Chapter 1212

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Guardian Envoy of Dongji Lingzhou, Huo Yuan.

He looked to be about forty-something.

His features were hard, his cheekbones high, his eye sockets slightly sunken.

A pair of eyes, in the void, rippled with a heavy, watery light.

He made no effort to conceal his cultivation; the pressure of the Mahayana Stage spread toward the surroundings like an invisible tide.

The people standing beside him — some wore the long robes of the Dongji Lingzhou Guardian Mansion, some wore the black robes covered in thunder patterns of the Cang Lei Ancient Clan, and a few were clearly Supreme Elders of major local Chambers of Commerce in Dongji Lingzhou, with cultivations ranging from Spirit Transformation to Body Integration.

Luo Qinghan's face showed no fear; instead, a trace of mockery appeared: "No wonder the remnants of the Cang Lei Ancient Clan dared to return — turns out they moved this backer.

However, Huo Yuan coming is useless too.

The Cang Lei Ancient Clan struck first, robbed our three caravans, and reached the edge of the Floating World Four Domains.

Since they aren't afraid of death themselves, I'll clean up the trash of the Endless Star Domain for my Master — who has the qualifications to say no?"

Upon seeing Luo Qinghan, Huo Yuan bowed slightly, then said in a deep voice: "Luo Siming, this seat won't beat around the bush with you either.

The Cang Lei Ancient Clan is an ancient clan power registered in Dongji Lingzhou; for thirty-eight thousand years they have abided by the rules set by the Myriad Worlds True Lord.

Not only have they paid taxes on time, but they have never once made a move to rebel.

This time, your Beidou Immortal Mansion cross-border enforced the law — not only destroying the Cang Lei Ancient Clan's outposts in Dongji Lingzhou, but also killing hundreds of Cang Lei clansmen, even felling two Body Integration cultivators.

In the rules of the Endless Star Domain, this counts as overstepping.

If any clan among the Ten Great Ancient Clans can be arbitrarily slaughtered by outside forces, then what meaning does the order of Dongji Lingzhou, even the entire Endless Star Domain, have left to exist?"

Before Luo Qinghan could speak, Baili Hong behind her planted his great saber in the void, then tilted his head to look at Huo Yuan: "Guardian Envoy Huo, those words sound quite nice.

When the Cang Lei Ancient Clan robbed our caravans, why didn't you speak of order?

When they colluded with calamity cultivators and reached the edge of the Floating World Four Domains, why didn't you speak of overstepping?

At that time, were the rules of your Dongji Lingzhou Guardian Mansion asleep?

Or is it that as long as the trouble doesn't happen under your eyelids, you can pretend not to see it?"

Once these words were spoken, the few Dongji Lingzhou Guardian Mansion cultivators behind Huo Yuan changed expression on the spot.

Huo Yuan himself remained calm; he raised a hand to stop his subordinates who wanted to retort, his tone still steady: "The matters the Direct Disciple Baili spoke of, this seat is not unaware.

Moreover, such affairs should properly be handled by the Dongji Lingzhou Guardian Mansion.

The Beidou Immortal Mansion can submit evidence through proper channels to the Guardian Mansion requesting punishment, rather than directly dispatching a Direct Disciple to cross the border and exterminate a clan.

Luo Siming, you have long guarded the Endless Star Domain — you should know that this red line of cross-border enforcement, no matter which continent or domain it's placed in, is the most taboo, correct?"

Luo Qinghan spoke: "Guardian Envoy Huo, the proper channels you speak of — I, Luo Qinghan, walked them hundreds of years ago.

When the Cang Lei Ancient Clan first robbed the Beidou Immortal Mansion's first caravan, I submitted evidence to the Dongji Lingzhou Guardian Mansion.

However, what was the Guardian Mansion's reply?

Insufficient evidence, no enforcement!

When they robbed the second caravan, I submitted again.

But this time, the Guardian Mansion didn't even give a reply.

By the time the third caravan was robbed, and they had even reached the edge of the Floating World Four Domains, did you think I would still follow procedure?"

Speaking to this point, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the Cang Lei Ancient Clan survivor behind Huo Yuan, then revealed a cold smile and continued: "The Cang Lei Ancient Clan moved against Beidou Immortal Mansion's people — that was them crossing the line first.

The Beidou Immortal Mansion never provokes trouble, but neither does it fear trouble.

Today, I'm putting my words here.

This branch of the Cang Lei Ancient Clan — the Beidou Immortal Mansion is determined to exterminate it.

If Guardian Envoy Huo and the various seniors wish to obstruct, feel free to try.

But I'll say the ugly part first: once you make a move, that is a direct provocation of the Beidou Immortal Mansion.

At that time, should the Dao Venerable personally act, whether you can withstand it — you'll have to weigh that yourselves."

The title "Dao Venerable" once spoken from Luo Qinghan's mouth, the atmosphere froze instantly, as if swept by the Cold Moon Law.

The few Supreme Elders of local Dongji Lingzhou Chambers of Commerce behind Huo Yuan turned pale in a flash; a gray-robed old man at Body Integration even subconsciously retreated half a step.

Even Huo Yuan himself, whose expression had always been steady as still water, showed a trace of change.

What concept is the Dao Venerable?

That is an existence standing at the very top, commanding time, governing star domains!

The reason the Beidou Immortal Mansion can walk sideways in a place like the Endless Star Domain is neither because Luo Qinghan is that strong, nor because Baili Hong is that good at fighting.

It is because behind them stands the Dao Venerable, before whom even the Myriad Worlds True Lord must give face.

Here, the Myriad Worlds True Lord is indeed the supreme ruler of the Endless Star Domain.

But the Endless Star Domain is truly too vast — dozens of continent domains, the Ten Great Ancient Clans, the Nine Great Immortal Sects, a thousand hegemons; the conflicts and frictions occurring every day added up are simply countless.

However strong the Myriad Worlds True Lord is, he cannot manage it all.

Therefore, as long as it's not turmoil affecting the overall layout of the entire Endless Star Domain, a few ancient clans dying, a few sects being exterminated — the Myriad Worlds True Lord fundamentally doesn't care, doesn't even mind.

Huo Yuan is also clear on this point; the card he can play is "rules."

But rules, before absolute strength, are thin as a sheet of paper.

For a moment, Huo Yuan didn't know how to respond.

At this time, the Cang Lei Ancient Clan survivor behind him spoke:

"Guardian Envoy Huo!

Various positions Dao Friends!

The Cang Lei Ancient Clan has planted roots in Dongji Lingzhou for three thousand eight hundred years, never having had a second heart!

How much of the spirit stones and mineral taxes submitted each year entered the Dongji Lingzhou Guardian Mansion's warehouse, and how many orders do your Chambers of Commerce take from the Cang Lei Ancient Clan each year — everyone has the numbers in their hearts!

If today the Cang Lei Ancient Clan is exterminated by the Beidou Xianfu, then what about tomorrow?

The day after tomorrow?

Among the Ten Great Ancient Clans, the lower-ranked Feng Xi Ancient Clan and Xuan Sha Ancient Clan — their strength is still inferior to the Cang Lei Ancient Clan. If they watch us be exterminated today, tomorrow the Beidou Xianfu's people will just find some random pretext to come after them — who will speak for those people?

When that time comes, the entire Endless Star Domain will be in a state of universal peril, and Dongji Lingzhou's order will be thoroughly finished!

Guardian Envoy Huo, do you truly intend to watch this kind of thing happen right before your eyes?"

As these words fell, the cultivators behind Huo Yuan who had been wavering saw their complexions become complex once again.

They had operated in Dongji Lingzhou for over ten thousand years, and the interest exchanges between them and the Cang Lei Ancient Clan were indeed intertwined.

Each year they purchased thunder-attribute resources from the Cang Lei Ancient Clan, then resold them to Beili Xuezhou and Xiji Jianzhou, earning the price difference until their bowls and basins were full.

If the Cang Lei Ancient Clan falls, this financial road would also be severed.

Huo Yuan naturally heard the weight in the other party's words; he fell silent for several breaths, neither answering Luo Qinghan's words nor handing over the Cang Lei Ancient Clan's survivors.

This silence itself was an attitude!