Floating Immortal Order

Chapter 260: Celestial Turtle, Falling Meteor Primordial Lord

TL: Happy new year everyone! Apologies for the delayed uploads over the holiday period, was on vacation. We have 1 sponsored chapter today, so stay tuned for an extra chapter!

Another stormy night.contemporary romance

The bright moonlight cast its glow on the rain-drenched towering city, and the heavy rain brought with it a bone-chilling cold as it poured down, making the ancient city walls gleam with an aquatic sheen as they were washed clean. Under the undulating moonlight, the walls reflected a dark, pale hue.

A highly concealed black beam of light streaked across the high sky, halting outside the tightly shut city gate. Facing several formidable figures on the city wall, the voice urgently called out.

"Quickly open the formation! I must see the Patriarch and the Elders immediately!"

The figure who seemed to be the captain happened to recognize the person within the black light and asked solemnly, "Xu Shouxing, is that you?"

Xu Shouxing nodded and pressed again, "Please open the Yin-Yang City Protecting Formation, Spirit Master Zhang. This matter is of great urgency and cannot be delayed!"

Zhang Haoqi gestured to the several Dao Foundation cultivators beside him to open a gap in the city’s protective formation. His expression grew serious, and he turned back to ask, "Spirit Master Xu, you were tasked by the Patriarch and Elders to observe the Dawn Sunset Daoist Sect. With how urgent you appear, could it be that the Dawn Sunset Daoist Sect has already taken action?"

Xu Shouxing suddenly accelerated in a beam of black light, slipping through the small gap in the city formation. He headed straight for the Zhang Clan ancestral land at the heart of the city. All that remained was a voice that lingered in the rain, "The Dawn Sunset Daoist Sect has established the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance, which also comprised the Primordial Spirit stage and Divine Core stage Supervising Halls. Their appointed Supervising Primordial Lords and Spirit Masters are beginning to expand their territory with the forces of the alliance. Any influence that refuses to submit and assimilate into the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance will face defeat and destruction! And now, a Supervising Spirit Master with hundreds of troops from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance in tow is approaching our Zhang Clan’s Flowing Water City!"

Zhang Haoqi watched the disappearing black beam of light in the night. It took him a moment to grasp the gravity of Xu Shouxing's words. The shock that appeared on his face was unmistakable.

"Spirit Master Zhang, look over there!!" a Dao Foundation cultivator of the Zhang family exclaimed, his face pale as he pointed towards the distant horizon.

Hearing the ominous tone, Zhang Haoqi’s heart sank. He turned to follow the direction pointed out and his pupils contracted sharply.

In the far horizon, a dazzling pale white brilliance bright enough to light up the dark night radiated outward, emanating a powerful, unbridled aura that belonged to dozens of Divine Core stage cultivators!

Moreover, this pale white brilliance, which even shattered the storm clouds above, was approaching at breakneck speed, right towards Flowing Water City, the main seat of the Zhang Clan!

Although they were still far away, with the terrifying speed they were moving at, they would reach their location in just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense!

Flowing Water City was the city belonging to the mid-sized aristocratic Zhang Clan, which had been subordinated to the large scale sect, the Vast Sword Sect, for several millennia. They had multiple cities under their jurisdiction, and the one governed by the Zhang Clan was the strongest of them.

"Supreme Spirit Master, in another half an incense stick's time, we will reach the Zhang Clan’s ancestral city, Flowing Water City."

Although Lu Xiuzhu was at the peak of the Divine Core stage, he showed utmost respect to this Divine Core stage Supervising Spirit Master wearing a snow white robe.

Atop a lavish chariot, Xu Disheng nodded slightly and looked down at the several Divine Core stage Spirit Masters standing below him. "Who is willing to clean up the six cities belonging to the Zhang Clan?"

Several of his subordinates exchanged glances. Their eyes seemed to hint at their intentions, and stepped forward to volunteer.

They were ordinary Divine Core stage Spirit Masters from various sects, with some normally having limited access to cultivation resources. This was clearly an opportunity to plunder resources lying right before them, and none of them wanted to miss it.

Lu Xiuzhu, a Divine Core stage Spirit Master from the Dawn Sunset Daoist Sect, was of a much higher status than the other Divine Core stage Spirit Masters. He bowed to Xu Disheng and said, "Supreme Spirit Master, the strength of the Zhang Clan is at the peak among medium-sized clans. With two half-step Primordial Spirit stage existences in Flowing Water City and over ten Divine Core stage cultivators, this matter…"

Xu Disheng waved his hand dismissively, "It's fine. Just go and ask if they wish to submit to the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance. If not, return directly to the celestial turtle, and do not engage in further dialogue."

This pale white brilliance shooting rapidly through the sky was actually a giant celestial turtle. It was a half-step Primordial Spirit stage spirit beast, and one had been assigned to each Supervising Spirit Master by the Supervising Hall.

On the central part of the celestial turtle's massive body, where Xu Disheng and several Divine Core peak stage spirit masters were situated, was a most extravagant carriage. The other Divine Core and Dao Foundation stage cultivators were scattered around, looking greedily and excitedly towards Flowing Water City.

"Yes, Supreme Spirit Master," Lu Xiuzhu respectfully complied, casually picking out a peak Divine Core stage Spirit Master, "Qin Ming, you lead the team then. Remember the words of Supreme Spirit Master."

Qin Ming, an acquaintance of Lu Xiuzhu, showed a hint of joy, nodding and bowing, "Thank you, Supreme Spirit Master, and thank you, Spirit Master Lu. I shall ensure the Zhang family willingly submits."

The other Divine Core peak stage Spirit Masters showed varying expressions, but they all secretly hoped for resistance or chaos within the Zhang family, so they too could partake in the spoils.

To submit to the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance meant the complete dissolution of their original power structure and surrendering all spiritual items and cultivation resources—an offer that was harsh to the point of brutality.

Many forces, initially desiring to stay out of it, couldn't stomach such a harsh demand, with some even plotting to kill the envoys from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance and then flee, completely leaving the Dawndusk and Mang Mountain Territories.

But they underestimated the appointed Supervising Spirit Masters and Primordial Lords. Being in the Supervising Hall meant that they were the top geniuses of the Central Region, nearly invincible among their peers!

The strategy of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance was simple and crude. The larger sects still resisting submission were the responsibility of dozens of Supervising Primordial Lords, while the medium and smaller forces were entirely managed by these Supervising Spirit Masters. Regardless of strength, they would push through all opposition, aiming to leave only one force standing—the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance.

Direct submission, while losing everything, at least spared them from destruction. But refusing to yield meant no second chances from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance. Only complete annihilation, with no traces left behind. It was an extremely ruthless approach.

Qin Ming's excitement in being chosen was due to the substantial share of resources and notable merit he would gain on the Daoist Ranking if he successfully persuaded the Zhang Clan to submit.

And Xu Disheng, merely by sitting on the celestial turtle, would earn several times more merit on the Daoist Ranking than Qin Ming, just for his high status as a Supervising Spirit Master.

The two Daoist Rankings were set up for the Administration Hall. Ultimately, the beings who would receive the most precious rewards were only the Supervising Primordial Lords and Spirit Masters.

With such a merit distribution system, ordinary Spirit Masters in the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance would never surpass a Supervising Spirit Master, but based on the final merit rankings, they could still receive more substantial rewards than some of the other ordinary Spirit Masters.

The colossal figure of the celestial turtle dispersed the dense rain clouds along its path. Although the storm had subsided, the moon above still cast a pale, bleak light.

Zhang Haoqi stood under the colossal shadow of the celestial turtle, his face extremely grim, anxiously calling out, "The Patriarch and the Elders still have not arrived?"

As he spoke, dozens of beams of light rapidly flew out from the city, arriving at the city wall in a few breaths. The figures all looked up at the celestial turtle shrouded in bright white light, their expressions grave.

"Grand Elder, if the terms are not too harsh, it wouldn't be so bad for our Zhang Clan to submit to the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance."

"Patriarch, Grand Elder, Third Elder’s words are true. We really don't need to seek trouble for ourselves. According to Spirit Master Xu, the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance is extremely ruthless towards those who refuse to submit!"

A group of people, surrounding the two half-step Primordial Spirit stage Spirit Masters, spoke anxiously. They lacked their usual lofty composure, clearly intimidated by the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance. It was clear that they had no thoughts of resistance.

The Grand Elder, Zhang Yuanliu, frowned and shouted, "Silence!"

The others quieted down, but their gazes instead turned towards the current Patriarch, Zhang Liusheng.

Zhang Liusheng, like Zhang Yuanliu, was at the half-step Primordial Spirit stage. He smiled bitterly and said, "Great Elder, there are eight great top level forces in the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance. Unless our Zhang Clan can instantly flee the Dawndusk and Mang Mountain Territories, we have no other choice but to submit."

The Third Elder’s eyes flickered as he spoke up once more. "Over the years, our Zhang Clan has paid so much tribute to the Vast Sword Sect. Are they not going to intervene?"

Xu Shouxing, an external elder renowned for his exceptional concealment abilities, changed his expression and stepped forward. "There's something else I haven't had the chance to inform the Patriarch and the Elders of due to the urgency."

Grand Elder Zhang Yuanliu's face turned solemn as he sensed something amiss. "What is it? Speak freely, Elder Xu."

"The Vast Sword Sect, being a top-tier large-scale sect, had a newly ascended Clone Avatar stage Greater Lord, Pristine Justice Greater Lord, who sought in vain to negotiate terms of submitting to the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance with a Supervising Primordial Lord they sent," Xu Shouxing emphasized as he looked at the Elders and the Patriarch, "But just half a day ago, Pristine Justice Greater Lord was slain in a counterattack by the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance's Supervising Primordial Lord! In just half an incense stick's time, hundreds of thousands of lives within the sect were extinguished, marking the end of the Vast Sword Sect's path."

"Impossible! How could a Greater Lord be killed by a Primordial Spirit stage Primordial Lord, when the Clone Avatar stage possesses such immeasurable power?" Third Elder’s face drastically changed as he exclaimed in shock, "With Pristine Justice Greater Lord breaking through to the Clone Avatar stage, the Vast Sword Sect had the makings of an overlord sect!”

"That Supervising Primordial Lord was none other than the Falling Meteor Primordial Lord from the Yin Yang Daoist Sect."

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder fell silent. At this point, the others entirely believed this piece of news, and their faces filled with even greater horror.

"If it's Falling Meteor Primordial Lord, known as the Yin Yang Dao Child, then it's not entirely surprising that the newly ascended Pristine Justice Greater Lord was killed by him," Zhang Yuanliu remarked, grasping the details in Xu Shouxing's words. "But if even the Vast Sword Sect, with its solid foundation, couldn't deal with the conditions of submitting to the alliance, how stringent must those conditions be?"

Falling Meteor Primordial Lord was the only Dao Child of the Yin Yang Daoist Sect in the past hundred thousand years. He practiced a cultivation method called Moon Destiny, harnessing the power of predestined fate. When this cultivation method was practiced to a deep enough level, a single sentence from him was enough to put someone to death!

The battle between Falling Meteor Primordial Lord and Pristine Justice Greater Lord hadn’t been witnessed by anyone, but after the Greater Lord showed himself, an indescribable force of fate enveloped him. His complexion simply turned a bit pale, and then Pristine Justice Greater Lord was never seen again.

In the half incense stick of time that followed, the Vast Sword Sect was completely annihilated under the concerted attack of the other Primordial Spirit stage Primordial Lords and Divine Core stage Spirit Masters that Falling Meteor Primordial Lord brought with him.

Xu Shouxing himself was unaware of the exact terms of submitting, but he only knew that they were exceedingly harsh. He was about to speak when a group of individuals descended from the celestial turtle above.

"Is the head of the Zhang Clan present?" Qin Ming, accompanied by several ordinary Divine Core stage Spirit Masters and dozens of Dao Foundation stage cultivators, descended from the celestial turtle. He hovered in the air and gazed down at the Zhang family members on the city wall with an eager and greedy tone.

Zhang Liusheng, the Patriarch of the Zhang Clan, exchanged a glance with Zhang Yuanliu and stepped forward. "I am Zhang Liusheng, the head of the Zhang Clan. May I know who you are, esteemed Spirit Master, and the purpose of your noble visit?"

He, a half-step Primordial Spirit stage cultivator, feigned ignorance at this moment.

Qin Ming looked at him with disdain and said, "Pretending to be ignorant? Do you truly not know who we are? Let me tell you then. We are from the Administration Hall of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance, here to force the Zhang Clan to submit to the alliance."

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Liusheng dropped the act and asked solemnly, "May I inquire, esteemed Spirit Master, what does choosing to submit entail?"

"You will hand over all of the Zhang Clan’s cultivation resources and spiritual items. All profound cultivators above the Dao Foundation stage must join the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance," Qin Ming said, glancing at the crowd of Zhang Clan members emerging from the city. He sneered, "As for those at the Sea of Qi stage and Cleansed Meridians stage, they will be considered part of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance's assets. Should any of them reach the Dao Foundation stage, they will automatically become disciples of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance."

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