Chapter 20: The Harmonious Daoist Master Yang Rong—Destroy the Li Family? You Cannot. (Please recommend, bookmark, and follow)

In the great city, a profound silence descended, absolute and stifling. Not a single sound could be heard.

A gust of wind swept through, causing someone to nearly jump out of their skin. They rubbed their arms, feeling as if an invisible gaze were fixed upon them; their heart raced, and their hair stood on end. They could not understand—they could not fathom—how the fat man had died. Just because they had heard what Old Zhang had witnessed, they were struck with immense shock. In their hearts, they burned with curiosity, yet they dared not ask a single question.

They looked at Old Zhang. Old Zhang wore an expression of shock mixed with excitement.

"I told you, I was doing this for your own good," Old Zhang said in a sincere, eerie tone.

That great master’s strike had been clean and decisive! The fat man had died with no room for grievance!

"Gulp," one person said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. "Indeed, indeed. Old Zhang is a man of his word!"

"Come, let us drink, let us drink."

"Let us listen to Brother Zhang. Everyone, let us not discuss anything else today; let us simply watch the sunset in the distance."

Everyone was trembling with fear, terrified that a single wrong word might turn them into the likes of the fat man. As for the secret—what Old Zhang, no, Brother Zhang had seen—it did not matter. It did not matter at all. They did not want to hear it. No secret was worth more than their lives. As for who had won between the Sage and the Li family, they understood that it was no longer a matter for them to be concerned with.

...

At the Tailong Sect, Mo Jie felt a blur before his eyes. He saw the Master standing there, his expression filled with nostalgia and reflection as he gazed at a hairpin in his hand. The hairpin was ancient and simple, covered in rust, quite ordinary.

Li Xuan put the hairpin away, and the sentimentality vanished from his face. He was not a weak man; mourning those he had lost was enough.

Li Zhan walked over and bowed respectfully. "Old Ancestor, shall we distribute the rewards for conquering the Tailong Sect tonight?"

Li Xuan nodded. A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, and he said, "Our Li family can select some geniuses to nurture. Those with great strength may one day be qualified to listen to me preach."

Li Zhan was stunned, then looked at Li Xuan with excitement. "Old Ancestor, is this..."

It was too much! In Li Zhan's heart, the Old Ancestor’s cultivation was unfathomable. The other ancestors of the family were still in seclusion after hearing Li Xuan’s previous lecture. From this, one could see just how powerful the Old Ancestor’s teachings were! To be able to select disciples and have them receive the Old Ancestor’s personal teaching—honestly, Li Zhan was envious!

Mo Jie, standing to the side, was dumbfounded. Unlike Li Zhan, he knew the Master’s true realm: that of a Great Emperor! For a Great Emperor to preach was something he dared not even imagine. And yet, the Li family would be able to hear a Great Emperor’s lecture! Mo Jie quietly straightened his posture. His own Mo family was full of dead weight. Thankfully, he could live for a few more years, otherwise the Mo family would be finished! Mo Jie secretly sized up the Li family members, wondering if it was still possible for him to join the Li family as a junior. At this thought, he wanted to beat Mo Xiao and Mo Leng to death, and Mo Yao as well!

Li Xuan naturally sensed the fluctuations in Mo Jie’s emotions. He found it somewhat amusing and paid no mind to him. He looked at Li Zhan. "Li Qingqing can be nurtured with care."

Li Qingqing?

Li Zhan was taken aback, hesitating to speak. "Old Ancestor, Li Qingqing..."

Li Xuan nodded slightly. "I have already seen the report you investigated. It is fine. If Li Qingqing cannot see who treats her well, and cannot see reality clearly, I shall teach her myself."

Li Qingqing was an orphan whose parents and family had been wiped out, leaving only her older brother. Years ago, she and her brother, Zhao Xin, had encountered an elder of the Li family. The elder wanted to take Zhao Xin as his disciple, but Zhao Xin had begged him to take Li Qingqing instead. The elder assumed that by taking Zhao Xin as a disciple, he could bring Li Qingqing into the Li family to settle her. But Zhao Xin had knelt and kowtowed, saying he was the last man of his family and could not leave the Zhao family’s vengeance unavenged. Once he had avenged them, he would return to become a disciple and join the Li family, taking the name Li Xin. The elder had no choice but to take Li Qingqing as his disciple, also out of respect for Zhao Xin’s resolve. Thus, Zhao Qingqing became Li Qingqing, joined the Li family, and was later discovered to possess the Taiyin Body, leading the Li family to nurture her with great care.

Even when the Li family was just a small-town clan, they never lacked resources for Li Qingqing. Li Qingqing’s name was on the Li family genealogy, protected by the family’s destiny. Upon his return, Li Xuan had bestowed upon her a wisp of Pixiu bloodline, allowing her to reawaken and gain the Pixiu Divine Eyes. Li Qingqing had lived up to expectations, gaining a small reputation among the great sects and holy lands near the small town, where she was known as "Fairy Qingqing."

If Li Qingqing truly could not see reality, then Li Xuan did not mind stepping in to make her understand. At the same time, Li Xuan nurtured her to study the nature of "Heavenly Destiny," a concept he found quite curious. What was this destiny, and was it something he could utilize?

Li Xuan flicked his finger, and a ring flew out. Li Zhan caught it; it was a profound ring, and the resources within startled him.

"Old Ancestor," Li Zhan said in shock.

"Use these resources to nurture Li Qingqing and the other Li family disciples," Li Xuan said. Just then, he looked into the distance, took a step, and his figure vanished.

Li Zhan put away the ring and said to Mo Jie, "Old Ancestor Mo, please."

Mo Jie smiled, but at that moment, he heard Li Xuan’s voice transmitted to him: "When I return, we shall discuss what to do with Mo Yao."

Mo Jie stiffened, bowed, and said, "Yes, Master."

Mo Jie took his leave of Li Zhan to go see Mo Yao. Whatever the outcome for her, he no longer cared. Mo Yao’s current state was a disaster of her own making; she could blame no one else. The mere thought of it gave him a headache. He never expected she would become like this—daring to defy a Great Emperor for the sake of some Ye Bufan. Could that Ye Bufan, who had attempted to snatch a bride, possibly be a good man?

"A disaster of her own making; she can blame no one," Mo Jie said, his eyes cold.

On the other side, watching Mo Jie leave, Li Zhan felt a rush of excitement. This was a Sage! He had never imagined he would one day be so close to one. He pulled out the ring the Old Ancestor had given him and smiled. Their Li family’s younger generation was truly blessed; they would have a chance to hear the Old Ancestor preach. Suddenly, his smile faded as he recalled the recent state of affairs regarding Li Qingqing. He needed to give her a warning.

At the martial arts field, Li Qingqing and her group returned. Seeing the excitement of the others, she was baffled, not knowing why they were so worked up. They had not witnessed the Mo family kneeling. Li Qingqing, dressed in white, sat in a chair surrounded by Li family disciples. Her expression was calm; she felt the Li family was becoming... too extreme. Especially Old Ancestor Li Xuan, who would wipe out clans and kill people over the slightest... trivialities. It made her think of the words of Brother Nie Mie. Brother Nie Mie was the truly gentle one. She had even spoken to him earlier using a communication talisman. Would the Li family really force her into an arranged marriage? Li Qingqing wondered silently, thinking of her brother. She remembered she had a brother, but the family never let her find him. Could it be they wanted to use her for an alliance? Her brother should be very powerful.

"Sister Qingqing, the Patriarch is looking for you."

Someone called out respectfully. Li Qingqing felt a tightness in her chest as she saw the Patriarch beckoning to her from the edge of the field. She walked over and bowed. "Patriarch."

Li Zhan looked at her with a smile. "You performed well in the conquest of the Tailong Sect. This is a reward from the Old Ancestor."

He handed her the ring, which contained two-thirds of the resources Li Xuan had given him. He kept only a third for the rest of the disciples. Li Qingqing took the ring, saw the resources within, and was stunned. "Patriarch..."

Li Zhan smiled. "Accept it."

Li Qingqing nodded and took it. "Thank you, Patriarch." She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Patriarch, I have a question. Is Old Ancestor Li Xuan perhaps a bit too extreme?"

Li Zhan’s brow furrowed. He did not understand these words, and they sounded grating to his ears. What did she mean by the Old Ancestor being too extreme?! However, looking at her, he remembered that the Old Ancestor had his own arrangements for her.

Li Zhan reminded her with a smile, "Qingqing, the Old Ancestor is very good to you. We should not speak much of his affairs." He paused, then added, "You must also be careful when you are out. Do not trust everyone."

Li Qingqing felt a chill run through her heart at these words!

...

At the Xiyue Holy Land, Ye Bufan looked at Elder Yang. He had already obtained the remnant soul of the Sage and the warnings from his master. This Elder Yang was at the peak of the Integration Stage, a Venerable half a step into the Quasi-Sage realm! Ye Bufan felt a surge of hatred. This time, when Elder Yang went out, even if he couldn't kill Li Xuan, he would leave him half-crippled and in agony! Because Elder Yang would also go and wipe out the Li family!

*Li Xuan, you dare touch the Tailong Sect and kill my brother! I will surely avenge this!* Ye Bufan thought with hatred. He looked at Elder Yang and knelt. "Elder, this disciple thanks you for avenging me. I have nothing to repay you with, only hoping that you will live forever."

Elder Yang laughed heartily; the more he saw of Ye Bufan, the more he liked him. "You’re a good lad. When I return, we shall drink together."

Elder Yang’s figure vanished. The Holy Master of Xiyue, Chen Qing, looked at Ye Bufan. "No need to worry. Li Xuan is strong, but he is certainly no match for Elder Yang."

Ye Bufan nodded quickly. His master had fought Li Xuan before; he must know. This time, it was a sure victory! *Li Xuan, just you wait!*

*

Above the small town, Elder Yang of the Xiyue Holy Land drifted through the air, his robes fluttering. He looked down at the town and scoffed. "Quite a few people here. Is that the ancestral ground of the Li family?"

He looked toward a corner of the town where a compound stood—the Li family! He had come straight from the Xiyue Holy Land to the Li family’s ancestral lands. He descended lightly into the town, where there were many people, especially in front of the Li family gate. The sects near the town and the heads of families from neighboring towns had gathered here with their disciples. They had heard that the Li family was on the rise because an Old Ancestor of theirs had returned, possessing immense power. This made them wonder why no "wild" ancestors had returned to their own sects or families.

A clan head looked at the gate and shook his head in admiration. "This is the Li family. Truly magnificent, carrying the marks of time. It finds stillness amidst the noise, and there are even auspicious clouds above the Li family."

The other clan heads and sect leaders looked at the Li family’s environment—a dilapidated gate that looked like it hadn't been touched in years. It was quiet, sure, but it was hardly a central area. They cursed silently: *What a load of nonsense.*

"Auspicious clouds? I see only bad luck!" Elder Yang sneered, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Who are you to spout such nonsense here?" a clan head asked, frowning.

Elder Yang sneered. "Who am I? I am Yang Rong, an Elder of the Xiyue Holy Land at the peak of the Integration Stage. Today, I am here to wipe out the Li family! The Li family dared to provoke our disciple Ye Bufan, killed the brother of our disciple, and ruined his path! Today, I am acting on behalf of Heaven to exterminate the Li family!"

Yang Rong’s voice echoed throughout the town. The aura of an Integration Venerable was majestic and terrifying. He intended to vent his anger for Ye Bufan and let everyone know the might of the Xiyue Holy Land!

The entire town fell into instant silence. Before the Li family gate, everyone was stunned, their bodies trembling. The Li family had actually offended the Xiyue Holy Land! It was over!

The corners of Yang Rong’s mouth curled up as he looked at the Li family. The Li family—he could destroy them with a single hand!

Just then, a voice rang out: "You cannot destroy them."