Chapter 587 - 352: Celestial Hearing Tower (2)
Although Outer Sect disciples were merely cannon fodder, if one was promoted to the Inner Sect, or even became a Core Disciple, their entire family would rise with them, escaping their lowly status.
They soon flew over farmlands before a massive city came into view. This place wasn’t just inhabited by ordinary people; it was a motley mix, filled with all sorts of clandestine conflicts.
Of course, as the Flying Celestial Ship of a True Disciple from the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect passed overhead, the city’s rulers had to hurry to a high vantage point to bow respectfully and see it off.
One middle-aged man, dressed in exceptionally splendid robes and having reached the Spiritual Energy Realm, even called out loudly in an attempt to invite Jiang Wanzhao to his estate as a guest.
Jiang Wanzhao, however, couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge him, offering no response whatsoever.
This left the lavishly dressed man rather embarrassed, yet he dared not show the slightest hint of displeasure.
"To use Refinement on a city this size, how long do you think it would take you?" Su Qingyu asked with sudden interest, sizing up the city below.
Zou Feng could now unleash nine waves of the Evil King’s Blazing Fiend Black Dragon at once. Destroying this city would take him less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea.
But he wouldn’t entertain such a thought in the slightest, especially since Su Qingyu was talking about using Refinement on the city...
"There’s no need. Bullying mortals and a few Loose Cultivators in a city doesn’t take any real skill, and there’s no benefit in it for me... On the contrary, it would be easy to let myself go and lose control..." Zou Feng shrugged, ultimately avoiding a direct answer.
Su Qingyu nodded. "Indeed. Disorder begins with a loss of control. Many of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect’s practices aren’t born from genuine compassion for mortals, but from a desire to prevent that very loss of control!"
Her sudden question was, in fact, another one of Su Qingyu’s tests.
After all, she was the one most worried about Zou Feng losing control.
If Zou Feng showed any sign of letting himself go wild, she would be far too vulnerable to being directly consumed by his Refinement when they exchanged their venoms. She had to guard against that possibility.
"But completely letting go, facing the loss of control head-on, could also be considered a path to the Dao..." Su Qingyu’s tone shifted. "In the Northern Domain, there’s no shortage of such Great Demons!"
Zou Feng smiled. "I, on the other hand, am quite interested in using Refinement on those Great Demons."
"Then be careful you don’t get blindsided by something trivial..."
As they chatted, a colossal tower that pierced the clouds appeared in the distance.
At the base of the tower was a rather large marketplace.
It was worth noting that as long as they submitted to the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect and didn’t overstep their boundaries, the Sect permitted the existence of other powers and smaller sects within the Eastern Earth Immortal Realm.
The people coming and going in the marketplace were primarily Cultivators from these lesser powers, along with a large number of Loose Cultivators.
As for the giant tower, it was their destination: the Celestial Hearing Tower, a part of the Northern Domain’s Yu Long Lake Spiritual Vein defensive line.
The Yu Long Lake Spiritual Vein extended from the Eastern Earth Immortal Realm, and because its environment differed, the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures it nurtured were naturally different as well.
This was one of the reasons the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect insisted on defending this location; after all, it held resources that could not be found in the Eastern Earth Immortal Realm.
Along the entire border of the Northern Domain, there were dozens of such defensive fronts like the Celestial Hearing Tower.
As they neared the Celestial Hearing Tower, the experts stationed there revealed themselves, streaking toward the Flying Celestial Ship.
Although the expert currently guarding the Celestial Hearing Tower was also a Golden Core Realm cultivator, her position in the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect was merely that of an outwardly-posted Central Court Elder, naturally making her rank inferior to that of a True Disciple like Jiang Wanzhao.
"A reverent welcome, Jiang Zhenchuan!"
This Central Court Elder, the current Tower Master of the Celestial Hearing Tower, was named Yu Lingxiao. She was a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman who had lost none of her charm.
Zou Feng had heard on the way here that the Celestial Hearing Tower was originally guarded by another Golden Core Realm expert. However, that person had been severely injured in a major battle several months prior and was forced to retreat.
It was precisely because of this sudden personnel change that Jiang Wanzhao had volunteered to come and fill the vacancy.
A moment later, Jiang Wanzhao finally emerged, unhurried. With her hands clasped behind her back, she nodded at Yu Lingxiao, who was hovering before the Flying Celestial Ship.
This was her assent for Yu Lingxiao to come aboard.
Yu Lingxiao landed with a very respectful demeanor and followed Jiang Wanzhao into the reception hall.
The dozen or so Dao Foundation Realm experts who had followed her remained waiting in the air.
As for why Jiang Wanzhao didn’t immediately lead her people into the Celestial Hearing Tower...
This, too, was a rule of the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect. Before entering an important defensive installation like the Celestial Hearing Tower, many things had to be verified first.
Despite Yu Lingxiao’s respectful attitude, she was actually here to board the ship and conduct an inspection.
First, she had to confirm that there was no issue with Jiang Wanzhao’s identity and that no Great Demons, powerful devils, or enemy experts had infiltrated the Flying Celestial Ship.
Although such incidents were rare, there had been cases in the past where someone had slipped through, resulting in a major disaster.
Not long after Yu Lingxiao followed Jiang Wanzhao into the reception hall, Zou Feng sensed waves of formless energy emanating from the direction of the Celestial Hearing Tower.
They were clearly performing some kind of examination on everyone aboard the Flying Celestial Ship.
After about the time it takes to eat a meal, the inspection was presumably complete. Yu Lingxiao and Jiang Wanzhao emerged from the reception hall together, and the Flying Celestial Ship resumed its advance.
Finally, the Flying Celestial Ship came to a stop on a platform that extended from the middle of the Celestial Hearing Tower.
"Everyone get settled. You can familiarize yourselves with the area or go for a stroll in the marketplace, but remember—do not cross to the other side of Yu Long Lake!" Jiang Wanzhao gave a casual instruction, then followed Yu Lingxiao into the Celestial Hearing Tower.
As for Zou Feng and the others, Yu Lingxiao’s subordinates were there to arrange their separate accommodations.
Unexpectedly, just as they were about to enter the Celestial Hearing Tower, a harsh and urgent bell began to toll.
At the same time, a black cloud appeared in the distant sky, writhing like a living creature as it rapidly approached the Celestial Hearing Tower.
’An enemy attack!?’
Gazing at the black cloud, Zou Feng felt an inexplicable dread well up in his heart. This was definitely the work of someone beyond the Dao Foundation Realm.
’This is too much of a coincidence. Jiang Wanzhao has just arrived—she hasn’t even officially taken command of the Celestial Hearing Tower—and we’re already under attack.’
’If this isn’t a probing attack from enemy forces who covet the Celestial Hearing Tower, then I don’t know what is.’
’They clearly want to test Jiang Wanzhao, this new True Disciple, to see what she’s made of.’
After all, while True Disciples from the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect had guarded the Northern Domain’s defensive lines before, it wasn’t a common occurrence.
Typically, a True Disciple or other Sect experts would only be sent as reinforcements when a line was on the verge of collapse.
Although the Celestial Hearing Tower was protected by a brilliant defensive Array, it would be a serious problem if the enemy sent a sufficiently powerful expert to attack it relentlessly.
The black cloud clearly indicated that a Golden Core Realm enemy had arrived in person, forcing either Jiang Wanzhao or Yu Lingxiao to leave the protection of the Array and confront them.
Sure enough, Jiang Wanzhao shot forward without a moment’s hesitation, instantly vanishing into the black cloud.
’It was obvious she was hoping for a significant enemy like this to appear, someone she could slay to earn merit.’
As for Yu Lingxiao, she likely had to remain in the Celestial Hearing Tower to command the defenses, so she did not appear.
Meanwhile, Core Disciples like Zou Feng couldn’t just stand by and watch. They had to rush to various points along the defensive line to shore up any weaknesses and prevent the enemy from using a diversionary tactic—publicly repairing the plank roads while secretly crossing at Chen Cang.
Since they were still unfamiliar with the area and didn’t know what tactics the enemy might employ, they were all a bit stunned, essentially frozen in place for the moment.
The disciples originally stationed at the Celestial Hearing Tower were all scrambling into action, and had no time to guide the newcomers.
Seeing this, Zou Feng decided he didn’t want to stand around idly. ’What must be faced must be faced,’ he thought. ’It’s better to be proactive.’
’But as for *how* to face it, he had his own ideas.’
With a flick of his wrist, Zou Feng shook the Beast Taming Ring, and Xiaolv tumbled out.
’Now that times were better, a Spiritual Artifact like a Beast Taming Ring was a must-have. The thing was incredibly convenient for housing Xiaolv.’
"Quick, find me something tasty!" Zou Feng whispered to Xiaolv.
The Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect’s enemies were mostly chaotic Evil Cultivation Forces, and naturally, there was no shortage of Poison Cultivators among them.
Having Xiaolv, whose sense of smell for such things was far more sensitive than his own, go "treasure hunting" would be twice as effective with half the effort.