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Cui Jingyan obviously noticed her mother’s displeasure. She couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, don’t tell me father’s run into trouble?”
Xue Huaning shook her head. “This is Ziluo City. Who would dare act up in our territory? However…”
Here, the beautiful, gentle Thousand Jade Spirit Emperor’s eyes flashed with cold light. “Your father’s guests are bad news.”
Cui Jingyan suddenly recalled what Uncle Tao had told her upon her return: her father was entertaining guests from the Qu, Hong, and Tantai Families.
There was no about it: their guests were here with ill intentions!
It was then that Xue Huaning suddenly looked at Su Yi. “Young Lord Su, if possible, I’d appreciate it if you and Jingyan came with me to Northview Pavilion.”
Su Yi nodded. He wanted to meet with the current leader of the Cui Family, Cui Chang’an, anyway!
“Mother, what good will it do if we come with you?” Cui Jingyan seemed a bit confused.
“All you have to do is watch the spectacle from the sidelines,” said Xue Huaning. She then looked at the old blind man and said apologetically, “Your identity is rather sensitive. If others recognize you, it might invite unnecessary trouble. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to wait here.”
The old blind man nodded. “Your concerns are legitimate, Senior. I understand.”
With that, Xue Huaning led Su Yi and Cui Jingyan away from Pinebreeze Pavilion.
……
Northview Pavilion.
This was where the head of the Cui Family welcomed his most distinguished guests.
Numerous figures were currently seated within the old-fashioned and grand hall.
Family Head Cui Chang’an sat upright in the centermost seat.
He wore a high-brimmed hat and old-fashioned robes. His beard was willowy, and he had a steady disposition, making him imposing even when he wasn’t angry.
Cui Chang’an held authority over the entire Cui Family. He wasn’t just a prominent figure in the eyes of the millions of inhabitants of Ziluo City; he was one of the top authority figures of the entire Six Paths Royal Territory.
But now, his brow was tightly knit, and he said nothing.
Numerous figures were seated on both sides of the grand hall.
These were guests from three ancient clans: the Qu Family, the Hong Family, and the Tantai Family.
These three clans occupied different regions of the Six Paths Royal Territory. Their foundations were extremely ancient, and their forces were vast and mighty.
Take the Qu Family. A long time ago, they’d overseen the Hell Bureau, and their ancestor, the Bloody Desolation Netherworld Sovereign, was one of the Six Sovereigns of the Netherworld just like Cui Longxiang.
The ancestor of the Hong Family was once the highest authority of the Hungry Ghosts Bureau.
And the Ancestor of the Tantai Family was once the highest authority of the Beast Bureau.
It was fair to say that the experts of the three ancient clans in attendance were all first-rate authority figures of the Six Paths Royal Territory.
This was why they were worthy of Family Head Cui Chang’an’s personal welcome.
Were they ordinary people, they most likely would never have gotten to see Cui Chang’an.
The atmosphere in the grand hall was strange.
The host, Cui Chang’an, frowned and said nothing, but his guests seemed leisurely and composed as they discussed matters of little importance.
This was the scene that greeted Xue Huaning, Su Yi, and Cui Jingyan when they arrived.
“Huaning, what did you bring Jingyan for?” Cui Chang’an was stunned and a bit confused, especially when he saw an unfamiliar young man in blue accompanying his daughter.
“The girl’s grown up. It’s time for her to gain experience,” said Xue Huaning.
As she spoke, she arrived beside the centermost seat and said to Sui Yi and Cui Jingyan, “Sit wherever you like, you two.”
Then, the elegant, dignified woman turned around, her eyes flashing like cold lightning as she swept her gaze across the guests.
“Everyone, there’s no further need for empty pleasantries. Just tell me why you’ve come.”
“If it’s within my power to decide, I’ll naturally give you an answer. If it isn’t, I’ll decide with my husband.” Xue Huaning’s tone was cold, and every word was forceful and straight to the point.
She suddenly seemed like an entirely different person; every inch of her emanated an imposing, dignified aura.
The guests were instantly solemn.
Everyone in the Six Paths Royal Territory knew that in the Cui Family, the person others could least afford to provoke wasn’t the family head, but rather, his wife, Xue Huaning!
The Thousand Jade Spirit Emperor had once been an Emissary of the River at Meng Po Palace. Her position was lofty, she wielded vast authority, and her prestige shook the world. She might have looked tranquil and gentle, but in truth, she was forceful and domineering.
Over the years, too many powerful enemies had fallen at her hands to count.
After marrying Cui Chang’an, the Thousand Jade Spirit Emperor gradually made fewer and fewer public appearances, but no one dared overlook her existence.
Even Su Yi couldn’t help but inwardly praise and admire how she conducted herself; she was direct and concise, dominant and contemptuous. She lived up to her title as a former Emissary of the River.
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Cui Chang’an and Cui Jingyan were both calm; they were accustomed to this.
Father and daughter naturally understood Xue Huaning better than anyone.
On the left side of the room, a graying, yellow-robed elder with youthful features said, “Fellow Daoist Xue, we’ve already told Fellow Daoist Cui why we’re here. If you—
But Xue Huaning interrupted him before he could finish. “I want to hear it from you directly.”
The guests of all three clans furrowed their brows, especially the elder who’d spoken up earlier. After getting interrupted, his expression darkened, and he looked at Cui Chang’an. “Do you feel the same, Fellow Daoist Cui?”
“When we discussed the matter earlier, I didn’t quite understand,” laughed Cui Chang’an. “It would be wonderful if you were willing to repeat yourselves.”
The yellow-robed elder fell briefly silent. “Fine. Then I’ll start.”
He gazed expressionlessly at Xue Huaning. “The Qu Family’s reasons for coming here are simple: we hope the Cui Family will agree to let our forces investigate the ruins of the Bureau of Adjudication.”
The ruins of the Bureau of Adjudication!
Su Yi’s eyebrows shot up. Don’t tell me the old-timer has uncovered information about the treasure there?
A long time ago, the Cui Family oversaw the Bureau of Adjudication, and their status transcended the Bureaus of the Six Paths. However, after the Infernal Palace fell, the former Bureau of Adjudication was lost to history.
Its ruins were once a famous prison. Throughout its history, those imprisoned there were all vicious, terrifying existences.
There were devils that reigned entire regions, mighty, unrestrained yao, utterly wicked elites of the heretical path…
Including no shortage of Emperors!
However, the Bureau of Adjudication was not what it once was. It now lay in ruin, and there was no longer anyone imprisoned there.
However, Su Yi was well aware that despite the passage of countless years, the ruins—still under the jurisdiction of the Cui Family—still hid numerous secrets!
More importantly, in his past life, Su Yi had sealed one of his treasures there!
Now, the ancient Qu Family had set their sights on the ruins. Of course Su Yi was concerned!
However, Xue Huaning only said coldly, “Sure, if you agree to let the Cui Family enter your hidden realm, the Capital of Blood, I can agree to your request here and now.”
The yellow-robbed elder’s expression was instantly unsightly. “Fellow Daoist Xue, your request is a bit excessive. The Capital of Blood is the heart of the Qu Family. How could we possibly let outsiders in?
“So, you understand the concept of an excessive request?” Xue Huaning’s eyes flashed with disdain. “If your Qu Family won’t agree to a request like that, our Cui Family won’t either!”
She spoke with assurance, leaving no room for argument.
The yellow-robed elder was instantly furious, and he looked to Cui Chang’an. “Do you feel the same, Family Head Cui?”
Cui Chang’an laughed. “I’ve always been indecisive. When it comes to problems like this, I’ve always listened to my wife.”
The elder’s expression was increasingly dark. “Before long, the Lantern Festival will begin. His Excellency the Adjudicator of the Netherworld won’t be in attendance…. Aren’t you worried that something unexpected might happen?”
The words carried an implied threat.
The Lantern Festival?
Su Yi did a few quick calculations, then realized that the Six Paths Royal Territory’s once-in-a-millennium Lantern Festival was only about a month away.
This was a grand dharma assembly that took place only once every thousand years in the Netherworld.
It would start on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.
In other worlds, that day was known as the Ghost Festival, or alternatively, the Zhongyuan Festival. Among Buddhists, it was known as the Yulanpen Festival.
Once every thousand years, while other places celebrated the Ghost Festival, the Netherworld was shrouded into seemingly eternal darkness as a strange power blotted out its moon. At the same time, strange and terrifying phenomena spread throughout its realms and territories.
For instance, innumerable ancient spirits would surge out of the Five Directions Ghost Sect, and the City of the Wrongfully Dead would lose its natural order, sinking into upheaval, while the majestic Blood River of Sin would reflect the gates of hell…
Numerous malevolent, inauspicious powers would emerge from within the darkness.
This was why, once every thousand years, the cultivation factions of the Netherworld would join forces to light the “Celestial Lanterns of the Grand Dao.”
The lanterns hovered against the curtain of night, dispelling the darkness and neutralizing all manner of strange and terrifying powers.
Throughout the Netherworld, lanterns filled the night sky, shining like stars. This was why they called it the Lantern Festival.
Ziluo City was once the home of the Bureau of Adjudication, as well as the Infernal Palace’s execution ground. Throughout its history, countless terrifying existences had died here.
Thus, every time the Lantern Festival rolled around, the strange and inauspicious powers that arose around Ziluo City far surpassed those of other places, and it faced far greater peril.
However, in years prior, the Cui Family had been there to protect Ziluo City and avert the danger. This was the reason the city still stood.
But things were different now.
Cui Longxiang was the Cui Family’s pillar of support, but he’d already left for the Sea of Bitterness. He wasn’t currently in Ziluo City!
No wonder the Qu Family dares make such an outrageous request. So, they’re planning to use the arrival of the Lantern Festival to take advantage of the Cui Family’s predicament… Su Yi was starting to understand.
“What do you mean, the Adjudicator of the Netherworld isn’t here? Are you saying Grandfather isn’t here, and that he won’t even come back for the Lantern Festival?”
Cui Jingyan’s heart shook, and her expression shifted.
She suddenly realized that something significant had happened in her absence. That was why the Qu Family dared show up and stir up waves!