312: Chapter 312 Betrayal of the Li Family

"Shut up!"

The Grand Elder shouted angrily, interrupting him, his voice filled with pain and heartbreak.

"Are you still unrepentant even now?! Murdering your own kin and performing Possession on a clansman—such acts are intolerable by heaven's principles and unforgivable by Family rules!"

The smile on Grand Elder Li's face gradually faded, and his gaze became calm.

"Elder Brother, things have come to this; the die is cast, and there is no turning back."

"Instead of dwelling on an irrevocable past and wasting time debating right and wrong, it is better to think about how to maximize the benefits of the established facts and truly use them for the Family's future."

His gaze swept over the silent Elders whose eyes were flickering with uncertainty as he continued his manipulation:

"The remaining branch lineage Disciple's Aptitude and Heart-Nature cannot compare at all to a direct descendant painstakingly cultivated by the Main Lineage. To let him carry a Heaven-Defying Opportunity like the Indestructible Dao Body, only for it to fail to reach Major Achievement due to his limited Aptitude—would that not be a waste of a godsend?"

"Rather than that, it would be better to have him surrender his Origin to pave the way for our Family's true Genius! This is the most effective use of Family resources and the greatest contribution he can make to the Family!"

After he finished speaking, the surroundings fell into a dead silence.

The expressions of the various Elders varied greatly.

Some had flashes of indignation and anger in their eyes, some had brows furrowed in deep thought, and others kept their gazes lowered, their thoughts unknown.

But it was palpable that their hearts were wavering.

A moment later, the Grand Elder slowly closed his eyes, appearing to have aged many years in an instant.

When he opened them again, the fire of anger seemed to have subsided, replaced by a deep exhaustion and a certain helpless weighing of options.

He spoke in a low voice, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"Grand Elder Li's murder and Possession of a clansman is a violation of Family rules; the facts are undeniable. However, this matter is of great importance..."

He paused:

"This matter shall be discussed at a later date."

"Grand Elder Li, you are to go to the Cold Cave in the back mountain immediately to reflect in seclusion! Until the Family's final decision, you are not to take a single step out, nor are you to contact anyone!"

Hearing this, Grand Elder Li's face remained expressionless, but he laughed inwardly.

Having been an Elder for so many years, he understood all too well what these old fogies were thinking.

So-called Family rules could always be flexible in the face of absolute interest and power.

The fact that the Grand Elder did not kill him on the spot, or even immediately cripple him, meant they were wavering and weighing the pros and cons.

He bowed slightly to the Grand Elder and the other Elders, his posture appearing submissive:

"Xingming obeys your command."

At that moment, Li Xinghe, who had been suppressed all this while, felt his eyes nearly burst with rage upon hearing these words. He used all his strength to let out a heart-wrenching roar:

"Grandfather!!!"

"What Grand Elder Li violated is the first iron law of the Family—murdering kin and performing Possession on a clansman! According to the law, his body and soul should be extinguished!! How can you discuss this later?! Did Xingchen die for nothing?! Where is the Family's law?!"

Looking at the grief-stricken Li Xinghe, a flash of pity and complexity crossed the Grand Elder's eyes, eventually turning into a heavy sigh:

"Xinghe... I understand how you feel. Regarding Xingchen's matter, the Family will surely give you, and everyone, an explanation."

"It's just that this matter is indeed of great importance and involves many things; it cannot be decided in a moment. We need to deliberate further and weigh the pros and cons. You... calm down first."

Having said that, he waved his hand and turned to leave.

Li Xinghe lowered his head. The Grand Elder's words were like a cold iron hammer, completely shattering the last shred of illusion he had regarding the Family's justice and kinship.

An indescribable anger and disappointment, mixed with the agonizing pain of losing his brother, surged within his heart.

He slowly raised his head, his lips moving slightly:

"Heh... Family... weighing options..."

"From this day forward..."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the Elders with their varying expressions, speaking each word with decisive finality:

"I, Li Xinghe, voluntarily leave the Li Clan Immortal Family."

"From now on, all ties between me and the Li Clan are severed; we have nothing more to do with each other!"

Boom!

These words were like a sudden thunderclap!

The Grand Elder whipped his head around, his eyes filled with unbelievable shock and grief:

"Xinghe! What did you say?! Say that again?!"

The other Elders also widened their eyes, their faces written with shock and annoyance!

Leaving the Family?!

An Elder who was never close to Li Xinghe's lineage and valued the Family's overall interests more immediately darkened his face and shouted sternly:

"Li Xinghe! You are insolent!"

"Your cultivation, your Cultivation Technique, every bit of cultivation resource you've consumed since childhood, and even your current skills and status—which of these wasn't the result of the Family's full efforts and careful nurturing?! Without the Family, where would you be today?! What right do you have to talk about leaving the Family?!"

Li Xinghe looked at the Elder who was questioning him sternly; there was no ripple in his eyes, only a frozen calm.

He spoke slowly, his words full of determination:

"What I owe the Li Family... I, Li Xinghe, will slowly repay in the future."

"But today, I am definitely leaving this Li Family."

After speaking, he looked at no one else and turned directly, intending to walk toward the Family's main gates.

"You dare!"

Seeing this, the Elder who had shouted earlier grew even more enraged, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

Li Xinghe had been cultivated to the Middle Stage of the Profound Immortal realm, was battle-hardened, and his talent and Heart-Nature were both top-tier; he could be said to be the undisputed number one of the Li Clan Immortal Family's younger generation!

If he were allowed to truly leave the Family today, it would be more than just losing a Genius for the Li Clan; it would be a massive disgrace and an incalculable loss!

The Elder acted almost instinctively!

He struck out with a palm from the air, his thick Middle Stage Profound Immortal immortal essence transforming into a massive earthy-yellow palm that crashed toward Li Xinghe, attempting to restrain him by force!

"Stay here!"

Li Xinghe did not even turn his head.

He merely gave a backhanded sweep with the Silver-white Immortal Sword in his hand!

Bang!

The massive earthy-yellow palm collided violently with that seemingly casual streak of Sword Qi!

The massive earthy-yellow palm was instantly sliced and torn apart, turning into earth-attribute Spiritual Qi that dissipated into the sky!

And that silver-grey Sword Qi continued unabated, even forcing the attacking Elder to retreat several steps in the air, his internal blood and energy churning, as a look of unbelievable horror appeared on his face!

How is this possible?!

Li Xinghe was clearly being suppressed by the Grand Elder's pressure, yet a hurried backhanded strike was actually this powerful?!

Only then did Li Xinghe slowly turn around, holding his unsheathed longsword with the tip pointing diagonally at the ground.

His eyes were like cold stars as they swept over the Elders in the air whose faces had changed drastically, finally landing on the Elder who had tried to stop him. His voice was bone-chillingly cold:

"I'd like to see—"

"Who dares to stop me today?!"

Although no overwhelming Aura erupted from him, that indomitable will actually caused all the Elders present to feel a surge of palpitations!

The air froze once again.

The Grand Elder looked at Li Xinghe below, who was pointing his sword at the Family with a resolute gaze. His lips trembled, but it ultimately turned into an even heavier sigh.

He knew that this grandson, whom he valued the most, had his heart completely chilled; he could no longer be kept.