Chapter Eight
Within the clearing enclosed by the rockery, Ling Juan heard Bi Yun's complaint and quickly grasped her hand, whispering in consolation: "What are you thinking? My heart only holds you. Once Father returns to the Bodhi Cave, I will beg him to propose marriage at South Mountain."
The High Lord of South Mountain's Emerald Sword was on good terms with the Four Direction Emperors and could not be easily offended. He had met Bi Yun first, and now it seemed he would have to give up on Phoenix Tree Island. Ah, if only he had known the Little Phoenix Lord would undergo Nirvana Rebirth so early, he would not have privately pledged his life to Bi Yun beforehand.
Seeing that Ling Juan's words sounded pleasant but his expression held a trace of reluctance, Bi Yun casually remarked: "Ling Juan, the Little Phoenix Lord is of noble status. Besides the Little Divine Lord of Clear Pond Palace, which Immortal Lord in the Three Realms could be worthy of her? Don't entertain foolish thoughts; remember your own standing! If I marry you, must I settle for mere compromise?"
Bi Yun was proud and arrogant by nature, exceptionally beautiful, and usually sought after by many lords. In a fit of pique, her words carried a haughty and unpleasant tone.
What men could least bear was their beloved comparing them to other men, especially a mere infant who appeared only once every few centuries. Ling Juan's face immediately darkened, and he too spoke without restraint: "You mean that Yuan Qi from Clear Pond Palace? Despite his grand reputation, his life doesn't seem all that comfortable!"
At these words, the area inside and outside the rockery fell silent. Gu Jin, finding the conflict inadvertently directed at himself, was genuinely surprised. Frowning, he seriously examined the furious Ling Juan not far away for the first time.
"Ling Juan!" Bi Yun's expression showed slight panic as she glanced around and whispered: "How can you speak recklessly of that Divine Lord?"
Seeing Bi Yun's subdued temper, Ling Juan grew even more smug. "Separated by the Two Realms, he enjoys reverence in the Ancient Realm—how could he possibly know what I've said? Bi Yun, you're too cautious. He merely had the fortune of a good birth, placing him above us from the start. If he were an ordinary Immortal Lord, how could he compare to me? Besides, even with that fortunate birth, what good did it do him? His father died early, his mother abandoned him..."
"Enough!"
A young, cold, and stern voice abruptly rang out from beyond the path, interrupting their conversation, which they had believed to be private.
Both Ling Juan and Bi Yun were startled and quickly turned. Upon seeing Gu Jin standing under the moonlight, they were momentarily stunned.
This Immortal Lord was rather plump. Most immortals were handsome—where did this one, who paid no heed to appearance, come from? Likely a low-ranking disciple from some mountain sect. Ling Juan relaxed inwardly, thinking that even if this plump Immortal Lord repeated his words, others might not believe him.
"Who are you? Why are you eavesdropping here?" Ling Juan took the initiative, pulling the flustered Bi Yun aside as he shouted at Gu Jin.
"If your words were honorable, would you fear being overheard? This is Phoenix Tree Island, not your Bodhi Cave. What right do you have to lecture me?" Gu Jin stepped out from the path, his face filled with anger. "True God Bai Jue sacrificed himself for the Three Realms a century ago—how dare you speak of him so!"
Second-generation nobles often had the capital for arrogance and audacity. How could Ling Juan be intimidated by an unknown plump Immortal Lord? His expression hardened as he snorted: "Don't talk nonsense. When did I speak disrespectfully of True God Bai Jue? I merely dislike that pretentious Little Divine Lord from Clear Pond Palace."
"Oh? Why? Has he offended you?" Gu Jin walked up to the two, staring coldly at him.Gu Jin lived a rather lofty existence, naturally unaware that some people need not do anything at all—simply standing there is enough to draw disdainful glances. Take him, for instance, and Feng Yin, who was about to hatch. In this regard, the two of them were truly a match made in heaven. In fact, they should have holed up in their own grotto abodes playing house from the moment they were born. Coming out to stir up resentment was hardly proper, but unfortunately, neither he nor Feng Yin had the slightest self-awareness.
Ling Juan felt unnerved under Gu Jin’s gaze and forced herself to steady her nerves, snorting, “I’m only speaking the truth. I heard that at the birthday banquet of the old High Lord Dong Hua over a hundred years ago, that Little Divine Lord was also present. Though barely a century old, he made all the immortals bow before him—utterly arrogant. He’s so young, merely relying on the influence of two Divine Lords to throw his weight around. If he hadn’t been born in Clear Pond Palace, how could he have enjoyed such glory?”
In his youthful ignorance, Gu Jin had once visited Great Marsh Mountain with Shang Gu. Though not particularly humble, he had never done anything as outrageous as making a group of elderly Immortal Lords bow before him. Ling Juan’s words were nothing but hearsay and slander—when there’s a will to condemn, excuses are never lacking. Yet he could not refute her. Those who attended the Great Marsh Mountain birthday banquet back then were all elders of the Immortal Tribe. If he were to argue right and wrong, his identity would inevitably come under suspicion. When he descended to the Mortal Realm, he had promised Tian Qi that he would never reveal his identity before returning to the Ancient Realm.
Seeing Gu Jin fall silent, Ling Juan grew even more arrogant, sneering, “Which grotto abode are you from? The Little Divine Lord of Clear Pond Palace may be noble and extraordinary, but he rarely appears in the Ancient Realm—once every tens of thousands of years at most. You’re trying so hard to flatter him, aren’t you afraid you won’t live that long? Besides…” Ling Juan walked up to Gu Jin, glanced at him disdainfully, and waved the folding fan in her hand. “What’s the point of clinging to someone abandoned by heaven and earth as parents?”
As soon as these words were spoken, deathly silence fell inside and outside the rockery.
Bi Yun had long been frightened pale by the tension between the two, and now she was even more alarmed. She tugged at Ling Juan’s sleeve and scolded, “Ling Juan, what nonsense are you spouting!”
There were no real secrets within the Three Realms. Bi Yun had heard some stories from over a hundred years ago. When the Little Divine Lord of Clear Pond Palace was born, chaos ensued. A wedding known throughout the world took place in the Vault of Heaven, during which High God Gu Jun died at the hands of True God Bai Jue. From then on, the unawakened Ancient True God and True God Bai Jue became sworn enemies, and even the Little Divine Lord’s name was derived from the character for “abandoned.” But knowing was one thing—unless they were tired of living, which immortal or demon in the Three Realms would dare mention this? Especially after the truth came to light that True God Bai Jue had single-handedly shouldered the Chaos Tribulation and sacrificed himself for the world.
Though Bi Yun had her petty flaws, she was not one to confuse right and wrong. The absurd words Ling Juan had blurted out made even her look down on her. She cautiously glanced at the plump Immortal Lord opposite, whose expression was rather unusual, her heart pounding like a drum. If this Immortal Lord spread Ling Juan’s words, even if she herself had said nothing, it would implicate the Southern Mountain Abode and draw the scorn of the Three Realms.
Gu Jin had lived for over a hundred years, experienced some things, and stumbled his way to adulthood, developing a rather carefree and unrestrained temperament. But deep in his heart, he carried two unresolved knots that no one in the world, aside from Tian Qi, dared to mention lightly—perhaps not even Feng Ran.
Two things: the name Shang Gu had given him at birth, and the death of his father, Bai Jue.Even if a hundred years later Yuan Qi learned all the past and truth, and could understand everything that had happened, what then? Forgiveness does not mean there was no harm or regret. After all, he had been abandoned by his parents, and perhaps for the rest of his life, he would never have the chance to call that person "Father God."
The wound Gu Jin had hidden in his heart for a hundred years was abruptly torn open without warning, raw and bleeding. His lips tightened slightly, his lowered hands clenched and trembled, and for a moment, he even forgot to defend himself.
"Although True God Bai Jue sacrificed himself for the world, the Ancient True God still remains. High Lord Ling Juan, since you are so concerned about the origin of the Little Divine Lord of Clear Pond Palace's name, why not take a trip to the Path of Inquiry and personally seek clarity from the Primordial Deity? Ask her whether her son was truly abandoned by heaven, earth, and his parents, and whether he is unworthy of the reverence of all immortals?"
A faint, ethereal female voice suddenly rang out, misty and indistinct, yet every word was sharp and left no room for Ling Juan's pride.
All three turned their heads at once, catching sight of someone leaning against the rockery with arms crossed. In the moonlight, only the edge of a fiery red robe was visible.
The Path of Inquiry was a stone road left behind a hundred years ago when the Ancient True God sealed the gates of the Ancient Realm at the Immortal-Demon boundary. This path was towering and unreachable, stretching straight into the clouds, leading to the gates of the Ancient Realm high in the Ninth Heaven.
It was said that by striking the stone drum at the end of this path, grievances and injustices in the mortal realm could be directly conveyed to the Ancient Realm, and even the True Gods of the Ancient Realm could be summoned to uphold justice. However, in the century since this path appeared, not a single immortal or demon had ever walked it. The reason was simple: those who traversed this path would inevitably be struck by the Nine Heavens' Thunder. Few in the world could withstand it, and even if one managed to survive, their Divine Power would be completely dissipated. Unless driven by a grievance of world-shaking magnitude, who would be so foolish as to tread this path of certain doom?
Even if Ling Juan had a hundred times his current courage, he would never dare to insolently question the Ancient True God. Who didn't know that the Celestial Emperor's protective nature was identical to that of the Primordial Deity?
Struck by this rebuke and unable to discern who was hiding behind the rockery, Ling Juan finally sobered up. Cold sweat broke out on his back, and he opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.
"What? Too scared? Just now you were brazenly slandering the Little Divine Lord of Clear Pond Palace, but now that I suggest you brave the Path of Inquiry and personally ask the Primordial Deity, you don't dare! Since when has Bodhi Grotto only produced disciples who pay lip service like you?" The elusive voice came through coldly, sounding young yet carrying a hint of sharpness and authority.
Only a few steps away from the ancient phoenix tree, Feng Yin had just flown back from the center of the lake and happened to hear Ling Juan's malicious words. Seeing the little fat lord unable to utter a single retort, she decided to shape-shift and speak up to help.
Yuan Qi of Clear Pond Palace had been raised by her Master Sovereign, making him almost like an older brother to her. Naturally, she couldn't stand by and let others slander him behind his back. Although Feng Yin had never left Phoenix Tree Island, she had grown up by Feng Ran's side and had perfectly imitated her tone. When reprimanding others, she was stern and precise, and with just one sentence, she had thoroughly intimidated Ling Juan.
Humiliated and enraged, Ling Juan dared not act recklessly again and could only resort to invoking his father's name. "Who are you, exactly? How dare you insult the Bodhi Mountain sect!"
"Why wouldn't I dare? Just repeat the words you spoke earlier in front of the Ancestor. If he doesn't punish you for your insolence, I will kneel before you tomorrow after the banquet, offer you tea in front of all the immortals of Phoenix Tree Island, and call you 'Ancestor'! The question is, do you dare to make this bet with me?"
Such arrogance, so certain that Ling Juan was destined to be cannon fodder tomorrow—yet it was nothing but the plain truth!Gu Jin blinked, looking at Ling Juan trembling with anger, and suddenly felt a wave of relief. He really was regressing, getting so flustered by just a few words from Ling Juan. In this world, who could possibly please everyone? Even his father and mother deities could hardly achieve such a thing.
To think he had been saved by a young girl—Gu Jin grew curious about the female immortal lord behind the rockery. With such a temperament that couldn’t bear to suffer losses, he wondered which grotto abode had raised her?
“You!” Ling Juan, backed into a corner with no way out, his face turning purple with rage, flicked his sleeve and was about to step forward to drag the person behind the rockery out, but was hastily pulled back by Bi Yun.
Bi Yun calmed Ling Juan down, then bowed toward the hidden fiery-red figure and cautiously probed, “I am Bi Yun from South Mountain. May I ask if you are Her Highness Hua Shu of Hundred Birds Island?”
Hearing Bi Yun’s guess, Ling Juan’s expression changed, and his face flushed bright red. How had he not realized that among the female immortal lords on Phoenix Tree Island, only Princess Hua Shu would dare to question him so boldly. Hua Shu’s name was renowned throughout the Immortal Realm, and he had long admired her, but he never imagined their first meeting would be such a confrontational one. Ling Juan secretly regretted it, the anger in his eyes fading, replaced only by embarrassment.
Was it really Hua Shu? Even though Little Fatty Gu never left Great Marsh Mountain, he knew of the existence of Hua Shu, the princess of Peacock Island, who had become famous in the Immortal Realm over the past century. He looked up toward the rockery but couldn’t catch a glimpse of the female immortal lord’s appearance, feeling a faint sense of regret in his heart.
Hidden behind the rockery, Feng Yin raised an eyebrow. She had always been one to act under her own name and never stooped to impersonating others or causing trouble for them. She snorted and was about to speak…
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