A thunderstorm and heavy rain washed the world clean, revealing a new landscape.
Upon arriving at the Iron Family Main Island, the Divination Immortal saw Long Daozhi's corpse. After a long silence, he sighed, "It was fate, it was destiny."
"The death of Master Daozhi is my fault, and I am in unbearable pain." Tie Ao's face was pale, no longer showing his former glory, and he looked like he was seriously ill. The triple blow of love, the failed surprise attack, and the loss of Long Daozhi had made him seem like a different person.
"The death of Dao Zhi is like losing my left arm. The fall of my generals is like losing my right arm. I am now a crippled man without either arm or wing. The Iron Family is a target of envy and slander; once the battle report is released, there will surely be villains who will take advantage of my misfortune. Sir, for the sake of the deceased Long Daozhi, I beg you to lend me a hand!"
Tie Ao's face showed pain and genuine emotion. As he spoke, he bowed deeply to the Divination Immortal.
The Divination Immortal did not answer, but silently observed Tie Ao.
The golden pagoda above his head still exuded a continuous aura of good fortune, indicating that his future remained bright.
Looking at his expression and face, his pale complexion resembled that of a patient recovering from a serious illness, giving him a frail appearance. However, it was indeed a deep sorrow and pain from the bottom of his heart.
The Divination Immortal couldn't help but ask, "I already know the whole story. Young Master Tie Ao, do you still have any feelings for Red-Robed Fairy?"
Tie Ao paused for a moment, then sighed deeply, saying, "This ordeal was like a sudden blow to the head. Looking back now, all my previous actions seem rather naive. Although some longing still lingers in my heart, it's now faint and much calmer."
"Hmm..." The Divination Immortal nodded, offering no comment aloud, but pondering to himself, "Only a fine stone can be polished into a bright moon. Through this ordeal, Tie Ao's character has truly matured. He had some flaws before, but now he is a great ruler. However, the price of this growth is far too high."
"Sir..." Tie Ao cast an expectant glance his way. Long Daozhi had said more than once that his teacher was unfathomable, and that he had only learned one-tenth of his teacher's skills. Although he had lost Long Daozhi, the addition of the Divination Immortal could be considered a blessing in disguise.
However, what the Divination Immortal said next greatly disappointed Tie Ao.
"I'm used to a life of leisure and wandering. I've only come to see my disciple one last time before I leave. Young Master Tie Ao, take care."
Tie Ao couldn't help but shout, "Although Master Long Daozhi died at the hands of my Iron Family, the real cause was the Shu Family Island where Chu Yun was located. Doesn't Master want to avenge his disciple?"
The Divination Immortal shook his head. " Long Daozhi, this child, comes from a poor background but is exceptionally intelligent. I originally intended to cultivate him and pass on all my knowledge to him. However, he was not born with the detached, indifferent nature of a fortune teller. He yearns to end the chaos of the world and create a peaceful All-Star Archipelago. Therefore, he abandoned his apprenticeship halfway and chose you. Alas, so be it. For Long Daozhi's heart, I will give you three brocade pouches."
" Ingenious Strategy Pouch?" Tie Ao quickly took the three pouches.
"That's right. The Ingenious Strategy Pouch' originated from our ancestor, Marquis Baiguang Guanghou, Divination Immortal. It's a special little Demon Weapon that can automatically generate brilliant strategies based on reality. You can open it and take a look when you're feeling most difficult." After explaining, the diviner left Tie Family Island despite Tie Ao's earnest attempts to persuade him to stay.
"One portion of the Demon-Suppressing Tower's fortune is still not enough. We have to consider both Tie Ao's personal strength and the entire Iron Family's power. It would be better if we were dealing with someone else. But dealing with Chu Yun..." In the darkness, the Divination Immortal glanced back at the Iron Family's sea area, his thoughts turning to Chu Yun's fortune.
"The bowl in the Dragon Wish Tree, if I'm not mistaken, should belong to the Star Saint. Although the Star Saint possesses many lucky demonic objects, no one can have too much luck. How could he have left this bowl in the mortal world? Could it be that the Saint is orchestrating this? I'd better stay out of it."
With a soft sigh, the Divination Immortal walked across the starry night sky. He didn't linger any longer, deciding to leave this place of trouble behind and head straight out of the All-Star Archipelago.
The truth cannot be hidden forever, especially such a significant event as the defeat of the Iron Family, which simply could not be concealed.
In just three days, the Iron Family launched a surprise attack on the Shu Clan's main island, only to suffer a crushing defeat and lose more than a dozen generals. The news that their strategist, Long Daozhi, had died as a result spread throughout the entire All-Star Archipelago.
For a time, the world was shocked and incredulous. Public opinion in the archipelago poured forth like a cascading waterfall, creating a massive upheaval.
"I can't believe something like this has happened."
"To be honest, when I first heard it, I also thought it was a rumor."
"This is simply unbelievable! The Iron Family, with such a formidable lineup, was still defeated. Just how strong is Shu Family Island?"
"Playing dumb to fool the enemy, Shu Family Island is indeed playing dumb to fool the enemy. We weren't optimistic about their war with the Yan Family at first, but now it seems even the Iron Family is no match for them. The Yan Family is probably in trouble."
" Long Daozhi is dead?" Upon hearing this news, Chu Yun was stunned for a full ten breaths. Long Daozhi, whom he had regarded as a formidable enemy, was actually dead just like that.
This surprised him.
"Could it be false information?" This thought had just crossed his mind when he quickly dismissed it. At present, Long Daozhi was not yet famous. Only Chu Yun himself knew how powerful he was. There was absolutely no need for him to fake his death.
That means you're really dead.
" Long Daozhi... sigh," Chu Yun sighed, feeling both regret and relief. He had sometimes considered the possibility of recruiting Long Daozhi.
However, given his blindly loyal nature, this possibility is zero.
Chu Yun gave up on the idea. It was better to recruit the future " Three Divine Generals " than to try and persuade Long Daozhi, whose surrender was futile.
Thinking of the " Three Divine Generals," Chu Yun's heart stirred. "Our Shu Family Island doesn't lack soldiers, it lacks generals. Grandpa Red Spear and the other two are all old and can only hold out for a while. Wu Datou is brave, but he can only charge into battle. I will also leave Shu Family Island in the future to make my own way in the world. Yan Que is a civil official, Master Yu Ya is a weapon refiner, Shi Jiaming is devoted to the Dunhuang Kingdom and will eventually leave. So, Shu Family Island really lacks generals. These Three Divine Generals haven't risen to prominence yet. Is it possible for me to recruit them in advance?"
Previously, Chu Yun's attention was mostly focused on improving his personal strength. Now, after hearing Yan Que's strategy, he saw hope in expanding his own forces.
The greater the power of Shu Family Island, the more advantageous it is for Chu Yun.
To give a worst-case scenario, all his demonic creatures were lost in an accident, and his years of accumulation vanished. At this point, returning to Shu Family Island not only gave him a chance to catch his breath and escape danger, but also provided him with a platform to rise again.
Realistically speaking, Shu Family Island is already providing him with a steady stream of resources such as elixirs, Baleful Earth Stone, and Heavenly Gang Stone. He uses these things to cultivate the demons under his command, no longer needing to spend time earning these resources as he did in his previous life.
Even if trouble arises later, or a hidden treasure of a celestial abode is revealed, at that moment, the opponent will see that Chu Yun is actually the young master of Shu Family Island.
This identity alone is enough to scare away many competitors.
Power is a protective umbrella. If it weren't for the power of Shu Family Island, Chu Yun would have been attacked by the crowd long ago because of the Heavenly Fox. He wouldn't be as carefree as he is now.
Without Shu Family Island, it wouldn't be able to attract a talent like Master Yu Ya. And if Chu Yun's Drunken Snow Blade were broken, he wouldn't be able to immediately seek out Master Yu Ya for reforging and repair, as he does now.
After careful consideration, Chu Yun made up his mind.
"Originally, I planned to leave Shu Family Island after defeating the Yan Family. But now it seems that assisting my father in expanding his power is more effective than fighting alone. Those treasures I remember haven't been opened yet. As for the Three Divine Generals... the conditions for recruiting them aren't quite right yet. I might be able to make contact with one of them by the end of this year."
Just as Chu Yun was planning for the future, on Huajia Island...
The Hua family, the island lord and his son, were discussing the battle report of the Iron Family's failed surprise attack.
"It's truly astonishing. Tie Ao personally led the team, and with such a lineup, they still suffered a crushing defeat. Just how strong is Shu Family Island?" Hua Ying frowned, her tone heavy.
"Instead of guessing the true strength of Shu Family Island, you should think about how to gain some benefits from this matter, Hua Ying," the island lord of Hua Family Island advised gently.
Hua Ying pondered for a moment, then said, "We should strengthen cooperation. Since we are allies, and the Shu Clan is at war with the Yan Family, we should send troops to help. Only by giving can we receive."
Upon hearing this, the island lord of the Hua family smiled with satisfaction.
Some are happy, some are sad, on Ning Family Island.
The Ning Family patriarch's brows furrowed in worry, and all the elders in the hall wore expressions of sorrow.
The news of the Iron Family's defeat by the Shu Clan weighed heavily on their hearts like a heavy iron ingot.
"Although we've held peace talks with the Shu Clan, our shops haven't yet set up shop in the Shu Clan territories. Our diplomatic relations with the Shu Clan are terrible." The Ning Family head sighed deeply. "It's my fault. Why were we in such a rush to withdraw our shops?"
Times have changed. After Shu Family Island revealed its powerful and mysterious strength, the Ning Family patriarch, who had initially harbored a sliver of hope to seize Shu Family Island, now felt only fear and regret.
"Since when did a power like the Shu Clan become something we look up to and fear?" Many elders sighed inwardly.
The rise of Shu Family Island has been incredibly rapid, almost too fast to keep up with. I had thought that becoming a first-rate power was already quite an achievement.
Unexpectedly, they managed to defeat the Iron Family, the leading force among first-class powers, in one fell swoop.
Although the Iron Family did not exert their full strength, it is an undeniable fact that they killed more than a dozen generals.
"If the Shu Clan were to defeat the Yan Family again, their next target would probably be our Ning Family?" The thought sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Outsiders may not know about the feud between the Ning Family and Shu Clan, but both sides are well aware of it, and given the current situation, there seems to be no possibility of reconciliation.
"I've heard that the second pirate group, Crimson Tiger, has been harassing the Yan Family's supply lines from the rear. The Yan Family has suffered heavy losses of supplies these days. Although we are not strong enough in combat, we can still supply the Yan Family with supplies," an elder said.
"Indeed. If the Shu Clan truly defeats the Yan Family, I fear we will be in grave danger."
I second that.
I second that.
The clan elders all expressed their approval of this strategy.
"Alright, let's do it that way." The Ning Family patriarch nodded in approval. "With the Ning Family's strong support, the Yan Family, one of the five ancient clans, will definitely be able to cripple the Shu Clan. Let's do it this way."
.