Liu Qiao’e had switched sides on this day out of the blue. In a way, it was spurred by the events of the moment, but it was also a decision she had made long ago.
Her incarnation as Liu Qiao’e had approached Mu Daoying partly by coincidence, but it also had its reasons.
No one in the world knew Mu Daoying better than she did. She knew his elegant and upright personality, his gentle and kind nature. She knew he was born into the Gusu Mu Clan, the seventeenth child in the family, with six elder sisters above him—his family affectionately called him Little Seventeen.
She knew his preferences: he loved drinking Yangxian Snow Buds tea the most, he had a qin that always accompanied him called “Tong Wu Hua,” the incense he favored was white sandalwood, and when he first learned to write, he practiced the clerical script from the Zhang Qian Stele.
Every aspect of his life, down to the smallest details, she knew inside and out.
Therefore, her incarnation had hated him deeply from the very first moment she laid eyes on him.
She was well aware of his inflexible and unyielding temperament, his refusal to yield. When she came to his side, her goal was also to secretly probe for news of Ling Yuan and understand his current situation.
Unfortunately, Mu Daoying was too pedantic and too filial. When it came to the matter of Ling Yuan, his mouth was as tight as a clam shell.
She couldn’t pry any useful information out of him, and continuing to disguise herself by his side had lost all meaning.
After all, her true body had already broken through to the seventh realm of the Seven Realms. Once this day passed, she no longer needed to “avoid her heart demons,” and her incarnation would return to her true body.
She hadn’t used the name Liu Qiao’e in far too long— so long that no one in the world knew the Immaculate Old Mother’s true name was something so crude and ordinary, like that of a village woman.
Of course, this didn’t mean that everything she had done these past few days had been carefully fabricated.
In truth, her thoughts and actions over these days had mostly come straight from her heart.
Reaching this point was truly the result of two wills complementing and intertwining with each other, propelling things forward.
“Speaking of which, I have to thank you.”
Mu Daoying didn’t speak. Though it didn’t show on his face, he felt some doubt in his heart. Thank him? Thank him for what?
But Liu Qiao’e had no intention of saying more.
Mu Daoying was badly injured, his ink-black cuff hanging down to reveal a slender, frail wrist. Held in her arms, he was as light as a feather. Liu Qiao’e carried him straight to the center of the plaza. Just before entering the field, she flicked her wide sleeve.
A brilliant light flashed, and Mu Daoying felt the world go dark before his eyes, as if a curtain had fallen from the sky to cover his head and face, blocking his vision. He recognized the technique and was stunned: this was— Universe in the Sleeve?
Universe in the Sleeve was an extremely profound spell technique, and Mu Daoying hadn’t expected Liu Qiao’e to wield it.
Just how deeply had she hidden her strength?
In the blink of an eye, he was concealed within her sleeve by Liu Qiao’e’s exquisitely ingenious divine ability.
Mu Daoying’s heart sank.
It was his oversight; he hadn’t anticipated Liu Qiao’e’s true intentions.
That strike she had landed under his ribs earlier—its sword momentum had been fiercely sharp, far beyond the ordinary.
First Chen Yuro’s command token, now this high-level divine ability.
Liu Qiao’e—no, that was just a false identity.
Who was this person really, and what were her goals?
As Mu Daoying’s mind raced and his brow furrowed, Liu Qiao’e had already brought him to the center of the plaza.
The earlier chaos had been swiftly quelled after the guard disciples arrived.
Fan Shuyun’s corpse had long since been dragged away.
Liu Qiao’e blended into the crowd like the most ordinary disciple.
From the moment Fan Shuyun’s incident occurred, before anyone could question her feud with him, the auspicious moment arrived.
The sound of bells and chimes rang out from the clear sky.
Three times in succession.
A woman with a tall headdress and ornate robes, surrounded by a throng of spirit children and jade maidens, slowly ascended the altar and lit three sticks of bright yellow incense.
The Joyous Union Grand Ceremony had begun.
The woman was adorned with jeweled hairpins and gleaming jewelry, her brows arched triumphantly. She was none other than Qi Mei, the Joyous Union Palace Vice Palace Lord whom Mu Daoying had seen before.
Peering through the hazy gauze of Liu Qiao’e’s sleeve, Mu Daoying’s vision was blurry, but he could still vaguely make out the scene.
On the jade altar in the plaza sat several True Persons.
In the center was a figure of ethereal poise and bewitching charm, smiling with seductive grace—the one and only Chen Yuro, the supreme steward of Joyous Union Palace, whose status was unparalleled.
To Chen Yuro’s right sat a refined scholar in a green robe, around thirty years old with slightly graying temples and gentle eyes.
This man was also surnamed Cheng, but his name was Xun. Rumor had it he was a male favorite who had followed the Immaculate Old Mother for many years, deeply trusted by her, and the third most important figure in Joyous Union Palace after Chen and Qi.
With the Vice Palace Lord and the Grand Steward, the disciples called him “Second Master.”
After Second Master came “Third Lady.”
But Third Lady didn’t refer to one person—it was the Yang Clan Three Ladies, a set of triplet sisters.
The three Yang sisters were identical in height, build, brows, eyes, nose, and lips. They wore matching cloud-like hairstyles and rainbow robes, adorned with jade hairpins and gold clasps, as finely detailed as if painted with a fine brush.
These four formed the core of the Immaculate Old Mother’s inner circle, guarding her like stars around the moon.
Joyous Union Palace was now divided into three factions. After these four came True Person Wei and True Person Feng from under Qi Mei’s command.
To Chen Yuro’s left was a Daoist with crane-white hair and childlike features, of elegant bearing—this was one of Joyous Union Palace’s elders, Luo Yinxian.
The True Persons seated after Luo Yinxian were not worth listing one by one.
Qi Mei smiled faintly, brimming with satisfaction and high spirits.
Her gaze swept over the crowd below, and she spoke loudly:
“I am Vice Palace Lord Qi Mei of Joyous Union Palace.”
This opening line seized the initiative, silencing the murmurs that had buzzed since her appearance.
Since the Ancestor established the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony thousands of years ago, it had always been presided over by the reigning Palace Lord.
The Immaculate Old Mother’s absence was already enough to stir controversy.
Qi Mei’s overstepping only heightened the unease among the sharper minds in the crowd.
“A scion of the Yao Mountain Qi Clan.”
“The direct chief disciple under the previous Palace Lord.”
Qi Mei’s words turned sharp as she suddenly launched her attack!
“The petty villain Immaculate, with treacherous intentions, poisoned the previous Palace Lord during her illness and tampered with the Palace Lord decree! Betraying her master and destroying her ancestors! Usurping the high seat!”
On the day of Joyous Union Palace’s grand ceremony, held once every sixty years…
Vice Palace Lord Qi Mei actually enumerated the crimes of the current Palace Lord, the Immaculate Old Mother, point by point before all the elders and disciples.
It was shocking to hear.
Second Master Cheng Xun’s expression changed abruptly, and he shot to his feet!
“Qi Mei! On the day of the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony, what do you mean by slandering the Old Mother here?”
Cheng Xun said angrily: “The Old Mother succeeded by the previous Palace Lord’s own decree, in black and white, clear as day.
“Do you need this one to personally bring the Palace Lord decree for verification?!”
Luo Yinxian smiled without mirth: “Elder Cheng, no need for anger. Everyone is here today, and This Seat has a question to seek confirmation from the Elder.”
Aside from the core members of Qi, Luo, and the Old Mother’s factions, the other elders who usually rode the fence and fished in troubled waters sensed something amiss. They wished they could shrink into quails, desperate not to draw attention.
Luo Yinxian sneered, then slowly stood, flipping his palm to shoot out a trail of smoke that formed a shimmering green light!
The green light twisted like a snake, weaving into a vast net that descended on Cheng Xun.
Cheng Xun hadn’t expected him to be so bold as to attack in plain view of everyone. Caught off guard, he was ensnared squarely.
Chen Yuro and the Yang Clan Three Ladies’ expressions changed drastically.
The three Yang sisters tried to turn into azure smoke and flee, but they were intercepted one after another by True Person Feng, True Person Wei, and others who were prepared.
At the same time, Qi and Luo’s forces hidden in the crowd below sprang into action.
Many of the Old Mother’s loyal disciples and followers hadn’t even reacted before they were struck down by their fellow sect members, losing the ability to resist.
Four teams of disciples charged in from all directions, surrounding the plaza center like an iron barrel.
In an instant, the situation on the altar flipped, and the crowd below erupted in cries of alarm.
A satisfied smile curved Qi Mei’s lips.
Luo Yinxian stepped forward slowly and said: “Before the previous Palace Lord passed, she privately confided in me her choice for successor.
“At that time, the Palace Lord said to me personally: Vice Palace Lord Qi is virtuous and talented, fit for great responsibility. She hoped I would assist her wholeheartedly—”
“This Seat wonders,” Luo Yinxian said loudly, “how did the Palace Lord decree suddenly change to Immaculate’s name!”
Cheng Xun: “You—! Empty words without proof. With the previous Palace Lord gone, how dare you rebels twist black into white and spout nonsense!”
Qi Mei sneered coldly: “Since Immaculate took over, her actions are plain for all you brothers and sisters to see! Ruthless and venomous, harming her master above and her fellow disciples below— the entire sect has suffered deeply under her.”
Qi Mei spoke with the air of orthodoxy, revering heaven and earth above, paying respects to the late Palace Lord below, and backed by Luo Yinxian, the well-known elder of the previous Palace Lord.
Her words rang true, giving her the advantage of timing, location, and popular support.
“As the direct chief disciple of my master, how could This Seat stand idly by?”
“But heaven’s justice is clear, and retribution swift. Today, she failed her breakthrough and was taken by heaven!”
With that, her voice sharpened as she pointed straight at the distant white pagoda!
That tower over a hundred feet tall, cradled by encircling mountains, stood silently under everyone’s gaze.
Bai Mengli, her injuries healed, hid in the crowd, craning her neck anxiously.
That female demon’s sorcery was profound— was Han Lang safe? Could he really strike successfully, destroy her seclusion formation, and retreat unscathed?
The crowd didn’t understand Qi Mei’s intent and followed her gaze to the white pagoda where the Immaculate Old Mother was in seclusion.
Qi Mei smiled confidently, with the poise of one who had everything in hand. Suddenly, the white pagoda erupted from within with a “boom,” tiles flying and walls crumbling as it exploded into pieces!
Trapped in the sleeve, Mu Daoying hadn’t expected to witness Joyous Union Palace’s internal power struggle today. He couldn’t help feeling a chill in his heart.
The massive explosion generated fierce winds, hurling broken tiles and bricks in all directions. The shockwave shook the mountains, killed flying birds, and shattered trees.
Amid this earth-shattering blast, the plaza crowd unexpectedly fell silent.
Everyone knew the Immaculate Old Mother was secluding in the tower at that moment—that Old Mother—
Qi Mei finally turned, bowing to the heavens. “Immaculate the villain, her many wicked deeds led to her self-destruction!
“Immaculate is dead!
“From this day forward, any fellow disciple who persists in delusion and aids the tyrant will be treated as equally guilty.
“Those who abandon the dark and turn to the light will be pardoned!”
“Immaculate is dead!” “Immaculate is dead!” The chants rose from the crowd like a tsunami, growing from weak to thunderous.
The crowd had been stunned by the sudden turn, hesitating. Seeing the tower destroyed and its occupant seemingly gone, they shivered and wisely joined the shouting.
Mu Daoying looked up and saw Chen Yuro’s face remained relatively calm. He also noticed the cold, peculiar smile on Liu Qiao’e’s lips. He vaguely sensed things weren’t that simple.
Liu Qiao’e was clearly one of Immaculate’s people. Immaculate’s faction was probably luring the snakes out to wipe them all at once.
Where was the Immaculate Old Mother hiding? When would she make her move?
As he pondered, a black shadow suddenly flew in from the sky.
The crowd erupted in a startled cry!
“Who’s there?!” Luo Yinxian leaped up, green light swirling as he moved to intercept.
But the black shadow’s momentum was extremely fierce, carrying a majestic aura as it smashed heavily into the center of the plaza.
Jade bricks shattered, revealing a pit about a zhang deep and three zhang wide.
As the dust settled, pained coughs and groans came from the pit.
It turned out this black shadow wasn’t some weapon or reinforcement as everyone thought—it was a young man with every bone in his body broken!
The man was gravely wounded, covered in blood, but one could still vaguely see his handsome bearing.
The one who had tossed this near-dead body before the crowd finally revealed herself.
A woman’s sinister cold laugh echoed from the sky.
“Elder Luo, Vice Palace Lord Qi—did you really think you few could scheme against me, Immaculate?”
Cheng Xun suddenly flipped his palm to attack, severing the net around him.
The Yang Clan Three Ladies each summoned artifacts from their sleeves—spirit pearls, feather fans, treasure vases—flashing through the air in streams of light, forcing True Person Feng, True Person Wei, and the others into a frantic defense.
Below the altar, the Old Mother’s loyal disciples simultaneously turned from defense to offense.
Those who had restrained them moments ago now found themselves restrained.
And at the edge of the sky.
A dancing white shadow, like an ominous wraith, blotted out the sun and clouds.
In an instant.
The sun and moon lost their light, heaven and earth turned colorless.
The white shadow descended slowly.
Awe-inspiring pressure enveloped the land, dust hummed, and shockwaves pushed out for a hundred li.
Everyone present paled in horror!!