(PS: I apologise for today's update being a little late.
At the same time, there is only one update today. The one that is owed will be made up for tomorrow.
I am about to reach a major event which I need to seriously ponder over.
I will definitely not go back on my word. You can all rest easy.)
Having left the southern Blazing Heaven Territory and headed for the central Jun Heaven Territory, the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen had finally returned to Phoenix Ritual Mountain's Wutong Slope after being gone for eight or nine years.
For mortals, their lifespans were merely a hundred years. Eight or nine years was already not a short period of time.
However, for experts with high cultivation bases, they might very well enter secluded cultivation for more than ten years in a single time.
The last time the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen had entered secluded cultivation, close to twenty years had passed.
It was just that there had never been a time where Zhuang Shen felt as though things had remained the same, but people had changed.
Currently, he was seated on the main seat of the great hall, gazing unblinkingly at those of his lineage before him.
Zhuang Shen's appearance had not changed in the least as compared to that year.
He was still lean and rather handsome as he looked to be in his thirties. His snow-white hair was combed into a simple bun.
However, looking at everyone before him, Zhuang Shen's expression was heavy.
His in-laws, his junior apprentice-brother 'Blazing King' Peng He, was nowhere to be seen.
While their relationship was not as close as Peng He's, his senior apprentice-brother 'Treasured Branch Suppressing Peak' Zhang Shuren who he trusted greatly was also nowhere to be seen.
The disciple he valued the most, the one he had painstakingly groomed, 'Phoenix Pupils' Yuan Xiancheng, was also nowhere to be seen.
Apart from that, there were many others of Wutong Slope who would never be able to appear in this great hall ever again.
Finally, there was also his own son, Zhuang Chaohui …
Zhuang Shen looked at the desolate hall before him, not speaking for a long time.
A middle-aged man in the garb of a Confucian scholar said, "Senior apprentice-brother Zhang and junior apprentice-brother Peng are no longer here. The southeast is powerful. We can only defend Phoenix Ritual Mountain and await your return, senior apprentice-brother Zhuang."
Looking at that middle-aged Confucian, Zhuang Shen said slowly, "It has been hard on you, junior apprentice-brother Mao."
The middle-aged Confucian lowered his head, saying, "Chief, please make a decision."
This person was naturally the sole surviving bigwig of Phoenix Ritual Mountain's Wutong Slope, 'Phoenix Crying Southern Territory' Mao Yuansheng alongside Peng He and Zhang Shuren.
He and Peng He had come from the same lineage as the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen.
Several hundred years ago, when the previous generation was in charge of Fengyi Mountain and Zhuang Shen's master was in charge, Mao Yuansheng was actually the most valued successor.
At that time, compared to Zhuang Shen, their master had always favored Mao Yuansheng. He had even wanted Mao Yuansheng to take over his legacy and take over Wutong Slope.
But later on, Zhuang Shen, who was relatively ordinary in his youth, grew stronger and stronger, and finally overtook him.
. time, time, time. time. time, Zhuang time, Him.
Time time time time time. time. time. time, time, "
However, it was also true that Phoenix Ritual Mountain's Wutong Slope's lineage had flourished in his hands, and the Phoenix True Form Scroll had become even more complete and profound.
Later on, when Zhuang Shen ascended to the Mortal Exalt realm, Fengyi Mountain also reached the peak of its history.
Shuren had for for for for for for time, and Huang God Time,,, Mountain Zeng Mountain, to the Human Zhang Time time time time on time to time time on. on time.
Zhang Time. time. on time Time. am. under time time time. time time time. time. time, time time time time, Zt for time..
. "If it really was a tough job, Zhuang Shen's most valued disciple, Yuan Xiancheng, would not have accompanied him.
When Zhuang Shen had left for the central Jun Heaven Territory, it had been the 'Blazing King' Peng He who had stood guard over Phoenix Ritual Mountain's Wutong Slope.
Ever since that year, Mao Yuansheng himself had actually kept a low profile.
The 'Phoenix Crying Southern Territory' of the past seemed rather undeserving of its name now.
This time, it was only after Zhang Time and Peng He had perished that Mao Yuansheng had returned to Wutong Slope to manage the situation.
As an expert of Wutong Slope who was second only to Zhuang Shen, Mao Yuansheng had instead kept an even lower profile.
"Make a decision?" Zhuang Shen's expression was calm, no ripples visible on it at all. Still, all the Wutong Slope martial practitioners present felt as though the entire world they were in seemed to be ablaze.
Before them, a fiery phoenix flapped its wings and cried. Still, tears of blood were clearly flowing from its eyes.
Seeing the illusion of the phoenix weeping blood, everyone, Mao Yuansheng included, fell silent out of fear.
As the illusion vanished, Zhuang Shen remained expressionless, his emotions seemingly having not fluctuated in the least.
Still, everyone knew that that illusory scene just now was actually the true expression of Zhuang Shen's inner thoughts.
"A total of thirty seven people of my Wutong Slope died at the hands of that scum surnamed Yan."
Zhuang Shen stood up, "Amongst them were two late Immortal Bridge Martial Saints, the disciple I am most proud of and the most outstanding descendant of our sect's younger generation. There was also my own son."
He looked at Mao Yuansheng, "If I do not return this time, junior apprentice-brother Mao, you will take over as Chief."
Mao Yuansheng lowered his head, "I am willing to follow senior apprentice-brother as we head to the southeast together."
"What are you saying?" Zhuang Shen frowned, "The lineage of our sect cannot be broken."
Mao Yuansheng raised his head, looking at Zhuang Shen.
Zhuang Shen said, "Regardless of how Xiancheng and the others died, the truth is that they all perished at Circumference Mountain."
"While I have returned, Cao Jie has returned as well. If we battle at Circumference Mountain, the outcome will be hard to predict."
Mao Yuansheng was silent for a moment before he said, "Then, senior apprentice-brother, why must you …"
Zhuang Shen said calmly, "In order to take revenge for Master that year, I dared to battle a ninth level Martial Saint as a seventh level Martial Saint."
"Now that I am in charge of the south, could it be that the older one is, the more cowardly they become?"
Mao Yuansheng was silent for a while before he said, "Is this why you are 'Phoenix Soaring the Nine Heavens' while I am only 'Phoenix Crying Southern Territory'?"
"I may die earlier than you," Zhuang Shen said mildly, "While I am stronger than you, there are others who are stronger than me."
"Still, do not think that I have been blinded by rage. I am calmer than I have ever been."
"Revenge at all costs. Revenge comes first, then at all costs."
Hearing Zhuang Shen's words, the spirits of Mao Yuansheng and the other Wutong Slope martial practitioners rose slightly.
Now, the space outside of Wutong Mountain shook like ripples on water.
A figure walked out from within.
His arrival did not alarm anyone of Wutong Slope as only Zhuang Shen sensed it, "Brother Lang has arrived. Zhuang Shen apologises for not welcoming you earlier."
"Brother Lang? Lang … "Hearing this, Mao Yuansheng and the others were all taken aback before they rejoiced," The Western Exalt has arrived? "
Zhuang Shen said mildly, "Even without the matter of Chaohui and Xiancheng, I have invited Brother Lang to my Wutong Slope as a guest to discuss the matter of conquering the southeast."
Amidst his words, a middle-aged man walked in, "Brother Zhuang, I have heard about the matter. My condolences."
Seeing him, the Wutong Slope martial practitioners all bowed, "Greetings, Western Exalt."
The person who had come was none other than the lord of the western Turtle Heaven Territory, the Chief of Nongli Mountain, the Western Exalt Lang Qing.
"Since Brother Lang already knows, I will speak no further," Zhuang Shen said, "I wonder if Brother Lang can lend me a hand?"
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