643: Ancestor's gaze

"Senior Sister, Revered Master has treated us so well. Why would you do this?"

Second Disciple Tie Baizhan's face was full of disbelief.

The other Disciples present were the same.

They simply could not understand how the Senior sister who had followed their Revered Master the longest and was the most trusted by her could betray the Ancient Kingdom, plunging it into such dire straits.

"Heh..."

"Revered Master did treat me exceptionally well, but... she should not have killed my father. At the very least, it should not have been her who struck the blow..."

Shen Wan, shrouded in black robes, her expression inscrutable, spoke as if both crying and laughing, muttering to herself yet also seeming to explain to the others.

"Your father..."

"Could it be... that man?"

Tie Baizhan's expression shook violently, then revealed utter disbelief.

"Impossible. Revered Master never mentioned this to us. When you, Senior Sister, entered the tutelage of that man and Revered Master, they were already Dao Companions."

"How could you possibly be that man's daughter?"

Tie Baizhan's tone was agitated.

That man was Revered Master's former Dao Companion, the exceptionally talented Dao Lord Yuheng.

However, among their group of Disciples, only Shen Wan had truly met Dao Lord Yuheng.

"Revered Master was a noble Prodigy, a distinguished lady. Back then, although my father also had a minor reputation as a Genius, it wasn't much, and he and my mother did not know each other."

"It was only during a mission for the Sect that my father encountered a mishap and nearly lost his life."

"Though he escaped death, he was severely wounded. In the end, by a stroke of luck, he was discovered by my mother, who was a Mortal at the time. She took him home and cared for him meticulously."

"Several months later, he finally regained consciousness."

"However, my father's injuries were too grave. Though he woke, his cultivation had not recovered, and he could not leave."

"Thus, he stayed in a small courtyard at my mother's place."

"Under my mother's careful nursing, my father gradually improved, and feelings secretly grew between them."

"In the end, they had me."

Shen Wan seemed unhurried, narrating slowly. This was a buried truth, and now that she had the chance to reveal it, she naturally wanted to speak it aloud.

Tie Baizhan and the others still wore serious expressions.

However, the eyes of Crow and Gong Ling, along with the other Cultivators, were filled with the look of spectators watching a drama.

"Before I was born,"

"my father's cultivation had partially recovered, but he did not leave. Then, one day, an urgent summons from the Sect arrived, forcing him to depart."

"The Sect is heartless, a chasm separates Immortal and Mortal."

"Sect rules forbade forming Dao Companions with Mortals."

"My mother could not follow him."

"But my father had already promised that after handling the summons and returning to the Sect, he would apply to leave the mountain and come to take my mother away."

"However..."

"that severe injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not only did his cultivation advance, but his innate talent also greatly increased, as if a blockage had been cleared."

"After returning to the Sect, my father intended to leave, but his newfound talent caught the eye of a high-ranking Elder with profound cultivation."

"That Elder ordered my father to form a Dao Companion bond with his daughter."

"If he refused, he would face punishment according to Sect rules."

"My father would rather die than submit."

"But that Elder had already learned of my mother's and my existence. He threatened my mother's and my lives to force my father into compliance."

"My father's heart turned to ashes, but for the sake of my mother, he ultimately had no choice but to submit in despair."

"Do you know who that Elder was?"

The look of recollection faded from Shen Wan's eyes, replaced by a trace of mockery on her face.

"Could it possibly be... our Grandmaster?"

Second Disciple Tie Baizhan replied in a grave tone.

Their Revered Master's father, their Grandmaster, was once an Elder of a powerful Sect. They knew this, but Revered Master had never revealed which specific Sect it was. There were likely hidden circumstances involved.

In the end, however, the Grandmaster brought Revered Master, that man, and several other Cultivators to this place.

They took root and established themselves here.

Later, that man achieved the Dao Integration Realm and founded the Yuheng Ancient Kingdom.

"Heh heh, it was the Grandmaster... the Grandmaster..."

"I just wonder if our dearest, most beloved Revered Master was aware of this matter?"

The mockery on Shen Wan's face grew even thicker.

"Senior Sister, the Grandmaster has passed. To slander him like this is nothing short of treasonous!"

Third Disciple Wen Mowu's face was filled with indignation.

He refused to believe this one-sided account.

The other Disciples felt the same.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But my Bloodline, the memories hidden in my deepest core, will not deceive me."

"Moreover, I found the last thing my father left behind..."

"She should not have... been so ruthless, not even sparing my father's Reincarnation body... even though... I hated my father..."

Shen Wan's gaze grew colder.

"Tsk tsk, who would have thought the flawless Lady Yao Guang would be involved in such sordid affairs."

At that moment,

the Void Refining Great Power Crow from Three-Headed Mountain clapped his hands and laughed.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, our people have arrived. It's time to act."

Crow stepped forward, giving a slight wave of his hand.

Outside the capital, in the Void Realm.

Powerful figures wearing the attire of Three-Headed Mountain, Nine Palaces Grotto-Heaven, and Misty Demon Ridge emerged one after another.

"Delaying for time..."

Tie Baizhan's expression darkened.

He had allowed Shen Wan to speak the truth precisely to buy time.

As soon as the incident occurred, he had already sent a voice transmission to the Cultivators within the capital, instructing them to send out messages.

Inviting the various Void Refining Ancestors within the Ancient Kingdom's borders to come to their aid.

He never expected,

that the forces of Three-Headed Mountain, Nine Palaces Grotto-Heaven, and Misty Demon Ridge would arrive first.

"Take action!"

Shen Wan's expression became neutral as she spoke to the people beside her.

Then, her figure moved, heading straight towards the silent Black Demon Dao Lord and Zhou Leren.

"Shen Wan, the breach of Xuanyuan Pass was also your doing, wasn't it?"

Mu Xiongwu, the First Old Ancestor of the Mu Family, shouted sharply, unleashing the full Aura of his Void Refinement Late-stage cultivation.

Mu Zhanqiu, who had been guarding Xuanyuan Pass, was an outstanding Disciple of the Mu Family, yet he had died inexplicably at the pass.

"And you, Zhou Yuyang, do you also intend to oppose the Ancient Kingdom?"

Mu Xiongwu looked towards Zhou Yuyang.

"Heh heh, Old Ancestor, after today, the Ancient Kingdom will cease to exist."

Zhou Yuyang sneered.

The Zhou Family was on good terms with the Female Sovereign. If things continued this way, he would have no chance to avenge that old grudge.

Because of that incident, his Origin was damaged, and his Dao path was blocked. Such a grudge of obstructing one's Dao could not go unavenged.

"Seeking death!"

Mu Xiongwu took a step forward, pressing a palm towards Shen Wan and Zhou Yuyang.

The Void Realm twisted, and the great hall trembled.

Hmph.

Shen Wan snorted coldly.

Primordial Spirit power surged forth.

Boom!

The Void Realm shattered.

As the two exchanged blows,

Gong Ling from Nine Palaces Grotto-Heaven made his move. Tie Baizhan and Wen Mowu both moved to intercept him.

Within the ancient capital,

the suddenly appearing Cultivators from Three-Headed Mountain, Nine Palaces Grotto-Heaven, and Misty Demon Ridge charged in, killing.

The conflict spread.

Inside the great hall,

several Void Refining Great Powers from Three-Headed Mountain gathered beside Crow.

"The Old Ancestor has ordered: capture the members of the Zhou Family."

The Crow Great Power waved his hand.

Then, his figure flickered, appearing not far in front of Black Demon Dao Lord.

"Seeking death."

Black Demon Dao Lord's eyes held disdain.

Countless streams of black Qi spread out, transforming into a black marsh that trapped Crow and the several Great Powers.

However, in the next moment, a Void Refinement Late-stage Great Power from Misty Demon Ridge appeared, attacking Black Demon Dao Lord.

Gong Ling from Nine Palaces Grotto-Heaven unleashed his full Void Refinement Late-stage Aura, repelling Tie Baizhan and Wen Mowu. Then, he too moved towards Black Demon Dao Lord. Clearly, within this hall, Black Demon Dao Lord was the most troublesome opponent.

Once Black Demon Dao Lord was dealt with, the ancient capital could be breached at any time.

Seeing this situation,

Mu Xiongwu's expression changed drastically within the Void Realm. He wanted to assist but found his strength insufficient.

Shen Wan was the Disciple of two Dao Lords, having received the true teachings of both.

In a real fight, he might not necessarily be her match.

Three Void Refinement Late-stage Cultivators and several Void Refining Middle Stage Cultivators joined forces.

Black Demon Dao Lord's expression became somewhat more solemn.

At the same time,

outside the great hall,

Zhou Tailai, whose eyes were filled with a hazy light, felt a shock in his heart.

He was jolted awake by the residual waves of the chaotic battle.

A green lotus emerged from beneath him, then bloomed, joining with several Soul Transformation Guest Elders and Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Zhou Family to protect Zhou Xingnian and the other lower-level Zhou Family Disciples within it.

However, there were simply too many attacking Cultivators from the three factions, launching a joint assault. It was clear they could not hold out for long.

In a corner of the great hall,

"Old Ancestor, help him."

Zhao Wuming's vacant eyes turned towards the elderly Zhao clan member beside him, and he pointed.

"Wuming, did you see something?"

The Zhao clan Elder's expression shook. Following Zhao Wuming's pointing, he saw Zhou Tailai's figure.

Zhao Wuming nodded, then shook his head.

He could not see too much.

But fate seemed to be telling him that if he did not do this, he would surely regret it in the future.

Moreover...

Zhao Wuming's mind swept over a jade bottle he held in his hand.

This was the bottle of Deep Sea Spirit Spring that Zhou Tailai had left with him earlier.

"Alright."

The Zhao clan Elder nodded solemnly.

Zhao Wuming was a natural River Chart sensor, born with the ability to sense and even merge with the River Chart.

He was the hope for lifting the Zhao clan's curse.

In fact, the main reason their Old Ancestor had agreed to act this time was because Three-Headed Mountain possessed a treasure extremely useful to Zhao Wuming.

"Ten Thousand Forms of Heaven and Earth!"

The Zhao clan Old Ancestor reached out a finger and pointed. A divine light manifested around Zhou Tailai, transforming into countless divine forms that enveloped Zhou Tailai and the Zhou Family Disciples.

Boom!

Right at that moment,

above the capital,

starlight exploded violently.

The star boundary shattered.

A peerlessly beautiful figure with a pale complexion and a continuously declining Aura emerged from the void.

Appearing alongside her were five figures whose Auras also showed fluctuations.

Just as the Three-Headed Jiao Peng was about to strike again,

Zhao Guandao, holding a scroll of diagrams, appeared in front of Lady Yao Guang.

"Old Ghost Zhao, you dare to obstruct me as well?"

Dao Lord Jiao Yi's voice carried anger. This Zhao Guandao was actually switching sides at this critical moment.

Cultivators of the Zhao family were all short-lived devils.

Though skilled in heavenly secrets, their protective arts were not particularly remarkable.

Zhao Guandao's expression was grave as he slowly unfurled the scroll in his hand.

A river of stars manifested.

"Seeking death!"

The Three-Headed Jiao Peng shuddered, and countless black feathers imbued with Dao intent blasted into the river of stars.

The starry river was resplendent, but it exploded continuously in an instant.

The other four figures followed closely, attacking the two once more.

Even with Zhao Guandao's assistance, the situation remained perilously dangerous.

Below,

inside the great hall,

witnessing these lightning-fast changes,

Zhou Leren's heart grew heavy.

If this continued, the two Dao Lord Seniors would surely be defeated. When that happened, no matter how strong the Black Demon Grand Elder was, he would not be able to withstand a true Dao Lord powerhouse.

Zhou Leren flipped his palm.

A palm-sized, seven-tiered divine altar appeared in his hand.

"Old Ancestor, this Disciple has a report..."

Zhou Leren bowed respectfully, sending his Divine Sense into the small seven-tiered altar before him.

Hum~

The divine altar trembled.

An intangible connection vanished into the Void Realm.

Simultaneously,

in the Chaotic Sea, at the bottom of the sea near Gui Zhou Island,

an eighteen-thousand-zhang-long Black Giant Serpent seemed to sense something, slowly raising its head to look into the distance.

Before its serpentine pupils, endless space seemed to part.

An intangible gaze traversed endless time and space, landing above the ancient capital of the Yaoguang Ancient Kingdom.

An intangible stare, as if condensed from the endless Great Dao itself, fell upon the three colossal primeval strange beasts below, as well as the two Dao Lords, Jiu Yuan and Mo Cheng.

Hum~

Under this single gaze,

the Void Realm trembled, the Great Dao solidified, and all laws seemed to mourn in unison.

"This..."

"Could it be..."

"A Heavenly Venerate!"

The massive Three-Headed Jiao Peng's heart suddenly trembled violently, feeling its entire Bloodline wailing incessantly.

The Dao intent and Divine Might contained within this suddenly descending gaze were absolutely not something a being in the Dao Integration Realm could possess.

"Which Heavenly Venerate... why would they cast their gaze here..."

PS:

A chapter of three thousand three hundred words. Ahem, not short, right?