Azure Cloud Prefecture, atop the Ethereal Immortal Sect.
"Supreme Elder Pu Ci, the Sword Venerable, and the Corpse Ancestor of the Li Clan have both perished on the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
This is the perfect opportunity.
While the Li Clan has the Crown Prince and the Imperial Preceptor as their backers, there are many in the Imperial Court eyeing the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
The region is becoming increasingly wealthy..."
Supreme Elder Pu Ci sat cross-legged in meditation.
As he watched the envoy from the Department of Immortal Suppression depart, the gentle smile on his face gradually turned dark and gloomy.
Holding the decree of the Department of Immortal Suppression in his hand, he felt it weigh as heavy as a mountain.
"Why have you come to find this old man again? In your eyes, just what kind of person have I become?"
Supreme Elder Pu Ci's expression was incredibly grim.
Although he had retreated behind the scenes in recent years, allowing Daoist Ming Tai to become Sect Master once again, rumors continued to circulate throughout the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
People called him "grass atop the wall"—swaying with the wind.
Everyone said that in the entire Prefecture, one could trust anyone but Supreme Elder Pu Ci.
Originally, Supreme Elder Pu Ci had viewed these rumors with disdain.
But the arrival of this decree from the Department of Immortal Suppression left him silent and filled with indignation.
"The Sword Venerable and the Corpse Ancestor perished on the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?"
Supreme Elder Pu Ci sat back down on his prayer mat, his face expressionless.
"It seems you guys have truly underestimated that battle in the Immortal Domain.
They survived even a situation like that. The Six Great Ancestors of the Zhao Clan of the Immortal Domain had all reached the extreme peak of Void Refinement.
No matter how strong the Four Giants of the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems may be, how could they possibly surpass that?"
...
"Reporting to the Family Head: there is unusual movement in Westfall Prefecture."
Inside the main hall of the Li family, Li Xinnian was drinking tea.
A servant entered to report, causing Li Xinnian to pause with his cup in mid-air.
He simply waved his hand, dismissing the servant.
Just at that moment, Nangong Qingya arrived, her brow furrowed.
"What is it?" Li Xinnian offered a faint smile.
Nangong Qingya took a deep breath.
"It is my family. Somehow, they heard the news that our elders perished at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, and they have come to our Li Clan again to demand the business of the Hall of Heavenly Principles."
The "Hundred Treasures Pavilion" Nangong Clan was exceptionally passionate about "earning Spirit Stones" and "doing business."
Now that their clan possessed three Divinity Transformation stage cultivators, their ambitions had grown even greater.
With the "bad news" arriving from the Department of Immortal Suppression, they had no intention of standing with the Li Clan to face the crisis following the deaths of its experts; instead, they wanted a share of the spoils.
The smile on Li Xinnian's face gradually turned cold.
"Qingya, I have grown weary of the Nangong Clan.
Human nature truly cannot withstand testing, and the Nangong Clan can no longer be allowed to remain.
Qingya, go there personally. Since they want business, I will give them business."
"Within three months, I want them to relocate their entire clan to Silver Moon City in the northern part of the Dynasty to trade in Spirit Ores."
Hearing this, Nangong Qingya's expression changed.
"The Silver Moon branch is where your cousin Xinjue is stationed. If you drive them out, they will inevitably be disgruntled. If they were to act against Xinjue..."
"My cousin Xinjue was driven to Silver Moon City by our Clan Uncle precisely for that reason."
Li Xinnian laughed.
"The power dynamics in Silver Moon City are complex.
It is full of factions that have been mining for years—far more barbaric than our Azure Cloud Prefecture was back in the day.
If my cousin could take root and settle in a place like that, do you think he can't keep the Nangong Clan in check?
It just so happens that my cousin can give the Nangong Clan some proper 'guidance.'
It will give him an extra source of assistance, and the Nangong Clan will have a new avenue for their business."
Hearing this, Nangong Qingya furrowed her brows and nodded, her expression relaxing.
"Agreed."
As Nangong Qingya departed, Li Xinnian picked up his brush to write a letter to Li Xinjue.
Immediately after, he took a walk around the City of Merit.
Not long after, another member of the Hall of Heavenly Principles came to report.
"Reporting to the Family Head: It is a Void Refinement power.
They were driven out by a hidden faction located outside of Westfall Prefecture.
They are called the Blue Moon Immortal Sect."
"Two Void Refinement cultivators from their sect met with an Elder of the Eternal Immortal Sect.
They secured passage through Westfall Prefecture and intend to come to our Azure Cloud Prefecture to put down roots."
"The Elder of the Eternal Immortal Sect opened the gates wide for them and did not intervene."
Li Xinnian remained expressionless.
As he strolled around, the Old Tree was nowhere to be found within the Li Clan grounds, and not a single elder of the family was present.
In the City of Merit, the Martial Emperor and Zhuo Linlin, who could be seen playing chess by the roadside every day, were gone; only a chessboard remained.
The small tavern and the calligraphy shop nearby had closed their doors, and even at the headquarters of the Hall of Heavenly Principles, there were very few people coming and going.
"The Blue Moon Immortal Sect? They certainly picked a good time."
Li Xinnian's expression gradually turned cold and ruthless.
"Do they really think my Li Clan is an empty shell with no one left to defend it?"