Oblivious to the old woman’s thoughts, Yu Xuan was just relieved he hadn’t used that talisman against the Devouring Demon. Just imagining what kind of catastrophic aftereffects it might have produced was enough to scramble his mind.
Meanwhile, the old woman had her own considerations.
In the lower realm, the peak power one could achieve was the Immortal Ascension Realm.
Those who anchored themselves or failed their Immortal Ascension Tribulation but survived by sheer luck, could linger at Half-Immortal Realm.
But true half-immortal strength... that was something else entirely. Unless a cultivator was willing to burn their lifespan as fuel, nobody could bring out the full peak of that power in the lower realm.
She herself stood at the peak of Immortal Ascension. The rest of her cultivation was sealed.
Yu Xuan, however, thought the ordeal was finished. He was already preparing to exchange places with Lingluo so he could finally rest.
But the old woman’s smile didn’t fade.
"Oh? Did you think I was finished?" she asked lightly, her tone dripping with casual cruelty.
Yu Xuan froze, blinking.
He really didn’t understand the thought process of these old people. Was she trying to take revenge because he might have accidentally thought about her scandal with that old man(???).
Before he could defend himself, something sharp stabbed through his nerves.
A strange pain lanced through his body, like being electrocuted from the inside out. His muscles spasmed, his vision went white— Read full story at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖•𝗇𝗲𝘁
And then, just like that, Yu Xuan collapsed into unconsciousness.
Lingluo, who had been watching from the edge of the void, froze.
If she lost her nerve now, her master would not hesitate to punish her the same way she did to Yu Xuan. The old woman’s punishments were not empty threats.
"Master... I—" Lingluo started, voice small and frantic.
"Master, I admit defeat." It was a desperate attempt to take the easy road.
The old woman’s face darkened at the audacity of surrender before the challenge had even begun.
"Unless you impress me," the old woman said after a pause.
"I will keep you starving."
Her voice had the casual cruelty of someone talking about the weather.
Whatever lightness had been in Lingluo a moment ago evaporated.
Something snapped inside her. Her eyes changed. The usual mischief was gone, replaced by a cold intensity that made the air tremble.
It was the same feral determination with which she fought the dragon — and yet, now, it felt stronger.
She drew a slow breath, palms trembling only slightly, and then squared her shoulders.
"Fine," she said, voice low and steady.
The old woman’s expression shifted. For the master, hunger was a tool: not only to punish, but to reveal what a disciple truly valued.
Lingluo’s heart beat like a war drum. Her gaze flicked once to Yu Xuan’s still form. She would not collapse like him or use external means like their father’s talisman.
"Begin," her master said.
Lingluo inhaled and then dashed towards her.
Eternal Star Heavenly World,
Yu Clan’s Domain — Yu Clan Ancestral Grounds.
Within the Patriarch’s residence, silence reigned.
Yu Changming sat at an ornate desk carved from star-iron wood, its surface inlaid with celestial patterns that shimmered faintly under the ambient light.
His long hair flowed down like a cascade of midnight, fading into a silvery-white gradient at the tips, each strand glimmering faintly as though dusted with starlight. His eyes were deep obsidian and sharp as blades.
He wore black and white immortal robes embroidered with dragons, phoenixes, and constellations — symbols of supremacy that seemed alive, as if ready to soar from the fabric at any moment.
Handsome beyond measure, his presence was nonetheless severe.
At that moment, he was reviewing documents that decided the fate of countless lives.
One report in particular drew his attention: a case of embezzlement within the Mortal Empowerment Association for Natives (MEAN).
[A/N: Read Chapter 11 for a refresher.]
A high-level official had been caught accepting bribes from the leader of a mid-level sect eager to expand their influence.
Ordinarily, such cases would be delegated to an outer elder with a committee formed within MEAN. However, this official was not just anyone — he was an Elder of the Yu Clan itself.
In such case normally, the Punishment Hall or a Core Elder would handle such matters, but this time it had been forwarded directly to Yu Changming.
The one responsible for escalating it was none other than Yu Zimo, the newly appointed core elder in charge of management.
His reasoning had been simple yet bold: a clan Elder caught in corruption could not be quietly punished. A message had to be sent.
And Yu Changming, though rarely indulgent in paperwork, could not ignore this request. The Patriarch’s role was not only to guide the clan’s strength, but to ensure they remained a pillar of order, not arrogance. Human nature was fickle; if unchecked, it decayed.
After a long silence, Yu Changming’s brush moved. His verdict was written in clear, decisive strokes:
"...The elder in question shall return all embezzled funds and serve without pay in the Mortal Empowerment Association for Natives for one hundred and ninety-nine years."
A fitting punishment — one that stripped pride, restored balance, and reminded all that position did not excuse corruption.
He set the elegant quill aside, its feather glinting faintly, and leaned back. At that moment, he sensed someone approaching.
A knock resounded on the door, followed by a casual voice.
"Patriarch, may I come in?"
The door opened of its own accord, and stepping inside was Yu Zimo.
His appearance contrasted the Patriarch — his hair was neatly tied in a scholar’s knot, his features refined and calm, his demeanor respectful and he gave a scholarly aura.
"Patriarch," Yu Zimo said with a slight bow, his tone casual yet steady. "We have a problem."
Yu Changming lifted his gaze, then rose slowly from his chair. Without hurry, he walked toward the tall window that overlooked the Yu Clan’s domain.
"What is it now?" he asked.
Sunlight spilled over his sharp features, the serene landscape beyond reflected in his eyes. The vast grounds stretched out before him — lakes glimmering like mirrors, gardens bursting with herbs, and the endless horizon of protective wards woven into the sky. A picture of tranquility.
It was peaceful view.
Yu Zimo lowered his head.
’As expected of the Patriarch.’
Even this simple act — the way Yu Changming stood before the world with a detached, sovereign gaze was awe inspiring. To Yu Zimo, the Patriarch felt untouchable, as though the heavens themselves had sculpted him to rule.
There were times Yu Zimo wondered why the Yu Clan had not yet conquered the world. Their power was unmatched. Their foundation, unshakable.
He, a Yu Clan supremacist, believed dominion was their rightful destiny. But the world’s strange, delicate balance held them back along with their history. Still beyond the world lay vaster skies, uncharted stars, and forgotten lands. And at the heart of them stood their Patriarch.
The stories of Yu Changming’s feats had traveled far and wide. If Yu Xuan or Lingluo ever heard those tales, they might laugh them off as fantasy — but to Yu Zimo, they were undeniable truth.
He inhaled, steadying himself, and delivered his report.
"A koi fish from the Eastern Garden suddenly gained enlightenment... and transformed into an Azure Dragon."
Yu Changming turned, one brow arching.
Even for him, this was unexpected. On an ordinary day... a koi becoming a dragon?
"Then that explains the auspicious aura I felt earlier. I had thought it to be some minor treasure being born."
"What did this Azure Dragon do after its transformation?"
Yu Zimo hesitated. His lips twitched before he answered, "...After ascending into the air, it..."
He paused, his expression hard to read.
Yu Changming’s gaze sharpened.
Yu Zimo coughed into his fist.
"It suddenly began shouting the young master’s name."
Yu Changming’s expression blanked, then furrowed in confusion.
Without another word, he extended his divine sense toward the Eastern Garden.
At once, the scene unfolded in perfect clarity.
There, suspended in the skies, was a ten foot long Azure Dragon. Its sapphire scales shimmered brilliantly, reflecting lightning that crackled around its body. Clouds gathered unnaturally thick around it, forming a miniature tempest.
Below, hundreds of disciples had gathered, their faces lit with awe. A handful of elders hovered in the air, desperately trying to reduce the damage of the Azure Dragon.
But the dragon ignored them.
It thrashed its tail, scattering thunder and wind, its voice booming across the area.
"YU XUAN!!! BRING ME YU XUAN!!!"
Each roar sent shockwaves through the clouds it made, its glowing blue eyes filled with anger and strangely — wounded pride.
Yu Changming exhaled slowly.
"...What has that boy done now?" he muttered.
A koi ascending into dragonhood was auspicious enough. But it emerged only to be angry at his son?
This was no longer a simple matter.
"Come," Yu Changming said at last, his tone calm yet resolute.
"I will handle this personally."
Yu Zimo bowed, falling into step beside him. The matter might have been small on the surface, but with the patriarch involved, it was definitely not small now.
Together, the two descended toward the Eastern Garden.