"Supreme Elder, Su Chen... Su Chen was taken away by the Li family's Li Xinghuo!"
High in the sky, the Divinity Transformation cultivators from both the Duravia Trade Prefecture and the Eternal Sun Prefecture were in a standoff, locked in a stalemate.
A disciple with one arm hanging limply hurried forward frantically, reporting to Supreme Elder Puci.
Supreme Elder Puci furrowed his brow slightly.
The Third Elder, Daoist Kongxing, who was at his side, had his expression change drastically.
"Trash! So many of you, and you couldn't stop one Li Xinghuo?!!"
The cultivator delivering the message was indignant, but he still had to say respectfully,
"Reporting to the Third Elder, Li Xinghuo has already reached the half-step Divinity Transformation realm.
The techniques he cultivates are extraordinary, and he has two Dharma Treasures at his side.
And... and he seems to possess a special physique!"
"He also has a demon beast protecting him. It's... a Nine-Headed Ghost Lion!"
Upon hearing this, Daoist Kongxing's heart lurched.
The Nine-Headed Ghost Lion was a demon beast unique to Grand Tutor Lin Jiu in the Northern Border.
It was unknown where this kind of demon beast came from. They were completely unable to transform into human form and possessed low intelligence, yet no one questioned their combat strength.
In particular, the Nine-Headed Ghost Lions were divided by one to nine heads, which represented their cultivation potential and, at the same time, represented the mount's owner's status in the Grand Tutor's heart.
A Nine-Headed Ghost Lion, if it devoured enough blood-food and lived for a sufficient number of years, could easily break through to the Void Refining realm.
Not only that, within the same realm, they were often several times stronger than members of the Human Race—if not more!
"It's actually a Nine-Headed Ghost Lion!" A nameless fury rose in Daoist Kongxing's heart.
He could already see the helplessness of the sect's guest elders.
Never mind those guest elders, even he wouldn't dare to intercept the person Li Xinghuo rescued while riding a Nine-Headed Ghost Lion —because that would be slapping the Grand Tutor in the face!
The expressions on Daoist Kongxing and Supreme Elder Puci did not escape Li Yunbing's gaze.
Li Yunbing's disdainful gaze swept over the nearly thirty Divinity Transformation cultivators from the Duravia Trade Prefecture before him.
Even facing Supreme Elder Puci, he didn't show a trace of fear.
"Senior Puci, it has been many years. Your esteemed self's bearing is as impressive as ever.
It's just that these matters of us juniors have caused your esteemed self to personally take action; it truly is an imposition on you, Senior."
Supreme Elder Puci's expression remained unchanged in the face of this veiled sarcasm.
But a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.
Everything today was far too strange, like an overwhelming hand that blots out the sky, clutching the throat of the entire Duravia Trade Prefecture.
He scanned the experts who had come from Eternal Sun Prefecture, and his heart surged with turmoil.
A disciple with Su Chen's heaven-defying potential had arrived, and now the cultivators from Eternal Sun Prefecture had intercepted their Divinity Transformation cultivators with crushing momentum.
This was undoubtedly a demonstration of power.
The Li family was using their actions to tell him that the Duravia Trade Prefecture no longer had the right to harbor ulterior motives in their presence; they ought to obediently accept the Li family's rule.
And the facts proved that Eternal Sun Prefecture possessed sufficient strength to trample the Duravia Trade Prefecture into ashes!
At this moment, Supreme Elder Puci seemed to have aged several years.
He gave Li Yunbing a bitter smile and said, "Prefecture Lord Jiang, I wonder if we might step aside and speak?"
"Please."
Li Yunbing gazed around at the cultivators of the Duravia Trade Prefecture, making no effort to conceal the mockery in his expression.
He wanted everyone in the entire Duravia Trade Prefecture to see that Supreme Elder Puci had already lowered his noble head.
He wanted these disobedient fellows to know that they, too, ought to bow their heads before the Li family!
A moment later.
Li Yunbing and Supreme Elder Puci had returned from their discussion; it had only been a few scant words.
All the people from the Duravia Trade Prefecture had their eyes downcast.
No blood was shed today, yet this defeat was even more miserable than the one at Prince Qian's Mansion back then.
The Li family's power had practically become a high mountain before their very eyes, and only a few decades had passed.
Supreme Elder Puci gazed around at the crowd, let out a sigh, and was about to lead everyone away.
"Wait."
Li Yunbing called out, causing the expressions of all the cultivators from the Duravia Trade Prefecture to change. However, they quickly breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Yunbing looked toward Daoist Kongxing and Immortal Master Qi Yue.
"You two, you still owe me and Grand Elder Yunlin one Dharma Treasure and one Rank 5 Spirit Object. It is time to deliver."
Hearing this, all the cultivators' gazes turned toward the two men.
Calling in the debt right then and there was undoubtedly grinding their faces into the dirt.
Daoist Kongxing flushed crimson. "You... you've gone too far!"
One hour later.
The spirit arks from Eternal Sun Prefecture, which blotted out the sky, departed toward Eternal Sun Prefecture.
Li Yunlin was toying with the Rank 5 Spirit Object in his hand.
"Meow!"
The old cat from the Skyveil Hall materialized and leaped onto Li Yunlin's shoulder, its eyes shining.
"A fine item! Quick, give it to me! The Skyveil Hall will have another corner filled!"
Li Yunlin raised an eyebrow slightly and casually tossed the spirit object to the old cat.
He looked toward Li Yunbing at his side, "Second Brother, what did Supreme Elder Puci say to you?"
Li Yunbing sneered.
"That old bastard is still the same as ever, just like during the battle at Prince Qian's Mansion back then—a true coward.
But that old bastard is also genuinely clever. He saw that our purpose this time was to find that reclusive power that has come to the Duravia Trade Prefecture, and he spilled everything without hesitation."
Li Yunlin's expression was grave. "Who?"
"The Immortal Zhao Clan."
Li Yunbing leaned against the spirit ark's railing, reaching out his hand to feel the surging wind and clouds outside the vessel's defensive formation. His gaze was as deep as a sea of stars.
"We just need to go back and ask Fourth Aunt. The God-Hunter Village, where she is located, is an extraordinary power; they should have intelligence on them."
Just as Li Yunlin was nodding, the expressions of both brothers and the cultivators aboard the spirit ark changed.
An unnatural wind stirred from an unknown place in the clouds, so powerful that even the spirit ark's defensive formation destabilized for a moment.
Those were the fluctuations from Void Refining cultivators locked in a fierce battle!
Everyone looked in unison toward the source of the spiritual power fluctuations. Probing with their Primordial Spirits, they could feel the distant space itself trembling.
"It's the Senior from Bright Spirit Valley." Li Yunlin's expression was grave.
"He should have been protecting Su Chen. For him not to have appeared this time, it seems..."
Li Yunbing's expression was mocking. "He's run into the people from the Immortal Zhao Clan!"
But the smile on his face gradually froze. The two brothers exchanged a glance. From that place of spatial tremors, they sensed a familiar bloodline aura.
"Father is there too!"
"He's so old, yet he still loves getting in on the excitement like this."