Li Yuntian's Clansmen

Hearing his wife mention the clan, Li Yuntian's lips curved into a cold smile, a chill flashing through his eyes. "Why should we care about them? Those bloodsucking beasts avoided us like the plague when we were down and out. They even helped the Breaking Clan kick us while we were down!"

"Once we got back on our feet, they shamelessly came crawling back, wagging their tails and begging for pity... Did they really think I, Li Yuntian, would forget a grudge?"

His voice sank, carrying an unquestionable resolve. "If not for the fact that the Li Family had only just been established and needed to build goodwill and a reputation, I would never even have let them through the door!"

"Now that the business has gone to Spirit Hall, those parasites have lost their support. What do their lives or deaths have to do with me?"

Then, the severity in Li Yuntian's eyes instantly melted into tenderness. He stepped forward and gently gathered Yang Wanqing into his arms, resting his chin against her hair. His voice became low and affectionate. "There are only two things I want to focus on now."

"First, naturally, is cultivating diligently day and night and breaking through my bottleneck as soon as possible." He tightened his arms around her and whispered in her ear.

"As for the second..."

"You're awful!" Yang Wanqing's cheeks flushed as she gave his chest a light, coy punch.

But Li Yuntian only held her tighter, his voice full of guilt and resolve. "Wanqing, we used to be too busy with everything. Now that Spirit Hall is backing us, and Qingxuan's cultivation method has ensured our safety, we have no more worries. For the rest of our lives, I will make it up to you all and stay by your sides."

Nestled against his warm chest, Yang Wanqing felt that long-lost peace. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she finally nodded obediently. "Mm."

A few days later, within Pope Palace.

Qian Xunji sat high above, holding a secret report in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

The report recorded all the countless crimes committed by Li Yuntian's so-called clansmen—relying on their connection to Li Yuntian, they had run rampant through Spirit City, embezzling and taking bribes, bullying merchants and commoners, and even abducting women by force. They were utterly lawless.

"Your Holiness the Pope, how should we deal with Protector Li's clansmen? Should we... suppress the matter for now?" a trusted elder cautiously suggested.

After all, Li Yuntian was immensely well-regarded in Spirit City, with countless people having benefited from his kindness. Furthermore, Spirit Hall's wealth and resources had soared because of the vast industries contributed by the Li Family. Taking action against his clansmen now seemed somewhat heartless.

Hearing this, Qian Xunji slowly set down the report and shook his head. "No need. Under Spirit Hall's rule, there are laws to follow. Since they dared to act so recklessly within Spirit City, they are seeking their own deaths."

"You need only enforce the law impartially. Kill those who deserve to be killed, banish those who deserve to be banished. Show no mercy!"

"But... if we do this, Protector Li may..." His subordinate still hesitated.

Qian Xunji waved a hand, his gaze deep. "Proceed without concern. Li Yuntian already spoke to me. He will not concern himself with a single one of these Li Family members. We may deal with them as we see fit."

"Understood!" Upon hearing this, the elder no longer hesitated and departed to carry out his orders.

Over the next two days, Spirit City was thrown into turmoil. Large numbers of Li Family members had their assets confiscated and were driven from the city. Several particularly wicked offenders were even cut down on the spot by the law enforcement teams, their blood splashing across the ground!

For a time, the once arrogant and overbearing Li Family members were completely panicked.

"Old Patriarch, what are we supposed to do now? Qian Xunji is burning the bridge after crossing it! He took our money, and now he wants to kill our people!" an important Li Family member shouted angrily, his face pale.

"That's right! Spirit Hall is utterly ungrateful! We need to go to Pope Palace and demand an explanation. Do they really think our Li Family is so easy to bully?" The crowd spoke over one another, clamoring for resistance, their words filled with resentment and indignation toward Spirit Hall.

The old patriarch of the Li Family sat silently in the seat of honor. Listening to their clamor, he merely let out a deep sigh.

Having lived so long, he was not without insight.

The current situation could not have been clearer—the Li Family recognized by outsiders was the Li Family with Li Yuntian at its helm, not this rabble who had been throwing their weight around on the strength of blood ties.

He had privately sought out Li Yuntian before, only to receive an icy, resolute answer: Li Yuntian had never acknowledged these so-called relatives.

Regarding Li Yuntian's heartlessness, the old patriarch opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.

After all, when Li Yuntian and his wife had fallen into hardship, not even the Breaking Clan had asked them to help find Li Yuntian. They simply did not care about the couple at all.

Yet driven by greed, they had taken the initiative to approach the Breaking Clan, revealing Li Yuntian's possible hiding place and helping them search for him.

What they had done was indeed a bit too excessive—by a hundred million miles!

This was why Li Yuntian had become so cold toward them, even utterly ruthless!

"Enough. Shut up, all of you." The old patriarch's voice was hoarse and filled with endless exhaustion.

"Do you really think I don't know about the filthy things you have done in secret? This outcome is nothing more than what you brought upon yourselves."

With that, he leaned on his cane and rose shakily to his feet. Ignoring the resentful, unwilling gazes behind him, he left alone.

Only a pack of dogs without a master remained in the hall, looking at one another. In the end, amid deathly silence, they dispersed one by one.

A day later, before Spirit Hall's grand main gates, a bustling crowd had already gathered.

The remaining Li Family faction, unwilling to accept their fate, had gathered a large number of clan members, who knelt in a dark mass across the stone-paved square.

They had clearly come prepared. Not only did they shout at the tops of their lungs, but they had even brought several sallow, emaciated children to cry in the front row, trying to paint a tragic picture of an "innocent family being bullied."

"Ungrateful! Is this how Spirit Hall treats the descendants of its benefactors?"

"Burning the bridge after crossing it! His Holiness the Pope took the money and now wants to silence us forever?"

"Qian Xunji! As the Pope, you persecute the loyal and good. What right do you have to lead the Soul Masters of the continent?"

Those hysterical curses quickly drew the attention of passersby, just as intended.

Pedestrians who had been hurrying along stopped in their tracks, and before long, layers upon layers of spectators filled the area around the square.

The crowd buzzed with discussion and pointed fingers, and the scene quickly descended into chaos.

The Silver Armor Guards on duty frowned deeply. Just as they were about to step forward to maintain order, the Li Family members seemed to have found a talisman against death. Their wailing abruptly rose several pitches, and some even pounded the ground hard, performing with such heartfelt sincerity that they appeared to have suffered an unimaginable injustice.

Left with no other option, the guard captain ordered several men to remain behind and keep watch while he himself, wearing a grave expression, passed through the many palace gates to report to Pope Palace.

Within Pope Palace, Qian Xunji sat upon the throne atop the raised platform, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.

After hearing the guard's report, not only did he not get angry, he even gave a faint scoff. A trace of icy mockery flickered in his eyes.

"Ants trying to shake a tree. They do not know their own limits."

Qian Xunji spoke indifferently. "Since these bloodsuckers are so eager to die, I shall grant their wish. It will also count as thoroughly cleaning out Protector Li's house and removing these parasites clinging to his bones!"

With that, he pulled out a scroll that had long been prepared on the desk. It was densely filled with every evil deed the Li Family had committed over the years.

He handed the scroll to the guard, his tone indifferent but carrying unquestionable killing intent. "Go outside and read every word on it to everyone present. Once you are done, throw every last one of those troublesome vermin into the deepest level of the prison."

"Yes, sir!" The guard accepted the scroll, feeling its heavy weight in his hands, then turned and strode away.