Chapter 547

Chapter 547: Regaining Power

Ye Xiu remained calm and collected.

He wasn’t fooled by Mu Fanyin’s act.

Though unaware of her reasons for joining Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he couldn’t believe that a Dao Ancestor with infinite lifespan would inexplicably take a fancy to him.

"System, query the distribution of all forces, large and small, subordinate to Yuqing Palace. I want the most complete information," Ye Xiu thought.

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host. The query was successful, costing 120 billion Hongmeng points.]

In moments.

A flood of complex information appeared in Ye Xiu’s mind. Yet, with just a single thought, he organized it all, sealing the complete data into a jade slip.

"This is the detailed intelligence on Yuqing Palace’s forces. See to it," Ye Xiu handed the jade slip to Mu Fanyin. He paused and said lightly, "After taking Yuqing Palace, bring back anything of value to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

He wasn’t about all this effort just for noise without profit.

With a thought of his, Su Mu and Feng Wuji appeared.

As seasoned veterans under Ye Xu’s command, they grasped his intent immediately.

"Proceed with caution."

Ye Xiu said lightly. "I will monitor the movements at Yuqing Palace closely."

"Rest assured, Master. This young lady won’t let you down." Mu Fanyin chuckled softly. With graceful steps and a composed posture, she walked out of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

Su Mu and the other quickly followed.

"To the dragon clan."

Mu Fanyin commanded.

Roar!

Taotie immediately activated his power, reverting to his true form. Mu Fanyin, Su Mu, and the others stood upon his back. With a low growl, Taotie turned into a streak of light speeding eastward.

The dragon clan’s stronghold was the Tianlong Immortal Domain, holding dominion over forty-eight immortal domains. Twelve of these bordered territories controlled by Yuqing Palace. Among them, Tianlong Immortal Domain neighbored Yuqing Palace’s core territory – the Jade Sky Immortal Domain.

After the time it takes to burn just a few sticks of incense, Taotie had traversed mountains and seas, entering a vast, seemingly endless immortal domain.

Here, celestial dragons soared freely across the heavens, a common sight in every direction.

Within Tianlong Immortal Domain, the divine dragons were the sole, supreme power, controlling all vital resources and possessing immense strength.

Legend spoke of the Ancestral Dragon having nine sons. Yet, among the original dragon offspring, only Bi’an, Bixi, Suanni, Pixiu, and Taotie achieved the rank of Celestial Supreme.

Thus, the dragon clan fractured into five factions, each led by one of these five Celestial Supremes.

Though all five answered ultimately to the Ancestral Dragon.

Within the dragon clan, the Ancestral Dragon reigned supreme. However, often secluded in cultivation, he paid little heed to worldly matters, leaving the real power and governance of the clan firmly in the hands of the five Celestial Supremes.

Ever since Taotie was imprisoned within the Taihuang Abyss, his faction and holdings had been completely devoured and absorbed by the other four Celestial Supremes, leaving nothing behind.

This return wasn’t solely about the attack on Yuqing Palace. Taotie intended to rebuild his strength and reclaim everything that had once belonged to him.

He didn’t linger within Tianlong Immortal Domain. Instead, he flew into the adjacent immortal domain.

This immortal domain was named after him.

Taotie Immortal Domain.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, it enveloped half the immortal domain. After another half stick of incense, he descended upon an ancient divine city, extending as far as the eye could see.

"After so many years, I have finally returned," Taotie sighed with emotion.

"I wonder how many of my subordinates are left?"

Taotie descended upon the Heavenly Palace.

The Heavenly Palace hovered in the sky, stretching for ten thousand miles, with palaces and halls exquisitely carved, exuding an aura of immortality.

"Long Tu, why haven’t you come out to greet this Celestial Lord?"

Taotie transformed into human form, then let out a loud roar that reached the ears of every cultivator in Taotie Divine City.

Boom!

Tao Tie Heavenly Palace also shook violently.

"Who dares to be so insolent here?"

As the words faded, a scolding voice came. Then, a huge Divine Beast emerged from the Heavenly Palace, covered in silver scales, resembling a lion and a tiger, yet bearing a single horn, radiating an incredibly powerful aura.

"Suanni?"

Su Mu’s expression changed slightly.

Feng Wuji’s expression also turned peculiar.

In Taotie’s territory, there was actually a Suanni, and it seemed this Suanni acted like the lord.

"Who are you, daring to be insolent in Celestial Lord Suanni’s territory?" This Suanni rode on clouds, majestic and formidable, towering about a thousand zhang in height, peering down at everyone.

Taotie’s face instantly darkened.

"Hehe…"

He sneered. "In the short time I was gone, you’ve been occupying nests."

"You little beast, take a good look, who am I!"

Taotie reached out a hand towards Suanni.

"Insolent!"

Suanni roared, both startled and furious, spreading numerous layers of Great Dao Worlds. He was unmistakably a Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign. He unleashed a divine ability, blazing with golden light, and swung a claw at Taotie.

Inside the Heavenly Palace, many divine dragons were disturbed and rushed out one after another.

"Celestial Lord?"

One by one, the old men saw Taotie, all revealing looks of delighted surprise, knelt on the ground in succession, shouting "Celestial Lord!"

Bang!

With one slap, Taotie shattered Suanni’s divine ability. With a finger, he pierced through the Great Dao World, grasped Suanni’s primordial spirit by the throat, and hauled him before him.

Facing each other, Taotie said coldly, "Take a good look, who am I!"

"You…"

The Suanni cried out in alarm, "Fifth Uncle, release me now! I am your nephew!"

Taotie responded with a cold laugh, refusing to release the Suanni’s primordial spirit.

Suanni, ranked fourth among dragon sons, was also one of the Nine Princes.

Possessing cultivation at the Celestial Lord realm, Taotie immediately recognized this Suanni’s exceptionally pure bloodline—undeniably a second-generation Suanni, the fourth prince’s son.

"Fifth Uncle, the divine dragon instructed me to reside here temporarily, aiding you in guarding the Tao Tie Heavenly Palace against encroachment," the Suanni desperately pleaded. "Now that you’ve returned, everything in the Tao Tie immortal domain rightfully belongs to you once more."

"Where is Long Tu?"

Ignoring Suanni’s excuses, Taotie’s gaze turned murderous as it swept over the kneeling ministers.

"Reporting to the Celestial Lord," a divine dragon interjected, its eyes blazing with hatred fixed on Suanni. "After Your Excellency was trapped within the Taihuang Abyss, Long Tu valiantly resisted the forces of Celestial Lord Suanni. But once the heavenly palace fell… he… he was devoured by this beast!"

"Fifth Uncle, let me explain—" Suanni stammered, overwhelmed by terror.

Roar!

Without another word, Taotie swallowed the second-generation Suanni’s primordial spirit whole, consuming both its physical body and its Great Dao World. Within moments, all was refined within his belly.

"That brood of useless sons I sired… they must all be dead too," Taotie stated impassively.

"We have failed you, Your Excellency…" The assembled ministers wailed in grief, kowtowing repeatedly.

"This was not your failing."

Taotie spoke coldly. Indeed, none of his offspring had proven worthy. Long Tu, his most promising heir, was gone. Blaming these ministers for the loss of worthless dead served no purpose.

Sons could always be begotten anew.

But now, needing capable hands, slaying every traitor within Tao Tie Heavenly Palace would leave no one to storm Yuqing Palace.

"You have one day. Mobilize the legions immediately," Taotie commanded.

"Celestial Lord, do we then seek vengeance against Celestial Lord Suanni?" asked an ancient dragon, its frame trembling with age.

"That will wait."

Taotie replied lightly. "This lord’s return is for a greater purpose. Obey your orders without question."

"Any disobedience will meet absolute annihilation."

"By your command!"

Instilled with dread, the courtiers scattered to muster troops and commanders.

"Hmph!"

"Once Yuqing Palace falls, I’ll hold that Fourth Prince accountable personally," Taotie snarled, his expression darkening.

"After years confined in the Taihuang Abyss, your strength has yet to return to its peak," Mu Fanyin stated calmly. "Confronting him now is unwise. Set vengeance aside for the present."

"The Mistress speaks true."

Taotie bowed profusely, a sycophantic grin spreading across his face.

Shoom!

With a flick of her finger, Mu Fanyin sent the scroll detailing Yuqing Palace’s defenses flying toward Taotie.

"Within lies intelligence gifted by the Master—information on Yuqing Palace’s military layout. Study it and devise your strategy. This trifling matter rests in your hands."

"This unworthy servant obeys."

Taotie responded solemnly.

The following day.

Tao Tie Heavenly Palace assembled a force of one hundred thousand warriors. Under Taotie’s decree, they divided into nine legions, launching simultaneous assaults across Yuqing Palace’s territories according to the schematics provided.

Among them were one hundred and twenty Dao Sovereigns.

Over ten thousand Dao Lords.

The remainder stood within the World Master realm.

Such power, deployed within any immortal domain, could crush all opposition—unless facing a Celestial Lord.

As dragon roars echoed through the heavens…

War ignited.