Chapter 422: Quickly go summon Lord Mo Chong Lou!

The Nine Springs of Shennong are interconnected.

After Gu Qing arrived in the Divine Realm through the Mist Soul Spring, a figure rushed forward and threw herself into his arms; Gu Qing looked down and saw Su Yu wearing a married woman’s hairpin, her face flushed with excitement, and after a gentle kiss, she calmed down.

“You’ve finally come.”

The goddess Xiyao’s face was identical to Xuejian’s; upon seeing Gu Qing, she spoke with familiar ease.

“This is the guardian of the Chunzi Spring, the goddess Xiyao.”

Gu Qing introduced Xuanxuan and Jing Tian, saying: “To reunite with Su Yu, I used the token granted by the Nine Heavens Goddess to bring Su Yu to the Divine Realm, then sought the goddess Xiyao’s protection for her for a few days.”

Seven days in the Divine Realm equal a thousand years in the mortal world.

After parting from Su Yu, Gu Qing returned to the timeline of Xianjian III; for Su Yu, however, it was merely a temporary stay of two days in the Divine Realm.

“Is that how you ask for a favor?”

Xiyao asked, displeased.

What decent person, upon meeting the goddess, would say first: “Xiyao, you don’t want to never see Feipeng again, do you?”

Gu Qing smiled, naturally intertwining his fingers with Su Yu’s; though their bond had formed rapidly, after leaving Qionghua Sect, they had spent over a year cultivating their feelings—after arranging for Liu Mengli’s future and giving birth to Tianhe, they handed the child to Yun Tianqing to raise, then came to the Divine Realm, where they finally parted.

As for the backlash of the Wangshu Sword, Su Yu and Gu Qing had never once considered it since they were together.

“Then just tell me—did you see him or not?”

Gu Qing pushed Jing Tian forward, placing him before Xiyao.

Jing Tian stared at the face identical to Xuejian’s and the woman’s otherworldly aura, scratched his head, and felt at a loss.

Behind him, Xuejian grabbed Jing Tian’s arm, ready to be jealous—but upon seeing Xiyao’s face, she too froze.

“Jing Tian is the reincarnation of the Divine General Feipeng, and Xiyao has always loved General Feipeng; after Feipeng’s departure, she felt profound loneliness in the Divine Realm...”

Gu Qing explained to Xuejian and Jing Tian: “After Feipeng was cast down to the mortal realm, Xiyao used a fruit from the Divine Tree to craft her own appearance and descended into the mortal world to accompany him.”

Hearing this, Xuejian’s expression turned complex, and she muttered: “So I’m not even human?”

“But my disciple Xuejian has the potential to become a goddess!”

Gu Qing said beside her.

Xuejian truly had the potential to become a goddess.

The reincarnation of Feipeng and the fruit of the Divine Tree were the key to Gu Qing’s study of the “Divine Race”; by comprehending their essence, along with the subtle distinctions between the descendants of Nüwa and the Demon Race, Gu Qing could advance his “Seventy-Two Transformations” another step.

“Really?”

Xuejian perked up.

“I fear it’s impossible.”

Xiyao spoke softly: “Among the Divine Race, once a child is born, aging begins—and that is precisely why the Divine Race forbids love and desire.”

Unlike the world of Baolian Deng, in this Xianjian world, if the Divine Race freely loved and bore children, it could threaten the entire race’s survival—after all, if two divine beings produced one child, and that pattern continued, the Divine Race would soon vanish.

Xuejian may have the potential to become a goddess, but after marrying Jing Tian and giving birth to Jing Xiaolou, that possibility would vanish.

As for Jing Tian’s son Jing Xiaolou, he may be born as a half-god; over time, his divine power would inevitably manifest.

“There’s still a chance.”

Gu Qing said, for he held the method to grant Jing Tian and Xuejian eternal life.

Xiyao handed the Wind Spirit Pearl to Gu Qing as agreed.

“Now that we’ve returned to the mortal realm, we can repair the Demon Suppression Tower.”

Xuanxuan gazed at the spirit pearl and exhaled slightly in relief; as a descendant of Nüwa, she still cared about changes in the mortal world.

“Qionghua Sect can be revived! And right here in Shushan!”

Su Yu’s voice carried joy; in the timeline of Xianjian IV, Gu Qing had already told her his plans—now, thinking of the centuries that had passed in the mortal world, of Tianhe grown to adulthood, and of the remnants of Qionghua Sect buried beneath the Eastern Sea, the chance to revive Qionghua Sect meant a final resolution for Su Yu.

“It won’t be revived.”

A discontented voice came from the Nine Heavens Goddess.

Everyone turned and saw, above the clouds of the Divine Realm, a faint outline solidify into a physical form; in this hazy paradise, the Nine Heavens Goddess revealed her true body, her anger plainly visible on her face.

“Greetings, Elder.”

Xiyao stepped forward and bowed.

When Pangu opened heaven and earth, his essence, spirit, and energy became the Three Sovereigns; Emperor Fu Xi created the Divine Race; after the Divine-Demon War, he sealed the Divine Realm and severed the connection between heaven and earth. After Fu Xi retreated into seclusion, all affairs of the Divine Race were entrusted to the Elder, the Nine Heavens Goddess.

Now, as Xiyao bowed, the Nine Heavens Goddess did not even glance at her; her phoenix eyes glowed with authority as she fixed her gaze on Gu Qing.

“How bold of you to deceive me with trickery!”

The Nine Heavens Goddess said angrily.

Because of the Xihe Sword and Qionghua Sect, she had followed Gu Qing to Shushan, subdued the Evil Sword Immortal, and agreed to Qionghua’s revival—but all of it was Gu Qing’s scheme, luring her to the bottom of the Eastern Sea, where a group of Qionghua disciples used an array to humiliate her and force her to crush them once again.

“My Lady.”

Gu Qing spoke humbly: “Every word I spoke before you was true; you simply misunderstood.”

“Hmph…”

The Nine Heavens Goddess laughed in fury; if Gu Qing were truly humble and simple, fine—but he was full of cunning, and this innocent face of his was nothing but mockery.

“My Lady, I can solve the problem of the Divine Race’s population survival.”

At Gu Qing’s words, the Nine Heavens Goddess immediately stilled.

Since the severing of heaven and earth, the Divine Race had remained confined to the Divine Realm; male and female deities inevitably fell in love, but if they united and bore a divine child, both would die—such a cost the Divine Race could not bear.

“Speak.”

The Nine Heavens Goddess said, her face grim.

Gu Qing smiled but remained silent.

The Nine Heavens Goddess’s gaze swept over Xiyao, Jing Tian, Xuanxuan, Su Yu, and Longkui, then settled on Gu Qing: “I can grant you one special condition.” If it solved the Divine Race’s survival, even releasing these people was acceptable.

After all, the lifespans of the Divine Race and the mortal race were utterly different; someone like Gu Qing, who could stir up chaos in the mortal world, would turn to dust in mere days within the Divine Realm’s time differential.

“Jing Tian!”

Gu Qing immediately ordered: “Take Xuejian to the Chunzi Spring and go to the Yanbo Spring.”

The Yanbo Spring was where the Demon Realm forged weapons, one of the Nine Springs of Shennong; its former guardian had died, and now Chong Lou occasionally guarded it—Jing Tian would see Chong Lou the moment he stepped out of the Yanbo Spring, just as Xi Wu, the protagonist of Xianjian VII, encountered the main villain the moment he entered the Demon Realm.

Just as Feipeng’s sword was called Zhaodan, Chong Lou’s weapon, forged from the spring’s essence, might as well be called the Yanbo Blood Blade.

“You must bring Chong Lou here.”

Gu Qing instructed: “Tell him this concerns the safety of the Demon Realm, and the Nine Heavens Goddess has approved his ascent.” What safety of the Demon Realm? What approval from the Nine Heavens Goddess?

The Nine Heavens Goddess frowned slightly, guessing Gu Qing wanted Chong Lou’s aid; Xuanxuan furrowed her brow, her gaze flickering over Gu Qing, recalling his ability to foresee the future.

Jing Tian knew the urgency; without further delay, he took Xuejian and walked straight to the Chunzi Spring, where Xiyao cast a spell to send them into the Demon Realm.

“This is the Divine Realm.”

The Nine Heavens Goddess said coolly.

By the Three Sovereigns’ pact, Chong Lou dared not act recklessly; even as the strongest in the Six Realms, the Divine Realm was not a place he could enter and leave at will.

“I summoned Chong Lou to help you.”

Gu Qing replied calmly.

The Nine Heavens Goddess was puzzled: “Help me with what?”

Beneath the Divine Tree, beside the Chunzi Spring in the Divine Realm.

Ao Xu watched the Nine Heavens Goddess depart, and a cruel smile slowly spread across his face.

Within the Divine Race, there was a division between the Ancient Divine Race and the New Divine Race: those created by Fu Xi’s divine power were the Ancient Divine Race; those born from the fruit of the Divine Tree were the New Divine Race. As the Elder of Punishment among the Ancient Divine Race, Ao Xu believed his kind was superior and should rule over all Six Realms—he sought to destroy the Demon Realm and lead the Ancient Divine Race into war.

The time between Xianjian III and Xianjian VII, measured in Divine Realm time, was merely one or two days; for Ao Xu, time was short and the task immense—he had to engrave the Divine Court Array and intervene in the mortal world.

“Shhh…”

Within the Chunzi Spring, mist parted.

Xi Wu, the male protagonist of Xianjian VII, holding the Chunzi Sword, sat calmly in meditation; Ao Xu reached out and awakened him.

“Big Brother Gu, what’s he doing?”

Red Longkui traced characters on Gu Qing’s hand.

Su Yu stood nearby, frowned, and pulled Gu Qing’s hand away.

“I’ve never met anyone who gets jealous over a sword!”

Red Longkui whispered.

Among the red and blue Longkui, Blue Longkui constantly thought of her brother Longyang and treated Gu Qing with respect; Red Longkui loved to play and was closer to Gu Qing.

“A sword is fine. A sword-person is not.”

Su Yu said coolly.

“You—”

Red Longkui bit her teeth in fury.

Nearby, Xuanxuan watched, her gaze shifting; when she met Gu Qing’s eyes, a faint blush appeared on her face, as if deliberately tempting him—she particularly enjoyed the atmosphere of romantic rivalry.

“Enough!”

The Nine Heavens Goddess snapped sharply: “Is this where you fight over lovers?”

The Nine Heavens Goddess had always commanded authority; her sharp rebuke silenced the room.

Red Longkui glanced around, then traced on Gu Qing’s palm: This elder sister could definitely control your wife.

Gu Qing glanced at Longkui; Red Longkui grinned and traced: Let her scold, we’ll draw our own.

“Gu Qing.”

The Nine Heavens Goddess asked: “What does Ao Xu want?”

In the Heavenly Court, the goddess Kuiyu’s two divine subordinates—a male and a female—had united and borne a divine child, and the Elder of Punishment Ao Xu punished them; Kuiyu pleaded repeatedly, but there was no reprieve, so she stole the imprisoned divine children from the Heavenly Prison and fled with a group of loyal divine beings into the Demon Realm, becoming the Celestial Demon Clan.

Because of this matter, the Nine Heavens Goddess removed Ao Xu from his position as Elder.

Now it seems Ao Xu was never truthful.

“He wanted to force the Demon Clan to act, then lead your Divine Clan and the Demon Clan into war.”

Gu Qing smiled at Jiu Dao.

Among all the bosses in the history of Sword and Fairy, Ao Xu, the Warden of the Punishment Hall, ranks second in raw power—just below Chong Lou among all bosses.

Hearing this, the Nine Heavens Goddess confirmed her suspicions and sighed lightly.

Fu Xi created the Divine Clan, and the Ancient Gods mostly held high positions, fostering an attitude of supreme self-importance that made them incapable of empathy; thus, in Ao Xu’s eyes, being stripped of his post by the Nine Heavens Goddess was the greatest humiliation.

So Ao Xu planned to stir trouble, to prove himself.

“Once the Divine Court’s formation is complete, the Demon Clan, to survive, will be forced to intervene in the mortal realm.”

Ao Xu’s voice was low as he watched the Chunjzi Spring churn before him, his heart swelling with triumph; in his wild laughter, a towering figure emerged from the spring. When Ao Xu saw him, his heart lurched, then erupted in fury: “Chong Lou, what are you doing in the Heavenly Court?”

Chong Lou’s eyes turned cold as he surveyed the formations encircling the Chunjzi Spring, then fixed them on Ao Xu.

“What are you doing?”

Chong Lou asked coldly.

“I, I wanted to…”

As Ao Xu was fabricating an excuse, Chong Lou’s fist slammed into him!

“Chong Lou, you’ve gone too far.”

After taking the punch, Ao Xu snarled: “You’ve illegally entered the Divine Realm—you’ve already violated the Three Sovereigns’ Pact…” Ao Xu was, after all, the second most important figure in the Sword and Fairy series; facing Chong Lou, the first, he had to fight back. So after Chong Lou struck him, Ao Xu retaliated fiercely—chains like golden serpents writhed toward Chong Lou.

“The Three Sovereigns’ Pact?”

Chong Lou sneered: “Who enforces it?”

If strictly bound by the Three Sovereigns’ Pact, both Divine and Demon Clans had broken it countless times; overall, the pact could be valid—but it must be ignored.

Chong Lou’s words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Ao Xu, making him rethink his obsession with the Pact… After all, above him stood the Nine Heavens Goddess; he had devised this scheme by projecting his own fears onto others.

“Yanbo Blood Blade!”

Chong Lou, unable to overcome Ao Xu quickly, activated the Yanbo Blood Blade. As the technique unleashed, the surrounding void trembled—there was a sharp rip, like a curtain tearing. Gu Qing, the Nine Heavens Goddess, Xi Yao, and others watched from the side; the once bodiless Xi Yao…

What’s wrong with you people? Hiding over there and not helping…

As Ao Xu thought this, another terrifying idea struck him: the Divine Realm was investigating him.

“Ao Xu!”

The Nine Heavens Goddess leapt into the battle. To Ao Xu and Chong Lou’s shock, she slapped Ao Xu across the face—Chong Lou followed with a strike from behind. Instantly, Ao Xu was thrown into a desperate disadvantage, flailing between defenses, failing on all sides, and ultimately crushed utterly.

“Crash!”

Ao Xu rolled several times on the ground, lifted his head, and saw Chong Lou and the Nine Heavens Goddess walking side by side toward him.

What merit did he have to warrant the two top warriors of the Divine and Demon Realms joining forces to beat him…?

Lost!

(End of Chapter)