The Ancient Immortal Realm
"Phew!"
"The air in the Ancient Immortal Realm is truly refreshing."
"It even carries a faint aroma of roasted meat."
"Incredible."
After entering the Ancient Immortal Realm, Da Huang took a deep breath, marveling at the scents lingering in the air.
"It’s not just a faint aroma."
"Look over there."
Chen Chang'an pointed not far away, where a group of people were gathered around roasting meat.
The smell Da Huang detected indeed came from that direction.
Hmm?
Da Huang glanced at them, feeling a bit curious. Do people in the Ancient Immortal Realm also eat roasted meat?
"My cultivation!"
"It seems I’ve broken through again!"
Freed from the restrictions of the Tai Xuan Realm, Chen Chang'an’s cultivation immediately soared to the first level of the Emperor Venerable Realm upon arriving in the Ancient Immortal Realm.
"Oh, really? So, you’re now at the first level of the Emperor Venerable Realm?" Da Huang asked curiously.
"Exactly."
Chen Chang'an nodded. However, the amount of immortal spiritual energy required for his breakthroughs was staggeringly vast. Moreover, he noticed that after fully merging the nine embryonic pearls, his automatic absorption of immortal spiritual energy had slowed significantly compared to before.
Chen Chang'an couldn’t help but suspect that his rapid progress after merging the pearls earlier was due to the energy conversion they provided.
Sensing the disturbance around Chen Chang'an, the group roasting meat stood up and approached him.
Observing their expressions, Chen Chang'an frowned slightly. It seemed they had been waiting for him.
Members of the Zhou Family?
"Is your master Mu Yunyao, the eldest daughter of the Mu Family?" the leader asked, eyeing Chen Chang'an.
"Correct."
"So, you must be Young Master Chen."
"I am Zhou Yuanxiong, the head of the Zhou Family."
The Zhou Family’s patriarch had personally come to wait for him?
This was unexpected for Chen Chang'an, though he figured it was likely out of respect for Mu Yunyao.
"Did my master ask you to wait for me here?" Chen Chang'an inquired.
"Indeed!"
"The Tai Xuan Realm is a minor world under our Zhou Family’s control. The ascension passage naturally connects to a region within our domain."
"Lady Mu instructed us to wait here to help you evade detection by the Wang Family," Zhou Yuanxiong explained with a smile.
Evade the Wang Family’s detection?
"How?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.
"By sending you away."
Huh?
He had just arrived in the Ancient Immortal Realm, and they were already sending him away? Was this a joke?
"Of course, not away from the Ancient Immortal Realm—just to a distant location where the Wang Family won’t easily find you."
"As for where you’ll end up, we don’t know either."
"That depends on your luck."
Luck?
Did that mean random teleportation?
"This way, even we won’t know your whereabouts, making you much safer."
Chen Chang'an nodded in understanding. If the Zhou Family knew he had arrived but not his destination, it would indeed be harder for the Wang Family to track him. Even if they pressured the Zhou Family for information, they wouldn’t be able to provide specifics.
"Where is my master’s Mu Family located?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"As one of the Nine Great Immortal Clans of the Ancient Immortal Realm, the Mu Family naturally resides in a prestigious place."
"They dwell in the blessed paradise known as Little Cloud Heaven."
"It’s one of the most remarkable paradises in the Ancient Immortal Realm."
"Our Zhou Family’s current paradise was also secured with the Mu Family’s support."
"However, your master emphasized that your priority now is to grow stronger."
"Avoid direct confrontation with the Wang Family."
Direct confrontation?
Chen Chang'an wasn’t foolish enough for that. Back in the Tai Xuan Realm, he had only killed Wang Zhiwei’s avatar to buy time for Mu Yunyao.
Now that he was in the vast Ancient Immortal Realm, why seek out the Wang Family? That would be tedious.
Even if he couldn’t die, being constantly hunted wouldn’t be enjoyable.
"Did my master leave any other instructions?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"No, just these."
"Alright, when do we begin?"
Seeing Chen Chang'an’s decisiveness, Zhou Yuanxiong wasted no time. With a glance at his companions, they formed hand seals and conjured a teleportation array before Chen Chang'an.
"Step inside, and you’ll be sent to an unknown location."
"Be careful," Zhou Yuanxiong reminded.
"Understood."
Chen Chang'an didn’t doubt their words or intentions—after all, he had no other choice.
Even if the array sent him straight into Wang Family territory, he’d have to accept it.
After exchanging a glance with Da Huang, the two stepped into the array.
Once Chen Chang'an vanished, Zhou Yuanxiong and the others deactivated the formation.
"Patriarch, are we really helping him like this?"
"If the Wang Family holds us accountable, will the Mu Family truly support us?" a Zhou Family member asked worriedly.
"Mu Yunyao is the Mu Family’s eldest daughter—her word carries weight."
"Besides, this Chen Chang'an is no ordinary man."
"Could any of you, at the Quasi-Emperor Realm, have slain Wang Zhiwei’s avatar?" Zhou Yuanxiong asked with a smile.
"Well..."
"Even though it was just an avatar and within the Tai Xuan Realm, I wouldn’t have been confident."
"Neither would I."
"Not just you—even I couldn’t have done it. I doubt Lady Mu could either."
"Most importantly, Wang Zhiwei couldn’t harm Chen Chang'an in the slightest within the Tai Xuan Realm."
"This man is formidable. Helping him today benefits us without risk."
"The one who truly offended the Wang Family is him, not our Zhou Family. The Wangs won’t trouble us," Zhou Yuanxiong reassured.
The events in the Tai Xuan Realm couldn’t escape the Zhou Family’s notice. Zhou Yuanxiong was shrewd, weighing pros and cons before acting.
Though weak now, Chen Chang'an’s potential was limitless. No one could predict how far he’d grow.
By aiding him today, the Zhou Family might one day seek his help in return.
"Patriarch, do you truly have such high hopes for Chen Chang'an?" another member asked in surprise.
"It’s not just me—Lady Mu clearly does as well."
"Otherwise, why would she gift him a treasure like the God-Slaying Sword?"
"Just wait. That young man will make a name for himself in the Ancient Immortal Realm before long," Zhou Yuanxiong declared confidently.
Seeing his certainty, the others fell silent. What was done couldn’t be undone, and worrying now was pointless.
"Let’s go. The Wang Family will likely arrive soon. We’ll need to stall them."
"As you command, Patriarch!"