Chapter 526: It Doesn't Know My Name

Chapter 526: It Doesn't Know My Name

Who could have imagined such a sight?

Deep within the surging blue waves of Western Hong, a towering jade mountain stood tall, its peak hidden from view.

The mountain shone with clarity, layer upon layer, each tier a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship, yet it was also orderly, with each level seamlessly connected to the next, revealing a strict hierarchy.

Upon seeing this mountain, all cultivators and demons fell silent and formed a neat line, marching forward.

Shen Yi casually glanced at his surroundings and, noticing that no one was paying attention to him, he slightly twitched his fingers hidden within his sleeve, activating the transformation technique he had prepared specifically for infiltrating Southern Hong.

He didn't make any drastic adjustments, only altering his handsome face slightly, adding a touch of coldness to his features, and a hint of unapproachable chill to his lips, as if warning others to keep their distance.

Shen Yi was quite familiar with such transformations, skillfully adjusting his facial expressions.

In an instant, he transformed from a seemingly reserved young cultivator into a solitary and aloof wanderer.

It was evident that the scale of this Dragon Consort's birthday banquet was no less grand than the Seven Sons Conference.

Even cultivators with the Three Cities Realm, like Liu Xingshan, a top-tier elder of an immortal sect, had to patiently queue up to approach the jade mountain.

Shen Yi's actions were not only to prepare for potential events but also because he had reassessed the danger of the situation.

The Dragon Consort, or rather, within this jade mountain, there was a high probability of the existence of a being comparable to the Unification Realm presiding over the event.

Otherwise, how could they suppress these proud and powerful individuals?

Yu Lan seemed to be drifting away from Shen Yi, giving the impression that they were unrelated. However, she always maintained a distance that allowed her to come to his aid at the first sign of trouble.

The long line moved swiftly forward.

At the base of the mountain, a black-backed dragon in human form called out loudly, "Deerhorn Sect, one hundred bottles of True Yang Pills, one Qingwang Hairpin, in celebration of the Dragon Consort's birthday! Please proceed to the Ninety-Ninth Floor!"

As soon as the announcement was made, another black-backed dragon guard stepped forward to lead the way.

Several Deerhorn Sect cultivators turned back with smiles, clearly delighted, and bid farewell to their fellow cultivators who had accompanied them.

Reaching a higher floor within the jade mountain was a sign of the sect's status in Western Hong.

Amidst the crowd's gaze, a beautiful woman in a gorgeous azure feathered dress with a graceful figure and fair skin walked forward. Despite her striking appearance, her indifferent demeanor deterred both demons and cultivators from looking at her for too long.

Yu Lan ignored the black-backed dragon guard beside her and headed straight for the jade mountain.

The guard's eyelids twitched, and upon sensing the faint heart flame aura emanating from Yu Lan, he fell silent for a moment before whispering to his colleague, "Ninety-Ninth Floor."

The Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan and the Western Dragon Palace were not on good terms, and although he didn't know this woman's exact identity, her demeanor and profound cultivation level indicated a high status within her clan.

She had come alone to the banquet with this demeanor, clearly harboring other intentions.

It would be better to seat her closer to the Dragon Consort.

After all, even if the Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan's ancestor came in person, they might not gain any advantage over the Dragon Consort.

The black-backed dragon guard turned his gaze back to the list and continued calling out names.

Soon, a figure in a dark robe approached quietly.

As the person was about to pass by, the guard's eyelids twitched again, and he knocked on the table, signaling the gift list.

Bang bang!

What's the point of this? Is he here to freeload?

"..."

Shen Yi sighed inwardly, feeling that the precious heavenly treasures he had painstakingly collected would be wasted on demons.

He infused his spirit into the ring and scanned through Old Seventh's collection, then chose a plain-looking pearl necklace and placed it on the table.

The black-backed dragon guard silently examined the necklace, opening his mouth as if unsure whether to announce it or not.

To outsiders, this necklace was incredibly rare, and obtaining one would require a significant price. However, the problem was... it was obviously a Dragon Palace treasure, and offering a Dragon Palace item to honor the Dragon Consort seemed a bit foolish.

Wasn't this a bit too stupid?

The black dragon guard looked at the cultivator's face, noticing a hint of pain in his eyes, and then observed his attire, feeling both amused and annoyed.

Where did this country bumpkin come from? His luck was off the charts, and his cultivation was incredibly powerful, rivaling even the famous scions of the great sects.

As if suddenly realizing something, the guard, being a wanderer with limited knowledge, thought that collecting Dragon Palace items was a good idea. Although he seemed unaware of social norms, his sincerity was clear.

This cultivator was obviously here to seek favor with the Dragon Consort.

"Take him to the Ninety-Ninth Floor," the guard whispered again.

Shen Yi's hearing was incredibly sharp, and he noted the floor number. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the jade mountain, determined to find a way to make up for the loss.

...

The crystal-clear dome, the intricately designed ornate lanterns, and the white floor tiles, each with a different pattern, formed a magnificent painting when viewed together.

Inside the hall, a beautiful dancer gracefully moved, her flowing robe not overly revealing, exuding elegance despite her low cultivation level.

It was clear that the owner of this palace was not a mere brawler.

Shen Yi entered the hall relatively late.

Those who could enter this treasure hall were of extremely high status in the Western Flood, and most of them had intricate connections with a certain Unification Realm cultivator.

Even the seating arrangements were quite meticulous.

For example, the Daozi from the Blue Sea Sect was also in the hall. The sect she had sought for assistance must have an Unification Realm Sect Master as its leader. Such a close relationship with the Unification Realm meant her seat was placed very prominently.

Yulan, who was mistaken for a member of the Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan, also took a seat nearby.

In contrast, Shen Yi was quietly led to a corner by a Black Dragon Guard: "Please."

After leaving a simple word, it turned and left.

"..."

Shen Yi sat cross-legged, though he was not quite used to the strict hierarchy, he was still relatively satisfied.

After all, besides cultivators, the demons who could enter this grand hall were surely quite powerful.

This position was just right for him to observe secretly.

Of course, apart from that, he really didn't want anyone to come over and chat. After all, he still didn't know the Dragon Consort's name, how old she was, or how much lifespan she had left.

Because he arrived late, the cultivators who came earlier had already started chatting with each other.

Shen Yi pretended to admire the dancers, but his mind was elsewhere. Before he could listen carefully, he sensed the strange atmosphere.

This was partly due to the chaotic situation in the Western Flood.

All the top forces gathered in one place, inevitably leading to disputes over interests, and their words were often tinged with sarcasm.

The only cultivators who could remain aloof were probably Shen Yi and the Daozi from the Blue Sea Sect.

Shen Yi didn't really care, as a newcomer, it was beneficial to gather as much insider information as possible, which would help him choose targets in the future, or even use others' strength to his advantage.

However, the Daozi from the Blue Sea Sect showed no interest, sitting quietly and sipping the nectar.

But the next moment, she slightly raised her eyes: "..."

This was because a Sea Snake Demon, seemingly unwilling to let the atmosphere remain awkward, awkwardly shifted the topic to something completely unrelated to the Western Flood.

"Do you know why the head of the Qi family left the Western Flood and where he went?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately looked over with interest. After all, this was the Dragon Consort's birthday banquet, and the head of the Qi family was not at Jade Mountain, which, given his fear of his wife, might lead to him offending the Dragon Consort.

The Sea Snake smiled faintly: "The head of the Qi family led his troops into the Southern Flood, aiming for the Southern Flood Seven Sons."

The words "Southern Flood Seven Sons" echoed in the hall, and many cultivators and demons showed puzzled expressions. Only those from the major powers with seats at the front responded, whispering to each other.

After a moment of contemplation, they had a vague recollection of the once formidable force from ten thousand years ago.

Since that incident, not only had the Seven Sons disappeared, but the entire Southern Flood seemed to vanish from the Hongze, fading into silence.

The Daozi from the Blue Sea Sect closed her eyes, her expression calm.

Even though these cultivators and demons spoke of her sect without much respect, and even with a hint of mockery and ridicule, as a Daozi, she had the patience to endure it.

Moreover, the current situation of the Southern Capital Seven Sons was already quite difficult, so it wasn't entirely their fault.

"Drink." Beside the Daozi from the Blue Sea Sect, a young man in elaborate attire raised his cup casually and offered a gentle comfort.

They were also one of the major powers in the Western Flood, known as the Cloud River Sect. Although they didn't have a second Unification Sacred Land, their Sect Master was quite powerful and one of the main targets for the Nanyang Sect's plea for assistance.

"I understand." The Daozi from the Blue Sea Sect raised her wine glass and responded calmly.

She was here to seek help, not to cause trouble. Moreover, the fact that the Cloud River Sect could bring her here was also a way to prove to the Southern Flood Seven Sons that they had matters to attend to, and the likelihood of them returning to the Southern Flood for support after completing their tasks was quite high.

However, before the wine glass reached her lips, the Daozi's gaze suddenly turned cold.

"Of course, today is the Dragon Consort's birthday, so we won't talk about those violent matters. Besides, there's no need to talk about them."

According to the Sea Snake Demon, the Western Dragon Palace had already intervened in the matter, so the downfall of the Southern Flood Seven Sons was just a matter of time.

Ten thousand years ago, under the leadership of Sect Master Qin, along with six other equally powerful Unification Realm Sect Masters, the seven top-tier experts were formidable in the Hongze.

But after that incident, the peace between cultivators and demons was suddenly broken. Without discussing the bloodshed, major powers often swallowed smaller ones, and the Beast Tribes also took the opportunity to devour many sects' treasures.

In the midst of life-and-death battles, heroes were more likely to emerge.

The Western Dragon Palace alone now had more than seven Unification Realm demons, let alone the entire Southern Dragon Palace. The Seven Sons were missing their strongest member, Sect Master Qin, and without other forces intervening, their fate was almost certain.

"What I want to tell you is a joke I heard."

Seeing that everyone's interest had been piqued, the Sea Snake Demon stood up and couldn't hide a smile as she lowered her head: "You know those Southern Flood Seven Sons, they actually have the leisure to grandly hold a Seven Sons Conference, no longer wanting to be the tail of the phoenix, but instead becoming the head of the chicken, leading the scattered troops of the Southern Flood, barely experiencing the glory of the past."

Upon hearing this, many demons burst into laughter: "Besides those six, does the Southern Flood have any other Unification Realm cultivators? They dare to call it a conference?"

Shen Yi quietly listened, gradually realizing the implications.

Although Nan Hong had limited knowledge of the outside world, Hongze's understanding of Nan Hong was also minimal.

For Shen Yi, who had once fought for life and death in Qingzhou alongside a group of Demon-Subduing Generals and the Howling Moon Wolf King, he was well aware of the importance of this information gap. The less the other party knew, the more advantageous it was for Nan Hong.

"..."

The Yunhe Sect Daoist listened to the laughter around him and glanced worriedly at the girl beside him.

Sure enough, the face of the Baihai Sect Daoist had turned slightly cold, and the wine cup she had raised remained suspended in the air, not touching her red lips.

He sighed helplessly and stood up as well, "Whether there are other Unification Realm cultivators or not, it has nothing to do with us in Western Hong. Moreover, the Nan Hong Seven Sons are, after all, our seniors, and their foundation is extremely profound. It's best to avoid unnecessary talk and potential trouble, so let's change the topic."

Hearing someone's discouragement, the crowd instinctively looked over. After recognizing his identity, although they didn't know the reason, they quickly stopped laughing, giving the Yunhe Sect some face.

Even the few factions that had conflicts with the Yunhe Sect wouldn't bother with such a minor issue.

As the atmosphere suddenly turned quiet, the Snake Demon felt a bit embarrassed. She leaned forward, picked up her wine cup, and took a sip, explaining, "Hey, how could they possibly leave Nan Hong? I'm not here to gossip about the Nan Hong Seven Sons... What I find amusing is the long-extinct Nanyang Sect."

Upon hearing this, the crowd's interest was piqued again.

"I know Yang Daozi means well, but we're not outsiders. Gossiping won't spread, so why spoil the mood?"

A robust Tiger Demon at the very front of the hall rested his sturdy arms on the table. His entire body was abnormally white, with black stripes like ink, giving him a clean appearance. His cultivation realm was also quite profound, perhaps not as high as the Jade Green Phoenix, but at least not inferior to the previous Young Lord Dark Serpent.

He propped up his lazy body and casually glanced at the Sea Snake Demon, "Speak."

"..."

The Yunhe Sect Daoist fell silent for a moment, sighed, and sat back down.

This White Tiger Demon might not be much, but it was because the power behind it was quite formidable. Therefore, they didn't need to send a true direct disciple of the same level as the Daoist.

With the White Tiger Demon's permission, a smile returned to the Sea Snake's face, "It's indeed inappropriate to joke about the Nan Hong Seven Sons, but the reason I mentioned the Seven Sons Conference is because of this conference... Haha..."

As he spoke, he burst into laughter, "They elected a White Jade Capital cultivator as the seventh Sect Master! White Jade Capital... Sect Master... So I suspect that Nan Hong has long lacked new Unification Realm cultivators, or else how could they have fallen to this extent? Perhaps I could even become the Immortal Sect Lord if I went to Nan Hong."

"White Jade Capital, Sect Master?"

Those who entered this hall and sat in the front row were all cultivators from White Jade Capital. Hearing this, they were momentarily stunned.

After all, the title of Immortal Sect wasn't used lightly.

The prerequisite was to have Immortals.

In Hongze, only Unification Realm cultivators could barely be called Earth Immortals, to distinguish them from true Immortals.

Even the elders of the Yunhe Sect couldn't help but look at the girl with a hint of doubt and uncertainty.

When the Nan Hong Seven Sons came for assistance, they didn't mention that they had fallen to such a pitiful state.

"This matter is absolutely true. I still remember that ignorant cultivator, his name was... Shen... Shen..." The Sea Snake Demon scratched his head and then burst into laughter, "My apologies, I can't remember!"

Bang!

At that moment, a dull sound reverberated through the hall, capturing everyone's attention.

They saw the young girl who had followed the Yunhe Sect, exuding an elegant aura.

Her palm was quietly resting on the table.

She raised her eyes indifferently and stared at the Snake Demon, slowly retracting her jade-white hand. Nectar dripped from her fingertips, leaving only shattered wine cups on the table.

This incident had seriously affected her mission to seek aid.

Moreover...

As a Daoist of the Nan Hong Seven Sons, no one would tolerate someone trampling on the dignity of their Sect Master in front of everyone.

"Fellow Daoist?" The Sea Snake was taken aback and then smiled, "What's wrong? Did I offend you in some way?"

"..."

The Baihai Sect Daoist took a deep breath, her lips curled with coldness. She stood up calmly and steadily, and despite the anxious gaze of the Yunhe Sect Daoist, she extended her hand decisively.

"It's not that," she said, "but as fellow Immortal Sect cultivators, some things are hard to tolerate when demons spout nonsense here."

As she spoke, her fingertip suddenly tore open an almost imperceptible opening, and a drop of scarlet blood slowly floated towards the center of the hall, appearing slightly glaring.

Facing this challenge of life and death.

The Sea Snake seemed to be in a daze for a few breaths, and then he frowned as if he had heard an extremely absurd joke, "The same... fellow Immortal Sect cultivator?"

The remaining people in the hall also looked over with puzzled expressions.

The Sea Snake Demon shook his head, and his voice took on a playful tone, "Fellow Daoist, you don't seem to be from Western Hong, could it be..."

His tone suddenly turned cold, and his eyes flashed with cruelty, "Are you from Nan Hong?"

In Western Hong, or even in Hongze, there was no such thing as fellow Immortal Sect cultivators. The relationship between Immortal Sects was often less harmonious than that with some Beast Tribes.

Such rigid words couldn't help but remind people of that place that had been disconnected from Hongze for a full 100,000 years—a place of silence.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end