Chapter 129

Already returned to Changshui. Ji Bai explained in detail, "But they previously brought a hundred thousand troops here, and they dare not use my Hunyuan Sect's teleportation array; presumably the army has not yet left the jurisdiction of my Hunyuan Sect."

As long as we can capture alive their commander, Shen Lang the Fourth, Shen Tie, we can seize the entire Shen clan; this clan prides itself on valuing familial ties above all, so if Shen Tie is caught, they must spare no effort to rescue him, otherwise it will affect their Dao heart. Thus, we will surely be able to reclaim the Star‑Image Mountain.

"Capture one person, and we can reclaim that mysterious ancient site?" the female immortal doubted.

"Yes!" Ji Bai affirmed firmly.

The fifth‑generation sect master of Hunyuan Sect, Zhao Qinghe, also added from the side, "You are unaware, the Shen clan of Changshui cultivates the phoenix intent; they cannot suffer any setback."

If used properly, it can make them come forward one after another to seek death. By then, if the younger generation of the Shen clan still refuses to hand over the Star‑Image Mountain, they will surely be abandoned by all and estranged from their kin.

"Reasonable." The female immortal actually agreed.

Ji Bai, however, reminded, "But they have the Vermilion Bird Palace's immortal envoy backing them."

"So what?" the female immortal sneered, "When has my Black Tortoise Palace ever feared the Vermilion Bird Palace!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Bai's mind settled completely! As fellow members of the Four Spirits' divine abode, the Black Tortoise deity truly has nothing to fear from the Vermilion Bird deity.

Moreover, it takes the fifth‑generation patriarch: a single summons brings two envoys of the Black Tortoise Palace, and adding the fifth‑generation patriarch himself, what is there to fear from a mere Di Jin?

"Go ahead boldly as you think!" the female immortal ordered.

Ji Bai immediately received the order, withdrew from the Hunyuan Summit, and his spine straightened at once.

"Jiang Yuan and the other sect traitors—he will surely execute them all! The Star‑Image Mountain must also be returned to the Hunyuan Sect!"

Otherwise, how could the Hunyuan Sect continue to stand as the foremost of Sheng Long Tian?

The Shen clan of Changshui, before the golden bronze gate of their ancestral land.

Shen Qingli's perception grew ever deeper, yet she rapidly waned, obviously lacking energy!

Shen Jing was quite worried, and Shen Kuo had already been urging, "A Li, please stop for now."

"She can't hear." Di Jin stepped forward, lightly stroking Shen Qingli's crown.

The finger-light was like jade, as if a spring breeze brushed into Shen Qingli's sea of consciousness, causing her upper dantian and even the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

Shen Qingli, who had been scorched on the desolate wasteland, instantly "returned to soul", retreating from inside the golden bronze gate, only then feeling her spiritual power completely exhausted, utterly fatigued.

Di Jin's hand moved, encircling her shoulders, steadying her body that was about to collapse, "Close your eyes, regulate your breath and nurture your spirit."

This tone inexplicably reminded Shen Qingli of the master who transmitted her Dao! Yet the cool touch covering her forehead also made her instinctively sink into a comfortable healing state.

The spring‑like warm breeze dispelled the scorching heat in her sea of consciousness, letting her condition quickly stabilize and return.

Shen Jing, watching from the side, just knew he hadn't brought the wrong person.

He also glanced at the concerned Shen Kuo, thinking this kid truly had fortune's favor, inexplicably taking a dao partner—she is the empress of the Vermilion Bird Divine Palace; inexplicably raising an adopted son, who surely also comes from a divine clan.

As for the young lady, needless to say! Her talent can be called unparalleled in ancient and future times, and she is versed in ten skills.

Even Shen Jing, old as he is, couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy—such is the life of a winner.

Just as he was sighing, Shen Qingli had already awakened anew, seeing nothing but a face full of worry from Di Jin.

"I'm fine." Shen Qingli immediately reassured.

"Mm, I won't let you come to harm."

His calm yet firm tone was Di Jin's promise, and also his own demand of himself.

Shen Qingli had no doubt whatsoever about those words; she rubbed her temples and steadied herself.

Shen Kuo immediately stepped forward, "Are your temples still hurting?"

He, emanating healing power, once again transmitted gentle force into Shen Qingli's upper dantian.

"Much better already." Shen Qingli said that, yet she did not refuse her father's paternal affection, allowing him to heal her sea of consciousness.

After a good while, she then said, "All right, father."

Shen Kuo withdrew his power, then asked, "But what happened?"

"What is the ancestral land like?" Shen Qingli countered.

Shen Kuo, having been inside, immediately gave a full description.

"Could there be a problem with the ancestral land?" Shen Jing asked anxiously.

Shen Qingli shook her head, "According to what Father just described, and what I 'saw', there is actually no difference."

Shen Jing felt somewhat relieved, "Then there should be no serious issue; I'll first send you back to rest."

Shen Qingli refused, "I still can't relax; I'll rest here a while, then go in again later."

The ancestral phoenix had summoned her before; now that she has come, why does the ancestral phoenix make no sound? This is not right.

Shen Qingli fears nothing else, only that after just a few days of travel, the ancestral phoenix has met with mishap!

Thinking of this…

Shen Qingli dared not delay even a moment; she immediately sat cross-legged, preparing to thoroughly refine the Star‑Image Mountain.

Di Jin then said, "Patriarch, Father, I and the little cat can stand guard here; you go back first. Over at the Hunyuan Sect, things should soon move, and Uncle Da and Uncle Si need help."

The Hunyuan Sect will certainly not let this rest; they had long reached consensus, and even on the return journey they had already deployed plans concerning the three immortals from the lower realms who came to the Hunyuan Sect, as well as the inner secrets of the Hunyuan Sect provided by the demonic origin.

Now it's just a matter of seeing whose layout and scheming ability is superior!

"Good." Shen Jing knew well that this contest also concerned the Shen clan's life and death, "A Li is entrusted to you."

"Protect her well." Shen Kuo urged.

"Certainly." Di Jin replied with unusual firmness.

Shen Kuo patted his shoulder, gave his daughter a deep look, then followed the patriarch away.

After they left, Di Jin crouched down, "Older sister, I'll guard the perimeter; I won't let anyone approach."

As his words fell, his aura vanished from around Shen Qingli, and Jiu Li immediately rubbed back into her embrace.

It had long realized that as long as Di Jin is present! If it dared to burrow into Shen Qingli's embrace, it would surely be killed! Scaredy‑cat~

Shen Qingli, having been pulled back to consciousness by it digging into her, laughed and cried, "You're also guarding outside; I'll go inside to have a look."

Upon entering the Star‑Image Mountain within the space, she found she couldn't even call out, and couldn't concretely sense what was happening; she needed to go in and see.

"I want to go too!" Jiu Li raised its claws.

Shen Qingli didn't permit it; if she went in she would enter closed-door cultivation, and Xi Xi was also in there, she would definitely be bullied by Jiu Li!

"Wah~" Jiu Li pretended to cry.

Shen Qingli ignored it and entered the space herself.

As soon as she entered, she was stunned!

No wonder she couldn't sense Star Phenomenon Mountain—it had already merged with the Fusang Divine Tree!

More accurately, the Fusang Divine Tree had grown inside Star Phenomenon Mountain.

The Golden Phoenix had already "fallen"! It landed on the ground, turning into a small golden phoenix, and Xi Xi was taking care of it.

Seeing Shen Qingli arrive, Xi Xi immediately shrieked, "Xi!"

It actually has a sister now! The sister is so tiny, I don't even know what to feed it.

Shen Qingli scooped up the little Golden Phoenix; it slowly opened its eyes, its pupils shining gold, matching the color of its sparse, disheveled feathers.

Moreover, on the Fusang Divine Tree, besides another mature Fusang fruit, six new fruits had sprouted! Judging by their luster, they weren't mature yet, but it was already a surprise!

Furthermore, the Fusang Tree had grown six times larger; with these dense leaves, she could refine many Spirit Transformation Pills.

This isn't even everything—she had already sensed the space's feedback; it actually hadn't fully upgraded yet, these were merely superficial feedback from Star Phenomenon Mountain, and once she completely refined Star Phenomenon Mountain, it would undergo metamorphosis!

It's not just an upgrade—it's a metamorphosis!

Shen Qingli's gaze became clear…

"Crack!"

A sudden cracking sound rang out, but no one knew where it came from.