Chapter Fifty
The reprimanded Eagle Clan princess slowly lifted her eyelids, her smile disarmingly sincere.
"After all, it's His Majesty Hua Mo's birthday celebration. As neighbors, my father sent me to offer birthday wishes to His Majesty. Coincidentally, I happened to arrive during the princess's engagement ceremony, so this cup of wine is even more necessary to drink."
So this was the daughter of King Yan Qiu, the princess of the Eagle Clan. Her resolute and arrogant demeanor truly inherited her father's temperament. The Eagle Clan had little interaction with the Immortal Realm, preferring to act alone and live in seclusion. Apart from the Eagle King and a few Elders, only the Peacock Clan—their long-time rivals—knew the identities and names of the younger generation.
"The Eagle King's congratulations are something I cannot accept!" Hua Mo snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve. "Considering you escorted the Lady of Great Marsh Mountain here today, I won't make things difficult for you. Leave the island at once."
The Immortals weren't surprised by the Peacock King's harsh attitude toward the Eagle Clan princess. Over a hundred years ago, during a great battle between the two clans, the Peacock King was defeated by the Eagle King, severely damaging his Inner Core and Immortal Foundation. To this day, the Peacock King still hadn't recovered and could hardly use his Immortal Power. It seemed the enmity between the two clans ran deep.
"Your Majesty, all who come are guests. The Peacock Clan has always been benevolent and righteous—how can there be any reason to drive away a guest? I've traveled thousands of miles here. Even if you won't offer me a cup of wine, you should at least take a look at my father's birthday gift." Yan Shuang remained completely unperturbed by the Peacock King's attitude, still smiling cheerfully.
"Hmph, I have no fortune to enjoy it." Hua Mo waved his hand. "See the guest out."
Peacock Clan guards nearby stepped forward with halberds, ready to expel Yan Shuang. The Immortals present found it inappropriate to intervene, but just then, a clear voice rang out.
"Your Majesty!" Ayin, who had been hidden behind Gu Jin, stepped forward and moved in front of Yan Shuang, subtly shielding her. She smiled and said, "Since the Eagle King sent Yan Shuang to deliver birthday gifts, he must intend to reconcile with your clan. The Hundred Birds Island and the Eagle Clan have been in conflict for centuries, with heavy casualties on both sides. Now that the fighting has ceased, why not accept the Eagle King's goodwill, Your Majesty? Rebuilding friendly relations between the two clans would bring greater peace and stability to our Immortal Realm."
Ayin's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, appearing like a young girl, yet her words carried remarkable weight. Moreover, she was the youngest disciple of Dong Hua Shang Shen, technically of the same generation as the Peacock King, making her impossible to disregard.
Many old Immortal Lords stroked their beards and nodded in agreement. Even Lan Feng's expression showed approval.
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow, quite surprised. This girl was usually lazy and couldn't be bothered with matters of Immortal Tribe harmony. Why was she getting involved now?
"Your Majesty, the Eagle King's willingness to reconcile is a joyous matter for our Immortal Realm. Today is your grand birthday celebration—why not take advantage of this auspicious day to accept the Eagle King's gifts and settle the disputes between your clans? What do you think?"
Unlike other Immortal Lords, Lan Feng was the acting ruler of the Heavenly Palace. His opinion represented the entire Heavenly Palace's stance. Moreover, he was soon to become Hua Mo's son-in-law, so the Peacock King could not possibly refuse Lan Feng's face.
Hua Mo's expression softened slightly as he said solemnly, "Yan Shuang, since Lanfeng Supreme Lord and Lady Ayin have spoken on your behalf, I will accept your congratulations. As long as your Eagle Clan refrains from causing further trouble, our two clans, living as neighbors, will naturally coexist peacefully in the future."Seeing Hua Mo's arrogant expression and Hua Shu's look of disdain, Yan Shuang tightened her hand hidden in her sleeve. Still wearing a smile at the corner of her mouth, she took out a black box from her sleeve and said, "Your Majesty Hua Mo, this is the Jade Blood Ganoderma that my Eagle Clan found in the secret realm of the North Sea. It is most effective for treating damaged Inner Cores. My father specifically asked me to deliver it, not only to offer birthday congratulations to Your Majesty but also as a small gesture of apology for past events."
Jade Blood Ganoderma? This treasure grows in the depths of the North Sea and is a miraculous medicine for treating internal injuries. However, it is said to be guarded by formation arrays and monsters, making it extremely difficult to obtain. With the Jade Blood Ganoderma, perhaps the Peacock King's chronic illness could truly be cured. For the Eagle King to present such a treasure, it indeed showed a sincere intention to mend relations.
Everyone turned to look at the Peacock King, only to see no discernible emotion on Hua Mo's face. He waved his hand toward Yan Shuang and said, "The Eagle King is thoughtful. Attendants, receive the birthday gift. Since the princess has come on behalf of her father, please enter the hall and share a cup of birthday wine."
Seeing that the Peacock King had accepted the birthday gift, the Immortal Lords outside the hall breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of the centuries-long conflict between the two clans, such a day of reconciliation was truly not easy to come by. Just as everyone was about to follow Hua Mo back into the hall to resume the banquet, Yan Shuang's voice, calm and unhurried, rang out once more.
"Your Majesty, today, aside from offering birthday congratulations, I have another matter I wish to discuss on behalf of my father with Your Majesty and Lanfeng Supreme Lord."
Hua Mo, who had already turned to enter the hall, paused upon hearing this. He turned back, frowning, and said, "What else do you have? Our two clans have already agreed to a ten-year truce. Your father was severely wounded by my son. Go back and tell Yan Qiu that my Hundred Birds Island is not the kind to take advantage of others' misfortune. We will not launch any military offenses during these ten years, so he can rest assured. Why trouble Lanfeng Supreme Lord with this matter?"
Anyone could hear the smugness and disdain for the Eagle Clan in the Peacock King's words. Yan Shuang narrowed her eyes, handed the Jade Blood Ganoderma to a nearby Peacock Clan guard, stepped forward with a slight bow, and spoke solemnly to Hua Mo, "Your Majesty misunderstands. The ten-year truce was personally agreed upon by my father, and my clan will not break it either. The matter I wish to discuss with Your Majesty and Lanfeng Supreme Lord is something else."
"Princess Yan Shuang, what matter does the Eagle King need me to discuss?" Lanfeng asked curiously.
Hua Mo's heart skipped a beat. The Eagle Clan had always acted independently and never relied on the Heavenly Palace for arbitration. Surely they wouldn't bring up that matter now? Seeing the slight curl at the corner of Yan Shuang's mouth, Hua Mo felt uneasy and was about to speak to cut her off, but he was a step too late.
"Boundless Cave." Yan Shuang clearly uttered three words, then cupped her hands toward Lanfeng and said, "Lanfeng Supreme Lord, aside from offering birthday congratulations to His Majesty Hua Mo, I have come to Hundred Birds Island for another reason. I wish to request a favor from you, the Sect Leaders of various factions, and His Majesty Hua Mo on behalf of my Eagle Clan."
Seeing Yan Shuang's solemn expression, Lanfeng said, "Princess Yan Shuang, what matter are you referring to? Please explain clearly."Yan Shuang nodded, straightened her expression, and said, "High Lord Lanfeng, esteemed Sect Leaders, my Eagle Clan has long resided in the depths of the North Sea, with little interaction with the Heavenly Palace or other sects. Therefore, you may not know that for the past century, our clan has experienced the disappearance of highly skilled members with profound spiritual power. My father once led our people in a widespread search but found no clues whatsoever. It wasn't until several years ago, when the Second Elder vanished, that my father detected traces of spiritual power left by the Second Elder outside the Boundless Cave. However, the Boundless Cave lies within the territory of the Peacock Clan. To show respect, my father personally visited Hundred Birds Island to request permission from His Majesty Hua Mo to investigate the cave. But..." Yan Shuang’s face showed a perfectly measured hint of embarrassment, as if she were glossing over something. "My father has always been straightforward and unyielding, not one for tactful words. Back then, he likely offended His Majesty Hua Mo. The Emperor refused to allow the Eagle Clan to enter the cave for investigation and instead proposed a battle pact, stating that only if our clan could defeat Hundred Birds Island would we be permitted to investigate. This battle has now dragged on for over a century."
Yan Shuang scratched her head and offered Hua Mo and the assembled lords an apologetic and helpless smile. "In recent years, my father has grown increasingly worried about our missing clansmen. With the Second Elder still missing—neither alive nor dead—my father grew desperate. That’s why he mustered the full strength of our clan to try and win the battle pact. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side. Despite a century of dedicated cultivation, my father still lost to Princess Hua Shu’s Sky-Shielding Umbrella. I suppose it was fate—it seems our Eagle Clan will never be able to win the battle pact established with His Majesty Hua Mo a century ago."
Yan Shuang paused, let out a heavy sigh, and clasped her hands respectfully toward Hua Mo once more. "Your Majesty, my father is now severely injured and bedridden. Reflecting on the past, he realizes how unwise it was to let momentary anger drive him into making that battle pact with you. That is why he sent me here to present you with a birthday gift. Prolonged conflict between our two clans harms the harmony of the Immortal Realm. I implore you, for the sake of the friendship between our clans and the peace of the Immortal Realm, to set aside past grievances and allow me to lead our clansmen into the Boundless Cave to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of the Second Elder."
As Yan Shuang’s voice faded, silence fell outside the hall.
The assembled Immortal Lords stared at the Eagle Clan princess, who remained slightly bowed in respect, for a long moment before fully processing her words. Then, they exchanged glances and began murmuring among themselves.
What did the Eagle Clan princess mean? Weren’t the rumors that the Eagle Clan had been provoking the Peacock Clan for a century, repeatedly engaging in battles, all about seizing the Peacock Clan’s Paradise Grotto in the North Sea? What was this about missing Eagle Clan members? What was the story with the Boundless Cave? And what was this battle pact between the two clans?
The Immortal Lords’ gazes shifted between the Peacock King and Hua Shu, whose faces were flushed with alternating shades of anger and embarrassment. Gradually, they began to grasp the truth.
The Eagle Clan had little interaction with other clans in the Immortal Realm, living in seclusion and almost entirely isolated from the outside world. How had those rumors about them fighting for territory year after year spread? It didn’t take much thought to figure it out.
The Peacock Clan’s methods were rather underhanded. What should have been an openly established battle pact had been twisted into malicious rumors of one clan bullying another.
Among those whose expressions darkened outside the hall, aside from the Peacock King and his daughter, were Lan Feng and Gu Jin. One was acting as the steward of the Heavenly Palace but had unwittingly sided with the Peacock Clan without fully understanding the conflict between the two clans, leaving the Eagle Clan scorned by the other immortals. The other had misjudged someone’s character, lending out a treasure passed down by his master to be used as a weapon, ultimately rendering the Eagle Clan’s century-long struggle futile.When Hua Shu heard Yan Shuang speak up, she knew things were about to go wrong. Now, seeing the astonished gazes of the assembled Immortal Lords fall upon her, mixed with inexplicable disdain, she instantly flared up. She had always valued the reputation of Hundred Birds Island highly. Immediately stepping forward, she declared loudly, "Yan Shuang, back when your father entered the island, he repeatedly claimed that your clansmen had gone missing in the Boundless Cave. How were we to know that this so-called disappearance wasn’t just an excuse fabricated out of thin air? The Eagle Clan and the Peacock Clan have long held grudges against each other. Of course, my father wouldn’t allow you to enter the cave for investigation so casually. You lost the battle pact, and according to the agreement, you were not permitted to enter the cave. Now, you’ve even brought in the Heavenly Palace and the leaders of various sects. What exactly are your intentions?"
"Shu'er!" Lan Feng's voice turned stern as he grasped Hua Shu's hand, shaking his head at her with a trace of disappointment in his eyes.
Hua Shu was suddenly startled, her face paling slightly. She had always presented herself as gentle and refined in Lan Feng's presence. The words she had just spoken in a fit of anger must have annoyed him.
Lan Feng swept his gaze over the faces of the lords outside the hall, noticing that most of them looked down upon Hundred Birds Island. He sighed inwardly.
Stepping forward, he looked at Yan Shuang and said solemnly, "Princess Yan Shuang, this matter concerns the lives of your clansmen. Lan Feng believes that His Majesty Yan Qiu would never make baseless claims." Lan Feng then turned to Hua Mo. "Your Majesty, the Eagle Clan is also a faction of the Immortal Sect. The disappearance of their clansmen is a grave matter, and no clue should be overlooked. I request that Your Majesty open the Boundless Cave. Tomorrow, this lord will enter the cave with the Eagle Clan to investigate. Your Majesty need not worry—with this lord present, no trouble will arise within the cave."
Lan Feng's voice was deep and resolute, leaving no room for doubt. Behind him, the four chief enforcers of the Heavenly Palace stood silently, all looking toward the Peacock King as if issuing a silent warning.
The authority and decrees of the Heavenly Palace were ultimately not something a mere clan king could defy.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Yan Shuang's eyes, and she felt genuine admiration for Lan Feng. As the future son-in-law of Hundred Birds Island, this Heavenly Palace ruler, upon learning the truth of the matter, had not sided with the Peacock Clan. Instead, he had acted with fairness and integrity, demonstrating his virtuous and impartial nature.
Hua Mo's expression turned cold, his hands clenched tightly behind his back, revealing an unnatural bluish-purple aura. After a long silence, he finally turned to Yan Shuang and said, "Our clan and the Eagle Clan have long held deep-seated grievances. It is only natural that I was unwilling to allow the Eagle Clan to investigate within our island's territory, which is why I established the century-long battle pact. However, since the Eagle King regrets it and is willing to annul the pact, and High Lord Lan Feng has interceded on your behalf, I will make an exception and permit you to enter the Boundless Cave for investigation. But this is the only time. After this, your Eagle Clan will still not be allowed to set foot on any of our Peacock Clan's territories in the North Sea."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity!" Yan Shuang's eyes curved slightly as she ignored Hua Mo's harsh words, appearing entirely at ease. Her actions today were solely to reveal the true reason behind the Eagle Clan's century-long conflict. Now that her goal had been achieved, and with Lan Feng's help, she could enter the Boundless Cave for investigation—fulfilling the long-held aspiration of the Eagle Clan over the past century—how could she care about the empty threats of Hua Mo and his daughter?
"The birthday gifts have been delivered, and Princess Yan Shuang's purpose of entering the Boundless Cave has been accomplished. My birthday banquet will not keep you any longer." Hua Mo swept a cold glance at Yan Shuang, flicked his sleeve, and turned to walk back into the hall.
"Your Majesty Hua Mo."The moment Hua Mo stepped into the hall, a cool voice suddenly rang out. Gu Jin, who had been watching the entire affair with cold detachment, emerged from among the gathered immortals and walked to the center of the hall, calling out to the Peacock King.
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