Chapter 721: Chapter 148: Banter Hides a Deadly Plot, Comings and Goings Lack True Void
Netherworld Palace.
When Mu Qingyan returned to her own sleeping quarters, she finally shed the exhaustion that cloaked her.
Her gaze still brimmed with the bright luster of divinity, her wise eyes seeming to peer through all the secrets of the world.
It seemed that there was hardly anything left in this world that could make her furrow her brows.
"Truths and lies, lies within truths, since you used falsehood to confuse the real in deceiving me, I will use the real to befuddle the false in dealing with you. Perhaps you truly believe that everything is under your control? In my last life, I was willing to blind the Heavenly Heart for the man I loved, becoming a woman as venomous as a viper. In this life, I can change my nature for the sake of my man as well.
Everyone thinks I’m incapable of scheming against others, but when others bully their way upon my husband, even to the point of such obstinate ignorance, then all rules can be broken."
These were Mu Qingyan’s thoughts.
She wasn’t worried about these thoughts being seen by others; this was the Peaceful Realms, not a breeding ground.
There’s no need for the precautions necessary in a breeding ground here.
Although the Netherworld Palace, and indeed the entire Life and Death Illusion Realm plane of the Peaceful Realms, were under the reign of the Hell Plane, some things do not change with the shift of power.
"Goddess, will there be any changes to the situation three days from now? If something does change, how should we face it?" Lilith came to Mu Qingyan’s side, her youthful face still marked with worry.
She knew well that she couldn’t help Mu Qingyan with anything, but she still couldn’t help but worry, her nature somewhat foolishly innocent.
Yet, it was precisely because of this temperament that she was the only maid out of the group that Mu Qingyan had chosen.
"We’ll just have to take it one step at a time. I don’t have any special plans, I can only do my best, and ask for a clear conscience."
Mu Qingyan offered no explanation, as the matters were too complicated; even if she explained it all, Lilith might not understand.
And seeing Lilith’s innocent and cute worried expression, Mu Qingyan’s mood also somewhat lifted.
She suddenly felt a strong conviction that what belonged to her should not be regarded with indifference; rather, she should firmly grasp it in her own hands, defending it with her own strength and ability.
Perhaps it was because she had cared too little in the past that she had inadvertently fueled the arrogant swagger of certain individuals, time and time again.
Mu Qingyan’s temperament was gradually changing; she was becoming less detached, completely different from her last life.
Lilith, somewhat confused, looked at Mu Qingyan, uncertain of what to do. After a while, she spoke with a touch of despondency, "Then, then Goddess, I’ll go check on Ping’er. She still hasn’t recovered, and seems to be persistently in low spirits."
Mu Qingyan smiled and said, "Go ahead, tell her not to worry. Think about it, I’m not that frail; don’t you all lose confidence in me."
"Goddess, Lilith understands. I shall take my leave now."
Lilith puckered her tongue playfully, feeling much better in her heart.
After that, she immediately hopped away, full of life.
Watching her depart, with her carefree manner, Mu Qingyan truly felt envious. She shook her head helplessly, then once again began the complex process of derivation, as if calculating the potential changes in certain matters.
...
"SiSi, did your father leave any words for me and the Holy Daughter?" Ping’er asked with a hint of hope.
"Words? What words? He didn’t say anything; he only left his physical body to me."
The youth in white clothes showed a thoughtful expression, but deep in his eyes, there was confusion; he couldn’t remember much, so he spoke ambiguously.
"Oh..."
Ping’er’s expression dimmed further, as if her entire being had lost a great deal of energy, and she suddenly appeared much more wearied and haggard.
"Perhaps, the master has forgotten, or perhaps he kept everything to himself, without expressing it. The master personally sending his daughter here on a visit, isn’t that in itself a profound expression of his care..."
Ping’er murmured to herself.
"Auntie Ping’er, don’t be sad, Father cares about you very much. He might not have said anything, but he would often gaze up at the heavenly vault, his expression melancholic—Mother said that he was thinking about the Holy Daughter and Auntie Ping’er."
Ping’er’s despondency acted like a force of utmost sincerity, flowing into Zhou Sisi’s body, causing her a momentary stasis. Then she remembered a blurry figure—the one she used to call "Senior Brother."
The memory of this person suppressed the unknown thoughts in her heart, giving Zhou Sisi a moment of clarity, so she almost instinctively said these words.
Then, her mind clouded a little, and she reverted to her usual state.
Hearing these words, the dim light in Ping’er’s beautiful eyes instantly burst forth with joyous luminance. She seemed to want confirmation but, as she glanced back, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a red light in the depths of Zhou Sisi’s eyes.
In that instant, Ping’er showed no emotional response, as if she hadn’t seen anything, and eagerly said, "Really?"
"Really, how could Sisi ever deceive Auntie Ping’er?"
Zhou Sisi bowed her head slightly as she spoke, concealing the fleeting mist of blood that streaked across her eyes.
...
The Mingxin Mirror appeared in Mu Qingyan’s palm, and with a flash of light from her hand, the mirror disappeared.
The scene that had unfolded between Ping’er and Zhou Sisi played out again in her eyes as if it were truly happening once more, and she witnessed everything.
Yet, she harbored no doubts or uncertainties at all, as if everything was within her control.
"Ping’er used emotions and feelings to stir the soul, opening the window to her emotional spirit. Indeed, the information I derived was correct. I’m fortunate that when I learned about Zhou Yan, I had the Eight Soul Envoys leave a mark in passing. At that time, I had an inkling and knew that this reincarnation of Hou Yao carried a tremendous fate."
"This matter might be the Jiang family’s use of my planted cause and effect to erase their own actions, separating themselves from the heavenly order."
"However, precisely because of this, knowing Hou Yao’s past life affairs, and the heavy love affair with her senior brother that burdened her for a lifetime, this also becomes a ’weakness’ that we can exploit."
"The Heavenly Dao is not perfect, and all perfection has its flaws. Even if the Evil Soul attempts all means to appear as a descendant of Zhou Yan and take control immediately, it is unaware of the weakness therein."
"Looking at this, my speculations were not the slightest bit off; Sisi was indeed under control."
"Then, let’s act according to the plan. When necessary, even if blamed by my husband, I must kill her and at the same time outsmart Jiang Tianling and the others, making them fall into a trap and never rise again."
Mu Qingyan’s eyes remained extremely calm. To those unaware, she might seem bewildered, struggling with Enlightenment, hence her adorably pitiful and heart-rending appearance.
But in reality, her mind was already filled with schemes against any enemy—including Zhou Sisi.
This was the essence of ’discussing strategy with laughter, moving without tangible truth.’
Mu Qingyan had locked down an almost perfect plan against her enemies.
...
Three days passed swiftly.
Zhou Yan gradually grew accustomed to his identity, known as ’Seven Cosmos’, a registered Netherworld Seven Soul Envoy.
In the Peaceful Realms, Soul Envoys do not determine their status by strength or realm but by contributions.
This time, many Soul Envoys returned to the Netherworld Life and Death Illusion Realm and Netherworld Main City in preparation for the discussion of the Goddess’s public Enlightenment and Dao.
Zhou Yan’s identity was not in danger of being exposed, as this was an escape route that Jiu Que had prepared for him long ago, which he had given to Zhou Yan early on and now came into play.
That morning, the entire Netherworld Palace was solemn, with a steady stream of Cultivators arriving at the Netherworld Main City Divine Platform in anticipation of the Heavenly Heart discussion of the Dao.
Zhou Yan arrived early at the inner part of the Netherworld Main City on the Netherworld Divine Platform, where the Enlightenment would begin.
He stood there quietly, waiting.
Since seeing Sisi transformed into a young man in white three days ago, he no longer took the initiative to pay attention to that group of four, nor had he been in contact with Mu Qingyan.
Zhou Yan could see that Mu Qingyan had her own plans.
He decided to watch and wait.
Time slipped by, and before long, a dense mass of Cultivators began to step into this area, and the vast space gradually became crowded.
More and more people arrived, and Cultivators from various lands began filling the space around Zhou Yan. Most of these Cultivators were Five, Six, or Seven Soul Envoys. Eight Soul Envoys were rare, and the Nine Soul Envoys always remained a mystery.
"Scram!"
"Make way!"
"This area belongs to our Jiang family. Get lost promptly!"
...
Suddenly, a series of shouting echoed from nearby, followed by many young men and women in white, flow-lit Combat Armors descending from the sky, with the one in the lead not very strong, but his status seemed quite high.
He was surrounded and escorted by others.
Now, possessing the Six Great Sword Body within himself and understanding the Soul Control Profound Meaning, Zhou Yan noticed these people as soon as they appeared.
Zhou Yan focused slightly, and his vision instantly became clear. The realm these flow-lit Combat Armor young men belonged to was immediately apparent to him, without the difficulty he had previously experienced in discerning his enemies.
Not only did Zhou Yan see through the Sword Tribulation Realm, but according to his own deductive abilities, he also identified the abilities and realms of Cultivators in the Sword Ancestor Realm, as well as the certain advantages they possessed.
"This person, he possesses four ancient Sword Bodies and also carries three ancient bloodlines? His greatest offensive ability seems to be a kind of Annihilation, Destruction Dao, and magical chains that bind souls with the order. As for his realm... the pinnacle of the eighth refinement in the Sword Tribulation."
Zhou Yan’s gaze lingered on the blue, flow-lit Combat Armor young man for a moment and immediately noticed his uniqueness.
Previously, when facing the Netherworld, Zhou Yan had not realized he had such ability. Now, when observing these people and focusing, the ability suddenly manifested.
"Is this the power of the Nine Orifice Exquisite Heart, or the Soul-controlling Sword Body?"
Zhou Yan felt puzzled inside. Then he turned his attention to the other Cultivators again. But this time, he suddenly could not access that information again.