“Holy fucking shit!”
Yan Zhen was so shocked that the thought bursting from his mind came out as a classic curse.
The Evil Consort had set her sights on him? Because he’d become the Saint Son? Or because he possessed multiple Extreme Flames, which might connect back to Technique Saint Chen Xi and the Fire Refining Starry Sky?
A powerful urge to flee straight back to the sacred land gripped Yan Zhen.
He was pretty damn strong now—strong enough to blast a Mystic Venerable with Primeval Ashen Land without batting an eye. But the Evil Consort was a top-tier Saint who could go toe-to-toe with Beautiful Female Master and Saint Lord Master. If he fell into her hands, there’d only be one outcome:
He’d be done for!
With that in mind, Yan Zhen hurriedly sent a message to Jiu Youyue.
【Yan Zhen: What’s going on, Jiu Youyue? Can you explain?】
He waited a long time, but no reply came.
Yan Zhen’s heart sank. He sent out another message, this time not to Jiu Youyue but to Sister Ji Ya, Mentor Yu Xuan, and the others, urging them to hurry back.
Before long, the women returned to the rear courtyard, where Yan Zhen was already waiting inside the luxury speedboat.
“What happened, Yan Zhen?”
“Don’t ask yet—get in the boat first. Sister Ji Ya, have you all packed up?”
“I’ve laid all the groundwork. No need to manage things for now; we can just watch and wait.” Ji Ya nodded. “Are we heading back to the sacred land right now, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
“That’s right. Quick, everyone, get in! Hurry!”
Yan Zhen urged them repeatedly. The women had no choice but to squeeze obediently into the cabin. The moment they sat down, the luxury speedboat shot eagerly into the sky, fleeing Myriad Merchants Ancient City like refugees.
By dawn, the luxury speedboat had safely reached the sacred land. Only then did Yan Zhen let out a sigh of relief as he landed atop Holy Son Peak.
“Whew, that scared the hell out of me. Good thing we’re okay.”
Mentor Yu Xuan looked worried.
“What exactly happened, Yan Zhen?”
Yan Zhen slapped his cheeks to steady himself and gestured inside.
“We’ll talk once we’re in.”
The group entered Jia Flame Cave, their faces somewhat grave. Cai Lian spotted the issue right away and stepped forward with concern.
“What’s wrong?”
Yan Zhen slumped onto a long bench in the living room and chugged a big gulp of tea before showing everyone the message from Jiu Youyue.
A chill ran through all the women.
The Evil Consort—second-in-command of the Demon Domain, sworn enemy of Master Chen Xi, utterly ruthless, and insanely powerful. If she targeted you, you were in deep trouble. Right now, no one could protect Yan Zhen except Jialan Saint Lord.
Cai Lian pondered aloud.
“It must be because that battle with Spirit Mountain Ancestor was too flashy, drawing the Evil Consort’s attention… We should go discuss this with Master Chen Xi and Jialan Master.”
Hearing the self-reproach in Cai Lian’s tone, Yan Zhen rallied.
“Master’s in secluded cultivation right now. I’ll go straight to Saint Lord Master… You all be careful too. Stay on Holy Son Peak and cultivate if there’s nothing to do. Travel together if you need to go out. Oh, and don’t tell Long Ying about this for now—she’ll just freak out and throw a fit.”
He paused, then added,
“I’ll make up gifts for you, Mentor, Cai Lian, and the others later. Sister Ji Ya, Aunt Mu, your cave dwellings are the third ones on the left. Have Meng’er and Cousin Ruyu show you the way. If you want to head back to Myriad Merchants Ancient City for business, just let me know.”
All the women nodded in agreement.
“Then I’ll go see Saint Lord Master.”
With that, Yan Zhen flew toward Jialan Peak, diving into Bitter Sea Cave-Heaven and heading straight for that massive White Lotus stretching from earth to sky. To his surprise, upon arriving at Lotus Pod Platform, he found not only Saint Lord Master in her pristine white robes but also a familiar face he hadn’t seen in days—Yu Shizun.
She still wore a flowing water-blue gown, her face veiled, a shawl draped over her arm. Her looks, attire, personality, and aura perfectly matched Yan Zhen’s ideal of an “immortal fairy.”
Seeing Yan Zhen arrive, both women turned their gazes to him—one compassionate and serene, the other still as a deep pool.
Yan Zhen couldn’t help but ask curiously,
“Yu Shizun, what brings you here?”
Yu Shizun replied coolly,
“I was discussing some matters with Holy Lord. Since you have business here, I’ll take my leave.”
She rose to go, but Yan Zhen quickly grabbed her fair wrist.
“Wait, Yu Shizun. I actually have something to tell you.”
Yu Shizun glanced at the hand on her wrist but didn’t pull away. She simply watched Yan Zhen quietly.
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek and said,
“About the dual cultivation… I’m really sorry. It was supposed to be three times a month, nine times over three months, but it’s been almost one time a month. We’ve dragged it out so long, with only three sessions left… I won’t be so busy the next few months. Can we finish the remaining three within a month, Yu Shizun?”
Yu Shizun fell silent for a moment, then gently freed her hand.
“Do as you like.”
With that, she tapped her toe and soared into the sky, flying out of the cave-heaven.
Yan Zhen stared blankly at the fairy’s departing figure, a bit dazed.
“Didn’t she say it was fine? Then why leave? Is Yu Shizun just shy?”
He turned to Saint Lord Master, who shook her head helplessly. This only confused Yan Zhen more.
“Uh, did I say something wrong, Saint Lord Master?”
Jialan Fairy always spoke bluntly.
“Yan’er, you already have plenty of dao companions. Don’t keep flirting with other girls, or the marriage alliance with the Heavenly God Clan might fall through.”
“I didn’t! Last night, Commerce Alliance Leader tried to introduce his daughter to me, and I turned him down on the spot!”
“Good—now, what’s got you in such a panic? Sit down and tell me.”
Jialan Fairy patted the spot beside her.
Yan Zhen felt no hesitation; sitting next to Saint Lord Master actually made him feel safer. He even scooted closer, brushing against her, which boosted her mood by a notch, her gaze growing even warmer and kinder.
“Take a look, Saint Lord Master.”
He showed her the message from the demoness.
Jialan Fairy glanced at it, her expression turning slightly grave.
Yan Zhen frowned.
“Saint Lord Master, could something have happened to Jiu Youyue? What should I do?”
Jialan Fairy shook her head gently.
“Don’t worry, Yan’er. Before her secondary body recovers to Half-Saint cultivation, the Evil Consort won’t devour them—it would weaken her.”
Hearing this, Yan Zhen gradually calmed down.
The Evil Consort had three secondary bodies, each a fragment split from her own flesh. More like daughters than mere clones, since each had developed an independent mind.
She’d created them during her battle with Beautiful Female Master, when she’d suffered grave wounds. To survive, she’d used the fate-defying rebirth technique from the Evil God Defying Heaven Art.
That forbidden method demanded a price, so she’d split off her essence, qi, and spirit as three secondary bodies to bear the karmic backlash—of a realm drop.
That’s why Jiu Youyue’s cultivation was so low; she’d fallen from Half-Saint. Born as a mere Mystic Practitioner, it had only slowly recovered over the years.
Last time they’d met, she was already a Mystic Ancestor; now she was probably nearing Mystic Venerable.
In his previous life, Jiu Youyue had sought Yan Zhen’s help to strike first against the Evil Consort because once she hit Half-Saint, she’d be devoured. But they’d fallen just short.
Jialan Fairy ruffled Yan Zhen’s hair.
“No need to fret. I’m here. For this period, Yan’er, you can cultivate right here with me. It’ll give us a chance to bond like mother and child.”
Yan Zhen nodded weakly, then caught the oddity. “Like mother and child”? They were master and disciple!
“…”
Meanwhile, high in the distant skies, a massive dark city hidden in spatial rifts faintly revealed its sinister silhouette.
