[Special Event]
[Demonic Cultivators Wreak Havoc]
[Due to the war between the two sects, the masters of the Skyveil Sect are unable to attend to the mundane affairs of Sky Jade City. Upon hearing about the demonic cultivators' havoc, their disciples have descended the mountain for training and sincerely invite experts from all factions to aid the Skyveil Sect in eliminating the demonic threat!]
After receiving the order from the Skyveil Sect, Li Dalong went to the ancestral hall to report.
Li Wei also saw the message.
"Eliminate demons and uphold righteousness?"
It's quite interesting when you think about it. Sects like the Skyveil Sect and the Black Tortoise Gate, they all claim to be righteous and honorable.
But look at how many lives were lost when they opened that ancient tomb.
The two sects engage in a great war every now and then, causing further turmoil.
But can we really say they're evil...?
As soon as the demonic cultivators started harming people, they (the sects) stepped up quite readily.
While everyone was pondering, Li Dalong knelt down and kowtowed, "Ancestor, I bid you farewell on this journey. At the next grand ancestral sacrifice, I can only offer incense to you from afar!"
Upon hearing this, the Li family members were taken aback.
Li Wei also frowned. From Li Dalong's words, it seemed that he was going to participate in this operation to eliminate the demonic cultivators.
Small words appeared above Li Dalong's head again.
"The disciples of the Skyveil Sect have located the Thunderfire Demonic Cave where the demonic cultivators reside! If the Ancestor Hall Guardian Beast wishes to transform, it needs the heavenly thunder and earthly fire found within the Thunderfire Demonic Cave!"
No wonder Li Dalong is getting involved in this matter.
Li Wei's interest was also piqued.
For the Violet Tempest Python to ascend to the rank of Demon King, heavenly thunder and earthly fire are one of the necessary conditions!
But...
The location of this mission is far away, and it won't be accomplished in a single day. Eliminating the demonic cultivators is already challenging enough. The disciples from the Skyveil Sect who came for training are also inexperienced, and they don't even know the exact number and strength of those demonic cultivators. The level of danger is already very high.
Just as Li Wei was pondering whether or not to take this risk.
The members of the Li family in the ancestral hall had already begun to decide who would go.
"The Ancestor Hall Guardian Beast is the most powerful being in our Li family. If it can transform into a Demon King, it will be a blessing for our Li family."
Li Dalong looked around at everyone, finally settling his gaze on Xu Cuihua. "Wife, while I'm away, take charge of the family affairs."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Li family members became very anxious.
"Father, how can you go? You are the head of the family, everyone is counting on you!"
"That's right, father, I'll go! Besides, I'm quite idle at the Black Blood Hall anyway."
"Husband, no matter what, you can't go. The family can't do without you. On the other hand, I can fight against a Foundation Establishment cultivator with the Heavenly Seal. Besides, my Spirit Beast Garden has already been moved to the Silver Iron Forest, and with Old Pig looking after it, I have no pressing duties here."
They all knew that although disciples from the Skyveil Sect would be leading this expedition, it was still fraught with danger.
"Enough!"
Suddenly, Li Yaoqing, who was usually somewhat quiet, raised her voice, causing everyone to fall silent.
Feeling everyone's gaze upon him, Li Yaoqing ruffled her messy hair, a smile appearing on her face, her big white teeth even more prominent. "Father, you really shouldn't go. Big Brother is right. For so many years, it's been you and Fourth Sister who have been in the public eye. Those families that our Li family secretly controls only recognize you. If you're gone for too long, trouble will arise."
"Mother definitely can't go either. Your beast master identity is inconvenient for you."
Then she glanced at her eldest brother, whose expression had softened.
Li Yaoqing said, "Big brother, you shouldn't go either."
"Hmm?" Li Yaozu furrowed.
"In the plans that Fourth Sister laid out, we need the Black Blood Hall, and only Big Brother is most familiar with the people there. Besides, you can't expect Father to lead the Black Blood Hall on a wild goose chase, can you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she looked at Li Yaotie. By now, this big guy was already standing tall and proud.
Li Yaoqing rolled her eyes. "Third Brother..."
"You have seven children, and they're not grown up yet. Do you want to come back and have them not even recognize you? And there's the Forging Pavilion. After all these years, you're the only Artifact Refiner. Everyone in the family is waiting for you to refine high-grade spiritual artifacts."
These words hit Li Yaotie's weak spot.
Everyone's eyes were now on Li Yaoqing.
"Second Sister, you want to go?" Li Yaowen's expression was complex. Everyone in the family was volunteering, but she was a weak woman with no cultivation, only able to helplessly watch her family face danger.
Every time something like this happened, she questioned whether the path she had chosen was the right one.
"What? You look down on your Second Sister?"
Li Yaoqing chuckled, but her usually carefree face suddenly turned serious as she looked at her family. "I'm the most suitable one to go. I have no more medicines to refine. The fifteen apprentices in my Spirit Herb Garden can all prepare common potions, and I also have a pharmacist who was adopted from a young age and carefully nurtured to the ninth rank. They are enough to meet the family's needs."
"Qing'er..."
Li Dalong originally wanted to persuade her otherwise.
But Li Yaoqing interrupted him, "Father, you know that in terms of ability, I'm not as good as the rest of you. However, with potions on hand and some new skills I've recently acquired, protecting myself won't be a problem."
"In terms of intelligence and wit, I'm also not as good as the rest of you... except for Third Brother. But after experiencing so much over the years, I still understand how to deal with outsiders."
"Especially since I'm a woman, outsiders will naturally underestimate me. This is the best disguise."
"Besides..."
"I'm not stupid. My goal is to find the Demonic Cave and investigate the situation with the heavenly thunder and earthly fire, not to throw my life away. If I encounter danger, can't I just run away? Those demonic cultivators even stole my Heavenly Heart Herb. I want to avenge that too!"
Her reasoning was sound, leaving the Li family members speechless.
Li Yaoqing immediately kowtowed towards the ancestral tablets and said in a solemn voice:
"Please, ancestor, allow me to undertake this important task!"
[Approved.]
Li Wei silently clicked on the Violet Tempest Python's icon. Li Yaoqing had convinced him.
As the year drew to a close and the Li family's grand ancestral sacrifice approached, Li Yaoqing, clad in her usual single layer of clothing, braved the biting cold wind.
Accompanied by four spirit beasts borrowed from the Silver Iron Forest, she made her way to the entrance of Green Valley Village.
She took out the ancestral tablet from her bosom.
Then, she turned and smiled at her family members who had seen her off to the village entrance, saying, "Don't worry, I'm taking Ancestor with me. Whether it's the Skyveil Sect or the demonic cultivators, with the ancestors' blessings, I'm not going to die. I'll let them know that in Sky Jade City region, there is a Li family."
"Well said!"
Li Dalong squinted his eyes, "Yaoqing, there will be people from various influential forces from the Sky Jade City region on this journey. Don't be afraid of trouble. If you encounter any problems, just send a letter back."
"Father, I'm already forty-two years old, not a child anymore."
Li Yaoqing gave a wry smile.
Then, under the gaze of everyone, she slowly turned around and walked towards Sky Jade City, waving her hand.
Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, this young woman, typically seen with dirt-stained clothes from her work in the Spirit Herb Garden, now appeared ethereal and radiant, her slender figure casting a long shadow.