Crossing over range after range of mountains.
The handsome youth, possessing an ethereal and sage-like bearing, stood upon his flying sword, his eyes red and swollen.
"Master... Master..."
Li Chuyuan looked stricken with grief.
During his thirty years of cultivation in the Immortal Sect, He Hao had been both a father and a teacher to him.
He never imagined that his Master would be buried forever at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
Suddenly losing his support left him at a loss for what to do.
Fortunately, he still had Senior Brothers at the Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation realms who looked out for him.
But as for what the future held, he was suddenly at a total loss.
Suppressing the unease in his heart, Li Chuyuan wiped away his tears.
"Elder Duanmu wants me to return to the clan, to exchange information with the Family Head, and assess the situation regarding the Blue Moon Immortal Sect.
Any fellow disciple could handle such a task; why did he choose me?"
"Two Void Refining clan elders lost their lives at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, leaving the family internal defenses hollow. Meanwhile, I have already broken through to the Golden Core realm and possess the Heavenly Ice Spirit Root—my future prospects are boundless.
Could it be... that Elder Duanmu intends to groom me to become the next Family Head? Through me, the Immortal Sect could then draw closer to the Li Clan."
The more Li Chuyuan thought about it, the more tightly his brows furrowed.
In this moment, he was secretly startled by Elder Duanmu's ambition, and his heart sank heavily.
"If this is truly the case, it is also a matter of mutual benefit.
The Li Clan can rest easy without worry under the protection of the Sect, while the Immortal Sect can sit back and control three prefectures.
As for me, I can utilize both the family's resources and the Sect's ancient techniques for my cultivation. In the future, perhaps my Li Clan could even become like the Duanmu Family—it is not impossible."
Thinking this way, Li Chuyuan still let out a long sigh.
"If Master were still alive, why would I need to worry about so many things?"
Before long.
Li Chuyuan arrived at the Merit City Grotto-Heaven in the Azure Cloud Prefecture.
He did not know how many years had passed since he last returned to the Merit City Grotto-Heaven, but he saw that the place was just as it had always been.
Inside the Grotto-Heaven, the common people were still living the traditional life—men tilling the fields and women weaving.
When he left all those years ago, he was merely a youth. But now upon his return, Li Chuyuan—having reached the Golden Core realm—could sense the majestic and boundless Spiritual Energy within the Grotto-Heaven.
It was on par with the Immortal Sect itself!
An old man was farming nearby, wielding his agricultural tools. Yet, inside that old man's Dantian, golden light was shimmering; it would not be long before a Golden Core was formed.
"A False Core farmer?"
Li Chuyuan was stunned. Immediately, golden light burst from his eyes as he observed the auras of the people.
Entering his view were vast stretches of Spirit Fields. It was the time for farming, and over a thousand farmers were toiling away, laughing and chatting across the fields.
At a single glance, he realized that fifty percent of them were cultivators, and there were hundreds at the Foundation Establishment realm!
There were even... Golden Core farmers...
"How is this possible? How could Golden Core cultivators be willing to do farm work???"
A thousand thoughts raced through Li Chuyuan's mind, but suddenly, his expression changed.
Golden light burst forth in the sky, and a surge of Spiritual power severed his Divine Soul perception. In a flash, an old man approached—it was the family butler, Huang Xiujin!
"Greetings, Butler Huang." Knowing he had been rash, Li Chuyuan hurriedly bowed.
"A disciple of the Eternal Immortal Sect?"
Huang Xiujin frowned slightly. If an outsider had dared to probe like this, the Clan Formation would have made them suffer dearly. However, the formation was ineffective against the clan's own bloodline, allowing this loophole to be exploited.
Huang Xiujin asked the question casually, then raised his head. With a mere snap of his fingers, an invisible giant hand seized Li Chuyuan's aura and dragged him into the formation.
Only then did he speak: "For what purpose have you come to my Merit City Grotto-Heaven?"
Li Chuyuan's expression changed. He was, after all, a member of the Li Family; he had never imagined that this Huang Xiujin would be so arrogant.
Suppressing the rage in his heart, he replied, "It was Elder Duanmu who ordered me to come. I have urgent matters to discuss with the Family Head."
"Please follow me. However, I must trouble you not to pry into my Merit City Grotto-Heaven again; the Spiritual formation shows no mercy."
Huang Xiujin led Li Chuyuan toward the residence. After all, the other party was a True Inheritance disciple of the Eternal Immortal Sect, so the proper respect had to be shown; this was the basic professionalism expected of a butler.
Li Chuyuan followed closely all the way, glancing left and right. Yet he saw that neither the Inner City nor the residence had raised white silk, unlike the Eternal Immortal Sect.
"Could it be that the family is still unaware that the clan elders lost their lives at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?"
He shook his head and sighed.
"Our position is weaker than others; the Immortal Suppression Department has never taken the Li Clan seriously.
Now that the two Clan Elders have passed away, we are declining even further.
Only the Eternal Immortal Sect acts with benevolence and righteousness, willing to lend the Li Clan a hand."
Arriving inside the main hall.
He saw a handsome, spirited young man dressed in opulent robes, sitting in the Family Head's seat with his eyes closed.
A noblewoman stood behind him, massaging his temples—a scene of utter leisure.
"Chuyuan pays his respects to the Family Head."
The great hall fell silent for a moment.
Li Xinnian opened his eyes, smiled at Nangong Qingya, and only then turned his gaze toward Li Chuyuan.
Ten years had passed, and he had long since come to terms with everything. Seeing Li Chuyuan now, he wore a welcoming smile.
"Chuyuan, you've returned. Is there something you need?"
Seeing that Li Xinnian showed no signs of anger, the tension in Li Chuyuan's heart eased considerably.
He hurriedly spoke,
"Reporting to the Family Head, Chuyuan has come under orders.
I wonder... I wonder if the Family Head is aware of the events at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems?
The people from the Immortal Suppression Department have already arrived..."
As Li Chuyuan recounted the events at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the casualties suffered by the various major forces, his voice choked with emotion, yet he kept a close watch on the Family Head's expression.
However, he saw that Li Xinnian remained composed, his expression unchanging.
"So, the Immortal Sect's intention is to lend my Li Clan a helping hand?"
"Yes."
Li Chuyuan spoke in a grave voice,
"Elder Duanmu is willing to mediate on our behalf to ensure the family does not fall into calamity.
The Blue Moon Immortal Sect was driven out of their former territory, and their sect's vitality was severely damaged. Now, seeing the prosperity of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, they merely wish to come here to rest and recover.
As long as we have the backing of the Immortal Sect, even the Blue Moon Immortal Sect will be forced to behave themselves. We simply need to find a location with rich spiritual energy to let them..."
Before his voice had even faded.
Li Xinnian interrupted him. "It is too late."
"Too late?" Li Chuyuan was stunned.
Li Xinnian said nothing more. He simply asked Li Chuyuan to convey the Li Clan's gratitude to the Eternal Immortal Sect for their kindness, instructed Huang Xiujin to entertain Li Chuyuan well, and then headed back into the inner family estate.
But how could Li Chuyuan possibly be in the mood for hospitality?
Li Chuyuan was arranged to stay in a guest inn within the Inner City. For a time, he paced back and forth in his room, his mind racing.
"Elder Duanmu has already discerned that the Immortal Suppression Department intends to suppress the Li Clan.
Grand Elder Pu Ci of the Ethereal Immortal Sect is certain to rebel, and the various major forces of the Azure Cloud Prefecture must have also received missives from the Department. This is..."
Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from outside the window.
Focusing his gaze, he saw Li Xinnian clad in battle armor, leading a mere hundred men out of Merit City. Their killing intent was boiling over!
Li Chuyuan's expression changed dramatically!
"This is bad! They still intend to fight? This sort of arrogance is going to get everyone killed!"
Daring not to think any further, he hurriedly rushed back toward the Immortal Sect, gnashing his teeth in frustration.
"The Clan Elders have already perished at Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems—do they think the family hasn't fallen low enough yet?!!"
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