474: I wanted to cry but had no tears.

“I heard Fairy Zixiao has returned to the Zhou Family.”

“Yes, what a pity…”

“It must be that Fairy Zixiao’s term has ended. I wonder who the Zhou Family will send to take over…”

Zhou Xiutong’s departure from Thousand Star Island and return to the Zhou Family was not hidden.

Therefore, after Zhou Xiutong left, the Cultivators of the Thousand Island Alliance stationed on Thousand Star Island continuously expressed their regret.

Over the years, that purple figure had left an undeniably deep impression in their hearts.

After Zhou Xiutong left,

True Monarch Haichao also returned to the Zhang Family.

Aside from informing his clan about the Dark Moon Palace matter,

He had also promised to investigate the Merman Royal Court’s news, a task he needed to personally undertake.

Just as Zhou Xiutong was leaving Thousand Star Island,

In the northern Li Luan Sea Region, on a massive island perpetually shrouded in mist,

In the center of the island, towering peaks stood majestically.

Among them, on a not-so-tall spiritual peak,

Zhou Leren’s figure arrived outside the Zhou Family Sword Hall.

As soon as he appeared,

Deep within the Sword Hall, the tightly shut secret chamber quietly opened.

A white-haired figure stepped out, already having arrived outside the Sword Hall.

“Great-Grandfather.”

Zhou Xiuyuan, with his three thousand silver strands tied behind his head and an ancient longsword hanging at his waist, greeted him softly.

“Xiuyuan, Old Ancestor has recalled Xiao Tong to the clan, but Thousand Star Island still needs someone to oversee the overall situation. You’ll have to make a trip there.”

“Alright.”

Zhou Xiuyuan’s expression remained unchanged, and he spoke few words.

He merely nodded in agreement.

“Please go with Elder Xue (Snow Elder), and prioritize your own safety.”

Seeing Zhou Xiuyuan agree, Zhou Leren added.

Several hours later,

After giving some instructions regarding the Sword Hall’s affairs,

A white-haired figure with two longswords hanging at his waist stood atop a peculiar mantis-like Yao Beast that seemed to have endless flames burning continuously. He passed through the vast mists, transforming into a fiery red stream of light, and disappeared… More than a month later,

A peculiar-looking Yao Beast with two stings and burning flames was challenging Cultivators for sparring matches all over Thousand Star City.

The challenged individuals were in misery.

After all, this was the mount of the new envoy from the Zhou Family of Guizhou Island.

Some Face had to be given.

However, once this Face was given, it wasn't guaranteed to be retrieved.

This uniquely shaped Yao Beast was at the Late Golden Core Stage cultivation, possessing extreme strength, speed, and sharpness.

Ordinary Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators might not actually be able to suppress him.

If one were to lose to the mount of this newly arrived White-Haired Sword Lord,

When word got out, it would be a loss of Face.

In just a few days,

All the Golden Core Immortal Masters on Thousand Star Island announced their secluded cultivation.

They would not see outsiders.

In this short period, although they had not yet met the newly arrived Zhou Family envoy, the White-Haired Sword Lord,

The Cultivators on Thousand Star Island had already begun to miss the wonderful Fairy Zixiao.

“Alas, Fairy Zixiao was still better…”

Faint sighs of lament spread out.

Falling into the ears of Zhou Dingyang, who was passing by from outside.

What do you all know? Great-Grandfather is so good; he wouldn't find excuses to 'spar' with him like the little Grand-Aunt, Zhou Dingyang pouted, continuously grumbling in his heart.

Not long after,

Zhou Dingyang, who had returned from the Thousand Island Alliance headquarters, had already arrived at the Zhou Family residence.

As soon as he entered the door,

He saw a white-haired figure standing with his hands behind his back in the courtyard.

“Great-Grandfather.”

Zhou Dingyang smiled and bowed.

“Dingyang, you haven’t been in the clan for many years. Xiutong fears you might neglect your cultivation, so she entrusted me to spur you on more.”

“Make your move; let me see your progress over these years.”

The white-haired figure turned, and his calm voice entered the ears of the bowing Zhou Dingyang.

Zhou Dingyang’s smile froze.

In his mind, a purple figure with a bright smile seemed to appear, looking at him.

“Little Grand-Aunt…”

Zhou Dingyang was on the verge of tears… “Achoo!”

On Gui Zhou Island, atop Qingyang Peak, a purple-clad figure suddenly sneezed.

“Third Paternal Grand-Aunt, this must be Dingyang missing me.”

“Alas, after all, we grew up together, and our feelings are very deep. It’s only been this short amount of time, and Dingyang already misses me.”

Zhou Xiutong rubbed her nose and said to the gentle woman in white sitting opposite her, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Hehe, you…”

Zhou Liyue shook her head, looking at Zhou Xiutong with a somewhat strange gaze. She understood their ‘deep feelings’ all too well.

“Cough, I’ve been back for so long, and I haven’t visited Dingze yet. Third Paternal Grand-Aunt, I’ll be leaving first.”

Feeling a bit restless under Zhou Liyue’s gaze, Zhou Xiutong’s heart stirred. She had only thought of Dingyang and had forgotten about Dingze; what a sin.

So, using this as an excuse, she fled from Qingyang Peak as if flying.

Zhou Liyue smiled gently, her soft smile seemingly able to melt the winter snow.

Seeing Zhou Xiutong leave, Zhou Liyue did not stop her. She turned her head and looked towards the ancient and profound tall stone tablet in the distance.

Beneath the stone tablet, a figure wearing a scholar’s cap and with eyes like twinkling stars sat cross-legged, at this moment looking solemnly into the stone tablet.

“Boy, how long are you going to keep staring like this?”

Inside the stone tablet,

Beneath the five giant mountains that were suppressed and bound, a black, demonic figure sat cross-legged.

However, the usually silent black, demonic figure’s expression was somewhat ugly at this moment.

“Strange, the ancient texts didn’t say that the bodies of powerful Cultivators contain endless Dao essence.”

“Some even comprehend powerful Cultivation Techniques and Daoist Magic from the remains of strong individuals. Why doesn’t it work for me?”

Zhou Tailai was startled awake by this voice, muttering to himself with a confused expression.

Because he had once gone out and traveled to the Qianling Dynasty, he was almost captured by Black Demon Dao Lord.

After arriving in this Upper Realm, he had been confined.

After all, there were countless strong individuals in this Upper Realm.

If other strong individuals were to imitate Black Demon Dao Lord and abduct him, there would be no solution.

Trapped on the island, Zhou Tailai spent his days cultivating and researching the Heavenly Capital Fate Calculation Method, in addition to completing the tasks Zhou Liyue assigned him.

He was studying the ancient texts that the Zhou Family had collected in the Li Luan Sea Region over the years.

Zhou Tailai was utterly perplexed and finally concluded that his own comprehension was not deep enough.

So, he ignored Black Demon Dao Lord inside the stone tablet, once again extended his Divine Sense, and probed into the stone tablet… Several months later,

In the Li Luan Sea Region,

Two rumors, originating from unknown sources, began to spread rapidly among the various islands of the Li Luan Sea Region.

“Golden Core True Person Zixiao of the Zhou Family of Guizhou Island is expected to reach the Dao Integration Realm within a thousand years.”

“The Old Ancestor of the Zhou Family of Guizhou Island is a Mid-stage Void Refinement snake Yao Beast.”

Both pieces of news were about the Qingyang Zhou Clan of Gui Zhou Island, which had reappeared more than ten years ago, rejoined the Thousand Island Alliance, and held the thirty-seventh thousand star token.

For a time,

It caused a flurry of discussions.

As these rumors spread,

Zhou Xiutong completely solidified her reputation as the Foremost Genius of the Chaotic Sea.

At the same time, the prestige of the Zhou Family of Guizhou Island rose another level.

In the Dao of cultivation, the further one progresses, the greater the disparity.

The mere four words “Mid-stage Void Refinement” could elevate the Zhou Family’s strength to the middle tier among the thirty-seven families of the Thousand Island Alliance.