"Run away?" Marshal Silver closed his eyes and smiled faintly.
Ahead, the Court Herald walked slowly. The two Heavenly Generals carrying the stretcher quietly slowed their steps, glancing at each other.
Nathan Young released Marshal Silver's wrist, only to have Marshal Silver grasp his hand in return.
His eyes remained closed as he sighed softly, "You've worked hard, and thank you. But I won't run. If I flee, it will cement the charge of collusion, and I'll never be able to clear my name. That's exactly what that demon monkey wants. Perhaps His Majesty is just momentarily confused, pressured by the other immortals. He won't really do anything to me."
"Don't be foolish." Nathan Young watched the Court Herald ahead with caution and said quietly, "They kept you around only because you were useful. Why do you think he spared you? Some things only need to be clear in your own heart—why care what others say? You know Heaven better than I do; after all these years as Marshal, you should understand it best."
"Back when the Moon Tree bloomed, it was His Majesty who found a way to protect me. With a baseless accusation like this, there's no way he'd just ignore it."
"Is that so?" Nathan Young let out a dry laugh. "Are you lying to me, or to yourself? You're right, he did protect you. But don't forget—during the Emotion Case you still had the Heavenly River Navy behind you, and during the Blossom Mountain War you still had the Navy as your foundation. If nothing else, just for the sake of that army, he couldn't let you die, because they only listened to you. Where are they now? If the Navy still existed, even if you really had colluded, he'd still shield you. But now you've lost your cultivation... I think you're doomed."
Marshal Silver blinked and sighed softly, "I know all that, Nathan. But life and death are fate... Whether I've colluded or not, the truth will come out eventually. It's better to leave a clean name behind than to drag everyone down with me for releasing a royal prisoner."
"A clean name?" Nathan Young snorted, then quietly slipped a letter to Marshal Silver. "I only just got this myself. Take a look."
"What is it?"
"Someone's suicide note. Not written for you, but meant to save you. Though I doubt it'll help, even if it's presented. Read it, then decide whether you want to run." Nathan said quietly, "Anyway, I think you're making a mistake, but if you insist, I won't stop you."
......
From afar came the rumble of explosions.
In the courtyard, Anna Yang lifted her head slightly. "What was that sound?"
"Uh..." Skyhowl scratched his cheek and muttered, "Maybe it's thunder."
"Thunder?" Anna Yang slowly stood up. "No, that's the sound of the Great Cannons. The Heavenly River Navy has been destroyed; only Blossom Mountain has Great Cannons now. Has Blossom Mountain's army arrived nearby?"
Skyhowl and Skypride were startled at once.
"You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"
The two exchanged glances, at a loss for words.
Anna Yang strode past them and shot into the air. In the distance, she saw flickering firelight in the darkness, but Erik Yang intercepted her mid-flight, grabbing her wrist and forcibly pulling her back.
"Where are you going?"
"They sent people, didn't they?"
"So what if they did?" Erik Yang replied expressionlessly. "I've already sent the Seven Sages of Mount Mei to handle it. They won't get within half a step of Guang River Estuary."
"Is something happening at Blossom Mountain—or is it him?" Anna Yang asked in a daze. "He took that pill. What happened to him afterward?"
......
Twenty li from General Erlang Manor, Blossom Mountain's demon fleet hovered in midair, all Great Cannons trained on a nearby peak. In a thunderous barrage, they shaved a layer clean off the mountain.
In the firelight, Guang River Estuary's warships simply hovered nearby, watching in silence.
Isabel Su stood anxiously on the deck, gazing toward General Erlang Manor.
"No need to worry. Just wait quietly," Many-Eyes the Centipede said, swaying beside her.
Soon, two streaks of light sped over from General Erlang Manor and halted in midair.
The newcomers were Zhu Zizhen the Boar and Dai Li the Hound, two of the Seven Sages of Mount Mei.
Isabel Su quickly signaled her fleet to cease fire.
Seeing Isabel's fleet, the two both cupped their hands in greeting. "Miss Isabel, it's been a while."
"Sages, it's been a while. My respects. I've come to request an audience with my master. Please announce me." Isabel replied politely.
The two exchanged glances. Zhu Zizhen cupped his hands and said, "Sorry. General Erlang has ordered you to leave at once. Otherwise, we'll have to offend you. Please, Miss Isabel, don't make this difficult for us."
"How does that make sense?" Isabel bit her lip. "If Sister Anna refuses to see me, I'll leave without complaint. But what right do you have to stop me?"
"Because this is Guang River Estuary territory," Dai Li answered expressionlessly.
Behind them, the demon soldiers saw a dozen Guang River Estuary warships slowly approaching, ready for battle.
Isabel Su slowly clenched her fists. Many-Eyes the Centipede quickly pressed her hand down.
Watching Isabel, Many-Eyes slowly shook his head. "Don't start a fight. We can't win. Even if we could, it wouldn't matter—Erik Yang is behind them. Besides, we've already achieved our goal."
"Achieved our goal?"
Before Isabel could react, Many-Eyes raised his head and saluted. "Sages, we understand. We'll leave immediately and won't cause you any trouble."
At that, Zhu Zizhen and Dai Li were left somewhat bewildered.
Turning away, Many-Eyes was already calling for the demon soldiers to turn the ships.
Isabel Su grabbed Many-Eyes back. "Weren't we supposed to ask Sister Anna for help? What do you mean, 'goal achieved'? I don't get it."
Many-Eyes glanced at the two Sages still hovering in the distance, then whispered, "Both of them came out—so Holy Mother must have heard as well. If she didn't come out, it's probably because something's keeping her. My guess is Erik Yang has blocked all news, so Holy Mother doesn't know what's happening outside. With things like this, a direct assault won't work. But as long as Holy Mother hears the Great Cannons and knows we were here... she'll understand. Our mission is done. Let's go—there's somewhere else we need to be."
This chapter isn't finished yet~.~ Please click 'Next Page' to continue reading!
Isabel was stunned. "Go... go where?"
Many-Eyes frowned. "Crescent Star Cave."
......
The entire General Erlang Manor was shrouded in Erik Yang's silencing spell.
Pointing toward the firelight, Anna Yang trembled. "What's happening? He can't come, so he sent others? What's his situation now? You promised to find out for me—what's happening to him?"
Erik Yang stood silently, saying nothing.
......
The Netherworld.
At the center of the suction, the ground was as smooth as a mirror.
The power of the World-Bearing Banner was slowly fading.
Monkey leaned on his Golden Staff, slowly rising to his feet, but still unable to take flight.
"You're about to reach your limit."
"I'm only holding back. Even with my remaining spiritual power, I can keep you in the Netherworld for several more days."
"Is that so?" Monkey drove his Golden Staff into the ground, then slowly raised his head. "I've been wondering: how high is the sky in the Netherworld?"
Lord Genesis was momentarily startled.
Clutching the Golden Staff to his chest, Monkey poured all his power into it and shouted, "Grow—!"
In the next instant, the Golden Staff shot upward, transforming into a pillar that pierced the earth and soared toward the sky, carrying Monkey aloft.
Lord Genesis was utterly stunned.
In a flash, Monkey was carried by the Golden Staff into the unseen heights above.
A voice drifted down from the sky.
"If I remember right, the Mortal Realm lies above the Netherworld. You can travel between them even without magic, isn't that right, Lord Genesis? If I bore a hole straight through, what would happen?"
Lord Genesis glanced at the array beneath the Golden Staff, then looked up at Monkey's direction, hesitating.
To topple the Golden Staff, he'd need to lift the World-Bearing Banner first. But if he did... Monkey would escape the Netherworld in an instant.
Amid shrieks, Monkey clung to his rapidly lengthening Golden Staff, his eyes fixed on the pitch-black vault above.
In a panic, Lord Genesis unleashed his last reserves of power, fiercely activating the World-Bearing Banner.
Red light flooded the entire scene.
The suction seemed limitless, growing stronger and stronger—even the Golden Staff's ascent was slowed. Or rather, under the extreme gravity, the staff was sinking rapidly.
Monkey's facial muscles were stretched and distorted, but he kept grinning fiercely, his bloodshot eyes locked on the distant black ceiling.
He casually tossed the Adamantine Ring downward.
It plunged silently, piercing the clouds, then suddenly turned into a streak of white light and shot toward the World-Bearing Banner.
Already straining to maintain the World-Bearing Banner, Lord Genesis was forced to split his attention to defend himself.
With a thunderous crash, the Adamantine Ring smashed into the Banner's shield, sending up sparks, then spun around to attack from another angle, changing its path three times mid-flight.
Lord Genesis had to raise three shields at once.