Chapter 461

Wu Tie stared in surprise at the white-clad girl.

Translation: Wu Tie stared in surprise at the white-clad girl.

stared in surprise at the white-clad girl

Su He furrowed brows slightly, then sighed, and gently shook head

Translation: Su He slightly furrowed her brows, then let out a sigh and gently shook her head.

Su He furrowed brows slightly, then sighed, and gently shook head

The red-clad girl Zhu Ji jumped up suddenly: "Ha? Let him go?"

Translation: The red-skirted girl Zhu Ji jumped up suddenly: "Hah? Let him go?"

We need to keep quotes. Use double quotes? Chinese uses 「」. We'll use English double quotes. Keep punctuation.

Shaking her head hard, Zhu Ji shook her fists and roared: "What the hell? I finally caught him. This guy's bones are so hard; to catch him, I've punched my fists sore."

Translation: Shaking her head hard, Zhu Ji shook her fists and roared: "What right? I finally caught him after great effort—this guy's bones are so hard, to catch him I've pounded my fists until they ache!"

Shaking her head hard, Zhu Ji shook her fists and roared

The white-clad girl gave Zhu Ji a cold glance; Zhu Ji, who had been jumping about like a monkey with its tail stepped on, instantly fell silent.

Translation: The white-clad girl gave Zhu Ji a cold glance, and Zhu Ji, who had been jumping about like a monkey with its tail stepped on, instantly fell silent.

The white-clad girl gave Zhu Ji a cold glance; Zhu Ji, who had been jumping about like a monkey with its tail stepped on, instantly fell silent.

"I am Bai Ying, eldest daughter of the Jin Crown Prince, Prince Sima Sheng of Great Jin." The white-clad girl looked at Wu Tie and said calmly: "Go back and tell your superiors that we harbor no other designs on Great Jin; they need not send anyone."

Translation: "I am Bai Ying, eldest daughter of the Jin Crown Prince, Prince Sima Sheng of Great Jin." The white-clad girl looked at Wu Tie and said calmly: "Go back and tell your superiors that we harbor no other designs on Great Jin; they need send no one."

eldest daughter of the Jin Crown Prince, Prince Sima Sheng of Great Jin

Wu Tie smirked and gave a dry laugh: "I'm afraid my words won't help."

Translation: Wu Tie cracked his mouth and gave a dry laugh: "I'm afraid my words won't count for much."

The one seeking them is the present Divine Emperor of Great Jin. For years, the Council Hall has persistently sent people to look for them; now that we've finally caught a trace of them, how could we possibly let them go easily?

Translation: The one seeking them is the present Divine Emperor of Great Jin. For years the Council Hall has persistently sent people to look for them; now that we've finally caught a trace of them, how could we possibly let them go easily?

The present Divine Emperor of Great Jin and the Council Hall have now finally caught a trace of them

Bai Ying remained cold and aloof, her whole body exuding an icy chill like an iceberg

Translation: Bai Ying remained cold and aloof, her whole body exuding an icy chill like an iceberg.

She ignored Wu Tie, instead looking at Zhu Ji: "Are the Council Hall people alive or dead?"

Translation: She ignored Wu Tie and turned to Zhu Ji: "What about the Council Hall people earlier—alive or dead?"

Zhu Ji lowered her head, twiddling her index fingers in front of her chest in a cute act; upon hearing Bai Ying's words, she let out a heavy snort: "We've caught them all, restrained them all, and are gathering Profound Yin Divine Liquid in the Profound Yin Pool."

Translation: Zhu Ji lowered her head, twiddling her index fingers before her chest in a cute act, then hearing Bai Ying's words, she let out a heavy hum: "We've caught them all, restrained them all, and are gathering Profound Yin Divine Liquid in the Profound Yin Pool."

Profound Yin Pool and Profound Yin Divine Liquid

Wu Tie stared in surprise at Zhu Ji, then said in a deep voice: "According to the escaped Long Lang, were all his subordinates killed?"

Translation: Wu Tie stared at Zhu Ji in surprise and said in a low voice: "According to the escaped Long Lang, were all his men killed?"

The wild girl beside them laughed "haha", proudly looking at Wu Tie and saying: "They've all been affected by the Apothecary Elder's 'Moth Powder', dazed and confused—everything they see, hear, think, and do is false… hehe, we captured them all, not letting any escape."

Translation: The wild girl beside them laughed "hahaha," looked smugly at Wu Tie and said: "They've all been drugged with the Apothecary Elder's 'Moth Powder,' dazed and confused—everything they see, hear, think, and do is false… hehe, we captured them all alive, not letting a single one go."

Apothecary Elder's Moth Powder

Wu Tie stared in surprise, looking at Zhu Ji and then at Bai Ying, thoughtfully saying: "So they're not dead after all?"

Translation: Wu Tie stared, looking at Zhu Ji then at Bai Ying, and said thoughtfully: "So they're not dead after all?"

Bai Ying said calmly: "Some of the Council Hall members previously discovered were indeed killed on the spot; others were captured and forced to gather various heavenly treasures for us, and many of them didn't survive."

Translation: Bai Ying said calmly: "Some of the Council Hall people we discovered were indeed killed on the spot, while others were captured and restrained for us to gather various heavenly treasures; many couldn't endure it and died as well."

heavenly treasures

"However, you're fortunate; you can return alive." Bai Ying waved her hand and said solemnly: "Zhu Ji, release General Huo and all the Council Hall personnel. General Huo, tell your superiors not to send anyone else."

Translation: "But you're fortunate—you can go back alive." Bai Ying waved her hand and said solemnly: "Zhu Ji, release General Huo and all the Council Hall personnel. General Huo, tell your superiors not to send anyone else."

"Before I took charge of the Eastern Palace affiliates, perhaps some elders still harbored thoughts of restoration… but now I only wish for everyone to live peacefully and carefree." Bai Ying gently said: "We pose no threat to the Great Jin throne. Please convey this to your superiors."

Translation: "Before I took charge of the Eastern Palace's affairs, perhaps some elders still harbored thoughts of restoration… but now I only wish to lead everyone to live in peace and ease." Bai Ying said gently: "We pose no threat to the Great Jin throne; please tell that to your superiors."

Wu Tie smirked, looking at the violently trembling Escape Dragon Pillar and Heavenly Master Seal in his hand, then sighed and slowly released his grip.

Translation: Wu Tie tugged at his mouth, looking at the violently trembling Fleeing Dragon Stake and Heavenly Master Seal in his hand, then sighed and slowly released his grip.

Zhu Ji's gaze burned like fire as she glared at him fiercely.

Translation: Zhu Ji's eyes blazed as she glared at him fiercely.

Among the two elders behind Su He, one also glared at Wu Tie with ill intent.

Translation: Among the two elders behind Su He, one also fixed a hostile stare on Wu Tie.

Outside the hall, dozens of middle-aged men in heavy armor appeared silently, hands on their sword hilts, forming a semicircle around the door. Of these men, more than half gazed at Wu Tie calmly and peacefully.

Translation: Outside the hall, dozens of middle-aged men in heavy armor appeared silently, hands on their sword hilts, forming a semicircle around the door. Of these dozens, more than half gazed calmly at Wu Tie.

The remaining roughly half of the middle-aged men had gazes as fierce and aggressive as Zhu Ji's and that of the elder behind Su He, exuding strong menace and hostility.

Translation: The remaining roughly half, however, had eyes as fierce and vicious as Zhu Ji's and that old man behind Su He—full of intense menace and aggression.

Wu Tie secretly sighed in his heart.

Translation: Wu Tie secretly marveled.

It seems the former crown prince's retinue has already split into two factions.

Translation: It appears the retinue left by the former crown prince has split into two factions.

The more radical faction, likely represented by Zhu Ji, seemingly wants to do something against the Great Jin Divine State; indeed, Zhu Ji deliberately let Long Lang escape with a hundred or so subordinates, letting them lure more Great Jin Divine State troops to attack—this was all intentional on their part.

Translation: The more radical faction, likely represented by Zhu Ji, probably wants to do something against the Great Jin Divine State—indeed, Zhu Ji deliberately let Long Lang escape with a hundred or so followers, letting them lure more of the Great Jin Divine State's armies to attack; all this is intentional on their part.

Bai Ying, along with some Eastern Palace elders, apparently no longer has much interest in competing for the Great Jin Divine State's throne.

Translation: As for Bai Ying, along with some Eastern Palace elders, they evidently have little interest left in contending for the Great Jin Divine State's throne.

They would rather live a carefree, tranquil life.

Translation: They would rather live carefree and tranquil lives.

It's unclear whether Bai Ying influenced these 'peaceful faction' Eastern Palace elders, or the elders influenced Bai Ying.

Translation: It's unclear whether Bai Ying influenced these 'peace faction' Eastern Palace elders, or the elders influenced Bai Ying.

"Big sister!!!" Zhu Ji jumped up again, shouting: "Let the Huo guy go? Who will compensate for the Nine Dragon Furnace? Besides, we're short on hands with those Council Hall people. The Profound Yin Divine Liquid, it's related to…"

Translation: "Big sister!!!" Zhu Ji jumped up again, shouting: "Let that Huo guy go? Who'll compensate for the Nine Dragon Furnace? Besides, we're short on hands with those Council Hall people. The Profound Yin Divine Liquid, it's…"

Nine Dragon Furnace

Bai Ying waved her hand and said indifferently: "Without these Council Hall people, are we really helpless? The group of silver-horned salamanders that Su Lao recently subdued—aren't they doing well in the Profound Yin Pool? Release them; let's not stir up trouble."

Translation: Bai Ying waved her hand and said blandly: "Without these Council Hall people, are we truly helpless? Su Lao, the group of Silver-Horned Salamanders you subdued not long ago—aren't they doing fine in the Profound Yin Pool? Release them; let's not stir up trouble."

Su Lao's Silver-Horned Salamander in the Profound Yin Pool

Zhu Ji stomped her foot angrily: "Fine, release them… but they'll surely bring more people… they've already found my father's tomb; even if they come to the traveling palace, it's only a matter of months."

Translation: Zhu Ji stomped her foot hard and snapped: "Fine, release them… but they'll surely bring more people… Father's tomb has already been found by them; even if they come to the traveling palace here, it's only a matter of months."

Father's tomb and the traveling palace

"Moving the tomb… relocating. To avoid the Great Jin Divine State's large forces." Bai Ying said leisurely: "They come looking for us; we avoid them—it's simple. Let's just decide that."

Translation: "Moving the tomb… relocating. To avoid the Great Jin Divine State's great forces." Bai Ying said leisurely: "If they come looking for us, we just avoid them—simple enough; let's decide that."

"Relocate the tomb?" Zhu Ji stared blankly.

Translation: "Relocate the tomb?" Zhu Ji stared blankly.

"Your Highness, please reconsider." The elder behind Su He, who had been glaring at Wu Tie, stepped forward two paces, knelt heavily, and knocked his head hard on the ground before Bai Ying: "Your Highness, the lord's tomb was personally chosen by the lord in life… moving it is… this is… this is utterly unfilial!"

Translation: "Your Highness, please reconsider." The old man behind Su He who had been glaring at Wu Tie stepped forward two paces, dropped heavily to his knees, and knocked his head hard against the ground before Bai Ying: "Your Highness, the lord's tomb was personally chosen by him in life… moving it is… this, this, this is utter filial impiety!"

Your Highness, lord

Bai Ying silently looked at the kneeling old official.

Translation: Bai Ying silently watched the old minister kneeling on the ground.

After a while, she sighed: "Master Song, you too are an Eastern Palace elder; your position is Eastern Palace Chief Secretary, talented and outstanding among them

Translation: After a while she sighed: "Master Song, you too are an Eastern Palace elder; your former post was Eastern Palace Chief Secretary, and in talent you're among the elite. Moving the tomb is unfilial; not moving it means rivers of blood. What do you think?"

Former Eastern Palace Chief Secretary Song Xuan took a deep breath, raised his head, and earnestly looked at Bai Ying: "Even if we must relocate the tomb, we cannot walk away timidly like this. This humble official dares to request: behead Huo Xiong and all captured lackeys of the Council Hall, and offer their blood as a sacrifice to the lord's mausoleum."

Translation: The former Eastern Palace Chief Secretary, Song Xuan, drew a deep breath, lifted his head, and gazed earnestly at Bai Ying: "Even if we must move the tomb, we can't slink away like this. Your servant dares to ask: behead Huo Xiong and all the captured Council Hall lackeys, and offer their blood as a sacrifice to the lord's tomb."

Song Xuan kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ground. He shouted sternly: "This humble official dares to request that Your Highness take command of the Eastern Palace's affairs, annihilate the invading Great Jin army, and use their blood and essence to sacrifice to our lord. Even if we must go, we cannot leave in such humiliation; back then our lord departed An'yang openly and honorably—how can Your Highness today allow our lord to be so humiliated in relocating his tomb and departing?"

Translation: Song Xuan knocked his head hard on the ground and shouted fiercely: "Your servant dares to ask: Your Highness, take command of the Eastern Palace's forces, utterly annihilate the invading Great Jin armies, and sacrifice their essence and blood to the lord… Even if we must leave, we cannot slink away in shame—when the lord departed An'yang with dignity, how can Your Highness let him suffer such disgrace in moving the tomb?"

We need to keep "An'yang" = "An'yang". Keep as is.

Bai Ying remained silent.

Translation: Bai Ying remained silent.

Su He remained silent.

Translation: Su He remained silent.

Zhu Ji remained silent.

Translation: Zhu Ji remained silent.

The savage maiden Lin Long lifted the wine jug, continuously pouring wine; she let out a burp, then another burp, and her big eyes grew brighter and brighter, shining astonishingly.

Translation: The wild maiden Lin Long lifted her wine jug, pouring drink after drink, she belched, then belched again; her great eyes grew brighter and brighter, astonishingly bright.

Wu Tie retreated a few steps, and several dark-golden Giant Divine Soldiers immediately strode forward with heavy steps, approaching him by two paces.

Translation: Wu Tie stepped back a few paces, and several dark-gold Giant Divine Soldiers immediately advanced toward him with thundering steps.

Outside the hall doors, the lazy yellow dragon rested its huge head on the threshold, looked at Wu Tie with sleepy eyes, then softly meowed: "Beating drums and gongs, again beating drums and gongs... Ah, why all this fighting? Why bother? The world is at peace, long live peace!"

Translation: Outside the hall doors, the lethargic yellow dragon rested its massive head on the threshold, looked at Wu Tie with sleepy eyes, and gave a soft "meow": "Beating drums and gongs again… oh, why all the fighting? Why bother? The world is at peace—long live peace!"

The yellow dragon murmured softly.

Translation: The yellow dragon murmured softly.

Several dozen middle-aged men in heavy armor burst into the hall, they knelt on one knee with a thud, bowing their heads to Bai Ying: "Your Highness, we concur! Even if the lord must relocate his tomb, we cannot tolerate such humiliation... We must use the blood and souls of a million Great Jin lackeys to sacrifice to our lord, and not let the usurper who has seized the throne look down on us, the Eastern Palace's retinue."

Translation: A dozen or so middle-aged men in heavy armor burst into the hall, dropping to one knee with a thud, bowing their heads to Bai Ying: "Your Highness, we concur! Even if the lord's tomb is moved, we won't tolerate such indignity… we must sacrifice the blood and souls of a million Great Jin lackeys to the lord, lest that usurper of the throne look down on us Eastern Palace folk."

Bai Ying sat quietly, saying nothing.

Translation: Bai Ying sat silently, saying nothing.

Su He stepped forward, brandishing his ruler, and shouted at Song Xuan: "Master Song, how can such behavior be the way of a servant? Do you still remember the lord's words from before? After the Highness comes of age, decisions regarding the Eastern Palace naturally rest with him alone."

Translation: Su He stepped forward sharply, grasping the ruler, and bellowed at Song Xuan: "Master Song, how can this be the way of a subject? Do you still recall the lord's words? After the Highness came of age, Eastern Palace affairs are naturally decided by his sole command!"

Song Xuan lifted his head and shouted at Su He: "Master Su, as servants we naturally have the duty to admonish! How could the lord's tomb be disturbed lightly? To startle the master—how could that be the way of a servant?"

Translation: Song Xuan snapped his head up and shouted at Su He: "Master Su, as subjects we naturally have a duty to remonstrate! How could the lord's tomb be lightly moved? Disturbing the master is hardly the way of a subject."

"This..." Su He hesitated, then fell silent.

Translation: "This…" Su He hesitated, then fell silent.

He kept turning the ruler in his hand, but it was obvious he was trapped by Song Xuan's words and unable to decide.

Translation: His hand kept turning the ruler over and over, but it was obvious he was trapped by Song Xuan's words and unable to decide.

A strange series of ding-ding-ding footsteps approached.

Translation: "Ding, ding-ding," came an odd footstep sound.

A burly old man in a crimson robe, wearing a tall cap, with a lion-like fierce visage and beard bristling like flying spears, strode into the hall; his footsteps were metallic clinks, and the ding-ding sounded especially grating.

Translation: A burly old man in a great red robe, wearing a tall cap, with a lion‑like fierce visage, beard bristling like flying spears, and forearms nearly a foot long strode into the hall. Yet his footsteps were metallic clangs, the "ding-ding" especially grating.

Wu Tie saw that the old man's two legs were not flesh and blood, but dark gold, the same material as the legs of the Giant Divine Soldiers standing before him.

Translation: Wu Tie saw that the old man's legs were not flesh and blood but dark gold, the same material as the legs of the Giant Divine Soldiers standing before him.

The old man's legs had clearly suffered irreversible damage, even beyond the healing of divine elixirs and dao pills; his legs were utterly annihilated, vanished, could never regenerate, so he had to attach two legs of the Giant Divine Soldiers.

Translation: His legs had clearly suffered irreversible damage, even beyond the healing of divine elixirs and dao pills; they were utterly obliterated, gone, unable to regenerate, so he had only the legs of the Giant Divine Soldiers attached.

The old man was naturally extraordinarily burly, his upper body as strong as a bear, with an imposing presence.

Translation: The old man himself was naturally huge, his upper half as burly as a bear, with an imposing presence.

With the legs of the Giant Divine Soldiers attached, the old man's aura became even more formidable, like a demon god descending into the world.

Translation: With the Giant Divine Soldiers' legs attached, his aura grew ever more icy and dreadful, like a demon god descending.

"Your Highness, Master Su, I believe Master Song's words are most reasonable," the burly old man boomed, his voice like thunder shaking the hall, causing the golden tiles to clatter.

Translation: "Your Highness, Master Su, I believe Master Song's words are quite sound." The burly old man's voice was tremendous, his casual speech like thunder shaking the hall, making the golden tiles clang "clatter-clatter."

"Since the lackeys of the Great Jin Divine State have come to our door, must we still wine and dine them, see them off with courtesy?" the burly old man said in a low voice: "Strike them, strike them hard, use their blood and souls to sacrifice to our lord, only then can we atone for their grave sin of disturbing our lord."

Translation: "Since the lackeys of the Great Jin Divine State have come knocking, must we still wine and dine them, see them off with gifts?" The burly old man said solemnly: "Beat them, beat them hard, and use their essence and spirit blood to sacrifice to the lord—only then can we atone for their grave sin of disturbing the master."

"Our Eastern Palace, even if we must withdraw, we must leave in grandeur." The burly old man's voice grew ever more high-pitched and ringing.

"Tie Sir is right!" Zhu Hui sprang up, she gave Bai Ying a quick look, then she pointed fiercely at Wu Tie: "Wild girl, help me beat him up! This guy is sly, sly, he actually pretended to be suppressed by the Fleeing Dragon Stake!"

Zhu Hui's eyes were slightly red, she waved her two swollen palms that looked like pig's hooves, and shouted loudly: "He actually destroyed the Nine Dragon Furnace, causing me to be beaten up by Old Su like this!"

Wu Tie hastily retreated in the direction away from Zhu Hui and Long Long, but more than a dozen Giant God Warriors behind him simultaneously raised their weapons.

The specially made heavy sword, shaped like a door panel, blazed with dazzling light; the sword's edge trembled, terrifying heat continuously spewed from the heavy sword, and Wu Tie heard the buzzing sound produced by the high-frequency vibration of the sword's edge.

With a "bang", Long Long's wine jar shattered, large amounts of wine turned into mist and sprayed out; Long Long opened her mouth and took a deep inhale, drawing all the wine mist into her mouth. She laughed loudly: "Fine, you'll buy me a drink."

With a great roar, the gorgeously beautiful Long Long emitted a terrifying roar from her mouth, her body flickered and she appeared directly before Wu Tie, still without any fluctuation of magical power, she threw a punch straight at Wu Tie's face.

Wu Tie raised his right hand and pressed his palm against Long Long's delicate, fair fist.

A terrifying huge force surged forth; Wu Tie's palm let out a thunderous roar, the skin and flesh of his palm suffered excruciating pain, and he was almost blown apart by Long Long's punch.

Wu Tie let out a low growl, he tensed his body, his right hand's five fingers clenched tightly, firmly gripping Long Long's fist.

From inside the main hall came a piercing sound, similar to metal rubbing.

Wu Tie's bones were extremely hard, Long Long's fist was astonishingly strong; both of their bodies were monster‑level existences, Long Long twisted her fist, Wu Tie kept his fingers locked, the fist and fingers rubbed violently, and it was clear that Wu Tie's palm skin split and flesh tore, with large amounts of blood spilling out.

Meanwhile, Long Long's fist also twisted and deformed, tendons and bones began to tear, emitting a horrible cracking sound.

"It hurts!" Long Long's eyes shot out a fierce light like a beast's, she threw her head back and let out a great roar, and a mysterious, inconceivable huge force suddenly burst forth from within her.

Wu Tie's right arm's flesh tore completely open, from palm to shoulder, skin, muscles, and blood vessels split inch by inch, revealing the dark‑colored bones that were spewing out a faint firelight.

Within Long Long, a terrifying aura burst forth.

Wu Tie's heart beat violently once, then his entire body's blood surged, fluctuated, trembled, and burned; afterward, a breath of aura sharing the same source as the Azure Dragon flashed across his body and vanished.

As this essence‑blood aura just welled up on Wu Tie's body, the innate yin and yang qi in his eyes turned into black‑white spiritual light, swiftly coiled around him, and swept that aura away cleanly.

In the main hall, only Long Long, who was right nearby, sensed this aura.

Her pupils suddenly contracted, she stared deeply at Wu Tie, then threw a punch at his chest.

With a tremendous "boom", Long Long's heavy punch landed on Wu Tie's chest.

It seemed as fast as lightning, the sound deafening, but the force of this punch……was practically unable to kill even an ant.

A flash of inspiration went through Wu Tie's mind; he likewise threw a punch that boomed against Long Long's chest, striking her right breast heavily.

Likewise just as fast as lightning, likewise the sound was huge, but likewise there was hardly any power.

Wu Tie almost instinctively, with great tacit understanding, gave Long Long this punch that had no killing power.

But the direction his fist landed……was really a bit awkward.

Long Long's eyes suddenly turned blood‑red, she threw her head back and let out a great roar, then, riding the force of Wu Tie's heavy punch, she flew backward, soaring seventy or eighty zhang before stumbling to a halt and retreating several steps.

Swinging her right fist, which Wu Tie had twisted and deformed, Long Long bellowed: "Red girl, this guy's strength is enormous……hard to beat, hard to beat……can you capture him alive and bring him back? I don't believe it!"

Zhu Hui stared in shock, and Bai Ying rose slowly to her feet.

That burly man, Tie Sir, stamped his foot hard, pointed forcefully at Wu Tie, and said: "Seize him!"