Inside Merit City, the air was full of spring.
A black crow tore through the clouds, heading toward the Li family's main courtyard, until it landed on the simple, old-fashioned tea table beneath the crimson ancient tree.
Although several hundred years had passed, Feng Mi still had the appearance of the young girl she once was.
Time had not left the slightest trace on her face, but it had crawled across her brow, leaving behind a mature gaze.
The noble lady held a teapot, steam curling from the teacups on the table. Her slender hand skillfully caught the arriving Dark Crow. Her delicate eyebrows instantly knitted together, and her red lips parted slightly.
"It's a letter sent back from Azure Cloud. That child, Su Chen, has gone to the Aeternus Sect, and Xinnian has tagged along to join the excitement."
Li Kuangren and Li Chang'an were there, drinking tea.
Hearing his wife's intelligence report, Li Kuangren's expression remained calm.
Ever since the shadow of the 'Caged Bird' had dissipated, he was decidedly the most composed person in the family.
For decades, Eternal Sun Prefecture had faced endless matters, both large and small, and Li Kuangren, who presided over the entire prefecture, had become even more imperturbable.
"Xinnian has Senior Old Man with him. The Senior is at the peak of the Divinity Transformation realm, and with his Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva Dharma Body, he has few rivals within the Divinity Transformation realm.
Xinnian's safety is assured."
Li Kuangren saw the worry still in his wife's eyes and smiled, "If you're really worried, just go ask Senior Dongfang Xuan to make a trip.
It's best to bring a few pieces of calligraphy and painting with you; otherwise, it will interrupt Senior Dongfang Xuan's business, and it wouldn't be right not to show a little consideration."
"As you say." Feng Mi smiled gently. She had served as Li Kuangren's assistant for many years, so she naturally knew just how powerful the seniors from the former Skynet were.
After Feng Mi left, Li Chang'an sipped his tea and said indifferently, "Second Uncle, after Prince Qian died back then, the biggest beneficiary in the Duravia Trade Prefecture was Supreme Elder Puci of the Aeternus Sect.
Compared to Prince Qian, Supreme Elder Puci is far too clever.
Ever since Supreme Elder Puci surrendered, he has been 'harmonious on the surface, but not in the heart' with us, but recently, their movements have been increasing."
"You think something is strange?"
Li Kuangren raised an eyebrow slightly; he truly regarded this child who had returned from the small fishing village as his own.
With all the great power and affairs of the entire Eternal Sun Prefecture, if it weren't for Li Chang'an, he really would have been exhausted.
Especially since Li Chang'an's mind was extremely meticulous, he was always able to correct things Li Kuangren overlooked.
In recent years, Li Chang'an had already come to respectfully address him as "Second Uncle."
"Yes." Li Chang'an nodded slightly. "If I were Supreme Elder Puci, I would accept reality, slowly gain the Li family's trust, and become a part of this new situation.
After all, our Li family's strength is growing greater and greater. The great battle back then already scared the various great clans of the Duravia Trade Prefecture out of their wits."
"With Supreme Elder Puci's strength, he could also become an important part of our sphere of influence. This would be the best choice."
Li Kuangren listened intently to Li Chang'an's analysis.
"But three years ago, they actually dared to reject our betrothal gifts.
For the sake of a mere Ding family, a mere Liu Rusi, they created a rift with our Li family? Is it worth it?
Moreover, someone from their twelve Regions actually dared to send people to intercept Su Chen and the others on their spirit ark back to Azure Cloud."
"The Hall of Heavenly Principle investigated. It was done by a few medium-sized families.
It was because they didn't want these two geniuses, Su Chen and Nangong Qingya, to live. They didn't dare make a move against Xinnian, though."
Li Chang'an closed his eyes tightly.
"Let me venture a guess... Where did they get the nerve?
In that entire Duravia Trade Prefecture, only Supreme Elder Puci could have emboldened them.
Perhaps Supreme Elder Puci told them that they no longer need to fear our Li family, that they already have the strength to fight us."
Li Kuangren listened intently to Li Chang'an's analysis.
"But, Supreme Elder Puci isn't that reckless of a person; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to surrender back then.
Unless he already has extreme confidence that he can regain control of the Duravia Trade Prefecture, or perhaps..."
Li Kuangren picked up where he left off, "Or, it's a power from outside the Duravia Trade Prefecture and Eternal Sun Prefecture that gave him this confidence.
He doesn't want to make a complete break with our Li family, which is why he has remained restrained until now. But he can't control the subordinates who have gained that new confidence."
"As expected of Second Uncle."
Li Chang'an was all smiles. Discussing matters with his Second Uncle always felt pleasant; all the anger he felt from seeing Xingchen idling about earlier today had completely vanished.
Li Kuangren inquired, "Does the Hall of Heavenly Principle have any intelligence? In recent years, have the elders and disciples of the Aeternus Sect, or those twelve Region families, been in contact with any external parties?"
"Yes, many. And they are the same as the powers that have recently been in contact with our Li family."
Li Chang'an said, "People have come from neighboring prefectures, great sects, and from within the Imperial Dynasty. After all, the Eternal Sun Prefecture and the Duravia Trade Prefecture are rare, pacified places in the Azure Dynasty.
Although we have unceasing natural disasters here, we also have resource supplies, and there are many powers who want to migrate to our two prefectures. However, there are few truly worthy of note."
Li Kuangren was pondering when the voice of Li Changsheng, who had been sleeping with his eyes closed on the Old Tree, suddenly came.
"My experience tells me, this matter is definitely a scheme!"