The First elder felt the change in Long Feng’s behavior, and although he found it strange he didn’t say anything to address it. Perhaps this was just his usual temperament.
Meanwhile, the First elder was busy thinking about this, Long Feng was cursing Li Shen to death. No, wait, Long Feng wished he was still alive so he could personally torture and kill him. Long Feng was also cursing this clan as well as Li Shu for birthing and raising Li Shen.
Over the last few months, Long Feng had waited for Li Shen to show up in the Mercenary Association. But no wonder he didn’t even appear once, Long Feng no knew. Unknowingly during that time, Li Shen in Long Feng’s eyes had evolved to become far much more than a simple thief.
The stress Long Feng felt about his father looking at that memorial tablet and seeing a stranger's name sent his mind into fear and panic constantly.
First Long Feng was angry because he couldn’t believe someone from a backwater continent would dare to steal his Dragon Qi. The second was the fact that Long Feng was enraged that his father might find out his Dragon Qi was stolen and get punished, all because of Li Shen.
But now, Li Shen might as well have murdered seven generations of his clan for the amount of dislike Long Feng now had for him.
Meanwhile, Li Shu was inside the throne room seated on his throne. A jade slip was in his hand while a frown was plastered on his face.
“Is that really true?”
Fulong who was next to him asked that in surprise.
Li Shu nodded and said.
“Yes, the Fire Empire had sent the information to all the parties participating in this Chosen Tournament. They’ve found a way to open the Hidden Fragmented Realm, and they're choosing the ones who can enter from those who make it in the top one hundred of the tournament.”
Fulong remained silent for a moment before a solemn expression overcame his face as he said.
“Do you think their sudden interest in the Hidden Fragmented Realm has something to do with the hidden supply of God Qi inside?”
Li Shu’s eyes narrowed as he responded.
“I have no doubt that’s the case.”
With a drained sigh, Fulong said.
“Our Ancestor had left us a way to extract the God Qi from the Hidden Fragmented Realm when it opens using the abilities of our Guardian Treasure. Ever since the Hidden Fragmented Realm was delayed opening at the predicted time, I had a bad feeling raising in my heart.”
Fulong suddenly shook his head.
“No, even before that. Years ago when my grand-nephew was born and that pillar of light appeared, during that time I felt something was wrong. The feeling just never went away since then, it only grew stronger.”
Looking at the silent Li Shu, Fulong continued.
“You sense it right? That the aura of the Hidden Fragmented Realm was present when that golden pillar fell from the void in the sky. It probably came from the Hidden Fragmented Realm itself. That’s probably why it was accompanied by the God Qi you used to break through early.”
Li Shu still remained silent up to here.
Fulong sighed at that.
“...Perhaps, it was best to have compromised with them. If you had they wouldn’t hold any resentment towards you and decided to leave before you abdicate your position.”
Li Shu immediately snorted when he heard that.
“Give it to them? Why should I have done that when it wasn’t their place to get it? I am the current Emperor and it has already been established in the clan’s rules that only the Emperor should receive the God Qi. The Ancestor knew that if those other than the Emperor receive it, then the clan would fall when they just up and leave since they hold no attachment to the clan. If those greedy rotten corpses want to forsake the clan and pretend it has done nothing for them by leaving, then let them!”
Li Shu got so irritated and antsy that he yelled those last few words.
Only he knew how difficult it was dealing with the constant nagging of those old bones hiding away and munching off of the clan till the very last moment. Even after being supplied with the resources from the clan for hundreds or even thousands of years, and even having been in seclusion in the Guardian Treasure of the clan that was no different that a cultivation paradise for Soul Transformation Realm cultivators. As soon as they get a whiff and realize the clan had something extra to give, they wouldn’t hesitate to pull the same card.
‘How can we protect the clan if we don’t get the resources we require to increase our strength?’
Li Shu sighed and wondered if this was what his predecessors had to deal with.
Suddenly footsteps echoed out as Long Feng made his way inside.
Li Shu felt his headache increase as he remembered the grudge this youth had against his son. He had quickly made the First elder carry him away from where the Heavenly Calamity occurred, in fear of him finding some connection by chance, but the anger Long Feng was concealing made a bad feeling raise in Li Shu's heart.
‘This brat, is he really blessed by the heavens?’
Li Shu had to ask that because of what he saw. His son might as well have been cursed if anything. He knew his son might possibly still be alive from escaping into the void, but adding his injuries along with the tearing chaotic force inside a spatial tear when one enters.
He might have likely died without some protection. However, Li Shu believed in his son's resourcefulness.
Eventually, Li Shu temporarily put aside his worries as he was currently having the Zhi Clan secretly investigate his son's disappearance. He was the one who decided to spread the news of Li Shen’s death.
Since the Heavenly Calamity could not be hidden, people might find the connection between Li Shen’s sudden absence and it. Li Shu decided to fabricate a narrative where his son died in the Heavenly Calamity.
With that, he would have time to find his son before someone else harm him.
Smiling, Li Shu said to Long Feng.
“Greetings Young Master Long, I wonder what brings you to my Li Clan?”
“HUMPH!”
Without any hesitation, Long Feng released an angry snort.
Seeing his reaction, Li Shu couldn’t help but sigh bitterly in his heart.
If it wasn’t obvious before, then it was now that Long Feng had found a connection between his son and the Faceless Hero.
‘Ugh, what bad luck. Maybe I should disown him? Would that cancel the string of bad luck the clan’s been facing since he was born?’
Of course, Li Shu was just joking, but what else could he do in this situation?
Now his thoughts were racing like lightning, trying to find a way to solve the enmity between his son and this person. Maybe it wasn’t too late.
“Where’s your son? Tell me where he is and I won’t cause trouble for your clan!”
Li Shu's face turned ugly and any thoughts of salvaging the situation were dashed out by Long Feng’s words.
The sheer resentment in them made Li Shu wonder just what the hell did his son do to cause this Young Master Long to hate him so much.
‘Did he really just steal some Dragon Qi? Surely such a matter didn’t warrant so much hatred for my son, right?’
Li Shu asked internally but received no response in return.
“Young Master Long, regardless of your status, I won’t forgive anyone who would threaten my Li Clan while actually standing before me.”
Since this Long Feng was showing such hostility, how can Li Shu retreat? He didn’t care who this person was, no one was going to threaten his clan or his son.
Had over his son to save his clan? If he was thinking logically, with all the bullshit he was facing with those greedy old fogies he was slightly leaning to the side that he would sacrifice his clan to save his son.
If the clan was destroyed there would always be a possibility that it could be rebuilt. But if any of his children died, then that was something he could never live with. Especially if it was at the expense of saving this broken clan, which was basically only in power to amass resources to feed those old bats Ancestral Ground.
To be fair, this was something great, but the downsides of this construct of their clan are now showing itself when those old fogies are threatening to leave the clan high and dry because they didn’t get what they wanted.
Long Feng hearing Li Shu’s words frowned. He thought of something and then said.
“Give me this Mystic Treasure and I’ll forget about this matter.”
“No.”
Li Shu responded coldly and his expression completely fell.
Meanwhile, this confrontation was going on, Little Xiao had entered the West Wing of the Imperial Palace. He was following the sent he locked onto, and the closer he got to Li Shen’s courtyard the stronger his excitement became.
He didn’t hesitate to dash forwards as fast as lightning-like speeds.