Chapter 102

After returning to the Celestial Realm, Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han didn’t go straight to report at the Heavenly Palace. First, they had to detour to Linshan to drop off the burden named Su Yinyue.
Fortunately, Linshan wasn’t far, and veering off course didn’t cost much time. As the two made their way to the Su estate, unrest brewed within.
In the main hall, Lord Su sat at the head seat, Lady Su beside him. On either side sat members of the extended Su clan, many of whom held important positions in Linshan—elders, hall masters, and more.
One middle-aged man with a short beard finally lost his patience and snapped, “I heard the Cangrui lands—eight hundred li of them—have already been ceded to Zhongshan? Linshan doesn’t belong to your household alone. A matter of this magnitude, how could you make such a decision without consulting the clan?”
Lord Su didn’t back down. “Su Sanlang, don’t forget your place. I am the patriarch. I have every right to make decisions concerning Linshan.”
“Indeed, that is your right,” Su Sanlang sneered. “But it’s also your duty to protect Linshan’s interests. Cangrui is rich in resources and easy to defend. Such a strategic location—and you just handed it over? Patriarch, do you even care about Linshan anymore?”
Su Sanlang came from a branch family. Though labeled a “branch,” the truth was that his father had once contested the patriarch position and lost. He had never accepted that outcome, but given his mediocre talent, he’d had no choice but to swallow his grievances.
Luckily, his son was gifted—far more so than Su Yinyue, that useless flower vase.
To many of the Su clan’s branch members, Su Yinyue was a hopeless waste of talent. Despite years of pouring resources into her cultivation, she still couldn’t match even an average celestial cultivator. Everyone secretly thought the same thing—if all those precious resources had been given to their children instead, the results would have been very different.
Among these critics, Su Sanlang was the most vocal. At first, all he could do was grumble in private. After all, the clan head, Su Yinyue’s father, was still in his prime and had many years ahead of him. Even if Su Yinyue was a useless vase, with her father’s influence, she could still be propped up to a high position.
If Su Yinyue herself wouldn’t strive for greatness, then they could at least marry her off wisely. And Ling Zhongyu of Zhongshan—now that was a fine match. The two families were already related by blood; marriage would only strengthen their lineage. The purer the bloodline, the more likely it was for a powerful young dragon to emerge. Besides, with Su Yifang—Yinyue’s aunt—present at Zhongshan, her father wouldn’t have to worry about Yinyue being mistreated after marriage.
Ling Zhongyu was the eldest legitimate son of Zhongshan, and a union with Su Yinyue would be a win-win. Su Yinyue’s father needed a strong son-in-law to solidify his power, and Ling Zhongyu needed a powerful ally to crush his brothers and rise to the top. Everyone in the clan saw this alliance as a perfect outcome.
Su Yinyue’s father had never hidden this plan from the other branches, and Su Sanlang had long been envious but helpless. The Azure Dragon bloodline was ancient and formidable, and Zhongshan’s legitimate heir had a very real chance of inheriting the clan. If this marriage happened, Su Yinyue’s father would be untouchable in his lifetime.
But fate had other plans.
No one could’ve expected that Ling Zhongyu had been swapped at birth—and worse, that scandal would explode across all realms. That single revelation turned years of effort into ashes. Not only had Su Yinyue’s father lost a carefully cultivated alliance, he’d thrown in his own daughter as well.
Years of subtle encouragement had worked too well. Su Yinyue was so fixated on Ling Zhongyu that she followed him straight into the Demon Realm.
It was a devastating blow—not just emotionally, but strategically. Nearly a millennium of planning had gone up in smoke. And worse still, because of Su Yinyue, the Linshan clan was now mired in a public scandal.
The branch families, once quiet, could finally smell opportunity.
They surged forward like wolves scenting blood, each one eager to rip a piece from the clan head—if they couldn’t dethrone him, they’d at least take a bite. The issue of ceding Cangrui’s 800 li of land to Zhongshan was merely the opening salvo.
Su Yinyue’s father scanned the faces around him. Every pair of eyes burned with barely restrained hostility, as if ready to lunge at any moment. Lady Su, unable to bear it, said coldly, “Yinyue is the eldest daughter of Linshan. Her safety is clan business. She was tricked by demons, and we ceded a bit of land to Zhongshan to bring her back alive. That is both reasonable and just.”
There was a moment of silence.
Then one of the elders, who had remained quiet with his eyes closed, finally spoke. “Madam, your love for your daughter is understandable. But your logic is flawed. In the dragon race, strength determines all. If Su Yinyue lacks the ability, she should not hold the heir’s position. And if she is not the heir, on what grounds does the clan surrender land to save her?”
Lady Su clenched her fists, barely containing her fury. “According to your logic, does that mean no matter who the heir is, if something happens to them, the clan should simply abandon them? That anyone who fails or makes a mistake is unworthy of our support?”
“That is precisely how it should be.” The elder stroked his beard calmly. “We dragons abide by the laws of survival. The weak are cast aside. The strong rise.”
Cruel—but not wrong.
Lady Su fell into a long silence. Her husband finally spoke, steady and measured: “When outsiders seize our resources, that is a loss. But when they are given to allies, it becomes a mutual gain. Zhongshan is already family. Now that Ling Qingxiao holds power, the relationship between Zhong and Lin has changed. By giving up just 800 li of Cangrui, I’ve secured a new bond with Ling Qingxiao. If he ascends even further in the future, this sacrifice will become priceless.”
Old but shrewd—Su Yinyue’s father struck right at the core of their ambitions. Just mentioning Ling Qingxiao was enough to silence them.
That man was a living cheat code. Su Sanlang still couldn’t understand how someone could reach the rank of True Immortal in just a thousand years.
It defied reason.
Yet despite himself, Su Sanlang felt a perverse sense of satisfaction. If Su Yinyue’s father had chosen Ling Qingxiao as a son-in-law instead of wasting everything on a fake dragon, who knows how many in Heaven would now envy him? But he had mistaken glass for jade. He’d bet wrong.
Another elder, square-faced and thunder-voiced, said, “Your idea sounds fine. But tell me, will Ling Qingxiao even acknowledge your gesture? You aim to ride the coattails of a dragon. But what if that dragon plans to devour you instead?”
“If one day Ling Qingxiao’s power eclipses all others, how will you ensure Linshan still bears the name Su, and not Ling?”
The clan head’s hands tightened into fists beneath his sleeves. Thankfully, no one could see. He kept his expression placid, masking the tension in his voice. “Fifth Elder, baseless speculation does us no good.”
“Baseless?” the elder scoffed. “You know the truth better than any of us.”
Just as the clan head was about to retort, a voice rang out from beyond the hall—clear, unhurried, and unmistakably distinct.
“If you have questions for me, ask them to my face. Why waste time guessing in secret?”
Everyone in the hall froze.
They rose in unison. “Lord Ling.”
Ling Qingxiao stood at the entrance of the main hall. Though he did not step inside, a wave of cold, crisp aura swept in behind him. He didn’t need to lift a finger—just his presence was enough to subdue the room.
Su Yinyue’s father quickly stood and strode over. “Lord Ling, we’re honored. Why wasn’t there a notice of your arrival? Forgive us for the poor welcome. Please, take the head seat.”
“No need.” Ling Qingxiao remained at the threshold, his tone detached. “I’ve only come to return Su Yinyue. After this, I must report back to the Heavenly Palace. I’ve no time to linger.”
Su Yinyue has been returned?
The elders all exchanged glances, thoughts racing.
Su Yinyue’s father had hoped to keep Ling Qingxiao a little longer, but at the mention of the Heavenly Palace, he didn’t dare insist.
Not even he had the face to make the Celestial Emperor wait. To ask Ling Qingxiao to stay now would be tantamount to delaying imperial matters.
So he swallowed the thought, nodded quickly, and turned to the room. “Please excuse me, elders. I’ll accompany Lord Ling to see my daughter.”
Luo Han and Su Yinyue sat in silence inside the pavilion. Neither had the heart to speak. Ling Qingxiao had gone to notify Su Yinyue’s parents, while Luo Han stayed behind to watch her, waiting until someone from the Su clan came to take her. Then, finally, she could leave.
Thank heavens.
Footsteps sounded outside. Luo Han already knew who it was and rose from her seat, quietly stepping aside.
Su Yinyue’s parents rushed in. The moment they saw their daughter’s state, both were overwhelmed with grief. Lady Su immediately threw her arms around Su Yinyue, sobbing uncontrollably. Lord Su stood to the side, tears absent but his expression weighed with sorrow.
Luo Han discreetly shifted back, giving them space. Ling Qingxiao stepped to her side and silently took her hand.
Lady Su cried for a long while before recalling her manners. She pulled Su Yinyue toward Ling Qingxiao and said, “Many thanks to Lord Ling. Yinyue, quickly thank your cousin.”
Cousin? That word made Luo Han shiver as goosebumps broke out along her arms. She instinctively wanted to step away from this tangled family drama, but Ling Qingxiao kept hold of her hand, refusing to let go. He even turned to Lady Su and said, “There’s no need to thank me. Su Yinyue was brought out of the Demon Realm by Luo Han. She’s also the one who looked after her all the way here. If you truly want to express gratitude, it should go to her.”
Lady Su froze for a moment, then followed Ling Qingxiao’s gaze—and noticed their hands were intertwined.
And it was Ling Qingxiao who had taken Luo Han’s hand first.
Lady Su was stunned. The plans she’d made in her mind crumbled in an instant, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to pivot.
Lord Su, quicker to recover, immediately stepped in. “Thank you, Miss Luo. We’ve met several times at Zhongshan, but never had the chance to speak properly. Might I ask—what are your plans going forward? My wife and I have prepared a humble gift. Where should we send it?”
Ling Qingxiao was very pleased with this question and smoothly replied, “Send it to Zhongshan. We travel often, but we return to Zhongshan regularly. If the Su clan needs to send word, you can leave it with the Zhongshan consular office, and it’ll be passed to us.”
Us. He kept saying us.
Lord Su’s suspicions were quickly confirmed. He subtly glanced at Lady Su, signaling her to drop all prior notions. Then, with a smile, he asked, “Lord Ling is still young, but Zhongshan has long lacked a mistress of the house. Have you perhaps considered when you might marry?”
The conversation took such a sharp turn that Luo Han didn’t even have time to speak. She was left speechless. Is this how immortals think? They hold hands once, and now it's time to talk about marriage?
Ling Qingxiao clearly enjoyed the question, though he still put on a show of polite restraint. “We’re still young and in no rush. But if Linshan happens to find any well-preserved marriage manuals, feel free to send them to Zhongshan. I’ll be sure to express my thanks.”
Luo Han maintained a smile, but her fingers pinched Ling Qingxiao’s hand hard under cover. He finally restrained himself and said, “The person’s been delivered. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be taking our leave.”
“Many thanks, Lord Ling,” Lord Su said, walking them to the door. Lady Su and Su Yinyue remained behind, still trying to settle their emotions.
Just as they reached the door, Lord Su hesitated, a trace of awkwardness crossing his face. “If I may...there’s one more matter. The spiritual seal on Yinyue is unfamiliar to me. I’ve never seen its like. May I ask—how does one remove it?”
Clearly, it was Ling Qingxiao’s doing. Standing just outside the threshold, he flicked his sleeve. At once, the restraints binding Su Yinyue unraveled.
Out of rare courtesy toward his kin, Ling Qingxiao offered a single warning: “Su Yinyue is headstrong and spoiled, coddled far too much by your family. With unrest stirring in the Demon Realm, you’d best keep a closer eye on her. Don’t let her run off again.”
Because if she does, even if you hand Linshan over to me, I won’t bother lifting a finger.
Lord Su flushed with embarrassment and quickly agreed, “Yes, I understand. Thank you for the warning, Lord Ling.”
Now freed, Su Yinyue broke down again, clutching her mother and crying, “Mother, I want to see Cousin! Please let me go to him!”
Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han heard her clearly from outside. Lord Su had just made a promise, and now his daughter was already undermining him. His face darkened. “My daughter is willful and doesn’t know what she’s saying. We will discipline her properly.”
Ling Qingxiao didn’t believe a word of it. If Su Yinyue’s parents had known how to discipline her, she wouldn’t have turned out like this.
Not wanting to risk her causing more problems for the Immortal Realm, he flicked his fingers, and an invisible ward rose around the pavilion.
Lord Su’s heart sank. “This is...?”
“A boundary,” Ling Qingxiao said flatly. “It will dissipate naturally once Su Yinyue reaches mid-stage Celestial Immortal. Until then, she can stay inside and reflect.”
Luo Han was silently grateful once again that Ling Qingxiao was not her cousin. Having a relative like this would be terrifying.
What could Lord Su say? He forced a smile and thanked him yet again.
Inside, Su Yinyue heard the conversation and, hair wild and eyes red, lunged toward the door—only to be blocked by the barrier. She couldn’t get out. Desperate, she tried the windows, the walls, anything. Eventually, she collapsed to the ground in tears and pleaded, “Father, Mother, don’t lock me in here! Please let me out! I can’t even make my own choices—what’s the point of living like this?”
Lady Su was inconsolable, sobbing along with her daughter. Even Lord Su looked shaken and barked, “Yinyue, stop saying such things!”
“Then let me out! I promise I won’t leave Linshan again!”
Her parents hesitated. Ling Qingxiao heard everything but remained completely unmoved. He turned without a word and walked away.
The barrier was his doing. Even Su Yinyue’s parents couldn’t override it.
Desperate, Su Yinyue shouted after him, “If you keep me locked up, I’ll kill myself!”
“Feel free.” Ling Qingxiao didn’t even glance back. “A dragon’s regeneration is strong. A little self-harm won’t kill you.”
Su Yinyue tried everything—hunger strike, biting her tongue, throwing herself against the walls—but it was all useless. Ling Qingxiao’s heart was made of stone.
As they walked away, Luo Han couldn’t help but laugh. “Just now, you looked exactly like one of those tyrannical old elders from a cautionary tale—ripping lovers apart, stamping out romance, and upholding the traditions of an oppressive clan.”
Ling Qingxiao truly resembled one of those feudal tyrants from Romeo and Juliet, playing the role of the heartless patriarch. When Luo Han teased him about it, he replied without the slightest self-awareness, “She’s not right in the head.”
Clearly, he had no patience for someone enslaved by blind infatuation.
Once they were rid of the burden that was Su Yinyue, Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao picked up speed and soon arrived at the Southern Heavenly Gate.
Ling Qingxiao had personally ventured into the underground palace and knew the Demon Realm better than anyone. As expected, he would be the one reporting back. Luo Han, on the other hand, took the long-neglected beast for a stroll through Sanqing Heaven, leaving Ling Qingxiao to head alone to Yuqing Palace.
By now, Ling Qingxiao was more than familiar with Yuqing Palace. After Bai Biao announced his arrival, the Celestial Emperor didn’t even pause in his writing. “Let him in,” he said casually.
Ling Qingxiao entered the main hall and saluted. “Your Majesty.”
The Celestial Emperor had just finished drafting a memorial. He filed the document into the bookshelf and set down his brush, stretching slightly to clear his thoughts.
Sitting back with ease, he asked, “How did your journey to the Demon Realm go?”
“I did not fail you,” Ling Qingxiao replied calmly. “As Your Majesty predicted, the missing immortals were all captured by the demons. Underneath the palace of the Lord of Lei Lie City, there was a hidden underground chamber built with Demon-Sealing Stone and fitted with conduits that linked directly to demonic cultivation chambers. The immortals were drained of their spiritual energy, which was then converted into demonic energy to aid in their cultivation. When I arrived, seventeen immortals had already fallen victim.”
As he spoke, Ling Qingxiao produced a memory stone and activated it, displaying the scenes he had recorded underground. The Emperor watched for a moment, his brow darkening. He waved a hand and dismissed the projection, his expression stormy. “The demons grow more brazen by the day.”
He fell silent, face grim. Ling Qingxiao remained still, saying nothing, quietly waiting without urging the conversation forward.
After a while, the Emperor stirred from his thoughts and asked, “Where is the underground palace now?”
“I destroyed it,” Ling Qingxiao said. “I took the Lord of Leilie hostage and detonated the structure. The surviving immortals have all been rescued and are currently under the care of Star Lord Tianyu.”
The Emperor blinked in surprise. He had merely sent Ling Qingxiao to investigate—not only had he uncovered everything, but he had dismantled the operation, captured the mastermind, and rescued the hostages. Alone.
He had completed investigation, enforcement, and recovery all by himself—so efficiently it even astonished the Emperor.
There was little left to ask. The Emperor’s mood lightened considerably. With a chuckle, he said, “You abducted the Demon King of Lei Lie and still made it out unscathed? I’d assumed he would at least put on a show of sending troops after you.”
Ling Qingxiao paused slightly. In truth, the Demon King had sent troops—they just hadn’t managed to stop him.
Naturally, he wasn’t going to explain this. He let the Demon King take the blame in silence.
The Emperor, pleased at the thought of his rival’s embarrassment, felt even better. The mountain of bureaucratic headaches before him suddenly seemed much more manageable.
With everything—evidence, prisoners, survivors—handed off to the proper divisions of the Heavenly Court, Ling Qingxiao’s job was complete. From here on, others would handle the diplomacy and aftermath. It was no longer his concern.
With his duties ended, he was free again. And now that the task was done, he had no desire to linger. For others, an audience with the Emperor was a coveted opportunity. For Ling Qingxiao, it was just a glorified quest turn-in.
The Emperor sighed internally as Ling Qingxiao prepared to take his leave. One might think he was the busy one here. Unwilling to end the conversation so quickly, the Emperor added, “You’ve done exceptionally well. You have a talent for handling complicated affairs. Recently, Mountain You has fallen into disarray—bandits plague the roads, the household registries are a mess, and countless plots of farmland have gone unrecorded. I’m assigning you to oversee the region. Sort it out.”
You Mountain was famed for its wealth, its slopes rich in violet jade. But that very abundance had led to entrenched corruption. Local noble families hoarded power and shut out any outside officials. Several past attempts by the Heavenly Court to conduct land audits had all failed.
To give Ling Qingxiao jurisdiction over You Mountain was both a reward and a test.
Ling Qingxiao accepted without hesitation. You Mountain was practically made of treasure—why say no?
The Emperor handed down the appointment readily, and Ling Qingxiao accepted just as smoothly. No bargaining, no pretense—it saved a great deal of time. The Emperor was pleased. As Ling Qingxiao turned to go, the Emperor added, “The King of Lei Lie will be handed over to the Ministry of Rites. You don’t need to worry about the rest. For now, focus on your cultivation—break through to True Immortal as soon as you can.”
In his tone, reaching True Immortal sounded as easy as taking a stroll. And Ling Qingxiao responded just as casually, “Alright.”
Succinct, detached, unbothered.
As soon as he left Yuqing Palace, Ling Qingxiao went straight to find Luo Han. The Heavenly Palace was full of spirit springs and winding brooks. Luo Han was perched beside a clear spring, half-leaning against a stone while feeding grass to the Devourer Beast. When she heard footsteps behind her, she turned and smiled. “You’re back. How’d it go?”
“Smoothly.” Ling Qingxiao stood beside her. “The survivors will be taken care of by the Department of Celestial Order. The Demon Lord has been transferred to the Ministry of Rites. What comes next with the Demon Realm is their responsibility now.”
Luo Han nodded. Diplomacy wasn’t their job—they’d done their part. She fed the last stalk of grass to the Devourer Beast and asked, “So, where to now?”
“Anywhere,” Ling Qingxiao replied. “Didn’t you once say you wanted to go on a carefree journey? Let’s go now.”
It had been a passing comment Luo Han made in the Demon Realm—just an offhand fantasy. But Ling Qingxiao had remembered every word. And now, he was making good on it.
Luo Han laughed and stood up. “Alright. I’m surprised. I didn’t think you ever traveled without a purpose.”
Ling Qingxiao reached out and helped her to her feet. He smiled faintly and said, “Who says there’s no purpose?”
She had rejected his proposal to marry immediately, so he’d moved on to stage two. So far, they’d held hands, embraced, and kissed—two-thirds complete.
It might be only two-thirds complete. Ling Qingxiao was someone who valued efficiency above all else—once he set a plan in motion, he would not allow it to stagnate.
No mandatory missions. No companions tagging along. Just the two of them, traveling with no fixed destination. It was the perfect arrangement to nurture their bond and help them grow used to each other’s presence.
How could there be no purpose? She was the purpose.