From that moment on, he harbored a complex feeling towards the Liu imperial clan, a mixture of resentment, fear, and a myriad of other negative emotions. These negative feelings had plagued him for centuries, deeply affecting him and plunging him into boundless suffering. Even now, as a cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage, he could not escape this shadow.
"No matter who wants my life, they will pay a bloody price. Even if I die, I will drag my enemies to hell with me!"
His aura erupted, swirling without wind, tossing aside countless flowers and trees. Sensing the imminent danger, he swiftly arranged for his trusted subordinates to take many treasures and flee the area.
...
This late Nascent Soul cultivator, who had witnessed the terrifying might of the Liu imperial clan, was determined to fight to the death, but that did not mean he wished to perish here. If he could escape, he would flee far away; he was no fool. What was the meaning of loyalty compared to his own life?
Many other powerful cultivators shared the same sentiment. Numerous experts hastily packed their belongings and fled overseas. If they didn't escape now, they wouldn't be able to when the Purple Continent was completely surrounded.
The Liu imperial clan and the Four Great Families had gathered such a formidable force that these top-tier cultivators naturally took notice. Countless streaks of escaping light flashed across the skies of the Purple Continent's immortal cultivation world, instantly plunging it into chaos. These hidden, powerful forces emerged all at once, stirring up trouble, and the Purple Continent's immortal cultivation world was in turmoil!
These individuals were not the most unfortunate. The truly tragic were those who did nothing, desired nothing, and simply wished to live a peaceful life. Such people, with no ambitions and no desire to do wrong, were also annihilated.
Life in this world is sometimes like this; even if you don't seek trouble, don't stand out, and don't want to do anything, someone will force you to. When an avalanche occurs on a snow-capped mountain, no single snowflake is innocent, and no single snowflake can guarantee its own safety.
Boundless slaughter occurred everywhere. The Liu imperial clan and the Four Great Families' combined purge stained the entire Purple Continent with blood.
On the Liu imperial clan's side!
The Skywater Legion, Skyfire Legion, Skywood Legion, Skygold Legion, Skyearth Legion, and the Yanhan Fleet, the Liu imperial clan's most elite immortal armies, advanced step by step, annihilating rebellious factions one by one. They swept through the southern regions of the Purple Continent, destroying many forces.
In the ancestral land of the Liu imperial clan.
Liu Xie, Liu Chuang, Liu Shan, Liu Gao, and Liu Jing sat together, their expressions varied, the atmosphere in the hall heavy with silence. After a long while, Liu Xie scanned the surroundings and cleared his throat, breaking the oppressive quiet.
He spoke, "The probing battle a few months ago appeared to be evenly matched, but for us, it was not good news! Because it means that if we truly fight to the death, some of us face the risk of perishing." Liu Xie's voice was somber.
Upon hearing this, Liu Chuang, Liu Shan, Liu Gao, and Liu Jing's expressions flickered. Although this battle was merely a tentative warm-up, a portion of the top-tier combat power of both the Liu imperial clan and the Four Great Families had been revealed. In the end, Liu Xie, Liu Chuang, Liu Shan, Liu Gao, and Liu Jing had fought with genuine fervor and decided to unleash their true abilities. Fortunately, Wang Quan Gui and others had retreated a step.
To reach this point, each of Liu Xie, Liu Chuang, Liu Shan, Liu Gao, and Liu Jing had endured immense hardship. None of them wished to die; this was natural. Facing death, how many people could do so with composure and grace? Very few, indeed.
Because of this, Liu Xie, Liu Chuang, Liu Shan, Liu Gao, and Liu Jing knew clearly that even with their trump cards, eradicating Wang Quan Gui and the other three would come at a great cost. What war did not involve casualties? Furthermore, the strength of both sides was not significantly different. This implied a possibility of mutual destruction, albeit a slim one.
Fortunately, Wang Quan Gui, Li Zi Hao, Qin Ru Huo, and Kong Xiang Xi belonged to different factions and could not truly cooperate, each harboring their own concerns. Otherwise, eliminating them would have come at an even greater price.
Seeing the troubled expressions on the faces of the others, Liu Xie shook his head gently and slowly said, "Although the Four Great Families are powerful, we are not weak either. Don't forget we still have a complete corpse of a Nascent Soul stage ancient god. While it is not yet fully refined... with the foundation of our Liu imperial clan, eradicating them will not require too great a price. As long as we are united and our cultivation progresses further, no matter how powerful the Four Great Families are, they will ultimately be unable to stop us!" Liu Xie's voice was filled with boundless confidence.
He believed that once the Four Great Families were defeated and the Purple Continent's immortal cultivation world was truly unified, he would be able to achieve the ultimate realm of cultivation, the Deity Transformation stage, just like his ancestor Liu Hao Tian. At that time, he would accomplish great deeds that many ancestors could not, surpassing his father, his grandfather, and even his ancestors. For, with the fusion of ten laws in the Deity Transformation stage, the Great Dao would be formed, rendering one invincible under heaven and on earth.
...
"What should we do about the matter of the Eight Great Feudatories?" Liu Shan asked with a frown. Initially, the Eight Great Feudatories were established to isolate the conflicts and disputes with the Four Great Families, stabilize the situation, and allow for recovery and recuperation. Now, the Eight Great Feudatories no longer served their original purpose to a significant extent, making their disposition a pressing issue.
"The Eight Great Feudatories have a total of twenty to thirty cultivators in the late Nascent Soul stage and over a hundred in the Nascent Soul stage. They are a considerable force. If they all stand with us, we can spare them for now," Liu Jing said after a moment of hesitation. The union of eight first-rank families was something even the Liu imperial clan regarded with great importance. In Liu Jing's opinion, such a powerful force, if truly harnessed, could reduce the casualties among the Liu imperial clan's disciples. Liu Xie, Liu Chuang, and Liu Gao also appeared hesitant. The Eight Great Feudatories were an organization established out of necessity due to the circumstances of the time. However, after nearly a century of development, their influence had grown, and even the Liu imperial clan and the Four Great Families harbored a degree of apprehension towards this loose alliance.
...
"Alright, the Eight Great Feudatories were established by us long ago, and on the surface, they are still our subordinates. We still hold the moral high ground. Before we engage in war with the Four Great Families, the issue of the Eight Great Feudatories must be thoroughly resolved. I suspect the eight leaders of the Eight Great Feudatories are well aware that neither we nor the Four Great Families will allow this alliance to remain neutral. They have only two choices: one is to pledge allegiance to us, and the other is to join the Four Great Families. The choice, in fact, rests with the eight leaders of the Eight Great Feudatories. Until the last resort, our approach should be to win them over!" Liu Gao furrowed his brow and said in a calm tone. Clearly, he also found the Eight Great Feudatories to be a troublesome matter.
"All forces in the southern region of the Purple Continent that pledge allegiance to us can be arranged at the front lines as cannon fodder. Those who disobey will be killed without mercy. We no longer need to hold back. We used to tolerate them because it was not yet time for a decisive battle. Killing them then would only sow discord among the populace with no benefit. It is different now. This time, all forces will be swept up, and we will no longer have any reservations. The Purple Continent needs only one voice!" Liu Chuang said with a cold tone. What nonsense about noble families and sects; in his eyes, they were all ants. Those who obey will prosper, those who defy will perish!
"Old Chuang, I like what you said. These fleas should have been exterminated long ago. They listen to our summons but not our decrees, outwardly complying but inwardly resisting. They court death!" Liu Shan's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he echoed his agreement.
...
Liu Shan, Liu Gao, and Liu Jing simultaneously looked up at Liu Xie, awaiting his judgment. Within the Liu imperial clan, his word was absolute, his authority supreme, the true leader.
"Go forth and slaughter! The sons and daughters of the Liu imperial clan should taste blood and learn what it means to kill. Flowers grown in a greenhouse may be beautiful, but they wither much faster than those in the wild. Our Liu imperial clan has too many descendants, yet truly outstanding prodigies are few and far between! Let the dross be washed away, and the gold refined by fire. Do not be concerned about losses; let these juniors go all out. Those who are truly exceptional will advance further by traversing the path between life and death. As for the mediocre and incompetent, let them die. Those who survive will become the future pillars of our Liu imperial clan. This time, let us all release our grip. The princes, such as Liu Xiu, Liu Lie, Liu You, and Liu Bing Ji, need not remain in the imperial capital of Chang'an; let them go to the front lines and temper themselves!" Liu Xie made his decision after glancing at the four.