ALL NOVEL Chapter 75: She Would Cut Me To Pieces!
The Li family’s elevated status, higher than other families, was for one reason alone: the Li family had an Emperor level powerhouse still living with them!
The Li family’s ancestor, Li Wuchang, was a powerful being who is at the level of Emperor.
He was on the same level as Leng Wuyan, Liu Xunhuan, and Chen Yundao, and had lived even longer than them.
For unknown reasons, he had remained in seclusion in the Li family’s secret grounds, never stepping out, silently protecting the descendants of the Li family.
Only when major events occurred within the family or when strong enemies invaded would he reveal his true form.
Now, the Grand Elder wanted to have the Old Ancestor come out of seclusion for this matter?
Li Daoyuan frowned, “Isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill? If we disturb the Old Ancestor’s seclusion, his wrath will be beyond what we can bear!”
The Grand Elder retorted, “It’s a serious matter when family members turn on each other, especially concerning the patriarch’s son. There’s nothing wrong with asking the Old Ancestor to make a judgment!”
“But…”
Li Daoyuan was extremely reluctant.
As the patriarch, no matter what Li Ran had done, he could still protect him.
But once the Old Ancestor came out of seclusion, the situation would change completely.
The Old Ancestor was impartial and upright, and he despised infighting among family members!
This matter could not end well without determining right from wrong!
The Grand Elder was clever; this was the only way to punish Li Ran!
The Grand Elder decided quickly, “According to the family rules, as long as half of the elders agree, we can ask the Old Ancestor to come out of seclusion. Let’s vote!”
He then raised his hand.
Immediately, the Fourth Elder and Sixth Elder also raised their hands in agreement.
The patriarch, Li Daoyuan, along with the Second and Fifth Elders, did not raise their hands.
Three votes to three votes, exactly half!
The Grand Elder’s eyes flashed with satisfaction, “Very well, ring the Heaven Bell, enter the secret grounds, and respectfully invite the Old Ancestor to come out!”
Li Daoyuan felt a surge of resentment but was powerless to stop it.
…
Li family secret grounds.
In front of a massive stone door behind the ancestral hall, several elders stood respectfully.
The stone door was engraved with various Dao patterns, seemingly manifesting Dao visions that could easily captivate anyone.
Boom~
As the melodious sound of the bell echoed, the stone door rippled.
After a moment, a voice, indistinguishable between male and female, resounded:
“What matter disturbs my tranquility?”
The voice was filled with unfathomable majesty, seemingly reverberating in everyone’s hearts.
The Grand Elder knelt with a “thud,” “For disturbing the Old Ancestor’s seclusion, Daoshi deserves to die. But there is a matter that requires the Old Ancestor’s judgment!”
The Old Ancestor’s voice seemed to come from the heavens, “Li Daoshi… I remember you. What has happened?”
The Grand Elder lamented, “The patriarch’s son, Li Ran, disregarded the rules and harmed his kin, crippling my son Li Sheng’s cultivation. Please, Old Ancestor, deliver justice!”
His voice was mournful, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
To validate his claim, he had even brought the unconscious Li Sheng, who lay on the nearby ground.
“Is there such a matter?”
The Old Ancestor’s voice grew angry.
Li Daoyuan’s eyebrows twitched, and he quickly knelt, “Li Sheng attacked Li Ran’s fiancée first. Please, Old Ancestor, see the truth!”
The Grand Elder countered, “Xiao Qingge is not a member of our Li family! Moreover, she is unharmed, but my son’s cultivation is crippled!”
The Old Ancestor’s majestic voice rang out:
“Li Daoyuan, is what he says true?”
Li Daoyuan’s mind raced, but he ultimately sighed in resignation, “It is true…”
The Emperor’s powers were unfathomable, capable of discerning the truth across time; lying was pointless.
Angering the Old Ancestor would only worsen Li Ran’s fate.
Li Daoyuan resolved that even if it cost him his position as patriarch, he would protect Li Ran!
The Old Ancestor declared, “If that is the case, then according to the family rules, his cultivation must be abolished, and he should be reduced to a mortal!”
“Old Ancestor!”
Li Daoyuan cried out, “This cannot be! Ran’er has a Holy Quality talent; he is the future hope of our Li family. We cannot cripple his cultivation!”
He intended to persuade the Old Ancestor to change his mind.
Unexpectedly, the Old Ancestor snorted, “What of a Holy Quality talent? Family rules are family rules! If he can harm his kin for the sake of beauty, such a talent is better lost to the Li family!”
His own talent was ordinary; he had attained the Dao through fortune and opportunity, and he had little fondness for these naturally gifted prodigies.
This statement backfired.
Li Daoyuan’s mind went blank.
He fell to the ground, his face pale.
“It’s over…”
The Grand Elder was ecstatic, “The Old Ancestor sees clearly. Thank you, Old Ancestor, for delivering justice for my son!”
As long as Li Ran’s cultivation was abolished, the prestige of the patriarch’s line would be greatly weakened.
This would give him a chance to rise to power!
Li Sheng being exchanged for Li Ran was a worthwhile trade!
The Grand Elder then remembered something and added, “However, the punishment of Li Ran should be carried out by the Old Ancestor personally!”
The Old Ancestor asked, “Why?”
The Grand Elder explained, “Li Ran, the scoundrel, has already joined the Hidden Gauze Sect and is a disciple of the Emperor-level expert Leng Wuyan. We fear we might anger that demon!”
The Old Ancestor coughed, “Ahem—Whose disciple did you say he was?”
The Grand Elder replied, “The Sect Master of the Hidden Gauze Sect, Leng Wuyan.”
The Old Ancestor fell silent.
The Grand Elder called out, “Old Ancestor?”
The Old Ancestor remained silent.
The air was still for a long time.
Just as everyone was at a loss, the Old Ancestor’s voice rang out:
“Li Daoyuan, did you just say it was Li Sheng who first attacked Li Ran’s fiancée?”
Li Daoyuan was taken aback for a moment but then nodded, “Indeed…”
The Old Ancestor stated, “To become enraged for the sake of a woman, Li Ran’s actions are understandable.”
“???”
The Grand Elder was baffled.
“Old Ancestor, didn’t you just say you would abolish—”
The Old Ancestor interrupted, “I didn’t say that; you must have misheard.”
“…”
The Grand Elder grew anxious, “Then my son’s cultivation was crippled in vain?”
He held the unconscious Li Sheng and pleaded, “Please, Old Ancestor, seek the truth!”
Ripples spread across the stone door, and a giant hand emerged, gently touching Li Sheng’s forehead with a finger.
Scenes from Li Sheng’s past appeared in the air.
Five years ago, he killed three people at Zuifeng Pavilion just because their chatter was too loud.
Three years ago, he set fire to Munchun Pavilion, killing five and injuring three.
Two years ago, he broke into a mortal couple’s home, abducted and tortured the wife for four days until she died, falsely claiming it was Li Ran’s doing.
One year ago—
The Grand Elder collapsed to the ground, his face as white as a sheet.
The Old Ancestor’s voice was filled with anger, “Such a scum is unworthy of being a member of the Li family! Abolishing his cultivation is too lenient!”
With a slight force of his finger, Li Sheng’s body cracked like a web and then turned to fine sand, scattering away!
The Old Ancestor had obliterated him with a single finger!
“Sheng’er!”
The Grand Elder cried out in anguish.
He couldn’t comprehend why things had turned out this way!
The Old Ancestor’s voice resounded again, “A child uneducated is the father’s fault. Li Daoshi, for your failure in parenting, you will be punished to face the wall in the Ancestral Hall for three years.”
“Pfft!”
The Grand Elder spat out blood and fainted.
The Fourth and Sixth Elders trembled.
What was going on?
Clearly, Li Ran was at fault, yet the Old Ancestor had killed Li Sheng instead?
Where was the impartiality? Where was the uprightness?
The Old Ancestor said, “If there is nothing else, you may all leave.”
Li Daoyuan finally reacted, hurriedly bowing, “Thank you, Old Ancestor, for seeing the truth!”
The Old Ancestor added, “By the way, when Li Ran returns, have him come see me.”
Li Daoyuan was puzzled but still replied, “Yes.”
The ripples faded, and the stone door returned to its calm state.
…
Behind the stone door.
An old man with a white beard wiped his cold sweat.
“Damn it, I didn’t expect him to be Leng Wuyan’s disciple. I almost fell for it! If I had really crippled him…”
The old man shivered.
“That cold lass would have chopped me to pieces!”