Chapter 59: “The Three of Us, We’ll Kill Him!”
Everyone stared, frozen in place.
In the sudden silence, sunlight, previously obscured by the spiritual light, streamed through the massive crack in the sky, casting golden beams onto the blue world.
Large snowflakes fell, sometimes tinged with gold, sometimes a soft, moon-like white.
“The Heavenly Gate! The Heavenly Gate is closed!”
Someone exclaimed, as if awakening from a dream.
More and more people came to their senses, their eyes wide with shock, unsure what had just happened.
Snow fell on their shoulders, carrying a deep winter chill.
“What happened?!”
“Someone tried to stop the Heavenly Gate from opening!”
“Who is behind this?!”
Li Yu frowned as the shouts echoed around her.
Perhaps the Heavenly Gate wasn’t just closed.
Although it hadn’t been open before, she could sense its location.
But now, despite the formation still active, the surrounding spiritual energy abundant, she couldn’t sense it anymore.
If this wasn’t an illusion, then the connection between the human realm and the Heavenly Realm had been severed…
She had hoped to use the Heavenly Realm’s power to counter the black-robed figure; now that plan was ruined.
As everyone stood in stunned silence, the snowflakes silently fell onto the formation.
A layer of white frost formed on the hands of the cultivators maintaining the formation, extinguishing the spiritual light at their fingertips.
Someone cried out in pain as the frost spread, flowing down their bodies like water, then rapidly expanding outwards upon reaching the ground.
Silently, the frost enveloped the entire formation, immobilizing everyone within it, except for the Exalted Immortal at the center.
“Someone is breaking the formation!”
The belated warning sounded like a joke.
By the time everyone reacted, the light of the frost-covered formation had already faded.
The formation’s power dissipated, and the blue sky shattered.
Silently, like dust motes scattering in the wind and snow, disappearing into the returning sunlight.
“There’s something wrong with the snow! Protect yourselves with spiritual energy!”
Someone shouted, and the cultivators quickly conjured protective barriers, blocking the falling snow.
Cries of surprise, angry shouts, and confused murmurs filled the air.
Unharmed, Li Yu didn’t interfere.
She had a suspicion, though still uncertain, and looked towards where the Heavenly Gate had vanished.
The falling snow slowly coalesced, forming a dark figure in the sky.
The figure, backlit by the sun, was indistinct.
“Opening the Heavenly Gate?” A cold voice echoed through the air. “A bunch of insignificant mortals, you think you’re worthy of ascending?”
The voice was deep and resonant, reaching everyone’s ears.
The dismissive words, devoid of any emotion, neither mocking nor sarcastic, just a simple statement of fact.
Someone, enraged, started to shout, but the snowflakes instantly transformed into sharp ice shards, hovering menacingly above them.
Sunlight, refracting through the ice, created halos.
Seemingly harmless, yet carrying a chilling aura.
A flicker of surprise appeared in the eyes of a Mount Chao Yao disciple.
He then shouted joyfully, “It’s Lingyao Revered One!”
Since the breach of the mountain gate, Mount Chao Yao had been filled with outsiders.
They were arrogant, their words dripping with disdain for the Mount Chao Yao disciples.
They said that Cangming Revered One, the head of the Three Revered Ones, guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp, had not only almost lost the Lamp, but also released the Demon Bone she had secretly kept for over two hundred years, a heinous crime!
And they said, “Like master, like disciple,” implying that with such a leader, the disciples of Mount Chao Yao couldn’t be any better.
The disciples had been constantly belittled and ordered around.
If it weren’t for Qingxuan Revered One, these outsiders would have imprisoned all the dissenting voices in the Spirit Restraint Hall.
Although most disciples also feared and loathed the Demon Bone, unable to understand why Cangming Revered One protected that little wolf demon,
Seeing their once revered sect being trampled upon, who wouldn’t feel resentful?
The disciples often wished that Cangming Revered One hadn’t been injured.
Or that Lingyao Revered One hadn’t entered hibernation; then these outsiders wouldn’t be so arrogant.
“Lingyao Revered One is awake!”
Cheers erupted from the Mount Chao Yao disciples.
The ice shards above no longer seemed like deadly weapons but a protective force.
“Kun Peng Monarch of the North Sea!”
“How is he awake?!”
The immortals from other sects exchanged uneasy glances.
Weisheng Xuanzhu looked down at them coldly, his dark eyes emotionless.
Someone bravely stepped forward and asked loudly, “Kun Peng Monarch, are you preventing us from opening the Heavenly Gate? Are you protecting Li Yu?”
“Li Yu, as the guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp, not only kept the Demon Bone by her side, but also defied the entire immortal world to send it to the Demon Realm!” another person quickly added. “Such actions are a threat to the world and should be judged by the Heavenly Realm!”
“Have you been asleep for too long, Kun Peng Monarch? Have you lost your sense of right and wrong?!”
“Mount Chao Yao first lost the Upper Spirit Lamp, then released the Demon Bone. We just want an explanation! You’ve delayed us for so long, and after agreeing to open the Heavenly Gate, now you’ve changed your mind. Are you mocking us?!”
“Is Mount Chao Yao defying the entire world?”
Si Qinglan frowned. “There’s no need for such harsh words.”
“Si Qinglan!” someone shouted angrily. “You were the one who agreed to open the Heavenly Gate! Now that you’ve changed your mind, shouldn’t you give us an explanation?!”
Explanation, explanation, always demanding explanations.
Si Qinglan opened her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but realized that anything she said would only worsen the situation.
She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth.
Accusations and insults, each one more offensive than the last, echoed around her.
Suddenly, someone stepped forward, attempting to mediate. “Everyone, please calm down. We should trust Mount Chao Yao, trust Qingxuan Revered One’s character! She agreed to open the Gate before Kun Peng Monarch awakened; perhaps there’s a misunderstanding!”
“Kun Peng Monarch has just awakened; he might not know what happened.” He continued, “Li Yu’s actions are akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountains, the consequences could be dire! As terrestrial immortals, we don’t have the authority to judge her. That’s why we need to open the Heavenly Gate and seek guidance from the Heavenly Realm!”
His seemingly conciliatory words carried a hidden threat.
He looked up at Weisheng Xuanzhu and said loudly, “Kun Peng Monarch, if you step aside now and let us open the Heavenly Gate, we promise not to mention this matter to the Heavenly Court!”
“Exactly!” someone shouted impatiently. “Step aside now, and we’ll let this go. But if you insist on protecting her, then don’t…”
His words abruptly stopped.
After a brief silence, a strange gurgling sound came from his throat.
Everyone turned to look. Although his protective spiritual energy was still active, a layer of frost was forming on his body.
The frost spread from his open mouth, and he struggled to speak, but the ice quickly covered his lips, silencing him.
Within seconds, his entire body was encased in ice, his protective aura disappearing.
If it weren’t for the two nostrils still visible, allowing him to breathe, he would have looked like a corpse.
This scene silenced everyone, and they quickly moved away from him.
Those who had spoken so boldly just moments ago now hid behind the crowd.
Fear filled the air; no one dared speak.
Li Yu found it amusing.
So many people, easily silenced by a single person.
Indeed, in the face of absolute power, no one dared to say “no.”
So, the original Li Yu could have protected the little protagonist; she simply chose not to.
No wonder Mu Tao had said, “But Master, you never truly intended to save me.”
The master she respected so much, when she was unjustly accused and bound to the execution platform, didn’t even try to defend her, just readily caving in to the pressure of “the greater good.”
How could she not resent her, how could she not hate her…
As everyone stood in stunned silence, the dark figure in the sky, like a gust of wind, appeared before them with impossible speed.
Many instinctively stepped back, leaving only the frozen cultivator in place.
“The Upper Spirit Lamp, the Demon Bone, these are matters of Mount Chao Yao.” Weisheng Xuanzhu’s voice was cold, his gaze sweeping across those who had spoken earlier. “Since when do outsiders have a say in Mount Chao Yao’s affairs?”
“But…” someone started, then met Weisheng Xuanzhu’s dark gaze.
He lowered his voice, seemingly intimidated. “But this matter…concerns the well-being of the world…”
“So concerned about the world, where were you when resentment was running rampant in the human realm?”
“With the laws of heaven in place, human calamities aren’t something immortals…”
“Are your disciples also immortals?” Weisheng Xuanzhu interrupted.
The man was speechless.
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Has the Demon Bone harmed any innocent lives?”
“The Demon Bone injured many disciples from various sects at the entrance to the Demon Realm!”
“Indeed!” Si Qinglan quickly added. “She only injured those who blocked her path while escaping and didn’t kill anyone. Besides that, she hasn’t harmed any innocent lives.”
“You’re biased, Qingxuan Revered One!” someone shouted angrily.
“It’s the truth!” Si Qinglan glared at him. “The Demon Bone never harmed anyone. Everyone saw it; how can you accuse me of being biased?”
“Even if she hasn’t harmed anyone, she still has a Demon Bone!”
“What’s wrong with having a Demon Bone?!” Si Qinglan retorted, raising her voice. “It has been sealed for over two hundred years! If it weren’t for needing her help to find the Upper Spirit Lamp, the seal wouldn’t have been broken!”
“Even if the seal was broken, you were still planning to hide her!”
“She didn’t hurt anyone even after the seal was broken. As long as we kept an eye on her, nothing would have happened!” Si Qinglan said angrily. “You’re accusing us of releasing a tiger back into the mountains, but who forced her to flee to the Demon Realm in the first place?!”
“This concerns the Heavenly Demon, this isn’t a game! And what about the Upper Spirit Lamp, also under your watchful eye? How did you lose that?!” the man retorted.
He was pulled back by his fellow disciples, realizing he had raised his voice too much and might become the next example. He quickly shut up and retreated into the crowd.
Weisheng Xuanzhu asked again, “Where is the Upper Spirit Lamp now?”
“It has already been retrieved by Cangming Revered One,” Si Qinglan said, a sneer in her voice. “But Mount Chao Yao is no longer worthy of guarding it, so it’s not in our possession.”
Everyone could hear the sarcasm in her words.
So, they all looked at an elderly Daoist with a long white beard.
The Daoist froze, then conjured the Upper Spirit Lamp, his voice trembling. “This, this… This old one is just…safekeeping it…unable to guard it, truly unable…”
Weisheng Xuanzhu raised his hand, and the Lamp flew into his palm.
His eyes were cold as ice. “The Upper Spirit Lamp hasn’t been lost, the Demon Bone hasn’t harmed anyone, how does this concern the world?”
“This…”
The immortals exchanged glances, speechless, although feeling that this wasn’t logical.
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Mount Chao Yao has guarded the Upper Spirit Lamp for over four thousand years, and you haven’t lifted a finger. Now that we’ve made a small mistake, one that hasn’t even caused any real harm, you’re all clamoring for an explanation.”
“…”
“Have you…been waiting for this day for a long time?”
“T, this… What do you mean, Kun Peng Monarch? We just…”
“There’s unresolved resentment in the human realm, yet you’re here discussing how to punish Li Yu, who has guarded the Upper Spirit Lamp for over four thousand years.” Weisheng Xuanzhu made the Lamp disappear with a flick of his wrist.
“But the De…” someone started to argue, then felt a sudden chill.
He glanced at the frozen cultivator, whose breathing had weakened, and quickly shut up.
“It seems the ‘world’ isn’t that important after all…” A cold glint appeared in Weisheng Xuanzhu’s dark eyes. “Just a sword anyone can wield, unable to slay demons, yet capable of slaying gods.”
“Unfortunately, this sword is useless against me.” He chuckled coldly. “The word ‘world,’ coming from your mouths, is laughable.”
His harsh words silenced them, making them ashamed.
Many wanted to argue,
But the ice shards above them descended slightly, and after a moment of silence, they all fell quiet.
“The Heavenly Gate will not be opened again. The Upper Spirit Lamp will return to Suiqiong Cave. And whether Li Yu was right or wrong is not for you to judge.”
Weisheng Xuanzhu raised his hand, unleashing a brilliant, sky-reaching light.
The icy blue light enveloped Mount Chao Yao, quickly repairing the broken mountain gate.
He lowered his hand and asked calmly, “Does anyone else require an explanation?”
The immortals remained silent.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want an explanation, but the menacing ice shards were still hovering above them.
Holding a sword to someone’s neck and asking for their submission, this was a first for Li Yu.
Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.
Perhaps the original Li Yu was too reasonable, allowing herself to be morally kidnapped by a bunch of useless talkers.
She had thought the Three Revered Ones of Mount Chao Yao were all righteous and honorable.
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed her colleague capable of such actions.
But thinking about it, it wasn’t that surprising.
Weisheng Xuanzhu wasn’t an immortal or a demon but an ancient divine beast, having lived for countless years, perhaps lacking some…humanity.
He volunteered to guard the Upper Spirit Lamp not for the sake of the world, but for…a certain someone.
Such a person being morally ambiguous was perfectly normal.
As Li Yu thought this, the ice shards above turned into water, raining down on the immortals, sparing the Mount Chao Yao disciples, drenching and humiliating them.
The frost on the frozen cultivator melted.
He gasped, his body covered in purple frostbite, as if he had just escaped death.
Many quickly fled.
Si Qinglan watched them leave and breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Yu silently stepped out of the formation.
Weisheng Xuanzhu asked, “Are you alright?”
Li Yu: “I’m fine.”
She replied softly, avoiding his gaze.
For some reason, her mind felt blank, as if she had forgotten something.
Si Qinglan, in high spirits, invited her two colleagues to Qianlizhu.
In the past, she would have avoided having them together.
But after the recent events, she had a lot to discuss with them.
Before they even reached Qianlizhu, she started chattering away.
Then, as if remembering something, she summoned a butterfly and sent it to the Spirit Restraint Hall.
“I almost forgot, your disciple is still locked up there. Now that those people are gone, we can finally let her out.” Si Qinglan said, hurrying inside and pouring three cups of tea.
Li Yu hadn’t seen her move so energetically in a while. As expected, happiness was invigorating; even the flowers in Qianlizhu seemed brighter than usual.
After they sat down, Si Qinglan sighed heavily, relief in her voice. “Thank goodness the Heavenly Gate didn’t open. Otherwise, who knows what kind of punishment the Heavenly Realm would have inflicted upon Li Yu!”
Li Yu: “I was prepared.”
Si Qinglan: “You were practically suicidal! Ever since returning from the Demon Realm’s entrance, you’ve been acting like you didn’t care whether you lived or died!”
Li Yu just smiled, not arguing.
Si Qinglan rolled her eyes and looked at Weisheng Xuanzhu. “She’s been acting very strange lately; I can’t communicate with her at all! Thank goodness you arrived in time. Otherwise, I don’t know how much more spiritual energy and medicine I would have had to waste on her!”
She paused, and seeing no response, pouted and finished her tea in one gulp.
After a brief silence, she asked, “Weisheng, why did you suddenly wake up?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Noise.”
Si Qinglan: “You were woken up by the noise?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Mm.”
Si Qinglan: “Your sleep quality is terrible. How did you manage to sleep for hundreds or thousands of years before?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Perhaps the North Sea is quieter.”
Si Qinglan nodded thoughtfully. “Regardless, I’m glad you’re awake.”
She muttered, “So much has happened lately, I thought we wouldn’t make it…”
Li Yu: “We’ll make it.”
“I know, I know, but it’s hard not to worry!” Si Qinglan took a deep breath and smiled. “Now that the mountain gate is repaired, we just need to fix Suiqiong Cave, and everything will be back to normal!”
Well…not necessarily.
Perhaps in three years, the demons would invade.
Si Qinglan: “By the way, Weisheng, how long…how long will you stay awake this time?”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I don’t know.”
Si Qinglan frowned. “Li Yu’s injuries won’t heal anytime soon, and that black-robed figure is incredibly powerful. Both the mountain gate and the seal on Suiqiong Cave were broken in an instant. If you go back to sleep, and he returns, we won’t be able to handle him!”
She sighed. “And it’s his fault Mu Tao is in the Demon Realm now!”
Weisheng Xuanzhu was silent for a moment, then looked up. “You haven’t told me about Mu Tao.”
Si Qinglan: “W, well…”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “A Demon Bone, and you dared keep her on the mountain.”
Si Qinglan: “Nothing happened, did it?”
Li Yu: “…”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Where did you find her?”
Si Qinglan: “The human realm…”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Where in the human realm?”
Si Qinglan: “It was over two hundred years ago, how would I remember?!”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Knowing she had a Demon Bone, why did you bring her back?”
Si Qinglan: “I, well…”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Why did you keep it a secret from me?”
Si Qinglan: “…”
After a long silence, Si Qinglan slammed the table. “What’s with the interrogation?!”
Li Yu jumped, her hand trembling.
Si Qinglan: “Look at your questions, so heartless!”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “…”
Si Qinglan: “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you would kill her!”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “…”
Si Qinglan: “Do men even deserve to know women’s secrets?!”
Weisheng Xuanzhu: “…”
Si Qinglan’s sudden outburst was startling.
From being interrogated to being the interrogator, in just a few seconds.
“Alright! Back to the topic!” Si Qinglan poured herself a cup of tea, calmed down, and then said loudly, “Give us a rough estimate, how long will you stay awake this time? We have to find a way to lure out that black-robed figure while you’re still here.”
She made a slashing gesture across her neck.
“The three of us,” she said seriously, “We’ll kill him!”
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