Clan Leader, Innate Dao Body, Found

Li Yiting had never imagined that the prodigy who had effortlessly defeated him came from the secular world he so despised.

He had risen to fame young, and years ago, though defeated by a disciple of the Ye Imperial Clan, shattering his Dao Heart, that clan's might was overwhelming—dominating the entire Eastern Continent for countless Heaven and Earth Cataclysms. Even an ordinary disciple far surpassed others.

But the man before him hailed from the mortal realm, something Li Yiting found utterly unacceptable.

The secular world lacked resources and possessed few profound techniques; how could such barren land nurture a prodigy like this?

Such a prodigy, Li Yiting guessed, was rare even among the ancient clans of the Eastern Continent, let alone the Ye Imperial Clan that reigned supreme.

Ye Jing felt no stir of sympathy at Li Yiting's panic. Raising a finger, a sharp Innate Sword Qi shot from his fingertip, annihilating Li Yiting's body from heaven and earth.

After disposing of Li Yiting, Ye Jing moved in a single step to stand before Qiuyue.

Having witnessed the fierce battle and his Third Brother's brutal death, Li Wencheng was filled with terror. Seeing Ye Jing appear before him, his face turned deathly pale.

"If... if you come any closer, I'll... I'll kill this woman."

Li Wencheng grabbed Qiuyue, who had long since fallen unconscious, trying to threaten Ye Jing.

A cold glint flashed in Ye Jing's eyes. With a casual sword strike, he lopped off the ancient clan disciple's head.

"Too much useless talk. If you'd killed Qiuyue during the fight, you might have forced a mutual defeat."

"A mere Grandmaster trying to kill someone within three zhang of a Great Grandmaster? Harder than climbing to heaven."

After eliminating the other ancient clan disciple, Ye Jing used his Innate Sword Qi to obliterate the corpse, ensuring no trace remained, then carried Qiuyue and slipped away.

Taixu Profound Realm, Li Clan Ancient Clan, Tianshu Hall.

Booming laughter echoed through Tianshu Hall, lingering long without fading. Li Tianchen, beaming, addressed the many clan elders within.

"Elders, This Seat has just received a Message Jade Slip from Yiting. In the Great Li Dynasty of the Canglan Domain, he has found that Innate Dao Body."

"Now, Yiting is bringing the Innate Dao Body back from the Great Li Dynasty."

This announcement from Li Tianchen exploded the silent Tianshu Hall into uproar, as elders offered congratulations.

"Clan Leader, is this... is this true? Has Yiting truly found that Innate Dao Body?"

"Hahaha! Heaven blesses our Taixu Li Clan! In this era, our Li Clan Ancient Clan is destined to thrive!"

"Indeed, indeed! As long as we present this Innate Dao Body to the Ye Imperial Clan, Taixu Li Clan will surely leap to become a top ancient clan of the Eastern Continent."

"I never thought the Li Clan Ancient Clan would reach its peak again in my hands. Even if I fall to Dao later, I can face our ancestors beneath the Yellow Spring."

"Silence. Elders, restrain your joy for now. There remains an important task to complete."

Li Tianchen, a true hegemon, did not lose his composure even in the face of overwhelming joy, quickly calming himself.

"Clan Leader, speak! What is this important matter?"

An elder asked.

Li Tianchen swept his gaze across the elders, then said gravely, "Elders, the matter of the Innate Dao Body is of utmost importance, tied to our clan's rise and fall. It cannot afford any mistake."

"The Great Li Dynasty is far too distant from our Taixu Li Clan. Accidents may occur along the way. If other ancient clans discover it, they will surely interfere."

"To ensure absolute safety, This Seat suggests we dispatch clan members to meet and escort them."

Li Tianchen's concern was not unfounded. The elders nodded in agreement.

"The Clan Leader speaks wisely. This matter concerns our rise and fall; we cannot be careless. Caution ensures a safe voyage. We should indeed send clan members to meet them."

An elder echoed.

"Clan Leader, in my view, we should send the Mystic Bird Guard to escort them. What do you think?"

Another elder stepped forward to suggest.

"The Sixth Elder is right. Every Mystic Bird Guard is a Peak of Humanity existence. In the secular world, they form an invincible force, absolutely capable of bringing the Innate Dao Body safely back to the clan."

A robed elder in purple supported the Sixth Elder's proposal.

After hearing these suggestions, Li Tianchen shook his head. Clearly, they did not meet his requirements.

"Elders, every Mystic Bird Guard is a Peak of Humanity, but our Taixu Profound Realm is merely a small world, far more limited by heaven and earth than the greater outside world."

"The Mystic Bird Guard's strength would be greatly diminished outside. This plan is not suitable."

Li Tianchen rejected the elders' proposals.

"Then what does the Clan Leader suggest?"

"In This Seat's view, to ensure absolute safety, one person in this hall must sever their own cultivation, falling from the Divine Realm. Only then can we guarantee success."

Fall from the Divine Realm! At Li Tianchen's proposal, the elders in the hall fell silent. The entire great hall sank into a heavy atmosphere.

Severing one's own cultivation was no joke. A slight misstep could damage one's foundation, and with bad luck, turn one into a cripple.

It was a taboo in cultivation. Many peerless prodigies, seeking perfection in their realm, would rather spend ages polishing themselves than choose this path.

Once the foundation was damaged, the path to the Great Dao was nearly severed, beyond repair unless healed by a Dao medicine.

Li Tianchen knew the danger well, so he quietly watched the elders ponder, waiting for their final decision.

After a long silence, the Thirteenth Elder finally broke the heavy atmosphere.

"Clan Leader, I am willing to sever my own cultivation and fall from the Divine Realm to ensure the safe return of the Innate Dao Body, leaving nothing to chance."

Seeing the Thirteenth Elder agree, Li Tianchen was overjoyed. He was about to give his consent when suddenly someone entered from outside to report.

"Clan Leader, it's bad, it's bad! The Third Young Master's Soul Lamp has gone... gone out!"

"What did you say? Yiting's Soul Lamp has gone out!"

A Soul Lamp was lit from a person's innate soul. What it meant for a Soul Lamp to go out, Li Tianchen knew better than anyone.

Li Tianchen's expression turned extremely grim. Although Li Yiting was the foremost among the younger generation of the Li Clan Ancient Clan, there were several others only slightly inferior. Dead was dead—to the entire Li Clan Ancient Clan, it meant nothing at all.

But that Innate Dao Body was a different matter entirely. It concerned the rise and fall of the entire Li Clan Ancient Clan.

He had not hesitated to make the clan elders risk damaging their own foundations, even severing their cultivation, all for the sake of leaving nothing to chance, hadn't he?

He had never expected that despite all his calculations, things would still go awry.