Chapter 233
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Chapter 233: Title
Thankfully, Hein remained in feline form – had he been humanoid, who knows what might’ve slipped from his tongue.
—O Demon King! Do you realize our hellish camp’s so-called Son is actually an unhinged yandere?!
"Your Highness’s will shall ever be my compass," Hein fawned obsequiously.
Loral hoisted the black cat aloft, his lips quirking in sardonic amusement. "Flattery becomes you."
"The holy war preparations are your responsibility now. Any objections?" As Loral opened his palm, the falling cat transformed mid-descent into a striking youth – raven-winged with spiraling demon horns crowning his brow, his feet touching ground with aristocratic grace.
"Mission accepted without reservation."
Heavenly Inquiry World
"Yin Chai?"
An Xiao’s breath caught at the monochromatic apparition before her. The youth’s ink-black ensemble contrasted starkly against corpse-pale skin, his obsidian hair and eyes completing the mortuary palette. Had commonfolk witnessed this walking omen, weaker hearts might’ve ceased beating on the spot.
The visage of underworld envoys held no mystery for Blue Star denizens. Since their initial manifestation, these Yin Officials had disdained concealment like daylight spurning shadows. While individual identities remained obscure, their funereal livery was universally recognized.
The obsidian-clad youth paid her no heed, spectral chains coalescing around a harvested soul as he turned to depart. An Xiao bit her lip, resisting the impulse to intercept. However lowly his Yin Chai rank might be, this death-touched entity still towered immeasurably above mere low-tier extraordinary individuals like herself.
Tensions between martial sects and imperial authority had finally ignited into open conflict within Heavenly Inquiry World, fanned into conflagration by Blue Star travelers. The death toll mounted exponentially – native and dimension-crossing lives extinguished alike. After two indolent months, the displaced Yin Chai found purpose anew: harvesting wayward traveler souls.
As Special Bureau personnel, An Xiao followed hierarchical directives, though the Otherworld’s capricious crossing mechanics imposed natural limits. Even approved applicants faced labyrinthine vetting processes, leaving Bureau presence in Heavenly Inquiry World sparse and disorganized.
Zhongxia and other nations focused on macroscopic traveler governance, deeming petty squabbles beneath state notice. Viewed through strategic lenses, world conquest resembled an elaborate game – nations as sovereign factions, travelers as free agents chasing ephemeral rewards while powers plotted post-merger resource plays.
Early adventurers reaped bountiful rewards, some even stumbling into legendary inheritances. Yet solo ventures carried risks no organized force would countenance. For every meteoric ascension, a dozen travelers vanished into unmarked graves.
One lunar cycle past, Ye Er had escorted Ao Lan from Yueyang’s winding canals to the Capital’s gilded spires. Meanwhile, extraordinary individuals accelerated the world’s evolution, their prowess drawing native practitioners seeking patronage. Even seasoned Heavenly Inquiry masters now courted Blue Star’s interlopers.
Sheng Dynasty Imperial Palace
The ailing old emperor’s fortnight-long convalescence left crown prince regent presiding over vermilion-walled halls. Within the Eastern Palace courtyard stood a pear blossom tree of legendary grandeur – planted decades prior by the late empress during her son’s infancy.
Having resolved state affairs, the prince emerged beneath flowering boughs. Moonlight illuminated his jade-carved features and twin-dragon embroidered robes, the jade ring at his waist swinging gently as he tilted his head upward.
Amidst quivering foliage, a russet blur materialized. The squirrel’s obsidian eyes sparkled in recognition, its plumy tail undulating like war banners. With practiced grace, the prince extended his sleeve.
The creature leapt into silken folds, scampering up brocaded shoulders to perch triumphantly upon the golden hair crown – tiny claws clicking against jade ornaments as it claimed its regal perch.
The squirrel spoke in a human voice, "You seem troubled. Have you encountered some difficulty?"
The Crown Prince remained silent for a long moment before answering, "There are simply too many affairs demanding my attention these days."
"Is your imperial father refusing to die?" The squirrel patted the prince’s head with a tiny paw. Having fallen into this world months ago, the only conversational companion he’d found was this crown prince.
It was fortunate that he’d encountered an open-minded prince; otherwise, a talking squirrel like him would have met certain demise. This peculiar creature was Song Zihang, former classmate of Ao Lan – a human soul reborn into a squirrel’s body through strange circumstances after death, now transformed into a spirit.
The prince’s voice held finality. "Yes. He will die."
Song Zihang twitched his bushy tail. "Does this grieve you? My teacher said all deaths bring someone sorrow."
"No grief. His time came long overdue."
"I don’t understand."
"You’re but a small spirit. No need to comprehend such matters."
Returning to his study, the prince sorted through regional reports. "The realm transforms. Are these changes wrought by your companions?"
"Most likely." Song Zihang hopped onto the desk, nibbling a pastry. "Fear not – they’re decent folk, far nobler than your world’s inhabitants. Not given to casual murder."
The prince unrolled a confidential scroll, eyeing the oblivious squirrel. Its contents chronicled atrocities down to entire households slaughtered… These "companions" proved less benign than claimed, though perhaps trivial compared to the empire’s greater concerns.
A eunuch entered, eyes respectfully averted from the squirrel perched on imperial documents.
"Your Highness, Minister Chen reports Ye Shengge of Yueyang City’s Ye family has arrived."
"She awaits in the Reception House. When shall Your Highness grant audience?"
The prince brushed vermilion endorsements across memorials, imperial seal stamping each decision. "Arrange tomorrow’s banquet in the Imperial Garden. I shall receive her as the Emperor’s proxy – let us test the truth behind her legendary reputation."
As the servant withdrew, dawn’s light found Ye Er entering palace grounds with Ao Lan – not in human guise, but coiled dragon-form about her wrist, hidden beneath flowing sleeves.
"Honored Prince." Ye Er saluted with a warrior’s fist-clasp. Any deeper bow would have overstepped propriety for one of her station.
The prince acknowledged her with a raised palm, accustomed to proud Jianghu cultivators. Even Song Zihang’s companions deemed full bows fit only for corpses. "Your courtesy honors us, Lady Ye. Bring seating."
Studying the youthful face before him, the prince marveled. Investigation confirmed this maiden had weathered centuries – was this the fabled visage of immortality?
"My gratitude, Highness." Ye Er’s bearing balanced dignity with ease, neither arrogant nor obsequious.
At the prince’s gesture, attendants melted away. "We require privacy. Matters of state demand Lady Ye’s counsel."
Perched on ornamental rocks, Song Zihang watched hopefully for familiar faces among Blue Star’s transmigrators. Another stranger. Even had acquaintances come, mortal guises would deceive his eyes.
A flicker of movement caught his attention – a pale draconic head peeking from silken sleeves, crowned with nascent dragon horns. Recognition sparked. Ao Lan!
Song Zihang sprang up, considering how to reach Ao Lan. He glanced around, confirming no one was nearby before darting forward. Those around Ao Lan couldn’t possibly be from this world – no native being would remain so docile within a sleeve.
"Ao Lan—" he yelled mid-sprint.
The sudden shout startled the conversing Prince. In the blink of an eye, the squirrel demon found himself perched on Ye Shengge’s knees.
Ye Er examined the creature on her lap. "Spirit cultivator? You claim acquaintance with Ao Lan. Credentials?"
"Yes! Registered spirit cultivator!" Song Zihang rummaged through his belly fur, producing a Zhongxia Identity Card. "See?"
"Authentic," Ye Er acknowledged, then paused. The Heavenly Inquiry World’s stone pavement beneath her feet reminded her this wasn’t an ordinary identity check.
…Not that it mattered. With the Heavenly Inquiry World’s conquest progress just five percent from completion, its celestial principles wouldn’t react even if exposed.
"Why send kindergarten-aged spirit cultivators?" She returned the card, ruffling his head.
"We’re classmates!"
Ao Lan’s shimmering draconic form emerged from Ye Er’s sleeve, tail coiling through sunbeams. "So this is where you’ve been, Song Zihang. My informants found nothing."
"Thought you’d been devoured!"
"I’m not that dumb!" The squirrel flipped his tail indignantly toward the Prince. "His Highness ensured my comfort these months – finest nuts and lodging!"
The Prince blinked slowly. "This… is your dragon companion?"
"Meet Ao Lan!"
"Where’s Xiao Ye then?" Song Zihang pressed.
Ao Lan’s tail dipped. "Unknown."
"Are you also celestial, Lady Ye?" The Prince turned.
"Yes."
"Yet Yueyang’s Ye family claims—"
Ye Er cut him off. "Things resemble others; people share likenesses. I’m not Ye Shengge."
"Who is she?" Song Zihang whispered.
Ao Lan’s tail hooked the squirrel closer. "Agency personnel," came the hushed reply. "Formidable."
"Ah."
"Your summons to the capital holds deeper purpose," the Prince observed.
"Indeed." Ye Er rose, her shadow falling across the throne. "The Sheng Dynasty anchors the Central Plains, having subdued nine provinces and four enemies. Southern tribes and northern horsemen bent knee last moon."
"You’ve had… assistance."
"Many contributed," the Prince conceded. "The court clamors for my coronation – Mount Tai rituals, heavenly proclamations of unity…"
"My father’s immortality obsession complicates matters." He shook his head. "Even with my consent…"
A wise ruler recognizes inevitable tides. This Prince chose cooperation with celestial interlopers.
Though the Sheng Dynasty nominally ruled, countless factions churned beneath the surface. They permitted the throne’s continuance not from loyalty, but to avoid protracted power struggles.
For Blue Star’s extraordinary individuals, this realm served as mission ground. Speed meant everything under Heaven’s watchful gaze – none wished celestial demerits for delays.
"Immortality belongs solely to deities," Ye Er stated, fingers weaving unseen calculations. "Immortals age; Practitioners merely delay death. Your father’s time dwindles."
Ye Er’s declaration marked the old emperor’s impending doom. With the Heavenly Dao suppressed, foreseeing this outcome became alarmingly simple.
…
Three days later,
The aged sovereign perished, and the throne welcomed its new ruler.
Fifteen days thereafter,
Upon Mount Tai of the Heavenly Inquiry World, the freshly crowned Human Emperor raised the imperial seal toward the firmament. The benevolent fortune of humanity surged and converged from across the realm.
“I, Xuanyuan Yu, sixteenth monarch of the Sheng Dynasty, declare through this sacred rite… Behold a united realm where distant shores bow as one… Envoys from the source world reveal our domain’s true name—‘Heavenly Inquiry’… Where cultivation withered for millennia…”
“From this sacred peak, I anchor our world’s gateway.”
“By the holy object of the human realm—this jade seal—I cleave a path between dimensions.”
“As Human Emperor, I vow this oath: Heavenly Inquiry shall kneel to the source world. The severed road of cultivation reopens… Those enduring the Lightning Tribulation shall attain Ascension… Let cosmos witness this covenant…”
Clutching a radiant jade tablet etched with “Heavenly Inquiry” beneath the imperial seal’s imprint, Xuanyuan Yu stood transfigured by ceremonial gravity. With ritualistic force, he cast the artifact into the abyss.
A searing column of light pierced the heavens. Within its glare, a spectral portal materialized—then dissolved as abruptly as it appeared. In its wake flickered a gargantuan purple eye, its fleeting gaze searing itself into the retinas of unfortunate witnesses.
The ensuing overwhelming pressure bent spines and shattered resolve. Across the sacred mountain, knees struck stone—all but one. Xuanyuan Yu alone remained upright, his regal silhouette defying the cosmic weight.
Blue Star’s extraordinary individuals among the crowd recognized the violet gaze with paradoxical nostalgia even as they groveled. They felt constraints dissolve—their cultivation now bound only by this world’s tolerance. The Heavenly Inquiry World’s celestial shackles had shattered, its governance transferred to Blue Star’s Heavenly Dao.
Simultaneously, glyphs shimmered across Blue Star’s Heavenly Law Ancient Stone Tablet:
【Heavenly Inquiry – tier two intermediate | Devour Progress 100 | Fall Progress 0】
Before gasps could form, another entry blazed beneath:
【Outlets – tier two | Devour Progress 100 | Fall Progress 0】
Below these, an older update pulsed ominously:
【World – Level | Devour Progress 0 | Fall Progress 0】
Across both Heavenly Inquiry and Outlets worlds, extraordinary individuals received synchronized transmissions, bypassing explanation of Blue Star’s recent upheavals:
【Tier two intermediate Heavenly Inquiry World annexed by source world. Merit assessment underway… All operatives standby.】
【Tier two Outlets World annexed by source world. Merit assessment underway… All operatives standby.】
An instinctive dread coiled around every recipient’s heart. Within these clinical notifications lurked a frost deeper than glacial voids—the kind that crystallizes blood and stills breath.
