Cultivation: From Servant to Revered Immortal

Chapter 269: Chapter 17: The Gathering Storm

On that day, Zhou Xun received a letter from Lin Xueying, learning that Celestial Feather Sect cultivators have infiltrated.

Zhou Xun immediately went into seclusion, drawing Escape Talismans, ranging from Tier Two Low-Grade to Tier Two High-Grade, numbering over twenty.

After emerging, he immediately summoned Fang Tianlun, Weih Qiuxin, Shi Wanrong, Zhou Jingsong, and others.

In the reception hall, everyone gathered together, waiting for Zhou Xun.

”Sister Weih, do you know why the Island Master has summoned us?”

Fairy Mingyue approached Weih Qiuxin and asked softly.

The two used to be the top individuals in Junyue Pavilion, already acquainted.

Later, after leaving one after another, they both became Foundation Establishment cultivators and lived near Wangchuan Lake. Their relationship quickly deepened, becoming close friends.

”I don’t know either. The Island Master usually summons individually, gathering everyone together like this is extremely rare!”

Weih Qiuxin was also perplexed at this moment.

However, she was not curious about it; her philosophy was simply: the Island Master’s instructions, I execute!

Everything else was handed over to Zhou Xun.

Fang Tianlun and his wife were rather apprehensive as they were newly joined under Zhou Xun and unfamiliar with everything.

Originally for Zhou Xun, they were merely peer acquaintances.

But after Zhou Xun solved their predicament, they understood his true power and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to joining him.

On the other side, Wang Erniu’s children stood together, discussing in hushed tones.

Originally, Wang Erniu planned to bring them back to Red Leaf Square, but unexpectedly, Celestial Feather Sect invaded, decisively abandoning the idea.

After all, Zhou Xun’s Wangchuan Lake was protected by a Tier Three Low-Grade Array, with Zhou Xun personally overseeing it.

It’s countless times safer than their Red Leaf Square.

”Little brother, you’ve apprenticed under Uncle Zhou’s family. Do you know why he summoned us?” The speaker was a woman in her thirties.

Her appearance somewhat resembled Lin Xue’e.

She was Wang Erniu’s eldest daughter, Lin Xiuyin, currently having ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivation.

”Elder sister, though I have apprenticed under my master’s tutelage, I have not served for long, so I do not know much about him!” Wang Shun said with a bitter smile.

Since becoming Zhou Xun’s disciple, he had been taught primarily by Zhou Jingsong.

The number of times Zhou Xun personally guided him was minimal.

Consequently, he held great respect and awe for his master.

Zhou Jingsong and Shi Wanying stood together, waiting quietly.

At this moment, Zhou Xun entered.

”Greetings, Island Master!”

”Greetings, Master!”

”Greetings, Uncle Zhou!”

Everyone bowed and saluted.

Among those present were either his disciples, younger generations, or his subordinates.

Zhou Xun waved his hand, sitting directly in the host’s seat.

”I summoned you all today to inform you of a major matter!”

”I received news that Celestial Feather Sect, unable to break through the Golden Ape Valley defense head-on, has dispatched elite cultivator teams to infiltrate deep within Xui Country,”

”And among those leading, there are Fake Pill cultivators!”

”Such force is absolutely beyond your ability to resist; after today, you all must strictly order your subordinate departments not to leave the twenty-mile radius of Wangchuan Lake.”

”All spirit material transactions must also be suspended for the time being!”

”Do you all understand?”

Upon hearing Zhou Xun’s news, everyone was shocked but soon calmed down.

Beyond the twenty-mile radius of Wangchuan Lake is where the array doesn’t cover.

However, Zhou Xun’s statement implies that within the array, they are secure and without worry!

But suspending transactions would result in significant losses.

During this period, leveraging Zhou Xun’s early advantage, Wangchuan Lake had accumulated a considerable amount of spirit materials, making quite a profit.

A small-scale transaction market had even formed here at Wangchuan Lake!

Yet since Zhou Xun had spoken, they could only comply.

”Understood!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Then Zhou Xun took out the refined Escape Talismans, rewarding each person with one.

”Although the information mentions that those infiltrated are Fake Pill cultivators, it is essential to prepare for the worst. Should the situation become untenable, retreat immediately!”

Zhou Xun said calmly.

With the defenses at Wangchuan Lake, unless the two Middle-Stage Core Formation Elders from Celestial Feather Sect came here, it would be unbreachable!

Of course, if there were Tier Three Forbidden-Breaking Talismans, such as ancient talismans, Wangchuan Lake could not withstand them either.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other.

If Wangchuan Lake, protected by a Tier Three Low-Grade Array, couldn’t withstand it, they couldn’t think of a safer place.

But since Zhou Xun had said this, they could only comply.

Among them were either Qi Refining cultivators or Early-Stage Foundation Establishment ones.

In such a situation, they could only go with the flow.

...

Just a month later, news arrived of the Celestial Gate’s infiltrating cultivators.

Jingxin Pavilion,

Sunx Yuanque looked petrified with fear.

”Brother Zhou, you wouldn’t believe it, if not for timely reinforcements, you might not have seen me!”

Five days ago, following the usual route, he went to Vulture Ridge’s Yann Family to collect the refined magical artifacts.

Unexpectedly, shortly after arriving at Yann Family, he encountered Celestial Feather Sect cultivators who came to raid.

There were ten attackers, led by a Fake Pill Cultivator.

The Yann Family is renowned as an Artifact Refining Family, with a Mountain Protection Array at a Quasi-Third Tier Level, yet under the Fake Pill Cultivator’s assault, it only lasted less than three days before collapsing.

Following that, the ten Celestial Feather Sect cultivators stormed Yann Family, pillaging and burning.

Countless Yann Family cultivators perished there.

Sunx Yuanque managed to retreat while fighting thanks to his grandfather’s life-saving item.

Eventually, he was rescued by arriving Fake Pill cultivator reinforcements, while that group of Celestial Feather Sect cultivators abandoned one of their own and fled swiftly, disappearing without a trace!

Zhou Xun slightly frowned as well.

Vulture Ridge was not far from their Wangchuan Lake, only over forty thousand miles away.

’Unexpectedly, this group of Celestial Feather Sect cultivators is already at Wangchuan Lake’s doorstep!’

Zhou Xun’s heart tightened, with a cold glimmer flickering in his eyes.

”Brother Sunx, fortune smiles on you, but in the future, you should err on the side of caution!” Zhou Xun comforted him.

”Brother Zhou speaks rightly; after this incident, I’m going to ask my grandfather for help to resign from this duty!”

Sunx Yuanque said bitterly with a smile.

”Safety must come first!” Zhou Xun nodded.

”However, rest assured, Brother Zhou; my successor is a disciple under my grandfather, and our transaction will continue as usual!”

Sunx Yuanque added.

”That sounds great!” Zhou Xun smiled faintly, and then shifted the topic, asking:

”Brother Sunx, during your encounter with the Celestial Feather Sect cultivators, did you manage to obtain anything from them, so I can see?”

Zhou Xun asked with the intention of taking the initiative.

This group of Celestial Feather Sect cultivators usually fights separately, but if encountering a tough spot, they often gather and strike together.

The Xu Family, one of the Four Great Families with a Tier Three Low-Grade Array, was similarly breached!

His Wangchuan Lake, although boasting impressive defenses, doesn’t guarantee resistance against the siege from these Celestial Feather Sect cultivators.

If the array breaks, he can easily escape.

But this large group of disciples, younger generations, and subordinates might suffer a calamity.