Handing Li Zhiheng over to the care of the father-son duo, Li Yuanshang and Li Jianguo, who managed the family's logistics, Li Wei vanished from the spot.
The task of finding the other three Masters naturally had to be left to professionals.
For tracking and tracing, Tianming and Tianqi were the premier choices.
The items belonging to the Martial Academy Masters and the Red Dust Immortal were also sent back to the Old Tree, allowing it to catch their scent and see if it could sniff out the opponents' locations.
Although the Masters of the Martial Academy had their plans disrupted, given their ambition, Li Wei believed they would reveal themselves sooner or later.
Grandhaven City was shrouded in treacherous undercurrents.
Li Wei oversaw the overall situation from within the Void Refinement space, constantly preparing his layout to respond at a moment's notice.
Looking toward the border, the cultivators of Azure Cloud Prefecture and the family's descendants had charged into Grandhaven Prefecture.
They had already begun assisting the cultivators of the major factions, guiding them to retreat toward Redmere Prefecture.
Having some spare time, Li Wei looked at the spoils of war obtained from the three Masters.
"..."
Looking at the game interface, Li Wei was stunned for a long time.
These three Masters were considered prominent figures within the Void Refinement realm.
Li Wei had seen many Void Refinement experts from all over the world, but these three truly excelled in one aspect: they were poor to the bone.
However, thinking about it carefully, they were individuals who forged the Red Dust Realm and had disciples all over the world.
With their abilities, ordinary items would hardly be of any help to them. Realizing this, Li Wei forgave their poverty.
Both the Second Master and the Sixth Master cultivated the Scholarly Dao.
[Scholarly Dao Dharma Treasure: Mantra Robe], [Scholarly Dao Dharma Treasure: Purity Law Ruler], [Scholarly Dao Dharma Treasure: Thousand Preaching Articles]...
One scholarly item after another met his eyes.
These Scholarly Dao treasures were just like Buddhist Dao items; if used by others, their power would be vastly discounted, and adapting to them would take a very long time.
"I'll leave them for Yaowen, hehe."
Looking at these Scholarly Dao Dharma Treasures, Li Wei grinned.
In the past, they hadn't encountered many scholarly cultivators. Now, Yaowen could also have his own scholarly tools just like other scholarly cultivators, absolutely not inferior to those of others.
There were also numerous spirit stones and ancient texts.
Their immortal methods were clearly cultivated directly upon their bodies, making them difficult to record in texts.
The Third Master, who cultivated his physique and techniques, simply relied on a pair of iron fists.
Searching through the loot, only one item truly caught Li Wei's eye.
It was an ancient, unadorned bridge.
[High-Grade Dharma Treasure: Bridge of Awakening]
[The Sage Master Martial Academy has educated the people of Grandhaven Prefecture for years, and generations of Martial Academy Masters have forged this Dharma Treasure.
Brimming with heaven and earth spiritual energy, those who are naturally dull or possess mediocre aptitude can cross this bridge to enter an illusion, subsequently increasing one of their elemental spiritual roots by 1-2 points. If they fail, there is no gain.]
[Upon crossing the bridge, the mind becomes clear, temporarily boosting comprehension based on the scenery the cultivator witnesses on the bridge.]
"Good stuff!"
Li Wei was overjoyed.
It had been a thousand years, and he had finally unlocked more functions for the family's architecture...
1-2 points of spiritual roots might seem like very little, but for a cultivator with 58 points in spiritual roots to gain 2 points, it was simply initiating a qualitative leap.
...
"The auras of the three Masters have disappeared."
In the air, heading toward the Banshu Clan, three figures halted their advance.
The leading middle-aged man, dressed in refined hemp garments, was none other than the First Master of the Martial Academy.
Behind him were a young man and woman: the Fourth Master, who was knitting a sweater, and the Fifth Master, who was looking down and reading a book.
Hearing the First Master's voice, no matter how aloof they usually were, their expressions flickered slightly.
They knew their own people's capabilities.
Possessing the Red Dust Immortal's immortal method, the 'Red Dust Realm', they governed their own domain.
Even if they encountered a Body Integration expert, they had the means to escape.
No matter what, at least one of the three Masters should have been able to get away.
"The Azure Cloud Li Clan possesses such ability?"
A trace of disbelief flashed through the Fifth Master's eyes.
The Third Master and Sixth Master had gone precisely to assist the Second Master.
They were certain that even against spatial rules, the three Masters weren't without means of escape; at the very least, they shouldn't have been rendered unable to even call for help.
A hint of shock flashed through the Fourth Master's eyes, yet she continued knitting her sweater.
"Is it possible that the old fox of the Peerless Hall and Immortal Linghu made a move?"
"Absolutely impossible," the First Master said in a deep voice.
"The Li Clan killed their Great Elder. Immortal Linghu is arrogant by nature; if he were to strike, he would target the Li Clan first, and our three Masters would definitely be able to leave.
The old fox of the Peerless Hall excels at hiding his strength.
He claimed he came to win over Jade Mist Valley and us, but I can feel his motives are impure. A person like him would never strike first."
"What do we do now?"
A look of difficulty flashed across the Fifth Master's face. "The Banshu Clan—do we go or not?"
At these words, the three exchanged glances.
The Red Dust Immortal had ordered them to tell the entirety of Grandhaven Prefecture and the arriving Li Clan that their Martial Academy was the true master of Grandhaven Prefecture.
This was also the first time in tens of thousands of years that the Martial Academy was openly displaying its strength.
One group was to go to the Banshu Clan, while the other was to find the Li Clan's rampant Li Zhiheng and Li Tianming.
The three of them were certain that the old fox and Immortal Linghu would inevitably watch from the sidelines given the Li Clan's arrival.
Thus, they took the opportunity to intercept the Banshu Clan, allowing the other three Masters to swallow the Li Clan cultivators into the Red Dust Realm before joining them to battle the Banshu Clan's watchdog.
But who knew...
Before they could even display their strength, the three Masters had disappeared first.
Moreover, there was a measure of wariness toward each other in their eyes.
"There is another possibility: they disappeared on their own." The Fourth Master buried her head in knitting, her hands moving faster and faster.
"The order to slaughter the commoners of Grandhaven Prefecture can only be issued by those under the Red Dust Immortal.
Since there is already a precedent of someone sabotaging our plans, striking against companions we've lived with for ten thousand years is not impossible."
"Devouring the commoners, devouring colleagues, devouring each other's Red Dust Realms to achieve Body Integration...
If that is the case, they are no different from beasts, and we should execute them together. What do you say?"
As the Fourth Master's words fell.
The Fifth Master paused his hand that was turning a page.
Narrowing his eyes, he replied, "There is a hidden meaning in the Fourth Master's words.
Are you suspecting that the First Master and I gave the order, scheming to devour the commoners and turn against our companions?"
"Enough!"
Seeing the two at each other's throats, the First Master's eyes narrowed slightly, his face showing displeasure.
"Why suspect one another? We under the Red Dust Immortal have spent day and night together; with the Blood Moon approaching, what need is there for such tests?
Azure Cloud Prefecture has never been simple. I would rather believe that we underestimated the Li Clan, and even the Red Dust Immortal did so as well."
The wariness in the Fourth Master's eyes remained.
"If one of us is secretly holding back trump cards, imitating the Western Frontier's Blood Moon over these years, the souls and essence of countless commoners have flowed into the earth veins—enough to break open the Dao of the Red Dust.
Now, hiding it and covering it up, intending to secretly devour the entirety of Grandhaven...
You and I both know exactly how terrifying this immortal method is. We are also in Grandhaven; how can we not care?"
"You are merely angry that someone beat you to the punch." The corners of the Fifth Master's mouth curled up slightly. "Or perhaps, it's a thief crying 'catch the thief'."
"Insolent!" the Fourth Master rebuked angrily.
"I hit the mark."
"I said, enough!" With the two still arguing, the First Master was infuriated.
His tone carried the Spiritual power of law-enforcing speech, silencing the two Masters.
"No matter who it is, if anyone dares to feed on their companions, I will personally kill them. Do not even dream of breaking through the Dao."
The First Master took a deep breath.
Looking toward the direction of the Banshu Clan, a trace of unwillingness flashed through his eyes. "We cannot go to the Banshu Clan."
"We cannot deal with the Li Clan either." The Fourth Master's residual anger had not faded, and she remained resentful of the First Master's two recent rebukes.
Once the seed of suspicion is planted, it is incredibly difficult to eradicate.
The First Master knew this. He shook his head.
"Regardless of who is secretly devouring the commoners, they have yet to break through the Red Dust Dao.
If we gather enough accumulation before them and use the immortal method to occupy the Dao path, from then on, we will jointly govern the Red Dust Realm, and everything can be resolved."
"Now, with the snipe and the clam grappling, the Li Clan's arrival might not be a bad thing."
A trace of confusion flashed across the Fifth Master's handsome face. "A good thing?"
"Yes. The Li Clan is arrogant. For them to demand that Jade Mist Valley purge the people of the Peerless Hall—neither the old fox nor Immortal Linghu will allow it. The only thing left for them is war."
A hint of resolution flashed through the First Master's eyes.
"The Banshu Clan's watchdog and Banshu Weide will definitely arrive. The traitor among us Masters will also undoubtedly make a move.
Everyone is waiting to reap the fisherman's profit, aiming to devour Jade Mist Valley, the Peerless Hall, and the Li Clan."
"With the First Master and our immortal methods here, we will be the final oriole." The Fifth Master's eyes shone brightly.
Looking at the Fourth Master, a trace of mockery surfaced in his expression. "If it is you, I will kill you myself."
"I won't be polite to you either!" the Fourth Master snorted coldly.
Soon after, the First Master faded into the space ahead.
The Fourth and Fifth Masters glared fiercely at each other, yet they simultaneously nodded, keeping a vigilant eye on the First Master's retreating back.