The morning sun's rays spilled over the wooden table in the tea room, casting mottled light and shadows. Li Shiji expertly manipulated the tea set, scalding the pot with hot water, warming the cups, before gently taking a few tea leaves from a pristine jade box and placing them into the purple clay teapot. As the water reached the right temperature, a faint tea aroma began to permeate the tea room.

"You've come."

"Here I am."

Li Cunxu sat cross-legged on the cushion across from Li Shiji's tea table.

"Have some tea."

Li Shiji pushed a cup of tea towards him. Li Cunxu took a light sip, immediately praising its quality.

As Li Cunxu drank the tea, he could tangibly feel his spiritual power significantly increase. If he were to finish this pot of tea, wouldn't it directly push his spiritual power to the top of the Bronze level!

Li Cunxu's spiritual power was at the high Bronze level, still some way from reaching the Bronze peak.

Li Cunxu took another sip, his spiritual power increased again, though not as greatly as with the first sip.

As he experienced the tea's aroma (magical effect), he pondered whether to reveal to Li Shiji the truth about him having killed his second brother.

After some thought, Li Cunxu ultimately decided against it.

Revealing the truth would shatter his preconceived notions about Li Shiyin and would only add unnecessary trouble, as the dead cannot be changed.

"Your Half-Saint Lotus Eye is remarkable, to have cultivated Slime to such excellence in such a short time, achieving second place in the freshman year at Shendu University."

Li Shiji marveled. Upon closer understanding, he found that Li Cunxu was truly impressive, possessing talent akin to his own in youth. If not for the even more exceptional dual-legend talent holder who ranked first, Li Cunxu would have been the top freshman.

Hearing about his second place, Li Cunxu was not surprised, as someone had already mentioned it to him yesterday.

"Grandfather, I do not have a Half-Saint Lotus Eye."

As he spoke, Li Cunxu removed a cosmetic contact lens from his left eye.

Li Cunxu's words and actions led Li Shiji to an exciting speculation.

Could it be that Li Cunxu didn't just have half an eye, but a complete set?

Yet Li Cunxu's next actions overturned his speculation.

Li Cunxu removed the cosmetic lens from his right eye, revealing a pair of scarlet eyes.

His eyes shone like dazzling crimson treasure pearls, with pupils like blood-red lotuses slowly blooming, mysterious and beautiful.

Li Shiji was overjoyed; yet another pair of mutated Holy Lotus Eyes.

Both siblings had awoken the mutated Red Lotus Eyes.

Li Shiji then realized something was amiss. Li Cunxu's Red Lotus Eyes were unlike Li Anle's. Though both pairs of eyes were red, they differed.

Li Anle's Red Lotus Eyes were filled with Karmic Fire that burned away sins. To meet her gaze was to feel a guilt-induced fear.

Li Cunxu's Red Lotus Eyes, however, were filled with bloodshed and slaughter. The moment he opened his eyes, one felt engulfed in endless blood fire and the cries of the condemned.

"These aren't Red Lotus Eyes, are they?"

Li Shiji spoke excitedly, his voice inexplicably louder.

"No, they're not Red Lotus Eyes, but another type of mutated Lotus Eye called 'Blood Lotus Eye,'" Li Cunxu responded slowly.

Upon hearing Li Cunxu's admission, Li Shiji was overwhelmingly excited.

Happiness, sheer happiness.

One pair of Red Lotus Eyes could establish a Red Lotus Li Family, so naturally, a pair of Blood Lotus Eyes could establish a Blood Lotus Li Family. He would become the ancestor of both great families.

"What is its Pupil Technique?"

"Burning Lotus Blood Fire uses blood as fuel; as long as the blood doesn't run out, the fire doesn't extinguish. The flames can be converted into Holy Blood, which powers the second technique, Pupil Technique: Blood Banquet Holy Meal."

Li Cunxu paused, took a sip of tea, and continued, "The Blood Banquet Holy Meal consumes Holy Blood to enhance the quality of the meal, its extremities reaching legendary culinary quality."

After hearing this, Li Shiji understood why Li Cunxu could train Slime to that extent, yet he wasn't as pleased and asked, "Is your Blood Lotus Eye related to the Crimson Blood God?"

The Blood Lotus Eye was just too closely associated with elements of 'blood', and in these times, anything associated with 'blood' was inextricably linked to the Crimson Blood God.

Li Cunxu didn't answer immediately but sipped his tea, finishing his cup without hesitation and poured himself another.

This question was tricky to answer.

Is the Blood Lotus Eye related to the Crimson Blood God?

Not directly, but indirectly.

Unrelated in that: The Blood Lotus Eye wasn't mutated from the Crimson Blood God's influence.

Related in that: The Blood Lotus Eye awakened from the fruit of a mutated Blood Awakening Tree created by the Blood God Sect in the Blood Infant Pool.

There was no direct connection to the Crimson Blood God, but there was an indirect one.

How to explain this?

First, fabricating a lie was not an option, as someone like Li Shiji would easily see through any falsehoods from Li Cunxu.

Secondly, the existence of the Blood Awakening Tree had to remain undisclosed.

The Blood Awakening Tree bore a Mutated Blood Awakening Fruit every ten years that guarantees an awakening of mutated talent. If Li Shiji knew, he would certainly seek benefits for his sons.

Even though they were his uncles, Li Cunxu had no desire to partake them.

Firstly, they have an inclination for infighting, resorting to any means necessary. They were somewhat suspect in his parents' misfortune.

Secondly, they might be responsible for him being cursed with the Peach Blossom Curse.

Thirdly, they knew about his parents' funeral but didn't show up.

They were aware of the funeral, having visited the hospital to see the dying Father Li, but did not appear at the funeral.

When they visited the hospital, it didn't seem like they were visiting the sick, but more as if they were confirming if Father Li was truly near death.

Therefore, Li Cunxu felt no fondness towards those uncles he'd never seen, only resentment.

After pondering for a long time, Li Cunxu finally thought of a good explanation.

"The Blood Lotus Eye is somewhat related to the Blood God Sect, but rest assured, I bear no lingering threats from the Evil God, otherwise the principal of Shendu University wouldn't have complete trust in me."

With the backing of the legendary principal of Shendu University, Li Shiji no longer dwelled on the matter.

Li Shiji asked, "Why did you disguise your Blood Lotus Eye as a Half-Saint Lotus Eye?"

Of course, it was because of your enemy Li Shiyin, but that couldn't be the explanation given.

Li Cunxu vaguely replied, "I didn't want to rely on the power of the Holy Lotus Family; I wanted to carve my own path."

But why reveal your carefully hidden Blood Lotus Eye now?

Li Shiji was about to ask, when he suddenly recalled the intelligence report about Li Cunxu's battle with Ao Meng, where Li Cunxu's ace beast Slime Little Soft was utterly powerless against the Holy Lotus Armored Flood Dragon. He assumed Li Cunxu revealed the Blood Lotus Eye to seek the power of the Holy Lotus Carp.

In reality, Li Cunxu revealed his Blood Lotus Eye because he was no longer afraid of the venomous snake Li Shiyin's threats, thanks to a life-saving jade.

After a while, Li Cunxu and Li Shiji stopped chatting, as there wasn't much left to discuss.

Though they were grandfather and grandson, they were essentially strangers related by blood.

Seeing that Li Cunxu was about to leave, Li Shiji tossed him a bag of tea.

"This is Second-Class Green God Tea; it can effectively enhance spiritual power without side effects. If you brew and drink it all, you'll be ready to advance to Silver."

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