“Witch, what have you done to my mother?”
“I didn’t do anything to your mother, but…” Bai Yubao gently waved her jade fan, a playful smirk on her face as she looked up at the human princess who towered over her. “From what I know, it seems your lover, the great and bold San, did something to your mother. If I’m not mistaken…”
“Don’t speak!” Beigong Zhen screamed frantically out of fear. With a surge of magical power, the bowstring formed a full moon shape. “Monster girl, what exactly do you intend to do?”
Sigh… Good intentions go unrecognized. How meaningless! Yu Shan was somewhat dissatisfied with Bei Gong Zhen’s reaction. First, she lightly waved her white jade treasure fan to blow away the invisible arrows. Then, with another wave, the two women instantly appeared inside the empress’s bedroom.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo… Listen, listen to what your mother is saying in her sleepwalking.”
Perhaps it was her demonic nature, or perhaps it was dissatisfaction with Bei Gong Zhen’s attitude, but in any case, Princess Wan Yao was determined not to give up until she let the young girl know the truth!
On the phoenix-shaped bed lay the queen, unconscious. From the trembling of her noble body, the heavy sweat, and the fluctuating murmurs—sometimes loud, sometimes soft—it was evident that the queen was experiencing a nightmare.
“Oh… help, no… bold San, don’t come over…”
“Evil villain, I will… kill you, kill you…”
“Oh, light… light… oh… don’t… don’t stop… so big…”
“Oh… Zhen’er, quick… quick, save… save Mother. Bold Three, no… don’t… don’t shoot inside…”
…………………………
“Click!” The sound of Bei Gongzhen’s teeth clenching was sharp and distinct. Even a fool could guess the truth of the dream.
“Waaah…” Her tears of anguish fell like the blood of a nightingale in distress. The tall beauty’s unfocused gaze darted about in panic. “Monster girl, what… what exactly do you want to do?! Waaah… Qiao San, I hate you, I hate you—”
“Hate them, yes, hate all the men in the world—hate them!”
Yu Shan’s demonic nature surged. The more Bei Gong Zhen suffered, the happier she became. As Bei Gong Zhen’s hatred approached madness, the Princess of Ten Thousand Demons suddenly leaned close to her face and seductively whispered, “Little girl, let me help you seek revenge. Come, embrace the underworld, and you will surely get what you desire!”
“The Di Jie? I’m joining the Di Jie?” Bei Gong Zhen had already lost her ability to think clearly due to the Princess of Ten Thousand Demons, but her instincts were not easily erased. After a brief moment of shock, the clear-eyed beauty instinctively shouted, “No, I’d never become a demon, absolutely not—”
The Princess of Ten Thousand Demons abruptly shifted from seductive to deadly. She gripped Bei Gongzhen’s throat with an iron lock, her eyes cold and merciless as she glared at the human princess. “Listen well,” she hissed, “if you refuse, then you must—die! If this child cannot serve my purposes, I will certainly not allow a threat to remain in the mortal realm! Do you understand now?”
“You… are going to target my… child?”
Princess Zhen, usually so fiery and impulsive, was now more flustered than an ordinary woman, instinctively stepping back repeatedly as a fearful retort burst from her lips.
Yu Shan ceased speaking and merely nodded heavily, her demonic aura firmly locking onto Bei Gong Zhen.
The situation suddenly turned grim, and an oppressive, suffocating atmosphere flooded into Bei Gongzhen’s mind. A woman’s natural instincts kicked in, causing her mind to race with panic. Without a second thought, she turned around and fled as fast as she could.
A muffled sound echoed within the room. Where Princess Yushan’s palm strike passed, not only did it cause Bei Gongzhen to spit blood, but it also left a palace wall teetering on the verge of collapse.
“Huh?!” Princess Zhen was already at the mercy of the blade, but Yu Shan’s cold killing intent suddenly paused mid-motion, her gaze drawn to the wall that had silently begun to split apart.
Moments later, a sinister gust of wind swept through, leaving the queen’s chamber in utter disarray. Both the enchantress and Princess Zhen had vanished without a trace, while the poor queen was also snatched away by the underworld demoness!
*****
The abnormal changes once again turned the entire capital upside down, and the Grand Gathering of Immortals had already become a terrifying memory.
Hundreds of cultivators from various sects were in complete chaos when suddenly, a sharp-eyed cultivator shouted in surprise, “Hey, look! The Dragon Mother and the Purple Mansion Holy Maiden have returned again!”
Beigong Ping raised his head and just caught sight of the two Immortals descending; the Marquis Beigong, who was very familiar with the palace, couldn’t help but feel puzzled. The place where the two Immortals had landed was precisely the Hall of Golden Splendor. Since the emperor wasn’t holding court at this moment, what could they possibly be doing in the deserted hall?
Could it be…because of the Jiutian Xuanhuo Pill?
Among the cultivators, intelligence was not solely the domain of Marquis Beigong. Reflecting on this, the first figure naturally soared towards the Golden Hall; within moments, nearly all the cultivators were flying towards the soon-to-appear Sacred Flame Pill!
*****
“Dragon Mother, beneath the imperial palace lies the dragon vein of the Aolai Kingdom. There is a protective formation set up by a master, and the Book Spirit can sense that the Nine Heavens Celestial Flame Pill is located right at the center of the formation’s eye.”
The Book Spirit spoke without reservation about its knowledge of the imperial palace’s geomantic formation, and in a humble tone at the end, said: “My magical abilities are limited; I have tried several times but could not break the formation. Now, it is up to the great power of Dragon Mother Goddess.”
The Lord of the Four Seas nodded slightly with a calm expression. Xuan Nu then quietly raised her hand and pressed her palm onto the white jade floor. With a soft sound, the dragon throne shifted aside, revealing a dark entrance from which a chilling wind surged out continuously.
Figures flickered one after another; the slight eerie atmosphere was certainly no obstacle for those with extraordinary abilities. At the very moment the entrance was about to close, a large group of cultivators stepped into the grand hall.
“Hu…” As Long Mu and the others stepped inside, the dark space seemed to shudder as if it were alive. Then, dazzling light came from all directions, illuminating a series of maze-like passages.
“Dragon Mother, the Book Spirit knows the route. Please allow the Book Spirit to lead the way.”
Even Qiao San was greatly surprised by the cooperation of the Book Spirit. Let alone the Dragon Mother and Xuan Nu, who were on opposing sides. The shrewd Lord of the Four Seas gave a midair shake to the secret scroll, instantly comparing the routes depicted on it with the path taken by the Book Spirit. They matched exactly, not even a single point was off.
Could it be that the Book Spirit is truly a creature incapable of lying, or is she really a devoted follower of the gods?!
Thinking of this, the Dragon Mother couldn’t help but chuckle, her fondness for the Book Spirit growing even stronger.
Five people advanced deep into the “maze”; moments later, three female figures flashed past the entrance of the maze; about half a teacup’s time later, a large group of cultivators arrived as the third batch of visitors to this place.
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