216: The loss of Shadow Hall

Although the Lu Family had been very low-key during this time, essentially belonging to the kind of existence that stayed out of worldly affairs.

However, they still had some understanding of the Li Family that had suddenly emerged.

Lu Feng calculated in his heart that if what Zhuang Zhishan said was true, then the Li Family might be the only ones capable of breaking the shackles of the Lu Family.

"It seems I need to find a time to get in touch with them!"

Lu Feng murmured. Another Disciple from his clan had already headed to the Arena Stage to compete, but Lu Feng's mind was no longer on the Newcomer Grand Competition.

Previously, he had always thought of relying on people from the Domain Interior to try and break the shackles, but after so many years, even though many talented people from the Lu Family had been chosen, in the end, every single one of them remained trapped within the shackles.

Li Renxuan's battle for today had ended, and Li Mu didn't plan to continue watching. Through the battle just now, Li Mu basically knew his son's strength.

In this Newcomer Grand Competition, if there weren't any Prodigy-like existences, the first place would likely be in the bag.

"Patriarch, news has arrived!"

Just as Li Mu was about to leave, Li Ziyun approached and spoke in a low voice.

Hearing this, Li Mu's eyes lit up. He had originally thought the Shadow Hall's efficiency would be slower, but he hadn't expected to get the information he wanted in such a short time.

"This is not the place to talk. Follow me back!"

With a movement, Li Mu's Spiritual Qi enveloped Li Ziyun as they quickly left the spectator stand. The other clansmen remained on-site to watch, as this was a rare learning opportunity for them.

Only after returning to the Li Residence did Li Mu have Li Ziyun report the news she had just received.

"Patriarch, the news is very unfavorable. We sent out five people from the Shadow Hall, and we've lost contact with all of them. I suspect they have met with misfortune!"

Li Ziyun said with a heavy expression. This loss was the greatest the Shadow Hall had suffered since its creation.

One must know that even when the Shadow Hall was just starting out, there was never a time when they lost five people all at once.

Li Mu's originally joyful mood instantly turned somber. This sudden turn of events was truly unexpected.

"But where was their location when the last message was received?"

"The last time they were in contact, they were still within Leshan Prefecture. They had just been assigned the task of searching outside the city when contact was lost!"

Li Ziyun spoke with some self-reproach, feeling that this loss was due to her own command issues.

At that time, the Shadow Hall hadn't gathered any useful information within Leshan Prefecture, so they had no choice but to send people out. Who would have thought they would meet with misfortune upon leaving?

Li Mu listened, his brow furrowing. Although he knew the people he wanted to investigate were not ordinary, he hadn't expected them to have such great capability.

Li Mu's first reaction was to suspect the two factions he was investigating. Otherwise, the Shadow Hall had already established a firm foothold in Leshan Prefecture, and no one would be so foolish as to strike at them.

Moreover, although the Li Residence didn't yet have a major standing in Leshan Prefecture, basically all the large families were collaborating with Li Mu and wouldn't move against the Li Family.

If there was one without collaboration, it would be the Ge Family!

Currently, only the Ge Family had a conflict with the Li Family!

"Immediately send people to monitor every move of the Ge Family. If there's any sign of activity, report back immediately!"

"Yes, Patriarch!"

After thinking it through, Li Mu immediately issued the order. Originally, Li Mu had planned to use the Ge Family to establish the Li Family's prestige, but he hadn't expected the plan to be moved forward.

"I hope my guess is wrong. If it really is your Ge Family, then don't blame me for being heartless!"

Li Mu thought to himself, already sentencing the Ge Family to death. As long as the investigation showed that the disappearance of these five people was even slightly related to the Ge Family, Li Mu would take direct action.

Outside Leshan Prefecture

Inside a cave, five people dressed in black night-traveling clothes had no Spiritual Qi fluctuations on them, and their hands and feet were tied.

If one looked closely, they would find that Spiritual Qi was constantly leaking from the ropes tying their hands and feet.

However, the five of them were currently in a state of unconsciousness, completely unaware of their current situation.

"Grand Elder, how should we deal with these people?"

"Give them a warning first. Once they wake up, cripple their cultivation and send them back to Leshan Prefecture!"

"Understood, Grand Elder!"

"Truly ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth. Do they dare to tail just anyone?"

The Grand Elder spoke with some anger. It turned out that while he was still in Leshan Prefecture, he had noticed a faction tailing him and inquiring about his information from various sources.

This caused the habitually irritable Grand Elder to lose his composure for a moment. But since the prefecture was full of eyes and ears, he devised a plan to lure them out.

He had originally wanted to kill them outright, but later heard that these people were from the Li Family.

The Li Family's prestige was somewhat useful after all. Although the Grand Elder was irritable, he wasn't stupid; he knew that if he killed these people, he would likely gain a powerful opponent.

"It is not yet time for us to emerge from the mountains. I'll give them a lesson this time, and I hope that Patriarch of the Li Family can understand the reason for my actions!"

The Grand Elder stood at the cave entrance, gazing at the sky and murmuring softly. Then, with a flash of his figure, he instantly vanished. Although no powerful aura was felt, if someone with high cultivation were here, they would discover that this Grand Elder was actually also a Void Refining Realm Cultivator!

On the other hand, the Ge Family

Since the Ge Family changed their Patriarch, they had immediately become low-key. Furthermore, Ge Zhicheng, who had been active before, had now vanished without a trace, his whereabouts unknown.

Li Ziyun personally led the team to monitor the Ge Family's movements, casting Formations over the Cultivators she had brought with her.

"This Formation is a Stealth Formation. If you don't actively use Spiritual Qi, the Formation will last for three hours! Ordinary Soul Transformation Cultivators won't be able to detect it!"

As Li Ziyun spoke, her hands didn't stop, and one Formation after another appeared, subsequently enveloping the members of the Shadow Hall.

This time, Li Ziyun brought four people. To reduce the risk of discovery, she specifically reinforced the Formations twice, only stopping when she was satisfied.

"Our mission this time is to find our missing clansmen. Do not clash with the Ge Family. If you are discovered, flee with all your strength! Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Good! Move out! Separate and act!"

With Li Ziyun's order, the four people headed in four different directions, while Li Ziyun herself began to reinforce her own Formation.

Until she knew she was fully prepared, Li Ziyun slowly crept toward the Ge Residence...