The Xianzhou slowly broke free from the Small World’s constraints, setting off steadily through the void toward the Five Provinces Continent.
The hull cut through the chaos, leaving a fading trail in its wake.
Tang Zhaoxue had already finished giving instructions to the Sect Elders who remained behind on behalf of the group.
Once the Xianzhou reached a stable cruising speed, she returned to the private room.
The core control of the Xianzhou had already been passed from Su Yingman to Chi Yun Ancestor.
This existence from the Primordial Era of the Red Dragon Clan now stood leisurely before the central jade console.
With one hand pressed lightly against the central Formation, her posture was casual.
Under her guidance, the Xianzhou moved with even more fluidity than it had when Su Yingman was at the helm.
“Sister Tang, aren’t we already returning to the Five Provinces? Why are you still wearing that? Don’t you find it cumbersome??” Siming sat cross-legged to the side, propping up her chin as she tilted her head to look at Tang Zhaoxue, who sat across from her.
The others had already changed back into practical everyday clothes.
Only Tang Zhaoxue still wore that ceremonial gown symbolizing the Da Zongzhu’s majesty—a complex, layered, floor-length dress that was both magnificent and solemn.
Tang Zhaoxue kept her back perfectly straight.
Hearing this, she merely pursed her red lips.
Her eyes flickered with a hint of resentment as she shot a quick glance at Su Yingman, who was currently sipping tea with an air of ease.
How could she not want to change out of this heavy burden? Because of what was beneath the dress, she felt like she was sitting on a bed of needles.
It felt as though a layer of sticky beeswax had been applied to her, causing an indescribable discomfort and awkwardness.
This was especially true for certain areas that had been cared for with particular detail.
However, in front of Siming, whose Cultivation and experience were inferior to her own, her dignity as a Da Zongzhu and her pride as a senior made it impossible for her to explain the situation.
“It’s no matter.” Su Yingman set down her teacup, picking up the conversation with a beaming smile as a flash of mischief crossed her beautiful eyes.
“Your Sister Tang just happens to like this outfit. It’s solemn and grand, isn’t it?”
She understood this seemingly cold and proud Da Zongzhu all too well.
If it were Qingqiu sitting before them right now, Tang Zhaoxue would likely have broken character long ago, revealing the truth out of either shame or annoyance.
But facing a junior like Siming, her habit of saving face and maintaining appearances took precedence.
She would rather endure the discomfort to maintain her dignified image.
To make her offer admiration or submission, one would at least have to be stronger than her.
Tang Zhaoxue’s hands tightened slightly within her sleeves, but she maintained a calm expression.
She neither confirmed nor denied Su Yingman’s words, effectively offering a silent admission.
Su Yingman knew when to stop and turned to Siming, asking, “Speaking of which, why didn’t you go find Jiang Zhun? Weren’t you going to improve your Innate Talent?”
At the mention of Jiang Huai, Siming’s face immediately fell.
She pouted and complained, “I’m angry. I couldn’t find him all day. Now he’s run off to White Dew’s place and is staying in her private room.”
Su Yingman nodded thoughtfully, her slender fingers lightly stroking the rim of her cup as her gaze deepened.
In a more spacious and quiet private room on the other side of the Xianzhou.
White Dew was sitting cross-legged on the bed.
She had removed her outer robe and wore only a snow-white silk undergarment. The soft fabric outlined her petite and delicate yet perfectly proportioned curves. Her small jade-like feet were wrapped in clean white silk socks.
Her expression remained清冷 as usual, like a Snow Peak that never melted. Her blue eyes gazed at the shifting chaotic light outside the window without much emotional fluctuation.
Jiang Huai sat by the bedside, patiently coaxing little Jianjia in his arms.
Jianjia was already awake. Her pale blue eyes looked exactly like her mother’s—clear and bright.
She seemed exceptionally close to Jiang Huai’s Qi.
Her Dragon Tail, covered in fine silver-white Dragon Scales, was currently wrapped gently around one of Jiang Huai’s fingers.
She reached out her other tiny hand, grasping unconsciously at the air while making vague “babbling” sounds toward Jiang Huai.
A faint smile could actually be seen on her pink little face.
While Jiang Huai used the pad of his thumb to gently stroke his Daughter’s soft palm—which only made her wrap her tail tighter—he couldn’t help but steal glances at White Dew on the bed using his peripheral vision.
Speaking of which, it was truly strange.
A few days ago, when they were on the Bed of Soft Jade, this woman had clearly been different.
With soft whispers, blurry eyes, and clumsy attempts to please him, she was like a completely different person compared to this frost-covered face.
Since that day, she seemed to have returned to her usual self.
Most of the time when she saw Jiang Huai, she would only give a slight nod with an indifferent expression.
Her attitude was strictly business and even somewhat distant.
There was absolutely no sign that the two had already consummated their relationship or shared a Daughter.
Only during this fixed period every day would she require Jiang Huai to come in and soothe the child for a while.
Once the time was up, she would “invite” him to leave without any mercy.
“Alright, you can go now.”
Her cold voice interrupted his thoughts and his peeking.
White Dew had turned around at some point.
She reached out and naturally “unbound” little Jianjia from Jiang Huai’s fingers, pulling the child back into her own arms.
She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them.
Her gaze fell on her Daughter’s face as she spoke flatly, “If you are free, you should come to soothe the child at this hour every day.”
This was what White Dew wanted; she hoped Jiang Huai would spend more time with Jianjia, as he had too many women.
After a pause, she added another sentence:
“The rest of the time, you should practice your Cultivation well to stabilize your Realm.”
“Indulge… indulge less in pointless pleasures.”
Jiang Huai stood up, looking at White Dew who was inches away.
As she lowered her head slightly, she revealed a section of her fair and elegant nape.
His heart stirred, and he tentatively reached out his hand, wanting to touch her shoulder or a strand of hair.
However, before his fingers could make contact, a gentle but firm cool breeze manifested out of nowhere, surrounding him and giving him a light push.
Jiang Huai felt his footing grow unsteady. He staggered back a few steps and was unexpectedly sent outside the private room by this clever force.
Behind him, the door closed silently, sealing the cold figure inside. Only her final reminder drifted faintly into his ears:
“Cultivate well.”
Jiang Huai stood in the hallway and rubbed his nose, feeling a bit helpless but also finding it somewhat funny.
“Oh? Kicked out by the White Clan Leader?” A teasing, laughing voice came from the control area ahead.
Chi Yun Ancestor still maintained her dashing posture of controlling the ship with one hand.
Hearing the noise, she looked back, her eyes full of playfulness.
Beside her stood the curvaceous and graceful Chi Lian.
Although both belonged to the Red Dragon Clan and shared a mature, charming aura, Chi Lian’s posture was clearly more respectful.
Jiang Huai smiled awkwardly and walked over. “Chiyun Predecessor, you must be joking.”
“I’m not joking.” Chi Yun shook her head.
“She has been like this since the Primordial Era. Few words, few expressions.” Her tone carried a hint of memory and reflection.
“But she isn’t actually that kind of person. You’ll understand once you spend more time with her.”
Having said that, she turned her head and spoke gently to Chi Lian: “Once we return to the Five Provinces and settle down, you should go see Chihuang. She’s always worried about you. She mentions you constantly, and…”
At this point, Chi Yun stopped. Chihuang mentioned Chi Lian often within the clan, and of course, she also cursed Jiang Huai quite a bit with a very jealous tone.
Mentioning Chihuang made Chi Lian’s expression noticeably softer.
She nodded subconsciously, her voice lowering. “Miss, I have been worried about her as well. I don’t know how she’s doing in the Five Provinces…”
She didn’t know how Chihuang was handling the crisis in the Five Provinces.
What about the future? Would everyone be better off? Chi Lian didn’t know; her expression was vacant.
“I was like you when I was your age,” Chi Yun remarked, looking at her expression.
“No one knows what the future holds. Just like how we are all chatting here right now, no one knows which day we might simply vanish. I didn’t expect things to still be like this after I woke up. It’s truly tragic.”
The Xianzhou traveled smoothly through the chaos at an extremely high speed.
After an unknown amount of time, the hull shuddered slightly. The surrounding void retreated like a tide, and the world’s Qi wrapped around them once more.
They had reached the Five Provinces Continent.
Almost the instant the Xianzhou pierced through the world barrier and stabilized, several figures appeared on the deck simultaneously. White Dew, Su Yingman, Tang Zhaoxue, and the others walked out.
Everyone’s expressions grew solemn in unison.
The sky was a depressing, sickly gray, as if covered by a thick layer of dust and haze.
Even the sunlight seemed weak and drowsy.
An indescribable scent permeated the air.
This Qi made Su Yingman frown slightly, her heart feeling a sense of rejection.
Beside her, Jiang Huai’s reaction was completely different. His breathing suddenly became heavy, his chest heaving as the blood in his body began to boil and surge.
A hunting impulse directed at the Outworld Heavenly Demon surged from deep within his bloodline. Jiang Huai snapped his eyes shut, forcibly circulating his Gongfa to suppress this intense desire for slaughter.
He forced himself to stay calm and looked down.
The former site of the Nine Heavens Palace Sect, once surrounded by clouds and filled with continuous palaces, was now a shocking sight of ruins.
The towering Mountain Gate had mostly collapsed.
The exquisite pavilions were nothing but broken walls and debris.
Scorch marks and a certain dark purple, slightly wriggling filth of unknown origin were scattered everywhere.
The grand scene of Cultivators coming and going and immortal cranes dancing was gone, replaced only by deathly silence and ruin.
A nameless fire surged into Jiang Huai’s heart.
This had been the home of him, Qingqiu, and the others, yet it had been devastated like this.
“This place is not suitable for a long stay; the Qi is too messy,” White Dew’s cold voice rang out with composure, dispersing some of the suppression and anger in everyone’s hearts.
“Let’s go. To the Northern Plains first. The Five Great Dragon Clans are all there now. We will take Jiang Huai there first.”
Chi Yun Ancestor said no more.
She maneuvered the Xianzhou to turn sharply, turning into a stream of light as it sped toward the frigid lands of the north.
“Is the Black Dragon Clan there as well?” Jiang Huai suddenly asked.
Speaking of which, the Black Dragon Clan likely wouldn’t have a very good impression of him.
After all, the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace was still in his hands.
White Dew said softly, “They are all there. The Black Dragon Clan, the Azure Dragon Clan, and the Yellow Dragon Clan—they are all in that region.”