"Now that I am a Celestial Lord under the Emperor, I naturally have many more things to do than usual. The reason I contacted the Sect Master that day was because a Celestial Official came looking for me, so I was unable to properly explain things to Sect Master You!" Nie Zheng explained, his expression as natural as if all their previous suspicions were just overthinking.
Youyou felt something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. He turned to look at Fengrong. Hadn't he sensed just the day before that Nie Zheng was ascending to the Heavenly Realm? Why was he back so soon?
Feng Rong shook his head at her. He didn't know why this was happening either, but he had just examined the person's primordial spirit and it was indeed Nie Zheng.
Ning Hui couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Then why haven't you contacted me in so long?"
Nie Zheng then turned to look at Ning Hui, his eyes slowly taking in her figure. His expression froze for a moment, and his smiling face twitched almost imperceptibly, as if something was trying to break free, but he quickly recovered and explained, "I've been busy with other matters, please forgive me, Brother Ning!"
"..." Have you been busy for nine months? Ning Hui's eyes immediately darkened.
"Are you... really alright?" Youyou asked again to confirm.
"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master You. Back in the lower realm, I was able to complete my mission so quickly thanks to you." Nie Zheng smiled even more frankly, his expression even more serious and sincere than when he was in the lower realm, but for some reason, he felt more distant.
"I'm glad you're alright," Youyou replied casually, patting his shoulder. "How have you been lately?"
"I have to thank Sect Master You and the two Divine Lords for this. The Emperor is fair in rewarding and punishing. After finding the divine artifact, he not only personally appointed me as a Celestial Lord, but also ordered me to take charge of the Celestial Scripture Pavilion. He relies on me very much!" Nie Zheng said.
"Immortal Scripture Pavilion?" You You was taken aback.
"That's where the immortal scriptures are kept. Although it's a sinecure, there are many immortal techniques and cultivation manuals inside, which are very helpful for immortals' cultivation!" Nie Zheng said with a proud look.
You You frowned. A manual of immortal techniques? Was he sure he didn't go there to help her look up information about the Phoenix Clan?
"Oh, right!" Before she could think about it, Nie Zheng seemed to remember something and asked in a deep voice, "Speaking of divine artifacts, I have something I've always wanted to ask Sect Master You. I wonder if you could help me with this?"
"What's up?"
"It's about... the method to control the divine artifact." Nie Zheng scratched his head, a slightly embarrassed expression on his simple face. "The Mirror of Enlightenment is destroyed. Although what was retrieved is also a divine artifact, it's not the original, so my mission isn't truly complete. Plus, I don't know how to control it, so it's still difficult to explain to the Emperor. Sect Leader You, you should know how to use that fan, right?"
You You frowned, and even the three people behind her frowned. Feng Rong retorted directly, "You came here so early this morning just to ask how to use that fan?"
"This..." Seemingly sensing their disappointment, Nie Zheng froze for a moment, then quickly tried to explain, "Didn't Sect Master You say... that divine artifact was given to me and that I should bring it back? If I don't know how to control it, then... this..."
"Nie Zheng!" Before he could finish speaking, Ning Hui couldn't help but scold him, "What do you mean? Are you saying our sect leader is lying?" Giving him a divine artifact was already out of consideration for their years of acquaintance. Why should she teach him how to control it? He didn't even know how to use the mirror that the Emperor lost back then!
Ning Hui was extremely angry, feeling that Nie Zheng in front of her was completely unfamiliar.
"No, no, no, of course that's not what I meant!" Nie Zheng immediately shook his head, but did not take back what he had just said. "I just... I just... Alas! I hope Sect Leader You will understand."
You You glanced at him up and down, a glint of something in her eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Nie Zheng, are you sure I didn't tell you the method to control the divine artifact?"
"Huh?" Nie Zheng was taken aback, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. He stood there for a moment, as if searching his mind for something, before finally seeming to come to his senses and saying, "You mean... the method of directly suppressing the divine artifact with immortal power?"
He suddenly remembered that when Youyou told him to choose any item to take back and hand in, she did mention that: "As long as you can control them, they will listen to you."
"This...this is how to control a divine artifact?" It's...that simple?
He could hardly believe it, but after a moment's thought, he calmed down. No! This wasn't simple. That was a divine artifact, incredibly powerful, and everyone who wanted it coveted its might. To completely suppress it, one would either need to be stronger than the artifact or possess power equal to it, but what would someone with such ability need a divine artifact for?!
"Divine artifacts are still weapons. No matter how spiritual they are, before they develop intelligence, they are just tools!" You You said. How could a tool be stronger than a human? Back then, the Crimson Sword only obeyed after being yelled at. As for those other divine artifacts, they were just things they picked up while they were beating up Qiu Yue.
Nie Zheng paused again, his expression unchanged, seemingly somewhat dazed, but his eyes flashed with a turbulent light, as if he were lost in thought. After a long while, he murmured, "So that's how it is..."
His expression changed, and he said with a hint of urgency, "Since you've just arrived in the Immortal Realm, would you like to take a look around? I can find an celestial official to guide you. I'm in a hurry to get back from the south and haven't had time to report to the Emperor yet, so it might be inconvenient for me to continue catching up with you." He seemed eager to leave.
"Okay, go ahead and get busy!" You You didn't try to keep them, as if she was really annoyed by the other party's attitude of completely excluding them and only thinking about pleasing their superior. Just as Nie Zheng turned to leave, she suddenly added, "By the way, Ning Hui, didn't you say yesterday that you brought a gift for your brother?"
"Huh!?" Ning Hui, still angry, was taken aback.
Nie Zhenggang, who was about to leave, also stopped in his tracks.
"The Immortal Realm isn't so easy to ascend to," You You continued. "Why don't you hurry up and give him the immortal stone you prepared!"
Ning Hui glanced at You You before realizing that she was referring to his natal magic weapon. She instantly understood, summoned the emerald green immortal stone, and walked towards Nie Zheng.
"Azure Immortal Stone?!" Nie Zheng was taken aback, and subconsciously took it and tried to recall what it was.
The next moment, the stone suddenly emitted a gentle light, sweeping towards Nie Zheng's chest, as if trying to draw out something, but there was no reaction from his chest.
"Your natal magic weapon didn't appear!" Ning Hui exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening as she looked at the other person. She said with certainty, "You're not Nie Zheng!"
Nie Zheng's expression changed drastically, as if he wanted to turn around. Feng Rong, who had been waiting nearby, flew over and struck him in the chest with a palm strike.
He couldn't dodge in time, and a phantom was instantly ejected from his body. The phantom was almost transparent, even thinner than Qiu Zhang's remnant soul, but it looked exactly like Nie Zheng, except that its eyes had no spirit and it was like a puppet.
The moment the phantom was ejected, Nie Zheng's body turned into a puddle of water that spilled all over the ground.
"An illusion!" Feng Rong exclaimed in surprise, immediately understanding what was happening. She turned to look at the illusory figure and said, "That's a fragment of Nie Zheng's soul!"
"..."
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