Chapter 99

The Linglong Blessed Land lies at the edge of the sea; from afar it appears as a fleeting mirage.

Moreover, it is not usually open to the public, making it hard for outsiders to enter through its mountain gate.

At this moment, a group of people flew out of the mirage — they were Wan Lianshan and the other disciples of Wan Gui Immortal Island.

Everyone still wore grim expressions.

Wan Qin could not help asking Wan Lianshan, 'Senior Brother, why did you make a three‑year pact with Chen Zheng? Isn't that just binding yourself?'

Hearing her words, Wan Renfeng and the others stared at Wan Lianshan, puzzled.

Why wait three years for the Grand Immortal Assembly to kill Chen Zheng when we could crush him anytime?

Wan Lianshan chuckled lightly, 'The three‑year agreement is merely a trick to lull Chen Zheng into complacency.'

'Lull Chen Zheng?'

Everyone was taken aback.

Wan Qin slapped her forehead: 'Senior Brother means to give Chen Zheng the illusion that we won't move against him before the duel, letting him lower his guard.'

'I see. With the Linglong Blessed Land as witness, Chen Zheng will surely believe Senior Brother will honor the three‑year pact.'

'He's only on the first level while Senior Brother is on the second; he'd never imagine we'd break the pact and assassinate him right away.'

'Senior Brother can also locate him anytime via the magical seal inside the Divine‑Shark Vessel. He is truly the embodiment of wisdom!'

The disciples suddenly understood, admiring Wan Lianshan wholeheartedly and lavishing him with flattery.

Wan Lianshan stood with hands behind his back, imposing and regaining his former bearing, looking down at the sea and calmly said, 'Follow me in hiding upon the sea, waiting for Chen Zheng to emerge from the Linglong Blessed Land…'

He paused, then squeezed out three icy words from between his teeth: 'Kill without mercy!'

'Yes!'

'Senior Brother, what's wrong?'

The disciples, having received the order, were about to merge their divine abilities with the sea below when they suddenly noticed Wan Lianshan's expression change and, puzzled, asked.

Wan Lianshan turned his head toward the gate of the Linglong Blessed Land, his face grim, and said, 'The magical seal inside the Divine‑Shark Vessel has been erased.'

'What? How could Chen Zheng's meager strength possibly erase Senior Brother's magical seal?'

'It must be the work of the Elder of Heavenly Punishment. How can she be so blind, repeatedly aiding that despicable, shameless Chen Zheng?'

The Wan Gui Immortal Island disciples were both shocked and furious, wishing to storm the Linglong Blessed Land at once to confront Qiu Xiyu: why does she always favor Chen Zheng and not Wan Lianshan?

Wan Lianshan swept his gaze over the crowd, soothing them: 'It doesn't matter; as soon as Chen Zheng appears, I'll strike and he'll still be unable to escape death.'

……

Inside the Linglong Blessed Land.

Chen Zheng's face was as cold as frost, his killing intent unprecedentedly fierce, as if he would slaughter everyone in the next instant, causing even Qiu Xiyu to secretly tremble with fear.

She led Chen Zheng to the transmission hall and had him board the transmission gate to leave the Linglong Blessed Land.

Whoosh!

A flash of light on the transmission gate, and Chen Zheng found himself inside the Linglong Pagoda in Wan Gui Sea City.

He then did not return to the Chen family on Gold Feather Island to fetch Chen Fu; instead he launched the Divine‑Shark Vessel and sped toward the Feather Ascension Sect.

Because in the earlier message from Qiu Xiyu he had learned of the major event occurring within the Feather Ascension Sect.

Namely, Chifeng Tian arrived with the Seven Ancient Giants of the Taiji Sect, demanding the Feather Ascension Sect hand him over.

Then Fang Qingxue emerged from seclusion, stood up for him, and challenged the Six Ancient Giants on the Heavenly Punishment Platform.

Fang Qingxue successively defeated Song Weiyi, Zhao Xuani and five other Ancient Giants.

But in the final bout he encountered a true formidable foe, Wang Tianyi, a powerful cultivator at the Wind‑Fire Cataclysm, the eighth level of Shentong.

Although Fang Qingxue possessed a high‑grade Dao artifact, her low cultivation prevented her from unleashing much power; she was no match for Wang Tianyi and nearly lost.

In the end she barely held on, relying on a secret art that burns lifespan to achieve a draw with Wang Tianyi.

The bout ended in a tie.

The Taiji Sect members departed resentfully.

Fang Qingxue, however, suffered backlash from the secret technique, sustaining grave injuries and losing much of her lifespan.

Precisely for this reason, Chen Zheng became so violently aggressive.

Whoosh!

The Divine‑Shark Vessel's speed reached its extreme, tearing through the heavenly firmament, covering thousands of miles in an instant.

Soon he had crossed the vast sea, passing dozens of dynasties and small states.

The familiar mountains of the Feather Ascension Sect came into view.

'Qingxue!'

Chen Zheng stowed the Divine‑Shark Vessel, landed on Purple Lightning Peak, and hurried straight to the Purple Lightning Palace.

'Chen… Young Master Chen?'

A woman emerged from within the palace; upon seeing Chen Zheng, his murderous aura startled her so much that her whole body trembled, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Chen Zheng knew this woman was the head maid under Fang Qingxue, named Fang Biao, who managed all affairs on the peak and enjoyed her deep trust.

But he only wanted to see Fang Qingxue quickly; without a word he continued toward the palace. As they were about to pass each other, Fang Biao, suppressing her discomfort, said, 'Young Master Chen, the young lady is not currently in the Purple Lightning Palace.'

Chen Zheng halted his steps, his cold eyes fixed on her: 'Where is Qingxue, and how is her injury?'

Fang Biao lowered her head, gritted her teeth, and said, 'Young… Young Master Chen, the young lady took the healing pill given by the Elder of the Feather Ascension Heavenly Palace; her injury is now no serious concern. However, the Elder of Heavenly Punishment said that when the young lady cultivated the secret technique she lost much lifespan, so she has been sent to the Minor Immortal Realm to train; once she advances to the fifth level of Shentong, the Human‑Immortal realm, her lost lifespan can be restored.'

'Is that so.'

Chen Zheng's expression eased slightly; the heavy stone in his heart finally settled.

Fang Qingxue should be at the same level as him, the fourth level of Shentong, the Yin‑Yang realm.

A cultivator at this stage still cannot increase lifespan; only upon reaching the fifth level of Shentong, the Human‑Immortal realm, can one enjoy a lifespan of eight hundred years.

Given Fang Qingxue's cultivation speed, she should soon break through and become a Human‑Immortal cultivator.

Since that's the case, he no longer needs to worry.

However, he also needs to prepare a few pills that increase lifespan for Fang Qingxue to take, to avoid future hidden dangers.

The Yin Yang Ten-Thousand-Longevity Pill is not bad; it can give a cultivator an extra sixty years of lifespan. Coincidentally, Jin Ri Lie owes him one pill, and he will give it to Fang Qingxue when she leaves seclusion.

This novel you have reached.

It's just that Fang Qingxue's temperament is too unyielding; she fights to the death with Wang Tianyi, and if anything happens, he will never be able to clear his name for a lifetime.

Thinking of this, Chen Zheng sighed: "The Taiyi Sect is causing trouble; the Sect Leader will naturally handle it. Why is she so stupid, risking her life against the Taiyi Sect for me?"

Fang Biao plucked up her courage and said: "I have also asked the young lady about this."

Chen Zheng wondered: "What did she say?"

Fang Biao whispered: "The young lady said, you are her person, with no support in the sect; she is your reliance. Your affairs are her affairs, and she will not allow anyone to harm you."

Hearing these words, a warm current flowed through Chen Zheng's heart.

He also couldn't help but smile.

It seems Fang Qingxue treats him as her private property.

That seems not bad either.

Such unconditional protection, he had never experienced before meeting Fang Qingxue.

"Take this; when Qingxue leaves seclusion, you must concentrate fully and look after her well."

Chen Zheng waved his hand; a flying sword hovered before Fang Biao, and he rose into the air, flying away from Zi Dian Peak.

"A treasure!"

Fang Biao raised her head, gazing at the brilliant white flying sword before her, her heartbeat suddenly quickening.

She is merely a martial artist of the Mortal Secret Realm, yet Chen Zheng actually bestowed upon her a treasure!

Such a thing, one wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Nor could one dream of it.

"Young master… no, son‑in‑law, please take your leave; I will take good care of the young lady."

Fang Biao stretched out her trembling hands and seized the flying sword.

At the same time.

Elsewhere, at the foot of Wan Luo Peak, a group of people arrived.

Among them were a man and a woman who stood out like cranes among chickens; the woman was none other than Fang Qingwei, and the man was Ye Nantian, ranked third on the Mountain River Ranking.

"Senior Brother Ye, is this Wan Luo Peak? Will we be able to meet Senior Brother Wan Luo later?"

Fang Qingwei gazed ahead at the towering Chatian Xiong Peak that pierced the azure void, her emotions surging.

"Not bad."

Ye Nantian cautioned: "Qingwei, Senior Brother Wan Luo possesses vast divine powers; be careful with your words later, lest you provoke him."

"I will."

Fang Qingwei nodded heavily, then prepared to climb Wan Luo Peak alongside Ye Nantian and the others along the dragon‑like steps.

But just then, a earth‑shattering shout rang from the heavens: "Wan Luo, come out and die!"

"Ah…"

Fang Qingwei and Ye Nantian had their eardrums pained by the shout, nearly collapsing.

Having just steadied themselves, they saw a towering figure appear in the firmament, like the sun and moon hanging in the sky, arms like heavenly blades, swinging down toward Wan Luo Peak.

In an instant, a terrifying ribbon of light split the sky and came down, cleaving the several‑thousand‑zhang‑high Wan Luo Peak straight in half.

Boom—

Wan Luo Peak seemed to have been stripped of all vitality; its split halves collapsed outward instantly, crashing into the earth, kicking up rolling dust and flying debris.

"This…"

Fang Qingwei, Ye Nantian, and the others turned pale with shock.

Everyone in Yu Hua City and the Yu Hua Mountains was also startled by this tremendous commotion.

(End of chapter)