To celebrate Ling’er’s birth, a grand banquet was held on Holy Son Peak. Peak masters and elders from the various peaks were invited to feast and drink, while stewards and disciples received small gifts.
Since Zi Xunyi had just given birth, Yan Zhen put his cultivation on hold and stayed by the side of his wife and newborn daughter for several days.
Upon hearing the news, Zi Tianjun arrived with members of the Heavenly God Clan to visit his daughter and granddaughter.
After confirming Yan Lingji’s extraordinary soul talent, Zi Tianjun grinned from ear to ear. He even wanted to whisk her back to the clan right away to awaken her bloodline, but Zi Xunyi put a firm stop to that.
In addition, congratulatory gifts arrived from the Phoenix God Clan, the Snake God Clan, and Evergreen Holy Land.
Once the festivities died down, more than half a month had passed. Holy Son Peak returned to its usual tranquility—those who needed to leave did so, those who needed to cultivate returned to their sessions, and those with duties attended to their tasks.
Yan Zhen retreated into secluded cultivation once more and, half a month later, broke through to the Eight-Turn Half-Saint Realm.
Within Consort God Palace, Yan Zhen—fresh from his bath and clad in black sleepwear—lounged lazily on Evil Consort’s fragrant couch.
She lay on her side beside him, propping her temple with one hand while the other slipped into the collar of his robe. Her fingers gently caressed his skin, savoring the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the warmth of his body.
“You’ve only just broken through, yet your aura is already so steady and Mystic,” she murmured. “It seems this past year’s accumulation has benefited you greatly, Yan’er.”
Yan Zhen felt a delightful tingle where her hand roamed his chest, sending waves of comfort through him.
“Much of that is thanks to you, Evil Consort Master, for letting me use the Yellow Springs Holy Pool.”
A faint smile curved Evil Consort’s lips.
“Silly boy, everything in Consort God Palace belongs to you, Yan’er.”
Yan Zhen blinked at her playfully.
“Does that include Evil Consort Master, too?”
She offered no reply, only gazing at him with eyes brimming with affection. Without another word, Yan Zhen rolled over, pinning her beneath him as he captured her lips in a searing kiss.
Evil Consort let out a soft whimper before responding with equal fervor.
After their passionate encounter, Yan Zhen held the raven-haired beauty close, whispering sweet endearments into her ear. Her heart bloomed with joy, leaving her utterly entranced. Unable to resist, she offered him her holy milk.
Yan Zhen obediently played the role of a good baby.
The next day, Yan Zhen returned to Holy Son Peak. Before he could even enter his cave residence, Saint Lord Master summoned him—not to Bitter Sea Cave-Heaven, but to the grand meeting hall atop Jialan Peak.
Jialan Fairy was there, along with the seven Supremes: Wind, Rain, Thunder, Cloud, Sunny, Fog, and Snow.
Yan Zhen stepped out of a spatial rift to stand beside Saint Lord Master and cut straight to the point.
“Saint Lord Master, has Violet Forge Holy Land made their move against us?”
Jialan Fairy inclined her head slightly.
“It happened in Sunward Kingdom. Divine Dream Palace—the sect tasked with protecting the nation—suddenly rebelled. They’ve seized the royal authority and taken control of the underground dragon vein.”
Jialan Holy Land’s mountain protection array was built upon the foundation of dragon veins. Disruptions to those veins elsewhere could affect the array itself.
Even if it was just one dragon vein under threat, the impact was minimal—virtually negligible on its own. But such effects accumulated over time, layer by layer, until they might create a fatal flaw in the array, leading to its total collapse.
That was exactly how Demon Domain had assaulted Jialan Holy Land in his previous life: exploiting a single such weakness, amplified by Fog Supreme’s betrayal and awakening, to shatter an array capable of withstanding even divine might!
With that bitter lesson in mind, Jialan Fairy had been hyper-vigilant about dragon vein anomalies ever since her rebirth. The moment she sensed unusual fluctuations, she dispatched agents to inquire with the head of Hundred-Li City Mystic Academy in Sunward Kingdom. That’s how she learned of Divine Dream Palace’s coup.
This was Violet Forge Holy Land striking at them—subtly, insidiously, through gradual erosion.
“Seven Peak Masters, do you have any suggestions?”
Wind Supreme deferred entirely to Saint Lord Master’s command.
Yu Shizun remained silent.
Thunder Supreme rumbled in his gravelly voice, “Any who dare invade Jialan territory must be struck down and shattered!”
Cloud Supreme agreed with Thunder Supreme but cautioned against rash action.
Sunny Supreme proposed, “Perhaps we could turn their scheme against them—let them believe we’ve overlooked the trickery, then strike from the shadows.”
Fog Supreme stayed silent.
Snow Supreme endorsed Sunny Supreme’s view and even volunteered. “Let me handle this.”
Jialan Fairy did not respond immediately. Instead, she turned to Yan Zhen.
“Yan’er, what do you think? How should we respond?”
Yan Zhen swept his gaze over the Jialan Seven Sages. In the past year, all had made progress except Thunder Supreme, who remained at Fifth-Grade Supreme. Wind Supreme and Yu Shizun had both reached Ninth-Grade Supreme, Cloud Supreme was at Sixth-Grade, and Sunny, Fog, and Snow Supremes had each advanced a grade to Fifth-Grade Supreme.
Yu Shizun—the former laggard—had surged to second place, no doubt spurring Snow Supreme to step up with her bold offer.
Yan Zhen considered for a moment before replying.
“We can ignore it for now. Once I enter the Saint Realm, I’ll lead an army to raze Violet Forge Holy Land.”
His words sent a shockwave through the Peak Masters—all except Yu Shizun.
Recovering quickly, Wind Supreme laid on the flattery. “Your Highness the Holy Son is truly unparalleled in dominance, a shining example for all disciples of our holy land.”
—You’re awesome; here’s a thumbs up for you~
Yan Zhen could almost hear the unspoken sentiment.
Stroking his beard, Thunder Supreme asked, “Even with Your Highness the Holy Son’s prodigious talent, entering the Saint Realm is no small feat. Might I ask what Your Highness’s current cultivation level is?”
Rather than answer verbally, Yan Zhen released his aura. At his current realm, he could completely conceal it unless he chose otherwise—the Jialan Seven Sages could sense nothing without his permission.
The pressure of an Eight-Turn Half-Saint swept through the hall. The seven Supremes all felt an immense weight bearing down on them. Aside from Yu Shizun, each bore a look of trepidation, their hearts filled with shock and admiration.
Their own Holy Son, His Highness, was far too monstrous. When he’d first been appointed Saint Son, he was merely at the Mystic Lord Realm. In less than five years, he was on the verge of becoming a Mystic Saint!
Even Spirit Mountain Ancestor—if he weren’t sealed away—would probably hole up in his cave and refuse to show his face.
Jialan Fairy beamed with satisfaction.
“Have you broken through, Yan’er?”
Yan Zhen nodded.
“Just now. But I can already sense a bottleneck. At Nine-Turn Half-Saint, my progress will likely stall completely. To enter the Saint Realm, I’ll need an extreme flame.”
“You mean heading to Emerald Continent for Pseudo-God Tribulation Fire?”
“Yes.”
Pseudo-God Tribulation Fire lay in the beast domain of Emerald Continent. It was an extreme flame born from a divine tribulation seed left behind when an ancient holy beast failed its ascension to godhood, seizing the fortune of heaven and earth. Its destructive power was terrifying—even an array like their mountain protection formation, capable of repelling gods, could be forcibly shattered by it!
“Emerald Continent is Demon Domain’s stronghold. It’s far too dangerous. I’ll go with you.”
Yan Zhen shook his head.
“If you appear there, Saint Lord Master, it would draw the attention of Great Brahma Heavenly Monarch and Nine-Head Heavenly Monarch—making things even riskier. The same goes for Evil Consort Master… Long Ying and I can handle it.”
The next day, Yan Zhen gathered all the women and announced his plans.
He had chosen Long Ying because she could understand beast tongue.
To his surprise, Qing Ling spoke up. “Master Yan Zhen, Qing’er wants to go with you too. Is that all right? Qing’er can control snake mystic beasts—it would definitely help.”
Yan Zhen glanced at Cai Lian, who was pointedly staring at her nose with feigned indifference. He couldn’t help feeling exasperated inwardly.
This was clearly her idea.
Still, Qing Ling had a point—her abilities would be quite useful.
“Very well. The three of us will go. Get ready; we leave in five days.”
