Chapter 1265: The Sky Like a Lid

"Where is this place?" Jiang Wang asked.Zhao Xuanyang glanced at him, seemingly surprised by his calmness.But he didn't pay much mind to it."Due to some unique historical reasons, there are certain places in the mundane world that are not of the mundane world," Zhao Xuanyang said briefly, then added, "We are in such a place right now."

When he fell, Jiang Wang had already surveyed the surroundings.This was a...Lightless cavern.The rocks were jagged and peculiar, the air chillingly cold. Yet, magma flowed above the entrance, not a single drop falling.This scene... Jiang Wang was actually quite familiar with it.

Zhao Xuanyang's slightly smug voice continued, "A True Lord in the present age can perceive reality and see through the mundane world. Without help to conceal us, we'd have nowhere to hide. But in a place like this, it's different; their restrictions are greatly amplified.""Where exactly is this?" Jiang Wang asked, "I haven't felt much restriction.""Uh, because you're weaker," Zhao Xuanyang stated bluntly, "The deeper your connection to the mundane world, the greater the restrictions you face in a place with different rules.""Of course," he then, considering Jiang Wang's feelings, added thoughtfully, "Being weak isn't your fault; after all, you're still very young.""Thank you. I am indeed comforted," said Jiang Wang.

Zhao Xuanyang looked around, then cast a meaningful gaze at him. "You should be familiar with this place.""Do you remember the bottom of the Clear River?" he asked.Jiang Wang had always known that if Zhuang Gaoxian and his ministers were to produce any evidence regarding demonic affairs, it would surely be related to the ancient demon lair at the bottom of the Clear River.Because he had indeed been to that place and had indeed come into contact with demons.Though in truth, it was Song Hengjiang who cultivated the demons, and it was Zhuang Chengqian who colluded with the White Bone Evil God yet also fought against him.From beginning to end, he was merely a chess piece manipulated by Zhuang Chengqian, a passerby who stumbled into that centuries-long game of life and death. He was just a person who, relying on his courage and persistence, struggled to leap out of the chessboard.But these matters, his words held no weight.A truth that cannot be acknowledged cannot be called truth at all.If he couldn't escape the judgment of Jade Capital Mountain, he wouldn't even have the chance to speak.Zhao Xuanyang asked this question, likely knowing some of the circumstances, at least knowing that Jiang Wang had indeed been to the ancient demon lair at the bottom of the Clear River.But from Zhuang Gaoxian's side, there was certainly no truth to be told.Jiang Wang could fully imagine how the Zhuang court would frame him, and how that story would be logical, appearing real and credible. As a descendant of Zhuang Chengqian, Zhuang Gaoxian possessed that talent, and Du Ruohui possessed that seasoned wisdom.

"Ancient demon lair?" Jiang Wang frowned and said, "Didn't they say I colluded with demons? Why are they bringing me to hide in an ancient demon lair?"Zhao Xuanyang smiled gently, "I don't trust that Zhuang Gaoxian; I take his truths as lies. Don't resent me; the old folks agreed to eliminate you as a convenience, and I am merely following orders. We all live in this world, no matter how extraordinary we are, we cannot be entirely free from its ways. More or less, we must give face to the state and the sect."He paused, adding, "Of course, it's fine if you resent me. That is your right."

Jiang Wang didn't feel much anger, merely asking, "I am actually quite curious. By what merit can I arouse the vigilance of the Jing Kingdom, to the extent of wanting to eliminate me beforehand? The Jing Kingdom has you, Chunyu Gui, and the youngest True Lord in history, Li Yi. Could they possibly fear a mere Inner Mansion realm Jiang Wang?"Zhao Xuanyang held his arm and walked into the demon lair, saying casually, "You don't need to lump me and Li Yi together and flatter me. Whether I can compare to him is a matter for after I reach the Manifest Illumination realm. As for your question... I am not entirely sure either. I am just a laborer. But I guess, perhaps those old folks originally wanted to give Jiang Shu a warning, and Zhuang Gaoxian just happened to hand them a hammer, so why not strike? They just struck as a matter of convenience."He sighed, "The Qi Kingdom has indeed been too imposing lately."

Upon reflection, this was indeed the case.First, the Qi Kingdom destroyed the Yang Kingdom, completely absorbing its territory.Subsequently, in the near-sea islands, they forced the Fishing Sea Tower to form the Sea Guardian Alliance for self-preservation.However, while the Sea Guardian Alliance was a grand gesture, its effectiveness remained questionable.When the new Sea Boundary List's sub-list was opened, Jiang Wang was first. Not long after, Ji Zhaonan went and took first place on the main list, almost effortlessly. The young generation of prodigies completely dominated the Fishing Sea Tower.Afterwards, when the Kingdom of Equality caused trouble during the Grandmaster's Rite, many waited to see the Qi Kingdom's embarrassment. Yet, the Qi Kingdom turned around and sent troops into the Xia Kingdom, planting their banner on Sword Peak Mountain, forcing the Xia Kingdom to hand over a member of the Kingdom of Equality in the Divine Manifestation realm, and took the opportunity for a thorough sweep.Coupled with taking the top spot on the Observer River Platform and the Ziwei Mid-Heaven Supreme Emperor Banner, the Qi Kingdom's might was renowned through the ages.It could be said that whether in the near-sea islands, in the East or South Regions, or on the Observer River Platform, the Qi Kingdom was infinitely glorious and unmatched in power. Its勢 (potential/influence) was directly chasing that of the Great Yang Empire of yesteryear.Such a Qi Kingdom was, of course, not something the Jing Kingdom was happy to see.

Jiang Wang smiled bitterly, "So, I just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time?"Zhao Xuanyang walked and said, "Don't belittle yourself; your own talent is also very important. The price Zhuang Gaoxian paid to deal with you is considerable. Frankly, at first, I thought it was an exaggeration. But after truly coming into contact with you, I can understand it. I can only say, those surnamed Zhuang truly don't do business at a loss."Jiang Wang sighed, "Is that a compliment?""I am merely a person who likes to speak the truth," Zhao Xuanyang responded with a smile, then added, "Don't be nervous; these demon lairs in the mundane world have been abandoned for a long time, there is no danger. Just follow me, it's very safe."

While speaking, the two had already reached a large cavernous chamber.This ancient demon lair had a different layout from the one at the bottom of the Clear River.Here, the space was larger and the environment more complex.There were over a dozen openings, hanging on the cave walls, their dark depths leading to unknown places.The vision granted by transcendent cultivation was not affected by the lightless environment. But there was indeed nothing much to see here.The demon lair at the bottom of the Clear River at least had some arrangements left by Song Hengjiang and Zhuang Chengqian from back then. This one, however, had no traces left."What do you plan to do next?" Jiang Wang asked."I plan to do nothing," Zhao Xuanyang said with a smile, "We will stay here for seven or eight days. Monk Ku Jue won't be able to find us and will naturally give up. Then I'll take you, grandly and openly, to Jade Capital Mountain. How impressive!"Jiang Wang sighed, he had been sighing a lot today. "Is this what you meant by avoiding a True Lord for ten thousand miles?""What, hiding doesn't count?" Zhao Xuanyang countered.Jiang Wang was speechless."Don't mind these details," Zhao Xuanyang released his grip and beckoned, "Come, don't be shy, please sit."He sat down on a giant stone shaped like a millstone and began to meditate. He was likely not as relaxed as he appeared in dealing with the pursuit of a True Lord of the present age.Jiang Wang looked around and walked towards another stone he fancied."Don't go too far," Zhao Xuanyang's voice reminded, "Sit next to me."Jiang Wang sighed and turned back, sitting next to him.Fortunately, the stone was large enough for two people to sit on either side without being crowded.After sitting down, Jiang Wang began to explore his Inner Mansion.Although Zhao Xuanyang was sitting cross-legged and meditating, his voice sounded at the right time, "Don't rashly move your spirit."Jiang Wang could only disperse his spiritual power and said helplessly, "You won't let me cultivate either, then what should I do?""Why not space out for a while," Zhao Xuanyang said."Is this how you treat a friend?" Jiang Wang asked."Then shall I chat with you?""Forget it," Jiang Wang lay back, hands behind his head, his bright eyes gazing at the cavern dome. "I'll just space out!"

There was nothing to see on the dome of the ancient demon lair, yet Jiang Wang was lost in thought, his gaze becoming somewhat ethereal.Zhao Xuanyang could not know what mood this young prodigy he admired so much was in at this moment.Having experienced the dazzling brilliance on the Observer River Platform, acclaimed by all under heaven. A few days later, he was accused of colluding with demons and reviled by all under heaven.How many people could endure the taste of going from the peak to the bottom?And at this moment, Jiang Wang...What was he thinking?

The sky was like a lid, the flowing clouds like galloping horses.In the Lingxiao secret realm.The esteemed Sect Guardian Elder, Lord Chou, was playing with a small grey dog.At this time, Ah Chou's body was shrunk to be very small, only slightly larger than Stupid Grey. He was grinning, sticking out his tongue, and happily bouncing around with the little grey dog.Suddenly, hearing a gust of wind, Ah Chou immediately became serious, his demeanor becoming dignified.With one paw, he pressed down on Stupid Grey, who was bouncing right behind his butt.Stupid Grey blinked its eyes, looking very bewildered and innocent, not understanding why the new boss suddenly stopped playing.

After a while, Ye Qingyu arrived, fluttering in."You're here, Qingyu," Ah Chou said with the demeanor of an elder, sighing, "Um, how is An An's schoolwork? This child is very playful; you must supervise her well."It was as if he completely forgot that the reason Jiang An An's schoolwork wasn't finished on time was because he had taken her out to play.

"Almost done," Ye Qingyu replied casually, then asked, "And you, are you having fun playing with Stupid Grey?""Heh, what's there to be happy about. I'm just looking after An An for a bit," Ah Chou's eyes were practically turned towards the sky. "These little mongrels, I can kill a hundred with one fart."Stupid Grey tilted its head, of course not understanding, and bounced forward affectionately again.Ah Chou still mercilessly blocked it with his meaty paw. "Don't get so close to this Lord!""You, you, you, you... what are you doing!"It was Stupid Grey, sticking out its tongue and licking him enthusiastically.Ah Chou quickly withdrew his paw and retreated.Stupid Grey thought it was playing a game! It bounced forward even more happily.In front of Ye Qingyu, Ah Chou's old face couldn't bear it. With a nimble flip of his paws, he sent Stupid Grey sprawling on its back. "Behave yourself, this Lord!"Stupid Grey was lying on its back, still very happy, its tail wagging rapidly. Drool was dripping out.Ye Qingyu watched all of this silently, giving up the idea of relying on Stupid Grey.

"Uncle Chou," she asked directly, "Someone is bullying me, are you going to do something about it?"No sooner said than done. Ah Chou leaped up fiercely, soaring into the air, revealing his true form, three zhang long. His fangs were bared, and in the water sphere hanging from his slender tail, a faint sound of waves surged.His aura was overbearing for a moment."Who is so audacious?" he roared like thunder, "This Lord will tear him apart!"

"Zhao Xuanyang," Ye Qingyu said.Ah Chou paused."The wind is very strong today," his fangs were retracted, his tail also drooped, and the long fur on his body became particularly smooth.He even swayed a little in the air, unable to stand steadily. "Why do I feel a little overwhelmed by the wind? Maybe I'll have a stroke from too much wind. Alas, I'm old, I can't stand it. I'll go back to the house to rest first."As he spoke, he flew away unsteadily, disappearing into the air.

Only Stupid Grey remained bewildered, not knowing why "Brother" had suddenly left. It flipped over in place, quickly got up, and then looked at Ye Qingyu, wagging its tail, wanting some spiritual fruits to eat.Ye Qingyu pursed her lips and didn't speak.After a while, a cloud mass fell, revealing its form in the air and stretching out its limbs—it was Ah Chou who had returned.He flew to Ye Qingyu's front, looking dejected. "Qingqing, don't be like this. It's not that Uncle Chou won't help you; we can't handle the Jing Kingdom!""Then are we just going to stand by and watch An An's brother get into trouble? How can we face An An and Stupid Grey in the future!" Ye Qingyu lifted Stupid Grey with one hand, showing him to Ah Chou, her beautiful eyes shimmering with moisture. "Stupid Grey is also his. You've been having so much fun playing with it every day."If Stupid Grey was a little smarter, it would be cooperating and acting pitiful now.Unfortunately, it wasn't.It was lifted into the air and was extremely happy instead, grinning and wagging its tail frantically, slobbering all over.

Ah Chou patted his forehead with his meaty paw, looking very troubled. "Then what can we do? Their leg hair is thicker than my thigh. At least there needs to be a True Lord to even speak in front of the Jing Kingdom people. Why is your father in seclusion? Isn't it because he's afraid of losing face in front of you!?"As he spoke, he was punched hard on the forehead.Ye Lingxiao, dressed in white, appeared. "Every day, you talk too much! You already eat enough, and you talk more than you eat!"Ah Chou rolled a huge white eye and didn't speak.

Only then did Ye Lingxiao turn around and look at his precious daughter, smiling with schadenfreude. "Didn't I say this kid wasn't very good? At first, he just couldn't get along in the Qi Kingdom. He even said proudly that he was going to the Chu Kingdom to handle matters, well. In the blink of an eye, he can't get along anywhere in the world!"Ye Qingyu lowered her eyelids and didn't speak.

"Alright, alright," Ye Lingxiao stopped smiling, and his voice softened. "The Cloud Kingdom's neutral policy won't change, but our stance on upholding justice for humanity also won't change. Colluding with demons is a great sin against humanity, something we should all be concerned about. It just so happens that your father has some of Zhuang's dark history in his hands. When the public trial at Jade Capital Mountain happens, he won't have time to find fault with others! You say, if he has problems, can his evidence still be trusted?""Really?" Ye Qingyu raised her eyes."Of course!" Ye Lingxiao said proudly, "Do you really think your father only knows how to go into seclusion? As soon as Dad saw my precious daughter was unhappy, he immediately rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find evidence, okay? You, stop listening to baseless nonsense!"

Ah Chou was completely unconvinced and opened his eyes wide, about to speak.But a more piercing gaze glared back instantly.Well.Ah Chou blinked his eyes, a hint of cautiousness mixed with his grievance.Damaging Ye Xiaohua's majestic image in front of his daughter was absolutely one of the greatest crimes in Lingxiao Pavilion.Even someone as esteemed as Ah Chou would inevitably get beaten if he dared to commit this crime.

Ye Qingyu smiled brightly. "Dad, you're too amazing!""Jiang Wang is still more amazing," Ye Lingxiao said dismissively, pouting. "When I was his age, I wasn't chased all over the world, let alone become so well-known throughout the world."He sighed melancholically. "Alas, your father only knows how to chase others."