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It was the beginning of the winter. The skies were chilly, and the ground was frozen.
Late at night.
Su Yi asked, “Little turtle, how did you explain to Ge Qian?”
Xuan Ning’s indistinct primordial spirit said respectfully, “Master, I just told him I’d have to leave for a while.”
Su Yi nodded, then waved his sleeves. A bronze box floated out. He removed the lid, revealing the Demonic Womb sealed inside.
“Do you still remember the Soul-Calming Spiritual Refinement Incantation I taught you?” asked Su Yi.
Xuan Ning said solemnly, “I remember.”
Su Yi said casually, “Alright. Enter the Demonic Womb and use that secret art to suppress the living thing inside. If it resists, you can just kill it.”
“Yes, sir!” Xuan Ning blurred into a streak of light and shot into the Demonic Womb.
Bang bang bang!
The bronze box shook violently as the lifeform within the Demonic Womb struggled like mad. Misty light circulated around it.
Su Yi put his hands behind his back and watched calmly as all of this played out.
Shortly after, a miserable shriek emanated from within the Demonic Womb. “Su Yi, the Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace won’t let you get away with this!”
As this voice echoed through the air, the shaking, struggling Demonic Womb suddenly quieted down.
“Master, I’ve already succeeded,” transmitted Xuan Ning.
“One year. I guarantee that within a year of entering the Demonic Womb, you’ll be able to rebuild your body and begin a brand-new journey of cultivation!” said Su Yi.
“Master, I definitely won’t disappoint you!” Xuan Ning said gratefully.
Su Yi smiled but said no more. His hands formed seals.
Chh! Chh!
Streaks of clear light shot forth and condensed into a mysterious and instructable Edict. It slowly covered the surface of the Demonic Womb. The entire Demonic Womb flashed, almost as if it were breathing, then shrunk rapidly before his very eyes.
The Origin-Sealing Edict!
This was a peerless method for sealing Demonic Wombs.
In the end, the entire Demonic Womb shrank to the size of a broad bean, and Su Yi opened his mouth and swallowed it. It entered his Origin Palace, and was enveloped in the blue light of the Seed of the Azure.
After completing this process, Su Yi let out a long breath of turbid air. He was just about to sit down and meditate when he suddenly recalled something——
Earlier today, when he left Mount Heavenbristle, he told Weng Jiu to send Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing back to Azurecloud Court. They’d stayed in the palace while he was away.
However, even after all this time, they still weren’t back.
Ol’ Weng Jiu can be a bit unreliable sometimes. Su Yi shook his head and gave the matter no further thought. He just started meditating.
Nine Tripod City was the imperial family’s territory. With the Xia Emperor watching over them, nothing would happen to them.

.
Meanwhile, on Mount Heavenbristle.
Within one of the halls.
“Elder Shui, where did His Lordship go?” Weng Jiu furrowed his brow.
After returning from Sumeru Immortal Island, he went straight to greet the Xia Emperor, only to be told that the emperor had left half a month ago. He was out wandering, and he’d yet to return.
Elder Shui Tianqi, who typically worked at the Xia Emperor’s side, shook his head. “When he left, His Lordship just said that he was searching for certain divine materials needed to repair the Nine Tripod Suppression Barrier Formation. How could I possibly know where he’s gone?”
Weng Jiu’s brow furrowed even deeper. “He’s been gone for half a month. There’s really no news of him at all?”
Shui Tianqi shook his head once more.
When he saw this, Weng Jiu couldn’t help but feel a bit frantic. “What do we do now? That punk Su Yi caused such an enormous disaster. What if his enemies come looking for him while His Lordship is away? The consequences would be unimaginable!”
Shui Tianqi said gravely, “Before His Lordship left, he entrusted the imperial clan’s Third Elder, the Solar King, to manage imperial affairs in his absence. I suspect the Solar King has long since learned of what happened, and there’s no way he’ll remain uninvolved.”
“The Solar King?” Weng Jiu sank into thought.
The Solar King, Xia Linyuan.
He was the third elder of the Great Xia’s imperial family, as well as the famed Solar King. He was a long-established, prestigious figure.
“Let’s go. Let’s go see the Solar King and see how he plans to resolve this.”
Weng Jiu rose and was just about to leave when he heard hurried footsteps approaching from further down the hall.
Immediately afterward, a guard dressed in black entered the hall and bowed solemnly. “This humble servant is Ding Shiliu. Greetings, Your Excellencies.”
“Ding Shiliu?” Weng Jiu was stunned. “What are you doing here this late at night?”
The guard knelt on the floor, looking ashamed. “Your Excellency, earlier, you ordered me to personally see Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing to Azurecloud Court. Unfortunately, I am inept, and I was unable to carry out your orders.”
Weng Jiu’s gaze focused. “What do you mean?”
Ding Shiliu lowered his head, not daring to meet Weng Jiu’s gaze. “I went to receive Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing, but the Solar King’s subordinates arrived one step earlier and invited our guests to leave with them; they said they’d been invited to a banquet. This humble servant waited by their quarters; I planned to see them to Azurecloud Court when they returned from the festivities.
“Against all expectations, despite waiting all this time, the two of them have yet to return. When I went to see the Solar King and ask for further details, I was told that he’d chosen to keep Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing with him temporarily.”
When he heard this, Weng Jiu’s expression shifted erratically, and his brow furrowed. “Why would the Solar King lead Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing away under the guise of inviting them to a banquet?”
Shui Tianqi also sensed that something was amiss. “The Solar King doesn’t know either of them at all, yet he suddenly led them both away? Something’s definitely fishy here!”
“Come on, let’s go pay the Solar King an audience.” Weng Jiu took a deep breath, suppressed his sense of foreboding, and immediately made a decision.
Shui Tianqi nodded.



Mount Heavenbristle, a glittering, lamplit hall adorned with jade and gold.
A sumptuous feast had only just ended, and the guests filed out, one by one.
The host, the Solar King, Xia Linyuan, sat alone at the centermost seat, pondering in silence.
Despite his age, he was hale and hearty. Even just sitting there, he emanated an imposing momentum.
“Your Excellency, Elders Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi request an audience,” someone reported respectfully from outside the hall.
Xia Linyuan furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, then said, “Let them in.”
Before long, both Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi walked inside and bowed in greeting.
Xia Linyuan’s expression was grave. “Are you here this late at night because of Su Yi?”
Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi looked at each other, then nodded.
Xia Linyuan let out a long sigh. “This is an incomparably thorny, troublesome matter. If we handle it improperly, we’ll bring unexpected calamity upon the imperial family.”
Before Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi could respond, Xia Linyuan said, “Do you know who I invited to tonight’s banquet?”
Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi shook their heads.
An overcast look appeared on Xia Linyuan’s face. “The guests hailed from various ancient factions: the Huan Family, the Deathbringer’s Netherworld Palace, Tianji Dao Mountain, the Burning Sun Sect
”
He listed ten-plus ancient factions in a single breath.
Then, he gazed at Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi. “They too
 were here because of the trouble Su Yi caused!”
Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi’s expressions changed.
The expedition to Sumeru Immortal Island had only just ended, but the various ancient factions had already come knocking on their door!
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There was no doubt that Huan Shaoyou and the others’ deaths had provoked their ire.
“Third Elder, dare I ask if they came here looking to join forces against Su Yi?” Weng Jiu asked gravely.
“No.” Xia Linyuan shook his head. “They came to discuss the imperial family’s attitude. Or you could say, they came to have us make a decision.”
“Either we cease protecting Su Yi and remain uninvolved, or
 the ancient faction will see both us and Su Yi as their enemies!”
Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi’s hearts silently sank.
Shui Tianqi took a deep breath, then said, “Might I ask how you answered, Third Elder?”
Xia Linyuan said calmly, “I’m well aware that you and His Majesty attach enormous importance to the boy, but this is different. This is severe enough to influence the safety of the entire imperial clan. His Majesty is not present, so it’s difficult for even me to reach a clear decision.”
He paused here, his expression suddenly solemn. “Tonight, I plan to summon every prominent member of the imperial family to discuss the matter. Within three days, we’ll give the ancient factions a clear answer.”
Three days!
Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi’s hearts clenched, and for a moment, they stopped breathing.
“I hope you two will understand. This is an incident large enough to endanger the entire imperial family; we absolutely cannot allow our emotions to influence our decision. We must first consider the good of the imperial family as a whole.”
Xia Linyuan swept his gaze across Weng Jiu and Shui Tianqi. “What do you two think?”
After a moment’s silence, Weng Jiu said, “Third Elder, this matter naturally calls for caution, but if we act against Su Yi’s interests, it will be difficult to report to His Majesty when he returns.”
Xia Linyun frowned, then said coldly, “Ludicrous! He might be a rare, matchless genius, but Su Yi is just one person. We ought to prioritize the safety and benefits of the imperial family as a whole. Were His Majesty here, he would surely do the same!”
Xia Linyuan paused, his tone calm and indifferent. “Or are you saying that the whole Imperial Family should get dragged into this mess all for Su Yi’s sake? Is that what you want, Weng Jiu?”
Weng Jiu’s expression changed dramatically. “I wouldn’t dare.”
“I’m tired. You should go back,” said Xia Linyuan with a wave. He was clearly kicking them out.
Weng Jiu sighed to himself. Out loud, he said, “Third Elder, before I go, I’d like to ask you something.”
“Say it,” said Xia Linyuan expressionlessly.
Weng Jiu looked up and met his gaze, then said gravely, “Since you’ve yet to reach a decision, why detain Yuan Heng and Bai Wenqing?”
Xia Linyuan frowned. It seemed Weng Jiu’s question made him a bit uncomfortable.
Then, he said coolly, “Tonight, I invited the experts of the various ancient factions. I agreed that, prior to making a decision, the imperial family wouldn’t let Su Yi leave Nine Tripod City unauthorized. Thus, I made a few preparations, such as temporarily detaining those two. Rest assured; I disdain harming two such trivial figures. Once this matter is resolved, I’ll send them on their way.”
Weng Jiu’s eyes widened with a mixture of alarm and anger.
Shui Tianqi’s heart sank.
Both realized that this was going to be trouble!