Chapter 566: The First Clash Between Realms

Deng Xiangjun knew that his junior sister Jingxi must have many confusions, but he himself was no different.

He swiftly retracted the Qingyue Treasure Boat and landed beside the young man thick with demonic blood aura, carrying Su Hongxiu.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine."

Shen Yi opened his eyes and turned his head to look.

He had stayed here partly to wait for this peerless Zongzhu, to prevent them from indulging in wild speculation and triggering some upheaval.

Seeing Shen Yi's expression was normal, he seemed unharmed.

Deng Xiangjun silently exhaled in relief and casually eased the tension with a helpless smile: "It seems every time I see you, it's always like this."

Beneath their feet were dried bloodstains, the Yue family's junior from the Immortal Cave last time, and even at the Seven Sons Assembly, he had personally severed Liu Xingshan of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

This Shen Zongzhu seemed born to kill, leaving bloodstained hands wherever he went.

"Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Deng Xiangjun approached with Su Hongxiu, coming to Shen Zongzhu's side and crouching down to match his height.

"It's just a minor personal grudge."

Shen Yi hesitated, not explaining clearly.

After all, this matter involved An Yi, and this stone guardian had once appeared as the Lord of Wan Yao Dian, and likely would use this identity again; though his robe concealed his face, it was still not entirely safe.

Unless necessary, Shen Yi did not wish to link Yu Nanhong's Seven Sons with Wan Yao Dian.

The cultivators and demonic beings who had made a name for themselves in Hongze were not all fools; even the Moliuxian Sect, such a low-tier Xian Sect, could deduce much from the faintest traces.

This incident with An Tingfeng had given Shen Yi a lesson.

"A minor grudge?"

Deng Xiangjun sensed the bloodstain on Shen Zongzhu's body, and his smile grew strained.

What kind of minor grudge could reach the point of life and death?

As one's realm rises, whether cultivator or demon, clinging to life becomes the norm.

"With whom? An Tingfeng?"

Deng Xiangjun cautiously glanced over, hoping to hear from Shen Yi an answer different from Su Hongxiu's… otherwise, it would prove the hidden truth in her tone was real.

Yet he saw the young man give a slight nod: "Mm."

"…"

On the floating isle, Deng Xiangjun suddenly fell silent, then began to scrutinize the young man anew—intently, from his face down to his shoe tips, leaving no detail unexamined.

Even Shen Yi's eyes flickered with faint confusion as he raised an eyebrow and returned the gaze.

Only then did Deng Xiangjun take a deep breath, as if rediscovering his own General Nanyang Zongzhu.

Though Deng Xiangjun was not familiar with that ferocious tiger, he had heard whispers of the beast's reputation.

An Tingfeng, though still young among demons, might lack depth, but his talent and bloodline were genuine, and his realm was utterly unadulterated.

Such a great demon—slain outright!

And afterward, utterly unharmed; though the youth was drenched in blood, Deng Xiangjun's observation confirmed not a single drop was his own.

To accomplish this, Shen Zongzhu's strength must far exceed the expectations of these old-timers!

"I see."

Deng Xiangjun's gaze drifted absentmindedly southward—this precious land had silently merged with the youth before him, faster than anyone could notice, like old friends reunited.

When something becomes so absurd it defies all logic.

Deng Xiangjun suddenly felt nothing was unbelievable anymore; nothing could shake him further.

He withdrew his gaze, his tone now casual: "So how many weapons did you seal? Four?"

"Five."

Shen Yi's reply was as calm as his earlier "Mm."

The Dao-Union event was witnessed firsthand by all life within General Nanyang's treasure land—it couldn't be hidden, and he never intended to conceal it from Yu Nanhong's Seven Sons.

Boom!

Deng Xiangjun, who had been half-crouching, suddenly collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly at Su Hongxiu as if confirming he hadn't misheard—where was the dignity of a Zongzhu?

"…"

Su Hongxiu hurriedly reached out to help him up, yet her own heart was wracked by a storm.

She knew perfectly well why Deng Shibo was so shaken.

Even if Yu Nanhong's Seven Sons gained one more Tian-jing cultivator, it wouldn't have stunned him this deeply.

Opening the Five Cities and enduring the Five Tribulations of Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death, and Suffering—this had never occurred in Hongze!

"Phew."

Deng Xiangjun wiped his forehead with his sleeve, confirmed Shen Yi wasn't mocking him, then sat on the ground in deep thought for a long while, finally shaking his head and abandoning the terrifying thought.

If he kept thinking, he feared he'd fall into delusion.

"Actually—"

Deng Xiangjun lifted his head, choosing his words carefully: "You come from General Nanyang, so this might sound strange, make you think we're deceiving you—but…"

"Shared life and death—was real."

"Of course, when you… Brother Qin met his end, our failure to act was also real; perhaps because the Eastern Dragon King restrained us, but surely also due to our cowardice."

"After all, it was an Immortal—an Immortal who had never lifted a hand."

Even today, only the General Nanyang master and disciple had witnessed that Immortal's action; the sole survivor still refuses to speak of that day.

Even before the Immortal acted,

most Dao-Union cultivators assumed this celestial visitor was no different from themselves—merely luckier, or better-connected, granted a sliver of Immortal favor.

Otherwise, how could they let the Four Long Gong, that local tyrant, continue to squat in Hongze.

Even though the immortal had already made a move, they didn't even know his specific strength — perhaps Dao realm, perhaps higher?

Deng Xiangjun's face flushed with shame, his gaze evasive. He didn't carefully ask Shen Yi the thing he most wanted to ask, seemingly wanting to take this chance to say a few heartfelt words.

He reached out to wipe his sweat again, then spread his palms: "But no matter what, at least we won't harm you, and we don't ask you to acknowledge this life-and-death bond — as long as we acknowledge it, that's enough."

"So… there's no personal grudge."

"Your matters are our matters."

Deng Xiangjun rarely said so much in one go, let alone to someone he wasn't at all familiar with.

The change in his expression was clearly because of another person.

Having said that, Deng Xiangjun nervously stared at the youth's fair complexion, waiting for the other's reply, faintly like a person who had done wrong awaiting an elder's forgiveness.

"Alright."

Shen Yi listened carefully, nodded lightly: "I'll try to be careful."

He had roughly heard the meaning behind this unparalleled Sect Master's words — the other party had likely placed the guilt he'd felt toward General Nanyang Sect all those years ago onto himself, this new General Nanyang Sect Master.

But Shen Yi wasn't used to commenting on something he hadn't personally experienced, nor was he used to making decisions for others — like forgiving someone, or consoling someone.

He could only represent himself.

At least judging from the rumors heard from various places, Shen Yi wouldn't question the bond among the Seven Sons of Nanhong back in the day, but don't forget — how long had it been since he left General Nanyang's blessed land and got to know these people? As for contact, even less.

Joining forces to resist the Long Gong was fine, but asking him to insert himself into that bond, to trust these people wholeheartedly, was somewhat forcing him beyond his ability.

Things like the Suppression Stone, the Ten Thousand Demon Palace, and the panel's deductions — once someone with ill intentions found traces, he could very well fall into an irrecoverable state.

"……"

Hearing Shen Yi's reply, Deng Xiangjun suddenly let out a breath, and finally a bit of a smile appeared on his face.

He stood up again, said softly: "That's good, let's head back first."

Saying so, Deng Xiangjun took out that treasure ship.

"I still have some things to do, rather urgent."

Shen Yi politely declined the other's kind offer. Just now, while Sect Master Deng was venting his emotions, An Yi had already slain several Glazed Green Phoenixes and obtained some information from those phoenix demons.

Having said that, the ink-dark robe on his body fluttered lightly, and his entire figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

"……"

Deng Xiangjun stood silently at the ship's bow, and after a moment looked toward Su Hongxiu: "He did say he'd try to be careful just now, right?"

What exactly did he be careful about? It was just leaving himself, the one with a head full of fog — what difference was there from before?

But just from the aura Shen Yi had let slip when he left, Deng Xiangjun had come to understand what it meant to have Earth realm cultivation that suppresses the five weapons. Looking across Hongze, as long as he didn't provoke those few Heaven realm powerhouses, there shouldn't be any problems.

"If not for this kind of temperament, he wouldn't have been able to walk out of General Nanyang's blessed land, nor would he have entered the sight of you gentlemen."

Su Hongxiu gazed from afar in the direction Shen Yi had left, pondered for a long while, and finally let out a soft sigh.

She deeply regretted not having crossed swords with Sect Master Shen back when she was in Nanhong, so much so that now, she didn't even have the qualification to draw a sword in front of him.

……

West Hong, Yunhe Sect.

Ji Jingxi hovered outside the sect gate, her expression as usual, with only a few barely perceptible hints of coldness hidden in her eyes.

She put away the tightly gripped jade tablet and slightly adjusted her mood.

All's well is all that matters, all's well is all that matters.

"Apologies, some matters on the road caused a delay."

She cast her gaze toward the great formation ahead, and soon, several figures emerged from within.

The Yunhe Sect Master personally came out to greet her, cupping his hands: "I didn't expect it to be Qingyue Sect's Senior Ji coming in person, this old man is quite flustered, please, please come in."

"Has the Glazed Green Phoenix arrived?"

Ji Jingxi didn't move, but swept her gaze around. She saw that the area around Yunhe Sect was utterly quiet, with no trace of any fighting at all.

"Speaking of that old phoenix demon, this junior is also greatly puzzled."

The Yunhe Sect Master knit his brow: "It came in with a ferocious momentum, looking like it was going to fight us to the death, yet it circled around outside the blessed land, never truly making a move. Just a few days ago, I had prepared to use the sect-protecting great formation to battle it to the death, but it simply left…"

"Many thanks to Senior Ji for making the trip personally."

The Yunhe Sect Master kept his posture extremely low — besides Ji Jingxi's terrifying realm cultivation, it was also because he felt the other's mood seemed somewhat off.

"Please come into the sect and rest for a while."

Several Yunhe Sect elders didn't dare to lift their heads at all. Set off by that white robe, this Senior Ji in no way failed to live up to the fame of the Qingyue Fairy of those years — even after so many years, she had actually gained even more charm than back then.

"……"

Ji Jingxi closed her eyes and finished digesting the information, and a few hints of a smile gradually appeared on her cold, clear face.

Her thick lashes trembled lightly, and when she opened her eyes again, her gaze was already as clear as a bright moon, carrying the indifference of one who illuminates the great marsh.

How wonderful indeed.

The Seven Sons of Nanhong have been dormant for so many years that now even any random cat or dog dares to come out and play tricks.

Such a clumsy ploy of luring the tiger from the mountain — what is it for? The information transmitted by the jade tablet had already made it very clear.

The beasts of West Hong dare to scheme against her General Nanyang Sect Master.

Once and again, twice and thrice.

This time it's An Tingfeng, next time who will it be? The West Long Gong? Or North Hong?

Ji Jingxi didn't dare to gamble, nor could she afford to lose.

The Seven Sons of Nanhong might, until their very end, never again encounter a Sect Master with talent like Shen Yi's.

Even a clay figure has three parts of fire; the Qingyue also has its edge.

"No need to rest."

Ji Jingxi withdrew her gaze, her slender, pale-white fingers casually gripping lightly toward the void.

In an instant, everywhere her gaze could reach, a cold, clear moonlight descended, like strands of crystalline silk thread.

Immediately after, the cry of a phoenix rang out.

Under the binding of that moonlight, the lingering aura gathered into a struggling azure phoenix. It beat its wings desperately, yet was still forcibly restrained within that slender palm.

"Hiss."

The Shen Zongzhu of Yunhe Sect instinctively retreated two steps.

The Shen Zongzhu of Yu Nanhong's Qizide Sect had used Heavenly Realm methods in West Hong — it absolutely could not escape the ears and eyes of the West Long Gong.

That old phoenix demon had merely circled twice outside Yunhe Sect, yet it was deemed worthy of being hunted by a Heavenly Realm expert — one could say its ancestral grave was smoking with fortune.

Bai Shan swayed slightly, and the woman unhurriedly stepped forward.

Her entire figure melted into the moonlight.

Qin Shixiong had once taught that, relying on the face given by the East Long Gong to squeeze into the first tier of Hongze, didn't count as one's own ability — it was just a pretty facade, and when meeting a true expert, one kick would shatter it to pieces.

True majesty could only be forged through strength and the lives of one's enemies.

……

Between the azure sky and the emerald sea.

A massive, resplendently beautiful azure demon phoenix leisurely flapped its wings. This pledge of allegiance had come rather easily — with the strength of that Yunhe whelp, it didn't dare leave its sect to confront her.

Now she only needed to return to the waters and wait for news from An Tingfeng.

If her own young son had truly been killed by that Shen Zongzhu of General Nanyang, then it would count as vengeance.

Just then, this glazed-azure phoenix's entire body suddenly stiffened, then its head thrashed wildly. White smoke drifted from the back of its skull, as if a wisp of demon soul had been stripped away.

Screech—

A piercing phoenix cry exploded in the air.

This azure phoenix patriarch only felt a splitting headache, yet dared not pause for even a moment. It instantly accelerated the flapping of its wings, and its body suddenly shot forth.

At the same time it cried out for help: "Which senior have I offended! Please make it clear to me!"

In truth, the azure phoenix patriarch already had a guess in its heart — it simply refused to believe it… that the rumored fallen Qizide Sect of Nanhong actually still possessed such strength and boldness!

They dare show their faces in West Hong — aren't they afraid of provoking the wariness of the West Long Gong?!

The azure phoenix patriarch was a peak Earth-Realm great demon. Under its full-speed flight, even heaven and earth seemed to shrink into insignificance.

Yet no matter where it fled, it always felt a pair of eyes watching it from the sky.

Until, in its panicked flight, it crashed violently through a Gaoshan. The enormous azure phoenix tumbled twice in the air, then suddenly felt itself quietly locked onto by an aura.

It tremblingly raised its head, only to see the stacked white clouds in the sky slowly part.

It was clearly the middle of the day, yet behind those clouds hung a crescent moon condensed from clear radiance.

At the end of her gaze.

The woman in Bai Shan approached unhurriedly. On that exquisitely beautiful face, the gaze from those calm eyes, to the azure phoenix patriarch, was like a death warrant that made its liver and gall crack with terror.

That's not right! This doesn't match at all what Lord Qi said…

"Senior of Qingyue Sect! Your sect's Dao Child and Shen Zongzhu are in trouble — you should be going to save them! How… how could you come looking for me?"

The azure phoenix patriarch let out a shriek. It was certain it had calculated the timing extremely accurately, and besides, compared to cultivators of Nanhong, how could the other party possibly care more about the people of Yunhe Sect?

"……"

Ji Jingxi did not respond, merely raised her palm.

In an instant, that extra crescent moon in the sky suddenly plummeted down, like a great executioner's blade, aimed straight at the azure phoenix patriarch's slender neck.

She withdrew her palm, while the azure phoenix trembled all over and let out the sharpest wail of its life.

The moon blade had not yet fully fallen, yet it seemed both sides could already see the outcome.

Suddenly, Ji Jingxi raised her eyes once more and looked back.

Beneath the moon blade, at some unknown moment, an additional dark-gold ceremonial robe had appeared. A petite figure was shrouded within it, the face hidden by a hood, its specific features impossible to make out.

Facing the falling enormous moon wheel, even everything around it blurred.

Yet she merely tilted her head slightly, suspended above the azure phoenix, and punched toward the sky!

A fair, delicate palm collided with that sky-obscuring white crescent moon.

A thunderous roar like a great bell rang out across the entire waters. The crescent moon suddenly shattered into fragments of clear radiance, shrouding the surroundings entirely in Bai Mang.

"Whoosh."

Ji Jingxi gazed at this figure that had appeared without a sound, and at the other's attire, recalling what Zi Xian had once said.

Her red lips parted slightly: "Wan Yao Dian?"

"……"

Though An Yi did not respond, she slowly lowered her arms, indicating she bore no ill intent.

Between the azure sky and the emerald sea.

Bai Shan swayed, the dark-gold ceremonial robe billowed, and two figures gazed at each other from afar.

"Wan Yao Dian, Wan Yao Dian… Thank you, my lord of the hall! For this life-saving grace, this little demon will repay you with death!"

The azure phoenix finally came to its senses, nearly scared out of its wits. It kowtowed forcefully twice, then turned and beat its wings to flee.

Ji Jingxi calmly watched the azure phoenix flee away.

Finally, she turned her gaze back to that petite figure, pressed her lips together, and said: "You kill whomever you wish to kill, save whomever you wish to save — what magnificent authority indeed."

"……"

An Yi remained silent. She glanced at the clear radiance gradually gathering around her.

Then she retreated half a step, transforming into a streak of flowing light that shot upward. Those strands of clear radiance, which could trap the azure phoenix patriarch's demon soul out of thin air, regarded this flowing light as if it were nothing, utterly unable to impede it in the slightest.

Ji Jingxi clenched her five fingers, yet found herself completely unable to gather the other's lingering aura as she had before.

She stared at her empty palm, a little lost in thought.

What Senior Zi Xian said was right — this newly arrived force in West Hong, its methods and degree of mystery, were probably far beyond what they could imagine.

(End of chapter)