Chapter 721: Zhoutian Wood

Jade Void Island is a medium-sized island, measuring 1,300 li in length and 900 li in width. Vast quantities of Jade Void Bamboo are cultivated on the island.

Jade Void Bamboo is exceptionally hard and impervious to both water and fire. Bamboo older than a century can be used to forge flying swords. There are ten Jade Void Bamboo plants over a thousand years old, each standing over a hundred zhang tall.

The Zhou family uses nine thousand-year-old Jade Void Bamboo plants as the core of their high-grade, third-tier Myriad Wood Formation. This formation offers both defensive capabilities and the power to harm enemies. Due to the extensive cultivation of Jade Void Bamboo, Jade Void Island is rich in wood-attribute spiritual energy. The island is guarded by Zhou Tianmu, a cultivator at the fourth level of the Core Formation stage.

Zhou Tianmu cultivates the Profound-grade cultivation method, the 'Jade Void Sword Art,' which can be trained up to the third level of the Nascent Soul stage. Ever since the Zhou family acquired this method, they began cultivating Jade Void Bamboo on a medium-sized island. As the saying goes, 'one generation plants trees, the next enjoys the shade.' By the time it reached Zhou Tianmu's generation, the Zhou family had successfully cultivated thousand-year-old Jade Void Bamboo.

A thousand-year-old aristocratic family or a ten-thousand-year-old grand sect possesses a depth of heritage that no ordinary force can compare with.

Most Core Formation cultivators possess only one soul-bound magic treasure, but Zhou Tianmu possesses a complete set.

Using eight-hundred-year-old Jade Void Bamboo as the primary material, along with various wood-attribute ingredients, he forged a set of thirty-six Jade Void Swords, which can be arranged into a sword formation.

Should he advance to the Nascent Soul stage, he could use thousand-year-old Jade Void Bamboo to forge flying sword magic treasures. This concept of 'one generation plants trees, the next enjoys the shade' is the essence of an immortal cultivation family.

Zhou Tianmu was fortunate to be born into the Zhou family, enjoying a life free from worry since childhood. Upon reaching the Core Formation stage, he already possessed a set of flying sword magic treasures.

Most of the clan members were unaware of Zhou Tianmu's existence; he was a hidden Core Formation cultivator of the Zhou family. Sword cultivators are renowned for being invincible among their peers, and if he were to advance to the Nascent Soul stage, he could lead the Zhou family to glory.

Zhou Tianmu sat cross-legged beneath a thousand-year-old Jade Void Bamboo, surrounded by a multitude of green light spots. A gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo leaves, producing a soft swishing sound.

Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly. Zhou Tianmu's brows furrowed, the green light spots around him gradually faded, and he opened his eyes.

He took out a communication plate, cast a spell into it, and asked, "Debin, what's happening?"

"Seventeenth Granduncle, we're under attack! The enemy is using puppet beasts, including two third-tier ones. The island protection formation is holding, but it won't last forever. There are at least two Core Formation cultivators among the enemies."

Zhou Tianmu pondered for a moment, then instructed, "You hold them off for now. Send someone to teleport back to Jade Spring Island for reinforcements."

"Understood, Seventeenth Granduncle."

Outside Jade Void Island, a massive cloud mass floated high in the sky. Wang Changsheng, his two companions, and over two hundred low-level cultivators sat upon the cloud. The low-level cultivators controlled hundreds of puppet beasts, directing them to attack Jade Void Island.

A vast expanse of green mist enveloped the entire island, obscuring the view of what was happening within.

Multicolored magical energy lights plunged into the green mist, like mud sinking into the sea, without a single sound escaping.

Two third-tier puppet beasts, one a massive red giant eagle, unleashed a fiery red pillar the diameter of a water vat from its mouth. It plunged into the green mist, followed by a tremendous roar.

A deafening whooshing sound erupted as a green sword light, over fifty zhang long, shot out from Jade Void Island. The sword light emanated astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations, causing the air to shriek as it passed. In an instant, the green sword light arrived before the white cloud mass.

A pleasant pipa melody resounded, and a light blue sound wave shot forth.

The green sword light collided with the blue sound wave. The blue sound wave shattered the green sword light into pieces and swiftly swept towards Jade Void Island.

Another green sword light, over fifty zhang long, flew out and clashed with the blue sound wave.

Boom!

With a tremendous roar, the green and blue lights burst forth like fireworks in the sky. A powerful surge of air quickly spread, dispersing some of the green mist. The sea churned violently, sending waves dozens of zhang high into the air.

"Let's move together! A swift victory will prevent complications later," Wang Changsheng stated, then summoned a yellow seal. Vast magical power surged into the yellow seal.

The yellow seal immediately glowed with dazzling yellow light, swelling to the size of a small hill. It emanated a terrifying pressure and, with the force of Mount Tai collapsing, rapidly smashed down towards Jade Void Island.

Wang Ruyan's delicate fingers swiftly swept across the pipa strings, and an impassioned pipa melody erupted. The sea churned violently, sending waves dozens of zhang high surging towards Jade Void Island.

When the 'Heavenly Sound Overturning Sea Art' is cultivated to its peak, it is said that the practitioner can command the waters of an entire sea region to attack enemies.

Fairy Ziyue controlled the two third-tier puppet beasts, unleashing a thick red pillar of fire and countless golden sword lights, which fiercely struck towards Jade Void Island.

A tremendous whooshing sound rang out as two massive green sword lights flew from Jade Void Island, slashing towards the waves, the red pillar of fire, and the golden sword lights.

At the same time, a giant green hand, over ten zhang in size, suddenly appeared. It carried a strong gust of wind and slammed fiercely towards the yellow seal.

Boom!

The two green sword lights shattered the waves, the red fire pillar, and the golden sword lights. The giant green hand was pulverized by the yellow seal. Then, a green sword light, over a hundred zhang long, unexpectedly shot out from the green mist, striking the yellow seal. The seal's descent momentarily halted, and it was sent flying backward.

Wang Changsheng snorted lightly, spat out the Mountain-Sea Orb, and gripped it in his hand. He then smashed it towards Jade Void Island through the air, causing countless blue lights to surge forth. A blue flood dragon, over thirty zhang long, swiftly formed, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged towards Jade Void Island.

A tremendous whooshing sound erupted as two massive green sword lights flew out, striking towards the blue flood dragon.

The green sword lights struck the blue flood dragon. The green and blue spiritual lights contended for a moment, then the green lights rapidly shattered, and the blue flood dragon, with a shake of its head and tail, plunged into the green mist.

Boom!

With a loud boom, a significant portion of the green mist dissipated.

A green light flew out from the green mist; it was Zhou Tianmu.

Zhou Tianmu's expression was cold, and he carried a green sword scabbard on his back.

Upon seeing Wang Changsheng and his two companions, Zhou Tianmu's brows furrowed deeply.

"A sword cultivator!"

Wang Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression grew serious.

The Zhou family has a thousand-year legacy, and it was highly probable that Zhou Tianmu possessed a complete set of flying swords.

He had never imagined his luck would be so poor as to encounter a Core Formation cultivator with a complete set of flying sword magic treasures.

Wang Changsheng had suffered at the hands of a sword cultivator before; if not for his third-tier escape talisman, he might have died under a sword formation.

"Fellow Daoists, you must have plundered a considerable amount of cultivation resources these days! Do you really intend to wipe us out completely?"

Zhou Tianmu's expression was indifferent. With three Core Formation cultivators among the enemies—one at the sixth level, one at the fifth, and one at the first—even with his set of flying swords, he could not guarantee a victory.

"Heh heh, your Zhou family didn't say that when you dealt with us. If you're wise, Fellow Daoist, take your clansmen and leave; we won't stop you. We are only after wealth; we don't wish to kill anyone," Wang Changsheng said with a faint smile. Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Fairy Ziyue quickly spread out, subtly encircling Zhou Tianmu.