Chapter 682: Each Has Their Own Fortune

"General Qianqing, this subordinate will take men and escort him back to the Heavenly Court right now."

Youyunshan, who had previously been unwilling to leave, now volunteered of his own accord and hauled Shi Yong, who was bound hand and foot, to his feet.

The one surnamed Shi and the Qingluan Immortal General came from the same lineage—this was the kind of matter that offended people—and he did not have the habit of handing it off to subordinates.

"Go."

Lady Qinghua gave a slight nod of her chin, then rose into the air and came to stand behind Shen Yi.

Compared to the matter of Shi Yong, the master and servant had only just reunited after great difficulty; she wanted to look at her master a while longer.

From Outside Qingzhou onward, she had always been by the young man's side, witnessing with her own eyes how he had made his way here.

Even though the formidable foe before her was now countless times more vicious than back then, in the presence of her master there was still no difference at all.

"You've worked hard."

Shen Yi did not turn his head, merely offering a word of comfort through his divine sense.

"To guard the Dao for my lord, I would face ten thousand deaths without regret."

Lady Qinghua pressed down hard on the corners of her mouth that tried to lift; the fighting of these past days suddenly seemed to have gained meaning.

She deliberated for a moment, then, with some worry, replied through divine sense as well: "But that Qingluan…"

Hearing this, Shen Yi fell silent, raised his eyes, and looked toward the heavens.

It was only just now that he suddenly realized he had been walking into a misconception all along.

Namely, he had misjudged the value of the "empty title" Ye Lan had bestowed upon him.

If he had kept acting in his previous manner, that empty title would soon have been squandered by his own hand.

The reasoning was also very simple.

No peak master would be so cautious; every one of them stood among the upper echelons of this realm and had no need to worry about so many things.

Being too low-key would instead arouse suspicion—as if one had something to hide.

Better to step forward openly and without concealment.

Even if the Qingluan Immortal General harbored doubts, she would only turn her gaze toward Divine Void Mountain, not toward him personally—enough to buy him a stretch of days in which to grow.

"Huu."

Shen Yi lazily stretched out both arms. With the name of Divine Void Mountain outside and General Yan Lanting helping bear the pressure within, he had suddenly leaned against two great trees at once, and it was a considerable relief.

But he could not be too careless either; after all, too many accidents could happen in this world, and he needed to use this period to prepare sufficient reserves to deal with them.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the panel.

【Slain fifth-rank Locust Immortal, total lifespan 127 kalpas, remaining lifespan 63 kalpas, absorption complete】

【Slain fifth-rank Willow Immortal, total lifespan 117 kalpas, remaining lifespan 58 kalpas, absorption complete】

……

Worthy of beings who had cultivated from plants—their lifespan had evidently doubled, and one could only imagine how envious the other living creatures must be.

At this moment, the windfall had fallen to Shen Yi.

【Remaining demon lifespan: 294 kalpas】

Such a bountiful harvest nearly made Shen Yi want to stay here, but it was only a thought. As the greatest demon kings in the vicinity of Jiming Mountain, the fall of the Five Sages of Qingyun would surely make the surrounding demons flee in terror and not dare show their heads again for some time.

As for entering the Eight Extremes Valley alone…

Shen Yi was only short on demon lifespan, not yet at the point of seeking death.

That Star Lord from earlier held the rank of Vice third-rank, and his strength might well have rivaled that Seven-Treasure Bodhisattva of the time. Even he had failed to completely wipe out the Eight Extremes Valley—how could a fifth-rank cultivator casually stroll about in such a place?

"I'll leave a Cloud Ox for you to command. Take good care of yourself."

Shen Yi left the Puti Sect Luo Han Suppressing Stone near Jiming Mountain; with its fruit-position cultivation of three hundred kalpas, it counted as a decent aid.

Lady Qinghua had slain five Taiyi Demon Immortals—merit of this caliber was bound to earn reward. If she could remain in the Eight Extremes Valley, it would be a steady supply line of demon lifespan.

It happened that Xishan Prefecture was not far from here either; should anything arise, she could lend a hand.

After giving his instructions, Shen Yi no longer hesitated and stepped straight into the Grand Void and departed.

He still had to digest the demon lifespan he had earned.

As more and more demon lifespan poured into the Dragon Tiger Great Scripture, Shen Yi could feel the changes within with ever greater clarity.

That spontaneous whim from back then—using the chains of kalpa-force to bind the Dragon and Tiger to himself, wandering the world with the two beasts, weathering calamities together—had lent a certain flavor of "universal salvation" to the Dragon Tiger fruit-position.

Shen Yi was very curious to know what it would look like once the thousand-kalpa great-rank fruit-position was perfected and he successfully stepped into fourth-rank.

"……"

Lady Qinghua watched her master depart, stood in place deep in thought for a long while, and finally turned and descended among the many heavenly soldiers and generals at Jiming Mountain.

"Congratulations, General Qianqing!"

The chorus of congratulations was unending, yet not the slightest trace of arrogance appeared on Lady Qinghua's face; she remained as even-tempered as before.

That temperament in itself was nothing special, but it depended on who one was compared against.

Compared with those many immortal houses whose backgrounds were equally extraordinary yet who wished their eyes could grow right on their foreheads, a superior like this—one who attended to matters personally and carried no arrogance—was truly hard to find even with a lantern in hand.

As for Shi Yong… he had it coming, that was all!

After offering their early congratulations to General Qianqing, the heavenly soldiers returned to their original posts to garrison the area.

The fall of the Five Sages of Qingyun, and the terrifying aura that had spilled out during the fighting, finally brought a few days of quiet to the area around Jiming Mountain.

Forget demons, not even a single living soul was to be seen.

At least until the next great demon arrived to take over here, it would be hard for any mishap to occur at this Jiming Mountain checkpoint.

The crowd had not waited long for a demon, but they did welcome the arrival of that Star Lord.

General General Qi Feng descended like a falling star; the moment his form appeared, his gaze swept the surroundings with a cold, piercing glint.

Seeing the devastation strewn across the ground and sensing the lingering aura left behind after the demons' fall, he finally relaxed his brow, then turned to look at Lady Qinghua, who stood nearby offering respectful salutations.

He then also saw the five spirit branches she produced—taken respectively from the pine, bamboo, locust, poplar, and willow.

General Qi Feng was silent for a moment. Though his expression remained stern, a rare hint of a smile crept into his voice: "Decent moves."

"Decent" meant that this immortal general, banished from the Heavenly Court, had finally used concrete action to patch up his last shortcoming.

Being ostracized without anger, still dutifully carrying out his post — it might not be a sign of good temperament; it could simply be fear.

But when someone already possesses decent ability and can still do this, it can only prove that this person is indeed a promising seedling.

"Many thanks to the Divine Lord for the praise." Lady Qinghua replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

"This lord has no leisure to flatter anyone."

General Qi Feng raised a brow and scoffed: "I only meant to say — having just descended and already earned such a large batch of merit, you may not get promoted, but it's certainly enough to fill in those crimes on your head. Well? Have you already planned to be transferred back to the Heavenly Court?"

To this Divine Lord's surprise, Lady Qinghua gently shook her head: "This subordinate carries no crimes. As for where to serve, I leave it entirely to the Immortal Court's arrangement."

Hearing this, General Qi Feng narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up and down at the Golden Body dharma-form, more than ten zhang tall.

After a long while, he said slowly: "I don't care what grudge lies between you, nor what trivial, filthy business it is. You need only remember — within the Immortal Court, the Zhengshen Sect holds dominion over the turning of heaven and earth. All others, whether from the Three Immortals or the Puti Sect, are merely assistants."

"What we seek is the clear distinction of yin and yang, and the stability of heaven and earth."

"I advise you to set aside those polite niceties and think clearly before you speak."

Everyone in the Immortal Court knew the Zhengshen Sect's temperament — putting on such empty gestures before them was utterly pointless.

"Everything this subordinate says is the truth." Lady Qinghua raised her eyes, her expression calm.

"Fine." General Qi Feng said no more. With a sweep of his great hand: "Since that's the case, you can't go back now. This lord intends to borrow you from Qingluan for a time, to continue guarding the Eight Extremities Valley. Go send someone to inform him."

Having said this, he swept his gaze over the heavenly soldiers: "Of course, the person stays here, but the merit must still be counted. Tell him — since this young general is now handling affairs for this lord, if so much as half a share of the credit is shortchanged, don't blame this lord for paying a personal visit to his palace to ask questions."

When these words fell, even the most socially clueless heavenly soldiers, after a brief daze, revealed looks of shock.

General General General Ganqing had actually caught the eye of the Zhengshen Sect — and a third-rank Divine Lord whose strength rivaled Bodhisattvas and Grand Luo Immortal Reverents?!

Of course, given the Zhengshen Sect's temperament, they certainly wouldn't offer any benefits.

But once taken notice of by them, General General General Ganqing would face no further targeting within the Immortal Court, and no one would dare make things difficult for him.

"This subordinate... obeys... obeys the order!"

The quicker-witted immortal generals hurriedly bowed to receive the decree, and when they looked at Lady Qinghua again, the light in their eyes had already undergone an earth-shattering change.

Serving in the Immortal Court, the most important thing was to weave oneself into those countless threads of connection and find a place that could contain oneself. And now, their general finally had a stance.

That was, standing on the highest and most righteous side of the Immortal Court!

Though holding that position steady still depended on future performance, this was already an opening others could only dream of.

"Many thanks, Divine Lord."

Lady Qinghua gently exhaled a breath. It seemed... she could now help her master even more.

……

Immortal Court, within a towering, cold, and austere palace.

Qingluan sat high upon the Immortal Terrace, with Hongjing beside him for company. Within the palace, several immortal officials stood bowing, with plaques reading "Demon-Slayer" hanging at their waists.

Although Hongjing had already spent several days with Qingluan, at this moment his expression still grew somewhat awkward.

The Immortal Court had its Demon-Slaying Platform — usually used to behead great demons captured and brought back from the lower realms. But occasionally, a few immortal cultivators who had committed grave crimes and fallen into the demonic path were also dragged up.

One slash of the blade, and the head would fall, the Dao would dissipate, the body would perish, the soul would scatter — not even a chance at reincarnation and re-cultivation.

Though such things were uncommon, they were hardly shocking.

The source of Hongjing's awkwardness was that this was the first time such a criminal immortal had appeared under Qingluan's command — and precisely when Qingluan was at the height of his fame, it rather damaged his reputation.

The few Demon-Slaying Platform immortal officials braced themselves and finished reading Shi Yong's charges, then fell silent.

The entire palace was deathly still, like a dead domain.

Qingluan closed his eyes in feigned sleep, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

And far from the palace, on a towering jade pillar, thick chains were bound, swaying faintly. The tinkling sounds they emitted were like a soul-soothing bell, and the entire Demon-Slaying Platform was steeped in an air of stern slaughter.

Upon one jade platform, the Immortal-Binding Rope on Shi Yong had already been replaced with chains connected to the platform itself.

Disheveled and wild, he howled: "I was acting on orders! It was that Bimawen who made trouble out of nothing — dissatisfied with Uncle-Master Qingluan's arrangements, he wanted to get rid of me to vent his spite!"

"You can't kill me!"

"Immortal General Qingluan is my very own Uncle-Master! If you don't believe me, go ask him! Go on, go!"

In Qingluan's palace, the listeners at this howling all gave a small cough and shifted their gazes away.

"……"

Qingluan slowly opened his eyes and gazed calmly outside the palace.

He lightly raised his palm: "My thanks for your efforts, gentlemen."

"Then shall we..." the immortal officials raised their heads and asked tentatively.

That palm fell once more, and within the palace only Qingluan's utterly placid voice remained.

"Behead."

Accompanying his words, upon the distant Demon-Slaying Platform—

The heavenly soldiers' faces were blank. The great blade in their hands fell with practiced ease, blood splashed upward, and the howling at their ears cut off abruptly.

Shi Yong's head, one eye wide and bulging, frozen with an expression of disbelief, thudded to the ground with a clack — and was utterly lifeless.

He stared fixedly ahead, as if he could see through the white clouds and Xianshan to the people within Qingluan's palace.

"We take our leave."

The immortal officials bowed and withdrew, leaving the palace in orderly fashion.

When only the two of them remained, Hongjing hesitated a long while before saying: "Just like that, beheaded? He was your fellow disciple's nephew, served under you for years, and acted on your written order. If this gets out, it'll chill some hearts. Might the sect have objections to you?"

If it were any other time, it wouldn't matter.

After all, Qingluan's reputation for iron-faced impartiality was well known. When something like this cropped up under his command, handling it cleanly and decisively would only prove his integrity.

But now it was different — many people knew Qingluan was investigating the matter of his mount.

To be so protective of a mount yet treat a junior disciple under one's command this way... it hardly makes sense.

"I ordered him to observe Qian Qing, not to flee the battlefield and sow discord among the troops."

Qing Luan's expression remained calm, seemingly indifferent to these matters. He fetched paper and brush, meticulously recorded Qian Qing's merits, then sent someone to deliver them to the Immortal Court.

"..."

Hong Jing gritted his teeth. He had gotten too close to Qing Luan; even if he felt some regret in his heart, there was no turning back now.

After pondering for a moment, he finally spoke to advise: "Perhaps we should just let it go. You lost a Purple-Bearded White Dragon of the Heavenly Immortal realm, and I lost one that was once a Luo Han of the Puti Sect. Didn't I endure that? If this continues, it truly becomes improper."

At first, he thought Qing Luan was acting completely recklessly, but now he found the other's speculation was not without reason.

However... even if the guess was correct, it was hardly worth it!

From the report of You Yunshan, the Bimawen truly had the Shenxu Mountain behind him.

"I am investigating according to the law. What is improper about that?"

Qing Luan didn't even lift his eyelids, fetching paper and brush again, writing something unknown.

"You!" Hong Jing was stunned, his face full of helplessness.

He spoke correctly; Qing Luan indeed broke no rules, but how the other truly thought in his heart, others might not know, but he himself was not unclear?

If this were a mere ordinary investigation, on what grounds did the Bimawen come out of the Imperial Stables, do nothing, and yet become a Sixth-Rank Immortal General?

Suffering a silent defeat at the hands of Shenxu Mountain would not be shameful if it were spread abroad.

Is this grievance so hard to endure?

"Who is this letter for?" Hong Jing sighed inwardly; the other was two ranks higher in office, so he could only say this much.

"Shenxu Mountain." Qing Luan carefully sealed the letter and stamped it with the great seal.

"..."

Hong Jing had become completely disheartened.

They are a prestigious Great Immortal Sect, with their Ancestor in his prime; they are not some broken household that anyone can bully. Why would they even care about you?

Though he thought this, he still stood up, took the letter, and said: "I will deliver it."

Let's just hope this is the last time.

With calamity about to rise, Hong Jing had originally thought his judgment was good, having chosen a future backer capable of rising amidst the calamity, but if he continued to entangle himself over that White Dragon, the other would truly be ruined.

He took the envelope, turned, and transformed into a streak of light, darting toward the mortal world.

And just then, atop the eight peaks surrounding Shenxu Mountain.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang stood at the cliff edge, hands clasped behind his back.

Liu Ruifeng, who had completely lost his spirit, followed his father with a dejected expression.

Since Shen Yi refined that Ten-Calamity Flawless Void Origin Treasure Pill, his value had plummeted; he had completely lost his former glory, degenerating into an ordinary third-generation disciple, unable to maintain the airs of a Peak Lord before his fellow disciples.

"Cultivate diligently. Do not let an opportunity come and find yourself powerless to seize it."

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang gazed silently at the sky.

"Where is there any opportunity left..." Liu Ruifeng smiled bitterly; in that small courtyard, statues had been set up once again.

Though not that detestable former Peak Lord, it was not himself either, but had become a young man with an even more loathsome face, causing him to toss and turn sleepless whenever he thought of it, wishing to swallow his flesh and blood alive!

"Hmm?"

Just then, the father and son suddenly sensed a disturbance and looked up together.

They saw Jin Guang streaking through the sky, carrying the aura of the Immortal Court, landing straight down between the eight peaks of Shenxu.

"General Hong Jing arrives to visit Shenxu!"

Accompanied by a voice that was upright and profound, spiritual fluctuations arose from all eight peaks, revealing goodwill, yet showing no intention of welcoming a true Immortal General inside.

The Immortal Official's dignity was strong, but the Shenxu Mountain of the Sanxian Sect was no small sect; on the contrary, due to various open and hidden struggles within the sect, mutual caution was a very normal thing.

"Hong Jing carries the personal decree of General Xuanwei of Qing Luan. He has an immediate affinity with the Peak Lord of your sect's Alchemy Peak and wishes to make friends, with no other mission in hand."

Hong Jing's voice rang out again from within the Jin Guang.

Yet the other seven peaks still politely refused.

When someone from the Heavenly Court arrives, unless they display a true Immortal Edict, one pushes them away whenever possible; this is also why Hong Jing did not at all favor this matter.

Just then, a figure suddenly streaked up from the sixth peak.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang, wearing a gentle smile, said faintly: "Please invite the Immortal General to enter the peak for a conversation."

(End of this chapter)