Destroy the Black Clothes Village (Part 1)

The next day.

In the Li Family Head's courtyard study, Li Xinge, dressed in a white robe, bent over his desk as he dealt with the Lineage affairs that had piled up over this period.

"Li Family Head, the First Elder has returned. He says he wishes to see you."

A respectful voice spoke from outside the study.

Li Xinge was taken aback. It seemed the First Elder had dealt with Town Mountain Tiger and returned to report.

At that thought, he raised his head, set down the brush in his hand, and instructed, "Invite the First Elder in."

"Yes."

Before long, the dust-covered and somewhat disheveled Li Family First Elder walked in.

"Li Family Head."

Li Xinge smiled. "You have worked hard. Did the First Elder's journey go smoothly?"

At those words, the First Elder could not help but sigh. His expression dimmed as he said, "I am ashamed to say that this old man failed. I have damaged the Lineage's honor. I ask the Li Family Head to punish me."

Li Xinge raised a brow, clearly somewhat surprised.

With the First Elder's Qi and Blood Realm strength, he had actually failed to take down a mere Town Mountain Tiger at the Great Perfection of Body Realm?

Unless Town Mountain Tiger...

Sure enough, the First Elder's next words confirmed Li Xinge's guess.

"That Town Mountain Tiger broke through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Pass at some unknown time. This old man fought him for half an hour but could do nothing against him. Left with no choice, I could only retreat."

Li Xinge raised a brow, pinching his chin as his fingers rhythmically tapped against the desk.

"Qi and Blood Realm. So this is what gives you the confidence to look down on my Li Family?"

Li Xinge let out a cold laugh.

Then, seeing the ashamed First Elder, Li Xinge gave a soft laugh and consoled him, "First Elder, there is no need to take it to heart. I was the one who overlooked things. I never expected a mere bandit to break through to the Qi and Blood Realm. Since that is the case, I will personally make a move and meet this Town Mountain Tiger."

"Town Mountain Tiger's strength is no trifling matter. I will go with the Li Family Head."

The First Elder volunteered.

Yet Li Xinge merely waved his hand and smiled. "No need. First Elder, remain behind to guard the Lineage. I alone am enough to deal with Town Mountain Tiger."

Hearing Li Xinge's refusal, the First Elder did not persist.

He knew that his Li Family Head was a cautious man who never did anything without confidence.

It seemed the Li Family Head had gained quite a bit from his previous secluded cultivation.

"Li Family Head, please be careful on the road."

The First Elder still did not forget to remind Li Xinge. Yet after waiting for quite some time without receiving a response, he raised his head only to find that Li Xinge had already vanished.

At the same time.

Within the Gathering Hall of Black Robe Stronghold in Feilong Gorge.

Leaders great and small had all gathered together.

Fortress Master Town Mountain Tiger reclined against a large tiger-skin chair, his gaze deep as though he were lost in thought.

"Fortress Master, today you displayed your divine might and defeated that arrogantly overbearing Li Family First Elder. You have greatly boosted the prestige of our Black Robe Stronghold."

A minor leader flatteringly praised him.

"Indeed. In my view, those so-called great aristocratic Lineages are nothing more than this in the Fortress Master's eyes."

"From now on, let us see who dares look down on our Black Robe Stronghold again."

"Hahaha..."

The many leaders spoke over one another, chattering away as they voiced their excitement.

Yet they did not know that Town Mountain Tiger's expression in the Main Seat was growing darker and darker.

At the side, the perceptive Second Leader stepped forward and asked in confusion, "Fortress Master, defeating the Li Family's First Elder is a good thing. Why do you still look so troubled?"

Town Mountain Tiger gave a bitter smile. "Second Brother, do you also think this is a good thing?"

"Is it not? The Li Family's momentum in Baihe County is like the sun at high noon, yet you still trampled them beneath your feet. If word of this gets out, even more heroes will surely come to join our Black Robe Stronghold. When that time comes, perhaps our Black Robe Stronghold can dominate an entire region!"

As if envisioning his own boundless future glory, the Second Leader spoke with a face full of longing.

Upon hearing this, Town Mountain Tiger could not help but sigh and shake his head. "Dominate a region? Ridiculous. A great calamity is already bearing down on Black Robe Stronghold."

When the many leaders heard Town Mountain Tiger's words, disbelief appeared on every face.

"What does defeating a mere Li Family First Elder amount to? The most terrifying person in the Li Family is its Li Family Head, Li Xinge."

When he mentioned Li Xinge, Town Mountain Tiger's tone was filled with boundless apprehension.

"Fortress Master, why bolster others' ambitions and extinguish our own prestige? Those great aristocratic Lineages are always the most prone to empty boasting. Though Li Xinge's reputation precedes him, who knows how much substance there truly is behind it?"

One leader said disdainfully.

"That is right, Fortress Master. Your divine might covers the world, and your valor is unmatched. Why should you fear Li Xinge?"

"We will simply remain in the fortress. What can Li Xinge do to us? If he dares come, I will twist off his head and kick it around like a ball."

A drunk leader declared in a muddled voice.

Town Mountain Tiger frowned and was just about to rebuke him when a sudden sense of unease rose in his heart.

"Hahaha, very well. Then I would like to see exactly how you plan to twist off my head and kick it around like a ball."

An incomparably arrogant and domineering voice traveled from afar, echoing through every corner.

Terrifying sound waves shattered the doors and windows, battering everyone's eardrums.

Some leaders with low cultivation were directly knocked unconscious by the dreadful sound waves.

As for the minor leader who had just been shouting about twisting off Li Xinge's head and kicking it like a ball, blood was already pouring from his seven orifices, and he had died violently.

An indescribable tension filled the air. The once-boisterous Black Robe Stronghold instantly fell into deathly silence.

Terror appeared on the survivors' faces. They instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, as though doing so could bring them a sense of safety.

Town Mountain Tiger slowly raised his head and looked into the distance.

Upon the tall Mountain God statue in the central square outside stood a young figure.

He looked down upon the crowd like a deity.

He was tall and slender, with fair skin and his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a white robe, a luxurious jade belt around his waist with a treasured sword hanging from it. His long black hair was casually draped behind his head, dancing in the wind.

What a peerless young gentleman amid a muddied world!

Even Town Mountain Tiger had to marvel. Perhaps the phrase "a stranger is like jade, and a gentleman unmatched beneath heaven" had been meant for this very man.

"Hu Yidao, Fortress Master of Black Robe Stronghold, greets the Li Family Head!"

Town Mountain Tiger looked at the distant figure with a complicated expression. The moment he appeared, Town Mountain Tiger had already known his identity.

The Li Family Head of the Green Maple Li Clan, the young prodigy Li Xinge.

Only he could possess such terrifying authority.

Though Town Mountain Tiger had long known he would come, he had never expected him to arrive so quickly.

At this moment, bitterness filled Town Mountain Tiger's heart.

Others beat the small one, and then the old one came.

Damn it, he had beaten the old one, and the young one had come—and this young one was even stronger and more terrifying than the old one.

"Hu Yidao, you did not place my Li Family in your eyes. Therefore, I came."

Li Xinge stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.

That icy tone brimming with killing intent filled Hu Yidao with fear.

He unconsciously retreated several steps. "Li Family Head, please see clearly. Our Black Robe Stronghold absolutely had no such intention. For all these years, the people of Black Robe Stronghold have never infringed upon the Li Family in the slightest. Last time was merely an accident. My subordinates failed to recognize what was before them. I am willing to offer generous gifts as an apology. I ask the Li Family Head not to bring down punishment upon us."

Li Xinge paid no heed whatsoever to Hu Yidao's weakness.

He merely sneered and said indifferently, "Hu Yidao, I do not wish to hear nonsense. I will give you two choices: kneel, and live; fight, and die!"

Facing Li Xinge's aggressive pressure, Hu Yidao's breathing began to grow heavier.

His hands unconsciously clenched into fists. He used so much force that the veins stood out.

At that very moment, a figure stepped forward and stood before Hu Yidao.

He stared at Li Xinge with bloodshot eyes filled with hatred and fury.

"Li Xinge, a man must bear the consequences of his own actions! I stole the Medicinal Herbs, and I killed the people! If you have the ability, come at me!"

This man was none other than One-Eye, the Fourth Leader of Black Robe Stronghold.

Looking at the One-Eye man who had suddenly leaped out, Li Xinge scoffed. "A mere ant dares to clamor before me?"

The moment his words fell, the Void Slayer sword in his hand trembled slightly. A flash of cold light appeared, and One-Eye hurriedly swung his blade to block it.

The cold light passed by. Seeing that he was completely unharmed, One-Eye sneered mockingly. "The dignified Li Family Head is merely..."

Before he could finish speaking, One-Eye felt a pain in his neck.

He instinctively reached up to touch it, only to see a headless corpse.