Chapter 637: Similar Interests

Chapter 637: Similar Interests

Within a certain inn in Yongding, the youth in the Department of Rites and Rituals smiled as he faced Clan Head Li.

"Is this a threat?" Clan Head Li demanded.

"Hardly, Clan Head Li! You are a guest from afar, and Dazheng helped you considerably in the formation of the empire of Dali, did it not? Clan Head Li, you even mentioned that you would generously reward His Majesty for what he had done for you." The youth smiled.

"I did say that," Clan Head Li acknowledged.

"That's the spirit!" The youth smiled again. "We remember your promise, Clan Head Li, and we haven't requested anything from you. That said, we believe our help should be the foundation of a positive relationship between our two empires. Don't you agree?"

Clan Head Li slightly furrowed his brows, unsure of the youth's intentions. He frowned, not quite getting angry, and chose to nod. "You are correct."

"Clan Head Li, I've reserved the entire inn and have made preparations for a banquet at the best location in the inn. Would you join me in a celebration and discussion?" the youth suggested.

Clan Head Li shot a glance at his disciples, who nodded.

"Very well."

"Please follow me."

Clan Head Li followed the youth toward an open-air patio in the courtyard of the inn, where a banquet had been laid out.

There were plenty of delicacies, and the scent of fragrant alcohol drifted in the air. Everything seemed unusually ornate.

The two cultivators sat down and began to chat. The youth was adroit at conversation, bringing up the situation in the various Immortal cities that Clan Head Li controlled and the actions that the empire of Dali had taken to date. Clan Head Li's eyes twitched: just how much did the youth know? It was almost as though the empire had no secrets of which he was unaware. The youth had even pointed out a few crucial errors in judgment that might well have ended the empire. He sucked in a deep breath in surprise.

Throughout the banquet, Clan Head Li listened to the youth talk. He knew that Dazheng's information network had thoroughly dissected his empire from top to bottom. If he were to fight with Dazheng, the outcome would be disastrous.

Just then, several of his disciples sent him mental transmissions.

"Grandmaster, my avatar made a few inquiries. Something has happened in the sect. Your eldest grandson had suddenly gone missing."

"Grandmaster, my avatar made a few inquiries as well. All ten city lords of Dali's ten Immortal cities have had important descendants go missing out of nowhere."

The disciples' mental transmissions caused Clan Head Li to blanch.

"What tricks Dazheng plays," Clan Head Li suddenly said, his voice cold.

The youth smiled blandly. "Whatever could you mean, Clan Head Li?"

"My grandson has gone missing. Were you aware?" Clan Head Li demanded.

"Of course. Plenty of them have disappeared, haven't they. The spectral guards of Dazheng have reported that they share similar interests with those young masters, and they're all out hunting by the Eastern Sea. Isn't it great for young cultivators to explore the world together?" The youth smiled again.

Clan Head Li: ...

The spectral guards? Sharing similar interests? Clan Head Li cursed. Did Dazheng think him a fool? It was clear that his grandson had been kidnapped!

"Clan Head Li, Dali was founded with the help of Dazheng, and it's a good thing that the youths of both kingdoms are congregating. Worry not. They'll return to Dali in no time. Don't you agree?"

Clan Head Li grimaced at the bold threat, but what choice did he have?

He had no choice but to smile. "You're right. It's a good thing for these young people to congregate."

"That's the spirit!" The youth toasted him. "Let's keep on drinking."

Clan Head Li's face grew dour. He knew that if he were to continue carrying out his plan, not only would his relatives fall prey, Dazheng would retaliate against Dali on all fronts. Given what the youth had relayed to him, he was almost certain that there were Dazheng spies all over his empire. How quickly would Dali fall?

Surely he shouldn't make a move today?

Although it was true that he was in alliance with a few other forces, such alliances were based on profit. Given his situation, the profitability of making a move was surely negative—and steeply so, as well. Why would he act, then?

After hesitating for a moment, Clan Head Li interjected, "I have some matters to deal with. I only coincidentally stopped by Yongding today, so I don't want to be a bother any further."

"Attack at full force. We have to make it out now before it's too late. Hurry!"

Sensing something amiss, they charged at the formation again and again, causing it to shake and crack. It looked as though it would break at any moment, but the three Golden Immortals always seemed to fall just short of the energy needed.

Before long, Ye Dafu and the others had healed from their injuries. Their cultivation had all advanced.

"Haha, we're back!"

"Let's have fun together, you three Golden Immortals!"

"We haven't relaxed so well in far too long. I want another massage!"

The twelve golden cultivators tittered to each other in a way that sent shivers up the three Golden Immortals' spines. They froze. Were these cultivators maniacs?

"Die!" one Golden Immortal roared.

The three Golden Immortals began to strike the twelve golden cultivators again. After a ferocious beating, however, they fell silent. They were stunned. Those maniacs' shouts had quickly turned to moans. If spectators had been watching the fight with closed eyes, they might have envisioned a completely different sight.

"Trap them!" a Golden Immortal called out. "We need to pressure the creator of this formation!"

The Golden Immortals caught two golden cultivators with each of their palms.

"Now they won't be able to free themselves!" a Golden Immortal called out, laughing.

Just then, Blue Lantern manipulated the formation. The three Golden Immortal relics struck at the three Golden Immortals, shattering the palms and freeing the golden cultivators.

"Aren't those three Golden Immortal relics serving to power this formation? How could they still be usable?"

"If those relics could be used against us, why didn't they do so sooner?"

"Could it have been deliberate?"

The Golden Immortals blanched.

"Die!" the twelve golden cultivators shouted, attacking the Golden Immortals again.

The three Golden Immortals had no choice but to counterattack. If they were to try to trap the golden cultivators again, Blue Lantern would surely strike them with the Golden Immortal relics. However, he wouldn't interfere if they were to beat the golden cultivators up.

"These cultivators are sick in the head. If they want to die, then we'll grant them their wishes!" a Golden Immortal shouted.

The twelve golden cultivators were beaten black and blue. Grievously injured, they signaled for Blue Lantern to rescue them.

The three Golden Immortals: ...

Had they wasted their time fighting the golden cultivators again?

Before long, the twelve golden cultivators had healed up and were charging into the formation again.

"Ignore those maniacs. Focus on breaking the formation, now!" a Golden Immortal shouted anxiously.

The Golden Immortals continued to attack the formation, causing it to crack. The twelve golden cultivators hurriedly got in their way.

Blue Lantern continued overseeing everything from the vicinity.

Just then, a red figure appeared beside Blue Lantern.

"Your Majesty, you're back!" Blue Lantern exclaimed.

"How's the situation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Of these three Golden Immortals, one has a Golden Immortal relic. If he were to detonate that relic while all three Golden Immortals struck at the formation simultaneously, they should be able to break free. He hasn't yet been willing to detonate that relic, but I believe that he'll do so soon enough if they still can't break free," Blue Lantern said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Now that I'm here, none of them will be able to escape."