In the distance.
Li Yunbing's expression was grave.
"Yuanshang sent a message from the Imperial Capital. The matters involving Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems and the Grand Tower are becoming increasingly complex. The person behind the scenes is Min Tiange."
As he spoke, he looked toward Li Yaotie. Li Yaotie, naked from the waist up, was frowning in deep contemplation.
He was also the least injured among them; with the hardness of his Unorthodox Artifact Body—comparable to a Middle-Grade Dharma Treasure—how could an ordinary Void Refining cultivator possibly harm him?
Li Yunbing continued, "Third Uncle, do you remember the incident with the Peerless Hall when you broke through in the Imperial Capital all those years ago?"
At this moment, Li Yaoqing was treating Li Yunlin's injuries.
On Li Yunlin's shoulder, a black cat covered in scars was licking its wounds. Hearing Li Yunbing's words, a look of hostility flashed in Li Yaoqing's eyes.
"Min Tiange... Third Brother may have forgotten, but I certainly haven't. It was the Sect Master of Heavenly Light Sect back then who hired the Peerless Hall to make the move!"
"Mn." Li Yunbing nodded.
"I suspect the Sect Master of Heavenly Light Sect also possessed a 'Dao Seed.' It is a pity his corpse has already been sent back to Heavenly Light Sect, leaving us no way to verify it."
Hearing this, the cold look in everyone's eyes deepened.
"Under their Master's protection, the disciples of Heavenly Light Sect have infiltrated every aspect of the Imperial Capital.
This time, not even the Immortal Suppression Department traced anything back to Heavenly Light Sect.
If Min Tiange's reach has extended into Heavenly Light Sect, then the other major factions won't be able to escape his influence either."
Li Yaotie rubbed his head; he usually looked like this when he was thinking.
"These things can't be kept under wraps. There are plenty of people in the Imperial Capital who will deal with Min Tiange. We don't need to worry about him.
No matter how long Min Tiange's reach is, he still had to send the Grand Tower and Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems out to meet their doom.
Our urgent priority right now is to gather the Three Corpses."
"Old Third is right."
Xu Cuihua looked at the children with a gratified expression.
"The Old Ancestor has already obtained the 'Scripture of Corpse Stitching' from Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems.
Dabao has already reached the Nascent Soul Realm, and we have materials available in both the Netherworld and on the battlefield.
As for the Three Corpses, the most important matter now is obtaining the opportunity for the Body Integration Realm from the Fourth Prince.
Now that we have severed two of the major powers under Min Tiange's command, the day of our vengeance is not far off."
Hearing this, smiles appeared on the faces of the clan members as they began to tally the spoils of war.
In this operation to besiege the Grand Tower, aside from Concubine Ji, who managed to escape, the rest were completely annihilated!
Seventy percent of the gains were distributed entirely to the members of the Hall of Heavenly Principles, with a portion used as death benefits.
These were all items that everyone needed; the three hundred members of the Grand Tower were all powerhouses, so the possessions they carried were truly extraordinary.
The remaining thirty percent, however, was almost entirely suited for the use of the Li clansmen.
The members of the clan truly had no interest in ordinary treasures; only compatible Dharma Treasures were of any real use to them.
Li Wei also took a cursory glance at the gains from this trip.
[Obtained a massive amount of spoils.]
[Void Refining Corpses x3; Divinity Transformation, Nascent Soul, and Golden Core Corpses...]
Among these, there were three items that made Li Wei look twice.
[Middle-Grade Dharma Treasure: Crimson Souldew Tear]
[When worn on the body, it nourishes the Divine Soul and increases the cultivation speed of Soul-type techniques.
It can be used to conceal one's Spiritual power; cultivators who are not more than two minor realms above the user will be unable to perceive the user's true strength.
Increases the might of Soul-type techniques.]
It was a crimson crystal shaped like a water droplet.
It was unknown which master artifact refiner had crafted it, but the craftsmanship was so exquisite that Li Yaotie clicked his tongue in wonder, sighing inwardly that he would likely never be able to refine such a beautiful Dharma Treasure in his entire life.
This Dharma Treasure was ultimately taken by Xu Cuihua and worn as an earring, hanging from her left earlobe.
This woman, who had followed Li Dalong in braving the Netherworld, was dressed simply, yet her appearance as a Saintess of the Fox Clan was truly capable of toppling cities.
Xu Cuihua rarely adorned herself in her daily life, but with this earring on, she appeared even more glamorous and enchanting.
If she were to enter the public eye like Li Tianyue, the ranking of the world's "Top Ten Beauties" would likely have to be reshuffled.
After donning the earring, Xu Cuihua was overjoyed.
Her Fox Clan arts were rooted in charm and seduction to begin with, but after the battle in the Longevity Domain, she had obtained Zhao Wan'er's charm techniques, taking her skills to the next level.
In this recent battle, even Void Refining cultivators would have been entranced by her.
Now, the "Crimson Souldew Tear" made her even more formidable—like adding wings to a tiger.
She was confident that before long, she would become as powerful as Zhao Wan.
"Hmph, when the time comes, let's see how Li Dalong withstands my charm arts." Xu Cuihua wrinkled her small nose.
Meanwhile, in Li Yaoqing's hand, a jade-green bamboo pole appeared.
It was about 1.2 meters long and looked slightly curved; holding it, she looked exactly like the Chief of the Beggars' Sect.
[Grade 4 Spiritual Object: Heavenroot Verdant Jade Bamboo]
[A sentient segment harvested from a million-year-old Jasper Bamboo born of Heaven and Earth.
When kept on one's person, it increases the cultivation speed of Wood-attribute techniques and cultivation techniques, accelerates the absorption of the world's vital spiritual energy, and enhances the intensity of Wood-attribute Spiritual power.
Contains the Void Refining Technique: Three-Cycle Technique.
First Cycle: Healing;
Second Cycle: Bamboo Descends;
Third Cycle: Stores Spiritual power within the bamboo body to heal one's own body.]
Li Yaoqing was overjoyed. Even though she had broken through to the Void Refining Realm, her Wood Divine Art had not yet broken through.
However, this "Heavenroot Verdant Jade Bamboo" deepened her comprehension of the technique.
This was especially true for the third cycle of the Three-Cycle Technique.
Although it would take approximately twenty years to fully store a reserve of Spiritual power once, it undoubtedly possessed the ability to instantly restore her condition, no matter how severe her injuries were—even recovering her... Spiritual power!
Li Yaoqing sensed the "Nine Leaves" generated by the Divine Art within her body.
Five of the leaves had already bloomed, and there was another leaf—barely visible—forming.
"The sixth one is about to bloom soon. I currently possess a Single Wood Spiritual Root. I wonder what my aptitude will become once the sixth leaf blooms, and what kind of techniques the Wood Divine Art will bestow upon me."
Li Yaoqing continued to study her bamboo pole.
Not far away, Li Yunbing frowned as he gazed at a palm-sized rectangular iron box in his hand.
Protruding from the box were numerous silver needles; they were as fine as hair yet incomparably hard.
[High-Grade Dharma Treasure: Hidden Void Needles]
[A top-tier hidden weapon containing over a thousand silver needles.
When activated by techniques, the thousand silver needles conceal themselves within the void. They are difficult to detect even by an Divine Soul, allowing one to slay enemies with a single thought.]
Li Yunbing looked at the black cat on his big brother's shoulder.
The old cat was licking the small, bleeding puncture wounds all over its body... Then he looked at the Skyveil Hall in his big brother's hands, which was covered in marks from being pierced, and finally at his big brother's injury-ridden body.
All of this had been caused by these "Hidden Void Needles," demonstrating just how powerful and insidious this item was.
"I don't care for this thing."
Li Yunbing handed the item toward the elders, glanced at Li Tianyi and the others, and casually picked up a Low-Grade Dharma Treasure, smiling.
"I'll use this. Besides, I still have my Official Seal."
Hearing this, Li Yunlin patted Li Yunbing's head, just like he did when they were children.
"Take it. Since you are the Prefecture Lord, there are plenty of people eyeing you. Or do you expect me, your big brother, to protect you all day long?"
Li Yunbing scratched his head.
Li Yunlin continued, "Besides, since I am so upright and aboveboard, one of us has to act like Father. We can't let the true teachings of his craft go to waste."
Hearing this, the corners of Li Yunbing's mouth twitched.
Meanwhile, on the road to the Grand Tower headquarters, Li Yaozu suddenly let out a loud sneeze.
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