This severed head finished speaking, and a terrifying silence fell.
The atmosphere in the arena was strange and dreadful.
Surrounding this bizarre, giant tree was a ring of buildings.
Eight beacon towers encircled it.
Upon each beacon tower sat a powerful expert, their aura robust and their spiritual energy at its peak.
They were, in fact, eight Great Accomplishment Kings.
One of them knelt respectfully, then twisted his body in a strange manner and vanished from his spot.
The head on the great tree looked in the direction the person had disappeared, lost in thought.
After a long while, he spoke, "A few days ago, I seemed to have sensed a trace of Condensing Core realm fluctuation, but it wasn't obvious. Coupled with the birth of a new Giant Spirit realm King in Liuyun Kingdom, could there be some change in the Upper Heavens Realm? That shouldn't be the case; the Condensing Core realm Martial Venerables in the Upper Heavens Realm have all long since passed away..."
Hearing the head's words, an expert on a beacon tower said, "Your Excellency worries too much. Those skulking rats from the Upper Heavens Realm, what actions can they possibly take? It's even more impossible for any Condensing Core realm to appear. It's more likely that this spiritual artifact, the Upper Heavens Realm, is nearing its limit and can no longer maintain such a large secret realm space."
Another person sneered, "These people in the Upper Heavens Realm are content to stagnate, attempting to escape the harshness of the martial world and dreaming their spring and autumn dreams within a tortoise shell!"
"A mere five-star martial kingdom dares to escape the control of our Tianyun Kingdom! Now, if the Upper Heavens collapses, they will have no more reliance."
...
Liuyun Kingdom.
Jiangnan City.
Little did Ling Yun know that Lan Xueyi's breakthrough had attracted the attention of an extremely powerful force far away.
Lan Xueyi and Lan Tianxiong knew even less.
At this moment, everyone in Lan Family Fort was busy preparing for Lan Junjie's wedding.
Given Lan Family Fort's current financial strength and the prestige of Ling Fan, the brother-in-law, this wedding for Lan Junjie was destined to be the focus of the entire Liuyun Kingdom.
...
Compared to the joyous occasion at Lan Family Fort.
Longyue City appeared much more desolate.
Luo Jianxun had become a laughingstock throughout the entire Liuyun Kingdom.
In the City Lord's mansion.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
Luo Jianxun wore a long, dejected face all day, looking as unpleasant as if he had eaten something foul.
Ever since he was turned away at Lan Family Fort, his anger had been so great that he wanted to smash everything he saw.
"Damn it, those ungrateful dogs at Lan Family Fort! I, this City Lord, have already humbled myself and personally gone to apologize, yet they wouldn't even let me in. Especially that damned Ling Fan. His brother-in-law is marrying my daughter, yet he refuses to acknowledge me as a relative. I only made a small mistake, and they're making such a big deal out of it, holding onto it relentlessly. A bunch of petty, narrow-minded people! Bah!"
"Damn it, do they think I'm eager to be in-laws with their Lan Family Fort! I truly disdain it!"
The more Luo Jianxun thought about it, the angrier he became.
A maid tremblingly brought over a cup of tea.
He smashed it to pieces again with a clang.
"Scram!"
Luo Jianxun cursed.
The maid, terrified, fled in haste.
At this moment.
A figure walked in.
Luo Jianxun immediately glared fiercely, cursing, "Didn't I say to get out! You lowly wretches dare to defy me, are you looking for death?"
When Luo Jianxun looked up and saw the person.
His words, not yet finished, got stuck in his throat.
A look of horror rapidly expanded in his pupils.
Thump!
His knees buckled, and he stiffly knelt towards the figure.
"This humble one, Luo Jianxun, City Lord of Longyue City, pays respects to King Wu! May King Wu live for ten thousand years!"
"You recognize me? That makes things easier."
The person who had arrived was Wu Zhi.
He looked at Luo Jianxun with a smile and said.
Luo Jianxun swallowed, nervously saying, "King Wu is the Sect Master of a great sect in the Upper Heavens Realm. Upon leaving the Upper Heavens Realm, he slew King Liuyun and exterminated the Liuyun royal family. Who in the entire Liuyun Kingdom doesn't know this now! You are the new ruler of Liuyun Kingdom! This humble one, Luo Jianxun, is willing to be your ox or horse, at your command!"
Wu Zhi coldly sneered and said, "How dare you! Are you trying to harm me? The true ruler of Liuyun Kingdom has always been only Lord Ling. I am merely working and striving for Lord Ling!"
Ah!
Hearing Wu Zhi's words, the shock and awe in Luo Jianxun's eyes deepened.
He had initially thought the rumors he heard were just rumors.
But now, hearing these words directly from Wu Zhi's mouth, he realized how terrifying Ling Fan's status and position were.
This was a Martial King of the Giant Spirit realm.
And he was willingly acting as Ling Fan's lackey!
What was happening in this world?
As Luo Jianxun was shocked, an infinite, overwhelming regret surged in his heart.
He regretted it so much that he wanted to go crazy!
If he hadn't broken off the engagement back then.
He would now be in-laws with Lan Tianxiong, and Ling Fan would be his daughter's brother-in-law!
He could then have connected with Ling Fan, the true number one person in Liuyun Kingdom.
At that time, wouldn't his Longyue City have soared to the heavens?
But all of this was utterly ruined by his extremely foolish actions.
Wu Zhi looked coldly at the dispirited Luo Jianxun.
His eyes shot out a look of disdain.
"Lord Ling sent me a letter a few days ago, ordering me to have a good talk with you. I didn't expect you, this fellow, not only to not repent your wrongdoings but also to dare to speak disrespectfully of Lord Ling behind his back. Tell me, are you seeking death, or are you seeking death!"
Wu Zhi grinned.
But this smile sent a chill down Luo Jianxun's spine.
He hurriedly kowtowed, "King Wu, spare me! I dare not again! It was my loose tongue, I deserve a beating! Please, for the sake of my daughter being the wife of Lord Ling's brother-in-law, give me a chance to reform. I absolutely, absolutely will not dare to have any more inappropriate words or actions in the future!"
Wu Zhi snorted, "You wouldn't dare! You should know why Lord Ling sent me to find you. It was to give you a good warning. Listen carefully, your daughter's face can only save you this once. You behave yourself from now on, don't try any tricks, otherwise, I will make you disappear from this world completely."
Wu Zhi flicked his finger.
A beam of light instantly entered Luo Jianxun's body.
"This is a listening talisman. From now on, all your actions will be under my strict surveillance. You'd best control yourself."
Wu Zhi said.
"Yes! Yes! I absolutely dare not!"
Luo Jianxun felt a chill from his head to the soles of his feet.
He quickly kowtowed.
"Alright, wasting so much time on trash like you, I am very busy!"
Wu Zhi waved his sleeve, and his figure vanished from the City Lord's mansion of Longyue City.
A long time later, Luo Jianxun dared to slowly get up from the ground.
Only then did he realize that his entire body was already drenched in cold sweat.
His mere peak Profound Gang realm was as insignificant as an ant in front of Wu Zhi, a Giant Spirit realm Martial King.
...
Jiangnan City.
On the day of Lan Junjie's wedding.
The entire Liuyun Kingdom, one could say, was watched by the world.
All martial forces and martial experts within Liuyun Kingdom went to Lan Family Fort to offer their congratulations.
And the vast majority of them did not even have the qualification to ascend the mountain.
They did not dare to have any dissatisfaction.
It seemed that being able to offer a congratulatory gift was already their immense honor.
The prestige of Lan Family Fort today was something even the former Liuyun royal family had never possessed.
ps: Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and family happiness.