Chapter 364

Chapter 364: Return to Divine Weapon Island

As Lou Yun, along with Yi Xuan and Yi Ru, detached themselves from the Illusionary Sky Formation cloaking the entire Divine Weapon Island, countless figures surged upward below. Among them were faces Lou Yun recognized, some he had never seen before, and others he hadn’t expected to see here. All had come to welcome Lou Yun, the true island master.

However, the first to rush to Lou Yun were the Three Brothers of the Lu Family. They flew while bickering relentlessly.

"See? I told you the island master would break free!"

"You’re full of crap! You said he’d shatter the formation, not just detach from it!"

"You’re not much better—you doubted he could get out at all!"

Lou Yun couldn’t help but burst into laughter hearing these old men squabble like children. He flickered past them, vanishing from their sight and landing directly below. Had he let these elderly pranksters intercept him, their endless questions about formations would surely have driven him insane.

His disappearance shocked the Three Brothers. Though they believed Lou Yun surpassed them in formation mastery, his cultivation level should be beneath theirs, as they were King Rank magical weapons masters. Yet, they had watched him vanish before their eyes and reappear below instantly—a speed far beyond them all!

Lou Yun landed precisely where the Lou Family gathered, led by several elders, Lou Tianming, and Lou Tianzhi. Lou Yun set the children aside first, then knelt before his father.

"Father, Grandfather, Second Uncle, esteemed elders," he said respectfully. "I have returned!"

Though Lou Yun was the island master, clan head of the entire Lou Family, and leader of everyone present, he would never disregard familial bonds. His decision to first kneel to his father was admirable in anyone’s eyes.

Instantly, everyone surged forward. Lou Tianming and Lou Tianzhi swiftly helped Lou Yun up. "Rise, rise!" they urged. "Just returning is enough!"

The entire Divine Weapon Island bustled with activity afterward. The revelry lasted until after nightfall before finally subsiding.

The island’s buildings had been rebuilt by several lords and masters of the Divine Weapon Alliance after Lou Yun’s departure. Per their alliance head’s insistence, this place was to be the alliance’s stronghold; it couldn’t remain crude. Thus, the hall for discussions was constructed with vast scale.

Now, dozens of chairs within this grand hall were filled. Every gaze focused on Lou Yun seated at the center chair.

Gathered were Lou Family members, including Lou Yun’s betrothed, Xia Zhilan. Present too were sworn brothers like Leng Cangqiong and Beichen Ming, along with dear friends like Tie Sha and Wen Hou. In essence, eighty percent of all those connected to Lou Yun across Spirit Weapon Star were present under this roof.

They convened for one purpose: to hear Lou Yun recount what he had experienced during his time away.

Lou Yun summarized his journey to everyone. Yet, he placed little importance on his personal ordeal. His focus lay on the agreement freshly forged with Huangfu Hao. He urgently questioned Mei Yuanmu about changes to Divine Weapon Island and the brothers lost these past six months.

Mei Yuanmu, Lou Yun’s personal appointee as overseer of Divine Weapon Island and the master of its original weapon, had excelled beyond expectation. He amplified his talents to their fullest, transforming the once-obscure island into an island dominating the Eastern Ling Sea Area.

First, Mei Yuanmu gave a brief overview: The Divine Weapon Island population now exceeded one thousand, combining Lou Family members and those drawn to seek refuge. This count excluded members from the alliance’s various branches across the compass points.

Beyond the population growth, the scope had expanded. Islands surrounding Divine Weapon Island had voluntarily submitted, essentially extending the island’s sphere of influence. Mei Yuanmu had also established covert defenses on select islands—measures for temporary refuge should the island face large-scale assault someday.

Regarding the Nine Clans’ assault, Mei Yuanmu, perhaps barring Lou Yun himself, felt the deepest rage. He believed he had failed Lou Yun’s expectations. Yet, blame truly didn’t fall on him; the Nine Clans possessed high cultivation, coupled with the Yu Family’s amphibious pouches enabling undersea stealth, making them impossible to guard against fully.

After Mei Yuanmu finished, Lou Yun gave a slight smile, nodding, "You have done excellent work. Your efforts are appreciated."

>"Lord Alliance Head, you honor me too much," Mei Yuanmu replied, instantly revitalized. "This was my obligation." Lou Yun’s affirmation validated his exertion and planning.

Lou Yun then turned to Lu Da, saying warmly, "Lu Da, the Illusionary Sky Formation you built is the very reason the Nine Clans dared not assault Divine Weapon Island itself. However, I feel this formation still possesses minor flaws. In the coming days, we shall find time to discuss them together."

The Lu brothers’ faces flushed with excitement. They exchanged wide-eyed glances before nodding emphatically. To them, Lou Yun had always been a formation master. His recent escape from the formation without destroying it cemented that view. This was why they had willingly followed Lou Yun—their formation study had hit a bottleneck. Debating endlessly among themselves yielded no progress, necessitating external aid. When they encountered Lou Yun, who had fortuitously dismantled one of their formations, they tenaciously clung to him.

Back then, Lou Yun hadn’t comprehended formations at all. He had accepted the brothers primarily as battle assets, never engaging them on formation theory. Though eager inwardly, the brothers dared not ask aloud. Then, Lou Yun departed the island. Likely only Xia Zhilan rivalled their urgency for his return.

Now, Lou Yun himself proposed discussing the Illusionary Sky Formation! Their excitement became uncontainable! Lou Yun genuinely intended this: the time had come to repay their massive debt. He hoped formation discussions might break their bottleneck, elevating their cultivation. Key was his newfound confidence—gaining entry-level mastery of formations and the ability to command the world’s energy. Most importantly, he possessed a detailed treatise on formations: the Formation Path Expansion Decision.

After placating the Lu brothers, Lou Yun briefly conversed with others before they dispersed, granting him time to reunite with his family. Their departure also let Lou Yun release a long-held breath. Though he was adapting to his roles as island master and clan head, he remained a youth of merely twenty. Maintaining composure and authority before so many was a formidable challenge.

True relaxation came only with just his father, Second Uncle, sister, and close kin. Seeing Lou Yun sprawl in his seat, limbs loose, Lou Tianming recalled the boy he once was. It felt momentous indeed—how his son, laden with debate for twenty years, had reached this height.

Lou Tianzhi understood his elder brother perfectly. Noting Lou Tianming’s faintly reddened eyes, he gently grasped his shoulder and squeezed. "Elder Brother," he murmured, "let us speak of the main matter now."

The murmur, however, reached Lou Yun’s vastly enhanced hearing clearly. Alerted, he sat up straight, locking attentive eyes with his father. Lou Tianming blinked slightly at this, then smiled. "Yun’er, regarding your journey, we shall set that aside. Your safe return gladdens us beyond measure."

Lou Yun listened quietly. He sensed the true discussion lay ahead. Lou Tianming paused, then spoke.

"But this concordat you struck with the Huangfu Family," he inquired, "have you truly weighed it?"

>"Yes," Lou Yun affirmed. "Facing all Nine Clans as enemies is less prudent than definitively settling with the Xiao Clan and those two supreme experts. For our Lou Family, it is a decidedly favorable deal."

"Genuinely achievable only if favorable," countered Lou Tianming. "But those supreme experts are not natives of Spirit Weapon Star. Their power lies beyond our capacity to withstand. What method have you to kill them? Speaking of whom—where is Ghost Uncle who departed with you?"

A confident smile touched Lou Yun’s lips. "Father, Uncle Ghost deliberately drew the attention of one supreme expert to cover my escape. We became separated thereafter. However, with his power level, I believe none upon Spirit Weapon Star could truly threaten him!"

"Furthermore," he continued, "the covenant with the Nine Clans concerns our Lou Family alone. I intend to resolve it using no outside aid."

This flushed Lou Tianming’s face crimson—precisely hoping Ghost You Quan might eliminate those supreme experts.

Lou Yun didn’t let him interject, pressing on: "Father, I understand your apprehension. Before consenting to this accord, I deliberated carefully. I witnessed the strength of those two supreme experts firsthand. While presently their match eludes me, granting me a span—not excessively long—and I will withstand them. As for the Xiao Clan, they pose no cause for concern!"

Lou Tianzhi cut in, "Fine, Lou Yun! Assuming you gain that power, have you considered the possibility? What if the other eight clans renege later, tearing up this concord?"

"Considered?" Lou Yun nodded softly, his voice carrying unwavering certainty. "I place no blanket trust in the words of any Nine Clan representative. Comprehensive precautions are already being laid."