Chapter 446 Old Loli, Scheme Within a Scheme
February, the gentle breeze of early spring swept away the winter cold, and the white snow on the Twelve Peaks of Xuan Xing Sect gradually melted.
Tender shoots broke through the soil, and grass grew and orioles flew.
Inside a cave dwelling on the mountainside of Dan Quan Peak, Si Xuanji sat cross-legged on a long couch. Suddenly, she opened her mismatched eyes.
A-ying, who was nibbling on spirit rice on the windowsill, tilted its head and reported the day in a confused voice:
“It’s spring again! It’s spring again!”
Her Yin-yang eyes fixed on it, showing a hint of anger, which made A-ying quickly point to the newly sprouted green buds in the courtyard outside the window with its beak and add:
“Referring to the season! Referring to the season!”
The little tiger had been digesting for almost a month and was already empty. But Si Xuanji understood a principle – If the government collects grain too frequently, it will only leave the people with nothing to eat, leading to physical weakness and a weakened nation.
Ye Anping still had a girl to support at home. She felt she should endure for a while longer.
Si Xuanji let out a soft breath, looked at the spring scenery outside the window, and looked forward to Ye Anping successfully forming his Nascent Soul as he had said, and then coming before her.
But at the same time, she felt a hint of doubt. She didn’t quite understand how Ye Anping would overcome the grand tribulation of Nascent Soul formation.
However, for now, she was powerless.
Pills, spirit lands, formations… she could provide Ye Anping with the best in the world.
But the path of immortality was always against the current. The last time Ye Anping formed his Core, she had only helped him recover his body after each Heavenly Tribulation.
The Heavenly Tribulation could only be overcome by oneself, not by others.
“Ye Anping, I’m waiting for you…”
Si Xuanji’s eyes slightly drooped, revealing a hint of gentleness.
However, the next moment—
*Swish swish—*
A gentle breeze blew in from the window, sweeping over the disheveled silver and black strands behind her.
Si Xuanji seemed to see something she disliked. The gentleness in her eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by an icy coldness like a frozen river.
She slightly raised her small hand, and a pair of sheer curtains embroidered with the Xuan Xing Sect’s totem unfolded before her, floating in the center of the room. Then, the bed, tables, and chairs in the room instantly vanished, transforming into an endless void.
Afterward, more and more sheer curtains appeared around her, each embroidered with the totem of an immortal sect.
Cui Ling Sect, Yu Shou Sect, Hundred Lotus Sect, Moon Shadow Sword Sect, Taibai Sect, Hantian Kingdom…
In just the time it took an incense stick to burn, this boundless dark space was filled with thousands of sheer curtains of various colors and sizes, each displaying a silhouette.
Si Xuanji scanned the surroundings with her Yin-yang eyes, her brows furrowed slightly:
“… …”
This void now originated from the spiritual treasure known as the “Summoning Immortal Token.”
Each sect leader of the immortal families had one, which could forcibly pull the spiritual senses of the sect leaders of various immortal families into a void realm located outside the Four Domains.
Here, there was no concept of time, nor any difference between life and death.
Currently, in the Four Domains, only Void Realm cultivators like Si Xuanji were qualified to use the “Summoning Immortal Token.”
In other words, unless there was a particularly important and urgent matter to convey to the sect leaders of various sects, this item would generally not be used. Moreover, the spiritual energy consumed by the “Summoning Immortal Token” was not to be underestimated.
Si Xuanji remained silent, pondering who had used the Summoning Immortal Token.
And in the next moment, from behind the sheer curtain embroidered with the Hantian Kingdom’s totem, Sun Juehu’s sarcastic voice was heard:
“Yo~~ A Summoning Immortal Token, what a grand display. It’s probably not Sister Dan Yue who did this, nor should the bald monks of the Wunian Sect be so idle. Then… Old Ancestor Yuan, what is the reason for summoning the sect leaders of all immortal families here?”
“Cough—cough cough…”
Zu Yuan’s coughing sound came from behind the Taibai Sect’s sheer curtain, but Si Xuanji’s brows furrowed even deeper upon hearing it.
—This wasn’t the kind of cough meant to interrupt someone, but rather the weak cough of an elderly person who was ill.
Si Xuanji could tell, and Sun Juehu and Taishang Wusun of the Wunian Sect could naturally tell as well.
Sun Juehu looked surprised: “Whoa…”
Taishang Wusun seemed to be chanting scriptures:
“Amitabha, alas…”
The three of them suddenly understood why Zu Yuan had used the “Summoning Immortal Token.”
—Zu Yuan was the oldest among them, even approaching the end of his lifespan, which seemed endless to ordinary cultivators.
These two coughs only signified one thing.
—If Zu Yuan could not ascend within the next few hundred years, he would have to return to dust.
On the Taibai Sect’s sheer curtain, Zu Yuan’s figure trembled slightly.
He raised his hand, stroked his long beard, and sighed:
“Today, I have gathered the sect leaders of various sects for the sake of the immortal cause. You must have all heard that the Ghost Spirit Sect crossed the Eastern Sea of the Central Domain last year and occupied the southeastern sandy sea. Since the Nanggong clan of the Imperial Sect was destroyed by the Demon Race, cultivators in the Western, Southern, and Northern Regions are filled with anxiety. Therefore…”
Zu Yuan paused slightly, shifting his gaze to the sheer curtain of the Imperial Sect not far away, where Fu Xuan Shangxian’s figure was. He said:
“While I still have the strength. I summon the immortals and order an attack on the Eastern Domain in half a year. We must completely eradicate the demonic cultivators that were not completely eliminated back then, to bring peace to the Four Domains.”
Sun Juehu chuckled upon hearing this:
“Whoa~ Old Ancestor Yuan, your words are quite rhyming. But didn’t we discuss this last time? We talked for months, Sister Dan Yue ate 30 jin of melon seeds, and there was no conclusion. Don’t you agree? Sister Dan Yue.”
Si Xuanji glanced sideways at the Hantian Kingdom’s curtain, her eyelids twitching slightly. She said:
“It’s just the sandy sea east of the Central Domain. Why make such a big fuss? If war breaks out, it will only lead to suffering and death for all living beings. Thousands of years ago, the Central Domain was a place of beautiful mountains and forests, with renowned birds and beasts. But after the last Immortal-Demon war, what did the Central Domain become? Old Ancestor Yuan, you have lived longer than I have. Surely you must have seen it?”
“Then we’ll just let the demonic cultivators take over the Central Domain?!” Zu Yuan retorted sharply, choking himself. “Cough cough… cough cough cough…”
“Heh heh… The Central Domain is now the territory of the Demon Race. No matter how lawless the demonic cultivators are, they will never dare to invade the Western, Southern, and Northern Regions. Why not let them manage that vast expanse of yellow sand? Isn’t that good?”
“Dan Yue, where is your immortal cause? Don’t think I don’t know that you’re just afraid of fighting the sect leaders of the Tian Mo Sect and the Ghost Spirit Sect. Gui Mu Seven and Yu Yan hate you to the bone.”
“Heh…”
Si Xuanji interrupted with a cold laugh, smiling as she replied:
“Yes, as you said, I am indeed afraid of death. But Old Ancestor Yuan, aren’t you afraid of death? After cultivating for nearly ten thousand years, you are about to return to dust. I am much younger than you. If you die at the hands of Yu Yan and Gui Mu Seven, you will surely be more unwilling than I.”
“……”
“Rhyming, you say. I’ll give you one too. Your mouth is full of immortal cause, and your heart is full of eternal fame and fortune. You teach the disciples of the Taibai Sect to live their lives obediently every day, yet you are certain that you alone can defy heaven. Don’t think I can’t see it, you old scoundrel are very wicked. You just want to use the immortal cultivators who die at the hands of demonic cultivators to find an opportunity to break through the void and defy fate. I’ll put it here today: if you want me to lead the Xuan Xing Sect into the Eastern Domain, I refuse! I! Do! Not! Agree!”
“…cough cough—cough cough…”
Zu Yuan coughed uncontrollably, angered, and from behind the Wunian Sect’s sheer curtain, Taishang Wusun quickly spoke:
“Fairy Dan Yue, we are all immortal cultivators. We should prioritize harmony.”
“Then are you, bald donkey, willing to lead your Wunian Sect to exterminate the demonic cultivators in the Eastern Domain?”
Taishang Wusun slowly nodded:
“Amitabha, Amitabha…”
The smile on Si Xuanji’s face instantly disappeared. She said in a cold voice:
“Stopping war and promoting benevolence is Amitabha.”
After these words, there was no sound in the void.
The sect leaders of thousands of sects, although they all had their own thoughts, whether they sided with Si Xuanji or Zu Yuan, none of them dared to speak.
After all, taking sides would displease the other party.
No one wanted to be noted by Si Xuanji or any of them.
After waiting for two breaths, seeing that Zu Yuan also remained silent, Si Xuanji waved her hand slightly, giving Zu Yuan a way out. She said:
“Since Heavenly Rhyme Dao Immortal, you have nothing else to say, then dismiss.”
However, just as Si Xuanji was about to withdraw from this void realm…
From behind Sun Juehu’s Hantian Kingdom curtain, she suddenly interrupted:
“Hey~ Sister Dan Yue, don’t rush. Old Ancestor Yuan must have spent quite a few spirit stones using the Summoning Immortal Token. It’s such a waste to just talk for a couple of sentences. Why not talk about the Eastern Huang incident before?”
Upon hearing this, Si Xuanji’s eyes instantly showed a hint of vigilance. She felt that Sun Juehu was trying to set a trap for her and quickly said:
“What is there to talk about? Didn’t Pavilion Master Qu already compile the course of events and submit it to the elders of the scripture libraries of each sect?”
“But there are some things that the official scrolls don’t mention.” Sun Juehu’s tone carried a hint of a smirk. “Don’t you agree, Pavilion Master Qu? How is your life in the Hundred Lotus Sect? Does Sect Master Ye of the Hundred Lotus Sect have anything to say?”
As soon as this was said, Ye Ao, who was closing his eyes behind the pink sheer curtain embroidered with the Hundred Lotus Sect’s emblem, was startled.
This was the first time he had been personally called upon by a Void Realm cultivator. His heart was pounding nervously, but thankfully, Ye Anping seemed to have anticipated this and specially sent him a jade slip, telling him not to speak no matter what.
Thinking of his promising son, Ye Ao slightly relaxed and sealed his mouth with spirit arts to prevent himself from making a sound.
Ye Anping had previously sent him a message, saying that if he were summoned to the “Summoning Immortal Token,” he should not speak no matter what, and Fu Xuan Shangxian would speak on his behalf.
Behind the sheer curtain embroidered with the Imperial Sect’s emblem, Qu Ruyun shrugged slightly, clearly accustomed to such scenes. She replied coldly:
“Oh? I don’t know.”
“For example…” Sun Juehu intentionally paused, as if joking. “Pavilion Master Qu, why don’t you describe the handsome face of the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect in the scrolls, so that all immortal families know that the Hundred Lotus Sect has a handsome, dashing, and elegant young master? I like him very much.”
Qu Ruyun’s expression was calm, and she replied:
“Senior Sun, with so many sect leaders present. You should refrain from making such jokes.”
“That would be too boring. Everyone, the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect is truly handsome…”
The sect leaders present were all somewhat confused.
Although they understood every word, they couldn’t understand the meaning when put together.
They knew that Sun Juehu liked handsome men, but was it too inappropriate to say it on this occasion?
However, Si Xuanji understood. Sun Juehu was testing her.
—The latter half of the compliment about Ye Anping, which Sun Juehu did not say, was: … He is so “handsome” that even Dan Yue Shangxian values him so highly.
Si Xuanji naturally did not respond:
“……”
Seeing her like this, Sun Juehu chuckled and continued:
“Just kidding. I heard from hearsay that the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect seems to have ‘Spring Aspect Spiritual Energy.’ Sister Dan Yue, you are quite close to the Hundred Lotus Sect. Do you know if you do?”
Si Xuanji replied calmly:
“Hearsay can make a chicken fly three thousand feet into the sky.”
However, although her tone was calm, she already had the urge to stuff Sun Juehu’s head into the backside of a Qingshui Dragon.
Sun Juehu was just talking nonsense, but she, as a Void Realm cultivator of the immortal families and the Empress of Hantian Kingdom,
Even if it was nonsense, some people would believe it.
And that person who believed it was…
*Swish swish—*
Zu Yuan’s figure on the Taibai Sect’s sheer curtain trembled slightly.
Seeing this scene, Si Xuanji also understood that Ye Anping had been targeted by Zu Yuan.
Zu Yuan had been searching for the “Spring Aspect Spiritual Energy” recorded in ancient books for thousands of years, hoping to break through his cultivation bottleneck and ascend through the “Spring Aspect.” However, he had not succeeded.
Sun Juehu, at this opportune moment when Zu Yuan’s lamp oil was running out, brought this up. Whether this matter was true or false, Zu Yuan would not sit idly by. He would definitely find a way to capture Ye Anping to verify it.
After all, Zu Yuan was also a Void Realm cultivator. Unless she stayed by Ye Anping’s side all the time, as long as there was an opportunity, Zu Yuan would capture Ye Anping without leaving any evidence or clues.
Moreover, if she insisted on protecting Ye Anping now, it would be equivalent to announcing to all the sect leaders of the immortal families that her relationship with Ye Anping was unusual, which would also bring a lot of trouble to Ye Anping.
This was Sun Juehu’s open scheme, but it also incorporated Zu Yuan’s hidden scheme.
Now, two Void Realm cultivators were essentially joining forces against her.
Even if she had a ten-tenths certainty of protecting herself, she did not have a ten-tenths certainty of protecting Ye Anping.
Si Xuanji gritted her teeth slightly, calculating almost all possible future scenarios in her mind.
Perhaps one day in the future, Ye Anping would disappear. Even if she knew it was Zu Yuan, if she rushed to the Taibai Sect, Zu Yuan could vehemently deny it, and she couldn’t fight Zu Yuan at the Taibai Sect.
This matter was troublesome…
How could she protect Ye Anping under these circumstances?
Si Xuanji lowered her gaze and pondered.
However, the next moment—
Qu Ruyun, from behind the sheer curtain embroidered with the Imperial Sect’s totem, suddenly spoke:
“Although I, Qu, have not personally witnessed the Spring Aspect Spiritual Energy, according to some disciples of the Xing Tian Division, Young Master Ye of the Hundred Lotus Sect once lost an arm, which then grew back within a few days. However, I believe that the matter of ‘Spring Aspect’ is unrelated to Eastern Huang, and therefore was not recorded in the scrolls submitted to each sect.”
!
Upon hearing this, Si Xuanji could hardly believe it. She narrowed her eyes and glared in the direction of Fu Xuan Shangxian.
At first hearing, she thought Qu Ruyun had betrayed Ye Anping, wanting to hand Ye Anping over to Zu Yuan.
But after thinking about it, Qu Ruyun shouldn’t have the guts to betray Ye Anping in front of her.
In other words, these words were spoken by Ye Anping at Qu Ruyun’s request.
Her Yin-yang eyes narrowed slightly. Si Xuanji bit her lip lightly and lowered her gaze in thought.
Ye Anping had probably already foreseen the matter of the “Summoning Immortal Token,” and had also foreseen that Sun Juehu would mention “Spring Aspect Spirit” on this occasion, and even foreseen that Zu Yuan was running out of his life force…
The purpose of him having Qu Ruyun say this now was to voluntarily go to Zu Yuan’s Hongmen Banquet.
—Idiot!! Big Idiot!!
—Such a dangerous thing!!
—Ye Anping, where is your composure? What are you doing!
Si Xuanji clenched her fists. The previous incident in Eastern Huang had already made her very worried. This time, he actually allowed this old man Zu Yuan to target him…
Why was a mere Core Formation cultivator making her so worried?
Si Xuanji took a deep breath, then gradually calmed down and retorted:
“Oh? Is that so? The Hundred Lotus Sect is right next to us. Why haven’t I heard about this Spring Aspect matter?”
Just as Si Xuanji’s voice fell, a worried voice of a young girl suddenly came from among the curtains:
—”Me too! My husband has never mentioned it to me.”
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look. They saw that this voice came from behind the sheer curtain embroidered with the Chi Long Mansion’s totem. Li Longling realized that the situation seemed to be unfavorable to Ye Anping and bravely said:
“I am betrothed to Young Master Ye and have known him for many years, but I have never heard my husband mention the ‘Spring Aspect.’ Moreover, if Young Master Ye had the Spring Aspect Spirit, he should have healed my eyes long ago. Isn’t it written in books that the Spring Aspect Spiritual Energy can heal all things?”
Qu Ruyun raised an eyebrow slightly, instantly understanding that the Mansion Master of Chi Long Mansion did not want Ye Anping to be in danger, so she had bravely spoken up.
Ye Anping must have forgotten to tell Li Longling about his plan…
Thinking this, Qu Ruyun shook her head slightly:
“But there is indeed such a thing. Young Master Ye protected the lives of countless Xing Tian Division disciples with a peculiar spiritual energy. This is a fact.”
“But…”
Li Longling was instantly speechless and no longer made a sound. In her heart, she could only break out in a cold sweat for Ye Anping.
But as she quieted down, Yun Tianchong’s murmur came from behind the Moon Shadow Sword Sect’s curtain:
“Uh…”
Sun Juehu quickly looked over and asked:
“Sect Master Yun, do you have anything to say?”
“No, no… My throat is just a bit uncomfortable. Please continue… Please continue…”
Yun Tianchong was just a bit surprised. Why did Ye Anping have a marriage contract with the Mansion Master of Chi Long Mansion?
Where would his Yiyi rank in the end?
… …
