Qi Refinement Way.
Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm.
Shang Clan Island.
"Alas—storm clouds were gathering."
Inside the Octagonal Trade 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.
"Blackflame Old Monster and Madam Guo fought a great battle in the Orchidheart Sea Region, and the aftermath along the way destroyed seven spirit islands—"
"The Windbreaker 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 trade, the Shang Clan naturally loathed disorderly chaos.
If those were merely minor troubles, then the intelligence that followed left Shang Kongzhen sitting on pins and needles.
"After all these years—Water-Moon Palace and Thunderclap Temple have finally yielded a result. The Grand Palace Master and Dragon Tree Holy Monk's attempts at Spirit Transformation should have failed—at the very least, no Spirit Transformation Heavenly Tribulation was triggered—"
A Spirit Transformation Heavenly Tribulation was no Core Formation tribulation lightning. No formation could easily conceal it; there was no such thing as advancing in secret.
"After Talisman Sword Island was breached, Heavenly Mechanism Gate and Four Seas Gate have likewise been tottering in the wind and rain—they suspect a Great Cultivator acted in secret—"
"I must report this to the ancestor."
Holding the jade slip, Shang Kongzhen left the Octagonal Trade Tower and made his way deep into Shang Clan Island.
After passing through layer upon layer of restrictions, he arrived before a small octagonal tower and respectfully bowed. "Kongzhen requests an audience with the ancestor—"
After waiting a while longer, two Puppets dressed like maidservants opened the