Three days later, to the east of the Li Family's territory, at the Nine Plains Sect.
The once clear sky was suddenly filled with dark clouds, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the surrounding area.
In the distance, a dark mass of cultivators, riding flying swords and exuding a fierce aura, silently and swiftly approached, like a moving steel forest.
A large banner with a jet-black background and a huge "Li" character embroidered in gold thread fluttered in the wind at the very front of the procession, exuding an undeniable aura of power.
"The enemy is attacking; it's the Li Family."
"Quickly sound the alarm and notify the Sect Master and all the elders."
The disciples guarding the gates of the Nine Plains Sect were horrified, and their shrill screams instantly shattered the sect's tranquility.
The alarm bells rang continuously, echoing through the mountains, plunging the entire Nine Plains Sect into chaos.
The next moment, a powerful aura soared into the sky from the depths of the Nine Plains Sect, followed closely by dozens of streaks of light.
The leader, dressed in a crimson Sect Master's robe, with a dignified face, was none other than Chu Yuan, the Sect Master of the Nine Plains Sect, who possessed Mid Heavenly Immortal Cultivation.
Behind him stood all the Early Heavenly Immortal elders and True Immortal elites of the sect, each with a solemn expression, ready for battle.
Chu Yuan led his men out of the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation and stood in mid-air.
He stared at the well-organized and menacing army of the Li Family sword cultivators ahead, especially at the glaring "Li" banner, his brows furrowed, his heart filled with both shock and anger.
He suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice:
Are those fellow Daoists from the Li Family ahead?
"I wonder what brings you here to my Nine Plains Sect with such a large entourage today?"
A middle-aged sword cultivator, dressed in the robes of a core elder of the Li Family and Cultivation had reached the Early Heavenly Immortal, stepped forward from the crowd.
Faced with Chu Yuan's questioning, he remained calm, but his tone carried an unyielding firmness:
"Sect Master Chu, the world is in chaos, war is raging, and the strong are respected."
My Li Family, in accordance with the Mandate of Heaven, desires to secure a place in this chaotic world, and even... to rule the world.
"To conquer the world?"
Chu Yuan seemed to have heard a joke, his anger intensified, and he sneered:
"Such arrogance! Just because of your Li Family?"
"What, does your Li Family think you've grown too powerful and want my Nine Plains Sect to bow down, pay tribute, and surrender?"
In his memory, the Li Family and the Nine Plains Sect were roughly equal in strength, with the Nine Plains Sect even having a slight advantage in some aspects. Where did the Li Family get the confidence to speak like that?
The City-Guarding Sword Formation must have given them the wrong impression!
The elder of the Li Family shook his head, his voice still calm, yet each word was firm and resolute. "Sect Master Chu has misunderstood. It's not about surrendering, but about subjugating."
"Subdue?"
Chu Yuan was taken aback at first, then seemed to have been greatly insulted, and laughed in anger:
"Hahaha, you've subdued my Nine Plains Sect?"
Just your Li Family?
I think you've all lost your minds.
Who doesn't know that your Li Family is nothing more than hiding in a corner, relying on your ancestral Sword Formation?
Without that tortoise shell, what are you? Do you even deserve to talk about 'subduing'?
This Sect Master advises you to go back to where you came from.
Otherwise, don't blame Sect Master for disregarding our past neighborly relations and leaving you all here."
The elders and disciples of the Nine Plains Sect behind him also started to clamor, their angry shouts and rebukes ringing out. They all thought the Li Family had gone mad, daring to come to their door and provoke them like this.
"Noisy."
Just as the Nine Plains Sect was filled with righteous indignation, an old and calm voice clearly drowned out all the noise.
Within the Li family army formation, three figures slowly emerged from the crowd and stood side by side at the front of the formation.
The man in the center, with white hair and beard and an ancient face, was none other than Li Tian.
To his left and right were Li Di and Li Ren, respectively.
The three did not deliberately release their aura, but the moment they appeared, a terrifying pressure as vast as the sea and as heavy as a mountain swept across the entire Nine Plains Sect mountain gate like an invisible tide.
There were three Late Heavenly Immortal!
Boom--!
It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in the minds of Chu Yuan and all the high-ranking members of the Nine Plains Sect.
Chu Yuan's angry expression froze instantly, turning into incredulous horror, his pupils suddenly contracting to pinpoints.
The elders behind him turned deathly pale in an instant, and many of them felt their legs go weak, almost falling from the sky.
"Heavens... Late Heavenly Immortal?"
Still three people?
Chu Yuan's voice was dry and hoarse, like a broken bellows.
He stared intently at Li Tian and the other two, trying to find traces of illusion or disguise.
But that imposing, solid, and dignified aura in the later stages cannot be faked.
Each of them possessed an aura several times stronger than his, Mid Heavenly Immortal!
How is that possible?
When did the Li Family acquire three Old Monsters at the Late Heavenly Immortal?
Moreover, judging from his attire and demeanor, he is clearly a core member of the Li Family.
The Nine Plains Sect was completely unaware of this news.
For a moment, the area in front of the Nine Plains Sect's mountain gate was deathly silent.
The earlier clamor and curses had vanished without a trace, leaving only boundless fear in the air.
All the disciples of the Nine Plains Sect felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.
Three Late Heavenly Immortal are more than capable of easily crushing the entire Nine Plains Sect.
Their Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation, which they rely on, probably won't last long against such an existence.
Li Tian's cloudy old eyes swept indifferently over Chu Yuan, whose face was ashen, and then over the trembling disciples of the Nine Plains Sect below.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like the whisper of death, clearly reaching everyone's ears:
"I have no time for your nonsense. The entire Nine Plains Sect is either surrender or die."
You have fifteen minutes to consider.
"If you do not surrender when the time comes, I will personally take action, destroy your mountain gate, annihilate your lineage, and leave no one alive."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Tian, Li Di, and Li Ren all took a step forward at the same time.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The terrifying aura of the three Late Heavenly Immortal was no longer held back, rising into the sky like three erupting volcanoes, stirring up the wind and clouds.
The powerful aura caused the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation Light Screen the Nine Plains Sect to ripple violently, emitting a humming sound as it struggled under the strain.
The overwhelming Killing Intent was so palpable that it locked onto Chu Yuan and the others, making their hair stand on end and their Divine Soul tremble.
The Nine Plains Sect erupted in chaos instantly.
The sounds of terrified discussion, desperate cries, and calls for surrender mingled together in complete chaos.
Many disciples had collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen.
Some elders also glanced at Chu Yuan, whose face was ashen.
Chu Yuan's body trembled slightly, his expression shifted constantly, and Celestial Person was torn between his inner turmoil and his own mind.
Surrender?
Are we really going to hand over the Nine Plains Sect's millennia-old foundation to someone else?
And how could they have been subdued by their old rival Li Family, in such a domineering manner?
Surrender is not an option... The Killing Intent of these three Late Heavenly Immortal is no joke; they truly intend to wipe out your entire clan!
Time slips away second by second, each moment feeling as long as a year.
Finally, under Li Tian's icy gaze, amidst the growing chorus of surrender within the sect, and in the expectant yet fearful eyes of the elders behind him...
Chu Yuan seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant; his face drained of color, and he struggled to lift his head.
He looked at the three figures in the air that resembled Gods and Devils, and his lips trembled a few times.
Finally, from deep within his throat, he squeezed out two dry, humiliating, and desperate words:
"... surrender."
He slowly raised his trembling hand and waved it behind him, signaling to activate the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation.
At the same time, he slowly descended to the ground, knelt on one knee, and lowered his once proud head.
"The Nine Plains Sect... is willing to surrender."
His kneeling was like the first domino to fall.
The elders, Deacon, and countless disciples behind him knelt down like a tide.
"I surrender!"
We are willing to surrender!
The shouts rose and fell, but there was no longer any will to fight; only the relief of surviving a disaster and the uncertainty about the future remained.
Seeing this, Li Tian and the other two slowly withdrew their terrifying pressure.
Li Di nodded and instructed an elder behind him:
"Send people into the sect to take inventory of the roster, confiscate the treasury, and reorganize the disciples."
Anyone who makes any unusual move shall be executed without pardon.
"Yes!"
The Li Family army, like mercury spilling onto the ground, swiftly and orderly entered the Nine Plains Sect, which had an open Grand Formation, and began to take over this sect that had stood for ten thousand years.
Li Tian looked at the kneeling crowd of the Nine Plains Sect members below, his gaze calm and unwavering.
This is only the first step in opening up channels and consolidating forces.
Next, there are many more "Nine Plains Sect" that need to be "persuaded" to be incorporated into the "Great Yu" territory through swords and blood.