“Hehe, haha…” Er Meng burst into laughter, while the group from Heavenly Deity Mountain all wore grim expressions. Only Yun Canghai remained composed, offering a faint smile as he said, “I merely stated that given my granddaughter’s talent and beauty, this young man seems to be the only one in the current wasteland domain worthy of her. I made no other declarations.”
“Old man, still trying to deny it? Don’t you want that formation repaired anymore? Does your clan no longer wish to leave this realm?” Er Meng sneered.
“Young people—if they truly care for each other, I won’t oppose it. But if my granddaughter is wronged, that’s absolutely unacceptable,” Yun Canghai replied.
Er Meng’s eyes flashed with anger, as if recalling past grievances. “You sly old fox, just like your father! What did that old bastard say back then? He swore that if Meng Lan and I had feelings, he wouldn’t interfere—yet in the end, he hunted me down! Either agree or refuse outright, none of this evasive nonsense!”
“Don’t you think you’re being too arrogant?” At that moment, a middle-aged man stood up, his gaze icy as he looked at Er Meng, then shifted to Shi Hao and the others.
“Second son of Yun Canghai, are you planning to take action against me?” Er Meng’s lips curled into a cold smirk.
The middle-aged man, known as Second Master, said, “I truly don’t know where you find the audacity. With your cultivation crippled, you dare set foot on Heavenly Deity Mountain? Relying on your past with Aunt Meng Lan? But when it comes to matters of life and death for our clan, I believe even she wouldn’t stand in the way.”
Another elder, his hair a pale gold—clearly of mixed Heavenly and Roc blood—spoke up, “Since those who can repair the formation are here, and the one who stole our ancestral artifact has arrived, there’s no need for delay. Let them fix it and activate the grand array.” He glanced at Yun Xi. “Not long ago, the Golden-Winged Roc Clan sent a marriage proposal. I think it’s worth considering, given our long-standing alliance.”
Tension thickened in the air. With these words, the earlier disputes and negotiations were cast aside, replaced by an undercurrent of hostility.
“We came in goodwill, seeking cooperation. Yet you intend to suppress us, use us, and then dispose of us?” Er Meng questioned.
“Know your place. At your age, with your cultivation ruined, what heroics can you still perform? Do you think a single visit to Heavenly Deity Mountain grants you the right to threaten us?” Second Master said coldly.
“Something feels off. Is someone threatening us?” Shi Hao stepped forward leisurely.
“Young friend, don’t misunderstand. Terms can be negotiated. Tempers are inevitable,” Yun Canghai said with a smile.
“Elder Brother, is this necessary?” the pale-gold-haired elder said indifferently, then turned to Shi Hao. “This is Heavenly Deity Mountain, not the Void God Realm. You can’t act recklessly here. Return the armguard to our clan, and once that cursed peacock repairs the formation, we’ll make use of it.”
“Oh? Yun Jinhai, you think you’ve got me cornered? Had I known, I should’ve crushed you back then—half-Roc, half-Heavenly abomination,” Er Meng retorted with a sneer.
“There is no ‘back then.’ If not for my younger sister’s sake, I’d end you right now,” Yun Jinhai said frostily.
“Jinhai, that’s too much. We’re all trying to escape this domain and survive the calamity. No need for such hostility,” Yun Canghai chided.
“I’m merely making them aware of their position,” Yun Jinhai said, eyeing Shi Hao and Er Meng. “You know what to do.”
“Father, I agree. They don’t know their place. A little discipline is in order, lest they forget where they stand,” Second Master added coldly.
“And what exactly is ‘knowing their place’?” Shi Hao asked, unfazed.
Second Master’s voice turned icy. “Daring to act insolently on Heavenly Deity Mountain—even if you’re a young supreme, I can suppress you with a single hand. Do you believe me?”
“No, I don’t,” Shi Hao said flatly.
“Truly reckless. You don’t believe it?” Yun Jinhai also glared at them.
“Neither do I,” Er Meng scoffed.
“Hmph!” With a cold snort, Yun Jinhai’s voice struck like a divine hammer toward their hearts—a blow that should have left them coughing blood. Yet, neither flinched.
“What?” Surprised, Yun Jinhai reached out with a massive hand to seize them.
Er Meng let out a sharp cry, transforming into an elder and slamming his palm forward. With a thunderous impact, Yun Jinhai was sent reeling, blood trickling from his lips.
Gasps filled the air. The experts of Heavenly Deity Mountain paled. Wasn’t the cursed peacock’s cultivation ruined? How could he suddenly assume form and wield such power?
Only Er Meng and Shi Hao remained unshaken, for they knew Willow Deity had silently followed, standing beside them. There was nothing to fear.
“Jinhai, step back,” Yun Canghai ordered, his own shock evident. He hadn’t expected Er Meng to still possess such strength.
“You’ve regained your power? No matter! Two of you dare cause trouble here? We’ll suppress you, force you to repair the formation and return the armguard!” Yun Jinhai roared, his killing intent flaring.
“Boom!” A surge of radiant runes erupted, scattering like stars across the sky, illuminating the void. Yet, the elder-form of Er Meng remained unmoved, merely raising a hand. Yun Jinhai was blasted away again, coughing more blood than before.
The onlookers shuddered—such terrifying power!
“Grandfather…” Yun Xi finally spoke, transmitting a silent message: a divine-level expert might be present, urging him to avoid conflict.
Yun Canghai inhaled sharply. A godly figure had arrived? The thought sent chills down his spine. How had he sensed nothing?
He glanced at his granddaughter and sighed inwardly. She bore grudges—intentionally letting her uncle suffer for pushing her into marriage with the Golden-Winged Roc Clan.
Yun Xi indeed despised this uncle, who insisted on the union for political gain. She hadn’t expected her second uncle, Second Master, to side with him.
After hearing Yun Xi’s warning, Yun Canghai fell silent. The situation had grown complicated. He’d never intended to harm Er Meng, but Yun Jinhai’s actions now made things difficult.
“Father!” Second Master called.
“Step down,” Yun Canghai said coldly, displeased by his alignment with Yun Jinhai.
“Elder Brother, why yield? Heavenly Deity Mountain bows to no one! Crush them and force compliance!” Yun Jinhai spat, his murderous aura flaring.
“The world is on the brink of chaos. We seek only to escape. Must we fight among ourselves? You know how my sister feels about this peacock,” Yun Canghai sighed. His leniency toward Er Meng stemmed from his sister Meng Lan’s lingering affection.
“Let’s inspect the formation first,” he declared.
The group agreed. With the impending calamity, departure was paramount.
Yun Jinhai snorted and stormed off.
In the secluded stone forest of the mountain’s rear, an ancient formation lay half-eroded by time.
After a long study, Er Meng nodded. “This matches the fragmented diagrams I possess. I can restore it.”
Joy spread among them—this was the best news.
Yet, repairing such a formation demanded the rarest divine materials, for it bridged realms.
Er Meng listed over a dozen items, leaving Yun Canghai stunned by the exorbitant cost.
“Some of these… even our treasury lacks them,” he admitted. The storied vault, accumulated over ages, still fell short.
“We must borrow from other sacred mountains. Pool our resources, or we’ll never succeed,” Yun Canghai decided firmly.
“I’ve given you the list. Gather them quickly. But remember—I’ll only repair it if your girl is promised to this lad,” Er Meng said smugly.
“And I repeat: if Yun Xi agrees, so do I,” Yun Canghai chuckled.
“Grandfather!” Yun Xi flushed, embarrassed under the expectant gazes of her elders. She shot Shi Hao a glare, itching to pummel him.
“Enough. The final choice is hers. No interference,” Yun Canghai said warmly.
Huoling’s eyes gleamed as she reassured Yun Xi, “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this featherless menace for you.”
Yun Xi smiled faintly but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Shi Hao’s mind had wandered beyond the scene, fixated on a hazy figure invisible to others—a silhouette worshipped by flames, as if three thousand worlds bowed before it.
Willow Deity had appeared.
None perceived it save Shi Hao.
“So it was him who left this gateway… He must still live, perhaps even descended to this realm,” Willow Deity murmured, words only Shi Hao heard, sending tremors through his heart.
“This calamity… will be unlike any other. Those who believe themselves masters of fate may yet fall. A most peculiar tribulation indeed.”
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