As Xuanming followed Sect Leader Tongtian into the Wa Imperial Palace, he immediately sensed the subtle tension in the room.
There was a man in the Wa Imperial Palace, for one thing, and he didn't seem very pleased by their arrival.
No need to say "seem"!
Sect Leader Tongtian had just greeted Nuwa when the man stood up and began apologizing, his face full of regret.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, I'm truly sorry. My younger sister didn't think things through earlier. She may not be able to take part in your plans going forward!"
"Oh?"
Sect Leader Tongtian raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Fuxi, are you saying that Huoyun Cave intends to stand against me?"
"No, absolutely not!"
Fuxi's expression shifted slightly. Clearly, he hadn't expected Tongtian to put it that way. He hurriedly explained, "My younger sister and Huoyun Cave have always stayed out of worldly affairs. We have no intention of opposing you, Fellow Daoist!"
"Is that so? I don't believe you."
The smile on Tongtian's face turned cold, and his voice carried a trace of anger. "You're even willing to go back on your word after making an agreement with me. What makes you think I'd believe that promise?"
"This..."
Fuxi was dumbfounded. He stared blankly at Sect Leader Tongtian before him, suddenly feeling that the man seemed like a stranger.
What was going on?
Had it been so long since they'd last met?
He remembered Sect Leader Tongtian as an easygoing man.
Even when his disciples had betrayed him one after another back then, he hadn't been this angry, had he?
What was going on?
Could it be...?
After studying Tongtian and Nuwa in turn for a while, an implausible yet oddly reasonable thought popped into Fuxi's mind: Could the two of them have gotten together?
Otherwise, it made no sense.
His younger sister had known from the start that she wouldn't get involved in the brothers' conflict. So why was she suddenly joining in now?
"Senior Brother, don't get upset just yet."
Seeing her elder brother at a loss for words after Tongtian's rebuke, Nuwa stepped forward with a wry smile and explained, "My brother doesn't know the circumstances, and I can't go into detail with him. It's only natural that he's worried."
"I see."
Sect Leader Tongtian nodded in relief. So Fuxi had just jumped to conclusions? He'd thought Nuwa was actually going back on her word.
If she had, they might have needed to revise their plans.
After all, Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and the Two Saints of the West were already more than enough for him and Journey to the West Tongtian to deal with.
If Nuwa joined them too...
That would be tough.
Even with Yunxiao having become a Saint, the three of them might not be able to overwhelm those five veteran Saints.
They hadn't lived all these years for nothing.
Fortunately,
Though Nuwa had a gentle disposition, ordinary people couldn't change her mind once she'd made a decision. Nor was she in the habit of breaking her word.
"Brother, there's no need to discuss this any further!"
Nuwa raised a hand to stop Fuxi from speaking again. A trace of reluctance flashed in her eyes, but her voice was firm.
"Once this is over, I'll explain everything to you. For now, don't ask so many questions."
"I..."
Fuxi gave Nuwa a long look. Convinced he'd guessed the truth, he decided not to say more. He merely sighed and looked at Tongtian.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, I'm entrusting my younger sister to you. Please take good care of her!"
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Fuxi!"
Sect Leader Tongtian hadn't picked up on the deeper meaning behind Fuxi's words. He smiled and nodded. "I have no intention of sending Junior Sister into battle. She only needs to stay behind and look after my Grand Disciple!"
Without waiting for either of them to show their surprise, Tongtian beckoned to Xuanming.
"Xuanming, stay here with Junior Sister for now. I'll come get you once I've taken care of things on my end!"
"Sure!"
Xuanming agreed. After Tongtian introduced him to Nuwa and Fuxi, he hurried over to greet them.
"Xuanming pays his respects to both Grandmasters!"
"No need to be so formal!"
Nuwa smiled and nodded. She spoke with Tongtian for a few more moments, then watched him leave before turning to Xuanming.
"Xuanming, how are things going? The situation outside doesn't look good."
"It's worse than that."
Xuanming went straight over and sat down, then explained with a hint of schadenfreude, "Jin Chanzi and Guanyin Bodhisattva are already dead. The Buddhist sect thinks the Heavenly Court did it, and they're leading an attack on Heaven now!"
"What?!"
Nuwa hadn't even had time to respond before Fuxi, sitting beside her, could no longer keep still.
"Guanyin—Guanyin Bodhisattva and Jin Chanzi are both dead? And the Buddhist sect is going to attack Heaven? This... Everything's in chaos!"
"Grandmaster, isn't a little chaos a good thing?"
The smile at the corner of Xuanming's mouth grew wider. This was only the beginning. Once his Eldest Martial Uncle Yunxiao became a Saint, the Great Desolation World would be in even greater turmoil.
But if Nuwa joined in too, the shock they caused would be even greater, wouldn't it?
"Grandmaster, do you know what I got this time?"
Meeting Nuwa's curious gaze, Xuanming raised an eyebrow, putting on a mysterious air as if he had something precious in his hands.
"What? Could it be...?"
Nuwa's eyes lit up. The words "Primordial Violet Qi" nearly slipped out.
Fortunately, she caught herself at the last moment.
"Brother, why don't you head back first?"
Nuwa turned to Fuxi, who sat beside her looking astonished, and gave him a subtle look. "Huoyun Cave can't be left unattended either. Go back and keep watch. It wouldn't do if something happened."
"I... All right!"
Fuxi sighed inwardly. It really was true that a younger sister who grew up would no longer stay close to her brother. Now she was starting to keep everything from him!
But there was nothing he could do about it.
Helpless,
he could only shake his head and sigh as he left, his heart heavy with worry, intending to find a few old friends and have a good talk.
Better safe than sorry!
If Tongtian was suppressed by those Saints again, he'd have to find a way to save his foolish younger sister, wouldn't he?
Of course,
Nuwa had no idea that her elder brother was already trying to find her a way out. Just then, she was staring in a daze at the stone Xuanming had taken out.
"X-Xuanming, do you mean that using this stone can upgrade a magic treasure into an Innate Supreme Treasure?!"
"Exactly!"
Xuanming nodded firmly, then handed her the Upgrade Stone. "Grandmaster, why not give it a try? That way, we can see if it works."
"This..."
Nuwa hesitated.
She had to admit that she'd dreamed of owning an Innate Supreme Treasure. After all, even her finest magic treasures were only Innate Spiritual Treasures.
But sometimes, benefits didn't come so easily.
Like this one right in front of her.
Xuanming hadn't said a word, but as a clever woman, Nuwa naturally understood what he meant by offering it to her.
Once she accepted this Innate Supreme Treasure, how could she remain neutral?
Even if she didn't join the battle, she'd at least have to stand with Tongtian and the others before the fighting began. Otherwise, how could she justify accepting an Innate Supreme Treasure?
That was precisely why she hesitated. She kept asking herself: Was it worth it?
Before you continue