Chapter 565: Chapter 565

The Copper City Guo Family has been established for over three thousand years, with Golden Core Stage cultivators guarding its legacy without interruption since its inception.

After dozens of generations, the Guo Family of Copper City has developed into a major cultivation clan, with three Golden Core Stage cultivators overseeing it, occupying half of Copper City and five marketplaces.

Copper City, being one of the twenty-eight immortal cities within the Liuyun Commerce Alliance, naturally places the Guo Family’s status within the Alliance above others, certainly surpassing the Liu Family of Hongliu River, which collaborates with Xiao Ying.

Such a cultivation clan, strong in both power and wealth, is not easily confronted, not even by some Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from lesser sects, as they must consider the Liuyun Commerce Alliance’s response before acting unjustly.

However, on this day, a golden sword light came from the west of Copper City, heading straight for Yanyun Mountain, a Tier Five Spirit Mountain belonging to the Guo Family outside the city.

On Yanyun Mountain, the Guo Family cultivators on guard saw the imposing sword light from afar. They immediately sent someone to inform the Golden Core Stage family cultivator on the mountain while loudly shouting, "This is a restricted area of the Guo Family, state your name swiftly!"

As the shout fell, the golden sword light descended several thousand meters outside the grand array of Yanyun Mountain, revealing a man and a woman.

The male cultivator was majestic and handsome, with extraordinary valor and a cultivation level reaching the Golden Core Stage.

As for the female cultivator, though her cultivation was only at the Purple Mansion Stage, she was stunningly beautiful, with a pure and graceful demeanor, resembling a Moon Palace Fairy.

However, this fairy-like beauty now bore a stern expression, her face filled with fury, marring her beauty. Follow current novels on novᴇlfire.net

Upon witnessing this, many young disciples of the Guo Family on Yanyun Mountain felt a pang in their hearts, unable to resist cursing the person who angered this Moon Palace Fairy.

Yet, some high-tier Guo Family cultivators recognized this fairy-like beauty, their faces changed drastically. They hurried to inform the Golden Core Stage cultivator guarding Yanyun Mountain of the visitor’s identity.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged handsome man on the flying sword outside the mountain, exuding jealousy-worthy elegance, furrowed his sword-like brows and shouted angrily at Yanyun Mountain, "Bring Luo Yunshen out to meet his death!"

His roar was like thunder, echoing for miles.

Cultivators of the Guo Family on Yanyun Mountain below the Foundation Establishment Stage felt a sharp pain in their heads upon hearing this cry, with streams of blood flowing from their ears, suffering severe internal injuries.

"Who dares to speak such madness outside the spiritual mountain of my Guo Family? Do you think my Guo Family has no one?"

On Yanyun Mountain, a voice filled with shock and anger immediately followed.

A blue cloud emerged gracefully from the mountain top, and on the cloud stood a majestic middle-aged man in a blue magic robe and a silver crown, glaring angrily at the cultivator on the flying sword outside the mountain, his eyes filled with wrath.

With an angry glare, he looked at the handsome middle-aged man on the flying sword and loudly accused, "You, a Golden Core Stage cultivator, dare to strike at a group of Qi Cultivation Stage juniors. Isn’t that too excessive?"

"Hmph, mere ants. Killing them would only sully my sword!"

The middle-aged handsome man snorted disdainfully and said proudly, "Moreover, if I had truly acted against them, even with the Mountain Protection Array, none would be alive to listen to your noise here."

Upon hearing this, Guo Congyun was so infuriated that he nearly burst with rage!

Training in water element techniques, he was not prone to anger, but the words of this man outside the mountain were extremely infuriating.

As a Fifth-Layer Golden Core cultivator from the prestigious Copper City Guo Family, he would not be treated with such contempt, not even by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators. He had never been insulted in this manner!

Moreover, as this person humiliated him so openly in front of numerous juniors of the Guo Family, how could he maintain his dignity before them if he swallowed his anger without fighting back?

"How dare you belittle me!"

His face flushed red with anger, roaring furiously, "Arrogant fool, prepare to die!"

Before the shout ended, a Water-Blue Patterned Dragon Treasure Bottle flew out from his mouth. With a flash of water light from the bottle’s mouth, a blue water dragon surged toward the cultivator on the flying sword outside the mountain.

This Water-Blue Patterned Dragon Treasure Bottle was Guo Congyun’s lifebound spiritual artifact, the Overseas Water Dragon Bottle, nurtured for over three hundred years. Being a Tier Five Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact, its power rivaled even that of general Tier Five High-grade Spiritual Artifacts, due to a head-sized piece of Water Soul Profound Essence Stone infused during its original refining.

This time, Guo Congyun summoned his lifebound spiritual artifact without even testing, showing the extent of his anger.

Of course, his confidence stemmed from his faith in his lifebound spiritual artifact.

For instance, the water dragon under his control now had a prestige almost matching that of a typical Tier Five High-grade Technique, with only a little less than thirty percent of the magical power consumed than performing such a technique via the Overseas Water Dragon Bottle.

However, his overflowing confidence was soon shattered violently by the enemy opposite him.

The man on the flying sword flashed a cold smile on his face, then raised his fist and punched.

Instantly, a loud dragon roar echoed across the sky, then the azure-gold dragon shadow flickered, and the ferociously approaching blue water dragon exploded into a spray of water in the air.

Immediately afterward, the man on the flying sword opened his fist, waved his hand, and a beam of golden light flew out from him, transforming into a seven-layered golden tower pressing down towards Guo Congyun.

Seeing this, Guo Congyun hurriedly suppressed his shock at the man’s punch, and with a low shout from his mouth, a blue water dragon once again emerged from his lifebound spiritual artifact "Overseas Water Dragon Bottle" to attack the golden tower.

Simultaneously, he waved his hand and immediately summoned a black iron rod artifact to strike at the seven-layered golden tower.

This black iron rod, though it looks unimpressive in its blackness, was crafted using the precious Tier Five Spiritual Gold "Deep Sea Profound Iron," and despite its small size, it weighs several thousand pounds and can easily demolish a mountain hundreds of feet high!

Yet, the golden tower seemed even sturdier.

Effortlessly crushing the incoming blue water dragon, the tower collided with the iron rod in mid-air, and amidst the sparks, the iron rod was immediately knocked away, revealing faint cracks on its body.

This was clearly beyond Guo Congyun’s expectations.

He couldn’t foresee that the golden tower, which appeared to be merely a Tier Five Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact, would have such might.

In haste, he couldn’t unleash other techniques and could only control his lifebound spiritual artifact "Overseas Water Dragon Bottle" to eject a jet of black toxic water towards the golden tower that was pressing down from the sky.

The black toxic water was exchanged from a Golden Core Stage cultivator skilled in toxins, and after testing, Guo Congyun had confirmed it could inflict irreparable corrosive damage on Tier Five artifacts.

Not having a method to create it, and using it a little means having less, he usually kept it deeply hidden in his lifebound spiritual artifact "Overseas Water Dragon Bottle," sparingly utilizing it.

Today, provoked by the opponent’s previous words and the unexpectedly overpowering artifact of the enemy, considering his own safety, he neglected to feel sorry for using this toxic water.

But what terrified Guo Congyun was that the black toxic water, reliable as ever, fell onto the golden tower without causing any damage, nor did it hinder its progress.

Seeing the tower overhead, Guo Congyun clenched his teeth, preparing to use another trump card on him.

Yet, before he could act, the owner of the golden tower suddenly had two golden flames rise in his eyes, and two strands of golden light instantly landed on Guo Congyun.

Instantly, Guo Congyun felt like his Primordial Spirit within his Golden Core was thrown into a volcano furnace, a severe burning pain causing him to involuntarily let out a scream.

In the eyes of the many Guo Family cultivators on "Yanyun Mountain," they saw the doors of the tower open, and their revered clan ancestor was helplessly drawn into the golden tower.

And after the golden tower captured Guo Congyun and suppressed him within, it quickly fell heavily to the ground under the control of the cultivator mastering the tower.

The tower landed, its body shaking violently as Guo Congyun, unwilling to be trapped inside, attacked the tower frantically, trying to escape.

"Damn it, let me out quickly!"

"I am a formal elder of the Liuyun Commerce Alliance. If you dare harm a hair of mine, I guarantee you won’t walk out of the Liuyun Commerce Alliance!"

Screaming and cursing continued to emanate from Guo Congyun trapped inside the tower.

But no matter how arrogant his words were, the anxiety and fear were palpable, even to the weak Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators on "Yanyun Mountain."

The tower master seemed extremely annoyed by the weakling’s clamor, his face darkening as he waved his hand, causing the golden tower to flash with gold light, silencing all sound within, even weakening the tower’s trembling.

Seeing this scene from afar, the Guo Family cultivators on "Yanyun Mountain" completely panicked.

The clan’s Golden Core Ancestor was suppressed before them; when they face accountability, none of them can escape.

If Guo Congyun were to meet an untimely fate, their future would be utterly ruined.

"Senior, please control your anger. Our Guo Family is willing to offer generous gifts to the senior for forgiveness; please have mercy!"

On "Yanyun Mountain," an elder with Purple Mansion cultivation had to brace himself to fly out of the Mountain Protection Array, with a frightened face, bowing deeply in mid-air, pleading for the suppressed clan ancestor.

"Hmph, did you not hear my words clearly, or are you deliberately being so? I won’t say it a third time: bring Luo Yunshen out here to face his doom immediately!"

The master of the golden tower on the flying sword snorted coldly, and a powerful, tangible Divine Sense fiercely pressed upon the Guo Family elder.

Poor Guo Family elder, with only a Seventh-Layer of Purple Mansion cultivation, how could he withstand such an overwhelming Divine Sense pressure? He was instantly pressed down to the ground, and several of his front teeth were broken.

If it weren’t for the Golden Tower Master’s leniency, not wanting to kill, this elder might have become the Guo Family’s first Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator to die from a fall in over three thousand years.

And upon hearing the Golden Tower Master mention "Luo Yunshen," all the Guo Family members on "Yanyun Mountain" couldn’t help but look at a specific spot.

There, atop a pavilion on the mountainside, stood a handsome, white-clothed middle-aged man, looking panicked, slowly retreating.

He was so panicked that he didn’t even realize there was no support behind him, until he stepped into the air and fell backward, exclaiming "Ah" reflexively as he activated his magical power to protect himself.

A heavy thud sounded as he hit the ground, and the white-clothed middle-aged man stood up from the ground with a look of panic and shameful anger. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but before he could speak, a Guo Family Purple Mansion Cultivator pointed at him and angrily shouted: "Luo Yunshen, you did evil deeds yourself, go out and face death on your own, don’t implicate our Guo Family!"

Instantly, the white-clothed middle-aged man, Luo Yunshen, flared up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Guo Wenyi, what do you mean? Yes, I’ve done evil deeds, but the treasures I gained from those deeds, whose hands are they in now? When your Guo Family took the treasures, everyone was full of smiles, agreeing to eliminate that crazy woman for me, but after more than ten years, you still haven’t fulfilled that promise!"

"Distinguished Copper City Guo Family, with three Golden Cores, can’t even solve a Purple Mansion Stage woman. Luo shouldn’t even be laughing at you, so where do you get off blaming me for implicating you?"

Luo Yunshen shouted angrily, perhaps knowing he wouldn’t survive today, decided to let loose, venting all his fear and resentment.

The Guo Family cultivators on "Yanyun Mountain," upon hearing his words, those in the know felt both ashamed and angry, while those unaware showed expressions of shock and complexity.

Guo Yunyi, who was being cursed by Luo Yunshen, twitched and distorted his features before roaring, suppressing Luo Yunshen’s curse, then screamed with a face full of killing intent: "In consideration of Qianrong, giving you a chance to roll out on your own, otherwise don’t blame Guo for forcibly dragging you out!"

"Hahaha, what a Guo Family, what a millennium-old clan, Luo must have been blind to have believed you hypocrites, cowards!"

Luo Yunshen laughed crazily, his face full of scorn as he looked at Guo Yunyi and the other Guo family cultivators, his eyes brimming with regret.

He regretted ever trusting the Guo Family, regretted ever staying with the Guo Family.

If he hadn’t chosen to trust the Guo Family that day, hadn’t offered the "Water Soul Profound Essence Stone" to them for benefits, but rather left Liuyun Immortal City with this heavy treasure, how could he suffer this calamity today.

Ah, regret it so badly!

His emotions overwhelmed him, blood tears even flowed from his eyes.

Then, with a fierce look, he shouted madly: "Luo is blind and must pay the price for it! But you hypocrites don’t deserve to be well off either, let’s all go to hell together!"

Before the shout settled, he was already sacrificing his Magical Artifact to massacre those Guo Family cultivators on "Yanyun Mountain."

Ironically, the Magical Artifact and Spirit Talismans he used for the massacre were all rewards the Guo Family gave him for offering the "Water Soul Profound Essence Stone."

This dog-eat-dog situation even slightly surprised the pair of man and woman outside the mountain.

The exceptionally handsome male cultivator glanced at the female cultivator. Seeing her remain silent, he chuckled and stood on a Flying Sword, arms folded, watching this drama unfold as if he were a spectator.

The drama did not last long and soon ended.

On "Yanyun Mountain," the Guo Family’s Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators, including the elder from before, totaled three, plus over twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators assisting; Luo Yunshen was destined not to win.

However, Luo Yunshen’s desperate fight claimed the lives of dozens of Guo Family cultivators, including seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even severely injuring a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator.

"Senior, the main culprit Luo Yunshen has been punished; I beseech the senior to be merciful and spare our family’s ancestor. Our Guo Family is willing to offer heavy compensation to apologize to you!"

That elder from the Guo Family, who lost his front teeth, flew out of "Yanyun Mountain" with Luo Yunshen’s corpse to negotiate. It was unknown how he managed it, but despite lacking several teeth, he could speak without slurring, his voice clear and precise.

"Heavy compensation? How will you compensate? A piece of ’Water Soul Profound Essence Stone,’ about the size of a washbasin—how much Spirit Stone should it be valued at, do you think? Your Copper City Guo Family is a member of the Commerce Alliance; you’ve been in business for thousands of years, surely you’re more familiar with pricing than myself?"

On the Flying Sword, the male cultivator spoke with a half-smile to the Guo Family elder, although his words sent chills down the elder’s spine.

Regarding Luo Yunshen’s plan to obtain the "Water Soul Profound Essence Stone" and offer it to the Guo Family, the elder was naturally aware. Moreover, he knew that the treasure had already been traded by the three Guo Family ancestors for some unknown artifact.

Therefore, even if he claimed to return the item, it was impossible to do so.

Forced by circumstances, he could only summon the courage to say, "Regardless, my Guo Family will not disappoint you, senior. I will notify the other two ancestors of the clan right away. I’m sure they can offer a price that will satisfy you!"

"Very well, then I shall await the response from your Guo Family. This Guo Congyun, I shall take him with me first. Three days hence, I will return here to see how sincere you all are!"

The male cultivator on the flying sword seemed to have some plan, as he surprisingly agreed with the Guo clan elder’s words.

Then, with a gesture, the golden tower on the ground shrank to about a foot high and flew into his hand. With another gesture, he collected Guo Congyun’s lifebound artifact "Overseas Water Dragon Bottle" and the black iron rod artifact from the ground, which Guo Congyun hadn’t managed to retrieve.

After completing these actions, the male cultivator gave an evil smile to the female cultivator beside him, who had been silent with a cold expression, and said, "Little beauty, I have fulfilled your request. Now, will you obediently return with me to the mountain as my concubine?"

The female cultivator turned her head away, ignoring him.

This scene caused the Guo Family cultivators on Yanyun Mountain to imagine all sorts of things.

The male cultivator simply laughed heartily, moved with sword light under his feet, and immediately carried the female cultivator away as a streak of golden sword light, departing from Yanyun Mountain.

Three days later, the two other Golden Core Stage cultivators of the Guo Family invited several Golden Core friends for support but did not see the person who had abducted Guo Congyun come to fulfill the agreement at Yanyun Mountain. Instead, they were greeted by the disheveled Guo Congyun himself.

At that time, Guo Congyun had nothing left but a set of clothes he had temporarily snatched from a mortal, without even a single Spirit Stone remaining.

Everything, from his magical artifacts to Spirit Stones, had been taken by his abductors. Even the magic robe he wore had been pulled off him, leaving him only with his lifebound artifact, "Overseas Water Dragon Bottle," which was crucial to his life.

No one could imagine how deeply both shame and fury burned within him when he awoke, stripped bare, atop a barren mountain.

This experience was destined to leave an indelible psychological shadow in his heart.

"It’s beyond insulting! Utterly insulting!"

On Yanyun Mountain, having learned the course of events from Guo Congyun’s own mouth, Grand Elder Guo Kaiming of the Guo Family, his face livid, angrily bellowed with puffed-up cheeks and glaring eyes.

The Guo Family had established themselves for over three thousand years, and never before had they been so humiliated. For such an event to occur under his leadership is effectively a slap in his face and the face of the entire Guo Family!

"Investigate, we must investigate thoroughly at all costs. We must find out the true identity of that bastard. No one can insult our Guo Family and remain at large and unharmed!"

The angry roar of Grand Elder Guo Kaiming echoed throughout Yanyun Mountain, quickly mobilizing the entire Guo Family.

Of course, these matters were irrelevant to Zhouyang.

Indeed, the handsome middle-aged man who abducted Guo Congyun outside Yanyun Mountain was none other than Zhouyang in disguise.

This time, Zhouyang employed methods mastered after Core Formation, unconcerned that his techniques might be used to deduce his true identity.

Furthermore, Zhouyang changed his usual cautious and low-key style, adopting the persona of a powerful, high-profile, and arrogant figure, ensuring that even those familiar with him couldn’t link the flamboyant middle-aged cultivator to his true self.

As for not going to Yanyun Mountain to fulfill the agreement, he was not foolish enough to believe that the Guo Family would honestly provide treasures and Spirit Stones to ransom Guo Congyun.

Therefore, his purpose in abducting Guo Congyun was merely to mislead the Guo Family and buy time to escape.

Besides, after looting Guo Congyun’s entire estate, the gains he’s harvested were not much inferior to the value of the "Water Soul Profound Essence Stone" that Lu Xuewei lost.

Guo Congyun’s earlier statement was not incorrect; Zhouyang indeed didn’t dare to kill him. Or, rather, he wasn’t willing to risk attracting a colossal amount of trouble over one small life.

"Liuyun Commerce Alliance" remains a paramount superpower, and if Zhouyang were to kill Guo Congyun, who is an elder of the alliance, the authorities within the alliance would spare no effort to appease the Guo Family and other Golden Core clans and minor sects like the Guo Family, embarking on a full-scale hunt for Zhouyang.

Even though the disguise mask given to Zhouyang by Lu Xuanji was miraculous, it would likely be inadequate to conceal his identity against a serious investigation by the "Liuyun Commerce Alliance."

Yet, if he merely looted Guo Congyun without taking his life, with the enmity between Lu Xuewei and Luo Yunshen lingering, even if the Guo Family reported the incident to the rule-makers of the "Liuyun Commerce Alliance," it would merely be regarded as a private vendetta, leaving it for them to resolve independently.

Insightful of such matters, Zhouyang understood this well, prompting his fearless direct assault on Yanyun Mountain, forcing infighting between the Guo Family and Luo Yunshen.

Otherwise, he would’ve quietly disguised himself as a Guo Family disciple, sneaking into Yanyun Mountain to stealthily assassinate Luo Yunshen, similar to when he traveled to Yunxia Country to kill Zhu Ziyu of the Purple Cloud Sect, someone who had wronged him.

Now, while discontented Guo Family cultivators investigate his identity globally, Zhouyang was already headed with disciples Lu Xuewei and Zhou Tongxuan, among other juniors, to Zhenyue Immortal City in the Broken Cloud Mountain Range.

There, he would await the arrival of Lu Xuanji and Yin Hanguang, who were heading to the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, before hitching a ride with them back to the Boundless Sea of Sand Cultivation Realm.