Chapter 52: Shock

That day, Li Shilian arrived at the market alone. In front of numerous rogue cultivators, he closed down the Cloud Pavilion and the grocery store. Without explaining the reason, he merely stated that they would reopen in a few days, and then, with a panicked expression, he led all the Li family cultivators out of the market.

"Has something happened to the Li family?" some rogue cultivators speculated.

The next day, their speculation was confirmed. A rumor suddenly surfaced in the market claiming that Da Rong Island had been attacked by hundreds of bandit cultivators. Although the attackers were eventually repelled and the island was saved, the losses were heavy, with many clansmen sacrificed in the process.

This rumor spread with incredible speed, sweeping through the entire market in just half a day. A large number of cultivators discussed it fervently, speculating which faction had struck the Li family.

But before the crowd could reach a conclusion, another piece of news arrived—a piece of news that shocked everyone.

The Zheng, He, and Jiang families had also been attacked. Furthermore, the He family had been annihilated in this man-made disaster; the once-vast He family now consisted only of the few clansmen remaining in the market.

"Bang!"

Inside the main hall of the Yuanming Sect, the Sect Master slammed the table in fury, his voice filled with rage. "This is a provocation against the Yuanming Sect! We absolutely cannot let this slide! We must find the culprit and execute him in front of everyone!"

"Sect Master, I fear this matter is not so simple," the Great Elder said in a heavy voice. "The fact that those bandit cultivators were abandoned so easily suggests they were merely cannon fodder. The true mastermind is likely the Qingjian Sect to the north."

The Qingjian Sect was located in the northwest of Yunping Province. Like the Yuanming Sect, it was a newly ascended Golden Core power, but the two factions had harbored a grudge since they were both merely Foundation Establishment powers, a rivalry that had persisted to this day.

Although they both fell under the jurisdiction of the established Golden Core power, Shenlei Mountain, it did not prevent their struggle; in fact, Shenlei Mountain was happy to see it.

"Damned Qingjian Sect! After all these years, they still haven't given up!" the Sect Master said angrily.

The fundamental reason for their enmity lay in the fact that while the territory controlled by the Qingjian Sect was vast, it was not as prosperous as Yunping Province, and it was blocked from accessing the ocean by Yunping Province.

Of course, over the years, the accumulated hatred between them could no longer be described in a few words.

"Now, the Qingjian Sect is using the strength of rogue cultivators to plague the sect's vassal families, and the He family has even been exterminated. If we do not react, we will likely embolden their arrogance," the Great Elder said with a frown. "At the same time, the hearts of those vassal families are likely wavering, making them easy prey for the Qingjian Sect's manipulation."

"Dispatch a team from the sect to suppress this so-called Rogue Cultivator Alliance, and simultaneously send people to offer condolences to those four families, exempting them from tribute for the next three years. As for the He family..."

The Sect Master paused before continuing, "I heard there are still a few members of the He family in the Yunqing Market. Compensate them with a Foundation Establishment Pill, allow them to continue managing Black Stone Island, and announce that the sect will protect the He family for fifty years."

This compensation plan looked excellent on the surface, but in reality, aside from that single Foundation Establishment Pill, the Yuanming Sect was paying almost nothing.

However, to the annihilated He family, the plan offered by the Yuanming Sect was nothing less than a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation—a sliver of hope for the family's survival.

As for the Qingjian Sect, they could only seek revenge at a later date; for now, it was more important to appease the vassal forces and suppress the chaos in Yunping Province.

To intimidate the lurking Rogue Cultivator Alliance, the Yuanming Sect dispatched five elders at the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stage. Any cultivator found to be associated with Kou Bai or the Rogue Cultivator Alliance would be taken away.

No one knew their fate, but no one ever saw them again.

Fortunately, this massive crackdown did not last long; otherwise, it might have caused a large number of rogue cultivators to flee. Nevertheless, the actions of the Yuanming Sect restored order to Yunping Province in a short amount of time.

...

"Isn't the Yuanming Sect's reaction a bit excessive?" Li Shilian said doubtfully. He felt the matter was not that simple and that there was certainly something they were unaware of.

After the Li family sent off the messenger sent by the Yuanming Sect to offer condolences and notify them of the three-year tribute exemption, a group of high-level members gathered in the main hall to discuss the matter.

Although the destruction of the He family was an embarrassment to the Yuanming Sect, it shouldn't have required such an extensive search across all of Yunping Province, right?

"That Kou Bai is merely a rogue cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage. What capability does he have to gather nine Foundation Establishment cultivators and five or six hundred Qi Refining cultivators?" Li Shiqing said indifferently. "There must be a much larger power supporting him from behind."

Ever since Li Shiqing learned that the three families to the east had also been attacked, he had been pondering this question. Now, combined with the Yuanming Sect's reaction, he finally had a lead.

"Shize, do you have any information regarding factions at odds with the Yuanming Sect?" Li Shiqing turned to look at Li Shize, who had just rushed back.

Li Shize took out a jade slip, scanned it for a moment, and then said, "There is a Golden Core power to the northwest of the Yuanming Sect called the Qingjian Sect. If it is truly as Second Brother suggests, then it is likely them."

"A Golden Core power!" Li Shiqing sighed and asked, "Tell me about them."

"The Qingjian Sect currently has a Golden Core sword cultivator named Yu Qing, over thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and nearly a thousand Qi Refining disciples. Their strength is roughly comparable to the Yuanming Sect."

Li Shize paused and added, "According to the information I've gathered, the Qingjian Sect hasn't made a move on Yunping Province for over ten years."

"Then why has the Qingjian Sect suddenly struck this time?"

Li Shize shook his head. If even the Yuanming Sect couldn't gather intelligence on the Qingjian Sect's movements, how could he possibly find any?

"Forget it. This matter involves two major Golden Core powers; it is not something we can touch. Let's leave it at that," Li Shiqing said, halting the group's desire to investigate further. "It is also time to reopen those two shops in the market."

Originally, Li Shiqing had intended to use this opportunity to lure some enemies out into the open, but he hadn't expected the matter to escalate so much that it drew the attention of the Yuanming Sect.

At this time, no faction would dare to act under the nose of the Yuanming Sect, so there was no longer any need for the Li family to keep their shops closed.

"I will take people to the market tomorrow," Li Shiren said.

"Tell the clansmen not to let anything slip, lest they invite trouble," Li Shiqing reminded them.

If the Yuanming Sect discovered that the Li family was deceiving them, the cost would be more than the Li family could bear.

"Alright, everyone go back. Zhirui, stay behind," Li Shiqing called out to Li Zhirui privately.

Li Zhirui's eyes were full of confusion; he couldn't understand why Li Shiqing wanted to keep him.

"I have something very important to tell you," Li Shiqing said, looking at Li Zhirui with a serious expression, which caused the atmosphere in the hall to turn solemn.

"Please give your orders, Patriarch. Zhirui will do his utmost to complete them," Li Zhirui replied. Although he didn't know what it was, it didn't stop him from stating his commitment, and he believed his Patriarch would not assign him an impossible task.

The expression on Li Shiqing's face softened slightly as he said, "I want to hand the family over to you. I want you to lead the clan."

"Grandpa Patriarch, you..." Li Zhirui looked up in horror. If he remembered correctly, Li Shiqing still had decades left before reaching the end of his lifespan. Why did he look like he was making a deathbed entrustment?

"Hahahaha..." Seeing Li Zhirui's reaction, Li Shiqing couldn't help but laugh loudly. "Not now. Once you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, I will hand the position of Patriarch over to you. Only then can I focus on my secluded cultivation and attempt to break through to the Golden Core stage."