Two Realms: A giant of immortal martial arts emerges from low Wu Gan

The appearance of Liu Yue and the unexplained disappearance of Zi Ling were like adding fuel to the fire of last night's storm, bringing Jiang Shu's unease and vigilance to their peak.

The War Alliance still appeared grand and imposing on the surface, but beneath the shadow of this magnificent palace, he could smell the blood and the stench of a storm brewing.

Should I leave before this matter involves me?

This thought strongly impacted Jiang Shu.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, let alone in such a treacherous vortex where even a peak Venerable could perish instantly!
Unlike other places, the War Alliance has too many powerful figures. My cultivation at the peak of the tenth realm is considered good in the outside world, but it is still far inferior to a behemoth like the War Alliance.

However, this thought only appeared in his mind for a moment before Jiang Shu forcibly suppressed it.

There are indeed dangers within the War Alliance.

But there are still opportunities within it.

Among the heroes of Fengyun Tianjiao, Zhan Feng, in particular, was wholeheartedly devoted to him.

She had just agreed to his trip to the Ancient Path of War Souls in three days.

If he were to leave without saying goodbye now, although Zhan Feng would understand, there would still be a rift between them.

Whether in the vast and desolate realm or the Star Ruins Realm, the importance of a partner is extremely high.

If Zhan Feng doesn't perish in the future, even if he doesn't advance to the Saint Realm, he can still become a peak Venerable.

Even when he is not around, he can still protect Xuanxing.

Moreover, the fighting spirit and insights of the human ancestors contained within the Ancient Land of War Souls truly held an irresistible attraction for him.

Giving up now would be too much to bear.

More importantly, will Zhanfeng be drawn into this unknown vortex?
Jiang Shu weighed the pros and cons carefully.

He was not a reckless person, nor would he ever entrust his life and death to some vague and uncertain fate.

He decided to stay, but with extreme caution.

Before the situation becomes extremely dangerous, he needs to wait for Zhan Feng, probe his intentions, and personally confirm the journey to the Ancient Path of War Souls three days later.

If any disturbance gets out of control, he will immediately unleash all his trump cards and use the Heart of Space to forcibly break through the blockade and escape.

The life-saving measures given to him by Venerable Luo, along with the various trump cards he obtained from the Deep Space Sea, gave him a 70% chance of escaping at the first sign of a worsening situation.

Not to mention, he also possesses the ultimate ability to travel between two worlds.

Having made up his mind, Jiang Shu said no more.

He carefully examined his body to make sure the subtle effects of last night's brief shock had completely subsided.

Over the next two days, the atmosphere in the core area of ​​the War Alliance underwent a subtle yet profound change, as perceived by Jiang Shu.

The first thing was to escalate martial law.

The core area, which was already considered an impregnable fortress, now has a significantly increased number of patrolling squads of soldiers, and their levels have clearly improved. Most of them are elites at or above the late stage of the ninth realm, and occasionally you can even see generals at the tenth realm leading the squads with their auras concealed.

Each team exuded a murderous aura, their sharp gazes scanning every corner of the space as if searching for unseen enemies.

The fluctuations in spatial restrictions have become more complex and frequent.

Secondly, the whereabouts of high-ranking officials remain a mystery.

Aside from the nine crimson stars that can still be seen floating above the core area every day, the stars representing the nine Supreme Elders seem to be slightly dimmer than usual, and none of them have been seen to appear again.

Zhan Jiuxiao had completely disappeared. Jiang Shu tried to contact him using the Star Token, but received only a cold, unresponsive reply.

Liu Yue knew almost nothing when asked, clearly indicating that she had no access to any core information.

An invisible tension permeated the air.

Those core disciples of the battle alliance who could be encountered occasionally among the floating islands were all walking hurriedly, their expressions much more solemn than before, and they exchanged fewer glances with each other, with a hint of suspicion and wariness.

An invisible pressure seemed to stagnate in the air, and even the artificial suns in the sky seemed to have been tinged with an indescribable leaden gray.

The occasional shouts of battle from the training grounds or the cultivation fluctuations emanating from the distant floating islands have almost completely disappeared in the past two days, leaving an eerily silent atmosphere.

Liu Yue continued to deliver abundant spiritual food and cultivation resources every day on time, and her attitude became even more respectful and careful.

When Jiang Shu casually asked about Zi Ling or the strange events of last night, her eyes darted away, and her words became more tense and vague. She only repeatedly emphasized that the Vice Alliance Leader had said that the elder should rest and recuperate and not pay attention to other matters.

However, these words only deepened Jiang Shu's doubts.

This was no ordinary alert; it was clearly the result of a tense atmosphere following a major internal incident.

The urgent mission that Zi Ling mentioned in Liu Yue's words increasingly resembled a lie intended to cover up the truth.

However, he did not try to subtly probe further. Instead, he quietly absorbed the resources sent by Liuyue, seized the time to refine his own magical power, and comprehended the fusion of the Heart of Space and the Primordial Dao Rhyme.

With every bit of strength you have, you have a greater chance of protecting yourself when facing challenges.

He no longer held any hope for the Star Token that represented his status as an outer sect elder, treating it purely as a decoration.

At the same time, he quietly infused a faint divine thought containing spatial coordinate information into a secret jade talisman from the Nine Universe Merchant Alliance that he had hidden close to his body.

That was the emergency communication method agreed upon with Venerable Luo. Once crushed, no matter how far apart they were, Venerable Luo would sense it immediately, tear through space, and come to their aid.

After all, the situation might become tense, and if the Nine Universe Business Alliance could provide support, it would be of great benefit to them.

In this suffocating silence and oppression, time itself seemed to become viscous and slow.

Jiang Shu sat cross-legged in the quiet room of the guest hall, the space around him rippling like water, isolating him from the inside and outside of the palace.

He was mostly absorbed in comprehending the Heart of Space and consolidating its power, cultivating his own spatial laws, but he always maintained a sliver of clarity, like a taut bowstring, vigilant against any disturbance from the outside world.

A moment later, a slight spatial fluctuation came from the palace gate, breaking the tranquility.

Liu Yue's voice rang out, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"Elder Jiang, the young alliance leader has come to visit."

Even before his last self-imposed seclusion, Zhan Feng had already been designated by the War Alliance as its future leader, with his only rival being his own younger sister, a position of exceptional prestige.

Jiang Shu opened his eyes, and a flash of silver-blue light disappeared deep in his pupils.

"Invite him in."

Zhan Feng strode in from outside the palace, his face seemingly trying to put on his usual bold smile, but the smile appeared somewhat forced and stiff, and a trace of barely perceptible worry was hidden deep in his eyes.

His bronze armor gleamed even brighter than usual, as if it had just been vigorously polished. The bronze battle axe hanging at his waist had a restrained luster, yet it subtly exuded an aura of impending battle.

"Brother Jiang, it seems your cultivation these past few days has yielded new results. The density of your laws is comparable to that of an ordinary Venerable." Zhan Feng greeted him loudly as soon as he entered the room, sitting directly opposite Jiang Shu. He looked around and praised him, but his eyes never met Jiang Shu's gaze.

"Did I disturb your meditation? How have you been feeling in the guild these past two days?"

He seemed to wander around casually, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the various spatial restrictions in the hall. The scrutinizing movements were subtle, but they could not escape Jiang Shu's spatial perception.

"Stillness breeds movement, and Brother Zhan's visit is also a form of exchange. The Zhan Alliance is rich in spiritual energy, which is perfect for stabilizing one's cultivation level."

Jiang Shu remained calm and gestured for Zhan Feng to sit down. Liu Yue had already served him some spiritual tea.

Jiang Shu noticed that Liu Yue's fingers trembled very slightly when she poured the tea.

Zhan Feng picked up his teacup, took a sip, smacked his lips, and seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.

He put down his teacup, a hearty smile appearing on his face, but this time, there was a hint of reassurance in that smile.

"Haha, that's good."

"By the way, I came to tell you that the War Alliance might be making some moves in the next couple of days. If you notice anything unusual, don't worry, just stay quiet and meditate. No one will bother you."

Jiang Shu put down his cup, looked calmly at Zhan Feng, and asked, following his words, "What's going on?"

"Brother Zhan, the patrols in the core area have been noticeably increased these past few days, and the atmosphere is rather unusual. Has something happened?"

"If there is any need, I may do my part."

Since he is already an outer elder of the War Alliance, it is only natural for him to step in and help when the War Alliance encounters problems. No one can say anything against him.

Upon hearing this, Zhan Feng's smile faltered for a moment, then widened again as he patted Jiang Shu's shoulder forcefully.

"Hey! I knew you were sharp-minded."

"It's nothing serious, don't overthink it!"

He paused, looked around, and saw that Liuyue had already left the palace, but he still subconsciously lowered his voice.

"Well... there's been a little mishap at the ancestral land these past few days, and the energy field of the altar is a bit unstable."

He tried to make his tone sound relaxed, as if he were talking about a trivial, everyday meal.

"As you know, the ancestral land is of extraordinary significance to our human race. It enshrines the spirits of our ancestors and sacred objects, and cannot tolerate the slightest mishap."

"When the energy fluctuates, the space also becomes somewhat chaotic, so the alliance has decided to impose a temporary curfew to investigate potential dangers, and at the same time ask the elders to take action to stabilize the altar."

Zhan Feng is not good at lying; anyone could see the unease on his face and the stiff smile.

Things are definitely not as simple as he makes them out to be.

"Is everything alright now?"

Jiang Shu followed up on his words, her face revealing just the right amount of concern and "believing it to be true".

"Then everything must be alright!"

Zhan Feng nodded heavily, with a hint of pride in his voice.

"With those venerable ancestors around, no matter how big the storm, it can be calmed down!"

“My father handled it personally, and it’s all settled! The situation is basically stable now. At most, we’ll conduct another day or two of checks to ensure there are no future problems before lifting martial law.”

"Because of this, the opening of the ancient road will be delayed by a few days. I was worried that you would be anxious, so I asked you to be careful about your safety these few days and not to wander around the edge of the forbidden area."

"After a few days of thorough investigation, the martial law will be lifted naturally. At that time, the Ancient Path of War Souls will open, and we can go back to what we were doing."

He picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, as if using this action to cover up something.

"Don't worry, it's a small matter. We're just playing it safe."

"Once martial law is lifted, I'll come find you on the ancient road. I guarantee you'll be amazed!"

Jiang Shu looked at Zhan Feng's confident expression that "the problem has been properly resolved and is under control." His face remained calm, but his heart was churning like a stormy sea.

The more Zhan Feng behaves in this way, the more it proves that the situation of the Zhan Alliance is more complicated than he imagined.

"I see, thank you for informing me, Brother Zhan."

"Since the ancestral land's energy is unstable, it's only a matter of time before Uncle Zhan and the other elders personally take action."

"I will keep a close eye on it and wait for the ancient road to open."

Seeing that Jiang Shu seemed to have truly believed him, Zhan Feng visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and his forced, heroic demeanor relaxed somewhat.

"Alright, I won't bother you anymore. You continue your cultivation and wait for my news!"

He finished another cup of tea, then got up to say goodbye and left in a hurry. His steps were still brisk, but his back view revealed a sense of haste and heaviness.

As Zhan Feng's figure disappeared outside the palace gate, the understanding smile on Jiang Shu's face vanished instantly, replaced by extreme solemnity.

His fingertips unconsciously traced the cold rim of the glass, making a barely audible friction sound.

"Ancestral land... a minor fork... unstable energy..."

Jiang Shu repeated Zhan Feng's explanation in a low voice, each word sounding as if it had been chilled to the bone, utterly lacking any persuasiveness.

The terrifying evil that erupted that night, with its violence and chaos that would chill even a Venerable One, was on a completely different level from the so-called "altar energy fluctuations" and "spatial instability."

That was definitely the aura of an extremely dangerous and bizarre being, filled with darkness and depravity, and was by no means an ordinary energy imbalance.

What chilled Jiang Shu even more was Zhan Feng's attitude.

Although his words were firm and his eyes were sincere, that very sincerity suggested that he himself was likely being kept in the dark.

He firmly believed what his father had told him.

Even he, the son of the vice leader and one of the core heirs of the War Alliance, was unaware of the truth!
Zhan Jiuxiao selectively let his son know the mild excuse of "the accident in the ancestral land," but perfectly covered up the truth of the evil power that tore through the stars and the fierce battle between the Venerables.

What lies behind this is far more serious and secretive than one can imagine.

The martial law imposed by the alliance is far more complex than a trivial matter concerning the ancestral lands.

Beneath this calm surface, turbulent undercurrents could probably swallow countless galaxies.

Given the size of the War Alliance, if something unexpected were to happen to them, the entire inner circle of the Star Ruins Realm might face a major reshuffle!

In the following two days, the oppressive feeling that seemed much more relaxed but actually made people afraid to speak loudly did not lessen because of Zhan Feng's words. On the contrary, the atmosphere in the entire core area was like a suppressed tsunami, accumulating a heavier force beneath the calm surface.

The patrolling squads had grown larger, their footsteps heavy and orderly, their dark gold armor reflecting a cold, chilling light in the shadows. (End of Chapter)