The Secret Realm Of Dragon Court, The First Ancestor Of The Great Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Linglong was led into the secret territory of Longting.

Initially, Zhou Linglong had expected Longting to be a place of solemn grandeur, akin to a grand church or palace. To her surprise, upon entering, she found herself in a picturesque realm filled with beautiful mountains and clear waters. Dozens of peaks surrounded serene lakes, creating a stunning landscape.

Moreover, as soon as Zhou Linglong stepped into the Dragon Court, she immediately felt the spiritual energy around her intensify. It was at least ten times more concentrated than outside, which meant that practicing in this secret realm would accelerate her cultivation by more than tenfold compared to the outside world.

The Great Zhou Ancestor remained silent as he guided Zhou Linglong to the highest peak in the secret realm.

"Junior Zhou Huangye requests an audience with the Emperor!" he announced as he knelt at the entrance of a cave, leaving Zhou Linglong astonished.

Realizing that the "Emperor Ancestor" mentioned by her guide was a figure of even greater status, Zhou Linglong quickly followed suit, kneeling and bowing her head respectfully.

Rumble...

Moments later, the boulder blocking the cave entrance slowly moved aside.

"Come in," a faint voice called from within.

Hearing this, Zhou Huangye let out a sigh of relief.

"Come on, follow me," he instructed.

"Next time, remember to pay attention to your appearance. How you present yourself is important, especially for an empress meeting the Emperor..."

Zhou Huangye scolded Zhou Linglong gently. Embarrassed, Zhou Linglong adjusted her disheveled clothes. Given the urgency of her grandfather's situation, she hadn't had the chance to freshen up.

"I understand, Ancestor. Linglong will be more mindful in the future," she replied, her voice tinged with regret.

Inside the cave, they found an old man in green robes, looking ethereal as he sat cross-legged on a mat.

Zhou Huangye bowed deeply once more. "Greetings, Emperor."

Zhou Linglong followed suit, bowing respectfully.

Curiosity prompted Zhou Linglong to glance up, but just then, the old man opened his eyes. They were ancient and seemed to see through everything, as if countless nebulae were swirling within them.

The moment Zhou Linglong met his gaze, her mind went blank. It felt as if she was laid bare, with no secrets left to hide. Goosebumps spread across her body.

Fortunately, the old man soon averted his gaze and spoke calmly:

"Young lady, you may not know me. I am Zhou Qianfu, the founder and first Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Everyone who follows will honor me as the Emperor Ancestor."

Zhou Linglong was taken aback. This old man was the legendary founder of the Great Zhou Dynasty! According to historical records, hadn't the first emperor fallen long ago? To discover that he was still alive and hiding in Longting was astonishing.

After introducing himself, Zhou Qianfu turned his attention to Zhou Huangye.

"Everyone, rise."

"Huangye, what brings you here?"

Zhou Huangye clasped his fists respectfully and explained, "The Emperor Ancestor, there has been unrest in the northern region of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Orion, the King of Zhenbei, has rebelled. Despite the Emperor's attempts to suppress him, all efforts have failed."

"The Wenjian Sect tried to send assistance, but Orion sought revenge, leading to the complete destruction of the sect. Both Martial Saints of the Wenjian Sect were killed by Orion."

Zhou Huangye detailed the situation in full.

The Emperor's eyes, filled with the weight of ages, flickered with surprise. "The ancestor of the Wenjian Sect—if I recall correctly—was at the pinnacle of Martial Saint and approaching the realm of Martial Emperor, correct? I didn't expect even he would fall to Orion."

The Emperor was visibly shocked. As someone in the Half-Emperor realm, it was not easy to defeat a master at the peak of Ultimate Martial Saint.

"Who is this Orion?" the Emperor asked. "And why would he rebel if he is so powerful? Does he covet the throne of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

Zhou Linglong's expression shifted. The reason for Orion's rebellion was tied to her actions. If she hadn't poisoned Orion, perhaps he would still be a prince in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"I..." Zhou Linglong hesitated, unsure of how to explain.

Seeing her unease, Zhou Huangye and the old man exchanged knowing glances. It seemed that everything had a reason.

"Linglong, if there is anything troubling you, speak freely. This is not a trivial matter!"

Under their intense gaze, Zhou Linglong's heart pounded as she recounted everything that had transpired.

The Emperor's face grew grim, his eyes sharp as he fixed them on the kneeling Zhou Linglong.

"So, you are the cause of this trouble?"

"Hmph! You have accomplished nothing but disaster!"

The Emperor gestured sharply, striking Zhou Linglong with a single move, causing her to groan in pain. He continued coldly:

"If you didn't possess the Holy Emperor's body, I would have already ended you!"

If it weren't for Zhou Linglong's possession of the Holy Emperor's body, a rare and revered physique, the Emperor would not have allowed her to remain. He would never condone a woman ruling the Zhou Dynasty.

"That said, I should go there myself."

The Emperor sighed. It was best to seek a resolution with Orion. If Orion insisted on conflict...

Then the Zhou royal family would not be easily subdued!

Meanwhile, the rest of the world watched with varying degrees of interest. The downfall of the Wenjian Sect had brought relief to many, but also a sense of anticipation.

Orion's strength and defiance had altered the dynamics. Some factions considered aligning with him, while others waited to see how the conflict unfolded, hoping for mutual destruction between Da Zhou and Orion.

Despite the varied responses, one sentiment was unanimous: no one was eager to ally with the Zhou royal family. The destruction of the Wenjian Sect, the premier sect, was a stark warning.

The leaders of many factions warned their subordinates sternly: avoid making enemies with Orion. Those who defied this advice would face severe consequences.