Chapter 1854: Landing Phoenix

Qiu Honglei and Yun Jianyue paused, then realized that exiting now would likely place them on Mount Zi. With the emperor's recent incident, the entire court was probably in disarray, and the area around Mount Zi would undoubtedly be heavily guarded. If they, as members of a demonic sect, were to reveal themselves, they would certainly face a united assault.

"Sister Xie, you are truly meticulous. Thank you!" Qiu Honglei gratefully took her hand.

With Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman now allied and everyone else gravitating towards the Chu clan, the connection she had painstakingly built with Jing Teng was no longer beneficial. She had no choice but to try and win over any potential allies.

Xie Daoyun, however, grew a little shy. She had simply wanted to foster good relationships with everyone to prevent future complications, but she hadn't anticipated such an unexpectedly warm reception.

Soon, Qiu Honglei and Yun Jianyue altered their appearances. As members of a demonic sect accustomed to roaming the martial world, they were master illusionists. Hadn't they once fooled the Taoist disciples by impersonating Peng Wuyan?

The group then joined hands and stepped through the luminous portal.

A familiar sensation of space enveloped them, and they felt as if the air around them had become as viscous as water.

After traveling a short distance, they suddenly felt lighter, and a vast expanse of light appeared before them.

Upon seeing the familiar mountain ranges and the faint, swirling purple mist, a wave of joy washed over them. They were finally back.

While the elemental energy was more plentiful in the secret realm, it was not, after all, their true home.

They found themselves on the Golden Summit of Mount Zi. Sadly, a previous great battle had erased the magnificent structures that once stood there.

Yan Xuehen surveyed their surroundings and remarked, "The elemental energy in that previous world is indeed much denser. Even a random spot there had more energy than the Golden Summit."

It was well-known that the Golden Summit of the Righteous Yang Sect possessed more elemental energy than any other place in the world, and ordinarily, only a select few, such as Sect Master Wang Wuxie, were permitted to cultivate there.

Yet, in that previous world, such a high concentration of elemental energy was commonplace.

Thinking of Wang Wuxie, she let out a soft sigh. While she held no deep affection for him, after so many years of acquaintance, his unfortunate end still brought a pang of regret.

"If I had known, I would have cultivated there longer. Perhaps I could have achieved a breakthrough," Yun Jianyue mused, a hint of regret in her voice.

Yan Xuehen gave her a sidelong glance. "Weren't you afraid of being trapped there indefinitely?"

"Wouldn't you be happier if I didn't return?"

As the two women exchanged barbs, new sounds emerged from their surroundings, drawing everyone's gaze.

Several more luminous portals opened, and one by one, people emerged. Recognizing Mount Zi, most couldn't help but cheer, clearly still shaken by the dangers of the world they had just left.

The first to appear were Wu Xiaofan and Zhang Xi from the Righteous Yang Sect. They were chatting and laughing, relieved to have successfully exited the secret realm.

However, their faces froze when they saw the surrounding desolation. Was this truly the Golden Summit?

Where was the Heaven Worshiping Platform? And the iconic Pure Yang Palace?

They frantically scanned their surroundings, clearly having entered the secret realm before the Battle of Mount Zi, completely unaware of the devastation that had occurred.

Next came Wan Guiyi from the Azure Cloud Palace, hands in his pockets, sporting a cool demeanor. But once he registered his surroundings, he too froze in place.

Lou Wucheng from White Jade City appeared next, equally stunned by the sight. He quickly spotted Zu An and his group and rushed over. "Aunt Yan, Junior Sister Chu, what happened here? Why is the Golden Summit like this? Where is my master?"

Zu An wondered if telling Lou Wucheng that his master's soul had been consumed by the Black Jing Teng would cause him to break down.

Yan Xuehen sighed. "It's a long story…"

Lou Wucheng waited for further explanation, but when none came, he was left utterly bewildered.

He turned to Chu Chuyan instead. "Junior Sister Chu?"

No matter when he saw her, Junior Sister Chu always appeared like a celestial fairy, her beauty utterly ethereal and refined.

It was a pity she had married previously, and now she was in an ambiguous relationship with that Zu An.

He wondered if that boy's ancestors had truly accumulated extraordinary luck!

His gaze then drifted to the other women present, who were all exceptionally charming and beautiful, not even paling in comparison to Junior Sister Chu.

No, it wasn't just smoking; it was practically ablaze!

Chu Chuyan frowned slightly. "This is a complex matter. Let's discuss it once everyone has returned."

At that moment, Liang Ling from Mount Kunlun, Luo Dongjiang from Mount Luofu, Shi Dingtian from Taixuan Grotto, and Qiuchanzi from Qingxu Manor emerged sequentially from their respective portals.

They were about to exchange pleasantries, but their expressions immediately changed to shock upon seeing their surroundings.

What in the world had happened to the Golden Summit? How could it have been so utterly devastated?

Zu An observed carefully and noted that, aside from these individuals, no one else had returned from the secret realm. Many who had previously considered this a grand opportunity, particularly those who had placed second in their groups, had perished within.

This was understandable; that world was exceptionally strange, and its cultivators were formidable. Even figures like Li Changsheng and Xuan Bajing had fallen unexpectedly, let alone these younger disciples.

However, why hadn't Zhao Xiaodie and Zhiyin appeared? Could it be that after he left, they had suffered severe injuries and encountered other dangers?

Just then, a flash of light burst forth, followed by a sharp cry: "Luo Dongjiang, you contemptible coward who fled in battle!"

As she spoke, a whip snapped directly towards Luo Dongjiang.

It turned out that Zhao Xiaodie and Zhiyin had just emerged from the secret realm.

Luo Dongjiang's expression shifted upon seeing them. While evading her attack, he called out, "Princess, there's a misunderstanding!"

"What misunderstanding could there be? You saw how powerful the Blood Spirit Venerable was, lost your nerve, and abandoned my senior brother and me to save yourself!" Zhao Xiaodie's voice was laced with hatred as she furiously lashed her whip at him.

The chief disciples of the other sects nearby had initially intended to intervene, but they stopped short upon hearing her accusation, their gazes turning strangely towards Luo Dongjiang.

To be a chief disciple of a major sect required exceptional cultivation and character, making them outstanding among their peers. As proud scions, they naturally held no respect for anyone who would betray their comrades.

Luo Dongjiang quickly retorted, "Miss Zhao, what are you talking about? I clearly went to fetch reinforcements! Then, a teleportation portal suddenly appeared, and I accidentally stepped through. If your situation was truly so critical, how could you have possibly escaped?"

The disciples from the major sects nodded discreetly; there was some logic to his words.

Zhao Xiaodie grew agitated. "Of course, someone saved us!"

"And who was so conveniently there to save you?" Luo Dongjiang sneered.

"It was..." Zhao Xiaodie instinctively glanced towards Zu An, but ultimately refrained from saying more. "I don't know, it was a mysterious person. There were many unfamiliar individuals in that secret realm."

Luo Dongjiang scoffed. "An unknown passerby would save you, yet I, from the same Taoist sect, part of the same brotherhood, would abandon you? I truly went to seek reinforcements, even intending to sacrifice myself to distract the Blood Spirit Venerable."

Zhao Xiaodie was seething with rage when, just then, a flash of white light announced Guan Chouhai's appearance on the Golden Summit.

Zu An mused that Guan Chouhai was truly an unkillable cockroach. He hadn't been killed by Zhao Hao on the Golden Summit, and even after being sucked into the secret realm, he had survived. Meanwhile, Li Changsheng and Xuan Bajing, who were with him, were utterly gone.

Seeing her master, Zhao Xiaodie finally found her pillar of support. Having endured constant fear in the secret realm, nearly suffering humiliation, and almost losing her life, she had never experienced such indignity. "Master, you must bring justice for your disciple, Luo—"

She was about to speak, but Guan Chouhai raised a hand to stop her. He frantically scanned their surroundings, his expression grave. "Quickly, leave!"

At that moment, a sinister voice resonated: "No one is permitted to leave!"

A large contingent of soldiers swarmed up the mountain steps, quickly encircling them. Their armor gleamed, and those present could feel a chilling aura radiating from each one.

The one leading them was none other than General of the Huben Army, Prince Guangling Zhao Yuan.

His Huben Army was widely considered the most elite among all imperial palace forces, traditionally answering only to the Emperor.

Leading his soldiers, he approached Guan Chouhai. "Sect Master Guan, you cannot depart yet!"

Guan Chouhai's expression darkened. "The world is vast. I go where I please and leave when I choose. Do you truly believe you can detain me?"

With Zhao Hao absent, he was confident that his cultivation was sufficient to assert his authority here.

"Sect Master Guan, are you perhaps contemplating rebellion?" A cold snort echoed as an elderly man in a python robe slowly approached.

"Prince Yan!" Guan Chouhai's face fell. The man was an established Grandmaster, and with so many elite Huben soldiers, Guan Chouhai knew he stood no chance.

"Ninth Grandfather, you've arrived at the perfect moment! Please help me apprehend that contemptible scoundrel, Luo Dongjiang!" Zhao Xiaodie exclaimed delightedly, rushing over and pointing towards Luo Dongjiang in the distance.

Prince Yan was the ninth uncle to both the Emperor and Prince Qi, making him a figure of her grandfather's generation.

Luo Dongjiang's expression changed drastically. While he didn't fear Zhao Xiaodie based on cultivation or sect status, her other identity was formidable: her father was the renowned Prince Qi, one of the top three most powerful figures in the realm.

Prince Yan grunted and then waved his hand. "Arrest her."

Zhao Xiaodie had been smiling, eager to see how that boy would die for daring to betray her, the Princess…

Suddenly, her expression froze as the soldiers, instead of moving towards Luo Dongjiang, advanced on her and bound her with chains.

"Ninth Grandfather, what is happening? Is there some mistake?" Zhao Xiaodie cried out, a mix of shock and anger in her voice.

"There's no mistake. You are the one being arrested. Your father is suspected of treason and attempting to assassinate the Emperor. You are now required to return and assist with the investigation," Prince Yan stated coldly.

"What?" Zhao Xiaodie's mind went blank with a shock, utterly unable to comprehend his words for a moment.

At his declaration, a clamor erupted across the Golden Summit. Everyone had already been wondering why the summit appeared to have undergone a major battle. If it involved Prince Qi and the Emperor, then it all made sense.