Chapter 5: The Zhou Family

Chapter 5: People of the Zhou Family

Rising Star!

Its surface is covered by a vast expanse of ocean, accounting for approximately seven-tenths of its total area, while the rest consists of sprawling landmasses featuring diverse topographical regions. These include the desert, alpine, and forest zones that Zhou Hao had previously traversed.

The continents are not connected into a single landmass; instead, they are divided into nine blocks by the sea, known to the world as the Nine Continents. Named after the four cardinal directions and the five elements, they are: the Eastern Continent, Western Continent, Southern Continent, Northern Continent, Metal Continent, Wood Continent, Water Continent, Fire Continent, and Earth Continent! Rumble City is located on the continent in the east of Rising Star—the "Eastern Continent"!

Yet, even this colossal celestial body, far surpassing ordinary planets, is merely an inconspicuous grain of life among this brilliant firmament. Because this is the Sun-Moon Heavenly Capital, hailed as the central hub of the Sun-Moon Immortal Realm. The myriad stars shine brilliantly, and starlight gathers in profusion, resembling the imperial capital of a mortal monarch. This is the imperial capital of the heavens.

Zhou Hao looked up and found himself seemingly immersed in a dreamy world. The surrounding stars were like rain and sand, painting a gorgeous scroll of the cosmic starry sea. High up in the extremely distant sky above his head, he saw ten suns hanging high in the cosmic vault, with celestial birds seemingly circling within them. Opposite the suns, he also saw twelve moons reflecting a snow-white luster only when illuminated by the sunlight, and divine beasts seemed to be roaring up at the sky from within them.

Boom, boom, boom!

Suddenly, the moment Zhou Hao looked up, Xie Feng behind him made his move. His gaze turned exceptionally sharp, and his right hand lifted high. A pitch-black, heaven-covering giant hand formed, eclipsing everything. The next instant, the stars across the sky actually began to tremble, the void rumbled, and the cosmic starry sea seemed to experience an earthquake, with massive stars plummeting down in flurries.

Zhou Hao's field of vision turned dim in an instant, and the stars crashed toward him like raindrops. The overwhelming momentum even deprived him of his senses, rendering him unable to see or hear. At this moment, only his instinctive consciousness told him: he was in danger, a fatal danger!

The heaven-covering black hand blanketed the constellations and struck down the stars of the cosmos. Once Zhou Hao suffered severe injuries at this moment, it would inevitably affect his physical body and primordial spirit in the outside world. To put it lightly, it would cause massive damage to his cultivation base; to put it heavily, his primordial spirit would suffer a calamity, reducing him to a crippled immortal and potentially making him unable to ever practice the immortal dao again.

This was a moment of extreme urgency, a critical juncture of life and death for Zhou Hao!

In the netherworld, a power originating from his bloodline seemed to be awakening, and his eyes suddenly underwent a strange transformation.

A large circle enclosed a small circle, forming concentric circles.

Two pupils, one large and one small, overlapped, and his gaze instantly turned entirely golden, from which two beams of light shot out!

Beneath the heaven-covering giant hand, the originally dark starry sky filled with destructive power was illuminated. The dazzling golden light emitted a radiance far brighter than the suns. The appearance of those two beams of light dispelled the darkness, turning countless falling stars into dust.

Crack!

Countless cracks appeared on the pitch-black giant hand, crisscrossing like cracked ice. In a flash, the cracks widened into fissures, and numerous beams of golden light shot forth joyfully, resembling the break of dawn.

Xie Feng behind him turned pale with fright, his constricted pupils filled with disbelief. This was their Xie family's proudest undefeated immortal martial art—the Star-Plucking Hand! How could it be defeated by someone today?

This is impossible! What method did this person use? There is clearly no aura surpassing the Golden Immortal emanating from him. Then how did he do it? How could he break the undefeated myth of the Star-Plucking Hand?

Zhou Hao turned around, facing Xie Feng once again. The latter finally saw the "mystical weapon" that had ended his Star-Plucking Hand—the Golden Double Pupils!

"This is..."

The moment Xie Feng saw those golden eyes, he became dazed. Countless earnest teachings from his elders echoed in his ears, and countless images regarding that taboo family surfaced in his mind. The final image overlapped with the current memory, and the two merged into this pair of unique eyes.

"You are a member of the Zhou family?" Xie Feng suddenly asked, his complexion exceptionally unsightly and even tinged with a deep sense of fear.

"Oh? You actually know my surname!" Zhou Hao was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"Sure enough..." Xie Feng's face turned as pale as paper, becoming exceptionally tense.

The next moment, right before Zhou Hao's eyes, Xie Feng bowed ninety degrees. Raising his head slightly with an earnest and lowered gaze, he said, "It was the Xie family that was in the wrong first today. Here, Xie Feng offers his most sincere apologies to Dao Brother and Dao Brother's friends. If Dao Brother does not mind, Xie Feng dares to request Dao Brother to honor my Xie family with your presence. The Xie family will undoubtedly host a banquet to seek your forgiveness. If Dao Brother still harbors unappeased anger, you may beat and scold my two useless younger brothers as you see fit, as long as you spare their lives."

Hearing this, Zhou Hao was completely dumbfounded, almost doubting his ears. What is wrong with this dude? Even if I am a member of the Zhou family, he shouldn't be this humble and terrified, right? What is wrong with the Zhou family? Are they really that powerful?

He pondered for a long time but could not figure out what was going on. Throughout all this, Xie Feng maintained his bow, unmoving like a mud or wooden statue, quietly waiting for Zhou Hao's reply.

"Ahem... Young Master Xie truly knows how to adapt to circumstances!" Zhou Hao rolled his eyes, gave a couple of dry coughs, and desperately suppressed the urge to laugh.

"The Xie family had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please calm your anger, Dao Brother, and spare us leniently!" Xie Feng was trembling all over, desperately begging for Zhou Hao's forgiveness, nearly dropping to his knees.

"Easy to talk, easy to talk! Mistakes come in all sizes, but since your attitude is sincere, it shows your remorse is genuine. Get up first!" Zhou Hao raised his hand, gesturing for Xie Feng to straighten up.

As if granted amnesty, Xie Feng hurriedly straightened his body, cupped his fists solemnly, and said, "Thank you, Dao Brother, for your forgiveness. A magnanimous person does not dwell on the petty faults of villains. Xie Feng hereby thanks Dao Brother on behalf of the entire Xie family, and thanks the Zhou family."

"Wait, who said this matter is over just like that?" Zhou Hao said suddenly.

Xie Feng was startled, looking nervous as he asked, "What does Dao Brother mean?"

"Capital punishment can be avoided, but living suffering cannot be escaped!" Zhou Hao felt as if he had returned to his days as an emperor at this moment.

"Those two younger brothers of yours both spoke out to insult my dao companion. They cannot be let off lightly," Zhou Hao said calmly.

"I leave them entirely to Dao Brother's disposal and sanction," Xie Feng nodded repeatedly.

***

On Gongchen Bridge, two youths, one in black and one in white, stood frozen in opposition. Most of the surrounding onlookers were utterly bewildered, having no idea why these two had been standing there for half an hour without starting a fight. For a time, they were extremely baffled and annoyed, and some people simply turned around and left, refusing to watch anymore.

"So boring. With so many people watching, we're just looking at two guys staring at each other. The kid is so bored he fell asleep," a woman holding a child complained.

"I thought it was some incredible battle, but it turns out to be just two bastards glaring at each other. What a waste of time over the most brain-dead hype in history, Bah!" a tall, fat middle-aged man cursed.

"It seems this Xie Feng is also a fraud chasing empty fame. It's been so long and he still hasn't stared his opponent to death. Look at him, I bet all his genius reputation was just bragged up by the Xie family," someone looked at the black-robed youth on the bridge and mocked relentlessly.

"How could it be bragged up by the Xie family? Clearly, the Xie family is wealthy and arrogant, hiring internet trolls for hype. Am I right, everyone?" someone incited, instantly provoking roaring laughter throughout the street.

"Hahahaha, the Xie family hired trolls? Hahahaha, what a talent, truly a showman! I want to bear his children!"

Neigh!

Right at this moment, the sound of horse neighing came from the distant night sky, followed by the appearance of a troop of soldiers riding through the moonlight. Everyone was mounted, clad in armor and holding lances.

That troop numbered a full three hundred, and behind them followed a glazed carriage emanating seven-colored auspicious light and rosy mist. Wherever the carriage passed, a rainbow path would inevitably unfold before it, the wheels rolling right over the rainbow.

At the front of the carriage, a full seven fine steeds pulled the vehicle. The horses were robust and tall, pure silver throughout, as if cast from silver, flowing with a silver radiance that illuminated the surrounding wilderness as bright as day.

"The Seven-Treasure Glazed Carriage? Night-Shining Snow-White Colts? That is a carriage possessed only by the Xie family!" On the street, someone pointed to the sky and cried out in alarm.

"Indeed, it is the Xie family's carriage. It seems a major figure of the Xie family has come in person. That white-clad youth's life is likely in grave danger..." Another person sighed softly, feeling some sympathy for Zhou Hao's plight.

Beneath the bridge, Xie Qiang had already regained consciousness. Xie Yi, who had been guarding him the entire time, was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Tenth Brother, you're awake! That's wonderful."

Xie Qiang's face was pale, his lips chapped. As soon as he woke up, he found his entire body feeling as though it had been pulverized, the pain piercing down to his bone marrow. He wanted to clench his fists, only to feel an electric shock of excruciating pain, making even making a slight facial expression unbearable.

"I must kill him!" Xie Qiang endured the pain desperately, speaking out the desire uppermost in his mind at that moment.

"Tenth Brother, don't worry. Look over there, that is Father's Seven-Treasure Glazed Carriage. Father has already come, and he will naturally dispense justice for us!" Xie Yi pointed toward the troop galloping swiftly from the northwest direction.

Xie Qiang raised his head with difficulty, seeing the three hundred soldiers neatly treading the moonlight, with the seven-colored precious light blooming behind them—the carriage used by the family's major figures when traveling. At this moment, a smile appeared on his face, seemingly forgetting the pain on his face as he said, "Hehe, hahaha! Wild brat, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

"By the way, where is that wild brat?" Xie Qiang asked.

"On the bridge. Third Brother is currently dueling him in mystic arts. This kid actually has some skill, daring to contest divine sense with Third Brother and holding out for half an hour," Xie Yi cast his gaze toward Gongchen Bridge.

"What, Third Brother actually came?" Xie Qiang hurried to look toward Gongchen Bridge. A muffled groan escaped his lips, as his movement clearly triggered the agonizing pain once more.

Gazing at the two figures, one black and one white, Xie Qiang silently clenched his fists. Overcoming the excruciating pain through clenched teeth, he thought to himself, "Just who is this sacred wild brat? He can actually fight Third Brother one-on-one. Could he be a genius from beyond the realm? But don't those geniuses usually have protectors following them with grand spectacles?"

"Tenth Brother, Father has arrived. Shall we go welcome the old man?" Xie Yi said.

"Alright!" Xie Qiang nodded, withdrew his gaze, and looked up at the carriage in the sky.

Xie Yi snapped his fingers, and a cluster of clouds materialized beneath his and Xie Qiang's feet, lifting them up into the sky and flying toward the carriage.

Dark armor gleamed menacingly as three hundred men lined up in formation across the sky, mounted and holding lances in absolute silence. Not a single sound was made, and the street below even quieted down because the troop stopped right above their heads.

Behind the three hundred soldiers, rainbows unfolded, and the Seven-Treasure Glazed Carriage hovered above them, with two figures faintly visible sitting inside. At this moment, Xie Yi and Xie Qiang had already arrived beside the carriage, calling out softly, "Father!"

"Have you figured out who the person dueling your third brother is?" Inside the carriage, an authoritative voice rang out.

"Reporting... reporting to Father, we have not yet investigated that person's identity," Xie Yi mumbled, sounding like a child who had done something wrong.

"Oh? After all this fuss, you still don't know who beat you up? My sons really bring me so much honor!" The person inside the carriage let out a start of surprise, which quickly turned into a sneer.

Xie Yi and Xie Qiang instantly felt utterly disgraced, not daring to speak at all.

"Alright, the two of you lead the way in front. This old man wants to see what three heads and six arms this person has, who managed to beat up my two good sons who usually run amok!" said the person in the carriage.

The next moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, and two figures—one tall, one short—walked out. Yet upon seeing them, Xie Yi and Xie Qiang were so angry they almost cursed aloud.

"Why is it just the two of you? Where's Dad!" Xie Yi's eyes bulged almost out of their sockets as he hurriedly shouted in question.

"Hee hee hee hee..." The two figures looked at Xie Yi and Xie Qiang, bursting into silvery, melodic laughter, which to the latter sounded like the most grating mockery.

As it turned out, there was no Xie Family Patriarch, Xie Shangyuan, inside the carriage at all—only two females, one older and one younger! The one who had just spoken to Xie Yi and Xie Qiang was simply the older one mimicking Xie Shangyuan's voice.

This was a prank!

***

Of the two females, the older one was slim and tall, wearing a light cyan dress that failed to conceal her undulating curves. Her melon-shaped face possessed exceptionally delicate features with thin lips and an upturned nose. Her eyes were slender, flashing with sharp brilliance from time to time, making her look like a mortal woman in her early twenties.

The younger one was a head shorter than the elder, appearing to be only around sixteen or seventeen years old. Dainty and cute, with a smiling face like a flower, a pair of large eyes brimming with spiritual intelligence, and a beauty mark at the corner of her lips.

"Dad? He is busy day in and day out from morning till night, when would he have time to clean up the messes of you two prodigal sons!" Xie Yulan crossed her arms over her chest, casting a disdainful glance at Xie Yi and Xie Qiang with her slender eyes.

"Xie Yulan, you..." Xie Yi was about to retort, but was cut off by Xie Qiang beside him.

"Sixth Sister, why did you suddenly come here tonight?" Xie Qiang endured the excruciating pain, asking with a forced smile.

"We came to see Third Brother. When we heard from the servants that he was dueling someone, we thought we'd bring the troops and the Seven-Treasure Glazed Carriage to boost his morale!" Xie Fan replied with a giggle.

"Why were you able to use the Seven-Treasure Glazed Carriage?" Xie Qiang asked the question that puzzled him the most.

"We asked Dad for it. He said he wouldn't be using it during this time and we could play with it as we pleased, on the condition that we brought these dead weights along," Xie Fan curled her lips, pointing toward the black-armored troops ahead.

Hearing this, Xie Qiang was left completely speechless. Could this old man be biased to such a degree? He had asked to borrow the carriage many times to show off his prestige, but his old man never agreed. Now Sixth Sister and Fifteenth Younger Sister got it the moment they asked?

Do sons and daughters make no difference? Are both palms and backs of the hands made of the same flesh?

It's all utter nonsense!

"No time to chat idly with you two, we're going to see Third Brother." Xie Yulan took Xie Fan's hand and jumped off the carriage. Clouds spontaneously formed beneath their feet, carrying the two of them down into the sky.

Xie Yi and Xie Qiang exchanged glances and also followed toward Gongchen Bridge below. In mid-air, they saw that the two figures—one black and one white—had finally moved, indicating that the divine sense contest had concluded.

On Gongchen Bridge, Zhou Hao and Xie Feng returned from the spiritual battlefield to the reality of the world. The surrounding crowd cheered excitedly, and the noise instantly boiled over.

Xie Feng raised his gaze and saw the four members of the Xie family standing on the clouds outside Gongchen Bridge. Xie Yulan and Xie Fan were waving frantically at him, but his gaze paused slightly upon seeing them before shifting away, locking instead onto the two figures not far off. He crooked a finger, signaling Xie Yi and Xie Qiang to come over.

Seeing this, the latter two excitedly flew toward the bridge on their clouds, only to hear the person they admired most shouting sternly at them: "The two of you, kneel down and apologize to Dao Brother Zhou first!"

The two of them were dumbfounded on the spot, completely unable to believe their ears. Looking at the premier genius youth of their own family, the elder brother they admired the most, they raised a question for the very first time: "Why?"

Outside the bridge, on the clouds suspended above the river, even Xie Yulan—who had always disliked Xie Yi and Xie Qiang—was somewhat astonished, completely failing to understand what had gotten into this third brother. To actually make Xie Yi and Xie Qiang kneel before an outsider, and a peer youth at that!

"Do you two know who this Dao Brother Zhou is?" Seeing Xie Yi and Xie Qiang glaring at him with resentment, Xie Feng snorted coldly.

Opposite them, Zhou Hao remained calm and relaxed. After pondering for a long time, he had roughly guessed a thing or two: there must be a super powerful immortal clan bearing the surname Zhou in the Immortal Realm, one far exceeding the capabilities of an ordinary family like the Xie family. Xie Feng had seen his eyes, assumed he possessed certain traits unique to that Zhou family, and learned that his surname happened to be Zhou, thus concluding that he was a member of the Zhou family.

Clearly, the Xie family simply did not dare to provoke the Zhou family!

"Could it be that I really have some connection with that Zhou family? I'll have to investigate this properly later!" Zhou Hao thought to himself.

"I don't care who he is! He angered me, so he's going to pay the price. I'm going to kill him!" Xie Qiang gritted his teeth. His whole body was enduring absolute agony with excruciating pain, and looking at Zhou Hao right now, he wished he could devour him alive.

Slap!

Xie Feng directly dealt Xie Qiang a resounding slap across the face, sending him spitting out blood and leaving five deep red finger marks on his left cheek.

Xie Qiang turned his face, staring wide-eyed at Xie Feng with pupils filled with fury and incomprehension.

"Tenth Brother!" Xie Yi cried out in shock, hastily spreading his arms to shield him behind his back.

"Third Brother, have you lost your mind?" Xie Yi glared at Xie Feng in fury.

"Dao Brother Zhou is a member of the Zhou family from the Daluo Immortal Realm. You still want to kill him? In my opinion, you're trying to get our Xie family wiped out!" Xie Feng glared at Xie Qiang with a look of utter disappointment.

The words rang out like rolling thunder, echoing in the ears of everyone surrounding Gongchen Bridge. The amount of information contained in that short sentence was simply too massive—so massive that even the major figures watching from afar involuntarily dropped the wine cups in their hands.

The Daluo Immortal Realm! The Zhou family!

This family bearing this surname was no different from the True Dragon clan on Mount Kunlun, which was also located in the Daluo Immortal Realm. They were absolute taboos themselves; who would dare to provoke them?

Xie Yi and Xie Qiang were the closest and heard the most clearly. At this moment, the two of them were on the verge of a mental breakdown, realizing they had actually provoked a genius disciple from an almighty family in the Immortal Realm whose very words became law. Forget a tiny Xie family, if the Zhou family wanted to turn the entire Sun-Moon Heavenly Capital upside down, they could easily do so. Who in the world would not tremble in terror?