The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

In the crowd, a burly man with a giant sword spat disdainfully: "These creatures that can rip through space are truly annoying."

"My great-grandfather was a Spirit Slash Realm cultivator. He said when ripping through space, his biggest fear was encountering these things, often retreating within a breath or two."

"A breath or two is enough to travel a hundred thousand miles," a nearby companion whispered in agreement, "much faster than us using magical treasures to hurry along."

At this moment, a petite junior cultivator suddenly lowered his voice: "It’s all those people’s fault, always forming teams to hunt Void Beasts and search for Void Crystal Cores. These recent years, the Void Beasts have become increasingly agitated, definitely retaliating."

"Shh!" His companion hurriedly covered his mouth, fearfully looking around.

"Do you want to die? Those able to start collecting Void Crystal Cores are either Spirit Slash Realm Perfection cultivators or Supreme Realm masters. Be careful, they might hear us!"

The petite cultivator instantly fell silent, cold sweat forming on his forehead.

Everyone around instinctively shrank their necks, and the discussions gradually quieted down.

...

Upon hearing this, Zhou’s eyes flashed with insight.

Repairing the Level 4 Teleportation Array was a perfect opportunity for him to comprehend the ancient Array Spirit Seal, greatly enhancing his understanding of Array Dao.

Just like the detailed insights Sikong Yan had given him about the Hidden Dragon Path array last time.

Coincidentally, this was the Teleportation Array leading to Nanhuang State.

If it were truly paralyzed, switching to a flying ship would not only face various dangers in an unfamiliar environment but the journey alone would take decades, truly not worthwhile.

Moreover, if he could successfully repair it, he’d earn a considerable reward to solve their upcoming livelihood issues in Nanhuang State.

Seeing Zhou eager to try, Lu Yaoyao anxiously tugged on his sleeve: "Brother Zhou, don’t go! It’s too dangerous, even Master Jiang mentioned by these people met misfortune..."

"Don’t worry. This might be an opportunity for me." Zhou comforted.

"No way!" Lu Yaoyao insisted, "There are many ways to earn spirit stones. If worst comes to worst, we can resort to robbery; it’s quicker!"

Zhou chuckled: "Do you even want to break through to the Spirit Slash Realm? Talking about robbery?"

"But..."

"It’s really fine." Zhou looked down at the old hen in his arms.

Since departing from the Holy Martial Dynasty, passing through the Jiuli Dynasty, and now reaching Celestial Wave City, the old hen had never disappeared back into the Grotto Heaven Forbidden Area.

The black heart atop the ancient tree had long dried up, showing that the essence of the Innate Spirit’s friend had all merged into the hen.

If real danger arises, having it by his side should be without worry.

Seeing her persuasion fail, Lu Yaoyao was about to speak again when Zhou cut her off: "You can’t go; wait for me to come back then."

"Humph!" Lu Yaoyao pouted in dissatisfaction.

After asking passersby for the location of the City Lord’s mansion, Zhou led the reluctant Lu Yaoyao towards the city...

...

At the center of Celestial Wave City, a majestic City Lord’s mansion stood tall.

The entire mansion was constructed with cyan jade as the foundation, obsidian for the walls, and beast heads inlaid with gilt at the eaves’ flying corners.

The mansion’s gates were approximately three zhang high, crafted from millennia-old ironwood, and studded with gilt bronze nails.

In the center, a plaque with a black background and golden characters hung, inscribed with the ancient "Celestial Wave Mansion" in three characters.

Above the walls, every ten steps stood a flying-eaved watchtower, with bronze wind chimes hanging from the tower tops.

As the breeze blew, the sound of the chimes mixed faintly with the buzz of the array in operation.

Outside the City Lord’s mansion currently stood dozens of guards in silver armor, alert and prepared.

The air was filled with tension, and passing cultivators instinctively lightened their steps, their conversations reduced to sound transmissions.

"Make way! Everyone make way!"

A patrol squad riding Cloud Treading Beasts galloped quickly, led by a commander holding a continuously flickering array disc, his expression grave: "The Southern Huang passage’s wave intensity has increased again!"

In the main hall within, an old man dressed in a dark gold robe stood with hands behind his back.

He was the Celestial Wave City Lord — Li Changhong!

Though he had lived for several thousand years, reaching Spirit Slash Realm Perfection, one step away from the legendary Supreme Realm, he still maintained a middle-aged appearance.

His neatly trimmed short beard had long turned frosty white, adding an extra touch of authority.

"Report—!" A guard rushed in frantically: "City Lord, the fluctuations outside the barrier have already affected the passages to the other six states!"

Li Changhong’s brows furrowed, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes marked by the traces of time.