At this moment, Jiang Wuhen’s aura blazed like a rising sun. Beneath his double pupils, the bearing of a sovereign king radiated in full.
Hearing those words, the Dragon Peng Venerable’s massive body shuddered. In a blaze of golden light, its form rapidly shrank.
In the end, he assumed a humanoid shape.
A middle-aged man draped in a golden robe, his bearing imperious even without trying. Though he carried a certain domineering majesty, he was now covered in wounds and looked utterly bedraggled.
“This Venerable… this subordinate… is willing to submit!”
The Dragon Peng Venerable cast a glance at the Shadow Venerable shrouded in black behind Jiang Wuhen and swallowed hard.
And yet, even as the words left his mouth, a shadow of cunning flickered in his eyes.
Hmph. A mere junior dares demand this Venerable’s submission?
What this Venerable fears is only the Shadow Venerable behind him. Once that person is gone, this Venerable will seize you and drag you back to the Great Desolation Domain.
For now, I’ll let you have your fun…
The Dragon Peng Venerable thought to himself.
That flicker of cunning was captured perfectly by Jiang Wuhen’s double pupils.
This old thing really can’t be trusted…
Jiang Wuhen laughed inwardly and studied the Dragon Peng Venerable, his gaze darkening.
“Since you submit, then drop your resistance and let me plant a brand within your sea of consciousness.”
“From this day forward, you are my, Jiang Wuhen’s, mount!”
At these words, the Dragon Peng Venerable’s brow furrowed.
A mount?
This Venerable, the mighty Dragon Peng Venerable, reduced to being this brat’s mount?
Hmph. Let him plant whatever he wants. This Venerable would like to see what tricks a mere divine martial realm boy can pull!
The Dragon Peng Venerable thought contemptuously.
The next instant, he truly released all resistance.
“Primordial forbidden art, soul-controlling art!”
Jiang Wuhen pointed his finger, and a soul seed shot into the center of the Dragon Peng Venerable’s brow.
In an instant, the Dragon Peng Venerable’s entire body trembled.
“This… this is… the soul-controlling art!”
“Impossible… impossible!”
“A treasure art lost since the primordial era! How can you possibly command it?!”
The Dragon Peng Venerable cried in shock.
Jiang Wuhen smiled smugly.
“Since you know the soul-controlling art, you know what to do from now on.”
“Rest easy. Serve me well, be a good mount, and I… won’t let you come out on the losing end.”
“But if you harbor thoughts of betrayal, I can take your life with a single thought.”
“If you don’t believe me, feel free to try.”
Though Jiang Wuhen was smiling, that smile was the most terrifying thing the Dragon Peng Venerable had ever seen.
[Ding dong. The Dragon Peng Venerable has submitted in true allegiance. Long-term quest: Nine Dragons Pulling Carriage. Progress: (1/9)]
The notification sounded, and Jiang Wuhen gave a quiet nod of satisfaction.
Then his gaze shifted to the Shadow Venerable behind him.
“Usually, whenever you finish off an opponent for me, you never linger behind me for more than three breaths. This time… were you worried the old thing would counterattack?”
“No need for concern. Right now, he is one hundred percent loyal.”
Jiang Wuhen said lightly.
“Imperial Son. The people from the Divine Maiden Sect have arrived…”
The Shadow Venerable’s voice was hoarse and devoid of any emotion.
“The Divine Maiden Sect?”
“Heh. Seven days, and they’ve finally come.”
“Is the Divine Maiden Sect’s sect master, Yun Lan, actually here in person?”
Jiang Wuhen asked.
The Shadow Venerable nodded.
“Not just the Yunshang Divine Maiden. Also the Divine Maiden Sect’s ‘Purple Cloud Saintess,’ Lin Ziyan.”
“The Empress fears the Divine Maiden Sect comes with ill intent. There may be other Divine Maiden Sect powerhouses who have disguised themselves and infiltrated Heavenly One Immortal City.”
“The Imperial Son’s identity is too conspicuous to linger long in a motley place like the spirit cultivator market. Please return to the immortal sect for your safety!”
Jiang Wuhen laughed at this.
“Lin Ziyan. That legendary successor of the Azure Nether Sword Emperor…”
“Indeed, they come with ill intent!”
“Tell my Shizun I’ll return to the sect at once and meet this so-called Purple Cloud Saintess!”
Jiang Wuhen said, patting the Dragon Peng Venerable at his side and casually tossing him a supreme healing pill.
Under the soul-controlling art, the Dragon Peng Venerable quickly perceived Jiang Wuhen’s intent.
He swallowed the pill, then with a shake of his body revealed the true form of the ancient dragon peng.
Under the medicine’s power, its wounds began healing at a visible pace.
Jiang Wuhen leaped onto the dragon peng’s back and looked toward the Heavenly One Immortal Sect with a smile.
“As the sage said, ‘Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?'”
Which meant: having a friend show up at your door to be a sparring partner, how could one not be delighted?
Faintly, he caught the scent of fleeceable sheep.
The pool of sheep to fleece had just gotten bigger!
…
Heavenly One Immortal City, Spirit Cultivator Market.
Xiao Chen had witnessed everything, up to the moment Jiang Wuhen departed on dragon peng back.
By now, deep wariness filled his eyes.
“Though Jiang Wuhen has no dao protector at his side, he has such a powerhouse guarding him in secret.”
“Is this… the weight of the Heavenly One Immortal Sect’s Imperial Son…”
Xiao Chen murmured.
“What’s wrong, Little Chen? Are you envious?”
The mysterious voice sounded.
Xiao Chen gave a bitter laugh.
“To say I’m not envious would be a lie…”
“But I have fortunes of my own that Jiang Wuhen does not. And I have Shizun’s patient guidance.”
“So I don’t believe his future achievements will surpass mine.”
The mysterious voice chuckled.
“Haha! Excellent, that you think this way!”
“This time, though we didn’t obtain that drop of kunpeng precious blood, precious blood was spilled in both of Jiang Wuhen’s battles with those two ancient dragon pengs. This master gathered some for you. The quality may not match kunpeng precious blood, but the quantity makes up for it.”
“When you return, use the ‘medicinal bath body tempering’ method this master taught you and temper your body with half the dragon peng precious blood. Save the other half for when you subdue the Eternal Green Spirit Flame.”
At these words, Xiao Chen’s eyebrows rose.
“Shizun, you know where the Eternal Green Spirit Flame is?”
The mysterious voice laughed.
“In my youth, when I traveled the Desolate Ancient Continent, I once had a chance to obtain the Eternal Green Spirit Flame. Due to a moment of carelessness, it slipped through my fingers.”
“It’s been several hundred years. By my reckoning, the ‘Eternal Life Sacred Mountain’ is due to open again soon. Once the Divine Maiden Sect and the Heavenly One Immortal Sect have finished their negotiations and you regain your freedom, you should be able to set out for the Eternal Life Sacred Mountain…”
“But for now, you must return to the Heavenly One Immortal Sect at once!”
“The people from the Divine Maiden Sect have arrived…”
Hearing this, Xiao Chen’s brow furrowed.
“Oh? Don’t tell me… the Yunshang Divine Maiden has actually come in person…”
The mysterious voice chuckled.
“Not just Yun Lan. Also your fiancée, Lin Ziyan.”
“Jiang Wuhen rushed back to the sect earlier. That must be the reason.”
Xiao Chen’s gaze sharpened.
“Lin Ziyan… has she come out of seclusion?”
…
Heavenly One Immortal Sect, before the Heavenly One Divine Hall.
Divine Maiden Yun Lan and Saintess Lin Ziyan, flanked by a retinue of Divine Maiden Sect powerhouses, came face to face with Luo Qingning.
Fengxi and the others had also been brought out, the soul-controlling curse upon them, standing among the Heavenly One Immortal Sect’s powerhouses.
“Luo Qingning. This Sect Master has come. It’s time you… released our people.”
Though Yun Lan was a woman, her words carried an unquestionable authority.
Luo Qingning smiled faintly at this.
“Your esteemed sect’s first elder brought a group of powerhouses, swaggered about, trespassed into the Heavenly One Immortal Sect, ruined my disciple’s wedding, and caused the Heavenly One Immortal Sect enormous losses.”
“Let’s settle that account first. Then we can talk about releasing anyone.”
At these words, Fengxi looked utterly bewildered.
After all, Jiang Wuhen’s wedding had been cancelled by Luo Qingning herself. It had virtually nothing to do with the Divine Maiden Sect’s arrival.
“Luo Qingning, don’t you dare slander us! What does any of this have to do with us?”
“You… you’re clearly trying to extort us!”
Fengxi shot back.
But before the words were fully out—
SLAP!
Luo Qingning flicked her jade hand and landed a resounding slap across Fengxi’s face from a distance.
A vivid red palm print bloomed across that fair cheek.
“Since you know This Emperor is extorting, what business does a ‘ransom hostage’ like you have opening your mouth!”
Luo Qingning said coldly.
Seeing this, Yun Lan’s beautiful eyes narrowed.
“Luo Qingning, you…”
Beating a dog meant looking at its master first. Luo Qingning’s actions were nothing less than a show of dominance meant to put her in her place!
And just then—
“Senior Sister, stay calm. She’s deliberately provoking you!”
“Don’t forget the purpose of our visit.”
Lin Ziyan’s voice transmission whispered into her mind as a reminder.
Yun Lan gave a subtle nod, her gaze sweeping over the Heavenly One Immortal Sect’s assembled powerhouses.
“I have long heard that the Heavenly One Immortal Sect’s Imperial Son is a natural born sage, with talent beyond compare.”
“Why do I not see him today?”
Yun Lan said calmly.
Before the words were fully out, the sky above erupted with gale-force winds and surging demonic qi.
Everyone looked up in alarm. There, riding atop the sky, was a golden dragon peng.
“A primordial remnant species. An ancient dragon peng?”
The crowd narrowed their eyes, recognizing the creature’s identity.
But just then, someone noticed a familiar figure standing upon the dragon peng.
Robes black as ink. Overwhelmingly domineering.
“Since the Yunshang Divine Maiden admires me so, then naturally… I must appear in person!”
“I am the Heavenly One Immortal Sect’s Imperial Son, Jiang Wuhen!”
