The next morning, a faint scent of blood still lingered over Heavenly Phoenix City, but the dawn in the east had already pierced the clouds, bringing new life—and... uncertainty—to this city baptized in blood and fire.
Just as the Li Family was busy repairing its defenses and treating the wounded, several incomparably powerful auras raced toward Heavenly Phoenix City from afar without any attempt at concealment. The watchtowers on the city walls immediately sounded shrill alarms. The Li Family disciples, who had only just endured a great battle, tensed at once, gripping their weapons as soul rings flickered into view.
"Stay alert!" the patrol captain shouted, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor. Could the Qiu Family have returned so quickly?
However, Li Yuanhui, who was seated in the family council hall discussing important matters with Li Yunming, Chen Jianjun, and the others, suddenly relaxed upon sensing those auras. A smile of relief even appeared on his tense face. "No need to panic. They are friends, not enemies. Qing Yu's family has arrived."
Before his words had faded, he had already risen to his feet. He exchanged a glance with Li Yunming, and their figures flashed simultaneously. In the next instant, they appeared in the air above the plaza before the residence gates. Chen Jianjun, Li Tianwu, and the other elders followed close behind.
Five streaks of light cut across the sky and landed steadily in the plaza. As the radiance faded, it revealed five figures with auras as deep and immovable as mountains. At their head stood an elderly man in a moon-white robe. His hair and beard were entirely white, yet his complexion was as rosy as an infant's, and his gentle eyes held a deep light. Simply standing there, he seemed to naturally form a domain around himself, faintly resonating with the Soul Power of heaven and earth. He was Dongyue Qing, one of the Dongyue Clan's three Grand Elders, a Rank 99 Limit Douluo.
Behind him stood four people side by side. One was Dongyue Qingxuan, who had previously escorted Li Xuansheng and the others to the Azure Jade Forest. He gave Li Yuanhui a slight nod. Of the other three, two were men and one was a woman. One man had an elegant bearing and held a scroll, while the other was broad and imposing even without showing anger. The woman was graceful and striking, yet there was a heroic air between her brows. Their auras were equally vast as the sea—they were all Super Douluo above Rank 96!
Such a lineup could only be called extravagant, showing just how determined the Dongyue Clan was to provide aid this time.
"Father-in-law! Elder Qingxuan! Elder Jinyu, Elder Shu, Elder Cangming!" Li Yuanhui hurried forward several steps and gave Dongyue Qing a deep bow, his tone filled with sincere gratitude and lingering fear. "You have traveled so far, Elders. You must have had a difficult journey. Yuan Hui cannot thank you enough!"
Dongyue Qing's gentle gaze swept over Li Yuanhui, then paused briefly on the extraordinary Li Yunming beside him before he raised a hand to help him up. "No need for such ceremony, Yuan Hui. We are family; why speak of hardship? Still, it seems we arrived a step too late." His gaze passed over the obvious traces of battle around them and the injuries on several clan members that had yet to fully heal. Understanding and surprise flashed through his eyes.
Dongyue Qingxuan was more impatient by nature and spoke directly. "Yuan Hui, we received your urgent request for aid and departed immediately. Who would have thought that those persistent wretches from Five Poisons Valley would intercept us midway? We only broke free after being entangled with them for quite some time. We rushed here as fast as we could because we feared... Fortunately, it seems you held out?" Though he could see that the Li Family's losses did not appear severe, he still found it difficult to believe that they had withstood the Qiu Family's surprise attack alone.
A complicated expression appeared on Li Yuanhui's face, containing both sorrow and pride. "I would not dare hide it from Father-in-law and the Elders. Last night, the Qiu Family's Grand Elder, Qiu Qianchi, personally led ten Titled Douluo in a nighttime raid on the Li Family."
"Ten Titled Douluo?!" Elder Dongyue Cangming, the broad man, cried out in shock, his face filled with horror. "The Qiu Family truly spared no expense to wipe out your entire household! Then you..." He looked at Li Yuanhui, then around at the surroundings. No matter how he looked, he could not connect the somewhat disordered but still intact Li Family before him with being "attacked by ten Titled Douluo."
A glint also flashed through Dongyue Qing's eyes as he turned his gaze once more toward Li Yunming, who had stood calmly beside Li Yuanhui from beginning to end, his aura unfathomable.
Li Yuanhui turned slightly and made a solemn introduction. "Father-in-law, Elders, allow me to introduce him. This is the Li Family's Grand Elder, Li Yunming, who had been separated from the family for many years and only recently returned to acknowledge his ancestry."
Li Yunming stepped forward and cupped his hands slightly toward Dongyue Qing and the others. His tone was calm yet dignified. "Li Yunming greets Grand Elder Dongyue Qing and the Elders of the Dongyue Clan."
Dongyue Qing immediately returned the greeting, his attitude exceedingly solemn. "Brother Li, you are too polite. This old man is Dongyue Qing. It is a pleasure to meet you." The shock in his heart deepened. From Li Yunming, he sensed pressure from someone of the same level—or perhaps even faintly stronger.
Li Yuanhui continued, "If not for Grand Elder Yun Ming turning the tide last night, severely injuring and driving back Qiu Qianchi on his own, along with the desperate battle of the family elders and Elder Nangong reversing the situation at a crucial moment, the Li Family would likely have faced grave danger."
"Severely injured Qiu Qianchi?" Dongyue Qingxuan could not help asking. "That old ghost is quite formidable, especially when it comes to preserving his life. Brother Li actually managed to seriously wound him?" His gaze toward Li Yunming was full of astonishment.
Li Yunming said indifferently, "It was merely luck. Brother Qiu has extraordinary methods, but his heart is corrupt and evil energy has invaded his body. My martial soul happened to restrain him somewhat, so he suffered a small loss. In the end, he still escaped by severing his arm with a secret technique."
He made it sound simple, but Dongyue Qing and the others were deeply shaken. They understood Qiu Qianchi's strength too well. Dongyue Qing believed he could defeat him, but to wound him so severely that he had to sever an arm to survive would require Dongyue Qing to pay a considerable price himself. There was no way it could have been so "easy."
Dongyue Qing took a deep breath and sighed. "Brother Li is too modest. To seriously injure Qiu Qianchi and force him to sever his arm to survive—this old man greatly admires such strength. It seems the Li Family has truly produced a dragon. Having lurked in the abyss, it will soon soar into the heavens!" His words were heartfelt. With such a peak expert joining the Li Family, its overall strength and standing would undergo earth-shaking changes.
Li Yuanhui then introduced Chen Jianjun, Li Tianwu, Li She Long, Li Changgong, Nangong Yi, and the other newly promoted elders one by one. Seeing the Li Family's suddenly expanded elder corps, whose strength could only be called extravagant, the Dongyue Clan members felt even greater turmoil in their hearts. How could this be the foundation of a mid-tier family? The number of Titled Douluo visible alone was already approaching that of certain top-tier forces!
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone moved to the newly tidied council hall.
Once they were seated, Dongyue Qing asked with a grave expression, "Yuan Hui, do you know about Five Poisons Valley colluding with the Qiu Family?"
Li Yuanhui frowned tightly and shook his head. "We had received no definite news before this. We only knew that the Qiu Family had been increasingly aggressive lately. I never expected them to persuade Five Poisons Valley as well. In that case, the pressure on the Dongyue Clan..."
Dongyue Qing waved a hand. "The clan has its own arrangements and is safe for the time being. You, however, must be careful. After this battle, the Qiu Family will certainly not let the matter rest. Next time, it likely will not be as simple as ten Titled Douluo. That one... may very well be alarmed." The "that one" in his words naturally referred to the Qiu Family's God Rank ancestor.
The atmosphere in the hall immediately froze.
Li Yunming slowly spoke, his voice steady and powerful. "Soldiers will block soldiers, and water will be stopped by earth. The Li Family is no longer what it once was. If they dare come again, they will pay an even more painful price."
His words carried immense confidence and a strangely infectious force, lifting the spirits of the Li Family members who had been somewhat weighed down.
Dongyue Qing looked at Li Yunming, and the appreciation in his eyes deepened. After pondering for a moment, he said, "In that case, we shall impose upon you for a while. The alliance between the Qiu Family and Five Poisons Valley is certainly not aimed only at the Li Family. Our two families must stand united and overcome this hardship together."
Li Yuanhui was overjoyed. "With Father-in-law and the Elders here to hold the fort, the Li Family has gained wings like a tiger! On behalf of the entire clan, Yuan Hui offers his thanks!"
The arrival of these powerful reinforcements was like a dose of cardiac stimulant injected into the Li Family after its bloody battle. Yet everyone understood that the alliance between the Qiu Family and Five Poisons Valley meant the coming storm would be fiercer and more complicated. After this brief respite would come an even harsher trial. And Li Yunming, this towering pillar who had suddenly risen to prominence, had undoubtedly become the focus of every faction's attention—and the Li Family's greatest support amid these increasingly turbulent undercurrents.
End of Chapter 24
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