Dongbo Xueying finished pouring the wine and pushed the cup toward Jinxiao Ancestor. “Have a drink first. This is Hundred-Fruit Wine, unique to my homeland, the Xia Clan world. Brewed meticulously from a hundred different fruits, it has a distinctive flavor.”
Jinxiao Ancestor eventually picked up the cup and took a sip. “It’s passable, though it does carry the taste of wines from the material world.”
Dongbo Xueying chuckled and continued, “Ancestor, you say I seek vengeance for my wife? Hah! If I, Dongbo Xueying, had the power of my master, I might indeed have annihilated you in a fit of rage!”
“Oh?” Jinxiao Ancestor’s expression darkened.
“Unfortunately, I lack such strength,” Dongbo Xueying said with a faint smile. “While everyone understands your feelings, Ancestor, if you think carefully, you should realize that my wife was the most innocent in this matter. She never intended to oppose you, nor did she dare. Yet time cannot truly be reversed—she was forced to choose reincarnation in the end…”
Jinxiao Ancestor listened with a grim expression.
Even he had to admit that, from Yu Jingqiu’s perspective, she had indeed been wronged—driven to a dead end, forced to choose a path almost equivalent to death: reincarnation.
“Do you think I, Dongbo Xueying, am not furious? That I bear no grudge? Would you believe that, Ancestor?” Dongbo Xueying stared at Jinxiao Ancestor.
“You’re free to seek revenge,” Jinxiao Ancestor sneered. “But alas, you lack the power.”
“My wife successfully reincarnated and found me again. In a way, our reunion owes something to you,” Dongbo Xueying said with a smile. “Since neither of us can overpower the other, why not take a step back and let this grudge end here? You, Ancestor, shall no longer target those under my Divine Emperor’s Manor because of this, and I, too, shall refrain from acting against you in the future.”
Jinxiao Ancestor frowned. “Oh? And if I refuse?”
Dongbo Xueying poured more wine and replied calmly, “Then we can only be enemies.”
Though his tone was composed, it carried an icy edge.
Dongbo Xueying was no coward.
In terms of strength, his current ranking surpassed even Jinxiao Ancestor’s.
In terms of backing, his master, Bloodblade Divine Emperor, stood at the top of the Cosmic Deity-Demon Ranking—far stronger than Pang Yi. Moreover, the Bamboo Mountain Pavilion Master owed him a great favor, and Huo Chen the Flamedragon was his sworn brother. If it came to war, Dongbo Xueying had no fear.
“Here.” Dongbo Xueying pushed the refilled cup toward Jinxiao Ancestor again. “After this drink, the grudge ends. Neither side shall pursue it further.”
Jinxiao Ancestor stared at Dongbo Xueying.
Dongbo Xueying met his gaze.
“Hahaha…” Jinxiao Ancestor suddenly laughed. “Very well! The Starsword Mystic Maiden found herself a fine husband in her reincarnation!” With that, he lifted the cup.
Dongbo Xueying smiled and raised his own.
Both drank in unison.
“Consider this matter settled. I shall take my leave now,” Jinxiao Ancestor said, rising to his feet.
“My wife is also studying the Heartsword Diagram fragments. Once she has gleaned enough insights, I will share her understanding with you,” Dongbo Xueying added as he stood.
Jinxiao Ancestor paused, glanced at him, and nodded. “Good. When the time comes, I shall likewise share my own comprehension with you.”
With that, Jinxiao Ancestor turned and left.
Dongbo Xueying watched silently, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He understood well—both of them had reasons for caution.
Jinxiao Ancestor feared Dongbo Xueying’s potential. If they truly clashed, given Dongbo Xueying’s rapid growth, he could very well ascend to the Venerable level. As a member of the Destruction Legion, he would make Jinxiao Ancestor’s life far more difficult. After all, Dongbo Xueying was already his equal despite his youth. Such a figure was not one to make an enemy of lightly.
Yet Dongbo Xueying, too, had his reservations.
He feared that if they broke ties, Dongbo Yu and Dongbo Qingyao might suffer. Moreover, he had no certainty of killing Jinxiao Ancestor—even ordinary Venerables failed to do so, given his unparalleled escape techniques.
Both sides had their apprehensions.
This was the primary reason they could reconcile.
But Jinxiao Ancestor was, by nature, a savage creature of the divine realm. Without a face-saving exit, his innate ferocity might still provoke a rupture. Thus, Dongbo Xueying repeatedly emphasized Yu Jingqiu’s innocence and his own concessions, allowing the Ancestor to accept the resolution psychologically.
“With such formidable escape techniques, solid backing, and no attachments… if he were to go mad, it would be a true headache,” Dongbo Xueying mused. Neither had sworn an oath, but at their level, promises held weight—especially when neither truly wished for enmity. Of course, if a supreme treasure emerged, they might still turn on each other.
After all, for the sake of treasures, even the likes of the Spacetime Island Lord, Lady Ganhe, and the Myriad Gods Palace Master had schemed against Nilom Overlord and Bloodblade Divine Emperor.
—
Dongbo Xueying made his way toward the garden where Senior Brother Huiming and Patriarch Redflame were gathered.
Along the path—
“Master.” A man and woman approached respectfully—the former tall, gaunt, and pale-faced, the latter a bewitching redhead.
“Whitebone, Bloodvine, what is it?” Dongbo Xueying regarded them. The man was the artifact spirit of the cave-world treasure he had obtained after slaying the Howling Fiend Cult Master, whom he had named ‘Whitebone.’ The red-haired woman was the transformed Bloodvine Flower. With his increased power and resources, Dongbo Xueying had heavily invested in nurturing this utterly loyal plant. Given his wealth of treasures, he had easily facilitated her evolution to the World Deity stage, with the potential to one day rival even the Heavenreach Vine. Further growth, however, would be exceedingly difficult.
Bloodvine obediently presented a scroll with both hands. “Master, this is the gift list for this occasion.”
“Oh?” Dongbo Xueying accepted it.
Gifts were primarily received and stored by Bloodvine and Whitebone in the cave-world treasure, which Dongbo Xueying always carried. As the artifact spirit, Whitebone could directly deposit items into it.
Though many gifts had been received, Dongbo Xueying had yet to inspect them individually. Moreover, he had tasked Whitebone and Bloodvine with cataloging which gift came from whom, as their value would determine the appropriate reciprocation in the future.
With a flick, he unrolled the scroll.
It meticulously listed gifts from high to low, including those from Qing Jun, Huo Chen the Flamedragon, the Bamboo Mountain Pavilion Master, and others. Of course, the ‘black feather’ from Uncle Blackbird, handed directly to Dongbo Xueying, was not recorded.
Reading the descriptions, Dongbo Xueying smiled.
They were quite amusing.
For instance, Qing Jun’s gift was described as “a palm-sized carving invisible to the naked eye,” while the Bamboo Mountain Pavilion Master’s was “a circular plate with intricate patterns”—simple summaries. Their exact functions or true nature were omitted, as the artifact spirit and Bloodvine’s knowledge was limited. The key was for Dongbo Xueying to know who had sent what.
“Senior Brother has truly put thought into this,” Dongbo Xueying mused. Though he hadn’t examined each gift yet, Qing Jun’s was indeed extraordinary—invisible to the eye but detectable through cosmic energy or consciousness. It was a small, cross-legged figurine, and with a bit of contemplation, Dongbo Xueying had already grasped its significance and Qing Jun’s intent.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage