Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 49: Shock

That day, Li Shilian came alone to the marketplace. In front of many loose cultivators, he shut down Cloudtop Pavilion and the miscellaneous goods shop without an explanation. He just mentioned that they would reopen in a few days, then hastily left with all of the Li family cultivators from the marketplace, his expression fraught with panic.

”Has something happened to the Li family?” speculated a loose cultivator.

The next day, this personʼs speculation was confirmed. Suddenly, a rumor emerged in the marketplace that Da Rong Island had been attacked by hundreds of bandit cultivators. Although the attackers were ultimately repelled and Da Rong Island was saved, the loss was severe, and many of the clan members were sacrificed.

The rumor spread with astonishing speed. In just half a day, it had spread throughout the entire marketplace. Numerous cultivators discussed it animatedly, wondering which power had moved against the Li family.

Yet before people could debate to a conclusion, another piece of news arrived, one that shocked everyone.

The Zheng, He, and Jiang families had also been attacked, and the He Family was annihilated in this catastrophe. Now only a few family members who stayed in the marketplace remained.

”Bang!”

Inside the main hall of the Yuanming Sect, the Sect Master slammed his fist on the table, his voice full of rage, ”This is a provocation against the Yuanming Sect! We absolutely cannot let this go unpunished! We must find the culprits and execute them in front of everyone!”

”Sect Master, Iʼm afraid the matter is not so simple,” said the Great Elder in a deep voice. ”The fact that those bandit cultivators were easily abandoned indicates they were nothing but cannon fodder. The real mastermind behind the scenes is likely that Green Sword Sect to the north.”

The Green Sword Sect lay to the northwest of Yunping State, and just like the Yuanming Sect, it was a newly risen Golden Core power. However, the two forces had borne enmity against each other ever since they were both Foundation Establishment powers and that enmity persisted to this day.

Though they were both under the banner of the old Golden Core power, Shen Leishan, it did not prevent their struggles against each other. In fact, Shen Leishan relished their conflicts.

”Damn that Green Sword Sect, after so many years, they still havenʼt given up!” the Sect Master said angrily.

The root of the enmity lay in the fact that although the territory controlled by the Green Sword Sect was vast, it was not as rich as Yunping State and was blocked by Yunping from accessing the sea.

Of course, after so many years, the accumulated hatred between them was too complex to be simply articulated.

”Now the Green Sword Sect, using the power of loose cultivators, has caused calamity to our vassal families. And the He Family has even been destroyed. If we do not respond, it might embolden the enemyʼs arrogance,” said the Great Elder, frowning.

”At the same time, those vassal families might become restless and easily swayed by the Green Sword Sect.”

”Deploy a team from the Sect to suppress this so-called Loose Cultivator Alliance and send people to console the four families. Waive their tributes for the next three years. As for the He Family...”

The Sect Master paused, then said, ”I hear there are a few He family members in Yunqing Marketplace. Compensate them with a Foundation Establishment Pill and let them continue to manage Black Stone Island. Also, declare that the Sect will protect the He Family for fifty years.”

This compensation plan seemed quite generous, but in reality, apart from that Foundation Establishment Pill, the Yuanming Sect hardly gave up anything.

However, for the annihilated He Family, the Yuanming Sectʼs offer was like a beacon of hope in a plight, a glimmer of hope for the familyʼs continuation.

As for the Green Sword Sect, they could only wait for an opportunity to take revenge in the future. For now, placating their vassal powers and suppressing the chaos in Yunping State took precedence.

In order to deter the hidden Loose Cultivator Alliance, the Yuanming Sect sent out five Foundation Establishment late-stage Elders. Any cultivator who had ties with Kou Bai and the Loose Cultivator Alliance was taken away.

No one knew their fate, but no one saw them again.

Fortunately, such widespread arrests did not last long. Otherwise, it might have led to a mass exodus of loose cultivators, but the actions of the Yuanming Sect quickly restored order to Yunping State.

...

”Is the Yuanming Sectʼs response not a bit too severe?” Li Shilian mused doubtfully. He felt there was something more to the situation, certainly something they were unaware of.

The members of the Li family saw off the envoys from the Yuanming Sect who had come to offer their condolences, as well as the messenger who notified the Li family that their tributes were waived for three years. A group of senior members then gathered in the main hall to discuss the matter.

Although the annihilation of the He Family was a disgrace for the Yuanming Sect, was it really necessary to go to the great lengths of searching the entire Yunping State?

”That Kou Bai is merely a Loose Cultivator at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. What capabilities does he have to summon nine Foundation Establishment cultivators and five to six hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators?” Li Shiqing commented indifferently, ”He must have the support of an even larger force behind him.”

Ever since Li Shiqing had learned that three families to the east had also been attacked, he had been contemplating this issue. Now, piecing together the reaction of the Yuanming Sect, he finally began to grasp a clue.

”Shize, do you have any information on forces that bear a grudge against the Yuanming Sect?” Li Shiqing turned to look at Li Shize, who had hurried back.

Li Shize took out a Jade Slip and looked it over for a moment before saying, ”There is a Golden Core force to the northwest of the Yuanming Sect, known as the Green Sword Sect. If itʼs as you said, elder brother, then itʼs likely the Green Sword Sect.”

”Golden Core, ah!” Li Shiqing sighed and asked, ”Tell me more about it.”

”The Green Sword Sect currently has a Golden Core Sword Cultivator named Yu Qing, over thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and nearly a thousand Qi Cultivation disciples. Its strength is comparable to that of the Yuanming Sect.”

Li Shize paused for a moment before saying, ”According to the information Iʼve gathered, the Green Sword Sect has not made a move against Yunping State for more than ten years.”

”So, why has the Green Sword Sect suddenly taken action this time?”

Li Shize shook his head. Even the Yuanming Sect had not collected any intelligence on the Green Sword Sectʼs actions, so how could he possibly find out?

”Let it be, this matter involves two major Golden Core forces; itʼs not something we can get involved in. Letʼs end it here,” Li Shiqing spoke up to stop everyone from delving too deeply into the matter.

”Itʼs also time to reopen those two shops in the marketplace.”

Originally, Li Shiqing wanted to take advantage of this situation to lure some enemies into revealing themselves; he had not anticipated that the matter would become so serious and attract the attention of the Yuanming Sect.

At this time, no force would dare make a move under the eyes of the Yuanming Sect; naturally, the Li family had no need to keep their shops closed any longer.

”Iʼll take some people to the marketplace tomorrow,” Li Shiren spoke up.

”Make sure those clan members donʼt slip up and talk, so as not to bring disaster upon us,” Li Shiqing reminded.

If the Yuanming Sect found out that the Li family was deceiving them, the price would be more than the Li family could bear.

”Alright, everyone go back. Zhirui, stay behind,” Li Shiqing called out to Li Zhirui alone.

Li Zhiruiʼs eyes were full of confusion; he could not understand why Li Shiqing wanted to keep him behind.

”I have something very important to tell you,” Li Shiqing said to Li Zhirui with a serious face, and the atmosphere in the main hall grew tense.

”Clan Leader, please instruct me; I will do my utmost to fulfill it,” Li Zhirui said, although he did not know what it was. He believed the Clan Leader would not assign him a task that was impossible to complete.

The expression on Li Shiqingʼs face softened a bit as he said, ”I wish to hand over the family to you, for you to lead.”

”Clan Leader Grandfather, you...” Li Zhirui looked up in shock. If he remembered correctly, Li Shiqing had several decades left before his lifespan ended; so why did he seem to be making a final request as if on his deathbed?

”Hahahaha...” Seeing Li Zhiruiʼs reaction, Li Shiqing could not help but laugh heartily and said, ”Not now. Once you break through to Foundation Establishment, I will hand over the position of Clan Leader to you. At that time, I can close off in peace and attempt to break through to Golden Core.”