Chapter 539: Flower Blooming at the Institute Head

"What is Plan B?" Chen Mobai asked.

Lan Haitian smiled but said nothing. Instead, he walked to the side of the airship and opened the panel covering the window.

Immediately, a spiritual light, as blue as the clear sky, entered Chen Mobai's eyes.

The blue light, like surging waves and a vast ocean, transformed into a massive spectral shark. It opened its cavernous mouth, resembling a dark void ripping open in the sky, and descended abruptly.

To Chen Mobai's shocked and disbelieving gaze, the iconic jadeite parasol tree of Danxia City, which stood tall between heaven and earth, exhaling mist and clouds, was swallowed whole from top to bottom by the colossal shark phantom.

"Once Venerable Narcissus's Northern Darkness Domain is activated, it can sever the flow of spiritual energy both inside and out. Our Daoist Academy's Spirit Venerable used this very technique to combat Patriarch Changchun of Jumang Daoist Academy in the past," Lan Haitian explained. As he spoke, he motioned to Lin Yin to stop the airship and turn it towards the nearby Crimson Cloud Academy.

Chen Mobai walked to the airship's window, gazing at the shark's gaping maw that occupied half the sky, and murmured to himself: "The Deputy Head of the Orthodox Hall, the Minister of the Enforcement Department, the Sea Goddess... I never expected her to be the one taking action!"

Among the Immortal Sect's fourteen Nascent Souls, three are not human in form, and the most prominent among them is Venerable Narcissus. She is a disciple of the Immortal Sect's Spirit Venerable who commands the four oceans. After transforming, she entered Kunpeng Daoist Academy to cultivate and swiftly achieved Nascent Soul formation by comprehending the Six Imperial Sutras. She is also the only Nascent Soul-level Deputy Head among the Immortal Sect's Three Great Halls. While Gongye Zhixu and Ye Yun’e were diligently accumulating seniority and awaiting Nascent Soul-forming spiritual medicine, Narcissus had already become the first successor to the Three Great Hall Masters. Should any of the Three Great Hall Masters step down, she would be able to fill the vacancy. "Sea Goddess" was the title given to Narcissus by other students when she first enrolled in Kunpeng Daoist Academy. In the resource-scarce environment of the Immortal Sect, as a disciple of the Spirit Venerable, she could be considered the wealthiest among the fourteen Nascent Souls. This is because the Spirit Venerable bestowed a section of the Local Star's ocean to her clan as a fiefdom. It is said that countless spiritual pearls and shells exist there, with plump spiritual pearls possessing spiritual energy so abundant that it is even comparable to high-grade spirit stones.

"With the Northern Darkness Domain isolating the jadeite parasol tree, we simply need to apprehend Shi Qing," Lan Haitian stated. As he spoke, a dark green sword light ascended from the summit of the tallest peak in the Danxia Mountain Range, now free from the jadeite parasol tree's influence.

It was Gongsun Jielu! Chen Mobai had experienced her power in suppressing Yu Tianguang and recognized her immediately. The sword light, like a dragon, extended gracefully in mid-air, swiftly encircling a slender figure in a long purple dress.

Chen Mobai pushed his Void Spirit Eyes to their limit, finally seeing Shi Qing, the uncrowned king who had governed Danxia City for over a century. She was an ordinary-looking woman, but her eyes gleamed with an eerie five-colored light. Her expression was stern, and her alabaster-like right hand held a crimson stone flower. With a wave of the stone flower, a ring of fiery torches bloomed, like a shockwave, sweeping away the dark green sword light that Gongsun Jielu had unleashed from all directions after circling.

"Shi Qing reached the ninth level of Golden Core decades ago. With the jadeite parasol tree and the fire ley lines of Danxia City, she's long been in perfect sync. Although Deputy Minister Gongsun's cultivation is extraordinary, ranking among the Immortal Sect's four great sword masters, it's hard to say who would win against Shi Qing, who holds a geographical advantage," Yu Tianguang said, approaching with a worried expression.

"It's precisely because of this concern that Venerable Narcissus decided to act personally this time," Lan Haitian replied, showing no concern. Just then, a wisp of blue light illuminated the crown of the massive shark's head, which had swallowed the jadeite parasol tree in the sky. A maiden with white hair and white eyebrows, skin as fair as jade, floated out.

She extended a finger towards Shi Qing, and a jet of water, like a laser, instantly pierced Shi Qing's spiritual energy shield and vanished into her Dantian Qi Sea.

Is this the power of an Immortal Sect Nascent Soul!? Chen Mobai watched Venerable Narcissus suppress the jadeite parasol tree, then, with another move, suppress the ninth-level Golden Core Shi Qing. He couldn't help but marvel. Zhou Shengqing, who had used the Reverse Longevity Art, was not nearly this formidable.

"Is it... over?" Yu Tianguang's eyes widened at the sight. He couldn't believe that Venerable Narcissus could simultaneously suppress the jadeite parasol tree and project a clone to subdue Shi Qing.

"Of course. The gap between Golden Core and Nascent Soul is precisely this immense," Lan Haitian said, a rare look of pride appearing on his face. Venerable Narcissus was a graduate of their Kunpeng Daoist Academy. The ease with which this battle was won showcased their academy's status as the Immortal Sect's foremost power. Although during the era of Chen Mobai and Zhongli Tianyu, the Weapon Daoist Academy unexpectedly snatched the top spot, Kunpeng still reigns as the Immortal Sect's premier academy.

"Now that Shi Qing has been apprehended, can you release me? If you wanted to use me to draw her out, wouldn't a heads-up have sufficed? Would I really have disagreed?" Yu Tianguang spoke with a hint of complaint, raising his still handcuffed hands, his tone full of displeasure.

"My apologies, True Monarch Yu. After all, you have indeed cultivated the Soul Devouring Art, even if unconsciously. You still need to be treated as a suspect," Lan Haitian said, shaking the bracelet attached to Yu Tianguang's wrist apologetically. Even now, he had not undone the restrictions on Yu Tianguang.

"It's already been proven I was framed, yet you're still treating me like this. Isn't that a bit inappropriate!?" As Yu Tianguang spoke, his voice subtly carried an emotional edge. Primarily, the rapid succession of immense shock, sorrow, and joy throughout the night had pushed the seasoned Golden Core True Monarch to his psychological limits. Seeing that Lan Haitian still refused to release him, Yu Tianguang's eyes flashed with anger as he looked at Chen Mobai.

"True Monarch Yu, if you are indeed innocent, the Daoist Academy will naturally clear your name once we reach Wangwu Grotto-heaven," Chen Mobai spoke preemptively, cutting off Yu Tianguang's words. However, at this moment, he felt something strange. Yu Tianguang's emotions were somewhat inexplicably agitated.

But just then, the previously furious Yu Tianguang suddenly calmed down. He lowered his head, smiled eerily, and uttered words that caused both Lan Haitian and Chen Mobai's pupils to constrict. "The Immortal Sect's little imp is unexpectedly cautious!"

A crackling sound! A rushing sound!

Chen Mobai and Lan Haitian simultaneously made their move. The Divine Wood Thunder and Yin-Yang Primordial Magnetic Force transformed into two torrents, one green and one gray, pressing towards Yu Tianguang's Purple Mansion Consciousness Sea and Dantian Qi Sea.

A silver torch materialized in front of Yu Tianguang, seemingly connected to a mysterious void. A blurred figure holding a seven-colored treasure tree emerged within the torch. He waved the treasure tree in his hand, deflecting Chen Mobai's and Lan Haitian's attacks and protecting Yu Tianguang. Had Chen Mobai and Lan Haitian not been able to freely control their lightning and primordial magnetic forces, the airship would likely have been reduced to scattered fragments in an instant.

"Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu!" Seeing such a distinctive entrance, Lan Haitian's expression turned grim after retracting his primordial magnetic force. He raised his hand, fully activating the power of the bracelet on his wrist. A dark brilliance erupted and spread towards Yu Tianguang at the far end. The Restraint Artifacts of the Heaven Mending Group always had contingency measures, allowing for extreme actions when the situation became unfavorable.

However, Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu had already reached through the void, extending his right hand and the seven-colored treasure tree, gently brushing them across Yu Tianguang's hands.

*Crack!* The pair of high-grade, third-tier handcuffs restraining Yu Tianguang shattered instantly into pieces, falling to the ground.

"I've been cultivating this divine seed for a long time; it's quite a shame to use it up like this." After breaking free from the restraints, Yu Tianguang slowly raised his head. However, his tone and expression had completely changed. A silver flame imprint blazed on his forehead, and an unprecedented malevolence emanated from his eyes. Yet, amidst the malevolence, there were still various emotions like struggle, anger, pain, and fear.

"Who are you... How is this possible... I'm an Immortal Sect disciple... I can't be your divine seed... Hurry... Kill me..." As he spoke the last words, Yu Tianguang had already gripped his own neck, intending to end his life, while simultaneously pleading with Chen Mobai and Lan Haitian to act.

Lan Haitian, without hesitation, directly retrieved an artifact from his domain. It was a silver-black stone, subtly dividing into Yin and Yang. It was precisely the Star Gathering Stone he had obtained at the Weapon Daoist Academy, which Lan Haitian had refined into his destined artifact after forming his Golden Core. He extended his right hand, and the Star Gathering Stone immediately burst forth with dark radiance, forcefully smashing towards Yu Tianguang, who was currently struggling with Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu for control of his body.

The hilt of the Purple Lightning Sword emerged from his domain. As Chen Mobai reached out, hesitating whether to draw his sword, he witnessed Lan Haitian catching the rebounding Star Gathering Stone with both hands and retreating explosively, smashing through the airship's rear cabin wall.

After sending Lan Haitian flying, a phantom suddenly flew out from the true body of Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu behind the torch. This phantom, holding the seven-colored treasure tree, stepped out of the torch and descended into the Immortal Sect's territory, then directly merged into Yu Tianguang's Purple Mansion Consciousness Sea.

"It's been about three hundred years since I last returned." After fully occupying Yu Tianguang's body, Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu raised his palm to extinguish the torch and took a somewhat intoxicated breath of the fresh air on the Local Star.

What greeted him was a dazzling blue pillar of lightning. Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu, who had just refined the divine seed, somewhat unexpectedly waved the seven-colored treasure tree in his hand. However, this magical artifact seemed to have awakened its own will. It vibrated, breaking free from his control, then burst through the airship's window, heading directly towards Shi Qing at the peak of Danxia Mountain nearby.

*Smack!* Chen Mobai's Divine Wood Thunder, unimpeded, directly struck Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu's face. Caught off guard, Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu was sent flying, exactly like Lan Haitian moments before.

*Boom!* The airship could no longer withstand the forces and completely disintegrated. Fortunately, everyone on board was a Foundation Establishment cultivator with some self-preservation ability. Chen Mobai also threw out the Six Yang Divine Fire Mirror, using it to shield them from the aftershocks and guide them safely to the ground.

A spiritual light flared and landed next to Chen Mobai.

"Thanks." Lan Haitian floated beside Chen Mobai, wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, and thanked the latter for protecting the Heaven Mending Group members on the airship.

"I was mainly saving Qing Nü," Chen Mobai stated, maintaining his persona, but Lan Haitian merely assumed he was proud and nodded, acknowledging the favor.

"Tsk, I can't believe I nurtured you for three hundred years!" At this moment, Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu, who had been sent flying by the Divine Wood Thunder, stopped himself. He grumbled slightly, then raised his slightly scorched face and looked towards Shi Qing in the distance. Having obtained the seven-colored treasure tree, Shi Qing was unleashing immense power, fiercely engaging Venerable Narcissus and Gongsun Jielu in battle.

Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu closed his eyes, assessed Yu Tianguang's spiritual energy, then opened them again. His body was now engulfed in raging spiritual flames, transforming into a crimson fireball that shot towards the highest peak of the Danxia Mountain Range nearby.

"Stop him! Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu is at his weakest right after catalyzing the divine seed to possess a body, because he can only use Yu Tianguang's inherent power," Lan Haitian urged. As he spoke, the Star Gathering Stone in his hand was already cradled in his palm. Amidst flashes of dark primordial magnetic force, sharp, cold-gleaming iron needles, as thick as fingers, half an arm long, and pointed at both ends, abruptly emerged from various points in the void, obstructing Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu's path.

The golden-red flames of the Sky Incineration Art, operating at their peak under Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu's realm that surpassed the Golden Core stage, unleashed power equivalent to a Golden Core peak. They effortlessly melted Lan Haitian's iron needles into molten iron. And Chen Mobai's Divine Wood Thunder was also forcefully blocked by the Sky Incineration Spiritual Light Shield.

Laughing heartily, Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu passed through the mountain of needles and sea of thunder, easily landing in the battlefield at the highest peak of the Danxia Mountain Range. White-haired, white-browed Narcissus saw Yu Tianguang and roughly understood what was happening. She then frowned slightly, tilted her head to examine the seven-colored treasure tree in Shi Qing's hand, and a look of realization dawned on her face.

"It's you. Three hundred years ago, the Kaiyuan Hall Master shattered your Dao Body and scattered your divine soul. I thought you were dead." At this moment, Chen Mobai and Lan Haitian also landed there, just in time to hear this statement.

Who was Venerable Narcissus referring to? Chen Mobai glanced at Lan Haitian beside him, who quietly transmitted four words: "Flower Blossom Palace Master!"

Chen Mobai had heard of this title; she was one of the three Vice-Cult Masters of the Ascension Sect, renowned alongside Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu and the Lord of Life and Death Hall. Shi Qing is her incarnation after spiritual disembodiment!?

"Can Venerable Narcissus fight two at once?" Chen Mobai asked Lan Haitian with a hint of trepidation. The latter shook his head, indicating no, yet his face was full of confidence and certainty.

"Patriarch Qianxing's destined artifact is connected in parallel with the Celestial Curtain. Once Divine Sovereign Xuanzhu infiltrated the Local Star, the Celestial Curtain would sense it," Lan Haitian explained. "The Celestial Curtain sensing it means Patriarch Qianxing also knows."