Chapter 599: Immortal in the Rain

"Nonsense!"Ye Xiaotian roared in anger.

Immediately after,"Smack.""Thud!""Ow!"Zhao Xidong was slapped hard and sent sprawling to the ground.He clutched his face, wiping away the nosebleed as he got up, feeling like his whole body was distorted.Weren't you telling me to speak freely?How did things escalate to you striking me out of nowhere?Don't I deserve a moment to react?Is this about not being able to handle it?!

Qiao Qianzhi quickly stepped forward and helped him up, putting on a peacemaking facade, but he whispered lowly, "You really went too far. You should stick to what's verifiable. How could you voice baseless speculations?"

Zhao Xidong looked aggrieved, pointing to the pile of jade slips floating in the air.Weren't these the factual evidence?How could you blatantly lie with your eyes wide open?I went through all that effort to gather these—doesn't that count for something?How is it that everyone ends up blaming me instead?

"Qiao Qianzhi is right,"Ye Xiaotian calmed his anger, took a breath, and said, "Even if you've collected a mountain of evidence that seems factual, without seeing it with your own eyes, it's all still just speculation."

Zhao Xidong was about to say something,but Ye Xiaotian cut him off: "Remember, you're an enforcement officer now, and the land you're on is called Tian Sang Ling Gong!"

At that, Zhao Xidong's lips parted, but no words came out.He wasn't foolish.In fact, he was extremely clever, or else the dean wouldn't have assigned him such an important task.And what Ye Xiaotian said was spot on.The place they were in was Tian Sang Ling Gong.No matter what Lao Sang had done in secret, on the surface, he was still the vice dean of Tian Sang Ling Gong.When it came to people like them, any speculation others might casually voice needed to be handled with care.Sometimes, trouble comes from careless words.At least, at this critical juncture, with the white-robed and red-robed forces surrounding Bai Ku, Tian Sang Ling Gong couldn't afford internal issues.If something went wrong, they might not even bring back a single person.After all, the opposition was Sheng Shen Dian Tang!

"I misspoke,"Zhao Xidong truly reflected and asked, "So, what do we do now?""The information I gathered shows that after Qinglong Jun, Wu Yue Jian Xian has already led people to surround Bai Ku and blocked all other exits.""Right now, the only passage left for anyone inside Bai Ku to escape is through Ba Gong Li.""Any other attempts, even smuggling out, would likely just get them disoriented by the grand array and sent to Ba Gong Li—straight into Wu Yue Jian Xian's sword."

Zhao Xidong spilled out everything he knew in one go.Qiao Qianzhi's brows furrowed deeply.He had just finished watching the scene from Ba Gong Li that Ye Xiaotian had shown him, and now the situation had taken a dire turn for the worse.If they mishandled this and the charge of colluding with the holy slaves stuck, forget about getting back the young ones from the Bai Ku trial—even Tian Sang Ling Gong could face utter destruction!

"Xiao Tian...""Let's go!"Ye Xiaotian didn't ponder long before deciding firmly with one word.

"Go?"Zhao Xidong was baffled. "Where to?""Where else?"Ye Xiaotian glared at him. "Get your boss Xiao, and head to Bai Ku to demand the people back!"

"Huh?"Zhao Xidong froze.Demand people back?With this aggressive stance, it feels more like you're going to risk your lives!And the opponent is Gou Wu Yue—if it comes to it, who ends up demanding whose life is anyone's guess!

"Dean, calm down,"Zhao Xidong quickly advised, "At this point, I think it's better not to act rashly. We should wait and observe.""Wait and observe?" Ye Xiaotian shot back, "If we wait any longer, the outcome will be beyond salvaging!"

Zhao Xidong was momentarily stunned.The dean wasn't listening to reason at all.Even though he seemed calm on the surface, he must have lost his composure completely upon hearing about the vice dean.

Qiao Qianzhi pondered for a while on the side, then spoke up: "Xiao Tian is right. Going to demand them back now is the best move—we can't wait."

"Qiao Qianzhi!" Zhao Xidong was anxious.How could the dean lose control, and now you're losing it too?

"You little rascal—ah, Zhao Xidong, listen to me,"Qiao Qianzhi stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and lowered his voice: "You've been working hard to gather this intelligence, but regardless of its accuracy, we've still gained a step ahead.Even if the final result is true, Sheng Shen Dian Tang doesn't have the evidence yet.After all, they're a step behind us.And now, with this time advantage, we've seized the initiative.So, the intelligence you've gathered and your conclusions... they're useless now!""Do you understand what I mean?"

Qiao Qianzhi gave him a meaningful glance.Zhao Xidong instantly got it.Not knowing... was actually the best outcome right now!At least, on the surface, Tian Sang Ling Gong was still under Sheng Shen Dian Tang's jurisdiction.With that relationship, it was perfectly justified for the higher-ups of the spiritual palace to go demand back the people from the dangerous Bai Ku trial!

"Goodness..."Zhao Xidong was astounded by these two old foxes.This was the mark of true veterans!

He stealthily glanced at the white-haired Daoist child in front of him.So, the moment he misspoke and drew that conclusion,Ye Xiaotian had already seen through this layer and planned to go to Ba Gong Li under the pretext of "not knowing" to demand the people back?What cunning strategy!No, what deep foresight!As expected of the dean!

"I understand,"Zhao Xidong nodded, looking enlightened, and said, "So, now I'll go get Boss Xiao and head straight there?"

"No need,"Ye Xiaotian waved his hand from the front, his eyes flashing as light and shadows flickered before him, finally settling on a middle-aged man lounging on a rocking chair, hugging a long sword with his eyes closed in rest.

With a swoosh,he flicked his sleeve.A gust like the wind over E Hu Lake swept through, rustling the fallen leaves.A few soft taps followed.In an instant, the three of them appeared before Xiao Qixiu.

"Whoa."Xiao Qixiu jolted in fright, reflexively flicking his hand as his long sword unsheathed with a clang.

It hummed—The sword passed just an inch above Ye Xiaotian's head.Once Xiao Qixiu recognized the intruders, he rolled his eyes slightly and sheathed his spirit sword.

"What is it?"He glanced at the gate of the Spirit Law Pavilion.It was tightly locked.Then he swept his gaze over Ye Xiaotian and quickly figured out how they had entered the pavilion's barrier without knocking.

"What's the rush?" Xiao Qixiu frowned, looking at Zhao Xidong, who still seemed disoriented and lost.

"It's not extremely urgent, but your disciple might be in trouble," Ye Xiaotian said calmly.

Xiao Qixiu's face changed dramatically."This isn't trouble?!"With a bang, the gate of the Spirit Law Pavilion was blasted open by spiritual energy.Xiao Qixiu turned back from the doorway and roared, "What are you standing there for? Let's go!"

"Will your sword flight be faster than my spatial teleportation?"Ye Xiaotian tilted his head and gestured toward himself."Come over, and we'll head out directly."

"Oh, oh, alright, alright." Xiao Qixiu scurried back over.With a thud, the door of the Spirit Law Pavilion closed, and the four vanished from the spot.

Far away, outside Ba Gong Li, in a remote village under the setting sun, wisps of cooking smoke rose, full of homely warmth.

"Mom, look, that house is on fire again!"A childish voice came from the village path, innocent and excited.The child pointed with a tiny finger at the abandoned house at the village end, where billowing white flames erupted again, as if it were some fascinating toy he envied.

"Hush."The child was perched on the hip of a village woman dressed as a peasant.She shouldered a hoe with one arm and shushed him, signaling not to speak carelessly."Xiao Yi, that's not fire; it's where the immortals reside. You mustn't point at it randomly."

"Oh, oh."The child lowered his finger and curiously asked, tilting his head, "What are immortals? The kind that can fly?"

"Yes."The woman gazed solemnly at the white-flame house at the village end and quickly averted her eyes."Not only can they fly, they can kill too. That's why I've told you kids not to go there lately."

"But Ah Wei and the others went and nothing happened.""That's because the immortal is forgiving and didn't mind your disturbance. Otherwise, he would have burned you all up!" The woman sighed in exasperation.She knew that despite parents' repeated warnings, some children still sneaked off to watch.After all, the sight of white flames on the roof that didn't harm the house was spectacular...Even she couldn't help stealing a few glances.

"I'll tell your Aunt Li and Uncle Zhao about this later—they'll tan your hides!""Hee hee, I'm not scared!"The child laughed boldly. "Because I'm an immortal now too!"

"An immortal?"The woman stumbled, stopping in her tracks. "What did you do over there..."

"Whoa."As she looked up, a small green flame suddenly appeared in the child's hand.It had no heat and didn't spread, but it was dazzling, more beautiful than the most expensive fireworks they'd ever seen.

"This..."The woman's pupils dilated. "Where did you get this flame, you little rascal?"She tossed the hoe aside and hurriedly set the child down.The little one rolled on the ground, giggling as he stood up, his face beaming."The immortal grandpa gave us this technique. He looks really scary with huge dark circles under his eyes and dirty clothes, and he wears a straw hat, but the fire doesn't burn him, just like that house."He pointed again at the thatched house engulfed in white flames and giggled. "Anyway, he's super ugly!"

"Um."The woman clamped her hand over the child's unguarded mouth and scooped him up, running off with quick steps, forgetting the hoe entirely."Keep quiet!""If you keep blabbering, I'll have Aunt Li sew your mouth shut with a needle!"

"I don't believe it! Hee hee, because Xiao Yi is an immortal now!"The child whooped, and flames burst from his hand again.

"Put it out now!""Never show this ability to anyone else, understand?"

"Why?" The child was puzzled.

"Because..."The woman paused, suddenly remembering her hoe.Glancing back, she vaguely saw a figure in the distance casually shouldering the hoe, swigging from a wine gourd, and heading their way.As the sunset glow faded, her eyes reddened."Because being an immortal isn't anything good!"

Her voice rose sharply.The child seemed to sense his mother's unusual emotion and fell silent, even extinguishing the flame.

Just then,"Boom!"The thatched house in the distance exploded from the top, and a shadowy figure burst out, soaring into the clouds and vanishing.

"Immortal! The immortal is flying!"The child shouted excitedly.

At the same time, several nearby thatched huts had their windows pushed open, and a few children's heads poked out.But after a few "ow" cries of pain, the heads were pulled back, and the windows slammed shut.

"Let's go home!"The woman was startled, wiped her eyes, and hugged the child tightly, dashing toward their house.The vigorous white flames on the distant hut vanished with the figure's departure, as if they had never existed.

"Mom, it's cold."The child shivered suddenly, shrinking his head.

"What are you talking about!"The woman lightly smacked the child's head. "We're in a volcanic area; it never rains, so how could it be..."

"Shiver."A wind blew, and she shuddered herself.

"Cold?"The woman was alarmed.In the area near Ba Gong Li, she had never felt cold in the village her whole life.According to the village elder, there was likely a vast fire vein beneath their homes, and the distant mountain was Huo Ling Mountain.Though it never erupted and was far away, "cold"?The woman tightened her thin clothes, truly feeling the chill.It was as if all the warmth around them had been suddenly drained, even from the underground fire vein.The sun set behind the mountains, and the temperature plummeted.Her heart began to feel icy.With all these strange events happening day by day...She didn't dare linger.

"I told you not to come out with me—why couldn't you stay home?!"She snapped as if scolding harshly, clutching the child and running without pause toward their house.

Drip.Drip-drip-drip...Suddenly, droplets sounded in her ears.Then, the sky darkened completely.The next second,A light rain began to patter down.

"Rain?!"The child perked up in his mother's arms, overjoyed. "Mom, it's rain! Like in the books!"

He stared wide-eyed, mouth agape, as if seeing something novel, not even blinking when raindrops hit his mouth and eyes, and he reached out to embrace it.

"Home, now!"The woman was truly frightened.This village hadn't seen rain in decades, maybe centuries—how could it suddenly rain?

"Home!"She held the child tighter and shouted, as if bolstering her own courage, and charged through the rain toward their house.The rain blurred her vision into hazy outlines.Vaguely, a youthful figure seemed to appear ahead.

"Which family's child are you? Get back inside qu—"The woman's scolding halted abruptly.She thought it was a village kid out in the rain.But as she got closer and looked carefully, she saw the facial contours of what seemed like a youth, and a pair of bright, worldly-wise eyes.This wasn't a youth!It was an adult who just happened to be as tall as one!The woman was terrified.Rain poured from the sky like broken threads, but when it hit the figure, it seemed to merge into his body and pass right through.

"Immortal!"Her heart raced.This aura, this mystique...This person was definitely like her husband—an immortal, or what they called a spirit refiner.Could he... affect the weather?Then, he might even be a legendary innate powerhouse!

"S-senior?"The woman awkwardly addressed him as per their customs, bowing slightly.

The newcomer seemed startled by the title "senior."After a long pause, he grinned, showing white teeth.

"Hello!"He bowed ninety degrees.Rain passed through his chest and dripped to the ground, scaring the woman witless.Only after a full breath did this short-statured but enigmatic immortal straighten up.

"Auntie, hello. I'm Yu Ling Di. I got lost walking here and saw this item..."He extended his hand, holding the woman's forgotten hoe."Is this yours?"