After calming himself, the elder spoke in a hoarse voice, "The Long family is our blood. As elders of the clan, this is our duty."
Long Chen replied firmly, "There's no need for modesty. This clan leader has always believed in clear rewards and punishments. Merit deserves recognition. I see that your energy and blood have weakened, and your foundation is unstable. Therefore, I offer you these Heavenly Body Purification Pills to help you reach the peak of the Body Tempering Realm with a solid foundation. Additionally, these Spirit Cleansing Pills will assist you in advancing to the peak of the Spirit Cleansing Realm. And finally, take this the Heavenly Body Technique."
He took out four bottles of Heavenly Body Purification Pills, four bottles of Spirit Cleansing Pills, and a scroll containing the Heavenly Body Technique all received from the system and handed them to the elders.
With trembling hands, Long Outian accepted the items. As his gaze fell on the Heavenly Body Purification Pills, deep emotion welled in his heart. He knew his body well. Years of failed breakthroughs had left his foundation damaged. He had given up hope.
But now, seeing these pills that could restore and even strengthen his cultivation base, hope rekindled in his eyes.
Then, his eyes shifted to the Spirit Cleansing Pills. These pills were even rarer treasures than the purification ones.
In the past, even if the Long family had offered all its wealth, they might not have been able to obtain a single one. Yet now, he held an entire bottle in his hands.
Long Tianxiao, another elder, also accepted the pills and technique with shaking hands. "Clan leader," he said solemnly, "these rewards far exceed what we expected. We will never forget this grace."
Long Outian turned his attention to the technique scroll. At first, he thought it would be a common family martial art. But as he quickly skimmed the pages, his pupils shrank, and his breath grew rapid.
"This... this is a high-tier Earth-rank technique!" he exclaimed inwardly.
He was deeply shocked. He never imagined that the technique given by Long Chen would be such a powerful Earth-level martial art. And Long Chen had handed it over without hesitation.
"Thank you… Thank you, Clan Leader!" Long Outian's voice cracked with emotion.
To the elders, who had spent decades devoted to the family, Long Chen's recognition meant everything. They didn't care how he had obtained such treasures during his retreat. All that mattered was that under his leadership, the Long family was finally rising.
Long Outian also quickly understood why Long Chen hadn't mentioned the level of the technique aloud. If news of a high-tier Earth-ranked technique spread, with the current strength of the Long family, they wouldn't be able to protect it. It was better to train in secret until the family was strong enough to announce it safely.
Seeing that the four elders understood his intentions, Long Chen nodded slightly and said nothing more. He turned to a wooden box nearby and crushed it with a simple gesture. A mountain of glowing spirit stones spilled out.
These spirit stones had been purchased from the system store the cheapest kind, exchanged at the rate of 1 luck point for 10,000 low-grade stones. For just 100 points, Long Chen had acquired a million stones.
Long Chen raised his voice so that all could hear. "All clan members who participated in the battle against the Feng family will each receive 1,000 low-grade spirit stones. You may also visit Elder Long Tianxiao to claim a reward from the battle spoils."
He paused, then added, "This is not a one-time event. From today onward, anyone who renders meritorious service will be rewarded fairly, regardless of whether you are from the main branch, a side branch, or even a subsidiary line. This clan leader will never withhold your reward because of your status!"
The hall exploded in wild cheers.
"Long live the Clan Leader!"
Some had believed they would receive nothing, but even these rewards while lesser than the Celestial Pills were significant. A thousand low-grade spirit stones and the chance to choose a battle prize could easily save them five years of effort. Satisfaction spread like wildfire.
Once the rewards were distributed and the rest of the supplies were returned to the family treasury, Long Chen ended the meeting.
As the Long family members left one after another, Long Chen silently returned to his room.
Though his body was clean, the thought of battle-stained garments bothered him. He removed his bloodied clothes and changed into an all-black outfit. Then, he sat on his bed and began reviewing his current gains.
His first task: to cultivate the Heavenly Body Technique.
This technique absorbed the power of heaven and earth to strengthen the body, turning qi and blood into a raging sea. At full mastery, it could allow a warrior to resist even Earth-level magical weapons with their body alone like a walking divine artifact. At perfection, perhaps even Heaven-level weapons would prove ineffective.
Unlike the Chaos Technique, which focused on qi purity, the Heavenly Body Technique centered on physical power.
Following the cultivation steps, Long Chen began absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy. His body turned into a vortex, madly devouring the energies around him, refining them into flesh, bones, and skin.
In mere breaths, a faint blue aura formed around his body dense, radiant, and almost ethereal. He looked like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm.
After one cycle, Long Chen paused. Though it had only been a short time, he already felt a slight improvement in his physical constitution.
He nodded in satisfaction.
The Heavenly Body Technique truly lives up to its reputation. If cultivated long enough, its benefits would be monstrous.
A thought crossed his mind.
Could this technique and the Chaos Technique be combined? If so, the results could be unimaginable… He didn't have the answer yet but with time, he would know.
Then, he took out another item from his system inventory: a massive, broad crimson blade.
As it appeared, the atmosphere in the room changed. Endless killing intent surged. Time and color faded. The world went black and white.
All that remained was the blade radiating an aura that made even the soul tremble.
This was his newest reward from the system:
[Blood Drinker: A blade forged from the heart of hell, infused with boundless killing intent. When wielded by the host, it significantly enhances strength, provides immunity to destructive forces, and offers a trace of ancient enlightenment. An invisible layer of blood will cover the blade, capable of devouring attacks and intensifying its own killing aura for counterattacks.]
Long Chen's eyes gleamed. Immunity to destruction… A trace of enlightenment…
He grasped Blood Drinker without hesitation and began channeling his inner qi into it.