If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1198 The Cloud Soaring Lady, Who Can Be Both Soft and Hard

"Yu Fengxian, since you know your own inadequacy, how dare you say such things to humiliate us sisters?!"

Bixiao's eyebrows shot up, and she shouted sharply. The three-foot-long sword slid out of its sheath with a clang once more.

Xiao Yu glanced at Lady Yunxiao, whose expression was also not good, but instead of shouting excitedly, she fell into deep thought.

She was a little disappointed.

Despite all these provocations, Lady Yunxiao remained devoid of desire and could not break free from the "Purifying Heart Mantra" state of mind.

—Alas, this damned Pangu world is indeed difficult to navigate. Even though the Holy Emperor Fuxi was covering for "Great Extinction Father," he only said it was an insignificant "Curse of the Chaos Demon God."

These supposedly great immortals and deities are actually so timid and cowardly.

It's just a small curse, it won't kill you, why are you being so cautious?
Xiaoyu's inner grumbling might be appropriate for other immortals, but it makes no sense when directed at Yunxiao.

Three hundred thousand years ago, before the calamity struck, Lady Yunxiao was already a quasi-Daluo, her realm higher than most of the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect.

If we only compare cultivation levels, without considering supernatural powers and magical treasures, Lady Yunxiao could defeat seven or eight Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect by herself.

Although she was "unlucky" and died in a great calamity, and was reborn from the path of immortals to the path of gods, the spiritual realm of Lady Yunxiao did not decline.

Moreover, members of the Divine Path can also cultivate the Mysterious Heart Sutra.

Lady Yunxiao has now reached the state of "emptiness, stillness, and clarity." She can be free from thoughts and desires without needing to specifically cultivate the "Heart-Clearing Mantra." Even when provoked by Grand Tutor Yu's words, she remains calm and composed without needing to suppress them.

Like a castle, it is so sturdy that it doesn't need soldiers to be stationed there, and it can naturally withstand the storms outside.

Xiaoyu's words couldn't even be described as a "storm".

Bixiao Niangniang's cultivation level is far inferior to that of her eldest sister. She broke through her defenses before, and now she has broken through them again.

"I know I'm not capable enough and don't dare to offend the expert. But can't I even tell the truth? Do I have to fawn over you?" Xiaoyu said.

"Do you think I need you to fawn over me? You speak with such veiled barbs, do you think others can't tell?" Bixiao said.

Yunxiao gently patted her shoulder and looked at Xiaoyu, asking, "I heard you also took the Ziwei Emperor's Zhou Tian Xing Chen Robe. You're not planning to return it to him?"

Xiao Yu asked in surprise, "Does the Great Emperor Ziwei really have the nerve to come to me and ask for the Star Robe?"

Yunxiao's expression froze. "You mean, it's shameless of me and my sister to ask you for the Golden Dragon Scissors?"
Bixiao grew anxious again and sneered, "The Zhou Tian Star Robe is the treasure used by the Ziwei Emperor to prove his Dao."

Do you think I should compensate you for something so trivial that we've only formed a tiny karmic connection?

Even though you have become a prominent figure in China, you still retain the shallow and ignorant nature of a barbaric cultivator.

The heavens are vast, but the inner circle is very small.

Over the past tens of thousands of years, out of consideration for each other, which fellow Daoist has not lent out a magical treasure?
Once a magical artifact is lent out, there is a possibility of it being lost.

The person who borrows the magical treasure and is destined for calamity will naturally bear the main karmic consequences.

The original owner of the magic treasure bears a minor, secondary karmic burden. Once this karmic burden is resolved, the magic treasure should be returned.

This is common sense, it's the rule. If you don't understand, I'll teach you now!

Xiaoyu thought of the Monkey King from the Journey to the West.

How many powerful demon kings did Monkey King encounter along his journey?

How much suffering did those demon kings inflict on Monkey King with magic weapons that weren't truly their own?
But after defeating the monster, Monkey King lost all of his spoils.

Now, do these great immortals and gods also want her to be "Monkey King"?
Think beautiful!
She's not as pathetic as a monkey.

“Your Majesty, you are right. I am a wild cultivator from a barbarian land. I am not in the same circle as you elegant and virtuous immortals and gods.”

I'm not qualified to be part of your circle. I'm not even qualified to know your rules.

You continue to be elegant and glorious in your circles.

I live my own real and sordid life as a hermit; we have nothing to do with each other, and we should never cross paths.

Bixiao said, "Do you think you can do whatever you want? You were able to get the Star Robe and the Golden Dragon Scissors because of fate; you have a slight connection with them."

But can your meager connection compare to its true owner?
When fate has run its course and karma has ended, if you don't let go willingly and insist on holding on, you will surely suffer harm.

Xiaoyu laughed and said, "That's well said, I completely agree. Just now you called for the Golden Dragon Scissors, but the Golden Dragon Scissors ignored you."

I whistled, and it came running back, all smiles. Wasn't that fate?
Your Majesty, the beginning and end of all things are governed by cause and effect.

Your connection with it has ended. It is the most powerful weapon in the world, but you have entered the path of divinity and will never have the chance to use it.

It's such a waste to let a pearl go to waste. It's better to let go and allow it to freely find a new owner.

Forcing them to stay will surely bring disaster!

Bixiao's pretty face flushed red with anger, and she kept rolling her eyes. "Sister, did you see it? Did you hear it?"

This junior is intimidated by power but lacks virtue; don't bother arguing with her. Let's use our full power to teach her a lesson.

"Isn't what she said exactly what you just said? If you can say it, why can't she?"

Yunxiao glared at his sister, but inwardly he was bitterly smiling: You stupid girl, you clearly went through the Investiture of the Gods and lost your life, your path to immortality was completely ruined, and now you still don't learn your lesson and still want to fight and kill.

Don't you know that the great calamity of heaven and earth has arrived once again?
I didn't know that Grand Tutor Yu's ability to stir up trouble had surpassed that of Grand Tutor Wen back then.
Do you want to get into trouble again after fighting and killing her?
"Grand Tutor Yu, how about this? I will give you another treasure in exchange for you returning the Golden Dragon Scissors to my three sisters. How about that?"

"The Golden Dragon Scissors were a gift from our master, and they hold great significance for us. We really can't bear to part with them," Yunxiao said softly.

Xiao Yu shook her head repeatedly and said, "I won't exchange it, and I can't exchange it. It's not that I'm targeting the Three Immortal Maidens, but I must establish a rule—anyone who lends a magic weapon to someone else to harm me must be prepared to completely discard the magic weapon."

Previously, the Great Emperor Ziwei lent the Star Robe to Old Ghost Huang An. I accepted the Star Robe and naturally assumed that the great gods and immortals of the Heavenly Realm must be more shameless and reasonable than a wild cultivator from a barbarian land like myself.

Without me saying more, the Ziwei Emperor was ashamed to mention the Star Robe again, considering it a lesson learned the hard way.

If you meet me in the future, you'll blush with embarrassment and apologize to me.

I never imagined that the circle of celestial beings in Heaven was so high-class.

The elites in high-end circles have long since transcended the morals and ethics of the human world.

I'm just a mortal, I can't afford to play this game.

We must set an example now, lest my enemies tomorrow come to the mortal world with magical treasures like the Heaven-Turning Seal and the Dragon-Hiding Stake to ambush me.

"Life is only given to you once, and I'm terribly afraid of dying."

"Sister, this junior is sharp-tongued, mean-spirited, disrespectful, and audacious. He's utterly despicable. Let's draw our swords!" Bixiao cried, pulling on Yunxiao's arm.

Yunxiao glared at her again and said to Xiaoyu, "Don't be so quick to refuse. The treasure I'm using to exchange for the Golden Dragon Scissors is definitely worth it."

With a flick of her sleeve, a scroll flew out.

The scroll is three feet long, and the canvas is made of yellowish-brown "coarse cloth," giving it a very vintage feel.

The clouds unfolded a small portion of the painting, revealing a strange, large river.

Xiaoyu knew it should be a map of the Yellow River, but its appearance was vastly different from the Yellow River of today. In fact, apart from a slight resemblance in spirit, the course of the river and the terrain were completely unrecognizable.

“Our three sisters’ strongest killing move is not the Golden Dragon Scissors, but the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation. I’ll trade the original formation diagram for the Golden Dragon Scissors; you definitely won’t lose out,” Yunxiao said.

Bixiao exclaimed excitedly, "Sister, have you lost your mind? Chen Sheng and Wu Guang have started their rebellion, and the Central Plains are about to descend into chaos. If you give her this powerful weapon, aren't you just aiding and abetting evil?"

Xiaoyu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Majesty, is it really appropriate for you to use the phrase 'aiding and abetting evil'?"

For others, "aiding and abetting evil" is an adjective; but for the Three Immortals of the Three Immortals who sided with King Zhou of Shang, "aiding and abetting evil" was a personal experience.

Then she turned to Lady Yunxiao and said, "The Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation is renowned for its power, even able to trap Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect. It is more than enough to replace the Golden Dragon Scissors."

But I'm not good at formations, and I can't handle too much killing.

Therefore, I must decline Your Majesty's offer and retain the Golden Dragon Scissors, which can only kill one person at a time!

"Are you trying to be mysterious?" Bixiao asked suspiciously.

Yunxiao paused for a moment, then unfolded another part of the array diagram.

The first part is the ancient Yellow River, while this part is a mysterious and difficult-to-understand array diagram.

Xiaoyu initially only glanced at it casually, but unexpectedly, after just one look, she couldn't take her eyes off it.

Lady Yunxiao let her look until Grand Tutor Yu finished looking at the part that had been revealed.

Seeing that she hesitated to speak, and her face showed a hint of unfinished business, the Empress smiled and said, "The Yellow River produced a map, and the Luo River produced a book."

The Hetu originated from the Yellow River, and the Luoshu originated from the Luo River.

However, the content recorded in the Hetu and Luoshu is actually unrelated to the Yellow River and Luo River.

The Hetu records the laws of the 'Galaxy', while the Luoshu records the mysteries of spacetime changes.

By observing the movement of stars and time, we can explore the mysteries of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements that constitute the Pangu world.

The Heavenly Secrets Technique is merely a side effect.

The same principle applies to the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.

The natural transformations of stars and time contain the secrets of the supreme Dao. The Yellow River is not the greatest river in the world, but it is the greatest river of humanity; the natural flow of its waters also contains the mysteries of the Dao.

Xiao Yu said, "This shouldn't be an innate spiritual diagram. Who comprehended the Yellow River Dao? Was it the Three Immortal Maidens or the Dao Ancestor?"

Yunxiao said, "It's my understanding."

Xiaoyu immediately showed disappointment and said, "Your Majesty, your sincerity and magnanimity have moved me."

At other times, I would have simply given you the Golden Dragon Scissors.

At this time, however, the world was undergoing a great calamity, and the great war in the Central Plains was about to begin.

As you can see, both the River God and the Dragon King of the Ji River were destroyed by the Golden Dragon Scissors.

Without the Golden Dragon Scissors, even if Ye Jiutian and his companions perished, they would still be unable to kill the Yellow River God in the River God's divine realm.

After the Ji River incident is resolved, they will embark on a distant expedition.

If the Golden Dragon Scissors are replaced with the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, how can the war continue?
I cannot be greedy for short-term gains and jeopardize the overall advantage.

Bixiao pointed at her face and shouted angrily, "An excuse? This is an excuse! You don't even hide your expression!"

"What's wrong with my expression?" Xiaoyu touched her face.

“You have a line of words clearly written on your forehead—you look down on my sister. You think her insights into the great principles of heaven and earth from observing the Yellow River are worthless,” Bixiao said.

Yunxiao was extremely embarrassed and wanted to tear the girl's mouth apart: Even if she really didn't like my insights and was just making excuses to refuse, you didn't have to shout it out! If you shout it out, where will I put my face?
Xiaoyu was also a little embarrassed; she hadn't managed her facial expressions well just now.

"I am indeed a little disappointed. I thought it was the Dao Ancestor's enlightenment. Isn't it only natural that Lady Yunxiao is inferior to the Dao Ancestor?"
If it were someone else, wouldn't they be even more eager to obtain the Dao Ancestor's secret method?
My disappointment doesn't mean I look down on the Empress.

Who doesn't know that the Empress swept away the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect with the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation?
If it weren't for the three goddesses' folly and daring to be disrespectful to the Dao Ancestor, who among the immortals of the three religions could possibly do anything to you?
With such a splendid record, for me to look down on the Empress would be utterly foolish!

Bixiao said, "If that's the case, why are you unwilling to exchange?"

"Didn't I already explain the reason? In the upcoming battle, I might have to use the Golden Dragon Scissors to cut down dozens of Golden Immortals and hundreds of Celestial Immortals and True Immortals. If I used the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation instead, would it be able to actively kill people?"
"The divine formation is set up, but the enemy doesn't go inside; instead, they circle around and attack the rear of the formation. What can be done?"

At this point, Grand Tutor Yu couldn't help but sigh deeply, saying, "Your Majesty, times have changed."

In your 'ancient times,' even the 'Art of War by Taigong' hadn't been written down.

Now that the four strategists have returned to their rightful places, their various tactics are dazzling.

In ancient times, people were simple and honest. When two armies faced off, they always fought honorably and squarely. If one side set up its battle formation, the other side would surely break through it head-on. If one side raised a white flag of truce, the other side would surely wait quietly.

Back then, placing the magic array in front of the camp gate could block the enemy's advance.

The Immortal Array can only defend the city now, putting it in a very passive position.

At this moment, I am capturing traitors, not defending the city. I cannot passively wait for the enemy to come to me.

"The Golden Dragon Scissors are needed to capture the traitor, so I can only apologize to Your Majesty."

"Bixiao, you go back first," Yunxiao said to her younger sister, turning her head slightly.

Bixiao's lips twitched a few times, and she glared fiercely at Grand Tutor Yu before entering the divine dimension, transforming into divine light and disappearing from the mortal realm.

"Grand Tutor Yu, let's go down below to talk." Yunxiao glanced at the still smoking and foul-smelling Ji River and took the lead in diving into the river.

Grand Tutor Yu followed closely behind, and they arrived at a hidden deep pit.

Yunxiao first used magic to shield the surrounding heavenly secrets before saying calmly, "Grand Tutor Yu, you are straightforward and honest, so I won't waste your time with empty formalities."

The Golden Dragon Scissors are an old possession of the Master, and I must get them back.

You're right, you're not in our circle.

I could even go to the Tushita Palace and borrow the Taiji Diagram and the Vajra Bracelet from my senior master, do you believe me?
If necessary, it's not impossible to gather all four swords of Zhuxian.

When I make up my mind not to reason with you, you definitely won't be able to keep the Golden Dragon Scissors.

But I'm still willing to reason with you.

Lending out the Golden Dragon Scissors without permission almost cost you your life; we three sisters deserve this retribution.

To retrieve the Golden Dragon Scissors, I am willing to pay the price: the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation.

If you're willing to trade, I'll give you the array diagram now, and you can keep the Golden Dragon Scissors.

You can claim to the outside world that the Golden Dragon Scissors still belong to you and that you will not return them to me, using them to intimidate some immortals who want to harm you.

But from now on, you can only use it to kill three immortals. After killing the three immortals, I must immediately retrieve the Golden Dragon Scissors.

Do you agree to reason with me, or will you continue to insist on your own reasoning?

(End of this chapter)