Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!
Chapter 1018: The Third Master Only Has Two Years Left to Live, Searching for the Divine Beasts of the Fifty-Two Tribes

Chapter 1018: Chapter 1018: The Third Master Only Has Two Years Left to Live, Searching for the Divine Beasts of the Fifty-Two Tribes

Huo Yunjiao cast a sidelong glance and commanded Ming Tianheng, "After returning, strengthen the barrier between the Netherworld and the Human Realm to prevent the mythical creatures from ancient times from breaking in after they awaken. Anyone who intrudes without permission, kill without mercy!"

The Underworld King responded in a deep voice, "Yes, my lord!"

Huo Yunjiao didn’t look back at Xia Yunchen and his two servants as he continued walking forward.

Boom!

Thunder rolled in once more, this time not striking the ground but seeming more like a warning.

Huo Yunjiao halted, his red eyes lightly closing, and extended a hand to Ming Tianheng, "Draw a drop of my essence blood."

The Underworld King couldn’t help revealing a surprised expression, "Why?"

Chu Zifeng kicked his robe and urged in a deep voice, "Just do it when you’re told to, why the unnecessary words!"

Ming Tianheng cautiously looked at his lord, whose eyes were tightly closed, and stretched out a trembling hand to hold his lord’s icy, temperatureless palm.

A drop of essence blood was extracted from Huo Yunjiao’s body.

The blood bead was crystal clear, emitting a strange and sinister blood light.

The loss of essence blood caused his handsome face to turn pale, as if he had suffered a serious illness.

Huo Yunjiao opened his eyes and glanced at the essence blood floating in Ming Tianheng’s palm, then waved his hands to his subordinates, "All of you leave."

"We shall take our leave!"

Twenty-five divine spirits of the Netherworld disappeared on the spot.

Ming Tianheng was forcibly dragged away by Chu Zifeng.

Supporting his body, Huo Yunjiao continued to walk forward; this time, there was no more crashing thunder.

He saw the figure of a Huo Family Hidden Guard up ahead.

With the golden light on the eastern horizon receding, all things between heaven and earth returned to normal.

"Third Master!"

Huo Qiang and the others, separated by the barrier, rushed up to greet their master upon seeing his figure.

Seeing the ashen complexion of the Third Master, Huo Qiang’s expression changed drastically, "Third Master, what has happened to you?"

They couldn’t see Xia Yunchen, Changyuan, and Lan An within the barrier behind them; Qi Mountain had already vanished before their eyes.

All they saw was a wide and flat road.

Huo Yunjiao extended a hand to Huo Qiang, who immediately came forward to support him.

As if nothing had happened, he asked Huo Qiang, "What time is it?"

Huo Qiang glanced at the time and replied, "Nine forty-five."

Huo Yunjiao gently stroked the Kun Tian Ming Buddha Beads on his wrist, which had again become dim and lightless, and spoke in a gentle voice, "Let’s go back; Sister-in-law is waiting for us in Fuluo Country."

Huo Qiang’s ordinary features showed a perplexed expression of confusion.

He asked in a low voice, "Third Master, why are we here?"

Huo Yunjiao’s thin lips slightly raised, his voice soft and gentle, "To visit an old acquaintance."

Huo Qiang still couldn’t remember, not understanding why they had appeared in such a desolate place.

Suddenly, Huo Chuan stepped in front of the Third Master, his eyes sharply surveying the blurry figure ahead, his voice grave and dangerous, "Who is it?!"

Moonlight spilled over the slender figure approaching them slowly.

The figure swayed slightly, as if barely able to walk steadily.

The Huo Family Hidden Guards immediately drew their weapons, pointing them directly at the approaching figure.

Huo Chuan said sternly, "Stop, or we shoot!"

Huo Yunjiao raised his hand to lower the weapon in Huo Chuan’s hand, his tone easing, "Hold on, it’s one of us."

The red glow in his eyes faded, and with his dark pupils he could see from afar the exhausted figure of Song Qing.

She looked disheveled as if she had been through a struggle, her clothes looking like they had been scorched by fire.

As the person approached, the wind brought the pungent stench of burning.

Huo Qiang recognized her, frowning, "It’s Song Qing!"

He hurried forward, supporting her arm, which was burnt and exposed due to her half-remaining sleeve, and asked sternly, "Why are you here?"

Song Qing looked utterly lost, her usually icy eyes now showing a childlike clarity, "I—I don’t know—"

Seeing her clearly unstable from being struck by lightning, Huo Yunjiao hadn’t expected Xia Yunchen to send her out of Qi Mountain ahead of time.

Song Qing had been Aruan’s most capable maid, with a protective loyalty unmatched by anyone.

Seeing Huo Qiang about to press further, Huo Yunjiao interrupted, "Take her back to the Huo Mansion and hand her over to Second Brother."

Song Qing, wanting to escape her predicament, had fooled Huo Yirong.

The two had resolved their matters, and Second Brother was still unaware of how he would react with fury and embarrassment.

Of course, there was also his involvement, and sending her back could be considered balancing the scales of their deeds.

"Yes, Third Master!"

Huo Qiang, who always acted without much questioning, immediately responded to the Third Master’s words.

He waved his hand to summon two subordinates and handed Song Qing over to them, ordering them to ensure she was safely returned to the Huo Mansion.

...

Qi Mountain.

Supported by Lan An, Xia Yunchen’s complexion returned to normal after Huo Yunjiao and his group had left.

He lifted his gaze to the dark sky above, devoid of sun, moon, and stars. Qi Mountain seemed as if it had been severed from all things in the world; they stood on Qi Mountain, now isolated from everything else.

Lan An furrowed his brows and asked, "Master, what should we do next?"

Xia Yunchen bowed his head, his face a picture of contemplation, as behind him, nine fluffy white tails, each taller than a man, swayed to and fro.

Lan An stealthily glanced at them from the corner of his eye, his hand at his side tightening, as he struggled to resist an impulse that was far from respectful.

Xia Yunchen remained oblivious, and after a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Next, we must seek out the fifty-two ancient Divine Beasts, and we don’t have much time left!"

Seeing Changyuan still forcefully hammering the barrier, he raised his hand to press it against his brow and said with resignation, "Changyuan, stop wasting your energy."

Changyuan turned his head, his face twisted in anger, and his red eyes glinted with a menacing light, "Master, are we really going to be trapped here for three whole years?"

"It won’t be that long."

One of Xia Yunchen’s tails behind him suddenly reached forward.

The umbrella-like fluffy tip of the tail gently caressed his handsome, ethereal face, where a droplet of blood had formed.

Changyuan on the other side saw this scene and was absolutely transfixed.

He blinked, the savagery in his eyes receding to be replaced by a glint of scattered starlight.

If Xia Yunchen were not his master, Changyuan might have rushed forward to hold that fluffy tail in his arms.

Lan An was no less tempted, his eyes betraying his eager restlessness for those nine tails of his master.

Their gazes were so conspicuous that Xia Yunchen, sensing something amiss, promptly retracted all nine tails.

He coughed softly and asked Lan An, "Did Aqing send it?"

Lan An’s expression returned to its usual seriousness as he nodded and said, "I pushed her out before the barrier was erected, but she was struck by a thunderbolt. Judging by her state at the time, she may have been injured."

"Struck by thunder?" Xia Yunchen’s lips twitched slightly.

He had a bad feeling about this.

Lan An, with his delicately enchanting features, showed an expression of hidden endurance as he said, "Yes—"

The scene at the time was rather comical, with Aqing still standing on one foot when the lightning struck her, looking like a golden-rooster standing alone.

Xia Yunchen’s eyes narrowed slightly, "I hope she hasn’t met with any accidents."

Changyuan, who didn’t care whether Aqing lived or died, stepped forward and asked in a rather unpleasant tone, "Now that we are trapped on Qi Mountain, where can we find the fifty-two Divine Beasts?"

Xia Yunchen’s tone was resolute as he replied, "The Divine Beasts are here on Qi Mountain!"

"On Qi Mountain?"

"Really?"

Lan An and Changyuan both looked incredulous.

Xia Yunchen pointed to the sky, "Qi Mountain is now a place where neither devils nor human beings tread, having utterly vanished from the world, removed from the Laws of Heaven and Earth. This makes it even more convenient for us to operate.

Before he left, Lord Huo referred to it as a good place, where the finest delicacies of the Mortal World are readily visible, and there is an ancient cookbook in the Human Realm that calls us rare and exotic beasts, a delicacy upon the tongue. Isn’t that a clear hint?"

Upon hearing this, Changyuan couldn’t help but blurt out a swear word.

Having learned the essence of Eastern language in certain respects, he occasionally let loose with profanities.

Anyone who knew they were thought of as culinary delights by ignorant humans, with a cookbook even written about them, would feel oppressed.

Being a primeval fierce beast himself, he thought, who would dare eat him!

Lan An, not mentioned in the cookbook—ugh! not recorded in the ancient book, also couldn’t help but show a rueful smile.

Then, realizing something, he wondered if Lord Huo’s clear hint was actually helping them.

Considering this, Lan An voiced the question.

Not just he was curious, so was Changyuan.

Xia Yunchen replied calmly, his pale fingers pinching his thumb, "The Emperor of Fengdu should have been the darling of Heavenly Dao, but now he is constrained by the Laws of Heaven and Earth. Many ancient Divine Beasts perished long ago, and the life-and-death tribulation of Aruan also has a connection to him.

We both need to cooperate now. We must quickly find the fifty-two Divine Beast clans before Lord Huo passes. We need to work together to break the potential threat controlled by the Laws of Heaven and Earth."

Lan An asked, "Does the master mean to cooperate with the Emperor of Fengdu?"

Changyuan said dissatisfiedly, "But he killed Aruan!"

Xia Yunchen replied, "I believe he was unaware of the child in Aruan’s womb back then, and as for whether he truly killed Aruan, that remains to be discussed.

Everything we are doing now is in preparation for Aruan’s life-and-death tribulation, and the favor granted by the Emperor of Fengdu’s ability to turn back time will not be nullified by the tragedy of the past."

Changyuan’s dark eyes flashed fiercely as he said, "If it really was him who killed Aruan, the day the ancient Divine Beasts awaken will be the same day the Emperor of Fengdu falls again!"

Although Lan An did not speak, his typically calm and cold expression suggested that he agreed with Changyuan.

Xia Yunchen said no more, well aware of how much these two doted on Aruan.

In the past, Aruan was so spoiled that she was above all laws, and no one on Tu Mountain, from top to bottom, could resist indulging her.

The little Aruan would ride on Changyuan’s neck, have Lan An constantly protecting her, and Hu Yixian would find all kinds of ways to spoil her; even her maids and servants catered to her whims, and he, as her elder brother, would always acquiesce to her requests.

Xia Yunchen lightly touched his nose, recalling how he had spoiled Aruan beyond all reason, causing trouble in the Netherworld, and guiltily changed the subject: "We don’t have much time left, Lord Huo has at most two years to live. Let’s hurry and look for our other kind on Qi Mountain!"

Lan An asked, "How shall we find them?"

Xia Yunchen replied, "Changyuan, summon the ghosts and specters of Qi Mountain. We shall start by finding out from them where anomalies have occurred and search with a clear target in mind. If they are close, I will be able to sense their aura."

"Good!"

Changyuan was a primeval fierce beast and instantly transformed into his beast form, the Hook Snake’s hissing echoing through the valley.

The evil spirits hiding in the shadows, no matter how afraid they were, had no choice but to heed the call.

They drifted out from the darkness, their already hideous faces twisted even more grotesquely by despair.

The overwhelming presence of the ancient fierce beast caused them to tremble in their soul forms, and although no one could see their tearful state, they wished they could scatter their souls and perish on the spot.

The master and servants immediately began their inquiry, conducting a thorough search of Qi Mountain.