Inside the time tunnel, the light is dazzling and colorful, and there is no sense of time passing.
Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Ten years later, Zhang Yu finally returned to the Li Family Ancestral Land.
Zhang Yu was about to say a few words when he was interrupted by a sudden, sharp movement at his waist.
It was his jade communication Jade Token that was glowing.
Zhang Yu's heart skipped a beat. This Jade Token belonged to him from his early years, and he didn't have many people he could directly contact.
He immediately channeled his Divine Sense to investigate—
"Zhang Yu, help... Xiao Xuan."
The message was extremely brief, even somewhat disjointed, clearly sent under extremely urgent circumstances.
It's Xiao Xuan!
"Looks like we've run into trouble!"
Zhang Yu's face instantly darkened.
"What's wrong, Brother Yu?"
What happened?
Seeing Zhang Yu's expression change drastically and his breathing become unsteady, Zhou Hengliang quickly asked with concern.
Zhang Yu took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
Ten years have passed since I last returned; everything has changed, and I must first understand the external landscape.
Instead of acting rashly, he immediately issued an urgent summons to Li Yuansheng:
"Yuansheng, come to my secluded meditation room immediately. I have important matters to discuss with you. Do it now!"
The voice entered Li Yuansheng's mind directly as he was discussing matters in the core area of the Li Family compound, carrying an undeniable urgency.
The Li Family Ancestral Land, the core meeting hall.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Li Yuansheng sat upright in the main seat, his brows furrowed.
Below, to the left and right, sit the three remaining Progenitor of the Li Family — Li Tian, Li Di, and Li Ren.
Although the three had recovered some of their strength, a lingering worry remained between their brows.
In addition, there were two other guests – Zhou Wentao, the sect Sect Master of the Soul Refining Sect, and Xia Hongjue, the Grand Elder.
And... sitting below, Zhang Lingyun, dressed in an elegant long dress, exuding a cool and aloof air, yet revealing an undisguised concern and anxiety.
Ten years have passed, and the Li Family has established a connection with the Soul Refining Sect. Currently, all of Zhang Yu's forces are united.
Upon learning that Zhang Yu was "in seclusion" at the Li Family Ancestral Land, Zhang Lingyun and the others took the initiative to come to him.
Li Yuansheng and the others knew that Zhang Yu had a close relationship with the Soul Refining Sect, and that his attitude towards Zhang Lingyun was particularly subtle. Therefore, they treated the members of the Soul Refining Sect with great courtesy and often invited them to attend important discussions.
"... The Primal Origin Divine Dynasty has been colluding with the Confucianism for a long time, and its military might has swept across the world. Hundreds of large states in the southwest have also been occupied by them."
According to the latest intelligence, Yuhua Prefecture... has likely fallen.
Shadow Kill reported in a deep voice that he was in charge of the Li Family's intelligence network and was relatively well-informed.
"Yuhua Prefecture?"
Zhang Lingyun's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
Xiao Fenghua, Xiao Meier, and the Wei royal family... they're all there!
Old Li shook his head silently, his voice hoarse:
"The master secluded himself for ten years, and there has been no news of him since."
Many important matters are difficult for us to decide, and we dare not act rashly.
Li Yuansheng rubbed his temples, his face showing exhaustion and anxiety.
"Yes, with our Lord gone, we are as if we have lost our backbone."
The outside world is in turmoil, with major powers being reshuffled, and the Qianyuan and Confucianism schools of thought emerging with great momentum.
Really..."
Just as everyone was frowning in worry--
"Our master has emerged from seclusion!"
Li Yuansheng suddenly stood up from his seat, his face instantly filled with ecstasy. Zhang Yu's familiar yet urgent voice echoed in his mind.
"What?
Has Zhang Yu emerged from seclusion?
Zhang Lingyun almost simultaneously fell silent, then suddenly stood up, her beautiful eyes bursting with astonishing brilliance, her previous worries dispelled by immense joy.
The three Old Ancestor, Li Tian, Li Di, and Li Ren, as well as Zhou Wentao and Xia Hongjue, were all invigorated, as if they had found their backbone.
"Go quickly and pay your respects to the lord."
Li Yuansheng dared not delay, immediately rose, and led the group, transforming into streaks of light, straight towards the mountain peak where Zhang Yu's secluded meditation chamber was located.
"Zhang Yu!" Zhang Lingyun was the first to rush forward, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Yu, looking him up and down as if to make sure he was alright.
Seeing the undisguised concern and affection in Zhang Lingyun's eyes, Zhang Yu felt a warmth in his heart, but this was not the time to reminisce.
He nodded slightly to Zhang Lingyun and the others, his tone steady. "Gentlemen, it's been a long time."
His gaze immediately fell on Zhang Lingyun, carrying a hint of inquiry, but also an undeniable solemnity:
"Lingyun, I just came out of seclusion and received an urgent message."
How is the Wei Kingdom now?
Seeing Zhang Yu's solemn expression and urgent tone, Zhang Lingyun immediately realized the seriousness of the matter.
She suppressed her excitement and quickly and concisely recounted the discussion that had just taken place in the council chamber:
"The world's landscape has changed dramatically. The Primal Origin Divine Dynasty, in alliance with the Confucianism school, has occupied nearly a quarter of the world's territory. Its military might is at its peak, and it is invincible."
The Yuhua Prefecture you're concerned about... According to the latest intelligence, it was captured by the allied forces of the Qianyuan and Confucianism three months ago.
"Yuhua Prefecture has been occupied... No wonder..."
Zhang Yu's heart sank.
Xiao Xuan's distress message was indeed sent at the most critical moment.
The small territory of the Wei Kingdom, facing the combined might of the Primal Origin Divine Dynasty and the Confucianism, would likely struggle to mount even a semblance of resistance.
He immediately thought of another key figure— Zhang Qingyue.
She had a blood feud with the Wei royal family.
Zhang Qingyue is now within the Confucianism camp.
Zhang Yu spoke in a deep voice, as if stating a fact, or perhaps confirming it.
"That's right."
Zhang Lingyun nodded, then seemed to remember something, a complex emotion flashing in her beautiful eyes, and her tone carrying a hint of bitterness:
"What, are you worried about your two... little lovers in the Wei Kingdom?"
She was naturally referring to Xiao Fenghua and Xiao Meier.
Zhang Yu was too preoccupied to notice the sour undertone in Zhang Lingyun's words.
Although he had physical intimacy with Xiao Fenghua and Xiao Meier, their relationship was complex.
"It seems I'll have to make a trip to Yuhua Prefecture myself."
Zhang Yu made his decision, his tone resolute.
"I knew you'd say that."
Zhang Lingyun pursed her lips.
"The situation is urgent, we can't worry about anything else right now."
Zhang Yu spoke firmly, then looked at everyone and quickly gave instructions:
"Yuan Sheng, the three Old Ancestor, Sect Master Wen Tao, Elder Xia, I thank you all for your hard work during the ten years I was away."
However, I'll need to trouble you for a while longer.
His gaze swept over Li Tian and the others, finally landing on Zhang Lingyun, with a hint of apology and entrustment. "Lingyun, please take good care of him for me."
He pointed to Zhou Hengliang beside him, who looked bewildered and full of curiosity about everything around him:
"This is my good brother, Zhou Hengliang."
He's new here, so please take good care of him, show him around, and... please be careful.
Zhang Lingyun glanced at Zhou Hengliang, somewhat curious about this brother of Zhang Yu who had suddenly appeared, but didn't ask any further questions.
"Etc!"
Li Yuansheng hurriedly said, "Master, this journey is dangerous. Should we take some men with us?"
"No need."
Zhang Yu shook his head. "A large number of people makes us a bigger target, which makes us easier to expose."
It's more convenient for me to act alone. Besides...
With a thought, a blurry figure, almost blending into the surrounding shadows, silently appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee, its voice hoarse and low. "My lord."
It was none other than Shadow Kill Assassin, the former top intelligence chief of the Sacred Dragon Divine Dynasty, who had been secretly infiltrating and gathering intelligence after being subdued by Zhang Yu!
"The intelligence network of the Li Family and the Soul Refining Sect is still shallow, and its penetration into the Qianyuan and Confucianism schools is limited."
Having operated within the Sacred Dragon Divine Dynasty for many years, Shadow Kill must have a deeper understanding of various forces, especially the Primal Origin Divine Dynasty, and a hidden network of relationships.
This journey is fraught with danger, and we need him to guide us and gather information.
Zhang Yu explained.
Seeing that Zhang Yu had already made arrangements and had considered everything carefully, the others said no more.
Zhang Yu nodded to everyone, then gave Zhang Lingyun and Zhou Hengliang a final, deep look before making no further hesitation.
"Shadow Kill, come with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, he and Shadow Kill transformed into two streaks of light, barely visible to the naked eye, soaring into the sky and disappearing instantly outside the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation of the Li Family Ancestral Land, speeding towards Yuhua Prefecture.