It wasn't just the Lin family; actually, after the Azure Cloud region's victory, many, many major powers from Eternal Sun Prefecture had come to the Azure Cloud region, seeking out the Li family. It was simply that they wanted some benefits.
They didn't get anything from the Li family; after all, the Li family truly would fight to the death, and moreover, they had Wang Jinhu and Daoist Shanchen as backers.
The Feng family also fared okay; they were, after all, the Region Prince's family, and at least weren't bullied.
But the other powers suffered misfortune.
The worst off was Azure Cloud Pavilion. Not only was Old Man Tianqing injured by a major power, but the sect's Profound-rank cultivation method, the Azure Cloud Secret Art, and a supreme-grade spirit artifact were both snatched away. If Old Man Tianqing hadn't chosen death before submission, it's feared that even the Earth-rank cultivation method, personally passed down to the Sect Master, would have been taken.
Black Tortoise Sect didn't fare much better either. The entire sect relied on a Rank 6 spirit formation, making it the sect with the strongest defensive power in the Azure Cloud region. They were poor to begin with and had spent several thousand years using their cultivation method to finally create a Black Tortoise Formation Disk. Well then, it's gone.
The Emperor had said that those above the Nascent Soul stage must report their entry into the Azure Cloud region, but... only powerful strength could back up such empty words from the Emperor.
"A bunch of bastards!"
Deep within the Silver Iron Forest, there was another room. There was no Cold Jade Bed there; the injured Old Man Tianqing was recuperating inside. Seemingly sensing the arriving aura of the people from Eternal Sun Prefecture, he suddenly sat up, spitting out a mouthful of old blood.
"Don't get agitated when you're injured like this."
Li Yaoqing saw the old man's chaotic aura, hastily helped him sit up, and said with a frown, "If your vital energy gets damaged, there will be no way to get revenge later."
Back when Old Man Tianqing succeeded as head of Azure Cloud Pavilion and was blocked inside by the Li family, unable to come out, he wasn't angered to the point of vomiting blood. Later, after reconciling with the Li family and learning of the schemes of Heavenly Secret Pavilion and Feng Qingyang, he also wasn't this indignant. When the Wu Clan arrived, he risked death to break through the Five-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, and facing the Wu Clan invading Azure Cloud region, he also wasn't injured like this.
Now, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. It was unknown what level of fury caused his white-haired, youthful-faced countenance to become completely flushed red, his eyes filled with blood vessels. He couldn't even suppress his tear ducts, almost squeezing the words out from between his teeth.
"Every single person in our Azure Cloud region is guarding this land! Every sect and faction stood blocking at the very front line for Eternal Sun Prefecture! Our things—even the Wu Clan didn't snatch them away! I've been injured fighting the Wu Clan too, but I was still proud."
"But it just had to be Eternal Sun Prefecture, coming to snatch our treasures, our heritage! Isn't Eternal Sun Prefecture wealthy enough already?!! Many years ago, I yearned for Eternal Sun Prefecture—ah, the Spirit-Dragon-Blessed Southern Riverlands! Numerous Daoist lineages, where everyone promotes 'Loyalty, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Trustworthiness'!"
"Hahaha, what a fine 'Spirit-Dragon-Blessed Southern Riverlands'!"
Old Man Tianqing's resentment almost pervaded the entire sick room.
Just as his voice fell.
Li Yaoqing and Old Man Tianqing suddenly froze. A clear and cold female voice reached their ears, "Haven't your elders told you about Azure Cloud region's history?"
Li Yaoqing roughly knew it was her Honored Master's voice. Old Man Tianqing looked left and right in surprise, wondering who could possibly transmit their voice so secretly that even an expert like him, at the early Nascent Soul stage, couldn't detect where it came from.
Old Man Tianqing hastily sat up straight, cupping his hands towards the outside of the room, "I wonder which esteemed expert this is? Please, Senior, enlighten me."
"The territory of the Human Race is only average. The Human Emperor receives the protection of Heaven and Earth; the place where he resides naturally has dense spiritual energy, deeper destiny, and frequent opportunities. Naturally, the further outwards one goes within human territory, the less protection from destiny one receives, making it difficult to produce experts."
"This naturally couldn't completely prevent Azure Cloud region from producing Divinity Transformation experts, but unfortunately..."
Fang Linglong smiled playfully. "A long time ago, Azure Cloud region received quite a lot of protection from Heaven and Earth. This place even saw battles between experts you cannot imagine, legacies appeared frequently, and ruins were numerous. But times changed; the Emperor established the dynasty to rule the great unity of the Human Race, and Azure Cloud region was consequently reduced to a borderland."
"On one hand, you had to guard against the Wu Clan; on the other hand, the major powers of Eternal Sun Prefecture would also come seeking resources. When your ancestors through the generations possessed treasures, they would all secretly hide them away, not revealing them, precisely to guard against the various powers of Eternal Sun Prefecture!"
"Now, Azure Cloud region has won the great war against the Wu Clan, and your treasures have all been revealed. How could they not want another piece of the pie? Generation after generation, you merely end up preparing a dowry for others."
Hearing this.
Old Man Tianqing came to a sudden realization, but knowing the truth, the fury in his heart made his body tremble!
"One hundred and thirty thousand years... One hundred and thirty thousand years!"
It seemed as if Old Man Tianqing saw it: the entire Azure Cloud region was like a cage. They were mocked as barbaric by Eternal Sun Prefecture, truly like trapped beasts. When the Wu Clan came, these 'beasts' of the Azure Cloud region would become cannon fodder at the very front. When the Wu Clan wasn't coming, Eternal Sun Prefecture just waited to harvest!
At this moment, Li Wei also heard all of this.
If not for the Wu Clan invasion, he feared the Azure Cloud region would likely have continued in this situation, generation after generation.
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