Chapter 289: Dragon Gate Appears and Captures; Cruel Hands Inflict Torment to Vent Pent-up Hatred

"Damn it!"

Fang Longye could not help but curse inwardly. He felt he had disguised himself quite well, and he did not know how Long Xuan had managed to recognize him.

However, while thinking this in his heart, his expression remained calm. He feigned ignorance and said, "Princess, have you mistaken me for someone else? Do we know each other?"

"Enough!" Long Xuan sneered repeatedly, flicking her long sleeves, and said, "Don't try these little tricks in front of me; this lady is not someone you can bluff."

"Do you think I didn't notice your concealment of your Heavenly Secrets and Aura?"

When Long Xuan said this, she could not help but feel a surge of anger, and she said coldly, "You didn't spend all those years bossing me around for nothing!"

"Heavenly Secrets can be concealed, Aura can be altered, and appearance can be changed. But those little habits in speech and conduct are not things you can change just because you want to!"

Fang Longye suddenly realized that she had identified him based on his daily habits.

Seeing that his true identity had been exposed by Long Xuan, he stopped hiding it and immediately shook his body, shedding his previous disguise and transformation.

He retorted provocatively, "It seems that you, this maidservant, are quite concerned about your master, even keeping my subtle daily habits in mind."

This immediately sent Long Xuan into a rage, causing her to curse loudly.

Taking this opportunity, Fang Longye cast his gaze toward the void not far away, carefully examining this portal that suppressed the void.

He saw that the portal before him towered into the clouds, its frame appearing as if cast from gold, shining brilliantly. On both sides were archways, hung with gold and colors, radiating an imposing aura.

Vast light poured down from mid-air like an overturned pot, spreading around the perimeter, presenting an arched outline that rose and fell.

Every collision produced the sound of thunder.

Standing before it, the majesty was overwhelming.

It brought a heavy, crushing pressure.

"Halt!"

Fang Longye secretly urged the various Spirit Treasures on his person, wanting to break the portal's imprisonment of the void.

Only—

No matter how he urged his Spirit Treasures, he could not shake the portal in the slightest. Even the Zhanxian Gourd, a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, was of no use.

"Dragon Gate?"

Fang Longye's expression turned ugly.

"Hmph!" Long Xuan reacted, stopped her cursing, and chuckled coldly, "Since you've recognized it, don't waste your effort! With this Dao-achieving treasure of the Old Ancestor, you won't escape this Calamity even if you grow wings!"

"If you surrender now and kneel down to obediently call me 'this lady,' I might let you suffer a little less!"

It really was the Dragon Gate! A cold light appeared in Fang Longye's eyes; he was afraid he was in trouble now!

No wonder even the Zhanxian Gourd, a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, could not shake this portal.

This Dragon Gate was a Dao-achieving treasure refined by Yinglong Laozu after she attained the Dao, and it had long since ranked among the supreme treasures.

In terms of grade alone, it surpassed the Zhanxian Gourd.

Do not think that just because the Zhanxian Gourd belongs to the Innate category, it must be stronger than the Dragon Gate.

A Dao-achieving treasure is different from an ordinary Spirit Treasure; although most are refined after attaining the Dao, they have long been bound to the cultivator's fate and cannot be treated lightly.

Especially at the level of Yinglong Laozu, the Dao-achieving treasure has entered a realm that is neither Innate nor acquired, possessing immense power.

The gap between Innate and acquired has long since vanished.

There is just one point—

A Dao-achieving treasure is the most handy Spirit Treasure for a cultivator, the most compatible with oneself, and can unleash two hundred percent of its power.

It is not easily given to others.

Fang Longye did not believe that Long Xuan could obtain the 'Dragon Gate' so easily; there was definitely the will of Yinglong Laozu in this.

Could it be that when I was being duplicitous with Wuzhiqi earlier, I spoke disrespectfully and was overheard by Yinglong Laozu, who intends to use Long Xuan to teach me a lesson? She wouldn't be that petty, would she?

Well, it's hard to say.

Yinglong Laozu is, after all, a female immortal, and no matter how high her seniority, that fact cannot be changed.

Isn't pettiness a trait of women? Fang Longye's thoughts raced.

Of course, in reality, this was but a flash of lightning.

"Regardless, to catch the bandits, catch the leader first."

He glanced at Long Xuan and immediately prepared to head toward her.

However, before he could move.

His entire body swayed, and he nearly fell from the clouds.

He felt as if he had lost all his strength in an instant, his body going limp, making it difficult even to stand; he had become a weakling.

It was Long Xuan, fearing that a long delay would lead to trouble, who had directly activated the Dragon Gate.

Crack, crack, crack...

He saw the portal slowly opening in a sluggish manner, refracting bizarre and multicolored light from within.

An indescribable Aura surged out, emitting a sound like a raging sea.

An incomparable Dragon Might billowed forth.

Damn it! "So this Dragon Gate, as the Dao-achieving treasure of Yinglong Laozu, besides helping the ten thousand races of Honghuang transform into dragons, also suppresses all dragon-kind creatures~"

Fang Longye's expression turned extremely ugly.

He felt that facing this portal was like facing an existence that naturally restrained him; his Dharma, powers, and supernatural abilities were all useless.

Dharma, powers, physical body, Spirit Treasures... no matter what, he could not summon the slightest bit of strength. His whole person felt lazy to the extreme, drowsy.

Seeing Long Xuan arrive before him with ease, Fang Longye wanted to cry but had no tears.

He had not expected that he would so quickly enjoy the treatment currently being experienced by that Luan bird still inside the Prison Phoenix Cage.

Watching Fang Longye, who was limp in the void under the influence of the Dragon Gate, Long Xuan was overjoyed.

"You dog, you have your day too!"

"Let's see how I deal with you!"

With a wave of her sleeve, Fang Longye was involuntarily forced into his original form, shrinking to the size of an earthworm, and was scooped up by Long Xuan into her hand.

She returned to Dongting Longgong.

……

Long Xuan rode the wind and broke the waves, quickly returning to Dongting Longgong.

In the Longgong, there were exotic flowers and precious grasses everywhere, along with bamboo groves and pearl trees. Pavilions and towers were arranged in rows, with winding corridors and railings, serene and exquisite.

Gems, agates, and pearls of all shapes and sizes were inlaid on the walls, in front of small pavilions, and so on, with an aura of treasure-light.

It bathed the surroundings in the appearance of mutton-fat jade.

It was magnificent.

With the tinkling of jade pendants, she walked briskly in her palace dress, a Dharma sword hanging at her waist. She looked heroic and spirited, a woman who did not yield to men.

"Greetings, Princess."

A crowd of shrimp soldiers, crab generals, and Clam Woman attendants bowed one after another upon seeing their little Princess.

However, many were whispering to themselves about what happy event their little Princess had encountered today, as she had kept a smile on her face the whole time.

She was even about to hum a tune~ Long Xuan walked briskly all the way, heading straight for her own bedchamber.

Just as she arrived outside the courtyard where her bedchamber was located, she saw a figure and was instantly startled.

She saw a middle-aged man standing outside her courtyard, wearing a crown and a dragon robe, with horns on his forehead, less than three feet tall, like solid gold.

He was standing under a coral tree, looking as if he were waiting for her.

It was none other than her own royal father.

"Could it be that my theft of the Ancestral Dragon Dragon Gate has been discovered so soon?"

Long Xuan thought to herself.

"Or could it be that Father already knows I've captured that scoundrel and brought him back?"

Long Xuan felt a shiver in her heart.

She knew that her father was determined to marry her off to the very scoundrel she had in her hand.

If he were to find out about this.

Wouldn't he fly into a rage?

"Father!"

Long Xuan hurriedly put away her smile and stepped forward to bow.

"What have you been doing?"

Dongting Dragon Lord asked, his tone naturally majestic, though his voice was quite calm.

"Oh, that, Sister Xiaoxiang held a poetry gathering, so I went to join in the fun~"

Long Xuan explained. Dongting Dragon Lord nodded and said, "For the next few days, don't run around outside. It was not easy for the Ancestor to grace our Dongting Longgong with her presence; go show more filial piety at her side~"

Long Xuan nodded in agreement and said, "I understand, Father."

She understood that her father was doing this for her own good.

What "filial piety at her side"? Put simply, it meant staying by the Ancestor's side so she could provide guidance on cultivation.

"Well, I've suddenly had some insights, so I won't keep you chatting, Father!"

Long Xuan was still thinking about how to properly deal with Fang Longye, so she immediately made an excuse to take her leave.

Dongting Dragon Lord waved his hand and smiled gently, "Alright then, I won't disturb your cultivation~"

Long Xuan let out a sigh of relief.

It seemed that her actions had not been discovered by her father.

She bowed respectfully to take her leave and, with an eager and excited heart, disappeared into her bedchamber.

She completely failed to see the deep meaning in her father's eyes.

Standing quietly for a moment, Dongting Dragon Lord turned his head to glance in the direction of Long Xuan's bedchamber.

His eyes were clear and bright, as if they could see through everything.

With a light chuckle, he then walked away slowly.

……

Long Xuan returned briskly to her bedchamber, where gold and jade covered the floor, Lotus Lamps hung, pearls dripped like tassels, and agate curtains draped, a scene of luxury and beauty.

In a corner.

A giant old clam opened and closed from time to time, exhaling wisps of smoke, and an inexplicable fragrance filled the palace.

With every breath, one felt refreshed and all fatigue vanished.

She first set up a barrier to conceal all movement within her bedchamber.

Then she summoned a Coiling Dragon Copper Pillar.

This pillar looked as if it were cast from bronze, showing mottled spots like copper rust, with intersecting horizontal patterns on it, appearing like fine, dense scales spread open.

With a casual flick, she threw the groggy Fang Longye toward this Coiling Dragon Copper Pillar.

Heavy chains immediately extended from the copper pillar, locking Fang Longye firmly in place.

Freed from the suppression of the Dragon Gate, Fang Longye finally woke up.

Damn it!

He raised his head and looked around.

He couldn't help but curse out loud.

He saw Divine Light shimmering, shining down from the dome, hanging like condensed pearls, glowing with color, illuminating the chains on his body.

The fine, dense patterns were intertwined, appearing like large and small rings hooked together, golden and bright, and he had no idea what material they were made of, but they were exceptionally sturdy.

No matter how he struggled, it did not shake it in the slightest.

As he struggled, barbs actually grew out, ignoring the powerful defense of his physical body and piercing into his flesh, causing his sinews and bones to lose strength, leaving him limp.

Even his Primordial Spirit and True Spirit were imprisoned.

"That's enough! Stop tossing about~ This Dragon Locking Pillar can firmly lock even a True Dragon at the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. Let alone you, a fellow who hasn't even reached Taiyi?"

Seeing Fang Longye wake up and struggle incessantly, Long Xuan gave a cold laugh.

With a beckon of her hand, a beam of light fell from the dome, winding left and right to form a whip, over a zhang in length, covered in barbs, looking extremely terrifying.

"You little wench!"

With the chains embedded in his flesh and the fine, needle-like golden light pulsing, Fang Longye felt a pain that reached his marrow; seeing her raise the whip, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and say.

"It was in vain that I took you sightseeing and wined and dined you back then; is this how you treat me?"

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, but as soon as he brought up the time in Dongsheng Shenzhou, Long Xuan was instantly furious.

"Pah!"

With a 'crack', it lashed onto Fang Longye's body. The barbs once again broke through his defenses and pierced fiercely into his flesh; they were very sharp, making him shudder.

"Utterly shameless! Sightseeing? It was you who were sightseeing!"

"I am a Princess of the Longgong, who usually doesn't lift a finger, yet back then I was ordered around by you."

"How do you have the face to bring this up?"

Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack, crack...

The more Long Xuan spoke, the angrier she became, and the whip in her hand fell continuously, like raindrops.

Even though Fang Longye's true body was now comparable to a Witch Clan member at the Taiyi realm, he still found the pain unbearable.

He couldn't help but bare his teeth and show a fierce look in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to curse: "That's right! I had forgotten, you lowly maid were the one who begged to wash my feet and warm my bed back then."

"Now that I think about it, I should have let you empty my chamber pot back then!"

"Come to think of it, I am the future husband your elder designated for you. Aren't you afraid that after you enter my home, I will make things difficult for you?"

"I understand now! You must be a masochist and were too embarrassed to say it out loud."

"So you had to use this to provoke me, so that after you marry me, I can vent my anger on you, and you can also be satisfied!"

"I didn't expect it, you are actually this kind of woman! You could have just said so,..."

"You're dead!" Before Fang Longye could finish his foul language, he heard Long Xuan's voice in his ear, gritted through her teeth, word by word.

"Such great killing intent!"

His heart trembled, but he immediately reacted, sneering in his heart, and paid no mind to her murderous intent.

He knew his own worth, and he was certain that Long Xuan dared not kill him.

"Little girl, come on! If you have the ability, kill me? I bet you don't dare!"

Fang Longye endured Long Xuan's whipping, his mouth remaining as arrogant as ever, saying: "If you let me, your master, down right now, kneel and beg for mercy, and swear to serve me well in the future, taking my beatings and scoldings without fighting back."

"I, your master, will not pursue your offensive actions! Otherwise, hmph—"

Hearing this, Long Xuan became even more furious.

She truly did not dare to take this bastard's life, only because he had already been noted by the ancestor.

The first thing the ancestor said when he descended to the Dongting Longgong and pulled her aside was about her marriage to this bastard.

Although this fellow spoke uglily, one thing he said was the truth.

An arm cannot twist a thigh. With the ancestor there, she would ultimately have to be taken advantage of by this bastard.

The more she vented her anger on him now, the more miserably she would be bullied after being married to him—the more she thought about it, the more stifled she felt, and the more stifled she felt, the more her teeth itched with hatred for him.

She couldn't care about the future at all, and in her hatred, she dropped the whip and started using her hands.

Fist after fist hitting flesh, only then did she vent her hatred.

"Little wench, let me tell you, an arm cannot twist a thigh; sooner or later you will still enter my home."

"Wait and see how I deal with you then! If you don't scrub enough chamber pots for me for a Yuanhui, don't even think about climbing onto my dragon bed!"

Fang Longye was indeed tough.

With his Dharma and divine abilities imprisoned, he couldn't resist at all and was already bruised and swollen, yet he still spouted his arrogant remarks.

Long Xuan laughed in extreme anger.

She turned to gently stroke Fang Longye's right eye, which had been beaten into a panda eye, and said in a soft, gentle voice: "Oh my, one eye circle is black and one is white, it's hideous; I will make you look better, master."

After speaking, she raised her small fist and punched Fang Longye's left eye, which was still fine.

"Awoo—" Fang Longye immediately let out a wolf howl, seeing stars, his head splitting with pain.

"Stinking woman, don't be too presumptuous!"

Fang Longye thought to himself, this woman Long Xuan hits too hard; could it be that Yinglong Laozu is just watching her torture him like this? He didn't believe it; if Long Xuan used the Dragon Gate to capture him, Yinglong Laozu would surely know.

"Hmph! Is that all you've got?"

Long Xuan gave a cold laugh and punched Fang Longye's thief-like eyes again.

"Awoo—"

Another wolf howl, and Fang Longye threatened with a fierce expression but a cowardly heart: "Still coming? Do you believe that once I gain my freedom, I will capture you, hang you up for a beating, and train you into a dog that wags its tail the moment it sees me?"

Long Xuan's expression did not change as she said: "Still thinking about gaining freedom? Do you really think I don't dare to kill you?"

After speaking, she unleashed another storm of punches and kicks upon him.

(End of chapter)