528: inland sea

At the bottom of the sea near Gui Zhou Island, a Black Giant Serpent, over thirty thousand feet long, awoke from its slumber.

Mo Xuan's thoughts stirred, and with a 'ding,' the System panel opened.

[Name: Mo Xuan;

Race: Black Water Profound Serpent;

Bloodline: Sacred Beast (+);

Lifespan: 365 / 32400 years (+);

Talents: Water Control, Wind Control, Cloud Gathering, Heaven and Earth (+);

Innate Divine Abilities: Summon Wind and Call Rain, Realm of Clouds and Mist, Eye of Heaven and Earth, One Transformation Myriad Forms (+);

Companion Magic Treasures: mountain sea pearl, clan-guarding divine stele;

Divine Abilities: Water Form: Myriad Transformations, Wind Form - Traceless, Cloud Form: Mist Concealment, Universe - World Transformation, Size As Desired Transformation Divine Ability, Breath Concealment Divine Ability, Six Changes of the Yao Body, Riding Clouds and Driving Mist, Dividing Spirit and Transforming Thought, Summoning: Descent of Spirit, mirror of heaven and earth, Lost Void Domain, Body as a Grotto-Heaven, God-Slaying Profound Light (+);

Realm: Void Refinement Late-stage (+);

clan protecting system Bound: Zhou Family, Family Head - Zhou Leyi.

Clan Fortune Points: 21600]

"Dao Harmonization..."

Sweeping his gaze over the information that abruptly appeared before him, a ripple of emotion flickered in Mo Xuan's usually placid heart, his gaze distant.

Without hesitation, Mo Xuan withdrew his gaze and thrust his Divine Sense towards the '+' sign.

Buzz~

An ancient, profound, and ethereal aura subtly spread from the thirty-thousand-foot-long Black Giant Serpent.

The familiar boundless darkness surged, engulfing Mo Xuan's Primordial Spirit. The Black Giant Serpent fell into silence, with only a faint, ethereal aura lingering.

From then on.

The already extremely low-key Zhou Family became even more reclusive, quietly retracting its influence.

A year and a half later.

In the western part of the Chaotic Sea, on Xi Wu (West Crow) Island, within the main hall of Xiwu Divine Hall.

The majestic and noble Palace Master of West Wu Divine Hall, Great Expert Xi Mian, sat upon the main throne.

Below, a shadowy figure stood silently.

"Palace Master, what is so urgent?"

The Dark Moon Palace envoy, Great Power You Ying (Shadow), asked the Palace Master Xi Mian at the head of the hall.

"Fellow Daoist You Ying, have you made any discoveries?"

Palace Master Xi Mian did not answer but instead asked a question.

Over the past few years, Xiwu Divine Hall and Dark Moon Palace had each dispatched powerful Cultivators, concealing their identities and blending in with the Cultivators who entered the Inner Sea to seek Opportunity.

They were secretly investigating the whereabouts of the South Sea Goddess Hai Ruoli.

If they could discover her location without alarming her, they could combine the power of several Dao Lords to quietly strike her down, which would be the safest approach.

"No."

You Ying shook his head. A Dao Lord who had been hidden since the last epoch, and one connected to a Heavenly Venerable Qing, was not so easily found.

"This Palace has also made no progress."

"However, the time left for us might not be much."

Palace Master Xi Mian's expression was slightly solemn.

"What do you mean by that?"

You Ying's heart trembled as he looked at Palace Master Xi Mian.

"In the past two months, an unknown force has entered the Chaotic Sea."

The Chaotic Sea was now entirely under the control of Xiwu Divine Hall, and with the Dark Moon Palace as a cautionary tale.

Xiwu Divine Hall was somewhat wary and had strengthened its monitoring of the Chaotic Sea.

"An unknown force... Palace Master, have you investigated its origins?"

You Ying had some bad premonitions, suspecting that this force was also after the Legacy of Heavenly Venerable Qing.

"They are all suicide squads. Even if this Palace's Void Refining Realm powerful Cultivators disguised themselves to act, they couldn't investigate anything."

"We can only be sure that there is definitely a Dao Lord behind them."

"Based on the movements of this force, they are also searching for something."

The Palace Master of West Wu Divine Hall's face was grim.

Upon discovering this unknown force, they did not dare to act recklessly, fearing to alert the enemy and create further complications.

If it were in normal times, without the matter of the South Sea Goddess, such an incident, if discovered, would certainly not have so many scruples.

"Damn it... could these people have the same goal as us?"

Great Power You Ying (Shadow)'s expression grew increasingly ugly as he listened to Great Expert Xi Mian's analysis.

As the pioneer and envoy of Dark Moon Palace, he naturally knew what Dark Moon Palace had sacrificed to find the Legacy of Heavenly Venerable Qing and the whereabouts of Hai Ruoli.

If, at this juncture, someone else were to pluck the fruit, and the Legacy fell into other hands, why would they have gone to such great lengths to suppress Cen Ling Dao Palace in the first place?

"I will report to the Dao Lord immediately. Please ask the Palace Master to send people to keep an eye on those individuals."

Great Power You Ying (Shadow)'s expression hardened, his mind already made up.

"This Palace will arrange that."

Palace Master Xi Mian nodded. He also needed to inform Dao Lord Xi Wu of this matter... At the same time.

In the northern part of the Chaotic Sea, on Gui Zhou Island, on Xie Ling Peak.

Zhou Xingqun, whose face was somewhat ordinary, changed expression slightly, waking up from his cultivation once again.

"Could it be..."

Zhou Xingqun had a vague ominous premonition.

"I can't stay in the Clan any longer..."

Zhou Xingqun thought of the item that Yaoguang had taken, his expression constantly changing.

With that item as a connection, even if he had taken precautions, he was probably still detected by Yaoguang.

Coupled with the repeated heart palpitations over the past few years.

If he didn't react soon, he feared he would be pinpointed by Yaoguang.

"Hoo..."

A moment later, Zhou Xingqun suppressed the slight palpitations, left his Immortal Cave, and headed towards Qingyang Peak.

As the sun set in the west.

Zhou Xingqun's figure emerged from Gui Zhou Island and disappeared beyond it.

On Gui Zhou Island.

Zhou Xingnian awoke from his cultivation, his mind stirring. He reached out and beckoned, and a Jade Slip landed in his hand.

"Xingqun went out?"

Zhou Xingnian looked at Zhou Xingqun's message in the Jade Slip, slightly surprised.

He had thought Zhou Xingqun would remain in seclusion for the rest of his life, never expecting him to leave one day.

As for what Zhou Xingqun went out to do, Zhou Xingnian did not investigate. Given Zhou Xingqun's character, he certainly had his own reasons... A little over a month later.

A somewhat ordinary figure crossed the boundary between the Inner Sea and the Outer Sea, entering the Inner Sea.

At the same time, on Fen Hai Island.

A figure wearing a scholarly turban, holding a folding fan, and with eyes like stars, sat in a teahouse in the Fen Hai market.

"Further ahead is the Inner Sea..."

Zhou Tailai picked up the spiritual tea, took a sip, and felt a slight hesitation in his heart.

After he comprehended the Thousand Spirits Transformation from Black Demon Dao Lord, he first cultivated this technique.

He sought a wisp of aura from Venerable Qian Mei Hu as the primary spirit of the Thousand Spirits Transformation to suppress and harmonize the auras of other Yao Beasts, thus achieving Minor Achievement.

After successfully cultivating this technique, he also mastered the breath-concealing method bestowed by Black Demon Dao Lord.

Only then did he leave the Clan, following a vague guidance, arriving at Fen Hai Island. If he went further, he would enter the Inner Sea.

He was aware of the frequent conflicts between the Inner and Outer Seas over the years, and he also had some understanding of the situation in the Inner Sea, which was extremely dangerous.

Therefore, he hesitated, finding it difficult to make a decision.

"Inner Sea... with the Thousand Spirits Transformation, it should be fine..."

After a long time, Zhou Tailai decided to follow the guidance in his heart and explore the Inner Sea.

The next day.

A figure wearing a scholarly turban, hidden among the Cultivators, headed towards the Inner Sea.