NOVPUB```
With the supernatural power of the bloodline that Li Song and the others possessed, they could conjure white cranes capable of flight, yet they were quite fragile, and their speed was only passable. The distance of four to five hundred meters was within reach for most martial artists skilled in archery—a coordinated volley would only turn them into sitting targets.
"Our ancestor was able to create the Literacy Paradise and even true beasts... It’s a pity that after him, our Li Family has never given birth to anyone who could even compare."
Li Song and his group also secretly sighed in their hearts.
As the descendants of Bai Xingzhi, they actually received quite a lot from him, including the Divine Seed. But as time passed, their Bai Family changed the surname to Li, and the Divine Seed had long been lost, declining to the point of being food for other powerful families.
It can be said that there is no power or family that is forever glorious. No matter how splendid, with the passage of time, it will inevitably decline.
"Mr. Su, when the time comes, please delay them for a bit. With our bloodline divine skills, we can use the secret technique of ’Substituting the Pillar for the Beam’ left by our ancestor to transfer Li Zhengao and the rest one by one."
Li Song discussed the detailed plan with Su Changkong.
They were on a rescue mission for the Li Family disciples, and they were not going in unprepared. They had some assurance, and it came from the bloodline divine skills they mastered and the secret techniques left by the Paint Saint, Bai Xingzhi.
"Mmm..." Su Changkong nodded slightly. The main goal of this battle was to save people, and it was not about fighting desperately against the Shi Family’s top fighters, and he was not fighting alone—having the descendants of the Paint Saint such as Li Song as support.
Mysterious Stone City, a large city within the territory of the Wuji Empire, heavily guarded, with 30,000 Solid Stone Guards, the elite among the elites.
However, in Mysterious Stone City, the real power is the ’Shi Family.’ As a powerful clan, the Shi Family’s roots in Mysterious Stone City are only one of their branches. Their true foundation lies in an inaccessible place called ’Stubborn Stone Mountain.’
The strength of the Shi Family is such that the City Lord of Mysterious Stone City, as well as high-ranking officials and dignitaries, have to watch their faces and dare not disobey—it’s a status brought about by absolute power!
Su Changkong and the others disguised themselves, entered the city with a low profile, and observed the layout of the execution site in advance, while also considering whether they could rescue the three young Li Family disciples who had been arrested beforehand. However, this seemed unlikely.
As large as Mysterious Stone City was, the Li Family had no connections or foundations there; they couldn’t even find out where the three young disciples were imprisoned. The Shi Family certainly wouldn’t leak this information, so their only option was to act on the day of the execution.
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, two or three days had passed, and the day of the execution had arrived.
In a spacious execution ground designated for the decapitation of serious offenders, it was crowded early in the morning, with soldiers responsible for the city’s security. Even more were those who came to watch the spectacle.
"I heard that three criminals are to be beheaded today to show the public. These men slaughtered civilians, committed rape and pillage—crimes too numerous to record. They can’t be left alive without appeasing the public’s anger!"
The civilians whispered to each other, talking about the three Li Family disciples about to be publicly executed.
Naturally, these charges were fabricated. With the Shi Family’s power to cover the skies with one hand in Mysterious Stone City, they could pin whatever charges they wanted on them!
The Magistrate of Mysterious Stone City—a stern man in official attire and hat—appeared on the platform, personally overseeing the operation. His face was impassive, but his heart sank, "The Shi Family is going against the Li Family and dragging me into it. They intend to completely crush the Li Family!"
The Magistrate of Mysterious Stone City was well aware that the three Li Family young men were innocent. They were merely bait used by the Shi Family to lure the Li Family into their trap. If the Li Family didn’t come, then heads would roll, and blood would stain the execution grounds.
Even if they did come, the world’s elite disciples blended among the soldiers would surely capture all of them. Moreover, the entire Li Family would then have to carry the charges of raiding the execution ground, showing contempt for the royal law, and even the crime of exterminating the clan would be well deserved!
The Shi Family’s move was truly ruthless; they were prepared to take down the Li Family completely, using a secret technique to engulf their special bloodline and enhance themselves, leaving no potential threats behind.
But the Magistrate of Mysterious Stone City dared not offend the Shi Family. He could only pretend to be oblivious and comply obediently. Yet, he had already secretly instructed his subordinates: If there’s an anomaly, don’t bother with it—the Shi Family would handle it. This would also reduce casualties among his own ranks!
Among the soldiers, there were about thirty to forty people who distinctly differed from the rest. They were clad in armor and their identities were concealed, but they were actually the Shi Family’s elite disciples in disguise, mingled among the others, of course, to capture any Li Family experts that might come to raid the execution ground.
"Will this bunch of cowards from the Li Family really come? They’ve been hiding in the Literacy Paradise for two or three years without setting foot outside!"
A Shi Family disciple secretly communicated with a fellow warrior beside him.
The Li Family was not foolish; they should know that this was a blatant scheme. Should they dare to come to attempt a rescue, they would fall right into the trap they had set—not only would they fail to save anyone, but it’s likely they would get their whole clan embroiled as well.
"They will come... The three people we captured from the Li Family are their elite, including the son of the Family Head. He can’t possibly ignore his own son’s life or death!" the tall warrior asserted with certainty, believing that based on the characters of the Li Family members, they wouldn’t abandon their kin to die.
"Besides, let’s not be careless. The brothers Shi Lan and Shi Qing went to Book Fragrance Mountain to deliver a message and never returned. Their Soul Lamps have been extinguished; they are definitely dead, most likely at the hands of the Li Family. Even the Li Family, as thin as a camel might be, is bigger than a horse. They surely have some powerful means!"
```
