Chapter 302: When Lin Che left behind a wooden sculpture

Cui Zhi glanced at Yun Quezi and Mei Ji before him, then turned and strode out of the ancestral hall. Several elders close to him hesitated for a moment, then followed him out.

Only Yun Quezi, Mei Ji, and a few neutral elders remained in the hall.

The atmosphere was so heavy it could almost drip.

"Yun Quezi, don't you feel that something is amiss with this whole situation?"

Mei Ji shed her languid demeanor, her brows furrowed in solemnity, and she said gravely, "Cui Zhi has probably colluded with more than just Sikong Zhen."

Yun Quezi sighed, "I should have noticed it earlier. The recent abnormal depletion of spiritual energy on Suzaku Star is likely also related to them."

A Nine Leaves Spellcaster, clad in a purple robe with long white hair, trembled as he said, "Two Ancestors, what should we do now? If Cui Zhi truly invited a wolf into the house…"

A cold glint flashed in Mei Ji's eyes, and she said indifferently, "I'll make a trip to Zhu Que Country."

"What?"

Yun Quezi looked at her in surprise and immediately tried to stop her, "It's too dangerous to go now! Cui Zhi's people are definitely watching your every move. If you go to Zhu Que Country, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Mei Ji's red lips curved slightly, revealing a charming yet dangerous smile, "Precisely because of that, I must go. Although Li Qiqing's strength is ordinary, Zhu Que Country has been established for many years and possesses some hidden cards. Moreover…"

She paused, a complex expression flashing in her eyes, "If Lin Che truly returns, Zhu Que Country will undoubtedly be the first place he goes."

Yun Quezi was silent for a moment, then, seeing Mei Ji's confident demeanor, he finally nodded, "Be careful. I will try my best to contain Cui Zhi and buy you time."

Mei Ji nodded slightly, her figure gradually becoming transparent, finally transforming into a wisp of pink smoke and dissipating in the hall.

At the same time, within the Imperial City of Zhu Que Country, Li Qiqing was discussing countermeasures with Zhang Kuang and several other trusted aides.

"Report!"

A guard rushed in frantically, knelt on the ground, and said in a panic, "Urgent report from the border! Traces of unknown cultivators' activities have been discovered!"

Li Qiqing's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up, an almost imperceptible coldness flashing in his eyes.

"They've come, as expected…"

"Issue an order: activate Level One alert! All cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage are to gather immediately!"

Zhang Kuang clenched his fist, his face grim, "Brother Li, could it be the Immortal Remnant Clan…?"

Li Qiqing shook his head, "It doesn't seem like their style. If the Immortal Remnant Clan were to attack, they would definitely do so with great fanfare, not so stealthily."

Just then, the candles in the hall suddenly flickered without wind, and a fragrant breeze swept through.

Li Qiqing stood up alertly, "Who's there?"

Pink smoke condensed, and Mei Ji's figure slowly emerged. The cultivators of Zhu Que Country immediately adopted combat stances, spiritual energy surging.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not here to fight."

Mei Ji waved her hand languidly, looked at Zhu Quezi Li Qiqing, and said softly, "Li Qiqing, we're in trouble."

Li Qiqing motioned for everyone to calm down and asked cautiously, "Ancestor Mei Ji, visiting late at night, what is your purpose?"

Mei Ji's expression became uncharacteristically serious, "Cui Zhi has colluded with external cultivators and is planning to harm Zhu Que Country. What's worse, Sikong Zhen of the Cultivation Alliance is also involved."

Zhang Kuang tightened his grip on the teacup in his hand and sneered, "Your Immortal Remnant Clan's internal strife, what does it have to do with us? Perhaps this is just a ploy!"

Mei Ji was unconcerned, merely staring at Li Qiqing, "The depletion of spiritual energy on Suzaku Star is not a natural phenomenon. Someone is extracting the power of the star core. If this continues, in less than three months, the entire Suzaku Star will become a dead star."

These words were like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's hearts.

Li Qiqing's face turned pale, and his expression gradually became strange. After all, this matter was absolutely a major event for Suzaku Star.

"What evidence do you have?"

Mei Ji raised her hand, and a memory crystal appeared, displaying a massive formation deep within the forbidden area of the Immortal Remnant Clan, continuously extracting the spiritual energy of the earth veins.

"This is… the Spirit Seizing Grand Formation?"

Li Qiqing gasped, saying in disbelief, "Who could set up a formation of such a scale?"

Mei Ji withdrew the crystal and softly replied, "Cui Zhi doesn't have that ability; there's someone else behind him. I came to tell you that this time, we might need to join forces."

Silence filled the hall.

The Immortal Remnant Clan and Zhu Que Country had fought for hundreds of years, but now they were to cooperate. This change was difficult for everyone to accept.

Just as Li Qiqing hesitated, a loud bang suddenly echoed above the Imperial City, shaking the entire palace.

"Report! The Imperial City's defensive formation is under attack!"

A guard reported in a panic.

Mei Ji's expression changed, and she suddenly looked towards the outside, saying faintly, "They came faster than expected!"

Li Qiqing decided immediately, "Order the entire city to be on high alert! Zhang Kuang, go activate the core of the city-protecting grand formation! Everyone else, follow me to meet the enemy!"

He turned to Mei Ji, his expression complex, "It seems we have no choice."

"I will do my best to assist, but remember, the true enemy is not the Immortal Remnant Clan, but…"

Her words were interrupted by another loud bang.

Everyone rushed out of the hall, only to see the night sky dyed a bizarre purple. A massive spatial rift was slowly opening above the Imperial City.

Within the rift, countless dark figures could vaguely be seen stirring, exuding a suffocating pressure.

Li Qiqing's face was ashen, "This is… an outer realm powerhouse?!"

Mei Ji's expression also became extremely grim, "No, it's worse than that. This is the Cultivation Alliance's 'Hunter of Stars' unit… Sikong Zhen actually mobilized them!"

Zhang Kuang's hand, gripping his sword, trembled slightly. He clearly hadn't expected to attract powerhouses from other star realms. These were existences that the cultivators of Suzaku Star could not contend with.

"Hunter of Stars? The executioners rumored to specialize in destroying Cultivation Stars?"

Mei Ji took a deep breath and nodded, "Li Qiqing, there's only one way to save Suzaku Star now."

Li Qiqing looked at her, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, "What way?"

"We can only use the magical treasure Lin Che left here back then. It is said that that treasure can withstand attacks from Peeping Nirvana powerhouses…"

Hearing Mei Ji's words, Li Qiqing subconsciously raised his right hand, and a special wooden carving magical treasure appeared in the air.

This was a top-tier magical treasure left by Senior Brother Lin Che before he left. It could withstand three attacks from a Peeping Nirvana Realm powerhouse and also resist foreign invasions.

"I wonder if this magical treasure can still be used after so many years…"

Li Qiqing infused his spiritual energy into the wooden carving, then waved his right hand forward, and the magical treasure instantly grew larger against the wind.

And under the gaze of all the Cultivation sects in Zhao Country, it stood atop the highest Qiongshan Mountain, emitting deafening roars.

Looking at the appearance of the magical treasure before them, all the cultivators present were momentarily stunned, then one after another, they knelt on the ground in unison, kowtowing towards the wooden carving.