Chapter 674: Moving with Emotion

“The Elixir of Immortality case has spread throughout the entire Divine Realm. You cannot escape this charge.”

“I’m not trying to escape the crime; I only wish to be spared death.” Grand Tutor Qingyang sighed faintly. “You can manage that, can’t you?”

True Lord Tongming remained silent.

Grand Tutor Qingyang knew that he was also calculating. These celestial gods, appearing aloof and otherworldly, were in fact no less cunning than humans, she thought with a chuckle.

She was prepared. She stood up and pulled seven short tubes from her sleeve, shaking them twice in front of the mist.

“This is a thank-you gift.”

“Hm?” True Lord Tongming was rarely this surprised. “Dragon Punishment Pillars? Where did you get so many of them?”

The tubes, the color, the shape... What Grand Tutor Qingyang revealed were indeed seven Dragon Punishment Pillars!

She rotated each pillar, showing them to the mist. “Look closely; each one is filled with nightmare energy.”

True Lord Tongming could, of course, see the red substance churning within the Dragon Punishment Pillars.

Each Dragon Punishment Pillar could store the nightmare energy of 200,000 recently deceased individuals, meaning these seven pillars represented 1.4 million lost lives!

“You don’t need to worry about how I got them; suffice it to say, they weren’t easy to acquire.” Grand Tutor Qingyang smiled faintly. “This much nightmare energy should be enough to support a divine pregnancy, right?”

She casually tapped a Dragon Punishment Pillar. “Without these, if you celestial gods relied solely on natural conception, you probably wouldn’t be able to produce a single child in a thousand years.”

True Lord Tongming did not refute her, implying his agreement.

If anyone else were to hear this, they would be aghast:

The nightmare energy condensed from 1.4 million living humans was only enough for a celestial god to conceive one infant!

The ratio of lives was 1.4 million to one.

How precious nightmare energy was to celestial gods needed no further explanation. True Lord Tongming pondered for a moment. “I can try. Acquitting you would be difficult, but saving your life is quite hopeful.”

Grand Tutor Qingyang’s lips curved slightly, but True Lord Tongming continued, “Even if I can intercede for you, you still need to explain the source of the divine blood. A few days ago, when I asked, you said you’d find a way; now, the crisis is imminent. Have you thought of anything?”

Grand Tutor Qingyang hummed, “Yes, I have a plan.”

“Speak!”

“I’m not the only one in Lingxu City with divine blood.”

True Lord Tongming exclaimed in surprise, “Besides the Heavenly Palace, who else?”

As far as he knew, divine blood never appeared, even in Lingxu City’s ghost market or underground dealings.

“Dong Rui.”

“…Who?” The name was unfamiliar; he hadn’t heard it before.

“Do you remember my abandoned disciple, Xi Yunhe, using a monster to hunt for pulp pearls, even devouring Zhongsun Mou in plain sight?” Grand Tutor Qingyang walked to the table and took a few sips of hot tea. “That monster was called a Snail Toad. Its shell was the Qing Palace treasure ‘Snail Dwelling’ from over ten years ago, and the monster itself resembled both a ghost toad and a snail—it was unnatural. I’ve investigated many clues, and it’s an artificially created demonic puppet. Its creator is very likely the demonic puppeteer Dong Rui!”

True Lord Tongming waited for her to continue. This woman always acted with method.

“This demonic puppeteer was wanted by Beijia years ago but was later granted a special pardon. Guess who got him that pardon?”

True Lord Tongming was not concerned.

“It was Grand Tutor Shuangye!” Grand Tutor Qingyang couldn’t help but sneer. “Therefore, Dong Rui must be Grand Tutor Shuangye’s subordinate.”

Grand Tutor Shuangye’s arrangements in the Elixir of Immortality case were meticulously interconnected; from Xi Yunhe to Dong Rui, everything was aimed at her, yet he himself remained uninvolved.

No matter how much noise the Elixir of Immortality case made, on the surface, it had nothing to do with him.

True Lord Tongming was getting impatient. “What does mentioning Dong Rui have to do with divine blood?”

“He has divine blood.”

“What?” True Lord Tongming asked, surprised. “How did he get it?”

“I don’t know,” Grand Tutor Qingyang replied, “but I’ve studied the demonic puppets he created previously. To transform an ordinary monster into a demonic puppet requires such powerful activation, which only divine blood can provide.”

She said, word for word, “Catch him, and you catch the source of the divine blood.”

True Lord Tongming chuckled. “Are you implying Grand Tutor Shuangye?”

If Dong Rui was indeed Grand Tutor Shuangye’s subordinate, then Grand Tutor Shuangye was the source of the divine blood!

This woman was truly ruthless; even in despair, she didn’t forget to drag her mortal enemy down with her!

The more he thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed, and he couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “I knew you wouldn’t surrender outright! But I didn’t expect you to make your move here.”

Grand Tutor Qingyang said calmly, “If I were to dwell on the authenticity of Kong Jiaxiang or the veracity of the evidence in the Elixir of Immortality case, that would play right into Shuangye’s hands.”

Grand Tutor Shuangye must have made extremely thorough arrangements in those areas, just waiting for her to fall into the trap.

She had to find another way.

True Lord Tongming was pleased. “Very well, I will do my best to save your life. As for the rest, it’s entirely up to you.”

If Grand Tutor Qingyang could prove that the divine blood originated from Dong Rui, and thus from Grand Tutor Shuangye, then True Lord Tongming would have no involvement in the Elixir of Immortality case whatsoever.

He was naturally happy to see this outcome.

Grand Tutor Qingyang put away five of the Dragon Punishment Pillars. “These two are the advance payment; the rest will be given to you after I successfully save my life.”

True Lord Tongming grunted but raised no objection.

This time, the mist finally dispersed, and the celestial god’s consciousness departed.

Grand Tutor Qingyang took a deep breath and pushed open the window to look at the sky.

It would be another hour until nightfall.

She ate some honey oranges, peeled two soft, red, sandy persimmons, and even had a few pieces of osmanthus soft candy. Only then did she clap her hands, lie down on the soft couch, and close her eyes to rest.

Life or death would be decided after nightfall.

After just a short while, Grand Tutor Qingyang heard commotion outside Gan Quan Hall.

With her profound cultivation, such noisy footsteps and voices naturally couldn’t escape her hearing.

Who else but the Emperor could swagger through the palace here?

His early return showed how seriously he regarded this matter.

Grand Tutor Qingyang sat up abruptly, secretly channeling her true power.

In just three to five breaths, her eye sockets had sunken, her eye corners were covered in fine lines, and her complexion had become haggard.

Her former pampered, dignified, and noble appearance immediately diminished by half.

As soon as she pushed the door open, a colossal head peered over the hall wall, looking down at her.

Doors were for humans; he didn’t need them.

The last rays of the setting sun were blocked by him, casting a large shadow from above. Grand Tutor Qingyang immediately knelt and said loudly, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor did not return the greeting and directly asked, “The celestial gods accuse you of privately refining and selling the Elixir of Immortality. Is this true?”

Fury steamed in his eyes, and the old osmanthus tree beside Grand Tutor Qingyang couldn’t withstand the pressure, trembling and shedding countless petals.

The air was heavy, as if palpable.

Grand Tutor Qingyang lowered her head, secretly taking a breath. “Yes… this old subject was foolish.”

Her frank answer left the Emperor momentarily speechless. He rested a front paw on the wall tiles, and with a crack, countless tiles shattered as if they were tofu.

“Why?!” His booming voice was filled with anguish. “You’ve been Grand Tutor for 160-170 years; have my son and I ever treated you harshly?”

Grand Tutor Qingyang bowed her head. “Both Emperors have shown this subject immense kindness, heavy as a mountain.”

“Were you short on money or power, then, that you dared to defy the celestial gods’ taboo?”

Grand Tutor Qingyang said calmly, “In officialdom, one is not one’s own master.” She touched her forehead to the ground. “Qingyang has made a grave mistake and is willing to accept punishment.”

The Emperor remained silent, his heavy breathing rumbling like distant thunder.

Officialdom, indeed.

Both he and his son had been immersed in it for many years, long knowing it was an ecosystem where everyone involved was tightly bound.

What one wanted to say or do was not up to oneself.

Amidst the ups and downs of official life, even Grand Tutor Qingyang couldn’t escape.

After a long while, he finally said, “Since you admit your guilt and accept the law, why did you escape from Qing Palace and come to Gan Quan Hall?”

Grand Tutor Qingyang said, “I wanted to have one last deep conversation with Your Majesty. If I were apprehended by Bai Ziqi and taken to the Heavenly Palace, where would I get such an opportunity?” If she became a prisoner in the Heavenly Palace, any meeting with anyone would be monitored.

The Emperor exhaled heavily. “What do you want to say?”

“Privately refining the Elixir of Immortality was a moment of delusion for this old subject; there is no defense.” Grand Tutor Qingyang said softly, “But if I leave Qing Palace, and with the eastern front battling fiercely, who will manage the allocation of primal energy?”

“By the rules, Grand Tutor Shuangye is the most qualified.”

“I fear he will be overly aggressive in the war,” Grand Tutor Qingyang said. “Grand Tutor Shuangye… has the backing of the celestial gods!”

“Isn’t this trouble you brought upon me?” The Emperor was displeased. “If it weren’t for this matter involving you, how would he be allowed to interfere in the eastern front war?”

With a sweep of his tail, a large section of meticulously trimmed flowers and plants suffered damage with crackling sounds.

Grand Tutor Qingyang dared not retort. After a moment, she said, “May Your Majesty wait until the eastern war concludes before relieving me of my Grand Tutor duties?”

The Emperor laughed in anger. “You want to atone for your crime by rendering meritorious service? You’re dreaming! The Heavenly Palace will never agree!”

“The eastern front has seen a turning point; Mou Nation is open to negotiation. This war will end in little over a month at most,” Grand Tutor Qingyang said faintly. “Celestial gods have long lifespans, yet are they unwilling to wait even this short time?”

“It’s not just the celestial gods unwilling to wait! Commoners want results, and the vassal demon nations want results too! The King of Chiyan has sent four urgent messages; even King Baoshu has urged twice, not to mention the other vassal states, all waiting for the case to be closed. Do you think they can wait?”

Grand Tutor Qingyang whispered, “If I am imprisoned, the balance between the four palaces will be broken, and Your Majesty’s position will become even more difficult.”

The Emperor said coldly, “Now you’re showing consideration for me?”

“After I leave, Qing Palace should have a new master,” Grand Tutor Qingyang said. “Do you have a plan in mind?”

“I have my own thoughts,” the Emperor exhaled, and a whirlwind seemed to sweep through the courtyard. “I rushed back to Tianxin Island as soon as I received the news. The Heavenly Palace guard is still waiting outside. You…”

He hesitated for a moment. “Do you have an account book or a list?”

Here it came, the main topic. Grand Tutor Qingyang showed a hint of confusion. “Are you asking about…?”

“Stop pretending to be confused!” The Emperor glared at her. “How could you not know? I’m asking for the list of people who privately purchased the Elixir of Immortality! Knowing your temperament, you surely kept records!”

Grand Tutor Qingyang couldn’t help but smile. “After nearly two hundred years, Your Majesty still knows me best.”

She and the Emperor before her had grown up together. Their bond was as strong as that between Yao Xingning and Crown Prince Huan.

“I’ve recorded every purchaser,” she said, taking an account book from her storage ring and holding it close. “A total of seventy-five families, with three hundred and twenty-seven purchases.”