461: Faction

"Have you heard anything?"

Seeing Zhou Leren's somewhat troubled expression,

Zhou Liyue, gentle as the moon, asked softly.

In the hall, all Zhou Family Cultivators above the Golden Core Realm were present.

However, they did not speak rashly.

"The Chaotic Sea is located outside the Eastern Wasteland Continent, composed of numerous cultivating immortal islands."

"For common development, they formed a loose Alliance, named the Thousand Island Alliance."

Hearing Zhou Liyue's question, Zhou Leren recovered from his thoughts and slowly said.

However, this information was already known to the Zhou Family members.

After all, it was displayed in the incomplete data preserved on Gui Zhou Island.

Additionally, from the many Cultivators who were secretly trying to enter the island to explore, they had also gathered a lot of news.

This information could be cross-referenced with what they already knew.

This was also the fundamental reason why Zhou Leren did not reveal any flaws when he inquired about information from that old man just now.

Listening to Zhou Leren's slow narration, everyone remained silent, only nodding their heads.

"To unite the various forces in this vast and boundless Chaotic Sea, there must be a powerful force leading them."

"This force is Cen Ling Island, the largest island in the Chaotic Sea, and also the primary power in the Chaotic Sea."

"The reason for this is the existence of Dao Monarch Cen Ling."

"Dao Monarch Cen Ling is revered as the foremost person by Cultivators in the Chaotic Sea, possessing immense power."

"The Cen Ling Dao Palace, located on Cen Ling Island and presided over by Dao Monarch Cen Ling, is the true Dominator of the Chaotic Sea."

Zhou Leren slowly explained.

"Dao Monarch Cen Ling..."

The Zhou Family Cultivators present, more or less, understood much information above Soul Transformation.

They knew about the existence of Dao Lord of He Dao.

Upon hearing what Zhou Leren said, their hearts were filled with various emotions.

However, their Realm was too far from that of a Dao Lord, so their perception of a Dao Lord's power was not as direct as that of Soul Transformation.

"Father, has there been a change now?"

Recalling Venerable Changyan's sound transmission before he left,

Zhou Xiutong asked, deep in thought.

"Indeed."

Zhou Leren nodded and continued.

"Just a hundred years ago, Xi Yan, the most talented and powerful Void Refining stage powerhouse on Xi Wu Island, successfully broke through to become a Dao Lord, and was revered as Dao Lord Xi Wu (West Crow)."

Xi Wu Island, located in the western part of the Chaotic Sea, was itself a member of the Thousand Island Alliance, and since the establishment of the Alliance, it has been one of the most powerful forces within the Thousand Island Alliance.

After Zhou Leren finished speaking, he let out a soft breath, a few details about Xi Wu Island flashing through his mind.

"Xi Wu Island... but..."

Zhou Liyue, with her gentle, moon-like demeanor, repeated the name and looked towards Zhou Leren.

Zhou Leren nodded slightly.

"It is the Xi Wu Island that caused the division of the Xuanhuang Great World back then."

Zhou Leren said with a slightly heavy voice.

As for what happened after that, all the Cultivators present knew.

The expressions of Venerable Cangwu and Venerable Qian Mei Hu, the two Nascent Soul Venerables who had remained silent, became solemn.

They had come to this Chaofeng Ancient Realm.

And had learned much about the past of the Mingyang Realm.

They hadn't expected to encounter the culprit who caused the division of the Xuanhuang Great World and the decline of the Xutuo Heavenly Palace so soon after arriving here.

"Truly... I didn't expect it to have advanced a step further..."

"Now that Xi Wu Island has produced a Dao Lord Xi Wu (West Crow), Xi Wu Island has subtly gained the qualification to contend with Cen Ling Island."

"Currently, the situation within the Thousand Island Alliance is turbulent, subtly divided into three factions."

"One faction is led by Cen Ling Island, another by Xi Wu Island, and a third faction is composed of those forces who merely wish to protect themselves and are unwilling to get involved in the conflict between the two Dao Lords."

Zhou Leren recalled Venerable Changyan's reminder.

Anyone who could cultivate to the Soul Transformation Realm was not simple.

He had just been punished by their Old Ancestor, yet he not only bore no resentment but actively did them a favor.

He gave them this reminder.

"Now that our Clan has revealed itself, with the Old Ancestor displaying his might,"

"We will inevitably be drawn into the struggles of this Thousand Island Alliance."

"I imagine it won't be long before visitors arrive."

"How we choose, still requires careful consideration."

Zhou Leren continued, and this was also what he had been worrying about.

As long as they displayed strength, they would inevitably be drawn into conflict.

But if they had no strength, they wouldn't even have the qualification to be drawn into the struggle.

They would be like Venerable Changyan before, where one person, one sentence, could leave the Zhou Family with nowhere to go.

Losing their foothold.

"Our strength is too weak, and we are new here. The best choice is to observe first, see the situation, and then make subsequent decisions. If we have to choose now, perhaps we can choose the third faction."

Zhou Xiutong thought for a moment.

She felt that this was the best choice.

After all, the Qingyang Zhou Family was not the Qiyang Zhou Clan, and they knew too little about this world.

This third faction was the one that was unwilling to participate in the conflict between the Dao Lords.

"Grand-Aunt is right..."

"..."

Zhou Dingyang, Zhou Dingze, and several newly advanced Ding Generation Golden Core True Persons all spoke in agreement.

Beside them, Zhou Xiangyu and Zhou Nan Feng (South Wind), who had already achieved the Golden Core Realm, also nodded.

Zhou Leren nodded slightly.

This leaned towards the third faction within the Thousand Island Alliance.

"Xiutong makes sense."

"However, if my predictions are correct, this third faction, which seeks to protect itself, may not have an easy time in the Thousand Island Alliance."

Zhou Leyi, whose face bore some resemblance to Zhou Leren's and who exuded a slight sense of pressure, shook his head and said.

Not offending either side also meant offending both sides simultaneously.

Those who did not belong to Cen Ling Island or Xi Wu Island and wished to remain outside might be suppressed by both factions simultaneously.

"The existence of Xi Wu Island itself has grievances with us. If possible, it's better to avoid them."

Zhou Leyi thought for a moment, then added.

"Although all Clan Disciples have taken a blood oath under the Old Ancestor's witness,"

"Unless one's cultivation far surpasses the Old Ancestor's, one cannot learn of our origins from the Clan Disciples."

"But we still have to be on guard."

"If Xi Wu Island were to know of our origins, the consequences would likely be unpredictable."

Zhou Leyi sighed softly.

This was something he, as the Family Head, needed to consider.

Xi Wu Island was their potential enemy.

"Strictly speaking, Xi Wu Island is not our Clan's enemy."

Beside Zhou Leyi, a cold young man with snow-white hair and a sword at his waist suddenly spoke.

Everyone's hearts stirred; there was reason in his words, but it was perhaps too rational.

The Zhou Family Cultivators present all fell into thought.

Pondering feasible methods.

Zhou Leren and Zhou Liyue exchanged glances.

They looked towards Venerable Cangwu and Venerable Qian Mei Hu.

However, both merely shook their heads.

But said nothing.

"After some time, people from the Thousand Island Alliance will surely visit."

"We don't need to make a decision now."

"Instead, we can take this opportunity to gather more information about the Chaotic Sea and verify it."

"As for what happens next, we'll wait until the Thousand Island Alliance Cultivators have visited, then discuss it with Uncle Xuan and make a decision."

Zhou Liyue, as the most senior and most respected elder of the Zhou Family present, thought for a moment, then spoke to everyone, and then dismissed the Zhou Family Cultivators.