CHAPTER 686: CHAPTER 261: TWO MONTHS LATER, THE WEST IS SETTLED

The more Li Yinghai thought about it, the more stifled he felt, as if it would suffocate him.

If he were to seek out Jing Qiu again, proactively offering Jia Weiting, and still have to fake a smile saying Ji is truly a divine strategist...

How is that any different from asking him to die?

"At least twenty Heavenly Persons from Western families, will they just let Jing Qiu run rampant in the West?"

Li Yinghai didn’t understand; does their Li Family have to show goodwill to Jing Qiu? Just because of the Western battle outcomes?

Are the Heavenly Persons of the Western families all like Sima Long, mere wine bags and rice sacks? No wonder the Heavenly Human Martial Artists of the Wanwu Association look down upon those permanently stationed at the rear, afraid to tread the Heavenly Road!

To think it has come to this, even if Jing Qiu is defiant of fate, several Heavenly Persons could work together to suppress him!

"Because the Federation has also intervened, and some people from the Hundred Veins are already on Jing Qiu’s side. Ever since Jing Qiu first entered Heart Image and suppressed Sima Long from the Sima Family, new alliances began to form."

The Li Family’s clan elder spoke coolly.

This silent yet massive "alliance building", if viewed from today’s perspective tracing back the past year, was initially driven by a few Great Grandmasters.

But who would have thought that shortly after the departure of a group of Grandmasters, Jing Qiu would grow to such an extent?

Too fast, so fast that all sides were unprepared, still treating him as just a genius.

Li Yinghai was furious inside, what a useless Sima Family, a dignified Heavenly Person, yet suppressed by a martial artist who just entered Heart Image, an utter disgrace to Heavenly Persons!

"Given these circumstances, for the Western families, defeating Jing Qiu one-on-one is instead their last chance to vie for more discourse power."

The Li Family’s clan elder shook his head, not optimistic about the West’s upcoming situation.

Especially as reports continue to come in of Jing Qiu capturing city after city.

The Federation and Hundred Veins joined forces, showing a stance of all-or-nothing determination, other Star Domain forces have to weigh whether to intervene.

The West now faces either complete mutual destruction or following the path set by the official and Hundred Veins.

The truly brilliant tactic of the official lies in providing those Western clans a seemingly alive path that leads to death—waiting for Jing Qiu to visit for Dao Asking, to compete.

Even as some clans come to realize the pattern with Jing Qiu’s successive victories, what use is it?

It’s too late.

What’s crucial is the current six major families are tied down, either sealing themselves off or embroiled in internal conflicts, making intervening in Western affairs difficult, not to mention the Mu Family has already openly sided with Jing Qiu...

In such a situation, what do the Western clans have to mutual destruction with?

"Even if Jing Qiu excels in the West, does our Li Family have to fawn over him like sycophants?" Li Yinghai took a deep breath.

Throughout the Federation’s millennia, each era has had phenomenal figures.

Counting backward, Chi Yinghuo from three thousand years ago, Zhang Tiancheng from two thousand years ago, and even Wan Chengcang from a thousand years ago.

They might not have been as dazzling as Jing Qiu presently, yet they dominated an era.

But when have the six major families ever needed to deliberately ingratiate themselves like this?

No matter how talented, no one exceeds the Great Grandmasters within the clan, not to mention the ancestors of yore.

"Because he’s Mu’s Successor!" The Li Family’s clan elder frowned displeasedly, "The six major families are born from the same root, naturally needing to support each other. Since he’s Mu’s Successor, naturally he’s one of us, and in the Mu Family, his status ought to be regarded as ’Little Ancestor’; even our five families need to show him adequate respect."

"Your duty as a Li Family disciple is first to preserve the family, to uphold the foundation of the six major families, do you need me to teach you that?"

Li Yinghai opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

Jing Qiu’s status as World Venerable Successor is no secret to the six major families, because the Mu Family has already announced it to them.

But Li Yinghai hadn’t expected that the clan elders would take this status so seriously and maintain it, to the extent of overlooking Jing Qiu’s association with Marshal He!

Li Family’s clan elder glanced at Li Yinghai, but did not disclose that Jing Qiu had already won the recognition of the Mu Family’s Divine Weapon, an occurrence currently confined within the Heavenly Person circles.

He instructed Li Yinghai to make preparations swiftly, as Jing Qiu would soon return from the West, needing to make his stance clear upon visitation.

After the clan elder left, Li Yinghai remained standing there, motionless for a long time.

Until a familiar, cold voice sounded.

"What did the Green Rock Clan Elder say to you just now?"

Li Yinghai suddenly realized, it was Li Xuantian!

Li Family’s circumstances and rules were similar to the Mu Family, but somewhat better, not as watched by the [Heavenly Demon], and also had rules allowing branches to enter the direct lineage.

For instance, he himself came from a branch into the direct lineage.

But Li Xuantian uncle and nephew were different; they are the true main line of the Li Family.

"Uncle Xuantian." Li Yinghai spoke timidly, feeling apprehensive of him, not wanting to get too close.

Li Yinghai briefly mentioned what the clan elder instructed him to do.

Li Xuantian did not comment upon hearing, merely nodded before turning to leave.

Watching his back, Li Yinghai frowned.

This uncle-nephew pair, though from the direct lineage, were quite peculiar, especially Li Xuantian, with an ever-present sense that the Li Family has wronged them...

Li Xuantian took his leave, entering a secluded estate, dialing a certain communication, and straightforwardly said:

"You all in the West, can’t even manage to stall Jing Qiu?"

A moment later, the other side responded coldly, "The official and Hundred Veins have made clear their stance; for now, we can’t do anything, and neither can you."

"What about the Wanwu Association? Even if Jing Qiu has Divine Weapon assistance, he’s not yet within the top twenty of the Heavenly Person List, right? Can’t those two from the Wanwu Association handle him?" Li Xuantian said in a deep voice.