"The Li family has truly brought this upon themselves. They cannot be allowed to live!"
Sect Leader Zhen remained outwardly calm, but the corners of his mouth curled into a slight smile. The fear he had felt earlier when leaving the main hall with his master had completely vanished. He even wanted to find a secluded spot to laugh maniacally.
However, the words spoken by Daoist Jiuyou after greeting the numerous experts caused his expression to change abruptly.
"Fellow Daoists, please return from whence you came. The Li family has come to seek revenge, and this is a grudge between my Skyveil Sect and the Li family. I cannot trouble you all to go through such great lengths on our behalf." Daoist Jiuyou, with a cold expression, issued an order to dismiss the guests.
"You can't say that."
Long Xuankong said with a smile, "The Li family's insolence towards the Azure Cloud Pavilion is an insult to everyone in the Azure Cloud region. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, my Long family received assistance from the Azure Cloud Pavilion, which allowed us to continue our lineage to this day. The Li family being enemies with the Azure Cloud Pavilion means they are enemies with my Long family as well."
Hearing this, Master Wuyou pressed his palms together. "Amitabha," he chanted, "the Li family has caused too much killing. Buddha has said that we should not stand idly by."
Xuan Tianzi revealed her small, sharp teeth. "Then the Li family certainly cannot be allowed to remain in the Azure Cloud region," she declared. "Even if other fellow Daoists don't come, our presence here is sufficient. Consider this a relaxing outing for me, Xuan Tianzi, after centuries of secluded cultivation. Moreover, Yao Xian of Medicine King Valley is my disciple. The Li family has already created karmic ties with my Azure Phoenix Mountain."
The thirty-odd Golden Core cultivators outside the Skyveil Sect remained silent. In the presence of these four Nascent Soul experts, they had no right to interject.
As Long Xuankong glanced around at them, everyone voiced their agreement.
"Senior Jiuyou, with such demonic beings appearing in the Azure Cloud region, it is time for us cultivators to unite and eliminate these evils, upholding the righteous path!"
"Indeed, the matters of the Skyveil Sect are also the matters of us cultivators!"
"As long as the Li family exists, I cannot rest easy!"
"..."
Hearing these words, Daoist Jiuyou didn't say much, only shaking his head. He saw his own disciple smiling.
How could he not know that their so-called "eliminating demons and upholding the righteous path" was all a facade!
Cultivators at his level usually didn't involve themselves in worldly affairs. Moreover, there was a tacit understanding among Nascent Soul cultivators not to interfere in the grudges of juniors, not to bully the weak with their strength, and not to intervene in the matters of younger generations unless it involved the destruction of a sect or family.
But today, these old fellows had all emerged from their seclusion. What "eliminating demons and upholding the righteous path"?
If they truly had such righteous intentions, why weren't they seen at the Thunderfire Cave, where demon cultivators gathered far away? It was simply because they feared the Demon Lord sealed within. Such acts of annihilation weren't uncommon either. The Li family had killed nearly two million people, but they were all cultivators. His Skyveil Sect, in its recent battles with the Black Tortoise Sect, had also killed millions of mortals.
As for the Li family, they simply wanted to eradicate them. It was nothing more than seeing the Li family's extraordinary talent and fearing their future rise to power!
"Thank you all, seniors, for your assistance. With you here, the Azure Cloud region will surely be bright and clear."
Before Daoist Jiuyou could speak, Sect Leader Zhen, as if he had seen his savior, hurriedly bowed, his eyes filled with sincerity. "Currently, the Li family members are nowhere to be found," he said. "However, with the assistance of you seniors and fellow Daoists, I will mobilize all the disciples of the Skyveil Sect and rally the entire Azure Cloud region. We shall see where those Li family members can hide!"
The few Nascent Soul cultivators didn't say much to Sect Leader Zhen, only nodding slightly. However, the other Golden Core experts eagerly agreed, proposing to gather the forces of the Azure Cloud region and conduct a thorough search for the Li family.
But Xuan Tianzi suddenly pouted, looking puzzled. "Fellow Daoist Jiuyou," she asked, "where are you going? Why not join us in summoning our Nascent Souls and forming a barrier in all directions to prevent the Li family from escaping?"
Daoist Jiuyou had already turned around and was heading back into the sect. He didn't look back, leaving only the sound of his hearty laughter.
"Hahaha, please do as you wish, fellow Daoists!"
"I have an agreement with that old fellow from Black Tortoise Sect. If I were to intervene today, he would surely come looking for trouble."
"At my age, I've become rather timid. Please bear with me."
As they spoke, Daoist Jiuyou, like a phantom, returned to his seat within the main hall. Gazing at the now-empty hall, a faint smile touched his lips. "That old tortoise from Black Tortoise Sect and I have been rivals for a thousand years, neither yielding to the other," he mused. "It seems he hasn't come to join in the excitement today. When this winter passes, I should bring a pot of wine and share a drink with that old rascal."
....
The others frowned, watching Daoist Jiuyou's retreating figure.
A moment later...
within the main hall of the Skyveil Sect, Daoist Jiuyou's voice resonated. The disciples and elders all looked respectfully towards the hall as the Sixth-Grade sect-protecting formation, which hadn't been activated for a thousand years, rose into the sky. Dragons soared through the heavens.
"The Skyveil Sect is a place removed from worldly affairs. My Nascent Soul is currently wandering beyond the physical realm. Black Tortoise Sect harbors malicious intentions. Today, we close the sect to guard against an attack from Black Tortoise Sect."
"Disciples and elders are not to leave the sect grounds. Focus all efforts on protecting the sect and be vigilant against external enemies."
"Those who disobey this order will be expelled from the sect!"
The disciples and elders of the Skyveil Sect exchanged puzzled glances, then turned to look at Sect Leader Zhen outside the grand formation.
Seeing these strange looks...
Sect Leader Zhen, trapped outside the grand formation, had a look of bewilderment on his face. "Those who disobey will be expelled from the sect..." he muttered. "Master, what have I done wrong? How could you be so heartless? Everything I did was for the sect!"
Wasn't he now outside the grand formation?!
From the moment Daoist Jiuyou brought him out, he had already sensed it. His master was going to... hand him over to the Li family!
"Amitabha," Master Wuyou chanted, pressing his palms together. "It seems that Benefactor Jiuyou has a plan." However, a hint of displeasure flickered in his eyes.
"Hmph!"
Long Xuankong sneered. "Fellow Daoist Jiuyou is certainly arrogant and aloof, detached from worldly concerns."
Just as they were mocking and venting their anger at being shut out by the Skyveil Sect...
One of the Golden Core experts who had arrived suddenly changed expression.
"Look, that coffin..."
Everyone looked over.
On the human skin covering the silver coffin, beneath the Li family's kill list, under the last name, Daoist Zhenyang, it seemed someone was adding more names with a brush—
Long Xuankong.
Xuan Tianzi.
Fake Monk...
"Amitabha," Master Wuyou chanted. "Such deceitful tricks, such unorthodox methods."
Abbot Wuyou narrowed his eyes, gazing at the words "Fake Monk." His six senses were disturbed!
As each stroke of the brush fell, the names of everyone present who had come to encircle and suppress the Li family were recorded on the human skin.
They stared at the Heaven-Piercing Coffin.
As the final stroke was completed, a mist gradually materialized above the human skins!
A gleaming silver spear appeared, its imposing aura rippling outwards, scattering the clouds, its sharp point piercing the heavens. The ancestral tablet rose from the Heaven-Piercing Coffin, gradually enlarging until it was as tall as a person. The character "Li" upon it shone brilliantly!
Beneath the black mist, a Yin-Yang symbol gradually formed, rotating as it expanded to encompass an area of ten miles around. Five pillars of light, corresponding to the five elements, appeared, forming a pentagram formation in the sky above.
This human-shaped black mist didn't utter a word. The tip of the spear flashed with a cold light!
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