Chapter 250: Chapter 150: Guzhu True Monarch

At the moment the Fake Pill elder merged into the array base, a hundred miles away, Li Jizhou raised his eyebrows slightly, clearly recognizing this person.

It was the Second Elder of the Liu family, Liu Yuxiu, who, fifty years ago, conspired with the Lord of Thousand Islands to lay a killing array in the Sea Domain of the Five Elders Association.

Later, when the Liu family fled to the Chu Kingdom, Li Jizhou once forcibly seized their array inheritance using the might of Master Han’s True Core, hence meeting him again.

Among the five in front, Li Jizhou recognized three people.

Liu Yuxiu was one,

the Liu family patriarch Liu Zhengfeng was the second,

and what surprised Li Jizhou the most was the woman named Hong Ling.

“So that’s how it is!”

“She turned out to have the legendary Earth Spirit Master talent.”

“No wonder, no wonder!”

At this moment, Li Jizhou suddenly understood.

Back then, he planned to sneak in and steal the array inheritance while the Liu family was on the brink of destruction, but just as the Liu family was about to fall, a terrifying force erupted from heaven and earth.

Without any hesitation, he fled rapidly.

He didn’t understand what it was at the time.

Now he realized it was her!

He remembered the first time he saw her, she was on the verge of death, and he didn’t even spare her a glance.

“Awoo~”

“Yanzhi!”

Just then, seeing the six-legged turtle slowing down, Liu Yanzhi, in the Early Stage of Core Formation, entered the array trying to subdue it,

but as soon as he entered the array, the six-legged turtle suddenly became fierce again, even more fierce than before.

“It’s a trap, this beast isn’t stupid. Yanzhi, get out quickly!” Liu Zhengfeng shouted.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yanzhi looked determined, gritting his teeth, “We can’t let it go, or Second Granduncle would have died in vain. If Aunt misses this chance to advance, she may never have another chance in her life, and all the hardships our Liu family endured would be for nothing!”

“Nonsense, get out quickly. With you here, there’s hope for our Liu family, don’t act rashly!” Liu Zhengfeng urgently exclaimed.

Liu Hongling also turned pale instantly, forming hand seals even faster, her voice tinged with tears, “Yanzhi, hurry out, Aunt’s talent is insufficient, she’s wasted too much of the family’s effort. If something happens to you, even if Aunt advances to Tier Three Earth Spirit Master, she’d never forgive herself for life, please, get out!”

But before she finished her words.

“Pfft~” Liu Yanzhi was struck by a water sword spat out by the spirit turtle, shattering his protective magical shield, sending him flying backward, spurting a mouthful of blood mist.

And the spirit turtle didn’t pause at all. As the water sword shot out, it lunged forward, its seemingly small mouse-like head opening a huge bloody mouth, very frightening!

Undoubtedly, another bite, and Liu Yanzhi would be swallowed by the turtle.

“Yanzhi!” The three outside the array cried out in despair.

“Whoosh~”

Just at their moment of despair, a sound of air breaking was heard.

A flying sword pierced through the six-legged turtle, nailing it to the ground, keeping it from moving an inch.

Its bloody mouth stopped suddenly, only a finger’s width away from Liu Yanzhi.

“Wicked beast, how dare you harm people!” a stern voice followed.

Until Master Huangshi flew into midair, the three on the ground, along with the ashen-faced Liu Yanzhi within the array, suddenly looked up.

“Thank you, senior, thank you, senior!”

“Your great kindness and virtue, the Liu family shall never forget.”

…

Watching the four desperately kowtow with all their strength, Li Jizhou nodded slightly.

“It’s nothing. Meeting is destiny, I cannot bear to see you harmed by demon beasts.”

“Senior’s life-saving grace shall not be forgotten. May I ask for your honorific title, so that the Liu family can pass down today’s grace for generations, forever grateful!” Liu Yanzhi immediately bowed solemnly again, hurriedly speaking.

However, before Li Jizhou could respond, his grandfather Liu Zhengfeng quickly spoke again, “The Liu family has always remembered the kindness received for a thousand years, may I ask where senior is headed, so that upon return to the Holy City today, we can prepare a generous gift to express our appreciation.”

Li Jizhou smiled slightly, feeling a bit more respect for Liu Zhengfeng.

Liu Yanzhi, being young, only promised vague and intangible repayment, whereas Liu Zhengfeng, the elder, was much more practical.

However, he wasn’t doing this for anyone’s repayment.

It was just to find a guide to take him to the Holy City.

And perhaps also to settle the karma from forcibly taking the array inheritance back then.

“There’s no need,” Li Jizhou, under the guise of Master Huangshi, responded. “I came from Yan Kingdom to take refuge, yet to find a place of cultivation.”

Upon hearing Li Jizhou’s words, Liu Zhengfeng was overjoyed.

“Senior, I am Liu Zhengfeng, and we have been living in this area for over thirty years, fairly familiar with the nearby regions. I boldly invite senior to travel with us back to the Holy City!”

In recent years, many cultivators have come to the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp from both Yan Kingdom and Qi Kingdom.

Those from Qi Kingdom mostly came because the Spirit Veins in Qi Kingdom have depleted, leaving them unable to cultivate, and unable to safely cross the Purple Vine Mountain Range to reach Yan Kingdom,

While on the northwest border of Qi Kingdom, beside the Purple Vine Mountain Range, there happens to be a narrow path with sparse Spiritual Qi, leading to the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp without encountering High-Tier Demon Beasts.

The Liu family came to the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp through this path back then.

They also encountered many cultivators from Yan Kingdom over the years, roughly aware of the Demon Sect matter.

Thus, Liu Zhengfeng had no doubt about Li Jizhou’s words.

The sword Li Jizhou used was actually shot by the Ghost Shadow.

The Ghost Shadow, a Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet, made a strike with the Late Stage of Core Formation’s might, naturally causing Liu Zhengfeng to regard Master Huangshi as a powerful figure with hidden Late Stage of Core Formation abilities.

“Oh? How is the Spiritual Qi in your Holy City area? How far is it from here?” Li Jizhou asked casually without revealing his intentions.

“In response to senior, our clansmen reside in Guzhu Holy City, a thousand li south from here. The entire city has Tier Three Spiritual Qi, with a Tier Four Spirit Gathering Array set near the City Lord’s Mansion, at least Tier Four Middle Grade Spiritual Qi. If senior can join the City Lord’s Mansion, you might even have the qualification to set up a Spirit Gathering Array in your own place.” Liu Zhengfeng eagerly introduced.

“Guzhu City! Tier Three… qualification to set up a Spirit Gathering Array…” Li Jizhou pondered slightly.

He was not considering other aspects, just pondering the information within Liu Zhengfeng’s words.

From his words, it seemed in Guzhu City, setting up a Spirit Gathering Array required the City Lord’s Mansion’s approval.

A little thought made it understandable; without Spirit Veins, Spiritual Qi here was dispersed in the air. If everyone gathered Spiritual Qi without restraint, conflicts would certainly arise.

As for Guzhu City, it was also in the database of information he prepared, originally a planned temporary cultivation ground.

Moreover, it was highly likely to be the headquarters of the Wuxiang Sect within the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp.

Records indicate that Guzhu City changed hands several times over the millennia, the most recent being eight hundred years ago when Guzhu True Monarch led a group of Loose Cultivators to overthrow the ruling Profound Nether Sect, renaming the city to Guzhu City.

Li Jizhou had collected substantial information on Guzhu True Monarch, though mainly regarding his activities and path after arriving in the swamp.

As to where he came from? Why he came?

Mostly speculations suggested he was originally a true disciple from a Sacred Land in the Central Domain of Eastern Desolation, chased and hunted by his master for having an affair with the master’s wife, finally hiding in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp.

Others said he was originally a prince from a dynastic state in Central State, lost in a power struggle among royal siblings and fled here.

Even more extravagant tales claimed he was a half-breed born from a union of Demon and Human cultivators in the Southern Domain…

Li Jizhou didn’t pay much mind to these speculations.

What he cared about was Guzhu True Monarch’s journey. He endured countless hardships, surviving alone in the cracks, ultimately shaping a Life Magical Artifact from a mysterious Spiritual Bamboo, nurturing it for hundreds of years, finally achieving a Fourth Grade Spiritual Treasure.

With this Life Spiritual Treasure, even in the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul, he could suppress the two great leaders of the Profound Nether Sect, who were in the same stage, ultimately taking control of Guzhu City!

After ruling Guzhu City, he changed the oppressive policies of the Profound Nether Sect, especially treating all Loose Cultivators fleeing from various realms with leniency.

This was the fundamental reason why Li Jizhou initially decided to go to Guzhu City.

Compared to other documented Sacred Cities occupied by various heretics and Evil Cultivators, even if some Sacred Cities were completely free, allowing all sorts of activities within, Li Jizhou still felt more secure among decent cultivators.

At least their actions are traceable. Whatever the conflicts of interest, love, or hate, one can foreseeably mitigate some risks in advance.

As for whether Wuxiang Sect’s headquarters was indeed located there, he wasn’t particularly concerned.

Whether it was or wasn’t, he wouldn’t be contacting them.

Who knows if the news about him crafting Tier Three Advanced Level Celestial Thunder Talismans was due to a traitor within the Righteous Army.

“In that case, I suppose I could accompany you on a trip,” Li Jizhou nodded and agreed to Liu Zhengfeng’s request.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep