“I went too far? Your Demonic Cult has been on a rampage across the continent, if I don’t send you a message then you all would go unchecked.”
“Fucking bastard, do you intend to start a war? Are you prepared for the consequences of that?”
“No war is going to start, I forbade it.”
Li Shen didn’t know who the voices of the previous two were, but from the Academy leader’s name being mentioned and using context clues, the Academy Leader was likely speaking with the leader of the Demonic Cult.
As for the third voice, he immediately recognized it as his father’s own.
“You forbade it? Don’t make me laugh you little brat, even if your father was here he wouldn’t dare provoke us into taking action. Do you have any idea what my Assassins Guild is capable of? Continue to pressure us and I’ll turn this Continent into a bloodbath.”
The Leader of the Dark Moon Assassins Guild was the figure-head of the Demonic Cult.
‘It sounds like he’s completely unhinged. Such a person in charge of the Demonic Cult is terrifying. There’s no telling when he’ll snap and retaliate. But yet still…’
Li Shen didn’t finish that thought as Lu Xue Wen spoke up.
“Everyone knows what your capable of Patriarch Evernight.”
‘Patriarch Evernight? So he’s still alive?’
Li Shen was surprised but he quickly went back to listen.
“After hiding in your cave for so long, who knows what you’ve been concocting.”
‘If that’s the case why antagonize such a person?’
Li Shen couldn’t help but ask himself. He was by no means a coward, but from the balance of power and thinking about it logically, the Demonic Cult had leverage against the Righteous Faction because of their presence in the shadows, and that’s including his family.
Their members may not be in large numbers but, they are more focused on quality over quantity. In these past decades, it was impossible to not expect them to have already infiltrated numerous academies and clans across the Continent.
That’s one of the reasons why the Dark Moon Assassins Guild in particular is so hard to find because before a raid could be carried out, their spies would have already warned that secret hideout.
The threat of them and the Demonic Cult itself was real.
‘And if that’s the case, why does this Academy Leader seem like he was just provoking him to take action? Has he gone batshit crazy, or am I the only one who sees the danger of provoking such an enemy?’
“Lu Xue Wen that’s enough. Do you not understand the consequences of a war breaking out?”
That was Li Shu, and Li Shen had to praise his father in his heart. It looks like he could see reason, and as the saying goes, the tree isn’t far from the apple.
However, just when Li Shen was praising his father’s mediation skills, the voice of an old man that could only be described as a snake's own suddenly chimed in.
“The powerful Li Royal family wants to negotiate with the Demonic Cult. How disappointing, is the Li Clan scared of the danger the Demonic Cult poses during your ancestors' excursion?”
A silence fell over the group of experts, and Li Shen’s heart sank.
‘It’s that time already?’
Li Shen felt apprehension seep into his heart.
His father had told him of the situation of their clan being the descendants of the Golden Lotus Clan, an Ancestral Clan that’s located on a far way planet.
With the rule of a new Emperor was when the Li Clan members of the older generation would leave to seek out said Ancestral Clan.
‘This is stupid, how can they leave when that's going to make our Li Clan vulnerable?’
But Li Shen could only say that because he wasn’t in their position.
As cultivators, it wasn’t in their nature to be tied down by responsibilities forever. Cultivators were naturally free-spirited and would roam continents and the world facing dangers to become stronger.
Those ancestors forsake their time and desire to watch over the clan for centuries while grooming a new generation to take their place. Now that it was time for them to leave, they should be sent off with a great fan fair.
But only worry and fearfulness were felt when it was time for them to go.
“Your adamant about not provoking the Demonic Cult because you're afraid your weaken Li Clan will fall.”
Li Shen clenched his teeth.
‘Who the fuck is that old man? Can’t he shut up?’
Li Shen’s curses went unanswered as that old man continued.
“Your generation had you, the Divine Gate Keeper Li Ji Shu so it was able to weather the storm. But this generation seems a bit lackluster. Well, there’s that first son of yours and that youth from the Divine Star Academy of course, but then again there’s your disappointment of a second son. He’s a sign of how much the backstabbing Li Clan has fallen. Hahahaha!!”
That old man release a malicious laugh as he finished speaking.
Li Shen calm down a bit, but his heart was still filled with anger.
That old man was wrong about him, there was no need to get angry at someone so misinformed.
Li Shu seemed to be on the same wavelength as Li Shen since he only calmly replied.
“First Elder of the Ming Clan, Elder Tangzhe, you need not be concerned over the affairs of my Li Clan.”
‘So he’s from the Ming Clan, no wonder he’s so hostile to father.’
A snort came from Elder Tangzhe, but before he could say anymore, a new voice chimed in.
“Our Mercenary Association would like to avoid war as well. We-”
“Oh? The greedy Mercenary Association is vying for peace? I thought you would be the first group to be pushing for war. After all, what better way to rake in profits than academies and clans needing resources to fight a war.”
With displeasure able to be heard in her voice, the Mercenary Association Leader said.
“Elder Tangzhe is mistaken about my Mercenary Association.”
Li Shen was starting to dislike this old man even more. He was taking shots at everyone like his mouth produces AoE attacks.
And he felt like that one person who only comes to a party to clown on everyone but himself.
“My Mercenary Association is neutral, we won’t enter into any power struggle but we will always advocate for peace.”
“How can there be peace when the Demonic Cult still exists?”
Lu Xue Wen said with contempt.
“Lu Xue Wen, you really are an old fool. If you don’t call off your Celestial Academy don’t blame me for what happens next.”
Patriarch Evernight sounded to be on his last strand of reason.
“Your scare tactics aren’t working, they never do when they’re coming from a cowardly rat.”
Lu Xue Wen spat out, and immediately after…
SNAP
“HAHAHAHAHA!!!”
Patriarch Evernight began laughing. It sound so maniacal that it sent a chill down Li Shen’s spine. This wasn't the laugh of a sane man.
“Scare tactics? Scare tactics?! SCARE TACTICS?!!
“You fucking old man, you think my threats are scare tactics, FINE!! When your disciples start dying one by one then you’ll see if I was bluffing!”
Patriarch Evernight Soul began retreating.
Li Shen seeing that communication had broken down didn’t know how to feel. This look like the start of something big.
Patriarch Evernight was a man that united the entire Demonic Cult under his Dark Moon Assassins Guild.
Among the Demonic Cult, they saw him a terrifying demon and he instilled fear in their hearts. If one went by the rumors of him battling with Lu Xue Wen, then him still being alive could have one ascertain that his cultivation was among the top cultivators on the Maple Continent.
However, as Patriarch Evernight was making his grand exit, promising carnage in his fury, another soul suddenly appeared up here.
“Well, I was wondering why I was feeling so many soul fluctuations above the continent. I seemed to stumble upon a meeting of some sort. I apologize for the interruptions, though from how I see things it looks like the meeting was coming to a bad end.”
“Might I ask who this is?”
The Mercenary Association Leader asked bewildered.
She and all the experts here were taken aback as every one of importance was already here. Who was this person they have never heard of?
Meanwhile, Li Shen had his jaw drop in shock.
‘It’s him! What’s he doing here?’
**
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