Chapter 1468: Bloodless Victory with the Beauty Scheme, Life in Imminent Peril with Disaster Beast Xu

"Shh la..."

Zhu Yi Ke tore off the ugly mask, revealing a clean and neat face with a bright smile.

Even though this person’s eyes now showed more maturity and less innocence, Long Xing Zhi Ling had not forgotten this face.

After all, for Zu Shu Long Xing, decades were merely a snap of the fingers.

She still remembered that year on Xu Kong Dao…

It was still the Miracle Forest, and this young man had come to Shen Nong Yao Yuan.

Unlike other humans, he was very clever and used secret techniques to evade the perception of the Void Attendants.

He even found the true owner of Shen Nong Yao Yuan—Zu Shu Long Xing—and successfully awakened Long Xing Zhi Ling.

Long Xing Zhi Ling set a test for him.

The young man passed it easily, using Zu Shu Long Xing’s apricot shell as leverage while remaining polite, articulate, and neither humble nor arrogant.

Left with no choice, Long Xing Zhi Ling gave him one Long Xing seed.

Time flew by, but Long Xing Zhi Ling still remembered…

The young man’s only moment of impropriety was his “insatiable greed,” which didn’t match his overall demeanor.

After picking the Long Xing seed that belonged to him, he reached for a second one!

Long Xing Zhi Ling stopped him, of course.

But he said matter-of-factly:

“With the present as the test, Long Xing predecessor, you owe me one Long Xing seed.”

“With the future as the test, Long Xing predecessor, you should give me another Long Xing seed.”

“If I could go back to the past, I should actually get three Long Xing seeds this time.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling snorted in disdain and didn’t listen to his talk of present, future, and past at all, waving a claw to drive him away.

The young man didn’t push further, but before leaving, he forced a fake smile and respectfully requested:

“Long Xing predecessor, how about we make a bet, with time as the game, the future as the pieces, and no regrets for moves made?”

A bet?

Long Xing Zhi Ling, who had been asleep for a long time, was quite interested and asked, “What are we betting on?”

“We’ll discuss that later.”

The young man was bold, talking about the stakes first. “If you win, I’ll help you steal all the destiny of Zu Shu Jiu Ji Gui. If you lose, when we meet again, you have to agree to one condition from me, even if it means giving away all the Long Xing seeds.”

Steal Jiu Ji Gui’s destiny?

Who do you think you are?

Long Xing Zhi Ling didn’t even consider the possibility of losing and agreed without hesitation, then asked again:

“What are we betting on?”

The young man left with his still respectful smile, saying casually:

“Long Xing predecessor, I bet you’ll regret it.”

“Dao Qiong Cang?”

In Xing Jie, Long Xing Zhi Ling stared fixedly at the human in front of her, scenes from the past flashing through her mind.

Finally, she uttered this name.

In the long years, few had left such a deep impression on Zu Shu Long Xing.

Most of the time, humans either panicked and lost their composure in the face of Zu Shu’s power,

Or they tried to avoid direct conflict and steal treasures from Shen Nong Yao Yuan.

Rarely was there someone so young who could face Zu Shu with such confidence and poise, speaking freely and even playing mysterious games.

Later, Long Xing Zhi Ling actively checked the Zhen Xu Bei and traced back the time scenes to find the name corresponding to that person on the monument—he had indeed left his name!

Recalling Dao Qiong Cang’s meaningful fake smile on Xu Kong Dao back then, it perfectly matched the deep impression that “Zhu Yi Ke” was now trying to leave by forcing his way into Xing Jie three times.

This was exactly the kind of wicked humor this young man would have!

He was clearly reminding her from his first visit to Xing Jie, yet he was certain she wouldn’t remember…

And he was right!

A surge of extreme annoyance flashed through Long Xing Zhi Ling’s heart.

But…

When she looked back at the container that had allowed Dao Qiong Cang to enter Xing Jie—the earliest batch of the Long Xing seed she had given out—Long Xing Zhi Ling fell silent.

Wasn’t this the second fruit she hadn’t let him pick back then?

Had he tampered with it at that time?

Sow the cause then, reap the fruit now.

Dao Qiong Cang had dared to set up that bet, gambling on today, decades later.

Could he have foreseen this?

And she…

Had lost?

Dao Qiong Cang couldn’t have calculated back then that Shen Nong Yao Yuan would end up in Xu Xiao Shou’s world.

He had just habitually left a backup, so he could return to Xu Kong Dao more easily later.

By a twist of fate, this move meant for the future lord of Xu Kong Dao had turned into a way to target Xu Xiao Shou.

The ways of heaven are infinitely changeable and profoundly mysterious, aren’t they?

“Honored by your remembrance, Long Xing predecessor, this junior is deeply flattered!”

Dao Qiong Cang straightened his expression and first bowed respectfully with clasped fists:

“This junior, Dao Qiong Cang, brings friendly greetings from Zu Shu Jiu Ji Gui and comes specially to visit you.”

“I have no intention of disturbing your secluded cultivation, but circumstances have forced this bold intrusion today. I hope you won’t take offense.”

After a pause, Dao Qiong Cang straightened up, and his demeanor changed slightly.

In that instant, in Long Xing Zhi Ling’s eyes, he seemed no longer the obscure figure from Xu Kong Dao, but someone who had transformed into a dragon, exuding an overwhelming presence.

Dao Qiong Cang held up the Tian Ji Si Nan, glanced sideways toward the Crystal Palace with a half-smile, and said:

“This palace’s visit today is entirely without malice, but I can make a statement first.”

“Today’s matter has nothing to do with you!”

“The Sheng Shen Hall won’t hold you responsible because of your past connection with Xu Xiao Shou and disrupt your desire for seclusion.”

“So, you don’t need to worry.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

But then she thought again—if she was bound to Xu Xiao Shou now, and he had issues, didn’t that mean she did too?

Dao Qiong Cang continued:

“Of course, the past is set, but the future is unpredictable—that’s what makes it ‘heaven’s mechanism’.”

“After this event, how you choose to proceed, Long Xing predecessor, will bring endless changes to the situation.”

“So, I hope you’ll think carefully before deciding on future matters.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling was furious at these words.

The implied threat was so obvious it spread throughout Xing Jie—who could miss it?

He wanted her to abandon Xu Xiao Shou?

“What do you intend to do!” Long Xing Zhi Ling roared abruptly, filled with regret.

That insect from back then—how had it come to this?

If she had known, she would have crushed him with one claw!

Dao Qiong Cang smiled lightly and casually changed the subject, not addressing it directly:

“It’s been years, and your elegance remains, Long Xing predecessor. I admire you greatly, like looking up to a towering mountain.”

“Yet, I wonder if you still remember my name, ‘Dao Qiong Cang,’ and the time bet we made back then?”

Long Xing Zhi Ling’s momentum faltered.

Yes, she remembered, and she knew she had lost.

Soon, flames burned fiercely in Long Xing Zhi Ling’s eyes.

That bet had no witnesses, so if she denied it now, what could he do?

But after a long silence…

Considering Xu Xiao Shou’s dire situation and Dao Qiong Cang’s rising power, which she couldn’t confront head-on, Long Xing Zhi Ling sighed deeply:

“Fine, I’ll give you all the Long Xing seeds.”

Zu Shu shook its canopy, and the Long Xing seeds were about to fall.

Anyway, Xu Xiao Shou had already picked a batch and gained the Dragon Ancestor power, so he didn’t need more.

The seeds still on the canopy belonged to Xu Xiao Shou now.

It was like giving away someone else’s generosity, so while Long Xing Zhi Ling felt a pang, it wasn’t too bad.

Dao Qiong Cang quickly reached out: “No, I think you’ve misunderstood something, Long Xing predecessor?”

Long Xing Zhi Ling paused her action, suppressing her anger at being interrupted by a junior, and stared at him.

Dao Qiong Cang explained slowly:

“The stake back then was that if you lost, you’d agree to one condition from me!”

“Not the Long Xing seeds?”

Even Xu Xiao Shou coveted the Long Xing seeds, going to great lengths to obtain them, even figuring out a way to exchange them with Sheng Di Dragon Blood.

Was there anything more tempting than collecting ninety-nine Long Xing seeds in this world?

“Except for abandoning Xu Xiao Shou or Xing Jie, you can ask for anything else.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling, being an old dragon, waved a claw and agreed to the demand.

This showed her integrity, willingness to honor the bet, and blocked any further pressure.

It also cut off Dao Qiong Cang’s options—Long Xing Zhi Ling wouldn’t abandon her world lord.

Besides, she had only said “you can ask”…

You can propose it.

Whether to agree or not would still be up to her.

Whether she was a trustworthy dragon depended on how big Dao Qiong Cang’s appetite was.

Dao Qiong Cang’s expression remained calm.

From his face, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The situation was indeed tricky.

He, Dao Qiong Cang, had forced his way into Xing Jie, but even if Zu Shu Long Xing was weak or hadn’t acted in millions of years…

If it truly erupted, leading to a fight to the death, even if the chance was one in ten thousand, it wasn’t impossible.

After all, this was Zu Shu!

And looking at the state of “Xing Jie,” Long Xing had clearly evolved into a world tree and wouldn’t easily give up on world lord Xu Xiao Shou.

Xu Xiao Shou wasn’t as cold as Ba Zun An; he was emotional, with blood and flesh, as seen from the loyalty of those from Heaven’s First Tower.

To show grace and righteousness but stand by and watch death was disloyalty.

To share bonds of affection but watch from the sidelines was inhumanity.

Long Xing Zhi Ling had even admitted to the bet and was willing to give away the Long Xing seeds.

She had spent some time with Xu Xiao Shou, and as a world tree, how could she have no feelings?

So, to bypass Zu Shu Long Xing, avoid that “one in ten thousand” chance, and get to Xu Xiao Shou—or kill him…

Was that possible?

Others might find it difficult, but Dao Qiong Cang planned every step.

Without hesitation, he pointed to the distance and said meaningfully:

“The first snow in Yu Jing is elegantly beautiful, the gui flowers folded with fragrance, blooming in solitude.”

“At this fine moment, Jiu Ji Gui has already set up an ancestral banquet on Sheng Mountain, awaiting your presence.”

“This banquet won’t discuss the great dao or current affairs; it will only recall the past, chase emotions, share old tales from chaos, rejoice in ancestral ties, chat about long separations, and plan for future gatherings…”

“No matter what, I hope Long Xing predecessor will at least send your holy thoughts to Sheng Mountain and enjoy a drink with Jiu Ji Gui until dawn, so the beauty won’t be left alone, waiting in vain.”

“And this is my requirement for winning the bet—just go to the banquet; you don’t need to give me the Long Xing seeds.”

That simple?!

In that moment, Long Xing Zhi Ling’s eyes showed utter disbelief, along with a surging desire.

Jiu Ji Gui…

She immediately thought of that graceful, noble gui tree.

Even if the memory had blurred over time, the aura remained!

Unlike other ordinary trees, Jiu Ji Gui was so enchanting, so graceful…

She was born from chaos, with a destined fate, like the rare dragon sparrow of the human world.

Long Xing was different; though also a divine tree, she had awakened through great opportunity after bathing in the Dragon Ancestor’s blood.

One was a phoenix transformed from a pheasant, the other a born phoenix.

Though their statuses were now equal, their essences were vastly different.

Once, Long Xing had fantasized about Jiu Ji Gui…

But even Dong Shan Jian Ma had looked down on her origins and refused to associate.

That guy was also half self-made, relying on Zang Jian Tomb’s fame to awaken, not much nobler than her.

Yet he dared to look down on her!

Imagine her place in the ancestral tree hierarchy.

And now…

Dao Qiong Cang was offering that she just needed to attend a banquet, and Jiu Ji Gui would be waiting; the bet would be canceled.

Without giving even one Long Xing seed, she could gain such a boon—was this immense fortune finally falling on Long Xing’s head?

Long Xing Zhi Ling stuttered, at a loss for words.

Dao Qiong Cang was tactful, but she was more direct: after hesitating, she asked bluntly:

“She wants to dual cultivate with me?”

This dual cultivation wasn’t that kind.

It was the fusion of destinies, merging auras, becoming intertwined, sharing prosperity, facing disasters together, for billions of eras!

Well, actually, it was that kind too…

At least in Long Xing’s understanding, they were the same!

Dao Qiong Cang’s mouth twitched at her words, and he chose his words carefully before replying:

“It’s not out of the question.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling grew anxious!

Not out of the question meant what? Yes or no—give a straight answer!

Soon, Long Xing Zhi Ling snapped out of her fantasies and looked at Dao Qiong Cang, who was waiting respectfully for an answer, feeling a chill.

She had almost fallen for another trick…

If she left, what would happen to Xu Xiao Shou? Leave him to this person?

“I…”

“Long Xing predecessor, just go to the banquet.”

“You…”

“Just go to the banquet.”

“Then Xu…”

“People should look out for themselves, or heaven and earth will punish them, let alone Zu Shu? Long Xing predecessor, just go to the banquet.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling tried to speak three times.

Dao Qiong Cang interrupted her three times.

For a moment, Xing Jie fell into dead silence, except for the bubbling sound of the boiling medicinal liquid nearby.

Long Xing Zhi Ling’s thoughts were boiling too, unable to calm down.

She had pretty much figured out what this human was thinking.

Yes, it was just attending a banquet; don’t overthink anything… and that’s it!

Every tree has the most important moment in its life.

Some trees wait billions of years, only to end without fruit.

How could such an opportunity be blocked by a mere ant’s life of a thousand years?

The young value emotions; the old value benefits.

Xu Xiao Shou was decent, but not the ultimate in talent—in fact, Long Xing had accompanied and witnessed his fall.

He hadn’t really taken care of her—after all, what did Zu Shu need human care for?

Instead, she had helped him with Long Xing seeds, and that was enough kindness!

As for the Sheng Di Dragon Blood, that was just to satisfy a craving; it was from a transaction anyway, no real favor.

Going further back…

The reason there was Xing Jie was because this Xu guy had stolen the entire Shen Nong Yao Yuan first!

In the end, Xing Jie and its lord were just a mutually beneficial deal.

Now, with a better opportunity and greater benefits in front of her, how could she miss it?

That was dual cultivating with Jiu Ji Gui—every tree’s dream!

But Long Xing Zhi Ling found she couldn’t make the decision she should have easily.

This seemed to be another gamble?

A more subtle one than the previous time bet!

Betting on dual cultivating with Jiu Ji Gui for a more glorious future, or betting on human Xu Xiao Shou to surpass the two ancestral trees?

It seemed…

This wasn’t even a question.

After a long silence, Long Xing Zhi Ling made her decision and asked seriously:

“If I go to Sheng Mountain and they try to imprison me, what then?”

“Absolutely impossible!”

Dao Qiong Cang’s eyes lit up, and he waved his hand, immediately pulling out a black-red scroll.

Without hesitation, he tore the precious Ban Sheng Xuan Zhi and, under the witness of the great dao and his true self, made a poisonous oath:

“The banquet with Jiu Ji Gui is only for one night; miss this time, and there’s no other. Sheng Mountain and Gui Zhe will absolutely not have any ill intent to imprison Zu Shu Long Xing. After one night, Zu Shu Long Xing can leave Sheng Mountain freely… If this oath is broken, may heaven and earth strike me down!”

The oath was dao-bound and heaven-witnessed, detailed to the bone, covering all possibilities, enough to put her completely at ease.

Finally, Dao Qiong Cang added earnestly:

“Ancestral predecessor, the banquet is a banquet, and dual cultivation is dual cultivation.”

“Even if after this banquet, both of you have the intention to dual cultivate, you must leave Sheng Mountain immediately and not act improperly!”

“Ancestral dual cultivation is a major event; it should be announced to the world and chosen on an auspicious day, with a formal welcome for Long Xing to the mountain. You must not act recklessly.”

“This, I hope you understand.”

Long Xing Zhi Ling panicked at once.

She could only stay on Sheng Mountain for one night?

What business was ancestral dual cultivation of yours, humans?

But thinking of Jiu Ji Gui’s current status as the Jiu Ji divine envoy of Sheng Shen Hall, which had far-reaching influence, Long Xing Zhi Ling nodded silently in agreement.

She was still hesitant and glanced toward the Crystal Palace, leaving a meaningful remark:

“Xu Xiao Shou’s fortune isn’t exhausted yet.”

Dao Qiong Cang, being clever, instantly understood the implication and laughed: “Does this palace seem like a bloodthirsty person?”

“Then…”

Before Long Xing Zhi Ling could finish, Dao Qiong Cang seemed to read her mind:

“This palace is here for the Disaster Beast!”

The Disaster Beast?

Long Xing Zhi Ling was startled and glanced with her holy thoughts at the little white cat peeking over from the alchemy session, nodding gravely.

Indeed.

That was the Disaster Beast.

“Good!”

With that, Long Xing Zhi Ling vanished.

Dao Qiong Cang didn’t move; he just took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, taking a full quarter of an hour.

During this time, he no longer sensed any trace of Long Xing Zhi Ling’s activity in Xing Jie.

Clearly, she had left, and in a hurry.

Dao Qiong Cang turned around, step by step, with the corners of his mouth curling up, heading toward the Crystal Palace.

“Ta, ta, ta…”

The vast hall echoed with heavy footsteps, growing faster.

“Meow!”

Greed God raised its front paws, staring at the uninvited guest, its white fur standing on end as it guarded the alchemy cauldron.

All was ready; the east wind had been borrowed.

Dao Qiong Cang finally dropped the facade, grinning fiercely as he rolled up his sleeves, drew his long sword, and thrust it toward the figure in the boiling cauldron:

“Xu Xiao Shou, prepare to die!!!”

(End of chapter)