70: Chapter 70 What should be done if someone looks down on the Zhou Wu Dynasty?

Yin Tianzheng hadn't expected that kid to possess such a thing.

However, the aura of the heart-cleansing bamboo was still clearly visible on the compass.

Yin Tianzheng raised his hand, and the compass floated in his palm. The emerald-green needle trembled slightly before pointing steadily toward the southeast, not far away.

Yin Tianzheng put away the compass and raised his hand to summon a pitch-black Flying Sword.

The Flying Sword expanded in the wind, growing to about ten feet long as it hovered before him.

He stepped onto the Flying Sword and transformed into a streak of black light, hurtling toward the southeast at a speed more than ten times faster than his own flight.

Luotian City was the largest city on the southwestern border of the Zhouwu Dynasty.

With high walls and deep moats, it was garrisoned by tens of thousands of soldiers year-round.

Cultivators gathered in the city; though not as prosperous as the Imperial Capital, it was still a bustling hub of merchants and noise.

On the plaza in front of the City Lord's Manor, pedestrians moved back and forth like a weaving loom.

A white light flashed out of nowhere, and three figures stumbled to the ground, nearly falling into a heap.

Qin Muchuan clutched his chest, gasping for breath. His Face was as pale as paper, and his voice trembled.

"Curse them... Body Integration Stage... For such an old monster to strike us so heavily."

Su Fuguang was in no better shape, kneeling on one knee with cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

Lu Jinghan's expression was as dark as water as his gaze fell upon the shattered jade talisman in his hand.

He felt no regret; his Revered Master had given him many life-saving items, and there were plenty more similar to the Heaven Rank teleportation talisman.

That old fellow's attire clearly marked him as an Elder of the Liuli Sect; evidently, they hadn't given up on the heart-cleansing bamboo.

Last time, that Late-stage Nascent Soul fellow escaped; this time, they sent someone directly at the Body Integration Stage.

"Let's leave here first."

Lu Jinghan pulled back his thoughts and turned to leave.

Just as he lifted his foot, the sky suddenly darkened.

A majestic pressure, so immense it was suffocating, descended from the heavens, crashing down upon the entire plaza before the City Lord's Manor.

The passing pedestrians froze instantly, their Faces turning deathly pale.

The guards in the City Lord's Manor were also alarmed by this pressure. They rushed out with blades drawn, but as soon as they showed their heads, they were forced to their knees by the pressure, unable to move.

Lu Jinghan's footsteps halted as he abruptly looked up.

In mid-air, a grey-robed figure stood upon a pitch-black Flying Sword, his gaze cold as a blade, looking down at them from above.

It was indeed Yin Tianzheng.

Lu Jinghan's heart sank. This old fellow was so fast.

Yin Tianzheng still wasted no words. With a wave of his hand, a giant palm condensed from spiritual energy descended from the sky, reaching for Lu Jinghan and the other two.

The palm blotted out the sun, its five fingers like hooks. Runes faintly circulated in the center of the palm, emitting a heart-pounding aura.

With this strike, he not only intended to capture Lu Jinghan but also to prevent the kid from using a teleportation talisman to escape again.

Peak Body Integration against Late-stage Nascent Soul—this should have been a crushing defeat with no suspense.

But at the very moment the spiritual energy palm was about to fall, an equally majestic aura erupted from deep within the City Lord's Manor.

"Who dares to act wildly in Luotian City?"

The voice was as majestic as thunder, causing the stone slabs on the plaza to tremble slightly.

Before the voice had even faded, several figures emerged from the City Lord's Manor.

The leader wore a dark black brocade robe, his Face resolute, surrounded by the aura of the Early Stage Body Integration.

Though not as profound as Yin Tianzheng's, it still possessed a momentum that could not be underestimated.

It was the newly appointed City Lord of Luotian City—Zhou Dongliu.

A member of the Zhouwu Imperial Family with an Early Stage Body Integration cultivation, he had been transferred here from the Imperial Capital by Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe a few months ago to guard the southwestern border.

Zhou Dongliu stepped out of the City Lord's Manor. His gaze first fell upon Lu Jinghan and the others, his pupils shrinking slightly.

He recognized Lu Jinghan as the Disciple of the Senior whom even the Ancestor had to treat with respect.

Zhou Dongliu's gaze sharpened as he turned to look at Yin Tianzheng in the air, his expression grim.

"This is the Zhouwu Dynasty, not the Liuli Sect of the Western Regions."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

"For Your Excellency to take action in my Luotian City, do you intend to start a war with my Zhouwu Dynasty?"

Yin Tianzheng stood with his hands behind his back on the Flying Sword, looking down at Zhou Dongliu with a gaze full of disdain.

Early Stage Body Integration was nothing more than a joke in his eyes.

"The Zhouwu Dynasty?"

Yin Tianzheng sneered, his voice hoarse and piercing.

"This old man has no wish to be enemies with the Dynasty. I only want that junior; he has something my Liuli Sect is determined to obtain."

He paused, his tone gaining a hint of threat.

"If City Lord Zhou is willing to be accommodating, this old man will naturally remember this favor. Should City Lord Zhou have any needs in the future, the Liuli Sect will surely repay you."

Zhou Dongliu's expression remained unchanged, but the anger in his heart was surging like a tide.

Be accommodating? That was the Disciple of the Senior whom even the Ancestor had to treat with respect!

If he really handed the person over, not only would his future be ruined, but he might not even keep his life.

Moreover, if he bowed his head today, where would the Face of the Zhouwu Dynasty go?

"This City Lord will say it one more time."

Zhou Dongliu's voice deepened, emphasizing every word.

"This is the Zhouwu Dynasty, not the Liuli Sect. If Your Excellency still does not leave, do not blame this City Lord for being impolite."

Seeing that he was ungrateful, Yin Tianzheng's Face darkened, and a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.

"Since City Lord Zhou does not give this old man Face, then I shall have to do it myself."

Before his voice had even faded, he waved his hand, and that giant spiritual energy palm condensed again, grabbing toward Lu Jinghan's trio.

This time, the palm's momentum was even more fierce and its speed faster, clearly intending to snatch the people away before Zhou Dongliu could react.

Zhou Dongliu's expression changed drastically as he shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

A sharp blade light slashed from his hand, like a bolt of silk tearing through the Void Realm, striking heavily against the giant spiritual energy palm.

"Boom—!"

Amidst the thunderous roar, the spiritual energy palm was shattered by the blade light, dissipating into a sky full of spiritual light.

Yin Tianzheng frowned. His gaze fell upon the entirely crimson long saber in Zhou Dongliu's hand, and he sneered.

"An Advanced Earth Rank Magical Artifact? You do have some assets, but unfortunately, your cultivation is lacking."

Stepping on his Flying Sword, his figure flashed through the Void Realm, closing in on Zhou Dongliu in an instant.

He struck with a palm, the wind howling as it carried a force that could topple mountains and overturn seas.

Zhou Dongliu's expression tightened. He held the crimson long saber across his chest, taking the palm strike head-on.

"Clang—!"

Zhou Dongliu was shaken back several steps, his palm numbed and his internal blood and Qi churning.

Peak Body Integration against Early Stage Body Integration—a full gap of two minor Realms was not something an Earth Rank Magical Artifact could bridge.

Yin Tianzheng pressed his advantage, his palm strikes coming in an endless stream, one after another.

Each palm carried a world-destroying momentum, forcing Zhou Dongliu to retreat step by step, leaving him only able to defend with no power to strike back.

Zhou Dongliu had already sent word to the Dynasty Lord, but he didn't know if he could hold out until Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe arrived.

—

In the Medicine King Valley, the Alchemy competition was still underway.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu took this opportunity to constantly seek advice from Jiang Changge, who answered his doubts.

Jiang Changge was also helpless, so he blended various ancient texts from his past life and narrated them to Ancestor Zhou Huaixu.

As for whether he understood or not, that was none of his business.

At that moment, the System's notification sounded in Jiang Changge's mind, informing him that Lu Jinghan and the others were being hunted by someone at the Body Integration Stage.

Thus, Jiang Changge said to Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, "Someone despises your Zhouwu Dynasty. What should be done?"

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, who was immersed in the profound Dao laws, was somewhat confused upon hearing this.

Before he could ask, Jiang Changge placed a hand on Ancestor Zhou Huaixu's shoulder, and in the next moment, both of them appeared in Luotian City.