The assembled immortals cried out in alarm. Xiang Su felt a violent wind strike her face. She, Jin Zhan, Xiao Huai, and the other immortal spirits with weak magical power all staggered back half a step. Xiang Su even stepped on Xiao Huai’s foot. It turned out Dong Tianyun’s Kunpeng had instantly grown several times larger. Xiang Su glared at him indignantly, but still could only see his golden robe hem and ink-black hair ends. Still the same bastard as before—all immortals here together, yet he couldn’t give a warning before enlarging the black bird!
“Fellow immortals, retrieving the sword carries heavy risks. Please step back to observe.” Chilin gracefully stood up on the phoenix. She had the manner of a hostess in full measure. Though her words were quite polite, her gaze didn’t fall on any of the “fellow immortals”—her attitude quite arrogant.
The immortal spirits frightened by Kunpeng’s wing-wind all felt somewhat awkward. Dong Tianyun was one thing—they could only resent but not dare speak. But compared to them, Chilin was even lower in seniority. How could she also be so dismissive of everyone?
However… Yinghuo Dijun’s daughter plus Dong Tianyun’s fiancée—these two glittering golden identities stacked together, what could they do? They could only center themselves around Dong Tianyun and Chilin, retreating backward to form a very large circle.
Bai Zhicao also signaled for Qingsui Manor’s formation to retreat. Xiang Su discovered Elder Sister Junshang hadn’t moved—she remained in the circle together with the bird person couple. Elder Sister Junshang was currently distracted and had also suffered internal injuries. Could it be she hadn’t noticed everyone had retreated?
Xiang Su felt somewhat anxious, wanting to have Bai Zhicao go remind her. At this moment, Qingsui suddenly propelled her cloud platform closer to Dong Tianyun.
With Kunpeng’s form enlarged, even standing right beside its wings, she still felt Dong Tianyun was high above, very distant from her. Both being Five Element Deity Sovereigns, Qingsui’s bearing immediately plummeted a thousand zhang, as if she were looking up to curry favor with Dong Tianyun.
“Dong Tianyun, I’m willing to use my magical artifact, the Jade Rain Basin, to fill the mountain and preserve Lingze Mountain from being reduced to ashes and dispersed in smoke.” Qingsui said in a low voice, sounding extremely resolute.
Xiang Su saw the immortal spirits discussing among themselves with various expressions.
Her nose stung. So Elder Sister Junshang had been worrying about this plan all along. The Jade Rain Basin was a wood spirit divine artifact that could revive all plants and heal all trees—famous throughout the Three Realms. That Elder Sister Junshang could make such a decision showed she had exerted her utmost effort for Lingze Mountain. On one side was her birthplace, the wood spirits’ sacred ground; on the other was the Wood Deity’s divine artifact, extremely precious. Elder Sister Junshang must have been tormented in every way. During seclusion, she had been considering this matter all along, right? That’s why after emerging from seclusion, her complexion was even worse.
Dong Tianyun gave a soft, cold snort, extremely disdainful. All the immortal spirits heard it clearly. Originally whispering to each other, they suddenly fell silent.
Dong Tianyun only spoke after a while. This brief pause and lazy tone were more stifling than any previous moment. “The Jade Rain Basin? This kind of second-rate magical artifact isn’t sufficient to preserve Lingze Mountain.”
Second-rate magical artifact? Xiang Su trembled all over with anger. She had thought Elder Sister Junshang would also explode, but Qingsui only froze slightly and said nothing more, as if accepting it by default.
“Song Ta…” Dong Tianyun’s tone was coldly clear as always, but seemed to carry some meaning of comfort. “This is all predetermined fate. Step back.”
Qingsui listened to him silently, not arguing another word. She only dejectedly retreated before Qingsui Manor’s formation. Looking past layers of figures at Qingsui’s back, Xiang Su felt an indescribable feeling. How could Elder Sister Junshang be persuaded so easily? Somewhat disappointed—if speaking of blame… she couldn’t bear it.
Dong Tianyun began chanting incantations. Xiang Su felt that voice was like a hammer constantly pounding her heart. She felt so uncomfortable she was about to vomit blood. Qingsui waved her robe sleeves and opened a barrier. Dong Tianyun’s voice was blocked outside, lowering considerably. Xiang Su’s deathly pale face caught its breath. She looked at Jin Zhan beside her—he was also ghastly pale.
Terrifying black energy bubbled up from the deep hole leading straight to the mountain’s base, spiraling straight up to the heavens, carrying flying sand and rolling stones. Xiang Su thought again of the day Bi Lian threw the sword and couldn’t stop trembling all over, reaching out to grab Jin Zhan’s hand. Jin Zhan’s hand was also ice-cold with sweaty palms. As if sensing her fear and dependence, he gently gripped her hand and shook it as if in comfort.
The sand and stones grew more numerous, the chunks larger and larger. Heaven and earth changed color, striking the barrier with resounding thuds. Xiang Su’s legs shook until she could barely stand, not knowing when all this could end.
Suddenly both Kunpeng and the phoenix cried out miserably, as if suffering some severe injury. In an instant, the wind stopped and clouds dispersed—even the flying sand and rolling stones suddenly disappeared. Xiang Su saw Dong Tianyun on Kunpeng seemed to be struggling to hold onto a long sword trembling throughout its body as if wanting to fly away to the heavens. The sword body’s malevolent energy injured Dong Tianyun’s palm. Blood dripped and flowed from his fist and between his fingers, falling onto Kunpeng’s back.
Xiang Su breathed a sigh of relief. This counted as successfully retrieving the sword, right? She looked down carefully at Lingze Mountain below the clouds. The black hole seemed even larger. The entire mountain seemed hollowed out, even more lifeless. But fortunately, it still stood there.
Some rubble suddenly rolled into the black hole. The mountain body emitted rumbling roars. Because the mountain was already empty, that sound was especially loud and terrifying. Xiang Su’s mouth fell open as she watched the mountaintop split with cracks. The entire mountain shook like an earthquake, about to collapse.
A wisp of wind swept past her ear. Xiang Su jumped in fright, thinking the barrier had broken. She looked back in trepidation only to see Xiao Huai desperately ramming the barrier, planning to rush outside. Xiang Su grabbed him, wanting to say it was dangerous outside, but unfortunately was a step too late—Xiao Huai had already rushed out.
Xiang Su shook her head and sighed. She hadn’t expected Xiao Huai’s feelings for Lingze Mountain to run so deep. It truly made her ashamed.
“Xiao Huai!” Qingsui hadn’t expected him to rush out either. Wanting to stop him was already too late. Outside the barrier, the sky was filled with gray sand and visibility was poor. The enormous whirlwind formed by the mountain’s collapse could easily sweep people into the cave-in. Rushing out like this, Xiao Huai was simply gambling with his life! Qingsui could only chase after him.
“What does he think he’s doing?!” Jin Zhan rarely scolded in an angry voice. Xiang Su looked back and forth. The gray sand was thick—she couldn’t see any figures at all.
“Probably trying to save Lingze Mountain.” Xiang Su still quite admired Xiao Huai’s courage.
“Impossible!” Jin Zhan’s voice went shrill, looking extremely resentful. “Even if he filled himself into the mountain, it wouldn’t help one bit! He definitely has another purpose!”
Bai Zhicao’s face was full of worry. He hesitantly turned back, looking at Jin Zhan and Xiang Su. “I probably know what he wants to do… Qingsui Manor’s secret chamber isn’t secret at all.”
Before he could finish speaking, Kunpeng and the phoenix whistled in succession, though not as painfully as before—clearly a威慑 to drive them away. Golden light flashed, spilling through cracks in the sand and dust into the barrier. Kunpeng had already returned to normal size and flew wing-to-wing with the phoenix, sweeping past hugging the barrier. Because they were close, everyone saw clearly they were obviously chasing Elder Sister Junshang!
“Follow Elder Sister Junshang!” Bai Zhicao shouted. The barrier instantly vanished. Xiang Su pulled Jin Zhan’s hand and stumbled through flight amid the sand and stones, her face struck painfully by flying sand. She gritted her teeth and persisted. The bird person couple were going too far! Destroying Lingze Mountain for the sword—fine, everyone tolerated it. But why pursue to total annihilation and target Elder Sister Junshang!
Heading east all the way, Xiang Su couldn’t figure out how far they’d flown. The sand and stones were gradually left behind, and the sky also brightened. But everyone’s flight speed was extremely fast. Xiang Su was simply like a kite being pulled and floating by Jin Zhan. She was filled with wind, her head also dizzy and muddled.
Landing on the ground, she could only gasp for breath. Jin Zhan glanced at her. Where was this someone coming to help? Simply coming to lose face!
“Qingsui, if you continue harboring minor immortals within the realm, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
When Xiang Su caught her breath evenly, she heard Chilin’s arrogant tone that sounded like she and Dong Tianyun were born from the same mother. She straightened her back and looked toward where the voice came from. They were no longer riding birds. Dong Tianyun sat on a boulder. Chilin stood all in red before him, facing Elder Sister Junshang in green brocade robes like natural sworn enemies. Xiao Huai sat collapsed rather pathetically by Elder Sister Junshang’s legs, still trembling—completely lacking that brave vigor from breaking through the barrier earlier.
“Chilin.” Elder Sister Junshang had been in a bad mood recently and had no interest in smooth talk. Xiang Su felt gratified—speaking this way was actually more normal. “Speaking of seniority, you should still call me auntie. Is this how your father usually teaches you?!”
Hearing these words, Chilin laughed coldly with extreme arrogance. “Qingsui, don’t rely on your age to sell your seniority! When have the immortals of my fire spirit realm ever looked upon you, this so-called Deity Sovereign who lost the previous lord’s divine artifact? Hand over this ugly freak, and we’ll be clear with no issues.”
These words seemed to really hit Qingsui’s sore spot. Her face paled, her brows tightly furrowed. “You’re right! I lost the previous lord’s divine artifact, leading to the wood spirits’ decline, being humiliated by infatuated fire spirits like you who only know to chase after Dong Tianyun! If I can’t even protect my own realm’s minor immortals, how can I be a lord? How can I face the divine spirits of all realms?!”
Xiang Su felt her lungs would explode with anger. How could that red bird speak so venomously! Such disrespectful attitude toward Elder Sister Junshang? She saw everyone breathing rapidly with anger. When they charged out in a moment, she absolutely wouldn’t be slow again!
“Song Ta, why get truly angry?” Dong Tianyun said indifferently.
“I won’t discuss these irrelevant matters with you.” Chilin rolled her eyes and changed her tone. Since even Dong Tianyun had spoken, she didn’t want to continue enraging Qingsui. “You also know that now all three swords are in Dongtian’s hands. If that ugly freak really touched his spiritual blood, immortals and demons with ulterior motives could use him to investigate Dongtian’s location. This hidden danger absolutely cannot remain!”
Xiang Su was getting goosebumps. “Dongtian”… so nauseating! It’s only one character less—couldn’t she just call the full name? Wait, this red bird’s rhetoric—why did it sound so familiar?
Qingsui’s voice was very cold, truly angered. “I’ll tell you one more time—Xiao Huai didn’t touch it! Dong Tianyun didn’t even make a move. Why must you press so hard!”
“Of course I must consider everything thoroughly for him.” Chilin disdainfully quirked the corner of her mouth. “Now gods and demons throughout the Three Realms—who isn’t watching these three divine swords? Only Dongtian can unite the three swords. When the divine sword is forged in the future, there will be no worthy opponents in the Three Realms and Six Worlds. Even if I don’t pursue it, tell me, can he allow such a hidden danger to exist before all immortals and demons? Of course it’s better to wrongly kill three thousand than let one escape!”
Her beautiful eyes widened, aggressive and pressing. “Dongtian has painstakingly searched for hundreds of years and is finally on the verge of success. He absolutely won’t leave hidden dangers because of these insignificant minor immortal spirits. Ugly freak, if you blame anyone, blame your own delusional wishful thinking!”
Xiang Su’s face turned deathly pale. She knew Dong Tianyun using his blood to save her wasn’t that kind-hearted! Was it to create entertainment for the red bird to kill? Looking at how excited and agitated the red bird was mentioning killing Xiao Huai—she was the next sacrifice, right?
“You can let Dong Tianyun see for himself!” While Chilin was eloquently stating the pros and cons there, neither Qingsui nor Dong Tianyun made a sound. Both knew full well there was still that fish that slipped through the net.
“I really didn’t touch it!” Xiao Huai practically screamed in protest. With famous black-hearted and ruthless figures like Dong Tianyun and Chilin, exposing his pulse gate to let them test—wouldn’t that just be sending himself to death?!
Xiao Huai desperately shook his head, hugging one of Qingsui’s legs. His life-fearing appearance was very spineless. Qingsui angrily kicked him but didn’t shake him off. “I really didn’t! Really didn’t!” Xiao Huai thought even Qingsui was going to abandon protecting him. He cried and wailed with snot and tears everywhere. “I just saw Xiang Su touched the Deity Sovereign’s blood and became so beautiful…”
“Disgraceful!” Qingsui slapped the back of his neck. Xiao Huai collapsed on the spot. “My wood spirit realm actually produced such a spineless and unprincipled person! Dong Tianyun, quickly come see—he really didn’t touch your blood! I’m taking him back to discipline properly. Simply lost all my face!”
Chilin narrowed her eyes, not fooled at all, saying with a cold laugh: “Xiang Su… who is that?”
She was already bewitchingly beautiful. Her almond eyes revealing killing intent while her red lips smiled was especially heart-stopping and terrifying.
Xiang Su’s legs were already weak from fear due to their conversation. Being intimidated by Chilin’s soul-capturing威逼 like this, her mouth automatically and spontaneously said: “We don’t know her at all!”
Dong Tianyun, Qingsui, including Bai Zhicao and Jin Zhan, all looked at her speechlessly.
Chilin stared at her, lightly stepping forward, asking with a charming smile: “Who are you?”
Xiang Su was scared into repeatedly retreating. “I am… Su Bing!” Her eyes brightened. Right, the red bird didn’t know her! As long as that damned Dong Tianyun didn’t speak, the red bird wouldn’t necessarily strike her dead.
“Su Bing?” Chilin was amused into laughter. “Interesting.”
Xiang Su felt her vision blur. A patch of red—Chilin was coming for her! Xiang Su felt very desperate. So it didn’t matter what name she used—she was going to be silenced!
Her body lightened. Xiang Su felt wind under her feet. Her entire person was flung up, thrown head-down in an arc like discarded garbage, landing somewhere with a very strange sensation. She looked in shock—black bird feathers. She… was on the black bird’s back?
The black bird was very unwilling to carry her on its back. It suddenly dropped down. Xiang Su’s heart was so frightened it seemed it would fall to the ground and shatter. Grasping wildly like clutching a life-saving plank, she only heard the black bird shriek sharply.
Kunpeng had originally been hovering beside Dong Tianyun less than three feet from the ground. Having a feather plucked by Xiang Su, it was both hurt and angry. Since this object was thrown onto its back by its master, no matter how angry it couldn’t shake her off. It could only rapidly fly high then rapidly descend back beside its master, scaring the thing on its back out of its wits.
Dong Tianyun looked at Kunpeng with slight apology. He hadn’t expected to bring it such humiliation. The power of this bald tree shouldn’t have been underestimated from the start when she talked back to him.
Qingsui watched expressionlessly. It wasn’t that she was playing mysterious—she just didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. Lingze Mountain not only produced a spineless creature like Xiao Huai but also someone like Xiang Su who made ghosts and gods weep. She even dared pluck Kunpeng’s feathers.
“Disperse then, Song Ta. Take this disgraceful thing back to discipline properly!” Dong Tianyun leisurely mounted Kunpeng.
“What about her?” Chilin now completely couldn’t care about Huai Shu. Staring at Xiang Su sitting together with Dong Tianyun on Kunpeng’s back, her eyes were about to spew fire.
“Song Ta, this… Su Bing,” Dong Tianyun said the name with great distaste, “is somewhat interesting. Let her do odd jobs for me.”
Qingsui nodded, saying meaningfully: “Since she’s following you, you must keep her safe.” After speaking, she even glanced at Chilin.
Dong Tianyun acted as if he hadn’t heard. Kunpeng’s wings just began to flap. “Wait!” Qingsui shouted loudly again.
Dong Tianyun looked back coldly, seemingly feeling somewhat impatient. Hadn’t he expressed his meaning clearly enough? If not for wanting to spare this bald tree’s life, why would he bring such trouble along? Couldn’t she see?! Even Kunpeng was suffering because of it!
“Next time!” Qingsui said through gritted teeth. “Don’t call me Song Ta in public again!”
Dong Tianyun was silent for a moment. “Fine, understood.”
The wood spirit realm’s decline seemed unrelated to losing the divine artifact… From top to bottom, what kind of people were these?