Changfeng Building was the most discreet location; all major and minor noble families from Jiangnan were present. Originally, such gatherings were supposed to be held in the private estates of great families, but if someone were to intentionally leak the news, the host of the gathering would be in deep trouble.
So it was held within Changfeng Building.
The families, both great and small, were indignant. Throughout history, every rising hero began by garnering the support of the aristocratic families. Many of those from humble beginnings had risen to power with the aid of these families, and Li Guanyi was expected to follow suit.
However, his recent actions had fanned the flames of resentment among the noble houses.
At that moment, the gathered crowd cursed in anger:
"Li Guanyi has gone too far in his insolence!"
"Such arrogance and rashness in a young upstart, he’s unfit for strategizing the affairs of the world!"
"Back then, the Holy Emperor, in alliance with our families, established such a vast empire, yet this green youth, still wet behind the ears, chooses to fraternize with the peasantry."
An elderly white-haired man sighed, "Such self-abasement."
He genuinely believed that Li Guanyi’s actions were both "self-deprecating" and "pitiful". After a long discussion, the aristocrats concluded, "With Li Guanyi’s perverse and contrary actions, if he is to control the Jiangnan region, are we, the noble houses, destined to fall to the same status as the commoners?"
"Would it not be better to hire an assassin, to strike him down when he is alone, without his Divine Weapon and devoid of an army at his back? Even with his valiant prowess on the battlefield, akin to the past Overlords, he would be powerless."
"He would only meet his end here."
"Thereafter, despite Chen Country and Ying Country’s departure, we, the noble houses, would claim this land."
"Given our prestige, bestowing some authority to those military leaders, and marrying our daughters to them for control and support of the Qilin Army..."
"Each of our great surnames has ancestors of remarkable talent. With brave and strategic sons, they are capable of overseeing the various official positions in these cities and leading the Qilin Army. Just imagine, with the military power of the Qilin Army, even these peasants and bandits could rival the heroes of the land."
"Gentlemen, each of your ancestors once established tremendous military merits across the world."
"Having inherited their lineage, you are bound to fare better than these ragtags."
"Come that time, we’ll instigate Ying Country and Chen Country into battle, seizing control of Jiangnan to oversee the world from above, ensuring the continuity of our noble family’s power."
They truly thought this way. In their minds, they possessed the lineage of renowned statesmen and marquis, a heritage superior to the ordinary folk toiling in the soil; and the strategem of buying off the military leaders and causing division was entirely natural for them.
It was something a noble family was certainly capable of—assassinating the valiant youth who had subdued Jiangnan single-handedly.
Even if he was the celebrated young general who had stabilized Jiangnan, known far and wide.
It was still permissible to kill him in the presence of our great family.
Outside the door, Nangong Wumeng gently lowered her gaze, her pale, slender hand resting on her waist. The Divine Weapon Yin Yang Reincarnation Ruler emitted a strand of flowing light, but ultimately, she clenched her teeth and relaxed her grip, filled with a suppressed frustration.
She consoled herself, thinking it was lucky that it’s me in this position.
These aristocratic families were unaware of Li Guanyi’s credibility within the Qilin Army.
If it had been Fan Qing, he would have drawn his weapon and charged forward, mincing this lot into pulp; and those seven old ghosts, for them, dying would be a difficult feat. Nangong Wumeng, with the Secret Technique of the Yin Yang Reincarnation Sect, recorded these voices.
Among the noble families, the puzzled elder asked:
"It’s strange though, why hasn’t the Murong Family come?"
Li Guanyi had yet to make his origins and background public, and the Murong Family had already taken proactive steps to "distance" themselves from him. In the eyes of the crowd, Li Guanyi was still just a distant nephew of the Xue Family, nothing more than a runaway. Unbeknownst to the other noble sons, someone remarked:
"The Murong Family is indeed powerful, but it all hinges upon the Sword Madman."
"Merely a figure from the Martial World, not worth mentioning."
"If Li Guanyi is killed, all will be well. If we fail to kill him, we’ll refuse him his taxes. The city’s guilds, major and minor officials, none will hearken to his orders. He may have his politics above, but below, he faces our methods."
"How many self-proclaimed heroes have we, the grand aristocratic families, seen throughout the generations? We have our ways to make his life unbearable."
"And if that still doesn’t work, we shall invite Ying Country and Chen Country over."
"We shall outwardly comply with Li Guanyi’s decrees for now, and then, when he least expects it, kill the Qilin Army guarding the cities, offering them up to Ying Country and Chen Country. That will shatter Li Guanyi’s situation."
"Even as chaos ensues in Jiangnan, we, the hereditary nobility, can surely secure our own safety."
The noble families have always enjoyed orchestrating such schemes.
After the former Overlord and the Red Emperor rose to power, they also had the support of noble families.
After discussing numerous ideas, they settled on a three-pronged strategy, recorded the contract, and forged an alliance of the noble houses. Only upon completion did they depart, but suddenly, news arrived that people from the noble families had been intercepted by the Qilin Army. They raced back in panic and terror.
At home, they found out that everyone was gathering at Changfeng Building and were ashen-faced.
Rushing over, the highly respected and compassionate-looking elderly man asked, puzzled:
"Hmm? Why such a hasty rush?"
The middle-aged man named Zili grabbed the elder’s arm, shaking almost tremulously, and said:
"You, all of you, what manner of matters have you been discussing here?!"