Chapter 236: Is It Calamity or Fate

Rumble!

Everything around the temple was kicked aside, and the familiar, massive silhouette reappeared.

"Taotie!" the Empress and Dragon Python exclaimed in unison.

The enormous black-green outline emerged, holding Ghost Shadow Asura's physical body in its palm as if it were a toy.

The gray-white restraining aura it had just exhaled was its unique domain power, belonging solely to this Primeval Ancestral Beast!

Within its own domain, any lower-level or wounded and unprepared target would unconditionally submit to its rules, completely at its mercy. This was essentially no different from the self-created Daos of human top cultivators like Xu Yang.

The difference was that domain power was usually an innate ability of these Primeval species, requiring no cultivation. As their own strength increased, the control limits of their domain power would also improve.

If they truly evolved into divine beasts like dragons or phoenixes, these Primeval species could acquire god-level domain power, which would be beyond the resistance of Tribulation Transcending cultivators...

"You, finally showing yourself?"

"Heh heh, not too early, not too late, just right! Xu Yang, I knew that anyone who could inherit the Dao Heart Whisk would not disappoint me. In your human words, my scheme is called 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.'"

Xu Yang's lips curled slightly. "Too bad I'm not dead yet. I'm afraid this outcome will disappoint you."

"Oh? Do you really think you can reclaim this useless thing from my hands? He's merely a vessel. In my domain, he's nothing more than a tool to cool my Dragon Origin. As for you, if you recover to your peak state, I'm truly not confident I can defeat you. But I'm not worried, because you and that woman's disciples are all in my hands."

"Therefore, that's why you won't get the Dragon Origin!"

"Hmm?"

Taotie's heart suddenly froze! Without any warning, the Dao Heart Whisk suddenly flew out from the ruined walls of the temple, pierced through Taotie's palm, and returned before the physical body now controlled by Mu Qingtian.

Taotie's domain had locked onto Ghost Shadow Asura's soul essence, but after suffering a severe blow, Mu Qingtian had regained control of his physical body.

Furthermore, the Dao Heart Whisk combined with Mu Qingtian's powerful Daoist cultivation technique, purifying Taotie's domain in an extremely short time.

Originally, Mu Qingtian did not possess such ability, but the Dao Heart Whisk, coupled with the true dragon power activated from the residual Dragon Origin within his body, allowed Mu Qingtian to achieve Tribulation Transcending cultivation the moment his soul reawakened. A perfect Dao-breaking strike helped him break free from Taotie's封锁.

"You're courting death!"

Taotie immediately spewed out a furious flame, chasing after Mu Qingtian.

With a thought, Xu Yang caused the left half of the Desolate Heaven Wuji divine artifact to fly out, blocking Mu Qingtian's back, allowing him to safely return to Xu Yang's side.

"We agreed to a fair trade. How can you have other ulterior motives? Taotie, you are a Primeval Spirit Seed and have lived on this continent for countless millennia. I have no intention of fighting you to the death. I can even share a part of this Dragon Origin with you, but not a single hair of the Empress's and my disciples can be harmed."

Xu Yang's meaning was clear: if he didn't see his people, Taotie wouldn't get anything.

With one scheme foiled, Taotie knew it had no other choice. Mu Qingtian was clearly on Xu Yang's side; after all, if he wanted to separate from his physical body, he would inevitably be constrained by Xu Yang. Taotie was at a disadvantage and could only temporarily ease the situation.

"Hmph, then this venerable one will grant you this favor."

With a wave of its large hand, the gray-white domain power reappeared. Bai Lianxue, Ling Yao, and others, including the Empress's five inner disciples from the Cold Moon Empire, were all perfectly fine, sitting cross-legged within Taotie's domain.

"Master!"

"Ahahaha, Boss, you finally came..."

Long Kun grinned and shouted, seemingly having suffered no hardships. The little girl, Xiao Tuantuan, was lying in Bai Lianxue's arms, blowing snot bubbles and sleeping soundly, looking utterly carefree and without worries, which left Xu Yang speechless.

"Master!"

"Your Majesty..."

The five disciples from the Cold Moon Empire were much more flustered, desperately wanting to rush towards the Empress but unable to. However, when they saw Xu Yang, a primal stir surged within their hearts.

"Don't panic, we'll rescue you!"

The Empress finally spoke, and the domain power around her also became turbid again at that moment.

"Hmph, little girl, are you the Empress of the Cold Moon Empire? I once had some acquaintance with your great-ancestor. During the battle of the mighty ones at the Snow Moon Heavenly Pass, I was rescued by your ancestor. I originally didn't want to bring you bad luck, but you insisted on meddling in this boy's affairs, so don't blame me!

Now I give you a chance: stab this boy named Xu with a sword, and then, while Mu Qingtian is weak, seize the Dragon Origin for me. I guarantee, in the name of Taotie, that I will immediately release you and your clansmen, bestow upon you three top-tier divine artifacts, and protect your Cold Moon Empire's eternal dominion for one hundred thousand years! Are you willing to accept these terms?"

The Empress's mind instinctively wavered for a moment.

As a child, the Empress's lifelong wish was to elevate the status of the Cold Moon Empire. Before meeting Xu Yang, she even felt that her life was to be lived for the empire; as long as it could make the empire stronger, any sacrifice was worthwhile. This was a thought any qualified emperor would have.

But this journey, through day and night of fighting alongside Xu Yang, had profoundly changed the Empress's perspective. Even she herself was unsure what Xu Yang truly meant to her now.

Yet her instincts told her that even if it meant sacrificing everything, she absolutely could not do anything to betray Xu Yang.

"Senior Taotie, I call you senior out of respect for our ancestors. I can choose not to be your enemy, but if you ask me to harm Xu Yang, I, Xue Qinghan, would rather die than comply!"

When these words blurted out, Xu Yang's eyes instinctively flashed with surprise, an expression he hadn't shown in many years. Even when Bai Lianxue was resurrected, he had never felt such a unique stir!

"Hahahaha... Good, good indeed, 'rather die than comply'! I didn't realize that the pure and spotless Empress of the Cold Moon Empire is also a woman deeply in love! Don't hide it anymore; you've fallen for this boy. Unfortunately, Xu Yang has no other hobbies, it seems, other than having countless women around him. It appears you two are destined to have no outcome!"

Taotie and the Empress's conversation was not only clearly heard by Xu Yang, but Bai Lianxue, Ling Qingshu, and others within the domain heard it even more distinctly. They were all women; for the Empress to say such words, Xu Yang's position in her heart was already undeniably clear.

A woman in love will eventually soften, whether a high-and-mighty iron-blooded emperor or an immortal who has fallen to the mortal world. Ultimately, they cannot escape this rule.

Only, for the Empress, was Xu Yang a destiny, or a tribulation...