Martial Universe: Inherit the Future, Quickly Become a Martial Ancestor!

Chapter 121 The moonlight is beautiful, and the bamboo embraces me.

Mr. Shi's face turned deathly pale.

He opened his mouth, wanting to use the name of Yuanmen to intimidate others, but swallowed the words back down.

Although the Yuan Sect is hailed as the foremost of the eight super sects in the Eastern Xuan Region, and its apparent strength is indeed unparalleled, it's not yet powerful enough to crush the other seven sects. One Dao Sect is already troublesome, let alone the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace—

If these two families are truly forced to join forces, even the Yuan Sect will have to consider the consequences.

Moreover, they were in the wrong to begin with. They instigated the Tianyuan Dynasty to invade the territory under the jurisdiction of the Jiutian Taiqing Palace and even dispatched two tribal leaders. This matter is untenable no matter where you look at it.

Mr. Shi's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Seeing that Shi Dong was silent as a cicada in fear, Ling Qingzhu withdrew her gaze and turned to Lan He.

In that instant, the coldness in her eyes softened slightly, replaced by a barely perceptible gentleness. She bowed slightly, her voice still clear and sharp, but less aloof than before: "Young Master Lanhe, may I hand over this person's primordial spirit to my Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace for disposal?"

"I guarantee that this matter will be given an explanation to the Immortal Dynasty."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 20 ...

Upon hearing this, Lan He's eyes showed a thoughtful expression.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead looked around.

Qi Lei and Wei Sen had flown to his side, standing quietly on either side. Neither of them spoke, but simply looked at him, clearly waiting for him to make his own decision.

After all, he made great contributions in this battle, and as the young leader, he should be the one to decide how to deal with the prisoners of war.

Mo Yun moved swiftly and landed beside Ling Qingzhu. She glanced at Lan He but didn't speak, simply standing quietly beside her young master.

Lan He's gaze swept over the people of the Immortal Dynasty beneath his feet, those soldiers covered in blood yet still holding fast to the city walls, those cultivators who risked their lives to protect their homeland. Finally, his gaze settled on Shi Dong's trembling primordial spirit.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "I appreciate Miss Qingzhu's kindness."

Ling Qingzhu's eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't reply; she simply looked at him quietly.

Lan He continued, "If I were merely the young master of the Immortal Dynasty today, it wouldn't be a problem to hand this person over to Miss Qingzhu for disposal. After all, the Immortal Dynasty is subordinate to the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, so it would be reasonable for you to uphold justice."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Qi Lei and Wei Sen beside him, and then over the senior brothers and sisters of the Dao Sect in the distance. His tone gradually became firm: "But now, I am the young sect leader of the Dao Sect."

"This person ambushed and attacked our Dao Sect members with the intention of taking our lives. This debt should be settled by the Dao Sect."

"The Dao Sect gave me identity, protection, and everything I have today. If I were to hand this person over to someone else, how would I face my sect elders? How would I face my fellow disciples who have risked their lives for me?"

"So, I'm sorry, Miss Qingzhu."

He gave her a deep look, and said solemnly, "I cannot befriend this person."

As soon as he finished speaking, he solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ling Qingzhu and bowed slightly.

Qi Lei and Wei Sen exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with satisfaction and admiration. This young sect leader not only possessed astonishing talent, but more importantly, he displayed a remarkable sense of responsibility and loyalty. The Dao Sect had not misjudged him.

Mo Yun nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Ling Qingzhu looked at the white-robed youth who was bowing and clasping his hands in front of him, her eyes flickering slightly.

She wasn't angry; instead, a very faint smile appeared on her lips, so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it softened her entire demeanor.

She nodded slightly, her voice still cool, yet carrying a hint of warmth: "Young Master Lanhe is loyal and righteous, Qingzhu understands."

"In that case, this person shall be handed over to the Dao Sect for disposal. If the Yuan Sect causes trouble because of this matter in the future, the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace will testify on your behalf."

After saying that, she suddenly looked at Lan He, and the faint smile on her lips seemed to deepen a bit: "By the way, on our way here, we happened to run into someone fleeing in panic. Since we were already here, we thought it wouldn't be right to come empty-handed, so we captured him as an apology to everyone in the Immortal Dynasty."

Lan He was slightly taken aback.

Ling Qingzhu turned to look at the two elders behind her and whispered, "I'll trouble you two."

The gray-robed elder on the left nodded slightly, raised his hand, and a phantom primordial spirit floated out from his sleeve, limply hanging in mid-air. His aura was extremely weak, and he no longer possessed any of the majesty of a perfected Life Profound Realm cultivator.

It was none other than the ancestor of the Tianyuan Dynasty royal family, Yuan Tu!

Lan He's pupils contracted slightly, and then a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Qi Lei gasped, blurting out, "This—this is Yuan Tu?!"

Wei Sen's face instantly broke into a smile, even his usually squinting eyes were full of laughter: "Good! Good! Good! This gift from the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace is truly substantial!"

Mo Yun was also slightly taken aback, and her gaze towards Ling Qingzhu held a complex mix of emotions. How could she not see the young palace master's feelings?

Lan He took a deep breath, suppressing his joy, and bowed to Ling Qingzhu again, saying, "I will remember this great gift from Miss Qingzhu. I will do my utmost to serve you in the future."

Ling Qingzhu shook her head slightly, her voice still cold: "No need for formalities. The Tianyuan Dynasty has repeatedly invaded the territory under my Jiutian Taiqing Palace, and it is only right that they should give an explanation. Today is just an excuse."

She spoke casually, but a fleeting, almost imperceptible tenderness flashed across the depths of her cool eyes.

Lan He saw this and felt a slight warmth in his heart, but he didn't say anything.

He turned his gaze to Yuan Tu's despairing spirit, then looked at Shi Dong, who was trembling beside him, and a surge of indescribable joy welled up in his heart.

Of the three Great Profound Realm experts in the Tianyuan Dynasty, two died and one was captured.

The two leaders of the Yuan Sect, Liu Yan and Shi Dong, have both perished.

After this battle, the invading enemy was completely annihilated.

The Daoist sect and the Immortal Dynasty emerged victorious.

From atop the city wall, someone shouted first, "We've won! We've won!"

In an instant, cheers erupted like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, echoing through the sky.

The soldiers, covered in blood, embraced and wept, while the cultivators who had escaped death roared to the sky. The entire city of Tianbei was immersed in the ecstasy of victory.

Lan He stood in the void, his white robes fluttering in the wind. Looking at the cheers below, a relieved smile slowly appeared on his lips.

He turned around and looked at Ling Qingzhu; their eyes met.

At that moment, a thousand words were left unsaid.

Not long after, in the capital of the Immortal Dynasty.

Inside the War King's mansion, the atmosphere was completely different from usual. The entire mansion was bustling with activity; servants hurried about, their faces beaming with barely suppressed joy. News of the great victory at Tianbei City had already spread, and the entire capital was abuzz with discussion about that battle.

With the Eighth Nirvana Realm, the young master killed three Shengxuan Realm cultivators in succession, and joined forces with the Dao Sect and the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace to annihilate all the invading enemies!

Such a record is simply unheard of!

In the main hall, Lan Zhan leaned against the bed, his chest still wrapped in thick bandages. Although his face was still somewhat pale, his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness. He patted the edge of the bed with one hand and waved the other, his face flushed, showing no trace of his serious injuries.

"Hahaha! I knew it! I knew it!"

"My son has the potential for reincarnation!"

He laughed loudly, his voice booming so loudly it could be heard throughout the entire War King's Mansion: "Nirvana Rebirth, Tsk tsk tsk, listen to this! Is this something a human could do? This is genius! This is monster! And more importantly, this is my son!"

Lan Zhong stood to the side with his hands at his sides, his eyelids twitching. He suppressed a laugh and coughed lightly, "Master, your injury hasn't fully healed yet, take it easy—"

"What's with the 'yoyo'?"

Lan Zhan glared, "My son has slain three powerful cultivators at the Life Profound Realm. Am I, as his father, not allowed to be happy? Issue the order: everyone's monthly salary will be doubled this month!"

Lan Zhong sighed helplessly, and was about to speak when he suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "By the way, Master, shouldn't the young master and the others be back soon? Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon."

Lan Zhan was stunned, and the smugness on his face instantly froze.

He looked down at his body, which was wrapped in bandages, then at the messy main hall around him, and suddenly slammed his hand on the edge of the bed: "Hey! Why didn't you say so sooner!"

"Hurry and prepare! Have the main hall tidied up and a banquet prepared—the finest banquet imaginable. Also, send someone to wait at the city gate; report immediately upon spotting the young master!"

Lan Zhong nodded repeatedly, then turned and ran out, ordering as he went, "Someone, clean the main hall thoroughly. Go to the storeroom and fetch the best wine! Also, send men to guard the city gates—"

The entire Zhanwang Mansion suddenly became bustling with activity, even more lively than before.

Not long after, in the main hall of the War King's Mansion.

The banquet was prepared, and the lights were bright. The long table was laden with delicacies, and the aroma of wine filled the air. Lan Zhan sat in the main seat, wearing a brand-new brocade robe. Although the bandages were still faintly visible on his chest, he looked energetic and his face was radiant.

Below the hall, Lan He and Ling Qingzhu sat side by side. Qi Lei, Wei Sen, Mo Yun, and the Ying Xiaoxiao sisters sat on either side, their expressions...

The atmosphere was harmonious.

Lan Zhan raised his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, finally settling on Lan He, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride: "This cup is to honor the righteous actions of the Dao Sect members who saved my Immortal Dynasty from peril!"

He then looked at Ling Qingzhu, smiling exceptionally kindly: "I also respect Miss Qingzhu for rushing to our aid from afar and for her righteous assistance. If there is any need in the future, the entire Immortal Dynasty will be at your disposal."

'

Ling Qingzhu bowed slightly, her voice cool yet polite: "Senior War King, you are too kind. The Tianyuan Dynasty has repeatedly invaded the territory under my Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, so it is only right that I, Qingzhu, should do this."

Lan Zhan laughed heartily and drank it all in one gulp.

Below the hall, wine cups were clinked and laughter filled the air.

That night, the Prince of War's mansion was brightly lit, and the lights never went out.

As night deepened, the banquet came to an end.

Lan He came alone to the bamboo grove in the backyard of the War King's mansion. This secluded and tranquil place, far removed from the daytime hustle and bustle, was where he had lived since childhood.

It's a place I often come to to daydream.

He sat on a blue stone, looking up at the bright moon in the night sky. The moonlight, like water, fell quietly, draping the entire bamboo forest in a silver veil.

A gentle evening breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.

Lan He sat quietly, his mind filled with the events of the day: the exhilarating battle, the fallen powerful enemies, and that azure figure as cold as frost.

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard light footsteps behind him.

The footsteps were very light, almost inaudible, yet they reached his ears clearly.

He didn't turn around, but the corners of his lips slightly turned up.

A figure walked in the moonlight, her green dress fluttering, her steps light and graceful. The moonlight bathed her, gilding her with a soft silver glow, making her look like a fairy under the moon.

It was Ling Qingzhu.

She walked to Lan He's side, stopped a short distance away from him, looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, and said softly, "Why are you here all alone so late?"

Lan He turned his head to look at her. Under the moonlight, her aloof and peerless face lost its daytime detachment and gained a touch of gentleness.

He smiled slightly and patted the bluestone beside him: "Want to admire the moon together?"

Ling Qingzhu was slightly taken aback, then nodded and gently sat down on the blue stone next to him.

Moonlight streamed down, the bamboo forest was quiet, and the two sat side by side, with a fist's distance between them.

A gentle evening breeze carried the fragrance of bamboo leaves, but Lan He's attention was drawn to another subtle scent—the unique aroma of Ling Qingzhu. It was as clear and refreshing as plum blossoms in the snow, elegant yet not bland, lingering faintly on the tip of the nose, stirring the heart.

He glanced sideways at the woman beside him. In the moonlight, her profile softened, no longer as aloof and distant as during the day, but rather more down-to-earth.

Ling Qingzhu seemed to notice his gaze, but she didn't turn her head. Instead, she quietly gazed at the bright moon in the night sky and said softly, "You were really amazing in today's battle."

Her voice was soft, yet carried a hint of seriousness: "Rebirth from the ashes, fighting against two opponents and slaying three—even I couldn't achieve such a feat now."

Upon hearing this, Lan He was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Is Miss Qingzhu praising me?"

Ling Qingzhu turned her head and glanced at him, a complex look flashing in her clear, cold eyes: "I'm just telling the truth. When we first met, your cultivation was not as good as mine. Although you are still a small realm behind me now, you cultivate Yuan Power, Spiritual Power, and Body Refinement simultaneously. If it were a life-or-death battle, I would be inferior to you."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, as if even she herself found it somewhat unbelievable that she was saying these words.

Upon hearing this, Lan He was slightly taken aback, then chuckled and said, "So, Miss Qingzhu can be so sentimental?"

Ling Qingzhu was slightly taken aback and looked up at him.

Lan He laughed, "In my memory, you were the eternally aloof and detached young master of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, untouched by worldly affairs. When did you start caring about who's stronger or weaker?"

Ling Qingzhu paused for a moment, then lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Under the moonlight, her ears seemed to turn slightly red for a moment, but the night was too dark to see clearly.

But Lan He, with his cultivation level, could not possibly miss such a subtle change. Seeing her unusually composed state, he suddenly spoke, his voice softer than before, carrying a faint hint of amusement: "Miss Qingzhu—"

Ling Qingzhu was slightly taken aback, and looked up at him: "Hmm?"

Under the moonlight, those clear, cool eyes shone with a soft glow, unlike their aloofness during the day; instead, they seemed to have been softened by the moonlight.

Lan He looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "The moonlight is beautiful."

Ling Qingzhu was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to look away, she realized that he was staring straight at her with a gentle and focused gaze, as if the moonlight in the garden was nothing compared to the person in front of her.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she instantly understood the unspoken meaning in his words. When she lowered her eyes, even the roots of her ears were tinged with a faint blush.

"----Um."

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