Above the Great Dao
Chapter 539 - 253: Inside the True King’s Tomb (Thanks to yasimi_1/Demon-Powered Racecar)

Chapter 539: Chapter 253: Inside the True King’s Tomb (Thanks to yasimi_1/Demon-Powered Racecar)

After Chen Shi and Li Tianqing left, Qingzhou descended into chaos for a while. Some people tried to seize the opportunity to become power brokers, bullying men and women, and occupying land, but soon someone pretending to be a Red Horse bandit killed that person.

Then, the tales of the Red Horse bandits spread across Qingzhou; people in both the cities and the countryside discussed that the Red Horse bandits had appeared somewhere, taking down some tyrant.

For a time, Qingzhou actually stabilized.

On the second day of the lunar new year, a messenger from the Li Family hurried to Qingzhou and found out that officials such as the governor, the Director of Salt Affairs, and the Commander in Chief had been killed, the government office had been set on fire, and yet, the people lived in peace and contentment, even better than when those officials were in charge.

After investigating, the messenger quickly ascertained that Li Tianqing and Chen Shi were indeed the Red Horse bandits and immediately used a Thousand-Mile Communication Talisman to contact the Li Family in Quanzhou, stating, "Li Tianqing and Chen Shi have destroyed the powers in Qingzhou, the hearts of the people have changed, and it may be difficult to continue planting Spiritual Medicine. If Li Tianqing returns, capture him quickly!"

"Li Tianqing?"

Upon receiving this message, the Li Family in Quanzhou was shocked and promptly reported to Family Head Li Xiaozai. Hearing this, Li Xiaozai’s expression changed slightly, and he ordered, "Immediately detain Li Tianqing’s parents! And his grandfather Li Jindou, too!"

The situation in Qingzhou was no small matter; it was connected not only to the lives of several ancestors of the Li Family but also to the lives of the ancestors from other prominent families!

Without enough Spiritual Medicine to prolong their lives, it was feared that once the ancestors of the Thirteen Families passed away, the foundations of these families would be halved!

Li Xiaozai’s mind was in turmoil; the stakes were too high!

Other families would certainly hold the Li Family accountable for Li Tianqing’s actions.

Who could bear such a responsibility?

Certainly not him, Li Xiaozai.

Not only could he not bear it, but the entire Li Family might not be able to withstand the punishment from the other Twelve Families!

The Li Family might even perish because of this!

"Sect Master, there are still some Spiritual Medicines left in the fields, not all were taken."

The messenger continued, "Originally, there were five hundred and forty-two plants in the fields, now only four hundred and thirty-three remain!"

Li Xiaozai breathed a sigh of relief. If all of the Spiritual Medicine had been plundered by Li Tianqing and Chen Shi, then there would be no room for maneuvering, and the other families would likely wage war against the Li Family!

At this moment, the person who had gone to capture Li Jindou and Li Tianqing’s mother hurriedly came and said, "Family Head, Li Tianqing returned yesterday, claiming he would take his mother to visit the graves this morning; the two have already been gone for half a day."

Li Xiaozai felt a chill in his heart and quickly asked, "Where is Li Jindou?"

"Li Jindou has disappeared without a trace. But his father is still in Quanzhou."

Li Xiaozai steadied himself. Li Tianqing’s return to Quanzhou this time must be to take away his mother and Li Jindou. As for why he didn’t take his father, it was because the father and son were at odds.

Li Tianqing’s mother, who was in charge of laundry, caught the eye of Li Tianqing’s father due to her looks, who then raped her, and later did not marry her formally, until Li Tianqing was born. When Li Jindou found out, he broke his son’s leg, forcing him to marry Li Tianqing’s mother, allowing her to gain the status of a concubine.

After Li Tianqing’s father’s leg healed, he continued his philandering ways. Although Li Tianqing’s mother became a concubine, she was still mistreated and did not receive money from him, so she had to live by doing laundry and earning money to raise Li Tianqing. That’s why Li Tianqing had no regard for this father.

"His father can’t be used to threaten him at all."

Li Xiaozai slightly furrowed his brow and instructed the messenger to go immediately to the spiritual field and keep watch over those Spiritual Medicines, advising that should they encounter messengers from other families, to avoid conflict.

He hurriedly headed for the Li Family’s forbidden area and rang the warning bell.

After a while, a child from the forbidden area came and said, "Sect Master, several masters wish to see you."

Li Xiaozai followed the child into the forbidden area, his mood quite somber.

The Li Family was a grand clan with a history spanning over six thousand years; Li descendants branched out and spread all over the West Bull New Continent, as numerous as cow hair. However, the main branch had always remained in Quanzhou.

The main branch of the Li Family of Quanzhou was divided into internal and external sections, with "internal" referring to the direct line of the Sect Master and descendants within three generations. After three generations, they would be referred to as "external" descendants and were not as closely related.

Regarding those who left Quanzhou, they were even further distanced.

At the Western Capital court, a senior official from the Li lineage would enter the Cabinet, striving for the position of a Cabinet Scholar, which might seem to be the highest-ranking individual in the Li Family, but within the clan itself, that official was merely the mouthpiece of the family; the real power lay with the Sect Master and his direct line.

"Sect Master" referred to not just the current head, but also his predecessors.

The Li Family Ancestral Hall, with its incense burning for over six thousand years, retained the spirits of past sect masters through the Incense Fire Qi, constituting the greatest foundation of such prominent families.

The second greatest foundation lay in the still living past Sect Masters!

Such Sect Masters, the Li Family had altogether four.

At this moment, the four Sect Masters had been awakened by the alarm bell, each seated in the Void Great Realm, quietly listening as Li Xiaozai recounted the Qingzhou incident once-over.

The four Sect Masters each remained silent.

"This matter is our Li Family’s fault. If other families seek accountability, we should admit our wrongdoing," Grand Ancestor Li Yiran spoke slowly, "Li Tianqing is the main culprit. Regardless of his genius, we must give the other families an explanation. What is his cultivation level now?"

Li Xiaozai said, "He should be close to achieving Nascent Soul. He’s a first-grade divine fetus with a shockingly fast cultivation pace and astonishing advancement."

The Great Ancestor asked, "What cultivation technique was passed on to him?"

"South City Zongyi Collection."

"The true transmission?"

"Yes, the true transmission."

The four Sect Masters frowned, the "South City Zongyi Collection" being a comprehensive compilation of techniques from one of the ancestors, Li Zongyi.

"Wasn’t the ’Yi’an Hall Collection’ passed on?"

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