"Do you think our Li family would care about your Zhao Clan's business?"
Li Chang'an silently retrieved the account book. His tone was calm.
"Even if your Zhao Clan truly succeeds in its business, and my Li family is no match for you, forcing the Hall of Heavenly Principle to close...
Just guess: who do you think will be anxious? My Li family, or someone else?"
Li Chang'an's voice had barely faded.
Zhao Qingguang's expression changed drastically. "Not good, my clan's business..."
Following Zhao Qingguang's cry of alarm, Ding Yuanxiao looked even more devastated, as if he were mourning his parents.
Back when Zhao Qingguang was discussing it with him, he had painted a picture of fantastical success, saying the Zhao Clan had already obtained the support of a person of high position and great authority and had spent a supreme-grade Dharma Treasure.
He then listened as Zhao Qingguang offered him a future five-percent cut of the profits.
At the time, in a fit of excitement, he invested more than half of his family's entire foundation.
"It's too late." Li Chang'an saw Zhao Qingguang's expression and sighed.
"I guess Family Head Zhao must have thought he had arranged everything properly, sent great gifts, and that his shops had even had their grand opening.
Actually, our Li family has encountered this kind of thing before, too."
His voice was distant, as if reminiscing about his own foolish self from the past.
"Back then, I was deceived.
I opened three Hall of Heavenly Principle shops in an outside territory and also sent them great gifts.
Those people of high position and great authority made all sorts of earnest promises, calling me 'brother' and acting like kin. And guess what happened?
Sigh. Right when the shops had their grand opening, everything inside was swallowed clean.
Those outsiders... they truly devour people without spitting out the bones."
"But what can you do about such things?"
Li Chang'an said sympathetically, "A strong dragon can't beat a local snake. You just have to be more careful next time. But fortunately, our people at least made it back alive. I just don't know about the Zhao Clan..."
His words had barely faded when a Zhao clansman hurried over in a panic.
"Family Head, it's terrible! Our family's shop in Duskwild Prefecture Prefecture was... was robbed by several local sects! A blatant robbery in broad daylight!
The Nascent Soul realm clan elder we sent over sent back the message, and then... his soul fire was extinguished!"
Like a chain reaction, one Zhao clansman after another hurried over.
"It's another Region in the northwest! We don't know who robbed our shop, but... none of our clansmen survived. The other party deliberately let our clansman send back the message!"
"Our shop... it was stormed and slaughtered by Prince Yu's army! They're not human!"
"Family Head..."
The voices of his clansmen fell on Zhao Qingguang's ears, making his face turn ashen.
He had entered the world as the Family Head, swearing an oath that he would make great achievements.
He had guaranteed it to the Old Ancestor! Yet he never imagined that this seemingly simple business venture would cost their Zhao Clan such an enormous price: countless resources and the twenty thousand clansmen who were sent out...
At a conservative estimate, thirty of them were at the Nascent Soul stage, and among them was even his own grandson.
"It was you! You!" Zhao Qingguang's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Li Chang'an, his killing intent boundless.
But Li Chang'an showed not a trace of panic.
He simply cupped his fists toward Zhao Qingguang and said, "This, then, should be enough to prove that my Li Clan would not stoop to stealing the resources of every family and clan, wouldn't you agree?"
His mocking gaze landed on the clan heads of the various families, making them all feel as if they were being pricked by needles.
"Hahaha, thinking about it carefully, the Li family couldn't possibly do something that would ruin their own reputation."
"That's right. The worthless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in my clan's treasury—how could they possibly catch the eye of the Li family?"
"It seems this humble one was measuring the heart of a gentleman with the mind of a petty man."
The clan heads all echoed in agreement, but their thoughts were still stuck on that moment they glimpsed the Li family's vast network of connections.
Li Chang'an smiled at Zhao Qingguang.
"The eyes of the people are sharp and clear. Since that is the case, Family Head Zhao, farewell."
As he turned away. Zhao Qingguang's blood qi surged.
He stared deathly at Li Chang'an; today, he had lost all face.
He wished for nothing more than to kill Li Chang'an immediately.
He was certain that the destruction of his family's shops was absolutely and inextricably linked to Li Chang'an, yet he just couldn't explain how he knew.
Li Chang'an's movements were slow and methodical; even as he walked away from the Zhao residence, his pace was still very slow.
Everyone present couldn't help but swallow; they could feel that fellow Zhao Qingguang's killing intent had almost become tangible!
But right at this moment, Zhao Qingguang's killing intent vanished completely.
Everyone stared in horror toward the sky outside the Immortal Zhao Clan's residence.
One after another, spirit arks engraved with the Asura emblem approached.
Atop the spirit arks, the soldiers of the Asura Army, having come from the Northern Border, all, without exception, saluted Li Xinghuo.
Several cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage landed on their swords, their black robes billowing noisily in the wind, and saluted Li Xinghuo.
"Commander, this subordinate has received orders from the Grand Tutor to escort you back to the Northern Border!"
Li Xinghuo hadn't even spoken when these soldiers looked toward the inside of the Immortal Zhao Clan's residence, their brows instantly furrowing.
One of them said in a cold voice, "When this subordinate was approaching, I sensed a killing intent. If the Commander has encountered any trouble, please feel free to speak. The Grand Commander is conscripting troops not far from here."
The Grand Commander of the Asura Army!
Everyone at the banquet, without exception, showed a look of fear.
Li Xinghuo turned his head, looked at the trembling Zhao Qingguang, and let out a loud laugh.
"Family Head Zhao, my subordinates believe that This General has encountered trouble. Why don't you tell This General—has This General encountered any trouble or not?"