This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 419 - 417: Unusual [ - end includes ’Emperor Shun’ character design concept image]
While the Head Manager intercepted Wu Wang en route, back in the northwest corner of the God of Spring’s Temple...
Wu Wang had been absent from the Heaven Palace for a few days, and Young Master had rearranged the place. She had torn down the walls at the corner and planted some vines and other plants, using a bit of Divine Power to rapidly nurture a small garden. Rock waterfalls adorned the area, and the swing beneath the trees, alongside the hanging baskets, created a charming scene, leaving Young Master quite satisfied.
She was well aware of Qingluan’s flight to the Southeastern Region.
Somehow, Young Master just felt a tightness in her chest, as if she had lost something, or perhaps nothing at all, yet an unpleasant feeling lingered deep inside.
Perhaps this was what living beings called jealousy.
The swing swayed gently. Young Master leaned against the vine serving as its rope, lost in thought, humming a simple tune.
In another corner of the hall, within a small house filled with various toys, two heads, one large and one small, were intently observing the scene.
Xiao Ming blinked and asked softly, "Nu Chou, why is Mother suddenly unhappy?"
"Who could be blamed for that..."
Nu Chou, smiling with narrowed eyes, rested her chin on Xiao Ming’s head. Enjoying the sensation of Xiao Ming’s soft, long hair, she whispered within the Divine Power Barrier, "You’re still young; you wouldn’t understand all that’s going on here. Your mother isn’t unhappy."
"Then what is it?"
"Naturally, she misses your father," Nu Chou said with utmost seriousness.
"Oh." Xiao Ming pouted, letting out a slow breath. "The world of adults is so hard to understand," he complained. "If she misses Father, why not just go find him? Why stay here?"
Nu Chou raised her hand and pinched Xiao Ming’s cheek. "Come on, let’s go study. Once your father returns, your mother will naturally be happy again. Just you watch."
"Alright."
Xiao Ming cast a few more glances at Young Master’s back, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and called out, "Mother~"
Young Master immediately rose and turned to look, a smile gracing the corners of her mouth.
Xiong Ming puckered his lips, playfully patted his mouth, and blew a kiss towards Young Master. "Xiao Ming loves Mother!"
Young Master couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh lightly. The faint sadness around her dissipated like melting snow, and her fair skin seemed to glow, filling the corners of the hall with a gentle light.
"Yes, Mother also..."
WHOOSH—
A beam of Divine Light streaked across, almost instantly solidifying into the form of Liu Guang. He stood rigidly before Young Master, an urgent expression on his face, exclaiming, "Quick! Your two older brothers have started fighting!"
Young Master was startled. Before she could react, she was enveloped by the Divine Light Liu Guang had cast.
Then, like a kite being reeled in, the God of Flowing Light tugged on the chain of light, pulling her towards the palace gate. Young Master, enveloped by a strange Dao charm, felt her form become like a fleeting shadow as she was whisked forward at great speed.
Liu Guang’s arrival and departure took but the blink of an eye.
Once his form vanished without a trace, the hall stirred with two opposing gusts of wind. They spiraled into miniature tornadoes that swept through the corner Young Master had so carefully arranged, leveling it as easily as one might uproot withered vines.
Nu Chou and Xiao Ming exchanged a glance. The latter turned to run, but Nu Chou quickly scooped up the little troublemaker in her arms.
The world of adults is chaotic enough; he shouldn’t go adding to the trouble.
...
Dragged along by Liu Guang, Young Master sped onward, feeling as if Heaven and Earth had folded into layers upon layers of wrinkles, which then transformed into pulsating ripples.
After racing for tens of thousands of miles, the world ahead was serene. The sky was clear, the earth bright, and a gentle breeze caressed the land. Several populous nations of the Hundred Races enjoyed their tranquil daily lives, and many young men and women in the forests played the anthem of living beings.
But Young Master had already sensed the intense collision of several Great Daos!
The most substantial of these Daos was the one most familiar to her. It was born alongside the Dao of Reproduction and was an integral part of the Dao of Life, governing the lifespan of all living beings in Heaven and Earth.
The two opposing Great Daos, one strong and the other weak, were indeed the Dao of the Star God and the Dao of Yin Yang Eight Trigrams.
—The so-called strength and weakness referred to the difference in Wu Wang’s mastery over these two Daos as he wielded the Divine Skills associated with them.
Young Master’s heart suddenly leaped into her throat.
Liu Guang was still pulling his sister forward at a rapid pace when he suddenly felt his Divine Power stall, yet their forward momentum unexpectedly increased significantly. He quickly turned around, only to see Young Master hovering high in the sky, her long hair gradually turning silvery-white, whipping wildly behind her slender figure.
Young Master’s hands came together in front of her chest, then slowly pulled apart. The sleeves of her black dress billowed out. Her face, the epitome of saintly beauty, was filled with an icy frost.
In her palms, a puppet rapidly took shape.
Her eyes suddenly burst with verdant Divine Light, and the puppet eerily vanished. In the next instant, Young Master’s figure disappeared with a WHOOSH, and the puppet reappeared where she had been, spinning continuously.
Liu Guang sighed with relief at the sight. Just as he was about to rest, he sensed another Great Dao emerging in the distance.
The collision of Great Daos immediately sparked another climax!
A shock ran through Liu Guang’s heart. He slapped his forehead and quickly rushed over.
As the son of the God of Light, how had he become a ’messenger’?
His two older brothers, too! Couldn’t they get along peacefully? Why must they always fight like this, without considering their sister’s feelings?
Liu Guang pursed his lips slightly. He was now beginning to experiment with women’s makeup and even seemed to be developing a rather feminine appearance.
As the swiftest Innate God in the Heaven Palace, his reputation was well-earned. He left a faint trace in the air and reached the battlefield in just a moment.
It was a forest that had been utterly destroyed.
Several mountains had completely collapsed. Scalding lava seeped from the broken ground, and a scorching heat permeated the air. Bits of shattered greenery could be seen scattered in the distance. The two figures, locked in a fierce duel, managed to keep their battle confined to an area roughly thirty miles in radius.
Luckily, this was a barren mountain range, home only to flowers, grass, and a few Spirit Beasts; otherwise, it would have been a catastrophe for all living beings.
Young Master stood high in the sky, frowning as she watched the two flickering figures below. With a downward push of her bare hand, tendrils of green vine, like Spiritual Snakes or flood dragons, ferociously pursued the figures of Wu Wang and the Head Manager, only to be repeatedly flung aside.
They seemed to be genuinely enraged, their Great Daos constantly clashing, unleashing Divine Skills one after another.
The Head Manager swept his hand, unleashing endless bolts of lightning. The gray Divine Light they carried possessed a terrifying corrosive force. Wu Wang, struggling to maintain layers of protective Divine Light and Immortal Light, could still barely resist its erosion.
If he were touched by even a trace of it, Wu Wang, as a living being, would surely be gravely injured.
Logically, Wu Wang should have stopped the moment Young Master appeared. But at this moment, not only did Wu Wang not cease his assault, he also continuously surged his Divine Power, gradually releasing the strength of his divine body to push himself to his peak state.
Liu Guang circled the battleground, but finding no opportunity to intervene, he could only fly near Young Master.
"Young Master! How can we stop them?"
"Don’t worry," Young Master said softly, continuing to frown as she watched the battle below, controlling the speed of the vines. She then added in a low voice, "I don’t know either."
Oddly enough, she spent more time watching the Head Manager than Wu Wang.
A few moments earlier, as soon as Young Master arrived, she had immediately intended to forcefully separate the two fiercely fighting combatants. But before she could act, Wu Wang’s voice transmission had reached her ears, delivered directly to her Divine Soul.
Wu Wang had said, "There seems to be something off about the Head Manager’s Great Dao. Don’t intervene just yet; I’ll try to force him to reveal his issues. Rest easy. It’s only right I take a beating from him; he didn’t try to kill me at the start. In this situation, I’m gradually forcing him to show his full strength."
Hence, the vines that couldn’t quite catch up to Wu Wang and the Head Manager. Otherwise, she would have long since bound them up like two rice dumplings and dragged them back to the Heaven Palace to cool off!
An issue with his Great Dao?
Young Master scrutinized the Head Manager’s Lifespan Dao. As he unleashed more and more Divine Power, his Great Dao slowly began to reveal certain Dao charms that should not have existed.
It was as if dusk was nearing for his Dao: outwardly strong, yet hollow within.
If one had to make a comparison, the Head Manager’s Great Dao was like a great tree with a hollowed-out trunk, its massive body supported only by the bark.
In contrast, Wu Wang, who had been at a disadvantage and constantly suppressed by the Head Manager, was gradually beginning to feel more at ease. The Yin Yang Qi swirling around him became his primary means of deflecting the Head Manager’s onslaught. And every time Wu Wang flicked his sword-like fingers, streaks of silver-white Divine Light would erupt, causing the Divine Light around the Head Manager to tremble violently.
At this moment, more and more Stars began to light up in the depths of the azure sky. The illusory form of the Star God appeared deep in the starry expanse. It looked as if a gentle breeze could blow it away, yet it subtly conveyed an infinite and boundless divine might.
After another moment of dueling, Wu Wang’s cuffs sparkled with specks of Divine Light, and thirty-six Star beads instantly scattered in all directions!
The Small Heavenly Circuit formation!
The Head Manager’s figure suddenly halted, his aura pulsing vigorously, suppressing the surrounding Heaven and Earth. He was even panting slightly, a trace of sweat beading on his forehead. His slender eyes were fixed on Wu Wang as if he wanted to devour him whole.
Wu Wang also stopped several hundred yards away, the Divine Light around him still fending off the erosion of several gray glimmers.
The pursuing vines were forcefully held back by Young Master.
Actually, it would be better if the vines wrapped around both of us right now, Wu Wang thought, though of course, he couldn’t possibly transmit this to Young Master.
Fixing his gaze on the Head Manager, Wu Wang spoke in a cold voice, "Head Manager, what is the meaning of this?"
"Look what you’ve done!" the Head Manager pointed at Wu Wang and cursed vehemently, his face frighteningly ferocious.
Then, he looked up at the sky. His anger gradually subsided, finally morphing into a self-mocking, cold laugh. He pointed a finger at Wu Wang, then turned to fly away.
Wu Wang frowned slightly. After a moment’s thought, he quickly reached a conclusion.
If the Head Manager can back down at a time like this, there must be something wrong with his Lifespan Dao. The anger between them had clearly reached a boiling point; just now, there were several instances where Wu Wang had nearly been severely injured by one of the Head Manager’s blows.
Is this guy’s Great Dao... broken? Wu Wang mused, watching the Head Manager’s retreating figure with a frown.
Young Master descended from the sky and stood shoulder to shoulder with Wu Wang, gazing at her brother’s retreating back with unconcealable concern in her eyes. "What... what happened to him?"
Wu Wang shook his head slightly, his feelings somewhat complicated. From the Human Domain’s perspective, he felt no sympathy for the Head Manager. Today’s deliberate probing had been to ascertain the Head Manager’s true condition and lay the groundwork for his own future plans. From Young Master’s perspective, however, he wanted to know if the Head Manager had indeed encountered some unspeakable trouble.
"We’ll find another chance to probe him next time," Wu Wang murmured. With a flick of his sleeve, seven unconscious figures flew out—they were Divine Spirits from the Heaven Palace, their Divine Power drained, and they were bound together by a rope of Dao Weapon grade.
The Head Manager had vanished without a trace.
"Let’s go. I’ll take you to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor to receive our rewards first."
Wu Wang took the initiative to grasp Young Master’s delicate hand, saying softly, "About Qingluan..."
"It’s nothing." Young Master pouted slightly and said firmly, "I’m not upset at all."
"Really?"
"Of course, it’s true!" Young Master struggled lightly, and her silver-white hair returned to its cascade of green silk, causing Wu Wang to sigh with regret in his heart.
Ahead, streaks of Divine Light flew towards them.
These Innate Gods, always too late to witness the real excitement.
...
"By decree of His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor! Certain gods have formed private alliances, intending to ostracize the Main Gods of the Heaven Palace. Such actions are unpardonable. However, considering the circumstances, His Majesty will not inflict punishment! The gods of the Anti-Spring Alliance are ordered to disband this alliance immediately. The Heaven Palace now faces many perils; all gods should unite to resist the brutal return of the Candle Dragon!"
"By decree of His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor! The God of Spring has taken the initiative to confess his transgressions and brought back seven Divine Spirits who, disregarding the Heaven Palace’s prohibitions, ventured out with the intent to provoke war between gods and mortals. These seven Divine Spirits are suspected of being spies from the Outer Sky. It is therefore ordered that their Divine Souls be ground to dust and cast into the Divine Pool, and new Gods forged from their Daos. The God of Spring’s merits and demerits cancel each other out; no punishment shall be given. Let this serve as a warning to all gods!"
"By decree of His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor! The God of Reproduction, Young Master, is extraordinarily wise and highly respected, a powerful God of living beings, beloved by all. Today, as the Heaven Palace seeks the unity of all living beings, Young Master shall shoulder greater responsibilities. From this day forth, Young Master, alongside the Head Manager and the Earth God, shall hold the authority to oversee all gods of the Heaven Palace. If any god disobeys His Majesty’s commands and continues to provoke conflict with living beings, Young Master is authorized to deal with them as she sees fit..."
A series of ancient, weathered voices echoed throughout every corner of the Heaven Palace.
One by one, Divine Runes were inscribed into the dome of the Divine Court, ensuring that even dormant Innate Gods would immediately know and understand these matters.
An uproar naturally ensued throughout the Heaven Palace.
Wu Wang could even feel that with these three decrees from Emperor Shun, numerous fractures had appeared throughout the entire Heaven Palace.
This made Wu Wang’s heart pound; he couldn’t help suspecting that Emperor Shun might actually be bluffing, intending to push both the Heaven Palace and the Human Domain before the Candle Dragon...
Within the God of Spring’s Temple, Wu Wang sat on a soft cushion, lost in deep contemplation.
At this moment, Young Master was in the Heavenly Administrative Palace, waiting for the Head Manager to appear and transfer some of his duties and authority. But no matter how long she waited, the Head Manager did not show up.
Meanwhile, around the Head Manager’s great hall, Divine Light swirled, and a continuous surge of Divine Power poured into the Divine Pool there.
At the edge of the Divine Pool within the hall, the Head Manager lay prostrate on the ground, shivering uncontrollably. His face was incredibly pale, and large beads of sweat continuously slid from his forehead. Beneath his robe, one could faintly see blood-red imprints appearing on his back. The blood imprints deepened, turning dark red, then blackish-red, exuding an ominous aura, as if ghastly laughter might emerge from within them at any moment.
The Head Manager clenched his fists, fiercely pounding the Divine Light surrounding him, yet keeping the disturbance contained within a radius of merely a few feet.
Above the temple, a vague shadow revealed a faint, cold smile.
It was...
Emperor Shun.
He stood there for a while, watching the Head Manager slowly rise, the blackish-red aura on his back fading away once more. Only then did he transform into a light breeze, drifting towards another corner of the Heaven Palace.
「A short time later, beside the Divine Pool in the Gold God’s great hall.」
Emperor Shun’s outline materialized. With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled along the jade slabs lining the poolside. He gazed down at the petite figure shackled by chains at the bottom of the pool, a cold smile touching the corners of his mouth.
"Gold, I am giving you a chance."
The Innate God at the bottom of the pool abruptly opened her eyes!
