Chapter 736: Joining the Banner

Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi found Li Luo's shock perfectly normal—after all, the Five Celestial Dragon Guards, even across the entire Outer Shenzhou, carried legendary renown, being the pinnacle protective force of the Li Li Tianwang lineage.

Scattered Celestial Dragon Guards might be insignificant, but once united into the terrifying "Celestial Dragon Array," even ordinary King-level experts were forced to yield.

And this, indeed, was one of the Li Li Tianwang lineage's key cards for deterring external enemies.

"The Dragon Tooth Guard is still far beyond your current reach, but these 'Twenty Banners' suit you perfectly; once you join a banner, besides the cultivation resources granted by your official status, each banner also provides a substantial additional allotment." Li Li Jingtao smiled.

Speaking thus, he lowered his voice: "In our Dragon Tooth Lineage, anyone seeking cultivation resources must earn them through demonstrated ability—just as Third Uncle did. He entered the 'Qingming Banner,' rose through the ranks, and eventually became the overall banner chief of Dragon Tooth's Four Banners."

Li Luo nodded—he understood that the "Twenty Banners" were the foundation upon which the Li Li Tianwang lineage grew stronger; only a constant influx of outstanding new blood could ensure this vast power endured.

And the prospect of gaining an additional cultivation resource upon joining a banner deeply intrigued him.

"I'm currently the chief of the Purple Qi Banner, Li Fengyi is the chief of the Crimson Cloud Banner, and though your strength is still a bit weak, your talent is excellent—given time, you'll surely have a chance for promotion," Li Li Jingtao continued.

"The chief of a banner means the leader?" Li Luo asked.

"Yes, each banner has one chief who commands it, and beneath the chief are several sub-chiefs who assist in leadership," Li Li Fengyi said.

"Then I apologize—I didn't realize you two were generals commanding eight thousand troops," Li Luo exclaimed.

His astonishment wasn't entirely feigned—because in a sense, each of them commanded a banner composed of elites selected from countless young talents across the Dragon Tooth Domain; such an army, if placed on the battlefield of Great Xia, could utterly crush any enemy.

This force, frankly, even their House Luolan Mansion couldn't muster.

Upon hearing this, Li Li Jingtao sighed helplessly: "The one thing I regret most is becoming chief of the Purple Qi Banner."

Li Luo frowned in confusion; Li Li Fengyi snorted coldly: "Ignore him—he's a lazy slug who drifts through life with no ambition. It's a miracle he's still our Dragon Tooth Lineage's eldest grandson—these past two years, the Jin Guang Banner has surged ahead to become the strongest of our Four Banners, and now even the other four lineages mock us, saying our Dragon Tooth Lineage may soon bow to an outsider-led Jin Guang Banner."

Li Li Jingtao looked embarrassed: "Li Fengyi, the Jin Guang Banner still represents our Dragon Tooth Lineage—their strength proves our generation has real potential." "Just keep making excuses."

Li Li Fengyi sneered: "Do you know how many young ones in the clan point at your back and curse you?"

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Li Li Jingtao's face twisted in bitterness, muttering: "I never asked them to expect anything of me—if my father hadn't chased me with a stick, I wouldn't have even wanted to compete for chief."

Then he scratched his cheek and turned to Li Luo: "Little brother, why not join my Purple Qi Banner? Once you grow stronger, I'll hand over the chief position to you—it's too much pressure, I can't take it."

Li Luo was speechless—this elder brother always gave off a lazy, uninspired vibe.

"You shouldn't be called Li Li Jingtao—you should be called Li Gui," Li Li Fengyi scoffed.

Facing Li Li Fengyi's mockery, Li Li Jingtao didn't get angry; instead, he offered a pleading smile to soothe her.

Li Luo shook his head—this elder brother wasn't old, yet he moved with sluggishness; in temperament, he truly resembled an ancient tortoise—but his disposition was genuinely kind, so despite their first meeting, Li Luo felt a certain fondness for him.

His second sister, Li Li Fengyi, was forceful and sharp-tongued, but her heart wasn't bad—she merely despised mediocrity.

"So now the Jin Guang Banner is the strongest among Dragon Tooth's Four Banners?" Li Luo asked.

The Jin Guang Banner belonged to the Jin Guang Academy, and the man who had spoken earlier, Zhao Zhao Xuanming, was its chief academy master.

Li Li Fengyi nodded: "Ten years ago, the strongest banner in Dragon Tooth was the Qingming Banner—you know why: Third Uncle was the chief academy master of Qingming Academy. He was the most outstanding of our generation, even gaining the Ancestor's approval. So not just in Dragon Tooth Domain, but across the other four domains, prodigies flocked to join Qingming Academy—every year during enrollment season, it was the most bustling of the Five Lineages' Twenty Academies."

Her tone carried unmistakable reverence for Li Taixuan.

But then her expression darkened: "After Third Uncle left, Qingming Academy declined year after year. With the chief academy master position vacant for so long, internal chaos set in, and its former prestige vanished—so naturally, the Qingming Banner fell too. Now, it can't even rank among the top half of Dragon Tooth's Four Banners, let alone dominate the entire Twenty Banner system."

Li Luo nodded—it wasn't surprising. Li Taixuan had been the core of Qingming Academy; after his departure for so many years, with the chief academy master position still vacant, it was inevitable the academy would be leaderless.

While these three young ones whispered among themselves, the clan's senior leaders were embroiled in heated debate.

Li Li Qingpeng and Li Li Jinpan both wanted Li Luo, this promising talent—even Zhao Zhao Xuanming came over, smiling, eager to make a case, though his true intentions were unclear, he appeared thoroughly supportive.

Finally, the old patriarch waved his hand and made his decision.

"Stop fighting over him—Little Luo is Taixuan's bloodline. After Taixuan left Qingming Academy for so long, are you still trying to poach him?"

Li Li Jingzhe smiled: "Let Little Luo return to Qingming Academy—join the Qingming Banner, and assign him the position of banner chief."

"Little Luo, what do you think?" he added, smiling toward Li Luo.

Upon hearing this, Li Li Jingtao and Li Li Fengyi looked slightly disappointed; the latter couldn't help exclaiming: "Grandpa, the Qingming Banner has become the most chaotic of the Twenty Banners—its chief position has been vacant for years due to fierce infighting, and every troublemaker avoids it. How can you send a beginner in the Mortal Palace Realm to control it?"

"And putting him straight into the chief position? That's setting him on fire! By protocol, only a Shaoti Realm cultivator can serve as banner chief!"

She didn't doubt Li Luo's capability—she simply knew that under Qingming Banner's current state, if he couldn't match the role, he'd invite nothing but trouble.

Though Li Luo's lineage was special, so many years had passed—Qingming Banner had seen generations of bloodlines change.

"Li Fengyi, how dare you speak to Grandpa like that!" Li Li Jinpan rebuked.

On Li Li Jingzhe's stern face, a faint smile appeared: "Li Fengyi speaks truth, but I believe this ultimately rests on Little Luo's own choice."

All eyes turned to Li Luo, who smiled slightly: "Qingming Academy was my father's domain—he once led the Qingming Banner to fame across the Twenty Banners. Now that he's temporarily absent, if I, as his son, can lend even a little help, that's precisely what I wish to do."

His meaning was clear—he was willing to join the Qingming Banner, for he sensed the old patriarch hoped he would.

Li Li Jingzhe chuckled: "Admirable courage."

Seeing this, everyone understood the matter was settled—the Qingming Banner would soon welcome a banner chief of unusual lineage.

Zhao Zhao Xuanming, chief academy master of Jin Guang Academy, also nodded with a smile, then his gaze swept across the crowd to a slender, sharp-faced white-robed man, who sensed it and immediately stepped forward.

"Pulse Chief, there's another matter today—I humbly request your decision."

All eyes turned to the white-robed man, their gazes flickering.

Li Li Fengyi whispered to Li Luo: "This man is Qingming Academy's current second academy master—Zhong Zhong Yushi. I suspect he's about to bring up the vacant chief academy master position again."

"For years, his ambition to seize Third Uncle's position has been common knowledge."

At that moment, the old patriarch spoke coolly: "Ah, Zhong Zhong Yushi. What is it?"

Zhong Zhong Yushi, second academy master of Qingming Academy, bowed respectfully, then spoke solemnly.

"The chief academy master position of Qingming Academy has been vacant for years; internal affairs are in chaos. This matter has remained unresolved for over a decade, severely damaging Qingming Academy. For the sake of Dragon Tooth Lineage's overall stability, Zhong Yushi humbly implore the Pulse Chief..."

"To reappoint a chief academy master for Qingming Academy!"