*Rumble---*
Thunder rolled through the remaining clouds and the silvery moon while deafening noises came from the distant palace as if a dragon turned over, shaking the entire **Heavenly Gate City** until the houses in the city started to collapse one after another.
Hu Mu, holding his young disciple by the back of her collar, looked at the aura radiance bursting out of the palace, stopped in place, and frowned slightly.
Si Xuanji asked him to help her kill Nangong Cheng, but he didn't expect that she would actually attack him right inside the *Imperial Palace*.
This **Heavenly Gate City** was the intersection of the spiritual veins of the **Central Region** and was also Nangong Cheng's personal territory.As long as Nangong Cheng still had control of the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal*, he would still be the master of the **Central Region** and could manipulate the spiritual energy in the **Central Region** without scruples.
In this case, no matter how much spiritual energy Si Xuanji consumed with her own cultivation, he could immediately make up for it with the environmental spiritual energy absorbed from the **Central Region**.
To exterminate Nangong Cheng's *Void Returning* spirit under such circumstances was almost impossible.
Even if he used all his magical powers to help, he might not be able to defeat Nangong Cheng, who had the advantage of the terrain.
*Boom---*
Suddenly, five spiritual lights shot up from **Heavenly Gate City**, and a golden sphere condensed in the sky like a small sun, illuminating the dark streets.
Hu Mu looked at it solemnly, and his frown got even more pronounced.These five spiritual lights were the ***Imperial*** Sect's defensive formation, which was enough to break the protective spiritual shield of a *Void Returning* cultivator.
Si Xuanji was now facing Nangong Cheng head-on, and once entangled in this formation, defeat was almost certain.
After hesitating for a split second, Hu Mu waved his tail and released spiritual energy, ready to help Si Xuanji deal with the ***Imperial*** Sect's defense formation.
But just as he was about to make a move, Liang Zhu, who was accompanying him on the side, immediately interrupted him with a bow. "Your Excellency, this city defense formation does not require your action."
Hu Mu narrowed his eyes, but before he could ask the reason, a loud noise came from the west side of the city.
*Boom---*
One of the five spiritual lights rising from the **Heavenly Gate City** vanished in an instant.
The golden ball of light originally condensed by the formation also exploded directly in the air, and the spiritual lights dissipated.
"..."
Did someone break the main knot of the city defense formation?
That old woman actually figured out the key to the ***Imperial*** Sect's defensive formation?
As expected from that old lady. She had not lived in vain for hundreds of years.
Keeping his fierce look, Hu Mu gave her a thumbs up in his heart. Then, he glanced at Liang Zhu again, and seeing that he seemed to have something to say, he nodded slightly and said, "Speak your mind."
"Yes, Your Excellency." Liang Zhu took a deep breath and cupped his hands. "Your Excellency, please use your fox power to protect the dozens of millions of ordinary cultivators in the city and prevent them from being affected by the battle between the *Void Returning* cultivators."
Protect the human cultivators in the city?
Hu Mu looked Liang Zhu up and down before asking, "Is this your request or her intention?"
"I am just conveying it."
"So, there is no need for me to go to the palace to help?"
"Yes, Your Excellency only needs to protect the ordinary cultivators in the city when the Immortal Matriarch and the Emperor are fighting. Your Excellency does not need to do anything else."
Hearing this, a trace of anger flashed across Hu Mu's face.
The ***Demon Clan*** and the human race had a deep blood feud.
On the way from **Jade Pass** to **Heavenly Gate**, he did not let his men slaughter the people in the immortal cities along the way just because of his kindness and good morals, and besides, he was in no mood to argue with that old woman.
And now, that old woman actually asked him to protect the human cultivators?
This request was like asking him to eat the cilantro he disliked the most.
"The human cultivators are killing each other, but they want me to protect them? What if I say no?"
"..."
Liang Zhu started sweating after hearing this question.
It was Ye Anping who asked him to convey to the Demon King that he should protect the cultivators in the city.
In fact, when he heard Ye Anping talk about this, he also asked back, "The ***Demon Clan*** hates human cultivators to the core, how could that old fox agree to protect those in the city?"
Ye Anping's answer to this was, "Brother Liang, you just need to tell him, he will definitely agree."
...
From Hu Mu's expression now, he didn't look like he would agree.
Could it be that Sixth Brother had made a mistake?
Liang Zhu complained in his heart, contemplating what to say next.
However, at this time, Xue Tianqiao, who was held by Hu Mu by the collar, looked at her master's face and smiled. "Master, if you don't agree, will I have another fox felt?"
"..."
Hu Mu's eyes twitched when he heard this, and he once again regretted bringing his naughty disciple here. Pinching her mouth, he glared at her fiercely. "If you dare to mention the fox felt again, I'll..."
Xue Tianqiao asked curiously, "Is it skinning or pulling teeth this time?"
"..."
Hu Mu was speechless but took a deep breath, and his expression gradually relaxed. He put Xue Tianqiao on the ground, turned to Liang Zhu, and warned him with a glare. "Keep an eye on her. If she's missing a single hair when I come back..."
"My master will skin you!"
Xue Tianqiao looked at Liang Zhu and completed the sentence, then turned around and looked at her master with a grin. "Am I right?"
"..."
Hu Mu slightly gritted his teeth, then took a deep breath and swept his long tail. His body instantly turned into a cloud of black mist, reaching a height of one hundred feet, overlooking the entire **Heaven Gate City**.
Then, he closed his eyes, formed a hand seal, and a fox head as big as a mountain appeared behind him.
In the next moment, a bellowing cry resounded through **Heavenly Gate City**. *"Roar---!"*
A menacing black spiritual energy instantly swept over the sky and condensed into a circular dome above **Heavenly Gate City**, enveloping the palace and directly separating it from the city.
Instantly, the earth-shattering tremor caused by the battle in the palace was stopped.
Only deadly silence remained in the entire city.
...
Meanwhile, in the secret vault beneath the *Heavenly Harmony Palace*.
*Swish---*
The ice-blue sword energy swept across the back of an imperial guard's neck. Pei Lianxue flicked the remaining blood on the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword* and came behind Ye Anping, who was meditating in front of a statue.
"Brother, it's done."
"Hmm..."
*Boom---*
The earth shook. The whole secret vault trembled for a moment, and a large amount of dust fell from the ceiling.
Ye Anping took a deep breath to calm down, looked at the small coiled dragon sculpture that was about the same size as his body, and made one last mental preparation.
The dragon sculpture was the recipient where Nangong Cheng hid the *Nine Dragon Heavenly Seal*.
According to the plot development in the game, Feng Yu Die should have relied on her Holy Emperor bloodline to unlock the recipient and get the *Heavenly Seal*.
But Si Xuanji acted a little too quickly, and he didn't have time to bring Feng Yu Die over so that she could use her destiny to change the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* to her name.
Anyway, he could also be considered to carry half a *Heavenly Mandate* now, so it wouldn't be a big problem to get this thing from Nangong Cheng's hands.
As for opening the recipient, it would be up to Immortal Yun Jian's sword.
"Sister, let's start."
Ye Anping took a deep breath and waved his hand, releasing his spiritual power and enveloping the entire dragon sculpture inside it.
Pei Lianxue also closed her eyes and composed herself for a moment, then raised the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword*.
*Clang---*
A flash of ice-blue sword light suddenly appeared and then disappeared.
*Crack---*
With a crisp sound, a crack like a tree branch appeared on top of the coiled dragon sculpture, extending to the tail.
Ye Anping frowned, hastened his own spiritual power, and shouted, "Open!"
The dragon's body, made of gold and stone, split into countless pieces, shooting out in all directions. A jade seal about the size of a palm with an ascending nine-dragon symbol carved on it suddenly appeared.
The nine dragons on it seemed to be alive. After being freed from the recipient, they all pointed their dragon heads toward Ye Anping, who was focusing his mind in front of it.
Ye Anping gritted his teeth slightly, holding his breath, and ordered, "Come on!!"
The next moment, nine little dragons poked out from the top of the jade seal like snakes, opened nine mouths, and bit Ye Anping's neck and arms directly.
The sharp teeth penetrated deep into the bone, and blood spread out from the wound, but it seemed to be sucked away by the dragons' heads, gradually staining the originally pure jade seal with a touch of red.
Pei Lianxue, who was standing beside him, turned pale with fear when she saw this. She raised her sword and tried to chop off the dragons' heads, but Ye Anping stopped her. "Sister!"
"..."
Pei Lianxue stopped her sword in the air and watched her brother bleed, feeling very distressed as if the pain was hers.
After a few breaths, the nine dragon heads finally let go and retracted onto the jade seal.
The "Nangong Cheng" characters originally engraved below the jade seal gradually disappeared and were replaced by the "Ye Anping" characters.
Ye Anping let out a long breath, and disregarding the bite wounds left by the golden dragon on his body, he immediately sent his consciousness into the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal*.
Almost instantly, a golden light from the *Heavenly Seal* broke through the ceiling and shot straight into the sky.
...
*Boom---*
A spiritual light suddenly appeared under the *Heavenly Harmony Palace*, which had already turned into rubble, instantly stopping the two people fighting above.
Floating in the air, Si Xuanji looked at the golden light beam coming from below with a playful smile on her face, then said to Nangong Cheng who had a spear in his hand, "Nangong boy, won't you admit defeat?"
"..."
When Si Xuanji said that his *Nine Dragon Heavenly Seal* was stolen, Nangong Cheng didn't take it seriously.
This was a sacred object that controlled the region. Even if it was stolen, as long as it didn't accept a new owner, it would be nothing more than a more valuable jade stone to the person who stole the *Nine Dragon Heavenly Seal*.
But now, this golden beam of light was a sign that the *Heavenly Seal* no longer recognized him as the Master of the **Central Region**.
In just a moment, Nangong Cheng felt that the golden core in his body seemed to have turned into a pebble, and his abdomen was in great pain. He gritted his teeth and looked at Si Xuanji. "Red Moon! You're courting death! Even if the *Heavenly Pivot Star of Destiny* got hold of the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal*, do you think it will hand it over to you?"
Si Xuanji shrugged, smiling. "What do you think?"
Nangong Cheng gritted his teeth and endured the severe pain in his abdomen. He used his spiritual power to expand his voice thousands of miles away and shouted, "*Heavenly Pivot*!!! The *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* is a spiritual item that can control the region. It was given to me by the Yellow Dragon a thousand years ago. If you get the *Heavenly Seal* to recognize you as master, you will be the master of the **Central Region**!! You must remember this..."
Listening to his voice transmission, Si Xuanji's eyes flashed with anger. With a wave of her hand, a lightning spear shot out from her side.
*Swish---*
The lightning spear penetrated Nangong Cheng's chest and hit his *Void Returning* soul, causing him to choke and spit out blood.
"Cough... cough---"
"You are so annoying!"
Nangong Cheng fled downward at a high speed, holding his spear. The sect formation was broken, and the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* had changed hands. **Heavenly Gate City** and the **Central Region** were no longer in his control.
The Demon King was also around at this moment, and Si Xuanji aimed to kill him.
No matter how hard he struggled, he had no chance of winning.
That was unless the leader of the ***Bright Star*** Sect or ***Awareness*** Sect came in person right now, but since Si Xuanji dared to take action, the two leaders most likely hadn't received any news so far.
The old woman wanted to dominate the four regions...
The owner change of the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* meant that the Yellow Dragon felt that man was more suitable to be the leader of the **Central Region** than him.
Since the Yellow Dragon had made this judgment, he could, albeit reluctantly, lose to the person of the *Heavenly Pivot*. Seeing as that person carried the *Mandate of Heaven*, he couldn't defeat him.
However, he couldn't stand losing to the old woman Si Xuanji.
No matter that it was just to annoy this old woman before dying.
*Swish, swish, swish---*
Several sounds of stabbing flesh were heard, and Nangong Cheng, who was fleeing downward at high speed, was instantly pierced into a hedgehog by countless lightning spears. He flipped and turned in mid-air, smashing toward the ground.
Si Xuanji floated in the air with her arms crossed as she looked at him with a ruthless smile. "Nangong boy..."
*Swish---*
With his last strength, Nangong Cheng threw the golden spear in his hand toward Si Xuanji. Suddenly, a golden line passed over her face, heading toward the moon behind her.
*Rumble---*
A bloodstain appeared on Si Xuanji's white face. She turned her head to look behind her and saw a cloud of dust exploding on the moon, deflecting it an inch to the side.
"How stubborn..."
Si Xuanji shrugged, raised her hand, and waved it. The purple spiritual energy instantly condensed into a chubby baby hand, which smashed Nangong Cheng directly in mid-air.
...
*Boom---*
"Brother, watch out!!"
The moment Pei Lianxue heard the sound, she immediately came to Ye Anping who was meditating in front of the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal*. At the same time, the ceiling of the secret vault collapsed.
Ice-blue sword energy flashed over Ye Anping's head, breaking up and shredding all the rubble falling down.
At the same time, a figure in a dragon pattern robe also followed after the falling ceiling and smashed into a pile of spirit stones padded with spiritual power in the center of the secret vault, scattering them.
Ye Anping withdrew his spiritual power and looked at the fallen person, his eyes narrowed. When he saw that it was Nangong Cheng, he took a deep breath. "Hiss---"
Why did Si Xuanji send Nangong Cheng to him?
What the hell...
To be honest, Ye Anping panicked for a moment. He was just adapting to the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal*, preparing to use it to draw all the spiritual energy under **Heavenly Gate City** toward Si Xuanji, and then let her blast Nangong Cheng's *Void Returning* body into smithereens.
But now, Si Xuanji directly sent Nangong Cheng to him before he was done.
Looking at Nangong Cheng's current state, he was half dead, but for a cultivator in the *Void Returning* middle stage, even if he were half dead, it would be as easy as pinching an ant to kill him and his sister, who were in the *Foundation Building* stage.
Pei Lianxue frowned slightly and immediately shielded Ye Anping with her body while holding the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword* tightly in her hand. "Brother..."
"Don't go there."
Ye Anping quickly calmed down, forced himself to stand up from the ground, then leaned on Pei Lianxue's shoulder before taking the sword from her hand.
"Sister, stand behind me."
At this time, Nangong Cheng also struggled to get up from the ground, turned his head, and looked at him. Seeing the nine seals on Ye Anping's body, he said, "*Heavenly Pivot*, cough cough -- remember this... This *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* recognizes you as the master, so this **Central Region** is yours from now on. You will definitely return to the immortal world in the future, but be careful... that old woman from ***Black Star*** Sect..."
However, before he finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared behind him and kicked him in the butt, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Nangong boy, these two are my disciples. Stop trying to bewitch them."
Hearing this voice, Nangong Cheng's eyes widened, and he turned his head in disbelief to look behind him, only to see the shadow of a young man in a golden robe.
"Immortal Yun?!"
Seeing the sudden appearance of Immortal Yun Jian, Ye Anping was also stunned for a moment. It seemed that he accidentally triggered a plot line that was not in the game.
Yun Jian hugged his chest, looked at the wounds on Ye Anping's body, and said, "Hehe, little Ye, the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* has recognized you as its master? That's amazing, you are worthy of being the one I chose, hahahaha -- I gave this sword to the right person!"
Ye Anping really didn't expect it to turn out like this this time. After a pause, he quickly cupped his hands. "Greetings, Immortal Ancestor."
"What the hell, what immortal, call me Master!! I've already given you my sword, and you don't recognize me as your Master?"
"Master..."
Yun Jian hugged his chest, nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Pei Lianxue. "Little Pei is also getting more and more powerful. Already in the late stage of *Foundation Building*."
"...Hmm." Pei Lianxue responded softly while shrinking her neck.
"Why are you still so shy? How can my disciple be so shy? Ye kid, buy more wine for Miss Pei. When you drink, you will naturally become more temperamental... Ahaha---"
Nangong Cheng, who was lying on the ground, heard these words and looked at Ye Anping in disbelief.
Since he was the descendant of Immortal Yun Jian, why did he follow that old woman, Si?
Nangong Cheng took a deep breath and shouted, "*Heavenly Pivot*! Cough -- that old woman named Si... cough -- she wants..."
It was very difficult for Nangong Cheng to speak, and now that Immortal Yun Jian was present, he dared to say what he wanted to say.
"She wants to use the *Heavenly Pivot Destiny* to wipe out all the *Void Returning* cultivators except her in the Immortal Family and become the sole leader of the four regions. Is this what you want to say, Master Nangong?"
Nangong Cheng's eyes widened. "Since you know..."
"After the Holy Emperor, no one had the ability to unify the four regions. Now, the *Heavenly Pivot* was born, and the leader of the ***Black Star*** Sect wants to use it to fulfill her ambition and conquer the four regions.
The cultivators in the *Void Returning* stage are not complete Immortals either, so they have the ambition to take over the four regions. Aren't you the same? The masters of the five sects, ***Awareness*** Sect, ***Bright Star*** Sect, ***Black Star*** Sect, ***Imperial*** Sect, and **Cold Country**, all regard each other as a thorn in their eyes and wish to get rid of the others. This is not difficult to understand.
But do you think that a person who likes to look at the stars and eat melon seeds the most will do something harmful to the world after unifying the four regions? If one of the five sect masters is to be chosen to lead the four regions, the ***Black Star*** Sect Matriarch should be the best candidate."
Hearing this, Immortal Yun Jian raised his eyebrows and asked back, "What the hell? Ye boy, isn't your master the best candidate?"
"Haven't you been dead for many years?"
"Hiss-- That's true." Yun Jian frowned, then looked down at Nangong Cheng who was lying in front of him, and said, "So, you were beaten like this by that old woman? Nangong boy, you are such a coward, you can't even beat that old woman... How come you can't even use a spear after being the Emperor of the **Central Region** for so long? Didn't you used to last ten moves against me before?"
"..."
Nangong Cheng was speechless. He looked in disbelief at Ye Anping, who was standing in front of him with the *Black Ice Spirit Sword* in his hand.
He had heard what was said just now.
This young man seemed to have no desires and no ambitions.
However, it was this person who was acknowledged by the Yellow Dragon and received the *Nine Dragon Heavenly Seal*.
"..."
Ye Anping walked slowly to Nangong Cheng with the sword in his hand. "Senior Nangong, you can't speak now, but I know what you're thinking. You wonder how I, a cannon fodder no matter how you look at it, can be qualified to snatch the *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* from you. But the truth is... I was forced to carry the *Mandate of Heaven*. The real one is eating roasted chicken somewhere out there."
"..."
He raised the *Black Ice Spirit Sword* and held it vertically, with the tip down.
Yun Jian from the side looked at him calmly, then stepped forward and held his hand. "Ye kid, with your cultivation, even with my sword, you can't destroy his spirit. I'll help you. Little Pei, come here too."
"Oh..."
Pei Lianxue nodded vigorously, stepped forward, and asked, "How to do it?"
"Like this..."
Yun Jian reached out and pulled Pei Lianxue's hand over the hilt, together with Ye Anping, and then looked down at Nangong Cheng, and coldly said, "Hehe, Nangong boy, you owed me a drink back then, but even if you paid for it today..."
"..."
He clasped his right hand and pressed the hilt of the *Snow Jade Spirit Sword*.
*Swish---*
The ice-blue sword light came straight down, entering through Nangong Cheng's back, and pinning him to the ground.
Nangong Cheng widened his eyes and struggled to look behind him, but after a while, the outline of his figure showed a spiritual light like the starry sky, gradually turning into a light spot before it began to dissipate.
Immortal Yun Jian's hand moved away from the hilt, and his originally transparent figure also began to dissipate. "Ye kid, little Pei, don't let me down. You pass on my name, Yun Jian!!"
"We will, Master."
Ye Anping sighed slightly and answered as he watched Immortal Yun Jian disappear.
Then, he seemed to be exhausted and simply collapsed to the side. Pei Lianxue quickly reached out to support him, slowly squatted down, and let him lean on her chest. With a worried look on her face, she asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing... The *Nine Dragons Heavenly Seal* sucked away my blood and essence, and I'm a little tired. Sister, carry me out, I must rest for a little while. The matter between Sister Feng and the Demon King has not been resolved yet."
Saying this, Ye Anping closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Pei Lianxue saw that her brother had fallen asleep, so she squatted down and picked him up in a princess carry. She used her spiritual power to withdraw the force that had been inserted into Nangong Cheng, who had not yet completely dissipated. Looking around, she found that the landslide had blocked the way back.
The hole above was at least a hundred feet high.
Just when Pei Lianxue was about to summon the flying sword, a small figure suddenly jumped down from the hole in the ceiling. With a falter, she landed on her butt on the ground.
"Ouch..."
Si Xuanji stood up, holding her butt, and looked around. "You must be Sister Pei."
Pei Lianxue saw Si Xuanji for the first time. A little wary of her yin-yang eyes, she took a step back. But when she saw that she was only at the initial stage of the *Foundation Building*, she felt confused. "Who are you?"
Si Xuanji narrowed her eyes and smiled. Pointing at her face, she said, "I am Xiao Yunluo's sister. When my mother was fighting with this guy, I was hiding in the palace. My mother has gone back now, but she asked me to come down to pick you up. Come on, let's go..."
As she spoke, she raised her finger, took out a magic boat from the storage bag, and jumped on it, motioning Pei Lianxue to bring Ye Anping up.
Listening to these words, Pei Lianxue had the feeling that the little girl wanted to emphasize something. Feeling suspicious, she asked again, "Are you Sister Xiao's sister?"
"Yes."
"How tall is Sister Xiao?"
Si Xuanji blinked and replied, "Four feet, twelve inches."
"That short?"
"She usually wears three inches of padding inside her shoes. Okay~ This place is about to collapse. Come up quickly. I will take you out."
Pei Lianxue still had some doubts, but at this time, Ye Anping slightly opened his eyes. "Sister, go up. It's okay."
"Well... Brother, then you have a good rest."
