Simultaneously, within the Imperial Capital itself, a multitude of figures began to rise into the sky, all streaming towards Azure Mountain!
Without exception, these were all figures of note: some were prodigious talents who had recently made their mark upon the Imperial Capital; others were seasoned cultivators who had been renowned within its walls for many years.
Among them were even the scions of powerful ministers from the imperial court, and in some cases, the high-ranking officials themselves. As this formidable assembly converged upon the outskirts of Azure Mountain, their ranks swelled to over three hundred!
Their leader was a man who appeared to be in the prime of his life, garbed in gleaming silver armor, with a formidable long spear strapped to his back.
Any noble or influential figure from the Imperial Capital would undoubtedly have recognized him instantly.
His name was Lai Teng, the legitimate eldest son and heir of a relatively minor aristocratic cultivation clan within the Capital.
However, Lai Teng was blessed with exceptional natural aptitude and had dedicated himself to cultivation from a very young age, marking him as a true prodigy, a monster of talent.
Though currently not yet five centuries in age, he had already claimed the illustrious third position on the Nascent Divinity List, earning him the moniker 'Lai Teng of the Invincible Dragon Spear'.
He had been recruited by the Imperial Capital's authorities and now led a mercenary legion thousands strong in the defense of the Capital City.
Such was the preeminence of his heaven-bestowed gifts that his entire Lai family had ridden his coattails to glory – even their chickens and dogs, as the saying goes, ascended to the heavens!
Now, as he surveyed Azure Mountain before them, a frosty light glinted in Lai Teng's eyes.
He raised his long spear, its tip aimed unwaveringly at the mountain.
"Those one hundred and seven from the Azure Cloud region," Lai Teng commanded, his voice devoid of emotion. "And the three primary Li family targets here. Leave not a single one breathing."
"Understood!" his forces responded as one.
No sooner had his command left his lips than the multitude of Tian Xing avatars surged forward, leaping like a school of predatory fish towards Azure Mountain.
Instantly, a dazzling array of spiritual formations, talismans, spirit artifacts, and even formidable Spirit Treasures were unleashed by them.
Lai Teng himself was steeled for a direct confrontation with that Li family member who had survived the Nine-Nine Tribulation – Li Kuanghua!
Yet, scarcely had his command echoed when Lai Teng's own expression contorted.
Before his main force could fully engage, a brilliant beam of light erupted from Azure Mountain, intercepting and deflecting the advance of every single attacking avatar! And then, from the depths of the mountain, a stream of figures burst forth, already in full flight!
Simultaneously, the power of all the Tian Xing avatars surged noticeably.
"Damn it! Damn them all!" Lai Teng roared in fury.
As Lai Teng watched the stream of figures making their escape, his fury suddenly ignited.
One of them exclaimed, "We've been played! The Li family must have been onto us for some time! Our mole within their group – they've been eliminated! And that's not all – they intentionally drew us to this place! We've walked right into their scheme! Damn you, Li family, you cunning bastards!"
"Move out!" Lai Teng bellowed. "Withdraw, all of you! Back to the Capital, now!"
"..."
What none of them perceived, however, was that the Li family's Ancestor himself, Li Wei, stood directly before them, an unseen witness to their chaotic retreat.
As he watched the Tian Xing avatars beat their hasty, panicked retreat, Li Wei meticulously committed each of their appearances to memory.
A faint, knowing smile played upon his lips. "Tian Xing, my friend," Li Wei mused with grim satisfaction, "No one wins forever. It was high time you tasted defeat for a change."
....
Eternal Sun Prefecture, at the Lin Family Estate on Qilin Mountain.
At that very instant, Lin Wudao, still idly tormenting his 'caged sparrows' in his courtyard, felt his own expression contort.
Every detail of the events that had just transpired on Azure Mountain – he had witnessed it all! The avatars he had deployed from the Imperial Capital were, even now, speeding towards Azure Mountain.
He had personally witnessed it all: Li Kuanghua and the Azure Cloud region group on Azure Mountain appearing to be exchanging pleasantries, everything seemingly proceeding as expected.
Yet, precisely at the moment his Imperial Capital-based avatars had all converged on Azure Mountain, Li Kuanghua had abruptly launched her attack, instantly slaying his own avatar – the spy he had embedded within that Azure Cloud region group!
Immediately thereafter, she had made a swift escape!
Precisely then, a Lin family retainer burst into the courtyard from outside.
"Ancestor!" he panted. "There's a puppet at the main gate... It... it demands to see you! It radiates a Nascent Soul's aura and insists it has urgent business with you. I dared not turn it away, so I've escorted it here."
The retainer had barely finished speaking when, from beyond the courtyard entrance, a puppet, utterly saturated with fresh blood, strode into view! An ethereal, chilling voice issued from it.
"So, Tian Xing, it seems you had three hundred and twenty-seven of your little puppets stashed away in the Imperial Capital. Quite an ambitious undertaking you had there. A terrible shame, really, that whatever grand design you were hatching is now destined to be scuttled. Although,"
The puppet continued, its voice devoid of warmth, "I suppose I could offer you an alternative. You could, for instance, deploy even more formidable avatars to the Imperial Capital in a desperate bid to salvage your operation..."
"Or, perhaps," the puppet offered a second option, "you could choose to release Kuangren. Do that, and at the very least, your precious avatar currently ranked third on the Nascent Divinity List – Lai Teng – might just be allowed to live."
At these words, Lin Wudao fell into a deep, contemplative silence.
Inside his cage, however, Li Kuangren erupted into another frenzy, thrashing wildly against the bars.
An ecstatic joy surged through him – this ultimatum from the puppet, this was a clear signal from his clan! They were fighting back! They knew where he was!
He exulted inwardly. His clan had located Tian Xing's Imperial Capital avatars!
Now, if this 'Tian Xing' dared to show his anger, if he retaliated... then no matter what he did, his own plans would be imperiled!
And yet, despite the pain, a fierce, defiant roar built within him!
KILL!
Slaughter every last avatar of that bastard! What was death compared to that?!
---
3/3
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