Er’er:?

She was just passing by, surely this was too much?

Besides, she wasn’t even a dragon.

The Dragon-Binding Chains rushed toward her ferociously, circling once above her head, but then seemed afraid of something and hovered without descending. Dui Ren, who had been focused on capturing Long Xu, finally gave her a serious look.

“Why is it you?” His expression changed slightly. “What are you doing within the Dui clan’s territory?”

The Phoenix-Slaying Blade in her arms blazed with light, forcing the Dragon-Binding Chains to keep their distance. Er’er looked at him, recalling their siege against Li Ye at Upper Bing Palace, and her brow furrowed.

“I entered by mistake. My apologies for the disturbance.”

“By mistake?”

If it were anyone else, Dui Ren might have believed it, but she had just confronted the Upper Gods at Upper Bing Palace, and now appeared beside Long Xu carrying Li Ye’s blade. No matter how one looked at it, it was highly suspicious.

…

…

“Since you’re already here,” he beckoned to those behind him, “you might as well make a trip to Lower Xin Palace with us.”

Dozens of True Lords formed a capture formation and surrounded her. Er’er had no chance to flee—she had barely taken a step with her short legs when she was engulfed by the golden light of the formation.

Long Xu glanced at her in surprise, then turned back to Dui Ren: “If you’re after me, that’s fine, but why involve others?”

Clouds rose and fell as Dui Ren looked toward Lower Xin Palace, his expression grim: “This time, the guilt is too great for you to bear alone.”

Long Xu frowned.

Something happened at Lower Xin Palace every day—either the weapon-forging furnace would be stolen, or some minor immortal’s divine soul would be taken. One incident after another, and Dui Ren always managed to frame her, making her take the punishment. After so many years, Long Xu had grown accustomed to it.

But this time, something seemed different.

Suddenly, startled immortal cranes at the edge of the sky cried out and flew away with beating wings. Er’er, following them to the entrance of Lower Xin Palace, suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

There was a strange odor in the air, like decaying divine souls ground to dust and burned in an incense burner—suffocating.

Er’er was about to sneeze from discomfort when something horrifying caught her peripheral vision, frightening her so much that she held back the sneeze.

Half a person sat in a rocking chair by the western window, an arm hanging lifelessly from the armrest, face blue-purple, with no breath. He was covered with a thick blanket, but beneath it there was nothing, flat as if the blanket were simply folded on the chair.

Dui Feng?

Her pupils contracted slightly as Er’er hurriedly looked away, patting her chest with her small hand.

Amitabha Buddha, everyone here was an immortal, so why create such a frightening scene? Even with only half a soul and half a spirit, one shouldn’t appear so tragically misshapen.

“What happened?” Long Xu stepped forward, utterly shocked.

Her hands were bound and couldn’t reach out, but as soon as she approached, she could sense that Dui Feng’s last half-soul and half-spirit were also gone, sliced into fragments that drifted out the window with the breeze.

“Who did this?” She turned back with reddened eyes, demanding harshly.

Dui Ren frowned as he looked at her, seemingly mocking her pretense: “He was fine at the hour of Chen. Half an hour ago, he was found like this. During that time, besides the various sect managers, only you and Xin Wu visited Lower Xin Palace.”

Long Xu was stunned, then her gaze turned fierce: “Are you suggesting that Xin Wu and I did this?”

“I didn’t say that, but you two are the most suspicious.” Dui Ren turned his head away, uncomfortably rubbing his arm. “I’m still recovering from serious injuries and had planned to rest for a few days. I never expected such a thing to happen.”

“This is absurd!” Long Xu was furious. “Xin Wu has been his close friend for years—how could he harm him? I am his immortal consort—how could I harm him!”

“He is his close friend, and you are his immortal consort.” Dui Ren sneered. “Why would you harm him? Isn’t the answer obvious?”

“You!”

Long Xu erupted in rage. Her long hair suddenly transformed into a tail, the immense spiritual power breaking the Dragon-Binding Chains as she roared at Dui Ren.

The surging energy almost swept Er’er away. She quickly stabbed the Phoenix-Slaying Blade into the ground and held onto it, barely maintaining her footing.

Chaos had already broken out. Dui Ren and his companions summoned their magical artifacts, while Long Xu leaped directly through the roof into the sky, causing half the eaves to collapse and tiles to rain down like hailstones.

Trembling while hugging the Phoenix-Slaying Blade, Er’er thought dejectedly: What was all this about? How could Dui Feng, protected by countless deities, suddenly perish? Wasn’t Long Xu supposed to be Xin Wu’s immortal consort? Why had she suddenly become Dui Feng’s? And why was Dui Ren so determined to go after Long Xu?

Most importantly, dragons were known for their ferocity and lack of restraint. With fighting breaking out here, how could she avoid becoming collateral damage?

The Phoenix-Slaying Blade hummed a couple of times, wanting to help her break through, but the Dui clan’s territory both nourished and restricted divine weapons. It couldn’t even form a barrier before Er’er and the blade were struck by falling roof tiles from above.

……

Li Ye, who had been meditating, suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to see that night had already fallen outside, but the person who had gone to return the soul fragment hadn’t come back yet. The entire Upper Bing Palace was as quiet as a tomb.

Frowning with discomfort, he rose, wrapped up the bright red satin quilt and placed it on the throne, then descended the steps, intending to summon someone to inquire.

However, before he could speak, a pitch-black object rolled in from outside the door, silently coming to rest at his feet.

“Upper God,” it spoke, its voice hoarse and unpleasant, “please help.”

Without even looking down, Li Ye stepped right over it.

The black mist dispersed under his foot but quickly reformed, persistently following at his side: “They’re about to catch up.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Picking up a teapot, he poured half a cup of tea and sniffed it lightly, saying with an ambiguous smile, “Anyone daring to intrude into Upper Bing Palace must have considerable skill. You don’t need my help.”

The shadow grew anxious: “If not for the Upper God practicing the Demonic Path, how could minor demons like us enter? The immortal energy in the Nine Heavens is too strong—I can barely maintain my form. Please, Upper God, assist me.”

Li Ye remained unmoved, sweeping his sleeve as he prepared to leave, when he heard it urgently say from behind: “Fighting has broken out at Lower Xin Palace. Soon they will trace this back to me. If the Upper God sends me back to the Netherworld, I’m willing to offer ten thousand death-resentment energies as tribute to repay this favor.”

His steps faltered slightly. Li Ye laughed coldly: “Lower Xin Palace?”

That territory had been calm for ten thousand years—for fighting to break out there was indeed rare.

Casually forming a seal, he transformed the shadow into human form and lazily tossed it a strand of immortal energy, then waved his hand: “Go on your own.”

“Thank you, Upper God.” The shadow was overjoyed and, using this immortal energy, escaped through the Nine Heavens barrier toward the lower realm.

Li Ye had wanted to take a look at the Qian clan—not that he was worried about anyone, just that… well, he had nothing better to do anyway.

But he had barely traveled a few hundred li when he was bumped into by a beam of light, causing him to stumble.

Few in the Nine Heavens were so brazen, especially since this person, after bumping into him, was about to continue forward without even a glance.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes and raised his sleeve to block his path.

“Upper God Xin Wu, it’s been a while,” he looked up, smiling ambiguously as he examined him. “Has your dwelling been set ablaze? Why such haste?”

In his impression, Xin Wu had always been flippant, not even dressing properly, let alone having anything that would make him act seriously. But now, this man was drenched in cold sweat, his gaze unnaturally cold, his entire body wrapped in an aura of death.

“Don’t block my way,” he said in a low voice. “I’m in a hurry.”