“Master, twins have always been bound by life and death, as decreed by the Heavenly Dao.
Could Huan Tian truly break such a constraint and do something so reckless?” Mo Changxing found it hard to believe.
“Huan Tian has long since descended into demonic ways…
What do you think happens when a god falls into darkness?” Saint Ziqu countered.
Mo Changxing merely frowned and fell silent.
When it came to Huan Tian, he couldn’t quite define the emotions in his heart.
All he knew clearly was that he hated him—but that hatred was tangled with far too many other things…
Three days later.
The Mandala Clan was the first to arrive at Luoyun Mountain.
When Yun Qingxue saw the leader of the Mandala Clan, she was genuinely surprised.
The figure before her was clad in black robes, with ink-dark hair. His black silk garments were embroidered with faintly shimmering threads, depicting one mandala flower after another.
“Hua Yin?” Yun Qingxue called out the name in astonishment. Three hundred years had passed since their parting in the midst of calamity. Reuniting now felt like an encounter across lifetimes…
At the sight of Yun Qingxue, a faint smile broke through Hua Yin’s somber expression.
He dropped to one knee and presented the Mandala Clan’s token with both hands.
Yun Qingxue accepted it and hurried forward to help him up. As she drew near, she heard him murmur with bowed head, “Your Majesty! Your subordinate has brought his kin to pledge their loyalty!”
“Three hundred years ago… were you deliberately approaching me?” Yun Qingxue voiced the suspicion that had arisen the moment she saw him.
“Yes! But I was incompetent and allowed that old bastard Chen Qing to injure Your Majesty.” The mention of the past brought a flicker of self-reproach to Hua Yin’s expression.
“That wasn’t your fault.” Yun Qingxue smiled faintly, continuing as if reminiscing with an old friend, “Three hundred years ago, you left severely wounded. I was worried…”
“It was my failure!” Hua Yin bowed his head again.
Yun Qingxue waved a hand. “Hua Yin, we shared hardships back then. There’s no need for such formality with me.”
“Qingxue!” Xiao Xiaoxiao suddenly appeared out of nowhere, her eyes sweeping over Hua Yin before she leaned in to whisper in Yun Qingxue’s ear, “Being the Flower King sure has its perks! Just look at your subordinates—nothing but gorgeous men and women… such eye candy!
Unlike me. The title of Underworld Queen sounds nice, but all I deal with are ghosts every day. So depressing!”
Yun Qingxue shot her a bland look. “If Ming Di hears that, you’ll be in for it again.”
“Qingxue! Don’t you dare leak a word to that ancient vinegar jar Ming Di! That guy’s a straight-up tyrant…” Xiao Xiaoxiao pouted.
Yun Qingxue subtly signaled her to stop, but Xiao Xiaoxiao ignored it, her gaze fixed on Hua Yin as she remarked with a playful tone, “That all-black look is so mysterious… a forbidden, icy hottie! So dangerously alluring!”
Hua Yin shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, while Yun Qingxue sighed and rubbed her temples.
The next moment, Xiao Xiaoxiao felt a firm grip around her waist.
Recognizing the familiar presence, her heart skipped a beat…
Yun Qingxue watched as Ming Di, his face dark with displeasure, hauled Xiao Xiaoxiao away. Only then did Xiao Xiaoxiao’s mournful wail reach her ears: “Ming Di… are you some kind of long-eared demon?! Why do you always—”
Before she could finish, a single chilling glance from Ming Di silenced her.
Hua Yin led the Mandala Clan to settle in a secluded area of Luoyun Mountain.
As floral spirits, they had no need for tents like humans. They simply needed an open space where they could revert to their true forms when resting.
Not long after Hua Yin’s arrival, the Nine Chrysanthemum Clan, the Pear Snow Clan, the Plum Blossom Clan, and the Ink Bamboo Clan arrived one after another, each presenting their tokens to Yun Qingxue.
The Clear Lotus Clan was the last to arrive—and their token exchange sparked trouble.
He Nian, the clan’s leader, demanded that Yun Qingxue defeat her in combat before she would hand over the token.
This immediately drew disapproval from the other clans.
Mo Su, Hua Yin, and others unanimously felt He Nian’s demand was a direct challenge to Yun Qingxue’s authority as Flower King.
He Nian, however, smirked coldly and retorted, “Are kings and nobles born into their titles? I respect only strength! If the Flower King lacks true power, my Clear Lotus Clan will never submit!”
“Very well. I accept your challenge.” Yun Qingxue smiled faintly. She sensed intense hostility—even hatred—emanating from He Nian.
She couldn’t recall ever meeting He Nian before, nor did she understand the source of such animosity.
“Clan Leader He Nian! You… you’re being reckless!” An elder from the Clear Lotus Clan stepped forward, sighing in disapproval before bowing to Yun Qingxue. “We beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”
“Hmph!” He Nian scoffed.
Yun Qingxue could feel her gaze growing increasingly venomous.
For some reason, He Nian gave her an inexplicably unsettling feeling.
Without warning, He Nian lunged at Yun Qingxue.
Instead of retreating, Yun Qingxue met her head-on, channeling half her power into a single palm strike.
At her current strength, she could easily gauge the cultivation levels of those around her.
Mo Su, as the Flower King’s most trusted guard, was already at the Longevity Stage, just a step away from immortality.
After three centuries apart, Hua Yin had reached mid-stage Longevity.
The rest were mostly at the late-stage Great Demon level, still a step away from Longevity.
As for He Nian…
If Yun Qingxue wasn’t mistaken, she was only at the early-to-mid Great Demon stage—the weakest among the clan leaders summoned.
She couldn’t fathom where He Nian found the audacity to challenge her, a fully restored Flower King with an innate divine physique.
Despite exerting all her strength, He Nian was struck by Yun Qingxue’s spell.
She staggered back, her insides churning, and gritted her teeth in frustration.
At the same time, an overwhelming pressure—unique to true power—bore down on her, forcing a mouthful of blood from her lips.
The onlookers could clearly see how effortlessly their Flower King had handled He Nian.
“Clan Leader He Nian, how do you feel now?” Yun Qingxue arched a brow.
He Nian glanced up at her briefly.
Realizing Yun Qingxue was watching, she quickly averted her gaze.
But in that fleeting moment, Yun Qingxue saw the venom in He Nian’s eyes grow even sharper.
“Your Majesty, He Nian is one of your personal guards. I recall her being at the late-stage Great Demon level a thousand years ago.
How has her cultivation regressed after all this time?” Mo Su approached Yun Qingxue quietly, voicing his confusion.
Yun Qingxue motioned for him to step back, her gaze icy as she addressed He Nian. “Well? Shall we continue?”
“No need!” He Nian replied softly.
“In that case, Clan Leader He Nian, please present your Clear Lotus Clan’s token,” Mo Su declared, stepping forward.
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