Chapter 967: Fairy, Let's Not Have a Fated Relationship in Our Next Life

Though the Immortal Ying Tian was smiling, Lu Yang could not feel a shred of warmth from his expression.

Lu Yang swallowed hard, realizing he could not escape this calamity after all.

And if he remembered correctly, the Immortal Quotations recovered from the Twin Rivers space contained more than just Ying Tian’s words; the sayings of all four ancient immortals were fully recorded therein...

Was this truly the trial of an immortal? The difficulty was simply too absurd.

My destiny is not unyielding enough; I suppose my life ends here in this generation.

Immortal, if we are fated, let us meet in the next life.

"There is no need to grant him special favors, after all." The Immortal Buyu still cared deeply for Lu Yang, which moved him greatly, as though he had found a saving straw.

"Did you not say that the greater the might of the lightning tribulation, the better the subsequent nourishment benefits the cultivator? Just apply the maximum difficulty to him."

With his hands behind his back, the Immortal Ying Tian nodded with a smile: "Naturally, naturally."

Lu Yang: "..."

Immortal, let us not be fated in the next life; I fear I would perish by your hand then as well.

"Will you reside in this minor world indefinitely?"

"Until the child Jing Hong finishes his apprenticeship, I shall remain here." The Immortal Ying Tian always believed in seeing things through from beginning to end.

"Would you care to journey with us to the Single Sword Sect? Sect Sister Yun would likely wish to see you as well."

"Who is Sect Sister Yun?"

"Lu Yang's eldest martial sister."

The Immortal Ying Tian pondered for a moment and felt there was no harm in a meeting: "Very well."

"Ah, right. When I clashed with that ghost sovereign of the Great Qian just now, he left behind these four tokens." The Immortal Ying Tian drew four tokens from behind his waist. Their texture was incredibly rigid; even the Sovereign's clone had perished in the lightning tribulation, yet these four tokens remained intact, proving their extraordinary origin.

Among them, the token bearing the characters "Ying Tian" grew so hot in his hand that it seemed on the verge of burning.

However, with his immortal metal arm, such temperature was no different from cool water.

The remaining three tokens were inscribed with "Time," "Qilin," and "Nine Heavens."

"He must have located me through this token. The closer it is to me, the hotter it becomes, though the underlying principle remains unclear for now."

"The method for utilizing the other three tokens should be similar. They are of no use to me, so it is better for young friend Lu Yang to keep them."

Lu Yang accepted the three tokens.

Seeing their conversation draw to a close, the Immortal Buyu led Lu Yang out of the ancient ring's minor world and back into the outside realm.

Jing Hong was waiting outside, intensely curious about what his master and the others had discussed, but bound by master's orders, he dared not pry. Seeing Lu Yang finally emerge, he asked in confusion: "Junior Brother Lu Yang, you are finally out. Where is that beautiful female immortal?"

Lu Yang tapped his temple: "In my head."

"How fares the battle now?"

"With Senior using immortal fire to intervene, the Demon-Slaying Sovereign was swiftly captured. The Demon-Subduing Sovereign has not yet emerged from the Light-Confining Treasure Box."

Lu Yang nodded. With matters reaching this stage, the battle was essentially decided.

There was no longer any fear of sudden complications, for they possessed two immortals on their side.

Moments later, Master Jiesha of the Hanging Temple and Shangguan Yu of the Five Elements Sect received the summons and hurried to assist the Immortal Palace, joining forces to subdue the two sovereigns.

"To think they dared invade our Immortal Palace with such meager skills." Victorious in battle, Daoist Zhuiyue spoke with immense pride.

"Dammit, I knew the Ghost Sovereign was unreliable!" The two sovereigns could no longer restrain themselves and cursed bitterly. Relying on the favor of the Emperor, the Ghost Sovereign had directed this operation, using them as bait while reserving the grand achievement of felling the tree for himself.

In the end, the battle was over, yet the Ghost Sovereign was nowhere to be seen.

"Look on the bright side; perhaps the Ghost Sovereign encountered an immortal and is already dead," the Demon-Subduing Sovereign conjectured maliciously.

"Greetings, Seniors." Shangguan Yu bowed toward Daoist Zhuiyue and Bai Ye.

Master Jiesha was still practicing his vow of silence, so he could only clasp his hands in greeting.

"What seniors? I merely share some history with the Immortal Palace and happened to pass by. Seeing the palace in peril, I simply lent a hand." How could Daoist Zhuiyue admit her true identity?

"If Senior says so, then so it is," Shangguan Yu replied with a smile. She was quite willing to converse with Daoist Zhuiyue, as it made her feel younger.

"Hey, you youngster!"

Lan Ting and Tao Yaoye also hurried over.

"So Senior Brother is here. You were not here when we arrived earlier."

During the great battle, the two had searched everywhere for Lu Yang, but since he had entered the ancient ring's minor world at that time, they naturally could not find him.

"Junior Sister Lan, Junior Sister Tao, are you unharmed?"

"We are fine, perfectly fine." Upon seeing Lu Yang, the two inevitably recalled the grand battle that had revolved around him in the guest quarters, and their cheeks flushed crimson.

"If both junior sisters are troubled by the previous events, there is no need. As far as I know, an embryonic Dao Fruit spun out of control, which triggered the subsequent chaos."

"Yes, yes, it was entirely the fault of the embryonic Dao Fruit!" Regardless of whether that was the true cause, the two immediately followed Lu Yang's words, shifting the blame entirely onto Daoist Zhuiyue.

As for the truth, it was of no importance.

Afterward, Bai Ye also found Lu Yang and apologized: "Senior Brother Lu Yang, I am truly sorry. The Immortal Palace cannot spare me for the time being. Wait until I finish dealing with the Great Qian cultivators, and then I shall seek you out at the Single Sword Sect to play."

"Very well, I shall await you there," Lu Yang replied with a smile. Having interacted with so many people in the Immortal Palace, conversing with Bai Ye remained the most effortless.

The Immortal Palace had endured a massive battle, but fortunately, when the fighting commenced, most disciples had gone to chase Lu Yang's wooden clone. Being far from the battlefield, they were entirely unaffected.

Only the structures near the entrance of the Immortal Palace were utterly destroyed in the conflict. These buildings possessed a history of at least ten thousand years, and the oldest had stood since the very day the palace was founded.

"It is enough that the people are safe," Daoist Zhuiyue remarked, signaling that the palace need not grieve over such matters.

"Speaking of which, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival." Seeing a platter of mooncakes on the table, Daoist Zhuiyue suddenly remembered the occasion. Due to her immense lifespan, she frequently lost track of time.

"Ah Ri, then I shall not employ this clone today," Bai Ye said. She merely preferred using this clone, rather than being restricted to it. Without using it, there would be no inversion of yin and yang, nor any alteration of identity.

As the great battle concluded, the entire Immortal Palace rejoiced. Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye, who had originally planned to depart immediately, decided to stay until the night had passed.

"Senior Brother, eat some mooncakes." Lan Ting smilingly stuffed a mooncake into Lu Yang's mouth.

"Eat without worry. I have tasted it, and this time it is not poisoned; it will not make you larger or smaller."

Lu Yang took a bite; the osmanthus-stuffed mooncake tasted remarkably fresh and unique.

"Junior Sister Tao, would you like one as well?" Lu Yang handed a piece to Tao Yaoye.

The snow fell gracefully and copiously as the three lay upon the snowy ground, gazing up at the bright moon, feeling that the years were peaceful and fine.

The following day, Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye set forth, each carrying a bundle packed by Lan Ting, filled with osmanthus mooncakes and spiritual fruits unique to the Immortal Palace.

"Senior Brother Lu, Junior Sister Tao, do come visit our Immortal Palace again when you have leisure." Lan Ting waved farewell to the two.

"We certainly shall." Lu Yang turned his head to call back loudly, waving his hand in return.

Neither Lan Ting nor Tao Yaoye noticed that upon Lu Yang's middle finger rested a pitch-black ancient ring.