Chapter 299: Nine Fish Enters Tai Xuan Tian

In the Mortal Realm, the capital of the Songyun Dynasty.

Still unwilling to give up, Chi Jiuyu spent some time gathering information about the new emperor, Cheng Yu.

But sadly, he gained nothing.

Perhaps the words spoken by Xiao Fan when the old emperor was killed had been spread by survivors in the Xingyuan Garden.

The emperor was killed for eating people…

After that, when court ministers chose which prince to support, they took this into account—after all, no one wanted another great battle among cultivators in the capital.

With nothing left to do in the capital, Chi Jiuyu's group simply visited several famous buildings in the city.

Then they arrived near the space passage revealed by the Longxiang Qingtianzong trainees, preparing to enter Tai Xuan Tian.

The passage was located in an unremarkable Daoist temple, bearing three large characters: Ziqing Temple.

The temple was surrounded by arrays, ineffective against cultivators with cultivation, yet more than sufficient to keep ordinary people out.

Moreover, ordinary cultivators would never rashly offend Ziqing Temple.

It was outside the temple that they encountered another group—

Xiao Fan, Lin Qiuxian, and Mo Cheng, the artificer from Shenji Lianbao Pavilion.

Indeed, the three were also preparing to enter Tai Xuan Tian.

When Chi Jiuyu's group arrived, the three had already entered the temple; upon noticing others approaching, they turned around.

"Little Master Shu Zu?"

"Chi Jiuyu!"

Lin Qiuxian and Mo Cheng from Shenji Lianbao Pavilion spoke almost simultaneously.

One sounded puzzled, the other startled.

Xiao Fan, however, was more focused on Zhang Yunlu—his old classmate from Xuanjian City, and the opponent who had severed his head and crushed it during that trial.

Even now, seeing her gave Xiao Fan a chill along his neck and a prickling sensation on his scalp.

Especially when he sensed Zhang Yunlu idly studying his neck…

Both carried deep psychological scars from each other.

"Oh, everyone's here."

The most relaxed was Chi Jiuyu.

"Greetings, Little Master Shu Zu," Lin Qiuxian said respectfully.

"No need for such formality outside; let's be casual."

"Understood."

Lin Qiuxian gave a slight nod.

Beside him, Mo Cheng, sensing Chi Jiuyu's gaze sweep over him, instinctively stepped back.

"Hm? Are you afraid of me?"

"How could that be?" Mo Cheng forced a laugh. "I greatly admire you."

Strange.

Had she ever punished him before?

Chi Jiuyu didn't dwell on it, turning her gaze to the last person—Xiao Fan.

"Not bad, kid. You killed the Emperor right off the bat."

"Just fate's doing. If it were you, Elder, you'd have done the same."

Xiao Fan held great respect for Chi Jiuyu, even her own master struggled to handle her.

"That's right!" Chi Jiuyu nodded approvingly.

This kid really knew how to speak.

Nangong Ruo: "..."

So was she the abnormal one?

Should she try, as Zhang Yunlu suggested, to find Chi Jiuyu's good points?

But…

She'd beaten her just recently!

She'd ruined her face!

"Alright, alright, let's go inside—we're all heading to Tai Xuan Tian, no need to waste time at the gate."

Just as Nangong Ruo was wrestling with this, Chi Jiuyu had already spoken and walked inside.

Zhang Yunlu also withdrew her gaze and followed Chi Jiuyu.

Lin Xuanxuan glanced curiously at the three, then followed after them.

As the four entered the temple one by one.

"Did you offend Little Master Shu Zu?" Lin Qiuxian asked Mo Cheng.

"Of course not! Lin Brother, don't say such things!" Mo Cheng hurriedly replied.

"..."

Definitely had.

Lin Qiuxian said no more and turned toward the temple interior.

Xiao Fan followed behind him.

Mo Cheng, the last one left outside, looked up at the temple and suddenly felt the urge to turn and leave.

But after much hesitation, he abandoned the idea.

Chi Jiuyu was already a Nascent Soul during the Xian Sect Grand Tournament—who knows what realm she's in now!

Aah~

He sighed inwardly and walked in.

Actually, he hadn't truly offended Chi Jiuyu—just slightly tricked her.

As a genius alchemist of the Divine Mechanism Artisan Hall, he often wielded his talent to invent artifacts of epoch-making significance.

Hmm…

But ordinary people simply couldn't comprehend the greatness of his inventions…

In short, they didn't sell.

At the time, he was researching a highly important project and urgently needed funds; he'd already borrowed from his master and several senior brothers and couldn't ask again.

So, he bundled up those artifacts he'd invented into blind boxes and opened a secondary account…

What happened after that doesn't need to be said.

Chi Jiuyu, tricked like that, flew into a rage—if only he hadn't kept his secrecy so well…

Hss~

He didn't dare imagine the consequences.

The fellow sect member who fought Chi Jiuyu in the Xian Sect's Grand Competition has returned from recuperating at the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect—and is now like a completely different person.

Though his mental resilience has grown stronger…

But he had no desire whatsoever to become like that.

…

…

A Daoist temple.

Its interior was not large, yet the herb gardens, fruit orchards, rare trees, exotic grasses, clear ponds, and fragrant flowers were all meticulously arranged. Entering inside, one saw a floor paved with blue stone slabs, upon which stood a massive alchemical cauldron.

The cauldron's overall form was heavy and full of power.

Its body was round, its walls smooth, gleaming with luster and thickness, exquisitely cast, its surface carved with intricate cloud and dragon patterns.

When sunlight fell upon it, the entire cauldron faintly glowed with purple light, appearing supremely noble and sacred.

At this moment, inside the main hall.

Chi Jiuyu and her group, who had entered first, were scanning the surroundings.

Only one divine statue was enshrined above.

The statue was tall and solemn, draped in lavish robes, its face both kind and commanding.

Most peculiar were its purple eyes—translucent and luminous, crafted and inlaid from two pieces of purple jade.

Though merely a statue, it truly seemed as if seated upon the Ninth Heaven, gazing down upon the mortal world.

This was Zi Xuan, the founder of Zi Qing Temple.

!. Read

The creator of the method of refining humans into pills, one of the three Heavenly Realms' strongest Reversing Void cultivators.

He died many years ago; the cause of his death remains a mystery.

Under his leadership as abbot, Zi Qing Temple rose from an obscure minor sect to become one of the three Heavenly Realms' most powerful great sects.

Thus, Zi Qing Temple worships no heavens, no human ways—only Master Zi Xuan!

"Tsk tsk! Quite the show." Chi Jiuyu glanced over.

Then she raised her hand and struck.

Boom!

The entire statue exploded, shards of varying sizes flying everywhere, some deeply embedded in the nearby ground.

Chi Jiuyu caught the two purple jade eyes, and with a slight squeeze of her hand!

Crack!

Jade powder sifted down.

"A monster that devours people, and yet worshipped as a god," Chi Jiuyu muttered.

Then she turned to face the others.

"Let's go—we must head to Tai Xuan Tian."

…………

Not long after, within the imperial palace.

After dealing with the court ministers, Cheng Yu entered a quiet chamber and dismissed everyone under the pretext of mourning his late father.

Today, with just a slight maneuver, he had subdued most of the court ministers.

They were all ordinary people; even if he held back out of caution and dared not act openly, that didn't mean they could resist his methods.

"The more important matter lies elsewhere."

The interior's dim lighting rendered Cheng Yu's face somewhat indistinct.

"I must prepare in advance."

He couldn't afford to be unprepared—after all, that Nascent Soul cultivator had been inquiring about him today.

If she truly came knocking…

Hm?!

Cheng Yu suddenly froze.

His perception spread silently, and after probing, he was stunned to discover the Nascent Soul's aura had vanished!

Out of caution, he thoroughly scoured Jingcheng once more.

Only then did he confirm: that monster-like Nascent Soul had apparently used the spatial passage left behind by Zi Qing Temple to reach Tai Xuan Tian?

And not only her, but even those several Foundation Establishment cultivators with strangely strong spiritual signatures left as well.

「……」

Suddenly, it felt like punching air.

「But then again, this is fine. 」

Now I don't need to keep guarding against her; I can rest assured and heal my injuries.

Once my injuries are fully healed, a mere Nascent Soul—even if I meet another—will be easy to handle.

"Phew~"

With a light exhale, Cheng Yu closed his eyes and began practicing the Dao Shi Ding An Jing.

……

……

Meanwhile, in an unremarkable corner of Jingcheng.

A tiny, unremarkable pebble lay quietly on the ground—it was Zhao Yueqing, who had just arrived from the Impure Realm into the Mortal Realm.

At this moment, her true form was probing for information on the World Channel.

Zhao Yueqing (Taishang): 「Does anyone know the detailed information about the capital of the Songyun Dynasty? 」

She didn't want to use her real name either.

But when she tried to set a pseudonym, the interface popped up a message: members of the Taishang Dao Sect must use their true names.

It was said to be a requirement from Hong Zun, the Ancestral Master.

It was utterly ridiculous.

And if she didn't set a pseudonym, the interface would deliver an electric shock every three minutes, its power adjusted according to realm.

After careful consideration, she had no choice but to register using her real name as her pseudonym.

Sometimes she even suspected whether her ancestral master held some grudge against their disciples…

Aah~

She silently sighed in her heart, but quickly realized her mistake.

Ancestral Master, forgive me!

Ancestral Master, forgive me!

This was an unintentional remark—please, Ancestral Master, do not take it to heart!

As she mentally confessed, someone finally replied on the scrolling public screen.

Sect Master of the Xiang Jianzong (Jian Zong): 「The capital of the Songyun Dynasty? Boring to death, not a single bit of fun—even the last remaining members of the Purple Qing Monastery were wiped out by my juniors. Nothing worth going there for. 」

Lin Qiu Xian's ancestral master is her seventh senior brother.

That would make Lin Qiu Xian her junior, wouldn't it!

Zhao Yueqing (Taishang): 「Thank you, Sect Master, for the clarification. 」

Boring?

That's perfect!

I'll just lie low here until the training ends!

As for the one who replied to her, she of course knew who it was.

Chi Jiuyu, whose dream is to become Sect Master of the Xiang Jianzong, with an enormous background!

Saying something to flatter her won't cost me a thing.

Being prudent means being kind to others.

Kong Ming (Jian Zong): 「……」

Sect Master of the Xiang Jianzong (Jian Zong): 「? 」

Seeing this, Zhao Yueqing silently cursed—this was bad. (End of Chapter)