A city on the border where Maijing Prefecture and Qingchu Prefecture met!
This place was a vital passage leading out from the Eight Direct Prefectures. In ordinary times, people flowed through it constantly, and it bustled with life.
But today, a brutal battle had erupted. Blood, fire, smoke, dust, and killing intent surged skyward; no beasts roamed the ground, and birds scattered in terror from the heavens.
The defenders were the Zhou Clan Western Sect's forces relocating north, while the attackers came from a far more complicated mix.
There were remnants of old factions that had "returned to righteousness" overnight across various lands, envoys dispatched by the capital, and local powers that had traveled thousands of miles to the capital to "protect the throne."
Zhou Daqian had gone from the Sealed Lord's right-hand man to a rebel, and the capital had called upon heroes throughout the realm to punish him.
As the saying went, when the wall collapsed, everyone shoved it. The Zhou Clan Western Sect's former splendor—flowers piled upon brocade, oil poured upon blazing fire—collapsed in an instant and plummeted beyond recovery.
Zhu Ruoxuan led Zhou Xin and several other illegitimate sons along one route, withdrawing north. With the Aged Grandmaster's assistance, Zhu Qinghua took the legitimate son, Zhou Ding, south toward Lihuo Prefecture.
Following Zhou You's decision, from this day onward, the Zhou Clan Western Sect of the capital's Left Residence would cease to exist. It would instead split into two branches: one would shelter in the north as the Zhou Family of Northern Profound Prefecture, while the other would seek refuge with Zhou Nanwang of Lihuo Prefecture and continue the ancient inheritance of the Zhou bloodline.
According to the original plan, Zhou You would attend a banquet at the Imperial Palace of Heaven Worship and draw attention,