Chapter 1122: Chapter 1116: A Countermeasure
[Your descendant Li Chang witnessed the dignitaries in the royal court treating the Li Clan as meat on a chopping block.
Feng Tu, the City Lord of Highsun City, spoke out for justice but was killed by Empress Wenren Xianyi. Acquired Trait: A Gentleman’s Wrath]
[A gentleman’s wrath is hidden in his heart, unspoken, but as the fury burns, he becomes stubbornly resolute, treating his conviction as absolute truth.
When pursuing a specific goal, cultivation speed increases by 20%, and comprehension of the rules of heaven and earth is enhanced.]
Li Chang was sent to the Heavenly Prison.
He couldn’t be more familiar with this place.
The jailers in the Heavenly Prison were stunned to see Li Chang being escorted in.
They couldn’t understand how this young master, who was always gentle and elegant toward lowly soldiers like them, had fallen into such misfortune.
Some had already secretly gone to the Merchant Lineage to report the news.
However, once inside the Heavenly Prison, deep within the small green bamboo courtyard, the Imperial Preceptor—who was also enduring his own misfortune—had already used his privileges to summon Li Chang into the courtyard.
“I told you, this place is the most peaceful spot in the entire royal court.”
Min Youguo waved his hand slightly, gesturing for Li Chang to sit on the bamboo chair opposite him.
Li Chang sat down numbly, his mind still fixated on Feng Tu’s death in the royal court.
Between them sat a bamboo table holding cups of fragrant tea, while Void Refining realm felons from the Heavenly Prison served them.
Regardless of Li Chang’s current state, Min Youguo laughed,
“This was bound to happen sooner or later. Human hearts are unpredictable.
It took your Li Clan less than a millennium to build such a profound foundation; let alone them, even I want a piece of the pie.
If I possessed a foundation like yours, I would definitely remain completely hidden. A lack of forbearance in small matters upsets great plans.”
Li Chang finally snapped back to his senses.
Having known Min Youguo for hundreds of years, they couldn’t be considered intimate confidants, but exchanging a few words about trivial matters gave him a place to vent.
This dynamic had existed ever since they met at Mount Changxing.
Li Chang took a deep breath and smiled bitterly.
“The affairs of the world are so complex and filled with contradictions.
If we hide and do not fight, the world thinks us cowardly, and our clansmen die as a result.
If we display our strength to deter the world, we draw covetous eyes and attract snakes and rats.”
“Oh?” Min Youguo raised an eyebrow.
Li Chang said, “To not fight is to not advance; to fight is to stir up trouble.
If the Imperial Preceptor were a member of my Li Clan, how would you choose now?”
“Are you asking me for a path of survival?” Min Youguo laughed.
“If it were me, I would offer up heavy treasures and seek an almighty expert for protection—I think I would be a good choice.
Then, I would retreat to my homeland, strictly abide by the rules, and wait until the world’s grand situation is no longer in turmoil, thereby standing in an invincible position.”
Li Chang pondered for a moment. Wouldn’t that just turn us into someone like Supreme Elder Pu Ci?
Seeing that Li Chang wasn’t the least bit panicked, Min Youguo casually said,
“Looking at you, you’re not afraid at all. Do you of the Li surname have your own methods to survive this calamity? Yet you come asking me.”
He then watched Li Chang calmly take a sip of tea.
Now, Min Youguo panicked.
“You people surnamed Li… you aren’t planning to let the Wu Tribe in through the Southern Border, are you?”
Li Chang wore a peculiar expression.
“Imperial Preceptor, your words are unfair. Min Tiange clearly already did this; why are you so nervous when it comes to my Li Clan?”
These words made Min Youguo blush.
He took a sip of tea to ease the awkwardness and asked, “I am rather curious to know how your Li Clan will survive this calamity.”
Li Chang’s voice was calm.
“As the Imperial Dynasty descends into chaos, almighty experts from all sides are coveting us.
The Emperor Realm experts also want to eradicate our Li Clan to prevent us from becoming a threat.
But they never taint themselves with karma, or at the very least, they won’t personally take the field.”
“The Great Mahayana realm experts who wish to seize the Emperor’s throne will simply watch coldly from the sidelines, and might even secretly assist my Li Clan.”
“Therefore, these two are not threats.”
Min Youguo’s grip on his teacup tightened, and he immediately blew on the hot steam rising from it.
“Those who covet us are none other than Body Integration, Void Refining, and Divinity Transformation cultivators.
Only the major sects and Immortal Clans drool over my Li Clan.
However, most of them hide in the dark, waiting for things to unfold.
After all, my Li Clan slew enemies in the Western Border and doesn’t even fear Body Integration cultivators.
If they truly fight a certain faction to the death, they themselves will decline as a result.”
“That is why this ‘ten deadly sins’ scheme came to be. They know that only by multiple factions acting together can they completely take us down.”
Min Youguo narrowed his eyes slightly.
“The Empress has already ordered an investigation into the Li Clan. Now, the various factions have already surrounded the Li Clan from all four corners of the Imperial Dynasty.”
“Correct. Starting with our Li Clan’s major Grotto-Heavens.”
“For instance, the Merchant Lineage. I don’t know how many people want to devour this piece of meat.”
“They know that only by exterminating us completely can they eliminate future troubles.”
Li Chang exhaled a breath of stale air.
“But they forgot something. I’ve heard my elders talk about this kind of situation. Back when we were in the Azure Cloud Region, our family already had a countermeasure.”
Imperial Capital.
Beneath the Heavenly Palace, the grating sounds of the imperial soldiers’ armor and weapons echoed.
Every household in the imperial capital paled in fear.
The soldiers arrived together, riding the clouds like a dark storm.
It had been an unknown number of years since such an event had occurred in the entire Imperial Dynasty.
The soldiers were pointing straight at the Merchant Li Clan!
“Search! Arrest everyone with the Li Clan bloodline and throw them into the Heavenly Prison. Anyone who dares to resist shall be killed without pardon!”
Perfected Qiuyue descended from the clouds.
With a wave of his hand, the soldiers swarmed into the Merchant Li Clan’s estate.
His expression was one of joy.
The Merchant Lineage of the Li Clan had opened shops throughout the entire Imperial Dynasty, earning massive amounts of spirit stones every year.
Whatever heavenly materials and earthly treasures the Li Clan desired in this world, they could always exchange for them using spirit stones.
The business of the Merchant Lineage had always been mysterious.
Big Fatty Li, Li Yuanshang, had always secretly partnered with the factions that produced heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
No one knew exactly who he was cooperating with or where their acquisitions came from.
As long as they captured the key figures of the Merchant Lineage, they could seize the Li Clan’s business through their ledgers.
However, upon arriving at the Merchant Li Clan… there was no one!
Perfected Qiuyue stared at the Merchant Grotto-Heaven with an ugly expression.
The entire Merchant Lineage still exuded an overwhelming aura of wealth, with a massive amount of treasures left behind.
There were figures moving about within the Grotto-Heaven, but these were all puppets, wearing the clothes of the Li Clan members and emitting their auras.
“My Lord, there is no one here!” A general came forward, showing absolutely no regret over failing to find the Li Clan members.
Instead, his face was full of delight as he gazed at the treasures within the Merchant Lineage.
“My Lord, should we confiscate their property? It’s full of treasures. This time, we…”
“Let’s go!”
Perfected Qiuyue’s face was gloomy.
The general was stunned.
He looked around the entire Merchant Lineage; if all the items inside were sold, it would be equivalent to the tax revenue of a Region for ten years.
“My Lord…”
“I said, let’s go! Pass down the order: if anyone dares to touch a single thing belonging to the Merchant Li Clan, I will have their life!”
Perfected Qiuyue gave a cold snort, a drop of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
He remembered the words Li Chang had spoken to him.
Meanwhile.
Zishu Ling was heading toward the Azure Cloud Prefecture along with the soldiers.
For this trip, two almighty experts at the Body Integration realm were present within the spirit boat; the Imperial Dynasty was truly getting serious with the Azure Cloud Li Clan.
“The Azure Cloud Li Clan, the opportunity…”
Zishu Ling took a deep breath.
As a bloodline descendant of the Zishu family, she belonged to the group that devoted themselves to cultivation.
Most women of the Zishu family were married off to outsiders, and there were also many collateral descendants cultivating in various places, but women were generally unable to enter the core of power.
However, when Wenren Xianyi took control of the court administration, it allowed her to see a glimmer of hope, but also added a few degrees of resentment.
“Today, Wenren Xianyi’s ambitions are known to everyone on the streets.
Crown Prince Sheng and Crown Prince Fei Heng failed to live up to expectations; it is time for the women of our imperial family to step up to the court.
The Li Clan holds a massive secret. Once that opportunity falls into my hands… whatever Wenren Xianyi can do, I can do as well.”
The corners of Zishu Ling’s mouth curled up.
Suddenly, she heard the calls of the two Body Integration almighty experts from within the spirit boat.
Zishu Ling hurriedly went over.
These experts were the foundation she would use to eventually drive Wenren Xianyi out of the royal court.
One of the almighty experts, whose face could not be seen clearly, was also a member of their Zishu family.
But the moment this senior spoke, Zishu Ling’s body stiffened.
“Let us go back.”
Zishu Ling’s eyes widened.
“Ancestor, why should we go back? The Azure Cloud Li Clan is reckless and audacious.
Back then, they killed King Qian and caused Crown Prince Sheng to go mad.
Now they have even killed Crown Prince Fei Heng. We…”
“We cannot go to the Azure Cloud Prefecture.”
The Zishu family Ancestor sighed,
“Someone in Westfall Prefecture wants to protect the Li Clan. That person heard the news early on.
If anyone truly wants to touch the Li Clan, then let an Emperor Realm expert go, or have the Human Emperor arrive in person.”
“Who?” Zishu Ling’s expression changed.
“I am no match for him.” The Zishu family Ancestor shook his head.
“We cannot go to the Azure Cloud Prefecture—at least we cannot.
If you want to deal with the main branch of the Li Clan in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, you can gather Void Refining and Divinity Transformation realm cultivators to go instead.”
“How can we possibly go like that?” Zishu Ling walked out of the spirit boat with an ugly expression.
She didn’t know who was in Westfall Prefecture, capable of intimidating their two Body Integration almighty experts from such a great distance.
But Zishu Lin knew full well that sending Void Refining cultivators to the Azure Cloud Prefecture was no different from courting death!
The Azure Cloud Prefecture was the Li Clan’s home turf. It was an impregnable piece of iron.
Just the united cultivators of the major factions there would be enough to give them a severe headache.
Furthermore, the Li Clan was no longer the Li Clan of the past.
Over a dozen Void Refining experts, plus Huan Gui—as long as they returned from the Western Border to provide support, it would be enough to handle at least two hidden factions!
Not long after, a group of dignitaries who had followed orders to search for the Li Clan gathered in a hall, all wearing gloomy expressions as they awaited intelligence from various sides.
“Reporting to My Lords, there is no sign of the Li Clan members!”
“Lord Wu Neng, Commander of the Department of Immortal Suppression, replied in a letter stating that the department has urgent matters.
They have discovered traces of Min Tiange and have no time to arrest the Li Clan.”
“The Li Clan members in the major Grotto-Heavens have all fled, leaving only two or three behind.
Intelligence indicates that Li Clan members are hiding in the Heavenly Light Cave, and the same goes for the Min family.
Oh, right, in some of the world’s major sects… There are also traces of the Li Clan descendants.
Half a month ago, they had already begun sending their descendants to join the major sects and hidden factions.”
“Should we still go and arrest them? The Li Clan members are spread over a vast area, and their involvement is running deeper and deeper. If we make a move…”
“…”
Zishu Ling’s face was pale. Arrest them… with what?
The Heavenly Light Cave, the Min family, the Eternal Immortal Sect… it even involved the hidden faction.
These Li Clan members seemingly fled, but in reality, they openly and legitimately joined these factions.
And among these factions, they couldn’t afford to offend a single one!
…
In the Heavenly Prison.
Li Chang took a light sip of tea.
Opposite him, Min Youguo’s expression was quite colorful.
Li Chang said calmly, “Fleeing—but there’s a trick to fleeing. The Imperial Dynasty wants to investigate and arrest our Li Clan, so we flee. We flee to the major factions.”
“The most dangerous place is the safest place.
The people of the major factions want to know our Li Clan’s secrets, so we simply deliver ourselves to their doorsteps and stay by their sides.
With things like this, how can the Imperial Dynasty arrest our Li Clan members?”
Min Youguo smiled.
“Aren’t you afraid they will search the souls of your Li Clan members? Or just kill them outright?”
“That brings us back to what we discussed at the very beginning: they don’t dare.
Not a single one of these factions dares to taint their hands with my Li Clan’s blood.
The events involving Tian Xing and the Western Border have already taught the people of the world a lesson.”
Li Chang remembered a plan of the family he had heard from his elders—
The Millennium Blood Exchange Plan.
It wasn’t feasible back then, but now, the family was no longer as weak as they used to be.
“They have to treat my Li Clan members like honored guests. Once our people are with them, if anything happens, they will be even more anxious than our Li Clan.”
Li Chang sneered.
“They only want to know how our Li Clan cultivates.
Very well. Our Li Clan’s descendants will cultivate under their supervision.
Time will prove that the rapid cultivation of our descendants relies entirely on our own efforts. The rumors of so-called treasures will naturally be dispelled.”
“But even so, under the burden of the ‘ten deadly sins’, you still have to flee.”
Min Youguo furrowed his brows tightly.
“Who said we have to flee?
Who said we are guilty of the ten deadly sins?
The Imperial Dynasty is currently only investigating.”
Li Chang said,
“A gentleman repays grievance with grievance.
Qiu Xundao listed the ten deadly sins, but his so-called evidence is nothing but his one-sided claims.
The Imperial Dynasty wants evidence? Our Li Clan’s evidence is far more complete than the Imperial Dynasty’s.”
“My Li Clan cultivates the Corpse-Stitching Art and colludes with the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?
Why can’t it be that he, Qiu Xundao, colludes with the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?”
“My Li Clan killed the Crown Prince and Bi Shihu? If you ask me, the one surnamed Qiu did it!”
Min Youguo’s mouth twitched.
“Qiu Xundao is in the Northern Border. How could he possibly interfere with matters in the Western Border? You have to at least make some sense.”
“I have evidence.”
Li Chang took a deep breath. “And, dead men tell no tales.”
Having finished speaking.
He slowly stood up, gazing at the green bamboo in the courtyard.
The bamboo leaves were lush and green, the stalks straight and tall.
When the wind blew, they rustled, and the shadows of the bamboo leaves in the courtyard swayed with the breeze.
His voice turned faint and distant.
“Clearing our name is easy. However, the actions of the court dignitaries… are truly cold-hearted.”
“Even if something shattered is restored, no matter how superb the technique, it can never mend the cracks left in one’s memory.”
Min Youguo stroked his teacup, and a faint crack appeared on its surface.
He looked at Li Chang’s back, feeling a sudden chill run through his heart.
—
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