Inside the herb garden, Bai Shuo seemed to sense something. She turned to look where Chong Zhao had just stood but saw nothing.
Feeling a bit downcast, she touched the herbs, muttering, “It’s alright, no rush. Once he’s done meeting with the sect leader, he’ll come to see me, right?”
Bai Shuo glanced toward the main hall, clutching the bamboo flute around her neck, her heart filled with anticipation.
A full moon hung high in the sky. Even the mortal imperial capital lay quiet under the night’s deep silence.
Hovering outside the palace, Chong Zhao gazed intently at the bright lights within, his eyes burning with a deep, unrelenting hatred.
Now that he was immortal, what did he have to fear from a mere mortal emperor?
Finally, Chong Zhao moved. In his palm, he conjured an immortal sword and flew straight toward the center of the imperial palace. Just as he neared the palace, a brilliant flash of celestial light surged over it, forming a massive coiling dragon array that shielded the palace. The dragon phantom at the center of the array let out a deep, warning growl directed at Chong Zhao.
Chong Zhao’s face hardened, but he did not retreat. Immortal power surged continuously from his hand, and when he showed no sign of backing down, the coiled dragon within the array lost its patience. The dragon sprang from the array with a powerful roar, rushing toward Chong Zhao.
Its tail swung down, breaking Chong Zhao’s sword, and landed heavily on his chest. Blood spurted from Chong Zhao’s mouth, and as the dragon’s jaws closed around him, a fiery crimson arrow shot from afar, forcing the dragon to retreat. A figure appeared, catching the injured and falling Chong Zhao, then disappeared into the moonlit night.
The dragon let out a furious roar to the heavens, and several streaks of immortal light shot out from the Heavenly Palace, heading toward the mortal realm.
At the herb garden on Miao Miao Island, Bai Shuo had been sitting by the door since dusk, reading a medical book by the light of the straw hut’s lamp, while her gaze frequently drifted toward the garden entrance.
In a dilapidated temple outside the mortal capital, Chong Zhao lay pale and weak. Fu Ling fed him a pill and infused spiritual energy into him. After a moment, color returned to Chong Zhao’s face, and he awoke.
Demon energy?!
The moment he regained consciousness, Chong Zhao’s face twisted in alarm. He conjured his sword and swung it behind him, but his blow was effortlessly blocked. A cold laugh echoed in the air.
“Is this how you treat a savior after so many years, Master Chong?”
Chong Zhao turned slowly, his memory conjuring the vague image of a delicate, pitiful face. His expression showed hesitation. “You’re… Fu Ling?” His face darkened, and he gathered his immortal sword once again, pointing it at Fu Ling. “You’re a demon?!”
Fu Ling merely pushed the blade away, flashing the intricate fire-arrow in her hand with a raised brow. “Yes, a demon. And if it weren’t for me, you’d already be nothing more than a soul lost under the claws of that guardian dragon!”
Chong Zhao’s face stiffened, the veins on his hand gripping the sword visibly strained. Fu Ling smiled slightly. “I came to the mortal realm today on other business, but upon seeing the capital, I happened to spot an old friend. I didn’t expect that in just three years, you, a mere mortal, would have ascended to Immortal Lord—a rare fortune indeed. But as an immortal, surely you know the mortal emperor is protected by the celestial dragon. Even a lower-ranking Immortal Lord, let alone a standard celestial, would not dare breach the palace grounds.”
Fu Ling stepped a bit closer, her eyes gleaming with a trace of mischief. “If I’m not mistaken, were you trying to kill the mortal emperor? You’re an immortal, Master Chong. If the Heavenly Palace finds out, you’ll face celestial retribution.”
“Get lost, demoness!” Chong Zhao’s expression shifted as he struck out with his palm, his voice cold. “So what if he’s the emperor? That tyrant wiped out my family—I have every reason to kill him! Don’t try to threaten me. I dared to storm the palace, and I’m prepared to face the consequences!”
Fu Ling fixed her gaze on him and then chuckled. “Your matters with the Immortal clan don’t concern me or the demon clan.”
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