen froze at the ringing conviction in Su Chen's words. Then he threw his head back and laughed heartily.

  "Good! Excellent! Truly worthy of being our Li Clan's qilin child!"

  The more he looked at Su Chen, the more delighted he became. Their Li Clan had produced another true dragon!