Further ahead, they saw the Li family's Black Blood Hall. It currently had five hundred members, all clad in black iron beast-blood armor and trained in military tactics. If he wasn't mistaken, they were all armed and brimming with blood Qi... Although their cultivation was at most at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, if they were to engage in a real battle... one would have to be prepared to face a group of battle-hardened killers.
He even saw the illusory image of the character 'Li' appearing on these people, suggesting they were willing to do anything for the Li family.
He was just astonished by the fanaticism of a group of ordinary people.
Then he saw seven black bears of varying sizes... Oh no, those were people.
The Li family's Li Yaotie Seven child!
Among them, regardless of gender, their Qi was inferior to Li Yunbing's. However, their life forces were interconnected, their fates intertwined. Each of them had the potential to form a Fake-core. With sufficient resources, they could even achieve a Golden Core!
"Eight Fake Cores in one family can rival a Golden Core."
Huang Xiujin swallowed nervously.
"Clang!"
Just as the sound of hammering iron rang out, he realized, without noticing, that he had already followed Lin Yixiu to the front of the Forging Pavilion in Zhi'en Village. The scorching heat emanating from within was evidence of a blacksmith at work.
In a two-story building, a burly man with a thick beard stood by the window. He was shirtless, revealing a prosthetic left arm that was clearly a high-grade spiritual artifact. He stared at him without fear, obviously aware of his identity.
Beside him stood a woman of unusual strength, her face square and kind, yet exuding a heroic aura.
"Li Yaotie, the father of those bear cubs? And that woman, nearing Foundation Establishment."
Huang Xiujin merely glanced at them before turning away nonchalantly.
But his heart was in turmoil!
"A natural-born Artifact Refiner, his Qi is no less than that of the Artifact Sect Elder I met in the city."
He saw Li Yaotie's Qi manifesting as a massive hammer!
Nearing the Li family's doorstep, he could even sense Li Yaotie's hammer clanging away, busy at the forge.
Finally, a voice interrupted Huang Xiujin's thoughts.
The newcomer was a woman.
Her beauty seemed to gather all the favor of heaven and earth, yet even with the warmth of spiritual artifacts on her body, her face was pale, and she could only be pushed by a servant girl.
"Li Yaowen of the Li family greets the esteemed Master Huang Xiujin, the Master of the Cloudsea Pavilion. I have long heard of your great power, Master. The Cloudsea Pavilion's reach extends across many region. Seeing you today, Master, you truly possess the qualities of a sage."
Her words were like a gentle spring breeze and fine rain.
But Huang Xiujin remained silent for a long time. Li Yaowen's Qi was so weak that he had only seen it in those on the verge of death. Yet, even with that thin wisp of Qi, like a malevolent ghost staring at a person, he felt as if he would be torn apart by Li Yaowen!
Above this woman's Qi, there were dense layers of heavenly thunder. This was the result of a mortal contending with the heavens, cultivating a forbidden art that seized the fortunes of heaven and earth, leaving her Qi so faint!
"Master?" Li Yaowen asked again.
"Oh, oh."
In an instant, Huang Xiujin didn't dare show any negligence. He changed his usual demeanor, speaking softly and cautiously, even bowing to Li Yaowen. "You flatter me, Miss. If I'm not mistaken, you are the fourth daughter of the Li family, Miss Yaowen?"
"It is my honor that you know me, Master," Li Yaowen replied politely.
But Huang Xiujin's palms were sweating. He felt that as Li Yaowen became more gentle, the malevolent aura above her head grew closer!
"Strange, this girl is like a plague."
Huang Xiujin was on high alert, not daring to stay in front of Li Yaowen any longer. He sensed danger. But before leaving, he had a sudden thought and said to Li Yaowen, "Niece Yaowen, your literary talent has matured. Observe the heavens, observe earth, observe the joys, anger, sorrows, and happiness of the people, and you may gain insights."
With that, he hurriedly led his people towards the full moon banquet, not daring to linger for even a moment.
Lin Yixiu, who was beside him, burst into laughter upon seeing Huang Xiujin's behavior. "Immortal Master Xiujin is so gentle even when facing enemies, hahaha! If Tailin Town were to be incorporated into Azure Cloud City region, it would truly be a blessing for Tailin Town!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, his expression changed.
Huang Xiujin stared at him coldly. "Are you trying to guess my thoughts?"
"I..."
Before Lin Yixiu could explain, sweating profusely, Huang Xiujin had already left in a hurry with his people.
Li Yaowen, on the other hand, remained where she was, frowning at Huang Xiujin's retreating figure. "He saw through my predicament. Does he think the same way I do? Is he trying to curry favor with my Li family?"
She silently took out the ancestral tablet and murmured, "Ancestors, can this person be kept?"