Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 60. Showdown
Back at the Crane Mansion, the family was inevitably a little downcast, feeling isolated from the "prosperity and glory," and who knew how today's events would be spread outside.

The branch family of the He family went to visit the main family. They had already reached the front hall, but were stopped at the door and had to turn back.

This isn't just a slap in the face; it's like throwing your face to the ground and stomping on it.

The family had originally brought gifts and planned to have a meal at their ancestral home, but now that they had been sent back, they could only make do with a meal at their own residence.

During the meal, no one spoke, and no one mentioned what had happened before.

After finishing his meal, Que He said, "I'm going back to the Forging Guild. I've heard that the Holy Emperor plans to reduce commerce and encourage agriculture. We've received a lot of orders to make farm tools. I have to go and oversee things so that nothing goes wrong."

Que Chan also put down her chopsticks, glanced at her husband who was always following her around, and said, "Second Uncle, Mother, Aunt, we're going to the restaurant too. There have been banquets almost every day these past few days, and important people have been visiting. I have to go and entertain them."

"Go ahead, go ahead," Madam Qianxue said with a smile, waving her hand.

The three of them left.

Madam Qianxue then looked at Song Chen and said gently, "My lord, waves rise and fall, and people gain and lose. Qingyue, He'er, Chan'er, and I will follow you. At worst, we can give up everything, it doesn't matter."

She naturally wanted it deep down.

If she truly lost everything, never regaining what she had lost, never rising again after a fall, she would surely go crazy, crying and screaming, completely collapsing. But now, she wanted to comfort this young man first, afraid that he might have a mental breakdown.

That night, Madam Qianxue and Lady Qingyue once again upheld their duties as wives, enjoying the pleasure of the young master amidst the rising and falling waves, thunderous roars, and countless snowy waves.

In the early hours of the morning, Song Chen lay down.

Two women were standing nearby.

He felt incredibly peaceful, yet also found it somewhat amusing.

Today's events are undoubtedly due to Master's attitude; Master doesn't want him to get close to General Que anymore.

It's nothing more than his master lowering his evaluation of him after seeing his cultivation speed, which also changed his original marriage partner, making him a bit lower in status. And that new marriage partner might even be on the opposite side of the Que family.

But such a small thing seems like the end of the world to outsiders.

After carefully reviewing the situation, Song Chen felt there was nothing to regret.

He has too many secrets.

Not too flashy, not too low-key—that's just right.

He glanced at the [Controlling the Netherworld Waves] in his storage bag and decided that he would start cultivating in the Yellow Springs in the northern suburbs this time. The Yellow Springs had an aura recording function, so no matter how much noise he made there, he could just say it was a Yellow Springs riot and it would be fine.

But it's not easy to cultivate in the capital.

Suddenly, he remembered what Madam Qianxue had said before: "The Holy Emperor will ascend Golden Peach Mountain, erect an unnamed monument, and, holding the blood-written military orders of 100,000 brave soldiers, offer sacrifices to the north to summon the souls back."
Whether this matter is true or false, he cannot understand it.

Compared to ordinary people, he at most knew that "if the Holy Emperor really wanted to do this, its deeper meaning would certainly far exceed its surface meaning," and it was definitely not just a formality.

But what does this have to do with him?

He was just a minor Qi Gathering Realm cultivator at the fifth level.

Two days later.
Song Chen mounted his beloved yellow horse and rode off towards Jinxia Mountain.

After handing the big yellow horse over to the Immortal Guards of Jinxia Mountain, he headed towards the Underworld.

Today, the Yellow Springs Land is no different from before. It has not changed because of General Que's victory. On the way here, Song Chen heard two passing marrow-eating crane demons whispering about something like, "A large number of refugees, bandits, and vagrants from the North will be gathered nearby for training. Should we go and have a feast then?"

A sense of reincarnation arose in Song Chen's heart.

The underworld needs corpses.

Therefore, Da Yong was always trying his best to get corpses here.

Previously, the cannon fodder battalion trained soldiers without caring about their lives; the more they died, the better.

Has it come again today?

He returned to the cabin, briefly maintained the Yellow Springs Land with the [Exploration] secret technique, and then arrived at a secluded mountain area.

He held the Yellow Springs Scroll behind his back and then took that piece of bronze feather.

The eerie Yellow Spring water gushed from the soles of Song Chen's feet.

His figure sank and disappeared from the spot, transforming into a white ghost realm.

This White Demon Realm is like a bubble floating between the realms of Yin and Yang, unable to sink into the Yellow Springs.

Song Chen gently waved the flawless feather.

Wow! !

The Yellow Springs suddenly revealed a vortex, revealing a dark and eerie tunnel.

After a moment's thought, Song Chen took a straw puppet and threw it outside as a guide for his return. Then he pointed Wuxiayu forward, and his White Demon Realm entered the tunnel and moved forward in the direction he pointed.

Song Chen felt both amazed and awe-inspiring; he had not forgotten the origin of this flawless feather.

This thing is essentially a blank edict left by a being called Black Yama, except that Crane Ancestor filled in its name on the edict.

He couldn't imagine how terrifying the Black Yama King was, and how he could make the Yellow Springs obediently avoid him with a blank edict that he casually issued.

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind. Song Chen, using the Ghost Realm as his boat and a feather as his rudder, traversed the deep and mysterious Yellow Springs at an incredible speed, far exceeding his speed using water escape techniques. Although many evil spirits surrounded him, they all retreated upon sensing the superior aura emanating from his Ghost Realm.
Thus, Song Chen plunged downwards like a pale white rainbow. In no time, he arrived at the deepest part of the Yellow Springs.

Amidst the turbulent waves, there was a tightly closed, massive blue gate.

Ghost Gate.

Song Chen held the flawless feather in his hand.

He could sense that this decree from the Black King of Hell could open the gates of hell.

If we compare the underworld after the Yellow Springs to a company, then this edict from the Black King of Hell is like a one-time entry permit.

In the past, this was a directional document; once you entered the sect, you had to see the Crane Ancestor. But now, because the Crane Elder has voluntarily taken on the mysterious power of the illusory realm contained in this decree, it has become a one-time blank entry certificate.

Song Chen took a serious look at the giant blue gate, but did not intend to go in.

He's just here to test the flawless feather.

Now that he's tried it, his sense of security has increased a bit more.

If he wants to escape in the future, he won't just have to use water escape; he can also use the Yellow Springs escape.

The Yellow Spring Escape is much faster than the Water Escape, and the requirements are also much higher.

"It's time to go back."

Song Chen sensed the straw puppet guide he had previously left behind and transformed into a rainbow of light, returning along the same path.

He landed back in his original spot, put away the puppet, and felt a little smug.

Now that he has entered the ninth level of Qi Gathering, he has the Divine Fire Beast and the White Wraith Ghost Domain for combat, and the Yellow Spring Escape for escape. He can now improve his realm while preparing for the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

He could sense that only if he surpassed the Foundation Establishment Realm could he truly live like a human being and truly see this hazy and terrifying world more clearly.

He returned to the cabin and calmly brewed a pot of tea.

The tea was just heated and the steam was just rising when the wooden door suddenly clicked open.

Song Chen immediately called out, "Senior Sister Meng."

Evil spirits may knock on the door, but Sister Meng will not.

Sure enough, it was Xiaomeng who arrived.

Xiao Mengci smiled and stared at him, saying softly, "Master has instructed you; come with me."

Song Chen was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, his eyes filled with the excitement and anticipation of a pilgrimage.

"Really? Senior sister, let's go, let's go quickly!"

He didn't bother to drink his tea or calm his curious and slightly nervous feelings; he hurriedly straightened his clothes.

Xiao Meng used a burst of light to envelop him, and after a moment they arrived at the foot of a mountain. She threw him down from mid-air, and then the light returned.

Snapped!
Song Chen landed on the ground, covered in dust and dirt. Looking up, he saw a rather refined-looking young man drinking tea.

The young man had broad shoulders, but his expression was calm and composed.

He was focused on holding the teapot, calmly brewing the tea in front of him.

Song Chen looked at the tea, his pupils contracting.

Looking up again, he saw the refined young man, and behind him, Tian Kuizi, who was standing respectfully with his head bowed, and the thin, blue-eyed crane demon lying on the ground with a blank and fearful look in his eyes.

This crane demon is none other than Crane White.

"Junior brother, haven't you greeted Master yet? To see Master's face is truly amazing! From now on, we're really family!" Tian Kuizi frantically winked from behind.

Song Chen excitedly took two steps forward, knelt down like a collapsing mountain, and cried out, "Master, your disciple has finally been able to see your holy countenance. Your disciple... your disciple is truly excited."

Master smiled faintly, then looked up and said, "That old crane of the Marrow-Eating Crane Demon went to kill you, but you killed it instead. And neither Tian Kuizi nor I could see through your true realm. Interesting."

Without waiting for Song Chen to ask any questions, he glanced at the crane beside him and said, "It came to report that it wanted to invite you to be the patriarch of the crane clan, so I just searched its soul and found out."

Tian Kuizi clapped his hands and stamped his feet, sighing, "Junior brother, you didn't handle this well. Why didn't you kill He Bai as well after killing that old crane?"

Master frowned slightly and said, "Xiao Meng has been keeping an eye on He Bai. Once we're out of the Ghost Realm, your junior brother won't be able to kill him anymore. As his senior brother, you shouldn't teach him recklessly."

Tian Kui Zi hurriedly said, "Master is right. Oh dear, it seems I still have a lot to learn from Master."

Song Chen felt a chill run through him, and he had an urge to flee to the underworld as quickly as possible.
Just then, the master laughed and pointed to the opposite side, saying, "Sit down. I was worried that you were progressing too slowly and that we wouldn't be able to catch up with the plan this time, but it seems that I was overthinking it."

Don't be nervous. There aren't many people who can open the Yellow Springs. Someone as talented as you is someone I need to keep alive; I can't bear to kill you. Hmm, we were just saying we'd arrange a marriage for you, weren't we?"

He thought for a moment and said, "Never mind, it's not important anymore."

He smiled and looked at Song Chen, saying, "I'll get you a new one."

Song Chen exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty? His Majesty the Holy Emperor?"

The master smiled again and said, "It's not yet, but it will be soon."

(End of this chapter)