Chapter 2160

Hearing the people below say that the group of attendants were already outside the city lord's manor, Li Hongyan's confidence surged.

Translation: Hearing the people below say that the batch of elders were already outside the City Lord's Mansion, Li Hongyan's confidence surged.

His confidence surged.

Sure enough, just as he had thought, they had all abandoned the Dao Yi Immortal Sect and turned toward the Wu Ji Immortal City.

Translation: Indeed, just as he had thought, they had all abandoned the Dao One Immortal Sect and turned to Wuji Xiancheng.

After all, the Dao Yi Immortal Sect is just a fledgling sect—how long has it been established? How could it possibly compare to his Wu Ji Immortal City?

Translation: After all, the Dao One Immortal Sect had only just been established—how could it compare to his Wuji Xiancheng?

He unconsciously broke into a smile and said with a laugh.

Translation: He unconsciously showed a smile and said with a laugh.

"Please let them in."

Translation: "\"Please let them in. \""

Before his eyes, he could already see the scene of the Dao Yi Immortal Sect's destruction; with the current situation, wiping out the sect was as easy as catching something with a hand, a sure thing.

Translation: Before his eyes, he seemed to see the scene of the Dao One Immortal Sect's downfall; now the situation made destroying the Dao One Immortal Sect as easy as grasping something within reach, a foregone conclusion.

as easy as catching something with a hand, a sure thing.

Better: "as easy as catching something with a hand, a certainty." We'll go with: "as easy as catching something with a hand, a sure thing."

Soon after, the group of attendants entered the city lord's manor, and Li Hongyan personally greeted them outside the front hall.

Translation: Not long after, the elders entered the City Lord's Mansion, and Li Hongyan personally greeted them outside the Front Hall.

After all, each of these people had extraordinary status, and many possessed cultivation strength comparable to his own, so Li Hongyan naturally dared not be negligent.

Translation: After all, these people were all of extraordinary status, and many of their cultivation strengths were comparable to his, so Li Hongyan naturally dared not be negligent.

"Senior Brother Chen..."

Translation: "\"Brother Chen................ \""

We need to keep the dots? The original has many dots indicating trailing speech. We'll keep the same number of dots? The instruction: translate faithfully, never skip. So we need to keep the dots as they are. We'll output exactly the same number of dots? The original shows "................" maybe 12 dots? We'll keep as is. We'll just copy the dots.

Thus: "\"Brother Chen................ \""

"Senior Mo..."

Translation: "\"Senior Mo.................. \""

"Brother Zhang..."

Translation: "\"Brother Zhang.............. \""

With an enthusiastic smile on his face, he welcomed each person one by one into the hall.

Translation: With an enthusiastic smile on his face, he welcomed each person into the hall one by one.

The guests took their seats one after another, and attendants served them pre-prepared immortal tea, various spiritual fruits, sweets, and so on.

Translation: Everyone took their seats one after another, and attendants served them the prepared immortal tea, various spiritual fruits, desserts, and so on.

After everyone was seated, Li Hongyan, full of vigor and confidence, finally spoke.

Translation: After everyone was seated, Li Hongyan then spoke with a vigorous and exalted expression.

"I, Li, thank you all for your strong support. This time, the Dao Yi Immortal Sect..."

Translation: "\"Li thanks everyone for their strong support; this time the Dao One Immortal Sect............................. \""

We need to keep the dots. We'll copy them.

He gave a round of thanks to everyone present, completely unaware of any problem.

Translation: He gave a round of thanks to everyone present, completely unaware of any problem.

After all, everyone had already arrived—what could possibly go wrong?

Translation: After all, they're already here—what problem could there be?

Everyone had chosen to come to his Wu Ji Immortal City, making Li Hongyan deeply grateful; yet the Dao Yi Immortal Sect, a newly established and obscure little sect, what merit or ability could it have to earn the allegiance of those present?

Translation: Everyone choosing his Wuji Xiancheng made Li Hongyan deeply grateful, while the Dao One Immortal Sect, a newly established obscure sect, what virtue or ability could it have to earn the allegiance of those present?

He went on at length, while the people below merely smiled and nodded perfunctorily, offering no rebuttal.

Translation: He spoke at length, while the crowd below merely smiled and nodded perfunctorily, offering no rebuttal.

Naturally, everyone had come here after having already plotted their plan.

Translation: Their coming here was naturally the result of a plan they had already worked out.

Over there, Qi Xiong was determined to drive them out; in order to stay, the group finally came up with a plan to make amends through merit.

Translation: Over there, Qi Xiong was determined to drive them away; in order to stay, the others finally came up with a plan to compensate for their faults with merit.

Since the matter was instigated by Li Hongyan, they would seize the Li family and then hand over the entire Wu Ji Immortal City, wrapped up, to the Dao Yi Immortal Sect.

Translation: Since Li Hongyan started this, they would take down the Li family and then hand over the entire Wuji Xiancheng, packaged, to the Dao One Immortal Sect.

Having rendered such great service, even if Qi Xiong wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to expel them, after all they were meritorious disciples of the sect.

Translation: Having achieved such great merit, even if Qi Xiong wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to expel them, after all they were heroes of the sect.

To carry out this plan, everyone had previously contacted their own sects and families, explained the situation, and secured their families' and sects' support.

Translation: To carry out this plan, they had previously contacted their own sect and family, made clear the seriousness, and obtained the support of their family and sect.

The reason is simple: Zuo Fu is now inside the Dao Yi Immortal Sect—can Li Hongyan really succeed?

Translation: The reason is simple: Zuo Fu is now inside the Dao One Immortal Sect—can Li Hongyan succeed?

By then, one must avoid bringing disaster upon oneself; moreover, if one could turn from darkness to light and stand with the Dao Yi Immortal Sect, the future benefits would be enormous.

Translation: By then, be careful not to bring fire upon yourself; besides, if one could turn from darkness to light and stand with the Dao One Immortal Sect, the future benefits would be enormous.

In short, after a lot of exaggeration, the sects and families behind everyone were successfully persuaded.

Translation: In short, after a lot of exaggeration, the sects and families behind them were successfully persuaded.

This time, their purpose in coming to the Wu Ji Immortal City was simply to prepare for action.

Translation: This time, their purpose in coming to Wuji Xiancheng was precisely to prepare for action.

First, they pretended to have severed ties with the Dao Yi Immortal Sect, in order to paralyze Li Hongyan and make him lower his guard.

Translation: First, they pretended to have severed ties with the Dao One Immortal Sect, to paralyze Li Hongyan and make him lower his guard.

Then they would infiltrate the city lord's manor, look for an opportunity to strike suddenly, first take control of everyone in the Li family; as long as they could capture the Li family, the Wu Ji Immortal City would naturally fall into their hands.

Translation: Then they would infiltrate the City Lord's Mansion, look for an opportunity to launch a sudden attack, first seize control of the Li family; as long as they captured the Li family, Wuji Xiancheng would naturally fall as well.

Therefore, at this moment, nobody objected to Li Hongyan's words; they let him say whatever he wanted, for to bring about his downfall, one must first drive him mad.

Translation: Therefore, at this moment, they did not refute Li Hongyan's words, letting him say whatever he wanted; for a person, to bring about their downfall, one must first drive them mad.

"Everyone, I won't waste more words on thanks—I raise a cup to you all."

Translation: "\"Everyone, I won't say more on thanks; I offer you all a cup. \""

At that moment, Li Hongyan, who had just been chattering away, also raised his cup high, drank the wine in one gulp, and his face was full of confidence.

Translation: At this moment, Li Hongyan, who had been chattering away, also raised his cup high, drained the wine in it in one gulp, and his face was full of confidence.

Even before making a move, the outcome was already decided; this ploy of 'pulling the fire from under the cauldron' directly stripped the Dao Yi Immortal Sect of its greatest trump card.

Translation: Before making a move, the outcome was already decided; his move of pulling the fire from under the pot directly caused the Dao One Immortal Sect to lose its biggest trump card.

"Drink."

Translation: "\"Drink. \""

Seeing this, the many attendants below also raised their cups, tilted their heads back, and downed the fine wine in one gulp.

Translation: The many elders below, seeing this, also raised their cups, tilted their heads back, and finished the fine wine in one gulp.

The atmosphere in the entire hall was warm and harmonious.

Translation: The atmosphere in the hall was harmonious and cheerful.

Afterward, the many attendants said that although they had now severed ties with the Dao Yi Immortal Sect, they wished to temporarily reside in the city lord's manor.

Translation: Afterwards, the many elders said they had severed ties with the Dao One Immortal Sect, but wished to stay temporarily at the City Lord's Mansion.

"Senior Brother Li, my sect has issued an order for me to wait here for my senior fellow practitioner to arrive."

Translation: "\"Brother Li, my sect has ordered me to wait here for my senior brother to arrive. \""

"Me too."

Translation: "\"Me too. \""

"Same here."

Translation: "\"Me too. \""

Upon hearing these words, Li Hongyan gave it no further thought, assuming they merely wanted to discuss the previous terms.

Translation: Hearing these words, Li Hongyan didn't think much, assuming they wanted to discuss the previous terms.

Since these conditions were ones Li Hongyan himself had agreed to, he naturally never considered going back on his word.

Translation: Since these terms were promised by Li Hongyan himself, he naturally hadn't considered going back on his word.

Moreover, facing so many powers, Li Hongyan dared not act treacherously or break his promises; what he had agreed to give, he would certainly give.

Translation: Moreover, facing so many forces, Li Hongyan dared not act treacherously; what he promised others, he would surely give.

Therefore, regarding the request for everyone to stay, Li Hongyan agreed without even thinking.

Translation: So, regarding their request to stay, Li Hongyan agreed without hesitation.

Furthermore, he immediately ordered that accommodations be prepared for everyone inside the city lord's manor.

Translation: Moreover, he immediately ordered preparations for accommodations for them inside the City Lord's Mansion.

Things proceeded very smoothly, and Li Hongyan remained completely unaware of any problem.

Translation: Everything proceeded smoothly, and Li Hongyan had no inkling of any problem.

All the attendants ended up residing inside the city lord's manor.

Translation: All the elders took up residence inside the City Lord's Mansion.

Moreover, that very evening, other members of the Li family invited the guests to a banquet to gather together.

Translation: Moreover, that same evening, other members of the Li family invited the elders to a banquet to gather.

The city lord's residence became lively, and the next day, Elder Huang, Ma Qiankun, and their party also arrived at the Dao Yi Immortal Sect.

Translation: The city lord's residence bustled with activity, and the next day, Huang Lao, Ma Qiankun and their group also arrived at the Dao One Immortal Sect.

Although Li Hongyan knew of Elder Huang's departure, he gave it no further thought and certainly did not dare to send anyone to follow him.

Translation: Regarding Huang Lao's departure, Li Hongyan knew but didn't think much of it, and certainly didn't dare to send anyone to follow.

Such an action would undoubtedly provoke Elder Huang's anger; it must not be done.

Translation: Such an action would surely provoke Huang Lao; it must not be done.

Having safely reached the Dao Yi Immortal Sect, in the dining hall Elder Huang and Zuo Fu locked eyes, and Elder Huang frowned.

Translation: Safely arriving at the Dao One Immortal Sect, in the canteen Huang Lao and Zuo Fu faced each other, and Huang Lao frowned.

"How come you're here?"

Translation: "\"How are you here? \""

Upon hearing this, Zuo Fu replied calmly without changing his expression.

Translation: Upon hearing this, Zuo Fu said calmly without changing his expression.

"How could I not be here? I am now an attendant of the Dao Yi Immortal Sect."

Translation: "\"How could I not be here? I am now an elder of the Dao One Immortal Sect. \""

"An attendant? Aren't you from Danwang Immortal City?"

Translation: "\"An elder? Aren't you from the Pill King Immortal City? \""

"So what? I cannot join the Dao Yi Immortal Sect."

Translation: "\"So what? I cannot join the Dao One Immortal Sect. \""

Zuo Fu's appearance came as a surprise to Elder Huang, after all, this fellow had previously wanted to act against Ye Changqing while he was in the Chef King Immortal City.

Translation: Zuo Fu's appearance surprised Huang Lao, after all this guy had previously wanted to attack Ye Zhangqing in the Cooking King Immortal City.

But now it seems, this is yet another fellow who has been subdued by Ye Zhangqing.

No longer dwelling on this problem, Huang Lao turned his head to look at Ye Zhangqing and said.

"You little brat, you don't know that Wuji Xiancheng is going to act against the Dao One Immortal Sect?"

"I know."

Hearing that, Ye Zhangqing maintained a calm expression, utterly unbothered, and said.

Beside him, Qi Xiong, upon hearing that, also adopted a solemn expression and said.

"This Li Hongyan is actually a Hǎo rén."

This time Li Hongyan's assist was not bad, so Qi Xiong holds him in high esteem.

If it weren't for Li Hongyan's assist this time, Qi Xiong would really have struggled to clear that batch of offerings; one could say Li Hongyan helped a great deal.

As for the matter of Li Hongyan wanting to act against the Dao One Immortal Sect.

Old folks, you know, sometimes being a bit muddle-headed is understandable; just be more tolerant.

When the time comes, let him go more happily.

Seeing that Ye Zhangqing and his companions showed no worry at all, and after also looking at Zuo Fu beside them, Huang Lao said no more.

Indeed, with that old Zuo family guy around, Li Hongyan couldn't even jump.

Not even a threat; even if Wuji Xiancheng mustered all its strength, success would still be impossible.

What's more, now with me added, Wuji Xiancheng wouldn't have a chance.

Having figured this out, Huang Lao no longer dwelled on it; he immediately changed his tone, cracked a smile, looked at Ye Zhangqing, and said.

"Ye Zhangqing, old man I've come all this way, won't you rustle up two little dishes for this old man to satisfy his craving?"

Hearing that, Ye Zhangqing laughed and said.

"Kid, I'm going now."

However, just as Ye Zhangqing had just risen to his feet, suddenly the ground began to shake violently, a tremor that moved earth and mountain.