"Sizzle... Sizzle..."

In front of her, the thunder talisman gradually took shape, its purple light converging and dazzling to the eyes. Li Qinghong had practiced the "Purple Thunder Secret Essence Technique" a spell with an ancient and profound origin, containing one or two secret techniques—this was one of them.

Li Qinghong chuckled softly and flicked her finger, sending the thunder talisman streaking after its target like a shooting star. Without waiting to see the result, she picked up the large hammer from the ground and, without any sign of panic, turned her head and said softly,

"Uncles, please leave quickly!"

Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang had already been shocked by her strength in repelling the enemy with a single spear thrust, and could only nod hastily in agreement. The trio had only flown out about ten feet when they heard an explosive boom from within the market.

"Boom!!"

Purple lightning burst forth and black smoke billowed, accompanied by several agonized screams and curses. Several reddish lights carrying demonic smoke rose into the air. Li Xuanxuan and the others quickly ducked their heads, even the little monkey was full of fear, quietly distancing itself from her.

Li Qinghong, hearing such a commotion, silently stuck out her tongue, glad she had protected her two uncles. Upon a closer look, she realized her younger brother, Li Yuanyun, was missing. Her heart sank with grief as she asked in a low voice,

"Uncle, where is Brother Yun?"

Li Xuanxuan and Li Qiuyang exchanged glances, uncertain of how to break the news, their silence broken only by sighs. Li Qinghong immediately understood, asking no further, and flew on with her head down.

Upon the ancient Lidao.

Li Yuanjiao, along with a group of people, had been waiting in place for a while, chasing away a few Loose Cultivators who had come to take advantage of the situation. Then he saw Li Qinghong flying towards them with others. He hurriedly took to the wind to meet them, and upon seeing Li Xuanxuan's state, he stared in stunned silence,

"Father?!"

Li Xuanxuan raised his head, his left leg dangling awkwardly, his frame emaciated and his face haggard. Staring with his half-grey, half-white eyes, he then managed a gratified smile,

"Yuanjiao!"

Though Li Yuanjiao had minor grudges against his father, he still cared for him deep down and quickly held onto him, mumbling,

"What... happened to you!"

"Ah!"

Li Xuanxuan actually looked rather pleased, even bursting with joy at having survived disaster, with a slight hint of bragging as he sighed,

"In my entire life, I have never been as clear-headed as I have been during this past hour!"

Li Xuanxuan himself had always thought of himself as a mediocre and incapable man. Reflecting on his several brushes with death, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Tears welled up in his eyes as he continued,

"It must be Uncle's spirit protecting us from heaven! It must be his accumulated virtues..."

Only then did Li Xuanxuan deeply appreciate why Li Tongya had handed over the "River Rapids Step" and the appendix "Blood Escape Technique" to him early on, stressing that his direct lineage must practice it diligently...

If it weren't for these two secret techniques, he would have died an obscure death long ago. As he thought of this, tears intermittently fell from his ash-white eyes.

The crowd sighed in sympathy, and for a moment, no one remembered Li Yuanyun. Only Li Qinghong, holding her spear, silently shed tears. Li Yuanjiao, feeling distraught, handed his father over to Xiao Guiluan, who was skilled in healing, and after comforting him for a while, they both returned home.

————

Atop Lijing Peak. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

After Li Yuanjiao and the others returned to the peak, they sent Tian Youdao and An Zhiyan away—one to Xianyou Peak and the other to Guanyun Peak—to keep a distant eye on the situation and gather intelligence. Li Yuanjiao then personally supported Li Xuanxuan to the Cave Mansion for healing. The remaining Cultivators went back to their respective peaks.

Li Yuanping hurried to check on Li Xuanxuan and took care of him for a while. Li Qinghong called upon her cousins, Li Xihong and Li Xijun, informed them of Li Yuanyun's situation, and planned to search for any remains once the turmoil in the market subsided.

The brothers, who had lost their father, were naturally stricken with grief. Having experienced life and death partings multiple times, Li Qinghong knew the ordeal well and didn't permit them much time to dwell on their sorrow. After testing them on their knowledge and assigning them an array of tedious tasks, she hurried down the mountain.

With Guanyun Peak's market devastated, the Xiao Family suffered the greatest losses. As Li Xuanxuan slumbered in recovery and Li Yuanjiao and Li Qiuyang assessed the situation, they feared that the Xiao Family had lost several dozens practicing Fetal Breathing and about ten in Qi Cultivation within.

The ten Qi Cultivators were not a significant loss, as most were either members through marriage or Guest Elders of the Xiao Family, with few genuine Xiao surname Cultivators among them. What mattered more was the loss of those few dozen Fetal Breathing practitioners, among whom were genuine Xiao Family members sent for training; it was uncertain how many had escaped.

As for the Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Chen Taojing, facing five foes, although he possessed the "Vast Sea" within him, blocking was easy but escape was difficult, and he most probably had perished.

The various families of Li Xia County and the Loose Cultivators in the market came next. Many of the families in Li Xia County were vassals of the Xiao Family and thus suffered losses in this disaster.

Given the Xiao Family's substantial influence and the vastness of Li Xia County where the Xiao Family controlled two-fifths of the land, the majority of the remainder were either directly or indirectly controlled by smaller families linked to the Xiao Family. Even the families on the East Bank of Wangyue Lake bordering Li Xia County, who often conducted dealings in the market, suffered significant losses in this conflict.

"As for the Loose Cultivators, after this battle, I am afraid countless legacies will be severed..."

Li Yuanjiao sighed inwardly but was beset with doubts,

"The Xiao Family is an important ally of the Green Pond Sect, and devil calamities are said to be Green Pond Sect's hounds, yet the Xiao Family was bitten deeply by Devil Cultivators without any precaution..."

He caressed the sword on his waist and muttered,

"Either Green Pond has fallen out with the Xiao Family, or the Devil Cultivators have slipped their leash... or perhaps someone from the Three Sects and Seven Doors has intervened, altering the course of the situation."

Thinking back on the hints Yuan Tuan had given when he visited the Li Family, Li Yuanjiao put aside these speculations about the situation, understanding:

"If these Devil Cultivators scatter throughout Li Xia County, it will be our Wangyue Lake that suffers."