"Fantastic, this makes things even more stable."
Han Li pecked the somewhat surprised Li Mingmeng on the forehead, his heart brimming with joy.
The Dragon's Chant Golden Bell Shield and the Tiger Roar Iron Cloth Shirt secured his invincibility, while the Falling Star Arrow Manual greatly enhanced his offensive power, addressing his weaknesses.
With his late-stage Pihai Realm Sixth Heaven cultivation, possessing two Supreme Grade Yellow-Rank cultivation techniques and two Lower Grade Profound-Rank martial techniques, it would be hard to find an opponent in the Pihai Realm.
The Falling Star Arrow Manual required high arm strength, and the Dragon's Chant Golden Bell Shield and Tiger Roar Iron Cloth Shirt just happened to boost his physical strength and power, more than meeting the requirements for the Falling Star Arrow Manual.
Now, all he lacked was a bow of suitable grade.
A few months later, Li Mingmeng gave birth to their second child.
This time it was a daughter, with only Ninth Grade cultivation talent. Han Li felt a slight disappointment but didn't show it; he kissed her forehead and still took great care of Li Mingmeng.
This eased Li Mingmeng's mind. She deeply loved this man and had truly feared that the child's poor talent would disappoint him.
"Mingmeng, after you recover this time, you should take precautions, focus on cultivating, and we can talk about the next child after you break through to the True Qi Realm," Han Li said softly, holding Li Mingmeng close and whispering in her ear.
"Mmm~," Li Mingmeng responded, but her heart disagreed.
Next time, she still wouldn't take precautions or use her energy to force the essence out of her body; she wanted to bear another child with Eighth Grade talent for her husband.
After spending some time with her, Han Li left and collected two rewards from the System on his way out.
"You have sired an offspring with Ninth Grade talent, you receive one year of cultivation, you gain one year of life, you obtain a Supreme Grade Yellow-Rank cultivation technique, you receive a Beauty Preserving Pill, and your cultivation talent is enhanced."
"The number of offspring with cultivation talent has reached twenty, you receive twenty years of cultivation, you receive a Seventh Grade Lifespan Extension Pill, and you obtain a Supreme Grade Yellow-Rank [Sun Chasing Bow]."
Inside the bedroom, Han Li looked at the two System messages and smiled.
He had anticipated the second reward—cultivation, pills, and a weapon—consistent with the rewards for siring ten talents. However, while the previous weapon was a Supreme Grade Yellow-Rank sword, this time it was a bow, which pleased him even more as it could be paired with the Falling Star Arrow Manual.
Otherwise, it would have indeed been difficult for him to find a Supreme Grade Yellow-Rank bow, as weapons were categorized the same way as cultivation techniques. Generally, those in the later stages of the Pihai Realm utilized weapons of this grade, and so did the less wealthy in the Gangyuan Realm.
The first reward turned out better than he expected. In addition to the usual rewards of cultivation, lifespan, and technique, this time there was an extra Beauty Preserving Pill, and the technique's grade had been raised from Top Grade Yellow-Rank to Supreme Grade.
It seemed that after the number of offspring surpassed one hundred, each new child birthed would grant four types of rewards. But to get a massive reward like the one for reaching a hundred, the number of offspring would need to reach two hundred, three hundred...
Even though he had fathered a few more in this past year plus this child, the total was still less than one hundred and ten. There was a long way to go.
Shaking off these stray thoughts, Han Li chose to claim twenty-one years of cultivation. He sat down cross-legged, prepared to properly absorb and digest this influx of cultivation.
The scattered years of cultivation he had received so far hadn't been enough to reach the peak of the Pihai Realm Sixth Heaven, but these twenty-one years of cultivation should be enough for him to break through to the later stages of the Pihai Realm. As for how far he could push, even Han Li was unsure.
Now that his talent had been enhanced further, the cultivation he acquired would be even more effective.
Han Li's aura soared, quickly breaking through the realm's shackles to reach the Seventh Heaven of the Pihai Realm, and continued climbing until the mid stages of the Eighth Heaven of the Pihai Realm before it finally stabilized.
"Huff~"
Releasing a breath, Han Li's smile deepened as he felt the Sea of Qi within him expand yet again.
The Sea of Qi of an eighth level cultivator of the Pihai Realm was nearly ten times larger than that of a first level cultivator of the Pihai Realm; the difference in strength was immense. An eighth level Pihai Realm cultivator could easily overpower dozens of first-level cultivators in the same realm. Han Li's strength was even greater than that of an ordinary eighth-level Pihai Realm cultivator.
"It will take roughly another thirty years of cultivation to break through to the pinnacle of the ninth level of the Pihai Realm."
Han Li estimated and concluded that the cultivation needed was somewhat more than he had previously anticipated. But Han Li wasn't concerned, as his breakthrough speed was already quite fast.
Since it would require some time before the number of his descendants reached the next stage, he might as well stabilize his current level. Time was what the old ancestor Han Li lacked the least, and now his lifespan had increased significantly.
Casually storing away weapons, pills, and cultivation techniques, Han Li arrived at the main hall of the Han Family and issued a summons.
An hour later, all the key members of the Han Family had arrived, each of them showing the utmost respect and deference.
Those qualified to handle the Han Family affairs were all intelligent, and their current status depended greatly on Han Li, the family's ancestor. The stronger Han Li became, the more influential the Han Family was, and the higher their personal status would be.
If any descendant caught Han Li's favorable attention, their status within the Han Family would greatly rise, they would be nurtured as key individuals and receive abundant resources.
Looking at the descendants beneath him, Han Li mused, "Today, I have summoned you here mainly for four matters."
"Please, Father, speak!"
Han Li's children promptly responded with reverence. The oldest among them was around forty years old, and the youngest was around their thirties.
Han Li nodded slightly and said, "Firstly, continue to encourage fertility. The rewards for childbearing will double. Every descendant of the Han Family, after marriage, should have at least four children. For each additional child, the reward will increase by another fifty percent."
"Secondly, spread the message that I will be taking more concubines, five should suffice."
"Thirdly, as I am nearing two hundred years old, prepare accordingly. This birthday celebration must be well-organized."
"Fourth, our Han Family's business has been confined to Lingjun City for quite some time. It's time to expand to the entirety of Fengyang Manor. Deliberate carefully and divide the territories among yourselves—no one is to drag their feet."
"If these tasks are well accomplished, I will not be stingy with rewards, be it Spirit Stones, medicinal pills, cultivation techniques, martial skills, Divine Weapons, or even Lifespan Extension Pills."
After Han Li's words fell, the entire hall fell silent for a moment before erupting into excited responses.
"Yes, Father."
The children were all extremely excited. They had no cultivation talent and their natural lifespan was merely a hundred years; with nearly half their lives already behind them, the Lifespan Extension Pills were of utmost importance to them.
They had no objections to Han Li's instructions and only wished to execute them as well as possible to earn their father's rewards.
Watching his children depart, a hint of a smile flashed in Han Li's eyes.
If he waited for the descendants to multiply slowly, he knew not how long it would take. It was far quicker to intervene personally and encourage fertility.
In pursuit of the rewards offered by Han Li, the descendants would naturally choose to have more children. As the number of descendants rapidly increased, Han Li would receive more system rewards, allowing him to swiftly enhance his cultivation and strength.
Of course, one should not put all eggs in one basket. He himself would continue to take concubines, creating more offspring from the source, ensuring there would be even more descendants in the future.