Immortal Ancestor's Decree; Returning Victorious

Inside the dark room of the Jade Curtain Flying Boat, You Su's fingertips were caressing the pearl buttons on Qianhua Venerable's cheongsam.

This black and gold cheongsam is exquisitely crafted, except for the two pink frog buttons.

A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched precariously on the woman's nose; behind the lenses, her eyes shimmered like spring water, and a sigh escaped her lips, carrying the scent of cedarwood.

"My master rejected the supplier of this Snow Silkworm Silk, how will he compensate me...?"

Before he finished speaking, Qianhua Venerable's pupils suddenly contracted, and a ribbon shot out from his sleeve, sweeping the scattered clothes into the shadows behind the screen.

Before You Su could react to what was happening, her hands were bound with silk and she was forcefully pressed against the table.

This move, which felt like a 'turnaround and take control', made You Su subconsciously angry. However, when he saw the other party's suddenly serious expression, he roughly guessed the reason and, as if by telepathy, obediently cooperated without resisting.

"Young Master Da, do you know that this flying boat is mine? Not only the flying boat, but everything inside it is mine too." Qianhua Venerable gently brushed her jade fingers across the young man's cheek, like a mature woman teasing a respectable young man. "Since you willingly walked into the trap, why blame me for catching you like a turtle in a jar?"

It's rare to have a chance to tease You Su like this without getting a counterattack, and she seemed to be having a lot of fun acting it out.

You Su adopted a defiant stance, saying, "Qianhua Venerable, please show some respect. I was unaware that this was your flying boat beforehand. Please release the silk, and I will leave immediately."

"Young man, why do you see me as a viper? Didn't we get along well the first time? Now that troublesome woman is holding a meeting on the sacred mountain and can't get away, we can continue our relationship. As long as you don't say anything and I don't say anything, how could she know?" Qianhua Venerable had seized on You Su's weakness.

You Su raised an eyebrow slightly. Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that you can't let a puppy touch a sausage without permission. So he secretly remembered Qianhua Venerable's audacity.

"Your Excellency, please do not make things difficult for me. The first time was not of my own volition. My master values me highly, and I do not want to disappoint her expectations, so I will certainly not make the same mistake again."

"You certainly value your master highly. This time I won't be so fierce. I'll definitely let you meet someone even better than your master, okay?"

The woman's eyes were alluring, as if she were fully immersed in her role. You Su had to admit that this woman's seductive skills were indeed remarkable.

Just then, the hatch was smashed open by the Mystic Ice Chi Armor, and the cold wind carrying snowflakes hit his back, making him tremble all over.

It really is her...

Qianhua Venerable had just noticed Ganlong Venerable's arrival, but it was too late to hide her clothes. So she immediately chose to turn the tables and take the blame herself, giving You Su a chance to show his loyalty to the woman outside the door.

As expected, Ganlong Venerable observed from outside the boat for a while before entering. If the two of them had hurriedly cleaned up the scene, their deception would have been noticed. It was much more realistic to put on an act like this.

You Su felt a chill run down her spine, but she also glanced at Qianhua Venerable, thinking to herself that being with such a clever woman with such excellent counter-surveillance awareness and methods was truly reassuring.

"Qianhua Venerable, what are you doing!"

With a fierce roar, the approaching Ganlong Venerable shattered the enchanting fragrance within the airship cabin.

Qianhua Venerable an excellent actress. Given her natural disposition, she wouldn't have shown any alarm at being caught in the act. She calmly withdrew her wisp of silk and said indifferently:

"I saw your disciple was all alone here, feeling lonely and uneasy, so I came to chat with you, young master."

Ganlong Venerable gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury. If she weren't so worried about the battle ahead, she would have definitely taught this woman a lesson about what it meant to follow the rules.

"Didn't I order you to guard the army? You've neglected your duty!"

"Does Your Sovereign Lord truly intend to wage war? I thought it was just a show of force to let those people know that the cultivators of the distant mountains are not to be trifled with. I never imagined it would actually be a war. My actions were inappropriate; please forgive me, Your Sovereign Lord." Although she was apologizing, there was no sincerity in her words.

Her insight into the situation left Ganlong Venerable speechless with anger, since everything she said was correct. So he could only observe You Su's condition with resentment.

Fortunately, their clothes were still intact, not as disheveled as when they were caught in the act last time. From their conversation, it was clear that they had just started their relationship. Thus, Ganlong Venerable felt a little relieved and vowed never to give this woman and You Su a chance to be alone together again.

But the faint scent of grass and trees in the air inexplicably reminded her of the smell of crushed red plum blossoms on a snowy night.

"It seems Your Sovereign Lord is not in a good mood. I'll go for a stroll in the army camp. Please make yourself at home, Your Sovereign Lord." She opened her palm, gesturing for Ganlong Venerable to make himself at home, but what she was offering was not the tea on the table, but rather the young man.

After speaking, she turned around gracefully, but was stopped as she brushed past the Sovereign Lord.

"Wait a minute, since you're here, let's listen together."

As he spoke, Ganlong Venerable walked towards You Su, taking up the seat next to her as if he were waiting for Qianhua Venerable to get up and give up his seat before calling her back.

Qianhua Venerable adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze shifting between Sovereign Lord Bei'ao and his own master, before finally sitting down opposite them.

"The Heavenly Listener Immortal Official has issued a decree."

Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, Qianhua Venerable slammed the cup he had just raised onto the table, making a resounding thud.

Her gold-rimmed glasses reflected a cold light. "It's... Immortal Ancestor Kong Yuan?!"

"A personal decree from the Immortal Ancestor." Ganlong Venerable clenched his fist, and ice crystals condensed into gilded characters in the air, each stroke seemingly imbued with lightning:

Kong Yuan decreed. "Bei Ao Mang Cang, you descendants, instead of striving for self-cultivation, treat the common people as pawns, staining the frozen earth with blood. You all claim to save the world, yet your killing and mutual slaughter are no different from evil spirits. This is not what I wish to see."

Since the beginning of chaos, the Northern Ao have revered the strong. Now, a three-tiered arena has been specially established to test the Great Dao. The victor will rule the continent, and the loser will cease hostilities. Anyone who disobeys will be struck down by heavenly lightning.

When the last word "" exploded, the entire spaceship seemed to be resonating. You Su held down the trembling Mo Songjian, and in a trance, he seemed to be enveloped by a huge coercion.

Such oppressive power did not inspire any desire to submit; rather, it made one feel powerless, as if everything about them was controlled by these words, leaving no room for any hope of escaping the punishment of lightning.

You Su's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Can the Immortal Ancestor Temple really transmit the Immortal Ancestor's decrees? Didn't they exist five thousand years ago...?"

"It's just ascension." Ganlong Venerable immediately interrupted You Su, knowing full well that You Su meant to say 'death'.

You Su quickly fell silent. He had no reverence for the so-called Five Great Immortal Ancestors, but all arrogance stems from not having seen them with his own eyes. So when he heard that such beings might still be alive, he naturally dared not speak recklessly anymore.

"The five great immortal ancestors ascended to the heavens beyond, where they built a high wall to protect us from the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons. They did not perish; they have always been here," Ganlong Venerable patiently explained to You Su. "The Immortal Ancestor Temple is a place that receives the voice of Heaven above and governs the world below. However, the divine decrees of the immortal ancestors are extremely rare. Unless it is a matter of great importance, the immortal ancestors will not easily turn their attention to the mortal realm."

"The last time a divine decree was issued was a hundred years ago during the Great War of Evil Purge, where the five continents joined forces, wasn't it?" Qianhua Venerable pondered, his black satin gloves tracing the icy characters. "It's just that this divine decree from Immortal Ancestor Kong Yuan came at the perfect time, not earlier or later, but precisely when the Sovereign Lord's army was pressing in..."

She crushed a word "ge" with her fingertips, and the gold powder fell. "It seems that the immortal ancestors are also afraid that you will really break the sacred mountain."

Ganlong Venerable's eyes suddenly turned cold. "You must not speak recklessly about the Immortal Ancestor! I personally went to the Immortal Ancestor Temple, and these characters were copied from the shell book carried by the golden tortoise!"

After confirming the authenticity of the divine decree Qianhua Venerable leisurely suppressed his slightly frivolous expression. "So, this battle really won't happen? Deciding who Bei Ao listens to through the three-tiered arena... it seems they know you're no longer the all- Ganlong Venerable, and want to choose a new Sovereign Lord for Bei Ao."

Her words were blunt, but the truth was undeniable. Ganlong Venerable took a deep breath. "Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the three-tiered arena will open. I will make them know that until I die, none of them will take control of Bei'ao."

Moved by the fighting spirit in the woman's words, You Su asked, "What are the three arenas?"

"Each side will field three Void Glimpse Venerable; the first to win two rounds will be the victor."

"Do you care about life and death?"

"Naturally, I don't care about life or death!" Ganlong Venerable sneered.

Qianhua Venerable leaned back in his chair, his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses as deep and unfathomable as a pool. "I never expected this dispute to end in such a simple and brutal way... But I must admit that Immortal Ancestor Kong Yuan's decree was indeed a return to simplicity. Deciding the outcome through a contest is undoubtedly the least damaging method for the Northern Ao Continent, and it's also the quickest way to resolve the differences. Aside from being somewhat hasty, it is indeed the most efficient strategy."

"Does Qianhua Venerable think that the rule of 'might makes right' in Bei'ao is wrong?" Ganlong Venerable asked in a low voice.

Qianhua Venerable was unwilling to be labeled as a regional stigmatizer. "When I said 'hasty,' it was because I was worried that someone like the Sovereign Lord might definitely win. I'm not worried about the Sovereign Lord's strength, but it's ultimately a best-of-three series. Do you have any candidates for the other two?"

"A candidate has been chosen."

The Ganlong Venerable answered indifferently, without revealing his title, indicating that he was determined to keep it a secret until the very end, and probably wouldn't divulge a single word until just before the battle.

Qianhua Venerable harbored no resentment towards the other party for concealing their identity, considering it merely human nature. Such a duel was naturally not as simple as one person offering their superior horse while the other offered their inferior one. Venerables entrusted with such important responsibilities were undoubtedly among the top figures in Bei'ao, and there was no absolute distinction between them in terms of strength or weakness, but rather a concept of mutual restraint. Therefore, it was only natural to not reveal the participants and give the enemy the opportunity to strike at their weaknesses.

"Then we'll see what happens tomorrow..." You Su murmured to herself, and only after the important matter was finished did she ask with concern, "Ganlong Venerable, where are my senior sister and Bai Ze?"

"They are safe and sound in the Dragon Seeing Palace. The Immortal Ancestor Temple does not want the army to enter the city, so it has sealed off all the entrances and exits of the sacred mountain. When I return in triumph tomorrow, you will see them." Ganlong Venerable gave him a reassuring look.

Upon hearing this, You Su nodded slightly. Looking at this peerless and stunningly beautiful face, he sensed a hint of unease hidden in the eyes of this incomparably noble woman.

As the memories of their journey together flooded back, he realized just how deeply this woman had left an impression on him. He had many beautiful women around him, including many with lofty ambitions, such as Miss Xue Ruo, who was determined to revive the snake clan.

These women would certainly support his ambitions, but they would probably find it hard to understand the heavy burden he carried to save the world. Yet this woman who wanted to kill him at their first meeting shared a surprisingly similar ambition with him. Although her vision was limited to Bei'ao, she would certainly not stand idly by when other continents were in turmoil.

You Su found it hard to describe his feelings for this woman. She understood him, and he understood her. It would be no exaggeration to describe them as kindred spirits. That's why he was so scared when he was caught in the act of adultery earlier... because he didn't want his good image in the eyes of this fellow Daoist who was hundreds of years older than him to collapse.

He hesitated for a long time, Ganlong Venerable, sensing that he had something to say, waited patiently. Finally, he couldn't help but speak:

"Your Sovereign Lord, do your best; there's no need for a life-or-death struggle. I am not one of your Northern Ao people. Even if we are defeated, I will not stand idly by while evil spirits indiscriminately slaughter the innocent. I doubt the Northern Ao's heavenly lightning will strike me."

He deliberately spoke in a light tone, but Ganlong Venerable stared at him blankly, his breathing slightly labored.

A young man dared to make such boastful claims in front of her, the Sovereign Lord of Bei'ao, that he could guarantee her safety, yet she neither became angry nor laughed. She knew, for she knew, that what the young man said was true; he truly could disregard the heavenly lightning.

This was an emotion that this noble female immortal, who had lived atop the mountain for over a hundred years, had never felt before. It was like an undercurrent surging beneath the ice; she had thought it was just water slightly warmer than ice, but she discovered it was scorching, flowing magma.

"If only I had met him sooner than her..." she thought to herself.

"If you don't have the heart to fight to the death, how can you defeat an opponent who is willing to fight to the death? Don't worry, I won't lose, and I won't let a stranger like you care about Bei Ao's life or death." She chuckled, but the "stranger" in her words was no longer the xenophobic and mean-spirited person she used to be; instead, it was out of kindness that she didn't want You Su to get hurt.

Qianhua Venerable rolled her eyes, feeling a pang of jealousy at the entangled gazes between the two. Their conversation had almost completely disregarded their feigned master-disciple relationship, as if they regarded her as nothing. The relationship between the two seemed anything but simple, making her marvel at her master's skill in managing romantic relationships.

This is the Sovereign Lord of Bei Ao! Does this young man intend to take all the most noble female cultivators in the world into his possession?

"I didn't know that Your Excellency's beloved disciple isn't Bei Ao's?" She didn't want to watch the two of them flirting any longer, so she deliberately interrupted.

Ganlong Venerable then came to his senses, a fleeting look of embarrassment crossing his snowy face.

"You may rest here and wait to go into the mountains to see them tomorrow. However, Qianhua Venerable, I have a request to make." Ganlong Venerable suddenly stood up, choosing to ignore the woman's question, and his tone returned to solemnity.

"Oh? What is it?"

"The great battle is imminent tomorrow, I humbly request that you, Venerable One, discuss the Dao with me." Without saying much more, her dragon-patterned skirt swept across the shattered crystals on the ground as she stepped out of the cabin.

Qianhua Venerable gritted his teeth in anger, knowing that this woman's discussion of the Dao was secondary; his real intention was to prevent her from approaching his master alone!

But You Su's threatening gaze left her no room to refuse, so she could only clench her fists and leave reluctantly.

Looking out the porthole at the sacred mountain, You Su felt that although the snow here was pure white, there were always some dark parts of the vast mountain that the snow could not cover.

The next day, the sky cleared up.

The Jade Curtain Flying Boat floated on the clouds. You Su looked up at the sky through the ice crystal porthole. The sky was split in red and blue, and ice shards and divination symbols exploded in the air, like a shattered glass galaxy.

"In the first round, Venerable Qingsong wins!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the foot of the mountain, You Su felt exhilarated. The old woman had given him the impression of being unfathomable, and victory was indeed assured.

"In the second round, Venerable Ningshuang wins!"

The cheers abruptly ceased. You Su saw the icy mist suddenly surging in the sky, and the withered face of Venerable Ningshuang was faintly visible in the mist.

But at that moment, the sky suddenly lit up with a brilliant, icy blue light.

The figure of Ganlong Venerable emerged from the clouds, nine Mysterious Ice Chi Dragons coiled around her body. She lightly touched the air with her toes, her magnificent skirt casting long afterimages in the sunlight, before disappearing into the clouds.

You Su suddenly remembered the frozen millet in the ruins of Dongjing City, which was now lying quietly in her Universe Bag.

"Third game--"

Cheers erupted like a tsunami.

"The Ganlong Venerable wins!"

It can't be that simple.