60: Chapter 60 Compared to the two great dynasties, this trouble is nothing.

Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of displeasure had already arisen in his heart.

He was the Martial Emperor of the Zhouwu Dynasty; even if the Sect Master of the Liuli Sect were here, they would have to be polite.

An Elder from a Western Territory Sect—though the Liuli Sect's foundation was indeed deeper than that of the Zhouwu Dynasty...

...acting so presumptuously before him was truly showing a lack of propriety.

"Is Elder Yin questioning Us?" Zhou Shanhe's tone was flat, but his gaze suddenly became sharp.

Yin Tianzheng's heart jolted as he realized his attitude had indeed gone too far.

However, he bore a heavy responsibility on this trip. That heart-cleansing bamboo concerned the Old Ancestor; if he could bring it back, it would be a great achievement.

Even if he offended the Zhouwu Dynasty, the Liuli Sect could handle the fallout.

"I wouldn't dare."

Though Yin Tianzheng said he wouldn't dare, his tone remained stiff.

"It's just that Lu Jinghan possesses something my Liuli Sect is determined to obtain. I've traveled thousands of miles from the Western Territory; I cannot return empty-handed."

Zhou Shanhe gave a cold laugh.

"That is your Liuli Sect's business. What does it have to do with Us?"

"Lu Jinghan is neither Our subject nor Our prisoner. When he comes and when he goes is beyond Our control, and We have no right to interfere."

"If Elder Yin wishes to find someone, go look in the Southern Barrens yourself. We do not have the leisure to worry about it for you."

Yin Tianzheng's face darkened. Just as he was about to say more, Zhou Shanhe raised his hand with a wave.

"See the guest out."

Outside the hall doors, two Imperial Guards entered at the command, looking at Yin Tianzheng and his two companions with stern gazes.

Yin Tianzheng's face turned ashen, and he stood rooted to the spot.

He had come with a mission; if he returned dejectedly like this, he wouldn't be able to give the Sect an explanation.

"Dynasty Lord Zhou."

Yin Tianzheng took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, his voice low.

"I represent the Liuli Sect this time. If Your Majesty refuses to cooperate, then I will have no choice but to investigate myself."

"If the Imperial Dynasty is disturbed then, do not blame me for not giving a prior warning."

These words were already a blatant threat.

Zhou Shanhe's eyes turned cold, and his Mahayana stage pressure exploded outward, crushing toward Yin Tianzheng like a mountain.

Yin Tianzheng's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly circulated his spiritual Qi to resist, but he was still forced back several steps by that pressure, his blood and Qi churning.

The two Disciples behind him fared even worse, collapsing directly to the ground with faces the color of dirt.

"Yin Tianzheng."

Zhou Shanhe's voice was no longer calm, but carried a hint of chilling killing intent.

"No matter how strong your Liuli Sect is, you still cannot dictate matters to my Zhouwu Dynasty."

"We have already said that Lu Jinghan is not within the Imperial Dynasty."

"If you dare to act recklessly within the borders of the Imperial Dynasty, We do not mind letting you know what it means to have a way in but no way out."

Yin Tianzheng gritted his teeth, his face shifting between green and white, but he didn't dare say anything more.

The pressure of the Mahayana stage was not something he could contend with. If he truly enraged Zhou Shanhe, killing an Elder like him might be something the Liuli Sect would investigate later, but his life would be forfeited here and now.

"Farewell."

Yin Tianzheng squeezed out the two words through his teeth, turned around, and left.

As the hall doors closed, Zhou Shanhe withdrew his pressure, his expression remaining grim.

"Your Majesty."

An old official stepped out from the side hall and said softly, "The Liuli Sect does not come with good intentions. If we do not give them an explanation, I fear they will not let the matter rest."

"An explanation?" Zhou Shanhe sneered.

"Why should my Zhouwu Dynasty need to give them an explanation?"

The old official was silent for a moment, then said: "Your Majesty, regarding that Senior..."

"No need to say more." Zhou Shanhe raised his hand to interrupt him, walking to the window with his hands behind his back.

"The Liuli Sect wants to find Lu Jinghan; they will find that they are about to provoke a terrifying existence."

"We only need to focus on our own affairs."

The old official bowed to receive the order and said no more.

Zhou Shanhe stood by the window, looking into the distance, his face still grim.

The Liuli Sect came with ill intent, but compared to the combined pressure of the Nanli and Xuanyuan dynasties, this little trouble was truly nothing.

Inside Taihe Hall, Ancestor Zhou Huaixu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on the ink-wash landscape painting on the wall, his expression as heavy as water.

He had been standing like this for a long time, so long that the palace maids standing by in the hall unconsciously lightened their breathing, fearing they might disturb this Old Ancestor at the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation.

"Has Zhenyue arrived yet?"

Zhou Huaixu suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a hint of urgency that was hard to conceal.

The guard on duty outside the hall hurriedly bowed: "Reporting to Old Ancestor, Prince Zhao is already waiting outside the hall."

"Let him in."

A moment later, Prince Zhao Zhou Zhenyue, dressed in a purple-gold python robe, hurried into Taihe Hall.

His expression was normal, but there was a hint of gravity between his brows.

Since the Purple Bamboo Forest closed, the Old Ancestor had not summoned him so urgently for a long time.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor." Zhou Zhenyue stood still in the hall and bowed.

Zhou Huaixu turned around, his gaze falling on him. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Has there been any news sent back from Tianchen?"

Zhou Zhenyue was slightly startled, then shook his head: "No. Since he left the Imperial Dynasty with Lu Jinghan, I haven't received any news from him for over half a year."

Zhou Huaixu's brow furrowed slightly, and he paced a few steps in the hall, his tone gaining a bit more irritation:

"I sent him several transmission talismans, and not a single one was answered. Was it the same for you?"

Zhou Zhenyue nodded, a hint of worry also surfacing in his expression: "I also sent several, and all were like stones sinking into the ocean."

"Although that boy is obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy, he is still quite mindful of the family. In the past when he went out, he would send at least one message a month to report he was safe."

"Being without word for over half a year this time is indeed abnormal."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Huaixu stopped his pacing and looked up at the carved beams of the hall ceiling with a deep gaze.

Over the past half year, he had been having a vague sense of realization, as if he had grasped something, yet also as if he had grasped nothing at all.

That feeling was stuck in his chest, neither rising nor falling, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

He originally wanted to seek out Jiang Changge to clear his doubts, but when that Senior left, he only said he was returning to Kunlun. As for where Kunlun was or how to contact him, nothing was mentioned.

He had also sent people to search the Ten Thousand Mountains in the Southern Barrens, but that mountain range was desolate and vast. Forget Kunlun, they couldn't even find a decent building.

The place where that Senior resided was clearly not something that could be found through ordinary means.

Now, if he wanted to find Kunlun, he could only wait for Tianchen's reply.

What he didn't know was that at this moment, within the Kunlun Small World...

Zhou Tianchen was sitting cross-legged in a pavilion, his eyes tightly shut, his body surrounded by a faint golden halo.

The Scripture of Alchemy was spread out before him. The characters on the pages seemed to come alive, transforming into countless fine golden runes that slowly flowed around him.

Each of those runes contained profound principles of the Dao of Alchemy. An ordinary Cultivator would become dizzy and lightheaded with just a glance, yet he was greedily absorbing the mysteries within.

From the day he stepped into Kunlun, he had plunged headfirst into this Cultivation Technique, obsessed and unable to extricate himself.

Old Ancestor, father, transmission talismans—all had long been cast to the back of his mind.

In his heart, there was only the Dao of Alchemy at this moment.