Chapter 1193: Chapter 1187: No Chance Of Survival
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 mander’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 mander 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 e—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 e.
Following the mander’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 mander acpanied 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 manded 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 bee 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 pletely 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 mitted 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 bees, 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 e 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 mander 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, being 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.
Just as they reached the detection range, Ah Hei, who had been lying on his side, suddenly jumped up and gasped.
“This shouldn’t be. I’ve truly seen a ghost!”
Since boarding the spirit boat, Ah Hei had never shown such a horrified expression.
This sudden exclamation caused a trace of profound sorrow to flash through the hearts of everyone on the boat.
Scenes of their past cooperation with the Li Clan flashed through their minds like a revolving lantern.
Although they usually secretly mocked the people of the Li Clan as dirty, despicable, and rustic villagers, right now, they only remembered the Li Clan’s good points.
When all was said and done, if the Li Clan was in trouble, they truly dared to step up.
The Li Clan had made their fortune through the merchant path, yet they hadn’t forgotten these friends.
Although Li Chang became an official in the Imperial Capital and was rumored to be the Empress’s paramour, he had also helped them gain a foothold in the Imperial Dynasty…
“How did it e to this?” A trace of unbearable sorrow flashed through Duanmu Qi’s eyes, a feeling of the fox mourning the death of the hare spontaneously arising.
“Half of the Li Clan’s bloodline remains outside.”
Wang Jinhu let out a long breath.
“Over the years, the Li Clan has made quite a few enemies in the world. These Li Clan descendants will definitely face a reckoning.”
“My Sword Pavilion can establish a village outside Sword Mountain to shelter them.” Sword Venerable Drizzle thought of Li Yaozu.
“The Zhangsun Clan could offer marriage alliances, but it’s a pity that once the Wu Tribe arrives, we won’t even be able to look after ourselves.”
Zhangsun Buhuo said sorrowfully, “Sect Master Duanmu should also plan a way out.”
“The oute is not yet decided, how can my Immortal Sect make a claim?” Duanmu Qi looked pale.
“Fellow Daoist Zhangsun, please flee together with my Immortal Sect, along with the Xuanyuan Clan, so we can look out for each other.”
“What are you all doing?”
Three black lines appeared on Ah Hei’s forehead. “The Li Clan is fine.”
“The matters of before and after death, the continuation of the bloodline is so…”
Duanmu Qi was originally wearing a profound and solemn expression, but upon hearing the latter words, he suddenly froze.
“What did you say?”
Ah Hei had already waved his hand.
As he unleashed his divine ability, spiritual light flickered in his eyes.
A white mist appeared ahead, projecting the scene viewed by his divine sense.
Looking at the Azure Cloud Prefecture after these ten days, it was not slaughtered by Uncle Rain’s divine ability as they had expected.
The cloudy sky was gloomy, densely covered with black clouds, with lightning constantly flashing.
It was the mutual resistance of fire and rain that filled Azure Cloud Prefecture with a thick mist of dust, making it difficult to see.
The canopy of the 1000-foot red tree was vibrantly colored, standing tall above the clouds.
The cloudy sky was bizarre.
Gathering all the people in Azure Cloud Prefecture capable of flying into the clouds using techniques—none of whom were below the Golden Core realm—they flew in dense formations and arranged array formations in the sky, sealing it almost airtight.
Beneath the 1000-foot red tree, root vines pierced into human bodies, making them look like walking corpses being manipulated in the cloudy sky.
They continuously transmitted Spiritual power, connecting with the Li Clan’s grand array to form a giant cocoon ahead.
The karmic luck of heaven and earth of Azure Cloud Prefecture converged, and a Divine Dragon soared around, contending with an unknown existence inside the giant cocoon.
Where was there any scene of defeat?
This was exactly the moment when the power of the entire Azure Cloud Prefecture was gathered, slaughtering the enemy with one heart and mind.
Everyone was entirely dumbfounded.
Traveling from so far away, they had calculated everything regarding the Li Clan’s funerals and legacies, and had even planned how to feign pliance if they encountered Uncle Rain upon arriving in Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Now they saw no sign of Perfected Qiuyue; the thousands of invaders had disappeared without a trace, and only Uncle Rain’s aura remained?
“Hiss~”
Duanmu Qi trembled all over.
Catching a glimpse in the white mist of the Li Clan members stripping the tendons and ripping the bones of a hundred-meter-long heavenly horse and distributing the parts to their fellow Daoists, he said numbly,
“Was this an invasion by over a thousand cultivators, or did the Li Clan slaughter their way into the territory of those thousand cultivators?”
Pairs of dumbfounded eyes met each other.
Suddenly, within Ah Hei’s spying method, an old face appeared, and the scene of Azure Cloud Prefecture could no longer be seen.
Before Duanmu Qi could react, he was startled by the suddenly appearing person, and hurriedly bowed in greeting, “Steward Huang.”
After making this bow, he felt something was wrong. As the master of a sect, why would he bow to a mere steward?
Thinking carefully, there was something else wrong. How could a mere steward break Ah Hei’s spying method?
He immediately righted his state of mind and asked about the situation in Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Steward Huang spoke vaguely,
“Thank you all for ing to assist; our Azure Cloud Li Clan is endlessly grateful.
This foreign invasion was entirely posed of insignificant scoundrels, mere chickens, and pottery dogs.
We are to blame for not informing you all in advance, causing you to worry.
A banquet has already been prepared at home, and we invite you all to attend so we may fulfill our duties as hosts.”
Soon after, the white mist dissipated.
Ah Hei frowned.
“The Li Clan exhausted the heaven and earth karmic luck of Azure Cloud Prefecture and broke my Dao.
The one trapped in the tree cocoon is Uncle Rain. There’s a secret in there that they won’t let others pry into.”
“Trapped… trapped Uncle Rain?”
Qi Wunian opened his mouth wide.
The Li Clan… trapped Uncle Rain? Were these words even spoken in the human language?
“They want to kill him.”
Ah Hei wiped his face. “And it looks like… they are going to succeed.”
Sword Venerable Drizzle frowned deeply, voicing a soul-searching question.
“Are we here to provide reinforcements, or to attend a banquet…”
“Let’s just consider it as attending a banquet.”
—
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