The noble families and clans of the Great Zhou were feeling disgruntled. The Great Zhou was considered a peak Tier Four civilization, while the Guanxuan Universe was barely considered Tier One.

Expecting a Tier Four civilization to submit to a Tier One was just absurd.

Nonetheless, they had some respect for Ye Guan. After all, during the Great Zhou's crisis, Ye Guan had stepped forward. However, they all believed that the union between Ye Guan and Zhou Fan was too much.

They believed that Ye Guan was overreaching.

A Tier One civilization marrying into a Tier Four ono. Wasn't that aiming too high?

Therefore, when the Great Zhou joined the Guanxuan Academy, there were countless objections. However, due to Zhou Fan's and the imperial family's strong suppression, many factions and clans had no choice but to submit. Even so, resentment lingered, especially since the power gap between Guanxuan Universe's factions and the Great Zhou's was significant. Having to bow to Guanxuan Universe left many in the Great Zhou dissatisfied.

This led to an inherent sense of superiority among the Great Zhou's factions and clans when dealing with the Guanxuan Universe.

Thankfully, Zhou Fan proposed regional governance, which helped maintain peace. Over the years, while there were minor skirmishes between the Great Zhou and Guanxuan Universe, no significant conflicts arose.

However, the murder of an Academy Chief from the Great Zhou had truly enraged Zhou Ling.

It was blatant disrespect toward the Great Zhou! Punishment was necessary—the extermination of ten clans was needed to serve as a warning!

Behind Zhou Ling, the black-robed figure expressed concern. "Lord Zhou Ling, Academy Chief Zhou Rence violated the Guanxuan Laws. This matter…"

Zhou Ling waved dismissively, his tone indifferent. "It's just embezzling some money—hardly a big deal. And as for the Guanxuan Laws, what even is that?"

With disdain, he continued, "Outside the Guanxuan Universe, who takes that seriously?"

The black-robed figure hesitated but said nothing. Zhou Ling's icy gaze silenced him. "Enough. Send all spies immediately. Search every corner. Dig three feet into the ground if you must, but find him."

The black-robed man sighed quietly and left. "Understood."

Zhou Ling closed his eyes and muttered, "Defying the Great Zhou is courting death."

***

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The Abandoned Continent.

After traversing two mountains, Ye Guan and Zang Gang reached another mountain peak thousands of meters away. Faint outlines of grand palaces could be seen atop the mountain peak.

Ye Guan guessed these ruins belonged to one of the clans that had once thrived on the Abandoned Continent.

Pulling Zang Gang along, Ye Guan continued onward. He noticed that this young girl was incredibly resilient. Despite the arduous journey over mountains and rough terrain, she didn't complain once. Her survival skills in the wild surprised him.

While eating roasted meat that Ye Guan had prepared earlier, Zang Gang gnawed at it savagely, her mouth covered in grease.

Ye Guan glanced at her and chuckled. "Don't rush. I still have more in my ring. I'll roast some for you later."

Zang Gang looked at him but said nothing, slowing her eating pace noticeably.

Just then, a blue light shot into the sky in the distance, piercing the heavens before dimming and vanishing moments later.

Being closer now, Ye Guan observed it more clearly—it was an array. A passage to the Heavenly World!

He quickened his pace, pulling Zang Gang along.

After scaling several smaller peaks, they arrived at the mountaintop. Before them stood a few majestic structures. Ancient and weathered, these buildings bore the marks of time. The blue light had come from behind one of these grand halls. ɽá₦οꞖËs̈

Ye Guan sensed the fluctuations. He scanned the surroundings before leading Zang Gang behind one of the structures. A massive stone platform was on an open field, and there was a teleportation array on top of it.

Zhan Fu was standing before the array with furrowed brows.

Seeing Ye Guan and Zang Gang, Zhan Fu was briefly startled. "It's you two."

Ye Guan glanced at Zhan Fu. Clearly, he couldn't activate the array. It wasn't surprising—Zhan Fu wasn't a cultivator, after all.

Ignoring him, Ye Guan brought Zang Gang closer to the array. After examining it, he quickly identified the formation's mechanism. Array formations here were basic, involving simple teleportation.

Zhan Fu smiled. "Brother, do you understand this array?"

Ye Guan nodded. "A little."

Zhan Fu's smile widened. "I must have underestimated you."

Ye Guan ignored him. Leading Zang Gang to the array's core, he placed a spiritual crystal into the slot. The array absorbed it instantly, its runes glowing faintly blue. However, the light quickly faded.

Ye Guan inserted more crystals. This time, the blue light grew stronger, eventually shooting into the sky and enveloping them in a radiant beam.

Moments later, the light vanished. The array trembled violently, and the ground beneath them shook.

Ye Guan frowned, inspecting the array's runes. He soon discovered the issue.

Due to age and neglect, many runes in the array had failed.

Zhan Fu asked nervously, "Brother, is there a problem?"

Ye Guan nodded. "Some of the runes are broken."

Zhan Fu's expression darkened.

Ye Guan said, "We'll need to repair them, but we need some tools first."

Looking at the nearby halls, he led Zang Gang toward one. Zhan Fu hesitated before following.

The hall was dilapidated, and dust would rise with every step they took.

There were broken statues in the middle of the hall, and there were six prayer mats before the statues.

Ye Guan approached the statues. There were many scattered items on the pedestal.

Zhan Fu commented, "It seems they left in a hurry."

Ye Guan nodded slightly, scanning the objects until his gaze landed on a brush.

Picking it up, he waved it to dust it off.

Zhan Fu asked, "Brother, what's that?"

"A spiritual brush. Let's see if it works."

He turned to leave with Zang Gang, but as they exited the hall, the central statue trembled.

Seeing this, Zhan Fu's face turned pale, and he backed out of the hall instantly.

Ye Guan turned toward the statue, watching as it cracked. A phantom emerged—a white-robed elder radiating an aura of righteousness. The elder's gaze locked onto Zang Gang. "What a powerful murderous intent."

A terrifying pressure enveloped Zang Gang.

Ye Guan immediately pulled her behind him, meeting the elder's gaze. The elder froze momentarily, surprised. Ye Guan gave off an inexplicably unique aura.

Ye Guan spoke calmly, "We came here seeking a path forward. If we've disturbed you, my apologies."

The elder's gaze turned cold. "You and the man may leave, but the girl must stay."

Zang Gang said nothing, staring at the elder.

Frowning, Ye Guan asked, "Why?"

The elder growled, "This girl reeks of bloodlust. Her bloodline carries immense evil. She is a great threat and must not remain in the world."

Ye Guan glanced at Zang Gang before responding, "Her life has been full of hardship. Surviving until now is no small feat. Please show mercy and give her a chance. I will guide her well."

The elder sneered. "You wish to help an evildoer?"

Ye Guan shook his head. "Who can survive without committing some evil in this cruel world? The fault lies not in her but in the world."

The elder's aura surged as he asked, "Do you understand that the Heavenly Dao condemns someone like her?"

Ye Guan met his gaze, unfazed. "If the Heavenly Dao condemns her, then the Heavenly Dao is wrong."

"The Heavenly Dao is wrong!"

The grand hall descended into complete silence.

Zang Gang looked at Ye Guan without saying a word.

The elder stared at Ye Guan, utterly shocked at this moment. He could hardly believe that a mere youth would dare to utter such a blasphemous and outrageous statement.

The Heavenly Dao? That was the most revered existence in the hearts of cultivators! And yet, he dared to claim that Heavenly Dao is wrong? Is he fearless because he's ignorant?

The elder fixed his gaze on Ye Guan.

The two locked eyes, staring at each other.

After a moment, the elder glanced at Zang Gang, who was hiding behind Ye Guan, and then shifted his gaze back to Ye Guan. His eyes narrowed, a glimmer of greed flashing within them. "You possess the same aura as her. No wonder you are so determined to protect her. Since both of you are great evildoers, you both deserve to die."

A rare bloodline!

The elder had not expected to encounter a rare bloodline on this continent. Their unique bloodline was immensely beneficial to cultivators like him, especially top-tier rare bloodlines, which were even more miraculous than divine elixirs.

Consuming one could rival hundreds of years of cultivation.

Ye Guan stared at the elder with narrowed eyes.

The elder raised his right hand and gently pressed downward. Instantly, an invisible and terrifying pressure enveloped the entire hall.

Just then, Ye Guan grabbed the blade in Zang Gang's hand. Without hesitation, he slashed open his palm. His palm split open, and fresh blood poured out of it.

Ye Guan pressed his bleeding hand to Zang Gang's lips. "Drink!"

Zang Gang blinked but didn't resist. She sucked in, and her eyes turned crimson in an instant. Her blood started boiling, and her bloodline rapidly changed.

Boom!

A terrifying aura erupted from Zang Gang—the Mad Demon Bloodline!

Coca and Corlumbus's Thoughts

This chap giving some vampire vibes….