Li Family!
When Liu Xinyuan from the Prefecture Government Office in Hongdu Prefecture arrived at the Li Family, he saw Li Zhe and other members of the Li Family lying in a pool of blood, and his lips twitched incessantly.
"My lord, this..."
"There’s been a major incident."
Liu Xinyuan smiled bitterly. He had received a report from the City Guard Captain about a powerful figure entering Hongdu Prefecture and had become alert immediately. Since the Li Family was not far from the Government Office, he rushed over as soon as he sensed a strong aura emanating from this direction, but he was still a step too late.
"My lord, could it be that spies from the Han Kingdom infiltrated and massacred the entire Li Family?"
"Shut up."
Liu Xinyuan scolded as he saw a piece of paper on the table in the courtyard. With his vision, he could clearly see the words written on it.
Lord Jia, Jia Nanzhu.
Former Deputy Hall Chief of the Military Affairs Hall, the official of the Prefecture Government Office in Quzhou twenty years ago.
Twenty years ago, he was training in martial arts at a martial arts school in Quzhou Prefecture and had met this Lord Jia; he had also listened to Lord Jia’s martial arts teachings and guidance back then.
This letter was left for him by Lord Jia.
[Xinyuan: The Li Family sent people to assassinate Lin Chen’s family, and I discovered it. As Lin Chen is my disciple, how could I stand idly by? Today’s extermination of the Li Family is solely my doing. As a member of the Government Office, you may report this according to your duties—Jia Nanzhu]
Who is Lin Chen?
Liu Xinyuan naturally knew; he’s the number one Celestial Pride of the younger generation in Liang, ranked first on the Hidden Dragon List and the Celestial List.
He just didn’t expect Lord Jia to be Lin Chen’s teacher, nor did he expect the Li Family to send someone to assassinate Lin Chen’s family.
How dare the Li Family?
This is to court disaster to the Liang Kingdom.
If this letter weren’t personally left by Lord Jia, he wouldn’t believe it if someone else told him.
"My lord, what should we do next?"
A close subordinate beside him asked. The massacre of the entire Li Family, if this incident reached the battlefield or Lord Li’s ears, it would surely provoke great anger, and Hongdu Prefecture would be held accountable for inadequate protection.
Unless they catch the perpetrator to give Lord Li an explanation.
"Close the Li Family’s gates, don’t allow these servants to leave. I will personally report this to the higher-ups."
Catch someone?
Liu Xinyuan never even thought of it; Lord Jia is a Third-Grade Martial Artist. Even though he is starting to decline, he is far beyond Liu Xinyuan’s capabilities unless he chose to fight to mutual destruction with Lord Jia.
But there’s no need for that.
He believed that Lord Jia would not lie about this matter; the Li Family truly did attack Lin Chen’s family, and Lord Jia could also report this to the Imperial Court, which would surely punish the Li Family. However, Lord Jia obviously feared long dreams in the night, fearing that Li Yuan would use methods to protect his son, which is why he resorted to such extreme measures for revenge.
He didn’t have much contact with the Li Family, but he had a relationship with Lord Jia, and the Li Family’s attack on Lin Chen’s family also made him disdainful.
He knew clearly which side to support.
He definitely would report to the higher-ups, but he could investigate for a few two-hour periods first and give Lord Jia some time. As for the paper... Liu Xinyuan held it in his hand, and it turned to dust in his palm.
Sorry, he had never seen the letter left by Lord Jia.
As for who the culprit is, it still needs his investigation.
The reason for not reporting it now is that no clues have been found; once some clues are discovered, then it will be reported.
Li Fire Path.
Deep in a valley, two middle-aged men were idly guarding the entrance of the valley.
"I’ve applied twice to the Duke to go to the battlefield, but the Duke didn’t agree. What are we doing here if we don’t go to the battlefield? Are we supposed to let those young ones handle it?"
"Old Qian, the Duke must have his reasons for such an arrangement. Below this array, there’s Li Fire, and we must prevent anyone from intruding and disrupting the array."
"The Li Fire within the array is already slowly waking up, there’s no point in guarding it; no one can enter anyway. I’d rather go to the battlefield and kill a few more Zheng Kingdom martial artists and Han Kingdom martial artists."
The middle-aged man called Old Qian muttered a few words: "Previously, we used to fight the Nansha Three Islands frequently as we were in the southernmost part of Liang. Now there’s no movement from the Nansha Three Islands, just the Lingxiao City fighting Zheng Kingdom, and battles against Han Kingdom at the Northern Border; I’m itching to fight."
"Old Qian, I’m hoping we never get the chance to go to the battlefield, not because I’m afraid of death. If the Imperial Court doesn’t summon our Southern Garrison Army, it means we’re not at a disadvantage in the wars against Han Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom. But if they do summon us, you know what it signifies."
Upon hearing this, Old Qian also fell silent.
He certainly knew what it meant if the Imperial Court summoned the Southern Garrison Army.
The Southern Garrison Army is Liang’s southern defense line. Since Duke Fang took command, they have reclaimed all of Liang’s southern territories, leaving only the Nansha Three Islands.
If the Imperial Court wanted to deploy the Southern Garrison Army northward, it would mean Liang is at a disadvantage in the wars against Han Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom, and the martial artists from other paths are not enough.
"Let’s just guard here properly, and in the future..."
The other middle-aged man’s words were cut off as his expression suddenly shifted, and with Old Qian, both looked towards the jade tablet.
At that moment, the jade tablet trembled, and cracks appeared at the bottom as flames shot skyward.
"Not good, the Li Fire is fully awakening and attempting to break free."
The two people’s expressions instantly changed: "Old Qian, you stay here and watch. I’ll go notify the others."
His companion quickly headed towards the valley entrance, while Old Qian remained with a solemn gaze on the jade tablet. The Duke had tasked them with constantly monitoring the state of the array below; should the Li Fire fully awaken, they must notify at once.
Ten breaths later, several powerful auras arrived together. Seven elders appeared at the entrance of the valley. Fang Funan said gravely, "No matter what, we must not let the Li Fire escape from the array and enter the range of the Li Fire Path."
"Yes!"
The elders replied in unison. All these elders were Upper-Grade Martial Artists, and this Southern Garrison Army had a total of ten Upper-Grade Martial Artists, with three responsible for military affairs, while the rest had all gathered here.
Fang Funan looked at the jade tablet before him, his expression somewhat complex.
Two months ago, he had immediately reported Lin Chen’s absence from the array to the Imperial Court; the Left Prime Minister and Lord Liang both came, but unfortunately, neither could enter the array.
The power of the Li Fire was too strong, even a First-Grade Martial Artist couldn’t withstand it.
The former dynasty of Great Qi used the power of the entire nation to seal this Li Fire, and over the years, its power had not diminished but increased.
Afterwards, he also investigated the reason for the Li Fire’s awakening, which was due to actions from the Nansha Three Islands.
By his nature, he wished to lead troops to flatten the Nansha Three Islands; however, with Han Kingdom and Zheng Kingdom declaring war on Liang simultaneously and launching attacks from the Northern Border and Lingxiao City, if he also initiated a conflict with the Nansha Three Islands, Liang’s martial artists would struggle to maintain the fight.
Nation-to-nation battles aren’t only about comparing the strength of two nations. Besides Liang, Han Kingdom, and Zheng Kingdom, there are six other countries in this land, such as Xiang Kingdom, which has always been close to Han Kingdom and is eyeing Liang. If he engaged in war with the Nansha Three Islands, who could guarantee that Xiang Kingdom wouldn’t seize the opportunity to launch a sneak attack on Liang?
Maintaining the Southern Garrison Army here is not only to deter the south but also to deter the other countries.
Liang has not yet reached its limit.
But this vendetta, Fang Funan will absolutely avenge.
Dozens of breaths later, an elder present showed a look of surprise.
"The fire waves have actually receded?"
According to their estimates, once the Li Fire awakened and broke the seal, the fire waves would only grow stronger wave by wave until the seal was completely shattered.
But the fire waves only lasted for a few dozen breaths before suddenly disappearing.
Fang Funan’s figure flashed, appearing below the jade tablet. Upon sensing the situation within the array, his old eyes also showed a hint of surprise.
Originally filled with fire waves, the array had now retreated.
Within the array.
A giant, ten zhang tall, was battling with a fire dragon within the sea of flames.
Every collision from the fire dragon caused the giant to stagger, but the flames spewed by the dragon fell upon the giant, causing no harm.
Although the giant was enormous, its movements were extremely swift, catching the fire dragon several times. But each time it caught the dragon, the dragon would dissipate, transforming into flames that slipped through the giant’s grasp, only to reform not far away.
The two were in a stalemate, with neither able to overcome the other.
PS: Sorry, encountered some issues today, only one update for now, three updates will be made up tomorrow.

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