“Master Tian Yu has a way with words,” Yu Feng interjected calmly, bowing to Zi Han. “Might he be trying to blame everything on our Lord Jin Yao, who lies here gravely injured?”
“Lord Dragon, Tian Yu led the daughter of Lord Jin Yao astray, persuading her to abandon the immortal clan and join the demon realm. Jin Yao, driven by fatherly love, acted in anger,” Yu Feng respectfully explained to Zi Han.
“What nonsense! Fu Ling’s mother was of the blood-flower demon clan, whom you slew. If she wishes to choose her path between immortal and demon, it is hers to decide. Where is the ‘persuasion’ in that? It’s the fault of your immortal clan for failing to hold on to your own, and now you come here spreading lies before Lord Dragon!”
“Tian Yu, you wicked old demon!” Yan Huo seethed, face red with fury. Yet, the grudges between these two clans dated back millennia, and dredging up old scores hardly offered clarity in terms of right or wrong.
“Who are you calling ‘old’? A mere few thousand years make me young indeed!” Tian Yu replied, undeterred.
“Silence!” Zi Han growled, and the vast dragon’s eye swept coldly over the assembled group. Even Tian Yu, already a demigod, felt his hair stand on end, and the others were equally cowed.
“The sins of disturbing Purple Moon Mountain will be settled later. Tian Yu, Yu Feng, spread my edict across the three realms. From this day, until Purple Moon Mountain reopens, no man, god, demon, or spirit shall set foot within one hundred miles of its borders. Any who dare to trespass will face my lightning and dragon fire!”
With a thunderous exhale of dragon fire, Zi Han chased both Tian Yu’s and Yu Feng’s factions off the mountain. Tian Yu, already severely injured, was assisted back to Cold Spring Palace by Fu Ling. Yu Feng and his company, their minds occupied by Jin Yao’s injuries and their concern over having angered the dragon, left without another word.
Riding atop an auspicious cloud, Yu Feng glanced back at Purple Moon Mountain with an uneasy heart. The Soul Tower indeed radiated the divine presence of Tian Qi, but with all the recent commotion, why had Tian Qi not yet shown himself? Could something have gone wrong?
Once peace returned to Purple Moon Mountain, Zi Han transformed into his human form, stumbling unsteadily as he rushed into the Soul Tower. Despite his godly powers, it took significant effort to make his way through the tower, which was saturated with raging demonic power and chaotic soul flames. Upon entering, he froze in shock at the sight before him.
Tian Qi lay still on the jade platform, holding Yue Mi’s body in his arms, both of them with their eyes closed. The faint trace of Yue Mi’s spirit was carefully protected in Tian Qi’s hand.
Zi Han hurried to Tian Qi’s side and pressed a hand to his brow. Taking a deep breath, the ancient dragon, though thousands of years old, sank to the ground in utter disbelief.
Shakily, he took Tian Qi’s hand, inspecting it for a long moment before finally confirming an earth-shattering reality: Tian Qi’s spiritual sea contained not a single trace of divine consciousness.
In human form, the chubby dragon child began to cry over Tian Qi’s hand, wailing pitifully. After a while, he dried his tears, reinforced the protective barrier over Purple Moon Mountain, and, sniffling, set off to the ancient godly realm in search of help.
Meanwhile, in the Celestial Watch Tower, Xuan Yi held up a water mirror, gazing leisurely at the events within Purple Moon Mountain, and took a sip from his wine flask, sighing in satisfaction. “The world beyond really is fascinating. Watching all this is much more entertaining than anything I saw in purgatory.”
Chi Yang frowned, sniffed the air, and glanced suspiciously at Xuan Yi’s wine flask. “Where did you get that wine?”
The scent was unlike anything brewed in the godly realm and seemed to have aged considerably. No wine on earth could have lasted so long.
“This wine?” Xuan Yi grinned, shaking the flask. “That little girl Yue Mi moved me so much last time. Those three wine cauldrons in Tian Qi’s hall were just sitting there, so why not give me a taste? I’ll consider it a favor.”
A glass shattered on the floor, followed by Chi Yang’s furious roar.
“That was Yue Mi’s heartfelt gift of tens of thousands of years! You scoundrel!”
Setting aside the clamor and chaos in the Celestial Watch Tower, time moved on swiftly. In the mortal realm, seven years passed in the blink of an eye, and Bai Shuo grew up. General Bai wished only for his youngest daughter to live a peaceful, secure life, unaware that Bai Shuo remembered clearly and resolutely her goal of cultivating herself as a tribute of gratitude to the deity who saved her. Day by day, she pursued her goal, resolute and unwavering, and seven years passed in this single-minded pursuit.
Now, the fame of General Bai’s household had spread far and wide, for he had raised not only a wise and virtuous crown princess but also a daughter widely known as a “little shaman.”
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