The Thirty-Three Heavens, Lingxiao Palace.
In the empty Main Hall, a wisp of incense smoke slowly curled through the air without sinking.
The Great Heavenly Venerable sat upright on the Nine-Dragon Golden Throne, his eyes half closed.
Holding a snow-white fly-whisk, Taibai Jinxing stood respectfully below the jade steps, his back bowed.
"Your Majesty."
"Qingquan has met them."
Taibai Jinxing bowed slightly, breaking the silence in a low voice.
The Great Heavenly Venerable slowly opened his eyes. They betrayed no emotion, as still as an ancient well. "Oh, he has?"
Was there truly an independent domain within the Three Realms that could completely evade the Heavenly Court's eyes and ears, where even a Voice Transmission Jade Talisman could not send a message?
Of course not.
The place where Fairy Yunhua and Yang Tianyou lived seemed to exist outside the Three Realms and Five Elements, but in truth, it lay entirely beneath the Great Heavenly Venerable's gaze.
Without the Great Heavenly Venerable's Imperial Decree, never mind Chen Wei-even the venerable Buddhas of Spirit Mountain could not set half a foot inside.
Why had Chen Wei's Auspicious Cloud suddenly stopped obeying him and veered off course?
Heaven's will had interfered.
The Great Heavenly Venerable wanted him to meet them, so his head could only land on that mountain peak.
Had permission been denied, Chen Wei could have swung the Yin-Yang Demon-Slaying Sword until it snapped and still failed to cleave the mist.
The Great Heavenly Venerable sat on his golden throne in silence for half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, then suddenly asked, "Chang Geng, tell me, was I too stubborn back then? Had I been more forceful and suppressed the matter, it would never have come to this."
That question was fraught with danger.
Taibai Jinxing