"Fellow Daoist Li of Dixu Realm, are you present? I am Xu Tianzong, Lord of the plane of the Xiaoyan Realm, and I have come to pay my respects."
Xu Tianzong, who possessed a cultivation base of the Hedao stage and was also the protector of this region of emptiness, spoke courteously outside the Dixu Realm.
Such polite treatment.
If it were any other Return to Void stage plane lord within the Xiaoyan District, even those at the peak of Return to Void, like Gu Mengping, would not have received such courtesy.
But it was unavoidable; Li Qi had the qualifications to make Xu Tianzong act so politely.
Back then, when Xu Tianzong was severely injured and unable to tend to himself.
While Hedao stage plane lords from the outside world were rampant, devouring the Heavenly Dao within the Xiaoyan District.
Li Qi, the seemingly unremarkable plane lord of the Dixu Realm, had actually annihilated the Hedao stage plane lord from the Baiyang Realm.
Annihilating a plane lord of the same Hedao stage.
Regardless of the method Li Qi used, this alone was enough to warrant Xu Tianzong's current demeanor.
Li Qi's figure suddenly appeared outside the Dixu Realm.
His gaze was fixed on Xu Tianzong not far away.
Li Qi was also a plane lord within the Xiaoyan District, and he had naturally heard some rumors about this protector, this Hedao stage plane lord of the Xiaoyan District.
At this moment, seeing Li Qi appear, Xu Tianzong clasped his fists and smiled.
But before he could speak.
Li Qi's questioning voice rang out.
"This void we are in is called the Xiaoyan District, and the plane world you inhabit is called the Xiaoyan Realm? What is the connection between them?"
Xu Tianzong was taken aback and then remembered the information he had received from other plane lords of the Xiaoyan District.
This plane lord of the Dixu Realm, Li Qi, seemed to have only recently become a plane lord.
Xu Tianzong chuckled.
"The void is vast, and the powers within each small section of void are complex. The names of these regions are often named after the most powerful plane in that area."
"For example, my Xiaoyan Realm is the most powerful plane in this void, hence it is called the Xiaoyan District. The Hedao stage plane lord you killed in the past was from the Baiyang Realm, and their region is called the Baiyang District."
Hearing this, Li Qi couldn't help but be stunned.
"So, according to you, the fellow I killed earlier was the strongest in the Baiyang District?"
"You could say that, but it's also thanks to you, fellow Daoist Li, for taking action against him. You set an example for many outside plane lords, otherwise, our Xiaoyan District would not have been this peaceful recently."
Xu Tianzong felt a genuine sense of gratitude.
To be honest, on that day, he was severely injured and hiding in the Xiaoyan Realm to recuperate.
Although Hedao stage plane lords of the same cultivation level dared not come to trouble him, fearing that he might retaliate and be severely wounded, making him a target for other cultivators of the same level.
However, other plane lords within the Xiaoyan District suffered. Many planes were destroyed.
"Then what is the purpose of your visit to my Dixu Realm? You can't be here for sightseeing, can you?" Li Qi asked.
As they got to the main point, Xu Tianzong's expression turned serious, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Li, you dealt with the strongest of the Baiyang District a few years ago. Now, the Baiyang District is leaderless. My purpose in coming here is to invite you to join me in heading to the Baiyang District, along with a portion of the plane lords, to seek retribution."
"They destroyed so many planes in our Xiaoyan District in the past; it's time for us to take the initiative."
Li Qi's gaze flickered upon hearing this.
"You must also know that the reason I was able to deal with the plane lord of the Baiyang Realm that day was due to the numerous formations I had set up in the Dixu Realm."
"However, without the formations, my strength is only comparable to that of an ordinary Return to Void stage cultivator. And don't be fooled by my current cultivation of Return to Void seventh heaven; I've been setting up formations all this time, neglecting my cultivation. In a real fight, I might not even be able to defeat an ordinary Return to Void sixth heaven cultivator."
"With my current strength, I'm afraid I don't have the qualifications to warrant you, the strongest of the Xiaoyan District, personally inviting me. If any Hedao stage plane lord from the Baiyang District seeks revenge against me, and I lose the protection of the formations, I'll be like fish on a chopping block."
Xu Tianzong couldn't help but laugh heartily upon hearing this.
"Fellow Daoist Li, you worry too much. I won't hide anything from you; the reason I've come to find you is because I value your array formation skills."
"This void is vast, and there are many regions like our Xiaoyan District. My purpose in inviting you to the Baiyang District is my concern that if we go to war with the Baiyang District, plane lords from other regions might try to take advantage of the chaos. I wish for you to set up formations for stability."
"As for whether there are other Hedao stage plane lords in the Baiyang District, you need not worry about that either. Hedao stage cultivators are not easily produced. The entire Baiyang District only had that one Hedao stage cultivator you killed; the rest, their highest cultivation is only Return to Void."
Upon hearing this, Li Qi suddenly remembered what Gu Mengping, the plane lord of the Mengchang Small World, had told him.
The Xiaoyan District once had two Hedao stage cultivators.
However, one had fallen, and the other was injured, the injured one naturally being Xu Tianzong before him.
If that was the case, didn't that mean the Xiaoyan District was a very powerful place during its peak?
Li Qi also raised this question.
He was met with a somewhat strange look from Xu Tianzong.
"Naturally. Otherwise, why do you think our Xiaoyan District has been peaceful for hundreds of years without being invaded by outside plane lords? It's because our Xiaoyan District once had the deterrence of two Hedao stage powerhouses, creating a significant power gap compared to regions with only one Hedao stage cultivator."
As he spoke, a mixture of anger and sadness flickered in Xu Tianzong's eyes.
"If it weren't for the Hedao stage plane lords from several regions joining forces to attack my companion that day, my companion wouldn't have perished on the spot."
Xu Tianzong paused, then a cold smile appeared on his face.
"However, the plane lord of the Baiyang District probably never expected this. Originally, they had united with Hedao stage cultivators from nearby regions to annex our Xiaoyan District. But due to his demise, the attention of those allied Hedao stage plane lords shifted to the Baiyang District."
The Baiyang District, without the protection of Hedao stage cultivators, could now only be at the mercy of others.
Their fate was either to have their Heavenly Dao devoured, or to pledge allegiance to other Hedao stage plane lords. There was no other choice.