Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Three
"Your... Your Highness..." Hong Que sobbed as she called out to Hua Shu, her eyes filled with both shame and regret.
After all, she had accompanied her for thousands of years. Hua Shu pursed her lips tightly, released her grip, and said coldly, "Speak! Did you go to Lingyu Hall on the day of my wedding?"
Hong Que knelt in mid-air, not daring to hide anything any longer, and kowtowed deeply. "Yes, Your Highness. That day, I went to Lingyu Hall, originally hoping to see the High Lord and ask him to choose earrings for you. Later..." She glanced fearfully in Hua Mo's direction before quickly lowering her head again. "Later, the High Lord had a guest, so I returned to Xiuyang Hall."
"Who was that guest?" Hua Shu's hands, hidden in her sleeves, slowly clenched.
Hong Que trembled all over, her head bowed. Her lips moved, but she could not bring herself to utter the identity of that person.
This matter had been buried in her heart for a thousand years. She had thought it would never be brought up again, but in the end, it could not remain hidden. Though she had only overheard a single sentence back then, the person who had stealthily entered High Lord Lanfeng's study was unmistakably her own king. At the time, she had wondered why the king would appear at Lingyu Hall before the auspicious hour and invite High Lord Lanfeng to the Hall of Imperial Cosmos. But before she could report this matter to the princess, High Lord Lanfeng had been brutally murdered in the Hall of Imperial Cosmos.
Back then, everyone in the Heavenly Palace was searching for the immortal who had mysteriously appeared in High Lord Lanfeng's study, but she no longer dared to speak of it. High Lord Lanfeng's death was clearly connected to the king. If she revealed this, Hundred Birds Island would surely be destroyed, her people would have nowhere to live, and the princess... If the princess learned that the king was responsible for High Lord Lanfeng's death, what would become of her?
Though Hong Que lacked wisdom and courage, having grown up by Hua Shu's side since childhood, she held a foolish loyalty toward her. Even now, she was unwilling and afraid to say that Hua Mo was the mysterious immortal. However, her expression of extreme guilt made it unnecessary for her to speak—the assembled immortals had already guessed the words she left unspoken.
"Indeed, the person in Lanfeng's study that year was this king." Hua Mo's gloomy voice suddenly rang out as he coldly stared at Hong Que kneeling before Hua Shu. "I never imagined that besides the immortal attendants of Lingyu Hall, you were also outside the study." Hua Mo's gaze swept over the thirteen immortal attendants before settling on the disciple and Hong Que. "Had I known earlier, I should not have spared your lives."
Zi You and the others were furious, while Hong Que trembled even more violently.
Hua Shu looked toward the Peacock King, disbelief filling her eyes. "Father, why did you lure Lanfeng to the Hall of Imperial Cosmos?"
"Because only he could make Lanfeng go to the Hall of Imperial Cosmos willingly and without suspicion. The Hall of Imperial Cosmos contained the Celestial Emperor's seal. Only there could that demon, under the watchful eyes of all the High Immortals in the Heavenly Palace, kill High Lord Lanfeng, frame the Fox Demon clan, incite conflict between the immortal and demon races, and allow the Demon Tribe to reap the benefits." Feng Yin, standing nearby, spoke slowly, turning her gaze toward Hua Mo. "Peacock King, not only did you collude with the Demon Tribe to kill High Lord Lanfeng, but you were also the one who stole Venerable Yu Feng's immortal sword from the Heavenly Palace, infiltrated the Third Heaven of the Demon Realm, and killed Sen Hong, weren't you?"The Peacock King narrowed his eyes. Feng Yin stepped forward, blocking the murderous intent in his gaze. "When I helped Hong Yi escape from the Heavenly Palace years ago, I was injured by the Immortal Locking Pagoda. Venerable Yu Feng used his Innate Immortal Essence to heal me at Phoenix Roost Palace. With his cultivation at the time, he was no match for the Demon Emperor. Moreover, outside Great Marsh Mountain, all the Heavenly Palace Venerables suffered damage to their Immortal Essence while capturing Hong Yi. Looking back now, the one who concealed their strength, hid within the Heavenly Palace, and stole the Wind Spirit Sword must have been you."
The Peacock King stared darkly at Feng Yin, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
His original plan was to suddenly strike today, imprison the immortals, and with Hua Shu wielding the Demon Gathering Banner, eliminate Feng Yin and the others within the Nine Palaces Tower. While the Immortal Tribe was leaderless, he would coerce the Heavenly Palace immortals into submission, thereby bringing the entire Immortal Tribe under his control. Unexpectedly, Demon Emperor Sen Hong had transformed into Yan Huo and entered the Nine Palaces Tower, intimidating the demons and causing Hua Shu's first strike to fail.
The Peacock King narrowed his eyes, his gaze thoughtful as he looked at Feng Ran.
That person had clearly told him that Feng Ran had lost all her Divine Power to seal the Nine Nether Purgatory. Yet she had managed to dissolve the barrier he placed outside the Nine Palaces Tower and rescue Feng Yin, Yu Feng, and the others. How was this possible?
Hua Mo swept his gaze over the High Immortals gathered on the Azure Dragon Platform. Today, the Sect Leaders of various sects and the High Immortals of the Heavenly Palace were all assembled. Since they could not be subdued, then he would kill the Celestial Emperor and the Phoenix Sovereign, plant Demon Seeds within the immortals, ensuring they could never betray Hundred Birds Island! In an instant, the Peacock King made his decision. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he finally stopped denying the events of a thousand years ago.
"That's right. It was I who lured Lan Feng to the Hall of Imperial Cosmos, and it was I who took Yu Feng's Wind Spirit Sword, killed Sen Hong, and incited the conflict between immortals and demons."
Seeing the Peacock King admit to being the perpetrator of these past events, the immortals on the Azure Dragon Platform could not conceal their shock. The countless tragedies of a thousand years ago and the war between the two tribes in Rakshasa Land, which claimed so many lives from both the Immortal Tribe and the Demon Tribe—all were caused by the Peacock King alone! For what purpose had he done all this?
After speaking, the Peacock King turned to face Hua Shu beside him, her expression one of shock and pain. "Shu'er, do not forget the humiliation our Peacock Clan has endured for tens of thousands of years." He pointed at Feng Ran and Feng Yin. "Simply because they were born as phoenixes, they are the Emperor of All Birds in the Nine Heavens, while our Peacock Clan must forever remain beneath them. For the revival and glory of our clan, you have cultivated diligently for thousands of years, enduring humiliation and hardship to reach this point. Will you now betray your father and abandon our clan for the sake of a single Lan Feng?"
The Peacock King stared intently at Hua Shu, the darkness in his eyes concealed, leaving only the visage of a loving father. Yet, behind his back, his hands secretly gathered Demonic Power, his peripheral vision fixed on the Demon Gathering Banner in Hua Shu's hand.
If Hua Shu remained fixated on Lan Feng's death, it would be better to deal with her first to avoid her becoming a future obstacle!
Complex emotions warred in Hua Shu's eyes. Slowly, the sorrow and pain faded as she lowered her gaze, looking at the Demon Gathering Banner in her hand and the now Divine Attainment-level Demonic Power within her. When she raised her eyes again, her customary coldness and arrogance had returned to her face.
"Father, in your daughter's heart, you and our Peacock Clan are the most important. Your daughter will forever follow by your side, accomplish the great undertaking of our Peacock Clan, and make Hundred Birds Island the ruler of the Three Realms."
As she spoke, Hua Shu knelt before the Peacock King, presenting the Demon Gathering Banner with both hands.
A pair of hands steadily supported her. The Peacock King's eyes were filled with gratification. "Good! Truly worthy of being Hua Mo's daughter! Your father did not misjudge you!"Hua Mo let out a long laugh and waved his hand. The immortal clouds above the Azure Dragon Platform dispersed, revealing tens of thousands of black-armored soldiers holding long halberds, surrounding the platform completely. These soldiers were all shrouded in demonic qi, their eyes deep and turbid, without a trace of immortal spirit.
This army of tens of thousands of demon soldiers was powerful enough to rival the most elite forces of both the Immortal and Demon Realms!
Hua Shu’s eyes widened in shock. "Father, what is this…?"
"This is the demon army I have spent a thousand years refining, all composed of the strongest warriors of our Peacock Clan!" The Peacock King’s eyes were filled with pride as he looked at Feng Ran, revealing a sinister arrogance and triumph.
Hua Shu’s pupils contracted. Had all the warriors of the Peacock Clan… already turned into demons?
She never expected the Peacock King to secretly refine a demon army from their own clan without her knowledge!
"Celestial Emperor, did you ever imagine our clan possessed such terrifying power? Where are your immortal soldiers? Where are the hundred thousand immortal generals guarding the Nine-Layered Heavenly Palace?"
Seeing the sudden appearance of tens of thousands of black-armored demon soldiers above the Azure Dragon Platform, Feng Ran’s expression grew grave. Her fingers lightly tapped the armrest of her throne as she stared coldly at the arrogant Peacock King.
Noticing Feng Ran’s expression, Feng Yin frowned, a sense of unease rising in her heart.
Capturing the Peacock King and Hua Shu at the Nine Palaces Tower was a plan she and Master Sovereign Yu Feng had devised together, but this army of tens of thousands of demon soldiers was beyond everyone’s expectations. Even though the heavenly palace’s immortal generals were more than capable of confronting this demon army, why did Master Sovereign look so solemn?
"Your demonic power indeed originates from the Nine Nether Purgatory. Is the demon hiding there the one who colluded with you a thousand years ago to incite chaos between immortals and demons?" After a long silence, Feng Ran finally spoke slowly.
Yuan Qi alone could not hold out forever. If the Nine Nether Purgatory were breached, the Three Realms would be destroyed. A few days earlier, Feng Ran had secretly dispatched the hundred thousand immortal generals of the heavenly palace to Tranquil Mountain in the Demon Realm. Even Feng Yin and Yu Feng were unaware of this. Yet Hua Mo knew that the heavenly palace was left undefended. There was only one explanation…
The demon in the Nine Nether Purgatory had never severed ties with Hua Mo. Even though Hua Mo had not approached Tranquil Mountain for a thousand years, how had he managed to conspire with the demon in the purgatory and orchestrate all of this?
A thousand years ago, Feng Ran had placed a seal on Tranquil Mountain. If Hua Mo had approached the Nine Nether Purgatory, she would have detected it long ago.
Feng Ran furrowed her brow, a flicker of doubt appearing in her eyes.
Ten thousand miles away, in the Nine Nether Purgatory, Qing Li gazed at the seal on the purgatory gate, which was on the verge of being torn apart by demonic power, a sinister and eerie smile curling on her lips.
Even if Feng Ran had discovered a thousand years ago that it was the demons of the Nine Nether Purgatory colluding with immortals to seal the purgatory, what did it matter? Although she had been trapped here for a millennium, Hua Mo had devoured a third of her primordial spirit out of greed for her demonic power back then, binding their souls together.
She had promised him dominion over the Lower Three Realms, and Hua Mo willingly served her.
Feng Ran’s divine power had been exhausted a thousand years ago when she sealed the Nine Nether Purgatory. To protect the Three Realms, she had stationed the immortal army at Tranquil Mountain, leaving only the immortals in the Nine-Layered Heavenly Palace as bait to lure the Peacock King into action. Yet she never imagined that she and Hua Mo had seen through it all.
Qing Li curled her lips, a smug and satisfied smile appearing between her brows. Behind her, demonic beasts filled with killing intent roared, led by Qing Li as they relentlessly assaulted the precarious phoenix seal at the end of the purgatory.
The overwhelming demonic power and the roars of the primordial beasts from the ancient times turned the faces of the hundred thousand immortal generals guarding outside Tranquil Mountain pale as they gripped their halberds.The legendary Primordial Fierce Beasts of ancient times—each capable of contending with gods, let alone mere Immortal Generals like them.
Yet not a single one of these hundred thousand Immortal Generals retreated, for standing before them was an immortal robed in white.
That immortal, with a figure as clear and resolute as the heavens, stood firm and tall, blocking the path of the Nine Nether Purgatory that threatened to plunge the Three Realms into chaos.
Suddenly, he moved. The ancient sword beside him flew into his hand, accompanying him as he advanced.
"All Immortal Generals, heed my command!"
The clear, resonant voice of the white-robed immortal echoed across Tranquil Mountain.
"Here!"
The hundred thousand Immortal Generals replied in unison. Within the Nine Nether Purgatory, Qing Li's smile faltered at the corner of her lips.
"If I do not fall, all generals shall guard this mountain and not advance recklessly a single step!"
"If I fall in battle, all generals shall guard the Purgatory and not retreat an inch!"
Outside Tranquil Mountain, there was a moment of silence. Then, the hundred thousand Immortal Generals knelt on one knee.
"Yes, Divine Lord! Even if only one general remains, we shall not retreat half an inch!"
The pledge of obedience, accompanied by the oath of halberds pointed toward the sky, was a blood vow from the hundred thousand Immortal Generals that even caused the sky-obscuring Demonic Qi within the Nine Nether Purgatory to falter momentarily.
Yuan Qi's steps toward the Nine Nether Purgatory paused.
"The peace of the Three Realms is entrusted to you all."
As these words fell, Yuan Qi leaped forward to the gates of the Purgatory. The Primordial Spirit Sword in his hand shot toward the prison doors, piercing directly into the seal. Since ancient times, Primordial Chaos Power could penetrate any seal or force.
Qing Li, who had been leading the fierce beasts to attack the seal, was suddenly struck by a beam of Divine Light. Startled, she swept it away with a palm strike.
The Primordial Spirit Sword missed its strike and hovered three meters away from Qing Li. A faint, youthful divine spirit materialized from the sword—the Primordial Spirit itself.
"Are you Yuan Qi's sword?" Qing Li spoke, gazing at the Primordial Spirit Sword, a smirk curling at her lips. "What, instead of fleeing with your master, you dare enter the Purgatory to provoke this venerable one?"
"The Divine Lord challenges you to battle. If you have the courage, follow my sword's intent out of the seal and face my master in combat," the Primordial Spirit replied coldly.
A flicker of disdain appeared in Qing Li's eyes. "Why should I fight him now? Soon, my Demon Tribe army will tear through the Purgatory. By then, even if he is the son of Shang Gu, this venerable one will still slay him!"
"As you wish. My master says..." the Primordial Spirit spoke, turning away indifferently, "this is the only chance to slay the son of Shang Gu and Bai Jue before the hundred thousand Immortal Generals. If you want it, come out and accept the challenge. Otherwise, my master will leave immediately. Across heaven and earth, if he does not wish to see you, what can you do to my Divine Lord?"
After speaking, the Primordial Spirit turned and flew out of the Purgatory. Qing Li clenched her hands tightly within her sleeves. The humiliation of being publicly punished by Shang Gu before all the immortals and demons of the realm and imprisoned in the Nine Nether Purgatory thousands of years ago in Rakshasa Land surged in her heart. As the Primordial Spirit Sword flew out of the Purgatory gates, she connected with its sword intent and leaped out of the Nine Nether Purgatory!
"Very well! This venerable one shall battle the son of Shang Gu!"
A wild voice echoed from within the Purgatory. Watching the green shadow brimming with Demonic Qi following the Primordial Spirit Sword, Yuan Qi's expression remained cold and stern.
The green shadow landed several steps away from him, revealing a face both heroic and familiar.
The owner of this face had once shared wine and laughter with the Celestial Emperor over a thousand years ago, on the day of Feng Yin's birth at Wutong Phoenix Island.
This was beyond reason, yet within expectation.
The Primordial Spirit Sword returned to Yuan Qi's hand. Gazing at the eerie, cold smile on that heroic face, he spoke slowly.
"You truly did not die. It was you who killed Lan Feng a thousand years ago in the Hall of Imperial Cosmos of the Heavenly Palace."
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