Chapter 22: Subduing Wu Shi

Chapter 22: Subduing Wu Shi

Supreme Sovereigns may cherish life, but they fear death not at all.

If they were to remain secluded, death would still come. It was better to fight to the death, and if they won, they could prolong their lifespans and perhaps even find the Path to Immortality.

Who among the Supreme Sovereigns wasn’t a shrewd individual?

Especially after living for so long, each of them had eyes that could see through anything. The Netherworld was already a formidable force, and their targeting the Supreme Sovereigns of the forbidden zones was clearly aimed at the current Dao-Confirming Cultivators.

As expected, Zunyu Mo Yu said, "We wish to besiege Empress Xi. Fellow Daoists, would you lend us a hand?"

However, despite the anticipation, the Taichu Ancient Mine remained silent for a long while after the words were spoken.

Initiating an Emperor War while a Dao-Confirming Cultivator was present came at a great cost, and it was easy to fall in the process.

When it came to matters of life and death, no one would agree lightly.

"First, tell us about your plan with the Netherworld", someone said.

Zunyu Mo Yu smiled and immediately revealed the plan.

Silence was a bad sign, but if they were willing to discuss it, it meant they were considering it. Once they started to consider, they had already made a choice.

"Since the Netherworld is willing to lead the charge, we can take some risks as well."

"Agreed!"

With the decision made, the Supreme Sovereigns no longer hesitated and readily agreed.

The most cautious approach would be to wait until Empress Xi’s later years, by which time her husband and daughter would have long passed their limits.

However, the issue was that Empress Xi possessed the Elixir of Immortality, which could extend her life for two lifetimes, a total of thirty thousand years. It was uncertain who would outlast whom.

Some of the Supreme Sovereigns might not even live that long.

Furthermore, Empress Xi’s husband and daughter, though not Dao-Confirming Cultivators, could still be sealed within the Divine Source. When the time came to fight, they would still have to face this family of three.

Thus, once the Netherworld proposed their plan, certain things were already set in stone.

---

Upon returning from a tour of the Five Realms, the Yaochi Holy Land remained as beautiful as ever. The mountains and rivers were picturesque, with blooming flowers and trees spreading their fragrant petals. The air was filled with a refreshing aroma.

The ethereal divine palace hung over the mountain cliffs, shrouded in mist, while lakes dotted the landscape like pearls. The hills were lush and green, covered in divine grass, with Phoenix Blossoms in full bloom and Dragonvines entwining around them. The sky was bathed in a rosy glow, and silver waterfalls cascaded down from great heights, creating a magnificent and enchanting scene, like a paradise on earth.

"Mother, I’m back!" Wu Shi stood at the gate of the Holy Land, hands on his hips, calling out.

Then, Shao Hua angrily ruffled his hair, nearly slapping him with her palm.

It was one thing for outsiders, who could be excused for their ignorance.

But as her son, had he forgotten his mother’s name?

Wu Shi gave a sheepish smile, sticking out his tender little tongue, trying to charm his way out of trouble.

"Who’s that shouting from afar? Ah, it’s my precious son."

At that moment, a graceful figure appeared, eagerly scooping up little Wu Shi and giving his head a firm rub.

Shao Hua, who had anticipated this, stepped aside to make room. Seeing the scene, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle.

Mother was, of course, breathtakingly beautiful, wearing a flowing white dress that trailed behind her. Her figure was slender and elegant, her movements graceful.

Her face, untouched by makeup, could make all the beauties of the world pale in comparison. Her phoenix-like eyes sparkled, and her demeanor was serene and dignified, a beauty beyond measure.

Even after thousands of years, Shao Hua was still stunned by her mother’s beauty.

It was inevitable, given that her mother’s face not only resembled her own but was nearly as beautiful as hers.

Hmm, this was a good time to criticize little Wu Shi for his lack of manners.

If any other man had the chance to be so close to such beauty, they would likely faint from excitement. What did his eye-rolling mean?

Ignoring the pleading look from her son, Shao Hua decided to be cold and heartless.

"Empress Xi, may you be well." Nan Jinping and Li Xingruo exchanged glances, then quickly turned and left. "Master, we'll head back now."

Lan Ling also noticed the tall figure approaching and took her leave, giving the family some time alone.

"You’ve really taken in some fine disciples", Wu Ning remarked.

"I haven’t officially taken them in yet. Those two little girls are quite clever; they were just putting on a show for you", Shao Hua chuckled.

"I think those girls are quite happy. Since you’re not willing to take them in, why not let them be my disciples?" Empress Xi began to make her move.

Shao Hua’s smile vanished. How to put it—she did indeed favor the sisters, but she hadn’t taken them in yet because she was always focused on researching the path to immortality and didn’t have much time to teach. She was afraid of holding them back.

This time, she was only bringing Wu Shi along to guide him, and teaching the sisters was a side effect.

"Are you sure you’re not taking them in just to dump the responsibility on me again?" Shao Hua asked suspiciously.

Despite her glamorous public image—what with her unmatched beauty and her suppression of the eight wastelands—Empress Xi was actually a reclusive cultivator and a hands-off leader.

Shao Hua herself had built up the Yaochi Holy Land, while Empress Xi hadn’t contributed much.

Relying on her to teach disciples was like asking for them to become self-taught.

Their father, on the other hand, loved teaching. But... well, it was a bit complicated.

He first trained a few female giants who could run horses on their shoulders, then brought up a few androgynous, cool ladies who had a mesmerizing effect on the disciples, leading to some unwholesome trends within the holy land.

As the holy land's leader, Shao Hua had to correct this. She kicked her father out, telling him to build his own mountain and play in the mud with the male cultivators who had paired up with Yaochi’s female disciples.

Thus, the Northern Expanse gained a famous scenic spot—the Wangqi Cliffs!

If it weren’t for their father’s lack of interest in establishing a lineage, the Eastern Wastelands might have had another “male cultivator holy land.”

Faced with her daughter’s skepticism, Empress Xi showed her imperial demeanor.

She set Wu Shi down, turned around, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Her eyes held three parts amusement, three parts embarrassment, and four parts playful pique as she said to her daughter, "Then it shall be as you wish."

She was done pretending and decided to lay it all out.

Wasn’t her daughter there to be used?

Shao Hua was momentarily speechless.

Wu Shi tilted his little head, watching the heartwarming scene of his family’s harmonious interaction. His eyelashes fluttered, and he etched this moment deeply into his mind.

With his exceptional wisdom and nearly divine intuition, he had a premonition of what was to come, even though no one had told him anything.

For a while, the three adults lavished all their love and attention on Wu Shi, constantly revolving around him.

Wu Shi was very happy. He got whatever he wanted, even the stars from the sky as toys, and the constant care and companionship of his family made his life seem like a dream.

He was also very sad, knowing that this moment wouldn’t last forever, but he didn’t want to worry his family. He tried his best to act like an innocent child, his obedience touching to the point of heartache.

A month turned into three, and three months dragged on to six. Finally, Empress Xi, with tears in her eyes, sealed her young son in the Divine Source Liquid.

That day, the tears of the imperial sovereign fell into the Yaochi, and the heavens responded with sorrow. The rain fell continuously, and the sky was dark and gloomy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end