Seeing that all his 'children' had their own duties and plans, Li Wei decided he might as well enter secluded cultivation himself within the Heaven-Piercing Coffin. In cultivation, time holds little meaning; when Li Wei next opened his eyes, several years had passed.
[Li Family: Year 205]
[Special Event—Tian Xing Cultivator Abode]
[The great war between the Azure Cloud region and the Wu Clan continues unabated. As Eternal Sun Prefecture intensifies its probing into Azure Cloud region affairs, Region Prince Jiang Chenghuan's dissatisfaction with them grows. His intelligence network has discovered that the inheritance of 'Venerable Tian Xing'—a Divinity Transformation stage expert from millennia ago—has been uncovered within Eternal Sun Prefecture. He plans to muster Azure Cloud region cultivators to travel to Eternal Sun Prefecture and contend for this legacy.]
"Our Li family hasn't even begun targeting Changyang Prefecture yet," Li Wei noted with amusement, "and already this old fellow Jiang is getting ready to wrestle with them over this inheritance!"
Li Wei stretched his limbs and, with a flicker, vanished from where he stood.
At this moment.
Li Dalong remained cultivating within his coffin; Li Yaozu was still recuperating from his wounds; as for Li Yaoqing and Li Yaotie – those two were either obsessively refining artifacts or concocting medicines, practically possessed by their respective crafts. As for Li Yaowen, since her return, she had stayed in the city teaching literary cultivation, having passed down two legacies: the 'Four Seasons Scripture' and the 'Mountains and Rivers Scripture'.
Meanwhile, inside Region Prince Jiang's Hall, the cultivators chosen for the expedition to the Tian Xing Cultivator Abode were currently assembled. Within the main hall, four cultivators could be seen, designated to secretly undertake the mission to contend for the Tian Xing Abode's legacy: Ye Xiu of Myriad Arts Sect; Old Ancestor Tianye of the Ghost Eye Sect; Old Ancestor Feng Zhijing of the Feng family; and Old Ancestor Jiang Mingyu of the Jiang family.
Every one of them possessed strength at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage; Ye Xiu, furthermore, was ranked thirty-ninth on the Nascent Divinity List, and each surely held their own hidden cards. Old Ancestor Tianye, however, having forced his way from mid-stage to peak stage purely by consuming 'human pills', it was questionable where he found the nerve to join this contention.
At that moment, Jiang Chenghuan was standing in his main hall, gazing at the ever-composed Li Yunbing. For once, his dissatisfaction was plain to see.
"Brother Yunbing," he said, "can it really be that the Li family has no interest at all in the Tian Xing Cultivator Abode?
Your Li Dalong is more than a match for Lei Dong in combat—if he wanted to, he could easily make it into the Nascent Divinity List.
Your Second Aunt, Li Yaoqing—she passed the Nine-Nine Tribulation stage. She may keep a low profile, but I have no doubt she's incredibly powerful.
Then there's that 'Demon Head' of yours who roams through Wu Clan territory like it's his own backyard.
And let's not forget Li Tianyi—he's protected by the senior experts from the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
Any one of these four joining us would greatly strengthen our chances. Are you really saying the Li family has no intention of getting involved?"
Jiang Chenghuan reflected to himself: The Li family had been agreeable in almost every respect. Over the years, they had followed his lead, offered substantial support, and even relinquished nominal authority to the Jiang family.
There was no doubt the Li's held significant power and influence of their own, but their relationship had always been one of cooperation, built on shared effort and mutual success.
His only real frustration was that they never gave their all. They always held something back—never truly open, never truly generous.
"King Jiang, you know full well the situation our Li family is facing," Li Yunbing said with a slight smile, shaking his head.
"My grandparents are being closely monitored by Wu Clan Apostle Lei Dong—my grandfather can't leave his post. My father is still seriously injured and confined to the Sickroom, and my Second Aunt dares not leave his side for an instant.
As for Senior Bloodfiend, it's completely impossible for him to leave. His presence alone has kept the Wu Clan on high alert these past few years.
And that nephew of mine? I honestly have no idea where he is right now.
How about this—I'll get in touch with my elder brother. He's currently stationed in Eternal Sun Prefecture. Would that be acceptable?"
And Li Yunbing truly wasn't lying; not one of those key figures could actually be spared from their current duties. Otherwise, he was certain that the moment any of them left Azure Cloud region's core defenses, Lei Dong would lead the Wu Clan factions in a full-scale invasion the very next day. Only the Li family's inner circle truly understood: the entity the Wu Clan genuinely feared was not Jiang Chenghuan, but these specific, powerful figures within the Li Clan itself.
"Yunlin," Li Yunbing corrected himself, slightly perturbed.
"Correct. Li Yunlin of the Li family, Sect Master of the Skyveil Sect," Jiang Chenghuan affirmed. "Let's not trouble him. He's reached the peak of the Golden Core stage, but his Nascent Soul has yet to manifest. Leading the Skyveil Sect within Eternal Sun Prefecture, he's already struggling to make headway; best not involve him in this affair."
"..."
Li Yunbing simply stayed silent. Over the years, he had gone out of his way to avoid open conflict with Jiang Chenghuan, and in doing so, had gradually come to understand the man.
This old fellow, Li Yunbing, thought, was actually a competent Region Prince. He had the qualities of a true ruler—strong leadership and a genuine sense of justice. If he had a flaw, it was that he was too decent at heart.
Despite the Li family's vast power and influence, Jiang Chenghuan never showed any malice toward them. He never schemed behind their backs or tried to undermine them. As Jiang Chenghuan once put it:
"Some are born to rule, and the hunger for power may come naturally—but Jiang Chenghuan's code is this: power must be used justly, never against allies, and never through treachery."
Jiang Chenghuan then turned to the four Nascent Soul experts who would undertake the mission, his expression growing serious. "Esteemed colleagues," he addressed them, "Though this journey to the Tian Xing Abode presents a great opportunity, it remains fraught with peril. I trust you will all look out for one another and maintain a united front against any external threats."
The four individuals [Ye Xiu, Tianye, Feng Zhijing, Jiang Mingyu] nodded slightly and proceeded out of the main hall.
When Li Yunbing emerged from the main hall, Li Tianyue, clad in her armor, was already waiting. Li Yunbing nodded slightly to Li Tianyue and handed her a storage ring. "Go," he instructed. "Tianshuang will manage the Azure Cloud Region Army for the time being. It will be sufficient for you to take only Seven Ironclads with you."
"Yes, Second Uncle!"
Li Tianyue offered a brief salute and then ran a hand over the storage ring.
Within the storage ring – a type normally capable only of holding inanimate objects – were seven figures: five men and two women. All were built like bears, clad in blood-red armor, with demonic patterns marking their faces. They were currently cursing up a storm.
"Who the hell stuffs people inside a storage ring?!"
"Tianyue, let us out of here! Even Demon Heads have the right to show their faces openly, dammit! Who's scared of those so-called 'righteous path' types?!"
"Ah, shut your damn taps!" A female voice snapped. "Hurry up! Let's get moving to the Tian Xing Cultivator Abode! That bastard Jiang Chenghuan, daring to claim my Big Brother isn't up to snuff! Who the hell does he think he's looking down on?! This Old Woman is gonna loot that entire Tian Xing Abode clean, you just wait and see!"
.....
At this moment.
Eternal Sun Prefecture. Skyveil Sect.
The location of the Skyveil Sect was barren territory, situated deep within a mountain forest, a place rarely frequented by outsiders. When Li Yunlin first arrived years ago, bringing five thousand disciples to establish the Skyveil Sect, they faced constant suppression from Eternal Sun Prefecture's major sects and families. Forget recruiting new members; it was considered an achievement that their existing elders and disciples hadn't already fled. Even basic resources had to be supplied by the Li family, just enough to barely maintain the sect's operations, all while constantly guarding against the covetous intentions of other nearby powers.
Now, Li Yunlin stood high above his sect, holding his Skyveil Hall. Beside him, the Old Ancestor's Spirit Tablet pulsed with light. He gazed intently towards the horizon.
"The Tian Xing Cultivator Abode..." he murmured.
"A prize for which all beneath the Divinity Transformation stage may contend... a gathering place for the geniuses of Eternal Sun Prefecture! May the Old Ancestor grant his blessing! This child intends to find out just who, among all those in Eternal Sun Prefecture below the Divinity Transformation stage, truly holds the real power!"
.....
Deep within an old mountain, Li Tianyi, Li Tianming, and Li Tianqi charged out, the Ancestral Spirit Tablets accompanying them, radiating light.
"Old Ancestor!"
Li Tianyi hastily knelt in kowtow. Moments later, he saw the Ancestral Spirit Tablet before him pulse and activate, instantly receiving a message. This caused him to raise an eyebrow. "Tian Xing Cultivator Abode?" he murmured. "A gathering of Eternal Sun Prefecture's finest? First Uncle is going too?"
"Big Brother, it's bound to be dangerous there – let's go too!" Li Tianqi's eyes gleamed with eagerness. "I've been wanting to test myself against the masters of Eternal Sun Prefecture for ages!" he declared. "It's been far too long since we had any real excitement! I've been stuck at the peak of Golden Core for so long, I haven't advanced an inch!"
"Let's go, let's go! Time for some real action!"
Li Tianming licked his lips in anticipation.
...
Eternal Sun Prefecture. Within the infiltrated Li Family compound.
Within Elder Changyao's Courtyard, beneath a large tree, Li Changsheng was engrossed in a solo game of chess, while Li Changyao lounged upon a sturdy branch, enjoying the cool breeze. The pair appeared utterly relaxed and carefree.
Suddenly, an Ancestral Spirit Tablet rose into the air beside them. Li Changyao instantly leaped down from the tree branch, and Li Changsheng paused his game.
"Have the elders set out already?" Li Changsheng asked the tablet.
Li Changsheng bowed respectfully before the Ancestral Spirit Tablet.
"Please rest easy, Old Ancestor," he said. "I'm already well aware of the situation regarding the Tian Xing Cultivator Abode. After all, hasn't our Li family maintained a presence in Eternal Sun Prefecture all these years precisely to seize opportunities like this?"
He continued, "The Tian Xing Abode is essentially a self-contained minor world, one that has evolved over thousands of years. It's likely divided into inner and outer regions. Gaining access to the inner sanctum, I believe, will depend entirely on the abilities and efforts of the elders taking part in the expedition."
"As for the middle and peripheral zones..." Li Changsheng glanced towards Li Changyao with a confident smile.
"This child and Changyao will make a trip ourselves. I only hope," he added, a challenging glint in his eye, "that the younger generation of Eternal Sun Prefecture can actually give me a decent 'match'."
---
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