Chapter 233: Chapter 205: Lu Zhao Takes Office, the Worry of the Broken River Plains Cultivators

Inside Broken River Castle, the gathering place of Cultivators—a stretch of low stone houses—was now exceptionally quiet.

Dozens of Middle and Late Stage Qi Cultivators, led by a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Steward with white hair and a composed aura, stood respectfully with their hands at their sides. Their gazes, filled with awe, were fixed on the dark figure that drifted down from the Flying Ship.

Lu Zhao’s posture was straight, his steps steady. His entire body radiated the unique pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Though he did not intentionally activate it, it was enough to make the surrounding air feel as if it had frozen.

His calm gaze swept over the crowd before him, finally landing on the leading Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Steward. Zhao Xiaoshu followed closely behind him, step for step, his face showing the nervousness of arriving in an unfamiliar place.

As Lu Zhao walked, the crowd automatically parted to form a path. Everyone thronged around Lu Zhao’s party, escorting them through the somewhat messy streets of the gathering place and toward the imposing Broken River Castle built against the mountain.

When Lu Zhao entered the fortress, the light dimmed, and an aura combining the chill of rock and the weight of ages washed over him.

The space inside the fortress was wide and open, with an orderly layout. A main path led deeper into the center, flanked by stone chambers and passages of various functions.

Lu Zhao did not stop walking. He spoke as he went, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority: "Where is the former Commander, Brother Liuu?"

The old Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Steward quickly bowed, his tone respectful and tinged with caution: "Reporting to Junior Master Lu, a quarter of an hour ago, Junior Master Liuu saw your Flying Ship arrive and left on his own."

"We do not know his exact whereabouts either." He paused, then added, "However, before he left, Junior Master Liuu specifically instructed that all the information you might want to know, as well as the Core Token that controls Broken River Castle’s Mountain Protection Array, have been properly placed inside his cave residence. Junior Master, you only need to make a trip there to learn everything."

Hearing this, Lu Zhao nodded slightly, his face betraying no emotion. His gaze swept over the crowd that had followed them, and he said coolly, "The rest of you may disperse. You," he raised his hand and pointed to the old Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Steward, "take me to Brother Liuu’s cave residence."

"Yes!" As if granted amnesty, the crowd replied in unison. They all bowed and retreated. "We respectfully see you off, Elder!"

Led by the Elder Steward, Lu Zhao and Zhao Xiaoshu ascended the somewhat dim stone steps inside the fortress, soon arriving before the entrance to a cave residence in a relatively secluded part of the upper level. The stone door opened, and a cold, even spartan, air washed over them.

The cave residence was not large, about ten zhang square. The four walls were unpolished, rough mountain rock, with only a single Fluorite Lamp embedded in a wall emitting a faint white light.

The furnishings inside were extremely simple: a stone table covered in fine cracks, two stone stools of the same material, and a stone meditation cushion in the corner. That was the sum of its contents. There was nothing else, not even a decent storage rack.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi drawn from the depths of the cave residence was quite pure, reaching Tier Two Middle-Grade, but it was clear the previous owner had spent no effort on creature comforts.

Lu Zhao’s gaze swept over the cave residence, which could only be described as "four bare walls," and his brow twitched imperceptibly. He blurted out, "It seems Brother Liuu was quite the ascetic."

The old Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Steward immediately chimed in, his voice filled with sincere admiration: "Junior Master Lu is absolutely right! Junior Master Liuu was a diligent cultivator, free from distractions. He cultivated in seclusion here year-round, never pursuing material pleasures. The firmness of his Dao Heart truly puts us juniors to shame."

Lu Zhao was noncommittal about this assessment, merely giving a cool instruction: "You may leave for now. Also, arrange a suitable cave residence for this follower of mine." He gestured to Zhao Xiaoshu behind him.

"Yes! Rest assured, Junior Master Lu, this junior will see to it at once!" the Elder Steward quickly replied. He then turned to Zhao Xiaoshu, a friendly smile plastered on his face. "This way, fellow Daoist."

After the two left and the stone door slowly closed, Lu Zhao was alone in the cave residence. He walked to the stone table, his gaze falling on the two items in the center: a smooth, cyan Jade Scroll and a palm-sized Token.

Lu Zhao first picked up the Jade Scroll and submerged his Divine Sense into it. In an instant, a massive amount of information flooded his Sea of Consciousness.

First was an overview of Broken River Castle and its surroundings. It detailed the fortress’s defense systems and personnel, including the resident Outer Sect Stewards from the Bixia Sect, the Wanderers and clans who depended on the fortress, and its daily operational procedures.

It also specifically noted the complexity of the Wanderer settlement outside the fortress and the major powers that required attention.

Second were potential threats: a focused record of the known distribution areas, types, habits, and recent activity signs of Tier Two Demon Beasts in the Broken River Plains.

It mentioned a Tier Two Middle-Grade Demon Beast called the "Iron-Backed Mountain Demon," which was violent and extremely territorial, a primary target of the former Commander’s defensive measures. Additionally, it noted that occasional Tier Two Demon Beasts from across the Broken Dragon River would sometimes stray into the area, requiring vigilance.

Third was a detailed explanation of the Fortress Protection Array, the "Rocky Mountain Array." This was the longest section in the Jade Scroll.

It not only contained the basic control Techniques for the Array, the distribution of its Spiritual Power Nodes, and key points for daily maintenance, but also a detailed record of the Array’s weaknesses, which the former Commander, Brother Liuu, had discovered during his tenure.

It also included the best response strategies for several common attack patterns, and how to overload the Array’s core in an emergency to temporarily boost its Defense Power.

Finally, it included a set of minor techniques Brother Liuu had summarized himself for using the Array for regional surveillance and early warnings.

This information was detailed and practical, clearly organized with great care by his predecessor to pave the way for his successor.

At this point, Lu Zhao felt a growing sense of goodwill toward this Brother Liuu, whom he had never met.

Putting down the Jade Scroll, Lu Zhao’s gaze fell on the last item—the Array Token that controlled the very lifeblood of Broken River Castle.

The Token was a solid Dark Gold color. It was heavy and cold to the touch, its texture like a cross between gold and jade, its smoothness carrying the cold hardness of Metal.

On the front of the Token, the two large, ancient words "Broken River" were inscribed with extremely complex and exquisite strokes. A faint, earthy-yellow Spirit Light flowed along the edges of the words, faintly connecting with the aura of the entire Broken River Castle.

On the back was a miniature Array Map of complex and profound lines—the core Array Pattern of the "Rocky Mountain Array." At the center of the Array Map was embedded a rice-sized Crystal Stone that continuously pulsed with a faint yellow glow, as if it were a miniature embodiment of the entire Array’s power.

Looking at this Token, which contained the vast power of a Tier Two Middle-Grade Grand Array, and feeling its faint, pulsating resonance with the earth beneath his feet and the entire fortress, Lu Zhao took a deep breath. An unprecedented sense of confidence welled up from the bottom of his heart.

’With this Array in hand, this will be my foundation! With my strength, here in Broken River Castle, even if a peak Tier Two Late Stage Demon Beast were to attack, I would have the power to fight it!’

Just as Lu Zhao was in his predecessor’s cave residence, receiving the authority of Broken River Castle and feeling the profound confidence brought by the Array Token, the atmosphere in a relatively grand courtyard built of bluestone deep within the Wanderer settlement outside the fortress was quite heavy.

This was the Hann Family’s residence. The Hann Family was a Qi Cultivation Clan that depended on Broken River Castle and had been entrenched here for several generations. The Patriarch, Hann Song, a cultivator at the Peak of Qi Cultivation, was the most powerful and influential local boss, aside from the Bixia Sect’s stationed Cultivators.

At this moment, the main hall of the Hann residence was brightly lit. Seated in the main seat was an old man with a gaunt face and profound eyes—the Patriarch, Hann Song.

To his left and right sat four or five Cultivators with powerful auras, all at least at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. They were the leading figures of the Xu Family, the Wang Family, and several other smaller clans or Wanderer groups.

Among them, the Xu Family’s Patriarch, Xu Kui, was burly and blind in one eye, with a sharp glint in his remaining one. The Wang Family’s Patriarch, Wang Zhen, was gaunt and had a sinister gaze, and he had always been at odds with Xu Kui.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Finally, the impatient Xu Kui couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed his hand on the tea table beside him with a dull THUD, shattering the silence. His single eye scanned the crowd as his voice, filled with anxiety, rang out: "Have you all gone mute? Say something!"

"That new Elder Lu has already arrived and entered the fortress! What are we supposed to do? Should we be like we were with Commander Liuu—respectful on the surface but doing whatever we want behind his back? Or should we throw in our lot with him completely and follow his every command? We need to come up with a plan!"

Across from him, Wang Zhen heard this and a sarcastic sneer played on his lips. He spoke in a derisive tone, "What? Blind Xu, from the sound of it, does your Xu Family still have the guts to play games of feigning compliance with a Foundation Establishment Elder?"

"He holds the token for Broken River Castle’s Grand Array! He could crush us with a single finger! What’s the use of a bunch of us Qi Cultivators gathering here to brainstorm? In the end, don’t we just have to do whatever he says? Can an arm win a fight against a thigh?" He deliberately emphasized the words "Foundation Establishment Elder" and "crush."

"Old Ghost Wang!"

Provoked by these words, Xu Kui’s anger flared. He shot to his feet, pointed at Wang Zhen’s nose, and cursed, "It’s one thing for you to pick fights with me normally! But what time is it now? We’re all trying to figure out how to survive under this new Commander!"

"If you have nothing good to say, then don’t say anything at all! All you do is spout defeatist nonsense! What are you really after? Are you hoping we all suffer so you can profit from it?"

"Bullshit! Blind Xu, you’re spouting nonsense!" Wang Zhen also slammed the table and shot to his feet, his face flushed. "I, Wang Zhen, have always been upright and honest! I’m just trying to make everyone face reality! Stop having these unrealistic dreams! If you, Xu Kui, have the guts, why don’t you go try and test your strength against that Elder Lu?"

"You!" Xu Kui was so angry his hair and beard seemed to stand on end. The Magical Power around him fluctuated faintly, and it looked like he was about to attack.

"Enough!" From the main seat, Hann Song barked a low command. His voice wasn’t loud, but it contained the pressure of the Qi Cultivation Peak, instantly quelling the anger of the two men.

His gaze was like lightning as it swept over Xu Kui and Wang Zhen, carrying an indisputable authority. "What are you arguing about? Isn’t it chaotic enough? This is the Hann Family residence, not a place for you to run wild! If you want to argue, get out and do it!"

Intimidated by Hann Song’s presence, Xu Kui and Wang Zhen glared at each other before sullenly returning to their seats, their faces still filled with resentment.

Silence fell over the hall once more, the atmosphere even more oppressive than before.

At this moment, another middle-aged cultivator who looked to be in his forties and was at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer looked toward Hann Song, his tone worried. "Elder Hann, you are our backbone here. What should we do now?"

"This Elder Lu doesn’t seem as easygoing as Commander Liuu was." Commander Liuu’s detached nature meant he had barely managed the affairs of the settlement outside the fortress, giving local bosses like them considerable autonomy.

Hann Song slowly stroked his beard, a shrewd glint flashing in his cloudy old eyes. He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, his voice deep and solemn, "It’s too early to make any decisions now."

"This Elder Lu has just arrived. We know nothing of his temperament, his preferences, or his attitude toward local bosses like us. If we rashly pledge allegiance and end up trusting the wrong person, what then? But to rashly oppose him would be courting death."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "The most urgent task now is to send people, at any cost, to investigate! Investigate this Elder Lu’s origins and background. Which faction within the Bixia Sect does he belong to?"

"Investigate his style. Is he swift and decisive, or steady and prudent? Does he crave pleasure or is he devoted to cultivation? Most importantly, what are his views on clans like ours that depend on Broken River Castle? Does he plan to let us run wild like Commander Liuu did, or does he intend to consolidate power?"

"Only after we’ve figured all this out can we prescribe the right medicine." Hann Song sighed, a deep weariness and helplessness showing on his face. "Let’s just hope this Elder Lu is like the former Commander Liuu and doesn’t meddle in the ’idle matters’ of our settlement. Otherwise..." He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone present understood the heavy implications.

Broken River Castle had welcomed a new master, and outside its walls, an undercurrent had already begun to stir. On the desolate and dangerous Broken River Plains, a silent game was about to begin.

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