Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
News of the battle at the Blizzard County spread far and wide. Zhu Yi destroyed his body and trounced the Great Zhou’s Marquis of Xuanji Zhu Hongwu.
Aniruddha’s golden form appeared, but was sacrificed by the Great Zhou Empire to rescue Zhu Hongwu and the Great Heavenly Wheels back to Tianjing. After that, Liang Pan used his powers to drag everyone from Tianjing away before destructing the city. He escaped and disappeared to somewhere no one knew.
The Celestial Sect of Wonders’ Yi Zi, Zhu Yi, Huangtian Emperor Shi Tianhao and River Abode Divine Prince Li Yuanfang pursued them, but they also disappeared without a trace. There were rumors that they had landed in the Ying Sea, one of the Grand Celestial Seven Seas.
After that, Liang Pan’s fourth son, Liang Gan, ascended the throne to be the new Great Zhou Emperor and took charge of Tianjing. Liang Pan became the retired Emperor and the officials in the empire were re-titled. Tianjing’s formation was rebuilt and many of the other Great Zhou subjects were moved into Tianjing.
After the formation was rebuilt, the purplish-golden Draconic Energy gathered above the Great Zhou territories once again, above Tianjing.
Liang Gan didn’t seem to be worried that Liang Pan would summon the Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai to snatch the Draconic Energy. If he really did that, Liang Gan was bound to lose to him. But this would reveal Liang Pan’s location. This was why Liang Gan didn’t seem to be afraid.
To him, the most important thing was to ensure that this period of ascension went on smoothly. Besides this, he also had to build up relations with the Great Qin Empire.
Without the Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai and Immortal Dragon City, the Great Qin Empire couldn’t snatch the Great Zhou’s Draconic Energy unless they devoured all of Great Zhou’s territories. While they had the power to do so now, Chu Yang’s appearance in Tianjing revealed the Celestial Sect of Wonders’ attitude.
Chu Yang was an Ethereal Mountain Sect disciple and not part of the Celestial Sect of Wonders. But the Ethereal Mountain Sect had long committed themselves to the Celestial Sect of Wonders. They were almost like a branch of the Celestial Sect of Wonders. After the Ethereal Mountain Sect’s final decision during the Anti-Celestial Sect War and their impressive performances thereafter, the Celestial Sect of Wonders treated them very well too.
Not only were they rewarded in terms of protection and given valuable resources, the Celestial Sect of Wonders also sent people to test the outstanding successors of the Ethereal Mountain Sect from time to time.
If they were outstanding enough, they could be awarded the opportunity to learn under the Celestial Sect of Wonders. While they might not inherit the mantras of the Celestial Sect, they were still already in a very privileged position. Everyone in the Divine Lands was envious because of this treatment they received. This also further proved that the Ethereal Mountain Sect was a committed follower of the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
Chu Yang entered Tianjing instead of Celestial Sect of Wonders’ disciples. On one hand, this showed the Celestial Sect of Wonders’ unwillingness to interfere in the Great Zhou’s internal affairs. On another hand, it also showed their support for Liang Gan as the new Great Zhou Emperor.
In this way, the Great Zhou Empire would not be destroyed. But it would still depend on Liang Gan and the new Great Zhou Empire officials’ abilities to pacify Shi Zongtang and the Great Qin Empire; they had to negotiate and try to balance the might of the Great Zhou Empire.
Even Chu Yang didn’t interfere in the negotiations as he entered Tianjing.
Even if he was supposed to help Liang Gan and increase the Ethereal Mountain Sect’s influence in the Great Zhou Empire, it was only going to happen after matters had been settled.
It was no longer the same now. This was his decision. Firstly, he took into account the relationship between the Celestial Sect of Wonders and the Ethereal Mountain Sect. Any relationship between the Ethereal Mountain Sect and other powers were less important.
Liang Gan was also clearly aware of this. That’s why he didn’t mind that Chu Yang didn’t contribute as of yet. To him, Chu Yang’s appearance demonstrated the Celestial Sect of Wonders’ attitude, which was already enough for him.
Liang Jingcheng and the Frontier Galleon, who were suppressed by Yue Hongyan and the Saros Magical Tree at the Blizzard County, managed to escape when Yue Hongyan and the Saros Magical Tree protected Zhu Yi as he cultivated his virtual entity.
However, they returned to Tianjing and Liang Jingcheng submitted to Liang Gan even though his cultivation was higher. He became Liang Gan’s subject and the Frontier Galleon was offered to the Great Zhou’s royal family. This enabled the Great Zhou Empire to retain some of its vital energy.
The Celestial Sect of Wonders didn’t exactly monitor how the Great Zhou and Great Qin interacted, how the Great Zhou and other powers got along or how much profits they had to accede. They only had one requirement of the Great Zhou Empire – rebuild the Arctic State.
Lin Feng sat on Mount Yujing above the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree. He was calm as he looked in the eastern direction.
He sat there without doing anything, since his disciples managed everything for him. This was something that he had been anticipating for a long time.
Although he was still far off from dominating the world, this was still a minor experiment that left him pleased.
Lin Feng’s only comment for Zhu Hongwu and Liang Pan, who escaped to the Ying Sea, was that they had chosen the wrong place to abscond to. Even going to the Void Battleground was better than proceeding to the Ying Sea.
Even with Lin Feng’s current cultivation, it wasn’t easy for him to locate anyone in the Void Sea.
Of course, Lin Feng, Zhu Yi, Shi Tianhao and the others would naturally formulate a plan to stop Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu even if they wanted to escape to the Void Sea.
It was very difficult to locate anyone once they entered the Void Sea. But with a foolproof plan and sufficient preparations, it was still possible to stop the other party from entering the Void Sea.
However, Lin Feng knew that Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu were almost unlikely to enter the Void Sea after he learnt that Zhu Hongwu had revealed the Cheng Heaven Great Void Celestial Light.
There was no free lunch in the world. Lin Feng knew clearly after he saw the Cheng Heaven Great Void Celestial Light that the Great Void Sect might be secretly helping the Great Zhou Empire. But it was almost impossible for them to make a move on their own at this period of time.
Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu would walk down the Emperor of the Dead’s path if they entered the Void Sea. It meant that they had to conceal themselves and wait for the proper opportunity before they could strike again.
But this might not be what the Great Void Sect wanted to see.
If they hid in the Void Battleground, it might be difficult for Lin Feng to seek them out. But this would also make it tedious for the Great Void Sect to settle scores with them too.
However, offending both the Celestial Sect of Wonders and Great Void Sect would make them scums just like the Emperor of the Dead. Almost everyone would come for them. It would be too difficult for them to rise again if that happened.
Moreover, Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu would be unable to swallow such a bitter pill, given their characters.
One’s personality decided his destiny. Sometimes, this was true.
If they really had no other way out, then so be it. But Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu might have left backup plans since they possessed the Fangzhang Celestial Mountain before. These backup plans might enable them to find the Fangzhang Celestial Mountain again.
The Ying Sea was shook repeatedly because of the powers of the Death Sea and the Heaven-Destroying Sword. This caused unprecedented transformations. Lin Feng could sense this too. How could he not know what Liang Pan and Zhu Hongwu was plotting as he saw them absconding to the Ying Sea?
The Ying Sea was covered in white clouds at this point. Suddenly, radiances flashed and 2 celestial mountains appeared together.
One of them had a circumference of 4000 miles. It was covered by a huge formation. As space distorted, this formation appeared to be giant tiles that had been fixed together. The formation concealed the celestial mountain, but the spiritual spring of the celestial mountain could be subtly seen from the outside. This was the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain, one of the Three Celestial Mountains of the Ying Sea.
On the main peak of the celestial mountain, there was a tall figure standing. The figure had an appearance that resembled Lin Feng. He seemed to possess an immense strength. He was Lin Feng’s Avatar of Ares.
The other celestial mountain had a circumference of 5000 miles. It was surrounded by a deep blue sea and there was a pavilion erected on the celestial mountain. Clear air could e seen surging out of the mountains, which were covered by radiances. This was the Penglai Celestial Mountain, another one of the Three Celestial Mountains of the Ying Sea.
Everyone knew that the Yingzhou Celestial Mountain landed in Lin Feng and the Celestial Sect of Wonders’ hands after the Scramble for the Ying Sea. Whereas the Great Zhou Empire lost the Fangzhang Celestial Mountain as Lin Feng used the Penglai Celestial Mountain to strike it. Both parties retreated after that.
That’s why everyone reckoned that the Fangzhang Celestial Mountain and Penglai Celestial Mountain were without an owner. Only Lin Feng controlled the Yingzhou Celestial Mountin.
Those who knew the secret of the Penglai Celestial Mountain were only Lin Feng and a few of his disciples. Many of the junior disciples and sect guardians were even unaware.
In the pavilion on the Penglai Celestial Mountain, a giant that was over 9 foot tall sat cross-legged. It was the Nine Qi Avatar that Lin Feng cultivated using the clear air on the Penglai Celestial Mountains.
The expression of the Nine Qi Avatar was very calm. Its gaze moved suddenly, “It seems like there’s really a way of finding the Fangzhang Celestial Mountain.”
He smiled, “Liang Pan, Zhu Hongwu, your idea is there. But the problem is that the both of you possess too little intelligence.”
On Mount Yujing, Lin Feng’s original body also smiled and shook his head. After that, he entered the Heavenly Cosmic Ray World.
Lin Feng’s finger pointed in void space as he sat within the Heavenly Cosmic Ray World. A Taiji Diagram that was a mix of black and white appeared in front of him.
In that Taiji Diagram, there was a human figure seated. The figure wore purple and had long flowing hair. He had the appearance of Lin Feng.
Following that, more and more black and white Taiji Diagrams appeared. Lin Feng’s illusory projection sat in the center of these Taiji Diagrams.
Many Taiji Diagrams revolved around Lin Feng. Lin Feng shut his eyes and meditated himself. As time passed, these Taiji Diagrams all disappeared.
Only one Taiji Diagram above Lin Feng’s head started to take form. Black and white were separated very clearly, as if they were explaining the countless miraculous concepts of the universe.
Lin Feng opened his eyes slowly at this point. He lifted his head to look at the Taiji Diagram. He thought for a long time without speaking.
A huge figure with a silvery, scaly armor and a pair of horns appeared in front of him suddenly. The huge figure was the Thunder Dragon Avatar in its human form.
The Thunder Dragon Avatar let out a roar and revealed its true form. It turned into a silvery white thunder dragon. This dragon faced Lin Feng and didn’t speak.
Time passed slowly as Lin Feng cultivated.
The Greater World outside started to change slowly. But outside of the Ying Sea, things had settled down in the Great Zhou Empire. The Arctic State was rebuilding.
It’s just that the Arctic State underwent a massacre then and its vital energy was greatly hurt. Rebuilding the state required a long time and couldn’t be rushed.
