Strong Reinforcements Arrive, Undercurrents Emerge

The next morning, a faint, lingering scent of blood still hung over Heavenly Phoenix City, but dawn had already pierced the clouds in the east, bringing new vitality—and... uncertainties—to this city baptized by blood and fire.

As the Li Family busied themselves repairing the damage and treating the wounded, several incomparably powerful auras approached from afar, racing openly toward Heavenly Phoenix City. The watchtowers atop the walls immediately sounded shrill alarms. The Li Family disciples, having just endured a great battle, tensed at once, gripping their weapons as their soul rings flickered into view.

"Stay alert!" the patrol captain shouted, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor. Had the Qiu Family 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 relieved smile 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 rose to his feet. Exchanging a glance with Li Yunming, the two flashed forward simultaneously and appeared above the plaza before the residence gates in the next instant. Chen Jianjun, Li Tianwu, and the other elders followed close behind.

Five streams of light streaked across the sky and landed steadily in the plaza. As the radiance dispersed, it revealed five figures whose auras stood as deep as an abyss and as firm as mountains. At their head was an elderly man in a pale moon-white robe. His hair and beard were completely white, yet his face was rosy and smooth as a child's. His gentle eyes held a profound gleam. Simply standing there, he seemed to naturally form a domain around himself, faintly resonating with the Soul Power of heaven and earth. He was none other than Dongyue Qing, one of the Dongyue Clan's three great elders, a Rank 99 Limit Douluo.

Behind him stood four people side by side. One of them was Dongyue Qingxuan, who had previously escorted Li Xuansheng and the others to the Azure Jade Forest. He nodded slightly at Li Yuanhui. Of the remaining three, two were men and one was a woman. One man had an elegant bearing and held a scroll; the other was broad and imposing, exuding authority without anger. The woman was graceful and beautiful, yet her brows carried a heroic air. Their auras were equally vast as the sea. All three were Super Douluo above Rank 96!

Such a lineup was nothing short of extravagant, showing just how determined the Dongyue Clan was to support them 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 was filled with sincere gratitude and lingering fear. "You elders have traveled so far and endured such hardship. Yuan Hui is endlessly grateful!"

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 Li Yuanhui up. "No need for such courtesy, 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 wounds on several clan members that had yet to fully heal. Understanding and surprise flickered in his eyes.

Dongyue Qingxuan was more impatient by nature and spoke directly. "Yuan Hui, we set out immediately after receiving your urgent request for aid. Who knew those lingering ghosts from Five Poisons Valley would intercept us halfway and entangle us for so long before we finally broke free? We rushed here as fast as we could, afraid that... Fortunately, it seems you held on?" Though he could see that the Li Family had not suffered severe losses, he still found it hard to believe they had withstood the Qiu Family's surprise attack alone.

A complicated expression appeared on Li Yuanhui's face, carrying both grief and pride. "I would not dare hide it from Father-in-law and the elders. Last night, the Qiu Family's First Elder, Qiu Qianchi, personally led ten Titled Douluo in a nighttime assault on the Li Family."

"Ten Titled Douluo?!" Elder Dongyue Cangming, the broad-built man, cried out in shock, his face filled with horror. "The Qiu Family truly spared no expense to wipe out your entire household! Then how did you..." He looked at Li Yuanhui, then at the surroundings, unable to connect the somewhat disordered yet still intact Li Family before him with an assault by ten Titled Douluo.

A sharp glint also flashed through Dongyue Qing's eyes as he turned his gaze once more toward Li Yunming, who had remained calmly at Li Yuanhui's side from beginning to end, his aura unfathomable.

Li Yuanhui stepped aside and solemnly introduced him. "Father-in-law, elders, allow me to introduce him. This is the Li Family's Great Elder, Li Yunming, who had been lost outside for many years and only recently returned to acknowledge his ancestry."

Li Yunming stepped forward and lightly cupped his hands toward Dongyue Qing and the others. His tone was calm yet dignified. "Li Yunming greets Great Elder Dongyue Qing and the elders of the Dongyue Clan."

Dongyue Qing immediately returned the salute, his attitude exceptionally solemn. "Brother Li is too courteous. This old man is Dongyue Qing. It is a pleasure to meet you." The shock in his heart only deepened. From Li Yunming, he sensed pressure from someone of the same level—perhaps even faintly superior.

Li Yuanhui continued, "Had Great Elder Yun Ming not turned the tide last night, severely injuring and driving back Qiu Qianchi by himself, and had our elders not fought desperately alongside him, with Elder Nangong reversing the situation at the crucial moment, the Li Family might truly have faced disaster."

"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 severely wound him?" His gaze toward Li Yunming was filled with astonishment.

Li Yunming replied calmly, "It was only luck. Brother Qiu possesses remarkable 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 few losses. In the end, he still escaped by severing an arm through a secret technique."

He made it sound casual, but Dongyue Qing and the others were deeply shaken. They knew Qiu Qianchi's strength all too well. Dongyue Qing believed he could defeat him, but to injure him so badly that he needed to sever an arm to survive would require Dongyue Qing to pay a considerable price. There was no way it could have been so "easy."

Dongyue Qing drew a deep breath and sighed. "Brother Li is too modest. To severely wound Qiu Qianchi and force him to sever an arm to survive—this old man truly admires such strength. It seems the Li Family has indeed produced a true dragon. Having lain hidden in the depths, it will soon soar into the sky!" His words came from the heart. With such a top-tier expert joining them, the Li Family's 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 appointed elders one by one. Seeing the Li Family's suddenly expanded elder corps, whose strength was nothing short of extravagant, the Dongyue Clan members felt even greater turmoil within. What sort of foundation was this for a mid-tier family? The number of Titled Douluo visible on the surface alone was already approaching that of some top powers!

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone moved to the newly tidied council hall.

Once seated, Dongyue Qing asked gravely, "Yuan Hui, do you know about Five Poisons Valley colluding with the Qiu Family?"

Li Yuanhui furrowed his brows and shook his head. "We had received no definite news beforehand. We only knew that the Qiu Family had become increasingly aggressive recently. 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 now. But you have just gone through this battle, and the Qiu Family will never let the matter rest. Next time, it will likely not be as simple as ten Titled Douluo. That person... may very well be alarmed." The "that person" in his words naturally referred to the Qiu Family's God Rank ancestor.

The atmosphere in the hall immediately turned tense.

Li Yunming slowly spoke, his voice steady and powerful. "When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. The Li Family is no longer what it once was. If they dare return, we will make them pay an even more painful price."

His words contained immense confidence and carried a strange infectious force, lifting the spirits of the Li Family members, who had been feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

Dongyue Qing looked at Li Yunming, and the admiration in his eyes deepened. After pondering for a moment, he said, "In that case, we shall impose upon you for some time. The Qiu Family and Five Poisons Valley have joined forces, and their target is certainly not the Li Family alone. Our two families must stand united and weather this crisis 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 medicine for 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 suddenly rising pillar holding up the heavens, 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