Chapter 70: Crisis

The old Daoist priest seemed to have victory in hand. He leisurely performed a spell gesture, his left hand emitting a brilliant white light, as he smiled at Li Xiangping.

Li Xiangping remained silent, taking out a pale yellow talisman. He slapped it onto himself, instantly conjuring a pure white light shield, then turned and ran towards the lake.

The old Daoist priest wasn't angry. He patted the storage bag at his waist, put away the jade pendant, and then smilingly followed Li Xiangping, his small eyes vigilantly observing Li Xiangping's every move. He mused to himself:

"Why does that seem like a Jade Essence Talisman from the Azure Pool Sect? Haven't the two sects already reached an understanding? Azure Pool Sect disciples in the area from Moon Lake to Mushroom Forest Plain should have already withdrawn by now."

"No, if he were an Azure Pool disciple, why would he need to flee? This person is likely connected to the Azure Pool Sect somehow. I still need to be cautious and not underestimate him. I'll let him run for now, wait until he exhausts his spiritual power, and then any talismans or artifacts he possesses will be useless."

Trailing leisurely behind Li Xiangping like a phantom, the old Daoist priest grew increasingly delighted with his thoughts, almost laughing out loud.

"This is simply divine assistance! The Azure Pool Sect has retreated, and the Blazing Gold Gate is busy scavenging in the south. This kid, in his panic, is running north, straight into Blazing Gold Gate territory. It seems this fortune is destined to be mine."

The more he thought, the more excited the old Daoist priest became, recalling the Immortal Mansion successor who wreaked havoc centuries ago, and his own master's dying words.

The old Daoist priest was originally a rogue cultivator under the jurisdiction of the Blazing Gold Gate. When his master's lifespan was nearing its end, he passed a jade pendant to him, stroking his disciple's head, who was then only twenty years old, as he spoke:

"During the chaos involving the Immortal Mansion successor centuries ago, my lineage also participated, and this jade pendant was obtained from that person."

"That fierce individual cultivated a divine Dharma Body, his flesh, blood, tendons, and bones all becoming rare heavenly treasures. Thus, he was torn limb from limb by the Three Sects and Seven Gates. We rogue cultivators couldn't get a piece of his flesh, so we had to use vessels to collect the blood that splattered during the scramble. Your grandmaster found this jade pendant in a rain of blood, but also suffered severe injuries because of it, and passed away soon after his return."

At that time, he was still a young Daoist, staring blankly, listening to his master's faint breaths, as he spoke weakly:

"Your martial uncle and I have researched for over 130 years, and we've gathered some clues. This jade pendant should contain an Immortal Mansion inheritance, but it's missing one other treasure... You... you can go out and search for it..."

As the old Daoist priest was deep in thought, the person ahead suddenly stopped, turned his head, and fixed a pair of fierce, hawk-like eyes menacingly on him, startling the old Daoist priest into stopping.

Feeling somewhat humiliated for a moment, the old Daoist priest sneered:

"What, have you come to your senses?"

Li Xiangping also sneered, revealing a greenish-gray token in his hand. White light flickered on the token, and a strong sense of danger surged directly towards the old Daoist priest.

"Damn it, he really has something."

The old Daoist priest let out a strange cry. Instantly, twelve talismans flared around him, and a shimmering golden great shield rose before him. He formed hand seals, rapidly injecting spiritual power into it.

This entire sequence of actions flowed like water, taking only an instant. The old Daoist priest, who usually immersed himself in cultivation and rarely engaged in combat, had painstakingly practiced this one move for over thirty years, repeatedly saving his life by stacking these spells and talismans.

To his surprise, this sense of danger vanished in an instant. The old Daoist priest was momentarily stunned, and Li Xiangping had already darted far away like a rabbit.

The old Daoist priest suddenly realized, cursed fiercely, dismissed the spell in his hands, and sneered:

"You certainly have many petty tricks."

He lightly stepped, closing the distance like a phantom. Yet, the old Daoist priest saw Li Xiangping again display the token, its dazzling white light shining intensely on him.

A palpable sense of danger washed over him. The old Daoist priest, having been prudent for many years, immediately cast twelve more talismans, conjuring another brilliant golden great shield without hesitation.

"Idiot!"

But then he heard a sneer from ahead. Although the old Daoist priest had cultivated for many years and generally had a good temper, an uncontrollable rage surged within him at this moment. He condensed several golden lights in his hand, waved away his great shield, and prepared to strike Li Xiangping dead with a spell.

To his surprise, the moment the great shield dissipated, a vast, pure white light was reflected in the old Daoist priest's pupils.

---

Li Xuanxuan paced restlessly in the courtyard. The patriarch, Li Xiangping, had not returned all night, and the people stationed at Lidao Pass reported seeing no strange white light phenomena either.

"We had agreed that he would release the Grand Yin Profound Light and then return home; it shouldn't have taken more than a few hours in total!"

Watching the slowly rising dawn, Li Xuanxuan's unease intensified, almost compelling him to rush out and investigate the situation at the Wan family.

The streaks of golden light that flashed in the eastern sky last night extinguished after just a quarter of an hour. Li Xuanxuan stood alone on top of Lijing Mountain, facing the night wind, all night, silently clenching his fists.

"What if it's the worst-case scenario?"

Li Xuanxuan's eyes were slightly red, and names floated into his mind, one after another.

"Li Yesheng, Li Qiuyang, Chen Erniu..."

Li Tongya was still at Guanyun Peak, and Li Xiangping's fate was unknown. Currently, the only direct descendant managing the Li family was the thirteen-year-old Li Xuanxuan, with Li Xuanfeng only seven and Li Xuanling just five.

"Young Patriarch!"

A low cry startled Li Xuanxuan. When the young man looked up, his face was already wreathed in a gentle smile as he said:

"Uncle Yesheng? What is it?"

"Your subordinate searched Meichi Mountain and Lijing Mountain several times, but the patriarch was nowhere to be found..."

Li Yesheng stroked his beard, his brows furrowed, and said in a deep voice.

He had also seen the golden glow in the sky last night and was about to report it to Li Xiangping, but despite searching back and forth twice, he simply couldn't find any sign of him.

"Uncle suddenly had an epiphany last night and has already entered seclusion to prepare for a breakthrough."

Li Xuanxuan smiled slightly, looking into Li Yesheng's eyes as he explained.

"So that's how it is!"

Li Yesheng then realized, and smiled:

"Is the patriarch in seclusion in the backyard of Lijing Mountain this time?"

Li Xuanxuan's heart skipped a beat, but he replied without changing his expression:

"Precisely."

Li Yesheng nodded, skillfully changed the subject, reported on the village affairs of the past few days to Li Xuanxuan, and then took his leave.

After seeing Li Yesheng leave the mountain, Li Xuanxuan slowly sat down on the main seat in the spacious, empty courtyard, his face grim as he gazed at the horizon.

Down the mountain.

Li Yesheng hurried into the courtyard, took off his outer robe, handed it to an approaching servant, and called out with a frown:

"Li Xiewen!"

When no one in the courtyard responded after a long wait, Li Yesheng remembered that Li Xiewen had been dispatched to Lidao Pass by Li Xiangping.

Looking at the few people who gathered around him in the courtyard, Li Yesheng took the offered tea bowl, sat down on the main seat, and said in a deep voice:

"Any news from Li Qiuyang?"

"None."

Taking a small sip of tea, Li Yesheng's brows furrowed tightly as he said in a deep voice:

"Has the Wan family sent anyone to seek aid today?"

"Reporting to the manager, not yet."

Li Yesheng's expression immediately turned serious. He looked at the few people below him, lowering his brows as he spoke in a barely audible voice:

"Has the main family... sent anyone to... take control of the clan soldiers?"

Seeing the few people below shake their heads, Li Yesheng let out a long breath, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"I was overthinking it."