Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 549 Meeting

After leaving Li Qianxiao's place, Li Xiangming immediately met with several clan elders to continue the discussion. After several intense meetings, they finally reached a basic consensus.

That is, one urgent and one slow, one suppressing and one appeasing.

When dealing with the beast tide, we must act swiftly and decisively to eliminate its main force; however, when dealing with the delegations from Bailu Sect and Zhenhun Sect who come in turn, we must slow down and focus on appeasement and delaying them.

Why rush to deal with the beast tide?

Allowing the beast tide to run rampant would damage Pu Dong's potential for cultivation.

Those forces affected by the storm have had their decades of accumulated wealth destroyed in an instant. When the beast tide recedes, will they still have any attachment to Pudong?
If they don't come back, Pudong will become a "blank" area again, and the Li family's rule will be like a rootless duckweed.

As for the matter of Daishan, it is actually quite urgent.

The Zhenhun Sect's annexation of the Shengyi Sect poses a significant threat to the Li family. It is rare that the Bailu Sect is willing to take action against the Zhenhun Sect, so the Li family should actively respond and try to get a share of the spoils in Daishan.

However, the Qin family tied up most of the Li family's energy.

Currently, Li Qianxiong is leading two hundred elite members of his family, including Li Qianshi of the Qian generation, Li Xiangru of the Xiang generation, and Li Xiangfeng and Li Jihu, who were originally key members of the Demon Suppression Camp, to the Yunhuang Mine.

Those who remained were either early-stage Qi Refining disciples with shallow cultivation levels or held important positions in their families, making them difficult to relocate.

Of course, Li Qianxiong did not overlook the importance of Danggui Mountain, leaving behind at least three Foundation Establishment cultivators: Li Xiangming, Li Xiangyu, and Li Qianxiao, as well as the Guardian Hall controlled by Li Xianghua.

However, with these resources alone, they are not capable of intervening in the Dai Mountain area.

There's nothing we can do about dragging it out.

With the basic policy outlined, the clan elders' meeting gradually came to an end. The remaining specific countermeasures still needed to be carefully considered and could not be finalized in just one or two days.

At that moment, Li Chenglu spoke up: "Everyone, after the patriarch personally led the expedition, the defenses of Mount Kailu are now weak. If we were to divide our forces to suppress the demons at this time, it would be a great loss to the vitality of the Li clan."

The other elders exchanged glances, all somewhat puzzled.

What does it mean to say this now when you've already decided to deal with the beast tide?
Li Chengdian spoke first, asking, "Sixth Brother, you disagree? This was the policy set by your fourth branch."

After saying that, he glanced at Li Xiangming.

Li Xiangming is undoubtedly a proponent of war on the issue of the beast tide.

In fact, Li Qianxiong and many clan elders all adopted a "delaying tactic" in dealing with the beast tide.

After all, the beast tide has not yet reached Danggui Mountain, and the dead are all outsiders. What does it have to do with my Li family?
Even if the beast tide really comes, the two-hundred-mile-long Dangui Mountain might suffer, but Tailai Peak is protected by the Nanming Li Huo Formation, making it as solid as a rock! In that case, why should we use our weak bodies to do the thing of fighting tigers?

However, Li Xiangming gave a reason that no one could refuse.

Firstly, the beast tides rise and fall unpredictably. Currently, Pudong is being devoured by hundreds of beast tides. Some feel a chill run down their spines, unaware that this is precisely when the beast tides are at their weakest.

If we don't take this opportunity to defeat them one by one, it's hard to guarantee that the beast tides from various places won't regroup after some time—it should be noted that the beast tide at Lingyue Peak wasn't that large at the beginning.

By then, even if the Li family wanted to exterminate the demon, they would probably be powerless to do so.

Secondly, the Shengyi Sect's Heavenly Gang Abyss Formation, being a magic array, had a defensive power that surpassed even the Nanming Li Huo Formation, yet it was ultimately broken, leading to the annihilation of the Shengyi Sect.

Some might say that the Soul Suppressing Sect was behind it all!

Does the Li family have no enemies?

Allowing the beast tide to besiege Tailai Peak is itself an extremely risky thing to do.

Thirdly, the various forces in Pudong are in a state of panic and confusion—they are reluctant to give up the foundation they have built up over the years, yet they are powerless to fight against the beast tide. This contradiction has intensified to its peak. At this time, the Li family's rallying cry can not only win over the hearts of the people and establish its hegemonic prestige, but also take the opportunity to gather a force that should not be underestimated, which in turn can stabilize the current turbulent situation of the Li family.

It was only through Li Xiangming's strong persuasion that the clan elders approved the overall strategy of "suppressing the demons." Who would have thought that Li Chenglu would cause such a commotion?
Faced with everyone's doubts, Li Chenglu stroked his beard and hair, shook his head and sighed, "How could I object to the result of everyone's discussion? It's just that if Xiangming and Xiangyu go to fight the beast tide, only Qianxiao will be left with Foundation Establishment combat power at home. You all know Qianxiao's condition. What if an enemy takes the opportunity to launch a sneak attack on Danggui Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, the elders fell silent.

The last time all Foundation Establishment cultivators were mobilized was when the Li family participated in the Battle of Nanbin. Decades have passed, and just when the Li family was showing signs of rising again, this scene has unfolded once more.

Everyone's heart unconsciously grew heavy.

Especially Li Chengzhi!

The current situation of the Li family is largely due to the downfall of Li Xiangren, who was from his eldest branch of the family. The fact that Li Xiangren was murdered right under his nose must have been a huge blow to him.

But as a clan elder, he was a man of unwavering resolve. At this moment, in addition to seeking revenge, he also wanted to protect the Li family.

"Sixth Brother, things have come to this point, what are your thoughts?"

Seeing Li Chengzhi ask the question, Li Chenglu no longer concealed his intentions and said loudly, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! The marriage alliance between my Li family and the Cao family has only lasted a few years and is currently in its honeymoon period. Why not sincerely invite the Cao family cultivators to Danggui Mountain to oversee things and alleviate any concerns?"

"Cao family?"

Li Chengzhi's expression changed slightly, and he turned his gaze to Li Xiangming.

Just as he was about to speak, Li Chenglu interrupted, "Isn't the reason our family agreed to Xiangming and Yanjun's marriage for this very moment? What are you all hesitating for? Do you intend to put the Li family in a precarious situation?"
-
Yuyuan Garden.

In the quiet courtyard, a slender figure leaned against the window, trimming the potted plants along the windowsill.

In the potted plant is a Begonia intoxicatingly beautiful—this begonia is unique, with petals that are translucent crimson-purple, edged with a sickly white ring, and a few drops of crystal-clear nectar seeping from the stamens, refracting amber light in the sunlight.

A breeze blew, and the Drunken Heart Crabapple trembled slightly, its delicate petals rustling softly. The swaying shadows of the flowers were cast on the bluish-gray stone wall, outlining an almost complete human figure.

"Resonance?"

Cao Yanjun suddenly turned around, and the scissors fell to the ground with a "clatter".

However, the room was empty, with only the slanting sunlight casting long, thin shadows of the flowers. The outlines on the stone wall were still swaying, but they were not human figures; they were clearly just a few crooked flower branches.

Cao Yanjun silently picked up the scissors, turned around to look at Zuixintang, and intended to continue pruning, but suddenly lost interest.

Just as I was feeling down, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the courtyard.

Soon, the noise subsided, and a person draped in a green robe gently pushed open the courtyard gate. Cao Yanjun stared at the familiar figure, frozen motionless by the window.

"Yanji?"

Only after a soft exclamation did Cao Yanjun turn around tremblingly.

Looking at the frail woman before him, on the verge of tears, Li Xiangming quickly stepped forward, tidied her disheveled hair, then embraced her and whispered, "I'm back."

"Why are you only just getting back?"

Cao Yanjun's tears finally broke free. She clung tightly to Li Xiangming, her fingernails digging into the green robe, leaving deep wrinkles.

Li Xiangming seemed oblivious, gently patting Cao Yanjun's back.

(End of this chapter)