A Slap

In the end, Monk Wu Wei's corpse was left exposed in the wilderness. Without that bald head, his body naturally became food for beasts and birds of prey.

Xiang Tian continued on his way toward Cloud Marsh. There was not much distance left, and his mood improved somewhat.

But just when he thought he could finally enjoy the scenery in peace, another group appeared.

Seeing Shi Mu at their head, Xiang Tian's expression turned grave. He did not know Shi Mu, but from the aura emanating from him, he already knew that the man before him was a Golden Immortal!

This realm could basically be called the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens. It was impossible not to feel pressure when facing someone like that.

Moreover, at least half the people behind Shi Mu were in the True Immortal Realm!

Xiang Tian had already figured out how he should flee. Against a lineup like this, even if he had something to rely on, fighting them would bring him no benefit.

Jade Pool and the Immortal Academy were fundamentally different. Jade Pool counted as a sect faction, and during the era when Qu Ying presided over it, it was invincible throughout the Nine Heavens.

"Young Master-in-law, look."

After speaking, Shi Mu handed over Monk Wu Wei's head. Blood was still dripping from it. Xiang Tian broke down on the spot, his mind going completely blank!

His breakdown was not because of Monk Wu Wei's head, but because of Shi Mu's form of address.

"What did you call me?"

Xiang Tian's eyes widened in disbelief. He was a perfectly respectable single young man, and this guy was calling him young master-in-law?

Shi Mu looked at Xiang Tian with utter sincerity in his eyes. "Young Master-in-law. The Immortal Lord has spoken—she wishes to marry Ning Rong to you. She even sent us to bring you back to Jade Pool."

He could not endure it. He truly could not endure it! Xiang Tian felt his entire body boiling, as though a blaze had erupted above his head and his blood was rushing straight into his brain. Even if you're a Golden Immortal, I'll beat your head full of lumps today!

With a thought from Xiang Tian, the Companion Bracelet around his wrist began to emit a dim glow, gradually wrapping around him. The sight made Shi Mu and the others' scalps tingle. They could not understand why Xiang Tian was immediately about to attack. This aura and these fluctuations completely surpassed their comprehension, as though Xiang Tian himself had become a raging flood and savage beast.

"What's going on?!"

Even Shi Mu, a Golden Immortal, felt somewhat intimidated as he faced Xiang Tian. How could this kid be so bizarre?

The others had all gone pale, badly frightened by the disturbance. They cursed inwardly, Who the hell knows what's going on?

"Since Jade Pool insists on bullying people beyond all reason, don't blame me for being rude!"

Xiang Tian sneered, his face grim and chilling. He might not kill these people, but whether he would cripple them was another matter entirely.

The Jade Pool group turned pale in shock. They could see that Xiang Tian truly intended to strike. Feeling his aura steadily rise, they immediately realized something was wrong and each assumed a defensive stance.

But at that moment, something sudden happened.

The light around Xiang Tian's body abruptly scattered without warning, revealing Xiang Tian himself with a blank, bewildered expression.

Staring at his Companion Bracelet, Xiang Tian was dumbfounded.

He continued to activate it and reached out with his divine sense, but the Companion Bracelet remained utterly unresponsive.

Xiang Tian was speechless. I'm about to discuss the Dao with Golden Immortal and True Immortal big shots, and you choose this critical moment to let me down?

Seeing Xiang Tian in such an awkward state, Shi Mu and the others immediately guessed the reason and relaxed.

Shi Mu burst into laughter. "Young Master-in-law, Heaven's will cannot be defied. Just come back with us."

With that, he attacked directly. Xiang Tian's face darkened as he continuously dodged. Fortunately, Shi Mu was still fairly restrained, so Xiang Tian could barely handle him.

Xiang Tian felt stifled inside. Why had the Companion Bracelet cut off contact with him at precisely this time? Without it, he was truly nothing more than an ordinary Deity Transformation Realm cultivator. As for the gods of heaven and earth, each performing their own duties, he could not contact them at all right now, much less summon them.

As Shi Mu's attacks grew increasingly fierce, Xiang Tian tore through space several times in an attempt to escape, but Shi Mu stopped him every time. The others merely stood there, watching the show.

Xiang Tian stopped moving and pointed at Shi Mu. "Old man, I advise you not to go too far. I'm not someone to be trifled with."

Shi Mu wore an innocent expression. "This is all the Immortal Lord's will. This old man has no choice either. Since the young master-in-law refuses to cooperate, don't blame this old man for being rough."

After speaking, he fumbled around at his waist with both hands, then directly pulled out his belt. The sight left Xiang Tian dumbfounded, while the others watched with great interest, making comments among themselves.

"Good heavens, Elder Shi's Immortal Binding Rope hasn't been brought out for hundreds of years, has it? He's really gone all out for the young master-in-law."

"Exactly. This trip was truly worth it. I heard that refining this Immortal Binding Rope alone took a hundred years. Today, we've really had our eyes opened."

Shi Mu tossed out that silver strip of cloth, and it instantly transformed into a long rainbow, fluttering through the air as it chased after Xiang Tian.

Xiang Tian darted about wildly, but he simply could not escape the thing. It merely brushed the corner of his clothes, yet the Immortal Binding Rope immediately climbed over him and bound him tightly from head to toe.

Xiang Tian nearly fainted from anger. Old man, aren't you going too far? You're tying me up with your belt?

Don't give me that Immortal Binding Rope nonsense, or talk about immortal treasures. All I know is that you pulled this thing off your waist!

Yet no matter how hard Xiang Tian struggled, he could not break free from the Immortal Binding Rope.

Seeing Xiang Tian struggling constantly, his face flushed red from exertion, Shi Mu stroked his beard in satisfaction and laughed. "Young Master-in-law, don't waste your strength. This Immortal Binding Rope was tempered by me from dragon sinews. In your current state, it is impossible for you to break free."

Xiang Tian laughed in anger and looked at Shi Mu. "I'll say it one more time. I'm not anyone's young master-in-law, and Jade Pool has absolutely nothing to do with me."

Shi Mu shook his head with a sigh. "You should tell the Immortal Lord those words yourself, Young Master-in-law. Well then, this old bag of bones will have to offend you first."

With that, he led Xiang Tian away from the area, while the others followed behind.

Poor Xiang Tian was bursting with pent-up anger, yet he had nowhere to vent it. He truly had never imagined that one day he would experience something like this.

Within the Jade Pool immortal realm, Xiang Tian's face was so dark it seemed ready to drip water. Several dozen people in the hall were looking him up and down, whispering among themselves and passing judgment.

He was still bound by the Immortal Binding Rope, while the woman seated on the platform had kept her eyes lowered from beginning to end, not once giving him a proper look.

Xiang Tian's fury had reached its peak. He regretted it—when Jade Pool had posted that notice, he should have brought people here and torn Jade Pool apart.

He had never anticipated things ending up like this.

"Are you Xiang Tian?"

At last, Qu Ying spoke.

Xiang Tian gave a cold snort and did not acknowledge her at all.

Qu Ying rose to her feet and walked up before Xiang Tian.

Slap!

The crisp crack rang out bright and clear. Five finger marks immediately surfaced on Xiang Tian's cheek.

Everyone in the hall fell silent as cicadas in winter. None of them had expected the Queen Mother of the West to do this. Hadn't she brought Xiang Tian back to have him marry Ning Rong?

Xiang Tian froze. The pain on his face was nothing to him, but this was the first time in his life that someone had slapped him. He looked at Qu Ying, disbelief in his eyes—but even more so, towering rage.

Contempt filled the Queen Mother of the West's gaze. "This slap is for bullying Ning Rong in front of the entire academy. Don't worry. After this, I'll make you repay every last bit of harm you inflicted on Ning Rong."