The Ji Xin Di was the only thing on Ye Ziling's immortal body. This treasure was soaked in her heart's blood, its spiritual energy inexhaustible for a thousand years. As long as it combined with a spiritual artifact, it would once again display the scenes recorded during the cataclysm.
Qing Bai's pupils constricted, his expression changing drastically.
"Ji Xin Di...?" he whispered, his face filled with horror. "How is this possible!"
Seeing Qing Bai's continued refusal to confess, Bai Yu nodded slightly and coldly rebuked, "Guards, drag him to the Celestial Prison!"
Several celestial soldiers stepped forward, holding their spears, and grabbed Qing Bai's shoulders, forcibly pulling him up and dragging him to the Celestial Prison.
Just then, Qing Bai flicked his long sleeve, breaking free from the guards' restraint.
"I have held this position in the Celestial Realm for many years, yet I end up in such a predicament..."
Qing Bai's eyes were filled with sorrow, his eyes bloodshot, and a sinister curve appeared on his lips.
As the cold wind blew, his black hair scattered in the wind, his robes billowed, carrying an inexplicable power.
The celestial soldiers were about to intervene but were sent flying to the ground by a single palm strike, spitting blood and losing their lives.
The Heavenly Palace trembled violently, and Ye Ziling could barely stand, only managing to brace herself against a pillar.
In the lotus pond within the chamber, the fish, as if foreseeing danger, thrashed about incessantly. The clear water in the pond parted, and a mass of black mist caused everyone to cough.
Ye Ziling covered her nose with her sleeve, looking at the black hole gradually revealing itself in the pond. The scene of the Demon Realm's Divine Spring immediately flashed in her mind.
The black mist filling the room blocked her vision. In the haze, she saw the broken walls and ruins of the Demon Realm re-coalescing, returning to their original state.
She suddenly realized that Qing Bai was forcibly opening the Divine Spring to rebuild the Demon Realm!
Qing Bai laughed to the sky, his laughter desolate and earth-shattering.
With a sweep of his palm, he drew fire unto himself, and in a short while, he was consumed by raging flames.
The black hole in the pond grew larger and larger. Ye Ziling saw the crows she had shot down previously pouring out from the opening and soaring into the Celestial Realm amidst the black mist.
This was bad... the Divine Spring was about to be completely unsealed!
Ye Ziling exerted force in her palm, her toes pushing off the ground, and she moved against the wind to the center of the pond, casting a spell to cover the opening.
The moment her palm touched the black hole, her immortal power seemed to be completely devoured, and the strength in her limbs was almost drained.
Sweat beaded on Ye Ziling's forehead and dripped down her cheek to the ground. By the time she managed to seal the opening with all her might, Bai Yu and the celestial soldiers had already shot down all the crows.
...
At this time, lightning and thunder struck the mortal realm. The gates of the Demon Realm in the Great Wilderness Mountain were broken open, and the threat was gone. Survivors and demonic beasts exiled to the Demon Realm, upon seeing the gates open, rushed into the mortal realm in a frenzy.
Ye Ziling had not expected Qing Bai to descend into such madness that he would sacrifice himself to unseal the Divine Spring.
She had temporarily sealed the breach in the Celestial Realm, but the breach in the mortal realm was likely too late to seal. Now, demonic beasts had broken through the seal and were roaming the mortal realm.
Even if it were sealed, it would be meaningless.
Ye Ziling had only taken two steps when she was too exhausted to stand and leaned against a pillar, her body drenched in sweat and some of her strength depleted.
"Divine Maiden..."
"Divine Maiden, are you alright..."
The celestial soldiers asked with concern.
Seeing this, Bai Yu had no time for further words. His brow furrowed, and he shouted at the celestial soldiers, "A few of you stay here, the rest follow me to the mortal realm!"
The celestial soldiers who received the order followed Bai Yu down.
Ye Ziling's vision went black, and she fainted. When she woke up again, she was already lying on a bed in the palace.
Dawn was breaking, and the faint light shone on her face, making it difficult for her to open her eyes.
By the bedside sat a tall figure.
"Bai Yu... you're really not dead?" Ye Ziling looked at Bai Yu, perhaps blinded by the candlelight, her eyes hazy and her expression somewhat dazed.
The man stood up, clad in silver armor, with a handsome face and bright, spirited eyes. A gentle smile played on his lips, like a ray of sunshine in early spring.
"I'm not dead. To have made the Divine Maiden worry, that is my failing." Bai Yu smiled faintly, his voice carrying a hint of teasing.
"How is the mortal realm?" Ye Ziling grabbed his sleeve, asking with some concern.
Her second elder brother and Jing Huai ge were both in the mortal realm. With demonic beasts roaming there now, she worried about their safety.
Bai Yu lowered his gaze, his expression dimming slightly. "The Divine Spring of the Demon Realm has now been completely opened. It will be difficult to seal it. Even Jun Lan might not be able to do anything now."
Ye Ziling's hand slowly loosened, and disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Bai Yu noticed her worried expression and comforted her, "Don't worry. In any case, we have saved the Celestial Realm, and the mortal realm will remain peaceful."
"Let's hope so." Ye Ziling looked up and smiled with resignation.
This was all they could do now.
The mention of the Divine Spring made Ye Ziling curious. Only Jun Lan could break the seal of the Divine Spring. How had Bai Yu gotten out? And that booklet, was it all planned by Jun Lan beforehand?
Ye Ziling looked up. "Where did those elite soldiers... come from?"
The celestial soldiers who had surrounded the palace earlier did not have the tokens on their waists that belonged to Bai Yu's subordinates.
"These are celestial soldiers under General Jun Lan." Bai Yu smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on Ye Ziling. "I was merely following the Heavenly Emperor's orders."
The meaning was clear, it was exactly as she had thought.
"Where is Jun Lan?" Ye Ziling's gaze dimmed, her tone calm, but her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched into fists.
"No need to worry. General Jun Lan is with the Heavenly Emperor. He should return after dawn." Bai Yu lowered his gaze slightly and said lightly.
The night gradually receded, and dawn arrived. The morning sunlight spread across the heavens.
Ye Ziling stood in the clouds, looking at the slowly rising sun in the distant sky, her expression somewhat stunned.
Meanwhile, on the Nine Heavens Cloud Palace, two figures sat opposite each other, their gazes fixed on the chessboard before them.
The middle-aged man was dignified, emanating a faint golden radiance, his golden robe appearing even more noble under the glow.
Jun Lan placed a white piece with his fingertip, his eyes flickering, and he said, "Disciple still doesn't understand."
The Heavenly Emperor's gaze swept across the chessboard, a smile on his lips. "You can slowly comprehend what you don't understand later."
The man opposite him stiffened, a hint of strangeness flashing in his eyes.
Jun Lan's gaze swept over the chessboard, his eyes moved, and he placed a piece. The game changed abruptly, the transformation as swift as the turning of the world.
The white pieces instantly gained the advantage, suppressing the entire black army.
The Heavenly Emperor's eyelids lifted, a beam of light flashing in his eyes. He extended his right index finger and lightly tapped the chessboard. "If your master could offer guidance, why would you be here?"
"Heaven's will is Heaven's will."
"Since you chose to bear the heavenly punishment for Tu Yao back then, your mortal body in these past lives is destined for sacrifice. What is meant to come will come."
No matter how high the position of an immortal in the heavens, they could not escape such a fate if they offended the heavenly law.
Although Divine Maiden Tu Yao held a high position, she was not spared. If she wanted to preserve her life, someone had to bear the sin for her to atone for it.
Jun Lan's expression darkened upon hearing this, and his heart ached as if a knife were constantly tearing at it.
The Heavenly Emperor stroked his beard and smiled gently. "The mortal realm must be saved by you personally. As for your fate with her, it depends on yourself."
Jun Lan's fingers tightened, and finally, he placed a white piece, saying, "Disciple understands."