684 The Li Family of Pingzhou (2/2)
His figure flashed and vanished from the yard. When he materialized again, it was in a small manor about eight kilometers from the Li family's house.
The manor was quite exquisite and luxurious. It was well located, too. It sat at the foot of a hill and beside a stream. It could be said to be a very peaceful and tranquil residence.
But right now, the beautiful scenery of this peaceful land was completely ruined by a series of clamors.
”Second Master, what are you up to by doing this? This is the Fragrant Butterfly Manor, the side premise of the First Young Master. You shall not break into this place without permission!”
”Break in? Humph, you, who are you? Dare to get in my way? Li Xiu has colluded with an evildoer, the woman staying inside this manor. Today, I, the Second Master, am here to take down this evildoer. It doesn't matter if this place is merely Li Xiu's side premise, even if it were the premise of our Family Head, for the sake of safeguarding the reputation of our Li family, I'm definitely breaking in!”
The man who was talking so confidently was a robust middle-aged man. With an air of condescending pride, he did not even bother looking the man blocking his way in the eye. Standing next to him were two men in snow-white robes. They were looking steadily forward and emitted an overbearing pressure. Their cultivations were already at the peak of Level Nine. With such strength and combat capability, they were indisputably the top practitioners in the Li Family of Pingzhou.
Although now with the formulas Zhou Bao had brought to the world, the overall strength of the martial arts world had advanced considerably, no major change could have occurred in the past decade alone. Above all, after a decade of wild plundering and refining, many of the medicinal herbs required in the tinctures had become rare. Maybe in a few years, the common medicinal herbs in the elixirs would become precious as well. Then, the Heaven Realm World would be restored to its original appearance. In that way, the elixirs would have been merely a small wave and the Heaven Realm World would still be galloping along the downhill road.
Take the Li family as an example. It was already a huge surprise to have an Individual Immortal in the family. In addition to the Individual Immortal Li Xiu, there were more than 10 people breaking through the Expert Realm, two of whom even ranked among Level Nine experts. All at once, the strength of the Li Family had soared up and outstripped the Wang clan in Cenzhou, becoming the first-placed well-known family in the world, second only to the Royal Yan Family and super schools like the Tian Long Taoism and the Sect of Flame.
Hence, with a strength at the peak of Level Nine, nobody could match the two except for Li Xiu in the Li family. Now, these men in snow-white robes had obviously grown impatient at Li Xian's slow progress.
”Where did you pop out of? How dare you! Blocking our way into the manor!” The man in a snow-white robe on Li Xian's right suddenly darkened his expression. He lifted one hand and threw the footboy barring their path into the air. ”Let's go quickly, we will not let that evildoer get away!”
”How are you going to achieve that? Second Uncle, you're really crossing the line now, even daring to force your way into my manor?”
With a whoosh, an invisible Sword Qi swooped down and charged at the man in snow-white robes.
The man suddenly went sullen. Sensing the fierce momentum of this Sword Qi, he did not have the guts to take it straight on. He shifted aside and evaded the attack. However, his snow-white robe was not so lucky. It was sliced into small pieces that flew in all directions like snowflakes.
”How dare you!” yelled the other white-robed man. Seeing this getting troublesome, he raised both his hands and two jets of golden light shot out, aiming at Li Xiu who had just appeared.
”What a cheap trick!” Li Xiu merely sneered. He released two shots of Sword Qi towards the golden light. The man reached out in an attempt to fend off the Sword Qi, but was forced to take several steps backward and withdraw his celestial device.
”Xiu, why did you do that?” Seeing Li Xiu reveal himself, Li Xian questioned him with a tense expression.
”Why did I do that? I should ask you that question. Second Uncle, why are you breaking into my manor, beating my subordinate? What on earth are you up to? Starting a rebellion?”
”Don't go too far. No matter what, I'm still your Second Uncle. I see no respect for the elder in your words!” Li Xian barked. ”Answer me, who on earth is living in your Fragrant Butterfly Manor?”
”This is my manor, and I have no obligation to explain anything to you. Please leave!”
”Humph, you don't have the courage to answer me, right? You may think I have no idea, but I do. I know the woman living in this manor is a demonic woman, an evildoer. You, a disciple of our Li Family, have ganged up with an evildoer! How humiliating! I came here today to get rid of this evildoer and protect the reputation of our family. Back off!”
”Are you done? If you're done, just get out! If not, I'll beat you out of this place!” Li Xiu's face was chilling. His voice also revealed a sharp stream of killing intent.
”You!” Li Xian bolted up and glared at Li Xiu without cowering. He had no intention of backing off. It seemed they were on the verge of breaking into a fight.
”Well, Li Xiu, you have no regard for superiors and discard our family's moral standards. But today I won't degrade myself to your level. When the Ancestor Worship Ceremony comes, I will settle this with you, humph!” Li Xian tossed his sleeve backward and wheeled around, leading his subordinates out of the Fragrant Butterfly Manor, displaying a show with a fine start but a poor finish.
Li Xiu squinted at them, his mind racing. ”Coming with determination but returning in low spirits. What on earth is Li Xian up to?”
”They came here to get your number. Seems that your manor has entertained many hidden secrets!”
While Li Xiu was contemplating, a thin voice as weak as a mosquito sounded in his ears.
”Zhou...” At this voice, Li Xiu's gloomy expression abruptly rejoiced with wild excitement. He hastily looked up and opened his mouth.
”Okay, don't attract anyone's attention. I've got something to share with you, let's talk in private!”