The East Sea changed, and Sea Demons appeared.
Central Province had been peaceful for years, but after it fractured, it could no longer keep those restless forces in check.
More than a decade ago, traces of sea-dwelling beasts had begun appearing near the Southern Heaven Continent. Lately, they had grown more numerous and less inclined to hold back.
During its latest sea patrol, the Zhou Family had encountered a sudden attack by a swarm of Sea Demons.
Few high-level experts had been stationed there. Caught by surprise, every major family had inevitably suffered heavy losses.
The Zhou Family was no exception.
Seven Foundation Establishment True Cultivators and more than thirty Qi Refinement Cultivators had died in battle.
For a Zhou Family still rebuilding, it was a crushing blow.
A pall had hung over the family for days. As the funerals went on, weeping and wailing lingered deep into the quiet nights.
In the council hall, an angry voice suddenly exploded.
"Bastard! Who told you to tell him about his parents' deaths so bluntly three days ago?"
Zhou Junxiao, the current family head, glared at the woman before him.
Zhou Shuzhen looked puzzled. "Second Brother, what's wrong with that? Zhou Fuyou has always been known for his precocity, and he's the only pillar Bo Han's household has left. It was only natural for me to tell him, wasn't it?"
"You followed the proper procedure, but..." Zhou Junxiao shook his head, still dissatisfied. "He's only a child!"
Zhou Shuzhen parted her red lips, momentarily stunned.
To outsiders, Zhou Fuyou's early growth made it hard to see him as a child his own age. He looked almost like an ordinary adolescent. His mature way of speaking made his age even easier to forget.
When she had notified the loved ones of each fallen