Inside Merit City.
At this moment, all the common people were packing up their valuable belongings. The entire city clearly had over a hundred thousand people, but it was as if they had all become mute. Not a single person spoke. Even if there was speech, it was only in hushed whispers, and more prevalent were the noisy sounds of moving things.
On this day, the masters and young ladies of the Li family returned. They said that the Azure Cloud region could no longer be defended, and that this place would be overrun by the Wu Clan. They said that there would be new land in the north, and that the Li family would lead them to a new place to settle down. They would marry and have children there, and live a life even better than in Merit City.
No one argued. They all knew that if it weren't truly a desperate situation, the fearless Li family would never abandon Merit City, would never become deserters.
But...
"We swore an oath, that no matter what happened, we would protect Merit City! My father died for Merit City. Master Kuangtu endured humiliation for Merit City for thirty years. We have all endured humiliation for thirty years. Is there really no chance left?!?"
The new city mayor, Liu Bo'er, his eyes red-rimmed, questioned Li Kuangren, who was directing the elderly, the weak, women, and children to board the spirit boats, "Master Kuangren, everyone in our city can fight. We can still put up a fight..."
But before he could finish speaking.
Li Kuangren grabbed his cheeks, preventing him from uttering another word. Li Kuangren's voice practically squeezed out from between his teeth, "So? So you want everyone in Merit City to fight this battle that has no chance of victory? Look behind you. Do you want them all to sacrifice themselves in vain?"
Liu Bo'er stiffly turned his head to look behind him. Those... were the elderly, the weak, women, and children. Their eyes were filled with unwillingness to accept this, but they were frail and powerless.
He was certain that if the enemy entered Merit City, even the elderly, the weak, women, and children would fight for Merit City. But what would be the result? It would be meaningless. They would die without any value.
"I'll tell you what will happen next."
Li Kuangren growled in a low voice, "The Human Emperor has issued an imperial edict. The people of the Azure Cloud region, Starfall Region, Qi Region... and many, many other Regions will leave. The entire Azure Cloud region will no longer have any of our compatriots. After one year, the Wu Clan from all directions will have no more scruples. They will frantically compete for this new land. Those who have not escaped will have nowhere to run. They will be isolated and without support!"
"When that time comes, the Azure Cloud region will belong entirely to the Wu Clan. Their Deity Transformation stage experts will be unrestrained. They will crush us as easily as killing ants!"
"All our persistence will only become a laughingstock for the enemy! This is reality!"
Li Kuangren looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. "It's meaningless. We have no other choice."
Liu Bo'er sat down on the ground, powerless.
In the distance.
A figure was watching all of this.
This person was wearing a tight-fitting black long dress, accentuating her curvaceous figure, which would make one's blood boil at first sight. The area around her chest revealed pear-blossom white skin.
Below her long dress, slender, white-lotus-root-like calves were visible. She wore black leather shoes with high heels, revealing the sides of her feet, which had very few wrinkles. In particular, the base of her toes, visible on the top of her feet, were like beautiful jade, making one involuntarily want to explore the spaces between them.
Her waterfall-like long hair cascaded down, sliding over her shoulders, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face. Beneath her elegant eyebrows, long eyelashes fluttered. There was a great deal of calmness in those star-like, peach-blossom eyes.
"The Li family has fallen on hard times, hasn't it?"
The Demon Lord of the Thunderfire Demon Cave, Fang Linglong, had already emerged from the abyss. Her red lips parted slightly as she looked at Li Kuangren. "I've seen that kid in the Thunderfire Demon Cave. Tsk tsk, a seedling of excellent character and temperament. Li Yaotie is also an irascible sort, and Li Yunbing is a treacherous and cunning fellow, and those two monks. I thought the Li family was some extraordinary clan. Now look at them, truly withered."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but laugh. "Well, it's also that I didn't put myself in their shoes. Such a situation is truly despairing. But it's also good. Going to the Northern Border, I can also find some peace and quiet, and slowly have Yaoqing heal my injuries. That's wonderful, too."
Having said that, Fang Linglong merged into the crowd. She wandered freely among the Li family, like a person who didn't exist. No one could see her figure!
...
Night.
In the Li family ancestral hall, Li Dalong, along with the descendants of the Li family, knelt and bowed before Li Wei's spirit tablet.
Li Wei was also watching all of this.
No one could have predicted the future. The Li family also never imagined they would be stabbed in the back by the Dynasty.
"Ancestor, your child has failed you. Your child must ultimately leave our homeland, leave the place where we put down roots."
Li Dalong sighed deeply.
Li Wei, in front of the screen, shook his head, and still gave the Li family descendants a dose of 'Ancestor's Caress.'
"Thank you, Ancestor."
Li Dalong took a deep breath and then looked at the descendants behind him. A flash of severity passed through his eyes. "Feng Chunlin said to let us go to the Northern Border. We of Merit City should go. All the common people of Merit City will be relocated to the Northern Border. Cuihua, Tianyue, Changsheng, the common people of that side of the Northern Border will be entrusted to your leadership."
"Yes!" Li Tianyue and Li Changsheng frowned in concentration.
"Tianyi, you will return to the Azure Cloud Pavilion and become the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion."
"Tianqi, as a direct disciple of the Black Tortoise Sect, you should also fulfill the responsibilities of a direct disciple."
"Yunbing, I want you to lead Dawn and the Grey Mist Hall to lie in wait in the Imperial City!"
"....."
Li Dalong, word by word, made arrangements for every child in the family. Even he himself would carry out the task of collecting the corpses.
All the Li family members narrowed their eyes. They understood Li Dalong's meaning!
This plan was to scheme against the entire Azure Dynasty. Li Dalong, who had always entrusted family affairs to the children, was now taking the reins personally. Every plan was to infiltrate the Azure Dynasty!
Not long after, all the Li family members nodded in agreement. In the night, they headed towards all directions.