The Ao family and the Feng family worship the dragon and the phoenix respectively. The two families dislike each other and have been competing for the title of the number one family in the ten continents for a long time.
Whenever these two families come together, disputes are bound to arise.
Ao Xingyun and Feng Nitian are the most famous geniuses in the two families respectively. Both of them are arrogant and proud, and neither of them is willing to submit to the other.
Several other families were watching the fun from the sidelines. A handsome young male cultivator with a Vermillion Bird totem painted on his robe clasped his hands together, enjoying the show.
"Instead of arguing, why not have a fight? The two of you should just have a fight."
However, Ao Xingyun and Feng Nitian would never be provoked by his words. They just snorted at each other and calmed down.
When the handsome male cultivator saw this, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal and walked towards the casual cultivators, pointing at a few of them at random.
"I am the young master of the Suzaku family. You, and you, are you willing to follow my Zhu family to the Immortal Palace ruins?"
The people who were chosen were immediately flattered. Although they had the cultivation base of the Golden Core Stage, they could barely be considered as influential figures.
But if you compare them with the top ten families, there is a world of difference.
The ten great families had a long tradition, worshipping the sacred beasts of the clan for generations, and their ancestors had even produced true saints. In the ten continents of the sea, they were like the magic needle that stabilized the sea, making people yearn for and admire them.
The Zhu family has worshipped Suzaku for generations and is one of the top ten families in the world of cultivation.
Being able to team up with the monks from these aristocratic families would provide more security than exploring on their own.
"I do!"
"Thank you for your appreciation, young master!"
But not everyone thought so. One of the black-robed swordsmen directly rejected his invitation.
"I am used to being alone, so I won't be a burden to you."
Young Master Suzaku did not expect that someone would dare to reject his proposal.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, and a hint of interest appeared in his eyes, which fell on the person who refused.
"Sword cultivator, you are indeed quite courageous. But haven't you heard that being too strong will lead to failure? I will give you another chance to answer. Are you willing to go with me to the ruins of the Immortal Palace?"
The black-robed swordsman's eyes narrowed slightly, and he felt the invisible pressure.
But as a sword cultivator, he has his own persistence in his heart.
The black-robed swordsman took a deep breath and said decisively again, "Sorry, I refuse."
"I admire your courage, but it's misplaced."
Young Master Suzaku was not angry. Instead, he nodded with appreciation and turned around to point at the phantom of the ruins in the distance.
"You see the fairy palace with its jade-like decorations and magnificent appearance, but you don't know that it is just a mirage in the sea. The real fairy palace ruins are nothing like what you see!
The great house inside is leaning, the rafters are collapsing, and everywhere are broken walls and ruins covered with formations and prohibitions! Only by following our clan cultivators can there be a glimmer of hope for survival."
Satisfied with the slight change in the color of the black-robed swordsman, Young Master Suzaku paused and looked at the other casual cultivators, "That's all I have to say. It depends on how you choose."
"That sounds good, but you so-called big families keep saying that you can protect independent cultivators like me, but in fact you are just treating us as pathfinders. Even if you really get any benefits, you will be the ones to pick and choose."
A female cultivator wearing a wide-sleeved silk dress and a white gauze covering her face snorted coldly.
"You get the benefits, but we get to die. Where in the world can such a good thing happen? I would rather be buried in the ruins of the Immortal Palace than become a running dog of you aristocratic families!"
As soon as the female cultivator finished speaking, several people responded.
"Fairy Lotus is right. We, the independent cultivators, don't have to rely on them or depend on them for survival!"
"The Immortal Palace Ruins were not opened by them, so why do they ask us to follow them?"
There was also a bald monk wearing a cassock, Buddhist beads around his neck, but with a face full of flesh, who laughed strangely and looked disdainful.
"Young Master Zhuque? Hehe, you are just relying on your good birth. I have reached the state of Dan at the age of 200 and have been roaming the sea for 200 years. I have seen all kinds of dangerous places. How could I be afraid of this mere Immortal Palace ruins?"
Young Master Suzaku's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes became gloomy. This group of ignorant and independent cultivators were truly rampant!
He took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
Well, these people have rebellious natures. Even if they are attached on the surface, they will betray me in the end. It is better to go our separate ways from the beginning.
Once they step into the secret realm, they will eventually regret and realize their mistakes.
The young master of Suzaku turned away, and the female cultivator known as the Lotus Fairy and the evil Buddha took the opportunity to invite the surrounding cultivators, and many of them joined at once.
Seeing this, several independent cultivators in the late Jindan stage began to follow suit and develop their own teams.
However, up to now, no monks from the three fairy islands of Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang have appeared.
It seems that these immortal island cultivators have no intention of absorbing independent cultivators.
Xu Chunniang's cultivation level was at the first level of the Golden Core, which placed her at the bottom among many Golden Core cultivators. No matter whether they were the genius cultivators from the aristocratic families or those famous and independent cultivators, none of them had ever even glanced at her.
After all, what they need are strong people rather than burdens, so they will naturally only focus on cultivators in the middle and late stages of the Golden Core Realm.
Therefore, there are many cultivators in the early stage of Jindan who are in the same situation as Xu Chunniang, and no one cares about them.
I watched as several major families, led by the Ao and Feng families, selected their candidates and left on warships.
Several independent cultivator organizations, led by the Lotus Fairy and the Evil Buddha, gradually took shape, and many of the remaining cultivators became anxious.
They don't want to go into the ruins alone.
Some people even plucked up the courage to step forward and recommend themselves.
"Young Master Zhuque, can I follow the Zhu family into the ruins? Although I am only at the second level of the Golden Core, I am good at refining equipment..."
Upon hearing this, the young master Suzaku raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if smiling.
"Refine a weapon? I wonder if you can refine a top-grade magical weapon?"
The expression on that person's face froze instantly. He could only refine a low-grade magical weapon at best. It was difficult for him to even refine a mid-grade magical weapon, let alone a top-grade one.
"This...cannot be done for the time being..."
"In that case, I can only say I'm sorry."
After Young Master Suzaku finished speaking, he added, "If you are a formation master, regardless of your level of cultivation, you can join my Zhu family team."
Upon hearing this, the eyes of several people present lit up. Just as they were about to reveal their identities as formation masters, they heard a voice.
"What a coincidence! My White Tiger Li family is also in need of a formation master. Even if you have just entered the Golden Core stage, as long as you have mastered the second-level formation, you can join my Li family team and be protected."
A female cultivator who was slightly taller than an ordinary person and carrying a heavy sword on her back strode over. She had an androgynous appearance, looked very heroic, and her every move was full of impressive aura.
Young Master Suzaku glanced at her and asked, "Why do you follow me wherever I go?"
The female cultivator smiled back, but her tone was not very polite.
"This is not your Zhu family. I can be wherever I want."