117: Suzaku Battle Formation

No matter what, Zhou Jingxing not choosing to flee at this moment already showed he hadn't wasted their master-disciple bond.

Subsequently, Li Xiangyun stood silently in front of dozens of war boats, waiting with profound eyes.

At the same time, Zhou Jingxing was also continuously approaching the war boats.

"Halt!"

Countless angry roars sounded simultaneously, as the soldiers tilted their spears forward, and a surging Aura converged to form a Vermillion Bird phantom in the air.

In an instant, the clouds exploded, and crimson rays poured down like molten gold.

A crimson phantom over three zhang tall spread its wings from the flames, its tail feathers dragging streaks of fire across the sky, each feather appearing like refined crimson crystal, flowing with molten-like scorching patterns.

When the phantom raised its head, two clusters of Southern Blazing Fire surged in its vermilion pupils, and a powerful pressure transformed into an invisible heatwave, causing steam to rise wherever it passed, twisting even the air into boiling vortices.

Its Aura was no less impressive than the Phoenix phantom from last night.

After all, the Phoenix is the king of all birds, while the Vermillion Bird is one of the Four Heavenly Spirits, born of heaven and earth, inherently divine.

In other words, there are many Phoenixes, but there might only be one Vermillion Bird; only when the previous Vermillion Bird dies will the next Vermillion Bird be born.

Therefore, perhaps only the Ancestral Phoenix could rival the Vermillion Bird... And the Li family members below, seeing this scene, naturally let out another round of exclamations.

Li Xiangyun watched this scene with flickering eyes, knowing it was meant to be a show of force against him.

This so-called Vermillion Bird phantom was the evolution of the Vermillion Bird Battle Formation, which was also the origin of the Vermillion Bird Army.

Unlike a magic formation, a battle formation is human-centric, using the Cultivator's Spiritual Veins as meridians and Talismanic Incantations as bone and blood, aggregating the power of all individuals to unleash strength far beyond imagination.

And this was still the most ordinary form; if a Golden Core Peak general were added, it could probably unleash power comparable to a Nascent Soul.

And this was also one of the reasons why the Great Zhou Dynasty could suppress all directions.

Zhou Jingxing's steps paused, and he also guessed that this was not directed at him, but the scorching pressure still made him dare not approach.

Thus, Zhou Jingxing angrily shouted, "I am the Ninth Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who dares to touch me?"

At these words, the air fell silent, until a moment later, a majestic figure walked out from the war boat.

Zhou Baishui stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, his dark python robe embroidered with gold thread cloud-thunder patterns appearing and disappearing with his steps.

His temples were slightly frosted, but it did not diminish the majesty of his sword-like brows and starry eyes; when his Phoenix eyes were half-closed, they were like a cold pond reflecting the moon, and when open, they were like frost-tempered sword blades.

Then he just quietly looked at Zhou Jingxing, as if to thoroughly uncover Zhou Jingxing's thoughts.

Zhou Jingxing was extremely nervous, but he still straightened his back, fearless.

After a few seconds, Zhou Baishui suddenly raised his hand.

"Retrieve!"

In an instant, another earth-shattering sound rang out, and then the Vermillion Bird phantom in the air slowly disappeared.

"Phew~" Zhou Jingxing watched this scene and let out a sigh of relief, his back already soaked.

Although he knew they wouldn't dare do anything to him, his body still reacted instinctively.

Subsequently, Zhou Jingxing continued forward, boarded the war boat, and came before Zhou Baishui to salute, saying, "Marquis of the State!"

Although Zhou Baishui was also a royal relative, by seniority, he was Zhou Jingxing's Imperial Uncle.

However, there were simply too many members of the Imperial Family, especially after thousands of years of development; there were tens of thousands of people of the same generation alone.

Therefore, Zhou Jingxing would only address Imperial Uncles who were also from the main lineage.

As for someone like Zhou Baishui, he would directly address him by his title.

"Mm." Zhou Baishui calmly acknowledged, then preempted Zhou Jingxing by saying, "The Prince of the South is also here. If you have anything, go talk to him!"

This attitude could be said to be extremely disrespectful, but Zhou Jingxing showed no displeasure.

This was simply because in this world, strength ultimately spoke the loudest.

As the commander of the Great Zhou Dynasty's Imperial Guards and a royal relative, Zhou Baishui was no less than Zhou Jingxing in both strength and status.

And for such a person, Zhou Jingxing was still trying to win him over, so how could he possibly pursue such a minor matter?

Moreover, even if he did pursue it, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

Hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Zhou Jingxing's eyes.

Afterward, he saluted again, then hurried towards the golden chariot in the rear.

From afar, Zhou Jingxing saw Zhou Tianming in the chariot, as well as Zhou Zhenyue... Zhou Jingxing's pupils constricted, and he thought with surprise and uncertainty, "How did he get here?"

With an ominous feeling, Zhou Jingxing continued to fly forward.

Before his feet even touched the ground, Zhou Zhenyue's mocking voice already sounded, "Oh, isn't this Ninth Brother? Why are you here?"

"Could it be related to the Li family rebels?"

Zhou Zhenyue said with a very surprised and sarcastic tone.

Hearing this, Zhou Jingxing clenched his fists slightly and retorted, "I, your younger brother, was sent by Father Emperor to the Li family to apprentice under Ice Peak Zhenren. May I ask what brings Imperial Brother here?"

"This..." Zhou Zhenyue was somewhat speechless, because until this moment, Zhou Tianming had not told him the purpose of their trip.

Therefore, fearing to say the wrong thing and be humiliated, Zhou Zhenyue could only angrily change the subject, saying, "Heh, Zhou Jingxing, don't mind why I'm here."

"But clearly, you won't be able to apprentice!"

Zhou Jingxing ignored this, instead turning to Zhou Tianming and asking, "I wonder what Five Imperial Uncle's purpose is for coming here with such a grand display?"

"Logically speaking, since Father Emperor agreed to let me apprentice under Ice Peak Zhenren, he shouldn't change his mind overnight."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhenyue also quieted down, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, waiting to watch the show.

After all, he had asked several times without getting a clear answer, and he didn't believe that Zhou Tianming would speak just because Zhou Jingxing asked.

However, things clearly turned out beyond Zhou Zhenyue's expectation, as Zhou Tianming slowly recounted the reason for the matter.

"So that's how it is!" Hearing this, Zhou Jingxing's expression was somewhat uncertain.

In fact, he had vaguely guessed something, but just wasn't sure.

However, through Five Uncle's explanation, Father Emperor clearly hadn't gone for the kill, which made Zhou Jingxing breathe a sigh of relief.

But the conditions Zhou Tianming proposed still left Zhou Jingxing worried.

Because he knew that with Li Xiangyun's temperament, it would be impossible for him to easily agree.

At the same time, after hearing Zhou Tianming's words, Zhou Zhenyue's expression was also uncertain.

However, unlike Zhou Jingxing's worry, Zhou Zhenyue felt more of a sense of humiliation.

Why did he refuse so many times when he asked? And then he told Zhou Jingxing just from one question?

Even if Zhou Zhenyue was dull, he sensed that something was amiss.

He had wasted his efforts trying to win him over, thinking he had succeeded. Now it seemed, it was all a trick!