The night was dark, and the wind was high.
The Great Formation of the Immortal Domain is activated.
The familiar dome of the formation appeared—far more profound than the Ding family's formation had been.
The alarm bells of the Immortal Zhao Clan tolled without end, and expert after expert rose into the sky toward the dome.
Yet, standing amidst the crowd, Ding Yuanxiao felt not a shred of safety.
Visible atop the dome was another arc-shaped ice pillar—it was Li Changyao's archery technique striking again.
This time, Li Changyao did not come charging in, treading upon the ice pillar, but Ding Yuanxiao still couldn't help wiping a layer of cold sweat from his forehead.
"Where are they?!!"
Zhao Jingmiao led the members of the Immortal Zhao Clan to scan their surroundings.
After that ice pillar had struck, there was no longer any trace of an enemy aura outside the Great Formation!
The protective shield formed by the Great Formation was illuminated by the lights of spirit stones, while outside the formation, it was pitch black.
From a hundred meters underground came the panicked voices of cultivators.
Amidst this clamor, Zhao Jingmiao extended his Primordial Spirit to probe outside the formation.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
This time, it wasn't the sound of the Old Ancestor, but the sound of his own heartbeat!
A trickle of cold sweat ran down his temple.
After his Divine Soul probed and confirmed there was no one outside, Zhao Jingmiao felt not the slightest bit of relief in his heart.
He was like a mortal in the dark, reaching out with his fingers to feel for objects to avoid bumping into them; touching anything unexpected in the darkness would cause his heart to palpitate with fear.
In this moment, he desperately hoped that the people of Azure Cloud Prefecture would charge out—at least then he would be able to see the Li family members!
Those damned people of the Li family!
Who knows what hidden power they possess?
They have killed the members of our Zhao Clan one by one—even Ancestor Wan'er lost his life at their hands.
All the traces they leave seem so weak and insignificant, yet they are enough to make our Zhao Clan tremble in fear!
The unknown factor was never the Immortal Zhao Clan, but... the Azure Cloud Li Clan!
"I can't sense any enemy aura outside the Great Formation."
"It's the same thing again! They come and go without a shadow or trace; a single red leaf masks their aura. This arrow was just a probe."
"Back then, even the Fourth Rank defensive formation of Prince Qian's Estate couldn't stop the Li family. They could launch a real attack at any moment."
"Zhao Jingmiao, what do we do? What do we do now?!!"
"..."
These Divinity Transformation cultivators, once high and mighty, were now like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow.
They were afraid, because they realized that Clan Elder Zhao Jingmiao—peerlessly powerful in their eyes—was just as at a loss as they were; a trace of fear revealed itself in his eyes!
There was nothing more despairing than this.
It was the Zhao family who claimed the Li family was nothing special.
It was the Zhao family who told them to prepare to slaughter their way into Azure Cloud Prefecture.
It was the Zhao family who promised them a bright future.
So on what grounds did Zhao Jingmiao have the right to be afraid?!!
Seeming to detect the oddness in the expressions of the many cultivators from the subordinate forces, Zhao Jingmiao was suddenly startled.
He suppressed the panic in his heart and sneered,
"What are you afraid of?
My Zhao Clan has a foundation of one hundred and sixty thousand years, six great Void Refining realm experts, and over fifty Divinity Transformation cultivators.
Our Great Formations, secret techniques, and Dharma treasures all have ancient origins.
If the people of Azure Cloud dare to come, they are seeking their own death!"
"My Zhao Clan is merely waiting—waiting for our Clan Elders who are away to return.
When they do, it will mark the destruction of the Li family!"
Hearing these words, the many subordinate forces of the Zhao Clan felt slightly more at ease.
"Go back. It is merely a petty trick..."
But the moment Zhao Jingmiao's voice fell, his expression froze.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of applause came suddenly in the dark night.
Although these cultivators were all probing the surroundings with their Nascent Souls and Primordial Spirits, the applause sounded as if it were ringing right beside their ears.
"Who?!!"
The crowd whipped their heads around, only to see a figure suddenly emerge from the darkness outside the Great Formation.
He was alone, yet his presence made everyone inside the Great Formation feel as though they were facing a formidable enemy.
This person walked upon the air, strolling as idly as a drifting cloud.
Step by step, he approached the crowd within the Great Formation—how relaxed and at ease he seemed!
"Li Chang'an?!!"
...
The young boy from the small fishing village, who was once adored by the maidens of the surrounding countryside and who always returned with a bountiful catch of fish, had been transformed by the baptism of time into a graceful and elegant gentleman.
In the dark night, the bright moon scattered a faint radiance.
Li Chang'an seemed to arrive from amidst the moonlight, becoming clearer and clearer to the eyes of the crowd in the Immortal Domain.
Upon seeing Li Chang'an's figure, even these enemies—who might at any moment be locked in a life-and-death struggle with him—could not help but secretly sigh in admiration:
Bathed in moonlight, he appeared like finely carved jade—calm, flawless, and without equal in this world.
Courteous and composed, facing the multitude of powerful cultivators inside the Great Formation above the Immortal Domain, Li Chang'an maintained the grace he had cultivated over many years.
"Li Chang'an, you dare to come here alone?" Zhao Jingmiao's voice boomed like thunder.
Over the past hundred years, Li Xinnian had become the Head of the Li family, and Li Kuangren had taken charge of the Prefecture Lord's authority, while all external affairs of Azure Cloud Prefecture had been entrusted to Li Chang'an.
Li Chang'an's reputation as a gentleman was known to everyone; even within the Imperial Dynasty, Li Chang'an had befriended many dignitaries.
However, Li Chang'an had never actually met Zhao Jingmiao.
Even in the face of Zhao Jingmiao's cold shout, Li Chang'an stood amidst the night, his right hand holding a cyan iron fan against his chest and his left hand clasped behind his back.
He bowed slightly in greeting to those who regarded him with cold eyes.
A gentle smile remained ever-present on his face, which was as flawless as jade.
Even in this tense atmosphere, his voice was refreshing, like a spring breeze.
"Chang'an has come here to pay respects to you seniors, and also to be frank with you all.
The clansmen of my Azure Cloud Li family are waiting in the darkness of this night.
The Zhao Clan possesses a profound foundation; my Elder Sister Changyao has tested this formation, and truly, breaking through it would be no single day's work."
Li Chang'an's blunt honesty caused the expressions of everyone present to change.
He continued, "However, if you Fellow Daoists of Duravia Trade Prefecture were to break it open from the inside out, it would save my Li family a great deal of effort, and for that, Chang'an would be endlessly grateful."
"Wishful thinking!"
"Well now, Li Chang'an! With a great battle before us, is there any need to mock us like this?"
"We stand united, root and branch. Li Chang'an, oh Li Chang'an, do you really think such tactics can sow discord among us?"
"Hahaha!"
Loud laughter echoed from within the Great Formation.
Having cultivated for many years, how could they fail to see through Li Chang'an's words?
He intended to sow suspicion among those within the formation, leading them to think that surrendering to the Li clan might act as a path to survival.
But in this war, their clan lands had been razed, and every family had lost at least half of their kin.
How could such deep-seated hatred be laid aside?
The sounds of ridicule rang out exceptionally loud in the night.
Li Chang'an's expression did not change. He showed neither anger nor sarcasm.
His voice, calm and soothing like a leaf drifting on gentle ripples, had a way of tranquilizing the heart.
"Years ago, news spread that His Majesty the Human Emperor was approaching the end of his lifespan.
This is no secret in this world.
The Wu Clan and the Demon Clan are stirring, Prince Yu has taken up arms, and this chaotic age is already a foregone conclusion.
Without the Human Emperor's suppression, Heaven pities not our Azure Dusk Dynasty; the reclusive forces all seek to secure a place for themselves within this Dynasty."
The crowd frowned slightly, unsure why Li Chang'an was mentioning these matters that were known to everyone under heaven.
Li Chang'an sighed and said, "Without exception, they have all committed acts in the past that were intolerable to the world, or they disrupted the stability and balance of the Imperial Dynasty.
However, the Human Emperor's suppression of them brought both benefits and drawbacks.
The benefit was that for many years, the Imperial Dynasty saw no conflicts involving those above the Nascent Soul realm.
The drawback is what we see now: in this age of chaos, the Imperial Dynasty is plagued by endless internal troubles because of them."
"As for my Li family, the many fellow Daoists of Azure Cloud Prefecture, and the various great Immortal Clans of Duravia Trade Prefecture, we have become the most pitiable party in this great chaos, forced to seek survival in the cracks between powers, or even becoming prey for these reclusive forces."
Hearing this, Zhao Jingmiao's heart gave a sudden jolt.
Their Zhao Clan knew nothing about the Li family, yet the Li family seemed to know them inside out.
"This is bad. Could it be... that the Li family knows about Ancestor Buqun using the formation to steal fortune?!!"
Immediately, he shouted, "Li Chang'an, you are skilled at manipulation and diplomacy. What kind of lies are you trying to use to bewitch the crowd now?!!"
However, Li Chang'an did not speak of the matter regarding the stealing of fortune.
With an expression of pity, he said,
"My Li family does not wish to become prey, nor can we withstand any more sudden disasters.
Back then, we pondered: how exactly could we survive in this chaotic world?
To seek advantages and avoid harm, we made many preparations.
Our Li family began to run simulations—deducing how we should respond if ten Void Refining realm experts were to break into Azure Cloud Prefecture in this age of chaos."
"Ten?!!" Zhao Jingmiao's face was drained of all color.
He was largely certain that Li Chang'an was not lying.
Because his Zhao Clan had confirmed it: eight Divinity Transformation cultivators had entered Azure Cloud Prefecture, only to disappear like stones sinking into the sea.
They had naively assumed that eight Divinity Transformation experts of the Zhao Clan could barge into Azure Cloud Prefecture and do whatever they pleased.
But... this damned Li family had been preparing for years to deal not with Divinity Transformation cultivators, but with Void Refining ones!
"Ten." Li Chang'an nodded slightly.
"A gentleman acts with openness and candor.
Senior, you must be a Clan Elder of the Zhao Clan.
When I speak these words, I have no intention of mocking you; please forgive me."
"You..."
Ignoring Zhao Jingmiao, and under the peculiar gazes of the crowd from the Duravia Trade Prefecture, Li Chang'an smiled and said,
"But even that was not enough.
Unknown enemies are far too dangerous for my Li family.
In such a chaotic world, we can only try our utmost to minimize the danger.
In truth, there is not much difference between humans and demonic beasts.
Beasts are exceptionally sensitive about their territory, and humans are much the same."
"The reclusive forces are just like the strongest of those beasts; once they occupy a territory, they will not easily attempt to seize another's.
As it happens, a senior in my clan possesses a certain understanding of these powerful reclusive forces."
Li Chang'an's voice was soft.
Yet, it reached the ears of Fairy Bai and Zhao Buqun inside the Immortal Domain's Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land like the booming of thunder from the Nine Heavens, leaving them staring blankly.
"What do you mean?!!"
Zhao Jingmiao seemed to realize something; his eyes gradually became bloodshot.
Li Chang'an observed the expressions of the many experts from the Duravia Trade Prefecture and sighed.
"The territory of these two prefectures is too vast.
A place of such peace is incredibly rare within the Azure Dusk Dynasty. Yet, only we know just how fragile these two prefectures really are.
We could not avoid the eventual arrival of a powerful force—one capable of crushing us all."
"However, being crushed passively versus choosing to be crushed actively are two very different choices.
And so, we gradually decided to 'invite' a reclusive force—one that was slightly weaker, one that we could eventually handle—to come here."
The night turned cold!
Li Chang'an's sigh was colder than the ice and snow outside the Immortal Domain—so cold that it made everyone within the Great Formation shiver.
"For such a force, there are three possibilities.
The first is that they remain aloof from worldly affairs and seek only resources; if that were the case, we would be willing to compete fairly.
The second is that they are benevolent, willing to stand together with our two prefectures through thick and thin—this was our best-case scenario.
And the third..."
Li Chang'an's voice turned cold.
In the dark night, a multitude of lights suddenly appeared—it was the people of Azure Cloud Prefecture, concealed outside the Immortal Domain.
Their faces could not be seen clearly in the darkness, yet the people inside the Great Formation seemed able to perceive the grim expressions of the Azure Cloud forces.
They were like a pack of man-eating fiends.
This swarm of fiends emitted chilling, ghostly flames, spreading across the entire Duravia Trade Prefecture, intent on devouring the meat they had long since placed upon the dinner table!
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