Influence

In a secret location within the Dongxuan World.

Shaoyan Chou, currently manifesting as the "Blood Demon Celestial," wore a look of fury.

Damn it, to think he actually killed my avatar. Shaoyan Chou was naturally incensed.

First, he killed Celestial Immortal Xuanji, and now his avatar. He clearly didn't hold him in any regard at all.

But.

Endure!

Shaoyan Chou's heart quickly calmed.

When you run into a madman—a madman with unfathomable strength, at that—what other choice is there? You simply have to endure it!

The Three Realms are not peaceful right now. Even if a madman like that is strong, who's to say he'll live longer than me? Shaoyan Chou sneered inwardly.

Based on the information he had gathered, the Six Paths of Reincarnation had been attacked thirty years ago, and in the three decades since, many of the great worlds within the Three Realms had begun to descend into turmoil.

Having lived since the ancient era, how could Shaoyan Chou not understand? It was highly likely that another great tribulation was arriving.

In such a catastrophe, the ability to survive was the only true skill.

And he, Shaoyan Chou, was most adept at preserving his own life.

"No Celestial Immortal of the Shaoyan Clan is to step foot into Anchan Commandery again." Shaoyan Chou quickly relayed this message back to the Shaoyan Clan.

The Celestial Immortals waiting at the Shaoyan Clan finally understood: the one who killed Celestial Immortal Xuanji really was some Empyrean God or True Immortal?

"Sigh, it seems Xuanji's death will just have to go unavenged." The Celestial Immortals sighed in their hearts. They truly didn't know what Xuanji had been thinking to provoke a Empyrean God or True Immortal.

At the same time—

In the Great Xia Capital.

The black-robed Xia Emperor sat upon the throne in Xiamang Hall, his gaze distant as he overlooked the entire capital.

Before long, a Celestial Immortal dressed in bright yellow robes arrived in the great hall. This was Prince Qi, one of the Xia Emperor's most trusted Celestial Immortals. Usually, when the Xia Emperor was in seclusion, Prince Qi managed the vast majority of the Great Xia Dynasty's affairs.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Prince Qi bowed respectfully.

"Prince Qi, have there been any important matters of late?" the Xia Emperor inquired.

"It has been relatively peaceful, but... Celestial Immortal Xuanji of the Shaoyan Clan died in Anchan Commandery a few days ago," Prince Qi reported.

"Oh? Who killed him?"

"It is currently unknown. Furthermore, the Shaoyan Clan has shown no major reaction, clearly choosing to swallow their pride. I suspect the perpetrator might be a Empyrean God or True Immortal." Prince Qi's reply caused the Xia Emperor to frown slightly.

Whoosh!

With a thought, his terrifying mental consciousness—born from a soul nurtured for hundreds of millions of years—was released, instantly enveloping the entire Great Xia World.

Tonghe has yet to break through, so it shouldn't be him.

Could it be an outsider?

Have they left? Or are they hiding? The Xia Emperor pondered silently.

At any other time, he wouldn't care about an outsider Empyrean God or True Immortal, but now was different. Given his status, the Xia Emperor was naturally aware of the current turmoil within the Three Realms.

"Killing a Xuanji doesn't reveal whether they are friend or foe. Let us wait and see." The Xia Emperor didn't dwell on it; having lived for such a long time, he had plenty of patience.

He knew better than anyone that in these special times, where one move could affect the whole, one had to remain composed.

Aside from the annihilation of Celestial Immortal Xuanji, there was no major unrest throughout the Great Xia World.

The Xia Emperor then asked about the Immortal Fate Assembly. Ordinarily, the assembly was not a significant event and was typically presided over by Prince Qi.

However, this time, the Xia Emperor immediately informed Prince Qi that he would preside over the Immortal Fate Assembly personally and increase the rewards a thousandfold, or even a hundredfold.

"A thousandfold?" Prince Qi was shocked.

"His Majesty the Xia Emperor is presiding personally, and the rewards are increased a thousandfold?" Ji Ning, who had just arrived at the Great Xia Capital, quickly learned of the news.

It seems I came to the right place for this Immortal Fate Assembly. Ji Ning became increasingly certain that he had made the right choice.

On the other side, after killing Celestial Immortal Xuanji and Shaoyan Chou's avatar in succession, Zhou Yu understood that the Shaoyan Clan would likely not dare to return to Anchan Commandery for some time.

He did not linger outside, instead returning to the Black-White Academy.

I joined the Black-White Academy for Ji Ning's sake. Now that Ji Ning has left, three million years have passed in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yu stood high above the Black-White Academy, sighing inwardly.

Although Ji Ning was gone, he had long grown accustomed to living in seclusion within the academy and decided to remain there.

However, shortly after Zhou Yu returned to his residence, a figure resembling a young girl in black robes suddenly arrived nearby.

"Disciple Yu Wei requests an audience with Grandmaster Zhou Yu." The figure bowed and spoke in a loud voice.

"Yu Wei?"

Zhou Yu was somewhat surprised.

"Come in."

Zhou Yu spoke, manipulating the formation to create a passage. After Yu Wei stepped inside, she was immediately teleported before him.

"Greetings, Grandmaster." Yu Wei bowed respectfully.

"Yu Wei, you are a reincarnated immortal, are you not? Why have you come to see me?" Zhou Yu asked directly.

"Grandmaster, I wish to ask where Junior Brother Beiming has gone. It seems he left in a hurry after returning to his hometown, yet he never returned to the academy." Yu Wei explained the purpose of her visit.

Zhou Yu understood immediately; she had indeed come for Ji Ning.

Because he had taken Ji Ning as his disciple, some things had changed. Ji Ning had not ended up with Jiu Lian, but it seemed Yu Wei had still secretly fallen for him, to the point where she was now coming directly to him to inquire about Ji Ning's whereabouts.

"As for Ji Ning's personal affairs, it is better to let him choose for himself," Zhou Yu thought for a moment before saying, "I sent Ji Ning to the Great Xia Capital to participate in the upcoming Immortal Fate Assembly."

"The Immortal Fate Assembly?" Yu Wei was slightly startled. She replied, "Thank you for informing me, Grandmaster."

"Mm, you may go."

Zhou Yu nodded, saying nothing more.

Time flowed on, and half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Although Zhou Yu remained in Anchan Commandery, he had channels for news regarding the Great Xia Capital; after all, Ji Ning and many other disciples from the Black-White Academy had gone there.

"In the end, Ji Ning still ended up with Yu Wei. Fortunately, he also took first place in the Immortal Fate Assembly," Zhou Yu sighed inwardly.

"The good news is that Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor still hasn't taken a liking to Ji Ning, and Ji Ning went missing after the Immortal Fate Assembly." Zhou Yu nodded secretly; it seemed Patriarch Bodhi had indeed taken notice of Ji Ning.

In truth, Zhou Yu had considered going to the Immortal Fate Assembly in person to display his "power of time and space."

If he had done so, Patriarch Bodhi might very well have taken him in as well. After all, in the entire Three Realms, there were currently only four people capable of controlling the power of time and space: Patriarch Bodhi, Zhou Yu, and two other True Gods.

If he could have a master with the strength of a leader as his backing, he would be much safer in the Three Realms. Furthermore, if nothing else, his reincarnation would be absolutely foolproof.

Upon reaching the level of a Dao Ancestor, one could create their own small-scale reincarnation cycles, and Dao Ancestors also possessed the means to instantly awaken the memories of one's past life.

But in the end, Zhou Yu gave up on the idea. Many things were simply too difficult to explain. Even if he claimed to be a reincarnated Empyrean God or True Immortal, who was he before his reincarnation?

In the current climate of the Three Realms, it was unlikely that Patriarch Bodhi would trust him unconditionally.

"With my current strength, as long as I don't keep too low a profile in the Three Realms, I don't need to worry too much."

"For now, I will accumulate my strength. Once I reincarnate in the future, that is when I will truly soar."

Zhou Yu did not dwell on it further.

Just like the conflict with the Shaoyan Clan, he had acted casually and forced them to never dare appear in Anchan Commandery again. With such strength, he could indeed simply focus on his cultivation with peace of mind.