Dragon Tribe Visits, Conflicts Gradually Arise

After discussing the Dao with Fu Xi and Nu Wa, Li Yi had a premonition of an impending breakthrough. Thus, after parting ways with them, he hurried back to Penglai Island to enter seclusion and break through.

Unexpectedly, someone showed up the moment he returned. Li Yi had no choice but to meet the visitor first; he couldn't just leave them waiting outside.

"This island is no simple place!" Ao Fang's pupils flashed with a sharp glint as he gazed at the mist-shrouded immortal island before him.

The Dragon Tribe's influence was growing stronger, especially after they declared themselves the Lord of Scales and Armor over the Hong Huang. Their prestige was unparalleled for a time. However, within the Dragon Tribe, there were also cultivators with clear minds and foresight.

While this approach greatly boosted the Dragon Tribe's reputation, it also offended countless cultivators and sowed seeds of future trouble. Once the Dragon Tribe weakened, they would likely face utter destruction.

Ancestral Dragon's survival through the brutal Great Tribulation and his ability to increase the Dragon Tribe's influence rather than diminish it clearly indicated he was no fool. On the contrary, as an ancient demon who emerged at the dawn of creation, his mind was unfathomable. However, the temptation of becoming a Supreme Being was too great, and the resistance was unprecedentedly small, leading him to cast aside other concerns.

Nevertheless, after making his declaration, Ancestral Dragon humbly heeded advice and began vigorously recruiting powerful cultivators from the Hong Huang, offering various generous terms to bolster the Dragon Tribe's strength and ensure their hegemony and continuation through absolute power.

Of course, not every cultivator would accept the Dragon Tribe's recruitment. Ancestral Dragon had anticipated this. Generally, even if recruitment failed, they would try to befriend these cultivators, aiming to change their prejudice against the Dragon Tribe and reduce potential enemies.

Furthermore, the Dragon Tribe also treated recruiting cultivators as a trial for their own disciples. The stronger the recruited cultivator, the greater their contribution, and naturally, the higher their status within the Dragon Tribe and the more cultivation resources they would receive.

Penglai Island was located in the East Sea, the very heart of the Dragon Tribe's most potent influence. If it were just Penglai Island, with its array formations and obscured heavenly secrets, the Dragon Tribe would have found it quite difficult to locate.

But after Li Yi took up residence on Penglai, he entered and exited without any attempt at concealment each time. This naturally made it difficult to escape the Dragon Tribe's notice, and it was inevitable that Penglai Island would be discovered.

Although Li Yi was not a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, his title, Green Lotus Sword Master, was renowned within the alliance during the Great Tribulation, especially among Golden Immortals. He was even known as the Invincible Golden Immortal.

Therefore, as soon as Li Yi's likeness was transmitted back to the Dragon Tribe, he was immediately recognized. Such a promising powerhouse, who also resided in the East Sea, naturally had to be courted.

The seventeenth prince of the Dragon Tribe, Ao Fang, came this time to gauge Li Yi's attitude and to recruit him.

"Green Lotus Sword Master, once known as the Sword Maniac, who escaped the pursuit of Grand Unity Golden Immortals multiple times. During the Great Tribulation, he even directly heavily injured Grand Unity Golden Immortals and annihilated tens of thousands of Golden Immortals, only to disappear into seclusion after the tribulation!" Ao Fang recalled the information about Li Yi piece by piece. He was a cautious person and had inquired about Li Yi from Dragon Tribe elders before coming. This was one of the reasons for his repeated recruitment successes and rapid rise in status.

"Alas, truly a fearsome individual!" Thinking of Li Yi's grim battle record and his formidable combat power, Ao Fang felt a vast difference between himself and Li Yi, despite both being Golden Immortals. He was considered a prodigy within the Dragon Tribe, but compared to Li Yi, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

At this thought, a strange glint flashed in Ao Fang's eyes, impossible to tell if it was envy or jealousy.

"Pop!"

The array formation on Penglai Island shifted. The mist shrouding Penglai Island rapidly swirled, gradually forming an opening about seven to eight zhang in size. A magnificent cloud bridge extended from within.

"Fellow Daoist, you have waited outside for a long time," Li Yi said politely to Ao Fang. Li Yi had already sensed Ao Fang's Dragon Tribe identity from his aura while on the island. After all, Li Yi had encountered countless Dragon Tribe members during the Great Tribulation and was very familiar with their auras.

"This humble one is Ao Fang. I am deeply regretful for disturbing your quiet cultivation!" Ao Fang responded with courtesy. He was here to recruit, not to show off.

"Heh, Fellow Daoist, please!" Seeing Ao Fang's polite demeanor, Li Yi also became much more courteous. After all, one doesn't strike a smiling face.

Ao Fang stepped onto Penglai Island, sensing the incredibly dense Spiritual Qi within. He saw spiritual roots of heaven and earth scattered across the island, spirits of flora and fauna frolicking, and even a pool of Three Light Divine Water. It was undoubtedly a renowned blessed land among the Hong Huang, and even within the Dragon Tribe, few could possess such a place.

"What a celestial realm!" Two fervent lights flashed in Ao Fang's eyes, accompanied by a deep sense of jealousy in his heart.

Li Yi naturally noticed Ao Fang's expression and understood his thoughts, but he didn't pay much attention. Facing an immortal mountain and blessed land like Penglai, any cultivator would be envious.

Of course, if the other party harbored malicious intentions and attempted to covet Penglai Island, Li Yi was not someone to be trifled with. Thinking this, two cold lights flashed from Li Yi's eyes.

"What is the purpose of your visit, Fellow Daoist?" Li Yi asked as they sat down in the main hall. He had no prior friendship with the Dragon Tribe and was genuinely unsure of Ao Fang's intentions.

"Fellow Daoist's combat power is peerless, yet you hide away here!" Ao Fang, clearly experienced, did not directly reveal his purpose and instead lamented with regret.

"What do you mean, Fellow Daoist?" A flash of inspiration struck Li Yi, and he vaguely guessed Ao Fang's intention.

"Fellow Daoist, you have guessed correctly. I have come to invite you to join our Dragon Tribe as an honored guest elder and to create a grand undertaking together!" Seeing Li Yi's expression, Ao Fang knew he had largely figured out his purpose. There was no need to beat around the bush, as it would only be counterproductive.

"Oh!" Knowing the other party's intention, Li Yi remained noncommittal.

"Fellow Daoist has been in the Golden Immortal realm for a long time, hasn't he? As soon as you join our Dragon Tribe, you will immediately hold a high position, enjoy abundant resources, heavenly treasures, and comprehend the Dao with the aid of great momentum, making the breakthrough to Golden Immortal and attaining the Great Luo Merit Position as easy as lifting a hand. With your talent, you might even reach the pinnacle in the future and achieve Supreme Being status!" Ao Fang calmly elaborated on the benefits of joining the Dragon Tribe. He believed this was a temptation that any cultivator would find hard to refuse, especially the mention of achieving Supreme Being status, which could drive countless cultivators mad.

If Ao Fang were facing an ordinary cultivator, he might have succeeded. But unfortunately, he was facing Li Yi, and his attempt was destined to fail.

Setting aside the fact that Li Yi was on the verge of breaking through to Grand Unity Golden Immortal and lacked neither Spiritual Treasures nor resources, the mere attempt to tempt him with achieving Supreme Being status made Li Yi scoff. Li Yi's goal was not to become a Supreme Being, but to attain Hunyuan Dao, or even surpass Hunyuan.

One had to wonder, how could the Dragon Tribe help his cultivation? What appeal did the conditions offered by Ao Fang hold? Furthermore, the Great Tribulation of the Three Tribes was bound to happen in the future, and the Dragon Tribe was destined to be a tragic figure. Li Yi had no desire to be caught in that vortex.

"Heh, Fellow Daoist, you are too kind, but I have always preferred tranquility. Moreover, I am accustomed to freedom and cannot tolerate any restraint!" Li Yi politely declined Ao Fang's invitation.

"Always prefer tranquility? If you prefer tranquility, why do you provoke Grand Unity Golden Immortals all day long? Why do you kill like a demon? And if you cannot tolerate restraint, why did you join the alliance army back then!" Thinking of this, Ao Fang felt an urge to vomit blood, believing Li Yi was deceiving him. His face turned extremely ashen.

"Since Fellow Daoist is not of the Dragon Tribe, yet resides within the Dragon Tribe's sphere of influence, this..." For some reason, perhaps due to being rejected for the first time and being enraged, or perhaps driven by the hidden jealousy and greed in his heart, Ao Fang abandoned the Dragon Tribe's usual practice of befriending those they couldn't recruit and resorted to threatening Li Yi.

"What did you say?" Li Yi was both amused and angered. So, this fellow actually intended to covet Penglai Island? His eyes flashed with cold light as he stared intently at Ao Fang.

"You understand what I mean," Ao Fang said stubbornly, cold sweat trickling down his back under Li Yi's murderous gaze. After all, the Dragon Tribe was powerful, and he believed Li Yi wouldn't dare kill him outright.

"Scram!" After weighing the situation, Li Yi decided to let him go for now. If the Dragon Tribe were to provoke him because of this, he would not hold back.

Ao Fang dared not linger. From Li Yi's murderous tone, he knew the latter's patience had reached its limit, and if he didn't leave immediately, he might truly perish here.

Outside Penglai Island, Ao Fang completely revealed his ugly true colors. "Green Lotus Sword Master, I will see you dismembered! No one can be more outstanding than me, and Penglai Island will be mine too!" After saying this, he cast a venomous glance at Penglai Island before quickly departing.