DDAM 3

As the voice echoed before the Qinglong Tower, the gathered immortals gradually fell silent, until not a sound could be heard.

If the earlier exchanges could be dismissed as mere squabbling, the issue Qing Yuan had just raised struck right at the heart of the matter, it trampled upon the bottom line of the Nine Heavens.

The reason the Nine Heavens imposed such strict controls on descents to the mortal realm was to prevent immortals from interfering with mortal karma. A single thought from an immortal could shape a mortal’s entire lifetime. Such consequences were hardly a trivial matter. Let alone using mortals to undergo tribulations or treating another’s destiny as a stepping stone for one’s own advancement. If such an act were proven true, the penalties–stripping of divinity, casting into the cycle of reincarnation, and permanent loss of status–would not be severe enough.

Consequently, the immortals who had moments ago been murmuring amongst themselves now dared not say a word. After the previous reversals, no one could predict how this affair would end. What if they took a side too early, only to be proven wrong and humiliated? Thus, hundreds of immortals tacitly chose to wait and see, while they held their breath in anticipation.

Qing Yuan relished the moment; he smiled and turned his gaze toward Shen Runze, who stood between Jun and Li. “Baize[fcnt content=’a legendary divine creature in ancient Chinese mythology. Known for supreme wisdom, it can speak human languages, understand all things in the universe, and knows the habits of 11,520 types of supernatural spirits and demons.’],” he said gently, “stop standing there like a fool. Draw a line between yourself and these two immediately, lest you get dragged into this mess without even knowing why.”

Shen Runze remained silent; he did not even spare Qing Yuan a glance.

Qing Yuan’s expression darkened slightly as he gritted his teeth, “Ungrateful wretch.”

Shen Runze was not intentionally ignoring him, ever since Qing Yuan had said the words “love tribulation,” he had ceased to hear anything else they were saying.

Others might still be in the dark, but Shen Runze had personally taken Jun Jiewu’s pulse just moments ago; how could he not know the truth? He hadn’t considered this possibility before, but once the thought crossed his mind, he felt he had all but deduced the full story.

Shen Runze’s gaze was riveted to Jun Jiewu’s face; the disbelief and fury in his eyes were overflowing. He longed to grab Jun Jiewu by the collar and demand answers: Why does your pulse reveal traces of a past pregnancy? And what is this about this love tribulation? Speak!

Jun Jiewu’s long eyelashes fluttered, and he closed his eyes.

He knew.

He had known from the very moment he opened his eyes that this secret could not be kept. Given Li Zhuochen’s temperament, concealment was out of the question. That man had never deigned to hide anything.

Onlookers could not discern his inner turmoil; they saw only that his already cool, aloof features had turned a shade paler. Clad in robes the color of water, he looked like an ice sculpture on the verge of melting.

To the observers, this reaction looked like nothing less than a guilty conscience. Coupled with Shen Runze’s agitation… the immortals who were unaware of the truth exchanged glances. Shen Runze was Jun Jiewu’s only friend; if even he reacted this way, could it be that…

Hundreds of immortals held their breath, and countless gazes converged simultaneously upon Li and Jun as they awaited a response from the two principals.

Finally, Li Zhuochen slowly raised his eyes, he wore a smile that could only be described as delighted.

“What if I said I had undergone a love tribulation?”

Silence fell over the entire assembly. That silence lasted but a fleeting moment. The next instant, a deep, cold, and commanding voice rang out from behind the crowd: “Li Zhuochen, do you realize what you are saying?”

An overwhelming pressure swept across the air like an invisible hand crushing wisps of cloud; even the phantom of the ancient divine dragon coiled atop the Qinglong Tower shuddered slightly as a ghostly gleam flickered within its eyes.

“Greetings, Seventh Highness.”

“Greetings, Ling’an Shangshen.”

Voices offering salutations rose and fell like rolling waves as the assembled immortals bowed their heads.

Wei Ling’an walked through the air, his dark robes fluttering in the wind. Wherever he passed, the immortals bowed and stepped aside, creating a clear path through the throng that stretched straight to the center of the scene

“It’s Ling’an Shangshen… when did he arrive?” someone whispered to a colleague nearby.

“Is the whereabouts of His Highness something the likes of us can pry into?” The other gave him a look that urged caution, and neither dared speak another word.

Wei Ling’an, the seventh son of the Heavenly Emperor, whose true form was that of the Bi’an[fcnt content=’a legendary tiger-like mythical beast in Chinese folklore known as one of the nine sons of the dragon that symbolizes justice.’]. He governed over the Heavenly Prison; a figure of immense power and authority, he was renowned for his unyielding impartiality. His mere appearance caused the immortals to weigh the implications of the situation.

“The Seventh Highness oversees the penal system; since he has spoken up, does that mean the Heavenly Emperor also…” A bold immortal murmured, but was cut off by a tug on his sleeve before he could finish.

“Hush. Mind your words.”

Wei Ling’an paid no heed to the surrounding whispers, and walked up to Li Zhuochen and Jun Jiewu. Qing Yuan was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed in salutation: “Your Highness.”

Wei Ling’an gave a slight nod of acknowledgment before turning his gaze toward Li Zhuochen. He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression impassive, yet his voice was as heavy as iron: “Li Zhuochen, as a Shenjun of the Nine Heavens, you disregarded mortal lives for the sake of your own desires. Do you realize that when a mortal woman unites with a Shenjun, she may not even enter the cycle of reincarnation upon death? It is all too common for their souls to shatter and vanish into nothingness!”

“For the sake of a love tribulation, you ruined a person’s life and severed their future incarnations. Do you acknowledge your guilt?”

The stern rebuke rang out with resounding force. Li Zhuochen remained silent; instead, [visit our site]it was Jun Jiewu who closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his grey-blue irises held no trace of emotion. He stepped forward, his voice calm and detached: “There is no need to question him. I played a part in this as well; let me be the one to speak.”

Wei Ling’an’s gaze grew colder, and he cut him off sternly: “Shut your mouth.”

He stared at Jun Jiewu as he enunciated every word clearly: “Peacock, do you think you can escape? I shall deal with him first, and you are next on my list.”

Li Zhuochen took a step forward. Whether by design or coincidence, he positioned himself precisely in front of Jun Jiewu, effectively shielding him from the prying gazes of onlookers. He still wore that nonchalant expression, as if nothing in the world mattered, yet the smile in the depths of his eyes had faded significantly. “Seventh Highness,” he spoke slowly. “While he addresses you as Highness out of respect, Jiewu has ascended to the rank of Shangshen. As someone who had been raised alongside you by the Heavenly Emperor, he is, by rights, your equal. The situation remains unclear; I would ask that you show some respect.”

Qing Yuan sneered from the sidelines: “How much clearer does it need to be? You admitted yourself that you descended to the mortal realm to undergo a tribulation, a love tribulation, no less. Is that not enough?”

Only then did Li Zhuochen turn his head toward him.

His gaze was not particularly fierce, yet it caused the smile on Qing Yuan’s face to freeze.

“Xiezhi[fcnt content=’a legendary one-horned creature in East Asian mythology. Known for an innate sense of justice, legends state it can tell right from wrong and will target the guilty party during disputes.’],” Li Zhuochen drawled. “Your master is already here; what business does a dog like you have yapping and snarling like this?”

“You–!” Qing Yuan was momentarily rendered speechless.

Li Zhuochen gave him no chance to continue.

He withdrew his gaze. Though his voice was not loud, it carried clearly to the ears of everyone present:

“It is true that I descended to the mortal realm to undergo a love tribulation. But ​unauthorized copy​who said it was with a mortal?”

He smiled; his words became loaded with meaning and a touch of mockery:

“And who said… it was with a woman?”

An uproar swept through the assembly of immortals. If not a mortal and not a woman, then what could it be? The immortals exchanged glances, their shock plain for all to see.

Qing Yuan, however, had not yet grasped the implication. He let out a cold snort: “So what if it was a man? Even a man could not withstand a Shangshen’s…”

Wait.

He suddenly realized there was something else Li Zhuochen had said just moments before. A thunderclap exploded in his mind, stringing together those fragments. Not a mortal, not a woman…

Then, the object of this love tribulation must be…

Qing Yuan’s gaze shoot past Li Zhuochen to fix directly upon the aloof, solitary figure standing behind him.

He was not the only one.

Among those present, anyone with a quick mind had already pieced the story together. Li Zhuochen and Jun Jiewu had advanced in cultivation simultaneously and appeared at the Qinglong Tower together; coupled with the way Li Zhuochen had shielded the other… a multitude of shocked gazes, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, swung toward the spot behind Li Zhuochen.

Yet, that figure clad in deep crimson stood in the foreground, completely obscuring the person behind him; no matter how many [Read on]inquisitive eyes sought a glimpse, not a trace of the other’s expression could be seen.

Li Zhuochen chuckled and opened his folding fan. He drawled, “Why is everyone staring at my husband? I know Jiewu is beautiful, but he is already taken.”

“If you all keep looking, I might just get jealous.”