Xuanyuan Lige certainly wasn’t about to tell Fifth Elder Meng and his daughter that his own reason for entering the palace was exactly the same as theirs — to see what the Meng Clan people were doing there.

Naturally, Xuanyuan Lige said nothing of the sort, offering only the excuse that he meant to steal a zither.

His identity as a zither master left Fifth Elder Meng and his daughter fully convinced, and they didn’t press further.

That very night, Fifth Elder Meng shut himself away to lay the Five Elements Barrier on Xuanyuan Lige!

The Five Elements Barrier was an extremely special kind of barrier, the smallest of all barrier techniques. Though it took no more than five days to complete, the difficulty involved was considerable!

Meng Duo’er didn’t dare slack off, dutifully keeping watch at the door. But neither of them knew that, during these five days, a great upheaval was unfolding within the palace!

Under the repeated urging of Prince Baxian, Second Elder Meng and Third Elder Meng were finally about to begin their so-called plan to break the seal.

Early that morning, Second Elder Meng and Third Elder Meng arrived together at Xuanlong Palace.

Ever since last time, the fierce pounding of Jun Beiyue’s heart-pulse had never once stopped — if anything, it had grown steadily more intense.

If the room were silent, one wouldn’t even need to get close to hear his strong, forceful heartbeat!

Today, everything had finally been prepared!

For the first time in a year and a half, Jun Beiyue left the medicine pool, dressed in a loose, snow-white robe, its front hanging open, revealing glimpses of his well-defined chest.

He lay quietly on the bed, his sleeping face handsome and cold.

Imperial Physician Gu and Sha Qiuzi stood on either side. Situ Haonan and the others stood together with Prince Baxian, all of them staring intently at Jun Beiyue’s chest, unblinking.

“Prince Baxian, we’re going to break the seal now. Once it’s broken, Prince Yao will wake — no matter what happens during this process, please don’t interfere.”

As Third Elder Meng spoke, he deliberately glanced at Sha Qiuzi and Imperial Physician Gu, clearly directing this warning at the two physicians.

Imperial Physician Gu nodded repeatedly, but Sha Qiuzi felt quite put off. He asked seriously, “How long will it take?”

“It depends on the circumstances — anywhere from five or six days to as long as ten,” Third Elder Meng said earnestly.

They were only laying down the most ordinary, minor seal — with the two of them working together, it would only take a few days to complete.

The floor plan was already in hand, and had long since been sent to their disciples. A few days from now, once Jun Beiyue still hadn’t woken, they’d find some excuse, claim the circumstances were unusual, and drag it out for a few more years — matching roughly with the recovery period Imperial Physician Gu had originally estimated. Even if Prince Baxian grew angry, out of deference to the King of Nanzhao’s standing, he wouldn’t dare do anything to them!

Second Elder Meng had planned everything perfectly. Today wasn’t about saving anyone — it was about laying down a seal, suppressing that force inside Jun Beiyue that was straining to break free!

As the two Meng Clan elders began their work, everyone present unconsciously held their breath, watching intently.

The two elders’ palms glowed with a faint shimmer of light as they formed several sealing gestures, yet no mark of any kind appeared!

Anyone versed in the field would recognize this as the precursor to a seal — unfortunately, everyone present was a complete layman.

And so an entire day passed, with nothing to show for it.

But on the second day, as the two Meng Clan elders began forming their seals again, a miracle occurred!

“Look!”

Yelu Qianqian cried out — she had clearly seen Jun Beiyue’s heart-pulse begin to weaken!

In truth, she needn’t have said anything — everyone had already seen it, and the hearts hanging suspended in every chest couldn’t help but pound just as hard as Jun Beiyue’s own pulse.

Such a sight gave the unwitting crowd fresh hope, and a boost of confidence!

Day after day, they waited eagerly for the moment Jun Beiyue would open his eyes!

But on the third day, another miracle occurred!

As the two Meng Clan elders kept forming seals, striking at Jun Beiyue’s heart-pulse, just as it grew steadily, steadily more normal — he suddenly opened his eyes!

As though waking from a thousand-year slumber, a demon of blood suddenly opening its noble eyes!

“Jun Beiyue!” Situ Haonan was the first to notice, crying out in shock!

And at the same moment, everyone else noticed too. Prince Baxian nearly wept, “Beiyue! Beiyue!”

“Is he awake?”

“Beiyue, are you awake, Beiyue!”

“My lord! We’ve all been waiting for you to go find the princess!”

Yingzi wept, tears streaming uncontrollably down the face of a grown man, nearly breaking into sobs!

Imperial Physician Gu and Sha Qiuzi stood utterly stunned, staring in disbelief, unsure what to say — and it was precisely this shock that made them miss the change in Jun Beiyue.

Jun Beiyue’s eyes were wide open, clearly filled with fury, but the excited, overjoyed crowd noticed nothing of it, each of them practically ready to rush over and embrace him.

But Second Elder Meng and Third Elder Meng noticed it at once!

They drew several sharp breaths of cold air, utterly unable to believe the scene before them!

Impossible — this man hadn’t just failed to break through the seal, he’d had another layer of seal placed on him by the two of them — how could he possibly be waking up!

How immense must his willpower be, and how terrifying must the primal force hidden within him be!

Third Elder Meng was still frozen in shock, but Second Elder Meng wasted no time, pouring everything he had into forming seal after seal, striking them all against Jun Beiyue’s chest!

Not only that, he shouted at the same time, “Third Brother, hurry, he’s about to wake!”

Third Elder Meng finally snapped back to his senses and rushed to help.

Prince Baxian, alarmed, ordered everyone to step back, warning them not to interfere.

And in that very instant, Jun Beiyue’s furious, wrath-filled eyes suddenly slammed shut again.

Third Elder Meng clearly saw the flash of hatred in his eyes just before he closed them.

Like a devil returned for vengeance — the sight made even Third Elder Meng’s hands, still forming seals, tremble uncontrollably.

He simply couldn’t imagine what the consequences would have been if they hadn’t sealed Jun Beiyue in time!

At best, it would cost their lives; at worst, it would implicate the entire clan!

And yet, at the very same moment this miracle was unfolding in Xuanlong Palace, something equally incredible was happening in the Poisonous Beast World!

Liuguang trembled again!

This time it was completely different from before — the light wrapped around Liuguang was no longer faint, but a dazzling, radiant swirl of color, brilliant and resplendent!

Ziqing gripped Liuguang tightly, gradually finding it harder and harder to withstand its trembling. The dagger seemed to sense some powerful force calling out to it, as if it wanted to break free and fly off!

This time, Ziqing didn’t dare let go, afraid that the moment she did, Liuguang would leave her for good!

The Four Great Poisonous Beasts watched anxiously nearby, none of them daring to make a sound, while at the cave entrance, the little baby, who had woken up at some point without anyone noticing, lay sprawled on the Big Dopey Bear’s head, staring wide-eyed in disbelief, murmuring something under his breath, though no one could tell what.

“What do I do, I can’t hold on much longer!” Ziqing cried out, the dagger vibrating so intensely that the constant clanging, clanging, clanging sound grew unbearable to hear.

“Master, let it go! Let’s see where it goes — don’t worry, we can catch up!” the Great Beast Zizhu finally spoke up.

With those words from Zizhu, Ziqing no longer hesitated — if she kept holding on, her hand itself would be ruined.

Just as expected, the moment Ziqing let go, the dagger Liuguang didn’t fall to the ground as it had before — it shot straight off into the distance!

It seemed this time the summoning force was even stronger!

With no time to think further, Ziqing leapt onto the Great Beast Zizhu’s back and gave chase.

In no time, a trail of light streaked through the sky, cutting across the heavens like a bolt of flowing radiance!