"Meeting adjourned, meeting adjourned!"
Xu Fang didn't bother with the surprised and uncertain expressions of the various magical artifacts. With a loud shout, he leaped out and left Fen Bao Yan.
Watching Xu Fang disappear, the assembled artifacts exchanged glances. It felt like they had been in this meeting for so long, yet the outcome remained unknown. It was a pointless meeting!
However, with Xu Fang abandoning them and leaving without a care, what could they do? They could only follow suit, transforming into their artifact forms.
Xu Fang left the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda and appeared on the Fen Bao Yan warship. The Golden Winged Great Peng Condor and the other two immediately crowded around him.
"Senior, this Yingzhou Island is quite strange!"
"Indeed, indeed. Fen Bao Yan has been here for so long, let alone immortals, not even a ghost has been seen!"
"Senior, isn't Yingzhou Island the place you rented to Dong Wang Gong? Could it be that Dong Wang Gong's lingering spirit is causing the island to be devoid of life?"
Xu Fang listened to the words of his three little followers, seeing the fear and unease on their faces, and felt speechless.
"You are all immortals, what are you afraid of ghosts for!"
Xu Fang chuckled and cursed. Besides, even if there were ghosts, it wouldn't be the lingering spirit of Dong Wang Gong. That guy's residual soul was in the dragon-headed staff, incredibly weak, and incapable of causing trouble.
However, looking down at Yingzhou Island below Fen Bao Yan, Xu Fang also furrowed his brow.
Looking out, Yingzhou Island was incredibly quiet. He couldn't sense many life signatures.
This was indeed strange. Yingzhou Island was, after all, the land of the Immortal Court. No matter how dire the Immortal Court's condition, there should still be guards, right?
Furthermore, he had been in a meeting with the artifacts, and Fen Bao Yan had been docked here for so long, yet no immortal from the Immortal Court had appeared. What was going on?
Just as Xu Fang was pondering, a voice reached him, resonating in his ears.
"Alright, alright, Xu Fang, how long are you going to dawdle? I discovered you long ago, why haven't you come down yet?"
"I've been standing here with this Queen Mother of the West, almost turning into a statue waiting for you. Can you come down or not?"
Upon hearing this resentful voice, Xu Fang immediately felt amused. Wasn't this the Kunlun Mirror, Queen Mother of the West's artifact?
Since the Kunlun Mirror had spoken, it seemed Queen Mother of the West was likely not in danger.
The Kunlun Mirror complained, but Xu Fang didn't respond. Instead, he looked at the treasure map beside him and quickly used the Kunlun Mirror to pinpoint Queen Mother of the West's location. He then directed Fen Bao Yan to descend towards that spot.
Before long, they saw Queen Mother of the West standing there, deep in thought.
"Fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West, I have come as invited. Your hospitality is a bit lacking!"
Xu Fang said, complaining as he descended from Fen Bao Yan.
Hearing Xu Fang's voice, Queen Mother of the West snapped back to attention, looked at Xu Fang, and bowed.
"Fellow Daoist Xu Fang, my apologies. I was momentarily lost in thought and did not greet you immediately. Please forgive me!"
Seeing Queen Mother of the West apologize so profusely, Xu Fang couldn't say much more. Instead, he became curious.
"Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West, your Immortal Court's security work seems to have some issues. Fen Bao Yan has been here for so long, yet no immortal appeared."
This was fortunate because it was him. If some ill-intentioned beings had appeared, could they have walked around the Immortal Court with such impunity?
However, as Xu Fang kindly reminded Queen Mother of the West to strengthen their security, she became disheartened and shook her head repeatedly, sighing deeply.
"Fellow Daoist Xu Fang, you jest. Where is there any Immortal Court here anymore! The Immortal Court disbanded long ago. I am still here, merely waiting for Fellow Daoist Xu Fang's arrival."
"This!"
These words from Queen Mother of the West shocked not only Xu Fang but also the Golden Winged Great Peng Condor and the other two, leaving them dumbfounded.
"Sister Queen Mother of the West, don't joke with us. Didn't your Immortal Court send people to help the human race last time?"
"Yes, even though Dong Wang Gong is gone, you are still here, you can maintain the Immortal Court!"
"Could it be that Dong Wang Gong's lingering spirit is causing the Immortal Court to fall apart?"
The Golden Winged Great Peng Condor and the other two spoke in succession. Xu Fang sighed upon hearing the little Qilin's characteristic lack of tact.
Little Qilin, if you can't say anything nice, just be a mute Qilin!
What you said just now was like picking at old wounds!
As expected, upon hearing this, Queen Mother of the West's eyes dimmed further, filled with sorrow.
However, she soon raised her head, forcing a smile.
"This Immortal Court arose because of him. If he is no longer here, what is the point of the Immortal Court existing?"
"Before heading to the human race, I had already told the immortals of the Immortal Court that from now on, we would go our separate ways. They have long since departed and their whereabouts are unknown."
Queen Mother of the West spoke of the Immortal Court's dissolution as if it were an event completely unrelated to her.
Xu Fang sighed. Queen Mother of the West had no interest in the disputes of the Great Desolation. She only went along with Dong Wang Gong's so-called ambition.
With Dong Wang Gong gone, the Immortal Court naturally had no reason to exist. Its dissolution was a matter of course.
However, even though Queen Mother of the West appeared calm and spoke lightly, everyone present knew that the more serene her face, the more pain she felt in her heart.
"Fellow Daoist Queen Mother of the West, you don't need to be overly sad. Actually, actually, some people who leave may not truly be gone."
Xu Fang couldn't bear to see Queen Mother of the West like this. He almost revealed Dong Wang Gong's situation, but in the end, he corrected himself in time.
This matter was important. The fewer people who knew, the more secure it would be. Speaking too much could lead to mistakes, so it was best not to.
"I know. He will always live in my heart."
Queen Mother of the West smiled, looked at Xu Fang, nodded, and then bowed to Xu Fang once more.
"I am here to thank Fellow Daoist Xu Fang on behalf of Dong Wang Gong for everything you have done for him. And this Yingzhou Island, it is also being returned to Fellow Daoist Xu Fang today, restoring it to its rightful owner."
"You knew?"
Xu Fang was astonished. Queen Mother of the West actually knew about Yingzhou Island. When did this happen? Had Dong Wang Gong leaked it?
"It's hard not to know! The three immortal islands of Penglai are one. How could Yingzhou Island be separate? It was very generous of Fellow Daoist Xu Fang to lend Yingzhou Island to Dong Wang Gong as his dojo."
Queen Mother of the West smiled, not hiding anything.
"Speaking of which, you two are truly good friends. The friendship between men is indeed wonderfully unfathomable!"
"When I saw you both like that back then, I naturally couldn't expose you. Now that Dong Wang Gong is no longer here, Yingzhou Island must be returned to its original owner."
Xu Fang chuckled bitterly upon hearing this.
So, his years with Dong Wang Gong were all for show? To maintain a so-called facade, they had engaged in such a tacit understanding?
In the end, Queen Mother of the West had seen through it all long ago and simply watched them perform.
Thinking about it made him feel so exasperated. He and Dong Wang Gong had been putting on a great act, only for it to be seen as a monkey show in her eyes!