Chapter 232: Chapter 204: A Congratulatory Gift for Wenn Quan, Assuming Command at Broken River Castle

Three months passed in a flash.

When Zhao Xiaoshu’s figure appeared before Lu Zhao’s cave residence once more, his expression was calm. The gloom that had clouded his features from the news of the long-term post had vanished, replaced by a look of acceptance.

Evidently, he had completely accepted his fate of being sent away for twenty or even thirty years and had made the necessary preparations.

Lu Zhao sat on a meditation cushion in his Quiet Chamber. Seeing Zhao Xiaoshu enter, he gave a slight nod. He didn’t say much. With a simple lift of his hand, a quaintly styled Storage Bag floated gently toward Zhao Xiaoshu.

"Little Shu," Lu Zhao’s voice was flat and emotionless, "take this to Wenn Quan. Tell him I am about to depart for the Northern Wilderness County’s Broken River Plains to carry out a mandatory Sect mission as Commander of Broken River Castle. My return date is uncertain."

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the stone walls of the cave residence to fall upon a distant figure. "Give him another message from me: I congratulate him in advance on his successful Foundation Establishment. When I return, I hope to be able to call him ’Junior Brother Wenn.’ Consider the contents of this Storage Bag my early congratulatory gift."

Zhao Xiaoshu accepted the Storage Bag with both hands. It felt slightly heavy. He put it away solemnly and bowed. "Yes, Elder Lu. I understand. I will see to it at once." With that, he turned and left, his steps steady and without a hint of hesitation.

An hour later, Zhao Xiaoshu reappeared inside the cave residence.

A hint of hard-to-read emotion touched his face as he reported to Lu Zhao, "Elder Lu, I have delivered the item to Fellow Daoist Wenn personally. When Fellow Daoist Wenn heard you were about to leave on a long journey and saw what was inside the Storage Bag, he became quite emotional."

"He insisted I convey his immense gratitude. He said that without your generous gift of Spirit Stones, he would have been nowhere near gathering what he needs for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Fellow Daoist Wenn also said..."

Zhao Xiaoshu paused for a moment, imitating Wenn Quan’s resolute tone from earlier. "’If I, Wenn Quan, am fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment, I will follow your lead from this day forward, Elder Lu! Should you ever have need of me, I will obey your commands without question, even unto death!’"

After hearing this, Lu Zhao’s expression remained largely unchanged, though a faint glimmer of satisfaction passed through his eyes. He nodded slightly. "Mm, I see. It seems my efforts were not in vain."

’I’ve observed Wenn Quan’s aptitude and character over the years. Helping to smooth his path to Foundation Establishment is a good way to forge a beneficial connection. As for the promise to follow my lead, I don’t take it too seriously. In the Cultivation Realm, people’s hearts are fickle. But Wenn Quan’s gratitude right now is genuine, and that’s enough.’

"Let’s go." Lu Zhao said no more, rising and flicking his sleeve. Zhao Xiaoshu followed closely behind. The two left the cave residence and headed straight for the Long Journey Hall, which was part of the Logistics Bureau.

The Long Journey Hall was located deep within the Logistics Bureau, responsible for dispatching the Sect’s long-distance transport Flying Ships. When Lu Zhao presented a simple, ancient-looking Jade Talisman engraved with the two words "Broken River," an Outer Sect Steward immediately and respectfully led them to a Flying Ship that was about to depart.

Stepping onto the deck of the Flying Ship, he was met with a steady Spiritual Pressure unlike that of an ordinary Magical Artifact. It was in no way inferior to the Flying Ship Lu Zhao had ridden when he first joined the Sect.

Entering the Flying Ship’s interior, Lu Zhao found the space to be quite roomy. The cabin walls were crafted from dark Spirit Wood, inlaid with smooth, polished Moon Pattern Stones that contained a faint shimmer, emitting a soft, gentle glow that wasn’t harsh on the eyes.

The floor was covered with a thick carpet bearing a natural cloud-like pattern, which felt warm and comfortable to walk on.

When Lu Zhao looked up, he saw that the beams supporting the ceiling were not simple pillars but were carved with reliefs of coiling dragons or soaring phoenixes. The lines were fluid and lifelike, yet they lacked any sense of gaudy splendor, instead projecting an air of ancient grandeur.

The Flying Ship’s overall decor was ornate without being ostentatious, revealing the profound heritage of a Major Sect in every detail.

Lu Zhao stepped into a Quiet Chamber reserved for him. Feeling the dense Spiritual Qi in the room and the barely perceptible vibration underfoot as the Flying Ship started to move, he thought to himself with a sigh, ’The treatment for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator really is on another level. The comfort and speed of this Flying Ship are far beyond what the Demon Beasts I rode during my Qi Cultivation Stage could offer.’

Soon, the Flying Ship took off, tearing through the clouds as it sped north. Fifteen days later, the landscape of rolling hills outside the porthole abruptly changed.

An unimaginably vast river burst into view! It was the Broken Dragon River, the very one that cleaved the Broken Dragon Plains in two!

Lu Zhao looked down from the deck. The river wasn’t the usual turquoise or murky yellow, but a deep greenish-black, almost the color of ink. It was as if molten metal were flowing, not water.

The river was so wide that Lu Zhao couldn’t see the opposite bank, his gaze meeting only the vast, hazy expanse where water met sky.

Its current was incomparably violent, churning up thousands of turbid waves as large as small mountains. The crests crashed into each other with a deafening roar like muffled thunder. Even through the Flying Ship’s Sound Insulation Restriction, Lu Zhao could faintly feel that world-destroying power.

Under the sun, the river reflected a cold sheen. The air was thick with moisture and a strange, faint smell—a mix of damp earth and rust.

The entire river was like an enraged Ancient Giant Dragon, twisting its body violently as if trying to break free from the earth’s shackles!

Lu Zhao stared at this raging behemoth that seemed to have existed since time immemorial, understanding dawning on him. ’The Broken Dragon River is here. The Broken Dragon Plains can’t be far off.’

The Flying Ship followed the terrifying river for another half a day.

Finally, at a great bend in the river, a vast, relatively flat plain carved out by the water appeared at the edge of their vision.

Upon the plain, perched on a steep highland near the bank of the Broken Dragon River, stood a massive fortress!

That was Broken River Castle!

The fortress was a dark gray color. Its stone surface was covered in the mottled scars of wind and frost, as well as the claw marks of Demon Beasts, all testaments to the long ages it had endured.

The fortress wasn’t a regular geometric shape. It was built along the contours of the steep cliffs, with high, thick walls and a forest of arrow towers. From a distance, it resembled an ancient, wounded beast, crouching by the Broken Dragon River—scarred, yet still ferocious.

But the most eye-catching feature was the enormous barrier of light that enveloped the entire fortress and the sizable Cultivator settlement below it!

The light barrier was a heavy, stable, earthen yellow, like solid-cast glass. Countless complex Runes flowed across its surface.

The Runes were not static, however. They pulsed like a living thing, linking together as the barrier shimmered in and out of view. The dome of light was a single, perfect whole, exuding an indestructible aura that firmly sealed off the brutal, hostile energy of the outside world.

This was the Tier Two Middle-Grade Defense Array that the Bixia Sect had established here—the Rocky Mountain Array!

Lu Zhao’s gaze lingered for a moment on the endlessly flowing Runes. He thought, ’Broken River Castle itself is nothing special to look at, but this Rocky Mountain Array truly lives up to its name. It’s an extraordinary sight. With this array in place, we have a solid foundation to stand on.’

The Flying Ship slowly descended, finally coming to a steady stop on a wide platform inside Broken River Castle that had been specially cleared for takeoffs and landings. Around the platform, a large number of Cultivators were already standing in wait.

The cabin door opened. With Zhao Xiaoshu following behind him, Lu Zhao stepped down the gangway.

The moment his feet touched the ground of Broken River Castle, an elderly man from the dark mass of the crowd stepped forward. He wore a Steward Black Robe, and his aura was at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. With a solemn expression, he gave Lu Zhao a deep bow!

Immediately after, dozens of Cultivators behind him—dressed in various attire with Cultivation levels ranging from Mid-stage Qi Cultivation to Late-stage Qi Cultivation—bowed in unison. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and their voices, loud and respectful, thundered across the platform like a tidal wave:

"We welcome the new Commander, Elder Lu!"

The sound rolled like thunder, echoing over Broken River Castle, carrying with it a mix of awe for the new Commander, as well as anticipation and trepidation for the future.

Lu Zhao’s calm gaze swept over the faces before him—faces that would be tied to his fate for many long years to come. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. His life as the Commander of the Broken River Plains had officially begun.

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