For a hundred years, the Saint Feather clan's immortal lineage had taken pride in the beautiful immortal maiden, Fairy Ming Yuan, who hailed from the Ming family.
However, the deeds of the three back then had been spun into amusing tales that circulated throughout the three realms. Bai Yue Tian, a man driven by fame, profit, greed, and lust, was the reason Xuan Ling was brought out by Ming Yuan for the first time.
Initially, she had intended to push the blame onto her sister, letting the laughter of the three realms fall upon her.
But fate would have it that Xuan Ling, having lived long in the serene and pure land of green mountains and clear waters, possessed a celestial beauty that transcended the ordinary.
Upon seeing her sister's extraordinary beauty, Ming Yuan feared she would be supplanted, losing her position as the future matriarch of the Saint Feather clan. Thus, a wicked thought took root.
"That is to say, our Saint Feather clan actually produced two immortal maidens back then!"
The other elders present paid no mind to the ancient affairs of the two sisters. Instead, they were immensely proud that their clan's sacred land had produced two peerlessly beautiful immortal maidens.
"So, my dear sister, if you hadn't pushed me into the Immortal Transformation Pool and pretended you had jumped in yourself, I wouldn't have had to go to such lengths to gather my soul consciousness and only be able to glimpse my true form through others."
Xuan Ling's words left everyone present so astonished that their jaws nearly dropped.
For a thousand years, the clan members had held Fairy Ming Yuan in high regard. Though she had jumped into the Immortal Transformation Pool for love, it was precisely because of her sacrifice that the clan members, taking advantage of Bai Xian Hua's overwhelming grief, were able to subdue him.
"By the way, the Bai Yue Tian, the Great Elder you've always thought to be brave, resourceful, and exceptionally capable, is nothing more than a useless man who climbed to power by binding women and possesses no talent. Originally, the clan leader should have been the person standing before you."
Xuan Ling pointed at Bai Xian Hua.
Indeed, with his abilities back then, he was the prime candidate for clan leader.
But fate had it that someone spread rumors, claiming Bai Xian Hua's abilities were too formidable, and due to the taboos of his birth time, he would become a world-disrupting demon, leading the Saint Feather clan into darkness.
Because of these rumors, Bai Xian Hua was not only expelled from the Saint Feather clan but also ended up with a scattered soul.
The truth of the matter was laid bare, and the crimes of Ming Yuan and Bai Yue Tian were exposed to the public.
The two no longer maintained their pretense, their true faces completely revealed.
"Hahaha, truly my good sister. Even the Immortal Transformation Pool couldn't claim your soul. I, your elder sister, should truly applaud you." Her laughter grew sharp, and her demeanor lost its dignity.
She swayed her body to Bai Yue Tian's side and raised the bell in her hand again.
"Since she has revealed everything, then no one who remains here should live. Lest the news spread and bring shame to the Saint Feather clan?"
Her pupils dilated, and she stared fixedly at Gu Qian Ying and the gradually dissipating Xuan Ling.
"You truly deserve to die. How dare you release that woman? Then I shall start by dealing with you."
Saying this, she shook the bell, and Bai Xian Hua beside her lost consciousness once more, his eyes gradually turning red.
Nangong Mo pulled Gu Qian Ying behind him, and as he did, he coughed up a mouthful of blood from the strain.
"You, go to the side quickly."
Seeing him in this state, Gu Qian Ying felt a pang of heartache and berated him for not staying in the back.
Witnessing such a loving scene between the two, Fairy Ming Yuan clapped her hands again.
"What devoted lovers, protecting each other so fiercely. Since you care for each other so much, why not leave together?"
With that, the sound of marching feet gradually approached.
By the time everyone reacted, they were surrounded by a strange army clad in black.
Seeing the curved sabers in their hands, Nangong Mo frowned slightly.
"People from the demon realm, how did they intrude here?"
Someone answered his unspoken question.
"Do you truly believe the two of us are fighting alone? The moment Bai Xian Hua broke through the barrier, I had already sent word to the demon realm. Without other outsiders involved, where would the fun be in a scene like this?"
Bai Yue Tian's words shocked the other clan members and elders.
"You, you, as the Great Elder of the Saint Feather clan, the current clan leader, how could you collude with people from the demon realm? Do you know that these demons kill without blinking? They are all venomous creatures!"
The voices of the other elders carried a hint of disbelief, and their hearts were heavy with despair.
Bai Yue Tian looked at everyone with a contorted face.
"When I was just a child, you all mocked me for being born with a missing soul. No matter how I practiced, I could never learn the superior martial arts. You bullied me, you laughed at me, must I continue like this?"
Hearing his accusations, some elders couldn't help but lower their heads.
"I thought that by becoming the clan leader and learning the clan's secret techniques, I could truly become powerful. But I never imagined that because of my missing soul, I could only learn two tiers of the secret techniques. For someone like me, if I don't ally with outsiders, how can I secure this position?"
He had clearly lost his conscience and had completely shed all pretense.
"But you could have cultivated virtue. The people of the Saint Feather clan have never relied on force to win over others." Bai Shi stood up to refute his words.
"That's because you have never experienced the feeling of being bullied. You, relying on your ancestors being relatives of Ming Yuan, expect everyone to show you great care. Why? Why?"
His words grew more agitated, and Fairy Ming Yuan, standing beside him, issued a command to the encircling demon army.
"All people of the Saint Feather clan, kill them all, leave none alive."
As her words left her lips, the clan members panicked and scattered in all directions.
However, after her words had been spoken for a long time, the demon army hesitated to act.
As they wondered why these people dared to disobey their master's orders and not follow their commands, the army suddenly straightened and knelt.
And the person they knelt before was Gu Qian Ying, standing in the middle of the crowd.
"Your subordinate welcomes the Empress!"
"Your subordinate welcomes the Empress!"
"Your subordinate welcomes the Empress!"
The synchronized voices shook the heavens, and the Empress they spoke of then spoke slowly.
"I truly thought you had found some formidable helper to dare to stir up the entire Saint Feather clan's territory so brazenly. So, it turns out to be people from my demon realm."
Gu Qian Ying's words surprised not only Ming Yuan.
The most incredulous, naturally, were the elders of the Saint Feather clan.
"You, you are truly the Demon Empress? What are you doing?"
If it had been rumors before, he wouldn't have taken them seriously, but now, seeing the people kneeling at Gu Qian Ying's feet.
Elder Bai was greatly shocked.
"My mother and father are naturally here to save you all."
Little Yi Hao, who had been hidden for a long time, finally broke free from his restraints and spoke the most domineering words in a childish voice.
Looking at her son's adorable face, Gu Qian Ying couldn't help but stroke his little cheek.
"Yes, this Empress is naturally here to save you all."