Three days later.
"How could it be like this?"
Tang Miao trod upon the void, fleeing toward the Forgotten Immortal Lands, his face pale.
That Old General, who had allowed him to act with such wanton recklessness in the army for so many years, had seemed like a completely changed man three days ago.
Tang Miao was certain that if he had lingered in the Eastern Expedition Army a moment longer, Dongfang Liancheng would absolutely have captured him without the slightest hesitation!
And then there was what Dongfang Liancheng had said—that the Li family would never let their Cloudreach Mountain off the hook...
The moment he thought of Li Tianyue's brazen behavior within the Eastern Expedition Army, and the formidable strength the Li family had displayed there, Tang Miao felt his heart pound and his flesh tremble with fear.
"Impossible. I am overthinking this.
To the Imperial Dynasty, any Void Refining cultivator is a powerful combat asset.
Moreover, the Imperial Dynasty is currently beset by internal trouble and foreign aggression.
My Cloudreach Mountain is one of the two major powers within the Forgotten Lands; we are indispensable!"
"If you offend us, are you not afraid that we will cut off the supply of soldiers sent to the Northern, Western, and Eastern Borders?"
As he spoke these words to himself, Tang Miao felt much more at ease.
His gaze turned slightly cold.
"If the Azure Cloud Li Clan can cut off your troop sources and supplies in the Eastern Border, my Cloudreach Mountain can do the exact same!"
But right at that moment.
A deep, resonant voice rang out through the heavens and earth!
"Dual Primal True Fire!"
A scorching wave of Spiritual power assailed him.
That Spiritual power, imbued with the Laws of Extreme Flame, forced Tang Miao to instantly open his Void Refining Space!
When he looked again, he was already inside the Void Refining Space.
The entire dimension was blazing with intense flames, painting everything in a crimson hue.
Floating before him was a burly bald man.
The man was covered in knotted muscles, wearing nothing but a pair of short trousers, his muscle lines flowing with perfect definition.
He carried a massive hammer as tall as a man on his shoulder—a weapon radiating the aura of a Middle-Grade Dharma Treasure.
On his completely hairless face, he wore a savage, ferocious grin.
"Is it you, you old bastard, bullying my granddaughter? Look at your age! Have you no shame?"
Tang Miao's expression turned grim.
Just then, another figure stepped into the Void Refining Space.
This person wore a conical bamboo hat.
One by one, black orbs emerged, and darkness Spiritual power gradually took over half the space.
His hands were tucked into his wide sleeves, and his head was lowered so that only a pointed chin was visible.
His voice was eerie and faint.
"Tang Miao.
One of the two Void Refining cultivators of Cloudreach Mountain.
Six thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven years old.
Formerly the second-ranked individual on the Nascent Spirit List."
"You broke through to Void Refining from the Five-Five Divinity Transformation stage."
"However, it was obtained only because an older generation Early Void Refining cultivator of Cloudreach Mountain expended their final thousand years of lifespan to perform a Direct Empowerment to force your breakthrough."
"An average Void Refining cultivator.
He has fought a total of six battles in the Eastern Border battlefield.
A Mid-Stage Void Refining cultivator.
His control over Laws is mediocre, though he is adept at utilizing the Laws of Rock and Fire.
He forms stars within his Void Refining Space, which possess extraordinary power.
He is particularly skilled in formations, using these stars as arrays to defend against enemies."
"He had a boundless future ahead of him. What a pity."
Two Void Refining cultivators!!!
Tang Miao, his forehead covered in cold sweat, feigned composure.
He forced a smile as he looked at the two of them.
"You two must be members of the Azure Cloud Li Clan. However, is there perhaps some misunderstanding between us?"
But the bald man and the shadowy man in the bamboo hat did not answer him; they merely stared at him with keen interest.
Tang Miao felt his heart pounding even harder with fear.
"This one must be... the Spirit Puppet Ancestor of the Li Clan, Your Excellency Li Yaotie, correct?"
"That's right, it's your Grandpa."
Upon hearing this, a trace of horror flashed through Tang Miao's eyes!
He had actually reached the peak of the Divinity Transformation stage by the age of one thousand; he was a monstrous prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years within the Immortal Lands.
Yet, he only broke through to the Void Refining stage at the age of five thousand, and even then, he only comprehended the mysteries of the breakthrough thanks to the inheritance of a dying senior.
But this Li Yaotie... just how old was he right now?!!
Tang Miao's gaze appeared sincere.
"There truly is a misunderstanding.
Within the Eastern Expedition Army, this humble one has always provided much assistance to Miss Tianyue.
To speak of 'bullying' is utter nonsense. Even the suppression three days ago was ordered by that old scoundrel Dongfang Liancheng!"
As he spoke, he let out a sigh.
"As the saying goes: you may know a person's face, but you cannot know their heart.
That scoundrel Dongfang Liancheng is two-faced and a master of disguise.
He would do anything for military power.
Over the years, as Miss Tianyue's prestige within the army has grown, it has become inevitable that Dongfang Liancheng would move against her.
Furthermore, that man has a vile vice: he has a particular fondness for beautiful female cultivators.
Over the past few centuries, there is no telling how many female cultivators in the army have secretly fallen into his clutches."
"In fact, the reason this humble one has been courting Miss Tianyue all these years was precisely to protect her from being coveted by that old thief Dongfang.
I have clashed with him in secret countless times. However... alas, even I was eventually forced to flee the Eastern Border.
I was just planning to seek out the Li Clan to discuss this matter; I never expected the two of you to find me first."
Tang Miao spoke with flowery eloquence, his tongue practically blooming with lotuses.
At this moment, Zhuo Linlin finally raised his head.
His eyes flashed with a trace of shock and appreciation.
For this man not to become sworn brothers with my Old Master is simply a waste of talent.
"Regarding these words of yours, Brother Yaotie and I do have some doubts."
Tang Miao had just revealed a look of joy, but Li Yaotie's booming laughter instantly made his expression turn cold.
"What a pity. We may not know you, but do you think we don't know Old Man Dongfang?"
Li Yaotie laughed uproariously.
Flames surged from his massive hammer, and the Heavenly Fire Divine Tree manifested behind him.
The Heavenly Fire adhered to the hammer as he smashed it down toward Tang Miao!
His eyes glared around with rage!
Dad once said that during his years as an official in the imperial court, Dongfang Liancheng was one of the few truly magnanimous men there!