Chapter 6: Li Mu

Qu Yi knew that everyone had been inside the Miniature Realm for nearly a hundred years and was growing impatient, so it was only natural to let them go out and move around.
Especially Qu Hanxin, who was born inside the Miniature Realm. All his memories were limited to that small area where he could move around, and he had never seen the rich landscapes of the cultivation world.
One after another, they left the Miniature Realm.
However, Li Heng, Liang Qu, Shuo Bai, the Silver-Faced Howling Dog, and the Blue Dragon—five experts at the mid-stage of the Fusion form—were called aside by Qu Yi.
“I have a faction called the Three Tripod Gate. Now, I’m giving each of you a task: take control of large planets and secretly expand the Three Tripod Gate’s influence. Once our faction grows strong enough, we can emerge openly,” Qu Yi said with a faint smile.
On ordinary large planets, the strongest individuals were usually at the late stage of the Fusion form. But these five, having received top-quality spiritual artifacts from Qu Yi, could compete with those at the early stage of the Tribulation phase, let alone those at the late stage of the Fusion form.
Upon hearing this, their faces lit up with joy. Now they wouldn’t have to stay by Qu Yi’s side or wait around for orders every day. Although they would go to large planets to help Qu Yi build his faction, they would at least enjoy greater freedom and avoid the psychological pressure of having to obey someone at the Fusion stage.
“Yes, master. We will surely develop the Three Tripod Gate into the most powerful force in the cultivation world,” the five replied quickly.
Qu Yi waved his hand and said, “Alright, you may leave Xue Mu Planet. Go and get to work.”
The five left promptly.
Now, only Bai Man, Wu Yuan, Qu Hanxin, the Golden Qilin, and the Illusory Dancing Butterfly remained by Qu Yi’s side.
At that moment, Bai Man, Qu Hanxin, the Golden Qilin, and the Illusory Dancing Butterfly went to a large city.
Qu Yi, on the other hand, entered the Miniature Realm to continue scanning the Dual Path. With just eight or nine more years, he would be able to complete the scanning, allowing his soul realm to advance to the late stage of the Diversion phase.
Wu Yuan, meanwhile, took the Miniature Realm and explored the vast forest. After all, he still hadn’t taken on a human form, and if he left, he would surely attract the pursuit of powerful cultivators from the cultivation world.
……
The Immortal Gathering Continent was the domain of cultivators, with the three most powerful forces being three great cultivator families: the Li family, the Wang family, and the Zhang family.

Behind these three families were also involved the ten major sects of the cultivation world. The Li family was the direct family of an elder from the Taiyuan Sect, the Wang family was the direct family of an elder from the Qingyun Sect, and the Zhang family was the direct family of an elder from the Lanyang Palace. In the area controlled by the Li family, there were hundreds of large cities, one of which, located near the Ancient Great Forest, was called Gulin City. At that time, Bai Man, Qu Hanxin, and Huanwudie arrived in Gulin City and wandered around. Jin Qilin did not enter the city but went to sleep in a mountain outside it. “Hanxin, look, this is called jewelry.” “Hanxin, take a look—this is a restaurant, a place where cultivators can stay temporarily when resting.” “Hanxin, don’t stare at other girls’ chests; it’s impolite!” “Hanxin, you’re so handsome. Mom will buy you some cloth so you can dress up properly.” “Ah, Yihong Courtyard? Hanxin, Mom doesn’t allow you to go there…” In Gulin City, Bai Man walked with her son Qu Hanxin, eager to teach him everything at once to make up for the 78 years of missed education. Naturally, the mother and son caused many jokes, leaving some cultivators in Gulin City in awe. Huanwudie followed behind, laughing nonstop; even with her advanced Divination stage physique, she was almost exhausted from laughing. But because Bai Man, Qu Hanxin, and Huanwudie were so prominent, they attracted a lot of attention. Especially Bai Man and Huanwudie, those beautiful women, caught the attention of many male cultivators. Sure enough, a handsome man with a dashing appearance stepped in front of Bai Man and Huanwudie. “Ladies, I am the second young master of the Li family. You can call me Li Mu. You’re both stunningly beautiful—the most beautiful in the city. I’d like to get to know you. Is that okay?” The man said this with a smile, gently swaying the iron fan in his hand. Upon hearing this, Bai Man’s face turned icy. She had encountered such a lecher, especially in front of her son. Anger surged in her heart, and she immediately sentenced him to death. “Mom, this guy has insulted us so much. I’ll kill him.” Although Qu Hanxin had grown up in the Dimensional Sphere, he understood what was going on upon hearing these words. “Hanxin, you don’t need to go. He’s a skilled expert at the Divination stage; you can’t beat him.” Bai Man quickly stopped Qu Hanxin.

Meanwhile, the Illusory Butterfly kept smiling. Glancing at Li Mu across from her, she said with a charming smile, “Li Mu, right? You, a person only at the mid-stage of Divination, dare to act like a scoundrel. You’ve really lived too long. I don’t care what background your Li family has. Now that you’ve spoken recklessly, you can die right away.”

The man who claimed to be Li Mu was stunned upon hearing the Illusory Butterfly’s words. He wondered what kind of planet she came from—could it be that she didn’t even know about the three major cultivation families on the Immortal Gathering Continent?

It turned out that Li Mu was the second son of the current Li family head. He was extremely talented and had already reached the mid-stage of Divination. With just one more breakthrough, he could catch up with his father, Li Ting. Earlier, he had dared to tease those two women because he thought that after introducing himself, they would surely be intimidated by the power of the Li family. If they refused, they wouldn’t do anything to him; if they agreed, it would be a gain for him.

“It seems the three of you still don’t know about our Li family’s status on the Immortal Gathering Continent. Then let me introduce you to our family’s ancestor—the current Taiyuan…” As Li Mu spoke, he suddenly became dazed.

The Illusory Butterfly began to twist her waist in the street. With her light steps, a strange melody formed throughout the street, as if all the spiritual energy was gathered and dancing in a rhythmic pattern.

Li Mu was only at the mid-stage of Divination and usually relied on the power of his family to show off. Now, facing the Illusory Butterfly, who wasn’t afraid of the Li family and was at the later stage of Divination, he had encountered his nemesis.

After just a dozen steps, the Illusory Butterfly forced Li Mu into a coma. Without hesitation, she drew a sword and beheaded him.

As for Li Mu’s Golden Essence Embryo, the Illusory Butterfly had already taken it out.

……

The Li family, one of the three major families on the Immortal Gathering Continent, was headquartered in a breathtakingly beautiful valley filled with fairy-tale-like magnificent buildings. At the center of the valley stood the tallest and largest tower, 99 stories high—the Tianwang Tower, the heart of the Li family’s power.

On the 99th floor of the Tianwang Tower, the three strongest members of the Li family were discussing matters inside.

These three were the family head Li Ting, Li Qing, and Li Pang—all at the later stage of Divination. If Qi Shen were here, he would surely notice that it was these three who arrived at the scene first when the Realm Sphere descended into the Ancient Forest.

“Second brother, third brother, our ancestor Li Huan has secured three registration slots for our Li family. We have three places to enter the Taiyuan Gate’s Enforcement Team. Tell me, who should we send?” Li Ting said calmly.

Li Huan was the elder of the Li family at Taiyuan Gate. These three spots in the Enforcement Team were actually meant to expand the Li family’s influence. After all, if the members of this team performed well, they could be sent to medium-sized planets to oversee Taiyuan Gate’s interests there. Thus, if the three people recommended by the Li family excelled, their family’s influence could spread to other planets.

“Elder brother, the members of the Enforcement Team must be at the early Divination stage. If we want to achieve results quickly, it’s better to send those at the middle and late Divination stages. So, I think Li Mu should be one of them, along with Li Yu and Li Lin. This will ensure our Li family can expand to other planets,” Li Qing said with a faint smile.

“Li Mu, Li Yu, Li Lin… I agree with the three you mentioned, second brother,” Li Pang said after some thought.

In fact, among the younger generation of the Li family who were at the Divination stage, there were also seven experts at that level, but these three were the strongest.

Li Ting glanced at his two brothers, remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, “Good. Whether our Li family can stand out on Xuemu Planet and continue our family lineage on other planets depends on Li Mu, Li Yu, and Li Lin.”

“Elder brother, guess who from the Wang and Zhang families will be sent to Qingyun Sect and Lanyang Palace?” Li Qing suddenly asked with a laugh.

The Wang and Zhang families were competing with the Li family for talents on the Juxian Continent. Although they appeared friendly on the surface, they were actually in fierce competition. Naturally, they paid close attention to the progress of the outstanding disciples from the other two families.

Sending people to the ten major sects as members of the Enforcement Team meant the chance to gain control over a medium-sized planet, bringing immense benefits and resources. This would inevitably weaken the other two families when those resources returned to Xuemu Planet.

Therefore, the Li family would definitely pay special attention to the people sent by the Wang and Zhang families.

“Among the Wang family’s sent ones, there must be that prodigy Wang Ba. Among the Zhang family’s sent ones, there must be Zhang Yan with a single spiritual root,” Li Ting said with a light laugh.

Li Qing and Li Pang nodded in agreement. Wang Ba and Zhang Yan were the strongest experts at the Divination stage among the younger generations of the other two families, so they would surely be included.

Suddenly, a yellow talisman flew into Li Ting’s hand.

“What? Mu Er was killed in Ancient Forest City!” Li Ting stood up abruptly, shouting in outrage.
Li Qing and Li Pang also quickly stood up, radiating murderous intent.
Then, the three of them teleported away from the Heavenly King Tower.