The camp was grim and solemn, its banners fluttering in the wind.
Inside the largest tent, surrounded by the others, all manner of defensive arrays had been activated. Li Wujiu sat high at the head of the gathering, while below him a sea of faces filled the tent—all senior members of the Jiu A Li Clan.
This was a routine family council.
Saintess Li Lieyue had been in seclusion for some time. She had now broken through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage and condensed a Dharma Form. At present, she was cultivating the Saintess Inheritance for the Nascent Soul Late Stage, along with the clan's secret arts.
For that reason, she had not come.
At that moment, a Li Clan member bowed and reported, "...In summary, all the clan's disciples have withdrawn from the territory of the Cold Abyss Sword Sect. The eleven expendable decoys we left behind have now all gone out of contact."
"Most likely, they've already fallen to the Sect Master's schemes."
Li Wujiu gave a slight nod, then instructed, "Su Lijing was fooled once. He certainly won't fall for the same trick a second time."
"But this move can increase what our clan gains from the battle."
"So... keep arranging for people to make trouble in Yanxi City, Suzhen Heaven, and the Liulan Dynasty."
"Remember, continue acting in the name of Holy Son Pei Ling."
Hearing this, a clan elder spoke up. "Clan Head, Su Lijing must have realized by now that he was tricked. He'll surely bear an even deeper grudge against our Li Clan."
"From here on, we should keep the clan's disciples in check and forbid them from acting alone, lest something untoward happen."
The others all nodded slightly. Though the Li Clan valued profit, it was still a family, and blood