Duravia Trade Prefecture, Immortal Domain.
Supreme Elder Puci of the Ethereal Immortal Sect arrived in a hurry, his aura chaotic and impatient.
His usually amiable appearance now bore a look of anger; his gnashing teeth revealed the fire burning in his heart.
"You scoundrels! The lands of the two prefectures were at peace; how could you move against a junior of the Li family?"
"Bastards! Bastards!!!"
Supreme Elder Puci knew that the two families had been at odds for many years and that a great war was inevitable sooner or later.
But the people of the Zhao Clan were stupid to the extreme.
Li Qiukong had died within his Ethereal Immortal Sect; it was clearly an accident and not part of the Zhao Clan's plan.
Which meant that the Zhao Clan was not ready for a war with the Li Clan.
He knew the nature of the Li family all too well—they were veritable madmen.
To avenge a single life, they would dare to sacrifice ten of their own.
This was especially bad for his Ethereal Immortal Sect, which was completely unprepared.
If Li Qiukong had merely died, that would be one thing, but he just had to die where his Ethereal Immortal Sect was located.
How could he possibly come out of this unscathed?
"I want to see Zhao Qingguang—no, I want to see Fairy Bai!"
In the past, when visiting the Immortal Domain, Supreme Elder Puci was always refined and courteous.
But today, ignoring all customary etiquette and status, he barged straight into the Zhao Clan's estate.
Inside the great hall, he saw Zhao Qingguang sitting in the main seat, drenched in sweat.
Flanking him were Fairy Bai and Zhao Buqun.
Even Fairy Bai, usually as calm as still water, had her brows tightly furrowed.
Laid out outside the great hall were sixteen corpses.
They appeared to have been stitched together with needle and thread, suggesting their deaths had been incredibly gruesome; some were nothing more than chunks of flesh and personal effects.
Three people knelt before them, their faces filled with indignation and rage, wounds still visible on their bodies.
They were likely survivors of the battle on Spirit Mountain.
"Senior Puci."
Seeing Supreme Elder Puci, Zhao Qingguang actually breathed a sigh of relief.
He hurriedly went up to welcome him and supported Supreme Elder Puci to a seat.
"Ai, if Senior Puci hadn't come, this humble one was about to make a trip to your Ethereal Immortal Sect."
"Hmph!" Supreme Elder Puci's inner anger subsided slightly, but he didn't waste words with this Zhao clansman.
"I know about the matter on Spirit Mountain. The urgent matter now is how to quell the Li clan's anger."
"Yes, yes, yes." Zhao Qingguang nodded repeatedly.
He glanced at the two clan elders, whose brows were knitting tighter and tighter, but paid them no mind.
He knew better than anyone that the family's foothold was currently unstable, and this was not the time for a great war with the Li clan.
He hurriedly asked, "What does Supreme Elder Puci think we should do?"
"The Immortal-Martial Li family of Perennis Immortal City stems from Li Xinnian's lineage.
Li Qiukong is the eldest son of the direct line, and furthermore, he is the closed-door disciple of that Monk Yuming from the Great Ming King Temple."
Supreme Elder Puci glanced at the three kneeling outside the door.
"Such great capability—cultivators at the peak of the Golden Core realm bullying a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. What kind of logic is that?
The Li clan has long coveted your Zhao clan's formation capable of changing celestial phenomena.
Offer that as compensation, add a mid-grade Dharma Treasure, and send these three to the Li clan to plead their guilt; that should be feasible."
Hearing this, the faces of the three cultivators outside turned ashen. The leader hurriedly bowed toward the interior of the hall.
"Family Head, Clan Elders, please spare our lives! My Xianhe lineage has served the family for generations.
My child, Mi Yu, even cultivated a rare immortal seedling; for many years, we have been meritorious servants of the clan!"
His eyes darting about evasively, snot and tears streamed down Zhao Mi Yu's face.
"Besides, on Spirit Mountain, it was that Li Qiukong who spoke insolently first!
He tried to snatch the Heaven and Earth Spirit Spring that a junior of my clan had obtained through a fortuitous encounter.
This child had no choice but to intervene to protect him."
"And where is that child of yours? Were there any witnesses present?" A trace of disgust flashed across Supreme Elder Puci's face.
Just as expected, Zhao Mi Yu cried out in grief, "Senior, that child of mine was killed by Li Qiukong long ago! His corpse lies right here.
That Li Qiukong clearly came prepared—otherwise, how could even I have been injured?
It was Li Qiukong who sought to harm us! The ones who should be offering apologies are them! Yes, them!"
"Scoundrel!" Supreme Elder Puci slammed his hand on the table in fury.
Without sparing Zhao Mi Yu another glance, he looked with a cold sneer at the embarrassed Zhao Qingguang.
"Family Head Zhao, do you intend to spout such nonsense to this poor Daoist as well?"
"No, no, no."
Zhao Qingguang took a deep breath, a trace of struggle flashing in his eyes.
He looked toward Zhao Mi Yu outside the hall and gritted his teeth, "We will do as Supreme Elder Puci..."
But before his voice had faded, a cold snort was heard from outside the room.
A young man approached. Seeing the newcomer, Zhao Mi Yu's expression relaxed, "Old Ancestor."
"Mm."
The young man was handsome, with a gourd hanging at his waist. He glanced at Zhao Qingguang with disdain.
"For the clan to let you be the Family Head is truly a disgrace. How could a child of my Xianhe lineage be abandoned by a cowardly fool like you?"
"You..." Zhao Qingguang's expression changed.
The young man bowed to Fairy Bai and Zhao Buqun.
"This child, Jingmiao, heard of the matter regarding the clan's children and has come to see the two Clan Elders.
Elders, twenty-six children of my lineage were murdered, while the Li clan lost only one son. In the end, it is my Zhao Clan that has suffered the loss."
"Years ago, when the Li family's Three Thieves killed a genius of our clan, Zhao Qingguang also handled the matter hastily. The clan has long been dissatisfied."
"Heh." Zhao Jingmiao sneered at Zhao Qingguang.
"Zhao Qingguang, oh Zhao Qingguang. Letting you serve as the Family Head of my Zhao Clan has truly caused us to lose all face. Is my Zhao Clan afraid of the Azure Cloud Li Clan?"
"Laughable!" Zhao Qingguang gritted his teeth.
"Is now the time for a great war with the Li clan? Moreover, regarding that genius of our clan from years ago—if he hadn't tried to take advantage of the Three Thieves' weakness during their lightning tribulation to kill them, how would he have met with such disaster?"
"Enough!" Supreme Elder Puci had no patience for the bickering of these juniors.
He looked toward the two Void Refining experts.
"You two, this poor Daoist came here to mediate, not to manage your Zhao family's domestic affairs. The conditions have been laid out; the decision rests with the two of you."
"Clan Elders, do not let the hearts of my Xianhe lineage grow cold."
Zhao Jingmiao's gaze turned slightly cold.
...
At this moment.
Within the Star Domain.
[Your descendant, Li Qiukong, at Spirit Mountain, was favored by the Qi Luck of Heaven and Earth and obtained the fortuitous opportunity of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Spring.]
[Your descendant, Li Qiukong, cultivated Buddhist techniques and Dharma at the Great Ming King Temple. Acquired Profession: Warrior Monk.]
[He achieved sudden enlightenment within the Heaven and Earth Spirit Spring, undergoing marrow cleansing and essence purification. His Double Spirit Root transformed into a Single Spirit Root.
Acquired Trait: Post-Natal Metal Spirit. Cultivation speed for Metal-attribute techniques and spells is increased by 30%.]
[Your descendant, Li Qiukong, was ambushed by twenty-nine members of the Immortal Zhao Clan. While in the midst of enlightenment, he engaged the enemy in battle, unleashed all his trump cards, and perished.]
[On the verge of death, your descendant, Li Qiukong, held the Ancestral Spirit Tablet.
He asked You to bid farewell to his father, Li Jianshu, and the elders on his behalf.
He asked You to tell the clansmen that he dragged many down with him to cushion his fall, and that he didn't lose a single shred of face for the clan.]
[Clansman Li Qiukong, Died in Battle.]
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