As the secret meeting at the Immortal Suppression Department concluded.
Li Chang'an hadn't managed to get in half a word. Only Sword Master Fang Yunyu of the Sword Pavilion, who was familiar with the Li Clan, noticed Li Chang'an being ostracized and occasionally asked for his opinion.
Fang Yunyu furrowed his brows.
Although he had been defeated by Li Yaozu's sword in front of his own disciples back then, he had accepted his defeat with grace.
Just as he was about to go and call out to Li Chang'an, he saw another transmission arrive within the Immortal Suppression Department.
"Didn't we just finish discussing the matter of the Three Corpses? Could the plan have changed?"
Since an order had arrived, Fang Yunyu did not dare to be negligent.
He returned to the main hall.
The group from before had gathered once again, yet Li Chang'an alone was missing.
Commander Wu Neng waved his hand and smiled.
"Alright, everyone, please sit. Let us discuss the matter of the Three Corpses again."
The group looked at each other in dismay.
Fang Yunyu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Commander, are we missing someone? Usually, you discuss matters with the four major forces. Is it not inappropriate that Li Chang'an is absent now?"
"What does it matter if he comes or not?" Zhangsun Buhuo waved her hand dismissively.
"The Three Corpses are with the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the Grand Tower.
Both of these factions are Body Integration level powers. How could the Li Clan possibly be of help to us?
Let's not send them to their deaths. Otherwise, His Highness the Crown Prince will be furious."
"Hahaha!"
The speaker was a Heavenly Lord from the Heavenly Monarch Dao Sanctuary, named Ning'an.
He laughed, "In recent years, regarding the truly major matters of the Immortal Suppression Department, have they not always been handled by our three families?
That Li Yaozu of the Li Clan is still in the Forgotten Immortal Domain, busy chasing down members of the Tang family. The Li Clan is busy, so let's not disturb them."
Fang Yunyu remained expressionless. He let out a long breath and sat down helplessly.
He could clearly hear the sarcasm in their voices.
The implication behind their words was nothing other than that they felt the Li Clan was unqualified to be mentioned in the same breath as them, and that the clan merely relied on the backing of Crown Prince Fei Heng.
Noticing the dissatisfaction in Fang Yunyu's eyes, Wu Neng let out a scoff, then smiled.
"It is not that we are refusing to let the Li Clan participate. It is simply that the Li Clan is too close to Prince Yu, and there are some matters they should not be privy to.
Fang Yunyu, you must not speak of what we discuss here to Li Chang'an.
Regarding what was said earlier—should it become known to Prince Yu, keeping the Li Clan in the dark allows us to be prepared."
"Fang Yunyu." Heavenly Lord Ning'an smiled.
"I know your Sword Pavilion is close to the Li Clan, but there are things you must understand.
The Crown Prince allowed them to join us only because the Azure Cloud Prefecture they control is a critical stronghold for blocking the Wu Tribe.
Moreover, the Crown Prince lived among the Li Clan for three hundred years; he was merely granting them a favor for convenience's sake.
They have already received enough.
Since when does a servant sit on equal footing with the master?"
Zhangsun Buhuo nodded as well.
"The matter regarding the Three Corpses is of grave importance. Any benefits gained should belong to our families alone.
If we were to share the spoils for no reason with those who contributed nothing, I imagine even your Sword Pavilion would find it hard to accept."
"Alas."
Fang Yunyu sat down helplessly, casting a glance outside the hall.
It was indeed just as these two had said: without Crown Prince Fei Heng's recommendation, the Li Clan truly would not be qualified to sit on equal footing with them.
...
"My Lord, after you departed, the Immortal Suppression Department summoned the representatives of the three major powers for another meeting."
Li Chang'an was making his way out of the Heavenly Palace.
Before he even reached the gate, a troupe of palace maids passed by. One of them transmitted her voice to him in secret.
Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an's expression remained unchanged as he continued on his way home.
"How dreadfully boring."
Flying atop his sword, Li Chang'an gave a faint smile.
He had been representing his family in the Imperial Court for decades; this was not the first time he had encountered such treatment.
Regardless of the contributions the Azure Cloud Li Clan had made, the people in the Court always judged them by the longevity of their establishment or whether they possessed a Body Integration cultivator.
Commander Wu Neng of the Immortal Suppression Department was the worst among them.
On the surface, he maintained a facade of peace, yet in every matter, he felt the Li Clan's virtue and power were unworthy of their position.
This man was loyal to the Human Emperor, but having stayed in the Imperial Capital for too long, he still viewed the Southern Border as a backwater wilderness.
As for the Sword Pavilion, the Zhangsun Family, and the Heavenly Monarch Dao Sanctuary—having finally secured a seat in the Imperial Court in this era—they were constantly eager to establish a hierarchy.
It seemed that simply having the Li Clan, with its history of less than a thousand years, sitting at the bottom beneath them made them feel incredibly self-important.
"This is just as well."
Li Chang'an's lips curled up slightly.
"Their perspective is still stuck a hundred years in the past.
In their eyes, my Li Clan possesses merely three Void Refining cultivators and two Void Refining Guest Elders.
The Old Ancestor is indeed supremely wise; why should my Li Clan concern itself with the cold scorn of others?"
"Still as a deep pool that raises no waves, the peony rests quietly in the morning breeze—its nobility unannounced, yet unmistakable.
If you wish to chase the limelight, go ahead; my Li Clan shall simply strive for self-improvement."