Chapter 620: Since You Refuse to See the Blue Heavens, Then Come See Me, Shen Yi

The night was deep and still.

An unremarkable, unnamed hilltop marked the border between West Hong and North Hong.

At this moment, an old man with a cane stood at the edge of the mountain, his expression serene as he gazed into the distance.

It was clearly a low hill, and the old man himself appeared small due to his withered, hunched frame, yet merely standing there in such quiet stillness, he somehow radiated a towering, majestic presence — one that overlooked the mortal world and watched the winds of fate with calm detachment.

"The East Long Gong, having received an invitation from the West Long Wang, is currently investigating the matter of the Wan Yao Dian. Please accept our apologies, Senior Lu."

Behind the old man, Ziyang bowed with cupped fists, appearing unhurried and composed, but only his tightly clenched hands and his sweaty palms betrayed just how solemn this Crown Prince of the East Palace — a man at the peak of the Heavenly Realm — truly was at this moment.

He still remembered that ten thousand years ago, when Lu Xiao's faction controlled only seven treasure lands, seeing him had required polite reciprocation.

But in the span of mere years, the Liangdaohuang Sect had seized upon the calamity of slaughter to vault itself into a colossal power on par with the North Long Gong and the East Long Gong, and the man before him had successfully stepped into the Dao Realm, forever changing the balance.

Now, meeting again, the status between the two had long since undergone earth-shattering changes.

"…"

The old man gave no response, turning slowly to look back, his eyes revealing neither joy nor anger.

Under that gaze, Crown Prince Ziyang's body suddenly sank downward; he bit hard on the tip of his tongue to steady his spirit, his essence and blood surging throughout his body, and finally managed to straighten himself upright once more — though he was already drenched in sweat from head to toe.

He knit his brows tightly, refusing to retreat even half a step.

This was the exchange Shen Yi had made with the East Long Gong using two dragon seals. Although Lu Xiao's personal arrival had somewhat taken Ziyang by surprise, since a promise had been made, it had to be carried out.

Just then, from within the drifting clouds in the sky, a sharp and enormous head suddenly poked out — like a mountain suspended in midair, its jet-black scales faintly glowing, and its slightest exhale, when it fell upon the world, was like the rumble of thunder.

"Hiss."

Ziyang slightly raised his eyes, his heart pounding violently.

He admitted that the commotion Shen Yi had stirred up was enormous, great enough to draw Lu Xiao out personally — but why had Qi Tianya come as well?

Ziyang could guarantee that the affairs of West Hong had absolutely not spread to the north.

The Shen Zongzhu of the Liangdaohuang Sect and the King of the North Long Gong were truly the Immortal's left and right arms; now that both had emerged in West Hong, had the Immortal set his sights upon this place?

The black dragon swept a cold glance at Ziyang, then headed straight toward the depths of West Hong.

In this land of Hongze, apart from the immortal himself, no one could simultaneously hold back these two Dao Realm beings.

"Senior, please wait!"

Watching the old man before him take a step, Ziyang instinctively moved to intercept, but the instant his right foot lifted, he felt his heart seized viciously by an invisible hand, as though it would shatter in the very next breath.

His face went deathly pale, he gasped for breath in great gulps, and could only watch helplessly as Lu Xiao walked past him.

In an instant, a piercing dragon cry suddenly rang out across the sky.

"Roooar—"

A white dragon of equally massive, boundless form was seen rolling out from the clouds; as its purple whiskers streamed in the wind, its sharp claws pressed down viciously upon that black dragon.

Boom!

The two terrifying giant dragons collided and plummeted together toward the ground below.

Qi Tianya revealed his human form, his ten-zhang-tall body stumbling back several steps, while on the other side, a middle-aged man in blue robes pressed two fingers to his lips and coughed lightly twice.

"In the short span of recent days, three Weifen Sect masters of my Liangdaohuang Sect have gone missing in West Hong, and we have also detected unusual movements in the ancestral stele — that is why I have come to investigate the truth. The North Long Wang merely accompanies me."

"Yet I wonder why the East Long Wang would block our way?"

Faced with such a sudden turn of events, Lu Xiao slowly tightened his grip on the cane in his hand, yet did not take another step forward.

The Dao Realm was the endpoint of merging with the Dao; logically, there should be no distinction of high or low between those within it.

But facing this purple-whiskered white dragon — whose demon body rivaled the Dao Realm, who had once traveled through Shenzhou, and who had even sat in on lectures outside the Sanxian Sect to study its arts — Lu Xiao still felt a deep, instinctive wariness.

"I am handling matters here, and I require half a month's time."

True Person Zixuan lowered his hand and gave a brief reply, offering no explanation of the whys and wherefores; he merely cast his gaze upon the two men, and his meaning was already perfectly clear.

"You handle your affairs — what has it to do with us?" Qi Tianya flicked his sleeve and glanced downward.

Although today's matter truly had nothing to do with him, still…

Once he had lost half a measure to this one surnamed Zi; now that he had gained the immortal's favor, if he still feared the man, wouldn't these hundred thousand years of running errands for the immortal have been for nothing?

Hearing this, True Person Zixuan smiled faintly, then slightly turned his body aside, gesturing for the other to proceed.

"…"

Qi Tianya narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly stepped forward.

True Person Zixuan still wore that smile, but the hand hidden within his sleeve suddenly formed a sword-finger gesture.

Neither had stirred their demon power, yet the entire sky instantly grew thick and viscous; Crown Prince Ziyang, caught within it, felt even breathing become unbearably difficult, his face gradually flushing red.

"Half a month, then half a month."

Lu Xiao suddenly spoke, breaking the standoff between the two, and at the same time shot Qi Tianya a look, transmitting by voice: "Enough. You and I together naturally wouldn't fear him, but his daughter is on duty up in the heavens — do you really dare to wound him?"

"Something's off. He's hiding something." Qi Tianya's expression was cold and indifferent.

"If he's hiding something, let him hide it. We go back and report to the immortal — why waste words with him here?"

Lu Xiao withdrew his gaze, left behind only a single sentence, then turned and transformed into a streak of light heading toward North Hong.

"In half a month, I shall return to West Hong. I hope that by then the East Long Wang can do me the favor of not further damaging the harmony between old friends."

Qi Tianya stared deeply at True Person Zixuan, let out a cold laugh, and likewise turned, transforming into a black dragon that vanished into the clouds.

Once the area returned to normal—

"Hah!"

Crown Prince Ziyang finally dropped onto his backside on the ground, gnashing his teeth in vexation. He was only that single step away from the Dao Realm himself — when that time came, he would cross swords with these two undying old things once more.

He wiped away his cold sweat and looked at his father with admiration.

Talk about half a month — tsk, yesterday was already the seventh day!

Counting the time, the Immortal Court should have already finished reading the petition; the immortal soldiers coming to take them away might well already be on the way.

"Look."

True Person Zi Xuan stood with hands hanging at his sides, lost in thought for a long while, before finally walking forward and gently stroking the back of his son's head, signaling him to look up at the sky.

"Huh?" Zi Yang stared at the empty sky, confused: "Look at what?"

True Person Zi Xuan's smile deepened as he exhaled slowly.

He fixed his gaze on a faint golden light amid the dawn, watching it plummet from the horizon like an arrow piercing through the night.

"It's dawn."

……

Bei Hong, abode of the Immortals.

The Black Dragon and Flowing Light descended simultaneously before the hall, transforming into two human forms.

Having a daughter serve in the heavens is indeed an extraordinary matter, but given Hongze Daxian's nature, how could he tolerate something beyond his control beneath his very eyes?

Qi Tianya stepped into the hall first, followed closely by Lü Xiao.

Both saw the figure seated beneath the clear qi; since the Golden Body's form had been brought back to Bei Hong, the Immortal had lost all other interests, and today was no different.

They waited in silence for him to finish, completely ignoring the Immortal's act of brute appropriation—the Golden Body had already fallen unconscious, and thus remained unusually still.

The Immortal was Hongze's parent; therefore, everything in this place rightfully belonged to him.

Until, beneath the clear qi, the Immortal finally opened his eyes.

"Your Divine Excellency, we have urgent matters to report…"

Qi Tianya and Lü Xiao stepped forward together, but the Immortal waved his sleeve lightly to interrupt: "No rush—first, come with me to visit an old friend."

"An old friend?"

The two exchanged glances—was there anyone in Hongze who could be called such by him?

Could it be another Divine Excellency had descended here?

Hongze Daxian rose calmly and walked toward the hall's exit, but as he passed the desk, he casually picked up a jade-sealed scroll lying upon it.

The golden light upon the jade seal had not yet fully faded.

This proved the object had indeed come from the heavens.

Hongze Daxian smiled as he brushed away the lingering golden radiance, stepped out of the Immortal Hall, and a white cloud surged beneath his feet, carrying him eastward.

In an instant, ten thousand li passed; when his form settled, he stood before a hall resembling a schoolhouse.

Beneath the clear qi, he sat cross-legged before the main seat and leisurely flipped through the scrolls on the desk.

Qi Tianya and Lü Xiao exchanged uneasy glances, unsure why the Immortal had brought them to Donglong Palace—but since he said nothing, they remained silent, standing on either side like attendants.

As time passed…

Several figures burst in joyfully, chattering like children as they clustered around the middle-aged man in blue robes, then fell utterly silent the moment they entered the hall.

"Back already?"

Hongze Daxian lifted his gaze slightly, closed the scroll in his hand, and smiled: "What were you discussing? So cheerful."

Zi Yang's face turned instantly pale; beside him, Zi Xian clutched Lady Zilan tightly to her chest, staring ahead with deep wariness.

"Ah."

True Person Zi Xuan's smile slowly faded.

Hongze Daxian picked up the jade seal and shook it lightly, his tone playful: "Are you discussing this?"

"Huh."

At the sight of the familiar jade seal, Zi Yang nearly fainted—his breath stopped, his whole body trembled as he shut his eyes tight.

Even when facing two Dao Realm cultivators together, he had never shown such despair—but now, a crushing sense of suffocation rose in his chest.

True Person Zi Xuan reached out to soothe his son, then looked up: "…"

"Is it hard to understand? You clearly saw the Heavenly Court's movements—how could it turn out like this?"

Hongze Daxian remained seated, his smile slowly vanishing: "Because you're foolish, incapable, and destined to linger in a place like this your whole life."

"So you simply cannot comprehend how a mount could rise higher and higher until it gained the authority to handle the Immortal Officials' memorials."

The Immortal's voice was not loud, yet it struck like a drumbeat into every heart.

Even Qi Tianya and Lü Xiao wore expressions of shock.

"Do you know why I never opened this jade seal?"

"Because I wanted you to see it with me."

Hongze Daxian slowly rose and carefully unsealed the jade scroll.

Clear qi spread through the hall, transforming it into a celestial realm.

Within the clear qi, a woman dressed in exquisite splendor sat behind a jade table, her gaze cold and detached, like a celestial being descended from heaven—unreachable and untouchable. With her ivory fingers, she lifted the jade seal, painstakingly delivered to the Heavenly Court, bearing the triple dragon seals of the Three Hong, representing the will of countless living beings.

Seeing the familiar handwriting on the petition…

A flicker of emotion crossed her features, but vanished instantly, replaced by calm.

Then, with clear disdain, she tossed the jade seal forward onto the table, her soft voice echoing through the hall.

"Rejected. Hongze. Let the local Immortal Official handle it."

As her words faded, the jade seal snapped shut with a soft *pata* and landed on the table.

True Person Zi Xuan stared at the familiar face for a long while, then suddenly let out a quiet laugh, a faint self-derision in his eyes: "So that's how it is."

The other young ones wore blank, numb expressions.

Zi Xian's fingers trembled violently, yet her throat felt blocked—she could only emit a faint, choked sob.

"I have never met a woman so capable—collaborating with her is truly a blessing for me, Shi."

Hongze Daxian turned his gaze to the old dragon before him, his hair streaked with white, and sighed: "Her greatest flaw is having a father who constantly seeks to destroy her."

"Tell me—she grows better, and so do we—but you harbor malice. Shouldn't you be dead?"

Hongze Daxian suddenly raised his hand.

At the same moment, the sky-obscuring Bai Xi opened its eyes amid the vault of heaven.

True Person Zixuan's eyes instantly turned a bloody crimson, his grizzled hair flying up in wild disarray, and scales burst forth one after another from beneath his skin.

From beginning to end, there was not the slightest room to struggle.

He suddenly thrust out a dragon claw, pointing straight at Ziyang's chest, as if about to crush out his own legitimate son's heart with a single palm.

"Ao…"

True Person Zixuan let out a ferocious yet desolate roar—two utterly different emotions blended so perfectly together.

Yet the instant that claw shot out, the head that had already transformed into a dragon's head also lunged forward abruptly, baring a mouth full of fangs, and with all its might bit savagely at the arm.

In a single bite, it severed its own right arm.

It chewed the flesh and blood in a frenzy, and in a muffled voice said: "Run… at least don't die… at your father's hands…"

Ziyang stared blankly at the tears in his father's eyes, his features twisting in an instant. He turned, shifted form, grabbed his sister and niece, and fled madly toward the outside of the hall.

"What's there to run from? I was only joking."

Hongze Daxian suddenly withdrew his spell, and looked at the old dragon kneeling on the ground convulsing desperately with its body bitten to a bloody pulp. With a sigh of feeling, he stepped forward, walked to True Person Zixuan's side, and reached out to pat the other's neck: "You're not the same as the one from before—you're a man with backing. How could I bear to punish you?"

The moment these words fell, Ziyang's steps faltered slightly, a few more shades of hope appearing in his eyes, and he turned his head back trembling to look.

No matter what, as long as his father did not die, he was willing to bear any outcome.

Senior Zi Xian and Zilan also dropped to their knees with a thud.

The next moment, everyone watched as the immortal's face brimmed with a smile, and under the gentle pat of his palm, that savage, bloodstained dragon head slid leisurely down from the neck and rolled twice on the ground with a gurgling sound.

"The punishment is waived, but death is still required."

Hongze Daxian's gentle voice sent a chill of cold dread rising in everyone's heart.

He calmly clenched his fist, stripping a wildly struggling dragon soul from the mangled remains: "Princess Ziling can't bear to let you become a wandering ghost—she wants to take you up to heaven to enjoy the blessings."

"What a filial child indeed. Having a father like you—it's enough to make anyone's heart ache."

"But before going up to heaven to enjoy the blessings, you'll need to behave yourself a little."

Hongze Daxian took out a golden gourd and forcibly stuffed this dragon soul inside.

"Ao!"

A deafening, harrowing shriek suddenly rang out from within the gourd.

The white dragon that had once roamed Shenzhou had such a cowardly side after all—anyone could hear the plea for mercy within that shriek.

Hongze Daxian unhurriedly sealed the stopper tight, muffling the wailing within.

He gave it a gentle shake twice, murmuring: "Patricide would damage her good name, but you're both stupid and vile, so she has no choice but to keep you by her side to set her mind at ease… Ha, basking in your daughter's light—that counts as ascending to heaven too."

Soft laughter spread throughout the great hall.

Lü Xiao and Qi Tianya lowered their heads slightly, their awe of the person before them deepening by another few degrees.

"Enough."

Hongze Daxian reached out, lifted that dragon head, and hung it upon the jade wall at the very center.

"I want ten years of peace and quiet. You will help me wash clean this Hongze. Remember to wash it thoroughly—let nothing of the sort happen again."

"Be off."

He waved his sleeve and walked unhurriedly out of the great hall.

After the immortal departed, Qi Tianya and Lü Xiao swept cold glances over the few people in the hall who stood dumb as wooden chickens, yet the smiles at the corners of their lips could not be concealed no matter what.

Washing Hongze clean once more—merely hearing it was pleasing.

So tell me, what's so bad about being a lapdog?

……

At the same time.

In West Hong, within the Banshan Sect.

Ji Jingxi and the others looked ahead with faces full of confusion.

They saw Shen Yi standing outside the sect gate, quietly raising his eyes to look at the sky.

The bleak horizon was utterly empty—clearly there was nothing there—but everyone sensed that sudden surge of cold, as if it were late autumn, seeping into their very bones.

In Shen Yi's pitch-black pupils, the reflection of a sky-obscuring Bai Xi appeared.

That Bai Xi had awoken and was looking toward the east.

"…"

Shen Yi suddenly smiled, lowered his gaze to his toes, and gently crushed the stone beneath his feet.

He licked his dry lips, and deep within his pupils a faint, almost imperceptible crimson emerged, within which five great halls seemed to shine in concert.

It seemed seven days were not enough to return a clear sky to Hongze.

Then let it be another seven days.

Since words were useless, since pleas were useless, since no clear sky appeared—

Then let a pair of hands return to Hongze a sky dyed blood-red!

(End of this chapter)