462: People from three parties

"Yes."

The Zhou Family Disciples bowed in salute and dispersed.

Venerable Cangwu and Venerable Qian Mei Hu nodded to Zhou Liyue and Zhou Leren, then their figures vanished...

Days later, the news that Gui Zhou Island had reappeared, and that the powerful Zhou Family, a formidable Clan that once dominated the Li Luan Sea Region, had emerged from the mists, began to spread among the islands.

Regarding the disappearance of Gui Zhou Island and the change in the Zhou Family's name, after Zhou Leren's words spread, it sparked speculation among various powers and Cultivators in the Li Luan Sea Region.

One after another, true and false inside stories began to circulate.

Among them, there was a rumor that a remarkable Genius had emerged from a branch of the Zhou Family that year.

He had suppressed the Disciples of the Qiyang Zhou Clan's main lineage to the point where they couldn't lift their heads.

This Disciple's talent was too strong, which aroused the vigilance of those in power in the main lineage.

So, they plotted to eliminate this Disciple.

However, they didn't expect that this exceptionally talented Disciple was actually the Disciple of a reclusive Senior.

The actions of the Zhou Family's main lineage angered this reclusive Senior.

The reclusive Senior acted, sealing the entire Gui Zhou Island as a punishment.

Only this could explain why the Zhou Family changed its name and was unwilling to look back at the past.

It was truly a family scandal that could not be publicized.

There was also a rumor that the Qiyang Zhou Clan had acted domineeringly in the past.

A Junior Disciple of the Zhou Family had taken a fancy to a young and beautiful woman in the Li Luan Sea Region.

So, this Disciple had ideas, but the young and beautiful woman was not interested in him.

This Zhou Family Disciple, enraged, used his status to forcibly abduct the young and beautiful woman.

Who would have thought that this woman was the daughter of a Sect Master from a major sect on the Eastern Wasteland Continent?

The actions of the Zhou Family Disciple angered the Sect Master of this major sect.

Consequently, a powerful individual secretly took action and sealed the entire Gui Zhou Island.

There were also rumors that the rise of the Qiyang Zhou Clan was related to a hidden secret.

Later, this secret was leaked, attracting unknown powerful individuals who took action.

They seized the secret hidden within the Qiyang Zhou Clan...

All sorts of rumors spread rapidly.

They were so detailed and vivid, as if many Cultivators in the Chaotic Sea had personally experienced the mysterious disappearance of Gui Zhou Island thousands of years ago.

A wave of rumors swept through the Li Luan Sea Region.

In the center of Gui Zhou Island, on Qingyang Peak, within the Zhou Family Great Hall.

Zhou Leyi looked at the Jade Slip in his hand, a slight smile appearing on his face.

It contained all the rumors about the Zhou Family collected by the Clan Disciples.

With so many truths and falsehoods, the real truth no longer mattered.

After all, people only believe what they want to believe.

After a moment of reading.

Zhou Leyi put down the Jade Slip in his hand.

His right hand tapped lightly and unconsciously on the table beside him.

"Still, we need to be careful. Perhaps these rumors contain the real reason why Gui Zhou Island was exiled back then..."

Zhou Leyi pondered in his heart.

Having inherited the name of Gui Zhou Island and the Zhou Family, that past Karma might now fall upon the current Zhou Family.

It was still necessary to clarify the original reasons; knowing oneself and one's enemy ensures victory in every battle.

"Someone..."

Zhou Leyi stood up and gave instructions to the outside.

Subsequently, a Disciple of the Affairs Hall entered the Great Hall.

Zhou Leyi gave a few instructions.

The Disciple of the Affairs Hall accepted the order and left.

Not long after.

spirit boats flew out from the mists, scattering in all directions...

Over a month later.

Gui Zhou Island, Tianning Peaks, Qingyang Peak summit.

Beneath the tall, ancient stone tablet.

Two figures sat opposite each other.

On the Dao platform in the middle, a chessboard was laid out, with black and white pieces intertwined.

A gentle, moon-like figure placed a white piece down softly.

Opposite him, a rather young and handsome Cultivator placed a black piece without hesitation.

"Alas!"

"Boy, how could you place it there!"

A voice filled with anguish and a hint of exasperation emanated from the tall, ancient stone tablet.

"Oh?"

"Senior, then where should it be placed?"

Zhou Leren replied unhurriedly.

At this moment.

Opposite Zhou Leren, the gentle, moon-like Zhou Liyue placed another piece.

At this point, on the chessboard, the white pieces had formed a siege, surrounding the black pieces.

"Boy, the next piece should be placed here."

A voice echoed in Zhou Leren's mind.

Zhou Leren glanced at it.

He picked up a piece.

"Clack!"

He placed it on the other side of the position the voice had indicated.

"You..."

The voice from the stone tablet fell silent.

Zhou Leren chuckled.

He had long since discovered that Black Demon Dao Lord was a perfectionist.

He deliberately annoyed him this time.

Next time, if he had something to ask, he could use this as a condition to increase Black Demon Dao Lord's chances of agreeing.

Zhou Leren looked at the black pieces, which had already lost more than half, but felt smug in his heart.

However, suddenly, Zhou Liyue opposite him noticed that Zhou Leren's smile had faded.

"Third Aunt, someone has arrived."

Zhou Leren stood up, said a word to Zhou Liyue, and flew out.

Zhou Liyue nodded; she had also received a sound transmission from Uncle Xuan.

At this moment.

Tens of thousands of miles beyond Gui Zhou Island.

A Middle-aged Cultivator, sitting cross-legged on a mysterious disc, streaked across the sky.

His speed was extremely fast; a single flicker and he had already traveled an unknown number of miles.

Before long, he had arrived outside the vast, misty clouds.

Hum~

The Middle-aged Cultivator stopped.

Before he could speak.

He saw the mists part, and two figures emerged from within.

"I am Yuan Chen of Cen Ling Island."

The Middle-aged Cultivator said slowly, a slight smile on his face.

"Li Cangwu."

"Junior Zhou Leren greets Senior Yuan Chen. Senior, please come in."

The figures who emerged from the mists were precisely Zhou Leren and Li Cangwu.

Because the visitor from Cen Ling Island was a Nascent Soul Venerable.

Therefore, Zhou Leren invited Venerable Cangwu to accompany him out of the island to greet him.

Venerable Yuan Chen nodded in acknowledgment and followed the two into Gui Zhou Island...

Several hours later.

Venerable Yuan Chen departed.

Zhou Leren and Venerable Cangwu saw him off.

After Venerable Yuan Chen had left.

Zhou Leren picked up a palm-sized Jade Slip in his hand, through which a mysterious light/aura (boundary) flowed.

As long as he crushed it, Cen Ling Island would help Gui Zhou Island rejoin the alliance and take charge of the thirty-seventh thousand star token.

The other thirty-six thousand star tokens were held by thirty-six islands within the Thousand Island Alliance, including Cen Ling Island.

They were symbols of status and position.

The Thousand Island Alliance Council, composed of thirty-six thousand star tokens, was the highest decision-making body of the Thousand Island Alliance.

However, crushing this Jade Slip would also solidify the Zhou Family's stance.

Zhou Leren thought for a moment, then put the Jade Slip away.

Days later.

Another figure arrived from outside.

"Fellow Daoist Cangwu, Young Friend Zhou."

The newcomer was a kind-faced old man.

"This old man is Zhang High Peak of the Zhang Family of Xuyuan Island."

The kind-faced old man's voice was gentle.

"Senior, please."

A bit of information flashed through Zhou Leren's mind.

The Zhang Family of Xuyuan Island held one of the thirty-six thousand star tokens.

There was still a Void Refining Old Ancestor in their Clan, but he disliked conflict.

They were a member of the third faction within the Thousand Island Alliance.

Zhang High Peak was humble and easygoing, but he wasn't there as an envoy.

"My Clan and several other families are not good at warfare. We unite only for self-preservation, not for power and profit."

"My visit this time is merely to express my Clan's sincerity."

Zhang High Peak said with a hint of a wry smile.

Zhou Leren, who was accompanying him, was slightly surprised but said nothing.

"Gentlemen, I bid you farewell."

After staying on Gui Zhou Island for a while.

Zhang High Peak bid farewell and left.

Zhou Leren pondered in his heart.

Thinking about the information the Soul Transformation Elder of the Zhang Family had just revealed.

"Xi Wu (West Crow) Island's conduct is domineering, and its rise is extremely fast... Cen Ling Island has a deep foundation but is slightly weak, temporarily falling behind..."

A few more days passed.

Above the Li Luan Sea Region.

A luxurious, mysterious carriage, shimmering with endless mysterious light/aura (boundary), streaked across the sky.

In front of the carriage.

Was a fiery lion, about ten feet tall, its entire body enveloped in surging flames that subtly scorched the space around it.

This ten-foot-tall lion exuded waves of powerful might.

"That's... a Soul Transformation Realm Fiery Lion Venerable pulling a carriage..."

"Quick, bow your heads, it's a powerful individual from Xi Wu (West Crow) Island..."

Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, seeing the luxurious carriage, were shocked and dared not look further.

They stood holding their breath, only exhaling in relief when the carriage had completely disappeared into the distance.

Outside Gui Zhou Island.

A luxurious carriage pulled by a fiery lion slowed down.

A mysterious light/aura (boundary) flew out from the carriage, heading straight for the vast, misty clouds.

"This is our island's token. Crushing it will earn you our island's friendship."

A majestic voice emanated from within the luxurious carriage.

After speaking, without waiting for Zhou Leren, who had taken the mysterious light/aura (boundary) into his hand, to reply.

The carriage resumed its journey, not stopping, and departed directly.

"This... is truly domineering..."

Zhou Leren watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

He shook his head slightly.

He looked at the palm-sized Jade Slip in his hand, which was carved with a pattern of a Three-legged Divine Bird, and made no move.