Although it wasn’t the first meeting, Fu Changsheng was still a bit nervous. He cupped his hands and said:
"Elder Feng, Master Chen, Fellow Daoist Hongyu, greetings."
With a flick of his forefinger, Shangguan Chen sent a stream of True Essence into the void, and an Eight Trigrams Array flashed into existence, enveloping the four of them. After the three landed,
Fu Changsheng didn’t hesitate.
He immediately detailed the specific location of Elder Li’s meeting with the Southern Barbarian Celestial Dragon Tribe’s elder, even providing the date. Such detailed intelligence seemed unlikely to be fabricated.
Shangguan Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly:
"The Li Family really has grown bold, even collaborating with foreign races."
Shangguan Feng immediately took out a Communication Jade Talisman and whispered a few words to it. After the talisman dimmed, Shangguan Feng instructed Shangguan Chen to infiltrate the Li Family’s mountain gate. Once they obtained evidence of Elder Li colluding with foreigners, they would immediately launch an attack on the Li Family territory, not allowing the Li Family any respite.
After Shangguan Feng left.
Shangguan Chen’s gaze fell on Fu Changsheng:
"Young Friend Fu, how many in your Fu Clan can fight?"
"Five in total!"
"Good, you lead your clan members to guard the rear mountain of the Li Family. Remember, don’t let any fish slip through the net. Our Shangguan Family’s way of doing things has always been to eradicate the roots."
"Yes, Elder!"
Fu Changsheng’s heartbeat accelerated.
Compared to the Shangguan Family, he was even more unwilling to give the Li Family a chance to rise again.
Shangguan Chen gave a few more detailed instructions before removing the array and leaving. Following him by half a step, Shangguan Hongyu discreetly handed a talisman to Fu Changsheng and conveyed:
"Once the battle starts, I won’t be able to look out for you. This is a Tier Two Flowing Light Talisman, keep it safe just in case."
Fu Changsheng paused for a moment, clutching the Flowing Light Talisman that still retained some warmth, feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion.
Before descending Leimeng Mountain, he had deliberately brought his fourth sister, Fu Changli, down the mountain as well. Taking a detour back to the territory, he solemnly said to Fu Changli:
"Fourth sister, go and call our elder brother, third brother, Molan, and Runzhi to the council hall."
"Yes, Patriarch."
The last time Fu Changli saw Fu Changsheng so tense was when their territory was being overrun. Could it be that the Southern Barbarians were about to return? Thinking this, Fu Changli felt an unstoppable apprehension. Although their territory had a Tier Two Protective Array, they didn’t have a single Late-Stage Qi Cultivator among them, making their strength still too weak.
Less than half a cup of tea later.
For the first time, the council hall gathered all the members of the Fu Family.
Everyone exchanged a glance.
A faint tension in the air suggested an impending storm.
The great battle was near.
Fu Changsheng didn’t hold back.
Once he explained what was about to happen, the people in the hall were momentarily stunned.
Elder brother Fu Changren looked incredulous:
"Patriarch, you’re saying... two and a half years ago, the Southern Barbarians’ invasion of our territory was orchestrated by the Li Family?"
This was a grave betrayal.
How could the Li Family dare?!
And they did it repeatedly.
After realizing the situation, everyone felt a surge of both old and new resentment towards the Li Family, gritting their teeth and declaring, "Patriarch, rest assured, even if we risk our lives, we will not let any Li leave Niushou Mountain alive."
The group went together to the ancestral graves to offer incense to their ancestors.
By midnight.
The group then emerged from the underground passage of Luofeng Mountain and ambushed the rear mountain of the Li Family’s Niushou Mountain.
...
Rear hall of Niushou Mountain.
Li Clan Leader knelt in the Ancestral Hall all night, praying for the safe return of their elder. Regarding Elder’s plan to eradicate the Fu Family, he couldn’t shake a feeling of unease.
Similar events.
Once it went smoothly, but the second time, something untoward was bound to happen.
In such matters, had it been anything else, it would have been different, but currently, they were walking a fine line that could lead to the destruction of the nine clans if they weren’t careful.
These past few days, his apprehension was palpable.
This unease escalated with time, becoming unmanageable, and from somewhere, he felt an imminent sense of crisis:
"I can’t just sit around waiting for fate."
It wasn’t about the odds; it was about preparedness for any unforeseen eventuality.
He decided to relocate the elite disciples of the clan in advance.
Li Clan Leader rose from the cushion hastily, nearly toppling over from kneeling for too long. As he pushed open the door, he was met by a guard rushing towards him, and his heart skipped a beat, wondering if the elder’s plans had been exposed.
Li Clan Leader forced himself to remain calm and rebuked:
"What has happened to cause such panic?"
"Reporting to Clan Leader, messengers report a sudden large-scale forest fire has broken out in the Yanyang Woodland of West Mountain. Seventh Uncle specifically sent a message for us to dispatch aid."
These days.
As a precaution.
Li Clan Leader had been running the Mountain Protection Array at full power and had issued orders prohibiting anyone from leaving the Niushou Mountain territory without his command.
Yanyang Wood is a Tier One Low-Grade Spirit Wood.
It’s the Li Family’s biggest source of income, and if burned, they’d be tightening their belts for decades. Without time to ponder, he quickly ordered, "Quickly gather any clan member above Qi Cultivation Third Layer at the mountain gate, once everyone is assembled, have them head to West Mountain to help put out the fire, hurry!"
As Li Clan Leader finished speaking, he dashed down the mountain. He planned to reach West Mountain ahead of others to assess the fire situation. He sent a Technique into the Passage Array Plate, which shone with dazzling white light, and landed on the light shield in front:
"Something’s off!"
In the nick of time.
Li Clan Leader shivered.
The fire at West Mountain was too coincidental, happening on the same day as the elder’s meeting with the Celestial Dragon Tribe elder.
Li Clan Leader immediately sent a Technique towards the Array Plate, intending to close the array at once.
As the array light curtain was about to close completely.
With a hum!
An Eight Trigrams Array Plate swiftly positioned itself within, lighting up with brilliant yellow light, holding open the closing array. A Sword Rainbow shot into the gap.
The rainbow light faded away.
It was Shangguan Chen.
With a wave of his sleeve, a suction force instantly snatched the Array Plate from Li Clan Leader’s hand. Accompanied by several Techniques, the entire array’s light curtain opened, and a flying vessel leaped in, with ten Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Shangguan Clan Law Enforcement Team members standing upright on the vessel.
"Master... Chen, I apologize for not welcoming you properly, may I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Li Clan Leader’s heart was already in turmoil.
Yet, as a Clan Leader, he forced himself to stay calm. The elder’s actions were always meticulous. Even if the Shangguan Family had suspicions, without catching them red-handed, they couldn’t do anything to the Li Family.
Shangguan Chen sneered:
"Still pretending ignorance on your deathbed."
With a flick of his finger.
A Memory Bean Pod expanded in the air.
Displayed clearly was the scene of Elder Li secretly conspiring with the Celestial Dragon Tribe elder.
Li Clan Leader’s complexion turned pale as paper.
Shangguan Chen said coldly:
"The Li Family of Niushou Mountain is guilty of colluding with foreign races, the evidence is undeniable. According to Great Zhou Laws, we’re to annihilate nine clans! Men, take action!"