[Your descendant Li Yunbing, leading hundreds of thousands of Li family subordinates, jointly went to the battlefield. He had been at the peak of the Golden Core stage for many years, and had an epiphany. He heard the words of his subordinates, and from despair, he saw hope! In the midst of his Tribulation, he became confident that he could overcome the Seven-Nine Lightning Tribulation!]
[Your descendant Li Yunbing, representing the entire Li family, has received the faith of all the warriors belonging to the Li family. Obtained Trait – Hegemon of Azure Cloud region!]
[He fights for the Azure Cloud region, and has received the favor of the Azure Cloud region's providence and the blessing of Heaven and Earth's spirit energy. Within the Azure Cloud region, his cultivation speed increases by 30%! Within the Azure Cloud region, all attributes are increased by 100%, and combat power increases by 30%! He leads the people of the Azure Cloud region, fighting for the Azure Cloud region, morale is increased by 50%, and combat power is increased by 5%!]
Li Yunbing had always been the Li family's hidden genius. He had even broken through to the Nascent Soul stage earlier than Li Tianyi!
From a pure and innocent heart, to a dirty political schemer, finally, at this moment of despair, he became the true hegemon of the Azure Cloud region!
...
On the main road from Azure Cloud City leading to the Northern Border.
On the path where the major powers of the Azure Cloud region were advancing, the many Nascent Soul Ancestors who had once dominated the scene all halted their steps.
And many cultivators of the Azure Cloud region also had hesitant expressions, seeming to be making some difficult decision. There were probably more than a million cultivators here, but it was terrifyingly silent, with only the sound of hushed whispers remaining.
"Have you heard? The Li family's ancestor, Li Dalong, has returned to the Azure Cloud region border."
"He, along with over a hundred old people from Merit City, is guarding the city wall. Up to now, the hundreds of thousands of Wu Clan members gathered outside the border city haven't dared to set foot in the Azure Cloud region."
"Crazy, crazy! We have no support. Isn't he seeking death?"
"Don't... don't say that. Those are the people of Merit City!"
Suddenly, everyone looked towards a contingent at the very front. Leading them were the Li family members. Behind them were the common people of Merit City!
The Li family members present were only Li Tianyi and many of the Tian generation members who had been kept in the dark, as well as Li Tianniu's lineage!
"Ever since I was little, he's always liked to deceive me."
Li Tianyi muttered in a low voice, "He told me the family was poor, making me rob tombs for so many years. Now he tells me to retreat to the Northern Border, and everyone is running back. I'm the only one kept in the dark, still leading the people of Merit City toward the Northern Border. Everyone is taking advantage of my foolishness."
"Tianyi!"
Huang Xiujin descended from the sky and blocked Li Tianyi's path. He frowned, "Are you really going back?"
"Old Huang."
Li Tianyi shrugged and said with a smile, "Of course, I have to go back. Don't say anything. I heard from the family that you've done a lot for our Li family these years. I don't have anything good to thank you with. How about this, I'll give you an old senior. I'm definitely going back home. If I can win, I'll fight. If I can't..."
Li Tianyi didn't say anything further. The remnant soul of an old senior was released. This old senior glanced at Huang Xiujin, rolled his eyes, and then returned to Li Tianyi's body.
The cultivators of Merit City also did not speak!
They followed closely behind Li Tianyi, found the Li family's spirit boat, and without hesitation, jumped aboard.
The spirit boat activated. They departed silently, appearing to be so calm.
But all the disciples and members of the major powers present could feel the Li family's determination!
Li Tianyi was different from the others. He did not seek aid, did not say much. Although he was foolish, he was certain that every single person in the family would have made better preparations than him. He only needed, at such a time, to lead those who wanted to return, back!
The silence of the Merit City people was like a thunderclap, striking the hearts of all the cultivators of the Azure Cloud region.
Everyone was speechless. The air seemed to be oppressive.
Only after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn did everyone belonging to the Region Prince's Mansion's faction make way!
Region Prince Feng Chunlin slowly walked out. He didn't utter a word. He carried a coffin on his back. He boarded a spirit boat, along with several ancestors of the Region Prince's Mansion.
They saw it.
On the outer casing of the coffin were carved simple words: Region Prince Feng Chunlin was prepared to depart from this world after the battle!
[We once strived, strived to prevent disaster from befalling our homeland, but we failed.]
[I am still proud.]
[Proud that we were born in this era, risking life and limb for the future of the Azure Cloud region. Even in the darkest future, we still have hope.]
[I am proud that I fought alongside the Li family. I stood behind the times!]
This day was a day of silence.
The cultivators evacuating the Azure Cloud region seemed to see, on the city wall of the border city, Li Dalong still standing, facing countless Wu Clan members without retreating a single step!
There were still people fighting alone for a hopeless homeland.
Huang Xiujin's body was trembling. He watched the spirit boats of the Li family and the Region Prince's Mansion, one after another, departing. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Members of the Cloudsea Pavilion, we—"
"Are going home!"
Spirit boats marked with the insignia of the Cloudsea Pavilion ascended into the sky!
Following them, one Nascent Soul Ancestor after another, experts from one great or small power after another, boarded their spirit boats, bringing along their disciples and members.
The eyes of all the cultivators on the spirit boats blazed.
That's right!
They didn't have much hope, but even in the darkest future, the Li family still stood at the forefront, fighting alongside them.
That was enough.
Though death may come, they had no regrets!
"Ghost Eye Sect!"
"Black Tortoise Sect!"
"Longevity Mountain!"
"..."
"Let's go home!"
---
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