In the cloudy sky.
A group of people poured their Spiritual power into driving a Dharma Treasure, heading toward the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
"Cave Master Wang, hurry up and drive your Dharma Treasure; we might still make it in time!"
Qi Wunian's face was anxious.
Back when the Department of Immortal Suppression went to the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, only a few of them survived.
He had ignored the Commander's orders, and it was only with the help of the Azure Cloud Li Clan that he was able to return to the Imperial Capital and find a treasured cultivation land in the Heavenly Light Sect.
Over the years, he had kept the Azure Cloud Li Clan's grace in mind.
But the Li Clan had grown increasingly formidable, even capable of stirring up the winds and clouds in places like the Western Frontier. How could he repay their favor?
But a few days ago, word spread that a group of over a thousand cultivators had actually treated the Southern Frontier as a land of karmic opportunity.
He had hurried over immediately. Now, Qi Wunian clutched his Buddhist prayer beads.
The once dignified Commander of the Department of Immortal Suppression, a righteous and chivalrous warrior of the cultivation world, could only pray to Buddha for safety.
The Dharma Treasure beneath Qi Wunian's feet was a golden bird.
Hearing Qi Wunian's urging, Wang Jinhu—who was at the front stuffing an entire Tier-8 spirit vein into the golden bird—was overwhelmed with anxiety.
"Fellow Daoist, don't rush me. This golden bird is a treasure bestowed by Martial Grandfather. It is already going at its fastest speed.
I calculated the time earlier; we will arrive in one day. Even if the golden bird breaks down, it won't be of any use. Besides..."
Wang Jinhu gripped the iron token at his waist.
That was a treasure bestowed by his Martial Grandfather, Patriarch Heavenly Light, capable of summoning his Martial Grandfather's divine descent.
Behind him was Duanmu Qi of the Eternal Immortal Sect, who had hastily stepped through the void with his physical body to reach the Imperial Capital ten days ago and was currently sitting cross-legged to restore his Spiritual power.
There were also the fellow Daoists Duanmu Qi had hastily sought out upon arriving in the Imperial Capital.
People from the Sword Pavilion had come—Sword Venerable Drizzle and Master Han arrived together, though these two Sword Venerables didn't get along very well.
Even people from the Department of Immortal Suppression had come.
Following the Commander's orders, the aura of the Body Integration realm faintly lingered around them.
With Uncle Rain appearing in the world, they had no choice but to participate.
"That plague-ridden Perfected Qiuyue!" Zhangsun Buhuo cursed loudly.
"Under that old bastard's methods, the Li Clan's Dark Crows couldn't fly out of Azure Cloud Prefecture. And you too, Duanmu Qi!
As the sect master of a sect, my Zhangsun Clan was right nearby. Why didn't you join forces with my Zhangsun Clan to stop Perfected Qiuyue?"
At this, Duanmu Qi, who was currently recovering, opened his eyes.
"I went. You weren't home, and you couldn't control the juniors of the Zhangsun Clan.
If our two families had arrived together, the cultivators heading to the Azure Cloud Prefecture would have probably been even more excited."
"Not a single one of those people is simple."
On the golden bird, even Ah Hei of the Emberwing Guard was surprisingly present.
The perpetually masked Ah Hei lay seductively on his side on the ground, his sole exposed pair of eyes filled with teasing.
"Over a thousand people all rushed there to plunder. Once they finish plundering Azure Cloud Prefecture, they might just decide on a whim to plunder your Westfall Prefecture and Clearpeak Prefecture together."
"Your Excellency, what do you know?" Qi Wunian walked toward Ah Hei and bowed slightly.
This Emberwing Guard commander accompanied the Grand Preceptor.
Now that the Grand Preceptor was in the Northern Frontier, dealing with the Demon Tribe alongside the Grand Tutor, the remaining Emberwing Guard personnel in the Imperial Capital were all commanded by Ah Hei.
For tens of thousands of years, the Emberwing Guard had always been an existence with immense, heaven-reaching influence.
"I know plenty."
Today, the Grand Preceptor was not present. In just ten short years, Ah Hei had become increasingly free and easy.
He said casually, "Our Empress has a terrifying amount of methods."
"The Empress?" Everyone's expressions changed.
For the Empress to be mentioned by Ah Hei, it was to be feared that she was inextricably linked to the disaster in Azure Cloud Prefecture.
However, it was completely normal for the imperial family to move against the Li Clan.
In the four directions of the Imperial Dynasty—East, South, West, and North—no one could gain an advantage.
No matter who was on the throne, they had to be wary of the Grand Tutor.
As for the Western Frontier... they simply couldn't form a cohesive force.
And the Fourth Prince in the Eastern Frontier had already rebelled.
"Let me just tell you this: Perfected Qiuyue is extremely cowardly," Ah Hei said nonchalantly.
"In the past, he committed an offense and fell into the hands of the Department of Immortal Suppression.
As a result, he found Wu Neng the very same day and bent his knees in supplication.
But many years ago, he started meeting the Empress. With every meeting, Perfected Qiuyue's courage grew a fraction."
"And then there's Zishu Ling, who was sent out by the old geezers of the Zishu family.
They originally thought she could deal with the Empress—after all, the Zishu family is the true imperial bloodline. Who knew Zishu Ling'er would be so disappointing?
The Empress saw through her ambitions instantly. The Empress has ten thousand ways to kill her, but deliberately kept her alive."
"..."
One matter after another was spoken of cryptically, causing everyone's expressions to change.
Ah Hei said faintly,
"Right, I heard that even before anything happened in Azure Cloud Prefecture, our Empress had already secretly contacted many experts from hidden factions.
Once the Li Clan is defeated, they should be well prepared to deal with the Wu Tribe invading from the Southern Frontier."
"The battle line will be right outside Clearpeak Prefecture."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhangsun Buhuo and Duanmu Qi exchanged a glance.
Zhangsun Buhuo said angrily,
"My Zhangsun Clan lost our homeland in Sunreach Prefecture to the Wu Tribe. We haven't even had a few days of peace, and now we're going to fall within the Wu Tribe's battle line again?"
Ah Hei shrugged.
"Over the years, the hidden factions have stayed out of affairs one by one, only sending their disciples out to deal with the Wu Tribe and Demon Tribe as a form of experiential learning and treasure hunting.
The greater the crisis, the more cohesive the Human Race becomes, and the ones in power benefit at such times.
The Empress, however, has always suffered from the fact that the hidden factions are so powerful that she cannot control them."
Seeing the dark clouds gathering over everyone on the golden bird, Ah Hei continued to fan the flames.
"The one at the top of our Human Race has a blacker heart than anyone else. You all better just pray for yourselves."
"And there is Uncle Rain."
A person who had come from the Department of Immortal Suppression, wearing a ghost-face mask like an evil magistrate descending to the mortal realm from the Underworld, spoke in a hoarse voice.
"The Department has been investigating the Peerless Hall. The Commander suspects that Uncle Rain has never cut off contact with the Empress."
At the mention of Uncle Rain, everyone's expressions filled with worry.
"There are no fewer than three hidden factions that have been destroyed at the hands of Uncle Rain.
When he occupied the Imperial Dynasty's official post, he had already mastered three divine abilities.
Tens of thousands of years have passed; I'm afraid he has no fewer than seven now."
Qi Wunian also knew something about Uncle Rain and said solemnly,
"He killed a Body Integration expert. Once his wind and rain fall, all living things perish. He is also the person in the Imperial Dynasty most adept at slaughter."
"I'm afraid that when we arrive at Azure Cloud Prefecture..."
"We will help as much as we can. The Li Clan cannot be destroyed. Furthermore, they still have people in the Western Frontier." Zhangsun Buhuo clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
The several people on the spirit boat all harbored their own thoughts, becoming increasingly laden with anxiety as they approached the border of the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Perfected Qiuyue and the others were plotting with full preparation against the unprepared.
This matter involved many major factions behind the scenes, and even the Peerless Hall had made a move.
With an almighty figure like Uncle Rain going personally, and the Empress strategizing in secret, even hidden factions with almighty figures like them would find it to be certain death.
No matter how one deduced it, the Li Clan had absolutely no chance of survival.