The Great Thousand World — the Burning Heaven Continent.
Compared to three years ago, the Burning Heaven Continent had already undergone a tremendous transformation. The once‐violent fire-attribute Spiritual Energy had become completely docile, though still far more active than ordinary Spiritual Energy.
A vast city had been built upon the foundations of the Burning Heaven Mountain Range. Broad, imposing, and solemn, dense Spiritual Energy converged from all directions, making this place a true cultivation sanctuary.
There were never many people living in the city, and after the Ancient Maha Clan declared war upon Azure Flame Heaven, even fewer remained. Almost all were the Dou Saints who followed Liu Xi back then.
Before a palace deep within the city—
Xiao Yixian stood quietly by a railing. Dressed in pure white, her waterfall-like snow-white hair draped to her hips, outlining a flawless silhouette. Her lips were tightly pursed, and her unfocused gaze fell upon the massive statue in the distance.
"You promised we'd never be separated again… and now you lied to me. I even agreed to accompany you together with Zi Yan and Qing Lin…"
Her soft murmurs drifted in the wind. In her eyes was endless longing; her lonely back carried a sorrowful fragility.
On the distant plaza stood a thousand-zhang-tall statue, sculpted precisely after Liu Xi's figure and magnified many times over.
A breeze seemed to stir.
Zi Yan and Qing Lin descended together.
Zi Yan's brows were drawn tight, flames of anger flickering in her eyes. Qing Lin's brows were also faintly furrowed. Clearly, neither of the two were in a pleasant mood.
Zi Yan clenched her small fists, the suppressed fury in her gaze finally erupting as she shouted.
"Despicable! Absolutely despicable! The True Dragon Clan is taking advantage of the chaos, and the Phoenix Clan is even more shameless! They're secretly buying off magical beast experts, and they're even trying to lure the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Tribe to join the Divine Beast Alliance! Their lofty, superior attitude is disgusting—just trying to absorb us while Liu Xi is gone!"
Xiao Yixian turned slightly and asked softly.
"Are the Ancient Void Dragons and Heavenly Demon Phoenixes still stable internally?"
Zi Yan immediately replied,
"I carry the Dragon-Phoenix Body. Both clans have always been under my direct control. Internally, they're stable—for now. But some other magical beasts… that's another story."
Xiao Yixian smiled faintly and nodded.
"That's already enough. The Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe is fully under Qing Lin's authority. The former three great magical beast clans remain in our hands. As for the rest…"
Her eyes narrowed, a faint smile appearing.
"Since our husband brought them into the Great Thousand World, how could we allow them to leave so easily? Remove their monster cores and Spiritual Souls, store them in the treasury, and use them as rewards for loyal contributors. That way, they repay his kindness."
Zi Yan nodded lightly.
"That works. Once war breaks out with the Ancient Maha Clan, we'll burn through resources quickly. This can at least cover the losses."
Just like that, the matter of traitorous magical beasts was resolved.
None of them were who they used to be. Xiao Yixian was no longer the healer of Qingshan Town, and Zi Yan was no longer the brute queen of Jia Nan Academy. Years of leadership had sharpened them beyond recognition.
Then Qing Lin said, "We've lost contact with Qing Yanjing. We can confirm she was placed under soft detention by the Ancient Buddha Clan. Someone can still activate the super spiritual array, but without her, its power has dropped drastically."
"This is troublesome…"
Xiao Yixian pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Our husband isn't here. We don't have the strength to storm the Ancient Buddha Clan yet. When he returns… how will we explain this?"
Qing Lin nodded, cold light flickering in her eyes. Her Jade Snake Three-Flowered Pupils Pupils glowed with eerie green brilliance.
"After this matter is resolved, we'll definitely demand justice from the Ancient Buddha Clan. Our husband's wife belongs to our husband alone. They dare imprison her? They're courting death…"
Xiao Yixian lifted her gaze toward the azure-colored heavenly canopy above Azure Flame Heaven, her voice low.
"It all depends on whether Maha Tian listens to reason. If he insists on pushing Azure Flame Heaven into mutual destruction, then we'll communicate with the spirit of the Azure Lotus Cauldron and drain all the Heaven and Earth Energy of the Burning Heaven Continent… then kill him."
Draining all the Heaven and Earth Energy meant turning the continent into a lifeless wasteland—one that extraterritorial fiends could directly invade through. If Maha Tian wanted to fight until both perished, then they would truly fight until both perished.
Her tone suddenly softened.
"And the humans? Those from the Gu Clan, the Yao Clan, and the Yan Clan… plus the other human experts. I assume some of them are beginning to waver?"
Qing Lin frowned again.
"Gu Xun'er, Yao Ling, and Huo Zhi are behaving themselves. But the other human experts… Many have their own ideas. They don't seem likely to live and die with us."
Xiao Yixian's eyes flashed subtly.
She always suspected Liu Xi kept Gu Xun'er, Yao Ling, and Huo Zhi near him with less than pure intentions. He coveted their bodies—especially Gu Xun'er's. Her beauty, temperament, and curves were all top-tier. And yet, Liu Xi had never acted on it.
Qing Lin continued.
"Sister Yun Yun has been calming them down, even promising a few things. That's why they haven't revolted."
Xiao Yixian turned to look at Liu Xi's statue, her tone flat.
"Yun Yun's strength is still lacking. She can only intimidate others by relying on our husband's reputation. This is the perfect time to kill a few as a warning. We should purge those harbouring ill intent."
Blood-colored light flickered through Qing Lin's pupils, chilling killing intent leaking outward.
"I'll do it. I'll talk to Sister Yun Yun, pick out a few examples, and eliminate them. Anyone plotting against Azure Flame Heaven will die."
Neither Xiao Yixian nor Zi Yan showed any reaction. In their eyes, this was natural.
People change. Power changes people even faster.
Just as they spoke—
Yun Yun arrived.
She descended with a complicated expression.
"Xiao Yixian, Zi Yan, Qing Lin… there's a woman outside. She's extremely beautiful and very powerful. Should we go together?"
Zi Yan froze, hands on her hips.
"Another of our husband's peach blossoms in the Great Thousand World?"
"No matter who she is, if she dares come to the Burning Heaven Continent at a time like this, we must see her."
Xiao Yixian's expression hardened.
"Let's go."
Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Yun Yun all straightened their posture, entering a vigilant state.
Moments later, inside the front hall—
The four women stood before a stunningly beautiful lady. Every movement of hers carried a natural grace.
Xiao Yixian was the first to ask.
"You are…?"
The beautiful woman smiled softly.
"Long time no see. I am Bodhisattva."
"Bodhisattva Ancient Tree?!" The four exclaimed.
They all knew of her, one of the divine treasures of the Dou Qi Continent, who had followed Liu Xi into the Great Thousand World. But they knew little after that.
Especially Qing Lin, who had once undergone the Hundred-Life Reincarnation Trial within the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree.
"And that body?" Qing Lin asked, confused.
Bodhisattva smiled faintly.
"A pitiful woman. I fulfilled her final wish, then borrowed her body to experience another life. Some people even call me… Fairy Yue."
(End of Chapter)
---
Want to read the whole thing right now?
The story is complete on Patreon! Free members still get 2 chapters ahead of the regular release.
Support here: Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_ (change the comma to a dot)
If you're liking the fic, please drop a 5-star review and a Power Stone. It means a lot!