Great Xia: At the start, summon the Net of Heaven to suppress the martial arts world.

Moments later, after the spies outside the Zhenwu Division branch disappeared, the army arrived.

At this time, the main street outside the Zhenwu Division branch was already filled with soldiers carrying long spears.

The army general even came in person to report back to Wei Zhuang.

"This humble officer, a military commander, greets Your Excellency!"

After Xia Taige ascended the throne, the newly reorganized Southern and Western Garrison Commands were all in the same position as the Deputy Commander of the Garrison Command, which was of the third rank.

The prefect of Xu'an Prefecture here is only a fourth-rank official.

"General, you're too kind. Thank you for your trouble this time!" Wei Zhuang replied politely.

"Yes, sir. There are more than three thousand people here today, and they will all obey your orders."

"In that case, let's set off immediately towards the Yishan Sect!" Upon hearing this, Wei Zhuang didn't waste any more words and gave the order.

"Yes!" The general was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered and replied with a cupped hand.

Then, the mighty army followed Wei Zhuang and many elite troops from the Zhenwu Division towards the Yishan Sect.

Meanwhile, inside the yamen of Prefect Xu'an.

The prefect, who had just received news of the troop movement, was anxiously waiting for news in the yamen.

Normally, troop movements require the approval of the highest-ranking local official.

However, Wei Zhuang knew perfectly well what kind of person the local prefect was, and who knew when he would receive his orders.

Fortunately, Wei Zhuang bypassed the local prefect and used his authority to mobilize troops directly to coordinate the operation.

The prefect, who had just received the news, must have been terrified.

They quickly ordered someone to investigate the reason for the large-scale troop movement at this time.

A moment later, a minor official rushed over to report.

"My lord, we've investigated thoroughly. General Lü followed the Zhenwu Division men straight towards the Yishan Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Prefect Xu An was greatly surprised and immediately panicked.

For such a momentous matter, the Zhenwu Division and the Embroidered Uniform Guard bypassed him, their highest-ranking official. Clearly, the court had no trust in him whatsoever.

After that day, once things stabilized, his fate was self-evident.

Leaving aside the question of whether the Li family can protect themselves, what point is there in protecting a prefect who cannot command the army?

After a moment of contemplation, Prefect Xu An decided to go all out and completely align himself with the Li family.

"Report this to the Li family immediately and tell them to make preparations as soon as possible!" Prefect Xu An ordered the clerk in front of him.

Having served in Xu'an Prefecture for many years, he naturally knew all about the behind-the-scenes affairs of the Yishan Sect.

"Yes!" Although the clerk had some doubts, he dared not hesitate since the prefect had spoken.

A moment later, when he arrived at the Li family's residence, he found that everyone in the Li family was wearing a serious expression.

Clearly, Li had already received the news before they even came to inform her.

Inside the main hall, several elders of the Li clan and the clan head gathered to discuss matters concerning the Yishan Sect.

"Time is of the essence. Should we save the Yishan Sect or not?"

The Li clan patriarch looked at the elders in front of him and got straight to the point.

The Zhenwu Division's main force has been marching for quite some time now. If they delay any longer, the Yishan Sect might be wiped out by the Zhenwu Division.

“My advice is not to rescue them. If the Li family openly sends experts to oppose the imperial court today, even if we manage to save the Yishan Sect from the Zhenwu Division this time, tomorrow they will probably be powerful experts at the Land Immortal Realm. What will the Li family use to save them then?”

After a moment's consideration, one of the clan elders below ruthlessly stated his point of view.

This was a last resort, as the Great Xia court had yet to make a statement despite the recent series of major moves by powerful clans.

They're probably brewing a huge bombshell. If Li leans forward now, isn't she just courting death?

They didn't even dare to resist; the Wang family, one of the four great clans, had already surrendered to the court.

The fact that the Wang family, one of the four great aristocratic families, was so afraid speaks volumes about the power of the imperial court.

In the past few days, Wang has become like a different person, openly contradicting the rising aristocratic families and doing good deeds everywhere.

The Li family also sent people to inquire, but received no reply.

Such strangeness caused the other powerful families to gradually begin to act cautiously as well.

"But if we don't save them, wouldn't all the plans that the Li family has made over the past decades be in vain?"

Over the years, the Li family has spent countless manpower and resources to bring the Yishan Sect to such a scale. If they were to give up now, they would certainly be very unwilling.

"How to save them? No need to think. The one who came this time must be a Grandmaster at the peak of the Grandmaster realm sent by the imperial court, a strongman of the same rank as Gai Nie, who is ranked fourth on the Grandmaster list."

"Who in the entire Li family could withstand such a master?"

"Does saving the Yishan Sect mean sacrificing my Li family patriarch?"

An elder below immediately said with exasperation.

Rescue sounds simple, but who has the capability to go?

A Grandmaster at the peak of the realm—the entire Li clan only has one patriarch like the Li clan patriarch—how could they possibly stop him?

Although it wasn't Gai Nie, who ranked fourth on the Grandmaster list, who came this time, he was still someone of the same rank, so how weak could he be?

If the attempt to rescue the Yishan Sect fails, and another elder is lost, the Li family will surely suffer a severe blow.

If the person going to rescue them is not a Grandmaster-level expert, there is no point in going, so why bother with such trouble?

Upon hearing this, everyone hesitated, unable to utter a coherent sentence.

Ultimately, it's because they are weak; otherwise, how could they have fallen to such a vulnerable position?

Even if the opponent makes no attempt to conceal their presence and openly goes to destroy the clan, the vast Li clan is powerless to stop them.

Now that things have come to this, everyone understands that the fate of the Yishan Sect is sealed.

At this moment, sighs of sorrow echoed throughout the hall, and everyone was filled with desolation.

It's hard to believe that the Li family, with its thousand-year-old lineage, has ever been in such a sorry state.

But since Xia Taige's sudden emergence, one master after another has appeared, and in a short period of time, he has become someone that no one can match.

At this moment, if it weren't for the fact that the disciples they had accumulated over the years still had some use, the Li family would probably be no better than ants in the eyes of the imperial court.

~~~

At the foot of Yishan Mountain.

Wei Zhuang's team had already arrived at the foot of the Yishan Sect, and the army had blocked all the Yishan Sect's routes down the mountain.

At this moment, the fate of the Yishan Sect was already sealed: annihilation.

"Attack! Leave no one alive from the Yishan Sect!" Wei Zhuang shouted, and immediately took the lead, heading straight for the Yishan Sect.

"kill!"

The soldiers below shouted and followed Wei Zhuang toward the Yishan Sect.

At the summit, within the Yishan Sect, the sect leader sensed something was amiss upon hearing the shouts of battle coming from below.

Without hesitation, the Yishan Sect Leader shouted, "Prepare to meet the enemy!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, the gate of the Yishan Sect collapsed with a crash!

(P.S.: Remember to keep warm during the Winter Solstice!)