Yue Wanqiu, although she also wanted â NĐŸvĐ”lŃĐłht â (Donât copy, read here) to wrap up matters with the Manniu Clan as quickly as possible and continue her quest to find Ye Yu, couldnât fully relax as long as Niu Shixiao remained alive.
As long as Niu Shixiao lived, Niu Erhua could not be completely safe.
So Yue Wanqiu had no choice but to stay temporarily among the Manniu Clan, sending out people to inquire about Niu Shixiaoâs whereabouts and preparing to strike again to eliminate him once and for all.
While they waited, Yue Wanqiu suddenly received a message via her communication stone from Nangong Jingtang. She claimed that there had been upheavals in the Yao Realm, and that new passages to the Mo Realm and the Heaven Realm had opened.
Nangong Jingtang said, âIâve basically searched the entire Yao Realm and found no sign of Ye Yu. Iâm planning to head to the Heaven Realm next. Maybe thereâll be new leads there. Once your business here is done, come to the Heaven Realm and join me as soon as you can.â
Hearing this, Yue Wanqiuâs heart stirred with hopeâperhaps the reopening of the Five Realmsâ passages would be the very opportunity to find Ye Yu.
But a few hours later, to everyoneâs astonishment, Ye Yu appeared of his own accord within the Manniu Clanâs territory. Fate, it seemed, worked in unpredictable ways.
After listening to Yue Wanqiuâs account, Ye Yu finally exhaled in relief. As long as Nangong Jingtang was safe, heading to the Heaven Realm was even betterâit would save him the trouble of going back and forth.
âIâll have Yue Wanqiu contact Nangong Jingtang with the communication stone,â Ye Yu said at once, âand ask her to wait at the Wu Wei Tower.â
Yue Wanqiu agreed, but the communication stone wouldnât connect. Only then did they realize that a Yao Realm communication stone couldnât tap into the power of immortalsâit absorbed Yao energy but couldnât handle immortal qi. After all, these little technological marvels werenât that advanced.
Ye Yu wasnât too disappointed, though. As long as Nangong Jingtang was safe, that was what mattered most. And crucially, the Heaven Realm was very different from the Yao Realm. Ye Yu had some renown there; with patience, they could surely pick up a clue or two.
âBut should we leave right now?â Ye Yu looked at Yue Wanqiu. After a momentâs thought, he asked softly, âIâm an immortal of the Heaven Realm. Would you come back with me?â
âI would!â Yue Wanqiu agreed without hesitation, as if sheâd been waiting to say those words. Then she blushed and added in a low voice, âI just wonder... would Sister Nangong accept me?â
Ye Yu couldnât help but smile. âItâs not up to her alone. Youâll have many sisters there.â
âHm?â At first Yue Wanqiu didnât catch on. But once it clicked, she cautiously asked, âYou have many fairy companions?â
Ye Yu nodded. âDo you mind?â
âNot at allâreally, not at all!â Yue Wanqiuâs answer was wholehearted. Only in this way, she thought, could she have a real chance of being with Ye Yu. If he already had so many companions, another sister wouldnât matter to Nangong Jingtang, right?
With their feelings laid bare, both Ye Yu and Yue Wanqiu felt a weight lift from their hearts. But they still didnât immediately set off for the Heaven Realm. First, they decided to deal with Niu Erhuaâs lingering threat.
Ye Yu honored his promise by summoning two whole roasted pigs. One had to admit, Niu Erhua really had a monster appetite. In just two hours, she devoured three pigs the size of her own body without even a satisfied burpâtruly a formidable eater.
With the feast concluded, Ye Yu and Yue Wanqiu prepared to go out and track down Niu Shixiao. Together, eliminating him would be no problem. But first they needed his exact locationâblindly searching would be useless.
To their surprise, Niu Shixiao himself showed up at the edge of Manniu Clan territory, flanked by two cat-demon emissariesâthe very Sacred Hall envoys who had once unsealed Shang Jinlengâs seal in the Dreamscape, brothers named Zhuo Kong and Zhuo Yi. Both had breakthroughs in formation arrays; without their skill, they couldnât have undone the seal. Having brought two Demon King Realm apex warriors, Niu Shixiao had grown extremely arrogant.
He called out across the boundary, âWhereâs Niu Erhua? Today, if you step down and relinquish the chieftainship to me, Iâll remember our uncle-niece bond and let you live. If not, youâll suffer the consequences! As for Yue Wanqiu, she must submit and serve as my slave!â
His bold proclamation, amplified by Yao energy, instantly rang through the Manniu Clanâs lands. Ye Yu and Yue Wanqiu exchanged incredulous glances, while Niu Erhua, escorted by Niu Li and others, stepped forward.
âSecond Uncle, why must you persecute me?â Niu Erhua asked. âPassing the chieftainship to me was Fatherâs direct order. Why do you insist on taking it? And donât bring up the
Ring of Life
âAunt Yue has already retrieved it from Wing Demon City. Your lies have long since been exposed!â
Niu Shixiao remained unfazed. âWhat lies? Itâs always the victor who writes history. Today I state it plainly: you must abdicate. Iâve joined the Sacred Hall as an envoy, and these esteemed seniors are here to help me reclaim the chieftainship. Know when to yield, or all who oppose me die!â
Niu Li, Niu Erhuaâs chief guard, could no longer restrain himself. âScoundrel! As an elder of the Manniu Clan, you colluding with outsiders to usurp the throne is a grave offense. If you persist, we wonât hesitate to enforce clan law!â
âClan law? You dare?â Niu Shixiao sneered, his arrogance unabated. Zhuo Kong patted his shoulder and said coolly, âWe didnât come here for your empty threats. Weâre busyâletâs finish this quickly.â
All at once, Zhuo Kong and Zhuo Yi stepped forward, ready to strike. But before they could move, Ye Yu snapped his fingersâand they lost control of their bodies entirely.