Chapter 571: Is This What You Mean?

Chapter 571: Is This What You Mean?

The blinding white light gradually softened and spread out, enveloping the Seven Sons of Nan Hong like the rising sun.

Many Daozi disciples glanced back in a daze, unknowingly landing on the White Jade Platform of the Nan Yang Sect.

Perhaps due to its long dormancy, the activation of the Clan Protection Array this time was quite grand, making the disciples feel a sense of unfamiliarity.

After all, whether it was Lord Shen or the re-emerging Nan Yang Sect, both gave off a low-key and cautious impression.

To put it bluntly, it was the kind of situation where each time they left the sect, only a small portion of the array was activated, and as soon as they returned, the entire Sacred Ground was sealed off, even leading to numerous incidents where other sects' Outer Gate Elders were trapped inside.

But at this moment, they truly felt that this allied sect was rapidly awakening.

"It seems our Lord Shen has already made up his mind."

Under the big tree, the remaining five Sect Leaders had not yet dispersed and were still chatting in the night, when they noticed the changes coming from the sect.

Master Ling Yue paused for a moment and slowly stood up.

"I really don't understand why you all are so inexplicably... once again putting Nan Yang as the main focus and so readily acknowledging that young man."

The Lingyun Sect was one of the first allied sects to have interactions with Shen Yi, and during their first encounter, their disciples had imprisoned their own junior sister.

But when this Sect Leader looked at his fellow masters, a hint of confusion appeared on his face.

Forget about Shen Yi, even after the last incident, which proved that even Senior Brother Qin could be impulsive, the direction indicated by Nan Yang might not always be correct.

However, without his knowledge, Shen Yi had quietly taken control of the Seven Sects.

Not only this time, but also during the previous encounter in the Immortal Cave, his attitude towards the two younger members of the Yue family was extremely firm, even to the point of 'ordering' Senior Brother Qi, a Celestial Realm cultivator.

Lord Shen's talent was indeed astonishing.

But could talent really determine everything?

Even if it surpassed Xuan Qing a hundred or a thousand times, as long as this talent had not been fully transformed into a strength capable of suppressing all others, it was nothing but an empty promise.

"I really don't understand him either."

The Lingyun Sect Leader sighed, feeling that with such talent, Lord Shen should be more eager for a stable environment than anyone else.

At least in his eyes, Shen Yi's cultivation seemed to be driven more by a desire to vent his pent-up frustrations than by a pursuit of immortality.

As cultivators, being controlled by their temperament didn't seem like a good thing. Instead of dissuading him, they were pushing him further, only to regret it later when something went wrong again.

"Of course, I also know that I don't need to understand this. I just need to follow you as I did ten million years ago, and do as you say."

The other Sect Leaders remained silent, and the Lingyun Sect Leader sighed, slowly lowering his arms, "I remember our vow to face life and death together, my junior brothers."

"It's just a banquet invitation, but the way you put it, it sounds like we're about to wage war on North Hong." Deng Xiangjun joked, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

However, the Lingyun Sect Leader couldn't bring himself to laugh. He glanced sideways, "As for Ye Jiu's thoughts, my senior brother knows better than I do. But in my opinion, Lord Shen's idea seems even more terrifying than Ye Jiu's."

Ye Jiu's impulsiveness was undeniable, but at least he had witnessed the most terrifying side of Hongze.

But Lord Shen, born in Nan Yang, a place where the awe of immortals was experienced firsthand, had a close relationship with Xuan Qing and possessed such remarkable talent. It was only natural for him to seek revenge.

In the eyes of the Lingyun Sect Leader, Shen Yi had all the necessary conditions to achieve immortality. The only thing he lacked was experience and exposure, something that this group of masters had in abundance. But instead of sharing the horrors of immortality with Shen Yi, they were indulging him!

They were acting like Senior Brother Qin towards Xuan Qing, trying to harm Shen Yi, the greatest blessing the heavens had bestowed upon the Seven Sons.

"What I want to say is..."

At this moment, Ji Jing Xi finally spoke, her eyes filled with a complex smile as she looked into the distance, "If you senior brothers don't hurry, I'm afraid today's banquet invitation will turn into an uncontrollable situation."

Everyone followed her gaze, and their faces slightly stiffened.

In the direction of the Nan Yang Sect, the leader of the Seven Sons and the sharpest sword among them, though the people had changed, were standing side by side once again.

"The Nan Long Palace is nothing but rubbish." Ye Jiu casually stood beside Shen Yi and said indifferently, "That Cole Family Prince, having enjoyed the best of Nan Hong's resources, is now only at the mid-Celestial Realm despite being in charge of this land and water. If it comes to a real life-and-death struggle, he might not even be a match for Junior Sister Ji."

"Aside from this prince, none of the other Dragon Sons in the Cole Family are worth mentioning."

"As for the Qi Family, they do have some strength, but the eldest Qi brother is just as useless as the Cole Family Prince. Two good-for-nothings."

Without any greetings or discussing his purpose with Shen Yi, Ye Jiu casually introduced the strength of the Nan Long Palace as if making small talk.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes held a hint of anticipation as he looked at the young man beside him.

Ye Jiu wanted to confirm if Lord Shen shared similar thoughts as him.

"Hmm..."

Shen Yi paused for a moment, then turned to look at him. "Finished? Why didn't you mention the Nan Long King?"

"..."

Ye Jiu was taken aback, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Good lad, your ambition is far greater than mine."

At least he had the courage to dream, which was more than could be said for some people.

After laughing, Ye Jiu's eyes showed a hint of reminiscence. "In the past, Senior Brother Qin was responsible for suppressing this old dragon, scaring it into hiding in its lair, never daring to show its face. It was a late-Celestial Realm cultivator, but its potential had long been exhausted. Now, it's just sitting there, waiting to die."

"The Dragon Cavern?" Shen Yi recalled the pitch-black abyss he had seen.

"The burial ground for generations of Yellow Plague Poison Dragons, where Dragon Qi gathers and requires the Dragon King to guard personally... This Dragon Qi seems to be helping the immortal watch over something. Anyway, regardless of which Dragon King from the Four Flood Domains, they are all the ones with the purest bloodline, and only with such blood can they manipulate that Dragon Qi."

Ye Jiu shook his head and said indifferently, "At least in that Greenstone Dragon Palace, not even Senior Brother Qin could kill it."

"So that's how it is."

Shen Yi exhaled lightly, gradually connecting the information he had gathered.

It was clear that the immortal was not completely indifferent to Hongze, at least he still valued the power in his hands.

The white rhinoceros guarded this sky, and these Dragon Kings guarded this water. When he tried to manipulate Hongze's aura, they would react and report to the immortal.

In other words, if they truly wanted to control the power of Nan Hong, this old dragon had to die!

"Of course," Ye Jiu suddenly smiled meaningfully and lowered his voice, "If you have a way to lure it out, I wouldn't mind fighting it with you."

"Can you defeat it without leaving the Dragon Cavern?" Shen Yi curiously looked over.

"Hmm... I can't." Ye Jiu suddenly burst into laughter, his eyes becoming increasingly profound and sharp as he softly said, "At least, that's how it was before."

He suddenly found Shen Yi incredibly interesting; in all of Nan Hong, he estimated that only Shen Yi would indulge in such bold and reckless conversations with him. Though these talks served no purpose, they were at least very satisfying.

"Don't think about it. When the Southern Dragon Palace was at its most tragic, this old dragon wouldn't even leave the Dragon Cavern."

"..." Shen Yi silently withdrew his gaze, a flicker of light flashing in his eyes.

Only now did he finally understand the situation in Nan Hong.

To achieve his goal, today's feast was a crucial opportunity, not only to provoke the Southern Dragon Palace but also to help the several Alliance Sect Leaders make a firm decision.

In Shen Yi's judgment, no matter how united the Seven Sons were, their leader was still too inexperienced, and disagreements were inevitable. Otherwise, the Ye Sect Leader wouldn't have come alone.

Tsk, it's a pity that the Chamber Lords couldn't show their faces; otherwise, they seemed more skilled in such matters than himself.

"Ahem."

Ye Jiu's words were suddenly interrupted by a light cough.

Ji Jing Xi slowly walked towards the two, and behind her, the Sect Leaders appeared one after another.

In the presence of the many cultivators who bowed in reverence, the six Fusion Realm giants who usually appeared as ethereal projections were now gathered together on the White Jade Platform.

Including the young Nanyang Sect Leader, the Seven Sons were finally complete.

From the depths of the mountains surrounded by the Seven Sects, a massive carriage rose, blocking out the sun and sky like a grand palace. The originally slightly old-fashioned aura was instantly swept away as the pearls and jade within radiated their brilliance.

The white jade ribbons resembled clouds in the sky, and one could vaguely see the Green Wave Spirit Peak beneath the Nanyang pattern, exquisitely carved and lifelike.

Seven thrones were arranged, with Nanyang at the forefront, accompanied by Clear Moon.

To the right was Sky Sword, with the remaining Sects lined up in a star-moon-sun formation.

As the Sect Leaders took their seats, the white jade ribbons fluttered slightly, and radiant light obscured their figures. Then, the entire carriage soared towards the waters!

Behind the Nanyang cultivators who bowed in reverence.

Xuan Qing stood with his hands clasped, silently observing the carriage. He watched the first seat, where the Nanyang White Robe fluttered in the radiant light, revealing a quiet figure leaning against the seat. After a long silence, he finally exhaled a satisfied breath.

After so many years, he could finally see this familiar scene again; it was truly a blessing from above.

...

In the Nan Hong waters, the Greenstone Dragon Palace.

This was the true Dragon King's Palace, but unlike other underwater palaces, it was not extravagantly luxurious; instead, it appeared extremely simple and ancient.

However, the dragon energy permeating the palace was at a level that other dragon palaces could never match.

The Cole Family Prince sat upright on the main seat, his dragon head beneath the crown's beads uncertain, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

The side seat was given to an outsider, where Ke Shisan, the eldest of the Qi family, lazily leaned. Behind him were the other Cole Family Dragon Sons, but as for the Dragon Grandsons, only Ke Shisan's fourth brother, who was related to this matter, had the qualification to enter the palace.

Facing this situation, the Dragon Sons seemed to have no objections.

After all, Qi Zhaoyi's strength was evident, and he was here to help. No one could find fault with him.

Only a dragon demon, slightly younger than the prince, seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He poured himself a drink, while the others were dressed in fine clothes, and he alone wore armor, his ferocious and savage appearance as if eager to prove himself.

"Is this your answer to me?"

The Cole Family Prince coldly observed the two below, one his fifth brother and the other his nephew, but in the prince's tone, they seemed like mere unrelated servants.

In the face of the Dragon Demon, whose power was comparable to the Celestial Realm, it was difficult for the two White Jade Capital Demon Race members to gain respect solely based on blood ties.

"Tsk."

Qi Zhaoyi smiled inappropriately, knowing that the Nan Hong Prince had recently issued only two edicts, yet they had turned the Southern Dragon Palace into a laughingstock.

These Yellow Plague Poison Dragons, even with the help of an immortal to intimidate them, had still ended up like this after a full ten million years, facing the Seven Sons without the Nanyang Sect.

Looking at the trembling Fifth Prince of the Cole Family.

Qi Zhaoyi said indifferently, "Why get angry, Brother Ke? You just wanted to use this matter to test the waters, and now you've got your answer."

The attitude of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong was already clear, and as for their strength, one could infer from the Nanyang Sect Leader's seclusion.

Obviously, they were dissatisfied, but they didn't want to start a conflict right now.

"..."

The Cole Family Prince silently glanced at him, knowing that Qi Zhaoyi was unhappy with his previous aggressive behavior and wanted to retaliate here. He let it go.

He turned his gaze back to his fifth brother and disdainfully waved his hand, "Never mind, take your seat."

Holding his edict, he had been scared off by a mere Nascent Soul cultivator; it was hard to know what to say.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy!"

The Cole Family's Fifth Prince hurriedly held the edict and returned to his position.

"Your Highness," Ke Shisan swallowed and stood in place, bowing with clasped hands. After seeing the prince nod slightly, he said, "Your Highness may not know, but that Nanyang Sect Leader... at most, he's just a White Jade Capital cultivator. It's normal for him to be too timid to come."

"But he gained his position unjustly, which has already caused dissatisfaction among many cultivators of the Seven Sons, making them feel he has disgraced the Seven Sons of Nan Hong... Even the Great Elder of the Immortal Sect once contacted me, attempting to join forces to kill him. I guess he's still most likely to show up, otherwise, he'll never gain the support of the masses."

"That's why I and Fifth Uncle are letting him off the hook today, intentionally giving him the spotlight. The bigger the fuss, the harder it will be for him to back down, even if he has to force himself, he'll have to attend the feast."

Ke Shisan forced a smile, "As far as I know, he has a good relationship with the Clear Moon Sect, but not much connection with the other Sects. It's likely that the Ji Sect Leader accompanied him... Perhaps they also think it's a minor matter, but today, with the Qi family elders and the prince here, if willing, why not take Shen Yi as a hostage and try to keep the Ji Sect Leader here?"

Upon hearing this, the Cole Family Prince and Qi Zhaoyi exchanged a glance, both falling silent.

Of course, they wouldn't believe the excuses of a Dragon Grandson, but if the Nanyang Sect Leader was truly this weak, there might be a chance to gain an advantage.

Even if they couldn't keep Ji Jing Xi, severely injuring the opponent would still help the Southern Dragon Palace gain the upper hand.

Just then, a panicked voice came from outside the palace, "Your Highness! Your Highness!"

The messenger demon soldier hadn't finished speaking.

Brilliant light illuminated the entire Greenstone Palace, as bright as day! Even the prince's face beneath his crown's beads was clearly visible, revealing his slightly twitching eyebrows, "..."

The next moment, a thunderous roar echoed.

It was as if another palace slowly descended, landing outside the Greenstone Dragon Palace.

Following that, the demon soldiers hurriedly stumbled into the palace.

Sensing the majestic aura from outside the hall, the Cole Family Prince quietly clenched his teeth and subconsciously stood up, glancing towards the direction of the Dragon Cavern before looking outside the hall.

Qi Zhaoyi also straightened up, his previous nonchalance replaced by a hint of solemnity.

Even the two Heaven Realm Great Demons were like this, let alone the other Dragon Sons, who all stood up in a daze, not knowing what to do.

Just as Cole the Fourth felt a glimmer of respect in the presence of the Prince, he turned back in a daze, looking towards the hall.

He knew that the seven sons were united as one.

But he never imagined that this young man, in the eyes of these Immortal Sect leaders, would also be considered part of the "Seven Sons"?

To the point of using a sacrificial immortal carriage and making a grand entrance! Was this a feast or a battle?

The next moment, six indifferent Daozis stepped into the hall, ignoring the numerous Dragon Sons and Grandsons, and stood on either side.

In the glow of the white light, figures strolled in with ease.

Each face, once imprinted in the deepest fears of these Dragon Sons, now appeared calm and unhurried. Qi Zhaoyi and the Cole Family Prince were momentarily stunned, their gazes fixed on the broad figure in the Nanyang white robe at the forefront of the Seven Sons. His handsome and youthful face was calm, and as he lifted his eyes to scan the vast Greenstone Dragon Palace, it was as if he regarded it as his own backyard...

After a long daze, the Cole Family Prince finally snapped out of his trance, realizing that this person was the one he had invited for today's feast.

He turned and glanced at Cole the Fourth.

Was this the White Jade Capital junior cultivator he had mentioned? Was this the conflict with other sects he had spoken of?

This young cultivator was taking the main seat! The very seat once occupied by Old Man Qin!

"Tsk! Tsk!"

Cole the Fourth's breathing grew heavy. As Shen Yi walked in, he trembled, instinctively stepping aside and hiding behind his numerous uncles.

His mind went blank, unable to fathom that the person he had tried to assassinate was such an existence.

Was the leader of the Sky Sword Sect, Old Liu, full of excrement in his head?

However, Shen Yi had not given this Dragon Grandson a single glance from start to finish. He walked calmly through the entire palace, and in the silent hall, he strolled to the side of Qi Zhaoyi.

Only then did he slightly turn his head, glancing at the prince.

Then, with a casual gesture, he leaned back in the throne, supporting his chin with one hand, and spoke softly, "Don't be so polite, please take a seat."

"Huh??"

The Cole Family Prince stared at the youth in front of him, his expression a mix of daze and disbelief, looking at the seat below him, which was rightfully his.

He had stood up because he was surprised by the gathering of the Seven Sects, and then he had planned to greet them as a courtesy, not to give up his seat...

The Daozis stood at the hall's entrance, their expressions still indifferent, but they all noticed the strangeness in each other's eyes.

This scene inexplicably reminded them of the Seven Sons' assembly.

At that time, the Shen Sect Master had slightly raised his hand, and Liu Xingshan had disappeared.

The smiles on the faces of the numerous Dragon Sons froze, including the sect leaders who quietly slowed their steps. Among them, the Spirit Mountain Sect's Qi Zongzhu raised an eyebrow.

This display of power was indeed his idea.

After all, the Nanyang bas-relief had regained its radiance, indicating that the Shen Sect Master wanted to restore the sect's prestige, and he didn't mind helping him.

But now it seemed that restoring prestige was something the Shen Sect Master was quite adept at, and he didn't seem to need anyone's assistance.

"..."

Master Ling Yun remained silent, merely glancing at his senior brother Qi.

It was clear that, just like him, things had started to spiral out of control the moment they entered the hall.

"Tsk!"

Only Ye Jiu strode to Qi Zhaoyi's side, frowning at him before rudely pushing aside the Western Dragon Palace's Dragon Son, who was still confused about the situation, and then casually sitting down.

This ill-mannered fellow, did he not understand any etiquette?

The right side of Nanyang was the Sky Sword position, a fact well-known to Hong Ze.

He was growing more fond of this new sect leader; he was much more decisive than Old Man Qin.

Ji Jing Xi smiled and shook her head, quietly taking a seat next to Shen Yi.

Even their own prince and Qi Zhaoyi stood in a daze, let alone the other Dragon Sons who dared to argue. They willingly gave up their seats, making room for the remaining sect leaders to sit.

"..."

The Cole Family Prince turned back, looking at the entire hall, momentarily unsure who was the host and who was the guest.

After a moment, he turned back, his features unchanged, but his once-calm eyes slowly filled with pure killing intent.

The prince's heart burned with rage, surpassing even the anger he had felt when his decree was trampled upon by the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his voice had turned hoarse, "My knowledge is limited, but this is the first time I've seen such a way of attending a feast. Indeed, you are the Southern Hong Seven Sons."

The Cole Family Prince slightly bowed, pressing his sharp dragon claws onto the jade table and staring at the youth in front of him, "You should know that I invited you all here today to ask..."

Within the Greenstone Dragon Palace, the Southern Hong Seven Sons wanted to bully others, but they still lacked something.

At least, the reason was on his side.

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhaoyi showed his teeth, his eyes coldly glancing at Ye Jiu.

The Daozis and sect leaders also slightly raised their eyes, clearly seeing that the prince could no longer contain his emotions and was ready to make things difficult.

At this moment, Shen Yi calmly met his gaze, interrupting the prince's words.

The distance between the two was only three feet.

Facing this mid-Heaven Realm Dragon Demon, Shen Yi casually raised his palm, and as his sleeve fluttered, his slender fingers gently spread open.

The blood talisman in his palm glowed, almost as if he wanted to stick it to the prince's forehead.

Shen Yi's lips curved into a faint smile, and he asked curiously, "Are you talking about this?"

"..."

The Cole Family Prince swallowed hard, his arms twitching uncontrollably, and his sharp fangs clenched tightly.

Beneath the crown, his eyes were almost bloodshot.

He didn't care about the death of a mere Dragon Grandson, not even his nephews or cousins, except for the one who had just broken through.

But he couldn't accept it, nor could he understand.

Someone had the audacity to reveal a blood talisman within the Greenstone Dragon Palace, in front of the Dragon Cavern, and under his and his father's watchful eyes, and then casually asked him...

Is this it?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end