Chapter 46: Autumn Desert

In the battle between Yuwen Tianlan and Zhu Li, Zhu Li’s headquarters was completely destroyed, leaving only ruins. Moreover, all of Zhu Li’s elite forces were killed as well. It could be said that apart from those Soul Immortals who had already gone to other planets to develop, all of Zhu Li’s top figures were dead.
Most importantly, without Zhu Li, this Earth Soul Immortal, Zhu Li’s family no longer had any chance for growth. The forces on various planets would surely take this opportunity to wipe out all of Zhu Li’s factions there.
At that moment, the Zhu Li members on different planets received messages from their kin on Fangyang Star and learned of their family’s current situation.
Almost simultaneously, all Zhu Li members on other planets secretly rushed to the Fire Glow Merchant Alliance on their respective planets and then used space teleportation arrays to return to Zhu Yan Star, abandoning all their other factions.
When Yuwen Tianlan returned to Yangguang City on Fangyang Star, he found countless discussions throughout the city, all about the upheavals in Zhu Li’s family.
“I heard that Zhu Li’s headquarters on Zhu Yan Star was suddenly attacked by an Earth Immortal, and the entire headquarters was destroyed.”
“That’s not all. I heard that Zhu Li, the Earth Immortal of Zhu Li’s family, didn’t return to the headquarters, which means he must be dead.”
“Without an Earth Immortal, Zhu Li’s family is just an ordinary faction and will eventually be swallowed up by larger forces.”
“The Xiyang Alliance is in trouble now. Those small factions that united because of Zhu Li’s family will now face pressure from the three major forces on the Xiyang Continent due to Zhu Li’s death.”
“All of Zhu Li’s strongholds in the Hai Feng Mountains have been abandoned; only the minor forces of the Yuanxing Sect remain.”
“I’m curious—who exactly is this Earth Immortal who dared to attack Zhu Li’s headquarters?”
…
Yuwen Tianlan merely smiled at these rumors and discussions before rushing back to his own Yuwen family’s headquarters and entering his cultivation site, the Central Hall.
“Qitian, come to the Central Hall!”
At that moment, clan leader Yuwen Qitian, who was in his study, suddenly heard Yuwen Tianlan’s telepathic message.
Hearing Yuwen Tianlan’s voice, Yuwen Qitian’s anxious heart finally settled, and with a face filled with joy, he immediately headed to the entrance of the Central Hall.
As soon as he stopped, Yuwen Tianlan welcomed him inside the hall.
“Ancestor, you finally killed Zhu Li!” Yuwen Qitian exclaimed excitedly as soon as he stepped inside.

Hearing this, Yuwen Tianlan’s expression showed no joy either; his eyes dimmed as if he had no energy left in his body. Yuwen Qitian only thought that once Zhu Li died, the Zhu family would no longer pose a threat, but he didn’t realize that Yuwen Tianlan himself had already been controlled by someone else. “Qitian, since Zhu Li is dead, use your family’s strength to take care of the Xiyang Alliance. At the same time, discuss with Tongzhou Hall to get their share of the Yulin mineral deposits,” Yuwen Tianlan said indifferently. “Yes!” Yuwen Qitian immediately responded with enthusiasm. At that moment, seeing Yuwen Tianlan’s state, he thought it was just due to the exhaustion from the battle and didn’t consider anything else. Soon, Yuwen Tianlan sent Yuwen Qitian out of the Central Hall. ※※※ The largest city of Zhu Yanxing was Yanhua City. At that time, a group of people emerged from the Huoxia Merchant Alliance in Yanhua City. All of them wore uniform blue clothes, and their arrival attracted all the cultivators in Yanhua City. The group consisted of ten people. The two leaders were both Earth Soul Immortals, while the other eight were Higher Soul Immortals. One of the leaders was tall and had a cold appearance, his expression indifferent, as if he disdained everything in the world. The other was quite obese with small eyes, but his steps were steady, inspiring respect. As soon as the ten people left the Huoxia Merchant Alliance, they flew into the air and disappeared under the gaze of the countless cultivators’ immortal and spiritual senses in Yanhua City. Somewhere in the air, the ten stopped. “Qiu Mo, ever since we left Yanhua City, I’ve heard many rumors about Zhu Li. Could it be that your old friend Zhu Li has really been killed?” the obese Earth Soul Immortal spoke calmly. Naturally, the cold-looking Earth Soul Immortal was Qiu Mo, Zhu Li’s friend he had met on Diyou Star. Qiu Mo’s expression grew even colder, and a murderous aura began to surround him. “Hmph, if Zhu Li really died, I must find the real culprit. Not only will I kill him, but I’ll also exterminate all his relatives and allies,” Qiu Mo said coldly. Once, when both Qiu Mo and Zhu Li were Human Soul Immortals, they met on Diyou Star and had trained and adventured together. Moreover, Qiu Mo was able to enter the Youhan Sect thanks to Zhu Li’s help. Back then, Zhu Li gave him a Earth Spirit Stone, allowing Qiu Mo to break through to a Six-Star Human Soul Immortal and thus enter the Youhan Sect.

Over the past hundred thousand years, Qiu Mo had been working for the Youhan Sect, but he never forgot Zhu Li’s kindness. This time, leading a team to a planet near Zhu Yan Star, he finally got the chance to meet Zhu Li.

However, as soon as Qiu Mo arrived at Zhu Yan Star, he heard news of Zhu Li’s death in Yanhua City. Moreover, the disciples of the Zhu family were being hunted by forces from various planets. Of course, Qiu Mo was furious.

The other nine members watched Qiu Mo calmly.

“Yu Wei, if Zhu Li is truly dead, you must help me this time,” Qiu Mo said, his expression returning to normal, addressing the obese man.

This obese man was Yu Wei, also from the Youhan Sect, but not from the same branch as Qiu Mo. The two had met by chance this time, and Qiu Mo wanted to build a relationship with Yu Wei, so he invited him to Zhu Yan Star.

“No problem. Since Zhu Li was your old friend, I’ll surely help,” Yu Wei replied with a smile.

Qiu Mo nodded in gratitude.

Soon, the group of ten disappeared into the air, heading straight for Zhu Qu Lake, the headquarters of the Zhu family.

※※※

Headquarters of the Zhu family.

People from the four planets—Jubian Star, Fangyang Star, Anyang Star, and Xiulei Star—had returned to Zhu Yan Star and gathered at the headquarters.

Currently, there were only twenty High Soul Immortals left in the Zhu family. With a total of just one hundred Soul Immortals, they could only be considered a medium-sized faction. Moreover, without any Earth Soul Immortals to lead them, the Zhu family’s prospects were very bleak.

Zhu Yu, Zhu Jun, Zhu Qing, Zhu Ming, Zhu Yuan, Zhu Long, Zhu Shun, Zhu Qiao, Zhu Xiao, and Zhu Bao—these ten people had previously gone to Fangyang Star to form the Xiyang Alliance. Upon hearing of Zhu Li’s death, they realized the risks and brought back all the Zhu family members from Fangyang Star to the headquarters.

At that moment, these ten people were above the headquarters, quietly looking down at the ruins below.

“Elder, what should we do for our Zhu family from now on?” Zhu Bao asked Zhu Yu.

Among the remaining High Soul Immortals of the Zhu family, Zhu Yu held the highest status, and basically everyone relied on him as their leader.

Zhu Yu sighed deeply and said calmly, “With our ancestor dead and no Earth Immortals to lead us, we will eventually attract the attention of various factions. We might even be wiped out by them. The only solution now is for everyone in the Zhu family to use their skills to leave Zhu Yan Star and find their own ways to survive. Hopefully, in the future, someone from the Zhu family will reach the level of Earth Soul Immortal, then return to Zhu Yan Star to reunite the scattered members and rebuild the Zhu family.”

In the past, as the most powerful faction on Zhu Yanxing, the Zhu family had often bullied others, earning them much hatred. Moreover, with a wealth accumulated over a hundred thousand years, they attracted the envy of many other factions. These two factors determined that the Zhu family would be attacked by various forces.

Zhu Yu was well aware of the situation of the Zhu family and could only helplessly scatter its members. As long as one of them reached the level of Earth Soul Immortal, they could return to Zhu Yanxing and reorganize the family.

Zhu Bao and the others silently closed their eyes, painfully accepting this reality. Just as Zhu Yu was about to announce his decision, a person suddenly appeared beside him—Qiu Mo.

“Zhu family, there’s no need to flee. As long as I’m here, your family will always exist,” Qiu Mo said right away upon arriving.

Zhu Yu and the other members of the Zhu family looked at Qiu Mo in surprise, having no idea who he was or why he said such things.

“Elder…” Zhu Yu earnestly wanted to ask for an explanation.

Qiu Mo waved his hand, stopping Zhu Yu from speaking. Of course, he understood why the members of the Zhu family had such expressions.

“Your ancestor, Zhu Li, was an old friend of mine, Qiu Mo. His descendants are my descendants. As long as I’m here, no faction will dare to harm you,” Qiu Mo said calmly.

Qiu Mo was already a Six-Star Earth Soul Immortal, so he certainly had the strength to say such things.

Hearing this, the members of the Zhu family’s expressions brightened immediately. Not only did they no longer need to flee, but they now had even stronger experts to protect them.

“Elder, please avenge our ancestor’s death,” Zhu Yu said, kneeling down at once upon learning that Qiu Mo was Zhu Li’s old friend.

All the Zhu family disciples in the air and on the ground immediately knelt down alongside him.

Qiu Mo nodded and smiled faintly. “Even if you hadn’t asked me, I would have done this. I will definitely find the real culprit behind my friend Zhu Li’s death and avenge him.”

The members of the Zhu family looked at Qiu Mo with excitement.

Qiu Mo glanced at the ruined headquarters of the Zhu family, a fierce look appearing on his face. Then he turned to Zhu Yu and said, “Go and gather all the members of the Zhu family. Collect all the information and report to me everything about the death of my friend Zhu Li.”

Now, Qiu Mo was about to start investigating to find the real killer who had murdered Zhu Li.

Hearing this, Zhu Yu immediately nodded and led all the Soul Immortals to various places to gather all the surviving members of the Zhu family and bring them back to the family’s headquarters.

Qiu Mo sat down in a well-preserved building at the Zhu family’s headquarters.