Chapter 421.2: A Birthday Gift for Jin Li

"Huh?" Qi Yuan blinked and blurted out, "Killing intent's practically steaming off you!"

As a Yang Spirit himself, he could see Jin Li's killing intent at a glance. There was no disguising it. Frankly, her killing intent was even more intense than his had been when he first came out of the Flowing Wind World.

Jin Li’s blush deepened, spreading all the way to her ears. "Um..."

Watching from a distance, Moon Frost stared in disbelief, feeling as though she were dreaming. Is that blood-robed man really a Yang Spirit? The way he does things seems a little odd...

Still, not only did Qi Yuan seem to bear no ill will, but he was also clearly on good terms with Jin Li.

Moon Frost grew bolder, blurting out, "Everyone's constitution is different. If Jin Li so much as steps on an ant by accident, her killing intent flares up this thick."

Jin Li’s eyes went wide.

Qi Yuan remarked, "Oh, is that how it works? My ignorance is showing. Another day of learning something new."

Originally, he'd been planning to give Jin Li the few Yang Spirits he had stashed down in the Underworld as well. But on reflection, those Yang Spirits couldn't be killed, and he would essentially be exposing himself.

Moon Frost sighed in relief. This Heavenly Venerable is really strange...

She then blinked. "Heavenly Venerable, who are you?"

Many questions swirled in her head.

He answered without hesitation, "I'm Qi Yuan, an old acquaintance from the Moonwatch Continent."

A wave crashed through Moon Frost's heart. So it really is him!

From the very start, Jin Li's reaction had made Moon Frost suspect this man could be the one, but she remained skeptical. It just sounded too good to be true. There was no way Qi Yuan could attain the Yang Spirit realm in such a short time. Even if he had, he’d only be at the Minor Heavenly Position at best. Above all, he couldn’t have emerged from the Moluo Clan unless he had belonged to them all along.

Likely sensing Moon Frost's doubt, Jin Li declared with certainty, "He is Qi Yuan!"

A look of reminiscence crossed his face. "I came out of Heaven's End and went to our meeting point, but you never came."

Tenderly, he gazed at Jin Li. Beneath the Ancient Qichun Tree, on the shore of Seventh Moon Lake, he had waited a long while.

In Qi Yuan's memory, the little Moon Maiden surfaced. A smile touched his face. "Even so, I did get to eat the crispy sweet duck you made with your own hands."

Back then, Jin Li had said that when he reached Seventh Moon Town, she would make him her signature crispy sweet duck. He had gone looking for Jin Li, only to find Moon Maiden instead.

Moon Frost felt emotional. "How did you come to be here, Heavenly Venerable?"

This question was important. If Qi Yuan truly were a Yang Spirit of the Moluo Clan, then Jin Li's fate would be a wretched one.

Qi Yuan recounted his entire journey, “I ascended from the lower world and entered the Moluo Clan’s Fifth Heaven. There, I encountered an evil Yang Spirit who secretly came to rob my home. I caught him red-handed and captured him. So, I disguised myself as Heavenly Venerable Mochi and entered the Demon Abyss.

“And wouldn’t you know it? That Heavenly Venerable Motong had no sense of honor either. He was secretly spying on me. How could I stand for that? I took him down on the spot! So, I disguised myself as him and came here.”

Astonishment spread across Moon Frost's face. Every single thing he uttered was unbelievable. She desperately tried to piece everything. Capturing a Yang Spirit? Taking down Motong, a Principle Yang Spirit? In Earth's End, didn’t Qi Yuan nearly die at the hands of those Violet Palace cultivators? How could he possibly have jumped into the Yang Spirit realm so quickly? It was unthinkable!

Jin Li held his hand tightly. She knew the price he had paid to reach the Sixth Heaven and see her was absolutely not so simple as all that. Like a lamp in the night, an old friend returned from ten thousand miles away, facing only his own shadow. Who would ever be able to comprehend the hardship of that ten-thousand-mile road?

Moon Frost asked, "Do you wish to meet Heavenly Venerable Longyue?"

After all, this was a momentous matter. She couldn’t take Qi Yuan’s words at face value. Besides, if he wanted to take Jin Li away, he would have to ask Lord Moon God. Jin Li was, after all, a Moon Maiden. Whatever the case, meeting the Yang Spirit of the Divine Moon Palace was a priority.

He nodded. "Fine."

A sudden visit was entirely different from bursting in and being discovered. The deputy envoy was under his control anyway. Not only could he slip in unnoticed, but he could also deal with Longyue easily. Once Longyue learned what had happened here, she would understand and no longer regard Qi Yuan as an intruder. If anything, she owed him a debt of gratitude.

If not for Qi Yuan, the Absolute Moon Abyss would surely have come to harm, and Longyue would have been wounded. The situation across the demon abyss would have collapsed.

***

The Moon Radiance Banquet was still ongoing. Powerful figures came and went, and the feast was filled with song and laughter.

"We haven't had a gathering this lively in ages. Your connections are truly amazing, Senior Sister!"

"Half the envoys sent people bearing congratulatory gifts! That alone tells you a lot!"

People kept heaping praises on Yu Tiao. A radiant smile lit her eyes as well. Just then, a vast aura spread through the hall.

Every guest went wide-eyed as their hearts clenched.

"Heavenly Venerable Longyue!"

The source of that aura was unmistakably the Principle Yang Spirit who presided over this place. There was only one reason why she would make a move. Something big was about to happen. Everyone was wary, anticipating that something big was about to happen. Without hesitation, the guests shifted into a battle position, bracing for the battle to come.

***

Within the palace, Qi Yuan stood holding Jin Li’s hand and calmly faced Longyue.

Longyue swept her deep, unfathomable gaze over him. "I am in your debt, Fellow Daoist."

Moon Frost had already told her everything. Longyue felt a chill. Had Motong's plan succeeded, the Divine Moon Palace's position across the demon abyss would have crumbled.

Qi Yuan answered, "It's nothing. Given the relationship between Jin Li and me, doing this is only natural."

Since Longyue could be counted as half a guardian to Jin Li, she deserved his respect.

Longyue sighed at Jin Li. "This child, ah..."

Then, she turned to Qi Yuan. "You’ve only just entered the Sixth Heaven and have yet to join any great power. You won't last long here on your own. Would you consider joining the Divine Moon Palace?"

Having seen Motong’s remnant soul, she didn’t have to guess how powerful Qi Yuan was. He would be a powerful asset in their fight against the enemy.

Qi Yuan shook his head. "No, thank you."

With his marriage certificate already in hand, how could he afford to join the Divine Moon Palace? He also wanted a little freedom. If he joined, he would have to become Lord Moon God’s subordinate. He would not be able to accept that.

Longyue felt disappointed. She knew the Divine Moon Palace was in a precarious state these days. Why would any Principle Yang Spirit join it? In contrast, any other great power would never turn away a Principle Yang Spirit.

He said calmly, "I hope you can keep what happened today a secret. I still have important matters to settle with the Moluo Clan."

Someone had made off with his family’s well. He had to get it back.

Longyue nodded and her spirits lifted somewhat. "Very well!"

The enemy of their enemy was their ally.

Longyue added, "Should you ever need aid, send a word to me at any time, Fellow Daoist!"

With Motong now crippled, the Moluo Clan had only two Principle realm cultivators left in the demon abyss. This was an opportunity for the Divine Moon Palace.

Qi Yuan agreed without a second thought, "Sure."

It seemed he had to keep the undercover mole act going.

Longyue then shifted her gaze to Jin Li. It was time to speak of the private matter between Jin Li and Qi Yuan.

She said curtly, "Jin Li, with those five hundred twenty-one Yin Spirits of the Moluo Clan added in, your merits are more than enough."

Her meaning could not have been clearer. Jin Li could ask one thing of Lord Moon God.