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Chapter 766: Chapter 772: Encounter
At certain times, dissent is the same as opposition. As the shopkeeper of the commerce association, accustomed to greetings and farewells, he instantly understood Li Wenli’s silence as his response.
It was impossible not to feel some dissatisfaction. The power of the Southern Edge Commerce Association far exceeded that of the Li family. They had taken the initiative to approach the Li family, giving them ample respect, but the Li family had not reciprocated!
However, in business, the focus is on harmony bringing wealth. Despite his dissatisfaction, he did not show it and smiled as he deftly changed the topic.
"Speaking of which, we have a favor to ask."
After some small talk, Li Wenli suddenly said, "You must be aware of how important the grades of Spirit Beasts are to a family, so I would like to request the help of your esteemed association in purchasing some Dragon Beasts of third grade or higher."
The Li family had already planned this and took the opportunity to use it to soothe relations with the Southern Edge Commerce Association.
"Of course, of course. You know our association is known for fairness. The bond between our families is not shallow. If there are similar matters in the future, don’t forget about me!" The shopkeeper agreed cheerfully.
Having said all that needed to be said, he did not stay any longer.
Before long, representatives from the Xuanfa Pavilion arrived as well.
Although both from the Eastern Domain, their relationship with the Li family was slightly more distant than that of the Southern Edge Commerce Association, and now that the Li family had produced a Divine Transformation cultivator, it was natural to seek a good relationship.
As for this, Li Wenli agreed outright, but due to the contract with the Southern Edge Commerce Association, he could not allow Xuanfa Pavilion to establish itself in Wanxian Province and had to continue trading through the branch that was deliberately set up at the border with Great Void Province.
In the following month, various forces from within a radius of ten thousand li brought congratulatory gifts.
The more astute ones, like Wuya Mountain and the Water Spirit Sect, pledged allegiance to the Li family while presenting their gifts, becoming vassals of the Li family.
But there were others who were oblivious to propriety. Profound Ice Sect, for example, sent gifts, but that was the extent of it; they made no further overtures.
And according to intelligence gathered by the Li family, Profound Ice Sect had adopted the previously inward-looking approach of the Li family, hoping to use this method to contend with them.
As for the Devil Race of Great Void Province and Great Snow Mountain, they were plunged into great fear!
The human race could bow and submit to preserve themselves, but the Devil Race did not have that privilege. In order to avoid aggression from the Li family, the Devils could only act as servants!
This was something no Great Devil could accept!
Yet without sufficient strength to defeat Li Zhirui and wishing to live freely, the only option was to abandon their current territory and flee to the Northern Wasteland or the Hundred Thousand Mountains in the Southern Domain, among the few gathering places left for the Devil Race.
Now, the various Great Devils were hotly debating which course to flee to.
In fact, Li Zhirui had no interest in settling scores or expanding the current Li family territories!
If a true reckoning were to be unleashed, Wanxian Province and its surroundings would turn into a battlefield, leading to countless deaths.
In doing so, he would inevitably entangle himself with a great deal of karmic force, something Li Zhirui, who had already broken through to Divine Transformation and had a glimmering understanding of Ascension, was absolutely unwilling to agree to.
As for expanding the Li family’s territory, up to this point, control over Wanxian Province had not been fully secured, and blind expansion was not beneficial; it would actually slow down the family’s progress.
In other words, whether it was the pro-active fealty of forces like Wuya Mountain, the vigilance of Profound Ice Sect, or the escape of the Devil Race, these were all their own ideas, and Li Zhirui had never, at least not yet, intended to expand or settle scores.
At the moment, he was wholly absorbed in theorizing about the hypothetical fifth-order Precious Pill.
Meanwhile, at the farthest west of Wanxian Province.
"Such thin spiritual energy, such poor spiritual objects, this place can barely accommodate a few Nascent Soul forces. It’s quite extraordinary that a Daoist friend was born here."
Above the clouds, two Taoists were leisurely stepping through the air as if walking in a courtyard. Although their movements seemed slow, with each step they took, they would appear miles away in the next instant.
The two friends, one old and one young, the elder with white hair and a relaxed demeanor, his complexion rosy; the young man with a face cold as frost, his skin as clear as ice and as pure as jade, but from the aura that faintly radiated from the two, they were clearly two divine beings in Divine Transformation!
The elder who had been speaking didn’t care that his companion didn’t respond and continued, "It’s also unknown which Laws this Daoist friend has mastered, whether it might be some sort of skill..."
"In a quarter of an hour, you’ll know," said the young man, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes, suddenly interrupting.
Although they were still thousands of miles away from Wanxian Island, such leisurely walking would only take a quarter of an hour for them to reach their destination.
"Yu Xue, my friend, you really should work on your temperament. We cultivators are masters of the Laws; we must resist being influenced by them."
The youth’s expression stiffened slightly. He suddenly stopped, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Elder Song, for your guidance. I understand."
"I can hardly claim to have given guidance. I merely hope that you capable younger generations don’t take the wrong path, especially at this critical time when we need more strength."
Elder Song sighed softly, as if weightless, and said, "Let’s go."
Yu Xue’s expression turned solemn, silently following the elder.
Right on time, a quarter of an hour later, the two appeared in the skies above Wanxian Island.
"Hmm, good feng shui, the Spirit Vein is passable. I didn’t expect such a blessed land at the Extreme Eastern Corner," Elder Song’s eyes shone with a glint of insight, peering through the layers of the Formation to see the situation inside Wanxian Island.
"So many Dragon Beasts on the island. It turns out to be a Beast-Taming Family."
It’s simple to differentiate a family from a Sect by looking at the attire.
Usually, Sect Disciples have strict hierarchical distinctions reflected in their clothing. Although families also have similar attire, they don’t usually wear it in daily life.
"Strange! Strange! This family has but two Nascent Souls, clearly a recent ascension from a Golden Core force, yet they have produced a Divine Transformation being."
Elder Song laughed, "It seems this Daoist friend is a rare genius indeed!"
Hearing these words, surprise flashed in Yu Xue’s eyes. Elder Song held high status and rarely praised other cultivators so generously.
Meanwhile, Li Zhirui, who was in the quiet room deducing Pill Recipes, felt a sense of being spied upon as Elder Song observed the Li family. He immediately released all his Divine Sense, spreading it in all directions.
Then he saw them, the old and the young, two Divine Transformation beings standing above Wanxian Island!
Without hesitation, he flashed forth in an instant, appearing before them with a cool demeanor and asking, "May I know what brings the two of you here, peering into my Li family’s territory without reason?"
Even though the aura of the two was superior to his, Li Zhirui felt no fear. In a battle between Divine Transformation beings, the realm was no longer the sole decisive factor; control over the Laws was.
Somehow naturally attuned, in this regard, Li Zhirui still had some confidence.
