115: Mutation

Looking up, the originally clear blue sky was covered in a web-like pattern of dark purple, as if a giant beast was tearing at the firmament from beyond the Void Realm.

In the northwest, clouds surged like boiling water, and dozens of bronze immortal ships pierced through the mist, their might overwhelming.

The gluttonous swallowing moon carvings on the bow of the ships glowed with a bloody light, and the gunwales were densely packed with Cultivators clad in crimson iron heavy armor.

The tips of their halberds condensed with eerie blue thunder flames, and the air in their wake crackled like shattering glass.

Further away, nine golden chariots, trailing a hundred-zhang rainbow light, slowly appeared; where their wheels rolled, the sky seemed to twist into strange vortices.

“It’s the Great Zhou Dynasty’s tiangang warship!”

Someone exclaimed, their panicked voice instantly awakening the dazed people.

In an instant, the entire square erupted into chaos.

“What’s going on? Why would the Great Zhou Dynasty’s tiangang warship suddenly mobilize, and head straight for our Li Family?”

“What should we do? Fight or flee?”

“Honestly, everyone, there’s no need to panic so much. Maybe these Great Zhou Dynasty warships aren’t even coming for our Li Family?” someone said, feigning composure.

But his words were quickly proven wrong; the Great Zhou warships drew closer and closer, soon entering Purple Cloud Lake, and the chilling killing intent felt as if it was already upon them.

The most affected were the Loose Cultivators lingering at Purple Cloud Lake; sensing danger, they scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing towards Purple Cloud Lake.

The tiangang warships showed no reaction to this, clearly indicating that these Loose Cultivators were not their target.

On a golden chariot, the Great Zhou’s Fifth Prince, Zhou Zhenyue, couldn’t help but sneer at this scene, then turned to Zhou Tianming beside him and said, “Fifth Imperial Uncle, what’s the difference between these people and ants?”

Zhou Tianming heard this, turned to look at this outwardly brave and strong, yet simple-minded, good-for-nothing, and chuckled, “They just have a head, that’s all!”

“Indeed!” Zhou Zhenyue nodded in deep agreement, then complimented, “Fifth Imperial Uncle’s insight is profound.”

Zhou Tianming laughed heartily, “We are both ranked fifth; it’s quite a coincidence, and we should indeed get to know each other better!”

Zhou Zhenyue rejoiced inwardly, thinking, “It’s done!?”

He thought that his efforts during this period had not been in vain.

In fact, Zhou Zhenyue still didn’t know their objective for this trip, but that wasn’t important.

About a month ago, after Zhou Jingxing returned to the Imperial City from the Spirit Beast Sect, he truly made a splash.

The always obscure Zhou Jingxing, when the Asked Dao Academy was enraged and Emperor Yongchang intended to apprehend Li Xiangyun, stepped forward and knelt, begging to become Li Xiangyun’s disciple.

This incident, once it occurred, shocked the entire city.

No one had expected that this playboy prince, in the eyes of the world, would possess such courage.

At first, everyone merely considered it a joke, and had even prepared to witness Emperor Yongchang’s fury.

But the outcome exceeded their expectations; Emperor Yongchang actually chose silence, and even the Asked Dao Academy had no further news.

He continued to kneel for twenty days, until Emperor Yongchang finally issued an imperial decree; he had actually agreed.

What others thought, they didn’t know, but the princes, including Zhou Zhenyue, were extremely shocked.

Because they clearly understood the power represented by the Li Family and the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

In other words, once Zhou Jingxing successfully became a disciple, the power behind him would be no less than any other prince, and perhaps even greater.

This included the Nascent Soul Family whose maternal clan was the Yue Family of the Northern Region.

The Yue Family of the Northern Region was the controller of the Northern Barbarian Province, and belonged to the same Nascent Soul Family as the East Sea Lin Family and the Hua Family of the Western Extremities.

However, being born of the Northern Region Yue Family yet named Zhenyue ( 鎮岳, 'Suppressing Mountains'), the meaning behind it couldn't help but make people ponder.

And Zhou Zhenyue, sensing danger, came to the Southern Barbarian Province to try and win over Zhou Tianming.

Due to the existence of the Spirit Beast Sect and the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, although Zhou Tianming was enfeoffed as Prince of the South and was the nominal ruler of the Southern Barbarian Province, his cultivation was not Nascent Soul, but Golden Core Peak.

Yet, even so, Zhou Tianming, who commanded the Vermillion Bird Army, was still a force that could not be ignored, which was why Zhou Zhenyue came to the Southern Barbarian Province.

Last night, Zhou Tianming suddenly received news from the Central Province Imperial City and hastily led the Vermillion Bird Army to Purple Cloud Lake.

This also included the Marquis of Zhenguo, Zhou Baishui.

Zhou Baishui was the twenty-ninth grandson of the Great Zhou Dynasty’s founding emperor’s third son, with a Golden Core Peak cultivation, and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Zhenguo.

Zhou Zhenyue was surprised by this operation, but that didn’t stop him from following along to join the fun.

Especially when he saw that their target was the Li Family of Purple Cloud Lake, Zhou Zhenyue inwardly rejoiced even more.

Because he clearly remembered that his ninth brother was still in the Li Family!

Recalling Zhou Tianming’s words just now, Zhou Zhenyue felt as if he was only one step away from the throne... At the same time, seeing the warships draw closer, the Li Family Cultivators in the square grew increasingly panicked.

“What should we do? They’re really coming for the Li Family.”

“Damn it, are we going to die?”

Although after three years of development, the Li Family had grown much stronger compared to three years ago, and even the members of the Li Family had cultivated a sense of self-confidence.

However, the power of the Great Zhou Dynasty was still deeply ingrained in people’s hearts, not only because of deeply rooted ideas from childhood, but also because the Great Zhou Dynasty was inherently powerful.

After all, in their view, even if Li Xiangyun was powerful, what then? He was still just a Golden Core, but the Great Zhou Dynasty had more than one Nascent Soul; how could they compare?

“Everyone, quiet down!”

Just then, Li Zhongwen stepped onto the high platform and spoke loudly.

Under the influence of Spiritual Qi, Li Zhongwen’s commanding voice quickly spread to every corner of the square.

The previously restless crowd gradually quieted down.

At this moment, Li Zhongwen had already cooperated with the other Elders to activate the Li Family’s Family protection Formation.

During this time, with the successful refining of the Azure Lotus Pill, Li Xiangyun received another surge of prosperity value.

Therefore, last night, to prevent accidents, Li Xiangyun upgraded the original Formation.

Profound Ice Locking Heaven Formation: A Peak third-grade Formation, capable of both offense and defense, powerful enough to further enhance the might of Li Xiangyun’s Ice Glaze Dao Intent.

At this moment, under a blue light shield, Li Zhongwen loudly said, “Everyone, don’t panic! Immortal Master Ice Ling is still here!”

“Immortal Master Ice Ling will resolve whatever happens.”

“What we need to do is stay calm and not hinder Immortal Master Ice Ling.”

“Also, I have news for everyone: the Ninth Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty has already become Immortal Master Ice Ling’s disciple.”

“Therefore, there must be some misunderstanding.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingxing knew it was his turn to appear.

Therefore, he quickly stepped forward and said, “Everyone, listen to me. I am Zhou Jingxing, the Ninth Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I have received my Imperial Father’s permission to come and become Immortal Master Ice Ling’s disciple.”

“Please allow me to go and clarify this matter.”