Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The incident on Dwarf Mountain was settled by a single blow of the Saint Empress’ Demon-Killing Seal. The four races also didn’t dare to continue with their attacks. The other races who had designs on Dwarf Mountain also did not dare to act anymore and retreated as well.
Of course, with Qiu Shan being killed by Jiang Yi and the Dwarf Race army being almost wiped out, there was no way Dwarf Mountain could still be secured. If the Dwarf Race decided to protect Dwarf Mountain to the death, their race would definitely be annihilated. A man’s wealth was his own ruin by causing others’ greed; a sacred mountain was too tempting for anyone. There would definitely be great races who would not be able to resist the temptation to takeover Dwarf Mountain.
Cao Peiwen was carried back by his people. Although the injuries he had were nothing much for a Demigod—he would be able to recover after recuperating for half a month, the emotional trauma the Saint Empress had inflicted on Curmudgeon Cao was something that he could never recover from in this lifetime.
The Saint Empress of this generation had always kept a low profile; she rarely appeared in front of people from the Snow Region races. Even though Cao Peiwen and company had seen her a few times, they had never struck up an extended conversation. In the hearts of Cao Peiwen and company, the current Saint Empress was a gentle person who wasn’t hard to interact with.
However, this single blow of her Demon-Killing Seal had changed the impression that every Clan Head and martial expert present had of her; the power that the Saint Empress possessed as well as her domineering nature were etched into the memories of those there that day.
Many people were also jolted awake; they had always been underestimating the Heaven Hidden Sect. Heaven Hidden Sect’s low profile had resulted in many people forgetting how strong it actually was. As the Saint Empress had said: to not interfere in the struggles within the Snow Region was a sect rule. It wasn’t a case of them not being able to intervene because an external party had disallowed them from doing so.
Everyone understood clearly that the ruler of Snow Region would forever be the Heaven Hidden Sect. The sect was like a lion sound asleep. Once disturbed and with its eyes open, anyone that dared to challenge it would be torn into pieces.
Similarly, countless questions surfaced in the hearts of the people of the Snow Region. Any action anyone takes must have a reason behind it. Naturally, the Saint Empress would have one as well for intervening. She said that she would give everyone an explanation in the future; this confused people even more. What was so special about Jiang Yi that the Saint Empress was willing to risk the good impression and affection the masses had for her to intervene and save him?
While this matter was perplexing to the people of the Snow Region, it was similarly so for Jiang Yi.
He had been brought by Fifth Eldress and the four Saint Ladies to Saint Mountain and then transported to a mystical place of refuge and serenity. Finally, he was settled inside a courtyard. Fifth Eldress instructed him to wait there; Saint Empress would call for him later.
Through the window, he could see that there was a peach blossom forest outside. Seeing the azure-blue skies far away, he was even more confused. Was this place not in the Snow Region? How was the sky azure-blue? There was not a tinge of coldness in the air. He had also seen numerous trees and red flowers; this was not a possible scene in the Snow Region.
“Could it be that this place is the same as the Purgatory Ruin that has its own spatial zone? A mystic realm perhaps?”
Jiang Yi stood up and grabbed the carved railings beneath the window. He was spellbound by the sight of the flowers blooming outside. While he still could not understand many things, the most important question he had was… since the Saint Empress no longer cared about what the people of the Snow Region thought, why did Heaven Hidden Sect not directly destroy the Dwarf Race? Why did he have to go through so much trouble?
Jiang Yi felt that he had been fooled. The Heaven Hidden Sect evidently could easily annihilate the Dwarf Race; yet, it went one full circle, making him—a mere Heaven Monarch—to think of ways to destroy a great race and to kill a Demigod. At the end of the day, Heaven Hidden Sect still had to intervene directly. They had actually made things worse for themselves.
The gains could certainly not make up for the losses they faced this time. Why did they choose this course of action? Were they amused to see him bouncing up and down? Even at this moment… Jiang Yi had doubts when Fifth Eldress said she would help Su Ruoxue regain her memories. To absolve any dependency on the Soul Cleansing Pool required a huge amount of sacrifice; the Saint Empress even had to give up all her cultivations. All this was fake!
However, why?
Why did the Heaven Hidden Sect want to lie to themselves? What good would that do for them?
There were too many inexplicable things. Jiang Yi felt his head imploding. He gave up trying to make sense of things and decided to wait for the Saint Empress to call upon him and ask her directly then.
The Saint Empress did not summon him immediately. Fifth Eldress had also not appeared. Su Ruoxue too had disappeared after returning to Heaven Hidden Sect. On the way, even though Jiang Yi had wanted to speak to her, Su Ruoxue had remained cold, refusing to say a single word.
“I’ll rest and recuperate first!”
After waiting for a while, the sky had turned dark. Jiang Yi could only sit cross-legged, took two recuperation pills, and sat there trying to heal. After being on the road for a few days, his wounds had slightly recovered; but he was not completely healed yet.
After recuperating for a night, he woke up at dawn. He stretched his body and felt much better; at least he would no longer open his wounds while walking.
Shh-shh-shh!
Footsteps could be heard from the outside. Following that, two ladies in white walked in. They were holding a white robe and bowed with respect. One of them said, “Young Master, please take a bath and get dressed. In a while more, the Sect Matriarch will see you.”
The two ladies were quite young and pretty. Even the airs they carried were unique. It seemed like the air of every girl that entered this place had changed naturally. They carried with them the airs of an immortal, and they were otherworldly.
After speaking, the two ladies entered one of the rooms at the side and drew the water for Jiang Yi. Once Jiang Yi entered, the two left the room with their faces blushed. At the entrance of the room, both shot a glance at Jiang Yi; and their faces became even redder.
“Have you girls not seen a guy before? What is there to fuss about…?”
Jiang Yi scratched his nose and then broke out laughing. Indeed, men were rare creatures here. The disciples of Heaven Hidden Sect were not allowed to marry their entire lives. It seemed like even if they left Heaven Hidden Sect on errands, they were not allowed to interact with men. It was natural that they were curious about men.
After bathing and putting on new clothes, Jiang Yi ate some sweets as Fifth Eldress entered the room. She looked at Jiang Yi and said, “Not bad, you look a lot better. Let’s go, the Saint Empress has summoned you.”
Following Fifth Eldress out of the courtyard, Jiang Yi—who was previously preoccupied with his thoughts—did not have the heart to admire the scenery in Heaven Hidden Sect back then. This time, he took a good look around and suddenly felt like he was without a care in the world.
Heaven Hidden Sect was built on the top of a mountain. The attic was completely made of wood while there was a huge river below the mountain, surrounding the huge mountain. As it was in the morning, waves of mist were surfacing from the river; the entire mountain looked so dazzling and a thing of dreams. It was like paradise.
“That is the Soul Cleansing Pool!”
Fifth Eldress pointed to the huge pool in the plaza in front of her. Jiang Yi’s eyes narrowed as he noticed that the pool was actually not that big. There was spring water gushing forth from the middle of the pool. The spring water was blue in color. There was air circulating the spring water; it was evident that this spring water was special.
Fifth Elder murmured in the corner, “Ahh. Do you want to take a dip in it? I guarantee that your body and soul spirit would be greatly boosted. Although we—the Heaven Hidden Sect—had never accepted male disciples, you… would definitely be an exception.”
“No, there is no need.”
Jiang Yi hurriedly decline. Although the spring water was immensely beneficial to the soul spirit and the body, there was poison in it. Once the spring water touched one’s body or soul, that person would never be allowed to leave. He did not want to become a disciple of Heaven Hidden Sect, having to be cooped up here all his life like a monk and a nun.
“Then let’s go.”
Fifth Eldress secretly smiled as she walked towards a larger building in front of the plaza. There were two disciples of Heaven Hidden Sect guarding the entrance of the building. They were looking curiously at Jiang Yi as if seeing a monster.
After entering the building, Fifth Eldress brought Jiang Yi towards a corridor inside. The two ladies at the entrance of the corridor also looked at Jiang Yi as if they were seeing a monster. Jiang Yi uncomfortably continued his way forward; he felt that he was in an emperor’s imperial inner palace, with a bunch of concubines who had not had their desires fulfilled.
After a series of turns, they finally walked out of this building and into a flower garden at the back. Jiang Yi’s eyes shined. There was a pavilion in the flower garden, and a lady was drinking tea in it. It was hard to tell her age. There were also two ladies waiting on that lady.
“Greetings to the Saint Empress!”
Fifth Eldress bowed deeply as she greeted. Jiang Yi hurriedly mimicked her. The Saint Empress continued to drink her tea, staring blankly at the small lake near the pavilion. She did not directly look at Jiang Yi, but she gave a wave of her hand.
Fifth Eldress and the two servants bowed and left. Jiang Yi did not even dare to look around; he stood there motionless, without speaking a word.
The Saint Empress drank little sips of tea for almost five minutes, then turned, and looked at Jiang Yi. She said, “Jiang Yi, I know you have many questions. However… I will not tell you anything. As long as you help us take back our sect’s Glazed Pagoda, whatever you wish to know—whatever you want, I can give you everything.”
