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Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Duan Dongyang
𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Looking at the towering figure of the Third Elder, Li Quanqing was instantly overjoyed.
Since their parting that day, he had not seen the other party again; to say he was not worried would be a lie. Now, the weight had been finally lifted from his chest.
But immediately following that, a hint of worry rose in the youth’s heart.
Now that Yun Family and Wang Family had joined forces, scheming for the thousand-year-old spiritual medicine, this place had become a trap targeting the Third Elder.
Why would he still jump out?
Indeed, in the next moment, no fewer than ten Qi Refining Perfect cultivators silently appeared, already lying in ambush, trapping the Third Elder within.
"Where are those thousand-year-old spiritual medicines?"
An Elder of the Yun Family who appeared to be the leader demanded urgently, unable to wait any longer, getting straight to the point.
The most central part of the Whale Emperor Sect’s ruins was enveloped by a grand array, with only the Situ Family and the Li Family gaining the most benefits.
Even the Shuihua Sword Sect was helpless against that ancient array, only able to invite a few Array Masters to slowly study and work on breaking it.
Li Kunli laughed as he watched the covetous fellows with their greedy faces, flashing his pearly white teeth: "Want the spiritual medicine? Sorry, I’ve already offered it up to the Shuihua Sword Sect."
"Nonsense!"
A Wang Family Elder snorted coldly, "Both of our families have used all our spies, keeping a close watch on all the high-level members of the Li Family. We’ve even monitored the Sword Sect’s area for a thousand miles around."
"In this period, not a single one of the Li Family cultivators has visited the high-level Elders of the Shuihua Sword Sect!"
"At this moment, I’m afraid even the Qi Refining Perfect cultivators on Qingyu Island have important matters to attend to!"
Hearing this, Li Quanqing couldn’t help but glance sideways, wondering whether this guy was just bragging, trying to bluff the Third Elder, or if they really possessed such power?
"Alright, I admit it."
Li Kunli shrugged his shoulders, candid: "I was just fooling you guys; the spiritual medicine is still on me."
"Hand it over, we four families will share it equally, conspiring to concoct Foundation Establishment Pills!"
A certain Wang Family Elder’s eyes flickered, and in his words, he attempted to draw Baoshu Island’s Xie family to his camp.
The Sword Sect, high and lofty, didn’t care about these squabbles amongst the Foundation Establishment families.
What the Shuihua Sword Sect cared about were those thousand-year-old spiritual medicines.
Whether it was the Li Family or the Yun and Wang families, or even an unknown Qi Refining small family.
As long as someone could safely deliver the thousand-year-old spiritual medicine to Shuihua Island, they could receive the Sword Sect’s reward and obtain a purchase slot for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
"Kunli, this old man has a longstanding relationship with you. After dividing the Foundation Establishment Pills, let our four families join hands to advance or retreat together, resisting the increasingly powerful Taiyuan Situ. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
The Yun Family Elder, who first spoke, tried to persuade with heartfelt advice, his manner like a kind elder, unwilling to see the younger generation go astray.
Li Kunli, hearing these words, instead let out bursts of cold laughter.
A furnace of Foundation Establishment Pills at most yields three or four pills; it was already generous of the Shuihua Sword Sect to part with one pill as a reward for the Foundation Establishment forces below.
Sharing it equally amongst four families, one pill each? Dream on!
They would have to be out of their minds to make such a deal, miraculously creating four additional Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Quanqing, something isn’t right; indeed, our Li Family’s Elders seem to have vanished without a trace."
Li Quanshu spoke in a low voice, full of worry: "We’d better break out as soon as possible, find the Second Elder in charge of the Workshop, and ask her to activate the Island Protection Array to suppress the enemies!"
"The power of the array is mostly used to suppress external enemies, and it is somewhat less effective against internal foes. Moreover, the Yun and Wang families may have other means at their disposal."
"And besides..."
Li Quanqing looked at the composed Li Kunli and smirked: "I don’t believe the Third Elder would be so foolish as to not leave a backup plan for himself."
Ten Qi Refining Perfect cultivators approached together, each holding an Array Plate Magical Artifact in their hands. The light from the void interwove, vaguely forming a powerful grand array.
Even if the Third Elder’s combat power was close to Foundation Establishment, he might still get the short end of the stick.
Seeing this scene, Li Kunli did not make any moves; instead, he gave a slight bow towards the back: "With the Upper Sect Envoy present, are you planning to assault an Elder of the Sword Sect?"
Upper Sect Envoy?!
Upon hearing this, everyone was simultaneously shocked, quickly turning their gazes toward the entrance of the hall, cursing inwardly that this was not good.
Step! Step!
A middle-aged man casually walked in, donned in a Daoist robe brushed with the wind, wearing a Lotus Treasure Crown on his head, with three strands of long beard below his chin, exuding the air of an Immortal Wind Tao Bone, his demeanor free and transcendent.
"Elder Duan Dongyang?!"
"Greetings to the Upper Sect Envoy, Elder Duan’s elegance is ever-lasting, a radiant presence indeed!"
All the Qi Refining Perfect cultivators present, each one having lived for seven to eighty years, were all crafty individuals, with eyes like empty pits of cunning.
Upon recognizing the arrival of the Shuihua Sword Sect’s Foundation Establishment Elder, they immediately knew that their plans were likely to fall through.
Even though their hearts were filled with reluctance, they still had no choice but to greet him with a smile.
"Long time no see, everyone. Are you practicing magic here in front of the hall, exchanging pointers?"
Duan Dongyang laughed heartily, his gaze looking towards the top of the great hall as he boomed across the sky: "My old friends, aren’t you willing to come down for a chat?"
Moments later.
Swoosh!!
Thunder flashed, Moonlight surged, clouds floated ethereally, and Dan Fragrance drifted.
Four Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators appeared together, three men and one woman, treading on the void, as the Island Protection Array of Baoying Fang opened up in welcome.
Li Quanqing carefully surveyed, only recognizing Li Kunlun, whose body was interwoven with thunderous flashes, handsome and elegant, carefree and extraordinary.
Beside him, there was also a lady in a moon-white palace dress, even though her face was covered with a veil, her peerless beauty was indisputable, possessing a demeanor as pure as the moon above the nine heavens, otherworldly.
"Li Family’s young friend, Brother Yun Dao, Wang Daoist, and this... is that Fairy Shen Mengli from the Yanyue Sect?"
Duan Dongyang looked towards the ethereal lady, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
Shen Mengli nodded lightly, performing a slight bow: "I greet you, Brother Dongyang. Since the matter here is concluded, I will take my leave first."
After speaking, she cast a glance at Li Kunlun beside her, signaling with her eyes, then drifted away like a celestial being ascending to the moon.
Li Quanqing couldn’t help but glance at his own Supreme Elder, not just him, all the younger generations of the Li Family had strange expressions in their eyes.
Wow, so this is what our burly and imposing Supreme Elder is really like!
Li Kunli was also making faces at his brother, only he looked like a burly old man in his fifties or sixties, which actually made him seem decades older than his actual brother.
Confronted with all the inquiring and inspecting glances, Li Kunlun kept a straight face, utterly expressionless, although his earlobes were slightly red and hot.
"Alright, since everyone is here, let’s start discussing the main business."
Duan Dongyang stepped into the hall, taking the main seat with authority and sitting with legs astride, unmistakably commanding.
The Third Elder was truly an astute person, boldly declaring: "To the Upper Sect Envoy, I am willing, on behalf of the Li Family, to offer two thousand-year-old spiritual medicines as a contribution to support our Sword Sect’s Alchemy needs!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the other clan elders, whose seats had not yet warmed, were suddenly unable to stay seated.
Duan Dongyang nodded slightly: "Agreed."
Li Kunli gloated, pulling out two thousand-year-old spiritual medicines from the Storage Bag, even deliberately opening the Jade Box, flaunting proudly to the clan members.
One was a Green Dragon Branch, emerald as jade, resembling a Qiu Long dragon stretching its body; the other resembled the form of a Ganoderma, colored as gold and jade, mist twirling around it, exuding a refreshing fragrance that filled the air.
"Green Dragon Branch and Golden Jade Ganoderma, not bad! Top quality, rich in medicinal properties, both suitable for concocting Foundation Establishment Pills."
Duan Dongyang was very satisfied, making a final decision: "When our sect’s pills are successfully refined, we can spare one extra Foundation Establishment Pill as a reward for the Green Jade Li Family’s contribution."
Despite how discontent the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Yun Family and Wang Family were, they were helpless at this moment.
But the Third Elder was not done yet, raising his voice to say: "I inform Elder Duan, although I have come across some minor fortunes, the bulk of it has actually been taken by a newly advanced Foundation Establishment member of the Situ Family, their harvest of thousand-year-old spiritual medicines amounts to at least three to five times mine."
This statement sent a shock through the hearts of all the cultivators present.
"Oh? Did Situ Sen really take away so many thousand-year-old spiritual medicines?"
Duan Dongyang feigned curiosity as he inquired.
"Every word true, I dare not deceive!"
Li Kunli responded with firm and candid eyes, his answer resolute and definitive.
"If so, may I trouble all friends to accompany me for a trip to the Taiyuan Islands?"
Duan Dongyang clapped his hands and laughed: "Since the Green Jade Li Family has set an example, the Situ Family would not dare to obstinately resist, hoarding those thousand-year-old spiritual medicines, would they?"
"Our Sword Sect doesn’t ask for much, just wanting a mere six or seven, maybe nine thousand-year-old spiritual medicines first—reasonable, right?"
For a moment, the cultivators present mourned for the Situ Family in silence.
At the order of the Upper Sect, this is bound to cost them dearly!
