The Li Clan was a mysterious clan that rarely interacted with the outside world.

Among the Nine Clans of Zhaowu, they liked to maintain a rather low profile.

When Tianwu Xin arrived at the Li Clan, Clan Leader Li Ling greeted her personally.

Tianwu Xin picked up the cup of spiritual tea poured by the servant and took a casual sip but was immediately surprised by the taste. "Clan Leader Li Ling, this is such a fragrant and delicious tea.

"It feels like a warm current flowing down my throat, and it invigorates my blood and spiritual energy. I can feel power circulating through my limbs and bones. My mind feels refreshed, and I can do more revolutions of my cultivation base.

"Is this the Li Clan's Immortal Spirit Tea?"

Li Ling smiled and replied, "Indeed it is."

The Immortal Spirit Tea was from the Immortal Spirit Tree—a famous spiritual treasure of the heavens alongside the Shui Clan's Immortal Dao Tree. During their glory days, Dao Fruits and Immortal Spirit Teas were considered insignificant items, but they were now exceptionally rare and valuable.

"What a divine tea," Tianwu Xin praised. She then set down the teacup and said, "Clan Leader Ling, I will get straight to the point since time is limited. To be honest, I am here to offer a great opportunity to the Li Clan."

Li Ling was curious. "A great opportunity?"

Tianwu Xin nodded slightly and recounted the Dao Emperor's return to the world.

Li Ling was greatly shocked. He didn't expect the legendary Dao Emperor to return as the Fourth Hall Master of the Evil Dao Alliance.

Tianwu Xin said, "Clan Leader Ling, I heard that your son, Li Han, has made contact with Ye Guan."

Li Ling looked surprised. "Really?"

"You haven't heard of it?"

"Yes, but a brief contact isn't going to be a problem, is it?"

"Li Han has another identity; you're aware of it, right?"

"Another identity?"

"You don't know?"

"He's been out training for many years now and has had little contact with us."

"He is the Ninth Hall Master of the Evil Dao Alliance."

"What?!" Li Ling exclaimed, jumping to his feet. His face was filled with disbelief as he yelled, "He joined the Evil Dao Alliance?!"

Tianwu Xin observed Li Ling and saw genuine astonishment on his face. Tianwu Xin became convinced that Li Ling was unaware of Li Han's other identity until now.

Tianwu Xin collected her thoughts and added, "Clan Leader Ling, the Dao Emperor is aware of his contact with Ye Guan. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. After all, I don't believe Li Han would betray the Li Clan or the Evil Dao Alliance—"

"Of course not!" someone shouted from outside.

The two turned and saw a young man walk into the hall.

The young man was none other than Li Han.

Li Han smiled and said, "Elder Xin, please inform the Fourth Hall Master that when it comes to killing Ye Guan, our Li Clan will go all out."

Tianwu Xin immediately smiled. "I knew that Young Lord Han couldn't possibly be colluding with Ye Guan. All right, will await you all in the Ascension World."

With that, Tianwu Xin stood up and left.

Li Han's smile faded as soon as Tianwu Xin was no longer in sight.

Li Ling asked, "Han'er, have you had contact with Ye Guan?"

Li Han nodded. "Yes."

"Is there something unusual about this matter?"

"Our Li Clan must not get involved in this."

"Why?"

"Ye Guan's background is extraordinarily terrifying…"

"More terrifying than the Dao Emperor and the Evil Dao Alliance?"

"Father, can the Dao Emperor suppress the Tianxing Flame?"

"I don't know."

"The people behind Ye Guan can do that."

Li Ling was astonished.

Li Han's expression grew complex as he elaborated, "If I hadn't seen and observed the Tianxing Flame up close with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either. The Tianxing Flame was actually being suppressed by someone.

"Based on that alone, our Li Clan cannot make an enemy out of him."

The Tianxing Civilization was the reason behind the Li Clan's fall from grace. When the Tianxing Flame descended, the Path Creation Realm cultivators of the Li Clan perished in droves.

However, Ye Guan's backers could actually suppress the Tianxing Flame? If that were true, then Li Han was right; they couldn't make an enemy out of Ye Guan. They'd be courting death if they were to do so.

"But the Dao Emperor is an expert beyond the Path Creation Realm," Li Ling said in a low voice, "He established a whole new civilization by himself, and the reason the Zhaowu Universe is renowned across the vast expanse isn't because of the Nine Clans.

"It's all because of him. There are also rumors that he even fought back against the Tianxing Flame."

Li Han shook his head and said, "I don't think he's stronger than the people behind Ye Guan."

"Why do you say that?" Li Ling asked.

Li Han replied, "How come he has yet to suppress a Tianxing Flame just for the heck of it? If I were in his shoes, I would have done that long ago! I know that you're concerned about the Zhaowu Scripture, but you must understand that if our Li Clan makes a choice and it turns out to be the wrong one, we're gone."

Li Ling was silent for a long time before shattering the ice. "So our Li Clan will remain neutral?"

Li Han contemplated for a while before saying, "Our Li Clan has three options. The first option is to assist the Dao Emperor, but this is a last resort, so we should not even consider that.

The second option is to take a huge gamble by going all in on Ye Guan.

"Our Li Clan has to step out and aid him. This is highly risky because it means opposing not only several major clans and the Dao Emperor but also the Evil Dao Alliance.

"The consequences are too great, and our Li Clan can't probably withstand that. However, if we end up winning, our Li Clan will easily make a comeback. No, we could go even further than our heydays.

"The third option is a smaller gamble. Our Li Clan will remain neutral, while I will go and assist Ye Guan. We're going to bet small for a chance at the jackpot. My personal connection with him isn't much, but this is the safest approach for the Li Clan."

Just then, Li Ling stared at Li Han and asked, "Would you like to take a smaller gamble or go all in?"

Li Han remained silent as he turned around and walked slowly toward the hall's entrance. Upon walking outside, he gazed at the sky and closed his eyes. Many images flashed through his mind.

The suppressed Tianxing Flame! The mysterious divine sword and tiny pagoda.!

After a long pause, Li Han opened his eyes and said, "If we don't take this gamble, then our Li Clan will have to remain neutral. Regardless of the outcome, we aren't going to lose anything by doing that.

"If we do take the gamble, then let's go all in. Let's bet everything on Ye Guan and take the risk for massive gains."

"You've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Li Ling asked, "You're just trying to persuade me. Am I right?"

Li Han nodded.

"This concerns the survival of the Li Clan," Li Ling remarked."

"I know, father, but…" Li Han trailed off before continuing, "Our Li Clan needs an opportunity—an opportunity to turn our fate around. My intuition tells me that this is our chance. If we miss it, our Li Clan will never be able to return to its heyday."

Return to the clan's heyday! Li Han's ultimate goal in life was to restore the Li Clan to its peak. That was the reason he joined the Evil Dao Alliance. He once believed that he could achieve it with his own strength, but reality proved too harsh.

Resources were nowadays, and the Li Clan couldn't become a Tier Five civilization.

Even if they could climb higher, there was no path up ahead, so it was useless. The only true Tier Five civilization, the Tianxing Civilization, would definitely not assist the Li Clan. With that, restoring the Li Clan to its former glory seemed impossible.

The Li Clan needed a helping hand!

It wasn't just the Li Clan.

Everyone working hard to fight for something would need a helping hand sometimes.

However, there were no free lunches in this world, and there was no one kind enough to help others for no reason.

In other words, one had to create one's opportunity to succeed!

"Commander You," Li Ling said.

A shadowy figure emerged from the dim of the hall.

"From now on, you and your men will follow the Young Master's orders without question."

Commander You bowed slightly.

Li Ling looked at Li Han and said, "I trust your decision."

"Father, I still need…" Li Han trailed off.

Li Ling opened his palm, revealing a jade pendant. He then handed it over to Li Han.

Li Han stared at the jade pendant and hesitated to accept it. He knew what it meant, after all.

Li Ling smiled warmly at him and said, "Just go for it."

Li Han accepted the pendant, but he sounded uncertain as he said, "Father, I don't have absolute confidence about this."

"If we had absolute confidence in everything, we wouldn't be the Li Clan. Our efforts relied on taking risks and hard work to raise the Li Clan to its peak heights from the ground up."

"Indeed," Li Han said. He then looked at the jade pendant again and said, "My Brother Ye is in trouble. How can I stand by and do nothing? We're brothers in life and death, and I must help him!"

Li Ling had no idea what to say.

***

Meanwhile, Ye Guan finally reached the Third Heaven of the Ascension Battles, and he found himself staring at a towering palace in the distance. The palace was by itself, looking quite desolate without anything around it.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

A stone staircase rose from the ground, and it led to the palace entrance.

Ye Guan looked up at the eerie palace at the end of the staircase.

"Senior Li, the Third Heaven's expert…"

"Be careful now," Li Suifeng chuckled and said, "Their origins aren't ordinary, and they are pretty skilled."

Ye Guan nodded. Of course, he wouldn't dare to underestimate the expert of the Third Heaven. After all, both Tian Qi and Li Suifeng were incredibly powerful, even though they were just the experts of the First Heaven and the Second Heaven, respectively.

Ye Guan looked up at the stone staircase and smiled. "Let's see."

With that, Ye Guan transformed into a beam of sword light that made a beeline for the palace. Just as Ye Guan was about to reach the palace, a cold gleam shot out from inside.

Bam!

Ye Guan's sword light shattered, and Ye Guan plummeted to the ground.

A deafening explosion echoed upon impact, and the earth beneath him collapsed.

Ye Guan looked up and saw a tiny leaf suspended in the air just before the end of the stone staircase.