88 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

# Chapter 88 Three days later, Wu Ji and the people of Cang Xue arrived as expected. Leading the group from Chang Xia was the elder himself, accompanied by a dozen elite disciples, some of whom had already reached the Golden Core stage. Among them, the one with the lowest cultivation level was the young palace master, Chen Ning. Representing Cang Xue, Zuo Ren had sent his top disciple, Gan Gan, who had reached the Nascent Soul stage and was also followed by a group of elite disciples. The two teams traveled together, piercing through the clouds and mist, heading straight for the main hall of Luan Qing. Early in the morning, Ji Wu Nian went to see the sect leader. Yue Bai knew she needed to be in the main hall to handle the visitors. Since Qin Shuang was present, she left Ye Er in the hall to look after things and did not bring her along. "Little Shuang," Yue Bai gently hugged Qin Shuang and spoke softly to her, "I have some important matters to attend to, so I won’t be able to stay with you the entire time. Can you be good and wait for me?" “Mm.” Qin Shuang nodded, leaning obediently against Yue Bai. Surrounding her were numerous toys that Ji Wu Nian had brought back for her, keeping her occupied and ensuring she wouldn’t disturb Yue Bai. Yue Bai patted her head, leaving a wisp of her soul to accompany Qin Shuang, and then condensing her soul to the main hall, watching from a distance. The conversation had already moved past the pleasantries. Gan Gan bowed towards Zhao Zi Chen and spoke directly, “Daoist Xuan Ming, we are here regarding the orphaned descendants of the Jiang and Ning families. We hope that San Qing will call them out so we can better understand the details of what happened back then.” “...Do they have no shame?” Jiu Yi grumbled upon hearing this, feeling irritated. “They pushed everything onto us, and now they come asking for people.” Yue Bai didn’t respond to him. In fact, she wasn’t particularly interested in their evasions and excuses either. She had already interfered with Jiang and Ning, making sure that even if they were brought out for confrontation, there would be no issues. “It’s true that Jiang and Ning are with San Qing,” Zhao Zi Chen, who was seated in the main position, responded. Beside him were Liu Li and Wen Zheng. “But he has been unwell recently and is not fit for travel.” “Unfit for travel?” Chang Xia scoffed. “I think it’s San Qing who doesn't want to hand him over. His entire family was slaughtered by the demonic clan, and not only did you not seek justice for him, but you also hinder him now. Do you really consider him one of your disciples?” “Yu Ning has been under my tutelage for many years, and I have been diligent in teaching him,” Wen Zheng stepped forward, staring directly at Chang Xia. “Elder Chang Xia should manage your own affairs first.” Speaking of their own affairs, Wu Ji’s grievances were specifically with Leng Jian and Song Ze. Chang Xia clenched his folding fan, speaking coldly, “The demonic clan harbored Lingzhou, conspired with the devils, and cruelly killed my disciple. The crimes are unforgivable.” He spoke with such hatred that it puzzled Jiu Yi. “Where did this ‘harboring’ Lingzhou come from... Did they just make it up?” “Perhaps it’s something conjured up from thin air and believed after being spread for a long time,” Yue Bai lazily surmised. “Then there’s also the matter with Song Ze, leading them to lump demons and devils together, which forces them to believe even if they don't want to.” In reality, when it came to framing the demonic clan, Ji Wu Nian had done quite a decent job of stirring the waters. However, she had left some contingency plans, shifting perspectives accordingly. Yue Bai scanned the hall and finally spotted Ji Wu Nian in a corner, leaning against the wall with a look of utter boredom. Clearly, such mutual mudslinging did not interest her and, in fact, made her slightly revulsed. If Wu Ji and Cang Xue really had the power to crush the demonic realm, they wouldn’t have been in a stalemate for so long. Making various excuses was merely their way of trying to drag other immortal sects into the mire. Ideally, they could find some common ground and get other sects to aid them. Once the demonic realm was conquered, they could all share the spoils together. It was rumored that the Xie family already planned to get involved, and several other families allied with the Jiang and Ning clans likewise aimed to seize a piece of the pie. Among these people, there was one person Yue Bai had met a few times before. Gao Yun of Ling Yun Hall. She hadn't expected to see him again after their last encounter at Moon Port, but since he was here, it might prove useful later. Listening further felt pointless, so Yue Bai decided to read Chen Ning's sea of consciousness while she sat there, not wasting any more time. “...In the end, you just want to go back and look after the kid,” Jiu Yi scorned her. Yue Bai did not refute him, but back in Qing Lin Hall, she kissed Qin Shuang's forehead and played with her. The toys Ji Wu Nian had brought for Qin Shuang were varied and considerate of her blindness. Some toys were familiar to her, while many others were new. Yue Bai investigated and found that the local craftsmen could not make such fine toys. Ji Wu Nian had sent blueprints back home, and palace craftsmen had made these toys and sent them over. A princess she might be, but she still had an entire empire at her disposal. “...Confine her until she dies,” Jiu Yi remarked dryly. No one could confine her now, and Yue Bai realized her confinements were always nominal. She still caused trouble whenever she wanted, showing no fear at all. That was, except for poor Yue Bai would always have her own cultivation disrupted, constantly trailing after mischief... “Divine One?” Yue Bai snapped back to reality. Qin Shuang was handing her a building block. The block had protrusions that fit into indentations on other blocks, allowing Qin Shuang to build by feel. A few days ago, Ji Wu Nian had brought a whole lot of these, covering the floor with them. Oh, right, she also brought a blanket made of fine white fox fur, nearly covering the entire area before Yue Bai’s bed. Ji Wu Nian’s affection for Qin Shuang knew no bounds. Yue Bai took the block Qin Shuang handed her, a small triangle, with two indentations at the bottom, perfect for completing the house she was building. “Little Shuang,” Yue Bai held her hand, guiding her to place the block, seeing the small house nearly complete. “Here, like this...” Suddenly, a loud noise tore through the sky, making the ground tremble and the blocks collapse with a clatter. “...Ah...” Qin Shuang’s small hand hesitated, frowning slightly. “Divine One...” The house had fallen... “Calm down, Little Shuang,” Yue Bai quickly rearranged the blocks into their initial position, leaving a wisp of her soul to stay with her, and immediately condensed her soul to exit. Once outside, she saw a grand array stirring above, dark clouds covering a corner of the sky. The sunlight reflected off scales within the clouds, making the darkness even more striking. Disciples were already flying towards the sky, confronting a black flood dragon baring its fangs, looking ferocious. Ah, Little Shuang’s house fell again. Yue Bai sighed. ...Can’t anyone follow proper protocols to enter through the front gate? Why do they all love making grand entrances? “...It’s called presence,” Jiu Yi remarked, noting that Yue Bai had grown increasingly sarcastic. “Can't let others look down on them.” They might not want others looking down on them, but what about Yue Bai’s position? Sure enough, a thunderous roar came from the main peak of Luan Qing, “What fiend dares to rampage here?” It wasn’t a voice familiar to Yue Bai from the San Qing sect. Moreover, the one flying up wasn’t a member of San Qing either. Wu Ji’s elder, Chang Xia, swept his folding fan, manifesting three fireballs as tall as a man. With a second wave, the fireballs roared towards the black flood dragon. The wind fueled the flames, causing them to expand rapidly. By mid-air, they were each over twenty zhang in diameter. With three of them stacked, it was impossible to see the flood dragon among them. Yet while the flood dragon disappeared, its roar still echoed through the sky, seemingly challenging the fireballs within the array. ...If they truly started fighting, it would be disastrous. Yue Bai stepped into the void, placing herself between the fireballs and the flood dragon’s claws. Leaping forward, Yue Bai’s soul stirred, and the claws halted behind her. The purple lightning in her hand swept across the fireballs, striking their cores. The sensation at the front of her weapon was off, and before she felt the scorching heat, Yue Bai frowned, seeing white shadows amid the golden-red flames. The heat, though seemingly searing, was insubstantial and harmless. The silent ice shattered the passionate heart. The person carrying the wind opened their eyes wide upon seeing Yue Bai. Surrounded by dazzling flames interspersed with shards of ice caused by Ji Wu Nian’s freezing technique, they lost their destructive power, leaving behind a strange brilliance that made Ji Wu Nian appear somewhat foolish. If you want to pluck, pluck cleanly. What’s the point of rushing in now? “Yue...” Yue Bai ignored her, passing through as a shadow, striding forward without looking back, allowing the flames to blaze behind her. Everyone witnessed the sky ablaze, with the faintly-clad woman traversing through the flames and standing amidst the wind. The fire sea exploded behind her, the black dragon rolled, and a white-robed immortal observed her from behind, staring at her silhouette. The woman retracted her long whip into her hand, speaking softly, “I invited her.” Her voice, like delicate beads falling onto a tray, was crisp and cool. Gao Yun recognized her, pointing to the sky in surprise, “It’s her, the girl from Moon Port!” The girl from Moon Port. The one who shot two infants with a single arrow, seemingly also the one Ming Yun shot to defeat the demon general. Everyone paused, scrutinizing her at the palace door. Liu Li especially, taking a step forward, finally saw her clearly. In the air, she took a step to land before the crowd. With her mask still on, hands behind her back, she smiled gently, appearing non-threatening despite her recent display. “I heard the immortal sects are convening here. Given your misunderstandings with the demonic clan, I invited a friend from the demonic clan to discuss the matter. Will the immortals be willing to listen?” As the host, Zhao Zi Chen grew wary of the sudden appearance of a masked woman in San Qing without him noticing. “May I know who you are?” “Yue Bai.” Ji Wu Nian landed just in time to hear her reveal her true name, casting a glance at her. “Yue Bai, how audacious you are,” scoffed Chang Xia, clenching his folding fan tighter. “No matter who you are, allying with the demonic clan, you expect us to listen?” Yue Bai looked at him coldly, unfazed by his anger. “You might be angry that your disciple was killed, but you still have another disciple in their hands. Wouldn’t you listen?” She glanced at the black flood dragon still hovering above. He had just been on the verge of breaking through San Qing's grand array in a fit of rage but was now obediently held in check by Yue Bai, though his patience seemed to be wearing thin. “What...?” Chang Xia’s eyes widened. “My disciple?” Yue Bai did not immediately respond to him. Instead, she bowed respectfully to Zhao Zi Chen. "I apologize for choosing San Qing as the venue without prior permission, Sect Leader. Would you kindly open the array to let him in, to avoid any unnecessary confrontation?" “How do we know you aren’t colluding with the demonic clan? Judging from that creature’s form, it's the same black flood dragon from Moon Port,” Gan Gan interjected. “Allowing such a malicious beast into San Qing? It would taint our sacred grounds.” Yue Bai turned her head slightly. “Are you with San Qing?” Gan Gan raised his chin. “I am the chief disciple of Cang Xue Peak, Gan Gan.” “...So not of San Qing,” Yue Bai tilted her head slightly, “Then what does it have to do with you?” “You...” Liu Li, seeing the two at an impasse, stepped forward to take over the conversation, “Miss Yue Bai, I didn’t get a chance to thank you for your actions at Moon Port. Liu Li feels deeply ashamed for the delay.” Admitting San Qing owed her a debt, Yue Bai smiled and accepted gracefully, “It was a minor matter. No need for Elder Liu Li to feel embarrassed.” Zhao Zi Chen, holding his horsetail whisk, followed suit, “Miss Yue Bai saved my junior brother that day, and the San Qing Sect is grateful. Today, we will trust Miss Yue Bai once more.” “Sect Leader Zhao!” Chang Xia tried to intervene, “That’s the black flood dragon from Moon Port. It must be him who hurt Elder Liu Li! This woman is undoubtedly in league with the demonic clan...” “But she did slay the demonic cultivator, did she not?” Ji Wu Nian approached, glancing at Yue Bai, “I was there that day. This young lady defended the people of Moon Port and punished the wicked. I trust her based on that alone.” “A guest is a guest,” Zhao Zi Chen swapped his horsetail whisk to his other hand, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, exuding an aura of authority. “The San Qing Sect does not fear a little black flood dragon’s visit. As the saying goes, ‘to hear both sides is to be enlightened,’ so let's hear what they have to say.” As the sect leader, his words commanded respect. Everyone bowed in acknowledgment, Yue Bai included. The mountain’s protective array opened a circular opening, allowing the black flood dragon and his entourage of smaller demons to enter. Yue Bai casually glanced over them, pleased to see that they had at least taken care of their claws. The black flood dragon transformed into a humanoid form upon landing, though he retained some scales on his neck and his conjured clothes were adorned with black scales, giving him a formidable appearance. His golden eyes scanned the assembled immortals, finally resting solely on Yue Bai, and he greeted her, “My Master.” Yue Bai hadn’t even managed to say “Mm” before a voice rang out from the group of small demons. “...Elder! Elder Chang Xia!”