"What are you still standing there for? Get them! Beat these bastards of Eternal Sun Prefecture!"
"What?!!"
The faces of everyone from the Eternal Sun Prefecture turned ashen.
As Li Dalong's voice fell, the three hundred thousand soldiers of the Azure Cloud Army cast off their helmets and abandoned their armor—not to flee, but to run faster, charging towards the cultivators of Eternal Sun Prefecture like a great flood, eager to test their might on any master they could find.
Just as the people of Eternal Sun Prefecture were about to use their spiritual power to escape,
Li Dalong's voice rang out once more.
"On Qilin Mountain today, I'm counting every last one of you! Whoever dares to use the Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth, I will personally lead my children to your doorstep!
I'd like to see you, who didn't dare to stop Tian Xing, will you dare to stop me, Li Dalong!"
In an instant, the faces of the people from Eternal Sun Prefecture turned ashen.
The members of these great factions dared not use the slightest bit of their power, watching with wide eyes as the people of Azure Cloud charged towards them, not even daring to fight back.
They knew with perfect clarity that this was a blatant, naked humiliation from the Li family!
The people of Azure Cloud surged forward like a tide.
In groups of three and five, they cursed and beat the cultivators like common street ruffians.
If anyone were to witness this scene on Qilin Mountain, they would surely never forget such a "magnificent" spectacle for the rest of their lives.
There was even one Divinity Transformation Old Ancestor who clutched his head, enduring a beating from a dozen Golden Core cultivators, and could only try to flee Qilin Mountain with a face full of humiliation, only to be blocked by Ye Xiu.
Most notably, Elder Tianqing of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, who had once been so grievously wounded that he had to recuperate with the Li family, was now in a position of power.
He simply rolled up his sleeves and began to punch anyone he saw.
In the sky, thunder raged.
On the ground, a one-sided, torrent-like beatdown unfolded.
What a bizarre spectacle it was.
"Hahaha! Good! Interesting! How interesting!"
Prince Feiheng laughed without restraint. This method of humiliation was something he had now learned.
After this one beating, he feared that the cultivators of Eternal Sun Prefecture wouldn't be able to hold their heads high for a thousand, or even ten thousand years.
He couldn't help but be overjoyed. His trip to Eternal Sun Prefecture had been perilous, but in the end, it was well worth it.
Even his teacher, Min Youguo, was someone he couldn't trust in the slightest, yet he was greatly pleased with the Li family.
With the Li family's assistance, his confidence in ascending to the position of Crown Prince was much greater.
Only Grand Tutor Lin Jiu and Imperial Preceptor Min Youguo watched all of this with grave expressions.
They could see things more clearly. Even though the Li family had been absent from Azure Cloud for nearly two hundred years, at a single command from Li Dalong, the people of Azure Cloud had charged the cultivators of Eternal Sun Prefecture without the slightest hesitation.
When the two lords had first arrived, the people of Azure Cloud had appeared nervous, yet they had also been prepared for a great battle, even if they knew they would die.
And then there was the Li family itself, with Nine-Nine Nascent Soul Tribulations erupting everywhere.
Rumor had it that these Li family juniors were all exceedingly insane, yet now they were utterly silent.
The years, it seemed, had made them more mature...
"You dare to strike me?! What's so great about the Heavenly Dao? Come out and fight me one-on-one!!!"
"..."
Well, not all of them had matured. There was at least one idiot undergoing his tribulation who was still raving like a lunatic. But most of the members of this family had had their sharp edges smoothed away.
They were cautious. That Li Dalong was still beating Master Yuming, but there was none of the bloodlust from the old rumors. He was handling everything with great propriety.
Within the red mist, the Li family members, held aloft by the Old Tree, were all staring at them. None of them let their joy or anger show on their faces.
Lin Jiu and Min Youguo exchanged a look.
At that moment, their thoughts were surprisingly, perfectly aligned.
The Li family had truly risen.
They had handled this situation perfectly, as if nothing had happened before, no furious cursing at the masterminds behind Tian Xing, no demanding accountability as they had once done in the Imperial court.
But... their low profile was terrifying!
They cannot be allowed to live.
Today, with all the Li family gathered, was the best opportunity to exterminate them. Otherwise, they would be difficult to kill. They would flee again.
Tian Xing had been one man, but the Li family... every single one of them was an anomaly!
Otherwise, they would become the next Tian Xing—and even more terrifying!
Feiheng believed he could truly make the Li family work for him. Perhaps he could. But after everything that had happened, they could never be used by him, Min Youguo, or by the Grand Tutor, Lin Jiu.
In that instant.
The two powerful ministers nodded to each other. For tens of thousands of years, their thoughts had been surprisingly, perfectly aligned!
At this time.
Li Wei was within the red mist, staring intently at Min Youguo and Lin Jiu.
Li Dalong had handled everything perfectly, doing his utmost not to give these two powerful ministers a reason to move against them.
The crisis had already descended. Even with Prince Feiheng's support, they still had not escaped the danger.
They were absorbing the fruits of victory, but outside, a monstrous, heaven-toppling hand was waiting!
Li Wei and his clansmen were prepared at all times to face anything.
Even Li Dalong, who was currently beating Master Yuming, remained vigilant, the Heaven-Piercing Coffin on his back ready to emerge in an instant!
Li Xinghuo faced his adoptive father, his bonded spirit artifact ready to be deployed at any moment.
He was the closest to Lin Jiu and knew best how terrifying he was, but he was fearless.
On the ground, there was chasing, beating, and furious cursing.
The sky was just as peaceful, and everything looked so harmonious, yet killing intent surged beneath it all.
But the calmer it was, the heavier Li Wei's expression became.
If those two had just rebuked them or even smiled, it would have been fine.
But this silent, mutual observation...
Just then.
The tense members of the Li family looked off into the distance, and all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
A sharp voice rang out.
"Transmitting the Human Emperor's Decree!
Having received the report from Prefecture Lord Shang Mi, His Majesty the Human Emperor has learned of the affairs in Eternal Sun Prefecture.
Venerable Elder Baimei and Tian Xing have brought disaster to the common people, and the Li family has great merit in saving the world.
His Majesty is greatly pleased!"
That voice traveled from far away.
The Li family members felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
Within the red mist, they stared intently at the two high-and-mighty existences.
"Old Ancestor," Li Yaowen's soul form trembled, her teeth gritted, and her fists clenched, "they're going to..."
She could see it now.
Those two... they still weren't willing to let their Li family go!
The Old Ancestor's spirit tablet was flickering.
Veins bulged on the neck and throbbed on the forehead of Li Wei's phantom.
Outwardly, nothing had happened, yet he could see the crisis—a colossal crisis!
Fortunately, this time, the Li family was fully prepared, and the Human Emperor's man had also arrived just in time!
In the distance.
The Grand Tutor, Lin Jiu, acted as if he hadn't just been contemplating murder.
He maintained his dignified appearance, wearing a faint smile as he spoke to Li Xinghuo.
"Xinghuo, why has the Human Emperor sent someone?"
Li Xinghuo's fists, which had been clenched behind his back, relaxed, revealing the deep, crescent-shaped nail marks in his palms.
He abruptly cupped his fists and, with the utmost reverence, addressed the Grand Tutor.
"Reporting to Adoptive Father," he said, "I simply have not had the chance to tell you. Having heard long ago that Prefecture Lord Shang Mi had sent a message to the Human Emperor, my clan also sent a letter."
"My clan," he declared, "is willing to swear a death oath to protect the Imperial Dynasty and to kill Tian Xing, without regrets even in death."
"At the same time, a letter was also sent from the Auric Empire.
In my family, there is the elder Li Yaoqing, who is the 'Auraria City Sacred Hand' of the Auric Empire.
If she can survive this, she is willing to see if she can extend His Majesty's life."
"The Old Ancestor of the Heavenly Light Sect has also gone to seek an audience with His Majesty. His Majesty already knows that my Li family..."
"...is utterly and unimpeachably loyal."
The Grand Tutor, Lin Jiu, was speechless for a moment.
Imperial Preceptor Min Youguo frowned, and they both gazed at the Li family members within the red mist.
The Li family was rising higher and higher.
It was as if they were climbing, climbing up above the clouds, until they could look down upon every person in the world!
---
2/2
Donate on Ko-fi ➡️ [https://ko-fi.com/darktea] ⬅️
Get Early Access to 50 Chapters: Search for "Dark Tea" on Ko-fi (Explore tab) and join my membership to read ahead!