Chapter Seventy: Chaos in the Underworld

Zisang jolted upright, taking several deep breaths and wiping the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Unintentionally, she glanced around at her surroundings. It seemed she was in a cave. Across from her were some scattered stone tables and stools, resembling the stone furniture of old. Near the stone wall was a small pool, fed by water trickling down from a crack in the wall. If one were to keep some koi in the pool and plant a few water lilies, it would make for a charming scene.

However, it seemed the cave's owner was not one for such decorations, having little interest in flowers and plants.

"Who's there?"

At Zisang's shout, a flash of red darted past the cave entrance. She immediately pursued.

Perhaps this person was the cave's owner, the one who had saved her. She wanted to find him to express her gratitude.

But the person seemed unwilling to meet her, retreating as soon as she emerged. No matter how hard she searched, she couldn't find him.

"What happened to the door?"

As Junfeng returned, he noticed two cracks on the gate of the Yuling Palace. He despised anyone meddling with his things, especially finding two inexplicable cracks on his own gate.

"Has anyone come by recently?"

"No, I haven't seen anyone. How could the gate get damaged?"

Junfeng, the Supreme God, was known among the immortals as the living King of Hell. Anyone who saw him would avoid him. Who would be foolish enough to provoke him?

"Oh, I just remembered something!"

The celestial servant suddenly recalled something and blurted it out.

"If you have something to say, spit it out. Don't stutter."

Junfeng was in a foul mood, and the celestial servant, unfortunately, bore the brunt of it.

"I remember seeing the Dragon Crown Prince of the Water Realm coming this way on the Emperor's birthday."

Frightened by Junfeng's shout, the celestial servant hurriedly reported what he had seen that day.

"Cangxuan? Hmph, go and make him fix my gate!"

That Cangxuan! It's bad enough that he usually causes trouble at Yuling Palace, but now he damages my gate while I'm away? Fine, I'll settle old and new scores together!

"What? This..."

How was he supposed to handle this? Cangxuan was, after all, the Dragon Crown Prince of the Water Realm. Asking him to repair a gate? What kind of task was that? On one side was the Dragon Crown Prince, on the other was the greatest warrior of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations. He was just an ordinary celestial servant caught between two living King of Hells.

"Wait!"

Just as the servant hesitated on what to do, Junfeng seemed to think of something and called him back.

With a mischievous smile on his gentle face, Junfeng said, "Go to the Water Realm and invite him here, telling him I wish to spar with him."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

Ah, as expected of the greatest warrior of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations. This plan was perfect! It fulfilled the Supreme God's request without angering him. Plus, if the Dragon Crown Prince learned that the Supreme God wanted to spar with him, he'd be thrilled and might even reward the servant with some treasures or weapons.

"Well! Today I actually have the pleasure of being a guest in the Heavenly Realm?" Cangxuan strode in with a swagger, sitting himself directly in front of Junfeng without waiting for permission.

It was less like he was a guest and more like he was the master!

"Pour me some tea!" He demanded, barely settled into his seat.

However, the celestial servant didn't move to pour tea immediately. Instead, he glanced at Junfeng, who continued to wipe his zither strings, acting as if he hadn't noticed Cangxuan's entrance.

Without a word from his master, the servant didn't dare act. He lowered his head and stayed silent.

Cangxuan saw all this and the smile on his face instantly vanished.

"If you want tea, pour it yourself. Why use my Yuling Palace's servants?"

The fire in Cangxuan's belly had not yet subsided, and Junfeng's cold words only added fuel to it. Enraged, Cangxuan slammed the table and stood up.

"Are you messing with me? You invite me over, and now I have to pour my own tea?"

Cangxuan's strength was immense, and even the solid red blood jade table couldn't withstand his blow, shattering into pieces.

"Didn't you say you wanted to spar? Come on then! I want to see just how strong the so-called greatest warrior really is!"

Without waiting for a response, he conjured two giant hammers out of thin air and readied himself for a fight.

The celestial servant calmly stepped back several meters, his face showing a hint of resignation as if he was accustomed to such scenes.

"Put the sparring aside for now." Compared to the servant who at least knew to step back, Junfeng remained even more composed, not even glancing up.

He plucked the strings of his zither, seemingly tuning it.

This nonchalant behavior infuriated Cangxuan further. It felt as if his presence was less important than a mere zither.

"What's so great about that zither? You treat it like a treasure every day!"

Not saying a single kind word, Cangxuan even tried to reach for the zither, but Junfeng coldly brushed his hand away.

"If you know I treat it as a treasure, you shouldn't touch it. Otherwise, it won't be as simple as a gate or a table to settle!"

"What gate? What table? What do you mean?" Cangxuan was bewildered. "So you tricked me here to settle a score?"

He had rushed over eagerly, only to find out he was being played. He had been deceived and was foolishly pleased about it.

"What else? You think I have the time to waste playing with you?"

Busy? I've never seen you busy! You spend your days playing the zither or teasing birds and dogs in the courtyard. I thought it'd be years before I'd see you again, but here you are.

"Ha! I thought after being bullied in the mortal realm, you might be less arrogant. But it turns out you've only gotten worse!"

Junfeng's behavior in the mortal realm was well known. I hoped that little fox might have some influence, but he was foolish enough to risk his life for a fox demon.

Pathetic!

"I thought staying in the sea so long had made you dull. I didn't mind your antics here."

"But now I see you're not just dull. Even your mouth spouts nothing but nonsense!"

"Who are you calling inhuman?"

Great! You're good at this, aren't you? Insulting me without a single curse word, impressive!

"Who are you calling inhuman?"

Great! You're really something! Insulting me without a single curse word, impressive!

"I'm talking about you!" Junfeng, the first war god of the Four Seas and Eight Deserts, was elegantly sitting while arguing with someone!

The celestial servant couldn't help but close his eyes.

Can't bear to watch! This was an ancient servant, yet here he was witnessing such a scene. These two had lived for thousands of years, but they were arguing like thousand-year-old children.

Thankfully, there was no one else around. If people knew that the famed war god was this childish, who knows how they'd laugh.

"Forget it, forget it. I'm not going to argue with you. If you've got the guts, come to the East Sea and duel me. If not, just stay here and sulk!"

I am a dragon prince, after all. How can I be so childish as to argue with someone even more childish?

But still, after rushing all the way here and getting nothing but anger in return, this was a hard pill to swallow!

"Wait!" Cangxuan was ready to leave, unwilling to continue arguing, but Junfeng wouldn't let him go, calling out to stop him.

"If you leave just like that, what about my Yuling Palace's gate? Oh, and this fine red blood jade table, a gift from the Heavenly Emperor, now shattered. How will I explain that to the Heavenly Emperor?"

He spoke with a look of feigned regret.

"Fine, fine. All you want is that set of Lingmu Jiaoxu from my Dragon Palace, right? I'll send it over another day!"

"Then I'll trouble the Dragon Prince for that!"

I knew it! A while back, he had come to Yuling Palace and let slip that his Dragon Palace had a fine set of Lingmu Jiaoxu, perfect for making zither strings better than the ones Junfeng currently used.

He had intended to tease Junfeng, but instead, Junfeng kept pestering him for it. Of course, he had no intention of giving it to him.

Yet after all this time, Junfeng still remembered. Now, he had come to the Heavenly Realm, gotten angry, and had to part with the Lingmu Jiaoxu.

"Why are you here, Sister Sang? Did you come specifically to see me?"

Zisang's sudden arrival in Qingqiu made Danjun ecstatic. Perhaps due to their blood relation, from the first time she saw Sister Sang, she felt a close bond.

Later, when she learned they were indeed blood-related sisters, she was even more excited. What a coincidence it was, and she was fortunate enough to experience it.

"I... you... how is your injury?"

Zisang's words were vague, making Danjun more doubtful.

"Sister Sang, did you not come to see me?"

"I... Danjun, I came this time to ask you for something."

It was already difficult for Zisang to ask for help, and Danjun's innocent question made it even more awkward.

How should she respond? Should she say she came specifically for Wuchen's sake? But Danjun had just excitedly asked if she came to see her.

"Sister Sang, you came for Brother Hei, didn't you?" Seeing Zisang's embarrassment, Danjun didn't wait for her to speak and said it herself.

Zisang bit her lip and nodded slightly.

"Sister Sang, don't worry! I've already checked; Brother Hei is not in any immediate danger."

Zisang's eyes lit up with a smile.

"In that case, I am relieved."

"Sister Sang, you're only worried about Brother Hei. I've heard that you were seriously injured that day. I have some medicine here; why don't you take some back with you?"

I heard about the battle at Fusang Mountain that day. Sister Sang took a lightning strike and still shielded Brother Hei from another blow.

No one saw clearly who unleashed that white blade, but just thinking about how night turned into day in an instant shows how powerful that strike was.

I even thought, if it had been me instead of Sister Sang who shielded Brother Hei that day, I might not have survived.

"Thank you!"

Although her injuries had mostly healed, this was Danjun's good intention. It wouldn't be polite to refuse.

"Sister Sang, are you leaving again this time?"

Zisang pondered for a moment before slowly replying.

"Yes, there are some things I need to clarify."

A celestial servant came running over, whispered a few words to Junfeng, who nodded and gently said, "I understand. You may leave now."

Just as the servant left, Yaoxi entered, nearly bumping into the servant in his haste. Fortunately, the servant stopped in time.

As Yaoxi watched him dash away, she was puzzled.

"What's got him in such a rush?"

"It's nothing major, just letting him handle it," Junfeng replied with a faint smile. "What brings you here for tea today?"

"I met someone from the Water Realm today. They said they were here to deliver something to you. Since I was on my way, I brought it for you."

As Yaoxi spoke, she pulled out a slender brocade box from her sleeve. It was crystal-like and exceptionally beautiful.

"Ah, it's the Lingmu Jiaoxu. Cangxuan may seem careless, but he sure gets things done quickly."

Seeing the Lingmu Jiaoxu he had been longing for, Junfeng's face lit up with joy. He was so happy that he momentarily forgot to hide his excitement, looking like a thousand-year-old child.

After replacing the zither strings, Junfeng couldn't wait another minute and started strumming the strings to test them. He wanted to see if the new strings were as good as Cangxuan had claimed.

From the first pluck of the strings, Junfeng felt the excellence of the Lingmu Jiaoxu. Soft yet strong, firm yet elastic, even a gentle pluck produced a melodious sound.

"Ding~"

A sudden sound shattered the harmony and beauty. The lingering melody still resonated in the room, but Junfeng's hand had frozen in mid-air.

He turned, his usual gentle demeanor replaced by a murderous glare. If looks could kill, the celestial servant would have died a thousand times over.

"My lord, I deserve to die for disturbing the two deities!"

The celestial servant was so terrified by Junfeng's glare that his legs gave out, and he knelt, trembling and begging for mercy, not daring to look up.

Junfeng said nothing, continuing to glare at the servant like a death god, until finally, his gaze shifted to a glazed ball on the floor.

The killing intent in his eyes faded, and he frowned.

He picked up the ball and examined it for a long time before speaking softly, "Where did this come from?"

"My lord, I was cleaning and intended to tidy up your clothes. I didn't expect it to fall out as soon as I picked them up!"

"The little immortal was just cleaning and wanted to tidy up your clothes. It fell out as soon as I picked them up!"

The celestial servant lay prostrate on the ground, head down, recounting the whole story in one breath, not daring to even take a deep breath.

"My mother told me when I was little that this glazed ball had a spirit and would bring me good luck. Today, I give it to you, hoping it will bring you good luck too."

Zisang's words echoed in his ears, the scene from that time vividly clear, as if it happened yesterday. Fortunately, that incident was now in the past.

Nanzhen Yi loved Zisang deeply. Even after she returned to Fusang, he threatened his own life, begging the people of Fusang to spare her. Even at the moment of his death, he clutched this glazed ball, unwilling to let go.

But all of that was just Nanzhen Yi's obsession, not Junfeng's. Although he told himself this, he still didn't understand why he impulsively took it with him when he left that day.

"What is this?" Yaoxi asked, approaching out of curiosity. Before she could get a closer look, Junfeng quickly hid it in his sleeve.

"Nothing, just a little trinket I brought back from the human realm!"

Yaoxi was not foolish. Since he didn't want to say, she wouldn't press further. She knew Junfeng well. If he wanted to tell you something, he would do so without being asked.

But if it was something he didn't want to talk about, prying his mouth open wouldn't get you an answer.

"Well, since the celestial has delivered the item, you can leave now. I have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep you."

"Alright, I have some things to do as well, so I won't disturb you."

"Mm."

"My apologies, celestial. Please forgive me!"

Yaoxi had barely taken a few steps towards the door when she suddenly bumped into someone. The little celestial servant who had rushed out earlier now hurried back in.

"What are you rushing around for every day? Even if you have work to do, you shouldn't be so reckless!"

She didn't even know why she was angry, just felt a stuffy feeling in her chest, an indescribable sensation that made her want to vent.

"It's my fault, it's my fault, it's my fault..."

The celestial servant, head bowed, repeated his apologies like a broken record. He looked so dull-witted. How could Junfeng trust such a person with tasks?

"Forget it, get up!"

Without looking back, she walked away. Unbeknownst to her, the person behind her had a strange expression on his face.

"Well? Did you find out anything?"

Seeing the newcomer, Junfeng put down his teacup and asked calmly.

The celestial servant had barely stepped inside when a blue light flashed, and the servant transformed into a handsome young man. His white robe instantly changed to a long golden one, and his hair was tied up high, making him look quite impressive.

"You made the Night God lower himself to run errands for you. How could the task not be completed?"

"Hmph, I just saw that you usually have nothing to do, so I specifically found some tasks for you. And now you're complaining?"

Junfeng poured tea for the Night God while bickering with him. Though his demeanor was childish, he maintained a facade of aloofness, speaking with a serious tone.

"I've helped you with your tasks for so many years. Have I ever failed? Yet, I've never heard a word of thanks from you."

"You know, after all these years, every time you ask me to do something, I get it done. Yet, I've never heard a word of thanks from you," Qiuxu said, his tone now tinged with grievance. Ever since he had known Junfeng, he had been tricked by him countless times. Every time, Junfeng would promise a reward, but once the task was completed, those so-called rewards never materialized.

"Not all gratitude needs to be material. You should appreciate what you receive from me," Junfeng replied.

"Like what?"

"For example, the tea you're drinking now. Think about it, every time you come to Yuling Palace, I personally pour your tea. Do you know how many people in this world can say they've had tea poured by me?"

Seriously? You have the nerve to say that? I ran around for nights, all for a cup of tea!

"Alright, but speaking of which, the Flower Immortal really has deep feelings for you. Her whole heart is set on you. Aren't you moved?"

Unable to out-argue Junfeng, Qiuxu wisely changed the subject. He knew Junfeng disliked it when he brought up the Flower Immortal, yet he enjoyed teasing him about it. This was the one weak spot he had over him.

"Moved? Hmph, Junfeng is a heartless man, ignorant of the world's romantic feelings. Yaoxi has placed her sincere heart in the wrong person. I only hope she realizes her mistake soon."

Junfeng knew about Yaoxi's feelings for him, but he had never seen her as anything more than a close confidante.

"A heartless man, huh? If you're truly heartless, then why did you have a tribulation of love? Why risk your life for a fox demon? You're not heartless; you've already fallen in love!"

Before, Qiuxu thought Junfeng was incapable of affection. If even the Flower Immortal's beauty didn't move him, it made Qiuxu wonder if Junfeng was interested in women at all. But after Junfeng's trial in the mortal world, Qiuxu realized he was a passionate man, willing to risk his life for a love with no future, especially for a fox demon.

"Enough. Let's talk about this later," Junfeng said, unable to respond to Qiuxu's piercing words.

"Back to the main point. Tell me what you saw."

"There's a lot to say! That day, when you asked me to follow him, I discovered..."

...

Tianjun followed the Heavenly Emperor to the Lotus Pond but was stopped by two celestial guards at the entrance.

In terms of rank, Tianjun was second only to the Heavenly Emperor. Ordinarily, no one would dare to stop him, let alone keep him out. These two guards must have had the audacity of a bear and a leopard to do so. Despite Junfeng's persuasion, they refused to let him in, citing the Emperor's orders that no one could enter without his permission.

Not allowed in? Heh, it seems he guessed correctly! If that's the case, he had all the more reason to go in!

Tianjun decided not to argue further. With a flick of his fingers to their foreheads, the two guards fell unconscious.

When Tianjun entered, the Heavenly Emperor was standing by the Lotus Pond with his hands behind his back, as if he had been expecting him. Without turning around, he spoke to Tianjun.

"I am the supreme ruler of the Heavenly Realm, not exactly a scholar, but not as unruly as you. How did I end up with such a wayward disciple like you?" the Heavenly Emperor said.

"I may be a wayward disciple, but compared to an unworthy father like you, it seems I've surpassed you in some aspects," Tianjun replied, a gentle smile on his face, yet his eyes betrayed a hint of mockery.

"Besides, if I didn't break the rules, how else would I find out where you've hidden my dear brother?"

Tianjun stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Heavenly Emperor. His clear eyes swept over the bottom of the Lotus Pond, where a black dragon lay dormant. Though he only glanced briefly, he could see that its jet-black scales looked like they were clad in dark armor. Despite its current weakness, the scales still held a sheen that hinted at its inherent majesty, enough to make anyone tremble just by looking at it.

"He is severely injured. I need your help to heal him," the Heavenly Emperor said bluntly, not bothering with formalities. He asked Junfeng to join him in casting a healing spell for Wuchen.

Tianjun could only smile wryly and remain silent, thinking to himself that he had indeed fallen into the old fox's trap. The Heavenly Emperor had anticipated his arrival and had come here early to wait for him.

Sigh! He was still too young and naive...

"The demoness has returned!"

As soon as the words were spoken, ghost soldiers emerged from the ground, blocking Zisan's path.

"Demoness, what is your intent in coming to the underworld repeatedly?" one of the soldiers demanded.

The demoness had broken into the underworld three times, disregarding the ghost soldiers' attempts to stop her. She appeared to be severely injured and was quickly overwhelmed in the skirmish, her body covered in wounds.

The ghost soldiers had initially shown her mercy, letting her go because of her injuries. Yet, despite her still-unhealed wounds, she returned for a second attack. This was now the third time. Even if they wanted to spare her again, they couldn't justify it to the King of the Underworld. News of these incidents had spread widely, and the King was furious, ordering them to execute the fox demoness on the spot.

However, judging by her current state, it seemed she wouldn't survive the night even without their intervention. Her body was already frail, and her repeated incursions had taken a heavy toll. An ordinary person would have collapsed long ago.

"I told you! I'm here to find someone!" Zisan's voice came out in broken fragments, a result of her using nearly all her strength to speak. Her words, however, were indistinct to the soldiers.

"...Find... find what?"

"I don't care what you're looking for. There's nothing here!"

"Your actions have already angered the King of the Underworld. If we show you any more mercy, we will face his wrath!"

At this point, further words were useless. Since she hadn't obtained the answer she sought, she was willing to face any consequences, even if it meant creating chaos in the underworld.

Faced with the chaotic attacks from the ghost soldiers, Zisan couldn't afford any lapse in concentration. Ignoring the pain tearing through her back, she focused all her attention on deflecting each weapon aimed at her.

But despite her efforts, she was alone against a thousand ghost soldiers. What was even more exhausting was that the soldiers she had shot through with her arrows could heal themselves. This was far beyond her expectations. She knew all too well that if this battle dragged on, she would only suffer more.

If only there were something to distract them, Zisan thought. Then she could break through!

In a fleeting moment, she caught sight of the bright red clusters of Manjusaka flowers on the riverbank. Taking advantage of the ghost soldiers' inattention, she aimed her arrow at the flowers. As soon as her fingers tightened, sparks ignited on the arrowhead.

By the time the ghost soldiers noticed, flames were already spreading across the Manjusaka flowers. As expected, panic ensued as they rushed to extinguish the fire.

Seizing the opportunity, Zisan leaped towards one of the palaces. But before she could reach it, a sudden blow struck her abdomen, and a sense of weightlessness overwhelmed her. She fell, feeling as if she were weighed down by a thousand pounds, her consciousness beginning to fade. Still, she instinctively flailed her limbs in a desperate struggle.

Suddenly, her pupils dilated, locking onto an old man standing on the edge of a cliff. Her limbs stopped moving, her gaze fixed on him with terror and astonishment.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. She stared at the old man, who had sallow skin, was leaning on a cane, and had gray hair tied up simply. Dressed in plain clothes, he seemed to shake his head in resignation before disappearing from her sight.

It's her! The one I saw in my dream...

A black, eel-like creature lay motionless on a large lotus leaf beneath a golden lotus, as if it were asleep. Suddenly, it stirred, its slender body stretching and growing over a hundred times its original size.

Not only did its size change, but its form transformed as well. Gleaming black scales emerged on its smooth body, and its lower half, covered in these scales, slid into the water along the edge of the leaf. Its upper half morphed into a human form, clad in a thin, wet black robe that clung to its lean yet muscular frame, highlighting his perfect physique.

His eyes remained closed, and his previously heroic eyebrows were now furrowed in an expression of grievance. Gradually, he moved his arms, which had been neatly placed at his sides, and slowly opened his eyes...

The man in black awoke to find himself lying on a large lotus leaf, surrounded by towering lotus flowers and leaves. On the shore, a man was idly resting his chin on one hand while tapping a jade flute on a stone table with the other.

The man's long, jet-black hair cascaded lazily over his body, with his bangs half falling over his deep-set eyes.

He felt a vague sense of familiarity with this person but couldn't quite place it.

"If you keep staring at me like that, I'll start to think you have a crush on me," a male voice suddenly teased, laced with a hint of mischief.

When the man in black snapped back to reality, the other man was already standing before him, his seemingly gentle exterior marred by a mischievous grin.

The man in black looked at him in astonishment.

He was standing on the water, as if he weighed nothing at all. The water held his not particularly robust body aloft.

Suddenly, the man in black remembered he was also on a lotus leaf. But how could a lotus leaf, no matter how large, support a person's weight? As he glanced down, he was shocked to see that his lower half was no longer human but had transformed into a long tail.