257-260
Chapter 257: Summoning with Ancestral Blood
The battlefield, where the clash of steel and screams had been rampant, was now quenched by a torrential downpour.
The rain poured down relentlessly. With the demon horde's rear cut off by a rain of swords, their charge faltered, and combined with the sword energy from the city walls, the situation that had been steadily deteriorating, a desperate retreat under relentless pressure, suddenly stabilized.
The Xia Family's banners once again fluttered on the city walls that had been submerged by the demon horde.
The pressure on all the soldiers suddenly eased. After the demons in front of them were killed, no more followed.
They were all stunned, looking at the reversed scene in disbelief.
"This, this is..."
"Who's wielding the swords? Who's saving us?!"
"We... are saved?"
All the armies and aristocratic forces, including the martial arts sects that had been temporarily conscripted, stared blankly at the area beyond the defensive line.
The area beyond the line had become like a hellish landscape. Countless sword energies pierced down, causing the demons to wail and fall.
The large demons, those at the Three Immortal Foundations Realm, coiled their massive bodies and tried to flee, but like moths struggling in the rain, they were soon enveloped by the sword rain, plummeting rapidly, falling silent.
"Who is that..."
In the center of the defensive line, Xia Changkong, the marshal commanding the second line of defense, was filled with shock as he looked up.
Beneath the river of sword energy, he saw a young man seated on the back of a crimson demon. His energy was like white mist, visible to the naked eye, surging towards the sword tide in the sky, transforming into an endless torrent of sword energy that swept downwards.
Beside the young man stood their Xia Family clan head and his brother.
"Clan Head, Yuanwu..."
Xia Changkong was stunned. The clan head had personally rushed to the front lines. Where was the Gluttony Valley Master?
He couldn't help but look towards the rear of the demon horde, but there was no movement there.
On the battlefield, only a few Gluttony Valley elders remained, fleeing in panic, pursued by sword energy dragons.
Soon, a Gluttony Valley elder, already injured, saw that the sword energy dragons didn't seem particularly powerful and chose to resist with his physical body. But soon, he seemed to have his soul extracted, plummeting rapidly and falling silent.
The Gluttony Valley demons were known for their brutality and bloodthirstiness. Their physical bodies were generally robust, not much different from dragons. But in the face of the 1% fatal attribute, they were no different from ordinary demons.
Li Hao watched the demons fall under the sword rain, his expression calm and unchanged. When the battlefield was almost completely quiet, he withdrew the sword tide.
"The two of you, take care of the remaining stragglers. I'm leaving."
Li Hao said to Xia Linglong and the others beside him.
They came to their senses, stunned. In just a short moment, almost all of the tens of millions of demons on the battlefield had been annihilated!
It was terrifying!
Was this the power of the Great Peace Dao Realm? It was beyond their imagination.
"General Haotian, don't worry. We'll handle the rest. Once we've cleaned up, we'll immediately send troops to reinforce Qingzhou!"
Xia Linglong reacted and quickly said to Li Hao.
Initially, she had said she would send troops as a return of favor. But now, she herself felt that in front of someone like Li Hao, the Xia Family's troops were insignificant, at best rescuing the fallen villages and towns in Qingzhou.
After all, although Li Hao was powerful, he couldn't possibly take care of the entire Qingzhou alone in a short period of time.
"Mm."
Li Hao nodded, not refusing her kindness.
Then, he gently stroked Zhuohuo Shen's head as a signal. Zhuohuo Shen's flames surged, and its hooves, as thick as a qilin's, thundered, leaving a trail of fire across the battlefield's sky as it sped towards the distance, leaving the battlefield behind.
On the defensive line, numerous generals, aristocratic clan heads, and martial arts sect masters looked up at the figure riding the crimson demon as it departed, etching the scene into their memories.
They didn't know who the young man was, but they knew the Xia Family would give them the answer.
...
...
Qingzhou, Qingzhou City.
The once prosperous Qingzhou City was now on full alert. Civilians were restricted from leaving their homes, street stalls were cleared, and the wide streets were left open for rapid troop movement.
Golden magical formations were erected on all four city walls, while a vast demon horde gathered outside.
On the city walls, numerous Li Family soldiers and Qingzhou City defenders gathered, their expressions grave.
Days of continuous fighting had left them exhausted, but no one dared to relax.
Three days ago, through a Li Family secret technique, they had received intelligence from outside that most of Qingzhou had fallen.
Hundreds of cities had been destroyed and occupied by demons. Qingzhou, the Li Family's stronghold, had suffered a devastating blow unlike any in centuries.
When the other surviving cities received the news, many didn't believe it, thinking it was a mistake. But when they saw the large number of refugees fleeing from other cities and towns, they realized that Qingzhou was in serious trouble.
Centuries of peace had caused most of the people in Qingzhou's cities to lose a clear understanding of the demons.
Occasionally, when the Demon Suppression Agency captured and killed demons, parading them through the streets for public display, it attracted many people to watch, finding it novel.
Now, with the demons rampaging, every city was shrouded in unprecedented shadow and fear, each city on high alert.
However, compared to the already war-torn Qingzhou, Qingzhou City was also surrounded on all sides, in imminent danger.
On the city walls, Li Muxiu and Li Xiaoran stood guard. But both of them had gray hair, looking significantly older, as if they had aged a decade or two, with deeper and more numerous wrinkles on their faces.
The two consecutive devastating blows had left them heartbroken and demoralized.
More than a month ago, when Li Tianzong's soul had been extinguished, they had angrily gone to the River of Oblivion. Instead of attacking directly, they had secretly investigated, only to discover that the demon forces gathered outside the river were beyond their imagination.
Dragon Gate and the Sacred Palace had mobilized most of their forces, with the leaders of both forces personally present, all to kill Li Hao.
They didn't act rashly. Instead, they took advantage of the opportunity to send troops to attack Dragon Gate's lair.
It was a rare opportunity. The Sacred Palace's lair had been destroyed by Prince Qing, and Dragon Gate's lair was also poorly defended.
Through the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, they gathered a large amount of intelligence, discovered Dragon Gate's nest, and reported it to the emperor. The Li Family and the imperial family jointly sent troops to destroy it.
After spending half a month destroying Dragon Gate's lair, the Dragon Gate Master, upon receiving the news, was furious. He brought forward his plan to quickly attack Qingzhou and directly attacked Qingzhou City.
But Li Xiaoran and Li Muxiu had already known that Li Hao had left the River of Oblivion, so they didn't continue to guard outside the river. Instead, they returned to Qingzhou in advance.
They had anticipated that Dragon Gate, upon learning of the destruction of its lair, might take revenge on Qingzhou. They had returned early to prepare defenses, leading to the failure of the Dragon Gate and Sacred Palace's surprise night attack on Qingzhou City. They failed to break through the city, instead exposing their intentions.
After the failure of the Liangzhou plan and the foiled surprise attack on Qingzhou City, Dragon Gate and the Sacred Palace could no longer afford to be secretive. After consultation, they directly called upon various demon forces, launching a massive attack on Qingzhou with great fanfare.
Thus, this protracted battle began.
Both sides suffered countless casualties. After more than a month of fighting, Qingzhou finally fell.
The Li Family retreated along the defensive line, abandoning most of Qingzhou's cities, finally defending Qingzhou City.
The troops sent by the Imperial City were ambushed and killed halfway, not only failing to reinforce Qingzhou but also suffering heavy losses.
The demons besieging Qingzhou were not just from the Sacred Palace and Dragon Gate. Besides the Profound Void Realm demons still guarding outside the River of Oblivion, waiting for their master's return, other top demon forces had also joined the fray.
When they sought help from the Xia Family in Youzhou, they learned of the Gluttony Valley's attack on the Xia Family. Obviously, the Gluttony Valley's actions were aimed at restraining the Xia Family. Although the Five Divine General's Mansions often competed with each other, they would help each other in times of crisis. The Xia Family was the closest Divine General's Mansion to the Li Family.
The Gluttony Valley's attack prevented the Xia Family in Youzhou from sending reinforcements to Qingzhou, cutting off another one of their hopes.
In recent days, the distress signals sent from Qingzhou to other regions had all vanished without a trace. Qingzhou seemed to be isolated and surrounded by demons.
The demon forces gathered this time were even larger than those in Liangzhou. It seemed they were determined to crush the entire Qingzhou and completely conquer it.
They had retreated from the border, fighting and losing, abandoning their armor and weapons. Now, they had retreated to Qingzhou City, their last stronghold.
If they lost this, only the Divine General's Mansion would remain, like a small boat in the vast ocean, facing imminent destruction.
Li Xiaoran's expression was cold. During this month of fighting and war, he and Li Muxiu had nearly died.
The Dragon Gate Master had revealed his strength, breaking through from the recorded information of a Half-Step Dao Realm to the Great Peace Dao Realm.
The Sacred Palace Master was originally at the Great Peace Dao Realm, but fortunately, he had been severely injured in a battle with Yanbei and Prince Qing, his realm falling and seemingly not yet recovered, only comparable to a Half-Step Dao Realm.
If Li Muxiu hadn't also been at the Half-Step Dao Realm, able to support a Dao Domain to barely resist, he would have already died in battle.
With Half-Step Invincible Fist and Half-Step Dao Domain, Li Muxiu had fought the Dragon Gate Master to a standstill, greatly slowing the pace of Qingzhou's defeat. Otherwise, Qingzhou would have fallen a month ago, and Qingzhou City would have already been destroyed.
But now, they were in a desperate situation.
"Their target is our Li Family. They want to erase the Divine General's Mansion from existence!"
After a month of fighting and war, Li Xiaoran had figured out the demons' intentions. They wanted to destroy the Li Family, and this was only the first step in their conquest of Great Yu.
This plot might have been brewing for decades. From the successive deaths of the nine sons to the frequent demon attacks on the Li Family's territories, it now seemed that everything was connected and targeted.
They wanted to sever the Li Family's bloodline, leaving no successors. If they waited another few decades, the Li Family's direct bloodline would weaken, and the chosen True Dragon would likely be inferior to the other Divine General's Mansions.
That would be the perfect time to attack the Li Family.
But now, the demons' plan seemed to have been brought forward.
Li Muxiu's eyes were deep as he slowly regulated his breath. Earlier, he had fought the Sacred Palace Master outside the magical formation, defeating him and driving him away. But he himself had suffered great exhaustion.
The leaders of these two forces had taken turns to wear him down, leaving him exhausted.
"Has there been any reply from Wuliang Mountain?"
Li Muxiu's face was gloomy as he looked west.
The demon horde covered the mountaintops there, densely packed, giving the people in the city a great sense of oppression. But his gaze remained unchanged, piercing through the demon hordes and looking further into the distance.
That was where Wuliang Mountain was located.
The Li Family's relationship with Wuliang Mountain was considered close. They had offered incense and worship for a long time, and Li Qianfeng was still a direct disciple of the Buddha Lord.
But the distress signal sent to Wuliang Mountain had yielded no response.
They didn't know if it hadn't been received or if Wuliang Mountain was also in trouble.
"Inform Tiangang. I can't hold on much longer. The Li Family is facing its final moment of survival. It's time to call them back."
Li Muxiu withdrew his gaze, knowing that they couldn't rely on Wuliang Mountain. He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming sharp.
Li Xiaoran was slightly stunned, his expression changing, but he remained silent.
He knew that, at this point, it was time for the Li Family to fight to the death.
The past glory had faded. Now, it was time to return and defend that glory and legacy.
If the ancestral temple was destroyed, the scattered bloodline would be meaningless.
The thousand-year legacy of the Divine General's Mansion was not just about bloodline but also about foundation. Once the foundation was destroyed, even if the bloodline remained, it would be impossible to rise again.
After all, success often depended on timing and opportunity, things that couldn't be replicated.
"I understand."
Li Xiaoran looked at his second older brother, nodded slightly, and then quickly flew towards the Divine General's Mansion in the city.
Soon, he descended like a streak of light into the Divine General's Mansion.
Inside the mansion, in the Shanhe Courtyard.
Numerous figures gathered in the hall of the courtyard. At the head stood a tall, imposing figure, exuding a powerful and dignified aura. It was Li Tiangang.
To his right, a female general in battle armor sat in a rattan chair. It was his wife, Ji Qingqing.
Besides the couple, He Jianlan, Li Xuanli, Gao Qingqing, and other ladies from various courtyards were also present.
But unlike their usual luxurious attire, these ladies were now all dressed in battle armor like Ji Qingqing, with frosty expressions, seemingly ready to rush into battle at any moment.
"There's no reply from Wuliang Mountain..."
"The Sword Saint from the Southern Sword Pavilion hasn't responded either..."
The atmosphere in the hall was cold and solemn.
The Li Family's connections, once so strong, seemed to have been severed, with no news at all.
However, apart from these two major forces that were relatively close to the Li Family, many other forces and sects that had received favors from the Li Family had rushed over. But most of them didn't have Four Pillars Realm experts. Even Three Immortal Foundations Realm cultivators were considered the strongest among them.
Now, they urgently needed Pinnacle Realm experts to come to their aid and share the burden with Li Muxiu.
After all, the old man was single-handedly holding back the leaders of two major forces, one of whom was a Great Peace Dao Realm cultivator at his peak. It was too much for him, and he could collapse at any moment.
With a whoosh.
Li Xiaoran landed outside the hall. He didn't hesitate, stepping inside. Looking at the sorrowful faces of the crowd, he fixed his gaze on Li Tiangang and said,
"Second Brother said to prepare for a sacrifice, to summon with ancestral blood, and call back all the Li Family's bloodline."
"If we succeed in this battle, we live. If we fail, the Li Family will be extinct!"
His gaze was deep and cold, "Success or failure hinges on this battle. Second Brother can't hold on much longer!"
Hearing Li Xiaoran's words, everyone in the hall was stunned, but they weren't overly shocked. Instead, their faces were filled with anguish.
The fall of Qingzhou and the countless demons outside Qingzhou City had made them realize that this was inevitable.
When the ancestral blood was used for summoning, all Li Family bloodlines would sense the Li Family's crisis. It was a call using bloodline. Only when the Li Family faced true life and death, when the Divine General's Mansion, which had stood for thousands of years, faced its final moment, would it be used!
And the legacy of thousands of years, branching out and spreading, the numerous descendants scattered throughout the Great Yu Empire, was an incredibly vast force. If the ancestral blood was used for summoning, they would all sense it.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 258: Thus Should One Observe
"Isn't… isn't there any other way?" Wang Xiangru, seated below, said, her face pale.
Her husband, Li Fenghua, had also rushed back from Cangzhou with his troops. He had nearly perished in the previous battle defending Qingzhou and was now severely injured, still recovering. He looked weak and listless.
Li Xiaoran coldly glanced at her, ignoring her, and fixed his gaze on Li Tiangang.
Li Tiangang's face was grim. He hadn't expected that in just over a month, the Li family would find themselves in such a desperate situation.
"I'll go and summon the ancestral blood sacrifice!"
Li Tiangang gritted his teeth slightly and stood up.
He glanced at Li Xiaoran, wanting to say something to his fourth uncle, but the other man's gaze was icy, looking at him as if he were a stranger, causing a pang of pain in his heart.
He knew the reason.
When he had brought his wife, Ji Qingqing, back, he had also confessed to everyone about Li Hao's death, admitting that he hadn't been able to bring Li Hao back and that Li Hao had died because of him.
This news had stunned Li Muxiu and Li Xiaoran, among others. That day, the General's Mansion had erupted in angry roars, and several rooms in the Mountain River Courtyard had been shattered, except for the one where the young man had once lived, which remained intact.
After a night, Li Muxiu seemed to have aged ten years and hadn't spoken another word to Li Tiangang. Li Xiaoran, when he saw Li Tiangang, also gave him a cold look, treating him like an outsider, causing Li Tiangang heartache.
Li Tiangang walked forward, and Li Xiaoran merely stepped aside, neither of them speaking.
The others were silent, having grown accustomed to this. In recent days, Li Xiaoran had only sought out Li Tiangang regarding the war reports from Liangzhou, and each time, his tone had been cold.
They all vividly remembered the events that had unfolded in the Mountain River Courtyard the day they learned of Li Hao's death. The most fiery-tempered old man, who had the deepest affection for Li Hao, had disregarded the oath he had sworn to the Li family's soul, injuring himself in the process, and slapped Li Tiangang several times before coughing up blood.
It was important to note that demons were still attacking Qingzhou at the time, and their second uncle needed to remain there to hold the line.
Only then did they understand how deep their second uncle's affection for the child was, that it could drive him to such grief and anger that he disregarded the overall situation.
However, it wasn't just Li Muxiu who was grieving at the time. Many of the women were also heartbroken. Although the child wasn't their own, he was still of Li family blood, a source of pride for the Li family. But due to some initial misunderstandings, it was now impossible to undo or rectify the situation.
"Let's see if your precious children will come back after this ancestral blood summoning!"
He Jianlan looked at Wang Xiangru, her eyes cold.
If it were any other time, she would have considered her position as the eldest wife and the need to maintain appearances, avoiding gossip about her using her position to bully other wives.
Furthermore, the clans behind these wives also held official positions in the court, and there were many people who would spread rumors.
But since learning of Li Hao's death and the current situation in Qingzhou, the anger she had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained.
After that incident, she had often reflected on it with regret and sorrow. She felt that rather than blaming Liu Yueyong, the most hateful person was Wang Xiangru for spoiling her children.
Wang Xiangru had never allowed her children to train with others in the martial arts arena, treating them with excessive indulgence and favoritism. This had led to her children being estranged from their peers, including Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao, and Li Zhining, and it had also caused her daughter to lack proper upbringing, resulting in her offending Li Hao's mother and being slapped by Li Hao in anger.
And during the height of the conflict in that courtyard, Li Rumeng's tearful pleas had been the final push that had completely torn the father and son apart, driving them to opposing sides.
There was Li Tiangang's bizarre obsession, Liu Yueyong's foolish malice, and Wang Xiangru's indulgence and pampering of her children. All of these factors had led to the outbreak of that battle, and ultimately, the one who bore the brunt of it all was the helpless child.
Every time He Jianlan thought of this, her heart ached, and she couldn't help but shed tears, regretting that she hadn't done anything to stop it.
However, the reason was that everything had been so sudden. Events had unfolded one after another, and no one had anticipated the consequences. No one could have foreseen the outcome.
Hearing He Jianlan's cold voice, Wang Xiangru's expression changed. Since Li Tiangang had brought back the news of Li Hao's death, her status within the General's Mansion seemed to have become like Liu Yueyong's, except that Liu Yueyong was imprisoned, while she was still outside, having to constantly watch the expressions of others. This had caused a simmering rage to build within her.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? If Jiang Ying and Rumeng are called by the ancestral blood summoning, they will definitely return. Unless something is holding them back."
Wang Xiangru said angrily.
He Jianlan sneered, "Then let's wait and see!"
Hearing the mockery in her words, Wang Xiangru said angrily, "Is Eldest Sister-in-law hoping they come back to die together? In this situation, they're not even in the Heaven and Man Realm yet. Even if they come back, what good will it do?"
As soon as she said this, the other wives' expressions changed, and they looked at her coldly.
Since the Li Hao incident, they weren't stupid. After reflecting on the matter, they realized how much damage Wang Xiangru's daughter's slander had caused in that environment.
Her family was one of the culprits who had driven Li Hao away, and Wang Xiangru's pampering of her children for over a decade was well-known. In the past, they had secretly disliked it, and at most, they had kept their distance, but now, it had caused a major disaster. And now, Wang Xiangru's words were even more problematic.
"If everyone thinks like you, then all the soldiers can disperse, and you can leave too."
He Jianlan's eyes were icy as she looked at her.
"We are Li family blood, we live and die together, it doesn't matter what our cultivation level is." Xiao Yujing glanced at Wang Xiangru and said coldly.
"Xian'er, as a member of the royal family, is willing to fight alongside the Li family until the very end. It's not about cultivation level." Gao Qingqing also said, though her tone was more restrained.
Jiang Xian'er was Li Junye's fiancée. They were only betrothed, but she was willing to remain a widow for Li Junye for the rest of her life. Now, Qingzhou was in a desperate situation. Earlier, Li Muxiu had suggested that Jiang Xian'er leave, as she was after all a member of the royal family, especially since she and Li Junye hadn't even shared a bed. It was just a betrothal agreement. But Jiang Xian'er had refused.
Hearing Gao Qingqing's words, Wang Xiangru's face turned ugly, realizing that she had misspoken.
"That's not what I meant. I just heard Eldest Sister-in-law's tone, as if she was hoping to see my children suffer. I, Wang Xiangru, married into the Li family, I am a member of the Li family. Even if the city falls, I will die with everyone else. Why are you all making things difficult for me?"
Wang Xiangru said through gritted teeth.
Everyone looked at her, but no one responded. Words were just words, they could be said however one wanted, but whether someone truly considered themselves a member of the Li family was shown through actions. At least, judging from her pampering of her children, she hadn't shown that.
Her children weren't close to their husbands' family, but rather, they were closer to their maternal family, the Wang family, and this was all related to Wang Xiangru.
"Marrying the wrong wife can ruin three generations."
Li Xiaoran snorted coldly, glancing at Li Fenghua, who was silently lowering his head. He knew that the other man's situation wasn't easy either.
All the wives present were his elder sisters-in-law. Even if his words were harsh, he couldn't refute them, especially since they were all reasonable. And his own wife, he couldn't control her. If he defended her, he would be unreasonable. If he didn't defend her, he wouldn't appear manly enough. If he didn't defend his children, he would be failing his duty as a father. He was in a difficult position and could only remain silent in his frustration.
Hearing Li Xiaoran's words, Wang Xiangru's face changed, becoming extremely unpleasant. He was an elder, and she didn't dare to retort.
Li Xiaoran, who hadn't established his soul in the ancestral temple, had been very famous when he was young, and his authority was even greater now.
"It's a pity that the child will never return… It's for the best. From what you've said, the Li family treated him so poorly. Even if he were alive, he wouldn't have any reason to come back, and he shouldn't come back."
Li Xiaoran stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the ancestral temple behind the mountain, his eyes filled with sadness.
Hearing Li Xiaoran's words, everyone fell silent.
Indeed, even if he were alive, he shouldn't return. After all, two Great Peace Dao Realm demons were challenging them from outside. Anyone who came would have to face a Great Peace Dao Realm demon alone.
Now, they were using the ancestral blood summoning to gather all the Li family members, not because they hoped that someone within could match a Dao Realm cultivator, but to utilize the power of everyone, forming a military formation, and using the Li family's secret treasury, Saintly Heart Heavenly Treasures, and other precious resources to fight a desperate battle.
After all, if these treasures weren't used in battle, they would fall into the hands of the demons.
Therefore, this battle would continue until the Li family had shed their last drop of blood and exhausted all their resources.
And all these resources combined might be able to rival a Great Peace Dao Realm cultivator.
This was the power of a three-thousand-year lineage!
Soon, a blood formation soared into the sky from the ancestral temple behind the mountain, covering half of the General's Mansion.
Those within the mansion who possessed Li family blood felt their blood surge, their bodies feeling as if they were boiling.
At the same time, they felt a guiding and summoning force within their blood. An ancestor had sacrificed his soul, paying the price of his own dissipation to call upon all the Li family's bloodline descendants!
The blood summoning formation, using an ancestral soul sacrifice, was a tactic only used in desperate situations.
He Jianlan and the other wives, who had married into the family, couldn't feel it, but they saw that Li Xiaoran seemed to be engulfed in divine flames. Because of Li Xiaoran's powerful cultivation, when his bloodline was called upon, his aura fluctuated.
In the hall, the previously angry crowd now felt a sense of sadness welling up in their hearts.
They felt the aura emanating from the Li family bloodline descendants outside, both legitimate and illegitimate, like fireflies illuminating various parts of the General's Mansion.
This was the last glimmer of light!
"The ancestors are calling…"
In the courtyard, Li Yuanzhao and Li Zhining, among others, looked up, seeing the blood formation rising from the ancestral temple.
They felt the call of their bloodline, placing their hands on their chests, their eyes filled with a sense of desolation, but soon, their eyes hardened with determination.
Like them, many Li family descendants in the martial arts arena and other courtyards looked up. The call of their bloodline made them understand that the Li family had reached a moment of life or death!
…
…
Wuliang Mountain, the Pure Land of Brahma.
The mountain range stretched endlessly, with towering peaks and misty clouds, resembling a sacred land.
At this moment, within several majestic peaks.
"My body…"
"Father said this is the ancestral blood summoning. The ancestors are calling me…"
"Is the family in trouble?"
Within the inner disciple peaks of Wuliang Mountain, several illegitimate Li family disciples had also become disciples of Wuliang Mountain and were cultivating there.
At this moment, they all felt their bodies growing hot, as if there was a call and a guiding force. This feeling was indescribable. There were no words, but it gave them a sense of urgency and sadness.
"No, I have to go home!"
"Master, I want to go down the mountain!"
These illegitimate disciples, though not as talented as the legitimate prodigies, were still considered geniuses among the inner disciples of Wuliang Mountain. They all had the potential to become masters.
As for the Three Immortality Realm, it depended not only on talent but also on opportunity.
At this moment, they all rushed to the mountain gate, explaining the situation to their masters, packed their belongings, and hurried down the mountain.
Within the spirit realm of Wuliang Mountain, where the Buddha cultivated and resided.
On a towering spiritual mountain, a young man sat cross-legged, wearing a white kasaya, appearing devout and ethereal.
Suddenly, his eyes opened, and he looked down, feeling his heart grow hot.
"This is… a bloodline guidance?"
The young man was startled, his expression changing. What was going on? Why would the family use the ancestral blood summoning to call him?
He couldn't continue cultivating and quickly got up, hurrying towards the Buddha Hall at the top of the spiritual mountain.
When he arrived at the entrance of the Buddha Hall, he quickly requested an audience with the Buddha. Before the two guardians could send a message, the Buddha's voice came from within, allowing the young man to enter.
Li Qianfeng immediately ran into the Buddha Hall. Seeing the Buddha seated high on the dais, he immediately knelt down and bowed, "Master, my Li family is in trouble. I want to go down the mountain."
The Buddha's expression was compassionate, and he said slowly, "Guardian of the Universe, don't be hasty. Though you have reached the Heaven and Man Realm, your cultivation is still too low in this calamity. Even if you go down the mountain and return, you would merely add another soul to the Li family's list of the dead."
Li Qianfeng was startled, his body trembling. He knew that when the family resorted to a tactic like the ancestral blood summoning, it meant a great disaster. With his current cultivation, if he returned, he could only offer a meager contribution.
"Master, please help my Li family and resolve this crisis!"
Li Qianfeng quickly knelt down, pleading anxiously.
The Buddha said gently, "Your Li family's destiny is not yet exhausted. There's still a glimmer of hope. Nothing will happen. Just cultivate peacefully here."
Li Qianfeng looked up at him, startled, "But the family is in danger. I, I…"
"How can you transcend if you don't calm your mind?"
The Buddha said, "You reached the peak of the Heaven and Man Realm at the age of twenty. This achievement is remarkable. It's the result of your tireless cultivation. As long as your bloodline remains, the Li family will not be destroyed. This crisis the Li family faces is also your opportunity. Once the disaster passes, you can go down the mountain and return. You will surely inherit the position of True Dragon and lead the Li family to rebuild the ruins."
Li Qianfeng was stunned. A figure flashed through his mind, "But my mother…"
"I will send Bodhisattva Piji to bring your mother here and help the Li family through this calamity."
The Buddha said gently, "Your thoughts shouldn't be on this. Purify your six senses. You haven't completely severed yourself from the mortal world. How can you achieve the Three Immortalities? You should begin to understand your Dao Heart, pursue what you truly desire and seek. It can only be one thing, and for that, you must abandon everything else."
"Remember, all things that are created are like a dream, like a bubble, like a dewdrop, like a flash of lightning. Thus should one observe!"
Li Qianfeng was stunned for a moment, feeling the hot blood in his body gradually subside. He was silent for a moment and said in a low voice:
"Disciple understands."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 259: A River of Blood Returns to Its Source, The Ancestor's Clan
Yunzhou, the Heavenly Illumination Divine General's Mansion.
The Wang Family, Pingchuan Courtyard.
Within the secluded and exquisite courtyard, only a few old servants attended. The courtyard was exceptionally tranquil. Birds perched on the branches, but were startled by a sudden, urgent voice from within the house, causing them to flap their wings and fly away.
In the main hall of the courtyard, Li Jiangying and Li Rumeng, siblings, anxiously looked at the elderly man before them.
"Grandfather, we just sensed a call from our ancestor. Something has happened in Qingzhou!"
"Please go and save my parents."
Both were pleading with the elderly man, their maternal grandfather, Wang Zhenping, the Sixth Master of the Wang Family.
Earlier, while cultivating in the courtyard, they had suddenly felt a surge of bloodline energy, sensing a distant ancestral cry, calling them back.
They knew that this was the Bloodline Summoning Secret Technique, a desperate measure that required sacrificing the soul of an ancestor.
When the bloodline summoned, those with Li Family blood would sense it and rush to gather.
Wang Zhenping's face was grim. He had already learned from the family's intelligence that Qingzhou was in trouble, but he hadn't expected the situation to be so dire, forcing the use of the ancestral bloodline summoning. This was a desperate situation.
And the Wang Family was hundreds of thousands of miles away from Qingzhou, too far away. Even if they dispatched troops, by the time reinforcements arrived, the situation would likely be settled. Whether it was victory or defeat, they wouldn't be able to influence the outcome.
Although the Wang and Li families were related through marriage, they were too far apart and rarely interacted. In times of difficulty, it was hard for them to support each other. Distant relatives were not as helpful as close neighbors, let alone being on opposite ends of the Dayu Dynasty.
Thinking of his beloved daughter, who was still in Qingzhou, his heart clenched. He had strongly opposed the marriage, but his daughter insisted on marrying the eighth son of the Li Family.
As a result, she wasn't as happy as he had hoped, often writing letters back to complain, causing him distress.
But in this era, there was no such thing as divorce without a valid reason, especially when the Li Family was a Divine General's Mansion and her husband was a general guarding a region. If she complained about her husband's frequent absences on campaigns and asked for a divorce, the entire Wang Family would become a laughingstock in the court and be despised by the common people.
Moreover, their children were already grown, so he could only let things be.
But now, Qingzhou was in danger, and his daughter would likely perish with it.
"The Li Family is utterly incompetent!"
Wang Zhenping's face was grim. Looking at his grandson and granddaughter, he suppressed his anger and said, "It's too late to mobilize the Wang Family army now. I'll go myself and bring your mother back. Hopefully, I'll still be in time."
Seeing their grandfather agree, the two were overjoyed and quickly kowtowed in gratitude.
Seeing the two youngsters so sensible, Wang Zhenping's anger subsided slightly. Over the years, only these two sensible children had brought him some comfort.
"Grandfather, we'll go too." Li Rumeng quickly said after kowtowing.
Wang Zhenping's face changed slightly. He firmly said, "You two stay here, don't go anywhere!"
"But it's the ancestral bloodline summoning. If we don't go, we might…" Li Jiangying's eyes showed a hint of fear.
Wang Zhenping took a deep breath. He also knew that if the collateral branches who had moved out of the Divine General's Mansion centuries ago didn't show up, it wouldn't matter. After all, they might have lost their connection to the family by then. But as the current direct descendants, if they didn't attend, they would likely lose face in the future.
"I don't even know if I can reach your mother in time. If I'm too late, you two will be the last of the Li Family bloodline. With your Divine Travel Realm cultivation, going there is pointless."
Wang Zhenping said in a deep voice, "If the Li Family survives this catastrophe, I will personally visit them and explain the situation to you. Given the Li Family's circumstances at that time, I don't believe they'll refuse to acknowledge you!"
The siblings exchanged glances, their faces pale. Li Rumeng nervously clenched her fingers, her face filled with anxiety.
Li Jiangying, however, suddenly said, "Grandfather, what if we go to the River of Oblivion first?"
Wang Zhenping was momentarily stunned. He realized he had been foolish. Of course, why hadn't he thought of that?
If they went to the River of Oblivion, even the ancestral bloodline summoning would be blocked. And it wasn't easy to come out once you were inside. There would be an explanation for their absence.
His eyes lit up as he looked at Li Jiangying and smiled, "Good grandson, you're clever. I'll have Uncle Xianzhou come and pick you up right away and take you to the River of Oblivion. Let's go to the Yin-Sha-level River of Oblivion. You've both read about the River of Oblivion and the past clearance records. If you're lucky, with your Divine Travel Realm strength, you have a chance to clear it. That's 1000 points of merit. Work hard!"
He had brought these grandchildren here because of the Merit Treasure Vault.
The numerous treasures that could be exchanged within were dazzling. With merit, one could quickly improve their strength, far surpassing other geniuses of the same realm.
And the Wang Family had become a target for various forces to cultivate relationships with. Countless prominent families and martial artists hoped to use the Wang Family to accumulate merit in the River of Oblivion.
Why let the water flow to outsiders' fields when you can water your own? Naturally, their own juniors would be the first to receive the benefits.
This was also the reason why Li Jiangying and Li Rumeng were staying with the Wang Family.
"Yes!"
Hearing Wang Zhenping's words, Li Jiangying's eyes shone. Even if they just destroyed the River of Oblivion, they could get 10 points of merit. If they cleared it, the treasures they could exchange with 1000 points of merit would be countless.
The Sword Heart only cost 100 points of merit, which could increase the speed of weapon comprehension.
The Grandmaster's Heart also cost 100 points, meaning that if they cleared the River of Oblivion, with the family's resources and the exchanged Grandmaster's Heart, they could quickly reach the Heavenly Human Realm without any obstacles!
Many geniuses, relying on resources, reached the peak of the Fifteenth Stage but got stuck at the Heavenly Human Realm. Now, with the Merit Treasure Vault, it was like giving these geniuses a faster express lane.
"Remember, try to clear the River of Oblivion. Don't just rely on brute force to destroy it. The River of Oblivion is now a precious resource. If you destroy it, it will disappear, and the loss of merit will be a hundredfold difference."
Wang Zhenping warned.
Now, the River of Oblivion was no longer a terrifying existence, but a scarce resource to be protected. At least, the Rivers of Oblivion that the Wang Family had explored were all guarded by troops, prohibiting ordinary people from exploring them.
After all, destroying it would make it disappear, and the rewards would be too low. Now, they were striving to clear the River of Oblivion to maximize benefits. But clearing it was incredibly difficult. Therefore, now, when exploring the River of Oblivion, you either failed and exited to try again or cleared it. This was the Wang Family's current strict rule regarding the River of Oblivion, unlike before, when they only aimed to destroy it to reduce the number of Rivers of Oblivion in the Dayu Realm.
This kind of reversal was quite normal.
If eating feces could grant immortality, even dogs wouldn't be able to get in line.
"You two have good talent. Although you're not as good as Li Qianfeng of your Li Family, with the Wang Family's support and the current River of Oblivion resources, we can specifically leave these lower-level Rivers of Oblivion for you to accumulate merit. As long as you accumulate 10,000 points, you can exchange for the Through Force Extreme Realm cultivation. That's the power that can help you surpass your limits. Once you obtain it, you'll completely leave other geniuses behind, not even Li Qianfeng can compare."
Before leaving, Wang Zhenping continued to instruct and care for the two.
Hearing their grandfather's earnest teachings, the siblings nodded, their eyes shining slightly.
During their time at the Wang Family, they had heard a lot of information that opened their eyes. They yearned for the Through Force Extreme Realm.
If they could obtain it, when the Li Family competed for the True Dragon in the future, they would no longer be spectators!
"I'm leaving now. I've already sent a message to Uncle Xianzhou. I'll also have him modify your River of Oblivion entry records."
Wang Zhenping said, entrusting the two children to his old housekeeper before hurrying away.
The siblings exchanged glances, their eyes filled with worry, wondering if their grandfather could bring their mother back.
"It's a pity that the madman is dead. We didn't have a chance to chase him down."
Li Jiangying looked in the direction where their grandfather had left, his eyes flickering, and muttered.
As members of the younger generation of the Li Family, since the young man had appeared two years ago, they had all lived under his shadow.
The young man was dazzling, too bright, completely overshadowing even the Buddha Lord's direct disciple, let alone them.
As young people, how could they not be angry, not envious?
When news of the Liangzhou incident arrived, the siblings had heard about it and knew that the gap between them and the young man had widened. They had been disheartened and almost given up hope. But thanks to Chong Er, the Merit Treasure Vault had appeared, giving them hope and a chance to catch up.
Although the young man was already ahead, far ahead, when he reached the Four Pillars Realm, he would inevitably stop.
Just like the elders in their family, after reaching the Four Pillars Realm at the age of 34, they stayed there for decades, even centuries, until they died in battle, unable to break through.
The higher the realm, the slower the progress. They had fallen behind in the initial sprint, but that didn't mean they couldn't catch up later.
The Merit Treasure Vault and the resources from their maternal family were their greatest hope and confidence now.
"That person was too arrogant. Even Heaven couldn't stand it. Do you think our family's current predicament might be because he was too rampant in Liangzhou, causing the demons to vent their anger on our Li Family?"
Li Rumeng, mentioning that person, gritted her teeth, a flash of resentment in her bright eyes.
"Maybe. But those demons should have attacked the Heavenly Gate Pass, not the Li Family. There must be another reason."
Li Jiangying said, a murderous glint in his eyes, "I was originally planning to accumulate merit, exchange for the Extreme Realm cultivation in the treasure vault, and then have a good fight with him, return the slap he gave you. But he's dead. If Mother is in danger this time, even if he's dead, I won't let him off. I'll find the River of Oblivion where his remnant soul resides and make him suffer a living death!"
Hearing her brother's words, Li Rumeng's eyes filled with worry, "Mother will be alright, right? Grandfather should be able to make it in time, right? He's a Peerless Technique practitioner, not inferior to Second Uncle…"
"It's too far…"
Li Jiangying's eyes also showed a worried look.
…
…
The ancestral bloodline summoning released from Qingzhou resonated throughout Dayu.
"It's the ancestor's call. Our family is in trouble!"
"How could our Li Family fall to this point? It's impossible. What happened in Qingzhou?"
"Father, aren't we surnamed Zhao? Why do we feel this summoning too?"
"Your grandmother is surnamed Li. She married into our Zhao Family. Although your Li bloodline is very thin, the fact that you can sense it means there's still Li blood in you!"
"All these years, thanks to your grandmother's connections, our Zhao Family's business has flourished and we've established ourselves in Yunwu City."
"Should we go too?"
"Yes, of course. That's your grandmother's family. And the Li Family has protected Dayu for thousands of years. Now that they're in trouble, how can we not go?"
"Master, are you going too?"
"Yes, disciples, wait for me here. If I don't come back, your eldest brother will succeed me."
"Great-grandmother, are you going too?"
"Yes, get me a horse."
From the Nineteen States, various states, cities, towns, and villages, figures who felt the bloodline summoning were all shocked. Some hesitated, but most resolutely chose to set off, rushing towards Qingzhou.
Like scattered starlight in the sky, they now converged like a river flowing into the sea, towards Qingzhou.
It was the ancestral land in their blood, the Divine General's Mansion that carried three thousand years of glory, the place they looked towards in their memories.
Their departure alarmed various forces in the Nineteen States. The bloodlines of the Five Divine General's Mansions had spread widely over thousands of years. And now, with these people's actions, almost all the forces in the Dayu Dynasty learned about the situation in Qingzhou.
This included major forces like the Heavenly Mechanism Tower.
Some of them were descendants of the Li Family, serving as elders and masters. Now, they not only left themselves but also utilized the power within their respective forces, deploying all the forces they could mobilize to reinforce Qingzhou.
This was the intricate bloodline foundation of the Divine General's Mansion.
They traveled in groups, some riding fast horses, others soaring through the air.
Some descended from famous mountains, swords in hand, rushing towards the distant mountains and rivers.
Some emerged from secluded towers, soaring into the sky, resolutely rushing forth.
With the dissipation of a Li Family ancestor's soul, countless bloodlines from thousands of miles away were summoned, surging towards the state where demons had wreaked havoc, causing immense suffering.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 260: The Divine Being
Qingzhou City, within the Divine General Manor.
The light of the Ancestral Blood Formation dissipated. Li Tiangang bid farewell to his ancestors in the ancestral temple and returned to the Mountain River Courtyard.
He glanced at Li Xiaoran, whose expression was cold and stern. He didn't try to explain anything, but said,
"Fourth Uncle, those who have returned to reinforce the Li Clan will need you to receive them. I plan to activate the ancestral secret passage and have them enter from the Huai River."
"Just formulate the plan. I'll follow your instructions." Li Xiaoran said indifferently.
Li Tiangang nodded, then glanced at everyone present. He ordered someone to bring him paper and ink, and quickly wrote down the subsequent plans.
At this moment, he seemed to have returned to the sleepless battlefield of Yanbei. He glanced at his wife. Now, she was still by his side. Her eyes still held that look of shared life and death, causing his heart to stir slightly. To have such a wife, what more could one ask for in life?
"Prepare to open the secret treasury. Each courtyard will command 50,000 elite troops and be ready to deploy reinforcements at any time. Each courtyard will receive 50,000 portions of divine medicines, precious blood pills, and 10,000 Dragon Qi Pills..."
These divine medicines were usually only given in single digits to even direct descendants. Collateral descendants needed to make significant contributions to receive them as a reward. Now, it was as if they were free for the taking.
In addition to the numerous spirit pills and elixirs, the treasury held divine weapons and precious armor accumulated over thousands of years.
Now, everything was being thrown into this final battle.
"Send secret messages to each city, instructing them to activate the secret passages and guide those who have returned to the Li Clan. They should enter from beneath the Huai River Mountain Range on the east side..."
Li Tiangang spread out a map of Qingzhou and deployed the reception plan.
The eastern side of Qingzhou City was surrounded by a range of mountains, and the winding Huai River snaked through them like a dragon. Most of the water used by the households in Qingzhou City came from this vast river.
But no one knew that the Li Clan had long ago developed the Huai River. There was a secret passage beneath it, a route prepared by a Li Clan ancestor who had envisioned the most perilous situation for Qingzhou. It could be used for escape or to allow reinforcements from other places to enter Qingzhou City.
Now, the demons were entrenched outside the city, and leaving was impossible. The Great Yu Dynasty hadn't been destroyed yet, and the Divine General Manor's main state couldn't be surrendered.
As one order after another was issued, sweat began to bead on Li Tiangang's forehead. His expression was solemn, his brows furrowed, but the pressure in his heart eased slightly.
The Li Clan's army in Qingzhou City also sprang into action. The city, including the city guards and commanders, were all of Li Clan blood. All the officials in Qingzhou City, from top to bottom, were also Li Clan members. In this place, the Li Clan was the supreme authority, their word law.
With the orders from the Divine General Manor, the efficiency was extremely high. Half of the elite troops were drawn from the army and received precious medicines from the Divine General Manor. With the help of these rare medicines, their combat power could be significantly enhanced in a short period. Even those at the Fifteenth Mile Realm could unleash power comparable to the Heavenly Man Realm.
Of course, such an enhancement came with side effects, but compared to life and death, it was no longer important.
At this moment, large chests of treasures were being carried out of the Divine General Manor's secret treasury. The people in each courtyard looked somber. These were the things accumulated by their ancestors over generations, and now they were about to be depleted.
"When the Li Clan members from other places return, it will be time for a decisive battle!"
Li Tiangang said in a deep voice.
The main purpose of the return of the numerous Li Clan members was to use their bloodline to rebuild the ancestral bodies and then control them with the ancestral souls, unleashing extremely powerful force.
The specific strength would depend on the number of returning bloodline members.
With He Jianlan and the others leaving, taking their respective armies to guard different parts of the city, the Mountain River Courtyard became empty.
Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing exchanged a glance, both falling silent.
"If only I could reach the Tranquil Peace Realm. If I had known this would happen, I should have worked harder and cultivated diligently..."
Ji Qingqing murmured, her eyes dimmed. As a prodigy of the Ji Clan, if she had cultivated diligently within the Ji Clan, at her current age, she would likely have already reached the Tranquil Peace Realm.
If that were the case, and she cooperated with her second uncle, Li Mu Xiu, the situation on the battlefield would have been greatly reversed.
With them holding back the top combat power of the two major demon forces, Qingzhou City's army wouldn't be inferior to the demons outside. After all, there were 300,000 Yuanzi Camp troops here, the most elite soldiers of the Li Clan. They could fight ten to one and were comparable to three million troops of the same level!
"Don't say that. You've already worked hard enough. It was me who made you delay your cultivation by taking you to fight in Yanbei."
Li Tiangang shook his head.
Ji Qingqing glanced at him and bit her lip slightly. Now that they had been expelled from the Ji Clan, she couldn't ask them for help.
A few days ago, when Qingzhou City was besieged, she had already intervened, using the might of the Vast Wilderness Heaven to intimidate the demons, preventing them from attacking directly. But the Dragon Gate and the Sacred Palace weren't stupid. The situation was different from Yanbei. They had come out in full force and were in a desperate situation. They had no choice but to act.
The Ji Clan's deterrent from the Vast Wilderness Heaven was no longer effective.
After all, this was outside the Vast Wilderness Heaven. In Yanbei, besides respecting the Ji Clan's influence, it was mainly because a powerful Ji Clan expert had appeared to help Ji Qingqing that the Sacred Palace had retreated.
"Rest for now. There's still a tough battle ahead. I'll go check on how they're doing."
Li Tiangang said to his wife.
He then stepped out of the Mountain River Courtyard. As he was leaving, he saw several figures rushing towards him.
"Uncle..."
It was Li Yuanzhao and Li Wushuang and the others. They bumped into Li Tiangang at the entrance, startled. Although they were uncle and nephews, perhaps due to his imposing aura, they couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by him.
"We came to see if there's anything you need us to do."
Li Yuanzhao's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head and asked softly.
Li Wushuang, however, looked directly at Li Tiangang. Since Li Yuanzhao had spoken, she didn't say anything.
Seeing these younger generations in armor, seemingly ready to rush into battle, the coldness in Li Tiangang's eyes softened slightly, and his tone became gentler, "You're all good children. Just wait back here. You'll be needed when the other Li Clan members return."
With that, he bypassed them and quickly walked away.
Li Yuanzhao and the others were stunned. Looking at the powerful back disappearing into the distance, they felt a little uncomfortable.
They felt that their seventh uncle today seemed like a gentle elder, a feeling they had never experienced before.
Li Wushuang turned to look, until the figure disappeared from sight. Her cold eyes turned dim and dejected, "He was the best... If only those words could have been said to him then, things wouldn't have happened. He wouldn't have... died."
Li Yuanzhao and the others heard her words and were slightly stunned. The image of the figure who had amazed everyone, the carefree and smiling figure, flashed through their minds, and they all fell silent.
Li Yuanzhao clenched his fists, lowered his head, and gritted his teeth. Although several days had passed, when Li Hao's name was mentioned, his eyes couldn't help but turn red.
Water Splendor Courtyard.
The courtyard was sealed off. Only two old servants were inside, attending to Liu Yue Rong.
"Ancestral Blood Charm... Ancestral Blood Charm..."
In the pavilion in the courtyard, Liu Yue Rong looked absentmindedly towards the ancestral temple. She no longer had her former radiant beauty and luxurious attire. Her hair was simply tied up, and she no longer wore makeup. She looked haggard.
"Li Tiangang, you're so heartless. No wonder you even drove your own son away!"
"My son... don't be foolish. Follow the Buddha and cultivate diligently. As long as you can cultivate to the Tranquil Peace Realm and become comparable to the ancestors, even if the Divine General Manor is gone, it can be rebuilt. Don't think about your mother and come back to do something foolish..."
Liu Yue Rong turned to look towards the direction of Mount Wuliang, her eyes red. She lowered her head and clasped her hands together in prayer.
...
As time passed.
Qingzhou's various cities received the secret orders from the Li Clan and the Li Clan's external members who held positions in those cities quickly released signals.
These signals were meant to inform the Li Clan bloodline members and guide them, but those who had branched out from the Li Clan too long ago might have forgotten the meaning of the signals.
Despite this, those who had rushed to Qingzhou first had already poured into the various cities. Following the guidance, they headed towards the Huai River, upstream towards Qingzhou City.
The rest were traveling through the wilderness, fighting scattered demons while heading towards Qingzhou City.
Not long after the Ancestral Blood Charm was activated, outside Qingzhou City, behind the demon tide.
On the mountain where the many elders of the Dragon Gate and the Sacred Palace, as well as the leaders of the two forces, were located, the Dragon Gate's master, a young man in black robes, seemed to sense something and looked towards the city.
The Heavenly Pivot Palace elder hovering above Qingzhou City detected the flash of bloodlight within the Divine General Manor and was startled. He quickly descended, transforming into the form of a young woman.
"Master, the Li Clan of the Divine General Manor seems to have activated the legendary Divine General Blood Charm technique!"
The young woman in a green dress said urgently.
Dragon Jue Shen, the Dragon Gate's master, changed his expression, looking a little grim, "These guys, are they really going to fight to the death without leaving any descendants?"
He also knew something about the Divine General Manor's foundation. Two thousand years ago, a Divine General Manor had collapsed, and they had been forced to use this technique. They had gathered all their bloodline members, summoned the ancestral bodies and souls, and unleashed terrifying power. But in the end, they had still been defeated.
"That's good. It saves us the trouble of searching for them one by one. We can deal with them all at once."
Feng Lingxiao, the Sacred Palace's master, opened his eyes and said coldly, but there was also a hint of anger in his eyes.
"How much longer until you're fully healed?" Dragon Jue Shen asked him.
"Soon, three or five days at most."
Feng Lingxiao said.
"Too long." Dragon Jue Shen frowned and stared at him.
Feng Lingxiao saw his gaze and felt a surge of anger. He wanted to say, if you were willing to fight hard, why would you be afraid of an old dog at the Half-Step Dao Realm!
But he only thought it in his heart. Now was not the time for them to argue and quarrel.
"If you can hold back that old man Li Mu Xiu, I can break the formation." He said.
Dragon Jue Shen remained silent. Just then, a black mist suddenly floated from afar and landed on the mountain peak.
The surrounding demons didn't notice the black mist until it landed, startling them.
The black mist dissipated, revealing a pair of snow-white legs. A woman with a graceful figure and dark purple patterns on her cheeks stepped out.
She looked at Dragon Jue Shen and Feng Lingxiao, a smile in her eyes, "It's not without reason that you've been driven out of the Great Yu Dynasty like dogs. You're so slow in handling such a small matter. It's truly disappointing."
"Lord Divine Being!"
Seeing the woman, Dragon Jue Shen and Feng Lingxiao's expressions changed, their bodies tensed slightly, and a hint of nervousness flickered in their eyes.
"Why are you here? What about the imperial city..." Dragon Jue Shen couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"It's just a strand of my consciousness. That old fool, the Yu Emperor, is quite clever. The imperial family is truly ruthless. They haven't even considered sending that True Person to help, only caring about their own lives."
The woman's tone was light, "But if you continue to delay, forget about the Li Clan's bloodline members, that Qing Prince is also rushing here. It won't be as simple as it is now."
"What?"
Hearing this, Dragon Jue Shen and Feng Lingxiao were both startled. The Qing Prince was one of the emperor's brothers, one of the most powerful, second only to the Nine Kings Sword Demon!
"When did this happen? How far away is he?"
Feng Lingxiao couldn't help but ask, his face turning grim as he recalled the battle in Yanbei. He remembered severely injuring the other party. Had he recovered so quickly?
"Soon. That's why I sent this strand of my consciousness here. It's to block him if necessary. You'd better resolve the Li Clan quickly. We're not revealing ourselves yet. You'd better be smart about this. If you're truly incompetent, it won't be a problem to get rid of you..."
Hearing her words, the two's expressions changed slightly, and they quickly agreed.
The woman glanced at the two, then looked at the city. She waved her finger, and two dark, ominous treasures appeared out of thin air, "I'm lending you these two Sacred Heart Treasures. Today, I want to see the Li Clan's blood flow like a river!"
With that, she vanished like a wisp of black smoke, leaving the two treasures suspended in the air.
Dragon Jue Shen and Feng Lingxiao's eyes flashed with light, and they quickly reached out to take one of the treasures each.
They liked to call these items Sacred Heart Heavenly Treasures, but those outside the Great Yu Realm called them Sacred Heart Treasures.
Even though they were top-tier demon forces, the two had cultivated for ten thousand years. When the Heavenly Treasure Daoist died a thousand years ago, they had attacked the Wanqi Tower's treasury and only managed to snatch a few top-tier divine weapons.
These treasures, once they appeared, were basically divided up by the royal family and the five Divine General Manors.
In the Vast Wilderness Heaven, only the Ancient Wilderness Holy Clan could easily produce them. For other smaller clans, having one or two was already unusual.
(End of Chapter)