Volume 9, Chapter 644 – The Immortal Stele Is Not an Imperial Decree (Part 8)

At this moment, the guests at the Lü household had already dispersed, leaving behind only a scene of chaos. Servants began working through the night to clean up the mess.

As for the hosts, the family of Lü Yi, they did not come out to take charge. Instead, they were summoned into the main hall by several senior clansmen to face questioning. After all, even a fool could tell that the Immortal Stele had erupted with power far too excessively just, now like a man lured into bed by a demoness, unable to hold back.

“Big Brother, you had better tell everyone honestly. Has the Immortal Stele’s Immortal Might already been exhausted?”

Lü Ze was the first to attack. His plans had all come to nothing, so he was stifled with resentment.

“If you mean the Immortal Might used to launch attacks, then yes, it has indeed been used up. It will likely take six or seven years before it can be activated again.”

Lü Dao gave a frank answer, knowing full well this matter could not be concealed.

“What?”

The main hall instantly exploded with noise.

“Doesn’t that mean that for these six or seven years, the Immortal Stele can only guard our estate?”

“Yes, if only a tenth of its power remains, then it can merely protect the Lü family descendants within the Feng Shui site!”

“So when we go out, we’ll have no choice but to be bullied by others?”

“That’s the smaller problem. What if this news spreads? If those with old grudges come to settle scores outside, what then? The Immortal Stele won’t be able to threaten them anyway.”

“Heavens, how can this be endured? Am I supposed to stay locked at home for six or seven years?”

“If only we had erased that Cheng Hongling’s name earlier! To kill her, we let our Lü family suffer such a great loss, completely not worth it.”

The clansmen immediately wailed in dismay, as though the sky had fallen.

“Big Brother, you must give everyone an explanation!”

Lü Ze demanded with a dark expression.

“An explanation? Explain what? Didn’t you all see? The Immortal Stele acted on its own, what does that have to do with me?”

Lü Dao tried to distance himself.

“How does it have nothing to do with you? This happened because of your grandson.”

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Lü Ze pressed firmly.

“What do you mean by because of my grandson? Is taking a wife and having children not a proper matter? How does that violate clan rules?”

Lü Dao countered.

“Who says that just because something follows clan rules, the damage it causes doesn’t need to be answered for? Is that written anywhere in the rules? Why don’t you bring them out for everyone to see? Big Brother, as clan head, you should know exactly which volume and which page it’s on.”

Lü Ze refused to yield.

“Lü Ze, don’t forget that I am your elder brother!”

Lü Dao gnashed his teeth, reminding him. If not for blood ties, he would have already struck this thorn from his side.

“Big Brother, pressing down with seniority is useless now. You may be my elder brother, but you’re not everyone else’s.”

Lü Ze sneered.

“Second Master is right. Even if it followed clan rules, the one responsible must still bear the losses. Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone take advantage of loopholes in the rules to act recklessly?”

“Exactly! Many people take wives and have children, yet why haven’t we encountered such disasters?”

“Without the Immortal Stele’s protection, for these six or seven years, our Lü family will find every step difficult, the losses immeasurable. Today, the Great Elder must give us an explanation.”

The clansmen present were stirred up, muttering their condemnations.

“You all need me to give an explanation, do you?”

Lü Dao swept his gaze around, a trace of disdain appearing on his face. “Very well, I can find a way to make up for the loss. What is it that you all want?”

At these words, their minds began wandering. Especially Lü Ze, his relentless pressing was precisely to see if he could obtain that Blazing Breakthrough Pill.

“But let me make the ugly words clear first. Whoever accepts compensation, in the future if you encounter trouble outside, I will not interfere.”

Lü Dao’s tone shifted coldly.

The clansmen were jolted awake by this. They suddenly remembered, Lü Dao was the Lü family’s only Heavenly Tribulation Realm cultivator. Now that the Immortal Stele lay dormant, their only hope of protection was him.

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“The Clan Head is right. Taking a wife and bearing children is human nature. Who could have predicted this would happen? It was purely unintentional, no need for compensation!”

“Yes, we are all one family. Talking of compensation makes us look like outsiders!”

“That Cheng Hongling dared defy the Lü family’s authority. No matter the price, she had to be suppressed. I think it was worth it.”

One after another, the clansmen changed their tune.

“And you, Second Brother? Do you still want compensation?”

Lü Dao turned back to ask with contempt.

“Since Big Brother is willing to protect everyone’s safety, then the Immortal Stele spending a little Immortal Might doesn’t matter. What need have I for compensation?”

Lü Ze forced an awkward smile. Of course he wanted compensation, but without the clansmen’s support, how could he openly oppose his elder brother?

“Hmph!”

Lü Dao snorted coldly, then continued: “As one of our kin said just now, although the Immortal Stele consumed much of its Immortal Might to suppress that rustic girl, I believe it was worth it for the dignity of the Lü family. Besides, six or seven years pass in the blink of an eye, there’s no need to worry excessively. Most importantly, as long as we don’t leak this out, who will ever know?”

His voice dropped, icy: “Remember this, only those of us present know the truth. I don’t care how many enemies you have made, but if you don’t want revenge falling on you, then keep silent. If anyone dares to reveal it, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

“Yes, yes!”

The group of relatives nodded repeatedly, their expressions finally easing somewhat. Indeed, if no word was leaked, no one would know. Outside, they could still walk proudly.

“Lü Gao, investigate at once to find out what truly happened, and confirm whether Cheng Hongling is alive or dead.”

Lü Dao ordered his son.

“Yes, Father!”

Lü Gao answered respectfully.

Of course, the ones wanting to know the fate of Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling were not just the Lü family!

Xue Jing and the others, having just slipped out of the Lü estate, were already impatiently contacting Qi Huang through the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube.

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Qi Huang had returned to the Honghua Sect. She understood their purpose, and decisively accepted the call.

“You’re really still alive.”

Xue Jing was both shocked and overjoyed.

“Hehe, just an Immortal Might, what can it do to me?”

Qi Huang said smugly.

“Just an Immortal Might? That was the pressure of an Immortal! Even a Heavenly Tribulation Realm cultivator cannot withstand it! That’s why it’s called the imperial decree of the cultivation world.”

Xue Jing marveled, then continued: “Do you know? You are the very first woman in history to escape from the clutches of an Immortal’s offspring. This will shake the entire cultivation world!”

“Hmph! I want everyone to know, the Immortal Stele is not an imperial decree!”

Qi Huang snorted.

“How did you resist the Immortal Might?”

Xue Jing asked curiously.

“A secret.”

Qi Huang teased.

“Tell me! Whatever you ask, I’ll agree to it!”

Xue Jing pleaded coyly.

“Really?”

Qi Huang felt a warmth in her heart, but soon her spirits dimmed. Even if Xue Jing did throw herself into her arms, what could she do with her current strength? So she said, “I’m sorry, but this method cannot be traded for any price.”

Xue Jing begged for a long while but gained nothing. She could only change the subject: “By the way, you said before that we can ignore the Lü family’s Immortal Stele from now on, was that true?”

“Of course it’s true. You were there last night too, right? The Lü family’s stele used up at least ninety percent of its Immortal Might suppressing me. It cannot be activated again for at least seven years.”

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Qi Huang explained.

“And after seven years?”

Xue Jing pressed with concern.

“After seven years? I will personally uproot the Lü family’s Immortal Stele. When that time comes, if you have the time, you can be there to witness it!”

Qi Huang voiced her ambition.

“Uproot the Immortal Stele?”

Xue Jing was stunned, such a thought had never even crossed her mind.

After ending the call, she turned to her sisters who had shared life and death with her: “What plans do you all have now?”

“I want to go to the Honghua Sect. No matter what, I must find out how she withstood that suppression!”

“That’s right. The cultivation world doesn’t have only the Lü family’s Immortal Stele. Once I understand this, I’ll be able to rest easy forever.”

“Not just for myself, our descendants will never again suffer under the threat of Immortal Steles. So this method, I must obtain!”

More than ten women each voiced their determination.

“Very well! Since that’s the case, let’s all head to the Honghua Sect. We’ll work together. One way or another, we must pry the truth from Qi Huang. Whoever succeeds will share it with the rest of us.”

Xue Jing proposed.

News that Cheng Hongling had survived quickly spread throughout the cultivation world, sparking immense uproar. She was not only the first woman to escape from Lü Yi’s grasp, but also the first in history to survive suppression under an Immortal Stele’s passive eruption.

For some, this was joyous news; for others, a calamity. Ordinary cultivators rejoiced, for it meant the Immortal Stele was not truly an “imperial decree”. The great immortal clans, however, were anxious, its deterrent power had plummeted.

The Lü family was furious to the point of spitting blood. Their Immortal Stele had consumed ninety percent of its Immortal Might, yet failed to kill Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang. Not only had they suffered immense losses, but their authority was shattered.

Qi Huang, however, did not boast of her victory. She urgently needed to strengthen herself. The Golden Fate Blossom seed was a small matter, but her Heaven-Deceiving Water was already spent. If she did not venture into the vast universe to search, Heaven’s enforcers could descend upon her at any moment.