Chapter 1718: Plot to Banish to the Cold Palace and Return to the Origin, Brothers in Harmony, Sisters in Respect on the Path to Qiong Ji

Reality is a dream.

Too many people are consciously sinking.

Right and wrong, good and evil – in reality, anyone who cultivates the Dao, reaching the levels of Xiantian or Grandmaster, can largely distinguish them. However, prejudice and preconceptions sway free souls, and reality further binds the self, making transcendence difficult even for those who achieve sainthood.

So, out of helplessness, they can only continue to sink.

Yue Gonghui left the Cold Prison with Miss Dai'er – along the way, it didn't attract any attention from the Yin Spirit Guards.

In reality, with the Cold Palace Saint Emperor in secluded cultivation, Yue Gongli having self-destructed, and Ah Si imprisoned, the Cold Palace Imperial Realm was leaderless.

As long as Dao Qiongcang didn't deliberately cause trouble, he could essentially come and go as he pleased in this place.

He disguised himself in this manner, and also disguised Yue Gongnu.

This was mainly to avoid various problems that might arise later if Xu Xiaoshou failed and the Cold Palace Imperial Realm sought retribution.

There would be trouble.

But it wasn't insurmountable.

One might ask, how could "Dao Qiongcang," being so intelligent, single-handedly enter the Cold Palace Imperial Realm and "abduct" the weak Yue Gongnu?

That must have been Dao Xuanji's doing!

After all, she had engaged in similar behavior before!

As for whether Dao Xuanji actually did it or would do it, that didn't matter.

Even before Dao Qiongcang entered the Cold Palace Imperial Realm, he had sent a secret letter to his sister, who was hiding in the shadows, inviting her to do something mischievous.

Whether she went or not was her business.

In any case, "Dao Xuanji" definitely arrived at the Cold Palace Imperial Realm.

She arrived covertly and would, at a crucial moment, let the Cold Palace Imperial Realm's high-ranking officials know that "Dao Qiongcang" had already been there!

The betrayal at Gui Zhe Sacred Mountain... though Dao Qiongcang wasn't one to hold grudges, he hadn't forgotten it.

He decided to exact a small revenge.

Perhaps at this very moment, Sister Xuanji, after reading the letter and deliberating, also approved of his plan: to use Yue Gongnu a second time, trick Ba Zun'an once more, and assist Hua Changdeng again.

This was too perfect!

She only needed to transform herself into Dao Qiongcang, quickly deceive Yue Gongnu, and Yue Gongnu would undoubtedly follow her.

Because if Yue Gongnu didn't go willingly, she could genuinely abduct her; after all, she wasn't the real Dao Qiongcang, she was Dao Xuanji.

Regardless.

Ultimately, Yue Gongnu would leave with "Dao Qiongcang"!

This was the most crucial part of the secret letter's scheme, and something that "Dao Qiongcang" – regardless of who he actually was – would carry out.

In this scenario: If Dao Xuanji became fearful and didn't come, then when retribution was sought later, the "Dao Qiongcang" who had already been there would be exposed as "Dao Xuanji" due to the various traces left behind.

If Dao Xuanji came, gambling everything, she would transform into Dao Qiongcang; by the time she reached the Cold Prison, Yue Gongnu would have already been taken away by the previous "Dao Qiongcang."

Were there actually three individuals in the Dao siblings?

No, just one brother and one sister! Only two!

So, she was already Dao Qiongcang, arriving without a trace, not even a single clue – this perfectly matched the unfathomable Dao Qiongcang's demeanor, a truly seamless act.

In this situation, who was the "Dao Qiongcang" who arrived covertly, seemed slightly less skilled in comparison, yet managed to get there first and take Yue Gongnu?

The answer was obvious...

Dao Xuanji!

While Dao Xuanji was indeed lacking, she seemed to repeatedly triumph when dealing with her own brother – a common perception among everyone in the Qianshi Imperial Realm.

At that time, if Dao Xuanji didn't explain, then when retribution was sought, Dao Qiongcang would dare to confront her face-to-face, leaving his sister speechless; whether she actually abducted Yue Gongnu or not, it would be attributed to her.

If Dao Xuanji did explain, no matter how eloquently she spoke, clearly stating everything and distancing herself as much as possible, the Cold Palace Imperial Realm would only sigh and say, "It's truly you, Dao Qiongcang."

Past grievances aside, this time, she had already lost, because Dao Qiongcang had decided to deal with his sister once and for all.

He knew her too well; her abilities were less than a tenth of his own.

If he truly wanted to deal with her, she wouldn't even know how she died; it was only due to sibling affection that he had been somewhat reluctant before.

Now the situation was different.

A choice had to be made.

And since one couldn't have both, Dao Qiongcang's choice was, of course, Yue Gongnu, who could help him ride the favorable winds.

A major trend was approaching.

If Xu Xiaoshou was the vanguard, then Ba Zun'an would be a crucial general in Dao Qiongcang's grand strategy.

Therefore, Yue Gongnu had to be taken away.

Learning from past mistakes, Dao Qiongcang didn't want to wait another thirty years.

But then again!

Using the Heavenly Secret Obscuration that sealed the five domains of the Sacred Divine Continent to help Xu Xiaoshou create this momentum to attract the attention of various Saint Emperors, and then secretly cross the Cold Sea to take Yue Gongnu away.

This was an extremely risky move.

A single misstep could lead to complete defeat.

The key lay not with others, but with whether Yue Gongnu, the person involved, had truly understood the situation, whether she would cooperate, and even whether she would see through the deception but choose not to expose it!

Dao Qiongcang had always been a daring adventurer.

His so-called risks were built upon sufficient calculation and confidence.

Just like now...

"Dao Cult Master, what's next?" When they escaped from the Cold Prison and returned to the Cold Sea.

When Yue Gongnu, deep beneath the sea, recovered her former strength, shed her disguise to return to her true self, and willingly cooperated by calling out "Dao Cult Master," Dao Qiongcang smiled from the bottom of his heart.

He had gambled correctly!

Or rather, it wasn't a gamble; his plan had succeeded!

He wasn't confident he could have taken Yue Gongnu thirty years ago.

Because the servility cultivated by the Saint Emperor's Secret Realm was deeply ingrained in the hearts of every future Saint Emperor successor, including his younger self.

"Was I wrong?"

Dao Qiongcang had asked himself this question even in his youth.

So he knew that Yue Gongnu, thirty years ago, genuinely believed she was wrong.

For this, she willingly gave up everything, conceded the Saint Emperor successor title to her younger brother, and no longer yearned for a future.

Dao Qiongcang had also thought he would never see Yue Gongnu's return.

Until, in the Ruins of the Gods, he heard Ba Zun'an personally say: "Yes, we have a child."

And learned about the past youthful days Cao Erzhu shared with "August" – that child had even grown up.

How could someone who had given up everything still have a child?

Had she truly given up everything, or had she used everything to ensure the birth of a child?

Once those two facts were confirmed, Dao Qiongcang was essentially certain that Yue Gongnu, thirty years ago, still hadn't understood herself at all.

This was normal.

Not everyone possessed a Heavenly Secret Brain, nor could everyone remain clear-headed at all times.

To this day, there were still far too many people in the five great sacred secret realms who hadn't understood themselves.

But the choice had been made.

People must pay for their choices.

Thirty years in the Cold Prison was the best punishment.

Yet, thirty years of solitude in the Cold Prison was also enough for Yue Gongnu to clarify what truly constituted "right" and "wrong"; she was not foolish.

—It was too late!

The matter was already decided; she, on her own, was powerless to reverse it.

But what if, at this moment, someone unlocked the shackles of her sealed door, letting in a ray of light through the crack?

Would she seize it?

The truth was, she not only seized it, but held on very, very tightly, unwilling and unafraid to miss it again!

Reality was a dream.

Too many people were consciously sinking.

Lacking in themselves, they could only wait for that one opportunity.

Dao Qiongcang had always been the creator of that "opportunity"; he understood that Yue Gonghui was merely a fuse, and that only Yue Gongnu herself – awake but no longer willing to sink further – could sever ties with her past self!

Only if she was willing could this plan achieve greater perfection.

Otherwise, only the step of tricking Dao Xuanji would count as successful.

If she refused to awaken, even if he brought Ba Zun'an to the Cold Prison himself, the most he would likely receive in response was a tearful shake of the head.

Of course, no matter how things changed, Dao Qiongcang would always ensure his own detachment.

He wouldn't lose anything; it would only be a matter of getting slightly less or slightly more.

Fortunately!

Everything was still within the plan!

This plan could continue, moving towards an even more perfect outcome!

"Go and see the outside world. Thirty years have passed; things are vastly different," Dao Qiongcang said with a smile, also shedding his disguise and returning to his attire as the Dao Palace Master.

With that single address of "Dao Cult Master," he basically understood that Yue Gongnu's ambition hadn't waned; while imprisoned in the Cold Prison, she hadn't been oblivious to external affairs but had been intimately aware of the situation in the Five Domains.

However, Dao Qiongcang dared not accept such an easy favor; it was a bit too much, and not everyone in the Cold Palace Imperial Realm was foolish.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay; let's leave first."

"I also have someone I want to introduce you to, a talented young man."

Yue Gongnu nodded: "Xu Xiaoshou?"

Dao Qiongcang shook his head: "It's Grandmaster Shou."

"Grandmaster Shou..."

"Whether he's Grandmaster Shou or not, it no longer matters. If you leave the Cold Palace Imperial Realm like this, the matter will be exposed prematurely," Dao Qiongcang said, pulling out an iron collar, hesitating before daring to hand it over.

How awkward!

As Dao Xuanji, she naturally couldn't allow Yue Gongnu, who wielded ancestral power, to leave with her full abilities.

—His sister was too weak; her frontal combat power simply couldn't compare to Yue Gongnu's, even with an additional thirty years of cultivation!

Dao Qiongcang, of course, had also found an excuse, intending to use a Martial Restriction Order to seal Yue Gongnu's considerable abilities before taking her out.

The problem was that he had been too boastful earlier.

He had once said in front of Yue Gongnu that this iron collar was a dog collar, and wearing it would instantly elevate one's status to that of Kui Leihan.

One sentence, offended two people.

If Yue Gongnu whispered a word in someone's ear after they left, that would be offending three people!

Thinking about how Yue Gonghui had tragically died by the Rageful Immortal Buddha Sword... Dao Qiongcang didn't dare to hand over the dog collar he held; he wanted to take it out but dared not, wanted to hide it but dared not.

Yue Gongnu didn't even glance at the dog collar and dog tag.

With a flick of her Saint Ancestor power, she extracted the sword intent from the Rageful Immortal Buddha Sword; with a hand seal, that sword intent condensed into a single formula.

It was very similar to Xu Xiaoshou's "Concealment Formula," but it wasn't.

"The Sealing Formula."

She imprinted the formula upon herself.

Yue Gongnu's aura completely calmed, no longer leaking the slightest bit; she turned her gaze, just about to speak when...

Dao Qiongcang suddenly made his move.

He plucked the Martial Restriction Order from the iron collar and slammed it onto Yue Gongnu's glabella, fusing it into her divine soul.

"My apologies."

Her entire body's power was sealed once more.

Deep beneath the sea, Yue Gongnu's body flew backward, almost choking on the seawater and losing consciousness.

She opened her mouth and spat out a mist of blood, offering no final resistance, and indeed, she was powerless to do so.

The curtain should now fall on this drama.

Whether it was Yue Gonghui, Dai'er, or Dao Qiongcang... everything that happened here would be traced back by the power of rules when the truth came to light.

The Cold Palace Imperial Realm was not a place one could just come and go as they pleased; someone had to pay for what had just happened.

Who would it be?

The moment she exited the Cold Prison, without needing to ask, Yue Gongnu knew the answer and Dao Qiongcang's entire plan.

And she could be certain that Dao Qiongcang was Dao Qiongcang, not Dao Xuanji!

If one were to ask why...

The moment her power returned, she realized.

The Rageful Immortal Buddha Sword was fake, and the sword intent was also fake.

Even with Heavenly Secret Arts, creating a fake that was almost indistinguishable from the real thing, without it being activated, the simulated aura and power could reach nearly ninety percent similarity.

Fake was fake.

All of this would later be traced back by the Cold Palace Imperial Realm's power of rules and detected by the clever A-Li.

But the sword intent's aura was real!

This, the clever A-Li, could not detect no matter what.

Because that sense of familiarity upon it, only she in all the world could truly feel.

The sword intent's aura could be traced back, making it hard to discern its authenticity.

A-Li couldn't see it, but this helped her confirm Dao Qiongcang's identity – because Dao Xuanji wouldn't dare to approach Ba Zun'an even if it killed her, while Dao Qiongcang and Little Eight had a somewhat decent relationship.

It was precisely because of this that Yue Gongnu could accept having her power sealed by the Martial Restriction Order and being "abducted" from the Cold Palace Imperial Realm.

She wanted to reciprocate.

She also wanted to return the favor by implying that Dao Xuanji's shadow was present in the Heavenly Secret Divine Sect, helping Dao Qiongcang.

Dao Qiongcang didn't accept it, apparently thinking the act was too much.

He was indeed not foolish.

"What a pity..."

"Then so be it."

Yue Gongnu closed her eyes, immersed in the deep sea, and vaguely lost consciousness.

She would drift with the current, heading towards the future.

She knew that ending one dream by entering another, only upon awakening, would reality begin.

As for her only remaining concern, A-Li...

When the power of rule-based retrospection presented all the scenes that had occurred here before his eyes, the "gift" she offered Dao Qiongcang, the "flaw" Dao Qiongcang dared not accept, would ultimately land in A-Li's hands for him to see.

The clever A-Li, even without her prompting, would eventually figure out that Dao Qiongcang was indeed Dao Qiongcang, not Dao Xuanji.

Perhaps from the very beginning, he could understand everything.

But he would also know that someone had to pay for all of this.

And given his nature, it was highly unlikely he would proactively move against Dao Qiongcang...

So, who would it be?

As for A-Li's only concern... it no longer mattered; he would also realize it from her choice.

She had already ceded everything in the Cold Palace Imperial Realm to him, in exchange for nothing more than her freedom.

Fulfillment was a choice that both sides, all three parties, would make.

The only incomplete piece remaining was the instigator of all this, the one who should be traced back thirty years ago...

"Dao Xuanji, I'm back. How have you been?"

Dao Qiongcang showed not the slightest flaw, effortlessly sealing Yue Gongnu and accomplishing what Dao Xuanji had wanted to achieve.

After abducting the person, fleeing the Cold Sea, and successfully escaping the Cold Palace Imperial Realm, the clever Dao Qiongcang, however, frowned, having thought of something.

"You! Go stay in the Cold Prison!"

He threw out a Heavenly Secret Puppet.

But when the puppet transformed into Yue Gongnu's likeness, the internal operation of the Heavenly Secret Art was activated in the manner of a Xuanji Star Master.

This was a very minor detail.

Those unfamiliar with Heavenly Secret Arts wouldn't notice; one would have to take time to consult an expert.

Unintelligent people wouldn't be able to investigate these details; only those who put in great effort could find these "answers."

Of course, this was outside the Cold Palace Imperial Realm.

Theoretically, no one could trace back this scene, unless Yue Gongli later expanded his search scope and frantically sought his sister's whereabouts.

"You! Go stay in the Tingyu Pavilion, but in the future, don't go there unless necessary. Stay away from Young Master Li; he's not foolish." Dao Qiongcang threw out another Heavenly Secret Puppet, which transformed into Dai'er.

After a pause, he suppressed his distaste and, with a sigh, threw out a third Heavenly Secret Puppet: "From now on, you will be called Yue Gonghui."

Dao Qiongcang continued to make many arrangements.

He returned to the Sacred Divine Continent, to the empty main headquarters of the Heavenly Secret Divine Sect in the Southern Domain, and issued several commands consecutively.

He then secretly slipped back into the Qianshi Imperial Realm.

He expertly slipped into his sister's home, which she dared not return to.

Upon reaching the bathtub, he finally shed all disguises, transforming into his sister's graceful figure.

At this point, she dared to flick her wrist, as if suppressing a long-held subconscious movement, finally able to wave a duster a few times.

He didn't wave it either.

It essentially ended here.

If Yue Gongli dared to look further, he wouldn't continue watching the following scene:

She shed her clothes, stepped naked into the freshly drawn hot bath, and slowly immersed herself.

After soaking in the hot water for a long time, she finally surfaced, revealing a lazy, contented face.

It was then that Dao Qiongcang's signature half-smile appeared on her face, and she murmured, "Self-destruction is useless too, A-Li."

A true warrior would immediately, on the first viewing, hear Dao Qiongcang's hint – when reviewing the scenes traced back by the power of rules in the Qianshi Imperial Realm.

It remained to be seen if Yue Gongli was truly a warrior who dared to see everything.

Of course, it wasn't certain that he would even find his way to the Qianshi Imperial Realm.

"Bloop, bloop, bloop..."

Dao Qiongcang, in the form of Dao Xuanji, submerged his head beneath the dark water and began playing by blowing bubbles, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Because his task was complete.

Next, it was up to Xu Xiaoshou.