The Legendary Son-in-law of the Emperor Chapter 1699: 1696: Liu Dali

While Ye Xuan was busy neutralizing the clandestine agents from the Evil God Sect, a fierce conflict unfolded at the Forbidden Land of Fu Lei Heaven. Qin Duancang and his allies launched a devastating offensive, successfully quelling the rampaging Great Sage of the Evil God Sect.

Shortly thereafter, they reactivated the Emperor Array, forcing the treacherous Evil Dragon back into submission. Once the immediate crisis had passed, Qin Duancang turned his attention toward exposing the internal turncoat. As the Saint Master of Fu Lei Heaven and a renowned veteran, he was acutely aware of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the turmoil. In truth, even as the Nine Tripods Conference commenced, he had already resolved to use the event as a pretext to purge the traitors entrenched within the four great families.

Qin Duancang eventually conferred with Ye Xuan, gathering significant intelligence from him. Upon confirming that Wang Litian was indeed the hidden traitor, Qin Duancang remained remarkably composed, as if the revelation merely validated his long-standing suspicions. At that very moment, Wang Litian and his cohort of family heads were being held captive by Ye Xuan in a secluded part of the Heavenly State. Qin Duancang requested permission to take Wang Litian into custody, but Ye Xuan demurred, diverting the conversation toward the mysterious Heavenly Cauldron.

Qin Duancang hesitated before admitting, “Among the current four families, only Wang Teng possessed the affinity to be recognized by the Heavenly Cauldron. For others, a forced integration would likely result in them becoming mere vessels, effectively ending their lives.” Those tasked as Guardian Gods of Nine Provinces knew this danger all too well. However, with Wang Teng now crippled by Ye Xuan and entirely devoid of cultivation, he could no longer hold the artifact. Furthermore, it was quite clear that Ye Xuan had no intention of returning the Cauldron to him. “Do not worry, for I have already selected a candidate,” Ye Xuan replied with a faint smile, noting his intent to find a youth from the Liu Family. Though perplexed—given the lack of notable talent in that generation of the Liu lineage—Qin Duancang dared not question the decision. He was merely there to execute the directives of Emperor Ye.

Following Qin Duancang’s departure, Ye Xuan summoned a venerable Great Sage from the Liu Family to inquire about a specific individual. When the name “Liu Dali” was mentioned, the Great Sage appeared visibly stunned. Ye Xuan simply replied, “If he resides within your family, bring him to my presence.” Though the Great Sage arranged for an search, he remained inwardly skeptical, wondering if his clan had ever produced someone by such an unremarkable name. Soon enough, a scion of the Liu family arrived alongside Liu Dali. To the astonishment of the Elder, the man before them was a handsome youth with a refined bearing that stood in stark contrast to his pedestrian name. Silently acknowledging the youth’s existence, the Elder delivered him to Ye Xuan and promptly took his leave.

“Greetings, Senior,” Liu Dali said, his eyes reflecting a mixture of shock and reverence upon seeing Ye Xuan. This individual was none other than the master who had seized control of the Separation Supreme Lin Feiyan, whom Ye Xuan had defeated at Hengduan Mountain. Beyond his facade, he belonged to the Liu Family, one of the four prestigious powers of Fu Lei Heaven. After the collapse of the Sky Covering Demon Sect, he had returned to the Heavenly State under Ye Xuan’s mandate, eventually integrating back into the Liu clan by leveraging old connections. During his tenure, he had quietly monitored the Thunder Pond in the Forbidden Land on Ye Xuan’s behalf.

Ye Xuan dispensed with pleasantries, sliding the Heavenly Cauldron toward him. Liu Dali stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sudden development. “Your essence has recovered and even advanced beyond the Supreme Realm into the Great Venerate Realm, allowing you to wield this treasure,” Ye Xuan stated calmly. “Do not fail my expectations.” Knowing full well that he was merely a piece in Ye Xuan’s grand game, Liu Dali felt both honored and wary, fully aware that this opportunity was entirely due to his patron. He understood that Ye Xuan’s true power exceeded his grasp, and thus, he asked no questions, pledging his absolute loyalty.

Liu Dali provided a detailed report on the instability within the Thunder Pond. “It has shown signs of disturbance,” he explained, noting that the timing synced with incidents in the Endless Sea of the Divine Continent. “However, since the conclusion of the Nine Tripods Conference, the tremors have quieted.” Having prioritized this duty, he remained vigilant over the forbidden currents. “Let us investigate,” Ye Xuan declared, instantly teleporting them to the most treacherous landmark in the region—the Thunder Pond. As one of the Xuanhuang Nine Prohibitions, it stood alongside the most lethal zones in existence. The site was permanently saturated with cataclysmic lightning, a place where mere proximity guaranteed death to the unprepared. While some practitioners of the Thunder Dao viewed it as a sacred site for enlightenment, most feared the violent energy born from the remnants of a heavenly tribulation.

The area surrounding the pond was a vortex of chaos, yet Ye Xuan knew that a massive secret realm lay trapped within its core. Gazing into the churning lightning, Ye Xuan observed that the activity, while subtle, was undeniably present. “Continue your surveillance. Should any signs of life emerge, apprise me immediately,” Ye Xuan commanded. After providing guidance on mastering the Heavenly Cauldron, Ye Xuan departed. He turned his focus toward the Dao Chu Ancient Land, intending to consult with the Old Immortal Shop. Unlike other realms where he lacked personal ties, the Dao Chu Ancient Land held figures like the Suspended Life Old Immortal, whose insights would be invaluable.