And on this day.
High atop a mountain that pierced the heavens, lay glistening white snow.
Standing here, Li Wei could overlook almost the entire Qi Region. Nearly half of its territory had reverted to forest, yet ruined walls and broken ramparts were visible everywhere, hinting at the prosperity that had existed many years ago.
On the semi-transparent panel before his eyes:
[While all eyes were focused on Starfall Region, your descendant, Li Kuangren, led the cultivators of Qi Region back home.]
[Special Event Initiated—Support Qi Region]
[After Li Changsheng and his sister's initial attempt to seek aid from Qi Region's Prince, Jiang Chenghuan, failed, Jiang Chenghuan faced hardship in his new territory. Due to rumors spread by some unknown scoundrel—claiming the Jiang family was overly ambitious, attempting to annex other factions, etc.—their situation grew increasingly precarious over time.]
[Over many years, the Li family never abandoned hope. Your clansmen, beginning with Li Dalong, Li Yaozu, and others, took turns trying to persuade Jiang Chenghuan. Paradoxically, the more they tried, the more Jiang Chenghuan felt something was amiss, even as his own predicament worsened. Finally, over a decade ago, Jiang Chenghuan agreed to the plan to return to Qi Region alongside the Li family.]
[However, your family declined to act immediately, instead proposing the condition that Qi Region be renamed as part of the Azure Cloud region upon its recapture, and instructed Jiang Chenghuan to await the opportune moment.]
Ever since Li Changsheng's first attempts, the Li family had never been content to simply sit and await their fate!
And today...
"This is the perfect opportunity," Li Wei concluded. "After our Li family's years of planning, it's finally time to reveal some of our hidden cards."
A faint smile touched Li Wei's lips.
Ever since he had begun residing continuously within the 'game world', his understanding of the clan had deepened immensely, and he had even taken part in formulating numerous strategic plans. These plans included initiatives like the 'Thousand-Year Grand Plan', the 'Support Qi Region Plan' currently in motion, and even the major strategy Li Dalong had formulated back when he harbored a death wish.
The Li family was never one to remain passively on the defensive. From their earliest days, many, many years ago, when they were just a small village, the Li family had always been accustomed to seizing the initiative and attacking!
At this moment.
Behind him, Li Wei, the forces of the Azure Cloud region stood already gathered.
These were the experts from the major sects: Daoist Lan Jing of Black Tortoise Sect, Heavenly Master of Longevity Mountain, Old Ancestor Tianye of the Ghost Eye Sect... accompanied by fully half of all their sects' disciples!
Through continuous years of war, these major sects of the Azure Cloud region had also developed; the Black Tortoise Sect, for instance, had gained an additional Nascent Soul expert. Old Ancestor Tianye was particularly sinister and ruthless; he secretly employed forbidden methods like refining 'human pills' and using living humans as cultivation cauldrons. This propelled the Ghost Eye Sect to become the strongest sect in the Azure Cloud region. Though the other major factions were aware, they turned a blind eye, some even going so far as to request these 'human pills' for themselves.
The Primal Blood Tree, long coveted by the factions of Eternal Sun Prefecture, had now transformed into a humanoid form and also appeared here atop the high mountain. Xu Cuihua, Li Yaotie, Bai Rourou, Li Yaoqing, the Bloodfiend Demon Lord, and the Seven Ironclad, Li Tianshuang...
All these individuals were not in Merit City, nor at the border, nor in Starfall Region. Instead, while everyone's attention was fixed on Starfall Region and the border confrontation, they had silently led their forces here, to the border of Qi Region!
"Hahaha, Qi Region!"
Li Yaotie hefted his enormous hammer onto his shoulder, simultaneously rubbing his large bald head as he turned around, causing everyone nearby to lower their heads in alarm, lest they be accidentally struck by the massive weapon. This coarse fellow, having spent years forging iron, laughed boisterously, ecstatic with joy. "Who the hell wants that damn Starfall Region anyway?" he roared. "It's even poorer than our Azure Cloud region! This time, our Li family is playing for high stakes!"
Indeed, playing for high stakes!
They had arrived silently at the border of the Qi Region!
At this moment, all eyes gazed towards the border region between the Qi Region and Eternal Sun Prefecture.
The black shadow materialized on the horizon!
Xu Cuihua sensed it: the Wu Clan forces within Qi Region had already grown vigilant and were beginning to dispatch troops to intercept the approaching black shadow!
BOOM!
Following the distant explosion, the spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth began to churn chaotically.
Ancestral Spirit Tablets floated up from the chests of every Li family member present, converging high above the snowy mountain to shine with a dazzling brilliance. They formed a colossal character for 'Li', causing the clansmen's strength to surge, their spiritual power to become more focused, and their control over the Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth to grow ever stronger.
[You have used Family Will.]
[Skill Activated—Clan Glory!]
[Attack!]
With the ancestral character glowing three feet above their heads, all the Li family members seemed to go berserk, yelling as they plummeted towards the ground below!
"Children!" a commanding voice roared, "The Old Ancestors protect us! Hold fast to your spirit tablets! Charge!!!"
A Six-Tailed Demon Fox manifested before everyone as Xu Cuihua descended, seemingly stepping on air!
Li Yaotie followed close behind. The necklace strung with numerous storage rings he wore around his neck began to flash. One by one, Spirit Puppets opened luminous eyes and descended through the air like arrows. This fellow Li Yaotie did likewise, descending rapidly, his form transforming directly in mid-air.
His silver limbs began to liquefy, the molten silver gradually engulfing his entire body. He expanded rapidly, growing larger and larger until he towered a hundred meters tall!
"Spirit Puppet Legion, charge!"
In mid-air, the Spirit Puppets transformed one after another, growing to ten meters... tens of meters... even a hundred meters tall! Like airborne mountains, they descended upon the battlefield.
"I... Damn!" stammered Old Ancestor Tianye. "This brute's Path of Puppetry has become utterly terrifying!"
Watching the Spirit Puppets plummeting like falling stars, Old Ancestor Tianye swallowed hard. The Ghost Eye Sect itself delved into unorthodox and sinister arts, so naturally, they were well-versed in puppetry techniques. He recalled fighting alongside Li Yaotie against common foes years ago; back then, these puppets of his couldn't fly, let alone control spiritual power.
But now... this Spirit Puppet Legion, capable of wielding spiritual power, was destined to become a nightmare for all their enemies!
And then... came Bai Rourou and Li Tianshuang!
These two women – one who had inherited the will of the Pig Demon King, the other a queen hailing from the swamp forests – stood firm upon the shoulders of the giant mech Li Yaotie had become. They descended together with the legion of steel giants amidst the swirling dust and smoke.
At their summons, Spirit Beast after Spirit Beast materialized, emerging from special scrolls designed to contain them. They began weaving around the colossal steel puppets, their numbers rapidly multiplying!
Immediately following, then came the Primal Blood Tree!
Vines writhed and spread, the earth cracked open, and upon the ground, Treant after Treant emerged, alongside hulking Stone Beasts! They formed an army unto themselves!
It was regrettable that Li Dalong wasn't present; otherwise, opening the Heaven-Piercing Coffin would have filled the world with zombies and Ghosts. However, the members of the Ghost Eye Sect employed their secret arts, once again activating their sect's esoteric technique: the 'Netherworld Gate'. From the dark portal that opened, ghost after ghost emerged.
In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Azure Cloud region contingent had swelled into an utterly unstoppable torrent!
They (the assembled Azure Cloud Region/Qi Region forces) maneuvered along the border between Qi Region and the Endless Forest, flames engulfing the Wu Clan's rear positions.
The offensive originally planned for Starfall Region years ago was now, unexpectedly, being executed in Qi Region!
....
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