The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 185 - Grief of All Races

"This is your reward for winning the competition," Bai Li Xi said, handing a storage ring to Yun Yantian as he led the four members of the Yun Cang Yun clan into the hall.

"Inside, you'll find several manuals for Yellow-Grade techniques ranging from fifth to seventh rank. In addition, there are high-level guides on spiritual planting, artifact forging, pill refining, and formation arts.

You'll also find an assortment of spirit stones, spiritual seeds, and other resources," Bai Li Xi added with a smile.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty," Yun Yantian said, bowing deeply.

"Must you still call me 'Your Majesty'?" Bai Li Xi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Father," Yun Yantian corrected himself.

"Haha! That's more like it. 'Father' has a better ring to it. Once the Hundred Clans Assembly concludes, I'll have someone secretly escort you back to the Yun Cang Yun clan.

Xue'er will accompany you, and you can handle the wedding arrangements as you see fit.

When I have some free time, I'll personally visit to offer my blessings," Bai Li Xi said, patting Yun Yantian on the shoulder with the warmth of a proud elder.

"I will follow your instructions, Father," Yun Yantian replied, bowing again.

"Your Majesty, there's trouble!"

"What is it?" Bai Li Xi asked, his expression sharpening.

"It's the patriarch… the patriarch has…"

"That's enough. I already know," Bai Li Xi interrupted with a sigh, waving off the royal guard who had come to report.

He was well aware of his ancestor's plan.

Though he hadn't agreed with it, his ancestor had been adamant, insisting that it was for the good of the royal family. Bai Li Xi had been powerless to dissuade him.

"Brother Yunyang, come with me to send off the patriarch one last time," Bai Li Xi said solemnly as he rose from his seat, motioning for Yun Yunyang and the others to follow.

At the Rear of Wanlong Mountain

By the time Bai Li Xi and the group arrived, the rear mountain was already crowded with spiritual roots and elders from various families.

Among them, the members of the three major families and seven clans were mourning their fallen patriarchs. The sight of their ancestors' lifeless bodies filled the air with grief and fury.

"Who did this? Who killed them?!"

The Ye family elders clung to their patriarch's corpse, their bloodshot eyes burning with rage.

Beside them, Ye Xiaolin, Ye Xiaomo, and the other spiritual roots of the Ye family stood pale-faced, fists clenched tightly as they stared at the body with red-rimmed eyes.

"Patriarch! Patriarch!"

The Wang family, led by Wang Liyuan, were similarly consumed by grief as they mourned their patriarch's tragic death.

"Damn it! What happened here?!"

From the Tongshan Xia clan, Xia Changqing's voice trembled with rage as he beheld the lifeless body of his ancestor.

"This must be the work of the royal family! It has to be!" Lu Shanglin roared, his face contorted with anguish as he knelt beside the Lu patriarch's corpse.

"Even the royal family's patriarch, Bai Li Qingsun, is dead, and in the same gruesome manner. It's unlikely to be their doing," another elder from the Lu clan said, trying to maintain some rationality despite his own heartbreak.

"If not the royal family, then who?

Who has the power to kill five Foundation Establishment cultivators and six peak Qi Refinement cultivators in one fell swoop?"

The Lu clan elder's voice carried the disbelief and confusion that echoed through all the gathered clans.

The royal patriarch Bai Li Qingsun, alongside the most powerful elders of the three major families and seven clans, represented the pinnacle of cultivation in Yue Kingdom.

Who—or what—could have slaughtered all eleven of them so silently and completely?

As the families struggled with their grief and unanswered questions, Bai Li Xi arrived with his entourage.

The sight of his ancestor's corpse left Bai Li Xi momentarily stunned. Though he had anticipated this outcome, seeing Bai Li Qingsun's lifeless body in such a wretched state nearly caused him to faint.

"Your Majesty, take care of yourself!"

Li Qing quickly stepped forward to steady Bai Li Xi.

"I'm… fine," Bai Li Xi said, taking a moment to compose himself before signaling Li Qing to step back.

The grief and shock on Bai Li Xi's face were evident to all, including the members of the three major families and seven clans.

Many of them, who had suspected the royal family of orchestrating the massacre, began to reconsider their assumptions.

"Your Majesty, you must deliver justice for us!"

"Indeed! Our patriarchs cannot die like this, without cause or explanation!"

The elders of the Chuan Yin Lu clan and Tongshan Xia clan approached Bai Li Xi, their faces filled with sorrow and indignation as they demanded answers.

The elders and spiritual roots of the other families turned their gazes toward Bai Li Xi, their eyes pleading for him to seek justice for their fallen ancestors.

"How do you expect me to deliver justice for you?" Bai Li Xi asked, looking back at the three major families and seven clans.

"The one who could silently kill not only our royal ancestor but also your family patriarchs must possess unimaginable power.

Do you truly believe I am capable of avenging them?"

His words struck a heavy chord, plunging the crowd into silence.

Indeed, the realization was chilling.

The eleven strongest cultivators in Yue Kingdom had been slain without a sound. Even the royal family's patriarch, Bai Li Qingsun—once regarded as Yue Kingdom's most powerful cultivator—was among the dead.

How could anyone, even their revered emperor, hope to bring justice against such a foe?

"Li Qing," Bai Li Xi called softly, his voice filled with an underlying sadness.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Li Qing responded, stepping forward.

Bai Li Xi knelt beside Bai Li Qingsun's lifeless form, gently closing his ancestor's eyes before subtly retrieving the fragment of the shattered mirror from his robes.

"Arrange for the proper burial of the patriarch," Bai Li Xi ordered.

"As you command," Li Qing replied. Soon, royal guards stepped forward to carry away Bai Li Qingsun's body.

"Everyone," Bai Li Xi said, turning to address the grieving families and elders, his expression somber. "This is as far as I can go.

The only thing I can do now is to secretly investigate the truth.

I will find out who had the audacity to murder our royal patriarch and the elders of your families," he promised, his voice filled with determination despite the tears glistening in his eyes.

The gathered clans remained silent, their sorrow palpable.

They knew the emperor spoke the truth. Nothing more could be done at this moment.

All that remained was to return home, bury their fallen, and quietly seek the truth.

Yet, deep down, many knew that the truth might remain forever out of reach.

And even if it were uncovered, how could they possibly contend with an entity powerful enough to silently annihilate five Foundation Establishment cultivators and six peak Qi Refinement cultivators?

This force was far beyond anything they could handle, even with the combined might of Yue Kingdom.

The families left quietly, carrying their fallen elders.

"Investigate! We must find the truth!"

Wang Liyuan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes blazing with hatred as he stared at Wang Qingshan's lifeless body.

"Our patriarch cannot die like this, without answers. I swear, no matter how powerful the enemy, I will avenge him when I am strong enough!"

"Father, should we investigate the patriarch's death?" Lu Shanglin asked, his face still pale with grief as he turned to Lu Zhengqiang.

"And what if we do? The one who killed these eleven must be far beyond the level of Foundation Establishment.

Our Lu family might never be able to exact revenge in this lifetime," Lu Zhengqiang replied, his voice heavy with resignation.

"Does that mean we let our patriarch die in vain?"

"We can only hope that, in the future, someone from our family will rise to power. Until then, revenge is nothing more than a pipe dream," Lu Zhengqiang said with a sigh, his despair evident.

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"What did our patriarchs provoke to warrant such a massacre?" Ye Xiaomo asked, staring at the lifeless form of the Ye patriarch, his face a mix of sorrow and confusion.

"We may never know. The truth might forever elude us," Ye Xiaolin replied with a heavy sigh.

"Do you think the royal family was behind this?"

"The royal patriarch was killed as well, and Bai Li Qingsun alone couldn't have wiped out the patriarchs of the three major families and seven clans silently.

I doubt it was the royal family's doing," Ye Xiaolin reasoned.

"Still, if we ever find out who did this, the Ye family will ensure they pay dearly. Even if the culprit is a being far above the Foundation Establishment stage, this grudge will never be forgotten!"

"Uncle, the patriarch is dead. What about the Yun Cang Yun clan?"

Xia Changqing asked his uncle, his tone cautious.

"I'll take our patriarch's body back for burial. You will lead a team to deal with the Yun Cang Yun clan. Eliminating Yun Yantian was the patriarch's last wish—it must be fulfilled," Xia Changqing's uncle said decisively.

"I understand."

"Be careful. The royal family might secretly protect the Yun Cang Yun clan on their journey home. Do not let them catch wind of your actions.

With our patriarch gone, the Tongshan Xia clan can no longer afford to provoke the royal family. If the emperor discovers our involvement and finds evidence, we will face severe retribution!"

"Don't worry, Uncle. I'll handle it discreetly," Xia Changqing assured him.