Chapter 3: Blood Ties

"Victory to the Sovereign of the Universe!" Jin Zhan almost shouted in anger, wondering if he would truly resort to violence over a careless remark from Xiang Su. How could he still call himself a sovereign of a realm!

How do you know? You must be guessing, right? Xiang Su is looking for trouble, still up in the clouds, unable to see the situation at the mountain top

By the time she looked up, the clouds in the east had already vanished. Xiang Su still wanted to grumble a bit, twisting the grass at her feet, her gaze wandering. She opened her mouth and said: "Su Bing, are you ready? Let's hurry to find Sister Jun Shang."

Sucking his blood? How could Baizhi Cao say something so disgusting! She suddenly remembered that Jin Zhan actually knelt down to Dong Tianyun and called him 'Shenghuan Emperor'

Jin Zhan glanced at her, calmly summoning a magical artifact from her palm. Xiang Su snatched it away, examining herself in the mirror, truly fearing to repeat the mistakes of the locust tree! ... The girl in the mirror appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen, with an oval face and large eyes, her skin ... . ... She freed one hand to touch her own face, which was very smooth. It should be considered quite beautiful; at least she was very satisfied with herself. Having seen many beautiful flower spirits, this face was not lacking in charm.

The elder sister must be very sad, Your Majesty. Xiang Su sighed, "Her speech is all mixed up."

At the summit of Lingze Mountain, a massive pit has collapsed, seemingly bottomless, as if it leads directly into the heart of the mountain. When the clouds pass over the peak, the dark, gaping mouth of the pit sends shivers down Xiang Su's spine. The area around the pit appears to have been scorched by fire, with all the vegetation turned to charcoal; what was once a vibrant display of flowers now remains only in dull shades of gray and black. The spiritual spring has also been cut off from its source, and the winding waterway has completely dried up.

Bai Zhicao looked at her somewhat speechlessly, "Haven't you heard any of the things everyone usually talks about?" She had no impression of such a popular topic, probably only thinking about her flaky pastry! "Besides him, who else could tame the Kunpeng as his mount"

"Is Xiang Su still young?" Bai Zhi Cao quickly intervened, "Jin Zhan's remarks are problematic, it's an old issue." "Kun Peng is an ancient divine beast, its form can be large or small, entirely at the will of its master"

She is certain that the dead bird man did it on purpose! Since he saved her life and helped her transform into human form, why couldn't he conjure up a piece of clothing for her?

It is indeed a disgraceful matter that she borrowed the light of Dongtianyun to take on human form! Xiangsu lamented inwardly. "Your Highness, Sister, we cannot just leave like this..." She never expected that Your Highness, Sister would casually abandon this mess and return to the Qing Sui Mansion.

Establishing such a connection with him, for the little pastry... is fraught with unpredictable fortunes and misfortunes

Upon stepping onto the cloud, Xiang Su suddenly realized a more serious problem: the wind generated by rapid flight and the wings of the Eastern Sky Black Bird posed the same threat. Fortunately, the outer cover of the golden chalice was quite long, and as she wore it, it trailed behind her on the cloud, allowing her to step firmly without embarrassment, though it was quite chilly. "Um..." she cleared her throat, "Could someone please transform a fitting outfit for me first?"

Bai Zhicao sighed and said, "I knew you wouldn't understand. Let's go to the Qing Sui Mansion first, and I'll explain it to you on the way."

Bai Zhicao has always been unable to contain her emotions, watching the figure of the Qing Sui Emperor while constantly wiping the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, appearing both simple and somewhat embarrassing

Qing Sui listened, gave a faint bitter smile, slowly turned around, and focused her gaze on Xiang Su. "Little Su Bing? You have taken shape?" She wanted to express joy, but what came out was a hint of bitterness. "You look truly beautiful," she sighed, walking over to take Xiang Su's hands, conjuring a light goose-yellow cloud robe for her. "So it is like this..." She sensed the unusual spiritual power within Xiang Su's bloodline; even a tiny drop of the blood of the Eastern Sky Cloud was a precious treasure for the celestial beings.

You!" Xiang Su gritted his teeth

With a swish, Dong Tianyun drew a gleaming sword from an unknown source.

Jin Zhan and Bai Zhi Cao both displayed expressions of astonishment as they watched the dying gardenia tree suddenly emit a dazzling golden light, slowly rising from the ground. Tender green leaves sprouted from its previously withered branches, and pure white, fragrant gardenia flowers bloomed one after another, their fragrance more intoxicating than ever before. When the gardenia flowers filled the branches, the golden light suddenly vanished, followed by a startled cry, and something fell to the ground with a thud—remarkably, it had transformed into a humanoid gardenia tree.

Qing Sui fell silent for a moment before reminiscing: "Back in the day, Qing Ze and I planted Wanmu in Xiyuan. Little did we know that the sap of Wanmu was a great taboo for the Kongtong Seal. When the power of the Kongtong Seal weakened, Bi Lian, who was trapped under the Wufu Tower by the Kongtong Seal, managed to overturn the Wufu Tower and escape. Bi Lian is of the royal family of the demon realm, and it is said that their family possesses an ancient artifact. After escaping, in order to confront Dong Tian Yun, he went to great lengths to obtain this artifact, which is the Jifeng Sword that he threw into Lingze Mountain."

In the Sanhuan realm, there once existed a weapon of boundless divine power, the Xuanyuan Sword, forged by the first generation of the Heavenly Emperor. During the great war between gods and demons, the Heavenly Emperor used it to fend off the Demon Emperor's attacks. Unfortunately, the Xuanyuan Sword was shattered into three pieces, which fell across the Sanhuan realm, transforming into the three swords: Jichen, Jifeng, and Tianmo. For tens of thousands of years, both gods and demons in the Sanhuan realm yearned to possess this unparalleled divine weapon. However, even if they could locate the burial sites of the three swords, no one was able to wield them, and even the successive Heavenly Emperors failed to draw the swords. Gradually, the three swords became a mysterious legend. Yet, after the arrival of Dongtian Yun, he unexpectedly obtained Jichen and Tianmo, causing a stir in the Sanhuan realm. For tens of thousands of years, both gods and demons in the Sanhuan realm yearned to possess this unparalleled divine weapon. However, even if they could locate the burial sites of the three swords, no one was able to wield them, and even the successive Heavenly Emperors failed to draw the swords. Gradually, the three swords became a mysterious legend. Yet, after the arrival of Dongtian Yun, he unexpectedly obtained Jichen and Tianmo, causing a stir in the Sanhuan realm. Bi Lian had been suppressed under the tower for hundreds of years, unaware that Dongtian Yun was desperately searching for the third sword. By unfortunate coincidence, he brought forth Jifeng, which was hidden in the Demon Realm's Mingyuan. If he had not taken Jifeng, Dongtian Yun might have disregarded him, but with Jifeng in hand, Dongtian Yun relentlessly pursued him for over three hundred years. Bi Lian, leveraging the divine power of Jifeng, managed to escape several times, but this time, he was likely exhausted and left with no options, which led him to throw Jifeng into the mountain body of Lingze Mountain.

Jin Zhan quickly took off his long gown and walked over to wrap it around Xiang Su. Both he and Bai Zhi Cao turned away awkwardly to allow her to dress at her ease. Xiang Su hurriedly slipped on the sleeves, stood up, and fumbled to cover the hem.

"First, let's settle down at the Qing Sui Mansion." Qing Sui smiled wryly, then said with a serious expression, "Regarding the matter of the little pastry and Dong Tianyun, do not mention it to outsiders again."

"Xiang Su..." Bai Zhi Cao unexpectedly blushed a little, "In these few hundred years, you are the most beautiful little fairy I have ever seen, probably because you have absorbed the blood of the Eastern Sky Cloud"

Xiang Su held onto her last glimmer of hope as she looked at Jin Zhan. He was staring intently at the peak of Lingze Mountain, and based on her understanding of him, if he had such abilities, he would have shown them off long ago. "Oh dear!" She realized that he was indeed someone who had just recovered from serious injuries, and there were many critical issues he had not considered. She abruptly grabbed Jin Zhan, "Shuixian! Quickly show me your mirror!"

What? ! Xiang Su was dumbfounded; she certainly did not want this ability. ! Jin Zhan glanced at her from the corner of his eye, "With Dong Tianyun's cultivation, it is impossible for you to sense him for the next one thousand eight hundred years, so you need not worry." Xiang Su felt both relieved and somewhat displeased by his words, and could only glare back at him fiercely.

"Sister Qingsui..." The golden cup that fell beside Qingsui spoke softly, and this was the first time Xiang Su heard him call her Sister Qingsui

Mount? If Dong Tianyun were to sit on the Kunpeng, it would be like a grain of rice stuck on a grand dining table, and moreover, he is riding a rather small black bird

Bai Zhicao is a kind-hearted person, and he began to explain: "The golden cup flower and the Empress were born in the same place, and it has also received the spiritual power bestowed by the Empress, which is why it can sense the location of the Emperor. Oh, by the way, you have received the blood of Dongtianyun, and in the future, as your magical power increases, you will also be able to sense his whereabouts"

This time it is Baizhi Cao's turn to cough dryly, "My magical power is still insufficient to conjure objects out of thin air"

This is a matter of utmost urgency, Xiang Su nodded repeatedly, "Alright, alright, let's set off."

"Sister Jun, do not be sad. No matter how many years it takes, we will restore Lingze Mountain to its original state!" Xiang Su, understanding the sorrow of Qing Sui, said with a choked voice and great determination. In her moment of near death, Jin Zhan comforted her in this way, which was quite effective; she nearly held on through this very phrase.

"Youth." Seeing her like this, Jin Zhan furrowed her brows and called out to her with concern

The dark eyes beneath Dong Tianyun's long eyelashes shifted to Jin Zhan, and with a cold glance, it rendered Jin Zhan speechless. Dong Tianyun paid him no further attention, merely raising his hand gently to make a small cut on his index finger with the blade of his sword. Casually, he flicked it, and a drop of blood flew straight towards the crown of the fragrant cassia tree, swiftly merging into the branches.

"Consider this a favor I owe you, and do not mention today's events to anyone else." The irritating voice of Dong Tianyun rang out again, and what was even more infuriating was that he chose this moment to summon the black bird. With a flap of its wings, as Xiang Su had just secured the hem of her garment, it was suddenly blown about, turning inside out. In a panic, Xiang Su hurriedly tried to cover herself, but in her haste, she lost track of her footing. The already large garment slipped from her shoulders, leaving her chest exposed to the chill, forcing her to grasp at the front of her clothing, a picture of utter disarray.

The divine power of the wind, when cast into an ordinary mountain, can turn that mountain into flying sand and stones, causing it to collapse in an instant. Lingze Mountain, with its profound auspicious energy, is precisely what concealed the wind. Bai Zhi Cao sighed, realizing that what they usually took pride in—the auspicious signs—had become the very reason for selecting Lingze Mountain for refinement.

I planted the Wanmu, which is forbidden by the divine realm, and it released a force greater than the refining, and from that refining, I obtained the Wind of Absorption, which destroyed Lingze Mountain..." Qing Sui murmured repeatedly, laughing in a dazed manner.

Xiang Su was left speechless, and after a long while, he exclaimed: "Why must we choose Lingze Mountain for the refinement?!" What right does he have to involve the countless celestial beings of Lingze Mountain in his grievances with Dong Tianyun?!

Xiang Su followed Bai Zhi Cao and Jin Zhan as they ascended to the clouds, listening attentively as Bai Zhi Cao recounted events from the past that were much older than her own years

Is Dong Tianyun... the Supreme Emperor Sheng Huan? The remnants of the bones that fell from the Pangu God?" She asked uncertainly, having always thought that the Supreme Emperor Sheng Huan was simply called Sheng Huan. She despised that bird man so much that all her previous admiration and longing for the Supreme Emperor Sheng Huan had completely dissipated, leaving only her aversion towards him and his Kunpeng.

The way of heaven is indeed cyclical. Qing Sui smiled and shook his head, his body swaying slightly, calling upon the clouds, disregarding Jin Zhan and the others, and walked away by himself

Jin Zhan shook his head and said, "Don't talk to her anymore, she has taken on human form too early, and her mind is not yet fully developed"

Jin Zhan listened quietly; he had never heard this legend before. Bai Zhi Cao was usually talkative, yet had never mentioned these things. "Why didn't you say anything about it before"

"It hurts so much!" Xiang Su exclaimed, as a surge of auspicious and rich spiritual energy suddenly enveloped her. Her previously precarious body felt extraordinarily comfortable, as if all her orifices had been thoroughly cleansed by this powerful energy, leaving no trace of impurities, and she felt reborn. Just as she was reveling in this sensation, her body suddenly sank, and she fell to the ground from a height, it hurt! Xiang Su felt invigorated and was about to continue her complaints when she suddenly realized—she was completely naked! She let out a scream, futilely curling up into a ball, wishing she could just burrow back into the ground. She clearly heard the person sitting on the bird's back let out a cold snort. Although he said nothing, her level of shame and anger felt as if she had heard him utter a thousand harsh words.

Xiang Su followed the gaze of Qing Sui to look at the enormous deep hole, and once again felt a chill run down her spine. How large a sword would it take to pierce such a big hole

The green brocade of youth is the only color in this gray and white wasteland, the long hem of the dress trailing on the black scorched earth, creating a stark contrast that inexplicably twists the heart in pain. Xiang Su felt a pang in her eyes, her cheeks cool; she reached out to touch—could this be tears? She had originally thought that crying was a sacred and difficult act, but it turned out to be as natural and simple as thunder and rain, leaving Xiang Su feeling somewhat disheartened

Jin Zhan hummed softly, ignoring her.

Bai Zhicao smacked her lips and said, "Sister Junshang has advised me not to casually mention the matter of Dongtianyun obtaining Jichan and the Tianmo Sword. I have always regarded this as a rumor that has nothing to do with me, but I never expected... I never expected that Lingze Mountain would be destroyed because of this matter"

"The youth is on the mountaintop," Jin Zhan suddenly said