Chapter 897: Seven Factions Gather

In the Eastern Sea, where the new draconic palace had just been erected, a group of sea spirits bowed respectfully to Ao Zhou, who was seated proudly on a draconic throne.

"We greet the Dragon King! Long live the Dragon King!"

"Haha, very good!" Ao Zhou laughed in satisfaction.

Nearby, smaller dragons guided the sea spirits to present their tribute and offerings in another area.

Although the new draconic palace wasn't very influential as yet, Ao Zhou now ruled a small patch of the sea as a self-proclaimed Dragon King. He reveled in the freedom of his domain, almost like a bandit lord up in the mountains.

"This is the life! Someday, I'll conquer a vast empire, one greater than Xiao Nanfeng's! I'll make him regret not choosing me as a guardian beast of Dazheng and not currying favor with me, haha!" Ao Zhou envisioned a grand future ahead of him.

Just then, a small dragon rushed over. "Dragon King, a group of black-robed figures has just appeared in the north. They're setting up a large formation over an extensive area, and they've driven all the nearby spirits away. When I went to investigate, they beat me up and tossed me out."

"What? Who dares cause trouble on my turf? Didn't you mention my name?" Ao Zhou demanded.

"I did, but they said that the Imperial Court is gone, that you're just a relic of a bygone era. As for the new Eastern Sea Dragon King, they think it's all a joke.

"What? Take me there. I want to see who's so brazen!" Ao Zhou roared in fury.

He gathered a force of lobster soldiers and crab generals as he personally led the charge toward the island on which the wild wastes hidden realm was located.

Even before they could approach the area, they were faced with multiple layers of defensive formations illuminating the surface of the sea. Gold, green, and purple lights shimmered across the water. Numerous black-robed cultivators hovered above the sea, manipulating compasses to send waves of energy toward the nearby island and causing the surrounding void to tremble violently.

Ao Zhou, surfacing from the water with his followers, was taken aback by the sight.

"Look at their robes! It's like they belong to several different factions. What are they doing on that island?" a spirit murmured.

"There must be some incredible treasure on that island!" Ao Zhou's eyes lit up with greed and excitement.

The black-robed cultivators noticed the arrival of the spirits, but ignored them and focused on their formations.

"You there! You thieves dare steal from me, the Dragon King? Do you want to die?" Ao Zhou roared.

The black-robed cultivators turned to Ao Zhou for an instant, but the majority then ignored him and returned their attention to the island. Only a few continued to keep their eyes on him.

"Are you all deaf? Where did all of you come from?" Ao Zhou thundered again.

"Scram!" one black-robed cultivator shouted.

Ao Zhou was entirely outraged. Even if they didn't recognize his authority as Dragon King, they should know that he was once a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, a Golden Immortal in his own right! How dare these random black-robed cultivators tell him to scram?

"You insolent fools! Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson!" Ao Zhou thundered.

He transformed into a massive black dragon and unleashed a powerful roar. His draconic aura stirred up towering waves, which surged toward the group of black-robed figures with overwhelming force.

Confident in his power as a Golden Immortal, Ao Zhou believed that he could destroy the formation in one move and teach these intruders a lesson they'd never forget.

To his shock, however, the black-robed figures didn't react defensively. Only one stepped forward and raised a hand.

A gigantic palm-shaped construct of energy formed in the air and struck Ao Zhou's body with incredible strength.

"A Boundless Immortal?!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

The massive palm sent him flying. Blood spurted from his mouth; he fell, gravely injured.

"King!" The spirits rushed over to his side in fear.

"How can that be? Where did these Boundless Immortals come from?" Ao Zhou muttered in disbelief.

The black-robed figure who struck Ao Zhou appeared to be nothing but a subordinate. He turned and addressed another figure nearby. "Master, should I kill Ao Zhou?"

Hearing this, Ao Zhou froze in terror. He observed the island more carefully and noticed that the black-robed cultivators were divided into seven distinct factions, each of which seemed to be on guard against the others. The figure who had just attacked him wasn't even the leader of his faction. Just how many Boundless Immortals were gathered there?

"Retreat!" Ao Zhou shouted. Without any hesitation, he dove into the sea and fled.

The other sea spirits quickly followed suit and vanished into the depths.

The black-robed cultivators exchanged glances, but didn't pursue him. They resumed their work on the formation.

After some time, the void rippled as a portal emerged over the island.

The black-robed cultivators collectively sighed in relief.

"Everyone, the entrance to the wild wastes hidden realm has been opened. Who wishes to enter first?"

The cultivators all hesitated.

"Let the Golden Immortals test it first," another cultivator said.

Two black-robed cultivators from each faction cautiously entered the portal, flew about inside for a while, and then re-emerged unscathed.

"Golden Immortals can pass through without issue," the cultivator confirmed. "Now, Boundless Immortals."

A Boundless Immortal from each faction stepped forward. The first one entered the portal, but the moment he did so, a gigantic white hand materialized from within the wild wastes hidden realm and grabbed at him.

"No good!" the Boundless Immortal hissed.

He struck at the hand with all his might, but it didn't budge. At the last second, he managed to flee from the portal just in time.

"Heaven's Hand? It looks like the restrictions on the realm haven't been lifted. Boundless Immortals are still heavily suppressed within," someone commented.

The other Boundless Immortals also tested the portal, but all suffered the same issue.

"Now that the entrance is open, who intends to enter?" one cultivator asked.

The factions all remained silent.

"Blue Lantern has returned. His father, despite his stubbornness, is likely to leave the bronze compass to him. If Blue Lantern obtains it, we'll lose the chance to seize it for ourselves for good. Isn't anyone willing to challenge him?" another cultivator urged.

"The faction leaders certainly won't be able to enter. Boundless Immortals are suppressed within tnhis realm. Who would take the risk?"

The cultivators fell silent. Just then, a female cultivator spoke up. "It's not entirely impossible for a Boundless Immortal to enter. I have a protection token that can permit safe entry for a Boundless Immortal. Does anyone desire it?"

She raised a piece of white jade in the air.

"A protection token?" The black-robed cultivators all turned to the woman.

"It's a token imbued with the aura of the heavens, one issued by a saint. Its wielder will be overlooked by the heavens when they summon a calamity to attack the world—it's a free pass to survival," the woman explained.

"In other words, something granted to those who have become a saint's lackeys?" one cultivator asked.

"More or less. We've tried it out, and these tokens can also safeguard their wielders from the heavens' restrictions in certain hidden realms. I expect the same is true here. Allow me to demonstrate."

She entered the portal with the token in hand. As she did so, the token shielded her in white light. Though she gave off a Boundless Immortal's aura, no Heaven's Hand emerged to suppress her.

The woman walked back out. "As you can see, the protection token works. It permits a single Boundless Immortal to enter. Who is willing to do so and seize the bronze compass?"

"Why not enter yourself?" one cultivator asked.

"I'd like to, but my father won't allow it. He wishes to leave the chance to the senior disciples gathered here today." The woman smiled.

"You're Su Qingchan, aren't you? If I'm not mistaken, you were on good terms with Blue Lantern in the past. Don't you want to see how he's doing?" someone asked.

"Senior Uncle, everyone was only able to leave the wild wastes hidden realm back then because of me. Isn't it rather impolite of you to mock me over such matters now?" Su Qingchan retorted.

"Chan'er, mind your manners," another black-robed cultivator warned sternly.

"Understood." Su Qingchan nodded. She turned to address the others. "Opening the entrance to the wild wastes hidden realm was a collaborative effort. Whoever ends up with the bronze compass can compensate the other factions. Our faction will not compete for it."

"That's easy for you to say. Taking the bronze compass from the Fenghuang faction is equivalent to severing them from their inheritance and making them sworn enemies. You're afraid they'll curse you with their dying breaths, aren't you? Those Boundless Immortals who enter will either fail or perish alongside the Fenghuang faction. You simply don't want to die—you're hoping others will do so for you while you wait out here to collect the spoils!" another black-robed cultivator shouted.

Su Qingchen replied calmly, "Senior Uncle, if you're unwilling to enter, no one's forcing you to do so."

"Insolence," the black-robed man replied with a snort.

Su Qingchan ignored him and turned to the other cultivators. "Our faction will not take the lead. If no one else is willing to enter, let's leave it at that."

The cultivators exchanged glances. The factions were all hesitating. Gradually, they formed small clusters and erected soundproof formations to conduct private discussions.

Among them were Shi Tianbei and Sage Qingyun, both garbed in black.

"Qingyun, you enter." Shi Tianbei sent Sage Qingyun a mental transmission.

"Me? Hierarch, I'm not worried of Blue Lantern or Xiao Nanfeng, but I'm worried that the Fenghuang faction head will curse me," Sage Qingyun replied anxiously.

"Don't worry about securing the bronze compass. Simply catch Xiao Nanfeng and Xia Yu'er," Shi Tianbei replied.

"Ah? That's much better. I'll do it!"

"Speak up, then."

Sage Qingyun nodded. "Hand me the token. I'll go in."

All the cultivators turned toward Sage Qingyun.

Many wondered what he was doing, but now that someone had volunteered, they halted their discussions.

Sage Qingyun flew toward Su Qingchan, who handed him the protection token. "In that case, we'll count on you. We'll send some of our cultivators to accompany you."

"Very well," Sage Qingyun replied.

Several subordinates from each faction accompanied Sage Qingyun through the portal.

Wielding the protection token in hand, Sage Qingyun was immune from the restrictions in the hidden realm. They flew deep within.

With a loud boom, the black-robed figures outside withdrew their power, and the void portal sealed shut. They settled down and prepared to wait.