Failure (Bonus Chapter, Seeking Subscriptions)

Qi Refining Path.

??9

Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

Shang Family Island.

"Alas—storm clouds are gathering."

Inside the Octagonal Merchant Tower, Shang Kongzhen frowned and set down the top-secret jade slip he had just received.

As he pondered the intelligence within, even he, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator, felt a chill run through his heart.

"Black Flame Old Monster and Lady Guo battled in the Orchid Heart Sea Region, and the aftershocks along the way destroyed seven spirit islands—"

"The Windbreak Bandits have reappeared—they have plundered thirteen ports and a great number of merchant ships—chaos reigns everywhere, and aside from a few main routes, nearly all trade routes have been cut off—"

Having risen through commerce, the Shang Family naturally loathed disorderly chaos.

If those were merely minor troubles, then the intelligence that followed left Shang Kongzhen sitting on pins and needles.

"After so many years, Water Moon Palace and Thunder Sound Temple have finally yielded a result. The Grand Palace Master's and Dragon Tree Holy Monk's attempts at Spirit Transformation must have failed—at the very least, no Spirit Transformation heavenly tribulation was triggered—"

A Spirit Transformation heavenly tribulation was not something that could be concealed by formations like a mere Core Formation tribulation. There was no such thing as secretly advancing.

"After Talisman Sword Island was breached, Heavenly Mechanism Sect and Four Seas Sect have likewise been tossed by wind and rain—they suspect that a great cultivator secretly made a move—"

"I must report this to the ancestor."

Holding the jade slip, Shang Kongzhen left the Octagonal Merchant Tower and made his way deep into Shang Family Island.

After passing through layer upon layer of restrictions, he arrived before a small octagonal building and respectfully bowed. "Kongzhen requests an audience with the ancestor—"

After waiting a while longer, two