Chapter 626: Heavens Have Changed!
The blood covering his body and the pungent smell of blood made Li Yun frown involuntarily.
With a wave of his hand, his clothes instantly changed into pure white robes, and only then did he feel much more comfortable.
However, when he recalled the words and frantic actions of the blood-masked assassin before his death, his expression grew increasingly grave.
Clearly, while he had been on the Floating Island, something major must have happened in the Azure Void Region.
With a thought, he took out a communication sound stone.
This communication sound stone had been obtained when he became an Inner Sect Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, allowing him to communicate with the sect.
But no matter how he activated the communication sound stone, there was no response from the other side. His message seemed to sink into the sea, disappearing into complete silence.
"..."
This made Li Yun’s heart sink again.
He flipped his hand, and another communication sound stone appeared in his palm. This communication sound stone had been given to him privately by Zi Donglai, allowing him to directly communicate with Zi Donglai.
Yet this communication sound stone also showed no response at all.
"It seems something earth-shattering must have happened in the Azure Void Region."
Both attempts at communication had failed, causing Li Yun’s brows to furrow deeply. He realized that perhaps, just as the blood-masked assassin had said before dying, the Azure Void Region was no longer what it used to be.
"Regardless, I must not act rashly now."
Li Yun’s expression was solemn.
He knew nothing about the changes in the Azure Void Region. If he left recklessly, he might walk right into a trap.
Thinking this, his gaze turned toward the Floating Island.
He did not know exactly what had happened outside, but Feng Qingxiao was the top-ranked expert on the Earth Ranking and the strongest Inner Sect Disciple of the Origin Saint Sect. She might have a way to contact the outside world.
Swish!
A token appeared in his hand.
As he activated it, a flash of light shone, and his figure reappeared inside the Floating Island.
This token had been given to him by the red-bellyband child before he left. With this token, as long as he had not broken through to the Heavenly Core Realm, he could freely enter and exit the Floating Island.
In a flash, he appeared on the fifth floor of the Floating Island, on the small floating island where Feng Qingxiao was located.
"Li Yun?"
Seeing Li Yun’s figure, Feng Qingxiao could not help being surprised.
Had Li Yun not already left the Floating Island? Why had he returned?
"Feng Qingxiao, there is something I need your help with."
Li Yun’s expression was serious. Without any pleasantries, he directly recounted what he had just encountered and stated his speculation.
"What?"
Hearing Li Yun’s words, Feng Qingxiao immediately showed a shocked expression.
People from the Blood Blade Tavern had actually infiltrated the area around the Floating Island. One had to know that this Floating Island was considered the private territory of the Seven Great Powers.
"Li Yun, wait a moment."
Her expression was grave as she took out a communication sound stone.
However, after a long while, the communication sound stone showed no response at all.
At this, her expression grew even more serious.
She took out another purple communication sound stone, which looked much more advanced than an ordinary one.
After quite some time, a message finally came back from the purple communication sound stone.
Upon hearing it, Feng Qingxiao’s face instantly turned pale.
"What exactly happened?"
Seeing Feng Qingxiao like this, Li Yun’s expression became even more solemn as he asked in a deep voice.
"The heavens have changed."
Feng Qingxiao’s face was pale, almost transparent. After a long moment, she murmured, "The entire Azure Void Region has completely changed."
"Just half a month ago, the Ironblood Sect suddenly struck and completely annihilated the Golden Saint Sect, one of the Seven Great Powers. All Heavenly Core Realm and above experts of the Golden Saint Sect, including True Disciples, elders, the sect master, and even the Spirit Manifestation Realm Grand Elder, were killed by the Ironblood Sect. Not one of them survived. As for disciples below the Heavenly Core Realm, they were all enslaved."
"At the same time, the Blood Blade Tavern, Profound Heaven Sect, and Beast Taming Sect, three major powers, simultaneously announced their merger into the Ironblood Sect, becoming halls under it."
"The Origin Saint Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, Great Zen Temple, and Heaven Severing Blade School experienced rebellions at the same time. Taking advantage of this, the Ironblood Sect launched a massive attack. The four powers suffered heavy losses, losing over seventy percent of their Heavenly Core Realm and above experts. As for ordinary disciples, the number of dead and injured is beyond count."
"After the great defeat, the four powers were unable to resist the Ironblood Sect and had no choice but to join forces and retreat into the Annihilation Battlefield. Now, the entire Azure Void Region is under the control of the Ironblood Sect."
"What?"
Although he had mentally prepared himself, Li Yun’s expression still could not help changing drastically after hearing Feng Qingxiao’s words.
In just two or three months, such a huge upheaval had occurred in the Azure Void Region.
The Golden Saint Sect, although the weakest among the Seven Great Powers, was still one of them. Yet it had been annihilated overnight.
The Blood Blade Tavern was the top assassin organization in the Azure Void Region. The Profound Heaven Sect was second only to the Heavenly Sword Sect in strength and had been one of the top three sects. The Beast Taming Sect was also one of the Seven Great Powers. Yet these three powers had all been pawns of the Ironblood Sect.
And the simultaneous rebellions in the Heavenly Sword Sect and the other three sects were clearly no coincidence. Behind them, there must have been the shadow of the Ironblood Sect.
Overturning the entire situation in the Azure Void Region almost overnight, the power of this Ironblood Sect was truly terrifying.
"Li Yun, the Floating Island is not a place where we can stay for long. We must take advantage of the fact that the Ironblood Sect has not fully stabilized its control over the Azure Void Region and head to the Annihilation Battlefield as soon as possible."
At this point, Feng Qingxiao gradually calmed down and said solemnly, "Just now, the Seventh Elder told me that not far from the Floating Island, there is a secret base of the Origin Saint Sect. She will arrive there in ten days to take us to the Annihilation Battlefield. Li Yun, let us first spread this news to everyone. Those willing to come with us, we will take with us. Those unwilling to come should at least know what has happened."
"Alright."
Li Yun nodded.
Without delay, the two immediately began to act.
Soon, the news of the upheaval in the Azure Void Region spread throughout the entire Floating Island.
Instantly, the thousands of cultivators on the Floating Island were completely shocked.
The Seven Great Powers had ruled the Azure Void Region for many years. They were long-standing behemoths whose powerful image had been deeply engraved in everyone’s minds. Who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, they would be annihilated, rebel, or flee, completely collapsing as a whole?
The Ironblood Sect that replaced them already possessed extremely terrifying strength. Now, having swallowed the Blood Blade Tavern, Profound Heaven Sect, and Beast Taming Sect, its power had expanded to an unparalleled degree. It was likely no weaker than the Azure Void Region’s overlord from a thousand years ago, the Skyvoid Sect.
Perhaps, it was even stronger.