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https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-512-The-Folly-of-Youth-Knows-No-Bounds-Yet-the-World-is-Never-Short-of-Youth/12554850/
Chapter 511: Rest When You're Tired
Chapter 511: Rest When You're Tired
Within the South Dragon Palace, the relationship between the Dragon King and the Crown Prince was rather delicate.
First of all, this Crown Prince was undoubtedly the most favored son of the South Palace Dragon King.
Whether it was his innate bloodline, his temperament, or even his appearance, he was surely the one who pleased the Dragon King the most.
However, there was an unavoidable issue between the two.
That was the long and somewhat terrifying lifespan of the demons, especially for noble and ancient demons like the Yellow Plague Poison Dragon.
The Crown Prince of the South Dragon Palace might have to wait many more years before ascending the throne.
As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share the same mountain.
Thus, the best option was for the king and the prince to keep their distance.
The South Dragon Palace Crown Prince rarely visited his father, but whenever he did, it was to ask the Dragon King to "relinquish some authority."
Only with the King's consent could he act without restraint and not worry about any discord in their relationship.
Therefore, when the word "approved" reverberated from the abyssal cave, the South Dragon Palace Crown Prince slowly stood up, glanced at the kneeling Ke Laosi and the uneasy Keshi Liang, and said indifferently, "Get out and wait for my decree."
"... "
Ke Laosi raised his head, his face filled with grateful tears.
As long as the South Dragon Palace still valued him, he would have a chance to turn things around.
As the Crown Prince's brother, Keshi Liang did not show any displeasure at the reprimand, which was almost like a command to a servant.
The demon tribe did not follow the rules of human respect for elders.
The other party was the Crown Prince, and he was merely a minor prince, not because the other party was older, but because when they were still dragon grandchildren, the winner had already been decided.
In the vast South Dragon Palace, there were only six dragon sons, which was enough to show how formidable this eldest brother was.
"Fifth brother obeys."
Keshi Liang respectfully bowed.
He heaved a sigh of relief in his heart.
It was true that his eldest brother had a violent temper, but he also had the strength to back it up. His willingness to take charge on behalf of the Dragon King was not necessarily a good thing for the other three brothers who were comparable to the Unity Realm. However, for himself and Ke Laosi, the two "culprits," it was the most stable support they could ask for.
With his eldest brother's support, he had a chance to regain the face he had lost in front of the South Hong Seven Sons.
If he handled things well, the Crown Prince might even give him a few more White Jade Capital Great Demon Generals.
Thinking of the White Jade Capital Great Demon Generals, Keshi Liang's face couldn't help but show a hint of resentment.
Those were all his trusted generals who helped him govern his territory... It took a lot of effort to cultivate and win them over, and now, for some unknown reason, only one was left. How could he accept this?!
If this grudge was not avenged, he would never be able to hold his head high in South Hong again.
With this in mind, Keshi Liang walked out of the hall with a sinister look on his face. While he might be insignificant in front of his peers, he would show his juniors... like Su Hongxiu and Wei Yuanzhou, what it meant to be a prince of the South Dragon Palace.
...
Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, seven rainbows suddenly retreated in the direction from which they had come, re-entering the seven sect bas-reliefs, signaling the end of the assembly.
In the sky, six shadows undulated like water waves before disappearing into thin air.
The layers of stairs gradually disappeared.
The young man in the Nanyang white robe stood in the clouds with his hands clasped behind his back. Even without the grandiose display of power, he still attracted everyone's attention.
The scene of him casually slaying Liu Xing Shan earlier might be something that many of the present cultivators would never forget.
This was a status forged by strength, far more solid than being propped up by others.
Even without considering the South Hong Seven Sons.
Based on Shen Yi's own capabilities, he was more than qualified to occupy a place in South Hong and gain a formidable reputation.
Several daoists took a step forward and bowed to the figure, "We pay our respects to Sect Master Shen."
As a peerless genius, one must know when to advance and when to retreat, and these daoists were not trying to curry favor with the new sect master. In the guests' slightly puzzled gazes, none of the seven sect disciples left, and they all quietly waited in their places.
Because there was still one more matter to be resolved.
And the quiet departure of the other six sect masters meant that they were leaving this matter in the hands of Sect Master Shen.
This was also their response to Shen Yi's deliberate display of the blood seal in his palm earlier.
Since they had acknowledged this Sect Master of Nanyang,
Then the pact of sharing life and death... had come into effect.
"The envoy from the South Dragon Palace is still waiting outside. May we ask for your instructions, Sect Master Nanyang?"
The daoist from the Unparalleled Sect took a step forward, his gaze complex as he looked at the sect master, who was much younger than himself.
He wasn't sure about the other sect masters, but at least his own master still intended to test Sect Master Shen.
A qualified heir to a treasure site had to be both capable and intelligent.
The South Hong Seven Sons could indeed rival the South Dragon Palace, but how they fought, why they fought, and what they gained from the fight were all matters that required careful consideration.
This incident was neither too big nor too small for a sect master, but it was enough to reveal their methods of handling matters.
In short,
If Sect Master Shen handled this well, he would be able to participate in the major affairs of the seven sects. If he didn't live up to expectations, then it would be best for him to remain in the Nanyang treasure site and focus on his cultivation.
The rest of the daoists, including Su Hongxiu, remained quiet, and no one disturbed Shen Yi's thoughts.
Was he...feigning ignorance? With the South Dragon Palace already at their doorstep, was it realistic to try and muddle through this by playing dumb?
A venerable Immortal Sect couldn't very well refuse entry to the Dragon Palace's envoy and pretend to be deaf with their grand formation closed... Well, perhaps the Nanyang Sect truly was like that, as they hadn't fully opened their sect's formation yet.
White Witch wasn't the only one feeling helpless.
The Unparalleled Sect Daoist, who had asked the question earlier, was clearly dissatisfied with this response, but he didn't say anything more. Instead, he turned and pointed in a certain direction, "Reporting to Sect Master Shen, the envoy from the South Dragon Palace is right... "
Before he could finish his sentence, his outstretched finger froze.
He had just realized something.
The Seven Sons Assembly had already ended, and according to the nature of the South Dragon Palace's Crown Prince and his fierce entourage, still holding the Prince's edict, it was surprising that they had managed to hold back until now. Why was it so quiet?
"I understand."
Nodding slightly, Shen Yi stepped past the group and said, "Wait for them to come to the Nanyang Sect to find me."
In truth, he just wanted to test the allied sects' attitudes and didn't really want to break ties with the South Dragon Palace.
As a hunter, it would be extremely foolish to unnecessarily provoke your prey into a full-scale counterattack.
Moreover, with his current strength, if he were to be targeted by a Unity Realm great demon, he would have no means of protecting himself.
Keeping a low profile and quietly amassing wealth was the right approach.
Hence, Shen Yi had arranged for Wu Jun and Ke Shi to go and muddy the waters further.
After these two demons had transcended the Heavenly Tribulation and become the masters of the East and North Palaces, their appearances had undergone tremendous changes, and it would be difficult to discover their true nature as stone demons without careful investigation.
The sudden appearance of these two ferocious demons in South Hong would be enough to keep the South Dragon Palace busy investigating for quite some time.
Moreover, Wu Jun's performance had exceeded Shen Yi's expectations.
Not only had he obscured their vision, but he also seemed to have attracted most of the Dragon Prince's wrath.
It seemed that he would be able to buy himself a considerable amount of time.
"..."
Su Hongxiu silently watched Shen Yi's departing figure, her eyebrows slightly raised.
From Shen Yi's earlier display, it was highly likely that he was behind the incident with the water tribe.
However, his current reaction seemed a bit odd.
Thinking of this, she also looked in that direction, her eyes flashing with uncertainty. In a battle between two armies, messengers were usually spared, especially since the South Dragon Palace had only come to ask questions and the fighting hadn't truly begun yet... But she didn't think Shen Yi was the type to play by the rules.
Could those South Dragon Palace messengers have already...?
Even Su Hongxiu, known for her bloodthirsty nature, felt a chill run down her spine as this thought crossed her mind.
How insane! If this matter were to be exposed, not only the West Hong Dragon Palace but even the other two Dragon Palaces would likely be unable to restrain themselves.
It wasn't a matter of saving face or not, but rather, it showed complete disregard for the Dragon Palaces.
However, looking at Shen Yi's calm figure, Su Hongxiu could only suppress the doubts in her heart and pretend that she hadn't noticed anything amiss.
It was Wei Yuanzhou who took a step forward to follow Shen Yi.
"Sect Master Shen, I have a personal request."
He bowed solemnly to Shen Yi, his tone earnest, "Wei Yuanling, the direct disciple of the Lingyun Sect, once offended Sect Master Shen. I would like to plead for a pardon on her behalf. I hope that Sect Master will be magnanimous and forgive her. If Sect Master's anger has not yet subsided, I, Wei Yuanzhou, am willing to do my best to make amends."
This Lingyun Sect Daoist didn't mention how he had helped Sect Master Shen before, and his attitude was sincere and respectful.
However, Shen Yi fell silent.
He had found it strange earlier that this Daoist, a stranger to him, had been so considerate and helpful.
So, it turned out there was a reason for it.
Then... who was Wei Yuanling?
"This..."
Wei Yuanzhou keenly sensed the fleeting doubt in Shen Yi's eyes, and he froze for a moment before letting out a helpless smile.
So, the matter that he deemed important had been forgotten by Shen Yi.
He truly had the air of an immortal, unperturbed by worldly affairs, and it was no wonder that his cultivation had progressed so rapidly.
Even setting aside their difference in realms and strength, Wei Yuanzhou felt a sense of self-deprecating admiration for Shen Yi as he looked at him again.
Perhaps by holding so tightly to so-called rules, he was bound by them and lacked the same sense of detachment.
"I understand, Sect Master Shen."
Wei Yuanzhou took a half-step back and bowed once more.
What his sister truly needed was not a pardon from Sect Master Shen, but genuine remorse and a change of heart. If she couldn't free herself from her hatred and continued to feel that others had wronged her, even if she walked out of her prison, she would still be trapped in an even larger prison of her own making.
"You understand?"
Shen Yi snapped back to attention, raising his eyebrows slightly. Understand what?
All Shen Yi wanted to do now was to quickly return to his sect and rest. The journey up Mount Pan had truly exhausted him in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.
It wasn't physical exhaustion, but a profound weariness of his soul.
It felt like it had been ages since he had truly rested.
Now that he had finally established a foothold in South Hong, a peaceful slumber didn't seem like too much to ask for.
"..."
From a distance, Baohua Xianzi waited until the Daoists had finished speaking before she subconsciously wanted to chase after that familiar figure.
She had so many questions she wanted to ask.
But Baohua Xianzi had just taken a step forward when she hesitated and withdrew her foot.
It was true that she had missed him, but upon further thought, the two of them weren't very close, and she had only just learned of Shen Yi's true identity.
Furthermore, Baohua Xianzi felt that she had glimpsed a glimpse of a weary figure hidden beneath that majestic South Yang white robe, and although he no longer exuded the domineering aura of looking down on all living beings, he somehow seemed more real.
"He looks so tired."
Hearing Baohua Xianzi's murmur, Su Yushang rolled her eyes at her, "You don't believe it when I tell you that your cultivation is low. Those who can ascend to White Jade Capital have long since harmonized their spirit and energy with the heavens and the earth, how could they experience mortal fatigue?"
"Maybe I'm mistaken," Baohua Xianzi said, tugging at the corner of her lips and forcing a smile.
However, she didn't notice that behind them, the old woman with the walking stick looked on silently before sighing softly.
To be able to see through that radiant figure and discern what others could not was not necessarily a good thing, as it would only lead to deeper entanglement.
The old woman didn't feel she had the right to advise her disciple in this matter, but she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat... Why did it have to be the Nanyang Sect again?
The next moment, she shook her head, gently waved her staff, and summoned an invisible spiritual wind that pushed Baohua Xianzi away, saying softly, "Little Zhilan, if you want to go, then go. What's there to fear about meeting him?"
Even though her stance was not objective, she had to admit that Shen Yi's current performance far surpassed that of Xuan Qing.
For people like them, if they hesitated now, they might never have another chance.
Of course, the so-called "chance" would most likely only amount to meeting once.
...
Not far from the South Hong Seven Sons, in the Yunxia Mountain Mansion.
The vast tree shadows rippled like a green sea, and below were several ancient chairs. The six figures did not sit together, but were scattered about, each doing their own thing—drinking tea, sipping wine, playing the guqin, or squatting on the ground, fiddling with pebbles.
Their gazes did not meet, yet the entire scene was oddly harmonious.
It was as if they had already merged into one.
"Is it Qin Shixiong?"
The woman playing the guqin paused, her slender white fingers hovering over the strings as she glanced at the empty chair closest to the large tree.
That chair looked familiar; it was the one from the long staircase earlier.
Compared to the grand assembly earlier, this seemingly scattered and quiet gathering was actually more fitting of the name "Seven Sons Assembly."
"I don't know."
The Tianjian Sect Master held a wine jar and exhaled a long breath of wine, "The last time I saw him through the water mirror before I entered the water, his methods and style were completely different from Qin's."
"It's right that they're different." Unparalleled Sect Master finally arranged the pebbles into a shape he was satisfied with and looked up, "After experiencing such an event, if he returns to take revenge, how could he possibly remain the same as before?"
His words seemed to resonate with everyone.
After all, it was a thought that had crossed all their minds.
"So... should we invite him over next time?" Lingyue Sect Master mumbled.
However, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him with complex expressions.
If it really was Qin Shixiong, was there even a need to invite him? And if it wasn't, what was the point of inviting a young genius to participate in the affairs of the Unity Realm?
"So what do we do now? If we really want to take revenge, can we rely on just the few of us?"
Lingyue Sect Master was clearly frustrated and annoyed, his dignified face showing a hint of sullenness.
If others heard these words, they would be shocked beyond belief.
A group of people who could turn South Hong upside down with just a flick of their fingers were actually expressing such self-doubt.
"Let's wait and see."
Qingyue Sect Master's fingers returned to the guqin strings.
And so, everyone's gazes shifted away once more, and they continued to busy themselves with their own tasks.
It was said that White Jade Capital was dull and tasteless, and one had to inherit the Unity Treasure Land to attain true freedom.
However, only upon reaching this realm did they realize that White Jade Capital was not dull at all. At least they could still do whatever they wanted.
But to shoulder the lives of all the beings in the treasure land and become their Heavenly Dao, that was a shackle from which they could never truly break free.
The heavens and the earth were ruthless, and even though Unity Realm cultivators could overcome the great tribulations of birth, old age, sickness, and death, they still had emotions.
And so, they could only clumsily imitate the heavens and the earth, never truly becoming one with them.
(End of Chapter)
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