After Yan Zhen stepped out, he returned to his cave abode halfway up the mountainside. He took Cai Lian, Long Ying, Mentor Yu Xuan, Little Aunt Yu Qing, and Aunt Shui Bailan into the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
Little Aunt Yu Qing and Aunt Shui Bailan both looked a bit tense. Yan Zhen comforted them with a few words, then headed back outside. He stood there quietly, gazing out at the sea of clouds ahead.
Yu Shizun walked over and stood beside him. Her jet-black hair, white veil, aquamarine sash, and deep blue skirt hem danced and fluttered in the damp mountain breeze.
“You’re a little scared, aren’t you?” she asked.
“A bit,” Yan Zhen admitted flatly. “After all, we’re dealing with a Half-Saint—the leader of a faction, no less. She could crush me with a flick of her finger.”
“Then why not have Lady Chen Xi step in for you?”
“I can’t keep hiding behind my master. She’s protected me enough already.” Thinking of the script’s second half, Yan Zhen slowly clenched his fist. “Now it’s my turn to protect them. I don’t want to regret anything ever again.”
“You don’t have to shoulder all the responsibility yourself. Otherwise, the burden will be too heavy, and the people around you will ache for you. Since they love you so deeply, you should embrace being loved. Sometimes, letting everyone pamper you isn’t so bad.”
“Don’t worry, Yu Shizun. I’m not being stubborn or playing the macho hero. If I face a problem I can’t handle alone, I’ll ask for help from those around me. It’s just…” Yan Zhen gave a carefree smile. “People have to grow up sometime. Might as well start now.”
“Since Lady Chen Xi asked me to keep an eye on you, I won’t let you do anything reckless. Spirit Mountain Ancestor should be emerging from seclusion soon. Are you planning to wait here for him?”
No sooner had she spoken than the Yu Shizun frowned and turned around.
Ten figures appeared one after another, their Mystic Venerable auras spreading out. They were the ten great elders of Rain God Peak.
Notably, Grand Elder Ye Long and Second Elder Wen Hui stood together.
From what Yan Zhen knew, the two represented opposing factions.
“Greetings, Supreme!”
The ten elders chorused their salute. Yu Shizun cast a cold sidelong glance at them.
“What is it?”
Grand Elder Ye Long stepped forward.
“Reporting to the Supreme: Disciple Yan Zhen from Middle Peak brutally murdered the Chief Manager of Snow Spirit Peak, Ling Jun. This will soon draw the wrath of Snow Supreme and Spirit Mountain Ancestor. To avoid implicating Rain God Peak, we beseech the Supreme to allow us to take him into custody and hand him over to Snow Spirit Peak for judgment.”
Yu Shizun glanced at Ye Long, then at Wen Hui and the other elders.
“Is this your view as well?”
The third elder, a woman in palace robes, spoke up.
“Supreme, the trouble young friend Yan Zhen has stirred up is far too great. Please think it over.”
The fifth elder chimed in.
“Indeed, Supreme. If it were just Snow Spirit Peak, Rain God Peak wouldn’t fear them. But Spirit Mountain Ancestor…”
The seventh and ninth elders echoed similar sentiments.
If the Yu Shizun insisted on shielding a murderer like Yan Zhen, she would draw Spirit Mountain Ancestor’s ire. Rain God Peak already ranked second-to-last among the seven peaks, just above Mist Lord Peak. Any targeting could relegate them to dead last.
As elders of Rain God Peak, they naturally didn’t want to see that happen.
Yu Shizun asked calmly,
“What about the rest of you?”
Wen Hui lowered her eyes deferentially.
“This old woman follows the Supreme’s arrangements.”
Ye Long whipped his head around, glaring at the old rival he’d never gotten along with.
They had agreed to jointly urge the Yu Shizun to hand over Yan Zhen and spare Rain God Peak the fallout. He hadn’t expected this damn old hag to flip at the last moment!
It wasn’t just Wen Hui. The fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth elders all said they would “follow the Supreme.” Though they weren’t fond of Yan Zhen either, they found the second elder’s words persuasive.
“The Supreme clearly intends to protect him. Why poke the bear? Angering her wouldn’t end any better than offending Spirit Mountain Ancestor.”
After all, they were the Yu Shizun’s people.
Grand Elder wasn’t stupid—he was just too eager for revenge against Yan Zhen, so Second Elder had outmaneuvered him.
Yu Shizun swept her gaze over the ten elders and said slowly,
“Those worried about fallout are free to leave Rain God Peak. This Seat won’t hold it against you.”
The five elders led by Ye Long shuddered. The seventh and ninth elders dropped to one knee at once, cupping their fists.
“Please quell your anger, Supreme! We have no intention of abandoning you!”
“We only offered humble suggestions for Rain God Peak’s future prosperity. We would never presume to dictate your actions!”
Thud, thud. The third and fifth elders caved too, scrambling to apologize. They hadn’t expected the Yu Shizun’s stance to be so firm.
Yan Zhen was just a live-in son-in-law of the Yu Family. Sure, he had exceptional talent, but he hadn’t matured yet. How could he catch a Supreme’s eye?
Now they saw how wrong they’d been.
Seeing this, Ye Long had no choice but to bow and admit his error.
“Get up,” the Yu Shizun said flatly. “Rain God Peak will be fine. Return to your duties… At the start of next month, this Seat will reassign the elder seats. Make good use of your time.”
The ten elders’ hearts jolted at her words. Ye Long especially lifted his head, eyes wide as he stared at the Yu Shizun, clearly unable to accept the decision. Wen Hui, by contrast, let a faint, gentle smile curve her lips.
The ten elders departed one by one. Yan Zhen remarked,
“Mentor Yu Xuan told me Grand Elder Ye Long—that backstabber—has dealings with Snow Spirit Peak. Why give him another chance, Yu Shizun?”
Yu Shizun gazed quietly at the sea of clouds for a long moment before replying,
“He wasn’t like this before. He just grew bitter from failing to break through to Supreme.”
“Do you think Grand Elder will turn over a new leaf?”
“A blank sheet of paper is easy to stain black, but turning it white again is much harder.”
“You’re right. So how do you plan to deal with him?”
“We’ll see.”
“…”
“Are you really going to stand here waiting?”
“Uh, nah. Feels kinda dumb. Let’s head back to the cave abode. Care to come in for a bit, Yu Shizun?”
“Very well.”
The two walked side by side, chatting as they entered the cave abode—like close friends rather than elder and junior.
Yu Shizun was quite interested in his Extreme Flames, so Yan Zhen showed her his five kinds. The one that intrigued her most turned out to be the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame.
After discussing the Extreme Flames, the Yu Shizun demonstrated her Palm Rain Realm for him. It resembled a glowing snow globe, dreamlike and beautiful, yet terrifyingly powerful. It effortlessly snuffed out Yan Zhen’s Great Crimson Heaven Flame.
They talked from dusk into the night, from midnight until dawn.
At some moment when pale light broke in the east, a vast aura erupted, sweeping across nearly the entire holy land.
A beam of clear light shot skyward from Supreme Peak, piercing the clouds. Every disciple, steward, and elder felt an oppressive pressure that made breathing difficult, as if invisible chains bound them.
It was the power of laws—a Half-Saint’s domain.
Spirit Mountain Ancestor had finally emerged from seclusion!
