Imprisoned and Greeted with a Broken Engagement

Qingxiu Peak.

"This disciple thanks you for your kindness, Elder. Without your guarantee, I fear I would not have escaped this time!"

Li Ye bowed deeply to Elder Ji, his sincerity plain to see.

Although his earlier arrangements had distanced him from Cai Shiwei as much as possible, under these circumstances, the sect's actions were merely a way to vent its pent-up anger over the attack on the Golden Core Ancestor.

Whether you were innocent or not, as long as you had some connection to him, it would be difficult to get away unscathed.

Without Elder Ji's guarantee, even if Li Ye had managed to walk out of the Law Enforcement Hall in the end, he would probably have suffered some torment.

There was no way it could have been as easy as it was now!

For that alone, Ji Qing had shown Li Ye considerable kindness!

"It was nothing more than a small favor!"

Ji Qing waved a hand, though his face was expressionless.

"I had already investigated you. If there had really been a problem with you, I would have seized you myself before going to the hall for the meeting. There would have been no need for the Law Enforcement Hall to come looking for you."

"But you must be careful for the time being. If there's no need to leave, stay within the sect grounds and put your mind at ease..."

"This disciple will remember. For the time being, I'll stay in the spirit fields and tend the Spirit Plants. I won't go out!"

Li Ye said, readily following his instincts.

The situation was uncertain now.

Even though the sect had lifted the lockdown after arresting a large number of people, and the sect's grand formation had returned to its normal state,

and the disciples were free to move around again,

he knew that the most trying days were probably still ahead.

Even if there were no problems within the sect, for as long as the hidden force behind the undercover attack remained concealed, everyone in the sect would have to stay on guard against a large-scale attack that could come at any time.

But as the saying went, a thief could steal for a thousand days, while no one could guard against a thief for a thousand days!

The Purple Profound Sect had suffered such a grievous blow. How could it let the matter rest?

Around the time Ji Qing returned, this colossus of the Huan Kingdom's cultivation world had begun to move.

Numerous Foundation Establishment elders personally led teams of cultivators out in every direction.

At the same time, word was sent to every major and minor power in the Huan Kingdom, joining forces on multiple fronts to issue a warrant for Cai Shiwei and launch a large-scale manhunt.

With such a massive show of force, the purpose could hardly be limited to pursuing a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had escaped after an attack.

Its greater purpose was most likely to intimidate the various powers, suppress their various ambitions in the most direct manner during this unusual period, and see whether it could pick up any clues and uncover the force behind the plot!

I hope the Purple Profound Sect can hold strong. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't have such a stable environment to farm in peace anymore...

After leaving the hall, Li Ye sighed inwardly, went to thank the attendant, and turned toward the spirit fields.

He had to seize the time and earn experience points!

The Li Household's ancestral residence.

"Zongyin is the one in our clan with the best chance of advancing to Foundation Establishment. He is our Lineage's chance to advance further. How can we give up on him just like that?!"

"Ancestor! Please reconsider!"

In the hall, the third branch's head wept as he spoke, with none of the imposing bearing he usually showed at household meetings.

As he cried out, he fell to his knees before the white-haired, youthful-faced Foundation Establishment elder seated high above.

The people in the hall reacted differently to the sight: some watched with cold mockery, some gloated, some shook their heads helplessly, and some looked deeply regretful.

Yet not one was willing to step forward and plead alongside the third branch's head.

Even if Li Zongyin reached Foundation Establishment, the third branch would benefit the most, while their own interests might well be squeezed.

Given how the third branch had used Li Zongyin's talent and potential to suppress them in the past, it was already good of them not to throw stones at someone who had fallen down a well.

To expect them, at a time like this, to persuade the Ancestor to use the Lineage's interests to help the third branch was utterly impossible!

The Foundation Establishment Ancestor's gaze flickered slightly. In the end, he merely glanced at the third branch's old head, the father of the middle-aged man now kneeling below and pleading.

He slowly shook his head.

"Grandfather, is there truly no way to turn this around?"

Unexpectedly, the third branch's old head could not help asking as well.

"From what we've heard, that Li Ye got out safely without any punishment. It makes no sense for Zongyin, who knew nothing of Cai Shiwei's plot, to be subjected to the Law Enforcement Hall..."

"Perhaps you could try contacting an elder of the Purple Profound Sect you know? If we prepared a generous gift, they might well be tempted!"

The third branch's head looked up from the floor, hope in his eyes.

"Foolish child!"

The Li Household's Ancestor sighed, the air of approaching death around him growing heavier.

"I have no bond of goodwill with the Purple Profound Sect. Even if I have some acquaintance with one or two elders, at a time like this, there is no chance they would risk angering the Golden Core Ancestor to plead for Li Zongyin..."

"It is already a blessing that the Li Household has not been implicated by such an unfilial descendant!"

"If war breaks out, we must actively answer the Purple Profound Sect's call to show our loyalty... As for Li Zongyin, we can only act as though no such person exists in the Li Household!"

His words were decisive, settling the matter outright and leaving no room for negotiation.

Then, without so much as looking at the changing expressions of the men of his grandsons' generation, the Li Household's Ancestor continued,

"As for Li Ye, since he managed to win an elder's favor and receive his personal protection, he clearly has some ability... You should give him some support!"

"At a time like this, having such a clansman in the Purple Profound Sect is also of great use to the Li Household. You must not treat him lightly!"

The Ancestor had actually mentioned Li Ye and even told them to support him. The expressions of the people below were as colorful as a dye shop.

Each of them wanted to object, but not one dared open his mouth.

Just then, the steward came to report from outside the door.

"Greetings, Ancestor... The head of the Zhang Household has come to visit, accompanied by his daughter, Zhang Jingjing."

The third branch's head brightened at once, but he also had an ominous feeling.

"Coming at a time like this, he most likely brings no good news. You younger ones can receive him yourselves!"

The Li Household's Ancestor snorted coldly and vanished from the hall in a flash of spiritual light.

The third branch's head hurriedly climbed to his feet, straightened his appearance, and sat down beside his father. He could not help saying,

"The Zhang Household's daughter is engaged to Zongyin. If we can join forces with them, perhaps there's still a chance to turn this around..."

The old man's gaze was troubled. "I'm afraid they may have come with ill intentions!"

Before long, the stout, prosperous-looking head of the Zhang Household and the haggard-faced Zhang Jingjing entered the hall, led by the steward.

Seeing that the heads of the Li Household's various branches were all present, he was stunned for a moment.

The third branch's head forced a smile and went forward to greet him.

"My in-law, you've come at just the right time. We were discussing how to rescue Zongyin..."

But the Zhang Household's head looked apologetic and stepped back half a pace, avoiding the hand the third branch's head held out.

"Brother Li, perhaps we should not speak of being in-laws anymore..."

His face was full of sorrow and helplessness.

"Before my daughter even married into your household, she was implicated by Li Zongyin and suffered considerable torment in the Law Enforcement Hall. She only managed to clear herself of suspicion and gain her release with great difficulty, then hurried home..."

"The Zhang Household is only a small, humble family. We simply cannot withstand the Purple Profound Sect's thunderous wrath!"

His meaning could not have been clearer. The third branch's head changed color several times, as though he had been slashed across the face. The heads of the other branches looked none too pleased either.

But the Zhang Household's head continued as though he had not seen their reactions.

"In this matter, the Zhang Household has wronged the Li Household..."

"I brought my daughter here today to dissolve the engagement between our two households. From now on, the Zhang and Li Households will be like well water and river water, neither encroaching on the other... Please agree to this, Brother Li!"

His words struck the ground with a resounding weight, leaving the Li Household's people looking thoroughly miserable.

Even their in-laws had come to draw a line between them immediately after Li Zongyin's mishap!

Could it be... that the Li Household truly had only Li Ye to rely on in the Purple Profound Sect now?

That was simply absurd!