With his hands folded behind his back, a man in blue practitioner robes departed from his flying sword to land before a somewhat translucent barrier that was blocking his way forward. Peering closely, he could see that it encompassed most, if not all of the Li Clan estate. Something, Zhao Cheng, an accomplished elder of the Zhao Clan had not expected. Though, he should have considered it given the recent actions of the Di Clan in the forcible subjugation of the Iron Thunder Sect. Yet, as he observed the barrier with more focus, an odd feeling began to scratch the back of his head. What was this?
Before he could study this sensation further, a Li Clan member that had ran earlier upon his appearance was returning. The young male paused at the barrier’s border. With a light bow, they spoke as they took a momentary glance at the insignia on his robe.
“The elders have allowed entrance into the clan. Please follow me.”
While Zhao Cheng was guided through the clan estate, most the compound was the same as he had remembered. However, one detail he had noticed in a certain direction was a tree of immense height far into the distance. From what he could make out, it was a marvel to observe. Which begs the question, how did the Li Clan come to have such a specimen. Obviously, they must have kept it hidden for generations through concealing formations, but why would they reveal it now? A dangerous glint sparkled in his eyes for just a moment.
They finally arrived at what he remembered as the administration building of the clan. It was rather small, like much of the clan estate, but he supposed it had a certain charmtl to it. The young boy transferred duties to a what seemed like a female servant and left the area. Being led by the girl that couldn’t have been more than 17 years of age, Zhao Cheng eventually arrived at the two-sided door of the Main Hall. The servant stepped to the side with a gesture and a slight bow.
“You may enter.”
The doors opened by the guards stationed at the two sides of the entrance upon hearing her words. Zhao Cheng followed suit by moving forwards gracefully into the chamber. Within the hall was various elders of the clan, all of which Zhao Cheng had at the very least had second-hand knowledge of. Yet when he identified them, he had to use almost all of his willpower to not cough out a lung. Each of the elders in the room were over twenty levels beyond their reported levels. The reports were only a few years old. There is no conceivable way that they could have progressed this fast. Coupled with that new mysterious tree he had seen earlier, Zhao Cheng was beginning to have a dreadful feeling. They have been hiding themselves this entire time!
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As Zhao Cheng contemplated this, a female of unequivocal beauty sat in the seat typically deemed for the clan leader. She eyed the Zhao Clan Elder with an intense focus that seemed to soon break through his musings and cause a trickle of sweat to run down the back of his neck. Due to his mind’s ramblings, he had not noticed the unnerving silence of the room and the atmosphere he found himself in reminded him of the first time he had entered the center of power for the Silver Fang Sect, their current patron.
This was an unexpected development as the Li Clan was far from a powerhouse in the District. But for some reason, his instincts screamed at him to flee. Why? What was this illogical feeling? Despite the surprises, they were still firmly in the 1st Step realm of power. He needed to get his act together.
Taking in a deep breath and reciting a mantra in his head, Zhao Cheng visibly relaxed and looked over at Li Xue, the head mistress of the Li Clan. He gave a respectful bow and was about to speak but the lady cut him off.
“Apologies, esteemed Elder. My son is not present at the moment. Though, I have informed him of your arrival. He should be here soon.”
Zhao Cheng bit his tongue in annoyance but nodded at this.
“I see. I assume the young Clan leader is as determined in his cultivation as I remembered.”
The emphasis of ‘young’ in his statement made Li Xue’s eye twitch ever so slightly. While perfectly innocent when addressed this way by family, an outsider doing so was simply a way of downplaying their leader. A fact that was proven by the change in facial expressions of every elder in the room. This caused an almost physical presence to manifest above Zhao Cheng’s head, a weight of great enormity hovering over him. Again, that itch at the back of his head returned but stronger. It was only when he saw the head mistress mutter a few words under her breath that the feeling dispersed.
Zhao Cheng was not thrilled about this sudden turn of events. And frankly, he was a bit apprehensive on provoking anyone of the clan after that display. Whatever ‘that’ was, it was way above his pay grade. He was just a messenger after all, ignoring his position in his clan.
For the next twelve minutes, Zhao Cheng stood patiently in the main hall while every elder meditated in their seats. He had not been offered a seat of his own but it was to be expected, especially after insulting their clan leader. Truthfully, if he had known that they would have such a backbone, he would have requested the clan have a different elder approach them. Maybe even an inner disciple of the Silver Fang Sect. These thoughts swirled through his mind until the doors swung open and a youth that couldn’t have been more than 40 years old waltzed into the room. In response, Li Xue removed herself from his seat and he rested upon it. He smiled warmly a his mother and the elders and then looked at Zhao Cheng with an indifferent gaze.
“You wish to speak with me?”
A chill ran down Zhao Cheng’s spine at these words that were accompanied by eyes that bore into his very soul. As Zhao Cheng hesitantly looked above Li Wei's head and read the level that the current leader of the Li Clan was at, his face became white as snow.