"Reporting to Your Lordship, my clan's Old Ancestor truly is just one kick away from crossing the threshold, as you have witnessed with your own eyes."
Yun Manlou said apprehensively,
"It's just that at the Old Ancestor's current age, he only has this one chance to break through to the Dao.
Regarding the Dao of 'Spiritual Energy' that he cultivates, there are quite a few cultivators in the world attempting to break through to this realm.
The methods of using natural treasures brimming with the laws of spiritual energy must have been used by others, so he must find a new path."
"Find a new path?"
Ba Siyu actually let out a sigh of relief and didn't ask further.
If the old thing from the Yun Clan were to recklessly break through to the Dao, he would only view the Yun Clan members as pigs and dogs.
"Yes." Yun Manlou said in a deep voice,
"The matter of breaking through is a matter of life and death for my Yun Clan, so I ask for Your Lordship's understanding.
However, the opportunity for the Old Ancestor to break through lies with the Li Clan.
The Old Ancestor asked this subordinate to report that all things in the world are spiritual.
The people of the Li Clan possess stunning and unparalleled talent; they can assist him in stepping onto the Dao path."
Eating people!
Ba Siyu tapped lightly on the armrest, his fingertips moving increasingly fast as he guessed the Great Dao the Yun Clan's Old Ancestor intended to break through.
Basing it on spiritual energy, and then attempting to break through a Dao path that no one else had walked—this Daoist method had been used by many, and there were quite a few man-eaters in the world.
Ultimately, one had to gain the recognition of the Great Dao to open up a path uniquely their own.
This was also the Great Dao used by many demonic cultivators when the dynasty was first established; it was the most cruel, yet also the most feasible.
Amidst his thoughts, Bi Shihu had already let out a cold sneer.
"This subordinate has already dispatched Divine Archer Guan Mingxuan to keep a close eye on the Li Clan members who came to Deston Prefecture.
Inside the Golden Toad Divine Palace are Li Yunlin and Jiang Chenghuan. Both are at the early stage of the Void Refinement realm and also command the Azure Cloud Army."
"A retainer named Dongfang Xuan came to the Li Clan, and she is also at the early stage of the Void Refinement realm."
"The Azure Cloud Li Clan excels at hiding their clumsiness.
Guan Mingxuan has already scouted out traces of two other hidden Void Refinement experts in the Li Clan. The movements of those two are bizarre and hard to trace.
They are also the trump cards that gave the Li Clan the audacity to challenge Prefecture Lord Yun and this subordinate back then.
At the very most, even if one of those two is at the Half-step Body Integration realm, the Yun Clan's Old Ancestor can deal with them."
"Furthermore, since they are retainers, why would they truly risk their lives for the Li Clan? In an evenly matched situation, they will definitely flee.
Moreover, we have prepared for decades. This subordinate and the Yun Clan have both summoned our good friends; we must make the Li Clan swallow their bitter regret in Deston Prefecture!"
"Lord Wu Neng of the Immortal Suppression Department already has a rift with the Azure Cloud Li Clan.
Even if the small clique the Li Clan later formed wants to come to their aid, it will be too late."
Ba Siyu's fingers went from lightly tapping the armrest to softly stroking it.
Bi Shihu glanced at Ba Siyu's movements and said calmly,
"A great battle is imminent, and various factions are deploying their troops. The Li Clan hasn't dared to come out these past few years. Your Lordship is heading to the front lines, so how could you possibly bother with these trivial matters?
If half of the Shadowfell Prefecture's territory is taken in this battle, you can then launch expeditions against Sunreach Prefecture.
With a Body Integration mighty figure under Your Lordship's command, expanding the dynasty's territory is right before your eyes."
"Step down."
Ba Siyu waved his hand casually; comparing the various factions required deep and bitter thought.
Yun Manlou and Bi Shihu exchanged a glance, both their mouths curling upwards as they left shoulder to shoulder.
Zhou Chengli's expression was calm. He bowed to leave, but suddenly stopped when he heard a voice by his ear.
"Old Zhou, you are a bit quiet today."
With his back to Ba Siyu, Zhou Chengli's expression changed.
As he turned around, he hastily composed his face, smiling at the playfully observing Ba Siyu, "I was merely feeling compassionate at the thought of a clan that has been utterly loyal to the country declining here in Deston Prefecture."
Hearing this, Ba Siyu actually felt somewhat relieved.
Frowning, he said, "Nonsense, Old Zhou. Of those of us who came to Deston Prefecture, how many are not fighting for the country and our human race? A saintly heart cannot save the dynasty, much less the human race."
"Only Spiritual power can save people. Sacrificing one powerful clan to gain a Body Integration expert means we can kill more Wu tribesmen and save more humans."
Zhou Chengli nodded in agreement.
But what kind of damn logic was this? Zhou Chengli couldn't understand it, nor could he agree with it, yet he had no choice but to lower his white-haired head.
"Old Zhou, stay by my side these coming days. When my grand army enters Shadowfell Prefecture, I will need you."
The cultivators on the Carefree Cloud prepared their Dharma Treasures, and the mighty figure issued his orders.
Standing on the edge of the clouds, Zhou Chengli looked down at Highsun City below.
The cultivators in the city were busy; spirit ships floated in the sky, and cultivators rode flying swords through the air.
Lowering his old eyes, he saw that the Li Clan's Chamber of Commerce was still bustling with endless streams of people.
"Why... why haven't you left? Why haven't you left?"
...
By the window, Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow as he watched the spirit ships floating in the cloudy sky.
A cultivator hurriedly arrived in Highsun City.
"Reporting to the Immortal Masters of the Azure Cloud Li Clan!
Lord Spear Saint of Sunfall City has anticipated the enemy's moves and has decided that the three cities will launch a swift attack on the Shadowfell Prefecture to take the Thousand-Blade Pass!
This battle is sudden, intended to paralyze the Wu tribe. The grand army of Sunfall City has already charged out under the Spear Saint's leadership. We must assist them with all speed!"
"The military merits for this battle are abundant. I ask that everyone make their choice: you may fight alongside the army, or you may assist in guarding our Highsun City."
After finishing his words, he departed.
In such massive cultivator battles, scouts from various factions were hidden everywhere. Sometimes, keeping even one's own people in the dark was the norm.
Li Changsheng looked down and saw that the customers of the Clan's Chamber of Commerce had also scattered in alarm due to this sudden combat order.
It wouldn't be long before Highsun City descended into chaos.
"The time has come."
Li Changsheng raised his head.
Footsteps echoed from behind him.
Li Changyao was already fully equipped and ready to go.
Wearing the Li Clan's battle armor, she carried the Pew-Pew Pink Bow on her back, which had been tempered time and time again and was now a Low-Grade Dharma Treasure.
Two clusters of flickering flames darted around the left and right shoulders of her armor.
These were astonishingly the two clusters of Heavenly Fire that Li Changsheng had found for Li Changyao using the Human Emperor's Eye back then.
"In the direction of Silver Wolf Lake. Changyao, do you see the one surnamed Yun? Yun Manlou."
"I see him."
Li Changyao nodded slightly.
She took the pink bow off her back, a pale blue afterglow flashing through her eyes in an instant.
From her quiver, she drew one of the Top-Grade Dharma Treasure arrows Li Yaotie had forged for her.
[Shadow-Slaughtering Gale Arrow]
[Contains the laws of Wind and Annihilation.
With Zhao Tingyu's spine as the foundation, imbued with the power of Wind-attribute laws sent by the Old Ancestor, and forged from various Wind-attribute natural treasures.
Its shadow is formless, possessing extreme lethal intent.]
"Kill him."
Yun Manlou was heading rapidly toward Silver Wolf Lake, moving in a great hurry.
Even though he was thousands of miles away, he was incredibly clear in Li Changyao's eyes.
Inside the secret room of the Li Clan's Chamber of Commerce.
Li Xinnian withdrew his body full of blood Qi.
Sensing the Spiritual power of his Great-Aunt Changyao above the Chamber of Commerce, his thin lips moved slightly, "It's starting, and you didn't even give me a heads-up."
In an instant, his entire body surged with blood Qi, his Void Refinement Spiritual power majestic.
He actually burst right through the roof of the Chamber of Commerce like a bloody shadow!
"Whoosh!"
As scorching and freezing Qi emanated into the cloudy sky, Li Xinnian's eyes were blood-red.
Stepping onto the "Shadow-Slaughtering Gale Arrow" fired by his Great-Aunt, he rode through the void, his long hair flying, his left hand behind his back, and holding the Yun-Slaying Saber in his right hand.
Without a single word, he charged forward to kill, much like the silence of the Li Clan members over these past decades.
---
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