That day, Old Tianquan and Old Tianshu arrived together, their expressions grim. They had also heard the rumors spreading from Star Isle.
“It was your doing, Ji Xingshu!”
Old Ji’s sharp rebuke showed she had reached her limit.
The scandal that had erupted outside was described in vivid detail, claiming that two venerable Immortal Elders had hidden away a son, a much-watched star of the starfield, often receiving their care.
Tianquan Star was also furious:
“Preposterous! What does your personal feud have to do with me?”
Ji Xingshu’s gaze was cold, her expression unpleasant. She was still upset about scaring off the young man, and now that brat had hidden in the shrine and dared not show his face.
“I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting. I’m very busy and have no time for your Yingzhou people’s dirty deals.”
“You don’t know about this? Could it be that I hit a nerve that day and you’re lashing out? Do you think shifting the blame to others will divert attention?!”
Tianshu Star gritted her teeth so hard they nearly shattered; a lifetime of reputation ruined.
“A dog’s mouth doesn’t produce ivory. Have I given you too much face?”
Although she didn’t know what happened, this old hag had repeatedly insulted her. Ji Xingshu had long lost her patience.
The Celestial Pivot Palace Master’s jade-like face turned icy cold. Without a word, she struck out with a palm, as if heaven and earth suddenly compressed into a single line. A stellar explosion surged like an aurora.
Boom!
A force like mountains and seas crashed down. Tianshu Star was blasted away, hurled toward the mountains a hundred miles away.
Fortunately, Madam had aimed at the sky; otherwise, with that single slap, not only would the inner city’s high pavilions be reduced to ashes, but the outer city’s commoners would also suffer.
Old Tianquan let out a cold laugh; his cultivation was equally terrifying. He was forced back a few steps by the spiritual pressure. Just as he was about to demand an explanation, waves of spiritual energy fluctuations came from the adjacent Crimson Sakura Courtyard.
“Don’t think being at the Mahayana Stage lets you look down on everyone!”
In the sky, a middle-aged man and a wild burly man faced off in midair. They were the Lord of Tianxuan Star and Kaiyang Star.
“Are you stupid? Who would tell the person involved about such a thing? It’s definitely a deliberate frame-up!”
“Still trying to deny it!”
The Lord of Tianxuan Star had learned of this a few days ago and was absolutely furious. His first move wasn’t to find the leak, but to send a message back to his residence to inquire about Xiao Mei’s whereabouts.
The result was that as soon as he stepped out, that brute indeed headed to the old place.
He had wondered what rare treasures were in that mountain worth going there every year for secluded cultivation—turned out it was to steal a man!
“Who knows if that servant of Luan Ying Hall mistook the owner of that male dog and threw it at me? No wonder you came so late. Qin Feng, today I’m asking you: did you have an affair with Xiao Mei?!”
Kaiyang Star was also straightforward, unable to hide things in his heart. That scratch of his head looked suspicious.
The reason he was late was that he had dallied with Fairy Xiao, hurriedly had a few rounds, then pulled up his pants and rushed over. He was still wondering which enemy had set him up.
“Well…”
The Lord of Tianxuan Star remembered the nickname “Little Sausage” and became even more enraged. His Jade Palace seethed, his Divine Soul surged.
“You’re asking for death!”
“Damn it, you cuckold, can’t you understand human speech? So what if I did? What can you do about it?”
“Too much! This is too much!”
Kaiyang Star also had a hot temper; he couldn’t stand such provocation. Rolling up his sleeves, he launched a flurry of punches.
The Heavenly Cherry Pavilion couldn’t withstand the rampage of two Hegemony Realm cultivators. The casual shockwaves shattered large swaths of the city, affecting the Yushen Clan. The Hazy Sakura Crowd rushed over from all directions upon hearing the news.
Yushen Longyi was just about to go to the shrine to check on Young Master Ji and discuss when the second batch of seeds would mature—the sooner the better.
But then he turned around and found the inner city in chaos.
Over at Celestial Pivot Star, a palm strike had just left a star mark—it was a Mahayana Stage cultivator. And here, two restless Star Lords had started fighting.
“This, this… what’s going on?”
“I invited you here to protect the Divine Dragon and plan a great undertaking, not to fight over jealousy and internal strife!”
The Yushen Clan members who tried to stop them were beaten and fled, with many tragic deaths.
The Lord of Tianxuan Star was completely consumed by the hatred of having his concubine stolen; he wouldn’t listen to anything.
The old patriarch was so angry he nearly had a stroke. Hundreds of Spirit Talismans protected the foundation mansion like a tortoise shell, but he could only watch helplessly as the Heavenly Cherry Pavilion was bombarded, his heart bleeding.
“Stop! Don’t fight! Stop fighting!”
This fight would likely set the Yushen Clan back five hundred years. And the trouble was of their own invitation; there was no one to blame.
Amidst the Seven Stars’ chaos, the only one uninvolved was Yaoguang Star, who picked up a stool, cracked melon seeds, and cheered.
“Oh my, this circle is truly messy. It’s been ages since I’ve seen such a spectacle. Let’s take a photo to commemorate.”
The attendant child acolytes beside her looked aggrieved.
“Immortal Lady, you’re not one to talk.”
The loli-looking old woman crossed her legs, her eyes thoughtful. Surprisingly, she was the most clear-headed of the group.
There was no way such coincidence existed in the world. Clearly, someone who knew the secrets of the Seven Stars didn’t want outsiders meddling in the Divine Tree of Yingzhou and had set up a scheme in secret.
That old wretch Longyi was the least likely; even if he killed a thousand enemies, he’d lose twenty thousand of his own. No one would do that.
But if it was one of their own causing trouble, with the Seven Stars of the High Heavens fighting among themselves, who would benefit?
The most interesting part was that the Divine Tree Ferocious Beast, whose home was nearly destroyed, could hold back and not appear.
Could it be that Bingling Fairy wasn’t the only one injured in that great battle?
“Truly an ominous omen. We should have left yesterday. Sister Ji just wouldn’t listen. She had to take one last look at Shi Yu. A doting mother spoils the child, a doting mother spoils the child~”
In the next courtyard, Celestial Pivot Star was already confronting Old Tianquan and Old Tianshu, her aura not losing ground at all.
The Lord of Tianxuan Star and Kaiyang Star were both at the peak of the Hegemony Realm, so neither could claim victory for the time being.
“Forget it, it’s none of this old lady’s business. The fiercer the fight, the better. I’ll take the chance to kidnap little Shi Yu and bring him home. Hmm, no no, good Sister Ji would kill me if she found out…”
The Immortal Lady ruffled her white hair, unconcerned, then picked up the Star Chart again, silently reciting the birth dates of the twin siblings, and cast a divination. Best possible sign, great auspiciousness.
Strangely, the Star Chart only showed one person’s destiny, without distinction between them.
But Shiyu’s fortune was still this good.
‘Strange…’
The stars of destiny shone brightly, nine-colored glows converged.
Xueya’s pupils contracted. Suddenly, she noticed a black hole hovering above the Star Chart, indiscriminately pulling in all nearby stars, causing all the world’s fortunes to flow toward that one girl. Like a protective umbrella! This was the first time she had seen such a peculiar divination pattern on the Star Chart…
The spiritual energy of the Heavenly Cherry Pavilion trembled—this was the best signal.
Yan Bingling and Gelan, who had been lying low in the outer city, immediately sprang into action.
One was responsible for clearing the sewers, the other for breaching the city gates on all sides, acting as a diversion to support Yun Liu. The bigger the commotion, the better.
“It’s beginning.”
The golden-haired young man in the Hazy Sakura Shrine opened his eyes. While calming the panicked shrine maidens, he gripped the Phoenix Feather tightly and called out for Ao Tian to bring Ah Lian back.
Faster than expected. Now was the time. The moment was ripe. They should leave.