Chapter 79: The Gathering of All Factions

While Li Changsheng was still simulating in the secret realm, the entire Tiannan Region was in an uproar.

After a month of rumors spreading, news of the Xu family's annihilation had reached every corner of the Tiannan Region. Major factions had sent their core members to inspect the massive handprint left behind. Those who returned were as silent as cicadas in winter, clearly shaken by what they had seen.

Even factions with Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation cultivators were no exception. Though they didn't know the Xu family also had a Deity Transformation cultivator, the sheer power of someone who could obliterate hundreds of kilometers of land with a single palm strike was beyond any force they could afford to provoke.

Sunset Valley. Sunset Sect Headquarters.

Xu Yao, the sect leader of Sunset Sect, knelt outside a dilapidated cave at the back of the mountain, cold sweat dripping from his temples. The cave door was slightly ajar, and inside sat a gaunt old man—the former sect leader of Sunset Sect, now a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"You've done a fine job!" the old man said with a heavy tone. "Although the Heavenly Lord Li hasn't come for us yet, if other factions find out we've offended someone who can wipe out hundreds of kilometers with a single strike, even if he doesn't act against us, our days in Sunset Valley won't be peaceful."

"Here's what we'll do: take half of the sect's resources, leaving only what's necessary to keep the sect running. We'll go to the Su family together to seek forgiveness."

Xu Yao nodded repeatedly. If even the Ancestor had spoken, no one in the sect would dare oppose this decision. If the Sunset Sect were to fall because they offended the Heavenly Lord Li, he would become a sinner for the ages.

Similar scenes played out in other sects.

Medicine King Sect.

Both of their Deity Transformation Ancestors had emerged from seclusion. Their expressions were grave as they stood with the sect leader.

"Are you certain there's no mistake? Could the Xu family have been a force cultivated by the remnants of the Vajra Sect?" one Ancestor asked solemnly.

"Yes," the sect leader sighed. "According to our intelligence, Heavenly Lord Li likely cultivates the Vajra Sect's techniques as well."

"However, a few days ago, a fierce battle occurred in the Black Wind Mountains. I personally went to inspect the scene. Both combatants had extremely high body-refining cultivation, and the battlefield was chaotic, as if formations had ravaged the area."

"Oh?" The two Ancestors exchanged thoughtful glances. "Prepare a heavy gift. I'll personally visit the Su family."

Since Heavenly Lord Li hasn't acted against our Medicine King Sect, we don't need to treat him as an enemy. After all, it's been a hundred thousand years since the outside world's Medicine King Sect had any contact with us. It's unclear if they even remember our branch in the secret realm.

"We'll decide everything after meeting Heavenly Lord Li."

"That's all we can do," the sect leader sighed.

Normally, if Li Changsheng's strength were low and he indeed cultivated Vajra Sect techniques, the Medicine King Sect might have chosen to eliminate him rather than risk it. But now, with him holding all the power, their fate rested entirely in his hands.

Star Sea, Long Family.

"The senior is actually this strong!" Long Haotian said excitedly to his father, Long Xuan. "Father, when you go to the Su family this time, you must take me with you!"

"Don't worry," Long Xuan nodded with a smile. "The Ancestor has already come out of seclusion and will personally visit Heavenly Lord Li. He specifically asked for both of us to go, as you and I, along with Zheng Xuanyue—who's half a Long family member—are the only ones who've interacted with the senior."

Long Xuan had forgotten that just a few years ago, he had referred to Li Changsheng as a fellow Daoist. Now, he wouldn't dare address him so casually even if he had a hundred guts.

Su Family.

The Su family was also in chaos. Su Zhenghai had summoned all the family elders and stated calmly, "By order of the Ancestor, from today onward, Su Zhengdao is stripped of his position as an elder and is to meditate in the Bitter Practice Cave for five hundred years. He is not to leave before this time is up."

Su Zhengdao's face turned pale. After returning from the Medicine Hut to the Su family's ancestral home, he had considered seeking revenge. But after Li Changsheng returned from the Star Sea, news spread that he was not only a fifth-tier alchemist but also a Nascent Soul cultivator. Su Zhengdao abandoned his thoughts of revenge, only to find out that Li Changsheng's strength was far beyond his imagination.

The news that Li Changsheng had single-handedly annihilated the Xu family, which had a Deity Transformation cultivator guarding it, was brought back by a Su family elder who had gone to invite Li Changsheng. No one would joke about such matters. After brief discussion, the family decided to consign Su Zhengdao to the Bitter Practice Cave for five hundred years.

The Bitter Practice Cave was devoid of resources, and Su Zhengdao only had a little over a hundred years of lifespan left. This was effectively a death sentence.

Unaware of the commotion outside, Li Changsheng and Ximen Xue were busy harvesting spiritual herbs within the secret realm.

The secret realm was rich in spiritual herbs. Although many had been consumed by Elder Su and Luo Changqing, leaving most herbs with only a few hundred years of growth, there were still some that were over ten thousand years old.

Li Changsheng didn't harvest everything, only picking the herbs he needed for alchemy. Though he currently only had Ximen Xue as his disciple, he couldn't stay in Misty Valley forever. The valley only had a medium-grade spirit vein, and when he reached Mahayana or even higher levels of cultivation, the spirit energy from a medium-grade vein wouldn't be enough for his needs alone. This secret realm would serve as his future cultivation base.

Although he planned to leave the Tiannan Region soon, he was confident he would return before the outside world's cultivators descended upon it.

After a month in the secret realm, Li Changsheng handed Ximen Xue a formation disk that controlled the secret realm's portal and outer formations. He wouldn't be in the Tiannan Region for a while, so this was the perfect time for Ximen Xue to focus on her cultivation in the secret realm.

He had also upgraded the formations in the secret realm. Even if a peak Fusion cultivator came, as long as Ximen Xue activated the formations, she could block or even kill weaker Fusion cultivators.

When Li Changsheng arrived at the Su family's ancestral home, a crowd was already waiting outside.

As they saw Li Changsheng arriving on his jade boat, the Medicine King Sect's Deity Transformation Ancestor immediately prostrated himself and said with great respect, "Sun Xun of the Medicine King Sect pays homage to Heavenly Lord Li!"

As one of the few Deity Transformation cultivators in the Tiannan Region, Sun Xun immediately performed a grand salute upon seeing Li Changsheng.

Following Sun Xun's lead, others began to kneel.

"Long Zhen of the Long family pays homage to Heavenly Lord Li."

"Su Zhenghai and Su He of the Su family pay homage to Heavenly Lord Li."

"Sunset Sect…"

"Demon Flame Sect…"

One by one, figures who dominated the Tiannan Region knelt down, as if subjects paying homage to an emperor, their expressions filled with reverence.

"Qingyu, kneel," Su Zhenghai said softly.

Among the crowd, only Su Qingyu remained standing. She shook her head slightly. If it were anyone else with such overwhelming power, she would have knelt without hesitation. But Li Changsheng was different… How could she kneel to him?

Childish thoughts!

Su Zhenghai knew his granddaughter's feelings well. He never expected that the young Li Changsheng would achieve what no one in the Tiannan Region had managed in tens of thousands of years: making all the region's powerhouses kneel at his feet!