"Ah, this..."
Hearing Xu Tianzong speak, even though Li Qi had guessed this possibility the moment before Xu Tianzong uttered a word, his expression couldn't help but turn a bit strange.
So much time had passed, and Li Qi remembered again.
It seemed that outside, people still believed Xu Tianzong possessed terrifying strength, capable of fighting across realms.
Under such circumstances, it would indeed be justifiable for the strongest cultivators from regions with at least a Foundation Dao Ninth Heaven cultivation base to seek out Xu Tianzong.
"What about you, what are your thoughts?"
Li Qi looked at Xu Tianzong, finally understanding the purpose of Xu Tianzong's visit this time.
He only heard Xu Tianzong sigh.
"Normally, for someone like me who has just broken through to Foundation Dao Eighth Heaven, despite having some strength, I'm still no match for those regional powerhouses ranked in the top hundred."
"But fellow Daoist Li, as you know... the rumors about me outside are a bit too exaggerated."
Back when Xu Tianzong was at Foundation Dao Seventh Heaven, people outside thought he could deal with cultivators at Foundation Dao Ninth Heaven.
Now that Xu Tianzong had broken through to Foundation Dao Eighth Heaven, wouldn't that mean he could directly crush those at the peak of Foundation Dao, or even be invincible below the Tribulation Crossing stage?
Xu Tianzong's greatest fear was that the cultivator from the Silver Slender Small World would successfully break through to the Tribulation Crossing stage.
And then, one by one, they would seek out the strongest cultivators from regions with at least Foundation Dao Ninth Heaven to establish their might.
By then, if they found other regional powerhouses at Foundation Dao Ninth Heaven, it would be fine.
It would probably be like this: the Tribulation Crossing stage expert from the Silver Slender region would unleash a palm strike, causing the Foundation Dao Ninth Heaven and peak Foundation Dao cultivators to only spit blood and be sent flying. Truly a Tribulation Crossing stage expert, terrifying indeed.
If they were unlucky and it was Xu Tianzong's turn.
The scene that might unfold would be: the Tribulation Crossing stage expert from the Silver Slender region would unleash a palm strike, and under that terrifying pressure, Xu Tianzong's body would instantly explode into a bloody pulp, his life and Dao extinguished.
A cultivator comparable to the peak of Foundation Dao, falling with a single palm strike, the power of a Tribulation Crossing stage expert is truly awe-inspiring!
If such a thing were to happen, Xu Tianzong would have nowhere to cry.
This was precisely his concern. How good it would be if he were just an obscure cultivator at Foundation Dao Eighth Heaven, possessing some strength, so that people from other regions wouldn't dare to seek trouble from him, and he wouldn't get entangled in the battles of those top-tier cultivators.
"So, you actually don't want to get involved? But you're afraid of being used as a stepping stone?"
Li Qi looked at Xu Tianzong.
"Yes."
Xu Tianzong nodded quickly.
Furthermore, even if he wanted to get involved, he wouldn't be able to participate in battles of that magnitude.
Li Qi pondered for a moment. As a seasoned strategist who preferred to stay out of trouble, he quickly gave Xu Tianzong his answer.
"This is easy to handle. Just refuse. We should not get involved in this. If the person from the Silver Slender Small World truly breaks through to the Tribulation Crossing stage and comes to establish their might against you, just come to me."
Upon hearing Li Qi's reply, Xu Tianzong's face immediately showed a look of joy.
At this moment, the heavy stone that had been pressing on his chest felt like it had been lifted.
"In that case, thank you, fellow Daoist Li. I shall go and decline the invitations from those Daoists now."
With that, Xu Tianzong prepared to leave.
However, before Xu Tianzong could move,
Not far away, three powerful auras swept towards the direction of the Earth Void Realm.
Judging by their auras, the strength of these three approaching figures was at least Foundation Dao Ninth Heaven.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, you have made us search for you. Have you considered our invitation a few days ago to jointly attack the Silver Slender Small World? With your strength, if you were to join us, we would undoubtedly be able to successfully break through the Silver Slender Small World."
"Fellow Daoist Xu, rest assured, if we manage to break through the Silver Slender Small World, the resources within will certainly not be lacking for you!"
Laughter echoed from afar. The three figures moved at extreme speed, and in a short while, they appeared not far from Xu Tianzong and Li Qi.
The three figures stopped, standing side by side. They first glanced at Li Qi, and upon discovering that Li Qi's cultivation was only at Foundation Dao Sixth Heaven, they paid him no mind.
Their gazes turned back to Xu Tianzong, their faces wearing smiles, as if awaiting Xu Tianzong's reply.
However, with Li Qi's backing, Xu Tianzong now felt confident.
Xu Tianzong's face showed a fitting apology, and he slowly refused.
"I, Xu, do not wish to participate in this joint attack on the Silver Slender region. Three fellow Daoists, please return."
Hearing this, the eyes of the three slightly condensed, and the smiles on their faces seemed to slightly retract.
The cultivator standing in the middle furrowed his brow slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, are you truly not going to participate? Sometimes, remaining neutral may not earn you goodwill from either side. Perhaps in the end, you will gain nothing from either party."
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianzong's expression also changed slightly.
There was a subtle threat in this person's words.
However, it seemed to be true. If he truly chose to remain neutral this time and not interfere, perhaps after the event, neither side would have a good attitude towards him. Xu Tianzong, in his haste, seemed not to have considered this point carefully before.
Under such circumstances, the somewhat conflicted Xu Tianzong cast his gaze back towards Li Qi.
As if sensing Xu Tianzong's pleading look, Li Qi met his gaze, seemingly reassuring him.
Then, Li Qi took a step forward.
"Several fellow Daoists, Fellow Daoist Xu has already stated that he does not wish to be involved. Please return."
Hearing these words, the gazes of the three immediately fell upon Li Qi.
Then, among the three, one burly individual's face darkened.
"You dare call me fellow Daoist? We are conversing with Fellow Daoist Xu. What right do you, a cultivator at Foundation Dao Sixth Heaven, have to interject? Be gone."
With that, he raised his palm, and a gust of wind infused with potent spiritual energy shot towards Li Qi.
The lethality of this wind to Li Qi was practically nil, but for a normal Foundation Dao Sixth Heaven cultivator, it would likely be a humiliating experience, causing them to spit blood and be sent flying.
Seeing that the other party was about to attack, Xu Tianzong's expression also darkened. Was this how they acted when inviting him to join forces?
At this moment, Li Qi, the main target of the wind, remained expressionless.
He raised his palm and easily gripped it.
The gust of wind, capable of easily forcing a Foundation Dao Sixth Heaven cultivator into a sorry state, was crushed in his grasp.
Looking at the three, Li Qi's expression remained unchanged. His faint voice rang out.
"Whether I am worthy of calling you fellow Daoist is yet to be determined, but what I do know is that if the three of you continue to waste time here, the one from the Silver Slender region might truly break through to the Tribulation Crossing stage by then."