The Aeternus Sect.
Where there were once thirteen immortal mountains, now only nine remained to guard the sect's main peak.
The great clans of the Duravia Trade Prefecture had all sent projections of their experts here, and their expressions were grave.
Grand Elder Puci sat cross-legged in the center. His form flickered, revealing he was but a projection.
"Fellow clan heads," he began, "you should all be aware of the Li family's command. The Wu Clan has broken through the border of the two southwestern prefectures. For them to ask us to dispatch troops together now is both fair and reasonable."
Compared to Ming Daozi, Grand Elder Puci possessed a greater sense of authority.
The heads of twenty-six great clans from the Duravia Trade Prefecture were present.
No matter how long they had fought amongst themselves in the past, now that an outsider like the Li family intended to usurp their position, they had no choice but to set aside their prejudices and face them as one.
Among them were the patriarchs of the two most ancient Immortal Clans in the Duravia Trade Prefecture: the Sun and the Ding.
The Sun Clan's patriarch, Sun Haotian, who had a Sun symbol between his brows, heard Grand Elder Puci's words and said in a low voice, "The two prefectures will contribute cultivators equally. That is fair. A good thing."
"Hmph."
The head of the Ding Clan, Ding Yuanxiao, snorted.
"The Li family tells us to go, and we're just supposed to go? Do they really think that just because they captured Prince Qian, they can now order us around? If it weren't for the fact that they brought in the White Qilin from Duskwild Prefecture and had the Imperial Preceptor as their backer, the Li family would have met their end in our Duravia Trade Prefecture long ago!"
As soon as he said this, the other clan heads erupted in anger.
"That's right! The White Qilin is gone now, so what is there to be afraid of?"
"The world is in chaos, and the Imperial Preceptor has his hands full. What do we have left to fear? Those people from Azure Cloud have gone too far; they show us no respect whatsoever!"
"My own son died at their hands, and now they want me to send my clansmen to fight the Wu Clan? In their dreams!"
"..."
As they all began to shout over one another, Grand Elder Puci's expression darkened. He could only let out a sharp rebuke: "Enough!"
At Grand Elder Puci's words, everyone fell silent.
The old Daoist's deep voice rang out, "I told you all long ago that the Li family is now powerful. Do you still not understand? It is useless to fight them. Do you really intend, for a moment's indignation, to engage the Li family in a life-or-death struggle? The Great Dao requires forbearance!"
Seeing the displeasure on their faces, Grand Elder Puci's tone softened.
"Everyone here is intelligent. The world is in chaos, Prince Qian is dead, and the path we once followed is now a thing of the past. The Great Dao flows with the current, and we must also adapt to the times.
Setting all else aside, is our Duravia Trade Prefecture not in a much better state than other places right now?"
Sun Haotian nodded. "What Grand Elder Puci says is correct. The world is in chaos, with war everywhere. Our two southern prefectures are remote, and as a result, have been spared from the conflict."
"Now that you put it that way," another clan head added, "this peace was indeed hard-won."
Ding Yuanxiao raised an eyebrow. "But the thought of taking orders from outsiders... this old man simply refuses to submit!"
Sun Haotian gave a wry smile. "Brother Ding, don't tell me you want us to fight the Li family until we've exhausted everything? You're thousands of years old, and you still haven't learned forbearance."
"Hmph." Ding Yuanxiao let out a cold snort, full of disdain.
"In an age of great chaos, there is also opportunity," Grand Elder Puci said, seeing that Ding Yuanxiao had fallen silent.
"Then it is settled," he continued. "Everyone will do as the Li family says for now. Our roots in this Duravia Trade Prefecture run deep; how could we possibly be shaken by the people of Azure Cloud? The people of Azure Cloud may want to become the masters of this prefecture... but that just means our Duravia Trade Prefecture will have another Prince Qian, that's all."
Hearing this, all the clan heads let out a sneer.
...
The Imperial Capital, within the Heavenly Palace.
Inside the Human Emperor's bedchambers, a handsome middle-aged man attended to the side of a meditation cushion.
On the cushion sat an old man in his twilight years. His body was covered in dark spots, his cheeks were sunken, and his skin sagged as if it might peel away from his bones at any moment.
Min Youguo's posture was respectful, but even with his head bowed, his eyes continuously scanned the old man's body with a hint of pity.
He remembered the Human Emperor's former majesty, when his power shook the world, yet now he had been reduced to such a pitiful state.
"Min Youguo, has Feiheng been found?" the Human Emperor asked, opening his cloudy eyes.
Min Youguo hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject has ordered the Emberwing Guard to conduct a search, but we have found no trace of Prince Feiheng. He disappeared in Duskwild Prefecture, and I fear..."
The Human Emperor fell silent for a moment before asking, "Is there another candidate?"
Hearing this, Min Youguo fell to his knees in alarm.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject would not dare to speak on the matter of the heir apparent! Your Majesty is the supreme ruler of the Human Race, blessed with the Mandate of Heaven. The matter of succession is for your heavenly fate to decide. How could this humble subject dare to comment?"
Despite such respectful words, a flicker of displeasure flashed in the Human Emperor's eyes.
However, he did not press the matter.
"How are the affairs of the state?" he asked instead. "The Wu Clan is attacking our borders. We must not, under any circumstances, allow them to destroy the foundation of our Imperial Dynasty."
"Reporting to Your Majesty..."
Min Youguo said with a smile, "The Wu Clan originally had the advantage, but the Eternal Sun Prefecture and the Duravia Trade Prefecture have dispatched one hundred thousand troops, allowing our border forces to mount a resistance. Prefecture Lord Li Dalong, in particular, has spared no effort in this matter."
"Excellent, most excellent."
As the Human Emperor's words faded, Min Youguo departed from the bedchambers.
Walking out of the Heavenly Palace, he let out a long sigh.
"His Majesty... his days are truly numbered. There are so many princes in this world; even Prince Yu has the makings of an emperor. Why does it have to be Prince Feiheng? I can only hope the Li family is keeping him well hidden."
...
Merit City.
The Li family's Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land was a picture of thriving prosperity.
In the fields of the Outer City, Prince Feiheng was irrigating a spirit field.
The bright sun of the Grotto-Heaven beat down, causing him to raise a hand and wipe the sweat from his forehead.
The other farmers in the spirit fields nearby waved to him, and Prince Feiheng gave a small wave back, calling out a casual greeting in return.
After a day of labor, he returned to Merit City to continue his life in obscurity.
"Prince Feiheng."
Li Dalong walked out of his home. Seeing Prince Feiheng covered in sweat, he gave a wry smile.
"Your Highness, with your noble status, why must you spend all day working in the fields?"
"There is something you don't know, Prefecture Lord Li," Feiheng said with a smile.
"My days used to be filled with drinking and merrymaking, and it all became quite tedious. Now that I have nothing to do, I thought I might as well experience the daily life of the common people."
Li Dalong frowned, observing Feiheng's amiable demeanor.
Feiheng had been staying with the Li family for many years now, and Li Dalong still couldn't understand how this prince was so deeply favored by the Human Emperor.
---
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