Chapter 660: The Family's First Gathering

When Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge's figures descended into the underground palace, they saw the two figures standing above the candle flames gazing at them with smiles.

Li Luo looked at the two, his nose tingled with sorrow, and he said mournfully, "Father, Mother, come back. I want to be a second-generation strongman peacefully and happily; I don't want to work hard anymore."

"Look at your unambitious state; you think you're working hard? Jiang Jiang Qinge hasn't even said anything yet." Tai Tai Lan gave her own son a disdainful eye-roll, then her figure floated down. She spread her arms toward Jiang Jiang Qinge and smiled, "My dear daughter, have you suffered these past few years? Having to support the Luo Lan Mansion while carrying a dead weight."

On Jiang Jiang Qinge's usually calm and composed beautiful face, a blush of shyness appeared at this moment. She stepped forward and embraced Tai Tai Lan's projection.

"Master's wife, I missed you," Jiang Jiang Qinge said softly.

Tai Tai Lan gently patted Jiang Jiang Qinge's back and smiled, "Master's wife misses you too, thinking of you every day. Especially you, girl; your character is strong. Actually, in our eyes, the Luo Lan Mansion isn't even worth a single hair of yours, but Old Li and I both know that you will do everything in your power to protect the Luo Lan Mansion."

"You must have been quite tired these past few years."

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled slightly and said, "Actually, Li Luo helped me share a lot. His efforts this past year were no less than mine."

Tai Tai Lan raised an eyebrow lightly, looking at the aggrieved Li Luo beside her with some doubt, and said, "Could this brat really have such awareness?"

Li Luo felt utterly exhausted and asked Li Taixuan, who was standing nearby with arms crossed and a smile, "Father, was I picked up?"

Li Taixuan's expression shook, then he looked at Li Luo with a complex face and said, "Xiao Luo, so you already know. Since that's the case, I won't hide it from you. It was a cold winter; I saw you in a pile of trash by the street..."

Li Luo waved his hand and said expressionlessly, "Forget it. Just disperse your projections. I don't want to talk to you anymore."

"Pfft."

Jiang Jiang Qinge couldn't help but laugh out loud. She let go of Tai Tai Lan and turned her head, saying, "Master, Master's wife, stop teasing Li Luo. He really worked hard this past year. From the desperate situation of an Empty Image, he crossed into the Evil Palace Realm in just one year. That cultivation speed, even I wasn't that fast back then."

"For the Luo Lan Mansion to stabilize, his contribution this past year was actually greater than mine."

Li Taixuan smiled, reached out, and rubbed Li Luo's somewhat grayish hair, laughing heartily, "Haha, of course I know. Xiao Luo now has three Images within him; his future is limitless." In his gaze toward Li Luo, there was some gratification. Actually, from the moment he first saw Li Luo, he knew Li Luo must have fought desperately this past year. Moreover, the path of Li Luo's acquired Image was one they helped formulate, so they were all very clear on Li Luo's efforts.

Li Luo rolled his eyes. With his father and mother, he felt very clearly what favoritism meant. Just look at Jiang Jiang Qinge's trump cards and methods; those Marquis Realm secret techniques were likely left for her by Father and Mother. But when it came to him, there was nothing at all. Everything relied on his own efforts. Even his final trump card had to be traded for by him selling his blood to the Three-Tailed Sky Wolf. It truly highlighted the word 'miserable'.

Of course, he also understood this was because he didn't have the ability back then. After all, when Li Taixuan and Tai Tai Lan left, he was still just an Empty Image. Although the two had left him a cultivation backdoor, no one knew how far he could truly go, so naturally, it was better to leave those trump cards to Jiang Jiang Qinge.

However, understanding was one thing; the difference between the two still made Li Luo unable to help but complain in his heart.

Tai Tai Lan also walked over with a smile, reached out with both hands to pinch Li Luo's cheeks, and said, "Good son, you did well."

Li Luo pouted and complained, "It's all your fault. You left a mess behind. You should have tidied things up a bit before leaving. Instead, you caused us so much trouble."

Tai Tai Lan smiled, "Wasn't this to give you some practice? Who are you? One is my good son, the other is my good disciple. With you two joining forces, what waves could those petty clowns make?"

Li Taixuan nodded and said, "Manager Pei Hao's character, I actually knew long ago. He is also pitiable. Moreover, when the Luo Lan Mansion was founded, he Li Xia Le Gong for the Luo Lan Mansion. So when we left, I didn't settle accounts with him. First, I kept a shred of pity, hoping he would stop at the precipice and peacefully assist you in mastering the Luo Lan Mansion. Second, as your mother said, if he truly intended to cause chaos, then leave it for you to solve, treating it as some experience."

Li Luo was speechless, and at the same time couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for Manager Pei Hao. This guy was also pitiable; he schemed and struggled so hard, only to be seen by Father and Mother as merely something left for him and Jiang Jiang Qinge to practice on.

One can only say, those who are hateful must have something pitiable about them.

"When you drew the Life and Death Lots back then and went to the Marquis Battlefield, were you framed? Was it that Regent?" Li Luo asked again.

"What is he, that he deserves to scheme against us?" Tai Tai Lan sneered.

Li Taixuan also nodded and smiled, "That Gong Yuan had great ambitions. He once tried to secretly recruit the two of us, but we clearly rejected him. So he must harbor some resentment and fear toward us. That is why he used the Life and Death Lots to try and force us away. However, our final choice to go to the Marquis Battlefield was not because of him; we indeed had very important matters that required entering the Marquis Battlefield."

"If it wasn't our voluntary choice, what is Gong Yuan, anyway?" Li Taixuan's words were light, yet there was an undeniable domineering aura revealed within. That top-tier ruler in Great Xia, in terms of both strength and power, seemed utterly despised in Li Taixuan's mouth.

"Master, Master's wife, what important matters did you go to the Marquis Battlefield for?" Jiang Jiang Qinge, standing nearby, suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Li Taixuan and Tai Tai Lan did not answer directly, only saying, "Telling you this would be useless and would only disturb your state of mind. But rest assured, we are doing well in the Marquis Battlefield."

Seeing the two cover up, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge exchanged a glance and could only nod.

"After this Mansion Sacrifice, the situation of the Luo Lan Mansion in Great Xia should stabilize. Since they know we are still alive, even that Regent should not dare to target you again, because that would hold little meaning."

"However, you must not be too lax. Gong Yuan is a man of deep cunning and great ambition. Moreover, he seems to have some other connections. You must remain cautious. If the situation turns wrong, the Luo Lan Mansion can be abandoned," Li Taixuan instructed.

Hearing this, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge both nodded seriously.

Li Taixuan's gaze turned to Li Luo, sized him up, and asked with a smile, "How does having three Images feel?"

"Not bad." Li Luo was very satisfied with his three Images.

A mysterious smile appeared on Li Taixuan's lips as he said, "I have good news and bad news for you."

"The good news is that when you enter the Marquis Realm, you might open up another Image Palace. Moreover, this Image Palace will still be an Empty Image."

Li Luo was overjoyed. He liked Empty Images because this would allow him to continue forging the perfect acquired Image, and it would still be a dual-attribute one with a main and a secondary. This was much better than a natural Image!

However, he then thought of Li Taixuan's words, and immediately felt something ominous in his heart. So he asked anxiously, "What's the bad news?"

Li Taixuan clapped his hands.

"The bad news is that for the Image Palace in the Marquis Realm, the Little Non-Image Divine Forging Technique I left for you before no longer works, and I have no follow-up here either."

Hearing this, Li Luo's vision instantly went black.

Without the Little Non-Image Divine Forging Technique, he naturally couldn't forge an acquired Image, so the Empty Image would truly be completely useless.

Isn't this a total disaster?!