In the core region of the Willow Forest…
As the Coral Forest shifted yet again, a blade sliced through space and four colored lights emerged from the tear. A door formed in mid air as Ji Wenlong stepped through it with a cold expression. His gaze swept across the area under him.
The Coral Forest was filled with countless restrictions, and even Martial Extermination Realm experts would find it impossible to fly within.
That was one of the most important reasons behind their inability to control the Coral Forest even after so many years of exploration. The Coral Forest itself was too damn large! It contained the territory of the great Zhu Family, and it wasn’t something they could traverse through by walking!
However, due to the sudden change in the Coral Forest, the space around started to tremble and shift, and the restriction that stopped cultivators from flying seemed to have lost its effect.
The moment Ji Wenlong appeared, the protection formation around the core region of the Willow Forest trembled slightly and a figure rose into the air.
“Deputy… Deputy Patriarch Ji!” A trace of excitement could be seen on the face of the person who spoke, but his excitement seemed to mask his uneasiness.
Ji Wenlong’s expression was mega unsightly as he groaned, “Peng Lanqing, look at what you guys have done!”
Peng Lanqing was also an instructor of the institution, and he was like Gu Shou. They were all Martial Intent Realm cultivators.
A trace of embarrassment appeared on his face, but he quickly thought of something. “Deputy Patriarch, Liu Zhiyuan…”
“Shut up!” Ji Wenlong shut him down instantly.
Peng Lanqing raised his head to stare at Ji Wenlong, only to be met with Ji Wenlong’s pitch-black face. “Scram!”
No matter how wronged he felt, Peng Lanqing could only take his leave. He slowly descended back into the protection formation.
When Wang Shihai saw that Peng Lanqing had returned, he complained indignantly, “How can Deputy Patriarch Ji say such things? No matter what, all of us were following Deputy Patriarch Liu’s orders…”
Wang Shihai was also a teacher in the institution, but he wasn’t in charge of cultivation. His position was somewhat similar to Chu Jia, and he was Peng Lanqing’s great friend.
The two of them were in charge of holding down the fort at the Willow Forest when Liu Jitang was absent. As such, they were the ones with the highest authority among those who came into the Coral Forest initially.
“Just keep quiet…” Peng Lanqing snapped at him.
“Haiz…” Wang Shihai chuckled in indignation. “Why does it sound like we did something wrong? It’s not our fault!”
Peng Lanqing glanced at the small wooden house in the core region and sighed, “Well, we just need to be more careful. Tell Old Ma that there might be enemies hidden outside the core region.”
Wang Shihai’s expression sank slightly. “Since that’s the case… What do we do about Liu Zhiyuan?”
“Hah. What’s done cannot be undone. Regardless, Liu Zhiyuan is someone on our side. We cannot allow anyone to disturb his advancement! Moreover, Deputy Patriarch Ji might have already learned about it.” Peng Lanqing sighed.
“How is that possible?” Wang Shihai chased up to Peng Lanqing when he saw that his friend was walking away.
“Nothing is impossible. Other than the destroyed Zhu Family, the Murong, Ji, Yun, and Liu Clans should be quite familiar with this territory! Moreover, the Zhu Family was a colossal existence. How can we be sure that Zhu Ying is the only one who survived?”
Wang Shihai gasped in shock. “Do you mean…”
Before he could complete his sentence, Ji Wenlong’s voice boomed across the entire Willow Forest. “Since the two of you have come, why don’t you show yourselves?”
“Hahaha… Mister Ji is really quick. I can’t even keep up with you…” A gentle voice replied.
As Ji Wenlong stood high in the skies above the Willow Forest, he saw a trace of light flashing across the leaves and branches below. His tense expression loosened up slightly.
The gentle voice that rang earlier appeared again. “Mister Ji, I’m really curious. Why don’t you enter the core region of the Willow Forest to control the protection formation? With you to hold the fort, even if I worked together with Mister Dongfang here, we won’t be able to do a thing to you!”
Before Ji Wenlong could say anything, another raspy voice echoed through the air. “Isn’t it simple? This old bastard is afraid that he’ll be stuck controlling the barrier. He won’t be able to carry out his master plan!”
Ji Wenlong’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He sneered in response, “Lang Xiaoyun, your little doggy nose is really efficient. You even managed to chase me all the way here…”
He turned to the other person and sighed, “Dongfang Daying, the Rose Party has been playing with fire all these years… Aren’t you afraid that you’ll burn yourselves?”
Dongfang Daying roared with laughter. “Old Man Ji, did you grow stupid after teaching in the institution for so many years? Even if we choose to give up, do you think you’ll let us off?”
Lang Xiaoyun ignored the both of them and asked “So… What exactly does Mister Ji plan to do here?”
Dongfang Daying snorted in contempt, “He’s after the Zhu Family Manor… Do you really think that they don’t have any schemes to take over the Coral Forest? Liu Jitang only entered earlier than Ji Wenlong and the rest because of his greed!”
“Oh? The number one family of the You Continent?” Lang Xiaoyun chuckled. “We heard of the Zhu Family before. Since Mister Ji knows where the Zhu Family Manor is, why don’t you bring us there?”
“Hah… Do you think bloodline cultivators like you guys have a use for the inheritance of the Zhu Family?” Ji Wenlong glanced at Dongfang Daying from the corner of his eye and muttered, “Lang Xiaoyun, are you going to go back on your words and help the Rose Party to take over the Coral Forest?”
Dongfang Daying’s expression changed slightly. But he quickly regained his calm. “Hah… What an elaborate show of sowing discord among us. Brother Lang, there’s no need to bother with him…”
After he spoke, Lang Xiaoyun tossed his weapons out and a giant moon appeared in the skies above, crashing straight down towards the protection formation of the core region of the Willow Forest.
A light flashed through Ji Wenlong’s eyes, but he didn’t stop Lang Xiaoyun.
Before his Startling Moon Loop could smash into the protection barrier, the willow trees that were swaying in the wind a second ago enlarged tens of times. They stretched high up into the skies, forming a large barrier around the protection formation.
Three colored lights emerged from Lang Xiaoyun’s Startling Moon Loop as it slammed into the row of trees below. They sliced through the long branches and scattered the thin leaves, but the trees grew back endlessly.
Lang Xiaoyun’s Startling Moon Loop and the protection formation were stuck in a stalemate as neither managed to overpower the other.
Lang Xiaoyun laughed, “The protection formation is really amazing… I wonder how long it can last? Brother Dongfang, can you hold him back for a second? I wish to experience the intricacies of the protection formation.”
Dongfang Daying smiled in response, “Oh, sure!”
Ji Wenlong snorted in contempt, “Are you blind? Can’t you see that he’s destroying the Coral Forest as much as he can?”
Dongfang Daying revealed a helpless expression and sighed, “I don’t want this to happen either. However, your Tongyou Institution is too overbearing! Old man, if you really plan to keep the Coral Forest as intact as possible you better lead the way over to the Zhu Family Manor.”
Ji Wenlong shot him a deep gaze before looking at the giant willows protecting the core region before sighing, “Alright, I’ll bring all of you over.”
Lang Xiaoyun retrieved his Startling Moon Loop and smiled, “Alright, please!”
Ji Wenlong glared at the two of them and a helpless smile eventually appeared on his face. “You better not regret this…”
After speaking, he took out an item to tear open the space before him. A huge scarlet door was revealed in the depths of the space he tore open.
“Vermillion Plaque! You actually have one!” Dongfang Daying turned his gaze away from the scarlet gates in the depths of space and stared at the tiny item in Ji Wenlong’s hand. “In the past, the members of the Zhu Family who were scattered outside started disappearing… Hehe…”
“This time, Let’s hope you can keep up.” Ji Wenlong ignored him and stepped into the spatial tunnel he opened.
Dongfang Daying didn’t think twice and stepped into the tunnel.
“Heh… There cannot be a third power in the battlefield between two worlds, but we can’t allow anyone to control the Coral Forest by themselves either!” Lang Xiaoyun sneered before following behind.
“They’re gone?!” Wang Shihai’s heart thumped in his chest and he sighed, “I thought that they discovered us!”
Peng Lanqing’s expression was full of worry as he continued, “I don’t think… I don’t think we affected his cultivation, right?”
A bald-headed expert stood behind Peng Lanqing and he was another rank three formation master of the Tongyou Institution called Ma Mingzheng. One of the biggest reasons behind the war on the Tongyou Peak and the destruction of the protection formation around their territory was because of Ma Mingzheng’s absence!
He shook his head in response, “Nope. Lang Xiaoyun didn’t use much power in his strikes. They were probably only trying to force Deputy Patriarch Ji to lead them over to the Zhu Family Manor.
Wang Shihai sighed, “Who would have thought that Deputy Patriarch Ji would be so gracious. If he allowed them to remain for some time, they definitely would have discovered our secret! This… Doesn’t this make Deputy Patriarch Liu seem…”
Ma Mingzheng nodded slowly in acknowledgment. “That is true. The moment Liu Zhuyuan enters the Martial Extermination Realm, the ranking of the Four Great Clans in our city might change. With two great Martial Extermination Realm experts, the Liu Clan will not only overtake the Ji Clan as the largest clan in the city, but they might also leave the constraints of the Tongyou Institution! As instructors of the institution, this… This might not be the best choice for all of us!”
Peng Lanqing thought about it for a second and he muttered hesitantly, “No matter what… The appearance of a new Martial Extermination Realm expert is a good thing for our Tongyou City! Didn’t Deputy Patriarch Ji lead the two of them away before they could discover us?”
Wang Shihai frowned suddenly. “Yeah… Where do you think Deputy Patriarch Ji brought them anyway?”
Peng Lanqing and Ma Mingzheng looked at each other, but they had no idea how to answer him.
All of a sudden, Peng Lanqing turned to look at the little wooden house in the distance and a streak of jade-green light shot through the skies. The grass around the house grew a little taller.
“He’s about to advance… Old Ma, use the formation to stop any signs of his breakthrough from leaking out!”