Funeral Procession

Before long, the next day arrived.

Today was June eighteenth, an auspicious day for sacrifices, encoffining, burial, and breaking ground.

It was also the day the Li Family's old patriarch, Li Xuanfeng, would be laid to rest.

At dawn, the rising sun cast golden light across the earth.

Green Maple Valley was already abuzz with voices.

All the Li Family clansmen had gathered in Green Maple Valley, dressed in mourning clothes and wearing hemp bands, to see the old patriarch off on his final journey.

Meanwhile, outside Green Maple Valley.

Uninvited guests arrived without invitation.

The Zou Family Patriarch gazed at the magnificent Green Maple Valley before him, greed flashing through his eyes.

"Very soon, this place will belong to me."

He had coveted this treasure of geomantic fortune, Green Maple Valley, for a long time.

After wiping out the Li Family, if the Zou Family could occupy this place and recuperate.

Then, in a few years, perhaps the Zou Family would become Baihe County's next great power.

To ensure that this operation would be foolproof, the elites of the Four Great Powers had practically come out in full force.

Among them, there were more than twenty Body Realm cultivators alone.

Together with Su Yun, who was hidden in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity, they were enough to destroy any Lineage without a Qi and Blood Realm Cultivator guarding it.

They encountered no obstacles along the way.

Very soon, they arrived outside the Li Residence.

Two black-clad warriors of the Body Forging Realm stood guard at the entrance.

The hostile-looking crowd immediately drew the guards' attention.

One of them stepped forward and blocked their path.

He shouted, "Everyone, this is the residence of the Green Maple Li Clan. Without the main family's permission, no one may enter."

The Great Saber Sect Master burst into laughter. "Then I'd like to see whether you can stop me."

With that said.

Before the guard could react.

The Great Saber Sect Master suddenly struck. His swift movement shot forward, and his palm slammed heavily into the guard's chest.

The poor guard was only at the Body Forging Realm. How could he withstand an expert at Body Cultivation Grand Completion?

The enormous force sent the guard flying on the spot. He crashed through the gates, smashed into the courtyard, and skidded several meters away.

The other guard came to his senses.

With fury on his face, he drew his weapon. "How dare you..."

Before he could finish speaking.

He followed in the former's footsteps.

After casually dealing with the two roadblocks, the Great Saber Sect Master dusted off his hands. Looking at the golden words "Li Residence" above his head, hatred and disdain flashed through his eyes.

Only then did he say calmly, "Everyone, you may go in now."

Only then did the people behind him react.

Though they had joined forces to deal with the Li Family.

The four words Green Maple Li Clan still weighed heavily upon their hearts. After all, it was one of Baihe County's foremost powers, with a legacy of more than two hundred years.

Yet now, the dignity of the Green Maple Li Clan was being trampled beneath the Great Saber Sect Master's feet.

They began to have an illusion.

Perhaps the nine great families were nothing more than this.

Inside the residence.

The sudden upheaval stunned everyone.

The Li Family clansmen, still immersed in grief, looked at the guard lying on the ground, his life and death unknown.

They froze for a moment before incomparable fury took its place.

Who was so insolent as to come and provoke them on such an important day, the day the old patriarch returned to the mountain?

This was a declaration of a fight to the death with the Li Family.

Then, as they watched the Great Saber Sect Master and the others swarm in, waving all kinds of weapons.

The Li Family clansmen became even more shocked and enraged. A Li Family steward recognized the identities of these uninvited guests.

His face darkened as he said, "Wang Wu, you have some nerve, coming to cause trouble in my Li Family. I think you're tired of living."

Wang Wu was the Great Saber Sect Master's name.

Hearing this, Wang Wu exchanged glances with the others, as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

Wang Wu clutched his stomach and laughed loudly. "At a time like this, your Li Family is still so arrogant. When that old bastard Li Xuanfeng was alive, I gave your Li Family some respect. Now that Li Xuanfeng has gone to the heavens, your Li Family is nothing in my eyes."

The contempt in his words.

Made the veins on the Li Family clansmen's hands nearly burst.

For so many years, no one had dared humiliate and provoke the Li Family like this.

Just as the Li Family steward was about to speak, Wang Wu said with a disdainful expression, "You aren't qualified to speak to me. Go, have Li Xuantong come out and welcome this Sect Master!"

At those words, the steward's face turned green.

It was from anger, but at the same time, helplessness and sorrow rose in his heart.

Before this, his duty as a steward had been to oversee the Great Saber Sect.

At that time, Wang Wu had been extremely respectful toward him. In daily life, he had even referred to himself as a junior.

Who would have thought that once news of the old patriarch's death spread, Wang Wu would turn around and become a vicious dog that bit its master?

Though rage filled his heart and he wished he could rush over and tear Wang Wu apart alive, he knew clearly how great the gap between their strengths was. If they truly fought, he likely would not even be able to withstand a single exchange.

His death was a small matter. Losing the Li Family's face was the real disaster.

Just as he was caught in a difficult position.

An aged voice rang out, finally allowing the Li Family steward to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Wang Wu, we haven't met for several years. Your strength hasn't improved much, but your courage has grown quite a bit. Tell me, who gave you the confidence?"

The Great Elder slowly walked out from the depths of the residence. Looking at the overbearing Wang Wu, he spoke with a cold expression.

The Great Elder's appearance placed immense pressure upon Wang Wu and the others.

Though they had spoken disdainfully of Li Xuantong, when he truly appeared before them, their expressions unconsciously grew solemn.

After all, he was a genuine expert at Body Cultivation Grand Perfection.

Though Body Cultivation Grand Completion and Body Cultivation Grand Perfection were separated by only one minor realm, the latter could easily crush the former.

"Li Xuantong, I won't waste words with you. Li Xuanfeng is dead, and your Li Family is no longer the lofty Green Maple Li Clan of the past. For all these years, your Li Family has ridden on the Great Saber Sect's head, sucking our blood and marrow, treating us like ants. Now it is time for you to spit out everything you have swallowed over the years."

Wang Wu stared viciously at the aged Li Xuantong before him.

The patriarchs of the Zou Family, Zhang Family, and Jin Family also spoke up in agreement, verbally condemning the Li Family.

The Great Elder watched the few of them jumping up and down with an amused expression.

Then he said calmly, "Wang Wu, I can understand why the others hate my Li Family. But twenty years ago, your Great Saber Sect offended the Huang Family and nearly had its gates wiped out. You knelt at my Li Family's entrance for three days and three nights, begging to become our Li Family's vassal. Only then did the old patriarch step in and save your Great Saber Sect. Am I wrong?"

Hearing this, Wang Wu felt as though he had been stripped naked and put on display beneath everyone's strange gazes.

"Utter nonsense!"

Wang Wu nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

"Li Xuantong, no matter how much nonsense you spout today, it will be useless. I am determined to destroy the Li Family today, but I am willing to give your Li Family a chance to preserve its bloodline."

The Great Elder raised a brow. "I would like to hear the details."

Wang Wu licked his lips and gave a sinister chuckle. "As long as every cultivator in the Li Family commits suicide, I can open the net on one side and spare everyone else's lives."

The Zou Family Patriarch and the others frowned. That was not what they had agreed upon when they came.

If weeds were not pulled out by the roots, they would grow again when the spring breeze blew.

How could Wang Wu not understand such a simple principle?

Just as they were about to say something, Wang Wu waved his hand, signaling them not to speak.

It was not that Wang Wu had suddenly become merciful.

The Li Family still possessed considerable strength. Though Li Xuanfeng was dead, the Li Family still had more than ten Body Realm cultivators, as well as Li Xuantong, an expert at Body Cultivation Grand Perfection.

If the Li Family fought to the death, then even with their superior numbers, they would certainly suffer heavy casualties.

Those they had brought today were all elites from their respective forces. Losing even one would pain them deeply; losing many would damage their very sinews and bones.

If the Li Family's cultivators could abandon resistance and cripple their own cultivation, that would naturally be for the best.

As for the promise he had made, hehe, once the Li Family had no power to resist, whether they were kneaded round or flattened would not be up to them, would it?

Before the Great Elder could respond.

The Li Family clansmen could no longer sit still.

They glared furiously at Wang Wu and the others, shouting, "Great Elder, don't agree to them! The sons of the Li Family are not afraid of death!"

"That's right, fight them!"

"Fight!"

"Those who insult the Li Family must die!"

Facing the Li Family clansmen's devouring gazes, Wang Wu remained utterly unafraid.

He sneered at the Great Elder and said coldly, "Li Xuantong, what do you think of my proposal?"

"Not much."

The Great Elder smiled.

But within that smile, killing intent began to emerge.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

Seeing that his scheme had failed, Wang Wu's expression changed as he roared.

"I gave your Li Family a chance, but you did not cherish it. From today onward, there will no longer be a Green Maple Li Clan in Baihe County!"

"What a boastful tone!"