When Fan Yue landed at the Carefree Pavilion, Hua Hong was in the middle of kicking that annoying fox out the front gate. She turned around and found Fan Yue standing under the tree.
The Lord of Haoyue Palace looked composed, and there was no telling whether his mood was dark or clear. Hua Hong looked him over from every side, saw no sign of that wretched half-immortal, and sidled up to him.
"My lord, did you leave her behind in Unfettered City?"
Fan Yue glanced down at her. The blacksmith gave an awkward smile and quickly raised her hands, muttering, "I wasn't spying on you. With the commotion at Unfettered Tower, it would've been hard not to hear about it."
Fan Yue was the master of Unfettered City, but Hua Hong managed it quietly in his stead. He had barely shown himself at Unfettered Tower before the news reached her.
Fan Yue had no wish to say more and turned into the pavilion. Hua Hong refused to let it go. She hovered around him, front and back, fishing for gossip. "That place devours people without spitting out the bones. With her little bit of power, even the illusion butterflies in the city could swallow her whole. And you just left her there alone?"
After all, they had run wild together in South Sea City, getting up to all kinds of mischief, and Hua Hong did care about that little rogue of a half-immortal.
"I know Bai Shuo is shameless. She's greedy and stingy, and she clings to life because she's afraid to die. But Haoyue Palace is a giant among the demon realm, and with your divine power shaking the eight directions, there's no need for you to quarrel with a half-immortal. If word got out..."
"She is at Purple Moon Lake." Fan Yue stopped walking. He had finally had enough of Hua Hong's pointless chatter, and he cut her off coldly.
"Ohhh~" Having got the answer she wanted, the blacksmith drew out the sound. "No wonder it's Unfettered City. A demon god's divine breath doesn't just heal wounds. It can lay a foundation and condense a core. I said so, didn't I? She woke a demigod, so she was bound to come out of it hurt."
Fan Yue's face stayed blank, but the fire of Hua Hong's curiosity only burned hotter. She leaned in and asked, "You're being so good to her. Did that half-immortal weep with gratitude and offer herself to..."
She never finished. A blood-red arrow flew across the sky, and a deafening boom followed. Several dazzling bursts of immortal power exploded above Phoenix Island's mountain gate, and the clash of immortal and demon force made the entire island's barrier shudder.
Countless immortal and demon lights leapt up from the island and surged toward the explosion.
Hua Hong's expression changed. She stared in shock at the arrow streaking through the air. "A Cloud Fire Arrow?! Fu Ling has lost her mind! She's attacking the immortals on Phoenix Island!"
Fan Yue looked toward the far end of the island. "People have come from the Heavenly Palace," he said evenly.
Hua Hong paused, then understood. "Could it be those four?"
When Fan Yue nodded, she shrugged and relaxed. As long as it wasn't a war between the two races, it had nothing to do with Haoyue Palace.
"Jin Yao is on Phoenix Island too. This time there's a real show to watch. My lord, let's go see the fun..."
The blacksmith turned around, and Fan Yue was already gone. The pavilion door shut behind her with a bang, clean and swift.
"No fun at all."
Hua Hong curled her lip, wasted not a second, and flew straight toward the fighting.
At the mountain gate of Phoenix Island, beneath the towering ancient trees, Fu Ling stood with a cold, hard face. She held the Cloud Fire Bow, blood at the corner of her mouth, and stared icily at the four people standing before the gate.
The four High Immortals, Yufeng, Jinglei, Yanhuo and Fengyu, watched her with troubled faces. They held their magic instruments in hand, unsure whether to strike.
As they hesitated, several immortal and demon lights flashed by. Jin Yao and the Phoenix clan elders arrived with the heads of both races and landed before the gate.
Seeing Jin Yao, Yufeng and the others saluted together. "Greetings, Immortal Sovereign."
But Jin Yao looked at Fu Ling and roared in a low, furious voice. "Rebellious child! Stop at once!"
When the sect heads saw the two sides facing off, they exchanged glances, and their hearts sank. The younger disciples knew nothing of this old grievance, but the veteran sect heads, who had been cultivating for over a thousand years, had all heard of it.
Fu Ling was Jin Yao's daughter, but her mother was Lady Zhao Hui of the Blood Mist Demon Flower clan. A thousand years ago, when immortals and demons fought without end, Zhao Hui died in the war between the two races. Jin Yao was then only a High Immortal of the Heavenly Palace. To claim Fu Ling as his own, he resigned his post in the Heavenly Palace before the Heavenly Emperor Muguang, then took his young daughter far away to live in seclusion.
In the thousand years since, the three realms had changed greatly, and the immortal race had gone long without anyone ascending to godhood. Before Heavenly Emperor Feng Ran entered the divine realm, he specially summoned Jin Yao back, who had by then become a demigod, to govern the Heavenly Palace. Jin Yao returned with his daughter. He had believed that after a thousand years, with the immortals and demons having laid down arms for so long, Fu Ling would have forgotten the old grievance. He never imagined that her resentment had not faded. To avenge her mother, she had willingly cut away her own immortal bones some years ago, becoming fully demon, and joined Cold Spring Palace.
For that reason, Immortal Sovereign Jin Yao and Palace Lord Zhen Yu of Cold Spring Palace had always been unable to stand each other, and their relations were terrible.
The Piaomiao Sect had arrived late. Songfeng was still in seclusion, nursing an old injury. When Chongzhao arrived with Er Yun and several junior brothers, he happened to hear Mu Jiu telling the story with relish to a crowd of demon disciples. He looked at Fu Ling standing alone below the mountain gate, and his expression was complicated.
He had known Fu Ling despised the immortals, but he had never imagined she carried such a feud.
"Stop?" Fu Ling looked coldly at Jin Yao, mockery in her eyes. "Immortal Sovereign Jin Yao, what does it have to do with you if this Lord avenges her mother?"
"You!" Pain flashed through Jin Yao's eyes. "The immortals and demons have been at peace for a thousand years. Your mother died in a war between our two races, and it was no one's fault. Why do you cling to this hatred and aid the wicked!" His face darkened, and a chain of divine power surged toward Fu Ling. "Come back to the Heavenly Palace with me!"
No immortal could resist divine might. The divine chain bound Fu Ling in an instant, and she could not move. She was furious. "Don't make me laugh. Who is going back to the Heavenly Palace with you? Jin Yao, I am a demon! If you stop me from killing them today, then from now on I will kill every immortal I meet!"
"You are hopelessly stubborn!" Jin Yao was enraged. His divine light came down again, but a demonic force suddenly arrived from within the island. It was immensely powerful, and it not only scattered the divine light but also cut the chain binding Fu Ling in half.
The demonic light flashed, and Zhen Yu, dressed in black, landed beside Fu Ling.
The demons of Cold Spring Palace appeared together and formed a guard in front of Fu Ling.
Zhen Yu looked at Jin Yao and spoke in a low voice. "Jin Yao, the immortals and demons have stopped fighting for a thousand years. What, do you mean for your immortal race to restart the war today?"
"Palace Lord Zhen Yu, do not slander us!" Sect Head Yunxiao said angrily. "It was your Cold Spring Palace's second palace lord who struck first at these High Immortals!"
"Exactly. Zhen Yu, keep your Cold Spring Palace's private feud from dragging in the whole demon race!" Mu Jiu chimed in loudly from the side, afraid the world would not descend into chaos.
Zhen Yu turned to Yufeng and the others and raised an eyebrow. "So several High Immortals of the Heavenly Palace have arrived." He glanced calmly at Fu Ling. "Fu Ling, today, must there be a fight?"
"A blood debt for my mother cannot be left unpaid." Fu Ling looked coldly at the four of them.
"All four of them are here. You have no chance of winning."
"There will be a fight anyway."
"Good! You are truly one of Cold Spring Palace!" Zhen Yu laughed aloud. "Today's quarrel is a private grievance between Fu Ling and the four High Immortals, not a war between the races. Cold Spring Palace will not interfere. But..." Zhen Yu looked over the immortals, and his gaze settled on Jin Yao. "If anyone tries to stop it, they make an enemy of Cold Spring Palace. Immortal Sovereign Jin Yao, avenging one's mother is only right. You govern the Nine Heavens Palace and command the immortal race. Fu Ling is willing to fight four alone, and heaven and earth could pity such resolve. Surely you will not forbid even this?"
The immortals at the mountain gate fell silent. Fu Ling had betrayed the immortals to become a demon, but Zhen Yu's argument was sound in both reason and feeling, and no one could refute it.
Before Jin Yao could speak, Jinglei said suddenly, "No need. Fu Ling, back in Rakshasa Land, though the four of us took the field together, the one who killed your mother was this Lord. If you seek revenge today, the only one who should fight is this Lord."
"Jinglei!" Yanhuo frowned and was about to speak, but Yufeng stopped him and shook his head.
In that old battle the four had fought for the immortal race, and their consciences were clear. Fu Ling was Zhao Hui's daughter, so seeking revenge was only natural. But if all four of them struck together, Fu Ling would surely die. She was Jin Yao's daughter after all, and they could not harm her life no matter what.
Yet Fu Ling was now a High Lord of the demon race, and Cold Spring Palace's power was at its zenith. The demons already had three demigods, which put them a step above the immortals. If the four of them refused a challenge from Fu Ling alone, and word spread, the Heavenly Palace would become the laughingstock of the three realms.
Now only one of them defeating Fu Ling in an honorable fight could resolve today's predicament and also protect the Heavenly Palace's reputation.
"Immortal Sovereign, though this is a private feud, I fear today's fight cannot be avoided," Jinglei said, cupping his hands to Jin Yao. "I ask that you permit it."
Jin Yao ruled over the immortals, and he understood perfectly what Jinglei was thinking. He looked gravely at Fu Ling and spoke slowly. "Fu Ling, if you insist on avenging your mother today, this Seat will not stop you. But you must agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
"If you cannot defeat High Immortal Jinglei within the span of one incense stick, then for the next hundred years you may not raise this feud again!"
"You!" Fu Ling was livid.
"Fine! This Venerable accepts on her behalf!" Before Fu Ling could object, Zhen Yu had already answered in a ringing voice. He looked calmly at Fu Ling. "After all, this is Wutong Phoenix Island."
Fu Ling's heart tightened. She knew Zhen Yu had already tolerated her recklessness as far as he could.
"One incense stick, then." Fu Ling said no more. She looked coldly at Jinglei. "Jinglei, give me back my mother's life!"
As soon as Fu Ling spoke, the demon flower in her palm turned into a sword, and she lunged at Jinglei.
Jinglei was unruffled. Before the flower sword reached him, he moved and vanished, reappearing suspended in midair. Her first strike having failed, Fu Ling let the demon flower dissolve into a sky full of blood mist that fell from above and forced Jinglei down. With no other choice, he drew his immortal sword and met Fu Ling in close combat.
In the space of moments, the two traded a hundred blows before the mountain gate, and neither could gain the upper hand.
"When she left the Heavenly Palace, she had only just become a High Lord. I never expected that in a few short years she would already break through to the peak realm. Fu Ling really is better suited to cultivating demonic power." Yufeng watched them fight and could not help sighing.
"What do you mean? Are you saying Old Thunder will lose?" Yanhuo's face changed, and he could not help asking.
Yufeng shook his head. "Even the greatest talent needs time to settle. Jinglei has been at the peak realm for a thousand years. Fu Ling can't beat him. The incense stick is about to burn down, and he should strike now..."
Yufeng had barely finished when Jinglei leapt up. The immortal sword in his hand turned into a stone drum half a meter long, and he used his hand as a mallet and struck the drumhead.
"The Heaven-Piercing Drum!"
Immortal disciples at the mountain gate cried out. Jinglei governed the immortal realm's thunder punishments, and rumor held that a single beat of his drum could rival heavenly thunder.
The stone drum boomed with a deafening roar. A bolt of lightning carrying heavenly thunder leapt from the drum straight toward Fu Ling. Her blood-dance flower sword shattered in an instant, and she spat blood and dropped to one knee. Had the Cloud Fire Bow not shielded her and absorbed half the thunder's force, she would have been utterly defeated already.
Seeing Fu Ling spit blood, Jin Yao looked pained. He sighed heavily and did not step in.
If today's fight could keep her safe for a hundred years, it might not be a bad outcome.
Behind the crowd, Chongzhao saw that Fu Ling was hurt, and his face changed too, worry showing in it.
"Junior brother? What's wrong?" Er Yun noticed his strange expression and could not help asking.
Chongzhao shook his head. He kept looking toward Fu Ling, faintly worried.
A few days ago, Fu Ling had channeled spiritual power into him to heal his wounds. He wondered whether she could last until the incense stick burned out.
He carried the blood debt of his entire sect, and now he found he could feel for Fu Ling.
Beside him, Mu Jiu was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. His eyes landed on Hua Hong, yawning under a tree not far off, and he brightened and scurried over.
"Little Flower, you came too!"
Hua Hong's face fell, and she was about to kick him, but Mu Jiu seemed to see it coming and dodged behind the tree.
"Hehe, missed me." The little fox grinned smugly, lifted his chin toward Fu Ling, and clicked his tongue twice. "And here I thought that demon flower had some real ability. She's so arrogant all the time, and she can't even take a single Heaven-Piercing thunder."
"She can't take it, but you could? Don't forget, Yufeng and the others were already High Immortals when they served under Muguang. If her spiritual power weren't flawed, she wouldn't fail to last even one incense stick."
Hua Hong could see it. Jin Yao was a demigod, so of course he saw it too. That was why he had set the time at one incense stick. Any longer, and Fu Ling's spirit platform would surely be damaged, harming her lifespan. They were father and daughter, after all.
Mu Jiu was surprised. "The flower demon is hurt? Who cares. The sooner she loses, the better. It'll take Cold Spring Palace down a peg." The little fox curled his lip at Zhen Yu. "Look at how smug he was a moment ago. Anyone who didn't know better would think he'd already united the demon realm and become demon emperor!"
As Mu Jiu blustered on, a cold gaze swept over from far away. The little fox shuddered all over, and his spirit platform shook.
Hua Hong raised a foot and blocked that gaze for Mu Jiu. Even so, under that divine might, Hua Hong's face changed as well.
Seeing Hua Hong step in, the divine pressure suddenly vanished, but a heavy snort fell next to Mu Jiu's ear. His legs gave way, and Hua Hong caught him.
"You've got some nerve, badmouthing a demigod," Hua Hong said, exasperated.
"I'll say it anyway, old man! The incense stick is almost out, and that flower demon is as good as beaten!" Mu Jiu's face was white, but his mouth still would not quit.
"Not necessarily. One is fighting with her life, the other is yielding step by step. I think both Jin Yao's and Zhen Yu's calculations will come to nothing."
Hua Hong had barely finished speaking when Fu Ling, who had been pinned down and gasping under the Heaven-Piercing thunder, suddenly roared. Blood mist and demonic energy shot into the sky, tearing the heavenly thunder to pieces. She sprang to her feet, drew the bow to a full moon, and set three Cloud Fire Arrows to the string. The arrows turned into blood mist and flew straight at Jinglei in midair.
She was burning her own lifespan as fuel for the magic instrument. Had Fu Ling gone mad?
Jinglei's face changed. These three arrows were the limit of a High Lord at her peak. If he held back now, he would lose for certain, and the Heavenly Palace would become the laughingstock of the three realms. In an instant he had no other choice. Three heavenly thunders struck out from the drum and fell from midair to meet the arrows.
There was a thunderous boom. The blood-mist arrows turned to ash and scattered. The heavenly thunder lost half its force, but it did not vanish. It plunged straight down toward the center of Fu Ling's forehead.
"Damn it!" Yufeng cried out. Jin Yao reacted faster, and he sent his divine power out to shield Fu Ling.
A demonic force shot out across the sky, cut Jin Yao's divine power to pieces, and blocked his path.
Jin Yao's face changed. The situation had turned in an instant. No one had expected the Cold Spring Palace lord to stop Immortal Sovereign Jin Yao from saving someone, and before anyone could react, all they could do was watch the heavenly thunder come down on Fu Ling's head.
At that moment, an immortal sword flew across the sky and collided with the heavenly thunder. Against the thunder's power, the sword was like a firefly against sunlight, and it was smashed to pieces at once. A figure flew out from the immortal ranks, covered Fu Ling with their body, and took the rest of the thunder head on.
At the shore of Purple Moon Lake in Unfettered City in the demon realm, Bai Shuo, frantic with worry, felt a wave of unease surge through her heart, as if she had sensed something.