Fairy Bai raised her head to the sky, smiling faintly.
"It's no wonder that whenever Fellow Daoist Puci mentions the Duravia Trade Prefecture and the Eternal Sun Prefecture, he cannot speak without emphasizing how complex the situation here is.
The Li family is truly formidable; for a clan to grow this much in just a few hundred years is indeed inconceivable."
Supreme Elder Puci gave a bitter laugh. "Fairy Bai, you have seen it today. Su Chen's arrival was, I fear, long premeditated by the Li family. The Li family is using this incident to rattle my Aeternus Sect and the twelve Regions of Duravia."
"In this way, my Aeternus Sect will lose all face and will no longer be able to keep the great clans of the twelve Regions of Duravia Trade Prefecture in check.
Those great clans, struck cold with fear, will pledge their allegiance to the Li family one by one."
Supreme Elder Puci's words were dejected.
Fairy Bai said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist, do not be anxious. In this chaotic age, since my Immortal Zhao Clan has emerged into the world and intends to establish ourselves in this Duravia Trade Prefecture and Eternal Sun Prefecture, we cannot allow the Li family to act so recklessly.
"However, the Li family has the Imperial Preceptor as their backer; they are officials of the Imperial Dynasty, and they also have a favor owed by Prince Yu.
This is indeed troublesome. We must plot this slowly.
Fellow Daoist, for now, go and relieve the siege for everyone from the Duravia Trade Prefecture."
"That Su Chen's innate talent is too high."
A cold light bloomed in Fairy Bai's eyes. "He absolutely must not be allowed to live!"
Her words finished, Fairy Bai had already vanished from the spot.
Supreme Elder Puci's expression was ugly to the extreme. His eyes darted about, and finally, it all turned into a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Ai... in the end, we still must be subordinate to others."
No one knew how much resentment Supreme Elder Puci held in his heart.
He had originally intended, in this age of great chaos, to help Prince Qian rise step-by-step to the throne and to slowly become a figure just like Min Youguo and Lin Jiu in this chaotic world.
But who could have imagined that Prince Qian would disappoint him, and the Li family would become the victors.
Especially since he had abandoned Prince Qian back then to side with the Li family, which led to him never truly gaining their trust or being given an important position.
The Li family was wary of his Aeternus Sect at every turn.
Who could have imagined that someone from the Immortal Zhao Clan would appear before him.
"They're all villains of the same kind.
Whether it's the Immortal Zhao Clan or the Li family, they are all the same. I can never truly gain their trust; in the end, I am nothing more than a subordinate."
Supreme Elder Puci's eyes were downcast.
"If I had thrown my full support behind Prince Qian back then, perhaps..."
He shook his head, no longer dwelling on it, and went towards the sky.
...
The two sides were locked in a standoff.
Su Chen had already been called away, landing within the ranks of the Aeternus Sect.
He slowly raised his head to look at the sky above, his expression showing a trace of shame.
"Master... all the Seniors from the Azure Cloud Region and Eternal Sun Prefecture."
The shame in his eyes deepened. For the first time, he was questioning himself, wondering if causing such a great disaster for the sake of Liu Rusi was right or wrong.
Or perhaps, he had never imagined that the Li family members and those seniors would, for his sake, confront the cultivators of the Duravia Trade Prefecture—traveling such a long distance just to back him up.
Even in his past life, no one had ever helped him like this.
"Brother Su." Just at this moment, a familiar voice sounded.
Su Chen turned his head and saw Li Xinnian and Nangong Qingya walking toward him.
Su Chen was even more startled. "Junior Brother, Senior Sister? How are you...?"
"Idiot!" Nangong Qingya was already scolding angrily.
"How stupid are you, exactly, to come running to the Aeternus Sect all by yourself?
Xinnian told you long ago that if you wanted to find Liu Rusi, he naturally had a way.
Xinnian has already found Liu Rusi for you."
"I..." Su Chen's expression was even more guilt-ridden.
At this moment, he actually wasn't concerned about the Liu Rusi who had been found; he was more worried about whether this would trigger a great battle in the sky.
Li Xinnian smiled and said, "Brother Su, Duravia Trade Prefecture and my Eternal Sun Prefecture are harmonious on the surface but not in the heart.
This would have happened sooner or later; it's just been moved up a bit, that's all.
Come on, weren't you thinking about Liu Rusi? I'll take you to see her."
"Alright."
Looking at Li Xinnian's gentle smile, Su Chen's heart couldn't help but soften a little.
Soon, Su Chen arrived on the spirit ark under Li Xinnian's lead.
Liu Rusi was right there at the prow of the ark. Seemingly spotting her lover, the beauty offered a wan smile, and Su Chen's face lit up with joy.
But just as Su Chen was about to step forward, the expressions of both Li Xinnian and Nangong Qingya changed.
"Liu Rusi! You vile woman!"
A furious roar came from the distance. Numerous cultivators could be seen approaching on their swords.
The one in the lead was none other than Ding Zerui, the man Li Xinnian had injured all those years ago!
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