In the Star Region, there was talk going around.
People said there were issues with the Li family, that some cultivators among them had been secretly practicing ancient demonic arts, continuously killing other cultivators and absorbing their blood and spiritual power to cultivate.
While such talks were happening, no one in the Star Region actually cared.
So what if you're a demonic cultivator? There's no shortage of those in the Star Region.
And it's not like ordinary cultivators kill any less frequently.
So even though people knew messages were spreading about demonic cultivators appearing in the Li family, no major sect was going to come investigate and settle scores. Everyone just passed messages around and watched the commotion unfold.
But there was one sect that did intend to confront them.
Half a month after the messages had spread, Jia Bai, leader of the Hundred Souls Sect, brought many disciples to surround the Li family residence.
His reasoning was simple.
"Acting in the place of Heaven," Jia Bai laughed.
His blue-robed disciples stood to the side, faint smiles at the corners of their mouths, not saying a word as they watched the Li family cultivators being besieged.
The Li family cultivators had vigilant expressions as they looked up at Jia Bai standing high above them. The atmosphere was exceedingly grim.
Jia Bai tilted his head to the side a little and glanced back, lightly waving a folded emerald green fan in his hand. He chuckled,
"Come on out and speak."
Behind him walked out the leaders of seven major orthodox sects, their expressions solemn. They berated the Li family cultivators below,
"The methods you Li family cultivators employ are far too cruel, launching sneak attacks to kill disciples of our seven major sects. And then you falsely accuse our seven major sects in return. Today, our seven major sects have joined forces with Mount Baihun to act in the place of Heaven."
"Well said!" Jia Bai called out loudly. He tapped his fan and smiled,
"What you said is entirely right. The Hundred Souls Sect has always been on good terms with the seven major sects. And I personally interacted with them during the Heavenly Sword Sea incident, so our relationship is quite deep and even closer now."
"Since the seven major sects have suffered this indignity, my Hundred Souls Sect naturally cannot sit idly by. Li family, you act in this way yet you do not intend to provide me an explanation?"
His eyes narrowed slightly and he smiled again as he asked,
"I'm right, aren't I? Li Yang?"
His sharp words were directed straight at the gold-robed woman below. The other Li family cultivators around her wore indignant expressions as they glared fixedly up at Jia Bai in the sky.
There were also spectator cultivators to the side, mostly invited by the Hundred Souls Sect. They served no other purpose than to create a bigger spectacle for Jia Bai.
These spectators were here just to watch the show. They wouldn't intervene in the fight between the two sides; in fact, they hoped the battle would become more intense and end with one side annihilating the other. That way, the rankings of powerhouses in the Star Region would have an opening freed up.
Li Yang's expression remained tranquil, showing no emotional fluctuations. She retorted,
"And you think such despicable methods can prove your own worth?"
"What despicable methods?" Jia Bai shook his head in puzzlement then laughed again. "If you bow your head and admit your wrongs to me now, your Li family can avoid extermination later on. Think it over carefully."
"Daydreams," Li Yang flatly responded.
A palm stretched out from her sleeve, glowing with golden light that gathered to form a circular shape, truly resembling a blazing sun.
"Oh my," Jia Bai lightly exclaimed. An excited smile emerged on his face and he continued, "I just love that proud disposition of yours, entirely unwilling to show weakness and forcing yourself to be strong."
His smiling expression grew even more delighted.
"If I could see you groveling at my feet and begging for mercy, it would be such a wonderfully beautiful sight. I truly look forward to that."
It had to be said, Jia Bai was somewhat warped.
Li Yang gave no verbal reply. Her eyes became sharp and fierce. With a wave of her sleeve, her entire body flickered up into the air to face Jia Bai directly. She stated coldly,
"No need to mock too much. Just bring out all your hidden cards. You should know two cultivators at the Supplementing the Heavens Realm isn't enough."
The surrounding cultivators were immediately shocked by her statement.
Since Li Yang dared to speak so boldly, it meant she was well prepared, at least enough to be superior over Jia Bai and the other two Supplementing the Heavens Realm cultivators present.
This wasn't an impulsive decision to besiege them. Instead, it was a bitter struggle that had long since been planned out by both sides!
Jia Bai lightly laughed and tapped his fan. His mouth still had that faint smiling expression, showing no anger at all. He shook his head.
"With just your Inverting the Ocean Realm divine abilities, that's merely parlor tricks in the face of my Supplementing the Heavens Realm. A little too lacking to see."
What he said was true. At Jia Bai's level, Li Yang's Inverting the Ocean Realm abilities truly seemed a little lacking.
Li Yang gave no reply. With a wave of her sleeve, her entire body's silhouette flickered up into the empty air to face Jia Bai. She stated heavily,
"No need to mock so much. Just bring out all your hidden cards. You should know two Supplementing the Heavens Realm cultivators isn't enough."
Upon hearing this statement, the surrounding cultivators were shocked once more.
Li Yang dared to speak so boldly meant she was well prepared, at least enough to be superior over Jia Bai and the other two Supplementing the Heavens Realm cultivators present. This wasn't an impulsive decision to besiege them, but instead a bitter struggle that had long been planned out!
Jia Bai lightly chuckled and tapped his fan, the faint smile never leaving the corners of his mouth. He shook his head. "Here I have two cultivators at the Supplementing the Heavens Realm while you only have one at the Inverting the Ocean Realm. If we're revealing hidden cards, shouldn't you go first?"
"The first," Li Yang stated.
Ripples disturbed the void beside her and an ancient and unadorned sword emerged, lacking a sheath with jade green lines meandering along its body.
The one grasping the sword was a white-haired elder. His face was covered in fine scales and he smiled as he spoke,
"The White Sun Galaxy Sect has long heard that Jia Bai of the Fourteen Sons of the Vast Sky is quite arrogant. But meeting you today, I don't see much arrogance at all. Rather, it seems you fail to recognize blessings and misfortunes."
Jia Bai let out a quiet laugh but showed no anger. He retorted,
"No matter how ignorant I may be of blessings and misfortunes, it is still better than a mere dragon spawn like you wielding the Dragon Slaying Sword. Isn't that right, Elder Charcoal Spirit Dragon Sword Cultivator?"
The elder's eyes narrowed slightly and he disdainfully stated, "The Dragon Slaying Sword doesn't just slay dragons. When used to cut down other things, its might is even greater."
"I hope so," Jia Bai lightly laughed once more. His gaze turned back to Li Yang as he chuckled, "With just one cultivator at the Supplementing the Heavens Realm who happens to be a sword cultivator, the meaning still feels lacking. Why not add more? Otherwise I'll have trouble getting excited to play around."
"I'll take your arrogant head to play with later," an icy cold voice rang out. Behind Li Yang had already appeared a gold-armored cultivator, his body surging with a dazzling, mighty aura.
When he appeared, even Jia Bai's expression froze for a moment. Then Jia Bai couldn't help but applaud and laugh loudly, "Wonderful, truly wonderful! To think that even Huang Can would make an appearance. Could it be most of the Fourteen Sons of the Vast Sky intend to gather today?!"