Chapter 494: Seven Days Later

Royal City, Six Gate Bureau.

As a department directly under the Empress, the place was currently filled with constables in red robes wearing black-and-white masks, hurrying back and forth. Everyone looked as if the word “busy” were written across their faces.

In the inner hall, a figure wearing a feathered mask slumped weakly against a chair.

“Ha… This job really isn’t fit for humans. I used to think I could trade for a long vacation from Her Majesty when she was in a good mood. Instead of a break, though, I’ve only gotten busier by the day.”

Night Crow looked as lifeless as a burned-out wick, tilting his head toward the person beside him.

“It’s been seven days since the Netherkin chaos, and we’ve worked nonstop for all seven. And at a time like this, you still gave Tian Zhu leave? Don’t you know how short-handed we are right now?”

Beside him, Wutong—wearing a mask patterned with withered leaves—rubbed her temples and sighed softly.

“I had already promised Tian Zhu that vacation. Besides, she’s naturally gifted with an array heart—she’s good at researching formations, but she’s never been suited for administrative work. It’s better to let her rest for a while… And the order in the Royal City is gradually being restored. If we work through the night for two more days, we should be able to clear the backlog.”

After hearing Wutong’s explanation, Night Crow rolled his eyes.

“The two of us are working overtime while Tian Zhu’s on a long holiday. Xuan Ming’s simple-minded and not suited for this kind of work, so he’s been sent elsewhere. Kirin was summoned into the palace by Her Majesty and who knows what she’s busy with. Fusang was seriously injured a year ago and still hasn’t recovered… Uh, where’s Lost Dove?”

“She said she’ll definitely come tomorrow.”

“Didn’t she say that seven days ago too?”

“You’ve known her long enough… Forget it. At least during the Netherkin chaos she handled more than half of our communication channels.”

As she spoke, Wutong picked up a new document and began reading it slowly.

Night Crow felt something stuck in his chest.

How did the top tier of the Six Gate Bureau—the Golden Ranked members—end up like this?

Her Majesty had even mentioned that the eighth Golden would be taking office soon, yet there’d been no news at all.

They were probably not someone easy to deal with.

He just wondered whether that person could also be drawn into the grand enterprise of fostering a relationship between a certain Demon Sect Holy Saint and Her Majesty…

At that thought, Night Crow let out a light breath.

“The Demon Sect Holy Saint…”

Since the end of the Netherkin chaos, Demon Sect Holy Saint Luo Wusheng had become the most frequently mentioned figure throughout the Immortal Nation.

People had already thought the Demon Sect Holy Saint was somewhat outrageous before—peerless talent unmatched in this era. Just last year, he had become a psychological shadow for some Golden Core elders of the older generation. It was only because he rarely made a move that people previously knew little about him.

But now, he has practically become a legend.

At not yet twenty years of age, he stirred the winds and clouds of the Royal City, and with a single finger at the end, invoked myriad tribulations to break the deadlock of the Immortal Nation’s crisis.

Even now, everyone who had witnessed that battle could vividly recall the scene—like divine judgment descending, sending off the shadows of demons and fiends.

How could that have been merely the power of the peak of Golden Core? Some would believe it if you said it was the power of an immortal!

Not to mention the countless people in the Royal City still spreading tales of that battle…

Night Crow’s gaze swept across the intelligence reports on the desk, and he gave a wry smile.

“Ever since news got out that the kid died and is waiting to revive, the common folk have only grown more fervent. Every day people organize trips to Ascending Immortality Lake to worship that tree. Even his residence and the Demon Artifact Pavilion are being ‘pilgrimaged’ daily… I wonder what he’ll think when he revives.”

“It can’t be helped… This time he truly rendered great service to the Royal City. And though we don’t know whether anything else happened after he defeated the Netherking, everyone present at the time gained tremendous benefits from the terrifying Dao Rhythms revealed in his final strike. Naturally, that gathered a great deal of goodwill among those who benefited… Speaking of which, you’re about to break through soon too, aren’t you?”

Wutong looked at Night Crow.

“Not as fast as you. Probably still a few more days,” Night Crow straightened up slightly, a hint of spirit returning to his eyes beneath the mask.

After this Netherkin chaos, the overall strength of the entire Royal City had undergone a leap-like advancement.

The main reason was that everyone present at the battle had directly witnessed Luo Wusheng’s final strike that annihilated the Netherking avatar.

Although the people of the Royal City could not comprehend the transformations of Dao Rhythms contained within that attack, merely having “seen” it once was already an enormous benefit.

Among the crowd who awakened beneath the fireworks that night, at least ten percent broke through their realms on the spot.

Night Crow had gained something as well and would soon be able to prepare for a breakthrough to the mid–stage Nascent Soul realm.

Wutong flipped through the pages in her hands and nodded lightly. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, she asked, “By the way, the Demon Sect Holy Maiden seems to have returned to the Three Thousand Demon Domains today?”

“Correct. She took the Sea-Crossing Boat early this morning. It’s probably been over two hours since departure,” Night Crow replied casually. “During these seven days she handled the chaos at the Demon Artifact Pavilion and helped relieve quite a bit of our pressure… Mm, the Pavilion has now been handed over to the original four junior stewards to manage jointly. The two named Hu Dingtian and Wang Wude both broke through to Foundation Establishment one after another. And today that Wang Wude even came to take away a young girl from my intelligence division… Tsk, youth is wonderful.”

Wutong had only asked casually. After receiving confirmation, she said no more and continued reading the scroll in her hands.

In these days, aside from the Netherkin chaos, many other major events had taken place in the world.

For example, the Netherland had changed rulers once again. The Netherqueen had re-entered the Netherkin Nation’s Demon Palace, reclaiming control over the Netherkin race. Ten thousand Netherkin bowed their heads, causing renewed anxiety among humankind.

There was even eyewitness intelligence claiming that near the Chaotic Nether Graves behind the Netherkin City, a human little girl had been spotted. The girl had conspicuous white hair and, when discovered, was being dragged toward the graves by a fox about her own size biting onto her… It was speculated that the girl might be a special Netherkin in human form with albinism-like traits. Afterward, no trace of her could be found.

Aside from that…

“The current Sect Master of the Sword Sect has broken through in cultivation, entering the Tribulation Transcendence realm. He intends to pass the position of Sect Master to Ling Shuangxue, Peak Master of the Frosty Snow Peak. The succession ceremony will be held in half a month…”

Reading the intelligence in her hand, a faint flicker passed through Wutong’s eyes beneath her mask.

…

Endless Sea, aboard a Sea-Crossing Boat bound for the Three Thousand Demon Domains.

A young girl in flowing white stood gracefully at the bow, gazing at the boundless ocean as the sea breeze gently stirred her sleeves.

At that moment, the space behind her twisted slightly, and a figure wrapped in black robes stepped out.

“Does the Holy Maiden have something on her mind?”

The voice was somewhat hoarse, yet clearly female.

“I am not wood or stone, how could I be without thoughts?”

Bai Xiaoyao narrowed her eyes and smiled lightly at the person behind her. “For instance, I am still wondering whether this esteemed Demon Sect Divine Envoy had already been waiting in the Royal City for my return, or whether you truly only arrived yesterday to take me back because the heart-spring of the Heart Demon Cavern erupted.”

“Whichever it is, what difference does it make to the Holy Maiden?” the hoarse female voice replied calmly.

“If it were the latter, then with your cultivation at the peak of Nascent Soul, you could have carried me across the Endless Sea directly. Why take a Sea-Crossing Boat?”

“If the Holy Maiden wishes it so, I can act accordingly.”

Hearing this reply, Bai Xiaoyao showed no particular reaction. She merely met the gaze beneath the black hood for a moment before withdrawing her eyes.

“No need.”

To break through to Golden Core was one of her goals for returning to the Demon Sect.

In truth, it had been an unexpected decision… According to Bai Xiaoyao’s earlier calculations, she should still have been lacking a moderate opportunity before reaching Golden Core.

Originally, she had planned to consolidate her gains after the Human Immortal List in the Royal City, then enter the Ancient Heavenly Gate and form her core in one decisive push.

But plans could not keep up with changes. The Human Immortal List had ended inconclusively, yet she had gained many unexpected benefits. Her realm had risen all at once, and the urge to break through was impossible to suppress.

Moreover, a certain Yuliu had suddenly begun advancing in cultivation. Naturally, Bai Xiaoyao was unwilling to fall behind.

However, being able to advance to Golden Core at any time was one thing; for the sake of the quality of her Golden Core, she would not break through casually.

Lu Yuliu has the Sword Sect’s Sword Origin Technique. As one of the three ancient sects, the Demon Sect naturally also possesses multiple special demonic core techniques. The former Luo Wusheng had formed a special kind of demonic core; at the same realm, the quality of his spiritual energy was several times stronger than that of others, and it also carried an additional aura of “deathly stillness.”

‘Mm, I’m thinking of Senior Brother again…’

Bai Xiaoyao bit her lip, but as if recalling something, she suddenly revealed a faintly teasing smile.

By now, the Three Thousand Demon Domains were probably in an uproar as well.

Thinking back to when her senior brother had left the Demon Domains, who knew how many members of the Demon Sect had been secretly pointing fingers, waiting to watch a farce of their Holy Saint making a fool of himself? Yet as intelligence reports returned time and time again, those same people had their eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. They had only just begun to grow numb to the shock, and then what happened seven days ago caused an even greater sensation.

The Demon Sect disciples were completely dumbfounded. Some who had once declared, “Even a dog wouldn’t go to the Netherworld Domain,” were now secretly and seriously considering switching allegiance.

The Demon Sect was just that realistic.

And so Bai Xiaoyao thought of the Joyful Lotus Domain within the Demon Sect—of a group of seductive vixens who were likely already preparing to offer themselves the moment her Senior Brother returned.

The smile on her face stiffened. She raised her foot and kicked hard at the railing of the ship’s bow.

…

Immortal Nation, Imperial Palace — Imperial Pool.

The Empress stood in her imperial robes, her eyes tinged with fatigue, quietly gazing at the still surface of the pool before her.

She took a light breath and flicked her wide sleeve.

In the next moment, a sheet of paper flew out from her sleeve and drifted above the surface of the pool.

With a flick of her finger, a stream of pure spiritual energy flowed into the paper and then folded into the waters of the pool.

The surface of the pool, infused with spiritual energy, suddenly churned. Ripples spread outward in circles from the center, as if something were emerging from within…

No, something truly was slowly taking form in the pool.

Two faint blushes appeared on the Empress’s cheeks.

In the center of the pool, where nothing had been before, a figure now surfaced.

It was a handsome young man.

His black hair clung damply with pool water. His build was not overly bulky, yet his muscles were clearly defined, filled with a sense of strength…

And yes, there was not a single thing covering him. He was entirely unadorned.

Cultivation Realm:

1, Qi Refining

2, Foundation Establishment

3, Golden Core

4, Nascent Soul

5, Divine Transformation (Formerly Known as Tribulation Crossing)

6, Tribulation Transcendence

7, Land Immortal

Note: Link to the character Illustration:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD