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Chapter 1099: Chapter 1018: Transaction_2
"However, the Li family has only one Integration cultivator, Li Zhirui, who has just broken through. Even if he can play a certain role, he cannot possibly influence the outcome of the war. We are offering such generous terms only to get less than half in return, which is completely not worth it!"
Most of the Elders were reluctant to agree to the terms set out by the Li family, as it made them feel suffocated. When has a power that has just advanced to Integration ever received so many benefits from the Zhang Family?
The counteroffer made by the Li family was merely to do their best to help stop the invasion of cultivators from Wanzhu State!
"Agree to the Li family’s terms. Once our family gets through this crisis, there will be plenty of opportunities to take back those thousand miles of Spirit Land, which will even have been developed by the Li family," said Patriarch Zhang.
In his view, Li Zhirui’s breakthrough to Integration had already exhausted all the Li family’s luck; producing another Integration cultivator would be no easy task!
As long as the Zhang Family could weather this invasion and make the three families of Wanzhu State pay a significant price, they definitely wouldn’t dare make any other moves in the short term.
After all, Wanzhu State is a large state with never-ending internal strife. They need to guard against attacks from those forces behind them, and if they suffer too many losses during the invasion of Shanyuan State, it could put the main family in jeopardy.
This way, the Zhang Family would have time to recover their strength and form alliances!
It was just that this attack came too suddenly, the Zhang Family was completely unprepared, or else they would never have allowed those three powers to easily occupy so much land.
Having heard what the Clan Leader said, the other Elders thought about it and felt it wasn’t a problem. They would even gain a thousand miles of developed prime Spirit Land for nothing, and the voices of opposition gradually subsided.
"It’s not good to have two masters for one job. Please trouble Elder Feixia to visit the Li family again and finalize this matter," Patriarch Zhang said to the Elder who had previously visited Mount Wanxian. "The Li family must send one Integration, twenty Void Refinement, and a hundred Divine Transformation cultivators to the battle! These are the family’s bottom lines! The Li family is absolutely not allowed to haggle!"
"Understood! I’m on it," Elder Feixia responded and quickly left.
Li Taiyao, who was dealing with family affairs, showed a hint of a smile when she heard that the Zhang Family Elder was visiting again; she knew the Zhang Family would not refuse!
She just didn’t know what terms the Zhang Family would propose.
With that in mind, Li Taiyao personally came out to welcome Zhang Feixia into the mansion.
However, this time there were not as many Lianxu Cultivators accompanying her, only the Elders were by her side.
Zhang Feixia, direct and straightforward, spoke of the terms laid out by the Zhang Family, saying, "This is the bottom line. If Clan Leader Li does not agree, then let this matter be dropped."
"Please wait a moment, we need to discuss this," Li Taiyao frowned slightly; the terms were not harsh, but if significant casualties occurred, it would be a severe blow to the Li family.
While consulting with the other Elders, she relayed the situation to Da Qing, Li Chengsheng, and others, asking for their opinions.
"One Integration, twenty Void Refinement, a hundred Divine Transformation to join the battle!?" Da Qing hesitated upon knowing the specific numbers.
Integration and Divine Transformation were manageable, but there were some issues with the Void Refinement members.
Although the Li family had nearly a hundred Void Refinement members, forty percent were out for experience or in closed-door cultivation, another twenty percent stationed at Wanling Island, leaving fewer than forty available to be dispatched at any time.
But considering the Mountain Protection Array set by Jiang Fengwu, and several sixth-tier Array Masters in the mountain, even if danger arose, it should be possible to hold out until they could rush back for rescue.
"Agree to the Zhang Family’s demands, but make it clear to the other party that Li Clan members will not blindly follow the Zhang Family’s commands," replied Da Qing to Li Taiyao.
Da Qing was worried that the Zhang Family would treat them as cannon fodder; after all, territories are important, but they cannot compare to the lives of clan members.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Li Taiyao returned to the main hall and agreed to the conditions from the Zhang Family, also putting forward the request made by Da Qing.
After some thought, Zhang Feixia said, "I can represent the Zhang Family to agree, but unless it’s a suicidal mission, the Li family cannot refuse the Zhang Family’s arrangements."
"Of course," Li Taiyao nodded in agreement.
Command on the battlefield must be centralized in the hands of one person, because if spread out, it would cause many problems.
"This is the contract Daoist Scroll drafted by the Zhang Family. If Clan Leader Li finds it agreeable, please seal it with the Li Clan’s stamp," said Zhang Feixia after adding everything they had just discussed into it before handing the scroll over.
The contract Daoist Scroll is, in essence, a Dao oath made similar to Talismans, but with a stronger binding power. Most often, it is used between two forces, as it involves the signing of a pact with the luck of both entities.
Li Taiyao took the Daoist Scroll, inspected it carefully to ensure no underhanded tricks were included, and then took out the clan’s seal to stamp on one side of the scroll, with the other side bearing the Zhang Family’s stamp.
The moment the contract was completed, the Daoist Scroll burst forth with Spirit Light and was recorded by the Heavenly Dao. It then split into two, with each family holding a copy.
"I ask Clan Leader Li to make more preparations. Those three forces have already started stirring, and it won’t be long before they launch their invasion," Zhang Feixia reminded, then took her leave from Mount Wanxian with a copy of the contract Daoist Scroll.
"According to the scale of past wars, prepare Spiritual Objects for the clan members who will be participating in the battle," Li Taiyao instructed without delay.
In fact, the Li Family had already been preparing various strategic materials before the Zhang Family approached them, but in limited quantities, since it was not yet decided whether they would join the war.
The news of the Zhang Family and Li Family’s alliance had not been leaked, as both sides intended to keep it secret; the former aimed to surprise the three forces with a sudden attack, while the latter did not wish to attract too much attention.
However, the atmosphere in the Thousandfold Mountains was growing increasingly tense, creating a sense of oppressive foreboding, as if a storm was about to break.
And once again, small-scale conflicts between the Zhang Family and those three forces erupted, with a major battle brewing and only waiting for a spark to ignite the explosion!
Still in closed-door cultivation within his Cave Mansion and acclimating to his power, Li Zhirui was unaware of what was unfolding outside, but he keenly sensed a significant increase in his family’s luck!
With Li Zhirui’s current level of cultivation, he could not perceive luck clearly. Otherwise, he would have noticed the stream that symbolized the Li Family’s luck on Mount Wanxian, which had flowed toward the Zhang Family’s, had completely dried up and was flowing toward a far more distant place.
But soon, Li Zhirui would be aware.
Because the Knocking Bell hanging on the door of his Cave Mansion had been struck.
"What has happened? Could it be that someone is attacking the Li Family?" Li Zhirui thought as he stepped outside and saw standing before him Clan Leader Li Taiyao, Da Qing, Li Chengsheng, and other Void Refinement members of the family, the grand assembly leading him to subconsciously believe the family was in danger.
"It’s not what you think, Jiu. But now the family needs you to join the battle. As for what’s happening, it’s urgent; we’ll explain in detail on the way," Da Qing quickly explained.
Li Zhirui raised his eyebrows, clueless about what could have caused such urgency in Da Qing.
Seeing this, he did not press further and said, "If that’s the case, then lead the way."
"It’s tough on Ancestor Rui!" Li Taiyao slightly bowed her head, speaking somewhat apologetically.
This sudden call to battle was truly unexpected, and the Li Family did not have much time to spare. Fortunately, they had made various preparations in advance; otherwise, they would surely be in disarray and full of mistakes right now.
Nevertheless, time was still too short. There wasn’t a plentiful supply of some Spiritual Objects that the Li Family needed to prepare, which would have to be sent later.
"You speak too seriously, Clan Leader. I leave the family in your hands," Li Zhirui responded.
Before the words even hit the ground, Li Zhirui was already pulled onto a Spirit Boat by Da Qing, speeding off towards a certain location on the western side of the mountains.
It was then that Da Qing began to explain to Li Zhirui.
Soon, Li Zhirui understood.
The family had made a not unsatisfactory deal with the Zhang Family for the land a thousand li to the east of Mount Wanxian. If Li Zhirui had been present then, he would have also agreed to it on behalf of Li Taiyao.
It was just that things were somewhat unexpected; they hadn’t anticipated that the war would erupt so swiftly, leaving the family not fully prepared.
