Tian Xing had been scheming in Eternal Sun Prefecture for ten thousand years, and the great figures of numerous factions were his avatars.
As long as Tian Xing wished it, the entire Eternal Sun Prefecture could be used by him.
This was also the reason why many people were wary of Tian Xing, and it was also the reason for his unbridled confidence. As long as he was willing, all the great powers of Eternal Sun Prefecture could be mobilized in an instant.
If the Li family wanted to kill Tian Xing, they first had to be prepared to not be encircled and suppressed by the entire Eternal Sun Prefecture.
And in the entire Eternal Sun Prefecture, the only great power that had not been infiltrated—
Was the government!
All the people of the Li family knew clearly that with just their own strength, they were far from being able to fight a battle with Tian Xing.
"..."
In the stately and important government office, Shang Mi, who was also one of the top-tier people in all of Eternal Sun Prefecture, was being undisguisedly threatened by Li Yaoqing.
The two of them did not even exchange half a sentence of greeting or pleasantries.
And looking again at Xian Tong, who followed only Li Yaoqing's lead and had the look of someone who would dare to strike the moment the word was given, in that instant, Shang Mi was certain that if he dared to say the word 'no', in the next moment, Xian Tong would dare to erupt in a murderous rage and kill him!
This Shang Mi was also a quick-witted person. Although he was in a daze, he had also instantly guessed Li Yaoqing's identity.
He only pondered for a moment before looking at Li Yaoqing with a furrowed brow. "A member of the Li family? Which one of the Li family might you be, miss?"
"Li Yaoqing."
Li Yaoqing stated her origin and then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, sat down in a guest's seat.
Xian Tong, at the side, seeing that Shang Mi had not made a move during the tense standoff, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He then stood to the side and shot a reproachful glance at his Pharmacist.
He truly didn't know where she got the nerve to dare threaten the Shang Mi before them, because he could sense that he was far from being Shang Mi's match.
"Li Yaoqing of the Li family?"
Upon learning the identity of the reckless woman before him, Shang Mi was taken aback.
The Li family was known to have a powerful alchemist; countless cultivators suffering from lingering injuries had long sought out Li Yaoqing for treatment. Rumor had it that this woman's medical skills were exceptional, and her success rate in refining pills was remarkably high.
More than a hundred years had passed, and the legends of Li Yaoqing had long been buried by the world.
Shang Mi was only able to recall this because, the year before last, during an audience with the Emperor, the Human Emperor, from his sickbed, had mentioned that there was a Masterful Healer in the Auric Empire.
Several Divinity Transformation cultivators had been healed with the help of that powerful pharmacist, and it was rumored that if she could break through to the Divinity Transformation realm, then even those at the Void Refining realm would have to treat her with courtesy.
His Majesty the Human Emperor had also said that if the Li family's Saintly Maiden had been able to survive back then and was given time to grow, although she would not have been able to delay the Mandate of Heaven for His Majesty, she could have allowed the Human Emperor to suffer less from the pains of old age.
"Good, good, excellent!" For a moment, Shang Mi couldn't help but feel a flash of joy.
He had originally thought that Li Yaoqing was dead, but he never expected that this Saintly Maiden had survived.
Given time, Li Yaoqing would be able to heal His Majesty's suffering.
Thinking of this, he sighed again. He feared that he himself would not be able to wait for the day he would see His Majesty return to his normal state.
She knitted her delicate brows, unable to understand why, when she was clearly threatening this Shang Mi, the other party was neurotically laughing one moment and sighing the next.
However, she didn't dwell on it and only said to Shang Mi in a solemn voice, "Lord Shang, I wonder if you understand my words clearly?"
Shang Mi then came back to his senses, casting all other matters out of his mind. The most important thing now was Li Yaoqing's threat.
He pondered for a moment. The matter of Tian Xing was something most people in the world did not know, but as the Prefect of an entire prefecture, how could he not know?
"I've long heard of the Li family's decisiveness, swift and relentless. It seems the reputation is well-earned. For Miss Yaoqing to appear and immediately speak of bloodshed truly leaves me at a loss."
Shang Mi gave a bitter smile as he slowly sat down in the main seat.
With a puzzled look, he asked, "Whether I agree or not is another matter—but what I don't understand is this: what made Miss Yaoqing seek me out in the first place?"
Naturally, she couldn't say the Old Ancestor had sent her.
Li Yaoqing replied seriously, "Lord Shang, you've served as Prefect of Eternal Sun Prefecture for over two thousand years. Your role is to oversee all affairs within Eternal Sun Prefecture. If you truly didn't know about Tian Xing's existence, then those years were surely wasted."
"You—!"
Shang Mi's anger surged. But looking at Li Yaoqing, so blunt and clearly unused to the subtleties of courtly exchange, and remembering that he still needed her help, he let it slide.
Yet her next words made his face flush with shame.
"Back when the Li family defied His Majesty's imperial decree and waged war on the Wu Clan, I imagine we must have offended you as well, Lord Shang.
But His Majesty did not hold our Li family accountable. Which means he held you accountable instead.
We've investigated you. You are loyal to the Human Emperor; your allegiance does not lie with the Imperial Preceptor. Back then in court, he pointed at your nose and cursed you publicly, blaming you for failing to rein in your subordinates."
A hundred years of refining pills and treating injuries had dulled Li Yaoqing's social graces, but not her mind. Her temperament had become direct and unflinching, but that didn't mean she was foolish.
Her voice grew cold. "Power always rolls downhill. If I were in your place, scolded and humiliated by my superiors, I would've vented that anger on my subordinates. On the Li family.
But Lord Shang didn't. And yet... I do not believe it was out of kindness."
"..."
Shang Mi's face turned grim, for she had hit the mark.
Li Yaoqing continued, her tone low and steady, "Because Lord Shang, like me, has no patience for speaking with the living dead. You knew long ago—"
"Enough!"
Shang Mi waved his hand, defeated, not daring to meet her gaze.
Li Yaoqing had seen through everything.
He was the Prefect of Changyang Prefecture, sworn to serve the Human Emperor without selfishness or bias. But no man is truly without personal sentiment; there are always shades of sympathy, resentment, and regret.
Long ago, he had known that the Imperial Preceptor wished to test the Li family—and that Tian Xing intended to strike. But he hadn't stopped it. He hadn't even warned them.
Li Yaoqing said nothing more. Though her heart burned with fury, she had no reason to threaten him further. After all, Shang Mi had no obligation to warn the Li family of their impending doom.
One cannot blame their own tragedies on the silence of others. If that were so, the world would be filled with enemies.
But she was not here to plead. She was here to threaten.
Her gaze sharpened. Her voice turned solemn.
"That time, Lord Shang chose silence again. But this time, there's no escape. We've already made contact with Prince Feiheng. He has abandoned Tian Xing.
Surely, Lord Shang also sees what Tian Xing has become, a growing threat to the Imperial Dynasty. One that must be eliminated.
And my Li family is ready to become the blade that carries out the will of the dynasty."
She stepped forward slightly.
"Lord Shang should become a blade as well."
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