136: Enveloped in divine sense, the Li family members were as if they were the lines on the palm of one's hand.

Qingzhou, Blazing Fire City.

This city is the Foundation upon which the Blazing Fire Li Family has stood for thousands of years.

The hundred-zhang high city walls were cast entirely from Third-tier Crimson Flame Stone, constantly emitting scorching heat waves that distorted the air.

Ordinary Yao Beasts didn't even have the courage to approach within a hundred-li radius.

Streets crisscrossed throughout the city, and the Cultivators coming and going all possessed strong auras. Occasionally, Foundation Establishment Immortal Masters would fly overhead, controlling Magical Artifacts and transforming into streaks of light.

The entire sky above the city was enveloped by a massive Crimson Light Barrier.

A Fourth-tier Low Grade Family Protecting Grand Formation—the [Blazing Sun Burning Heaven Formation].

This Formation drew upon the power of the Fire Vein deep underground, condensing an eternal Crimson Blazing Sun above the city, placing the entire city under perpetual searing heat.

However, the atmosphere in Blazing Fire City today was exceptionally oppressive; even the searing heat waves carried a hint of Killing Intent.

The Li Family, Deliberation Hall.

Dozens of high-ranking Li Family members, clad in Crimson Robes, sat solemnly upright. The weakest among them were all at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation level.

The hall was utterly silent, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard. Everyone's expression was extremely grim.

Seated in the main position was the Family Head, Li Xuanfeng, a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator, whose Face was so gloomy it seemed water could be wrung from it.

Bang!

He slammed his palm fiercely onto the heavy Jade Stone Table in front of him.

The sturdy Jade Stone Table instantly became covered in spiderweb-like cracks, then silently crumbled into a pile of dust on the floor.

“Who can tell me what in the hell is going on!”

Li Xuanfeng's voice was not loud, but the suppression within it revealed the terror of an impending volcanic eruption.

“Third Elder, Fifth Elder, and two Guest Elders—a total of four Golden Core True Persons!”

“Their Soul Lanterns extinguished one after another, all within the span of a single hour!”

“They went to hunt down a mere Foundation Establishment Stage brat! A peasant who crawled out of some unknown backwater!”

“Now, all four of them are dead!”

Li Xuanfeng's roar echoed through the hall, making the pillars hum.

“Who the hell tells me what is going on!”

The dozens of high-ranking Li Family members below were terrified into silence, subconsciously holding their breath.

Four Golden Core True Persons had fallen simultaneously.

This was the greatest loss the Li Family had suffered in the hundreds of years since its establishment.

After a long time, the oldest Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Elder finally stood up, trembling. His lips were quivering, and he could barely stand steady.

“F-Family Head...”

“Before their Soul Lanterns extinguished, Third Elder and the others crushed a Communication Jade Slip.”

“Inside the Jade Slip, there was only one name.”

“Shen Yuanmo.”

“Shen Yuanmo!”

Li Xuanfeng ground the name out through clenched teeth, his chest heaving violently, radiating an aura of madness.

Of course, he knew that name.

This was the brat who, at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion auction, had crippled his most valued son, Li Yan, with a single punch, right in front of all the Prodigies of Qingzhou.

This had caused his Blazing Fire Li Family to lose all Face and become the laughingstock of all Qingzhou.

He had thought that sending four Golden Core True Persons, including several Middle Golden Core Stage experts, to hunt down such a brat was already Killing a chicken with a butcher's knife and giving the opponent more than enough Face.

Yet, the butcher's knife had been used to kill the chicken, and the chicken had killed the knife wielder instead?

“Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!”

Li Xuanfeng paced back and forth on the main platform, howling like a madman.

“How could a Foundation Establishment Stage brat kill four of my Li Family's Golden Core Cultivators in such a short time!”

“He must have someone backing him! There must be a terrifying power we don't know about supporting him!”

“Investigate! Investigate for me!”

“Spare no expense! Find out everything about this Shen Yuanmo and the power behind him! I want them utterly annihilated!”

Li Xuanfeng's voice was filled with the Scent of Blood, causing everyone present to feel a wave of fear.

However, the moment his voice fell.

A calm voice, without any warning, drifted in from outside the hall, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

“No need to investigate.”

“I am here.”

Who is it?

Hearing this voice, all the high-ranking Li Family members in the hall instantly tensed up, and their Magic Power roared into operation within their bodies.

They abruptly turned their heads, looking toward the entrance of the hall.

Standing there, having appeared sometime unnoticed, was a young man in Green Robes.

His features were delicate, and his expression was calm. He stood there quietly, as if he had been standing there for a long time.

“Y-You... You are Shen Yuanmo?!”

Li Xuanfeng stared intently at the young man. Although it was their first meeting, he confirmed it instantly.

This person before him, who had silently bypassed the Li Family's layers of guards and penetrated the Fourth-tier Family Protecting Grand Formation personally overseen by the Old Ancestor.

The young man who appeared at the entrance of their Deliberation Hall was definitely the Shen Yuanmo they hated to the bone.

“H-How could you possibly get in here!”

A Li Family Elder cried out in surprise, his outstretched finger pointing at Shen Yuanmo, trembling incessantly.

This was the Core Strategic Location of the Blazing Fire Li Family—its very heart!

Not only were there countless Family Guards patrolling day and night outside, but it was also protected by the Fourth-tier [Blazing Sun Burning Heaven Formation], personally overseen by the Old Ancestor.

Even if a Nascent Soul True Lord personally arrived, it would be impossible to break in so silently without disturbing even a ripple of the Grand Formation.

“It's merely a Fourth-tier Formation.”

Shen Yuanmo's reply was dismissive, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

“In my view, it is riddled with flaws and utterly vulnerable.”

He was speaking the truth.

In the Face of his terrifying Divine Sense, comparable to the Nascent Soul Early Stage, and his Heaven-Defying Talent of [Insight into Origin].

All the Formation Nodes, Energy Circuits, and even the core Formation Eye of the [Blazing Sun Burning Heaven Formation] were clearly displayed in his mind, holding absolutely no secrets.

He didn't even need to actively break the Formation.

He merely followed the tiny gaps in the energy flow during the Formation's operation and strolled inside as if taking a leisurely walk.

“Arrogance!”

“Brat, no matter what Demonic Art you used to sneak into my Li Family!”

“Today, don't dream of leaving alive!”

Li Xuanfeng finally recovered from his immense shock. He stood up abruptly, and the terrifying aura of a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator burst forth, transforming into tangible Pressure that swept across the entire hall.

“All Elders, heed my order!”

“Form the Formation! Kill him for me!”

“Yes!”

Inside the hall, dozens of Li Family Elders responded simultaneously.

They instantly summoned their respective Magic Treasures—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, bells, tripods, rings, and seals—and various colored lights shot up into the sky.

Majestic Magic Power surged through the hall, about to blast this arrogant scoundrel, who didn't know his own limits, into dust on the spot.

However, just as they were preparing to strike.

“Everyone, stop!”

An aged yet authoritative voice suddenly rang out from the back of the hall.

The voice was not loud, but it was like an invisible tidal wave that instantly suppressed all Killing Intent and Magic Power fluctuations.

All the high-ranking Li Family members froze their movements, their Magic Treasures suspended in mid-air.

Everyone immediately withdrew their Magic Treasures, turned around in unison, and bowed deeply toward the direction the voice came from.

“Respectfully welcoming, Old Ancestor!”