320: Chaos

Inside the Xuan She Tribe.

Within an ancient stone house, adorned with flowing lights of various Formations.

A young woman, with her hair tied in a high ponytail, sat cross-legged, a faint smile gracing her pretty face.

Once the surging Aura throughout her body had completely settled down.

Zhou Xiutong slowly rose.

Deep within her Sea of Consciousness.

A perfectly round Golden Core, shimmering with golden light, slowly rotated.

It caused Zhou Xiutong's entire body's magical power to circulate autonomously, slowly absorbing the unseen Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Zhou Xiutong extended her right hand, making a grasping motion.

Streaks of lightning appeared in her palm.

The lightning was like a snake.

It activated the Immortal Cave's Great Formation.

Zhou Xiutong's thoughts stirred.

She dispersed the lightning in her hand.

"Next, it's time to refine my Lifebound Treasure..."

Zhou Xiutong murmured to herself.

From her Storage Pouch at her waist.

Two massive, crimson-gold treasure hammers appeared in her hands.

The two treasure hammers were top-grade Tier 2 Spiritual Artifacts.

But at this moment, they were no longer sufficient.

Zhou Xiutong weighed the massive treasure hammers in her hands.

"There's no need to replace them; they just need to be re-refined."

With the current collection and foundation of the Zhou Family.

They were not lacking in methods for refining Lifebound Treasures.

Moreover, the Xuanqing Thunder Induction Canon also contained such records.

Zhou Xiutong's figure slowly floated up.

She sat cross-legged in the air.

One by one, precious materials flew out from her Storage Pouch.

Her mind and the power of her Golden Core intertwined.

She integrated the Tier 3 precious materials into the pair of crimson-gold treasure hammers.

On the other side.

On Qingyang Peak.

Zhou Xiuyuan's secluded cultivation place.

Since that day when Sword Qi soared.

There had been no further movement.

Inside the secret chamber.

The one heart sword on Zhou Xiuyuan's knees continuously resonated with the Golden Core in his body.

With a 'whoosh' sound.

The one heart sword disappeared.

Inside his body, within the Golden Core.

A miniaturized one heart sword appeared.

It merged with a wisp of extremely cold Sword Intent that Zhou Xiuyuan had cultivated.

Suddenly.

The temperature in the secret chamber plummeted.

White frost flowers bloomed within the secret chamber.

In the air.

The great snow mountain sword trembled slightly.

An invisible barrier appeared.

The frost flowers stopped within the secret chamber... Xuanyang Realm.

Nancang Domain.

At the border between Guanghan Prefecture and Xiang Prefecture.

A middle-aged man, appearing to be around thirty years old, with distinct features and a worried expression, was somewhat dazed.

Jiang Hengliu's eyes were filled with vigilance.

His Mid-stage Foundation Establishment magical power slowly surged within his body.

That day.

He had left the Jiang Family to collect some Spirit Medicine to sell.

After all, his branch Family had been assigned to the remote area of Hua Prefecture.

There were many Clan members in the branch, but not many resources.

As a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, he naturally had to consider the Family.

He just didn't expect to provoke a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Three-eyed Demonic Spider.

During the chase and escape.

He lost consciousness after a dizzying spin.

After that.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

When he woke up again.

He found himself in this unfamiliar place.

"Hoo~"

Thoughts flashed through Jiang Hengliu's mind.

"The most urgent task is to find out where this place is, so I can return to the Clan."

Jiang Hengliu decided on his course of action.

His Divine Sense spread out.

It slowly probed the surroundings.

Hoping to discover traces of Cultivators or humans.

"Found something!"

After a long while.

Jiang Hengliu's heart was filled with joy.

He had indeed discovered a faint Aura in this desolate place.

Following the direction of that Aura.

Jiang Hengliu sped off.

Before long.

Beneath a giant, desolate tree.

A Cultivator, covered in blood and with a weak Aura, leaned against the desolate tree, his eyes unfocused.

Beside him, shattered pieces of turtle shell were scattered.

By the time Jiang Hengliu arrived.

He saw such a scene.

Jiang Hengliu's heart tightened.

He had finally found someone, and he couldn't let him die just like that.

He immediately took out the Medicinal Pill he carried with him.

He went to the man's side and placed it in his mouth.

Jiang Hengliu circulated his magical power.

He slowly probed into the man's body.

Stimulating the medicinal properties to spread.

However, the deeper he probed, the more horrified he became.

The man's Meridians were shattered throughout his body.

There were injuries everywhere.

He probably wouldn't survive.

"Cough cough~"

The medicinal effects spread.

It did have some effect after all.

The person, whose breath was as faint as a wisp of smoke, slowly woke up.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to waste your magical power..."

The blood-soaked man's voice was weak, and he slowly shook his head.

Jiang Hengliu was silent for a moment.

He nodded and withdrew his hand.

"Cough~ Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for saving me."

The blood-soaked man slowly expressed his gratitude.

Jiang Hengliu opened his mouth, but said nothing.

"Fellow Daoist... if you want to ask anything, cough, just say it..."

The blood-soaked man saw the hesitation on Jiang Hengliu's face.

"I, I want to ask where this place is?"

Jiang Hengliu hesitated for a moment, but still asked.

This was his original purpose for saving the man.

"This place should be the border of Guanghan Prefecture..."

The blood-soaked man did not hide anything, but he was too severely injured, and it was already difficult for him to reach this place.

He also didn't know the exact location.

"Guanghan Prefecture..."

Jiang Hengliu's heart sank; this was not any place he was familiar with.

"Nancang Domain, Guanghan Prefecture..."

Seeing Jiang Hengliu's confusion.

The blood-stained Cultivator added another sentence, but his voice became fainter.

Jiang Hengliu's mind went blank.

He had never heard of the Nancang Domain.

"If, if Fellow Daoist has nowhere to go, you can, you can head east; that's where the Xuanqing Sect is located, and you can find shelter..."

The blood-soaked man's words were intermittent.

Jiang Hengliu came back to his senses.

He committed the words to memory.

"Fellow Daoist, do you have any unfulfilled last wishes?"

Jiang Hengliu asked slowly.

The blood-soaked man gently shook his head.

But in his heart, he sighed deeply.

He had already done his best.

"May I know Fellow Daoist's name?"

Seeing this, Jiang Hengliu continued to ask.

Knowing his name, he could erect a tombstone for him; this was the last thing he could do.

"Shen, Shen Xuanzhao..."

The extremely weak words were painstakingly conveyed to Jiang Hengliu's ears.

Jiang Hengliu nodded.

Shen Xuanzhao slowly closed his eyes.

Figures and scenes flashed rapidly through his mind.

There were elders, youths, mountains and rivers, beautiful scenery... Among them, a young woman with her hands clasped behind her back stood beside a kind old man, smiling sweetly and waving at him.

After that.

The face of a stern young man, with two long swords hanging at his waist, appeared...

"Junior Sister, I've avenged you..."

"Master..."

His final thoughts stopped.

Jiang Hengliu watched as the figure before him completely lost its breath.

He could only sigh deeply.

Looking at the Storage Pouch at Shen Xuanzhao's waist and the broken turtle shells scattered nearby.

Jiang Hengliu did not touch them.

He found a place with excellent geomancy.

He buried Shen Xuanzhao's body and erected a tombstone.

Jiang Hengliu hung Shen Xuanzhao's Storage Pouch at his waist, intending to return it to his Family members if he could find them.

He traveled eastward.

However, the further he went, the more alarmed he became.

Along the way.

Yao Beasts ran rampant, Cultivators were in conflict, rogue Cultivators rose everywhere, and Evil Path teachings spread; it was truly a chaotic scene.

Relying on his caution and careful inquiries along the way.

Jiang Hengliu finally entered Qing Prefecture.

At this point, Jiang Hengliu finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The situation in Qing Prefecture was much better than before.

"Xuanqing Sect..."

Shen Xuanzhao's last words echoed in Jiang Hengliu's mind.

He continued forward.

As for returning to his Family, he could only make other plans later.

This place was clearly beyond his knowledge.