Outside the Southern Capital.
A warship bearing the emblem of the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty was rapidly heading towards the Southern Capital.
Unlike the group that had come before, this time, the leader was a Hollow Void Patriarch of great seniority.
Qin Zhengfa.
Within the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty, he was a Hollow Void of extremely high lineage.
Even the current Emperor of the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty was one of his juniors.
With this status, wherever he went, he received extra respect.
By the side of this Patriarch, there was a prince who had been expelled not long ago.
In the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty, any royal family member who achieved Hollow Void status could be titled as prince or princess.
However, if they were of the direct line and formed a Deep Blue Golden Core, they could also receive the treatment accorded to a prince.
The Fourteenth Prince before them was such an example.
This prince had ignored the prohibition and fought fiercely with a True Disciple of the Golden Crow Sect a few days ago; he was directly driven out of the Southern Capital by Qi Sha and his men, a humiliation for someone who had always been adored and cherished.
Now that his own Patriarch had personally arrived, riding on a Dao Artifact-level warship, the Fourteenth Prince had followed, feeling a strong sense of vindication.
"Fourth great-uncle, you must speak justice for me, a mere True Disciple of the Golden Crow Sect dared to insult me so, punishing him was only natural. But that Qi Sha drove us directly out of the Southern Capital and was rudely outspoken. Such behavior clearly shows no respect for our True Dragon Immortal Dynasty," said the Fourteenth Prince, expressing his grievances to Qin Zhengfa.
"I've heard about it, indeed, it was the subordinate of the Alkaid Sect Leader who acted excessively. You may be a Golden Core, but you are accorded the treatment of a prince. For Qi Sha to disregard this and expel you and the Golden Crow Sect's True Disciple was indeed thoughtless," Qin Zhengfa commented lightly.
He paused, then continued, "Of course... Qi Sha ultimately serves under the Alkaid Sect Leader, who is a Hollow Void, so we shouldn't press too hard. I'll mention it to the Alkaid Sect Leader, have that Qi Sha apologize to you, and let the matter rest, to avoid accusations of us in the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty causing unnecessary trouble."
"An apology? For an affair that concerns the dignity of our True Dragon Immortal Dynasty, how can a simple apology suffice? That Alkaid Sect Leader should at least imprison him for a hundred years to teach him some respect for guests..."
The Fourteenth Prince was somewhat dissatisfied.
"That's impossible, not only is it unlikely we would make such a demand, but Alkaid would also not agree to it."
Qin Zhengfa glanced at him, "Don't forget, he is a Hollow Void."
"What of Hollow Void? I still enjoy the same treatment as a Hollow Void...
"Yes, only the same treatment as a Hollow Void," Qin Zhengfa said somberly, "If you were truly a Hollow Void, then if Qi Sha so insulted you, I would personally take action to regain your honor. But you are not truly a Hollow Void. There is a complete difference in nature between a Hollow Void and a non-Hollow Void."
"Fourth great-uncle..."
The Fourteenth Prince was somewhat reluctant.
"Let it be," Qin Zhengfa waved his hand: "Alkaid clearly announced beforehand not to take arms in the Southern Capital, and you indeed engaged in a physical confrontation with the Golden Crow Sect's True Disciple, breaking the rule set by Alkaid. Although the rule itself is unreasonable, out of respect for the face of the Alkaid Sect Leader, we have to be somewhat considerate. I'll mention to the Alkaid Sect Leader, have Qi Sha apologize to you, and let the matter rest."
Although the Fourteenth Prince was still somewhat unwilling, the Patriarch seemed to have made up his mind, and he could not influence the decision.
"Xiao Yi, send a message to the person in charge of the Southern Region, I want to visit this Alkaid Sect Leader and discuss this matter with him," Qin Zhengfa said.
"Yes."
A cool and aloof woman, who had also condensed a Deep Blue Golden Core, quickly relayed the message behind him.
However, shortly after, she frowned slightly: "Elder ancestor, the Southern Region is currently managed by a Hollow Void War Immortal named Li Hanqiu, but he claims that Alkaid is preparing for an upcoming auction of a Dao Artifact and has no free time..."
"No free time?" Qin Zhengfa's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction, yet he said lightly: "Tell him I have arrived; surely, he will soon find the time."
"I already mentioned your revered name, but..."
The cool and aloof woman spoke, then added: "I'll send another message. That Li Hanqiu is just a mere Hollow Void War Immortal, how could he understand the grandeur of your status, honorable grandfather."
"Fourth great-uncle, you may not be aware, but that Alkaid Sect Leader indeed has quite an attitude," the Fourteenth Prince quickly said, as if seizing on a sore point. "It's said that these few days, the Hollow Void powers of the Golden Crow Sect and the Immortal Martial Sect wanted to visit him, but without exception, they were all turned away. Among them, the Hollow Void Pan Yuan of the Immortal Martial Sect was so furious that he almost attacked Li Hanqiu, to teach him some respect for hierarchy. But the Heavenly Capital Dragon Slaying Grand Formation in the Southern Capital had already been activated, and that Qi Sha audaciously used the power of the formation to stand up to Grand Master Pan Yuan! Such insolence!"
Listening to this, Qin Zhengfa's brows furrowed deeply.
Although the gap between Hollow Void, Void Refinement, and Shattered Void was not as insurmountable as crossing a chasm, for a Hollow Void to be so bold in the face of a Void Refinement...
The description of being insolent and presumptuous was indeed apt.
"Hmph! Several Void Refinements were turned away from visiting, this Alkaid Sect Leader is truly arrogant. No wonder even Zong Wenxian has an unfavorable view of him, allowing the Yin Moon Sect to cause trouble in the Southern Region and turning a blind eye," Qin Zhengfa stated coldly.
Qin Zhengfa waved his sleeve, "Offending the Sect Leader internally and so many powers externally, after this Dao Artifact auction, he will inevitably face various troubles!"
Both the Fourteenth Prince and the aloof young girl named Xiaoyi nodded gravely in agreement.
Just at this moment, the Southern Capital was already within close reach.
Simultaneously, the Formation shrouding the Southern Capital also appeared within the group's view.
Within it, the Formation seemed to have perceived the "blacklisted" Fourteenth Prince, causing the internal lights to surge tumultuously.
Soon, a number of people had crossed the threshold, led by none other than a Hollow Void War Immortal from the Heavenly Casualty War Hall.
"Distinguished guests from the True Dragon Immortal Dynasty, welcome to the Southern Capital, but there is an unwelcome individual on your Flying Boat. Please have this person leave," he said with neither humility nor arrogance.
"How dare you!"
Yet, the audacity of a Hollow Void War Immortal to block his Warship outraged Qin Zhengfa who had just been embarrassed: "Everyone on the Warship is from our True Dragon Immortal Dynasty. What now, if I do not have him leave the Warship, will you still obstruct us from entering the Southern Capital?"
"So it is True Monarch Zhengfa, I have seen the True Monarch."
This Hollow Void War Immortal bowed slightly, his manners impeccable, but the words that followed...
"Sorry, our Sect Leader had already instructed that any unwelcome individuals must not enter the Southern Capital, please do not make this difficult for us."
"What audacity, even your Vice Sect Leader Alkaid wouldn't dare to speak to me like this. Call him out to me, I must have an explanation today, otherwise, don't blame me, Qin Zhengfa, for not giving face to this Vice Sect Leader," Qin Zhengfa said angrily.
These words caused the Hollow Void War Immortal's expression to change, and he immediately relayed the message to Qi Sha.
While Qi Sha didn't arrive, another Hollow Void hurried over.
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding,"
This Hollow Void quick landed between the Heavenly Casualty War Hall Hollow Void War Immortal and Qin Zhengfa, smiling, "I will immediately check who is on the unwelcome list, have them leave the Flying Boat. With the unwelcome individual gone, our True Dragon Immortal Dynasty's Warship should have no issues entering the Southern Capital right?"
"Of course."
This Hollow Void War Immortal from the Heavenly Casualty War Hall also subtly sighed in relief, adding, "We in the Southern Capital welcome anyone who abides by the rules of the Southern Capital."
Qin Zhengfa looked at this Hollow Void and slightly frowned.
This was Wang Que from the Dashang Immortal Dynasty, who was also a direct disciple of the Supreme Patriarch Zhao Fuxi.
Both Dashang and True Dragon dynasties had intermarriages, with Zhao Fuxi and Qin Zhengfa even being actual kin.
Therefore, despite his dissatisfaction, Qin Zhengfa did not erupt in anger immediately facing Wang Que's obstruction.
"True Monarch, this junior pays his respects."
As Wang Que landed on the Warship, he respectfully saluted.
"What is going on?" Qin Zhengfa asked discontentedly, "A Vice Sect Leader, yet they regard us so lightly, do they really think everyone has to plead with him just because he auctioned this Dao Artifact?"
"It's natural for the Vice Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect to have not reached such a status, but... what if this Vice Sect Leader has cultivated for no more than a hundred years?"
Wang Que said.
"A hundred years?"
Qin Zhengfa was somewhat surprised, but then he snorted coldly, "A prodigious talent, so what? In an environment like the Northern Sea Star, it's even harder for geniuses to grow compared to ordinary people, especially since he has offended Zong Wenxian, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect who clearly intends to suppress him. The greater his talent, the quicker he might die."
"It's... not merely about talent."
"Not just talent? You don't think the news coming out of the Penglai Immortal Sect is true, do you? That he stepped into the Void Refinement Realm and was able to slay a Void Refinement Demon King?"
Qin Zhengfa scoffed, "Not to mention how a perfectly fine Heaven-Devouring Demon King suddenly turned into a Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor, just Alkaid, the Vice Sect Leader, acting dubiously in and out with the Penglai Immortal Sect, makes us suspicious that this is the Penglai Immortal Sect fabricating momentum for Alkaid to gain more support within the Heavenly Dao Sect."
"You don't believe in the Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor matter, but surely you know about the Demon Cultivator Evil Eye from the Yin Moon Sect?"
Wang Que said.
"Evil Eye?"
Qin Zhengfa's smirk slightly receded, turning grave, "One of the Twenty-Three Peak Masters of the Yin Moon Sect, one move of Divine Deterrence Mysterious Light directly assaulting the spirit, unable to be resisted by those who do not cultivate a similar Great Dao, or unless one has a soul and spirit protecting Dao Artifact! Besides his Divine Deterrence Mysterious Light, he controls two powerful Dao Techniques and possesses a Dao Artifact, ranking him among the top in Void Refinement..."
Speaking thus, as if he had just thought of something, he suddenly said, "You aren't about to tell me that Alkaid, who just ascended to Void Refinement a few years ago, could also kill such a veteran, well-known Void Refinement, who wields a Dao Artifact, right?"
"Yes."
Wang Que nodded emphatically, "Just recently, Yin Moon Sect Peak Master Evil Eye led several Hollow Void Elders into the Southern Region to wreak havoc... Alkaid, the Sect Leader, ventured out alone. In just a few days, he killed two Hollow Void Demon Cultivators, and furthermore... he killed the old Void Refinement Peak Master Evil Eye of the Yin Moon Sect!"
As he spoke, he paused for emphasis, reiterating, "It was under the circumstances of joining forces with Evil Eye and three Hollow Void, one Hollow Void Demon Cultivator was slain, followed by refining Evil Eye, the Yin Moon Sect Peak Master and Void Refinement Demon Cultivator, to death!"