Chapter 227: Yunzhou Old Ancestor

Sanqian Zhou, Yunzhou.

The heavenly canopy was originally as clear as washed, with no clouds for ten thousand li.

Without warning, a rift stretching a hundred thousand li split open at the top of the firmament.

Chaotic torrents of void poured down from it, sweeping across the land, causing all mountains, rivers, flora and fauna to wither.

Immediately after, massive bronze warships, unmatched in size, sailed out of the rift.

The warships' surfaces were etched with ancient defensive patterns, bearing the weathered marks of time.

One hundred thousand Gu Family elites, armored and armed, formed ranks on the warships' decks.

Behind the Gu Family flagship, warships from the various Dao lineages of the Primordial Immortal Realm followed closely.

Standing at the prow, the Dragon Emperor greedily inhaled Yunzhou's air, his half‑human, half‑dragon body trembling with excitement.

"Immortal material! It truly lies everywhere! I smashed through the foundation of the altar in the Ancient Dragon Nest—worth it! So worth it!"

Ji Tianyou wore a splendid palace robe, her jade hand gripping the rail, her beautiful eyes swirling with fervent awe.

She gazed ahead at the sky‑covering Gu Family fleet, secretly rejoicing that the Ji Family's decisive opening of the Immortal Gold Vein had earned them a place in the Vanguard Camp; without following the Gu Family's lead, the Ji Family would have no right to set foot in such a land of fortune.

The Primordial Divine Lord, meanwhile, frantically flicked an abacus at one side, his eyes glowing green as he stared fixedly at the land below, as if seeing not mountains and rivers but a trove of divine sources waiting to be unearthed:

"Seize! Once the Gu Family Young Master gives the order, the Myriad Gods Temple's people will scrape three feet off this land, and they'll recoup a hundred‑fold the entry fee they paid!"

As this terrifying army, led by the Gu Family and followed by the major powers of the Primordial Immortal Realm, descended completely, Yunzhou's legal network groaned under the strain, and the void collapsed in many places.

This heaven and earth could not possibly bear the pressure of so many powerhouses.

Even just the greedy aura emitted by these subordinate forces of the Primordial Immortal Realm was enough to make Yunzhou's Heavenly Dao tremble.

The interior of Yunzhou.

Deep within the Yun Family's ancestral land.

Beside a spiritual spring, Yunshan the Old Ancestor, seated cross‑legged in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes.

He was Yunzhou's strongest native, a sect‑leader‑level titan who had lived for millions of years.

Usually he loomed high above, looking down on all beings.

Today, however, he felt a sudden pang of anxiety.

It was a shudder that rose from the depths of his soul.

"Which divine being has descended upon my Yunzhou?" Yunshan the Old Ancestor sprang to his feet, stepped forward, and his form was already in mid‑air.

He lifted his gaze; his field of vision was filled by the sky‑covering fleet.

Nine pure‑blood true dragons drew an ancient chariot exuding chaotic qi, which slowly emerged from the largest flagship.

The true dragons' roars shook the eight wildernesses.

Yunshan the Old Ancestor felt only a buzzing in his ears and his qi and blood surging.

He suppressed his inner shock and forced himself to meet them.

"I am the old Yunshan, lord of Yunzhou. I did not know you were coming, so I failed to welcome you properly."

Yunshan the Old Ancestor bowed with clasped hands, keeping his posture very low.

Having lived so long, he understood best how to seek fortune and avoid misfortune.

Such a spectacle could not be possessed by any single Dao lineage in the Sanqian Zhou.

Inside the Nine Dragon Sandalwood Chariot, Gu Yuan leaned back on a soft cushion, idly playing with a jade slip.

Outside the chariot, a maid holding a bronze ancient lamp stood silently to one side.

This maid was named Qingluan, a newly risen elite of a Gu Family branch, ordered to attend Gu Yuan personally.

Qingluan glanced at Yunshan the Old Ancestor, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

"My Young Master is setting out; idle persons, withdraw."

Qingluan lightly opened her vermilion lips, her tone flat.

Yunshan the Old Ancestor's cheek twitched; though he was a lord of a state, he was actually being shouted at by a maid.

Even a clay figure has three parts of fire.

"Miss, this place is the territory of my Yun Family…" Yunshan the Old Ancestor had not finished speaking.

Qingluan raised her idle left hand and pressed downward in the void.

There was no earth‑shaking phenomenon.

Only pure, ultimate legal suppression.

Yunshan the Old Ancestor felt as if a Primordial Divine Mountain pressed upon his back.

His pride‑worthy sect‑leader‑level cultivation was as fragile as paper before this force.

His knees went weak, and he knelt directly in mid‑air; the sounds of breaking bones rang out in succession.

No matter how he stirred his mana, he could not break free even a fraction.

This maid's cultivation far surpassed his understanding.

Above the sect leader!

Even more terrifying than the fallen immortals he had ever seen!

Yunshan the Old Ancestor lay prone in the void, cold sweat soaking his garments.

A flash of inspiration struck his mind; he recalled the shocking rumor that had spread throughout the Sanqian Zhou not long ago.

The Guilty Province's Immortal Ancient Relic Site opened, and a mysterious force descended riding a Nine Dragon Chariot.

With a casual pinch he killed the lord of the Fire Gods Temple, and afterward he consecutively beheaded four sleeping fallen immortals.

Such ferocious might left the entire Sanqian Zhou gasping for breath.

Nine dragons pulling a chariot! It is none other than these people before our eyes!

Yunshan the Old Ancestor's face turned ashen; even words of plea stuck in his throat.

Gu Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and walked out slowly. He looked down at the Yunshan Old Ancestor, who was trembling.

"Qing Luan, step back. Don't kill him; I still have questions."

Gu Yuan raised his hand.

Qing Luan withdrew his power and retreated respectfully to the side.

The Yunshan Old Ancestor, as if granted a pardon, gasped heavily, rolling and crawling to steady himself.

"Thank you, young master, for sparing my life!" He kowtowed repeatedly.

Gu Yuan surveyed his surroundings; the spiritual qi concentration in Yun Province was far greater than in Sin Province, and immortal substances were more abundant.

"Are you Yunshan? Do you have the final say in Yun Province?" Gu Yuan asked.

"Replying to young master, I still carry a bit of influence in Yun Province."

The Yunshan Old Ancestor answered tremblingly.

"Very good." Gu Yuan nodded,

"I ask you, in this period, have there been any new developments in Sanqian Zhou? Tell me."

The Yunshan Old Ancestor dared not conceal anything, and reported every recent major event, racking his brains.

"Replying to young master, since you... since your side displayed great divine power in Sin Province, Sanqian Zhou has indeed undergone some changes."

The Yunshan Old Ancestor chose his words carefully, fearing to offend this living ancestor before him.

Just half a month ago, news came from Sword Province that the Heavenly Dome split, a terrifying sword light tore through the Boundary Wall, and descended upon Burial Sword Mountain.

That was a transcendent existence surpassing the remnant immortals; its mere aura pressed all beings in Sword Province to bow.

It is said that this being calls himself the Heaven-Hating Sword King, coming from the Vast Immortal Domain above the Three Thousand Provinces.

Upon hearing the words 'Heaven-Hating Sword King,' Gu Yuan's expression remained unchanged, but his mind was calculating.

Gu Cangsheng and Gu Lin Tian also descended from the main ship.

Gu Cangsheng, with his hands behind his back, dressed like an old farmer, stood out conspicuously among the group of gold-armored cultivators.

He approached the Yunshan Old Ancestor and kicked his shoulder.

"Continue. What did that sword-playing lower realm come here for?" Gu Cangsheng asked.

The Yunshan Old Ancestor dared not raise his head, feeling that this old man had no trace of cultivation aura, yet somehow gave him the illusion of facing the vast starry sky.

"After the Sword King descended, whom was he seeking? He combed through the entire Sword Province, employing the Soul-Searching Technique."

"It so happens that an ancient supreme who calls himself the Stone Emperor fled to Sword Province from somewhere, and ended up in the Sword King's hands."

"The Sword King captured him alive, forcibly performed a soul search, deemed him a nuisance, and directly threw his remains into the Sword Forge for refinement."

Gu Yuan couldn't help laughing upon hearing this. The Stone Emperor had been arrogantly rampant in the Burial Emperor Star Domain; fleeing to Sanqian Zhou, he had thought he could wield power and reap rewards, but instead became material for others to forge swords. Heaven's way cycles; retribution is inevitable.

"What happened next?" Gu Cangsheng continued to ask.

"Then..."

The Yunshan Old Ancestor swallowed his saliva,

"That Sword King stayed in Sanqian Zhou for only a few days before hastily departing; he suffered grave injuries upon leaving, even his natal divine sword was covered in cracks."

"Before leaving, he left a divine decree ordering all major forces in Sanqian Zhou to closely monitor any movements elsewhere and report them immediately to the Immortal Domain."

"Only then did I realize that the Sanqian Zhou we inhabit is merely a lower realm under the Immortal Domain's jurisdiction; within the Immortal Domain, there are many other supreme beings like that Sword King."