Chapter 232: The Big Fish Has Taken the Bait

Cloud Province, outside the Cloud Clan Ancestral Land.

Nine streams of flowing light rushed from the horizon, the gale they kicked up pressing the spiritual grasses on the ground flat.

Leading them was the Old Dragon Lord.

His half‑human, half‑dragon body lay at the forefront, his dragon tail dragging a thousand zhang, his aura awe‑inspiring.

"We've arrived." Hai Wuya restrained his aura, narrowing his eyes.

The nine Cult Masters hovered ten thousand zhang above the Cloud Clan's ancestral land, looking down.

At that sight, everyone's expression froze.

The terrain of the Cloud Clan's ancestral land was completely different from what they remembered.

The once ordinary spirit vein's course had been completely remodeled; dozens of formation lines as thick as mountain ranges spread from the hub in all directions, like the roots of a giant beast sinking deep into the earth.

Tens of thousands of cultivators bustled back and forth within the ancestral land.

The auras of these cultivators…

"Wrong." The Withered Emperor Sect Sect Leader's face changed. "Even the weakest of them is a Cult Master!!"

The Cult Master realm is already a top‑tier power in Sanqian Zhou!

And yet, here they are, everywhere!

"We… did we come to the wrong place?" the Grand Void Palace Master's voice sounded a bit hoarse.

No one responded.

Just as the nine Cult Masters were about to flee,

A lazy voice came up from below.

"Yo, visitors?"

Gu Zhan shouldered his Broken Axe, stepping out from behind a ten‑thousand‑year‑old ancient tree.

He had just finished gnawing a spirit fruit, then casually tossed its pit behind him.

The pit flew out, tracing an arc in the void.

Hum—

Where the pit passed, a visible crack split space, extending several hundred zhang before sealing after a while.

The nine Cult Masters collectively stepped back three paces.

A space torn apart by a casually thrown pit.

"Who's there?" another voice called from farther away—it was Gu Linjiang.

"I don't know them." Gu Zhan scratched the back of his head, sizing up the nine figures in the sky, his eyes full of disdain,

"Nine… they're nothing special. Even the strongest dragon is only at Cult Master peak—this isn't even enough for me to warm up."

Those words struck the nine Cult Masters' ears like heavy hammer blows, each one hitting their Dao hearts.

Not enough to warm up?

The nine of them combined were judged by an axe‑wielding roughman as not even enough to warm up?

The Old Dragon Lord's dragon whiskers trembled.

It wasn't anger; he was desperately suppressing the urge to turn and flee.

Three million years of cultivation instinct told him that this laid‑back middle‑aged man could twist him into a pretzel with one hand.

"This… senior."

Hai Wuya was the first to react; he clasped his hands in a salute, lowering his posture to the utmost: "I am Hai Wuya of the Azure Wave Pavilion. I presume to visit, meaning no offense—only that the source of Sanqian Zhou has stirred, putting all sides on edge, so I have come… to pay a visit."

His wording was very careful.

He turned the surprise attack into a visit.

Gu Zhan tilted his head and glanced at him.

"You're quite articulate." Gu Zhan remarked, then turned and shouted toward the Cloud Clan Main Hall: "Young Master! Nine little fish have shown up—should we send them away or keep them?"

Little fish.

The nine Cult Masters' mouths twitched simultaneously.

From the Main Hall direction, after a few breaths, a young, clear voice sounded.

"Let them in."

……

……

Cloud Clan Main Hall.

When the nine Cult Masters were led to the Grand Hall's doors, their mindset had shifted from a joint surprise attack to an audience and paying respects.

Because along the way, everything they saw refreshed their understanding.

A ten‑thousand‑zhang giant ship was docked at the Cloud Clan Back Mountain.

Nine pure‑blood true dragons lay coiled beside a spirit spring, dozing.

Several beings whose aura terrified the Cult Masters a millionfold sat at a roadside stone bench, playing chess, sipping tea, and chatting, not even glancing at them.

The Withered Emperor Sect Leader walked last, his legs already a bit weak.

He quietly leaned into Hai Wuya's ear and, in a voice only the two could hear, said: "Hai old brother, this damn thing isn't just some river‑crossing dragon—it's practically an entire immortal realm moved over, right?"

Hai Wuya gave no reply.

His Adam's apple rolled up and down once, sweat beading on his forehead.

Inside the Grand Hall.

Gu Yuan sat in the chief seat.

Though said to be sitting, he was actually reclining.

He had one leg resting on the armrest, holding in his hand a Cracking Sky Falcon Egg that Gu Zhan had brought from Heavenly Dragon Ridge, turning it over and over to play with.

Azure Phoenix stood at the side rear, refilling his tea.

Gu Lin Tian stood to his left, hands clasped behind his back, expressionless.

He just stood there, doing nothing.

The moment the nine Sect Masters entered the main hall, three of them trembled in their legs and almost knelt down.

True Immortal aura.

Not deliberately released, just a wisp that naturally dissipated. But for the Sect Masters, this wisp was already a catastrophe that could overturn the heavens.

"Relax." Gu Yuan waved his hand, and Gu Lin Tian slightly restrained his qi.

The nine Sect Masters' breathing returned to normal.

"Elder... Elder Yunshan?" the Old Dragon Sect Master asked, forcing himself to speak.

"He's helping chop vegetables in the back kitchen." Gu Yuan answered casually.

Chopping vegetables.

The Provincial Lord was chopping vegetables in the back kitchen.

This scene was too surreal; not a single one of the nine present dared to speak up.

Alright, don't just stand there.

Gu Yuan sat upright, sizing up the nine people,

"I roughly know why you've come. The world origin has been anchored, you're panicked, and you've come to see who did it."

No one denied it.

"I saw it." Gu Yuan nodded. "It was us. Any other questions?"

Direct admission?

The nine Sect Masters exchanged glances. They had prepared countless excuses and probing tactics, but the other party's single sentence shut them all down.

Hai Wuyai took a deep breath, about to speak——

"I know what you want to say." Gu Yuan cut him off. "It's nothing more than the world origin affecting the life and death of all beings; as Provincial Lords, you bear responsibility, right?"

Hai Wuyai opened his mouth, then closed it.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. Killing you would leave the provinces leaderless and cause more trouble, so I give you two options."

"First, like the Yun Family, submit to my Gu Family. From now on, your Dao lineage will not be destroyed, your disciples will not suffer, everything in Sanqian Zhou will continue as before, only with a different steward, and you'll help me with a task."

"Second——"

Gu Yuan's gaze swept over the nine people, but he hadn't finished speaking.

Hai Wuyai immediately knelt down, shouting, "I choose the first!!"

Is there even a need to say the second?

If you don't agree, you die!

With Hai Wuyai taking the lead, the others in the hall, even the Yellow Spring Sect Master, crawled and knelt, choosing to submit.

Gu Yuan scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.

He had originally meant to say that if they chose the second option, they should keep a low profile and help his Gu Family with a few matters.

He hadn't expected them to be so decisive.

Below.

The black token that the Yellow Spring Sect Master had hidden in his sea of consciousness had been quietly activated by him.

The big fish has taken the bait!

He didn't notice... a teasing glance coming from an inconspicuous corner of the hall.

Yeah, the big fish has taken the bait.