Volcanic Age

Martial Alliance Headquarters, Anhui Province.

"Lord Strategist."

A protector on duty quietly came over and handed over a letter.

The strategist, Zhuge Zhonghao, read the letter.

"Huh?" His expression changed to one of surprise. "Shengji and Zhou Xuchuan from Mount Hua are still alive?"

There was no way he could be unaware of their names. The Zhuge Family still harbored resentment toward the Nine Water Gangs over that incident. Despite Zhuge Shengji receiving poor treatment within the clan, he still belonged to the main family lineage.

Attacking and harming a member of the main lineage was seen as a direct challenge to the family, deeply affecting the clan's pride. Resentment had already taken root, and they couldn't simply stand by idly. They even prepared for the possibility of going to war against the Nine Water Gangs.

However, they ultimately swallowed their pride because they realized they couldn't do anything to them.

After all that fuss, he had just gotten a report that they were alive, which left him understandably taken aback.

"The Wuhan branch leader also had doubts and confirmed it himself."

"Hmm."

While it was certainly good news, the timing couldn't have been worse.

"Just when things are chaotic…"

His words hinted at how bad Zhuge Shengji was usually treated.

"Taking him to the treasury… is out of the question."

It had been a month since the exploration of the treasury had begun. Early on, they discovered various mechanisms and traps, but neither Zhuge Zhonghao nor the other cultivators paid much attention to them.

Maybe it was dangerous for ordinary people, but it posed little threat to cultivators. They all believed that they would be able to avoid it or block it as long as they remained focused.

However, that conviction changed when a significant number of people were injured or killed in the following week due to the mechanisms.

As the mechanisms became a pressing issue, everyone turned to the Zhuge Family for a solution. They were the experts when it came to mechanisms or arrays, weren't they? Naturally, they hoped that the Zhuge Family would do something about it.

However, expertise in mechanisms was a thing of the past. Arrays, they were still well-versed in, but mechanisms? They were utterly clueless.

Just when they were struggling, Zhuge Shengji unexpectedly returned. If all went well, the Zhuge Family could gain considerable merit from this exploration.

However, according to the report, Zhuge Shengji had experienced all sorts of hardships after the shipwreck, including falling off a waterfall downstream of the Yangtze River. Bringing along a ten-year-old to explore the treasury would undoubtedly invite criticism from other major organizations.

While it might be different if he were given time to rest, that wasn't the case, so they couldn't force him.

It was just as Zhou Xuchuan had expected.

Although the Two Demonic Factions or the Evil Faction might not understand, the Orthodox Faction, especially those of the Five Great Ancient Families, placed great importance on their reputation.

"I don't want to waste my time dealing with this matter, but…"

After much deliberation, Zhuge Zhonghao concluded that it wasn't a decision he could make alone and called for a conference. The issue at hand was just too sensitive.

"I'm busy enough as is…"

"I understand where you're coming from, but isn't there a better time?"

The elders of the Martial Alliance were all preoccupied with the matter of the treasury, so their reactions were lukewarm.

"Doesn't this concern clashing with the Eighteen Bandit Gangs? I can't make this decision alone."

"I'm fine with it, so do as you wish, Lord Strategist."

"I concur."

Everyone expressed their unwillingness, saying that they were busy. In fact, some even refused to participate once they heard the subject of the conference.

"Everyone's so indifferent…" someone muttered.

"That fourth-generation kid from Mount Hua is still alive? And even that direct descent of the Zhuge Family?"

"That's incredible. How did they survive?"

"Apparently, they fell off a waterfall and somehow made it back."

"That's amazing!"

"Oh, have you also heard about the treasury? Apparently…"

The news of their survival was announced through the Martial Alliance. As it only had been a month since there was a big commotion because of this matter, the news spread out in no time. However, people's interest in the news faded just as fast.

Normally, this would have remained a hot topic for a while. However, another major issue had captured everyone's attention: the treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief. It wasn't surprising as this news concerned the treasures of a thief only passed down in legends.

While the news of their survival was certainly surprising and worth congratulating, as someone pointed out, the timing wasn't ideal.

*

Wuhan City, Hubei Province.

"Geez, those people are cruel alright." Zhuge Shengji pouted.

They had announced their survival to the Martial Alliance through the Wuhan branch. Fortunately, Zhuge Shengji had visited this branch when he was younger, so the head of the branch leader recognized him and accepted him without much suspicion.

Later, the news was reported to the higher-ups in the Martial Alliance, and his return was officially announced to the entire martial world.

"You should just let things be even if you're disappointed." Zhou Xuchuan said with a bitter smile. "We didn't save anyone or do anything heroic. People only talk about us because of our affiliations with large organizations. Otherwise, we wouldn't be anything special."

In the martial world, hundreds of cultivators died every day, yet only a handful of those deaths were ever reported. The majority would disappear into the annals of history as dust without even being identified.

"And you, make sure you keep a low profile. If word gets out that you know about mechanisms, you'll be kidnapped even if you stay in the Wuhan branch."

Zhuge Shengji paled. "R-right… I'm a genius after all…"

His tone was matter-of-fact rather than boastful.

The treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief had attracted the Orthodox and Evil Factions. Although the two were exploring the treasury competitively, they were hardly making any progress because they were held back by mechanisms.

If Zhuge Shengji's expertise were to be known at this time, his fate was pretty obvious.

"What have I always told you?"

"Hide it until you're absolutely sure of your safety…"

"Right."

Zhuge Shengji had shown interest in mechanisms since he was three and had studied them ever since. From the perspective of the Zhuge Family, he was an embarrassment, and they tried to hide him as much as possible so that the outside world wouldn't find out about him.

Even when the Nine Water Gangs incident first came up, Zhuge Shengji's name was only briefly mentioned, and most people forgot about him after a while. After all, even Zhou Xuchuan's name was only known to the upper echelons of the Martial Alliance or the members of the Mount Hua Sect.

Qiu Feng was only able to defeat Lu Dalang thanks to help from Zhou Xuchuan, but rumors about that didn't really spread. After all, it's hard to believe that a twelve-year-old could defeat a member of the Hundred Experts Under Heaven, even with the help of Qiu Feng.

Qiu Feng's accomplishments got all the attention, leaving Zhou Xuchuan's achievements overlooked by most, known only to members of the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhuge Family.

In any case, because of the circumstances, the Nine Water Gangs incident received a lot of attention, but the names of the two children involved weren't that well-known. At best, people only thought of the two children as what triggered resentment between the two major organizations and the Nine Water Gangs.

The Dark Heavens Association should be paying attention to the treasury too. They should have missed the news about me and Shengji.

The Dark Heavens Association was involved in most incidents that happened during the Era of War and Chaos, but the discovery of the treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief was an exception. It was simply a coincidence.

Now, I should prepare for the next thing.

Zhou Xuchuan delved into his memories of his past life. In the original history, the treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief was found when he was fifteen, and the exploration finished when he was sixteen.

It would be another two years before the decisive trigger of the Era of War and Chaos occurred.

The Seven Swords War!

That event marked the beginning of the Era of War and Chaos. What triggered it was the discovery of the tomb of the Ominous Demon, a demon cultivator from two hundred years ago who had cultivated in the Six Great Demonic Arts.

Many factions had gathered at the time to raid the tomb where the Ominous Demon was buried. Three from the Ten Major Sects, two of the Five Great Ancient Families, and the Demonic Cult and the Evil Valley.

Contrary to what happened during the exploration of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief, there were various clashes during the raiding of the tomb, which escalated into a war.

The Seven Swords War lasted only a year, but it served as the catalyst for the Era of War and Chaos. This led to yet another war shortly after it ended, not giving the people any chance to enjoy peace.

Another difference from what happened at the treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief was that the discovery of the Ominous Demon's tomb was orchestrated by the Dark Heavens Association.

I want to prevent it somehow… but that's impossible.

To prevent the Seven Swords War, he would have to prevent the Ominous Demon's tomb from being discovered. However, the Dark Heavens Association had strict surveillance on the tomb, so he couldn't do anything about it.

"Now, even I don't know what will happen in the future."

Not only was the treasury of the Three-Eyed Godly Thief discovered three years in advance, but he had also experienced several unforeseen events that were outside his plans.

For example, his master Liu Zhengmu had taken missions from the sect, while he had led the battle in Kaiyang to victory and gotten into trouble with the Nine Water Gangs.

"Though, I get why the Nine Water Gangs attacked…"

Most of the people at the Eighteen Bandit Gangs were fools, but their leaders weren't. Those people sometimes used tactics in order to survive.

There was no way someone like Lu Dalang, who, contrary to his appearance, schemed deeply, would attack the ship without reason. If he thought about it for a moment, he could easily trace it back to the Evil Valley, who must be holding a grudge against him for their loss in Weng'An.

"There are more variables now, but I did expect them. I need to recruit more talents to my side to make up for it."

It would be foolish to assume that the future wouldn't change. He had chosen a different path from his previous life, after all.

Still, he managed to bring the Merchant King and the Posthumous Genius to his side. These two were special even in his previous life. Just having them by his side felt reassuring.

"I can't stay still though."

However, that didn't mean all his worries were resolved. There were still many people he had to bring to his side. It would be hard to leave the sect when he returned, but he couldn't stay there forever. He had to look for more people.

I'll definitely stop them and survive.

*

A few days later.

The fresh breeze blew. The breeze was refreshing enough to make anyone feel pleased, being neither too cold nor too warm.

Thinking about the original history, Zhou Xuchuan strolled through the garden with his hands clasped behind his back.

"What's got you lost in thought?"

Just then, he heard a voice behind him.

"Huh?" Startled, Zhou Xuchuan snapped out of his reverie. He couldn't help but suspect his ears.

"Am I hearing things?"

"I know it has been a long time, but I can't believe you're treating your master's voice as an illusion."

Zhou Xuchuan quickly turned around.

"M-master!" Zhou Xuchuan exclaimed in surprise. He could see a familiar figure.

That person had a smile that could put anyone at ease. It was his master, Liu Zhengmu.

"Yes, my boy."

Liu Zhengmu spread his arms and chuckled. Seeing that, Zhou Xuchuan forgot about his original age and jumped into his arms.

"Why are you here?" he asked, unable to hide his joy and surprise.

"Hm, that's strange. I heard from the sect that they already relayed the news to the Wuhan branch leader that someone from the sect would be coming to pick you up." Liu Zhengmu tilted his head in confusion.

"Oh. I heard about that, but I didn't expect it to be you."

"The matter concerns my disciple, not anyone else's. Who else would be suitable for the job?" Liu Zhengmu patted Zhou Xuchuan on the head with a soft smile.

"Master…"

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