The elder Immortal Lord: “They’re all in your Pure Bottle.”
Lian Yunzhi: “…”
“Release the Immortal Envoys,” the Heavenly Emperor said, lowering his gaze to Lian Yunzhi. “Slaying evil and guarding the Dao is their duty. They did nothing wrong ten thousand years ago.”
The Heavenly Emperor’s voice was flat and emotionless, yet it seemed to carry an inexplicable power that made one want to obey.
But Lian Yunzhi gritted his teeth against that power and sneered back, “Nothing wrong?! If they did nothing wrong, then what about the suffering and torment Mu Cheng endured these past ten thousand years?!”
“Mu Cheng was an evil demon ten thousand years ago.”
“I don’t care what he was ten thousand years ago! I only know he’s my Dao Companion now, and everything that tormented him was wrong! And everyone who hurt him must pay the price!”
The Heavenly Emperor exuded unangered authority. “Are you declaring war on the entire Heavenly Realm?”
Lian Yunzhi raised his head and gritted his teeth. “I never wanted to oppose the Heavenly Realm—it’s you who want to oppose me! You say slaying evil and guarding the Dao is those Immortal Lords’ duty, but killing a city makes one an evil demon—does tormenting one person a thousand times over not make one an evil demon too?! Why do they slay the former but not the latter?! If they had killed the true culprits before the disasters, Mu Cheng wouldn’t have gone mad! Since they let the wicked run rampant, what right do they have to meddle like dogs catching mice with so-called evil demons?!”
His cheeks flushed red from anger and agitation, his eyes reddening as well. He continued, “Moreover, Mu Cheng has suffered ten thousand years of reincarnation torment. Since emerging, he’s done no evil, nor stained his hands with a single drop of innocent blood. We’ve even killed plenty of wicked people, accumulating merit. Yet these immortals provoke us again. Since they provoked us, they must bear the consequences!”
His voice boomed deafeningly, echoing like a great bell in the hall. But under the Heavenly Emperor’s pressure, cold sweat beaded on his back, and his calves trembled slightly.
Unbeknownst to him, Mu Cheng had silently positioned himself behind, chest against Lian Yunzhi’s back, lending him support and channeling spiritual power.
The two bodies pressed together resounded with fierce, rapid heartbeats—but for different reasons.
One from tension and fury.
The other from irrepressible infatuation.
Mu Cheng slowly lifted his head. His gaze swept over everyone, including the Heavenly Emperor, like a ghost’s, precisely pinpointing every concealed or fleeting malice. Everyone who met his eyes accidentally felt pierced by a blast of yin wind, chilled to the bone.
All avoided his gaze, throats bobbing dryly. They had to suppress their emotions, forcing themselves to stay calm, objective, without bias—for any hint of malice might make them prey for the venomous snake, swallowed whole.
After a long silence.
The Heavenly Emperor spoke again, but this time he made no mention of the Pure Bottle or Immortal Envoys. Instead, he asked Lian Yunzhi, “What immortal position do you want?”
Lian Yunzhi froze.
He didn’t react at first.
Mu Cheng subtly poked him. Lian Yunzhi snapped back and shouted, “I want to be the King of Spirit Capturing Grass!”
Mu Cheng: “…”
The crowd: “…”
“Pfft.”
Someone snickered.
Lian Yunzhi: “…”
Lian Yunzhi’s face instantly reddened. They hadn’t given him time to think—he hadn’t had a chance. Besides, he didn’t know much about immortal positions, so he blurted out his long-buried wish from ages ago.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Emperor merely paused before waving his hand through the air.
Sweet immortal dew rained down from above. The Heavenly Emperor’s majestic voice resounded in Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
【Lian Yunzhi, Spirit Capturing Grass ascended to immortality, Dao Heart pure. Fifth Grade Immortal Rank. Immortal position: Overseer of World’s Spirit-Trapping Grasses.】
Lian Yunzhi spread his arms, feeling the immortal power around him purify. He extended his vines to absorb every drop of dew, sighing comfortably. At that moment, he sensed a faint new power within him, linked to every Spirit Capturing Grass in the world. Every blade with spiritual awareness knew his name, called to him, revered him, granting him a trace of… divine power.
Lian Yunzhi’s eyes widened slightly.
Even the Heavenly Emperor was somewhat surprised.
He hadn’t expected a mundane immortal position to evolve into a godhead-bearing divine office—one he himself could no longer control. But… whatever. The god of Spirit Capturing Grass, at most.
The Heavenly Emperor waved his hand. “Go.”
Lian Yunzhi felt the wondrous power surging endlessly within him. Realizing the benefits of an “immortal position,” he hurriedly pushed Mu Cheng forward. “What about my Dao Companion? He ascended with me—give him an immortal position too!”
The Heavenly Emperor: “…”
Mu Cheng: “…”
But the Heavenly Emperor didn’t apply the same process to Mu Cheng. He only said gravely, “You already possess a godhead. If willing, you may become Overseer of World’s Evils, ensuring no more evil demons in the world.”
Mu Cheng raised his gaze.
Yet he neither nodded nor spoke. He simply took Lian Yunzhi’s hand and turned to leave.
Outside Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Lian Yunzhi asked, “Why didn’t you agree?”
Mu Cheng said coldly, “Overseer of World’s Evils? I’d have to manage the evils of the heavens too!”
Lian Yunzhi’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected the Heavenly Emperor to set a linguistic trap.
He hurriedly scanned around and extended his divine sense, then let out a long breath of relief.
Fortunately, there were no Spirit Capturing Grasses in the heavens.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t fall under his purview.
A moment later, Lian Yunzhi asked, “Mu Cheng, why are you rushing so fast? Are you eager to get back to our Immortal Palace?”
Auspicious clouds streaked underfoot like shooting stars, every scenic vista blurring into lines.
Mu Cheng: “…Don’t you want me?”
Lian Yunzhi: “Of course I do. Because I wanted you so much, I got out of the Near Heaven Tower in just sixteen years.”
And so the clouds flew even faster.
Though no immortal child guided them, Lian Yunzhi—now formally holding an “immortal position”—and his Dao Companion quickly found their Immortal Palace.
The Immortal Palace was majestic and splendid, gorgeously ornate. But before Lian Yunzhi could take it in, Mu Cheng pushed him inside. Mu Cheng seized Lian Yunzhi’s hand and pressed it to his chest, where his heart pounded wildly on the verge of bursting.
“It’s been pounding madly,” Mu Cheng said, gently pressing his forehead to Lian Yunzhi’s. “It started in Lingxiao Treasure Hall.”
Mu Cheng asked, “What should I do?”
Lian Yunzhi blinked.
He didn’t know either, so he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Mu Cheng’s heart.
Mu Cheng: “…”
Mu Cheng felt like he was dying.
Unable to hold back, he scooped Lian Yunzhi up, pinned him against the Immortal Palace doors, and kissed him. Lian Yunzhi wrapped his arms around his neck.
“Zhi Zhi…”
“Mmm?”
“Zhi Zhi…”
“Mmm.”
“Zhi Zhi…”
“Mu Cheng, you’re so annoying.”
“.”
“But I like you.”
His heart stopped.
Spirit Capturing Grass, never before seen in the Heavenly Realm, suddenly sprouted at their feet and spread to every corner of the Immortal Palace. They slowly bloomed into white flowers, swaying gently in the wind, never to wither, forever.
