After Dao Qiongcang landed on the ground, his clothes were torn by the spear, exposing his fair and delicate skin.
Jin Feng's spear had sent him flying, and he bore some injuries from the residual force. However, the only significant damage was to a gold bead accessory on Elder Dao the Flamboyant's belt; no real harm was done.
"The Five Decays of Heaven and Man—are they on good terms with you?" Dao Qiongcang asked coldly, scanning the area.
At that moment, he could no longer see any of the white-clothed figures from the Holy Divine Palace around him. The last three who had seemingly escaped death were actually under the control of the command attribute. In the end, they were used as tools by the Five Decays of Heaven and Man and met a tragic fate at Dao Qiongcang's hands.
This was not a minor loss! If Gou Wuyue had gained anything after the battle, even losing an arm wouldn't have made up for this enormous mistake.
On the ground, Zhu Yike felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. He had been kicked repeatedly and chased by countless unknown evil spirits, breaking out in cold sweat as he fell into an abyss.
Just as he wanted to fly upwards, he realized his spiritual source was completely gone. Then Dao Qiongcang appeared before him, smiling.
Zhu Yike was so frightened that he thrashed about and woke up, only to find Hallmaster Dao wearing an extremely cold expression.
Zhu Yike was unaware of the events that had transpired on Qingyuan Mountain while he was unconscious. Hallmaster Dao's earlier amicable demeanor, where he had wished to have a chat with Lord Shou, seemed to have changed. He now glared coldly at them.
"I don't know!" Zhu Yike tilted his head, looking at the remains of the Divine Puppet. Lord Shou's tone dripped with mockery.
Dao Qiongcang replied indifferently, "He killed my subordinate. Fine. Your subordinate doesn't deserve to live either."
Zhu Yike was stunned. Before he could react, the world spun around him.
He felt himself being lifted into the air by Dao Qiongcang. With just a little more strength, his neck would probably snap.
"Wait!" Zhu Yike's eyes bulged in fear.
Why was the finger suddenly pointing at me?
I've been slapped with a weapon prohibition order!
I can't die! I still have so much value. Even if it's just a fake confession, I can be tortured for one…
"Stop!" Jin Ren shouted urgently.
Why had Dao Qiongcang suddenly turned into such a different person?
Before he could even begin to speak, whether to tempt him with benefits or appeal to his emotions, Dao Qiongcang released Zhu Yike, his demeanor calm.
"Alright, I'll grant you, Lord Shou, this favor today and let this Southern Region evil cultivator live for the time being."
Jin Ren was left speechless.
"However, even if the death penalty can be avoided, the punishment for the crime cannot be bypassed… Xi!"
Dao Qiongcang flicked his fingers, and the great array of Qingyuan Mountain shifted slightly, forming an illuminated gate.
Xi stepped out from within.
"Take him to the Dead Sea at the Saint Mountain and keep him apart from the Sleeveless Saint Servant. Don't let them have any contact with each other. We'll interrogate him again in the future."
"Yes, sir!"
Zhu Yike felt utterly confused as he was hoisted into the air once more, landing in the arms of a young man.
He was shocked.
Is this how favors are granted? This Elder Dao the Flamboyant…
However, this method seemed ridiculous. In that instant just now, if Lord Shou hadn't spoken up…
Zhu Yike didn't dare to think further. He turned to the man carrying him and started to struggle violently.
"I'm a higher void! Do I still have any face left if you carry me like this?"
"Behave yourself!"
Xi exerted force and dealt him a sharp blow to the back.
The weakling, who had been slapped with a weapon prohibition order, immediately cried out and ceased all resistance.
Zhu Yike quickly hid the thread he had ripped off from Xi into his sleeve and said with a flattering expression, "I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you just now. It turns out you're the Chief of the Transformation Division. I heard you previously served as the deputy head of two divisions out of the six divisions of the Saint Mountain. You have a high position and power. Now that I've seen you today, you're indeed handsome and extraordinary. You actually carry some of the dignity of the Hallmaster of the Holy Divine Palace…"
"Shut up!"
"Oh, okay, Chief of the Transformation Division," Zhu Yike hurriedly piped down, glancing at the remains of the Divine Puppet.
His lips suddenly trembled, and his small eyes narrowed. Tears flowed copiously, like peanuts poured into a pot of salt and stir-fried over a fire.
"Ah! Lord Shou…"
This cry was extremely mournful and earth-shattering.
Jin Ren looked at Zhu Yike silently, his heart filled with complicated emotions.
"Lord Shou, Old Zhu will take his leave…"
Zhu Yike wiped away his tears, his trembling voice choking with emotion.
"Old Zhu's captivity might last a lifetime. When I think about how we will never see each other again in the future… Oh! Old Zhu is so sad!"
"When I think back to Sky City last year… uh, it seemed like it was only a month ago? In short, Old Zhu will never forget the kindness he received from Lord Shou!"
"In this life, this favor is destined to be unrepaid. In the next life, even if Old Zhu turns into a cow or horse, he will be yours to ride for the rest of his life!"
In the Ran Ming ruins, Jin Ren's lips twitched, and he almost burst out laughing. He opened his mouth but…
Perhaps it was because the energy supply of the Divine Puppet's remains had run out, but he was unable to say anything in the end.
In the darkness, the smile on Jin Ren's face vanished.
Xi, who carried Zhu Yike, took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
He thought about how the Saint Servant and Yama had joined forces to kill the group of white-clothed people in the spatial fragment, and any sympathy in his heart disappeared instantly.
Out of humanitarian grounds, Xi finally shouted coldly, "Any more last words?"
"Yes! Yes!" Zhu Yike was not done yet. He put his palms together and bowed to the merciful Xi, then looked at Lord Shou as tears streamed down his face.
"Lord Shou, Old Zhu only has one last wish…"
"Speak," Jin Ren replied emotionlessly.
Zhu Yike sobbed. "The second-in-command position at the First Pavilion in the Sky. Lord Shou, do you still remember your promise? If possible, could you keep the position vacant for me? Of course, Old Zhu knows this is an extravagant hope. If I end up dying, this position could go to anyone, but it cannot go to Li… Old Li!"
Just as Zhu Yike's voice trailed off, a large-bellied evil spirit appeared behind him, grabbed him, and stuffed him into its mouth.
"Seal!"
Xi slapped the evil spirit's stomach with his palm, branding it with the Hell's Lord White Sin's spiritual imprint before patting the big-bellied ghost on the head.
"Go!"
Wu…
Amidst the sound of the cold wind, the evil spirit vanished along with Zhu Yike.
"Dong dong dong…"
In the distance, a faint sound echoed, like that of a giant running, causing the leaves to rustle in the night.
Xi appeared moved and glanced at Hallmaster Dao, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Dao Qiongcang remained silent, looking away as he waved his hand again, causing an illuminated gate to appear.
This time, Xiang Yaoyao of the Ten High Nobles emerged.
"It's over?" Aunt Xiang seemed to realize her fate.
She surveyed the area. Aside from the familiar remains of the Divine Puppet, there were no other elites from the Saint Servant.
"It looks like you weren't able to catch any big fish," Aunt Xiang laughed, her gaze mocking as it settled on Dao Qiongcang.
"The good show has just begun. It's just that you're not destined to see it," Dao Qiongcang replied, shaking his head as he approached.
He stopped his hand before Xiang Yaoyao's voluptuous bosom. "Take it out."
Aunt Xiang sneered, pushing her chest out until it almost brushed against Dao Qiongcang's fingers.
Xi's face turned red, and he hurriedly averted his gaze, unable to look.
Dao Qiongcang flicked his fingers and used the Greater Teleportation Technique to extract a jade talisman embedded in Xiang Yaoyao's chest.
Jin Ren in the Ran Ming ruins felt his scalp go numb at the sight.
It was the Apricot Realm jade talisman!
This was the life-saving item he had left for Aunt Xiang in the Yougui Pavilion!
Even if Dao Qiongcang had gotten hold of it, it was still fine. This jade talisman provided only a one-sided communication with the Apricot Realm. To open the passageway, it still required the ancestral tree Dragon Apricot's approval.
However, that wasn't the main point. The main point was that Dao Qiongcang had revealed all his trump cards, making it clear he was about to reel in his catch.
Jin Ren wanted to extend his spiritual senses into the distance.
He had heard a strange noise moments ago; someone must have intruded on Qingyuan Mountain.
Was it Bazhun'an?
If so, it would be enough to stop Dao Qiongcang.
However, as Dao Qiongcang had said, Jin Ren didn't believe that Bazhun'an would fall into a trap just to save his spiritual senses.
Most likely, it would be Master Siren, a Saint Servant, or a higher void with combat strength comparable to that of a demi-saint.
In that case, saying it was merely a drop in the bucket might be a little too generous. If it was of no help, that would be the best way to describe it.
Better if they didn't come at all…
Moreover, Dao Qiongcang's appetite wasn't that small; even Master Siren might not satisfy it…
Just as he was deep in thought, Dao Qiongcang waved his hand, concluding the matter.
"Take her to the Dead Sea and put her in solitary confinement."
"Don't let anyone—any living thing, inanimate object, or anything that can be defined as an 'existence' other than you—come into contact with her or harm her…"
"That includes herself, self-harm, and suicide!"
"If anything happens to her, I will kill you first. Even if your Teacher comes, he won't be able to protect you. Do you understand?"
Xi was shocked. This was the first time he had heard Hallmaster Dao speak with such seriousness and issue such detailed instructions.
It showed just how crucial this matter was!
And the person in front of him, though she was one of the Ten High Nobles, her actual combat strength was only that of an ordinary higher void, right?
"Yes, Hallmaster Dao!" Xi swallowed and nodded intently.
"Take her away."
"Yes, sir!"
Xi subconsciously wanted to use the ghost spirit to seal her, but realizing this didn't conform to Hallmaster Dao's instructions, he had to give up helplessly.
He turned to look at the beautiful woman.
Unlike Zhu Yike, Aunt Xiang had experienced much and was only slightly damaged from the force of Kui Leihan's residual power. She was basically uninjured!
Xi stretched out his hand but suddenly retracted it as if electrocuted.
He couldn't possibly carry Xiang Yaoyao on his shoulders, could he?
Xi's footsteps felt heavy as lead. He braced himself and approached Aunt Xiang, but he didn't dare to move or tie her up. Even touching her made him feel as if he were about to die…
He was at a loss.
Aunt Xiang was amused. She smiled at the young man before beginning to walk down the mountain.
"Let's go, young man. I have my own legs and can walk."
"Oh!"
As her fragrance wafted away into the night, across the deserted site, only Aunt Xiang's voice could be heard.
"Young man, how old are you this year?"
"Uh…"
"You look like you're only around twenty. Are you married? Still a virgin?"
"Uh…"
"You cultivate the Phantom Swords Technique? Who was the Teacher that Elder Dao the Flamboyant spoke about? Do you know… oh, who was it again? Deng something?"
"Uh…"
"Yes, Hua Changdeng! Aunt actually forgot this name. This is amazing. I wonder if I'll be killed if I call his name a few more times. I'm so scared, but I'm also rather excited. Hua Changdeng, Hua Changdeng, Hua Changdeng…"
"Uh…"
"Oh right, young man, your name is Xi, right? If you're an ancient swordsman, you should worship Bazhun'an. Did you know that back then, your Teacher was obsessed with the sword? In the end, the Holy Emperor aristocratic family insisted on arranging a marriage for him, and he actually didn't like Yue…"
"Uh…"
Xi quickly transformed into a goose, hoping to shield himself from Aunt Xiang's relentless chatter. The moment she mentioned the last part, he couldn't bear it anymore. He immediately sealed his hearing, blocking out her voice completely.
He had never encountered someone who could talk so much, and without any filter! The sheer terror of listening to her babble was worse than facing enemies on the battlefield.
Stories like this were often just rumors or found in novels. Yet now, Aunt Xiang was discussing them so openly right in front of him. The dread it instilled was unimaginable!
What was Aunt Xiang trying to do? Was she really not afraid of death?
Xi couldn't help but think of Hallmaster Dao's earlier warning—self-harm and suicide weren't allowed. Could Aunt Xiang truly summon that person if she were injured?
How could she be so certain that her man could withstand his Teacher's sword?
Aunt Xiang, noticing Xi's indifference, continued her tale but suddenly hesitated as she was about to say "The Divine."
Instead of the words she intended, what came out was: "Dao Qiongcang is really amazing."
She paused, confused.
Determined, Aunt Xiang resumed, trying again to say something from the past. This time she wanted to say "Ran Ming," but once more, what escaped her lips was: "Dao Qiongcang is really amazing."
She fell silent again, irritation flashing across her face.
She kept trying, attempting words like "Bazhun'an," "You Yuan," and "You Tu." Yet, every single time, the result was the same: "Dao Qiongcang is really amazing."
You've really outdone yourself! she thought, glaring at Elder Dao the Flamboyant in frustration. It was clear now that Dao Qiongcang had sealed off all possible avenues for her to communicate any significant information.
"Stop."
Mei Siren's voice broke the silence as he waved his hand, causing Cao Erzhu to immediately lower the old immortal from his back.
Cao Erzhu looked up, and under the shadow of a swaying tree, he saw a figure standing before him—his presence ethereal. It was the same mysterious man who had left the strange handshake imprint on his hand earlier!
Cao Erzhu's eyes reddened with recognition.
Mei Siren, reading the boy's expression, knew exactly what was going through his mind. He gently patted Cao Erzhu's arm, signaling for him to remain calm. Though he couldn't entirely conceal himself, Mei Siren obscured the person behind him and emerged from the bushes.
Dao Qiongcang noticed the figure approaching and sighed. "Master Siren, why do you insist on suffering?"
Mei Siren chuckled lightly. "Where is this 'suffering' you speak of?" He held the boy with one hand, his paper fan in the other. As he stepped forward, his gaze fell on the remnants of the Divine Puppet.
There was no need for words or confirmation. Just as Cao Erzhu was certain he was in the presence of a righteous person, Mei Siren knew—this was his student.
How had Xu Xiaoshou ended up like this? Reduced to nothing more than a thought clinging to an artifact, barely hanging on to life.
At that moment, Mei Siren's eyes reddened as well, his heart swelling with sorrow and anger. His Sword Will surged, fierce and murderous.
On Qingyuan Mountain, the snowy leaves in the surrounding forest danced and spiraled, forming a vortex as though a storm was brewing.
Cao Erzhu, standing nearby, couldn't help but think of the Green River Sword Boardline his father had once demonstrated. However, while his father's technique had been forged from waterfall waters, the old immortal's method seemed to arise from the mountains themselves.
Each had their merits—both were undoubtedly immortal techniques.
Father, your soul in heaven can rest in peace…
Meanwhile, Dao Qiongcang remained unaffected by the changes in the environment. He gently adjusted the divine Sinan in his hands and spoke slowly.
"The battle report after Rao Yaoyao's death mentioned that she sought you out in Dongtianwang City that night… You had no intention of joining the conflict.
"However, you left your legacy on Abyss Island. You're no longer neutral. You've clearly sided with the Saint Servant."
His expression turned cold, voice booming as he questioned Mei Siren.
"So, tell me this…" Dao Qiongcang's voice grew louder. "As the Sword Dao teacher of the Holy Emperor's aristocratic family, shouldn't you be an ally of the Holy Divine Palace? How do you explain your current actions?"
His words shattered the vortex of snowflakes and withered leaves, scattering them in all directions.
Cao Erzhu, overwhelmed by the clash of auras, staggered backward.
He saw the strange uncle's power surge, piercing through the protective influence the old immortal had over Qingyuan Mountain.
However, Mei Siren was unmoved by Dao Qiongcang's words.
In his eyes, Dao Qiongcang was no different from Rao Yaoyao, who had confronted him in Dongtianwang City.
Shifting his gaze from the remains of the Divine Puppet, Mei Siren's aura soared, and his voice turned cold.
"Where the Dao lies, righteousness is at its peak. Where the sword points, the teacher has the right to act!"
"You insolent brat, if you dare to demand an explanation from this old man, I will gladly give you one."
"But this old man has a question for you…"
Mei Siren took a step forward, his hair, beard, and robes billowing in the wind.
The storm thickened, and snow enveloped Qingyuan Mountain, turning the landscape into a frigid, white world.
Every snowflake, every stone, every leaf became a sword, radiating the sharpness of an unsheathed blade.
"Bang bang bang!"
Cao Erzhu, overwhelmed by the surge in the old immortal's aura, felt the sword case in his hand tremble violently. The sword inside was vibrating uncontrollably.
When Mei Siren ascended into the air, his sleeves fluttering...
"Clang!"
The sound of sword cries echoed from Qingyuan as the Taicheng Sword shot into the sky.
The purplish-red blade within the sword case transformed into a radiant rainbow, piercing through the swirling snow.
Mei Siren, standing high above, gripped the Taicheng Sword. Under the silver moonlight, the sword tilted, and a colossal sword image manifested behind him.
It was draped in splendid robes, surrounded by the Nine Swords of the Mortal World, and it stepped on the Ten Yamas as snowflakes above bowed in reverence. The figure commanded a green, towering giant, resembling a fierce ape in its stance.
As the sword image expanded, filling the sky with its majestic form, the blue heavens seemed to collapse, and the moonlight dimmed in its shadow.
With a hoarse roar, the figure crossed its two swords in the air, unleashing a storm that ravaged the skies, venting endless fury.
Mei Siren's voice thundered, echoing across the mountain.
"Dao Qiongcang, you injured my student—how do you explain that?"