Return of the Celestial King

Capital City. The deep-set courtyard of the Zhu Family estate.

At this time, within the vast Zhu Family, members from both the older and younger generations had appeared, gathering together as if to discuss a matter of great importance.

The atmosphere in the main hall of the Zhu Family estate was extremely tense and solemn.

Dozens of people sat there, all silent for a time.

Zhu Zifeng had also returned to the family and was now seated among the crowd, a somewhat sullen look on his face.

Beside him was his father, Zhu Xiangyang, who was also waiting with the others.

The current Patriarch of the Zhu Family had not yet arrived, so no one dared to speak rashly.

Finally, a gray-haired old man, leaning on a cane, walked in slowly.

This was the Zhu Family Patriarch, Zhu Guirong. The moment he arrived, everyone immediately stood up to greet him respectfully.

Zhu Guirong sat in the seat of honor, glanced at everyone, and asked with a blank expression:

"Zifeng, tell us in detail what you encountered recently in Celestial South Province."

It turned out that after Zhu Zifeng returned, he had relayed his experiences to the family.

This was why Zhu Guirong had immediately chosen to gather everyone to discuss a course of action.

Zhu Zifeng walked to the center of the hall and, in front of all the members of the Zhu Family, began to slowly recount his experience at the martial arts tournament.

He focused on Qin Tuo's deeds. When the crowd heard that Qin Tuo had killed Liao Feihu in a single move, their faces filled with astonishment!

Liao Feihu had been the Chief Instructor of the Capital City, and his immense strength was widely known.

So, it was completely unexpected that someone as formidable as Liao Feihu had been beaten to death by this young man named Qin Tuo.

At this, a murmur of discussion instantly broke out across the hall.

But just then, Zhu Zifeng continued in an even more solemn tone:

"Furthermore, this Qin Tuo even knows Alchemy, and that mysterious Jade Pendant has also fallen into his hands!"

After this series of revelations, Zhu Guirong's brows furrowed, and he fell into a deep silence.

The many members of the Zhu Family couldn't help but gasp, all wondering how this Qin Tuo, so young, could be so incredibly powerful.

His skills seemed too numerous. Not only was his personal strength transcendent, but he could also perform Alchemy. On top of that, he had even managed to get his hands on the crucial Jade Pendant.

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Guirong asked:

"Zifeng, my dear grandson, do you have a detailed file on this Qin Tuo?"

Zhu Zifeng was already prepared and had been waiting for his grandfather to ask.

He immediately took out the prepared documents and distributed them to everyone present.

As each person read the file, it was as if a storm had been stirred up. They found the contents unbelievable.

Beside him, Zhu Zifeng's father, Zhu Xiangyang, exclaimed in shock:

"Something's not right. This kid has no martial arts experience at all. It's only since his three years in prison that he's like a completely different person. Could he have had some kind of fortuitous encounter in jail?"

However, another member of the Zhu Family shook his head and said seriously:

"Impossible. What kind of fortuitous encounter could turn an ordinary person so powerful in just three short years?"

Someone else nodded in agreement, adding:

"That's right. In three years, you couldn't even cultivate Qi Force. It's absolutely impossible to reach his level. To be able to kill Liao Feihu in a single move... it's just too absurd!"

Every member of the Zhu Family felt that there was something strange about this matter, but for the moment, none could put their finger on the mystery.

Listening to the crowd's discussion, Zhu Guirong, seated at the head, slowly said:

"He isn't a Martial Artist at all. Of course he doesn't need to cultivate martial energy!"

Hearing this, the crowd was even more astounded.

However, seeing Zhu Guirong's knowing expression, they knew this assertion was not baseless.

But the more they thought about it, the more confused they became...

If Qin Tuo possessed such incredible skills, why wasn't he a Martial Artist?

Zhu Xiangyang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Father, are you implying... that this Qin Tuo is a Warlock?"

Zhu Guirong chuckled casually and said:

"How could a Warlock possibly face Liao Feihu, an Eighth-Grade Grandmaster, head-on in close combat?"

This rhetorical question plunged everyone into a dead end once again.

According to Zhu Guirong's tone, if Qin Tuo was neither a Martial Artist nor a Warlock, then what exactly was he?

"Grandfather, please stop keeping us in suspense. Just tell us!"

Zhu Zifeng shook his head with a wry smile.

When he dealt with Qin Tuo, he had felt completely suppressed and utterly useless!

Now, of course, he was desperate to find out what Qin Tuo's true origins were.

Zhu Guirong looked at the confused faces filling the room and said slowly:

"In this world, besides Martial Artists and Warlocks, there is another kind of person: the legendary Cultivator. What they pursue is the supreme Dao of cultivation!"

When he finished speaking, the entire hall was stunned into silence.

No one could have ever imagined that Qin Tuo's identity was so mysterious and lofty.

All the members of the Zhu Family present had, of course, vaguely heard that there might be legendary Immortals in this world.

But without confirmation, those were always just speculations.

Zhu Zifeng came to his senses and quickly asked:

"Grandfather, are you saying that this Qin Tuo is an Immortal?"

'I actually went up against an Immortal? Isn't that just seeking death?'

Zhu Guirong spoke with a very grave tone:

"No! A Cultivator has not yet become an Immortal... But such people are extremely rare. Even I have only chanced upon one, and that was decades ago."

The members of the Zhu Family were suddenly very interested, wanting to know what exactly Zhu Guirong had seen back then.

Hearing this, Zhu Xiangyang asked anxiously:

"Father, what happened? Please, tell us!"

Zhu Guirong turned his head, looked slowly out the window, his voice filled with emotion.

"Sigh, that was already decades ago. Back then, the late head of the Su Family and I were very close friends. One time, the two of us arranged to go out fishing on a boat..."

Zhu Guirong's voice, tinged with age and weariness, drifted slowly through the air.

In the main hall, all the members of the Zhu Family listened with rapt attention, not daring to even blink.

Only then did they understand what had happened all those years ago.

Back then, not long after Zhu Guirong and the old master of the Su Family went out to sea, they inadvertently realized they were lost.

Having lost their way on the vast, open sea, both of them felt utterly hopeless!

But just as they were on the verge of breaking down, they suddenly came across a nameless, mysterious little island...