Chapter 157: with translation of chapter title

The Dragon Palace is huge, but at this moment it has already become utterly chaotic, a complete mess.

Fighting is happening everywhere.

At the same time that Divine Sword Peak stormed into the Dragon Palace, the Dao Yi Sect was also bustling with activity, for no other reason than that Qing Shi's welcoming ceremony would be held tomorrow.

Almost all major powers in Dongzhou have sent people over, after all, one cannot refuse the face of the Dao Yi Sect.

Yet facing such a grand gathering, Dao Yi Sect's Sect Master Qi Xiong simply could not feel happy.

Inside the Dong Fu, Qi Xiong wore a worried look; these past days he had tried every method to contact Hong Zun and Qing Shi—using Chuānyīn fú, shadow‑forming arrays, and so on—but to no avail; he could not reach them at all.

"These two damned things, where the hell have they run off to?"

He said through gritted teeth, "Tomorrow it's going to start, and this person still hasn't been found—what are we to do?"

Seeing that many forces had already arrived at the Dao Yi Sect, Qi Xiong felt a deep weariness.

On Zhu Feng, the representatives of all the major powers had been given lodgings, and for a moment it was extremely lively.

Because the ceremony had not yet begun, people gathered in small groups to chat and drink.

"This time Qing Shi joins the Dao Yi Sect—this adds another holy one to the Dao Yi Sect!"

"Indeed, who would have thought? Qing Shi, who never joined any sect in his life, ended up choosing the Dao Yi Sect."

"As expected of the number one sect in Dongzhou!"

Regarding Qing Shi's joining the Dao Yi Sect, many people sighed, and of course some felt envy—such as the Luo Xia Sect, Qing Yun Sect, and Huang Ji Sect, these three major sects.

They naturally felt jealous, after all Qing Shi had reached the perfected stage of the Shèngjìng realm; if he had joined their sect, the boost to their sect would be obvious.

It's a pity they chose the Dao Yi Sect; this only strengthened the Dao Yi Sect further, securing its position as the top sect in Dongzhou even more firmly.

Just as they were speaking, two black shadows fell onto the main square of the Dao Yi Sect.

Just… this is kinda weird, if I'm not mistaken, that should be a person and a black‑crowned immortal crane.

The black‑crowned immortal crane is supposed to be a mount, so why is it the crane carrying a person?

Exactly, when they landed just now, the person was carrying the crane on his back, making it look as if the crane were riding him; for a moment everyone was bewildered.

Including the Dao Yi Sect steward responsible for reception, he also froze for a few seconds before snapping back, then hurried forward and spoke enthusiastically.

"Elder Wang."

The visitor was no stranger to anyone—it was Grand Elder Wang Tieshu of the Blacksmith Valley, a renowned odd woman of Dongzhou.

The Dao Yi Sect steward stood before Wang Tieshu, not even reaching her chest, so he could only look up, while Wang Tieshu looked around.

"Where's Hong Ge?"

"Peak Master Hong Zun is in closed‑door cultivation."

Only Qi Xiong and a few others, along with the elders and stewards of Divine Sword Peak, know that Hong Zun and Qing Shi are absent from the sect; everyone else is still unaware.

Hearing this, Wang Tieshu glanced at Hong's Treasure beside her, her eyes full of affection, anticipation, and sweetness.

Seeing that, Hong's Treasure instinctively shrank its neck; it had practically gone mad, and who knows what it's been through over the past month.

First it encountered that beast, and then it became pregnant.

After she herself became pregnant, Wang Tieshu was overjoyed, caring for it with utmost attention, feeling as if the child in its belly were Hong Zun's.

There was no need to go to the Spirit Beast Garden; she brought it straight back to the Dong Fu, feeding it seven or eight times a day, plus various fetal‑nourishing pills, spirit fruits, immortal springs, and even had Wang Tieshu hire two attendants to wait on it hand‑and‑foot.

When those two attendants first saw they were to serve a black‑crowned immortal crane, they were completely stunned.

This isn't humiliating people—who would serve a beast?

But in the end, the two women couldn't refuse, for no other reason than that Wang Tieshu had given them too much.

From that day on, Hong's Treasure embarked on the pinnacle of crane‑life.

It was a case of 'clothes come to hand, food comes to mouth'; even when going out, Wang Tieshu carried it on her back.

Under a loving gaze, Wang Tieshu's face flushed slightly as she spoke.

"Hong's Treasure, shall we go find Hong Ge and tell him this happy news? He'll surely be delighted, after all you've conceived a child—Hong Ge deserves all the credit."

That's only natural, for in Wang Tieshu's heart, Xiao Bai was raised by Hong Zun; without Hong Zun there would be no Xiao Bai, and without Xiao Bai, Hong's Treasure couldn't have conceived—thus Hong Zun truly deserves the credit.

But no one else knows—when the Dao Yi Sect steward nearby heard this, he was completely dumbfounded.

"Damn, what did I just hear?"

"Wo ri, this black‑crowned immortal crane is pregnant, and then Peak Master Hong Zun gets all the credit? Is that really what I'm thinking?"

He twitched the corner of his mouth and spoke with a ghost‑seen expression.

"Elder Wang, are you sure this crane's pregnancy is related to Peak Master Hong Zun?"

Hearing this, Wang Tieshu showed no hesitation, lifted her head, and answered with absolute certainty.

"Of course—without Hong Ge, how could Hong's Treasure have conceived?"

"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained; the baby in Hong's Treasure's belly is the love‑child of Hong Ge and me. I'll go find Hong Ge first; as for the Dong Fu, you just arrange it as you see fit."

She didn't want to waste words on the steward; after speaking, Wang Tieshu hoisted Hong's Treasure onto her back and said with a buzz.

"Hong's Treasure, hold on tight."

She then flew toward Divine Sword Peak, leaving the steward standing there, dazed as a wooden chicken.

The more I hear, the more confused I get.

"Something's off—let me think this through."

His head felt a bit buzzing; the steward stood there and thought it through carefully.

First, the crane is pregnant; then, Peak Master Hong Zun gets all the credit; moreover, the baby in the crane's belly is the love‑child of Peak Master Hong Zun and Elder Wang Tieshu.

This is just a bunch of nonsense.

What exactly happened between you two and that crane? Are you playing that wild? How far can your antics go?

I just feel my worldview shattering.

Meanwhile, Wang Tieshu, carrying Hong's Treasure, arrived at Divine Sword Peak and went straight to Hong Zun's Dong Fu.

To prevent the news from leaking, the Formation of Hong Zun and Qing Shi had already been ordered repaired by Qi Xiong, and was opened again.

Watching the Formation open, Wang Tieshu's face flushed red, looking like a lovestruck maiden, he stepped forward and lightly touched the Formation, speaking shyly.

"Hong Zun, are you there? I've come to see you, and Hong Bao has come too. Open the door first, I have a surprise to tell you..................."

As he spoke, Wang Tieshu involuntarily laughed, which was rather embarrassing.

However, the one responding to her was not Hong Zun, but an Elder from Divine Sword Peak who had rushed over quickly; upon seeing Wang Tieshu, the Elder's expression changed, but having no choice, as the Sect Master had given an order, he steeled himself and stepped forward to speak.

"Grand Elder Wang."

"Hmm."

Towards others, Wang Tieshu appeared quite aloof.

"Well, the Peak Master is in closed-door cultivation and is currently unavailable to receive guests."

Regarding this, the Elder didn't mind and spoke up.

Hearing this, Wang Tieshu replied discontentedly.

"Am I a guest?"

"This............."