Chapter 361: On the Day I Emerge, Sword in Hand, to the Xing Family!
"What should we do?"
The Second Elder looked worried. "Xing Zirong of the Xing Family reached the tenth spot on the Heavenly Rankings many years ago. His strength is unfathomable. If he really gets involved..."
It was rumored that ever since Xing Zirong ascended to the tenth spot on the Heavenly Rankings years ago, he had entered a deep seclusion to cultivate. By now, his strength had likely reached an unimaginably terrifying level.
And the Miao King was only number sixteen on the Heavenly Rankings.
Even if the Miao King possessed extraordinary abilities, how could he possibly compare to Xing Zirong?
"No matter what, the Saintess absolutely cannot marry into the Xing Family!"
Li Xuan let out a cold snort, her voice chilling. "The Xing Family is an ungrateful and conceited clan. They claim descent from Xing Tian and have never shown our Jiuli Tribe an ounce of respect. Xing Chong of the Xing Family is even more ambitious. His desire to marry the Saintess is a poorly disguised plot, obvious to everyone!"
Everyone in the Jiuli Tribe knew that the Xing Family’s relationship with them was like fire and water, utterly irreconcilable.
The reason the Xing Family was targeting the Saintess was for no other reason than to rule the Miao Territory and control the Southern Sky.
If they succeeded, the Jiuli Tribe would become vassals of the Xing Family.
How could the descendants of the Great God Chiyou stoop so low as to be subservient to others?
"Right, the Great Elder is right!"
The brothers Li Zhou came over, supporting each other. "The Saintess absolutely cannot marry into the Xing Family!"
"Li Zhou, shut your mouth!" an elder scolded. "When did it become your turn to meddle in this affair?"
"We are also members of the Jiuli Tribe, why can’t we speak?" Li Tong retorted loudly.
"You..."
Seeing an argument about to erupt, Li Xuan intervened. "Everyone, be quiet! I will make the decision on this matter!"
She scanned the crowd with a sharp gaze. "I know some of you are afraid of the Xing Family. However, the Miao King is in seclusion in the back mountains. We will wait for him to emerge before deciding anything!"
"But the Miao King has been in seclusion for half a year already, and the Xing Family only gave us a three-day deadline. What if the Miao King can’t come out by then? Besides, even if the Miao King does emerge, the Xing Family has a Grandmaster on their side..."
The speaker was an elder who had been promoted after the unification of the Jiuli Tribe. He hailed from a prominent family within the Nine Villages and Eighteen Caves. Although he was aware of the Miao King’s existence, he had never personally witnessed him in action. Subconsciously, he was somewhat unsure of the Miao King’s strength, believing all rumors to be unreliable.
"Elder Zhao Xi, watch your words!" Li Xuan said coldly. "If you are so afraid of the Xing Family, then get out of Bai Miao Village right now! The descendants of the Jiuli Tribe are not cowards who cling to life and fear death!"
"That’s right!"
"We are not afraid to die, and we will not bow to threats!"
"If the Xing Family dares to come, we’ll fight them to the bitter end! The Miao King will surely avenge us!"
"..."
Watching everyone argue, Li Lingqing’s expression grew complicated. She looked toward the back mountains, her gaze resolute.
I will die before I marry into the Xing Family!
"Alright, that’s enough. We still have three days. There’s time to think of a solution."
Li Xuan immediately gave her orders, "The Saintess will guard the Miao King during his seclusion. As for the rest of you, convey my command: summon all members ranked as Family Head or higher from the Nine Villages and Eighteen Caves of the Jiuli Tribe to Bai Miao Village to discuss this matter!"
"If anyone dares to feign compliance while secretly defecting to the Xing Family, they shouldn’t blame me for being ruthless!"
...
「Two days later.」
Only one day remained until the deadline set by the Xing Family. But there was still no movement from Bai Miao Village. The third day arrived with the same unnerving silence.
On that very day, reports began flooding in from the Nine Villages and Eighteen Caves. The Xing Family had started taking action against the people of the Jiuli Tribe.
"Great Elder, terrible news! The Family Head of the Zhao Family of Xijiang has been killed by the Xing Family!"
"Great Elder, the Family Head of the Quan Family of Xiaguan has also been murdered!"
"The Family Head of the Yang Family of Tongshi committed suicide at home this morning..."
"..."
As each new piece of information arrived, shock rippled through the main hall of Bai Miao Village.
"Xing Family, you dare!"
Li Xuan’s eyes blazed with a fury that seemed ready to split them open. Her aura erupted violently, flipping over countless tables and chairs.
"Great Elder, what do we do now?"
Zhao Xi’s expression was grim. He was a member of the Zhao Family, and its head, Zhao Hedong, was his own nephew. Now his nephew was dead, along with several other family heads from branch clans of the Jiuli Tribe. This was the Xing Family’s warning.
The others were just as pale, their faces etched with fear.
"What is there to panic about?" Li Xuan shouted, her True Qi spreading out to steady the crowd. "The Xing Family is doing this simply to force our hand, to make us deliver the Saintess to their doorstep!"
A look of humiliation appeared on Li Xuan’s face as she continued in a cold voice, "But the Saintess is the very pride of our Li Clan. If we truly hand her over, what face would we have to meet the ancestors of the Jiuli Tribe?"
"But if we don’t agree, the Jiuli Tribe will be in danger!"
"Yes, Great Elder! The Xing Family has already made it clear that if we don’t hand over the Saintess, they will flatten our Bai Miao Village!"
"The Saintess cannot be handed over!"
"..."
"I’ll go."
Amidst the endless arguments, a cool, clear voice cut through the noise.
Li Lingqing walked gracefully into the hall. Her face was devoid of emotion, yet everyone could see the unyielding resolve in her eyes.
"The Xing Family wants me, so I will go," Li Lingqing stated, looking at everyone in the hall. "Once I have gone, you will no longer have to worry about the Xing Family coming after you."
"No!" Li Xuan’s face contorted in pain. "I refuse!"
"Grandma!" Li Lingqing said. "If I don’t go, the Jiuli Tribe will be in grave danger!"
"I am the Saintess of the Jiuli Tribe. Protecting our people is my responsibility!"
Li Lingqing’s words caused many of the elders to lower their heads in shame. Yet, in the eyes of many others, a flicker of relief appeared. As long as the Saintess agreed to marry into the Xing Family, they wouldn’t have to worry about trouble anymore.
Li Lingqing said expressionlessly, "After I leave, all clan affairs will proceed as usual. No one is to set foot in the forbidden area on the back mountain. If anyone violates this order, do not blame me for personally coming to settle the score!"
With that, Li Lingqing turned and walked out of the hall, heading straight for the back mountains.
"Lingqing!"
Li Xuan chased after her, but all she saw was a resolute figure disappearing into the distance. Tears streamed down her aged face.
She spun around furiously, her gaze sweeping over several of the elders. "You will all regret this!" she said, her voice dripping with ice.
Those few elders didn’t dare to meet her gaze.
...
In the forbidden area of Bai Miao Village, Lin Mu was still assimilating the Spiritual Energy within the Spirit Core, his body enveloped in a misty, aqua-colored spiritual aura. His cultivation had reached a critical period; overcoming this phase would greatly enhance his strength.
Just then, he faintly heard a familiar voice from outside.
"Master, I am leaving."
"The Xing Family has pushed us too far, killing countless people of our Li Clan. If I do not go, they will annihilate the entire Jiuli Tribe."
"Master, do not come looking for me!"
"This is my decision. Master, please forgive my lack of filial piety, for I can no longer serve by your side."
Through the hazy barrier of the Formation, Lin Mu could faintly see a figure kneeling on the ground, bowing three times in his direction.
Then, the figure rose and departed, their back conveying a deep sense of loneliness and reluctance.
The Xing Family?
Lin Mu murmured to himself, "The day I emerge from my seclusion will be the day I take my sword to the Xing Family!"