“Get back, all of you! Or you’ll die right here!” A wave of killing intent flashed across Yun Zeng’s face. This time, he would allow himself to indulge. This was a private matter between him and Liu Ruyan! His great saber was already thirsting for action!
Though his foster father, Ju Shou, had warned him, Yun Zeng couldn’t control himself. In the Third Star Ring, he truly believed that neither Liu Ruyan nor the Charm Sect would dare to do anything to him. Even if he hadn’t stationed troops in the First Star Ring, even if he was considered a useless Sixth Prince, he was still a prince of the Shenwu Empire, a dominant force in the First Star Ring. Who in the Second Star Ring would dare touch a single hair on his head? Therefore, he wasn’t worried.
Just then, the black-clad man before him, held at bay by a spirit sword, refused to retreat even as blood trickled from his forehead. He spoke to Yun Zeng, “This is Military Advisor Ju Shou’s command, we dare not disobey.”
*Whoosh!
Yun Zeng flicked his sleeve, retracting his spirit sword. His figure blurred, and he appeared before the black-clad man, delivering a sharp slap.
*Smack!
The black-clad man was sent flying tens of thousands of feet!
Yun Zeng roared, “You dare not disobey Ju Shou’s command, but you dare disobey mine?! Outrageous!”
At his words, the black-clad guards were all stunned. By all rights and reasons, they should naturally obey the Sixth Prince Yun Zeng. After all, this realm belonged to Yun Zeng! Military Advisor Ju Shou was merely Yun Zeng’s advisor!
Yun Zeng watched their reactions, his face contorted with rage. He snarled, “Are my legions named Ju?!” This had always been a thorn in his side. Though Ju Shou was his foster father, he controlled Yun Zeng far too much, treating him like a child! But he was no child! He had many schemes of his own!
Ju Shou was an unconventional figure, a rogue cultivator from the First Star Ring, expelled from the Star River Alliance. The Star River Alliance was another dominant force, responsible for maintaining the balance of the entire Fallen Star Sea. It comprised powerful experts from the Shenwu Empire and several other dominant forces, as well as its own cultivators. It was both independent and interconnected.
Ju Shou was the one who had proposed the concept of ‘Star Rings’ long ago. Using this idea, numerous Ancient Ancestors had created the four Star Rings, segmenting the Fallen Star Sea and isolating the Dark Void. However, it was rumored that Ju Shou later sought too much power within the Star River Alliance and was expelled!
Yet, his strategic mind was astonishing. When Yun Zeng was stranded in the borderlands of the First Star Ring and discovered a Dragon Vein, it was Ju Shou who personally arrived, helped stabilize the situation, and transformed Yun Zeng from an unknown figure into a presence that even the dominant forces of the First Star Ring dared not underestimate! Yun Zeng was naturally grateful to Ju Shou for this!
But!
Yun Zeng believed his rise was primarily due to his discovery of the Dragon Vein! While Ju Shou had been a great help, the most important factor was him! He was the core of all this! And he was the true lord! Ju Shou’s contributions were immense, but he was still a subject! A lord is a lord, a subject is a subject! Ju Shou must not overstep his bounds! Yet, ever since his rise, Ju Shou had interfered in many matters. Perhaps his intentions were good, but the outside world generally believed that Yun Zeng couldn’t function without Military Advisor Ju Shou. This, too, was a constant irritation to him!
This time, for Liu Ruyan, he would no longer compromise with his foster father, Ju Shou! He didn’t want to sever ties with Ju Shou, but if Ju Shou became too overbearing, he was ready to speak his mind.
Just then, one of the black-clad men said, “In that case, we shall withdraw. Master, please be careful. Liu Ruyan is notorious; she rose from outside the Fourth Star Ring, and her… ”
Before he could finish, Yun Zeng slapped him.
*Smack!
Yun Zeng raged, “Is my woman for you to criticize?!” His foster father had called Liu Ruyan a bad woman, and he had tolerated it, for he was his foster father. But these mere servants dared to discuss his woman?!
Silence fell for a moment. The black-clad men said no more, watching as Yun Zeng passed through the First Star Ring’s realm barrier and stepped into the Charm Sect’s star space.
After Yun Zeng left, Ju Shou emerged, clad in grey robes. The black-clad men bowed respectfully to Ju Shou. “Military Advisor, we failed to follow our Master!”
Ju Shou frowned. “Never mind, let him go. You all guard this place. This matter absolutely must not reach the ears of the other Shenwu Empire princes, or Yun Zeng will be in danger.”
The black-clad men replied, “Understood!”
Ju Shou departed, his mind replaying Yun Zeng’s words: “Are my legions named Ju?!” A mysterious heartache seized him. Ju Shou looked towards the First Star Ring, murmuring to himself, “If a man fails at the last hurdle because of a woman, that would be truly foolish. I hope Yun Zeng does not become such a man.”
***
Three days later.
In the Tai Chu Realm.
At the Grand Dao Sect’s Azure Mystery Peak.
Lu Xuan slowly emerged from his cave dwelling. He stretched lazily and declared, “Time to destroy Cloudrise Holy Land!”
As his voice faded, his five disciples—Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, Chen Changsheng, Baili, and Wuwu—all stepped out from their own cave dwellings.
“Master, we are ready,” they said in unison.
Just then, the System’s voice echoed in Lu Xuan’s ear: “Disciple Quest Issued: Help Fifth Disciple annihilate Cloudrise Holy Land!”
“Nice, nice,” Lu Xuan nodded, then directly activated the power of his Heaven-Reaching Spatial Array Patterns.
*Boom!
A profound power surged, enveloping the group. In an instant, they vanished from their original location.
***
Meanwhile, in the Main Realm of Cloudrise Holy Land.
Everyone was on edge. The third day was almost over, yet there was no sign of the White Robe Supreme! Yan Liangchou, the Holy Lord of Cloudrise Holy Land, gazed into the void and scoffed, “I declare that this White Robe Supreme would never dare step into my Cloudrise Holy Land! If he does, he wouldn’t last three breaths.”
In the shadows, General Pei Yuan of the Tianchen Empire had long been waiting. He was ready to annihilate the White Robe Supreme the moment he appeared!
At the same time, outside Cloudrise Holy Land, experts from various realms concealed themselves, their divine senses probing the area. All were awaiting the eruption of this earth-shattering battle! Throughout history, other forces had invaded Cloudrise Holy Land’s Main Realm, but all had failed! Would the White Robe Supreme fall this time?
Most believed the White Robe Supreme was doomed to fail. After all, the Tianchen Empire’s Tianchen Army had already arrived, led by General Pei Yuan himself!
Among these many forces, Ah Li of the Fox Clan also led a team of experts, observing from the shadows. Ah Li murmured, “I hope the White Robe Supreme doesn’t meet with misfortune!” From her current perspective, she and the White Robe Supreme were not enemies! The White Robe Supreme had diverted a great deal of the pressure from her own clan’s siege!
Soon, the third day passed.
Yan Liangchou, the Holy Lord of Cloudrise Holy Land, let out a cold snort. “The White Robe Supreme is nothing but an insignificant clown! The three-day deadline has passed! He still dares not show his face.” He scoffed at the many curious onlookers from outside the realm. These people wanted to see Cloudrise Holy Land destroyed? They were dreaming! If the White Robe Supreme didn’t come, they would simply march on the Tai Chu Realm instead!
Just then.
*Boom!
*Crack!
The void tore apart! Space twisted!
Lu Xuan’s voice echoed from within the Spatial Rift: “Today, Cloudrise Holy Land shall be destroyed!”