Chapter 189 Returning to Mount Ma

The roc's feathers blotted out the sky, and the eagle's cry pierced the air! The flying eagle carried Qimen without daring to relax for a moment, striving to fly towards the Wuji Dao.

From afar, the two could see plumes of thick smoke rising from the Heavenly Gate and smell the burnt aroma of roasting meat in the air!

Qi Men was greatly alarmed. The Wuji Dao was a different dimension; how could there be such thick smoke? Even if there really was a world exploding, the resulting smoke and fragments wouldn't directly spew out from the Heavenly Gate. In other words, after the dimensional shift, the smoke and fragments should have transformed into other forms! Directly emitting smoke? This was too bizarre!

Seeing the strange thick smoke, Qimen did not approach rashly, but instead rode his flying eagle to a distance to hide.

"Lord Qimen, what should we do now? Should we still notify Lord Leiming and Lord Luchang according to the planned schedule?" Flying Eagle asked in a low voice.

"I'm afraid this is a trap!" Qi Men said with a frown. "The eight Heavenly Gates in the Wuji Dao are multi-dimensional transformation spaces. There should be no smoke under any circumstances, unless the problem lies not with the World Origin in the Wuji Dao, but with the Wuji Dao itself!"

"What?! The Limitless Path itself?!" Flying Eagle's eyes widened in horror. "Could it be... that something went wrong with the Palace of the Head?! Then... the Limitless Path is destroyed?!"

"Probably not! If it really was a problem with the Palace of the Head, Empress Yi would definitely handle it personally! However... there's another possibility!" Qi Men said in a low voice, "This is a trap! Because they have no idea what kind of beings exist within the Wuji Dao, so they're using such a petty trick to deceive us!"

"Deliberately deceiving us?" Flying Eagle was very puzzled. "Could it be that Mother Goddess Yi conspired with them to lure us here and then set off a smokescreen for us?"

Qi Men's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Flying Eagle, immediately send a message to the Lord, saying that there is a trap in the Wuji Path and we must not return! Also, we must go back to the Heavenly Palace to sound out Mother Yi's intentions. According to my deduction, Mother Yi did not send any message to Hidden Deer Mountain at all! It is likely that someone has falsely conveyed Mother Yi's decree! If the Lord arrives, no matter what he does, he will be accused of treason for coveting the position of the Heavenly Emperor of the Dao!"

"yes!"

...

Before the palace, the eight generals, their bodies brimming with bloodlust, led their respective troops in kneeling in worship.

"Lord Zeyuan! Various unusual phenomena are occurring in different world realms! Please think of a solution!"

Ze Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the chaotic universe. The World Origin, which should have been as clear as the starry sky, was now filthy and corrupt.

"Find a way?" Ze Yuan sneered. "Didn't I send you to slay the evil spirits? You failed your mission, and now you want me to clean up your mess?!"

"Lord Zeyuan! The source of this self-destruction hazard is not evil spirits, but because the people in the World Source have gradually gone mad and done many things that damage the World Source, thus severely damaging it! At the same time, the Yellow Court Qi that should regulate the various World Sources has stopped functioning, causing the entire World Source system to gradually collapse..."

"Yes, sir! This crisis is indeed not a simple evil spirit; it's somewhat like... the World Origin Crisis a thousand years ago!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ze Yuan's face darkened. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"My lord!" The eight generals kowtowed in unison, their voices filled with sorrow and despair. "We have no other requests, no other expectations! We only hope that the Wuji Dao will not be destroyed in our hands! A thousand years ago, when Lord Xuanfeng dealt with the crisis, he personally sacrificed himself to enter the mortal world, to experience firsthand the true cause of the crisis, and then used the Qi of the Yellow Court to harmonize the mutual influences of the various mortal sources..."

"So what?" Ze Yuan's face darkened. "Are you forcing me to enter the mortal world? To make me go to Shiyuan and become an ordinary person? To experience the hardships of ordinary people? I, a dignified and righteous Heavenly Lord! Do I have to do such a thing?!"

"But Lord Xuanfeng..."

"Do I have to follow what Lord Xuanfeng has done?" Ze Yuan stretched out his palm, slowly releasing a piece of smelly seaweed wrapped in mud, and suddenly lashed it at the general who had spoken.

*Smack! Plop!*

The earthy, bloody stench of minced meat splattered into the air. The general, who had been alive just moments before, was now reduced to a limp body, surrounded by sticky brain matter and broken skull fragments.

The remaining seven generals and their troops, seeing Ze Yuan's tyranny, swallowed their anger and lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter another word.

"What else do you bunch of good-for-nothings have to say?!" Ze Yuan's seaweed coiled around everyone's heads like a giant python. "Now, I am the Righteous Heavenly Lord here, so I will do things my way! If anyone has any objections, they can voice them, but you have already seen the consequences!"

Whoosh—! A sudden gust of cold wind arose, and the moisture condensed instantly, causing the warm brain matter to rapidly lose its temperature in the icy steam…

Hongzhu, clutching her stomach, walked seductively behind Zeyuan and whispered, "My lord, please calm down! They were just doing their duty, so there were some things they had to say!"

Zeyuan glanced at Hongzhu and said coldly, "You're like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, barely able to save yourself! And you still have the leisure to speak up for others?! Don't forget, if I hadn't gone to beg Mother, you would have rotted in the ground long ago!"

Hongzhu's eyes flickered slightly. She bowed her head and knelt down, saying, "This humble servant remembers your life-saving grace, sir! That's why I plan everything for you and think of everything for you. If I ever overstep my bounds, it's only because I'm eager to protect you... Please, sir, consider my loyalty and listen to what I have to say! If you think I'm wrong, I'm willing to accept punishment!"

Zeyuan glanced at Hongzhu and said nothing more.

Seeing that Ze Yuan acquiesced, Hong Zhu whispered, "My lord, although I am foolish, there is one thing I think they are right about! That is, entering the cycle of reincarnation can resolve the crisis of the world! Just as they said, Lord Xuan Feng entered the cycle of reincarnation by sacrificing himself, found the crux of the crisis, and was finally able to turn the danger into safety!"

"What do you mean?" Ze Yuan's tone was filled with murderous intent.

“We can also offer sacrifices, but you don’t need to go yourself,” Hongzhu said with a fawning smile, pointing to the kneeling Tianmen General. “Instead, let them go…”

Ze Yuan looked up at the World Origin, which was swirling in the swamp-like Yellow Court Qi, pondered for a moment, and said, "The crisis of the World Origin is urgent! Since you are the Heavenly Gate Generals, you have the responsibility to protect the World Origin! Now, I hereby appoint you as Divine Generals of Fortune, and you shall immediately lead people into the mortal world! You must find the root of the problem and solve it! You must stabilize the World Origin. If any of the World Origin explodes, none of you shall return!"

Everyone was shocked!

Entering the cycle of reincarnation requires extremely high levels of enlightenment and self-control. When Xuanfeng first entered the world, he went through countless reincarnations, experienced all the hardships of life, and exhausted all his efforts before finally escaping the cycle of karma and liberation.

Even Xuanfeng almost didn't make it back, let alone these ordinary Tianmen generals?!

"What?! Not going?!" Ze Yuan's seaweed slowly rose. "Then stay here forever!"

Everyone had already seen through Ze Yuan's true colors. He was not only tyrannical and licentious, but also autocratic and domineering!

Rather than be killed here by this incompetent man and that vicious slut, I might as well go into the world and take a gamble. If I'm lucky, I might be able to make it back!

"Your subject obeys!" someone shouted in response.

"Your humble servant... obeys..."

"Yes, sir!"

One by one, grief-stricken and desperate figures resolutely leaped into the swamp in the air, instantly transforming into starlight that showered upon the ruined world...

"A bunch of useless trash!" Ze Yuan said viciously.

But he didn't notice that behind him, a pair of blood-red eyes were casting a vicious and hateful gaze at him.

"Where's Qiangji?! Haven't you pulled up your pants yet?!" Zeyuan put away the seaweed in his hand and shouted irritably.

"Hey, cousin!" Gong Ji ran out of the palace, his empty sleeves flapping, and stood close behind Ze Yuan, saying nervously, "What can I do for you?"

"Have you taken care of what I asked you to do?!"

"It's all done! I've already sent a message to Hidden Deer Mountain in the name of the Goddess Yi Mu! And I've lit beacon fires at all the Heavenly Gates, so no matter which direction they come from, they'll see thick smoke! Lure them into a trap, and then..."

"What?!" Ze Yuan suddenly flew into a rage, slapping Qiang Ji's head hard. "What are you talking about?! You big idiot! This is the Wuji Dao! The latitude is different! How could there be beacon fires here!"

"Huh? I, I heard from Hongzhu..." Qiangji covered his head and looked at Hongzhu.

Hongzhu glared angrily at Qiangji and shouted, "Young Master Qiangji! Can't you understand what I'm saying?! I'm having you keep watch at each of the Heavenly Gates, so you can keep an eye on Lord Xuanfeng's movements at all times! So we can be prepared at any time!"

"Huh?!" Ji looked at Hongzhu in surprise, "You clearly..."

"Young Master Qiangji! You've truly wasted Lord Zeyuan's painstaking efforts!" Hongzhu interrupted Qiangji, speaking earnestly, "The Heavenly Gate General that Lord Chaoxi arranged to enter has already sacrificed himself into the mortal world! He won't be returning easily this time! Aren't the positions of the eight Heavenly Gate Generals all yours?! Given Lord Xuanfeng's affection for the Wuji Dao, if he sees the Wuji Dao in such a perilous situation, he will surely reincarnate into the mortal world again! In that case, he won't be able to return for at least a hundred years, or even several hundred! At that time, wouldn't the Wuji Dao belong to our South Sea?"

Qiang Ji suddenly realized, "That's right! That makes sense!"

"But why did you set off these beacon fires?!" Hongzhu stamped her foot and said, "You've ruined everything! Lord Xuanfeng is so clever! He could tell it was a trap at a glance!"

"Ah..." Qiangji finally understood.

"What are you waiting for!" Ze Yuan said, frowning. "Quickly put out the fire! Don't alert the enemy!"

"yes!"

"Oh, right! I asked you to prepare a fine tridacna jeweled robe. Is it ready yet?!"

"Not yet! Your requirements are too high! Just the fact that the giant clam shell must be over ten million years old is already difficult to find!" Qiangji said, clicking his teeth.

"Difficult to find?!" Ze Yuan frowned, glaring and cursing, "If I asked you to find wild pheasants, that would be asking you a lot of trouble! But you dare tell me it's difficult to find a giant clam that's over ten million years old on your own territory?!"

"Oh dear, where would I get so many..." Seeing Ze Yuan's increasingly dark expression, Qiang Ji quickly put on a smile and said, "Yes, yes! Cousin, don't worry! I've got someone making them! It'll just take a while, though. Don't underestimate the effort it takes just because it's for a child!"

"Hurry up! Try to send her over when Miao'er turns one year old!" When Xuanmiao was mentioned, Zeyuan, who was usually a good-for-nothing, actually softened a little. Although he didn't have a good impression of Xuanfeng's child, Su Yuyao's child was different. He recalled the charming Su Yuyao he had seen in Xunyin Valley and Xuanmiao, who was as fair-skinned and round as Su Yuyao, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

But there was someone else whose heart ached even more—Hongzhu, who was cursing Su Yuyao with red eyes. Su Yuyao! What right do you have?!

...

The wheels rumbled, the bells jingled, the bicycle shed swayed gently, and a cool mountain breeze blew.

Xuanfeng sat upright in the carriage, holding the sleeping Xuanmiao in his arms, while Su Yuyao was snoring with her head on Xuanfeng's lap.

"Snoring...snoring...ah—choo!" Su Yuyao sneezed loudly, stretched, and slowly opened her eyes.

"Awake?" Xuanfeng gently stroked Su Yuyao's head and asked softly, "Did you sleep well?"

Su Yuyao turned her face to Xuanfeng's lower abdomen, rubbed her nose, and said with a smile, "I was sleeping so soundly! But I was woken up by a sneeze! Someone must have been cursing me!"

"Who would dare to insult you?" Xuanfeng said, tapping Su Yuyao's nose. "You're fearless now!"

Su Yuyao sniffed, looked at the belt in front of her, and smiled.

She reached out and subtly lifted Xuanfeng's robe, and his powerful masculine aura instantly rushed towards Su Yuyao's nose!

"Girl! What are you doing?! Stop it!" Xuanfeng didn't dare to disturb Xuanmiao, and could only helplessly let Su Yuyao run rampant. "You brat, don't... um..."

Su Yuyao placed her cool little hands on Xuanfeng's hot body, squinted her eyes and said, "I'm hungry, I'll find something to eat, you just hold the baby!"

Xuanfeng leaned back slightly, his brows furrowed, and his breathing quickened...

Su Yuyao licked her lips, slowly sat in Xuanfeng's arms, wrapped her arms around Xuanfeng's neck, and gazed affectionately into Xuanfeng's clear eyes.

Her once deep and unfathomable eyes are now filled with Su Yuyao's tenderness and affection, her graceful figure, her luscious lips, and her surging waves!

It seems that his eyes can no longer hold anyone else, or rather, his eyes do not want to hold anyone else!

The mountain road was steep and the wheels kept rolling over the stones, causing the lathe to vibrate incessantly...!

Xuanmiao whimpered and twisted in Xuanfeng's arms, and opened her eyes. She stared at the rice bowl that was brought to her mouth, and quickly opened her mouth to pick it up.

"Hey! The little one's awake too!" Xuanfeng said, stroking the mysterious rice bowl. "We need to speed things up!"

After saying that, he suddenly stood up, shoved Xuanmiao into Su Yuyao's arms, and said with a smirk, "You just hold the baby tight!"

Su Yuyao shook her head, trembling as she said, "I... I can't stop!"

Xuanfeng supported Su Yuyao's back with his hands, flipped over, and pressed Su Yuyao under his body. He then gently placed Xuanmiao on Su Yuyao's chest, and Xuanmiao obediently sought out the breast milk on its own.

"Leave the rest to me!" Xuan Feng leaned down and kissed Qu Suyuyao's lips deeply, softening Suyuyao's barely suppressed voice.

Xuanmiao didn't quite understand what her father and mother were doing. Holding her rice bowl, she looked up at her father, then at her mother. Drinking milk was more important! She lowered her head again and began to eat with slurping sounds…

"You brat!" Xuanfeng pinched Su Yuyao's cheek and said indulgently, "If you seduce me again next time, I won't gag you! I'll let you scream!"

Su Yuyao, holding Xuanmiao and straightening her clothes, said with a blush, "Who told you to make such a big movement..."

Xuanfeng stroked Su Yuyao's soft buttocks and bit her earlobe, saying, "When you were being gentle, why did it rain too?"

Su Yuyao lowered her head shyly and said softly, "It's easier to cultivate the land after it rains, isn't it?" After saying that, she raised her eyelids and gave Xuanfeng a flirtatious look.

Xuan Feng was so captivated by Su Yuyao that he was about to succumb to temptation again. He raised his hand and lightly slapped Su Yuyao's bottom. "You brat! How dare you bewitch the Heavenly Emperor?! Be careful the Heavenly Emperor punishes you!"

"Punish me?!" Su Yuyao's eyes sparkled. "If the Heavenly Lord dares to punish me, I'll flood his tower!"

Xuanfeng smiled and squinted as he unconsciously touched Su Yuyao's chest. "It should be the Heavenly Lord who used the divine needle to fix your sea!"

"Ah! Ah!" Xuanmiao saw Xuanfeng's hand reaching for her rice bowl and hurriedly kicked Xuanfeng's hand with her little feet.

"You little brat! Still guarding your food!" Xuanfeng grabbed Xuanmiao's chubby little foot, put it to his lips, and kissed it hard. "Then Daddy will eat your little chubby little foot!"

"Hehehehe!" Xuanmiao laughed as she kicked her foot into Xuanfeng's mouth.

Looking at Xuan Feng, who was so generously displaying his fatherly love, Su Yuyao felt a bittersweet happiness welling up inside her! He was the Heavenly Emperor! And I had actually given birth to his child?! Why did I deserve the Heavenly Emperor's favor? And why would he continue to love me?

A sour, bitter taste welled up and caught in Su Yuyao's throat. She sighed softly. Who cares what right he has?! She's going to lose it all eventually, so she might as well enjoy each day to the fullest… But if she's too happy now, will she be reluctant to lose it…?

Xuanfeng also sensed Su Yuyao's loving yet conflicted emotions. He turned his head and met her gaze with his clear eyes. "Silly girl! What are you thinking about now?"

“Xuanfeng,” Su Yuyao choked slightly, “if… Feihua…”

"Girl!" Xuan Feng looked at Su Yuyao's sorrowful eyes and said solemnly, "I am your man! And I can only be your man!"

"But you were once Feihua's man! Feihua was once your woman!" Su Yuyao said bitterly, "You had intimate relations, and you even stayed together for a thousand years! Now, she has become the person you like..."

“Girl,” Xuanfeng stroked Su Yuyao’s head tenderly, “You’re right, Feihua and I had a relationship, but that’s in the past, and only in the past! It’s completely over between us! But!” Xuanfeng’s tone changed, and he pinched Su Yuyao’s nose, smiling helplessly, “You have me completely under your thumb! How could I possibly have the energy to look for other women?! I really owe you!”

Su Yuyao recalled the previous lives she had traveled back in time; she was either killed by Xuan Feng, betrayed by Xuan Feng, or betrayed by Xuan Feng and then killed by someone else...

"Yes!" Su Yuyao finally regained her self-righteousness, "It's what you owe me!"

"Okay!" Xuanmiao cried out, sucking her little hand in Su Yuyao's arms. "Mommy! Okay! Hehehehehe!"

Xuanfeng laughed and picked up Xuanmiao, "You little rascal! You always take your mother's side!"

"Ningbao! My lady!" Ruixue stopped the carriage, lifted the curtain, and said, "There's a town ahead. Let's stay here for the night!"

"Oh? We've arrived at Jieshi Town?" Xuanfeng jumped off the carriage with Xuanmiao in his arms, looking at the town not far ahead, and said, "Jieshi Town is one of the larger towns in our Immortal Mountain! Hidden Deer Mountain has many Immortal Halls, while Nine Suburbs Mountain has little flat land, so there has never been a large town!"

Xuanfeng pointed to the city gate, turned back to the carriage, and said, "This is... the closest..."

Before his eyes, a tall, handsome young man was helping a plump, round, and shy young girl down from the carriage.

"Ningbao, are you tired?" Ruixue asked with a smile as she held Su Yuyao close.

Su Yuyao tilted her head back, her face flushed, and said, "Not tired! I just took a nap!"

Holding Xuanmiao in his arms, Xuanfeng looked at the seemingly perfect young couple before him and suddenly felt a worry he had never experienced before—a worry that something that should belong to him was being coveted by others!

Whether it was Ruixue, who was always by Su Yuyao's side, Guan Yue, who was always thinking about Su Yuyao, or Zeyuan, who was always lusting after Su Yuyao, anyone could make him feel a sudden surge of inferiority and intense jealousy. He knew perfectly well that Su Yuyao would never betray him, but…

Xuanfeng awkwardly lowered his hand from the city gate. He sighed deeply; perhaps this was how the girl felt about lacking confidence.

Xuanmiao looked up at Xuanfeng, then turned to look at Ruixue and Su Yuyao. She didn't quite understand why her father was suddenly so downcast, so she stroked Xuanfeng's chin and babbled, "Oh!"

Xuanfeng looked at Xuanmiao in his arms with delight, "Little one, you know how to comfort your father?"

"Ah!" Xuanmiao nodded earnestly, sucking on her fingers. "Hehehehehe!"

...