Zhao Li left the Imperial Court, and everything he saw along the way filled him with a bad premonition.
He quickly returned to the village, only to find corpses everywhere.
The three people who had hidden there early saw Zhao Li and, thinking he was someone who had gone out and survived, were overjoyed. But Zhao Li suppressed them to the ground, making them unable to move.
Hearing Zhao Li's cold, emotionless voice, the few people kneeling on the ground trembled, shaking like sieves, and stammered in reply:
"It wasn't us. When we got here, they were already dead. We're weak, so we just wanted to hide here and see if we could catch any stragglers who came back. We really didn't kill them. Please spare us, sir, please spare us."
Zhao Li asked again:
"With your strength, how did you get in? What's the situation outside?"
"We rushed over as soon as we heard about the Ruins, but the news spread widely and attracted many powerful people. We searched for a long time but couldn't find it. Finally, a Saint from the Soul Hall arrived and opened the entrance. He originally only allowed people from the Soul Hall to enter, but then another Saint from the Pill Tower came. He held back the Great Heavenly Venerate from the Soul Hall, and that's how we managed to get in."
The few people recounted what had happened inside the Ruins, afraid that if they spoke too slowly, they wouldn't have a chance to speak at all.
Zhao Li pondered in his heart, the power of a Saint was evident.
He asked about the outside world again, then annihilated the few people. He had no burden killing these scumbags.
Zhao Li looked at the corpses covering the ground, feeling distressed.
Suddenly, Zhao Li detected an extremely faint breath and slowly walked forward.
Before him, three bodies were piled together. It was Uncle Jiang's family. Zhao Li picked them up and looked at the little girl underneath. It was the little one who used to pester him for stories.
Her face was pale, and her breathing was weak.
Zhao Li quickly controlled his Dou Qi and sent it into her body. He took out a healing Pill and controlled the medicinal power to slowly spread. Gradually, her breathing became steady.
Zhao Li picked her up and gently stroked her forehead. Then he looked around and searched again, but found no other presence.
Zhao Li left the village once more. Perhaps there were still people alive elsewhere. If he was faster, perhaps one person or even a whole village could survive.
Holding Little Ling Meng, Zhao Li's Soul Power spread out recklessly, probing the surroundings. Then he appeared at the edge of where his Soul Power reached and continued searching. He just hoped to find other villages quickly and save some people.
However, after a long time, Zhao Li still didn't find a single village with people in it.
This situation actually made Zhao Li secretly breathe a sigh of relief. No people was much better than no living people. After all, there were still other possibilities.
Unconsciously, Zhao Li looked in the direction of the Imperial Court.
He didn't know what other hidden resources the Chaos Spirit Tribe had, but he knew that nearly twenty Dou Venerates had entered this place, and it would be difficult for the Chaos Spirit Tribe to stop them.
Moreover, there were two Saints outside.
Withdrawing his gaze, Zhao Li looked at the little one in his arms, then sighed:
"My strength is still too weak. In this situation, going there would also be useless. What I can do, perhaps, is to try my best to save some people, preserve some of their Bloodline and heritage."
Zhao Li moved again. It was still the same as before; occasionally, a village had been wiped out with corpses everywhere, but most were empty villages with no people in sight.
"Perhaps they have used some special method to hide the people."
Zhao Li guessed, then looked towards the Imperial Court again. These past few days, he had seen more and more people from the outside, and had even sensed several Dou Venerate presences heading towards the Imperial Court.
"Little one, Big Brother is taking you to the Imperial Court. Watch me charge in and out seven times!"
Looking at the little one in his arms whose physical functions had recovered but who hadn't woken up yet, Zhao Li entertained himself for a bit, then rushed towards the Imperial Court:
"I hope the Chaos Spirit Tribe still has other strong individuals, sigh~"
When Zhao Li arrived at the Imperial Court again, there were already quite a few people from the outside world outside the city. They were subtly divided into three camps, each restraining the others, yet also forming a pincer movement, surrounding the Imperial Court.
Seeing this situation, Zhao Li felt slightly relieved. Although the situation was bad, at least they hadn't started fighting yet. Perhaps he could still persuade the Great Elder to take some people away.
"I hope they aren't too stubborn."
Zhao Li prayed in his heart, quietly entered the city, and went straight to the Imperial Court.
Inside the main hall of the Imperial Court, beneath the statue, the Great Elder was still there.
Seeing Zhao Li enter holding a child, he frowned, his tone indifferent:
"You haven't left yet? If you don't leave now, I'm afraid you won't be able to."
Zhao Li seemed not to hear him:
"Nearly twenty Dou Venerates, and two Saints outside. Do you have any Life Force? The Emperor Lord's heritage is for you to keep your useful bodies to protect the people behind you. Now, are you going to take them to their deaths? Do you care about their wishes?"
As if he hadn't expected Zhao Li to ask this, the Great Elder was stunned for a moment, then nodded:
"You are right, but where else can we go? As you said, there are still Saints outside. We are not afraid of dying in battle, but it is quite ironic to think that we are fighting against the people the Emperor Lord wholeheartedly protected, instead of fighting against demons."
Zhao Li was silent. After a long time, he spoke with difficulty:
"Someone in my hometown said, 'If you preserve the people but lose the land, both the people and the land will be preserved. If you preserve the land but lose the people, both the people and the land will be lost.' I don't think you have any chance of winning. If you trust me, it's better to leave some Bloodline and heritage early."
"Although I can't see through you either, you are definitely not stronger than me. You are too weak. Leave her here and leave on your own."
The Great Elder nodded when he heard what Zhao Li said. What he said had little to do with what Zhao Li had said, and he spoke directly.
Zhao Li heard this and was not angry. Although the Great Elder's words were not pleasant, they were the truth. Facing such a lineup outside, he was also helpless.
He looked at the Great Elder. After a long time, he nodded and agreed:
"I hope you can pass down the heritage and see the outside world."
Zhao Li set Little Ling Meng down and turned to leave.
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from behind him. Two rings appeared before him, and the Great Elder's dejected voice followed:
"Take these. I've made arrangements for the others. If you survive, look after them if you ever see them again. Go."
Zhao Li reached out and grasped the Storage Rings. Without asking further, his figure flickered and vanished from within the Imperial Court. When he reappeared, he was among the crowd outside the boundary, his appearance, form, and aura completely changed.
At this time, Dou Venerates had already appeared here. For them, ordinary inheritances no longer caught their eye, but the Chaos Spirit Tribe within had piqued their interest.
By the time Zhao Li arrived, the Soul Hall's Nine Heavenly Venerates had decided to first capture the people of this realm to obtain the inheritance, and then discuss other matters.
He was a Peak Eight-Star Dou Venerate expert, and also the strongest person here. Naturally, no one was willing to contend with him before seeing the benefits, so they nodded in agreement.
"Since that's the case, let's make our move."
Saying this, he appeared above the Imperial Court and pressed down with a palm.
Using means unknown, the Great Elder had enveloped the Imperial Court in a colorless barrier, blocking the Nine Heavenly Venerates' attack.
The Nine Heavenly Venerates stopped their hands, looked at the thin figure, then looked at the energy barrier, a little puzzled.
"Oh? Interesting. This kind of method... I seem to have seen it somewhere before."
The Great Elder sighed, his expression dim:
"Retreat. We shouldn't be enemies."
The Nine Heavenly Venerates seemed to have heard a huge joke and laughed strangely:
"Once I break this turtle shell, let's see what other tricks you have. Everyone, make your move."
More than a dozen Dou Venerates condensed their attacks. Even with reservations, their power was still terrifying.
As the attacks landed on the barrier, the Nine Heavenly Venerates watched carefully, seeing the attacks being dispersed and then absorbed into it.
He finally remembered this method—when he was promoted to Heavenly Venerate, he had the fortune to enter the Hall Master's library and had accidentally seen records of the Spirit Devouring Tribe.
"So, you are remnants of the Spirit Devouring Tribe. Then I absolutely cannot let you go."
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