Chapter 7: Mysterious Figure Reappears

Great Summer World, East Sea County.

Whoosh!

Accompanied by a surge, Zhou Yu's figure appeared above the Zhou Clan lands in East Sea County.

"I'm back; this mission went relatively smoothly," a faint smile appeared on Zhou Yu's face.

Of course, the smoothness was due to his breakthrough in realm, making his strength far greater than before.

Otherwise, the appearance of a supreme Heavenly Immortal would make life and death utterly unpredictable.

Back then there were so many people; for half of them to escape was sheer luck against fate.

Without much thought, Zhou Yu swiftly flew into the Zhou Clan, and since he hadn't told anyone about his outing, his return was silent.

However, shortly after his return, Zhou Yu summoned the current clan chief of the Zhou Clan.

He is a Primordial Spirit Daoist named Han Yu.

"I have seen the Ancestor."

Daoist Han Yu performed a fervent bow; to him, Zhou Yu was already a legend.

In this era, the clan had only three Earth Immortals—scattered Immortals; the other two were relatively ordinary cultivators, but Zhou Yu was the foundation of the Zhou Clan, and the clan's standing in East Sea County relied solely on Zhou Yu's reputation.

A scattered Immortal who had lived over three million years—just his reputation was terrifying.

Daoist Han Yu had cultivated up to now and had only seen Zhou Yu once during the clan chief inauguration ceremony; this proactive summons truly excited Han Yu.

"Hmm, no need for formalities," Zhou Yu asked, "Any major events inside or outside the clan lately?"

"Major events?"

Daoist Han Yu was puzzled, but after thinking he still told Zhou Yu about a few recent matters that could be considered noteworthy.

Including, but not limited to, the clan discovering a mineral vein somewhere, a clan Primordial Spirit Daoist falling abroad, and a clan Purple Palace cultivator joining a cultivation sect, among others.

"Hmm," Zhou Yu nodded, "All ordinary matters."

"Remember, restrain the clan members; if I discover anyone committing deeds that damage the clan's merit and fortune, you, as clan chief, won't escape either," Zhou Yu said coldly.

Hearing that, Daoist Han Yu felt a sharp shiver in his heart.

Merit and fortune.

These were written into the clan's regulations when the Zhou Clan first rose, and Zhou Yu placed special emphasis on them.

In fact, most clans, even large ones, rarely pay much attention to this.

But Zhou Yu understood from the start that merit and fortune affect a clan's survival; ancient lords and even the Great Summer Dynasty actively accumulated merit.

When the Great Summer Dynasty established the Ying Long Guard, besides defending the realm, it also had the task of eradicating great sinners.

Eliminating great sinners naturally yields merit; higher merit gathers fortune.

Zhou Yu's demands for the Zhou Clan were the same: those who slay demons and accumulate merit receive rewards; those who commit evil, disrupt or corrupt merit are at best expelled, at worst slain.

Through such generational accumulation, the Zhou Clan's merit became relatively high.

Now the Great Tribulation approaches, making these even more crucial.

"Ancestor, rest assured. Since I have overseen the clan, no great sinner has ever appeared, and none will ever appear!" Daoist Han Yu hurriedly replied.

"Hmm."

Zhou Yu nodded, waved his hand, and instantly a porcelain bottle materialized there.

"This is two million jin of Primordial Liquid; you can use it to cultivate to a complete Primordial Spirit. The remainder, use it to nurture successors," Zhou Yu said.

"Two million jin of Primordial Liquid?" Daoist Han Yu was thrilled yet incredulous.

Truly worthy of the Ancestor, producing so much Primordial Liquid at a glance—this could buy a decent Immortal-tier artifact, right?

If one were a reincarnated Immortal, these Primordial Liquids could easily shave off ten thousand years of cultivation and return to the Earth Immortal level.

"Ancestor, does nurturing successors really require so much Primordial Liquid?" Daoist Han Yu also asked.

He only needs eighty to ninety thousand jin of Primordial Liquid to reach a complete Primordial Spirit; the rest is excessive.

If he were greedy, he wouldn't have the nerve.

"Then cultivate more; anyone with decent aptitude can be granted resources," Zhou Yu said.

This is a time of rising winds and swirling clouds; perhaps a true genius will emerge from the Zhou Clan.

"Indeed," Daoist Han Yu nodded.

Since the Ancestor said so, he naturally complied.

After Daoist Han Yu left, Zhou Yu summoned the clan's sole Earth Immortal, also bestowing many treasures upon him.

Honestly, Zhou Yu thought his own chance of crossing the Tribulation to become an Immortal was virtually nil, yet this era is unpredictable—what if?

Mainly because Zhou Yu had just acquired the treasure of the Fire Cloud Heavenly Immortal, his wealth surged, and he was not stingy about spending resources to nurture successors.

While Zhou Yu was planning the cultivation of clan members, outside the Zhou Clan lands, a figure cloaked in black appeared there at an unknown time.

The black-robed figure leaked a faint aura, and Zhou Yu within the clan sensed it.

His expression tightened slightly, yet without hesitation he stepped out of the clan.

"Indeed, a Heavenly Immortal."

Zhou Yu stared at the black-robed figure; the other smiled at him, causing Zhou Yu to pause in surprise.

"So it's you?" Zhou Yu said, looking at the other.

"The Celestial Dao oath I made back then has been fulfilled, and you once said we have no more ties. So, do you still have business with me?"

The black-robed figure was the mysterious person who previously contacted Zhou Yu using the Turtle Shell artifact.

"Companion Qian Yu, I did say that, but now I retract it," the black-robed figure smiled, "Your realm now is nearly at the pinnacle of a Heavenly Immortal, right?"

Zhou Yu remained silent.

A typical million-year scattered Immortal already rivals top Heavenly Immortals in realm; Zhou Yu was already far stronger than a normal million-year scattered Immortal.

Now we have created the stronger "Nine‑Extremes Heaven and Earth Great Array"; this move is indeed almost at the level of the supreme True Immortal.

If it were not so, his original formation could not have blocked the three breaths of the Holy Fire True Immortal.

"Impressive, truly impressive!" the figure in the black robe sighed.

"With a Free Immortal's divine soul, reaching this height of the Enlightened Dao realm, you could easily live for tens of millions of years."

Tens‑million‑year Free Immortals do exist, but they are exceedingly rare—practically legendary.

"Just luck, that's all," Zhou Yu said calmly. "You came here just to talk about this?"

"I'm here to invite fellow Daoist Qian Yu to truly join us," the figure in the black robe laughed.

"Given your level, we can help you reincarnate, guarantee its success, and even assist you in crossing the tribulation!"

"Help me cross the tribulation?"

Zhou Yu asked deliberately, "The Heavenly Tribulation is perilous; how will you help?"

"You'll find out as soon as you join."

"What will I need to do after joining?" Zhou Yu asked again.

"There will be some tasks, but all come with rewards," the figure in the black robe enticed.

"Qian Yu, fellow Daoist, with your talent, if resources are sufficient, you have a real chance to become a Pure Yang True Immortal; then everything will be completely different."

"I'll think about it," Zhou Yu said.

"Now things are different; you don't have much time," the figure in the black robe said. "And don't forget, the Holy Fire True Immortal is currently looking for you."

"Are you threatening me?" Zhou Yu's expression hardened.

"It's not really a threat, just a reminder," the figure in the black robe laughed. "I've also brought some gifts for you, fellow Daoist."

After speaking, the figure in the black robe waved a hand, and two bamboo tubes instantly flew out, landing in Zhou Yu's hands.

Zhou Yu gathered the two bamboo tubes, scanned them with his spirit sense, and discovered they contained two Pure Yang‑level secret manuals; as long as he swears a Celestial Dao oath not to disseminate them, he can view the entire contents.

"One hand a great staff, the other a sweet jujube; ordinary Free Immortals don't grasp the depth, so they mostly just go along with it," Zhou Yu thought with a sigh.

"Hahaha, take your time, fellow Daoist; after a while I'll visit again," the figure in the black robe laughed, and soon vanished from there.

(Chapter End)