Chapter 928: Chapter 922: Assist The Li Clan
Eternal Immortal Sect.
Cultivators from the Immortal Suppression Department arrived in haste. This magnificent and ancient sect fell into a deep silence.
Two thousand disciples lined the path in silence with respect, looking with grief at the wooden trays held by the Department cultivators.
Resting upon the white cloth were merely a few dust-covered strips of fabric or fragments of weapons.
In the battle of Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, Sect Master He Hao had gone personally. Along with him went two Great Elders and fifty disciples; not a single one returned.
They had gone to seize the opportunity of the Three Corpses and to strive for a legitimate entry into the Imperial Court.
They had secured their future prospects, and from this day forth, they would bear the reputation of having sacrificed themselves for the Imperial Dynasty. Yet, in exchange, the sect was now filled with white silk and the memories of old friends.
The path within the Immortal Sect felt incredibly long.
The cultivators of the Immortal Suppression Department felt as though they were trudging through a quagmire.
On either side, the disciples of the Immortal Sect glared at them with fury. At the far end of the path, beneath the jade steps, thirteen sect elders with ethereal, sage-like bearings stood with expressions of deep sorrow.
The Department cultivator lowered his head, thinking to himself, “At least the Department decided to save them some face by not revealing that their Sect Master was actually a spy.”
An old man accepted the personal effects.
This elder had hair and beard as white as snow and wore a wide, flowing Daoist robe. His long beard, long hair, and the hem of his robe danced in the wind.
As he looked at the relics, a trace of pain flashed through his eyes, which were originally burning like torches. A heavy sigh was carried away by the wind.
“Ancestor Lan, the journey to the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems was fraught with many unexpected calamities.
The Imperial Court and the Lord Commander also feel deep grief.
Your sect’s Sect Master and all the sacrificed elders and disciples fought with great valor.
The Imperial Compensation and Honors will be issued within a few days. Please, restrain your grief.”
The cultivators of the Immortal Suppression Department behaved with the utmost reverence.
Ancestor Lan was the founding patriarch of this secluded sect.
It was rumored that every time Ancestor Lan emerged into the world, his cultivation would have advanced further.
Starting merely as the master of a small Daoist temple, he had single-handedly established the lineage of the Eternal Immortal Sect, which has stood until this day.
It was no wonder the Commander had solemnly exhorted them to be absolutely respectful and not to provoke this Ancestor Lan.
“Convey the thanks of this poor Daoist to the Commander.”
Ancestor Lan flicked his sleeve and turned his back to them.
Upon receiving the relics, he performed a quick divination with his fingers and instantly understood the events at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
He murmured softly, “The Immortal Suppression Department, the Grand Tower, the Peerless Hall… Alas, the Great Era has arrived. My disciples were ultimately tainted by Karma, dragged for no reason into this multi-sided conflict.”
As the cultivators of the Immortal Suppression Department departed, a dignified and imposing middle-aged man standing nearby bowed.
This man wore grey robes. Between his brows lay a steady depth and shrewdness, giving him the air of a powerful overlord or noble, and his voice was deep and resonant.
“Ancestor Lan, the Sect Master’s soul has returned to the heavens, yet it was the Immortal Suppression Department that used our Immortal Sect as mere bait!
Now they avoid the heavy to dwell on the light, gambling that our Immortal Sect will simply turn a blind eye. This is an intolerable insult!”
“What do you propose?” Ancestor Lan asked, his gaze still fixed on the relics.
Duanmu Qi frowned slightly.
“The Zhangsun Clan, the Sword Pavilion, the Heavenly Monarch Dao Sanctuary, and the Azure Cloud Li Clan—all have suffered disastrous losses because of this.
Not a single one of us has the strength to oppose the Immortal Suppression Department alone, let alone the Imperial Dynasty. However, the actual authority of the Immortal Suppression Department rests in our hands.
If the Five Major Forces unite, we can stand against the Immortal Suppression Department as equals.”
Ancestor Lan remained silent.
Duanmu Qi continued,
“The Azure Cloud Li Clan has karmic ties with many parties in the Imperial Dynasty.
That Spirit Puppet Patriarch, Li Yaotie, hails from the Heavenly Light Sect; the Demon-Suppressing General, Li Xinghuo, is the adopted son of the Grand Tutor; the Blood-Robed General, Li Tianyue, served under the Marshal of the East.
Their Merchant Branch has close ties with the Imperial Preceptor, and even the Crown Prince cultivated in seclusion within the Li Clan for three hundred years.”
“If we form an alliance, using the Li Clan’s connections in the Imperial Court, we will become the true Immortal Suppression Department. From then on, we will never have to take orders from that Wu Neng again.”
“There is one more thing.”
Duanmu Qi narrowed his eyes slightly.
“The Blue Moon Immortal Sect has already requested passage through our Westfall Prefecture.
Taking advantage of the rumor that the Li Clan’s two Void Refining cultivators died at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, they intend to join forces with the Ethereal Immortal Sect to expand their dominance in the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
The Li Clan is currently internally hollow and likely unable to stop them. This is precisely the moment for our Immortal Sect to lend the Li Clan a helping hand.”
“At that time, the Li Clan will owe our Immortal Sect a debt of gratitude. We can then recommend the Li Clan for the position of Commander; there is great potential in this.”
Ancestor Lan shook his head.
Immediately, he vanished with a shifting of form and shadows, his voice drifting back leisurely: “Go and assist the Li Clan.”
“We respectfully bid farewell to Ancestor Lan!”
The assembled elders and disciples bowed in salute.
They then proceeded to discuss the funeral arrangements for the Sect Master, as well as the appointment of his successor.
The Eternal Immortal Sect had stood for eighty thousand years, possessing an incredibly rich heritage.
Numerous elders offered recommendations, and ultimately, the heavy responsibility of the Sect Master position fell upon Duanmu Qi.
Duanmu Qi remained neither arrogant nor impetuous, though his eyes held deep grief.
In daily life, he had had little friction with the late Sect Master. The Sect Master had managed the sect in perfect order.
Although he had often suppressed Duanmu Qi’s own family line, hearing the news of his death now still made Duanmu Qi feel as though a knife were twisting in his heart.
With a long sigh, Duanmu Qi arrived at the Sect Master’s residence.
Looking at the Main Peak, which was about to fall into his hands, he saw the True Inheritance disciples of the Sect Master’s lineage kneeling on the ground, refusing to rise, tears streaming silently down their faces.
A young man caught his eye; it was none other than Li Chuyuan of the Li Clan lineage.
“You, come with me.”
Crossing over range after range of mountains.
The handsome youth, possessing an ethereal and sage-like bearing, stood upon his flying sword, his eyes red and swollen.
“Master… Master…”
Li Chuyuan looked stricken with grief.
During his thirty years of cultivation in the Immortal Sect, He Hao had been both a father and a teacher to him.
He never imagined that his Master would be buried forever at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
Suddenly losing his support left him at a loss for what to do.
Fortunately, he still had Senior Brothers at the Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation realms who looked out for him.
But as for what the future held, he was suddenly at a total loss.
Suppressing the unease in his heart, Li Chuyuan wiped away his tears.
“Elder Duanmu wants me to return to the clan, to exchange information with the Family Head, and assess the situation regarding the Blue Moon Immortal Sect.
Any fellow disciple could handle such a task; why did he choose me?”
“Two Void Refining clan elders lost their lives at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, leaving the family internal defenses hollow. Meanwhile, I have already broken through to the Golden Core realm and possess the Heavenly Ice Spirit Root—my future prospects are boundless.
Could it be… that Elder Duanmu intends to groom me to become the next Family Head? Through me, the Immortal Sect could then draw closer to the Li Clan.”
The more Li Chuyuan thought about it, the more tightly his brows furrowed.
In this moment, he was secretly startled by Elder Duanmu’s ambition, and his heart sank heavily.
“If this is truly the case, it is also a matter of mutual benefit.
The Li Clan can rest easy without worry under the protection of the Sect, while the Immortal Sect can sit back and control three prefectures.
As for me, I can utilize both the family’s resources and the Sect’s ancient techniques for my cultivation. In the future, perhaps my Li Clan could even become like the Duanmu Family—it is not impossible.”
Thinking this way, Li Chuyuan still let out a long sigh.
“If Master were still alive, why would I need to worry about so many things?”
Before long.
Li Chuyuan arrived at the Merit City Grotto-Heaven in the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
He did not know how many years had passed since he last returned to the Merit City Grotto-Heaven, but he saw that the place was just as it had always been.
Inside the Grotto-Heaven, the common people were still living the traditional life—men tilling the fields and women weaving.
When he left all those years ago, he was merely a youth. But now upon his return, Li Chuyuan—having reached the Golden Core realm—could sense the majestic and boundless Spiritual Energy within the Grotto-Heaven.
It was on par with the Immortal Sect itself!
An old man was farming nearby, wielding his agricultural tools. Yet, inside that old man’s Dantian, golden light was shimmering; it would not be long before a Golden Core was formed.
“A False Core farmer?”
Li Chuyuan was stunned. Immediately, golden light burst from his eyes as he observed the auras of the people.
Entering his view were vast stretches of Spirit Fields. It was the time for farming, and over a thousand farmers were toiling away, laughing and chatting across the fields.
At a single glance, he realized that fifty percent of them were cultivators, and there were hundreds at the Foundation Establishment realm!
There were even… Golden Core farmers…
“How is this possible? How could Golden Core cultivators be willing to do farm work???”
A thousand thoughts raced through Li Chuyuan’s mind, but suddenly, his expression changed.
Golden light burst forth in the sky, and a surge of Spiritual power severed his Divine Soul perception. In a flash, an old man approached—it was the family butler, Huang Xiujin!
“Greetings, Butler Huang.” Knowing he had been rash, Li Chuyuan hurriedly bowed.
“A disciple of the Eternal Immortal Sect?”
Huang Xiujin frowned slightly. If an outsider had dared to probe like this, the Clan Formation would have made them suffer dearly. However, the formation was ineffective against the clan’s own bloodline, allowing this loophole to be exploited.
Huang Xiujin asked the question casually, then raised his head. With a mere snap of his fingers, an invisible giant hand seized Li Chuyuan’s aura and dragged him into the formation.
Only then did he speak: “For what purpose have you come to my Merit City Grotto-Heaven?”
Li Chuyuan’s expression changed. He was, after all, a member of the Li Family; he had never imagined that this Huang Xiujin would be so arrogant.
Suppressing the rage in his heart, he replied, “It was Elder Duanmu who ordered me to come. I have urgent matters to discuss with the Family Head.”
“Please follow me. However, I must trouble you not to pry into my Merit City Grotto-Heaven again; the Spiritual formation shows no mercy.”
Huang Xiujin led Li Chuyuan toward the residence. After all, the other party was a True Inheritance disciple of the Eternal Immortal Sect, so the proper respect had to be shown; this was the basic professionalism expected of a butler.
Li Chuyuan followed closely all the way, glancing left and right. Yet he saw that neither the Inner City nor the residence had raised white silk, unlike the Eternal Immortal Sect.
“Could it be that the family is still unaware that the clan elders lost their lives at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?”
He shook his head and sighed.
“Our position is weaker than others; the Immortal Suppression Department has never taken the Li Clan seriously.
Now that the two Clan Elders have passed away, we are declining even further.
Only the Eternal Immortal Sect acts with benevolence and righteousness, willing to lend the Li Clan a hand.”
Arriving inside the main hall.
He saw a handsome, spirited young man dressed in opulent robes, sitting in the Family Head’s seat with his eyes closed.
A noblewoman stood behind him, massaging his temples—a scene of utter leisure.
“Chuyuan pays his respects to the Family Head.”
The great hall fell silent for a moment.
Li Xinnian opened his eyes, smiled at Nangong Qingya, and only then turned his gaze toward Li Chuyuan.
Ten years had passed, and he had long since come to terms with everything. Seeing Li Chuyuan now, he wore a welcoming smile.
“Chuyuan, you’ve returned. Is there something you need?”
Seeing that Li Xinnian showed no signs of anger, the tension in Li Chuyuan’s heart eased considerably.
He hurriedly spoke,
“Reporting to the Family Head, Chuyuan has come under orders.
I wonder… I wonder if the Family Head is aware of the events at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?
The people from the Immortal Suppression Department have already arrived…”
As Li Chuyuan recounted the events at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the casualties suffered by the various major forces, his voice choked with emotion, yet he kept a close watch on the Family Head’s expression.
However, he saw that Li Xinnian remained composed, his expression unchanging.
“So, the Immortal Sect’s intention is to lend my Li Clan a helping hand?”
“Yes.”
Li Chuyuan spoke in a grave voice,
“Elder Duanmu is willing to mediate on our behalf to ensure the family does not fall into calamity.
The Blue Moon Immortal Sect was driven out of their former territory, and their sect’s vitality was severely damaged. Now, seeing the prosperity of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, they merely wish to come here to rest and recover.
As long as we have the backing of the Immortal Sect, even the Blue Moon Immortal Sect will be forced to behave themselves. We simply need to find a location with rich spiritual energy to let them…”
Before his voice had even faded.
Li Xinnian interrupted him. “It is too late.”
“Too late?” Li Chuyuan was stunned.
Li Xinnian said nothing more. He simply asked Li Chuyuan to convey the Li Clan’s gratitude to the Eternal Immortal Sect for their kindness, instructed Huang Xiujin to entertain Li Chuyuan well, and then headed back into the inner family estate.
But how could Li Chuyuan possibly be in the mood for hospitality?
Li Chuyuan was arranged to stay in a guest inn within the Inner City. For a time, he paced back and forth in his room, his mind racing.
“Elder Duanmu has already discerned that the Immortal Suppression Department intends to suppress the Li Clan.
Grand Elder Pu Ci of the Ethereal Immortal Sect is certain to rebel, and the various major forces of the Azure Cloud Prefecture must have also received missives from the Department. This is…”
Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from outside the window.
Focusing his gaze, he saw Li Xinnian clad in battle armor, leading a mere hundred men out of Merit City. Their killing intent was boiling over!
Li Chuyuan’s expression changed dramatically!
“This is bad! They still intend to fight? This sort of arrogance is going to get everyone killed!”
Daring not to think any further, he hurriedly rushed back toward the Immortal Sect, gnashing his teeth in frustration.
“The Clan Elders have already perished at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems—do they think the family hasn’t fallen low enough yet?!!”
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