"It seems," someone murmured, "that being trapped has driven them all mad."
Feng Chunlin watched the crazed Li family members charge into Qilin Mountain, rubbing his temples with a pained expression.
No matter how he looked at them, these Li family juniors seemed utterly incompatible with the other clan members who had been locked in a great battle with Tian Xing on Qilin Mountain.
"Ahem." The Heavenly Star Sword Saint, who had dealt with the Li family for many years, cleared his throat.
"These juniors from the old Li family," he remarked, "I think they've always been this insane."
The people of Azure Cloud all nodded in unison.
Gazing at the Li family, now truly gathered within Qilin Mountain, scene after scene of their past exploits came to mind.
Many years ago, back when the Li family juniors were still in Azure Cloud Region, these fellows had been a constant, headache-inducing presence.
Almost every two or three months, the various major sects and great aristocratic families of Azure Cloud Region would send representatives to find Li Dalong and lodge a formal complaint.
But then, the people of Azure Cloud let out a collective, long sigh.
It was a pity, they thought, that some people's misdeeds could never be reported again.
...
"Impossible! Bai Rourou... Li Yunlin... How did they get out?!!"
On Qilin Mountain, from the moment Li Yaotie and the others had appeared, Tian Xing's gaze had turned vacant.
The Master he called for had not arrived, yet those who had been trapped on Azure Mist Mountain and within the Tian Xing Cultivator Abode had appeared first!
The Old Tree's roots shot out, piercing into the bodies of the newly arrived Li family members one by one. They seemed to have expected it, showing not the slightest hint of surprise.
They, too, were lifted into the air by the Old Tree's roots, and the power of the Tian Xing avatars was distributed among them all.
From the moment they set foot on Qilin Mountain, these newcomers had not uttered a single word.
Even the crazed Li Tianming, once his chains were undone, did not act up and demand to kill anyone.
They all stared at Tian Xing in unison. Compared to the calm demeanor of the Li family members who had appeared earlier, the hatred in the eyes of these newcomers was even more intense!
"Master, save me! Master!!!"
Tian Xing was utterly panicked. The appearance of these other Li family members meant that the clan's preparations went far beyond merely stealing everything from him.
The Li family had likely already investigated everything; they had been prepared all along to rescue these imprisoned people.
His final hidden card... it, too, was within their calculations!
Yet, he still roared up at the sky, unwilling to accept his fate.
"Master, kill them all! I can reach the Void Refining realm! I command a hundred Domains! In less than a century, I can become the strongest Void Refining expert and forge my way to the Body Integration realm! We can both achieve Body Integration, Master!!!"
Yet, there was no reply. Beneath the crimson moon, Tian Xing was overcome with an irrepressible despair.
"There's no need to shout," Li Wei said. "If he were coming, he would have been here long ago."
Li Wei's voice was ethereal as he gazed at his surroundings, a trace of regret in his eyes.
"A pity," he said. "But we will find him."
"Impossible! My Master wouldn't be afraid! He wouldn't!"
Tian Xing roared, but the Old Tree's vines were draining his power, making his furious cries sound impossibly weak.
.....
At that moment.
"AHHH!!! Master, my head hurts! It hurts so much!"
High in the sky, Venerable Elder Baimei of Azure Mist Mountain was fleeing frantically, grabbing Ah Xiu by the back of his collar.
Ah Xiu's face was contorted in agony as he clutched his head, snot and tears streaming down his face.
"Master, save me!" he shrieked. "Why am I hearing another voice?! Help me, Master! Your venerable self, please help me! My memories!"
"How can this be?" he screamed. "So many pigs in my memories... they're... AHHH!"
"Save me, Master!"
Memory after memory flooded into his mind, causing Ah Xiu to wail in agony.
These were, to his horror, the memories of the Tian Xing avatars as they were being tortured!
Listening to his precious disciple's miserable cries.
Venerable Elder Baimei remained silent.
His face was covered in a gloom so dark it seemed black water could drip from it.
He gazed back towards Qilin Mountain in Eternal Sun Prefecture.
"What a Li family!" he spat.
"Ah! Master, save me!"
Ah Xiu was still roaring in agony.
Venerable Elder Baimei slapped his disciple across the face.
A world apart from the benevolent old man of Azure Mist Mountain, he now furiously rebuked the miserable Ah Xiu.
"Useless trash!" he snarled. "If it weren't for that fine avatar your divine soul was molded into, falling for Shang Mi's scheme, provoking the Li family, and attracting a heaven-sent enemy for me, why would I ever need to flee Eternal Sun Prefecture?"
"Incapable of accomplishing anything, yet more than capable of ruining everything! Who told you to look down on everyone under heaven?!!"
Ah Xiu heard none of it, his mind lost in a torrent of agony.
He had spent his entire life doing good and accumulating virtue, yet this was his reward?
As painful memories flooded his mind, he knew only to cry for help.
"Master, save me!"
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Venerable Elder Baimei dared not delay a moment longer.
He continued to flee with Ah Xiu, leaving only a long, lingering sigh behind.
"Eternal Sun Prefecture has become a land of contention," he thought. "Tian Xing has exposed me, and the forbidden techniques he used were truly excessive.
There is no longer a place for me in the Azure Dynasty. But this world is vast, and I am a master of the Void Refining realm. Where can I not go? Hmph. Just you wait for the day I return!"
As Venerable Elder Baimei disappeared into the distance.
A spirit tablet appeared in the air, glowing with a soft light, and from it, a clear and cold female voice emerged.
"I've found you," the voice said. "No matter how vast this world may be, I will ensure you have nowhere to run. For now, I will let you and your disciple live on for a time... in fear."
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