At this moment, atop the auspicious cloud.
Seated alongside the Li family members were numerous cultivators from the Hall of Heavenly Principles, currently receiving the spoils of war distributed by Li Yunbing.
However, the expressions on most of their faces were solemn.
Throughout its development, the upper echelons of the Hall of Heavenly Principles had come to be composed largely of geniuses from the Azure Cloud Prefecture of several centuries past, along with the "Caged Bird" prodigies from Qilin Mountain. Yet, in this operation, more than thirty had lost their lives.
This was unavoidable.
They had been consulted before coming, as was the rule of the Hall of Heavenly Principles. Unless a battle concerned the very survival of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, participation was not mandatory; ordinary operations were conducted solely to seize resources.
A large portion of the spoils from this battle would also be delivered to the friends and families of the fallen.
Li Yaoqing, meanwhile, was busy tending to the injuries of the wounded.
"Lady Yaoqing, after you return to the Azure Cloud Prefecture, I must trouble you to deliver this poor monk's personal effects to the Great Ming King Temple and hand them over to Abbot Yuming."
The speaker was the Mang Monk of Great Ming King Temple—the very same man who, back in Tian Xing's Cave Abode, would fight anyone he laid eyes on.
Now, his robes were in tatters, and his face was drained of all blood.
He pushed away Li Yaoqing's hand, which was transmitting life-force Spiritual power to him. His Divine Soul was already shattered beyond repair, yet a sudden flush of color returned to his cheeks—a final surge of vitality.
He grinned.
"This trip... was not in vain for this poor monk.
Back at the temple, they always said I was prone to violating the precepts. But here in the Hall of Heavenly Principles, I have no fear of breaking them.
To have encountered so many experts in this lifetime... my life has not been wasted."
As he spoke, the Mang Monk turned his head to glare into the distance at Li Tianming.
Having just survived the great battle, Li Tianming was pale, his face twisted in pain as he channeled Spiritual power to repair the wound on his chest.
Seeing him, the monk's face instantly filled with rage, and he gnashed his teeth.
"Li Tianming, even if you put a collar on this poor monk in the next life, I still won't fear you."
"I'm not afraid of you..."
The Mang Monk closed his eyes.
Sunlight from the heavens pierced through the clouds, shining upon the ordination scars atop the monk's head; the radiance seemed poised to welcome him into the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
"Alright, you aren't afraid of him."
A trace of sorrow flashed across Li Yaoqing's brow.
She responded softly, then slowly collected the Mang Monk's body and belongings.
Li Tianming, still in the midst of healing his injuries, stood frozen in place. His eyes were filled with confusion, reluctance, and distress.
Although he did not understand what this "collar" was, nor why the Mang Monk spoke of fearing him, his heart was overwhelmed by the deep grief of losing a friend of the clan.
The numerous members of the Hall of Heavenly Principles all managed forced smiles. Afraid of Li Tianming? They had long ceased to be afraid.
Soon after, they exchanged glances, nodded slightly to one another, and closed their eyes to rest and recuperate their spirits. There were still great battles ahead.
Over these years, whether it was them or the people of the Azure Cloud Prefecture, everyone had come to understand one truth: in this chaotic world, those who do not contend will perish.
At the very least, the Li clan was clear and impartial in meting out rewards and punishments.
Even if one lost their life while pursuing the Dao, by fighting alongside the Li clan, their earnings would benefit their clansmen or sect members.
Li Yaoqing slowly walked over to the side of her own clansmen.
Every member of the clan bore injuries to some extent.
They were now sitting cross-legged as Li Yaoqing went from one to the next, feeding them medicinal pills and treating their wounds.
The group remained silent; for were they not just like these members of the Hall of Heavenly Principles—all chasing after these spoils of war and the Three Corpses of Ling Tian?
To contend for the opportunity to reach the Body Integration Realm, and to secure the capital needed to stand firm in this world.
.......
Meanwhile.
Inside the Profound Seals Talisman within Li Tianyi's body, the group of old seniors had completely erupted in shock.
"Tianyi, how... how is it that every single one of your family elders has broken through to the Void Refining Realm?!"
"Hiss... In the past, when we observed Li Yaotie and Li Yaoqing, they were cultivating Unorthodox Paths.
They were supposed to be far from breaking through to Void Refining. Without a two or three-thousand-year cultivation base, they shouldn't have even been able to touch the threshold!
And your Second Uncle, Li Yunbing—he didn't have the aptitude to reach Void Refining in this lifetime! This..."
"Where would even a typical Secluded Faction find as many Void Refining powerhouses as your Li clan?"
Li Tianyi did not reply.
They were right. With the existence of the Void-Soul Exchanging Dao Technique, their Azure Cloud Prefecture had long since been reborn!
The Old Ancestor, Great-Grandfather Li Dalong, Grandfather Yaozu, and Eldest Uncle Li Yunlin—these were four True Void Refining cultivators.
Within the Azure Cloud Prefecture, there were also Zhuo Linlin, the Martial Emperor, Fairy Hongxiu, and Supreme Elder Pu Ci—four more Void Refining experts.
And now...
Over these years, Great-Grandmother, Grandfather, Grandmother, Second Great-Aunt, and Second Uncle had all become Pseudo-Void Refining cultivators.
Just counting the living, they already possessed thirteen Void Refining cultivators!
"I wonder where Master has fled to..."
Li Tianyi took a deep breath and glanced at Li Tianming, whose face was still filled with confusion.
The true reason he had allowed his Master to escape was not merely because his elders were unfamiliar with him.
It was because of Tianming.
He could sense that when his Master's life was in critical danger, Tianming's eyes had gradually turned crimson.
Only those who had spent these years on the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems truly knew how cruel and tyrannical the people there were.
To Li Tianming, whenever any existence appeared that might pose a threat to the family, the logic was simple: as long as there was an opportunity to strike, the only good "threat" was a dead "threat."
Looking at Tianming's innocent display, Li Tianyi sighed inwardly.
"Is it because I've restricted him too much that he's suppressing himself, keeping his true nature hidden from the world?"
"Big Brother, why are you staring at me?"
Li Tianming blinked his eyes.
"Go heal your wounds."
Li Tianyi rolled his eyes.
To the side, Li Tianqi shrugged, brimming with excitement.
After this battle—a narrow escape where survival hung by a thread—he felt that his Spiritual power had grown significantly more robust.
"These past few years spent on Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems really weren't a waste."