Duravia Trade Prefecture, Immortal Domain, Zhao Clan.
Here, the Zhao Clan's high towers were forming an ever-greater scale.
As far as the eye could see, there were only the endless Zhao Clan towers. Because of the spiritual formations maintaining the environment, the four seasons here were normal.
In this era, "normal seasons" were a blessing for both the common people and cultivators, which naturally made the Immortal Domain incredibly bustling.
The Immortal Zhao Clan had already become a sacred ground in the Duravia Trade Prefecture; even the Aeternus Sect was not one-hundredth of the Zhao family.
At this moment, inside the Zhao family's main hall, Family Head Zhao Qingguang was feeling restless at heart.
"Clan Elder, the Azure Cloud Li Clan is developing too rapidly. How many years has it been?"
Inside the hall, there was also an old man with the white hair of a crane but the youthful face of a child, his complexion rosy, indicating abundant blood qi.
This elder's name was Zhao Buqun.
Like Fairy Bai, he was one of the Zhao Clan Elders, and he excelled in spiritual formations.
That the Immortal Domain could achieve such a flourishing scene in these years was largely thanks to Zhao Buqun's formations, which kept the Immortal Domain in a state of perpetual spring.
Even though he had grown up in the Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land, this Zhao Buqun was only the second Clan Elder Zhao Qingguang had ever seen.
It was just that both Clan Elders shared the same temperament: they didn't place the Azure Cloud Li Clan in their eyes in the slightest, causing Zhao Qingguang to sigh with emotion.
"Clan Elder, ever since that child Li Xinnian became the Li Family Head, the Azure Cloud Li Clan has spent these years using marriage alliances to eliminate the friction between the various factions within Azure Cloud Prefecture.
Even twenty percent of the forces in my Duravia Trade Prefecture are now thoroughly at the Li family's disposal.
That child's means of eradicating dissidents and manipulating forces are truly astonishing; the strength of Azure Cloud Prefecture has increased by more than tenfold."
Zhao Qingguang's eyes grew even more worried.
"Once, the Li clan had few heirs, but now their children and grandchildren fill the halls. In just a few short decades, following the 'Xin' generation, the Li clan has added four more generations: 'Zhi,' 'Yuan,' 'Jian,' and 'Qiu'."
"They have already established branch families in the Imperial Capital, Shadowfell Prefecture, Duravia Trade Prefecture, Duskwild Prefecture, Northguard City... there are roughly ten branch families now.
In particular, the 'Merchant Li Family' and the 'Red Spider Lily Li Family' have extraordinary futures and are deeply entangled in many affairs."
As he spoke, Zhao Qingguang let out a long sigh.
"Clan Elder, if they truly gain momentum, it won't be something we can eliminate just because we want to.
The Merchant Li Family is growing closer to the Heavenly Light Sect; the Northern Border Li Family has the Grand Tutor as their backer; the Li Family in Duskwild Prefecture is seeking a marriage alliance with 4th Prince... This..."
Although Fairy Bai had once told him that the Li family was nothing to worry about, he had been unable to forget the humiliation Li Xinghuo had inflicted upon him all those years ago.
Zhao Qingguang had even traced the Li family's history back hundreds of years, studying them bit by bit.
He had come to a conclusion: this family was like wild grass.
If left uninterfered with, they would inevitably grow wild and spread.
If they were not completely exterminated, they would flourish again after the wind and rain.
The more he learned, the more awe he felt in his heart.
This clan truly exemplified the saying, "Only in the strongest winds does one know the sturdiest grass."
Compared to his Immortal Zhao Clan, they were by no means inferior.
"The Li family's new four generations of descendants? Even if it were ten generations, or forty, they would still be far behind true Immortal Clans like us.
Qingguang, you have only been out in the world for a little over a century. It is good that you are not arrogant or conceited. However, being overly self-deprecating is a sign of inferiority."
Zhao Buqun spoke indifferently, "The cultivators of our clan have stood in this world for thousands of generations. Regardless of our hidden trump cards, the Daoist methods we practice, or our unorthodox arts, all have been refined with excellence from generation to generation.
Let alone the Azure Cloud Li Clan, even the powerful Noble Clans of the Imperial Capital are inferior to my Zhao Clan.
Only those reclusive Clans and sects are worthy of contending with my Zhao family."
Hearing this, Zhao Qingguang grew even more anxious.
But Zhao Buqun frowned, and his tone shifted.
"However, the Li Clan is involved in many matters, which is indeed troublesome.
You should just focus on presiding over the clan's overall situation with peace of mind; there is no need for you to be troubled by other matters."
"Clan Elder?" Zhao Qingguang was stunned.
Although he was the Family Head, he actually knew very little about the clan's internal affairs.
"Clan Elder, if you have made a decision, why not discuss it with me? I can summon the clansmen to gather in a moment.
The Li clan's influence spans the entire government and public; if we are to take action, it would be best to discuss it thoroughly."
"Hahaha!" Zhao Buqun laughed heartily.
"Qingguang, my Zhao clan has existed for tens of thousands of years and supports a million clansmen within our Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land.
Do not think that we of the Zhao clan are truly ignorant of the world.
The Li clan may be powerful, but is my Immortal Zhao Clan someone to be trifled with?"
"The people of the world drift with the current.
Since my Zhao clan has entered the world, we naturally must conform to the tides.
As for the Li clan's sky-high backer—haven't they still been suppressed by my Zhao clan over this past century, forced to obediently hand over their power?"
Hearing this, Zhao Qingguang's gaze instantly sharpened.