As Zong Shou pondered, the door above the great ship finally opened. A slender figure stepped out. It was a young man barely twenty, with a face as smooth and white as jade, seemingly just coming of age. His eyes first showed a flicker of confusion as he scanned the surroundings. Then, his expression grew grave. His gaze locked onto Ao Kun and Ao Yi first, before finally turning to Zong Shou, particularly focusing on Lu Wubing behind him. At this moment, Liu Mu Chen, who was still aboard the massive vessel, bowed low, kneeling. “Mu Chen is incompetent. Today I have disgraced my nation and brought it to the brink of annihilation. Having no other recourse, I must request Ancestor Li to help me escape this predicament!” With his words, everyone present recognized this newcomer. The known Supreme Realm experts in this domain were few. And this man’s reputation was currently at its zenith. Even Zong Shou, usually secluded and little aware of external powers, had heard whispers. Legend held his true name was Li Wuque, known by the moniker ‘The Three Thousand Undefeated.’ Before achieving the Dao, he had fought over three thousand battles, suffering not a single defeat. His iron fists had battered through myriad realms. It had taken him merely two thousand years to step into the Supreme Realm. In comparison, his two masters seemed somewhat ‘incompetent.’

No sooner had this thought crossed Zong Shou’s mind than a sharp pain struck his forehead, and the Dragon Shadow’s voice echoed faintly across the distance. “Slandering your master deserves a beating! You truly are ignorant, boy. How can this Li Wuque compare to your old master? This man’s innate talent was too high, and his early progress too rapid; he was unaware of a hidden flaw in his own cultivation technique. The path he chose was also flawed. Reaching the mid-stage of the Supreme Realm will be the absolute limit of his life. After breaking through the Supreme tribulation, the fact that this man has made no progress for two thousand years speaks volumes. How can he compare to the deep foundations built by your master? Even your Master Xuan Shuang, who has only just reconstructed her body, is far inferior. Wei Xukun, Ming—which one of them isn't stronger than him?”

Lin Xuan Shuang reconstructing her body could fool others, but not him, who had been watching Zong Shou’s movements from beginning to end. Zong Shou was momentarily speechless; he had forgotten that the Dragon Shadow was currently linked to his consciousness. However, the latter few sentences sounded suspiciously like sour grapes—

The Dragon Shadow snorted coldly in displeasure and ceased paying attention to what Zong Shou thought. Such matters were hard to clarify. Who was stronger or weaker could only be settled by a fight. Only in Zong Shou’s mind did it mutter: “No wonder! Everyone was wondering who was behind the Nine Capitals Immortal Court. It turns out to be him. That makes sense now—” Observing the rise of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court, which had encountered almost no resistance and no truly formidable enemies, it was clear that the other Supreme Realm experts were unwilling to offend this rising talent too severely, perhaps even intending to court his favor.

Li Wuque listened quietly as Liu Mu Chen spoke, offering no comment. Only when the latter finished did he turn to Zong Shou and ask, “You are Zong Shou?”

Zong Shou smiled, offering no verbal reply, merely inclining his body in a slight bow. Li Wuque accepted it calmly and continued, “So, you sent an envoy to force the Nine Capitals Immortal Court to cede territory, all to provoke Liu Mu Chen and his entire sect into action? This location was actually a trap?”

Zong Shou still said nothing, smiling faintly. To tell this man that yes, he had deliberately set a trap here to bury his opponents, would be too much of a provocation. “Swallowing dozens of worlds in this region, yet claiming the moral high ground, leaving no fault for others to point out. You are truly formidable—even the few of us, if we wished to intervene, have no grounds to do so.”

Upon his arrival, Li Wuque had not exerted any mental pressure. But now, his gaze was like a blazing torch, fixed upon Zong Shou. An immense pressure suddenly surged toward Zong Shou. Yet, after just a moment, it was retracted. “Help you escape this calamity? That’s truly laughable! That person holds no intention of killing you. What calamity do you need to escape?”

The target of his words was not Zong Shou, but Liu Mu Chen kneeling below. Liu Mu Chen was stunned by the words, but then quickly understood. What benefit would Zong Shou gain from killing him here? The Nine Capitals Immortal Court was heavily wounded, having lost hundreds of Heavenly Step Dao Soldiers and nearly forty Spirit Realm cultivators. Moreover, three Saint Realm Venerables had fallen. At this juncture, the Nine Capitals Immortal Court was essentially defenseless, tempting prey. If he, Liu Mu Chen, were also killed here, the Nine Capitals Immortal Court would immediately face the danger of collapse. This would not only benefit Zong Shou’s Great Qian Immortal Dynasty but would actually invite even greater disaster. A weakened Nine Capitals Immortal Court, struggling to cope and unable to look outward, was perhaps what Zong Shou truly desired.

Subconsciously, he glanced sideways. Zong Shou’s expression was placid, showing no ripple, as if tacitly agreeing. Liu Mu Chen’s face shifted, then he forced a smile, “It was Mu Chen who panicked and lost his composure.” At this moment, he felt utterly ashamed and humiliated.

Li Wuque said no more, casually flicking a finger. Liu Mu Chen’s left arm fell away without warning. “This time, he was in the wrong! I will have him kowtow and apologize to you, and offer this arm to atone for all his offenses. Is that sufficient?”

Zong Shou shook his head without hesitation: “If his cultivation realm does not drop, I cannot be at ease.” He spoke the truth, showing no fear of Li Wuque’s sharp gaze. “Oh? That is true, but if he is too heavily injured, he might lack the strength to continue stabilizing the Nine Capitals Immortal Court—to suppress internal rivals and resist external threats. Wouldn’t that be counterproductive to your goals?”

Li Wuque pondered for a moment longer: “Within a hundred years, I can guarantee that the Nine Capitals Immortal Court and you will not cross paths. Do you lack the confidence, Zong Shou, to deal with this running dog of my sect after a century?”

Was this a provocation? Zong Shou smiled. “Then I agree with Ancestor Wuque’s proposal! A hundred years is more than enough time.” He was never afraid; it was just that this hundred years would inevitably consume too much energy dealing with the Lu family and the Cloud Realm matters. He did not wish to entangle his strength here. If he could defeat this man once, he could certainly defeat him a second time.

Li Wuque nodded slightly, showing a look of satisfaction: “Then let the matter of today conclude here.” He looked toward Liu Mu Chen, signaling him to apologize himself. Liu Mu Chen’s face flushed deep red, his eyes filled with humiliation. He felt the deepest shame. To kowtow and apologize to a junior was a monumental disgrace.

As he hesitated, a cold laugh echoed from the distant void: “Conclude here? It won’t be that easy.”

This voice did not belong to anyone present, including Zong Shou. Everyone looked toward the source. They wondered who this newcomer was, coming to stir up trouble again? Their gaze followed as a figure in purple-gold robes strolled forth. Behind him, a ceremonial carriage traversed the void, escorted by eight cultivators whose eyes shone with divine light. Following the carriage were women, all exceptionally beautiful, possessing Immortal Realm cultivation. Anywhere else, they would be called Celestial Maidens or Fairies; here, they all served as maids and servants. Without exception, every one of them had an embroidered flame stitched onto the left cuff of their sleeves.

“Insolent speech, unrestrained audacity, insulting the First Heir of my Burning Sky Lu family, the future Emperor. Do you think you can escape so easily?”