Chapter 226 – The Sky Gate Opens, Immortals Descend to the World?

Bleached white bones paved the ground outside the pitch-black, gloomy palace.

For a hundred miles around, no human traces could be seen. Ravens circled in the sky, their crimson pupils rotating as they gazed down upon the mountainous landscape below.

The toad moon cast pale light, while deep, shadowy mists drifted about.

Tap, tap…

The Supreme Alliance Leader, clad in magnificent robes, walked alone through this desolate realm.

Before he could reach the entrance,

Spirit Tools made of strung-together human bones clattered against each other.

A sinister wind blew in from outside, thread by thread, while the friction of flesh and bone produced faint, unsettling rustles, creating an eerie melody that seized the soul.

At that moment,

A plume of black mist suddenly appeared, abruptly coalescing at the entrance, as if anticipating his arrival.

“Senior Brother, it’s been a long time.”

Nine Heavens Venerable stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back, shrouded in black mist. Watching the Alliance Leader approach slowly, he smiled faintly, like an old friend reunited after a long separation:

“You’ve finally come.”

“Why did you summon me so suddenly?”

The Alliance Leader’s expression was stiff and cold, his gaze toward Nine Heavens Venerable filled entirely with vigilance and wariness.

The Supreme Alliance and the Beast God Sect had always been opposed. Although they refrained from interfering with each other due to a pact, this was, after all, a secret meeting between the two leaders.

If word were to leak out, it was likely that the upper echelons of the outside world would reassess the Supreme Alliance’s image!

His ability to sit in this position as Alliance Leader relied entirely on his cautious, step-by-step approach.

“Why so impatient, Senior Brother?”

Noting the Alliance Leader’s expression, Nine Heavens Venerable curled his lips into a smile and said leisurely,

“How long has it been since we last met, fellow disciples?

Back in the day, you and I were under the same master, sharing everything as close as brothers. We sat together under old trees and withered vines, studying the Dao of alchemy and the great path.

Those beautiful days… you couldn’t have forgotten them all—”

Before he could finish,

Boom!

The Star Pressure inside the hall suddenly intensified. The pillars cracked, spreading branching fissures like tree limbs, and a murderous aura filled the air.

“Silence!”

The Supreme Alliance Leader’s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth in anger.

“Nangong Li! How dare you act recklessly in my presence!”

It seemed that some unpleasant memories had been stirred. He glared at Nine Heavens Venerable and threatened in a low voice, “Ever since you defected to the Beast God Sect back then, you and I have no longer been fellow disciples.

If you dare bring this up again, don’t blame me for taking action here and directly eliminating you, you Demonkin!”

“Heh, eliminating Demonkin?”

Hearing this, Nine Heavens Venerable smiled faintly, as if he had heard something amusing. Stroking the Star Beast skull beside him, he shook his head and said,

“Meng Tianxuan, oh Meng Tianxuan… after all these years, mingling with those righteous path followers, you’re still the same—as rigid and stubborn as ever…

Everyone respects you, but as your junior brother, don’t I know you well?”

As he spoke, he slowly stepped forward, heading directly toward the Alliance Leader: “Back in the day, you and I shared the same pillow when we slept. The schemes in your belly—I, as your fellow disciple, know them all too well.”

“Know me? You?”

The Supreme Alliance Leader avoided his outstretched hand and frowned. “Stop trying to act familiar!”

“Those who follow different paths cannot work together, Nangong Li. Out of respect for our past bond… I’ll advise you one last time as your senior brother: withdraw from the Beast God Sect as soon as possible, lest you meet your end and your Dao dissipates. Otherwise—”

“Otherwise what? Use your righteous path status to pressure me?”

Nine Heavens Venerable interrupted, his gaze toward the Alliance Leader now tinged with even more disgust:

“In my view, all of you are nothing but cowards!””What nonsense about righteous and evil paths? When a person dies, the lamp extinguishes; praise and blame are left to others! All paths ultimately converge—we are fundamentally the same kind of truth-seekers!”

As the words fell.

“You!”

The Supreme Alliance Leader grew inexplicably furious.

These words seemed intent on stripping him of all dignity.

How could he possibly wallow in the same mire as them?

“What? Struck a nerve?!”

Noticing the Alliance Leader’s flustered state, Nine Heavens Venerable retreated lightly several yards away, the smile at his lips deepening.

“Senior Brother, have you considered how long we’ve been stuck at the Peak Celestial Venerable Realm?

If not for your interference, my Beast God Sect’s grand plan would have long been accomplished. By then, the Sky Gate would open, celestial beings would descend, and the world would usher in an unprecedented golden age.

Otherwise, why would I… remain trapped at the Celestial Venerable Realm for a full century without breakthrough?”

“Celestial descent?”

Meng Tianxuan spoke coldly, sweeping his gaze around. “After all these years, you still cling to these groundless rumors?”

The great hall around them

was adorned with vaulted ceilings bearing patterns of soaring immortals and intricately painted caisson decorations.

Even the supporting pillars were carved with numerous related inscriptions.

This alone revealed the depth of Nine Heavens Venerable’s obsession.

“Yearning relentlessly, seeking what cannot be attained…”

Alliance Lord Meng Tianxuan said gravely, “No one knows what consequences would follow. If otherworldly beings descend, the world would be plunged into misery and suffering—where would we find our place then?”

He glared furiously at Nangong Li and added, “Moreover… how could we tolerate others snoring beside our beds?!”

Silence fell in the hall.

Neither spoke further as

a chilly mountain wind swept through,

scattering snowflakes around them.

After a long pause,

“Meng Tianxuan, after a century, you remain as foolish as ever…”

Nine Heavens Venerable shook his head and sighed. “Enough. Kind words can’t wake the doomed—I can’t be bothered to argue with you further. Time will prove everything.”

Smoothing his robes, he steered the conversation back: “The main reason I invited you here concerns the Jianghai Arrow God. The rest need not concern you.”

“Arrow God?”

The Supreme Alliance Leader’s brow furrowed tightly.

“His lineage doesn’t belong to our Supreme Alliance now—you must have heard. What explanation are you seeking from me?”

“Hmph, the dead are gone,”

Nine Heavens Venerable waved dismissively. “This matter ends here. I won’t pursue it further.”

Suddenly, his tone sharpened as he stared at Meng Tianxuan: “But what about Jianghai City’s Blood Spirit Formation?

By my estimation, that city’s formation can last at most another six months.”

“Last six months…

What… what does that have to do with our Supreme Alliance?”

The Alliance Leader’s expression shifted slightly, his words growing evasive. “That’s your Beast Body Sect’s affair.”

“Hah! Excellent! How conveniently you wash your hands of it!”

Nine Heavens Venerable clapped his hands in mocking laughter. “Your Supreme Alliance’s hypocrisy knows no bounds! After all these years, don’t tell me you haven’t located the Blood Spirit Formation?

You found it but never destroyed it—even stationed guards around it… Don’t pretend you have no ulterior motives!”

Pacing rapidly,

he closed in on the Alliance Leader, demanding syllable by syllable:

“You know what will happen if the Blood Spirit Formation fails… When that point of no return comes, even regret will be too late!””……”

Hearing this, the Supreme Alliance Leader fell silent for a moment before hesitantly asking:

“What do you want then?”

His tone was weak, no longer as domineering as before.

“Heh…”

Nine Heavens Venerable chuckled without responding, giving the Alliance Leader a meaningful glance while feeling secretly pleased with himself.

From start to finish, this conversation had been under his control. The other party was already a caged bird with nowhere to escape.

What else could they do?

“Naturally, I need you so-called ‘Guardian Deities of Humanity’ to cooperate.”

……

……

Jianghai Library.

Noon, Manager’s office.

The bustling sounds from outside the window drifted in, warm sunlight poured into the room, spring breezes gently billowed the white window curtains.

“How’s this position, Xiaobai?”

Qin Yang carefully placed a pot of Golden Lotus on the windowsill, adjusting its angle to align with the feng shui formation.

After he spoke.

The little loli sitting on the desk didn’t move. Wearing headphones and a white gauze camisole dress, she lay on the desktop, completely absorbed in her mobile game.

“Stop playing games, did you hear me? Go stand by the door and check if it’s aligned.”

“Oh, got it,”

Xiaobai snapped out of her trance and ran to the doorway, gesturing with her hands to indicate level, “Just a tiny bit more to the right.”

“Like this?”

“A bit more, Master, it still looks slightly crooked.”

“How about now?”

“Perfect! Master, this position is just right.”

Xiaobai wagged her tail while holding her phone, returning to continue her game boosting session. Qin Yang leisurely walked to the desk, surveying the room’s layout.

Since taking up this position these past days, he hadn’t been idle at all. Following the arrangements in “True Array Decryption,” he had adjusted the office’s feng shui,

Conducted thorough daily cleaning, removing the old to welcome the new.

He had even brought in some potted plants to cultivate.

An office needed more greenery – it was pleasing to the eye and nourished the spirit.

With the array formation operating, it attracted wealth and prosperity, bringing substantial spiritual energy gains every day that greatly nourished the soul.

“Good, this should be about right.”

Qin Yang approached the desk, picked up his teacup, and glanced down.

Goji Berry Tea.

The tea fragrance wafted through the air.

These past few days while studying alchemy, he had developed several health-preserving tea recipes based on medicinal principles.

There was no other way.

He was simply too idle!

After becoming Manager, the work was unusually light – just organizing documents daily, occasionally conducting batch interviews, free to slack off as he pleased.

As for catching old colleagues slacking off…

Qin Yang set down his teacup, not particularly concerned about it.

He always turned a blind eye, letting things slide when possible. As long as they weren’t too blatant about it, he wouldn’t make things difficult for them.

“After all… why should one wage earner make things hard for another?”

Qin Yang glanced out the window, feeling somewhat stifled, so he stepped out of the office for some fresh air.

After the Beast Tide, many library staff had come and gone, with old and new faces constantly rotating.

Some veteran employees had left Jianghai to settle in other cities, while others had come attracted by the Arrow God’s reputation.

There were quite a few newcomers in the library too.

“Hello, Manager!”

“Mm.”

As Qin Yang walked, he frequently encountered familiar faces – all people he had personally selected through his interviews.

Not long after he left, his spiritual energy spread out to detect, picking up plenty of idle chatter among the library staff.”Is this the new Manager? He looks so handsome, and so young too?”

“I wonder if he has a girlfriend?”

“Does he have connections?!”

“Don’t you know? I heard during the Beast Tide, it seemed like only he and the old Manager stayed behind…”

“…”

Qin Yang heard these comments but didn’t pay them any mind.

Just as he was listening, his phone suddenly dinged – it was a message from Xia He.

[Old Qin, do you still have any of that health tea left? I’m coming over to get some!]

(End of Chapter)