He might not have set out for the sole purpose of avenging his nephew, Lin Zhen, but he intended to use this opportunity to consolidate the Lin Clan and establish his own authority. The caution and careful plotting of the early stages suddenly erupted at this moment, with the force of a thunderclap. Even Yuan Mobai had to admit that this move was somewhat unexpected by the Celestial Master Mansion. However, there were also some developments that took Lin Che by surprise: the capability of Xu Yuanzhen herself. This peerless genius, who had repeatedly proven her talent and strength, astounded onlookers once more by turning the tide in a dire situation of sudden attack. She virtually turned the tables amidst the grand ceremony of the Lin Clan.

"Nearly... what does that mean?" Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. His master, Yuan Mobai, seldom used such mystifying terms. Lei Jun speculated that perhaps the situation was too complex, and the Celestial Master Mansion was still clarifying and organizing further details.

Fortunately, Yuan Mobai didn't let him wait too long, as more detailed information soon arrived.

The grand ceremony of the Lin Clan collapsed midway. The distorted force that resulted nearly drained half of Poyang Lake. As the Void shattered, followers of the Celestial Master Mansion and members of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan were forced to scatter and avoid the area. Among those at the very center of the battlefield, three individuals ultimately vanished into the broken Void: Xu Yuanzhen of the Celestial Master Mansion; Lin Che, the newly appointed Clan Chief of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan; and Lin Feng, an Elder of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan at the Eightfold Heaven Realm. The whereabouts and fates of these three remained unknown.

The Battle of Poyang Lake concluded with an unexpectedly bizarre and mutually damaging outcome, and the conflict itself was moving towards its end. Without a doubt, the Jiangzhou Lin Clan suffered heavier losses. Coupled with Lin Zhen and others before, they effectively lost five Great Scholars of the Upper Three Heavens in a short period. Although the people of the Celestial Master Mansion were also shocked by the strangeness and brutality of the battle at Poyang Lake, they quickly regrouped. They then seized the initiative to continue their assault on the Lin Clan. The Lin Clan retreated en masse, withdrawing to regroup and defend their Jiangzhou ancestral land. This battle essentially concluded with the victory of the Celestial Master Mansion. The only question, perhaps, concerned the fate of Xu Yuanzhen.

After a few days of anxiety, Lei Jun suddenly received another message from Yuan Mobai. The news was good: Xu Yuanzhen had sent word. However, it wasn't perfect. For now, she was adrift in the Void, influenced by the chaotic currents, with no clear time for escape. The sporadic messages she managed to send back, however, made both Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun unsure whether to laugh or cry:

"No need to look for me..."

"Having quite a good time..."

"By the way, Lin Feng is already dead."

At times like this, I can only say, that's so like you... Lei Jun brought a hand to his forehead, at a loss for words. Well, okay, as long as she's safe, that's what matters.

Lei Jun lowered his hand, his gaze flickering. Although Xu Yuanzhen was temporarily lost, she was unharmed, and he could breathe a sigh of relief. Conversely, there were surely some whose tension must have tightened again: the Li Clan members.

Regarding the outcome of that battle, it's uncertain how others viewed it. However, some within the Li Clan were probably more than satisfied, wishing they could light incense and celebrate with their ancestors. The Celestial Master Mansion's biggest internal threat and its greatest external enemy had almost annihilated each other. Could there be anything more wonderful? The Li Clan seemed to see the opportunity to reorganize the Celestial Master Mansion within reach.

Of course, it was not as if they did not want to kick the Jiangzhou Lin Clan while they were down and permanently resolve the issue with their age-old nemesis. The Jiangzhou Lin Clan was a threat to everyone on Dragon Tiger Mountain. For a thousand years, both sides had been deeply entrenched in mutual grievances and bloodshed, a truth that applied regardless of whether one bore the surname Li or not. However, representatives from the Qingzhou Ye Clan arrived in Jiangzhou at the first opportunity. With the Jiangzhou Lin Clan tightening their defenses on their ancestral land, it was difficult for outsiders to launch an effective attack. After gaining the upper hand, the Celestial Master Mansion's offensive did not maintain its momentum indefinitely. Apart from those left to monitor movements in Jiangzhou, the majority of the Celestial Master Mansion's followers returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain to recuperate. Xu Yuanzhen's absence revived some of the Li Clan's ambitions. But soon, news that Xu Yuanzhen was still alive spread, dousing some members of the Li Family with cold water and sending a chill through their hearts.

「In the distant Northern Lands, far south of the Grand River.」

The ancestral land of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou. Within the ancestral mansion, an old man slowly read a piece of paper, word by word, sentence by sentence. In front of him, several people stood silently.

After a long time, the old man put down the letter and looked at the people before him. "Qingzhou," he asked, "has someone already gone to Jiangzhou?"

A middle-aged man replied, "Yes, it is said to be Elder Hongzhen."

The old man nodded slightly. "If that's the case, let Jiangzhou be for now."

The middle-aged man asked softly, "What about Xinzhou?"

The old man took out a small, square box—a Confucianism Box containing its own small world. He pushed the Confucianism Box towards the middle-aged man. "Send this to Xinzhou. The people of the Li Family will know how to choose."

The middle-aged man hurriedly took the box. "Father means... Li Hongyu?" he asked.

The man knew what was inside the box: it was a rare and precious treasure. This artifact was of great benefit to those who practiced Daoist Talismans and the Thunder Method. Although it's not to say that one item could determine the fate of the world, if a master of the Daoist Talisman Sect already at the threshold between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers obtained this artifact, they would have the chance to ascend to a higher level, successfully breaking into the Eightfold Heaven Realm. This artifact had been in the possession of the Ye Clan of Jinzhou for many years.

The old man said, "It was originally meant for Li Zhengxuan, but he lost the Celestial Master's Sword." Losing the Celestial Master's Sword didn't mean that Li Zhengxuan had no future or was unworthy. Rather, it meant his state of mind would face great difficulties because of it. Unless, one day, he could retrieve the Celestial Master's Sword with his own hands, this matter would cast a lingering shadow over his heart. Under normal circumstances, it would be tolerable. However, if he wished to attempt the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers, he could be almost certain of having no chance at all. Even with the help of the treasure in the Confucianism Box, it would be in vain. Without retrieving the Celestial Master's Sword personally, if Li Zhengxuan dared to attempt the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Great Realms, the only outcome would be utter annihilation. Now, however, the Li Family needed another High Merit Master of the Eightfold Heaven Realm. With Li Zhengxuan's prospects dim, the only choices were Li Hongyu and Li Ziyang.

"Father, does Li Hongyu have a chance?" the middle-aged man asked softly.

The elder replied, "She stands at a crossroads—one step to heaven, one step to the abyss."

Everyone present nodded silently. Li Hongyu was once considered a prodigy, comparable to her elder brother, the former Celestial Master Li Qingfeng. But a single misstep in the past led to her continuously lagging behind; to some extent, it became a complex in her heart. Li Hongyu never acknowledged Li Qingfeng's superiority, yet she was always overshadowed by him. Now, with Li Qingfeng's fall, her heart was not unburdened. Her next move was indeed at a critical juncture. If she could break through and reestablish herself, then this could indeed be an opportunity. As for Li Ziyang, another High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion from the Li Family—while not devoid of chances, he was considered slightly less promising than Li Hongyu.

"But keep an eye on him," said the elder. "Should there be major changes in the future, some plans could fall to Li Ziyang—he is more suitable than either Li Zhengxuan or Li Hongyu."

The middle-aged man acknowledged, "Yes, Father." He then left with the Confucianism Box.

The elder turned to the others. "If you have any thoughts, speak now."

One of them said softly, "Uncle, is it necessary to continue supporting the Li Clan? The Lin Clan of Jiangzhou is indeed secretly weak, and the Celestial Master Mansion is also vulnerable at the moment. If we are to eliminate them, now is an opportune time."

The elder was not impatient and spoke calmly: "Firstly, an arrow is already nocked to the bowstring in the North and must be shot; dividing our attention to the South would be unwise. Secondly, Xu Yuanzhen has not perished but is merely adrift."

Hearing this, everyone nodded silently. A top expert wandering outside, difficult to track, would be less concerning if they had lingering attachments. If truly unencumbered by any ties, their potential danger would increase manifold. During the Ancient Era, there were top Loose Cultivator experts. But as time progressed towards the modern era, such figures became increasingly rare, and not without reason.

"How are the preparations for Youzhou?" the elder asked.

One of them respectfully answered, "The messages for Youzhou have been properly prepared."

The elder nodded lightly. "Then, we shall wait for the opportune moment."

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