Chapter 528: Identity Exposed, Purple-Bearded White Dragon

Chapter 528: Identity Exposed, Purple-Bearded White Dragon



The dark-robed youth's straightforward and crude actions, coupled with his concise words, left no room for negotiation.

The White Tiger demons, unless they were prepared to fight to the death, had no chance to even make a pretense of politeness.

It was either a fight or a hasty retreat.

In Hongze, unless there was a significant disparity in strength, such a ruthless display of disregard for face was rarely seen.

The crowd pondered over the youth's earlier words.

The Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan, although renowned among the Western Hong's demon tribes, needed no introduction regarding their status and influence, but they clearly hadn't reached a level of arrogance to behave so brazenly.

However, the respectful demeanor of the Crystal Azure Phoenix beauty revealed some underlying issues.

The dark-robed youth's words seemed to imply that he wasn't relying on the Crystal Azure Phoenix Clan as a backing, but merely stating a fact—he was temporarily residing there.

This group of Tiger demons had provoked a formidable opponent!

But with such a prestigious identity, why would the Dragon Consort place him in a corner? It couldn't be for the sake of staying low-key, given their earlier behavior.

After reaching this conclusion, the crowd quickly ignored the furious Tiger demons in the hall, but they also didn't go overboard in fawning over Shen Yi.

The difference in status was too vast; trying to curry favor with someone of higher standing might not only be annoying but also invite dangerous consequences.

The combination of the cultivator and the Crystal Azure Phoenix made it difficult to discern whether the youth leaned more towards the Immortal Sect or the demon tribes.

"Let's go."

The young White Tiger demon seemed to have finally calmed down, slowly rising from the ground without glancing at the youth in the main seat.

It staggered towards the hall's exit, its retreating figure causing the fake smiles of the other cultivators and demons to stiffen slightly.

No one in the hall was a fool.

The Tiger demon's posture made it clear that this matter wasn't over yet.

Just then, the "master" who had yet to make an appearance sent two Black-backed Dragon servants to block the Tiger demon's path, whispering, "The Dragon Consort is aware of your intentions and has prepared a soul continuation artifact. This way, please."

The young Tiger demon clenched its fist tightly, seemingly dissatisfied with the Dragon Consort's earlier indifferent attitude.

With the Dragon Consort's terrifying Unification Realm strength, stopping the dark-robed youth would be a mere thought.

It was just a matter of feeling that their clan was inferior to the youth's background.

Hmph... No matter how grand the background, it didn't guarantee immunity from accidents. Even the direct disciples of the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect occasionally perished outside.

This humiliation must be avenged with blood!

As the young Tiger demon fell silent, the remaining three elder demons, disregarding their pain from being smashed by the Crystal Azure Phoenix beauty, hurriedly pulled it back and expressed their gratitude, "Thank you for the Dragon Consort's generosity!"

"Please."

The Black-backed Dragon servants lifted their right arms slightly and turned to lead the way, acting as if they hadn't noticed anything.

Even after they left, the hall remained silent, except for the sound of the dancing beauty. There wasn't a whisper to be heard.

No one knew if a seemingly insignificant action might disturb the youth's enjoyment of the dance, and the consequences could be worse than what the Tiger demon clan had faced.

"..."

Shen Yi's gaze swept across the hall, her peripheral vision briefly catching the empty hall outside.

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

The unseen Dragon Consort had already intervened once to prevent the situation from escalating.

Now, she had found an excuse to send the Tiger demons away, making it hard not to suspect that she was disrupting the demons' plan to "get acquainted" with her.

Shen Yi had never encountered such a meddlesome demon.

Moreover, based on the apparent strength comparison, although she and Yu Lan had displayed impressive abilities, they were still limited to the White Jade Capital's level and might not be able to handle the Tiger demons' ambush.

What was the Dragon Consort's intention?

Shen Yi didn't recall any connection or favor owed to the Dragon Palace.

"And that soul continuation artifact..."

Recalling the earlier words, Shen Yi retracted her gaze, her thoughts wavering.

Although she didn't know the specifics, it seemed someone was about to die and needed the Dragon Consort's treasure to continue their life. Judging by the Tiger demons' attitude, the person's identity was not insignificant.

If they were truly on the brink of death, would it make the task of killing them easier?

Moreover, with such a noble identity, they must possess exceptional talent and strength.

For a moment, Shen Yi even lost the pretense of watching the dance.

Her fingers, hidden within her sleeves, twirled, and a strand of white mist was absorbed into the silver bell.

She hadn't expected that her earlier cautious behavior would allow her to use such a crude method, suitable for the Condensation Realm, even now.

As the Tiger demons left, the atmosphere in the hall gradually eased, but no one dared to stand up and bring up random matters.

The Blue Sea Sect cultivator sat cross-legged behind the table, sighing inwardly with a mix of relief and regret.

She wasn't like Su Hongxiu, who itched for a fight with strong opponents, but she also knew when to prioritize. Although she wanted to test her skills against the Western Hong's proud cultivators, she wouldn't lose sight of what was important.

The mysterious youth's intervention had solved a significant problem for her.

At least with this distraction, the Cloud River Sect wouldn't have the mind to question the Southern Hong Seven Sons' current state, and the request for aid could still proceed.

However... The cultivators outside were truly intimidating!

Take this mysterious youth, for example; the strength he had displayed was beyond the reach of even the strongest among the Southern Hong's seven cultivators.

Once they returned to their sect, they would have to report this to their master.

"Fellow Cultivator Lin?"

"Ah?" The Treasure Flower Sect's Daozi finally snapped out of his daze and turned to the side, nodding in gratitude. "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for your help earlier."

The Cloud River Sect's Daozi managed a weak smile, seeing that the other's mind was clearly elsewhere. He sighed inwardly, knowing that at this moment, everyone's attention was still fixed on the youth in the dark robe.

Just then, the two Black-Backed Dragon Guards who had left earlier returned.

They quickly approached the area below the main seat and spoke softly, "The Dragon Consort wishes to invite you to the hall for a chat. If you're available now, please follow us."

With these words, the already varied thoughts of the numerous cultivators and demons in the room grew even more peculiar.

An invitation from the Dragon Consort was an honor; many would never dare to dream of such a thing.

Moreover, the polite tone, with a hint of deference, made it sound like an invitation to a fellow cultivator of the same realm.

It was common knowledge that the Dragon Consort's strength was comparable to a Fusion Dao master. For other cultivators, addressing her as a celestial being wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The crowd held their breath, their eyes fixed on the main seat.

But they didn't know...

Shen Yi's current mood wasn't much better than theirs.

He had planned to find an excuse to absorb some demonic lifespans, but since that didn't work out, he had now attracted the attention of a powerful demon. It was a huge loss for him.

On the surface, he appeared calm and composed, but beneath his dark robe, his body was tense. He quickly thought about how to escape from the clutches of a Fusion Dao demon.

He went through all his skills, even considering the Divine Peak Technique and the newly acquired Phoenix Essence Dao Soldier, but the chances of success still seemed slim.

Something was off! Very off!

The Dragon Consort's reaction, from the initial reminder, to sending away the White Tiger Demon, and now inviting him, seemed strange from start to finish.

Shen Yi even had a feeling that even if he hadn't acted earlier, and had quietly sat through the banquet, the Dragon Consort would have still sent someone to invite him.

From now on, he would have to be more cautious... if there was a 'from now on'.

"Let's go. I'm getting bored anyway."

Shen Yi nodded slightly, rose at a steady pace, and walked towards the hall's exit.

If the Dragon Consort wanted to make a move, it wouldn't matter if it was here or in her own hall; the outcome would be the same.

Either way, it would end the same, so he might as well be carefree.

His demeanor, as observed by others, further solidified his noble status. With the strength of the White Jade Capital, to receive such acknowledgment from a Fusion Dao demon... even the Boundless Dao Emperor Sect might not achieve this.

Moreover, the Dragon Consort's manner suggested that this was a routine occurrence; she had likely hosted many Fusion Dao Colossi before.

...

On the ninety-ninth floor of Jade Mountain stood a unique small building.

It resembled a white flower atop the mountain peak, so exquisite that one felt it would be a desecration to look at it for too long.

Shen Yi followed the two Black-Backed Dragon Guards as they slowly approached the pavilion.

Even the previous hall had demons comparable to Three Cities Realm, and he had expected to see even more extraordinary beings.

However, the two guards stopped at the door, gesturing for him to enter, "Please."

They then used their eyes to stop Yu Lan, who was following behind.

Shen Yi signaled for her to be quiet and silently entered the hall, only to find an empty, desolate chamber.

Though called a hall, it resembled a larger private chamber. For instance, the main seat's throne could be described as a coral jade couch.

In the entire hall, aside from Shen Yi, there wasn't even a single servant girl. Only a graceful figure, shrouded in a snow-white dress, sat quietly on the right side of the jade couch.

The precious sea treasures adorning the woman didn't make her look extravagant; instead, she appeared simple and elegant.

Her beautiful face didn't need further description, and the two white dragon horns on her head shimmered with a faint light, capturing the attention of onlookers.

Compared to Ke Shisan's mother, a clam spirit, and Ke Laojiu's mother, a meat-winged silkworm, this woman, the esteemed concubine of the Qi family, was also a dragon.

Shen Yi silently observed the tips of her smooth, dark hair, where a faint purple hue rippled.

A name suddenly popped into his mind.

Eastern Dragon Palace, Purple-Bearded White Dragon.

This dragon clan, aside from the Southern Dragon Palace, was the one with the deepest connection to the Nanyang Sect.

After all, the previous Nanyang Sect had been destroyed due to their involvement with the Eastern Dragon Palace and the events surrounding Xuan Qing.

In an instant, Shen Yi's vigilance heightened.

However, the next moment, the woman smiled gently, her soft voice carrying a hint of warmth, causing a ripple in Shen Yi's calm expression.

"Shen Zongzhu, please don't be nervous. Take a seat."

As she spoke, she lightly patted not the nearby table and chairs but the left side of the jade couch, "Don't misunderstand. As a Sect Master, your status is higher than mine. It's not appropriate for me to sit in the main seat."

"..."

Shen Yi took a deep breath. Though he didn't know how his identity had been exposed, his earlier suspicions were confirmed.

Indeed, the Dragon Consort had been eyeing him for a while.

With this in mind, he no longer hesitated. He walked briskly to the jade couch and sat beside the Dragon Consort.

The woman's emphasis on status was evident even from her choice of the ninety-ninth floor, which matched her current actions.

However, this was the first time Shen Yi had been this close to a Fusion Dao Colossus, even closer than when he had shared a ride with the Clear Moon Sect Master. Moreover, the person beside him now was a demon, making his emotions complex.

If he could slay this demon, his future cultivation path would become much smoother.

"Do you think I'm being too opportunistic?"

The Dragon Consort smiled again, her beauty enhanced by her mature charm.

She quickly composed herself, "People of different statuses do different things and associate with those of similar status. This way, we can be cautious and avoid misunderstandings. This is the principle I learned from the Nanyang Sect."

"You seem to enjoy guessing others' thoughts?" Shen Yi glanced sideways, his eyes as calm as an ancient well.

This feeling of being seen through and played with, coupled with the unease of the unknown, truly made him resistant.

"It's not just thoughts, but also a keen sense of smell," the Dragon Consort explained softly. "This is an innate ability of my Purple Bearded White Dragon clan... For example, the faint aura of the Snake Maiden's blood on you, and the Yellow Slaughter Toad Dragon... Even the fresh scent of the Crystal Azure Phoenix."

"I've looked into the matters of the Treasure Flower Sect, and with the Snake Maiden's aura, I know you're from Southern Flood. Whether you believe it or not, I never intended to kill her. After all, I have no marital ties with Qi Da, and I don't care how promiscuous he is. I just don't want him to leave any offspring outside, affecting my plans, so I was merely trying to scare them."

"I'm somewhat familiar with the Crystal Azure Phoenix clan. Among their clan's Heaven-born Talents, there isn't one like the one outside. And although my eyesight is shallow, I can still see the strangeness in her, at least she's not a pure living being."

"This reminds me of the Water Moon Commerce Alliance. The Nanyang Sect Master once summoned a similar Azure Rhino Puppet... Congratulations, Master Shen, your puppet control skills have improved."

The Dragon Consort seemed to want Shen Yi to let down his guard, so she straightforwardly explained his doubts.

But as she spoke more, the killing aura hidden in Shen Yi's fair-skinned face, despite his efforts to conceal it, became increasingly intense.

He had never imagined that outside Southern Flood, there would be a Unification Realm expert who had such a terrifying level of understanding about him.

"You..."

The Dragon Consort paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly, "Never mind. I didn't invite Master Shen here today to make friends. Firstly, I wanted to apologize... Despite my father already severing his father-daughter relationship with Zi Ling, it was still Eastern Dragon Palace that wronged you and Xuan Qing."

Shen Yi was not one to easily trust others.

Especially when the other party's strength and information they possessed far surpassed his own.

This was never going to be a fair conversation.

Moreover, with Xuan Qing's experience as a cautionary tale, he swiftly moved past the topic, "Does the Dragon Consort have any other matters?"

"The second matter is that, under normal circumstances, Qi Da won't move a single soldier or ask for help from a Unification Realm expert. As long as the Southern Flood Seven Sons don't provoke him too much, once I finish my business, I'll recall him."

The Dragon Consort spoke softly, "Therefore, I also ask Master Shen to calm your anger and not cause too much trouble in Hongze. With my status, it's truly inconvenient for me to help the Southern Flood Seven Sons."

For two with such a vast difference in cultivation realms, this was already an extremely polite reminder.

Shen Yi should have been grateful for this.

But he merely raised his eyes slightly, staring into the Dragon Consort's eyes, and asked seriously, "Dragon Consort, how long will it take to handle this matter?"

"To take charge of Western Dragon Palace."

Facing this young cultivator, the Dragon Consort showed no hint of disdain, treating him as if he were the Nanyang Sect Master, not the current Seven Sons, and more like the once-renowned Seven Sons, "Without sufficient strength, good intentions can easily lead to trouble."

"We hope that the previous incident won't happen again."

"At least... Eastern Dragon Palace should have the right to decide what its own people should do, instead of standing by and watching others discuss, unable to say a word."

At this point, she slowly stood up and looked out towards the outside of the building, "Even if we can't defeat that noble existence, we should still have the power to stir up some waves, making it harder for him to conceal what happens in Hongze from those above."

"That's all I have to say."

The Dragon Consort turned her gaze back to Shen Yi, "Today's conversation will not be known by Six-Eared, and I hope Master Shen can also keep it to yourself... If possible, it's best to cultivate and refine yourself, and suppress the killing aura on your body. Sorry, we are quite averse to this."

"As for the Bright Moon Frost Tiger Clan, I've already made it clear to them. You can leave quietly, and there won't be any issues. What are your plans, Master Shen?"

In response to the Dragon Consort's question, Shen Yi nodded noncommittally, "I understand."

"That's good, Master Shen, please."

As she spoke, the Dragon Consort reached out and took Shen Yi's hand. As her breath stirred, everything before them blurred.

"..."

When Shen Yi came back to his senses, he was already standing outside the building quietly.

Facing Yu Lan's worried gaze, he frowned slightly, lowering his eyes to his palm, and then rubbed his fingertips, not savoring the softness of the Dragon Consort's palm.

Although the eldest of the Qi family was currently leading troops to invade Southern Flood, and he had invited her to her love's jade chamber, this matter sounded rather absurd.

But Shen Yi's mind wasn't on this. He had gained a new understanding of the Unification Realm's strength.

Perhaps the Dragon Consort was also using this method to remind him of how dangerous Hongze was.

The Dragon Consort's words and actions carried an inexplicable persuasiveness.

Undoubtedly, the previous Xuan Qing had fallen into this trap because of this, as who wouldn't like someone who could fully understand their feelings?

However, the Nanyang Sect couldn't step into this trap a second time.

Shen Yi didn't want to see, many years later, the Dragon Consort holding the next Nanyang Sect Master's hand and apologizing again.

He had to handle his own matters.

As for Eastern Dragon Palace wanting to take charge of Western Palace, or even wanting to bring Southern Palace under their command, that was their business.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi slightly sensed the strand of aura in the silver bell.

He didn't want to experience this feeling of powerlessness against a Unification Realm expert again.

The task of finding a Heaven-born Talent among the demon race to cross the Fourth Suffering must be put on the agenda immediately.

Shen Yi didn't return to the grand hall but swiftly soared into the sky, stepping on the river waves and heading towards the waters outside!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end