Chapter 47: The Invasion of Dragon Tiger Gate
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“Your descendant, Li Yunlin, has been recognized by the Li Tian Sect and granted the status of a true disciple!”
“Has this boy, oppressed for twelve years, become so meticulous in thought?”
Watching Li Yunlin, who had been punished with five days of wall-facing reflection, carefully setting up an altar inside the Reflection Cliff and gently placing his ancestral tablet upon it, Li Xiang felt a surge of emotion.
He still vividly recalled all that had happened before.
When Li Yunlin’s mother was driven from the family, he had cried through the night in the ancestral hall. Since then, at intervals, Li Yunlin would come to the hall to weep quietly—even on the day he was taken away by Daoist Fire Scale.
And just now, in the grand hall of the Li Tian Sect, facing hundreds of masters, he still dared to wield his sword with a wild frenzy.
He was like a true lone wolf, erupting silently!
“Ancestor.”
After placing the tablet, Li Yunlin finally smiled, his eyes red-rimmed. “I have succeeded. Now I stand firmly within the Li Tian Sect, having inherited the teachings of my master. Just as my master holds a place in the sect, I shall add strength to the Li family!”
The sentiment was noble.
But Li Xiang never regarded the Li Tian Sect as a trump card, not even as a friend. When Li Yunlin felt lonely, he did not err, yet was sentenced to five years of reflection. Now that Li Yunlin’s talent had risen and he had committed a grave fault, the punishment was only five days.
In the end, interests prevail; all bonds between powers are merely façades. If even feelings toward their own kin are false... frankly, Li Xiang disliked such hypocrisy.
Nonetheless, seeing his descendant grow brought him peace. He only hoped Li Yunlin would not be blinded by fleeting praise.
He then switched the view to Zhi’en Village, bringing back news of Li Yunlin.
The Li family rejoiced for Li Yunlin.
Next, as Li Xiang observed Li Yaoqing, his brow furrowed.
“Your descendant, Li Yaoqing, following the Li Tian Sect disciples’ team, has located the Thunderfire Demon Cavern!”
Li Xiang immediately clicked on the map of the Thunderfire Demon Cavern.
Though called a demon cavern, it was no different from an ordinary city on the surface. Outside was clear sky, yet above the cavern loomed heavy clouds. Bones and remains littered the surrounding lands, where not a blade of grass grew, and moss crawled over broken walls.
He clearly saw the hundred warriors assembled there, all frowning and wrinkling their noses—likely because a foul stench emanated from the cavern.
Earlier, all had been calm.
But as two Foundation Establishment cultivators attempted to soar into the sky, holding compasses to gather intelligence—one female disciple with red silk cuffs led the way into the cavern—
“Boom!”
Thunder roared, like dragons swimming above the dark clouds. Ghostly flames rose from the earth across the demon cavern.
They had no choice but to retreat.
After multiple probes, the hundred assembled withdrew, unwilling to waste further effort.
Li Yaoqing had been slacking within the team, casually examining unfamiliar herbs on the grassy fields nearby—easier to approach than strangers.
“Ancestor, it seems we’ll be staying here a long time.”
Li Yaoqing sighed as he drew out his token.
“The exorcism team faces great difficulty. The demon cavern is laden with ancient formations and magical barriers; every blade of grass and tree is fraught with danger. Your descendant Li Yaoqing estimates that without Golden Core stage masters, eradicating the demonic cultivators and finding the cavern’s underground entrance will take years.”
“Li Tian Sect disciples are urgently calling upon formation masters, talisman experts, and assistance from temples far and wide.”
Seeing this, Li Xiang was unsurprised.
In the cultivation world, Foundation Establishment was only the beginning—sensing heavenly energy, casting spells, flying on swords.
But once a power contains Golden Core masters, it’s a different matter.
Their methods are countless.
Back then, if the Pig Demon King of the Silver Iron Forest hadn’t stubbornly guarded it, Master Shan Cai might never have dared to lay a finger on a single inch of the place.
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As for human factions possessing Golden Core cultivators... they are even harder to contend with.
With millennia of foundation, they are not comparable to ordinary minor powers. Who knows what formations or spiritual treasures lie hidden within their domains?
Thus, the two great sects have battled for centuries.
Just as Li Xiang was pondering having Li Yaoqing return and sending the Li family to the demon cavern, a message startled him.
“Your family’s assets in Tailin Town are under attack!”
[Special Event]
“From Yunshu Wanghailou of Qingyun County, leading three towns and six dual sects, has come to raid resources in Taiqing County. Your holdings in Tailin and Hongye Towns are the first targets!”
Li Xiang narrowed his eyes, casually asking Yuexian for a refrigerator iced milk tea.
“Yunshu Wanghailou, huh? The grand stage of Zhi’en, if you’ve got guts, come on over!”
...
The scene shifted to the Li family headquarters.
He quickly informed the family.
In the ancestral hall, the family was fully armed.
Li Yaowen wore a guilty expression. “Ancestor, it was my negligence; I failed to receive the news of Qingyun County’s assault. We still require your great power to divine the outcome.”
Li Xiang gave Li Yaowen a ‘love from the ancestor’ reminder.
It was hardly Yaowen’s fault. These were chaotic times; the Li family lacked sufficient strength to monitor Qingyun County.
Li Xiang clicked on the avatar of the Purple Thunder Celestial Python.
“If they dare come, they won’t leave alive!”
With the command from the Purple Thunder Celestial Python, the Li family found their backbone.
“Yes, Ancestor!”
Then, young and old, everyone in the ancestral hall each took an ancestral tablet to hold close, standing proudly ready to face the coming troubles.
Li Yaowen had already prepared, having villagers in Zhi’en dig cellars.
In such circumstances, the elderly, weak, women, and children had all hidden away.
Li Xiang before the screen was not overly anxious.
After the Li family’s preparations, as time accelerated into deep night, figures in Zhi’en Village grew busy again, and the game flashed another alert.
“Qingyun County has entered Taiqing City and is splitting up, moving with organization and purpose!”
“The Dragon-Tiger Gate is approaching Zhi’en Village!”
“They have long known this village is no simple place, aware that the Li family single-handedly destroyed two major families. Though they’ve heard the intelligence that the Li family used unscrupulous persuasion to win over the Su family, the Dragon-Tiger Gate still intends to fight with full force to show their strength before their Qingyun County allies!”
Li Xiang took a deep sip of his drink.
“The information’s outdated, brother.”
“Our family is already prepared to face Golden Core!”
On the screen, the ancestral tablets shimmered, glowing more violet than before. Behind the tablets, shadowy black figures appeared, wildly punching the air!
...
Zhi’en Village was very quiet at night.
Above, night clouds drifted, faintly revealing two sword-riding figures hovering in midair—
The two brothers of the Dragon-Tiger Gate.
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They looked alike, both muscular with rugged features.
Kuang Long had a beard and, listening to the forest insects around Zhi’en Village and watching the few households’ chimney smoke drifting in the night sky, felt increasingly confident. Yet he remained cautious, waiting long until he saw the village’s night watch begin and the lights in houses gradually dim before feeling it was safe enough.
“So prosperous. Dragon brother, can you believe this is a family power that has only prospered for over fifty years?”
Kuang Hu stared at the spiritual fields radiating energy beneath the Li family, salivating. “Look at them—all asleep. Let’s wipe them out quickly! Once we gain spoils and accumulate wealth, we can buy pills to try breaking through to Golden Core!”
“Wait a bit longer.” Kuang Long still harbored doubts. “Zhi’en Village is extremely hostile to outsiders. We came a month early to scout, yet no one managed to penetrate the Li family’s inner domain. Our intel is incomplete.”
“What’s there to not know?”
Kuang Hu raised his brow. “If you ask me, we’ve seen through them! They just wiped out two families and got rich. Let me tell you, their city has large formations set by ninth-rank formation masters. Their Black Blood Hall has spear formations, but those are all Qi Refining stage...”
Kuang Hu recited the Li family’s information as if from memory!
“At night, they have no clue of our arrival.”
Kuang Hu continued, “With our strength, we can prevent them from even opening their formations, especially since the Li family only has one with power approaching fake Golden Core—the Purple Thunder Celestial Python. Heh heh, Dragon brother, you and I are both fake Golden Core; a hundred years of cooperation means our strength far surpasses ordinary fake Golden Core cultivators.”
“In my opinion, you’re just too cautious.”
Hearing this, Kuang Long ignored him. It was his caution that had brought the Dragon-Tiger Gate from a minor sect to their current state!
Until deep into the night.
Kuang Long’s eyes suddenly brightened!
At the heart of Zhi’en Village, outside the Li family’s mansion with its pavilions and towers, a robust young cultivator emerged from the training tower, washing sweat in the pond.
Inside the Li family mansion, he saw maids finishing their day’s work.
From the main bedroom, a man stepped out—was that not Li Dalong?
Kuang Long clearly recalled Li Dalong’s appearance from the intel!
Soon after, he watched Li Dalong enter a more secretive chamber.
“Dong!”
The clang of a bronze bell echoed, adding a tone to the quiet night.
Then, faint spiritual light radiated from the mansion’s center, spreading outward over the entire Zhi’en Village!
“Hahaha, little tiger, did you see that?”
Kuang Long joyfully patted his brother’s shoulder, pointing at the shimmering spiritual energy enveloping the village and its surroundings. “We haven’t attacked a power in so long you’re almost forgetting—they’re extremely cautious even at night!”
“That is the Li family’s instrument to detect intruders. I suspect it’s a top-tier artifact. Before they activate it, they’re most cautious, as all defenses are still intact.”
“Once activated, they relax their vigilance.”
“If we strike with lightning speed, giving them no time to react, that’s the surest way!”
Kuang Hu looked at his delighted elder brother and finally admitted, “Truly, you are the big brother.”
Kuang Long inhaled deeply of the cold night wind beneath the bright moon.
Tonight was wonderful, softening his voice.
“This Li family, capable of making our Dragon-Tiger Gate what it is, is truly worthy of having once faded into the dust of history.”