An angry voice echoed from the basement.

After waking up and discovering she was trapped here, Long Xiruo quickly realized her situation. No matter how much she cursed, she couldn’t get Kui Qianyi to open the basement door.

“Lord Long, there’s some medicine I made for you on the table… Take this time to rest well.”

“Kui Qianyi, this was your idea?!”

“Lord Long, let’s not talk about it… I was already prepared to be caught and boiled into soup by you—that’s the desperation it took for me to lock you in here… Don’t waste your energy, just rest. I’m leaving now.”

“Kui Qianyi!!!!”

But this time, there was no response. Long Xiruo looked around the basement—which was furnished more like a suite, complete with all amenities.

It was so nicely set up that she felt an urge to smash everything… but destroying things now wouldn’t help.

Long Xiruo soon calmed down. She knew someone was watching her from the shadows.

“Girl, I’m warning you—don’t you dare… You hear me?! Su Zijun, are you listening?! Su Zijun!!! Zijun!!!”

Silence… The only thing left was the still-warm bowl of medicinal soup on the table. Long Xiruo slumped against the door in frustration.

…

Xiao Shengmo was brought before Su Zijun… The City Lord of Fengdu had lived a long time and held a high position in the demon world. He was well-informed about matters concerning Xuanyuan Palace.

“I heard the 70th generation of Heavenly Heart didn’t actually die, and you saved him?”

Xiao Shengmo looked at Su Zijun on the throne. Due to her petite size, the large chair made her seem even smaller… but this was still the princess of the Xuanyuan royal family.

In the Divine Land, the Dragon King was at the top of all things… and beneath the Dragon King came the Xuanyuan royal family. Technically, the Daoists and Demons were only the third tier of the Divine Land’s extraordinary power system.

“Greetings to Princess Xuanyuan.” Xiao Shengmo said calmly, “The last time I saw Your Highness was your 700th birthday. A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye, and Your Highness is as radiant as ever.”

“I heard the 70th generation of Heavenly Heart isn’t dead?” Su Zijun repeated herself expressionlessly, this time adding, “Stop hiding him. I have some questions for him.”

After a pause, Xiao Shengmo reluctantly took out the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts, and from it, summoned the soul of the 70th generation of Heavenly Heart.

A misty gray aura emerged from the tower in Xiao Shengmo’s hand.

Soon, a vague figure appeared before them… it looked insubstantial, like it might fade at any moment.

“Kui Qianyi, Gui Ying, both of you, leave for now.” Su Zijun crossed her legs under the table. “City Lord Xiao, I’d also like you to wait outside. I want to speak with the 70th generation alone.”

Xiao Shengmo said, “Your Highness, Mr. Heavenly Heart’s soul is extremely weak. It needs the ghost energy from the tower at all times to stay stable…”

“I’ll call you when he’s close to fading,” Su Zijun said coldly. “What, you think I can’t tell if he’s about to vanish?”

The misty soul—70th generation of Heavenly Heart—shook his head slowly. “City Lord Xiao, please wait outside.”

Xiao Shengmo had no choice but to comply and left with Kui Qianyi and Gui Ying.

Once they were gone, Su Zijun stared at the ghostly figure. “Everyone, including myself, believed you were destroyed—body and soul—during the Dragon Fiend disaster. Those saved because of you were so grateful, they nearly made you a god… And yet you’ve been hiding for decades. You people from the Plain-Clothed Dao are really something. Every one of your disciples manages to mess up the Divine Land. You should change your name to the ‘Troublemaker Sect.’”

“Even after a hundred years, the Princess still doesn’t hold back,” Heavenly Heart replied with a wry smile.

“Last time, Qingxiaozi should’ve been executed for his crimes, but you pleaded for him. In the end, Xuanyuan Palace merely exiled him,” Su Zijun said with a sneer. “Now it’s your disciple again… What excuse do you have this time?”

“None,” he said bitterly.

The Divine Land’s extraordinary factions were complex. The Daoists, Demons, and the True Dragon formed a triad. Daoists and Demons had their own sects and tribes. For a long time, humanity was the weakest. It wasn’t until the end of the spiritual age that humans rose again—supported by talents and the protection of Xuanyuan Palace.

Xuanyuan Palace had always protected humanity—but not any specific dynasty.

As for the Management Bureau, it was a special organization created by the modern state to deal with supernatural forces—truly human-controlled.

Of the three factions—Xuanyuan Palace, Daoists, and Demons—the Xuanyuan Palace was the strongest. When Qingxiaozi summoned the Dragon Fiend, it devastated both sides and caused countless civilian deaths.

The Daoists and Demons spared Qingxiaozi only because of the 70th generation’s reputation. Xuanyuan Palace did so in recognition of his sacrifice to save the people.

“I’m glad you know,” Su Zijun said coldly. “Now, your disciple has gone completely mad and slaughtered over a million people to forge some evil artifact… This sin is unforgivable, even if you sacrifice yourself again. Do you understand?”

“What are you saying?” the 70th generation asked, as if he already suspected.

“The Plain-Clothed Dao has caused enough trouble,” Su Zijun said coldly. “After this is over, your sect’s lineage ends. That includes Qingxiaozi—I’ll have his cultivation stripped as well.”

The 70th generation of Heavenly Heart seemed to weaken visibly, falling silent.

Leaning back, Su Zijun said, “Don’t tell me your sect’s destiny was to protect the Divine Land from foreign invaders. The one you’ve been guarding against probably has weeds growing over their grave by now. There will be no more Penglai. Your so-called destiny is over—you understand that, right?”

He sighed deeply and nodded in silence.

Su Zijun stood up. “You can say I’m overbearing, but 70th generation of Heavenly Heart, you should know exactly what I am… Push me too far, and no one’s walking away unscathed. I don’t want to go that far either. The Xuanyuan Godslayer is the blade of the people… don’t make me draw it for real. You should know—in this era of extraordinary powers, few can withstand even a single strike from it. And don’t count on the True Dragon to save the entire supernatural world. The True Dragon once only guarded the Divine Land—it’s only because it’s too idle now that it bothers to intervene at all! Right now, the will of the Divine Land itself sides with the humans. Once the ‘Xuanyuan Godslayer’ is drawn in accordance with the people’s will, the Divine Land’s Dragon Vein will naturally step back!”

“All…” The 70th generation of Heavenly Heart knelt deeply. “Shall be left to the princess’s judgment.”

“Good. You may return.” Su Zijun waved her hand.

…

After leaving Su Zijun’s room, the 70th generation of Heavenly Heart soon found Xiao Shengmo—who was sitting cross-legged in a room, absorbing the ghost energy from the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts.

“Mr. Heavenly Heart, are you alright?” Xiao Shengmo rose quickly to greet him. “That royal princess didn’t make things difficult for you, did she?”

The 70th generation of Heavenly Heart shook his head. “There’s no ‘making it difficult’ or not. The Xuanyuan Palace’s mission hasn’t changed since its founding… We’re all just doing what we each believe is right.”

“Then things must not look good,” Xiao Shengmo frowned.

With a solemn expression, the 70th generation of Heavenly Heart said, “City Lord Xiao, thank you for saving my life back then… But now I have something to ask of you. I wonder if you’ll accept.”

Xiao Shengmo replied, “For decades, even though you remained inside the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts, your guidance helped me reform Fengdu City and ease the suffering of countless spirits. I can never repay that kindness. If there’s anything you need, just give the order.”

The 70th generation of Heavenly Heart stepped closer and whispered something.

Xiao Shengmo listened carefully, frowning—but he didn’t hesitate for long before nodding. “Rest assured, I’ll handle this.”

The old man sighed. “If it can’t be done, just give up. Doing your best is already precious.”

Xiao Shengmo didn’t respond.

The 70th generation of Heavenly Heart continued, “Then please return me to the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts. The person you’ve long asked me to search for… During our trip to Penglai, I may have found a clue. Let me try one more divination.”

“Truly?!” Xiao Shengmo’s face instantly lit up with excitement.

He shook his head. “That person you asked me to find… it’s like their fate is veiled, shrouded in mystery. I can only try my best.”

“No matter what happens, I still thank you from the bottom of my heart, sir!”

…

At the cave entrance, two young men arrived.

One had a severed wrist, a pale face, and a lifeless look. The other had a faint, ominous aura about him.

Gongsun Shiyu and Gongsun Zhishui.

As they neared the entrance, two black-clothed, bronze-masked guards rushed out of the cave.

When the guards saw it was Gongsun Shiyu and Gongsun Zhishui, they quickly lowered their guard. One of them cupped his fist and said, “So it’s Young Master Gongsun—you’ve returned. Looks like the mission entrusted to you by the Honored One is complete.”

Gongsun Shiyu replied coolly, “Where’s Lai Caisheng? Hiding inside?”

The two guards exchanged a quick, wary glance—something about Gongsun Shiyu seemed off.

But Gongsun Shiyu held a different status from them—he was more like a collaborator with their master.

“The Honored One is inside,” one guard replied. “Right now he’s fully focused on refining the Million Soul Orb—it’s a critical moment, and can’t be interrupted lightly.”

“Can’t be disturbed?” Gongsun Shiyu suddenly sneered. “Too bad. I’m here precisely to disturb him.”

A sinister aura erupted from his face. The two guards were stunned.

Suddenly, Gongsun Shiyu lunged forward. Although the two guards were skilled, they couldn’t react fast enough. He grabbed both their heads in an instant!

They screamed in agony as red and black mist erupted from Gongsun Shiyu, devouring them completely.

“One Daoist, one Demon… not bad spiritual energy,” he laughed maniacally. “Perfect for a snack.”

Moments later, the two corpses lay shriveled on the ground. Gongsun Zhishui looked on, frowning slightly, but said nothing.

Gongsun Shiyu strode into the cave.

As he entered, seven black-cloaked figures blocked his path—making his smile even more sinister.

The red-black light surged violently from his body.

But just then, a calm voice echoed from within the cave depths. “Stand down. Let him through.”

The seven black-cloaked guards hesitated only briefly before stepping aside.

Gongsun Shiyu chuckled and walked forward slowly under their watchful gaze.

…

Deep inside the cave, atop a giant altar, Lai Caisheng slowly opened his eyes—only to see Gongsun Shiyu standing before him.

Lai Caisheng gave him a calm, cold look. “So even a descendant of the Yellow Emperor’s bloodline like you couldn’t resist the corruption of the Evil Dragon.”

“Cut the crap.” Gongsun Shiyu sneered. “You handed me the Evil Dragon Pearl with ulterior motives. You wanted to use the Yellow Emperor’s power to suppress me and make my power yours. Bad move—you picked the wrong person.”

“Success or failure are just two outcomes,” Lai Caisheng said, standing slowly with a faint smile. “Knowing the result is more comforting than the unknown.”

“Hmph.” Gongsun Shiyu sneered again, grinning wickedly. “Enough talk. Since I’ve crawled back from hell, I’m collecting what I’m owed—with interest! You want to use the Million Soul Orb as a carrier for airborne spiritual energy? What a waste. Better let me eat it!”

As he spoke, Gongsun Shiyu’s arm shot out like lightning. Lai Caisheng didn’t even have time to react before his neck was gripped tightly.

Gongsun Shiyu grinned. “You’re supposed to be clever, always calculating—then tell me this: will I kill you, or won’t I?”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep