Family Management Game In Immortal Continent Chapter 806: The Three Possibilities
The night was pitch black, and the wind howled fiercely.
The Great Formation of the Immortal Domain was fully triggered.
The familiar shimmering canopy of the barrier manifested—though this one was far more intricate and profound than the Ding family's formation had ever been.
Alarm bells within the Immortal Zhao Clan rang out incessantly, as wave after wave of experts soared into the sky toward the dome.
Standing among the masses, Ding Yuanxiao did not feel even a glimmer of safety.
Visible atop the barrier was another arc of frozen energy—Li Changyao’s archery technique had struck once more.
Even though Li Changyao didn't come charging in by treading upon the ice pillar this time, Ding Yuanxiao still involuntarily wiped a layer of cold sweat from his brow.
"Where are they?!!"
Zhao Jingmiao led the members of the Immortal Zhao Clan as they scanned the horizon.
After the impact of that ice pillar, every trace of enemy aura outside the Great Formation had vanished!
The protective shield of the Great Formation was bathed in the glow of spirit stones, while everything beyond the barrier remained swallowed by total darkness.
From a hundred meters below ground, the panicked cries of cultivators could be heard.
Amidst the chaos, Zhao Jingmiao pushed his Primordial Spirit outward to investigate the area beyond the formation.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
This time, the sound wasn't the footsteps of the Old Ancestor, but the frantic rhythm of his own heart!
A bead of cold sweat trickled down his temple.
Despite his Divine Soul confirming that no one was outside, Zhao Jingmiao felt no relief whatsoever.
He felt like a mortal lost in the dark, reaching out with trembling fingers to avoid obstacles; the thought of touching something unexpected in the gloom made his heart race with dread.
In this moment, he actually wished the people of Azure Cloud Prefecture would just attack—at least then he could see the Li family members!
Those cursed people of the Li family!
Who could say what hidden power they truly held?
They had picked off the members of our Zhao Clan one by one—even Ancestor Wan'er had perished at their hands.
The clues they left behind seemed so insignificant, yet they were enough to make the entire Zhao Clan shake with terror!
The true unknown factor was never the Immortal Zhao Clan, but... the Azure Cloud Li Clan!
"I can't detect any enemy presence outside the Great Formation."
"It’s happening again! They appear and vanish like ghosts; a single red leaf is all they need to mask their aura. That arrow was nothing but a test."
"Back then, even the Fourth Rank defensive formation of Prince Qian’s Estate failed to halt the Li family. They could strike for real at any second."
"Zhao Jingmiao, what is the plan? What do we do now?!!"
"..."
These Divinity Transformation cultivators, who once stood high and mighty, were now like birds terrified by the mere snap of a twig.
They were consumed by fear because they realized that Clan Elder Zhao Jingmiao—whom they viewed as peerlessly powerful—was just as lost as they were; they could see the flicker of dread in his eyes!
There was no greater despair than this.
It was the Zhao family who had claimed the Li family was insignificant.
It was the Zhao family who commanded them to prepare for the slaughter of Azure Cloud Prefecture.
It was the Zhao family who had promised them a glorious future.
So what right did Zhao Jingmiao have to be afraid?!!
Noticing the strange looks on the faces of the cultivators from the subordinate forces, Zhao Jingmiao was suddenly jolted back to his senses.
He forced down the panic in his chest and gave a cold sneer,
"What is there to fear?
My Zhao Clan possesses a foundation spanning one hundred and sixty thousand years, six great Void Refining realm experts, and over fifty Divinity Transformation cultivators.
Our Great Formations, secret arts, and Dharma treasures all stem from ancient lineages.
If the people of Azure Cloud dare to show themselves, they are simply courting death!"
"My Zhao Clan is merely waiting—waiting for our traveling Clan Elders to return.
Their arrival will signal the total annihilation of the Li family!"
Upon hearing these words, the various subordinate forces of the Zhao Clan felt their hearts steady slightly.
"Return to your posts. This is nothing more than a petty trick..."
But the moment Zhao Jingmiao finished speaking, his face froze.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of rhythmic applause suddenly echoed through the dark night.
Even though these cultivators were all scanning the area with their Nascent Souls and Primordial Spirits, the clapping sounded as if it were happening right next to their ears.
"Who goes there?!!"
The crowd spun around, only to witness a figure slowly emerging from the darkness outside the Great Formation.
He stood alone, yet his mere presence made everyone within the barrier feel as if they were facing a terrifying foe.
This individual walked through the air, strolling as casually as a drifting cloud.
Step by step, he drew closer to the crowd inside the Great Formation—looking incredibly relaxed and at peace!
"Li Chang'an?!!"
...
The young boy from the small fishing village, once the favorite of the local maidens who always came home with a full catch, had been forged by time into a graceful and sophisticated gentleman.
In the deep night, the bright moon cast a soft, silvery glow.
Li Chang'an seemed to materialize from the moonlight itself, becoming more distinct to the eyes of the people in the Immortal Domain.
Seeing Li Chang'an's silhouette, even these enemies—who might soon be fighting him to the death—couldn't help but feel a secret spark of admiration:
Bathed in the lunar light, he looked like a piece of expertly carved jade—serene, perfect, and peerless in this world.
Polite and composed, even when facing a sea of powerful cultivators within the Great Formation of the Immortal Domain, Li Chang'an maintained the elegance he had refined over the decades.
"Li Chang'an, you have the guts to come here by yourself?" Zhao Jingmiao’s voice thundered like a mountain crashing down.
Over the last century, Li Xinnian had stepped up as the Head of the Li family, and Li Kuangren had taken control of the Prefecture Lord's duties, while all external diplomacy for Azure Cloud Prefecture had been placed in Li Chang'an’s hands.
Li Chang'an’s reputation as a true gentleman was legendary; he had even made friends with many high-ranking officials within the Imperial Dynasty.
However, Li Chang'an had never personally met Zhao Jingmiao before.
Even facing Zhao Jingmiao's aggressive shout, Li Chang'an remained still in the night air, his right hand gripping a cyan iron fan against his chest while his left hand was tucked behind his back.
He gave a small, respectful bow to those glaring at him with hostility.
A soft smile never left his jade-like face.
Despite the suffocating tension, his voice felt refreshing, like a cool breeze in spring.
"Chang'an has come to pay his respects to you seniors, and to speak plainly with you all.
The members of my Azure Cloud Li family are currently waiting in the shadows of this night.
The Zhao Clan truly has a deep foundation; my Elder Sister Changyao has tested your formation, and indeed, breaking it would not be the work of a single day."
Li Chang'an’s bluntness caused the expressions of everyone present to shift uneasily.
He went on, "However, if you Fellow Daoists of Duravia Trade Prefecture were to open it from the inside, it would save my Li family significant trouble, and for that, Chang'an would be profoundly grateful."
"You're dreaming!"
"Now look here, Li Chang'an! With a war upon us, do you really think you can mock us like this?"
"We are united as one. Li Chang'an, do you honestly believe such cheap tactics can divide us?"
"Hahaha!"
Boisterous laughter rang out from within the Great Formation.
Having spent centuries cultivating, how could they not see through Li Chang'an’s scheme?
He was trying to plant seeds of doubt, making them think that betraying their allies might be a way to survive.
But in this conflict, their homes had been leveled, and every clan had lost half their people.
How could such blood-deep hatred be forgotten?
The sounds of mockery grew louder in the night.
Li Chang'an’s expression remained unchanged. He showed no sign of irritation or sarcasm.
His voice, as steady and soothing as a leaf floating on water, had a way of calming the spirit.
"Years ago, rumors spread that His Majesty the Human Emperor was reaching the end of his life."
"This is common knowledge in our world."
"The Wu Clan and the Demon Clan are restless, Prince Yu has raised an army, and this era of chaos is already inevitable."
"Without the Human Emperor to hold them back, Heaven shows no mercy to our Azure Dusk Dynasty; reclusive powers everywhere are scrambling to claim a piece of this land."
The crowd began to frown, confused as to why Li Chang'an was bringing up facts that everyone already knew.
Li Chang'an let out a sigh and said, "Without exception, these powers have all committed unforgivable acts in the past, or they have threatened the stability of the Imperial Dynasty."
"However, the Human Emperor’s suppression of them was a double-edged sword."
"The benefit was that for many years, the Imperial Dynasty saw no major wars involving those above the Nascent Soul realm."
"The downside is what we see today: in this time of upheaval, the Imperial Dynasty is suffering from endless internal strife because of them."
"As for my Li family, the fellow Daoists of Azure Cloud Prefecture, and the various great Immortal Clans of Duravia Trade Prefecture, we have all become the most tragic victims in this chaos, forced to survive in the gaps between powers, or even becoming targets for these reclusive sects."
Hearing this, Zhao Jingmiao’s heart skipped a beat.
Their Zhao Clan knew nothing of the Li family, yet the Li family seemed to know their every secret.
"This is bad. Could it be... that the Li family knows about Ancestor Buqun using the formation to steal providence?!!"
He immediately barked, "Li Chang'an, you are a master of words and manipulation. What lies are you trying to use to trick the people now?!!"
However, Li Chang'an did not mention the stealing of providence.
With a look of genuine pity, he said,
"My Li family has no desire to be prey, nor can we endure any more sudden tragedies."
"Back then, we asked ourselves: how exactly can we survive in this shattered world?"
"To seek safety and avoid ruin, we made extensive preparations."
"Our Li family began to run simulations—calculating how we should react if ten Void Refining realm experts were to invade Azure Cloud Prefecture in this age of war."
"Ten?!!" Zhao Jingmiao’s face turned pale as a ghost.
He was almost certain that Li Chang'an wasn't bluffing.
Because his Zhao Clan had already seen the results: eight Divinity Transformation cultivators had entered Azure Cloud Prefecture, only to vanish like pebbles dropped into the ocean.
They had foolishly believed that eight Divinity Transformation experts could do as they pleased in Azure Cloud.
But... this terrifying Li family had been preparing for years to fight not Divinity Transformation cultivators, but Void Refining ones!
"Ten," Li Chang'an confirmed with a slight nod.
"A gentleman acts with honesty and transparency."
"Senior, you must be a Clan Elder of the Zhao Clan."
"When I say these things, I have no intention of insulting you; please do not take offense."
"You..."
Ignoring Zhao Jingmiao, and under the strange stares of the crowd from Duravia Trade Prefecture, Li Chang'an smiled and continued,
"But even that wasn't enough."
"Unknown enemies are far too risky for my family."
"In such a chaotic world, we can only do our best to minimize the threats."
"In truth, there isn't much difference between humans and magical beasts."
"Beasts are very protective of their territory, and humans are no different."
"The reclusive forces are like the strongest of those beasts; once they claim a territory, they won't easily try to take another's."
"As it happens, an elder in my clan has a deep understanding of these powerful reclusive forces."
Li Chang'an’s voice was quiet.
Yet, it hit the ears of Fairy Bai and Zhao Buqun inside the Immortal Domain’s Grotto-Heaven like a thunderclap from the heavens, leaving them dazed.
"What are you implying?!!"
Zhao Jingmiao seemed to grasp the meaning; his eyes slowly turned bloodshot.
Li Chang'an watched the expressions of the experts from Duravia Trade Prefecture and sighed.
"The land of these two prefectures is vast."
"A place of such peace is rare within the Azure Dusk Dynasty. Yet, we are the only ones who know how fragile these two prefectures truly are."
"We couldn't avoid the eventual arrival of a massive power—one that could crush us all."
"However, being crushed without a choice versus choosing how you are crushed are two very different things."
"And so, we eventually decided to 'invite' a reclusive force—one that was slightly weaker, one that we could eventually manage—to come here."
The night air turned freezing!
Li Chang'an’s sigh was colder than the ice and snow outside the Immortal Domain—so chilling that it made everyone inside the barrier shudder.
"For such a force, there are three outcomes."
"The first is that they stay out of worldly matters and only want resources; if so, we would compete fairly."
"The second is that they are kind-hearted, willing to protect our two prefectures—this was our ideal scenario."
"And the third..."
Li Chang'an’s tone turned icy.
In the darkness, a multitude of lights suddenly flared up—it was the army of Azure Cloud Prefecture, hidden outside the Immortal Domain.
Their faces were obscured by the night, yet the people inside the Great Formation could feel the savage intensity of the Azure Cloud forces.
They were like a pack of hungry demons.
This swarm of warriors emitted cold, ghostly flames that spread across the entire Duravia Trade Prefecture, ready to devour the prey they had long since set upon the table!