Chapter 1236: 1087: Straightforward

Chapter 1236: Chapter 1087: Straightforward

Although Li Zhirui had ordered the clan members not to discuss the matter, how could such an extraordinarily rare event be silenced with just a few words?

At most, out of respect for Li Zhirui, they avoided talking about it in public, but privately, everyone was gossiping about it with great fervor.

If the Li family had some internal insights and their guesses weren’t excessively far-fetched, the rest of the world could only speculate wildly about the fall of the Taiyin last night, which suspended itself above Mount Wanxian.

Some believed that a peerless treasure had emerged from Mount Wanxian; others speculated that someone from the Li family had mastered some kind of secret technique; some even claimed that someone from the Li family had ascended…

The rumors were as astonishing as they were outlandish, stirring intense curiosity in everyone.

For a long time afterward, surrounding cultivators continued to discuss the event.

Consequently, regardless of whether they had cordial relations with the Li family before, various forces from the surrounding areas sent emissaries to probe for information.

Oddly enough, perhaps it was mere coincidence or a prior arrangement among them, but they all came to visit on the same day.

And among these motives, there were likely those intending to assess the Li family’s situation in preparation for their own plans of action.

“I wonder what brings you all here today?” Li Taichang asked with a calm expression as he received the elders of the various sects.

“Haha,”

The leader of these visitors, Elder Qian of the Baiyun Sect, chuckled and said, “Clan Leader Li, the recent spectacle your noble family caused truly astonished the world and piqued our curiosity greatly. That is why we’ve taken the liberty to visit and inquire about the matter.”

“It was merely because our ancestor Cheng Shuo, along with Yueyin and Howling Moon, the two Spirit Ancestors, achieved mastery over their secret technique, which caused the phenomenon of the Taiyin descending. Therefore, there’s no reason for concern,” Li Taichang responded dismissively.

These words, in fact, were pre-prepared by Li Zhirui for the purpose of deflecting the inquiries from Baiyun Sect and the other powers.

“But we have heard that the three figures you mentioned seemed to vanish after rising with the Taiyin into the sky,”

Elder Qian probed further with some dissatisfaction, “And immediately afterward, numerous anomalies appeared around the Taiyin Star. Are these also related to the secret technique?”

Although no cultivators dared to approach Mount Wanxian at the time, certain cultivators with pupil skills had seen from afar how Li Chengshuo and the two Spirit Ancestors were taken into the air by the Taiyin Moonlight.

Moreover, at that time, Li Zhirui and others followed closely, a scene so conspicuous that it couldn’t possibly be concealed.

“Hahaha, Fellow Daoist, surely you jest? How could our three ancestors, who have only just entered the Mahayana stage, possibly traverse the Gang Wind safely? Wouldn’t that be courting death?”

Li Taichang would never admit to such a thing directly, his expression jovial as he ignored the second question and continued, “The Primal Spirit Realm belongs to the Great Thousand World. Even we all know that breaking through to the Immortal Realm is just reaching a new level of cultivation—it would never trigger exclusion by the Heavenly Dao and force one to ascend to the Upper Realm, as occurs in the Middle Thousand Worlds.”

The swirling rumors had already caused considerable trouble for the Li family. If the ascension of Li Chengshuo and the others was admitted, the resulting complications would only grow worse and more difficult to manage!

Let’s not forget, the Li family was a mere tens of thousands of miles away from the Cave Abyss Sect!

Given the Cave Abyss Sect’s stronghold over the surrounding territories, they must already be aware of the incident. They just hadn’t visited to confirm it yet.

The Li family’s willingness to entertain these elders was, in part, an effort to spread some information through them.

The visitors furrowed their brows slightly. What Li Taichang said wasn’t wrong, but they still had an inkling that something was off. After all, what kind of secret technique could cause such a spectacular phenomenon?!

However, directly asking Li Taichang to produce the secret technique for their perusal was impossible. Such techniques were undoubtedly part of the Li family’s heritage—how could they ever share them with outsiders?

So, after being entertained briefly by Li Taichang, the group departed from Mount Wanxian.

“I wonder if the Cave Abyss Sect will come to investigate…”

Li Taichang felt uneasy. The Cave Abyss Sect, a seasoned and knowledgeable force, was unlikely to be so easily deceived!

He could only hope that the Cave Abyss Sect would not focus its attention on the Li family over this matter.

But unfortunately, Li Taichang’s hopes were destined to be dashed!

Just a few days later, emissaries from the Cave Abyss Sect arrived at their door.

“Honored predecessors, it is our great privilege to welcome you. I deeply apologize for any oversights in hosting you, and I humbly ask for your forgiveness,” Li Taichang greeted them with utmost respect, escorting the group into Mount Wanxian.

Since becoming the Li Clan Leader, he had never bowed and scraped to anyone before, as he represented the dignity of the Li family.

But in front of the Cave Abyss Sect, the Li family was no better than any other faction—a mere ant to be crushed at will. How could he afford to maintain his usual pride?

The emissaries did not stand on ceremony. Once seated in the Reception Hall, they immediately questioned, “Why did the Li family trigger the descent of the Taiyin star recently, and why did three figures ascend to the Taiyin Star?”

“The former was merely the result of Ancestor Cheng Shuo and the Spirit Ancestors Yueyin and Howling Moon demonstrating their secret technique after achieving mastery, inadvertently causing such a commotion. We deeply regret disturbing you esteemed seniors—it was entirely our fault,”

Li Taichang replied humbly. “As for the latter, it’s pure nonsense. How could the three ancestors ascend to the Taiyin Star when their cultivation is merely at the Mahayana stage? They wouldn’t survive crossing the Gang Wind.”

“Hmph! Such words might suffice to fool the ignorant masses, but did you truly believe you could deceive us?”

The leading emissary snorted coldly and said, “Do you think we wouldn’t act?”

“Please, predecessors, calm your anger! Every word I’ve said is the absolute truth!” Li Taichang hastily tried to placate them, his expression filled with fear and anxiety.

If these individuals were to truly act against them at Mount Wanxian, the Li family would face a terrible dilemma. To retaliate and injure them would make it impossible to reconcile with the Cave Abyss Sect, but to let them have their way unopposed would mean standing by as they violated the family’s sanctity.