In less than two hours, the brother and sister, working in concert, had forced the three Divinity Transformation experts into a steady retreat.
Empowered by the 'Sky-Walker,' Bai Rourou made short work of the Nascent Soul cultivators; none could stand against her for even a single exchange.
While the oppressive might of the Divinity Transformation experts was formidable, they were helpless against the Sky-Walker's myriad techniques. Combined with the constant explosions of the 'Thunder-Fire Spirit-Seekers,' they couldn't even get close to her.
"Truly impressive."
A look of pure gratification spread across Li Wei's face. Watching their combat style, he thought, it's no wonder no one in this world dares to rashly provoke a professional Artifact Refiner and a Physician...
Even Li Yaozu, if he were here, could at most only hold his own on enemy territory. Yet this brother-and-sister pair had managed to take on an entire region!
"Descend!"
However, more and more cultivators were rushing in from across the great region. If they managed to form a spiritual formation, the Li family's advantage would quickly turn into a disadvantage.
Li Wei dared not delay. He instantly descended into the world to fight alongside his descendants.
"Old Ancestor!"
Seeing the familiar spirit tablet and black mist, Li Yaoqing and the couple, Li Yaotie and Bai Rourou, were instantly overjoyed.
The Yin-Yang Fish Diagram descended. In around 30 minutes, the battle was over. The battlefield was left in ruins, and the afterglow from the bursts of spiritual energy still lingered between heaven and earth.
[Congratulations! You and your descendants fought together, killing two Divinity Transformation experts. The third escaped using a secret technique.]
[Family Will acquired: 80]
[A large amount of spoils of war has been obtained.]
[Divinity Transformation Corpse x2, Nascent Soul Corpse x13]
[Obtained Low-Grade Dharma Treasure: Heavenly Fire Divine Spear]
Without a moment's delay, the Yin-Yang Fish Diagram flashed continuously across the sky. After the great battle, Li Yaoqing and the couple, Li Yaotie and Bai Rourou, stood within the diagram, traveling with Li Wei toward Prince Qian's Mansion. His descents lasted for a full day; since there was no point in wasting the extra time, he might as well use it to travel with his descendants.
"This spear is not bad at all."
Li Wei inspected the red longspear in his hand, a pleased look on his face.
This spear was also an instrument of slaughter. It could summon a heavenly fire, an ability equivalent to a common Primordial Spirit Art, and anyone touched by the flames would be burned to ash.
When the time comes, he thought, with the Heavenly Fire Divine Spear in my left hand and the North Star Spirit-Breaking Spear in my right, I can transform myself on the spot into the 'Dual-Spear Old Ancestor'.
Originally, Li Wei had intended to lead the trio on a sweep through the regional cities, one by one.
However, Li Wei sensed a pair of eyes watching him from the sky—the probing of a Void Refining cultivator from one of the Three Great Sects .
The great aristocratic clans also seemed to know his location at all times; whenever he arrived, they had already gone into hiding or vanished without a trace.
Immortal Clans that had existed for many years always had their own methods.
They could hide among the common folk in the cities, possess hidden Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands just like the Li family, or rely on great formations.
All had ways to shield themselves from heavenly secrets and conceal their auras.
Li Wei didn't linger. Once his day-long descent time was up, he let the trio continue their journey on their own.
...
Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.
The entire Duravia Trade Prefecture was in chaos, and the people of Azure Cloud were still fighting in the various regional cities.
In the main city, home to Prince Qian's Mansion, a great formation had long since been activated—a Rank 4 formation!
Atop the city wall, Prince Qian sat calmly, facing the flat plains outside. Before him was a low table with a zither resting upon it. He was the very picture of an unparalleled nobleman; even now, with the Duravia Trade Prefecture in chaos and knowing full well his enemies were about to arrive, he maintained a serene and unbothered demeanor, a faint smile gracing his lips .
Two maids flanked him, attending to his tea. As one finished brewing, steam billowed from the cup, swirling and rising into the snowy air in a continuous stream of white mist. The other maid stood by a brazier, steadily adding firewood to the flame.
Prince Qian's fingers plucked at the zither. The music began with a leisurely grace before turning sharp and urgent, like the flurry of wind and snow within the otherwise peaceful city.
Outside the city, through the hazy wind and snow, a spirit ark could be faintly seen approaching. Li Dalong stood at its prow. Fluctuations rippled through the air above the ark, where the phantom of a white Qilin appeared, its mane stirring in the blizzard as it seemingly contended with those fluctuations of unknown origin.
Li Dalong peered through the blizzard, his gaze fixed on the city ahead.
For the past several days, the Three Great Sects had relentlessly used the arts of their Void Refining cultivators to obstruct their approach. If not for the White Qilin, they would never have gotten close to the city. Even he, Li Dalong, needed the protection of the Heaven-Piercing Coffin to remain unharmed.
It was also for this reason that Ming Daozi and Supreme Elder Puci of the Aeternus Sect had no time to spare to deal with the people of Azure Cloud.
Eleven Divinity Transformation cultivators had come from Duskwild Prefecture, but now... only nine remained.
Huuu—
A sword phantom flashed within the blizzard, and a figure suddenly materialized beside the spirit ark. His black hair was whipped up by the gale, brushing across his cheek. He remained silent, his black robes tattered and torn. With a slight movement of his left arm, its sleeve long gone, he took the sword box from his back, placed it beside him, and rested one hand upon it. His long right sleeve snapped loudly in the wind.