Upon hearing the words of the Long Family Patriarch, Long Dong, though unwilling in his heart, dared not show any sign of defiance and could only repeatedly agree in a submissive manner.
However, the black-robed man beside the Long Family Patriarch cast a surprised glance at him, his lips twitching slightly.
Immediately, a voice transmission reached the Long Family Patriarch’s ears:
“Brother Long, what did you mean by your earlier words…?”
“Does Hui Wu remember that mysterious demonic ape from Jiuxian Mountain who fought me?” The Long Family Patriarch’s voice was equally clear in the black-robed man’s ears.
“Of course. Didn’t Brother Long suspect it might be a demonic cultivator from the Sacred Island?” The black-robed man’s expression shifted slightly.
“Heh, indeed! But upon further investigation, I learned that the ape came for a Qi Condensation junior who had been mistakenly brought to the Long Family. And that junior happens to be this ‘Fellow Daoist Han’s’ nominal disciple.”
“Such a thing! Does Brother Long think this person is connected to the Sacred Island?” The black-robed man gasped, murmuring in shock.
“Perhaps, or perhaps he just has some personal ties to that demonic ape. I can’t say for sure. But one thing is certain—with the demonic tribulation approaching, the Long Family should avoid unnecessary trouble. Though his cultivation may not impress us, his rapid advancement to the Body Integration stage suggests he’s no ordinary early-stage cultivator. Either he possesses extraordinary abilities or some rare treasure.” The Long Family Patriarch replied calmly.
“Given what you say, the Long Family indeed shouldn’t make enemies lightly now. But if we face the Gu Family in the upcoming ceremony, should we still yield to him?” The black-robed man nodded but then frowned in concern.
“No need. We’ll act as usual during the True Spirit Ceremony. If we do encounter him, there’s no need to hold back. It’ll be a good chance to gauge his true strength. If he truly has remarkable abilities, perhaps we can even involve him in that matter later.” The Long Family Patriarch replied without hesitation.
“I see. I’ll handle the ranking matches during the ceremony.” The black-robed man chuckled softly before falling silent.
Meanwhile, the Long Family Patriarch closed his eyes again, his face expressionless as if nothing had been said.
On the other side, Fairy Xiaofeng and Elder Xiao were startled by Han Li’s earlier actions.
Though the Gu and Long Families were at odds, Han Li’s boldness toward the Long Family Patriarch made the two, who lacked a Grand Elder’s support, deeply uneasy.
However, seeing the Long Family Patriarch unexpectedly refrain from making an issue of it, they felt both relieved and puzzled.
Han Li remained composed, his intentions unclear.
But to the other mid-sized and small families, he now seemed enigmatic, sparking whispered discussions about him.
“Oh, Ying’er! This Fellow Daoist Han who once saved you is quite bold—daring to defy the Long Family’s old monster as an early-stage cultivator. He must either possess extraordinary abilities or have powerful backing. No wonder even our little Ying’er couldn’t sway his heart.”
The speaker was a female cultivator from one of the front-row True Spirit Families, seated near the Long Family. Like the Gu Family, most of this group were women.
The one speaking sat at the forefront—a girl of seventeen or eighteen, clad in a five-colored feathered robe, her face bright with laughter.
Beside her sat a beautiful woman in her late twenties and a gray-haired elderly woman.
“Ancestor, Ying’er’s plain looks are hardly worthy of Senior Han’s attention. It’s no surprise.” A white-robed girl standing behind the beautiful woman blushed deeply, stammering in reply.
This was none other than Ye Ying, who had encountered Han Li at the Myriad Treasures Convention!
Her resemblance to the feathered-robed girl was striking.
“Oh? But I find our little Ying’er utterly adorable. This Han fellow must have poor taste. Otherwise, joining our Ye Family would bring him great benefits—and my most beloved granddaughter’s hand.” The feathered-robed girl giggled, her voice as clear as a lark’s, drawing glances from nearby.
Though soundproofing barriers prevented outsiders from hearing, the attention from their own family made Ye Ying’s face burn crimson. She lowered her head, too embarrassed to respond.
“Mother, stop teasing her. Must you always provoke Ying’er?” The beautiful woman chided playfully.
“What’s wrong with that? Among the younger generation, only Ying’er resembles my youthful self—though her temperament is far too reserved. She needs guidance, or such a beauty will remain as cold as wood—how dull!” The feathered-robed girl replied airily.
The beautiful woman, usually dignified, could only sigh helplessly.
The other Ye Family members listening couldn’t help but chuckle.
Meanwhile, two Body Integration cultivators from another major family whispered among themselves.
“That Tian Li woman didn’t come, but this Han fellow isn’t to be trifled with. Should we proceed as planned? Our original strategy was tailored for her.” A dignified, richly dressed man frowned.
“Why not? Her absence is her luck. Though this Han has no grudge with us, since he’s supporting the Gu Family, we’ll have to teach him a lesson. Even if we’re only early-stage Body Integration cultivators, we’ve been at this level for tens of thousands of years longer. Even without joint techniques, we can show him the gap. Besides, we only need to drain his energy and force him to reveal his strength. The real battle will fall to the Lao Family. With Tian Li absent, they must be delighted.”
A masked man with half his face hidden under bronze replied coolly.
“True. Even Tian Li was no match for us back then, let alone this newcomer.” The richly dressed man nodded in agreement.
Elsewhere, in another family, a sinister voice declared:
“This time, with Tian Li absent and only a single early-stage Body Integration cultivator supporting the Gu Family, it’s our Lao Family’s chance to rise! During the matches, go easy on others—but against the Gu Family, spare no effort!”
“Yes, Ancestor!”
Meanwhile, Han Li had already withdrawn his gaze, looking downward again.
Between his fingers now rested a thumb-sized golden gourd, flickering in and out of sight as if intangible—yet otherwise unremarkable.
Still, Han Li toyed with it intently, seemingly fascinated.
Time passed, and the True Spirit Families waited patiently.
Finally, after two more hours, a milky-white formation appeared at the center of the Wanling Platform. Initially only a few zhang wide, it rapidly expanded to cover an acre, emitting dazzling light.
Countless runes surged from the formation, accompanied by a resonant hum.
The entire Wanling Platform trembled lightly in response.
Simultaneously, sharp cries echoed from the canyon walls as hundreds of colossal light pillars erupted without warning—each as thick as a water vat, blazing with blinding five-colored radiance.
Under the formation’s influence, dark clouds gathered above the canyon amid howling winds. Then, with earth-shaking thunder, massive purple-gold lightning bolts—thick as pythons—manifested in the sky.
“Heavenly Tribulation Lightning!”
Many first-time attendees gasped in shock, some even panicking at the sight.
“Fools! This is merely the arrival of the Great Wanling Spirit. The ceremony begins now—what say you, fellow Daoists?”
The Long Family Patriarch, who had been sitting with closed eyes, suddenly stood and spoke coldly. Though his voice was soft, it carried clearly to all, calming the chaos.
“Of course. As tradition dictates, Brother Long shall preside.” The Hua Family’s richly dressed man laughed, rising to his feet.
“This junior has no objections!”
“Nor does this humble woman—after all, Brother Long is the strongest among us!”
“Brother Long, proceed!”
The other families voiced their agreement.
“Very well. Present the offerings first.” The Long Family Patriarch glanced skyward before nodding.
Above, the purple-gold lightning had woven into a colossal net, while the light pillars formed a vast cage around the canyon.
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