She turned to leave, but Chong Zhao called after her, “Wait! Demoness! What really happened back on Mount Mu Xiao? Did you… lure me there on purpose?”
Both his and Bai Shuo’s memories of the event had been erased, and his last memory was of saving Fu Ling on Mount Mu Xiao, leading his private soldiers to rescue Bai Shuo, then waking up in the Celestial Prison.
“You don’t remember?” Fu Ling’s eyes widened in surprise before narrowing, deepening in thought. “Back then, you asked me where that girl Bai Shuo was. I only did as you requested. No good deed goes unpunished, it seems.”
Chong Zhao frowned, distrustful, and Fu Ling’s tone grew sharper. “Believe what you want. If I had meant to harm you, would you still be alive? And if I meant you harm today, why would I have saved you?”
“I…” Chong Zhao hesitated, unable to argue. If Fu Ling had indeed wished him harm back then, with her demon power, he, as a mere mortal, would have been dead.
“Why did you save me?” he asked, his tone softening.
Fu Ling turned her head, her eyes momentarily soft. “You saved me once on Mount Mu Xiao. Today, I saved you. Consider us even. I saw nothing of what happened tonight.”
Chong Zhao was taken aback but nodded. “Very well. From now on, there’s no bond between us. Immortal and demon are separate; next time we meet, I expect no mercy.”
He turned and left, transforming into a flash of immortal light that shot eastward.
As he vanished, a figure in purple appeared behind Fu Ling, his voice puzzled. “Second Palace Mistress, in just three years, he became an Immortal Lord. He’s a prodigy the Immortal clan has not seen in a millennium. If he lives, he could become a great threat to the demon clan.”
Fu Ling watched where Chong Zhao had disappeared, a faint smile on her lips. “Why so anxious? Who knows what the future holds?”
“You mean…?”
“He’s filled with hatred and resentment. Even if he becomes an immortal, he is no different from what I was back then…” Fu Ling’s voice trailed off as she gazed toward Chong Zhao’s direction, a rare hint of warmth in her otherwise cold smile.
A few strands of immortal light descended upon the capital. At the forefront was Qing Yi, dressed in green.
Standing above the capital, he waved his hand, and the coiling dragon array flickered into view. A corner of the array had been pierced, and the dragon lay atop it, weakened.
Qing Yi moved his palm, channeling immortal energy into the array, and the dragon regained its strength, sinking back into the formation to rest.
“Your Majesty, who dares to intrude upon the coiling dragon array and attempt to assassinate the mortal emperor?” one of the celestial generals asked.
Qing Yi’s brow furrowed, but he gave no answer. “Leave ten men to guard the array; the rest will follow me to the Heavenly Palace.”
“Yes.”
A series of immortal lights shot back up toward the Heavenly Palace.
In the Ninth Heaven, the celestial clouds drifted, and the full moon hung level with the Milky Way.
Within Jiu Xiao Hall, the Golden Sun Immortal watched Qing Yi, who held the broken fire-arrow in his hand, his anger barely contained.
“That rebellious girl—she dared to intrude upon the coiling dragon array! Is she trying to break the fate of the mortal realm?”
“Please, Your Eminence, remain calm.”
While it wasn’t a closely guarded secret that Fu Ling of Cold Spring Palace was the daughter of the Golden Sun Immortal, only a few high-ranking immortals were aware. Qing Yi spoke in a low voice. “This matter is likely not so simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“The lower lord found not only traces of the fire-arrow on the array but also hints of celestial energy entwined with it.”
The Golden Sun Immortal stood abruptly. “You’re saying that immortals and demons are colluding, seeking to destroy the Purple Star and disrupt the mortal realm’s fate?”
“It’s too soon to make any definitive conclusions, but it seems an immortal may be involved.”
The Golden Sun Immortal’s expression darkened. “The rebellion of the peacock clan two centuries ago nearly devastated the Immortal Realm. We cannot afford a repeat of that disaster. Though there has been peace between the Immortal and Demon clans for some time, Cold Spring Palace’s ways are twisted and unpredictable. If Tian Yu ascends as the demon emperor, maintaining peace between the two clans may be impossible.” The Golden Sun Immortal’s tone was grave. “Qing Yi, investigate this matter in secret. Find those conspiring with Cold Spring Palace!”
“Yes, Your Eminence!”
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