There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 165 Remains of an Old Friend [First Update]

"call--"

The dragon pattern on the bow of the flying boat is lifelike, exuding a chilling aura of power and nobility.

The boat did not land; it simply hovered high in the air.

"Oh, what a lively scene! It seems I've arrived at an inopportune time and missed a great show? My fellow Sky Patrol officers, all of you look so gloomy, did you all lose your salaries here?"

The cabin door slid open silently, and two figures stepped out slowly.

The man on the left, dressed in fine clothes and wearing a jade crown, is none other than Ao Yu, the ninth prince of the Dragon Palace.

The man on the right, dressed in a dark blue marquis's robe and with a jade belt at his waist, is Lu Zhao, the heir of the Marquis of Dingbo.

He glanced helplessly at Ao Yu, then stepped forward and bowed to the middle-aged man in the black dragon robe: "Vice Minister of the Martial Union Division, how have you been? If the Sky Patrol Division has not yet reached a conclusion on the follow-up matters here, you may leave them to us to handle. Fellow Daoists are busy with official duties and need not linger in this desolate place."

The middle-aged man, referred to as Wu He, tightened his skin and said in a deep voice, "Young Master Lu, Ninth Prince, this matter involves many people and is of great importance. How can we be careless? I apologize that it is my duty to leave without permission. Moreover, it seems that the Dragon Palace and the Marquis's Mansion have recently received an edict from the Celestial Dynasty, requiring them to cooperate with our actions, right?"

He specifically pointed out the word "edict" to remind the other party that there were also constraints.

Ao Yu scoffed and shrugged. "Imperial edict? What imperial edict? I've been busy traveling the world and enjoying the scenery lately, and I haven't received any of these ridiculous edicts. What, does the Chief of the Martial Affairs Department intend to arrest me and Prince Lu as well and send them back to Yujing for interrogation?"

His tone was mocking, but his eyes gradually sharpened: "We merely came to see the scenery because of the chaotic space and frequent strange phenomena here. If the Minister of the Martial Union insists on investigating, then so be it. However..."

At this point, Ao Yu changed the subject: "Instead of wasting time with us here, why don't you give us a detailed report on the exact situation here, especially the news of Young Master Liu's official rank disappearing? That way, the higher-ups can make a decision sooner, so as not to miss the opportunity and cause further changes."

The Martial Arts Commissioner's expression shifted rapidly. Finally, he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the pent-up frustration in his heart. He gave Ao Yu and Lu Zhao a deep look and said stiffly, "Ninth Prince, Young Master Lu, the Sky Patrol Division has taken note of today's events. I will report the unusual occurrences here truthfully. I hope the Dragon Palace and the Marquis's Mansion will take heed of this!"

With that, he abruptly waved his hand: "Let's go!"

He didn't leave anyone to guard them, since even he couldn't handle those two, let alone his subordinates.
Although the group of Sky Patrol cultivators were unwilling, they could only glare at the flying boat fiercely after their superiors gave the order, and then transform into streaks of light and sped away.

After the Sky Patrol personnel disappeared into the horizon, Ao Yu and Lu Zhao, hovering above the canyon filled with gray mist and spatial rifts, both became solemn.

Lu Zhao smiled bitterly, "This Fellow Daoist Ji Ming is truly ruthless and cruel. Liu Yu is one thing, but Yin Gu of the Xuan Yin Sect and Ling Yun of the Yue Hua Mansion are both Nascent Soul cultivators at the fifth or sixth level of the realm, yet... How did he manage to do that?"

Ao Yu's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Far from being afraid, he clapped his hands in praise: "That's what you call skill! He doesn't make a move unless it's overwhelming. No matter what level of Nascent Soul you are or who's behind you, if you dare to extend your claws, he'll chop you off! Now, who would dare to test his strength so easily?"

Lu Zhao said solemnly, "After this incident, the attitude of Yujing will definitely become more complicated. The feud with the Lin family has not been resolved, and now the Liu family has been added to the mix. But on the other hand, the stronger Fellow Daoist Jiming is and the more amazing his methods are, the more those who can truly make decisions will think highly of him and consider him to be of great use. If this matter is handled properly, it may even bring more favorable conditions."

"Isn't that settled?" Ao Yu grinned. "So, today's battle was well fought! Worth it! Enough to deter the villains! I think we should send a message to Yuan Shan to postpone the matter of awakening the Nascent Soul cultivator in seclusion. Awakening him once comes at a high price, so we should save where we can."

Lu Zhao shook his head, his thoughts more thorough: "Precisely because Fellow Daoist Jiming has displayed his strength, it is easier to provoke a desperate counterattack. Relying solely on the two of us and our hidden forces may not be enough to ensure everything is safe. The Nascent Soul Grandmaster of Dingyuan Mountain must be prepared to act at any time. This is not only to ensure Fellow Daoist Jiming's safety, but also to demonstrate the stance that the Hidden Star Sect must take!"

He paused, then emphasized, "It's unacceptable that disciples serve the sect diligently on ordinary days, only to have the sect hide behind the scenes and leave them to bear all the open and hidden attacks when a major crisis occurs. If that were the case, how would we be any different from those shameless individuals who claim to be true disciples but then claim to be 'temporary outer disciples' when it really matters?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Yu put away his joking expression and nodded solemnly: "That makes sense! It's time to let the old men stretch their muscles."

the other side.

The cave was deep and dark, and the cold air was as cold as frost.

As Chen Qing stepped inside, he still carried a lingering air of menace and chill.

Inside the cave, the Ice Soul Girl and the White Feather Master looked up at the same time, their eyes reflecting surprise.

"Tsk," the little girl's glassy eyes swept over Chen Qing, her face full of amazement, "You actually did it! See, the information was accurate, now you should believe me a little, right?"

Chen Qing's gaze fell on the girl, and he said, "I just got back, and you already know the result. Your information channels are astonishingly fast."

The little girl's lips curled up in a smug smile: "It's no trouble telling you. In this frigid northern land, the wind and snow are my eyes and ears. As long as you're here, there's little that can escape my notice." With a wave of her small hand, the howling wind outside the cave seemed to soften a bit.

Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly, and he asked casually, "Does the Ice Soul Mystic Maiden have such a deep connection with the Northern Cold Continent? Could she have once been the ruler of this place? I once read a fragment of a scroll that mentioned the Northern Cold Continent had offered an Ice Soul Mystic Maiden to the Immortal Dynasty. Is this the beginning of the persecution you speak of?" "Isn't that the beginning?" The girl sneered, her body radiating a sudden chill, and ice shards crackled and grew on the cave walls. "The Immortal Dynasty is indeed the culprit, but the Hundred Races... hmph, they are no saints either!"

The white-feathered master beside him looked embarrassed, and his wings tucked in almost imperceptibly.

Chen Qing turned his gaze to the girl, waiting for what would happen next.

"Telling you won't hurt; you can find out about this with a little investigation." The girl's tone was icy, filled with deep-seated hatred. "Northern Cold Continent, formerly known as the 'Mysterious Nether Ice Domain,' was originally the paradise where my Ice Soul Clan lived for generations! Later, the Hundred Clans lost the struggle for supremacy in the Central Spirit and Eastern Spirit realms and were driven here by the Immortal Dynasty, but they turned the tables and nearly slaughtered my entire clan! Tell me, isn't this hatred immense?"

Chen Qing remained silent; he truly had not known this secret.

The girl became more and more indignant as she spoke, and the wind and snow outside the cave howled and swirled: "My people drink ice and ride the wind here, carefree and happy. This place is my supreme paradise! Those outsiders from the other tribes, who are not used to the local environment, blame my homeland as a poor and barren place and belittle it at every turn. What a ridiculous joke!"

The chill intensified.

A faint, clear light emanated from Chen Qing's body, dispelling a chilling aura. He spoke, "Fellow Daoist, please calm your anger."

"Don't worry, I know what's important." The girl snorted coldly, suppressing the surging chill, as the wind and snow outside the cave gradually subsided. "Right now, I only want to avenge the death of the previous Xuan Nu Han Yu! But there are too many things involved, and it can't be explained in a few days. As for you, what are your plans next? Will you continue to flee north and hide? Or do you have other plans? Actually, I have a way to send you to the Western Wilderness Continent."

"I have gained some insights from this battle, and with my previous advancement to the Golden Core stage, I need to find a quiet place to meditate for a while," Chen Qing said frankly. "In addition, I also need to find an opportunity to try out the method you gave me for refining the Ice Eye."

"Even last-minute preparations can be effective; at least you're not completely stupid. You know how to improve yourself." The girl's expression softened slightly. "I know an ancient ruin, secluded and safe, which might hold some unexpected opportunities. It's said to be related to the former emperor of the Immortal Dynasty, the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor. Let's see if you dare to believe me this time."

Taiyuan Immortal Emperor?

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and a faint impulse arose within him.

"Fellow Daoist uses the wind and snow as your eyes and ears, I don't believe you can't find me?" He didn't reveal his thoughts for the time being, but changed the subject: "Besides that, I have another question to ask. Fellow Daoist is well-informed, do you know the current situation of the demonic calamity in the North?"

He still remembered that after the demonic calamity erupted, there was a so-called black tide that covered the three continents, and in the end, the Taiyin Sect was completely destroyed. Naturally, he wanted to find out more about it.

The girl was taken aback by his words, then laughed and said, "I didn't expect you to be someone who cares about the common people." Although she was teasing, she still replied, "That extraterrestrial demon originally intended to use the Moonflower Palace as a springboard to secretly erode the hundred races and accumulate power. If it succeeds, it will be easy for demons to multiply and summon boundless filth to cover the entire Northern Cold Continent!"

She caught a glimpse of surprise in Chen Qing's eyes and smiled, "But thanks to you, they were exposed in advance, and the situation is quite different now. Several forces in the Immortal Dynasty have already intervened and reached a preliminary consensus with the extraterrestrial demons, signing a preliminary contract."

"Consensus?" Chen Qing frowned. "Can consensus be reached with extraterrestrial demons?" He recalled that when he severed the Blood River avatar, the pursuing demonic projection was chaotic and distorted, and was definitely not something that could be communicated with.

"Why not?" The girl's smile turned cold. "The extraterrestrial demons may seem chaotic, but they are like gods, with their own needs, only different from ordinary people. As long as we communicate through incense offerings and satisfy their needs, what's wrong with trading?"

As she spoke, she added sarcastically, "Of course, the Heavenly Demon is fickle. Its thoughts can be completely different from those of the previous moment. Moreover, it loves to exert extreme pressure. It is instinctive to exploit and drain its marrow. It will advance when it gains the upper hand. The more you retreat, the more it will press you until it wins big. Therefore, any contract signed with the Heavenly Demon will be torn up before long!"

Chen Qing's gaze narrowed slightly, as if deep in thought, and he asked, "In this way, taking one city a day is like cutting flesh with a dull knife, causing continuous bleeding?"

The girl laughed after hearing this: "Since Taijing went into seclusion and stopped caring about the common people, the world has now been divided into spirit eaters and firewood eaters! Spirit eaters sit high in the clouds and devour the spiritual energy of the world. Even if they have disputes, are divided into clans and have grudges, it is only a matter of territory, resources, and the amount of spiritual energy they possess! Occasionally a few rebels will emerge, but they are just scattered individuals and do not change the whole."

She paused, a cold glint in her eyes: "Compared to having the benefits shared by the extraterrestrial demons, as long as the Spirit Eaters can maintain their own power, the small cost can be passed on to countless firewood, and they can even motivate the cattle and horses of the world to work and provide sustenance. The previous Taiyuan Immortal Emperor once smoothed out the barriers and benefited the world for one or two thousand years, but unfortunately, as soon as he ascended, everything reverted to the old ways!"

Chen Qing remained silent, his heart filled with turmoil. Recalling the figure at the end of the long street, he felt a sense of profound change.

Although the girl's words were extreme, they vaguely corresponded to the various aspects of the celestial dynasty he had seen in his second dream.

But besides that, he combined what the woman said with his own thoughts and wondered to himself: "If the Heavenly Demon and the Immortal Dynasty have reached a tacit understanding, and the demonic seed lurking in the Moonflower Palace has been exposed, then will the demonic tide that was supposed to cover the three continents cease to exist? Will history be changed because of this?"

But these are things he cannot know simply by thinking about them.

"It seems that after waking up from this dream, I must explore that Scroll Pavilion again and see if the records on the stone tablet have changed."

Having made up his mind, he looked up at the girl and said, "Please lead the way to that ancient ruin, fellow Daoist."

　Second update, aiming for 11:30 PM
　　
　
(End of this chapter)