Chapter 344: Return
Outside the ancient tomb, more and more cultivators were gathering, but they did not leave despite the arrival of another super-strong member of the Li Family.
They knew the treasures taken by the Li Family were beyond their reach, but wasn't there a man who had entered the Teleportation Array? Perhaps they could get something from him.
They dared not offend the Li Family, but they were not afraid to deal with an independent cultivator with no sect or clan behind them.
Today, more than thirty members of the Li Family had gathered outside the tomb.
This was Li Yiming's demand.
This was the tomb of Li Changfeng, an ancestor of the Li Family, and it was only natural for them, the later generations of the Li Family, to kneel and worship upon visiting the ancestral burial site.
This was the custom, which could not be broken, even by the Family Head of the Li Family present there.
Li Yiming stood at the forefront, with Li Shisan and Xie Min standing half a step behind him.
"Kneel!" Li Yiming commanded softly as he kneeled first, followed by the thirty-odd people kneeling simultaneously behind him.
"Bow!" Li Yiming called out again.
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
The crowd knocked their heads on the ground three times in a row and then stood up with Li Yiming's permission.
Fifty meters outside the ancient tomb, a group of cultivators crowded around to watch the excitement, making comments and criticisms.
"What a show! They didn't kneel when they first came, and now, after emptying the tomb, they're putting on an act."
"If they want to put on an act, what can you do about it?"
"Who cares about their act? I just hope that the kid comes back through the Teleportation Array quickly, as I'm waiting for the treasures in his hands."
"I heard that kid is not so easy to handle either."
"I also heard that he is the same Master Li who made a big splash at the Ghost Market not long ago!"
"Who he is doesn't matter. Can he be stronger than so many cultivators here?"
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed and felt that there was truth in that idea.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently beneath their feet. The unexpected quaking made it hard for everyone to stand properly, causing many to fall.
"What's happening?"
"Could it be an earthquake?"
Li Yiming's brows furrowed slightly as he faintly sensed a strange aura rising.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd yelled out.
"Look, a golden light is shooting out from the tomb!"
At these words, everyone looked up and indeed saw a column of golden light rising from the center of the tomb, piercing the sky.
Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
Even in broad daylight, the column was clearly visible.
Li Shisan, seeing the familiar golden column, seemed to realize something, and his expression changed as he said, "It's the Teleportation Array, the kid has activated the Teleportation Array to return!"
Apart from Li Shisan, those cultivators who had been in the tomb chamber that day also guessed the origin of the golden pillar.
"What, that's the Teleportation Array?"
"The kid is coming back, get ready to snatch him!"
"I'm afraid the Li Family won't let that kid go easily."
Li Yiming's ears twitched slightly, catching the whispers of the crowd, and with a faint snort, his gaze flashed across their faces as he said, "This person has stolen from the ancient tomb of my Li Family ancestor. I will take him to the Li Family for interrogation. I ask that you all give me some face."
```
So, they really want to keep all the spoils to themselves!
People sneered inwardly without cease, not having obtained a single item from the grand ancient tomb already left them quite dissatisfied.
Just as an opportunity finally presented itself, the Li Family sought to intercept them midway, and the crowd could no longer tolerate it.
"Elder Li sure knows how to talk, as if everything belongs to the Li Family. Do you mean to say the entire world belongs to the Li Family too?"
"This ancient tomb's predecessor had nothing but the surname Li, and you claim him to be your Li Family's ancestor. Does that mean everyone in the world with the surname Li is a member of your Li Family?"
"The treasures left behind by this predecessor should belong to all cultivators, not just for the Li Family's exclusive possession!"
"Right, hand over the treasures of the ancient tomb!"
Once someone took a stand, others immediately followed with loud agreement.
The voices of hundreds, nearly a thousand people, roared in unison, an imposing force that even made Li Yiming's expression shift slightly.
The weakest among these people were in the Condensation Realm, while the more powerful were in the Spirit Cultivation Realm.
If a fight truly broke out, even though Li Yiming was a Golden Core Realm cultivator, it was uncertain if he would emerge unscathed.
"Elder Li Changfeng was certainly one of my Li Family, all of you here are cultivators, you must have heard of his great renown. Would you really dare to speak lies with your eyes wide open?" Li Yiming's tone was unfriendly, and the threat in his gaze silenced everyone momentarily.
"Hmph, I've never heard of him, anyway."
"You have the backing of the Li Family; whatever you say goes, who would dare oppose you?"
"The Li Family is no big deal after all, just using the name of a big clan to bully and dominate the market!"
Li Yiming, enraged, flung his sleeves, "Rubbish!"
Aside, Xie Min and Li Shisan exchanged glances and whispered in his ear, "Third Elder, Xie and I will go in first to capture the boy. Once we have him, it won't matter how much noise those outside make."
Li Yiming nodded slightly and instructed, "Remember, we need him alive."
Li Shisan faltered, then quickly responded, "Okay, I understand."
The two rapidly entered the ancient tomb, and when spotted, someone shouted, "They've gone into the tomb!"
"We can't let them get away with this!"
"Take action, let's fight them!"
At this moment, the cultivators could no longer restrain the excitement in their hearts, and a surging crowd rushed toward the tomb.
"Do you truly believe my Li Family is one that can be provoked by just any cat or dog?" Li Yiming scoffed coldly, releasing an aura from his body that sent the cultivators at the forefront flying back.
However, far from intimidating the crowd, this act only fueled the fury in their hearts.
…
Xie Min and Li Shisan arrived at the tomb chamber, squinting at the golden beams of light.
As soon as Li Xiaoyao emerged, they would immediately act to kill him.
If Li Yiming asked, they would say it was an accident.
A dead man, after all, wouldn't provoke much discussion.
In the Kunlun Mountains, the Teleportation Array activated.
Just as Li Xiaoyao was about to step into the formation, Jiuyin suddenly said, "Master, I fear I cannot go back with you."
"Hmm? Why not?"
"I was once a small snake in the Kunlun Mountains, accidentally caught up in a Teleportation Array a hundred years ago. I've longed to break the tomb's Formation to return here. Now that I'm finally back, I don't wish to leave." Jiuyin had wanted to discuss this with Li Xiaoyao earlier but was concerned Li Xiaoyao would disagree, so he had delayed until now.
Li Xiaoyao thought for a moment and said, "No, I need you."
Jiuyin's gaze dimmed; he couldn't stay after all.
"However, you may stay here for a while. Come to Ling City after a month." One month was the most Li Xiaoyao could compromise. Otherwise, what use was the master-servant pact he made with Jiuyin?
```