Chapter 13 The Edict

When a troop of golden-armored imperial guards escorted the immortal carriage drawn by a blue luan to the headquarters of Tianbao Mountain, someone from Tianbao Mountain had already come out to welcome them, for this was none other than the famed Xiyue Commandery Princess of the Yan Prince's mansion.

“Xiyue, little sister.” A white-clad woman of extraordinary bearing, like a banished immortal, came out directly to greet her.

“Qingliu, elder sister.” Xiyue Commandery Princess also stepped down from the immortal carriage, revealing a smile.

“What brings Xiyue, little sister, to Tianbao Mountain? With your temperament, you rarely come here. I was planning to visit you in a few days.” The white-clad woman Qingliu smiled. Fairy Qingliu... was a reincarnated female immortal; in her previous life, she had been a loose immortal of the Tiannong clan, and after reincarnation, she was again reborn into the Tiannong clan!

At the headquarters of Tianbao Mountain, this Fairy Qingliu, at the level of a Primordial Daoist, held a very high status and was also a close friend of Xiyue Commandery Princess.

“I wanted to come and see, so I came.” Xiyue Commandery Princess and Fairy Qingliu walked arm in arm, clouds and mist rising directly beneath their feet as they advanced along another wide passage. Ordinary guests like Ji Ning all entered through the common passage.

“You should have come out to see the world long ago. Cooped up in the prince's mansion all day—if you don't find it stifling, I do on your behalf.” Fairy Qingliu said. Her good friend Xiyue Commandery Princess was fine in every other respect, but she was too reclusive. At gatherings of the younger generation of the Grand Xia imperial clan and the many great tribes, Xiyue Commandery Princess was often discussed.

Because there were too many imperial clan members, the status of princes and princesses was actually not very high. But Yan Prince had only Xiyue Commandery Princess as his kin and doted on her greatly, so her status was actually very high.

Many people believed... that the reason Xiyue Commandery Princess was reclusive was related to her childhood.

Because no one knew about her childhood experiences. When Yan Prince brought Xiyue Commandery Princess back, she was already a graceful young woman.

“By the way, help me look into something.” Xiyue Commandery Princess spoke. “A person named Ji Ning should have come to your Tianbao Mountain today. Check and see where Ji Ning is now. He should still be within Tianbao Mountain.”

“Alright.” Fairy Qingliu smiled, then directly sent a divine thought transmission to a subordinate hundreds of miles away, giving orders.

“It seems that Xiyue, you came this time for this Ji Ning. The name Ji Ning... the one I can think of is that disciple of the Black-White College in Anchan Commandery who killed Shaoyan Nong.” Fairy Qingliu said.

“It's him.” Xiyue Commandery Princess also revealed a smile. “I'm quite curious about him. He actually dared to kill Shaoyan Nong.”

“I'm also very curious.” Fairy Qingliu said.

In just a moment.

“Found it.” Fairy Qingliu said. “Ji Ning is currently at 'Duobao Peak'.”

“Duobao Peak? Then let's go to Duobao Peak.” Xiyue Commandery Princess said directly.

The headquarters of Tianbao Mountain covered an extremely vast area, with many peaks inside. The summits of these peaks were like the scales of a giant qilin. Among them, nine peaks were collectively called 'Duobao Peak'. Around each peak floated several hundred seats, all formed from condensed clouds, each cloud over ten zhang in size, with a low table, a seat, and a maidservant.

Ji Ning sat cross-legged on one of the clouds, eating fine food. Whitewater Ze and Xiaoqing were beside him, and a maidservant waited nearby for orders.

“Whoosh.”

The peak rippled like water, and Fairy Qingliu and Xiyue Commandery Princess flew out together, landing on a cloud. They both sat down, and immediately maidservants brought delicious dishes.

“Look, over there is Ji Ning.” Fairy Qingliu glanced in Ji Ning's direction.

Xiyue Commandery Princess followed Fairy Qingliu's gaze and soon spotted that direction. In that direction were many clouds of varying heights, on which sat guests from all over. Some were even people of great power and status in the Grand Xia imperial capital, who even took the initiative to smile at Fairy Qingliu and Xiyue Commandery Princess.

“Hmm?” Xiyue Commandery Princess quickly noticed among the many guests an unremarkable youth dressed in animal skins.

Though dressed in animal skins, the youth was often buried in eating, while beside him a snow-white large dog and a green snake were also eating, discussing among themselves: “This is really good.” “As expected of the Grand Xia imperial capital, never tasted it in Anchan Commandery. Master, coming here was the right choice.”

“Ji Ning.”

Xiyue Commandery Princess looked at Ji Ning in the distance, a warmth filling her heart.

“So similar.”

“So similar to Father!”

Xiyue Commandery Princess said silently.

Ji Ning's appearance resembled his mother Yuchi Xue's more. And Yuchi Xue and Yuchi Shan were full siblings... It was said that a nephew often resembles his uncle. Ji Ning indeed had many similarities with Yuchi Shan. However, Ji Ning had broken through to the Xiantian realm very early, so he had always retained a youthful appearance. If he had broken through a few years later, given his height at eleven, by sixteen he would certainly have been quite sturdy.

“Little brother.” Xiyue Commandery Princess's heart was warm, and tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes.

Too long.

She had always thought she was alone. Even after her maternal grandfather found her and brought her to the Grand Xia imperial capital, she was still lonely. She missed her deceased mother even more, missed her father who had never returned... and in her dreams, she returned again and again to the warm days on the island with her parents.

She wanted to go back to the days of being a fisherman's girl on that island, but unfortunately, she could not return to the past.

Her father's life tablet had shattered, and she thought she had no more kin... But Shaoyan Nong's death had implicated a youth, a youth whose mother was called 'Yuchi Xue', a youth said to be a remnant of the Yuchi clan. Yuchi Xue, though she had never met her, she had heard her father speak of her—she was his only surviving younger sister.

“Little brother.” Xiyue Commandery Princess had been extremely anxious before, but now, seeing the youth on the distant cloud eating and drinking, talking with Whitewater Ze and the Azure Serpent, she was no longer in a hurry.

“Xiyue, tonight there is the monthly treasure-gathering auction here.” Fairy Qingliu smiled. “And I've learned some news about this Ji Ning.”

“What is it?” As soon as Xiyue Commandery Princess heard the name Ji Ning, she became interested.

Immortal Qingliu remarked, 'This Ji Ning wasn't very interested in the treasure-gathering at first, but when he heard that the Shaoyan clan was here, he came.'

'Ah,' Princess Xiyue said in surprise. 'What is he trying to do?'

'This time, Ji Ning didn't change his appearance, brought his spirit beast, and rode the very carriage that once belonged to Shaoyan Nong to arrive at Tianbao Mountain. It's as if he's afraid the Shaoyan clan won't notice him,' Immortal Qingliu said with a sigh. 'And now, upon hearing that the Shaoyan clan is here, he's come specifically. It feels like he's challenging them. I must say, he's quite bold.'

'Then isn't he in great danger?' Princess Xiyue asked quickly.

'Ji Ning obtained Shaoyan Nong's treasures, so he certainly has plenty of protective items,' Immortal Qingliu said. 'And since he was able to kill Shaoyan Nong, Ji Ning himself is extraordinary... Given his strength, it would be very difficult for the Shaoyan clan to kill him here in the imperial capital of Great Xia.'

Princess Xiyue regained her composure and nodded. 'Right. The imperial guards of Great Xia monitor the entire capital. If any fighting breaks out, they'll teleport here quickly.'

'Exactly. So if the Shaoyan clan wants to kill Ji Ning, they'd have to send assassins who can slay him within a single breath. And such assassins...' Immortal Qingliu shook his head. 'Difficult, very difficult. At the very least, they'd need a top-tier loose immortal, and even a top-tier loose immortal might not be confident in killing Ji Ning within a single breath. After all, Ji Ning has already killed Shaoyan Nong and a primordial-level divine demon.'

Princess Xiyue smiled.

She suddenly felt proud of her younger brother; he was truly formidable.

...

The sky had darkened, and starlight appeared in the night sky. Streams of starlight connected to form a starry passageway. A tall, thin old man with narrow eyes walked over, surrounded by starlight. It was Ancestor Xuanji.

Below lay a silent mountain range.

'Fuyun,' Ancestor Xuanji said calmly, his voice penetrating through the layers of mountains.

Soon a figure emerged from the mountains—a bald old man. Upon seeing Ancestor Xuanji, he immediately bowed respectfully. 'Fuyun pays respects to the Ancestor.'

'Mm. How many years have you been cultivating?' Ancestor Xuanji asked indifferently.

'One hundred twenty-eight thousand one hundred thirteen years,' the bald old man replied respectfully.

'Not bad. A hundred thousand years is a major threshold; many loose immortals cannot survive that long,' Ancestor Xuanji said.

The bald old man quickly added, 'When Fuyun underwent his tribulation, his primordial foundation was damaged. It was only with the clan's help that I recovered quickly enough to live this long. But now I'm nearing my limit. Each disaster and tribulation is a great ordeal for me. I wish to reincarnate, but I fear failure.'

Reincarnation was not always successful. Some were lucky and succeeded; others failed utterly.

The underworld was not to be trifled with.

'I can grant you a reincarnation decree,' Ancestor Xuanji said.

'A reincarnation decree?' The bald old man's face lit up with joy.

Decrees were issued by great powers of the Three Realms.

Even the underworld had to show respect to the decrees of such great powers. Even for the Shaoyan clan, such decrees were extremely precious, as there were over a thousand loose immortals in the clan.

'I need you to do something,' Ancestor Xuanji said.

'Please instruct me, Ancestor,' the bald old man said quickly. He had begged the clan several times before, but they had never granted him a reincarnation decree. Now that the Ancestor had come in person and was offering him a decree, there must be an important task.

'Do you know about Ji Ning killing my Nong'er?' Ancestor Xuanji said coldly.

'Yes,' the bald old man replied quickly.

How could he not know? Shaoyan Nong was practically the next Duke Feathergod, with divine demon guards by his side. In the Ancestor's heart, his status was far higher than that of a loose immortal like himself, who was nearing death.

'Now this Ji Ning is in the imperial capital of Great Xia,' Ancestor Xuanji instructed. 'Go to the capital, kill Ji Ning, and then reincarnate.'

'The imperial capital of Great Xia?' The bald old man's expression changed.

Kill someone in the imperial capital?

Kill that Ji Ning?

This was no simple matter. Ji Ning had already killed Shaoyan Nong and a primordial-level divine demon. Killing him would be difficult, and killing him in the capital was even more troublesome. If he wasn't careful, even his soul might not escape and would be captured by the imperial guards. His end would then be utter annihilation.

'I'll give you time to prepare. Buy treasures, exchange for treasures. I want you to kill Ji Ning today,' Ancestor Xuanji said coldly, producing a golden scroll. 'This is the reincarnation decree. Swear a vow by the Heavenly Dao, and I will grant it to you.'

The bald old man hesitated, looking at the golden decree. He thought about his considerable collection of treasures, which he could sell to acquire a few items of terrifying power.

Moreover, since Ancestor Xuanji had come in person, he probably had no choice but to agree.

'Witnessed by the Heavenly Dao! I, Fuyun, will kill Ji Ning within three days and will not reveal any information about the Shaoyan clan. If I break this oath, may my soul be destroyed,' the bald old man said through gritted teeth.

'Very well,' Ancestor Xuanji nodded. He waved his hand, and the golden scroll flew over.

The bald old man took the golden scroll.

'I give you three days, but the sooner the better,' Ancestor Xuanji said. Then he took a step and vanished into the endless starlight.