"Stepping down, is it?" Zhang Yingxiong mused.
They had no intention of returning directly after leaving the Far West.
And even if they did return, they didn't wish to meet the current Emperor.
"Zhang Yang, you can wait a bit longer. We have other matters to attend to. We'll step down when we return."
"The Emperor is unaware of your visit to the Far West. If you step down immediately after returning to Jiangnan City, the Emperor will surely become suspicious, thinking you colluded with the Ming King's descendants. That would be detrimental to you and the Five Dragons of Huaxia."
The current Emperor was naturally suspicious. Zhang Yingxiong worried that if they were absent, Zhang Yang and the Five Dragons of Huaxia might encounter trouble, hence his advice for Zhang Yang to wait.
"What other matters do you have?" Zhang Yang inquired.
"We are going to search for a place. I won't tell you what it is for now, as we are unsure if it even exists," Zhang Yingxiong chuckled mysteriously.
Zhang Yang pondered for a moment and didn't press further.
Perhaps it was due to Zhu Zhi's presence nearby, making it inconvenient for Zhang Yingxiong and the others to disclose too much.
...
The ship from the Central Island continued its journey at sea.
Five days later.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Yang, Zhang Yingxiong and the other four disembarked at the nearest port.
"Great Elder, you've brought me to the nearest coast. I should be heading back too."
Watching Zhang Yingxiong and the others depart, Zhang Yang also felt it was time to leave.
"You're leaving now too? No, that's not appropriate," Zhu Zhi shook his head.
"Ah? Why?" Zhang Yang was taken aback and asked.
"Heh heh, don't forget the purpose of your southern journey. If you don't accomplish anything, returning so abruptly won't be easy to explain," Zhu Zhi said with a smile.
Upon hearing this.
Zhang Yang appeared quite puzzled. "Do we still need to have a grand fight? That doesn't seem right. If the fight is too fake, it'll raise suspicion, and if it's too real, casualties will occur."
Zhu Zhi chuckled.
"Heh heh, I've already thought of that for you, so you don't need to worry too much. Come back with us first."
Zhang Yang was speechless.
Why did these elders always like to be so secretive?
However, it didn't matter much.
Zhang Yang trusted Zhu Zhi wouldn't deceive him, so he'd go back and see what he had in mind.
...
Three more days passed.
The ship finally arrived at Linhai City.
Zhu Zhi and his group headed towards the Central Island outside Linhai City.
As they returned, the entire island erupted in cheers.
They were safe.
Their people were all here!
Zhu Zhi waved to everyone with a smile, thanking them for their concern and care.
Although they hadn't obtained the Azure King Wood on this trip, they hadn't returned empty-handed.
At the very least, they had shown the people of the Central Island that there were always greater strengths beyond their own.
This way, they wouldn't be like frogs in a well, thinking that being invincible on the Central Island meant being invincible in the world.
If Zhang Yang hadn't assisted them in the Far West, they might have met a terrible end!
After disembarking.
Zhu Zhi immediately took Zhang Yang to the Gentleman Sword and said to him.
"To thank you for your assistance to the Ming King's descendants, you can absorb the Vast Righteousness once more, absorb it to your heart's content!"
This!
The sudden surprise made Zhang Yang's heart leap with joy.
"Great Elder, if you speak like that, I won't be polite."
"Heh heh, no need to be polite, go ahead," Zhu Zhi smiled.
Then, he respectfully bowed to the Gentleman Sword and murmured.
"Your Majesty the Former Emperor, though we did not obtain the Azure King Wood on this expedition, we have reaped considerable rewards. Zhang Yang has greatly aided the Ming King's descendants on this journey. We now humbly request Your Majesty to bestow the Vast Righteousness!"
With that said.
The Vast Righteousness within Zhu Zhi suddenly erupted!
Unlike before, Zhu Zhi's Vast Righteousness did not choose to activate the Gentleman Sword this time.
Instead, he pointed a finger beneath the Gentleman Sword!
Boom!
Instantly.
The Gentleman Sword, suspended in mid-air, emitted a glow from its tip as it pointed forward.
A colossal power surged from beneath the ground!
The bluestone slabs of the plaza cracked directly.
A torrent of Vast Righteousness gushed forth from underground, ceaselessly.
Witnessing this scene.
Zhang Yang was stunned!
Wasn't it said that the Gentleman Sword's Vast Righteousness had a fixed annual quota?
Where did this Vast Righteousness emerging from the ground come from?
"Zhang Yang, don't just stand there gawking, absorb it quickly!"
As Zhang Yang stood dumbfounded, Zhu Zhi beside him urged him on!
"Ah! Alright!"
Zhang Yang's expression turned serious.
He then leaped directly into the surge of Vast Righteousness.
Bathed in the Vast Righteousness, Zhang Yang's meridians were cleansed and refined!
The feeling was indescribable.
Such pure energy was even better than what the crystal coffin absorbed and transformed!
Vaguely.
Zhang Yang felt he was on the verge of another breakthrough!
The inner mansion within his body became much clearer at this moment.
Previously, at the Three-Star realm, Zhang Yang could only see a blurry, angular mansion.
But now, Zhang Yang could clearly discern the entire mansion. Although it was still not entirely clear, it was no longer pixelated.
Boom!
Suddenly!
A powerful force emanated from within the mansion, feeding back to Zhang Yang.
The Four-Star realm of the True Mansion realm!
Zhang Yang's eyes snapped open, filled with joy!
"You broke through again? You're a monster!" Zhu Zhi stepped forward, looking at Zhang Yang's condition with utter speechlessness!
"Heh heh, a lucky breakthrough," Zhang Yang scratched his head and grinned.
After breaking through to the Four-Star realm of the True Mansion, all the Vast Righteousness had been absorbed by him!
"I am extremely curious as to why the Vast Righteousness has no rejection towards you at all."
"Generally, those who have absorbed it once find it impossible to refine the Vast Righteousness. I've never seen a situation like yours," Zhu Zhi said with curiosity.
Regarding this.
Zhang Yang shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm not sure either. Perhaps I'm just compatible with the Vast Righteousness."
Zhu Zhi chose to accept this explanation, figuring it was the most likely one.
"Zhang Yang, since you've broken through, you can leave the Central Island now," Zhu Zhi said.
This time.
Zhu Zhi had invited Zhang Yang to the Central Island precisely to repay him by letting him absorb the Vast Righteousness.
Zhang Yang, however, was left speechless.
"Great Elder, didn't you say on the ship that we were going to have a fight? What happened? Has that changed?"
Zhang Yang thought perhaps his breakthrough had caused Zhu Zhi and the others to change their minds and abandon the fight.
"We will definitely fight, but not with us. We won't play with a monster like you," Zhu Zhi glanced at Zhang Yang and then said.
"I told you to leave the Central Island, not Linhai City."
This...
Zhang Yang thought about it briefly and understood Zhu Zhi's meaning.
"You mean we're going to fight in Linhai City? With whom?" Zhang Yang asked.
"The ten major families of Linhai City! You can kill any of them!" Zhu Zhi said sternly.
The ten major families, I can kill any of them?
This news piqued Zhang Yang's curiosity.
"Great Elder, do I look like a murderer? Strictly speaking, only the Zhao family provoked me, and I've already taught them a lesson."
"I can't bring myself to kill the ten major families now."
Zhu Zhi chuckled upon hearing this.
"Heh heh, you definitely can, and you'll do it very well."
This...
"Why?" Zhang Yang asked suspiciously.
"Do you remember the Heavenly Eagle Martial Arts School? The ten major families are currently pushing the Cloud Eagle Martial Arts School to the brink. Is that reason enough for you?" Zhu Zhi said!