74: Battle of Dharma and Taoism

As the Li Family Cultivators from Huangyun Mountain arrived, the joyful atmosphere instantly turned silent.

Although they were the Huangyun Li Family, how were they any different from the Purple Mansion Family Qingyun Li Family?

Lin Xianzhi and Lin Houyuan of the Lin Family both had extremely grim expressions; they naturally wouldn't invite the Huangyun Li Family, who had been suppressing them at every turn.

Yet, they didn't expect the other party to come uninvited.

And even ride black clouds to deliver Medium Grade spirit water!

This was a blatant attempt to trample on the Lin Family's reputation and to pressure other Loose Cultivators, Qi Refining Families, and weaker Foundation Establishment Families not to side with the Lin Family.

If the Lin Family were to back down now, they might be perceived as weak and incompetent by all the other Families.

This move by the Xing County Market would also be completely ruined.

But if they were aggressive, let alone facing the Qingyun Li Family, even against this branch of the Huangyun Li Family, they would be greatly outmatched.

The Li Family Cultivators who arrived included one Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, two Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators, and five Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivators.

Lin Xianzhi's eyes were terribly grim, not to mention Lin Houyuan's.

Just then, Lin Shiming took the initiative to speak:

"May I ask, Fellow Daoist of the Li Family, since you arrived on black clouds, has your name changed to the Black Cloud Li Family, or does the Li Family possess the omen of black clouds?"

"Senior Brother He, Immortal Master He of the Qingxuan Sect, has come to offer congratulations and a Medium Grade Magical Artifact. The Li Family offers Medium Grade spirit water. May I also ask, are you instructing Senior Brother He on how to conduct himself?"

Lin Shiming's words were incredibly sharp, aimed directly at the Li Family Cultivators.

This made all the Li Family Cultivators' expressions extremely ugly. Being lectured by a Qi Refining Stage junior, how could they endure it? They were about to erupt in anger.

Yet, they heard Lin Houyuan's expression return to calm as he slowly spoke:

"So it is Fellow Daoist Li. Since you've come from afar, you are all guests and can naturally sit down for a drink!"

"As for my son's nonsensical words, with Fellow Daoist's demeanor and grace, you need not take them to heart."

Those who understood could naturally discern the meaning behind the words of Lin Houyuan and his son; on the surface, they were polite, but in reality, they were subtly insulting the Li Family Cultivators.

However, Li Chengling, the leader of the Li Family, gave He An a deep look and chose not to continue the confrontation. Instead, acting as if he hadn't understood, he simply picked a table among the Foundation Establishment Family tables and sat down calmly.

The small interlude during the celebration completely disrupted everyone's mood. An hour later, the banquet dispersed.

And the true sermon of the Foundation Establishment Grand Assembly began.

A three-meter-high platform had already been erected in front of the Lin Family's shop.

For sermons, a Foundation Establishment Immortal Master's preaching platform is three meters high, accommodating a thousand attendees; a Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator's preaching platform is six meters high, accommodating ten thousand attendees; and a Golden Core True Person's preaching platform is nine meters high, accommodating one hundred thousand attendees.

Lin Houyuan ascended the high platform and began to preach quietly.

Contrary to expectations, the Li Family did not cause any more trouble, as if their purpose in coming was merely to disgust the Lin Family.

The sermon also proceeded extremely smoothly, so smoothly that the Lin Family had an ominous premonition.

Lin Shiming, below the stage, was also closely watching the Li Family. He absolutely did not believe that the Li Family would only go so far as to cause a little disgust; otherwise, if they had retaliated earlier and put He An in the open, the Li Family members should have left.

Their not leaving indicated a conspiracy.

The oppressive atmosphere made Lin Houyuan's sermon not flow smoothly, and Lin Shiming listened with a sense of vague understanding, ambiguous and unclear.

And for other Loose Cultivators, it was even more so.

Without any gains from the sermon, it naturally failed to win the favor of the Loose Cultivators, and they would not have a good impression of patronizing the Xing County Market in the future, even if it was caused by the Li Family.

However, it should be known that everyone who came had prepared a generous gift. If they gained nothing from the sermon, their perception of the Lin Family would naturally not be very good.

Fortunately, after no accidents occurred, Lin Houyuan's state also adjusted in time, especially when he touched upon the preparations for a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.

Immediately, the eyes of those Late Qi Refining Stage Loose Cultivators lit up, and they watched intently.

After two hours of preaching, the sermon finally concluded.

The Loose Cultivators were still reluctant to leave, and at this moment, Li Chengling of the Li Family, who had been silent, stood up again and said:

"Fellow Daoist Lin's sermon is, in the end, mere theoretical talk. Why not have a Dao debate through combat to demonstrate for all the Fellow Daoists present?"

Here it comes, Lin Shiming's expression subtly changed.

He finally understood why the Li Family had been sitting there quietly; it was all for this moment.

A sermon is an act of bestowing blessings upon a region, but at this moment, the Li Family was using it to completely put the Lin Family on the hot seat.

If they refused, it would be like 'hanging a sheep's head and selling dog meat' (a false front).

If they agreed, the two Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators Li Chengling brought were probably not simple.

And his father had just broken through, so even if he miraculously saved his life, he would likely suffer severe injuries, and his future Dao path would be hopeless.

This move by the Li Family was a complete and utter open conspiracy.

Yet, the Lin Family could not refuse.

Even with He An present.

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

"My father just broke through to Foundation Establishment less than a year ago, and his Foundation is not yet stable. If it's a Dao debate, why don't we have a Qi Refining Stage debate instead? If your Li Family can't even defeat a 'Shi Generation' Cultivator like me, who is just over twenty, then there's no need for it!"

Just then, Lin Shiming stood up.

Before saying these words, Lin Shiming had naturally observed the Li Family Cultivators. Perhaps they were originally targeting his father, so none of the Cultivators they brought were at the Qi Refining Stage Ninth Level. Instead, there were several junior Cultivators from the Li Family, the highest of whom was only at the Late Qi Refining Stage Eighth Level, and two others were like him, still at the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level.

Upon hearing this, Li Chengling's gaze once again turned displeased towards Lin Shiming.

Lin Shiming's confidence naturally made him realize there might be an issue. This person was a Named Disciple of Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator, so it was normal for him to have some tricks up his sleeve.

But if the Li Family also tried to use their methods against the Lin Family, that would be a huge mistake. Although they hadn't brought any Qi Refining Stage elites this time, the Li Family was a Purple Mansion Family, and these junior Qi Refining Stage Cultivators were all fully equipped and top-notch fighters.

"Li Yucheng, you go and play with the young friend from the Lin Family. Remember to go easy; not all Cultivators are elites like those of the Li Family." Li Chengling directly waved his hand, sending a Qi Refining Stage Eighth Level Cultivator into the arena.

This scene naturally made many people secretly curse Li Chengling for being despicable.

He An couldn't stand it anymore and spoke, his face full of displeasure:

"Fellow Daoist Li, the Li Yucheng you're sending is at the Qi Refining Stage Eighth Level."

Li Chengling not taking the Lin Family seriously actually meant he wasn't taking He An seriously either, especially since Li Chengling's suppression of the Lin Family in Qingyun Market also significantly reduced He An's profits.

"Oh, I didn't notice this young friend is quite old and still at the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level. My apologies for my poor eyesight!" Li Chengling immediately burst into laughter, then looked at another young man.

"Li Yucheng, you go. You are both at the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level and both from Foundation Establishment Families. It's fine if you lose control and accidentally injure him."

Li Chengling's blatant instruction for Li Yucheng to kill Lin Shiming immediately made everyone secretly curse the old man as shameless.

But at this moment, the pressure completely fell upon Lin Shiming.