Chapter 1237: 1087: Direct_2

Chapter 1237: Chapter 1087: Direct_2

“Haha, so every word of it is true? Then I’ll see just how hard your mouth really is!”

The cultivator stretched out his right hand, spirit light emerging at his fingertips, truly intending to attack the Li family members on Mount Wanxian—even the Li Clan Leader himself!

Clang—

Fortunately, the spirit light didn’t reach Li Taichang and was blocked by the sudden appearance of Li Zhirui.

“What is the meaning of this?” Li Zhirui asked, his face darkened as he glared at the group.

Did they truly think that being members of the Cave Abyss Sect meant that no one would dare lay a finger on them? To have the audacity to develop such an arrogant disposition?

Or perhaps they were deliberately chosen by the Cave Abyss Sect to provoke the Li family, thereby creating an excuse to strike first?

The several Mahayana cultivators exchanged confused looks. They never anticipated Li Zhirui would intervene to block them, thus preventing them from accomplishing the task given by their clan.

Furthermore, judging by the aura emanating from Li Zhirui, he far outclassed them in terms of strength!

This realization left them stunned. Although they weren’t highly regarded within the Cave Abyss Sect, their status was unquestionably better than members from weaker factions.

But against Li Zhirui, that status suddenly became irrelevant!

Now that their attempt had failed, there was no need to linger in this barren land.

After all, this was the Li family’s domain, protected by the Mountain Protection Array. If they dared make another move, it could force the Li family into retaliating and potentially injuring them in the process.

As for the information regarding Li Chengshuo and the other two heirs, they wrote it down as instructed by Li Taichang. Whether their sect believed it or not was no longer their concern.

“You’re leaving so easily?” Li Zhirui’s voice was heavy with disdain.

The leader furrowed his brow and turned to face Li Zhirui, saying, “Oh? Does Fellow Daoist intend to keep us all here?”

“Ha! If you truly make a move, it won’t be long before all ten thousand cultivators of your sect die as well and are buried alongside us!” another sneered.

Others in the group felt those words were somewhat inappropriate; the already tense situation didn’t need more provocation. If Li Zhirui really decided to attack them, even if their sect avenged them afterward, it would matter little, as they’d already be dead. Revenge wouldn’t bring back their lives.

“Haha!”

Li Zhirui let out a cold laugh, and with just a thought, he gathered the surrounding spiritual energy to form a massive hand, which slapped the disrespectful cultivator’s face with a resounding strike.

“You! You’ve got such audacity, daring to humiliate us like this!”

The cultivator’s eyes burned with rage as he stared daggers at Li Zhirui, shouting venomously, “If I live through today, I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold!”

“You?” Li Zhirui sneered. “If it weren’t for your background, you’d have died long ago!”

Ignoring their furious glares, Li Zhirui said matter-of-factly, “Relay this message to your sect: Li Chengshuo and the other two heirs have been blessed by Heavenly Dao, conferred as Taiyin Star Gods, and granted authority over Taiyin’s divine powers!”

“The Li family is far from as powerful as the Cave Abyss Sect, but we are no mere rabble for some stray dogs to insult!”

“Fine, fine! I want to see just how many members of the Li family will survive by the end!”

The leader’s face darkened, seething with indignation. When had they ever been humiliated like this?

Today’s disgrace brought upon them by Li Zhirui would undoubtedly be repaid a thousandfold in the future!

The group left Mount Wanxian with grim expressions, vowing to return to Cave Abyss State as soon as possible. They could hardly wait to witness the Li family reduced to ruins, amidst a scene of corpses strewn everywhere.

“Ancestor Rui, this…”

Li Taichang hesitated and asked, “Is it wise to provoke the Cave Abyss Sect like this?”

If Li Zhirui were already an Immortal Realm cultivator, there wouldn’t be a word of doubt even if the Cave Abyss Sect were angered. Though he’d still not be their match single-handedly.

But the problem was, he was a Great Vehicle cultivator from the Mortal Realm!

“Don’t worry; the Cave Abyss Sect won’t act rashly.” Li Zhirui smiled, his calm tone brimming with confidence.

“Ancestor Rui, please enlighten me!” Li Taichang hastily pressed for clarification. As the clan leader, he needed to understand their family’s overall strength to make better judgments.

“Everything I said earlier was true. So, do you now understand?”

Li Taichang appeared partially enlightened but still puzzled. Seeing that Li Zhirui had no intention of offering further explanation, he decided not to inquire any further.

Meanwhile, the cultivators of the Cave Abyss Sect returned to their sect and exaggerated their encounter. Their tale emphasized Li Zhirui’s disdain and rebellious attitude toward their sect.

“Taiyin Star Gods?! And three of them!”

“No wonder the Taiyin Star caused such celestial phenomena overnight recently. Turns out it was the three newly ascended Taiyin Star Gods wielding their divine powers.”

“Shifts in moon phases, the moon devoured by the celestial wolf—isn’t that just two signs? What is the third wielding authority over?”

The elders engaged in spirited debate among themselves, completely ignoring the somewhat embarrassed cultivators who had returned from Mount Wanxian, as though they were invisible.

The group dared not make a sound, fearing they might offend any elder present.

After a long while, someone finally acknowledged their presence and waved them off to leave.

“Well then, what stance should we take toward the Li family?” the sect leader at the head of the group asked.

The strength of the Li family was hardly worth considering in their eyes; any one of them could wipe out the Li family dozens of times over.

The only thing that held them back was the emergence of the three Taiyin Star Gods.

Keenly aware of many secrets from their mentors, they couldn’t help but tread carefully.

Especially as Li Zhirui claimed the three heirs were blessed by Heavenly Dao and ascended to authority over the Taiyin stars, such claims carried profound implications.

“Does the Li family still count as one of our subordinate forces?”

“No!”

“Dissolve that relationship. While they might not be on par with our sect, considering those three heirs, it’s no longer appropriate for the Li family to remain subordinate.”

No one voiced objections. Losing one subordinate force didn’t matter to the Cave Abyss Sect; instead, it was an opportunity to ally with the Star Gods behind the Li family.

After all, within the boundless heavens, the Taiyin stars held a lofty status, and so did the Star Gods who wielded their authority.

If their power proved strong enough, they might even form a faction among the Star Gods.

Though their discussion concluded, none hurried to leave.

After a while, someone finally murmured, “Now that the Star Gods have emerged, the Great Struggle Era is only a few years away. How prepared is the sect?”

Every Great Struggle Era marked a time of widespread reshuffling!

Not only among cultivators of the Immortal Tao, but encompassing lifeforms and factions across the entire Primal Spirit Realm.

Even a sect as powerful as the Cave Abyss Sect felt unease about this, wanting to secure every advantage possible!

…

Mount Wanxian.

Though Li Zhirui assured Li Taichang the Cave Abyss Sect wouldn’t march on their doorstep, Li Taichang couldn’t shake his unease surrounding the matter.

So, when he heard that the Cave Abyss Sect reached out again to visit, he was the first to receive them, eager to hear their stance.

As soon as he saw the visiting group, realizing they weren’t here to stir trouble, Li Taichang breathed a sigh of relief.

“Bai Weiyang of the Cave Abyss Sect greets Clan Leader Li!”

This gesture surprised Li Taichang; he hadn’t expected such amicability from the Cave Abyss Sect instead of hostility.

Fortunately, his experience in dealing with people kicked in quickly. He regained composure and warmly entertained Bai Weiyang.

“May I ask what brings you here this time?”

After some polite conversation, Li Taichang took the initiative to inquire.

“Your clan has been blessed by Heavenly Dao, producing three Taiyin Star Gods. Henceforth, your family is on par with the Cave Abyss Sect. Our Sect Leader specifically sent me to inform you that the Li family will no longer be one of our subordinate forces.”

Pausing for a moment, Bai Weiyang continued, “Furthermore, this storage bag contains spiritual objects from your past tributes, which we now return to you in full.”

“This…”

Li Taichang couldn’t have anticipated such a turn of events.

But upon reflection, he saw this as advantageous to the family. After all, once freed of their subordination, their family would no longer have to share its luck and fortune, making it entirely acceptable.