Clairvoyance

After feeling satisfied with his work, Shi Li placed the pearl holder on the anvil and brought out the red pearl from his pocket. Although he was scared that people would find out that the pearl he held was some sort of heavenly treasure, he remembered that Tian Zhenfei told him that the pearl was specifically made for him, which meant no one would see its true beauty.

"Woah," Shi Zhang couldn't help but take a look at the red pearl Shi Li was holding. "Where did you get that pearl? It looks like it could be used as a material for a great weapon." Of course, being a swordsmith, he would usually look at everything as material rather than art.

Shi Li couldn't help but shiver as he heard Shi Zhang's words. "Master, I got this pearl through sheer luck. Even though there might be more of these pearls somewhere, this pearl means something to me." As Shi Li was saying this, he inserted the pearl into pearl holder, fastening it tight.

After fastening it, he lifted the pearl holder in such a way that shaking it would make the pearl fall. Shaking it a few times, Shi Li noticed that the pearl didn't fall at all. He couldn't help but nod at the quality of his work.

He then attached sturdy string through an intentional hole on the pearl holder and tied it in place. Afterwards, he put it on his neck like a necklace.

'With this, I won't have to carry this pearl around anymore,' Shi Li couldn't help but smile. Since Tian Zhenfei told him that the pearl increases his aptitude everytime he's within its proximity, he felt disheartened whenever he had to put the red pearl away. But with this, he wouldn't have to worry about that anymore.

"Congratulations Shi Li on crafting your first object," Shi Zhang smiled. "What do you want to learn next? How to forge a hammer? A spear? Something different like the pearl holder you crafted?"

Shi Li pondered for a bit before saying, "I want to craft a sword, Master. Is that possible?" Ever since he browsed through the old Shi Li's memories and saw the memory of the old Shi Li and his father riding on a flying sword, he had this dream where he wanted to ride on one as well. What better way to start than to craft his own sword?

Since Shi Zhang was a swordsmith through and through even if he knew how to craft other items, his eyes gleamed at Shi Li's words.

"If that's what you want, then I'll teach you to the best of my abilities! Finally, someone who wants to tread the path of a sword cultivator!"

...

Shi clan, Shi Ancestral Hall.

"Shi Li is the person the Huang clan's targeting," Shi Xingwan said with force.

All of the elders looked at Shi Xingwan with puzzlement as they didn't know how Shi Xingwan would connect it to his son so easily.

"Brother—I mean patriarch," Shi Xingtai couldn't help but say, "How is your son the target?"

"Remember his aptitude?" Shi Xingwan said and sighed. After asking this question, the elders now felt that Shi Li being the target was plausible.

Of course, with an aptitude at the level of Quasi-World, Shi Li would have no problem becoming a Martial Lord in the future and has a chance of breaking to the Martial King realm afterwards, not to mention the Martial Emperor realm!

After the Martial Lord realm was the Martial King realm, which is said to wield power surpassing the Martial Lord realm, allowing them to make the seas rise and the earth shake!

And of course, after the Martial King realm was the Martial Emperor realm, a realm that many cultivators wish to reach! This realm allowed cultivators to have a lifespan surpassing Martial Lords by manifold while allowing them to control the world surrounding them with just intent!

"Ah! Now it makes sense!" an elder exclaimed after making an inference to the statements Shi Xingwan said a while ago. This elder was extremely buff to the point where his robe already wanted to burst but for some reason, it stayed in that state. Even though this elder was extremely muscular, he was extremely knowledgeable and strategical. This elder was the elder known for strategy, Shi Ditian.

"So that's why they set the minimum requirement for cultivation at the Martial Adept stage!" Shi Ditian couldn't help but say in amazement. "With Shi Li's Quasi-World level aptitude, he would be able to cultivate at a speed that is near the speed of a World level aptitude cultivator. With that, they judged that within the next 3 months, Shi Li would at least be at the Martial Adept stage, if not higher."

Shi Ditian then took a deep breath before continuing, "With the minimum requirement being set this low as well, Shi Li would be motivated to cultivate as fast as I can, fulfilling the Huang clan's wishes."

After the smartest person in the room shared their thoughts, all of the elders couldn't help but see that Shi Xingwan was thinking far ahead. 'As expected of the patriarch,' they couldn't help but say inwardly.

"Are there any objections to this idea?" Shi Xingwan asked. None of the elders dared to defy the idea since it felt like the most plausible one. Seeing that his idea wasn't refuted, Shi Xingwan continued.

"Now...what do we do? Should we let Shi Li join the Tri-clan Tournament?" Shi Xingwan asked. "We do have a lot of capable Shi clan members at the Martial Elite realm so they can maintain our reputation, but I have a feeling that Shi Li is going to make a miracle in that tournament."

The elders went back and forth in their discussions as to whether Shi Li should join the tournament until...

"Let him join the tournament," a deep and authoritative voice sounded out, making everyone shut up and freeze in place, including Shi Xingwan.

Although they didn't know much about this person, they knew that this person who was an elder of the Shi clan was actually the strongest member they had. This elder had eccentric hobbies like managing the Logistics Hall but no one complained. No one knows his true name, but everyone called him Elder Yan.

"Elder Yan..." Shi Xingwan replied, "Why?"

"Well why..." At this moment, Elder Yan gave a rare smile, "It's because I have the same thoughts as you. I feel like he's going to make miracles."

"But wouldn't he end up dying...?" Shi Xingwan gulped his saliva.

"Not at all," Elder Yan shook his head, "Tell him that within two months, if he reaches the Martial Adept stage, he can enter the Shi Trial Tower. That alone will give him a big boost in motivation, no?"

Hearing the Shi Trial Tower being mentioned, everyone felt that Elder Yan was truly thinking ahead just like Shi Xingwan.

That's right! If they can't stop him from reaching the Martial Adept stage, why not speed it up?

Shi Xingwan's eyes gleamed as he nodded. "That's settled then. I'll call him to my room a few days later and tell him about this. As for our plans to counterattack the Huang clan's attacks in the Tri-clan Tournament, let's talk about that through qi."

All of the elders nodded and didn't say anything else afterward. Shi Xingwan then nodded and said, "I now call this meeting adjourned!"