Stepping forth from the Northern Frontier, Li Wei relied on his family's intelligence network, weaving through spatial rules to survey every corner of the Imperial Dynasty.
At the steep cost of one hundred thousand Family Will points per manifestation, failing to maximize his time would be a shameful waste.
His survey complete, he silently slipped back into the City of Merit.
After imparting his findings to his descendants, he retreated to a secluded corner of the family estate, his mind burdened by an invisible, crushing weight.
"Dao Seed... Empress... Ancestor Lan... Imperial Dynasty..."
Muttering the names like a mantra, Li Wei struggled to untangle the chaotic knot of thoughts festering in his mind.
The family had cultivated its strength for nearly a millennium, yet only now did Li Wei feel the Li Clan had finally peeled back the veil to glimpse the Imperial Dynasty's true face—leaving them feeling like raw recruits stumbling onto a primordial battlefield.
In truth, the grand Imperial Dynasty was a labyrinthine amalgamation, a beast harboring a dizzying array of hidden factions.
No matter how ambitious these mighty experts were, while the Human Emperor stood at the zenith of his power, they were forced to masquerade as perfectly obedient children—or, like Min Tiange, exhaust every method to remain concealed in the shadows.
Now that the Human Emperor lingered at death's door, the shadows writhed as they sprang forth, and even those 'obedient children' had begun to bare their fangs and stir up trouble.
"And then there are the objects of those gods..." Li Wei murmured, a chill tracing his spine.
Min Youguo had spoken of the matter with casual indifference, but who could truly see through the machinations of such an old fox?
Furthermore, Min Youguo had seemed entirely unsurprised that both the Zhao Clan Old Ancestor and Min Tiange possessed artifacts of gods and immortals.
Even the 'Reincarnation Technique' employed by Tian Xing seemed to bear a subtle trace of Min Youguo's tacit approval.
"Which means... there are countless figures, both inside and outside the Imperial Dynasty, utilizing these unearthly things?" Li Wei's eyes widened in realization.
Even within his own family, weren't Yaowen and Zhiheng cultivating similar arts? There was also Yaoqing's divine art, which had drawn heaven's scourge... Such ancient secret arts did not resemble orthodox cultivation methods in the slightest.
Just as his thoughts drifted to Yaoqing.
He spotted a slender figure in a Daoist robe approaching, preceded by the rich, earthy fragrance of medicinal herbs. It was none other than Li Yaoqing.
When she wasn't secluded away refining pills, Yaoqing maintained a pristine appearance. Her pale face was not the sort to inspire immediate awe; instead, she radiated a fresh, elegant charm that grew more captivating over time, accentuated by a faint glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
Glancing at his surroundings, he realized he had unknowingly wandered into Yaoqing's pill-refining area.
"Old Ancestor!"
Upon catching sight of him, Li Yaoqing hitched up her robes and broke into a run.
Although the duration the Old Ancestor could maintain his manifestation had grown longer these days, his appearances in the mortal realm remained fleeting.
Reaching his side, she noticed him leaning tiredly against a tree and immediately stepped behind him to massage his shoulders.
Having spent ample time with him in the Ancestral Space, her initial awe had mellowed into a warm intimacy; she had even grumbled about her third brother to him on numerous occasions.
"Good girl," Li Wei murmured, reaching back to gently pat Yaoqing's head.
Every time he manifested and beheld the younger generation, a profound, weary sense of age washed over him.
Suddenly, he recalled the items he had collected from the Western Frontier.
He handed a spatial ring to Yaoqing. Under her pleasantly surprised gaze, he offered a warm smile. "I took a trip outside and briefly saw the children in the main hall earlier, but I forgot to give these over to you all."
"Weren't you squabbling with your third brother over the Golden Chapter? Take this second Golden Chapter for yourself."
Hearing this, Li Yaoqing playfully stuck out her tongue, though her hands never broke their rhythmic massage.
The Spiritual power from her Divine Art gently smoothed out his weary meridians as she puffed her cheeks and muttered,
"I just can't stomach third brother's smug face. He insists on fighting me for every little thing; it's so infuriating. I don't truly need the Golden Chapter—leave it for the younger children to use."
"Alright."
Li Wei smiled indulgently, and the two soon drifted into idle chatter about trivial family affairs.
Perhaps exhausted by his long travels across the realm, a heavy wave of sleepiness soon washed over him. His eyelids drooped heavily, and his breathing soon grew deep and steady.
.......
"The Blood Moon in the Western Frontier now blankets the vast majority of Deston Prefecture. The Old Ancestor confirmed that Min Tiange and the others cannot leave.
The Blood Moon hanging over the Western Frontier is the true Dao Seed; it is that Blood Moon manipulating everyone trapped within its domain."
Sitting at the head of the main hall, Li Dalong issued his commands. "Tianqi, after this, you will head out to measure the Blood Moon's rate of expansion."
"Yes, Great-Grandfather," Li Tianqi replied, abruptly pushing himself up from his seat.
Li Dalong did not pause, continuing,
"The Old Ancestor brought back the Spear Saint's corpse. Ba Siyu had trapped the Spear Saint's remains using an array formation.
Tianqi, you are highly accomplished in arrays. I want you to decipher Ba Siyu's true intentions behind it.
The Spear Saint's remains must not suffer further insult; once the situation is clear, escort the body back to the Imperial Capital."
"...Yes, Great-Grandfather." Having only just lowered himself halfway, Li Tianqi hurriedly stood back up.
"The Dark Nest array formation must be delivered to the Hall of Heavenly Principles.
We also require a guardian to protect the Immortal Child as he attempts his breakthrough to the Void Refinement realm. Tianqi."
"..."
When he wasn't roped into the reckless antics of Tianyi and Tianming, Li Tianqi—clad in flowing green robes—exuded a gentle, scholarly air, showing absolutely no hint of his usual penchant for courting death.
Hearing this relentless barrage of orders, Li Tianqi looked helplessly at his gathered clansmen and buried his face in his hands. "Yes, Great-Grandfather."
"And when you meet Ancestor Lan, there is no need for excessive courtesy. Relay every word the Imperial Preceptor said."
"Yes, Great-Grandfa—"
Li Dalong paused, his brows furrowing as he looked up at the slumping Tianqi.
"I wasn't speaking to you. Chang, take Jianning and Jianshu on this trip. Remember, if Ancestor Lan asks you to cultivate some bizarre, unorthodox method, politely refuse."
Addressing the crisis of the Western Frontier Blood Moon, Li Dalong meticulously issued orders for every miscellaneous task, one after another.
Only then did he sweep his gaze across the assembled clansmen.
"The Old Ancestor took a trip to the Imperial Capital. The Empress is still demanding that we leave.
Our family has rooted itself in Azure Cloud Prefecture for many years; I need say no more. The world may be vast, but there is only one Azure Cloud Prefecture."
"We understand!"