Chapter 480: Journey to Xuan Yue City

Chapter 480: Journey to Xuan Yue City

Roar!

Shen Yi held his right palm flat, gripping a straight and slender spear. Scales emerged on the spear, and the beaded jewels near the blade seemed to come alive, emitting a terrifying roar.

Ke Shisan floated beside him, helplessly watching as the dragon spear struggled frantically in its master's grasp, unable to break free from the confinement of those long fingers, until it was completely subdued.

It takes 18,000 years to enter the gateway, 40,000 years to achieve minor success, and 89,000 years to achieve major success!

With Ke Shisan's help, Shen Yi finally attained a cultivation speed surpassing that of a typical Returning Void cultivator.

Every Returning Void cultivator is a peerless genius. However, only a minuscule number can comprehend Spirit Laws, and even fewer can cultivate them to greatness before their lifespan runs out.

After all, it is Ke Shisan's primary cultivation technique. If he hadn't exhausted so much of his demonic soul earlier, as long as his lifespan was sufficient, he might even have had a chance to reach perfection.

A perfected Spirit Law, looking across all of Nan Hong, would likely be beyond the capabilities of most White Jade Capital cultivators.

【Returning Void (Spirit) . Azure Dragon Shattering Star Spear: Major Success】

【Remaining Demon-Devil Lifespan: 83,000 Years】

Shen Yi became slightly more familiar with the dragon spear in his hand. This was a demonic weapon refined using secret methods from the Dragon Palace, and it couldn't be simply compared to a cultivator's magical treasure. But just in terms of material and spirituality, it was clearly several notches above the pitch-black flying sword at his waist.

"Want to go relax?"

Shen Yi knew that haste makes waste, so he didn't rush to infuse the remaining lifespan into his cultivation technique.

The final step towards perfection in any of the three Spirit Laws he had mastered was extremely challenging.

Ke Shisan's current state wasn't ideal, so it was better to take it slow.

"Relax again?"

The dragon descendant's face turned deathly pale, and he took a few steps back.

He would willingly die for his master, but he really didn't want to go through that relaxation process again. He pleaded instinctively, "Master... I..."

"This time, it's real relaxation."

Shen Yi reached out and placed Ke Shisan against his forehead, where a prepared sealing stone was already embedded.

The square sealing stone quickly transformed into a hideous yellow dragon, covered in sharp spikes and holding a purple jade treasure pearl in its mouth.

As its eyes opened, the aquatic dragon descendant came back to life.

With a cultivation level comparable to the ninth layer of Returning Void, even without reaching perfection, it possessed strength that gave Shen Yi a headache.

Plus, with the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of years.

The insights it gained within the panel, although they couldn't be fed back into its body, at least added a lot of experience.

Its aura was even thicker than when it was alive.

"..."

Shen Yi brought the measuring pillar closer, and in an instant, golden light surged past the first-grade line, stopping only after exceeding it by about a third.

Compared to the previous few, this was a true first-grade pillar.

Based on past experience, even disregarding the Spirit Laws and various means at its disposal, the measuring pillar felt that this dragon descendant was of the tenth-layer Returning Void quality just based on its bloodline and cultivation.

After filling the boundless Demon Emperor's Palace, who knows, he might even be able to gain some decent Taoist methods from the dragon descendant.

Of course, not now.

Shen Yi summoned Ke Shisan and threw a black robe at him. This was the stealth robe he had used during the Mixed-Element Realm, but it was no longer effective at the Returning Void Realm.

However, the sealing stone itself could conceal his aura to the extreme, making it indistinguishable from an ordinary stone.

It was merely to obscure his appearance.

Shen Yi didn't intend to borrow the dragon descendant's identity to do anything, as the water demons would easily see through its stone-like body if they weren't blind.

But by occasionally revealing Ke Shisan's aura above the vast ocean.

Leaving the Dragon Palace with a slight hope that it was still alive might help ease their desire for revenge, at least until they found Ke Shisan.

As for how long that would buy him, it depended on luck.

Shen Yi watched as Ke Shisan put on the black robe, and he also took out a dark shirt to replace the Nanyang white robe he was wearing.

"If you go missing, who will come looking for you first?"

"Reporting to my master, it will probably be my fourth brother."

A hoarse voice came from under the black robe, indiscernible in age: "Among the dragon descendants of the South Palace, he ranks in the top three. Moreover, he is valiant and skillful in battle, so he is responsible for guarding the waters closest to the Seven Sons of Nanhong."

"But my relationship with my many brothers is not good, so whether they notice my disappearance depends on when he remembers that I, his little brother, exist."

Ke Shisan spoke the truth. The struggles within the Dragon Palace were far less veiled than those within the Immortal Sect.

While they wouldn't take each other's lives, everything except their lives could be taken away.

Whoever could occupy the largest waters and recruit the most followers would have the greatest say and access to endless resources.

"What's his strength like?" Shen Yi glanced at him.

"He's no weaker than Wei Yuanzhou of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong." Ke Shisan made a serious comparison and then added, "But he's no match for Su Hongxiu of the Heavenly Sword Sect, provided she's in her youth."

The dragon descendant thought he had made a perfect comparison.

But to Shen Yi, it fell on deaf ears.

After all, he wasn't familiar with either of them, let alone had any knowledge of their strengths.

All he needed to know was that he couldn't beat them for now.

"Go to your fourth brother's waters and let him know you've left this place."

Shen Yi nodded slightly.

Then, he stepped onto the pitch-black flying sword and disappeared from the spot, heading in the opposite direction from Ke Shisan.

First, he needed to temporarily ease the trouble brought by the Dragon Palace.

The rest would be simple.

Shen Yi felt the wind rushing past his ears, and his gaze grew sharper.

What he lacked now was nothing more than sealing stones and demon-devil lifespans.

Demon-devil lifespans weren't hard to find. As long as he was willing to spend the time, he could accumulate enough by killing smaller demons.

But sealing stones were different.

If he wanted to continue building his Celestial Palace, he needed a demon-devil of at least the caliber of a Green Dragon General of the Qilin level.

Demons and devils couldn't just appear out of thin air at that size; there had to be a foundation. Who didn't have a strong backer at the ninth layer of Returning Void? Moreover, this strength was already considered a powerhouse in Nan Hong, with countless intricate connections.

As for pinning his hopes on Yan Xianqing... If he had the strength to stride across this land and water, he wouldn't have been unable to protect his own grand formation.

Of course, in addition to improving his strength, there was something else he needed to pay attention to—the remaining three top-tier affiliated forces.

Shen Yi didn't necessarily need their help, but he certainly couldn't afford to sit idly by and watch them fall under the control of the Dragon Palace.

The reason was simple.

These four forces existed specifically to guard the Nanyang Sect.

Their understanding of the Nanyang Sect might even surpass that of Shen Yi, the sect's leader.

If they quietly surrendered to the Dragon Palace, by the time the aquatic soldiers and generals stepped on the Nanyang bas-relief, he might still be completely unaware.

For now, he wouldn't try to contact them.

At the very least, Shen Yi needed to know the situation with these three remaining forces. If they truly had surrendered to the Dragon Palace, he would need to prepare accordingly.

...

In the land and waters of Nanhong, aside from the top-tier immortal sects that possessed a Union Treasure Land, the remaining forces aimed to be as elite as possible, not seeking to occupy a large area but rather minimizing their presence.

Xuan Yue City was an exception.

Not only had they attached themselves to the Nanhong Seven, but they also possessed considerable strength, commanding nearly three hundred cities, akin to a small country.

In comparison, the Yan family was like a bumpkin from a remote and impoverished region.

Despite this grand presence, no aquatic beings dared to invade Xuan Yue City.

This was because behind them stood the most violent of the Nanhong Seven—the Heavenly Sword Sect.

At this moment, within one of the less conspicuous small cities among the three hundred, on a bustling street lined with shops, a crowd of people bustled about, a mix of cultivators and mortals.

A youth in ink-colored robes strolled leisurely, his features refined and his attire simple yet elegant, exuding a gentle and cultured aura.

In contrast, the tall figure following behind him was cloaked in black, giving off a somewhat sinister aura, as if warning others to keep their distance.

"Master, you seem to be in a good mood," Ke Shisan said, having circled around to confirm that his brother wouldn't be able to accurately detect his death for the time being, and thus, he returned with peace of mind.

"Not bad," Shen Yi replied, glancing at the bustling street.

He found that he preferred this lively atmosphere to the serene environment of the Nanyang Sect's inner sanctum.

There was even a hint of discomfort in his heart.

Initially, Shen Yi hadn't thought much of Xuan Yue City. After all, they hadn't shown any intention of pledging allegiance to the Nanyang Sect, so they weren't exactly his people.

Even if he came here with the blood talisman and brought trouble to this major force, Shen Yi didn't feel any psychological pressure.

However, upon witnessing the vibrant scene before him, his thoughts changed. It would be a shame if such a city were to fall into the hands of the demons.

Before coming here, Shen Yi hadn't expected Xuan Yue City to be this large.

"Are we going straight to Xuan Yue City?" Ke Shisan asked.

"Never mind," Shen Yi shook his head.

If it were the Yan family with their lesser influence, he might have taken the time to observe and see if there were any signs of collusion with the aquatic beings.

But with three hundred cities under their command... He might as well spend that time improving his strength instead.

Shen Yi stopped at a street vendor, bought two pancakes, left a jade treasure as payment, and then continued on his way with Ke Shisan.

"Thank you for your generosity, Immortal!" the vendor exclaimed excitedly, though he didn't seem as overwhelmed as the small vendor back in Bo Yun County, indicating that he was accustomed to such generous displays from cultivators.

Such things were not uncommon.

Many cultivators, after experiencing the long passage of time, would occasionally long for the mortal world they had left behind before embarking on their cultivation journey.

"Master, I'm Shi Tou," Ke Shisan reminded him.

"I'm eating two portions," Shen Yi glanced at him, explaining that buying two portions was simply his habit, and it was ruining the moment.

As the two walked towards the outskirts of the city, a drunken figure suddenly crashed through the wooden railing of the second floor of a tavern, tumbling to the ground below.

Even in his drunken state, the man continued to rant, "Kick me out, kick me out, it doesn't matter! The lord of Xuan Yue City eats the grain provided by the immortal sect, yet he wants to offer his daughter to the aquatic beings as a wife! What a disgrace!"

As soon as these words were uttered, the once bustling street fell into an eerie silence.

The passersby, regardless of whether they were cultivators or not, wore shocked expressions on their faces before quickly lowering their heads and hurrying away from the scene.

The drunkard tried to get up, but the tavern owner, his face filled with anger, emerged from the broken railing and raised a wine pot, ready to strike him again.

"You still dare to hit me!" the drunkard shouted, using his arm to shield his face.

Suddenly, a crisp crack sounded, and the exquisite wine pot shattered into a pile of dust in midair.

The drunkard lowered his arm, tilted his head back, and saw two tall figures looking down at him with disdain.

"Please forgive him, Immortal. He's drunk and spoke without thinking, offending the city lord and the immortal sect..." The tavern owner, his body trembling with fat, quickly apologized and then retreated back into the tavern.

"Let's walk and talk," Shen Yi said, having no intention of getting involved in their dispute. He was only interested in the mention of the aquatic beings.

"What are you talking about? Don't you know that the aquatic beings are being welcomed as honored guests in Xuan Yue City, bearing betrothal gifts?" the drunkard continued to rant, clearly a talkative type. But since no one else dared to listen or wanted to, he eagerly seized the opportunity to unburden himself to someone who would.

He pointed to the sky and exclaimed, "Everyone within these three hundred cities knows that the prosperity of Xuan Yue City today is due to the patronage of the Heavenly Sword Sect! How dare they act like this? Don't they fear that the immortals of the Heavenly Sword Sect will strike them down with a single sword strike?"

Hearing this, Ke Shisan quickly averted his gaze.

This wasn't just insulting the city lord, it was practically pointing fingers at Shen Yi, the sect leader.

If Xuan Yue City was still under the protection of the Heavenly Sword Sect, even the South Dragon Palace wouldn't dare to act recklessly against it, as the cost would far outweigh the benefits.

No sooner had the edict been issued than these demons began plotting.

Some were after the grand formation, while others were after the ladies.

Their intentions were nothing more than to force these Nanyang vassals to submit to them in a less conspicuous manner.

"Even if she is to be married, given Yin Yan's beauty and talent, she should be matched with a dragon descendant at the very least. How could she be given to a turtle demon?"

The drunkard ranted, spittle flying, his whole body trembling with rage.

"..."

Shen Yi glanced at him casually, suddenly feeling that the man's anger was about more than just the marriage between Xuan Yue City and the water demons.

"Reporting to my master, I think I know what's going on. It's probably Ke Si's doing." When Ke Shisan had mentioned the other dragon descendant, he had instinctively called him Fourth Brother. But when referring to this brother, his tone carried a hint of contempt.

"His strength is mediocre, but he has a turtle army under his command that can barely be considered elite."

"Giving a tortoise a beauty will not only make the turtle tribe more loyal but also help him take over Xuan Yue City. It's his usual way of doing things."

"... "

Shen Yi nodded slightly and gave the dragon descendant a signal: "Go to Xuan Yue City."

"Yes, Master." Ke Shisan immediately grabbed the drunkard and, in a flash, disappeared into the clouds with a hoarse voice: "If you dare to pee, I'll make sure you can't hold your pee for the rest of your life."

The drunkard, who had never experienced such a spectacle, was so scared that his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

He was just a loudmouth; how did he suddenly get abducted?!

...

In the courtyard outside the lord's mansion in Xuan Yue City, two middle-aged cultivators stood with swords in hand, their faces ordinary but their eyes sharp as blades.

They were like two sharp swords hidden in sheaths.

As guardians of a major power, the cultivators of Xuan Yue City seemed inferior in comparison.

Not because of a difference in realm, but because of their awe-inspiring aura and their perspective on life.

Even passersby would force a strained smile and quickly leave the area.

As if this courtyard were some forbidden ground.

Deep within the boudoir, however, there was no grand scene, only two stunningly beautiful women.

The lady in the green dress sat quietly on the bed, her red lips and white teeth giving her a somewhat pitiful air.

But compared to the lady standing up, her renowned beauty seemed to pale in comparison.

Su Yushang, the Celestial Sword Fairy.

Her sister was called Hongxiu, but she never wore red; instead, the fairy always wore eye-catching red skirts.

"I asked around for you."

Su Yushang hesitated for a moment, then glanced at her: "The sect said it's against the rules... it really is against the rules."

She even explained.

With her sister's position in the sect, no one dared to deceive her.

Xuan Yue City used to be under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Sword Sect.

Without Shen Yi speaking up, no one had the right to interfere in this matter.

But that young sect leader would never speak up... Everyone was waiting for him to come knocking, wanting to take away his Nanyang treasure land.

Once Shen Yi asked for help, they knew he would probably come up with a lot of other things he needed help with, until he had to compensate them with the treasure land.

"Thank you, Sister Su, for coming to see me." Yin Yajun forced a smile and gently comforted her.

"You..."

Su Yushang saw her looking so wronged, and couldn't help but flick her sleeve: "It's so annoying!"

The Celestial Sword Sect used to have close ties with Xuan Yue City.

Which also resulted in a good relationship between the two.

"That Ke Si! He's going too far. If he came to propose personally, that would be one thing, but to send his subordinate to fetch you instead? What kind of attitude is that?"

"Ever since he came out... Sigh."

Su Yushang had wanted to complain.

But thinking of that person's status, she forcibly swallowed her words.

Without that strength, he was forcibly elevated to a position that didn't belong to him.

It was not a good thing for him or for others.

"Sister Su, it doesn't make much difference to me either way."

Yin Yajun's smile faded slightly, and whether it was Ke Si or the turtle demon, they were both demons.

What she cared about was not her own face, and even if she married a dragon descendant, it would be a huge blow to her father, who was always proud.

"I went to see my sister about it."

Su Yushang was a little discouraged as she sat down next to her: "She's not very convenient right now, and all sorts of annoying things have happened."

If there was anyone in the Celestial Sword Sect who didn't rely on the sect's name and could pressure a dragon descendant to back down with their own strength, it was probably Su Hongxiu.

Unfortunately, the timing wasn't right, and she wasn't interested in meddling in other people's business.

"I just hope that the next time I see you, I won't have to see Sister Su's celestial sword."

Yin Yajun seemed to want to change the subject, and she cheered up and teased.

"How is that possible."

Su Yushang sighed slightly and withdrew her gaze: "Since Xuan Yue City has followed the Dragon Palace, then from now on they are mortal enemies, and I won't hold back... but I'll try to be as quick as possible."

"Then thank you, Sister Su."

Before Yin Yajun could finish her sentence, Su Yushang grabbed her cheeks: "You!"

As the two women laughed and joked, the atmosphere in the boudoir suddenly became somewhat subdued.

In the face of the Dragon Palace, a huge force like Xuan Yue City, even though it was a first-class force under the Immortal Sect, had no power to resist.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end