AUOF - 91

When Situ regained consciousness, she wasted no time and immediately dragged her injured body to find Shen Zheyou.

His condition was no better than hers.

The entire arm had been poisoned by frostbite, rendering it completely necrotic. The divine healer could do nothing but amputate the limb to save his life.

Although he had lost an arm, Shen Zheyou didn’t show much bitterness or resentment.

He sat calmly on the bed, applying medicine. His face was pale and expressionless.

When Situ hurried into his room under the cover of night, Shen Zheyou frowned slightly in clear disapproval.

To avoid suspicion, Situ had brought Yuezhu Qing along.

The door remained open so that those outside could see what was happening inside. Seeing another figure standing outside, his expression softened somewhat.

‘Are you feeling better?’

There wasn’t much genuine concern in Shen Zheyou’s tone—it sounded more like a perfunctory question.

To be honest, their relationship wasn’t as close as others perceived it to be.

Shen Zheyou was the eldest disciple of the Heavenly Gate, responsible for teaching swordsmanship to his fellow disciples. Situ had admired him when she was young, but over time, she found him excessively dull—his daily routine consisted only of cultivation and discipline.

However, compared to other celestial beings in the Divine Realm, Shen Zheyou neither favored nor despised her.

Situ wasn’t sure if Shen Zheyou would help her, but recalling what Ji Hengyu had said, she decided to give it a try.

Situ took two steps forward, hesitated for a long moment, then lifted her skirt and knelt before him.

The usually impassive man finally showed a flicker of emotion.

‘A’tu?’

Situ had always been proud and domineering; he wasn’t used to seeing her in such a submissive posture.

Though kneeling, her back remained as straight as ever. She had intended to shed some tears, but after trying for a while, not only could she not cry, she couldn’t even feign sadness.

‘Senior Brother, you must help me.’

Shen Zheyou sighed in exasperation: ‘Get up first.’

Situ stubbornly insisted: ‘You help me first, then I’ll get up.’

Shen Zheyou let out a helpless sigh: ‘I’ll help you, now get up.’

Taking that as agreement, she not only stood up but also pulled over a chair and sat in front of him.

Situ eagerly began recounting her grievances: ‘You saw Ji Hengyu today. If I really marry into Gui Xu, I might not live to see next spring. My words carry little weight, unlike yours in the Divine Realm.’ As she spoke, her chest tightened with frustration. ‘If things go as expected, the Divine Realm will soon send someone to take me back, trying to suppress this matter and quietly arrange my marriage here...’

Shen Zheyou frowned: ‘You shouldn’t think this way.’

As they spoke, there was a sudden commotion outside.

Yuezhu Qing walked to the door: ‘The Divine Realm has sent someone.’ She glanced at Situ, ‘They’re looking for the goddess.’

Shen Zheyou fell silent.

‘Ji Hengyu killed so many of our fellow disciples. Do you really want to let this matter be swept under the rug, Senior Brother?’

Situ said no more, her face darkened as she walked out of the residence.

Outside the window, the moonlight was deep. Shen Zheyou touched his empty sleeve and sighed deeply.

At first, he suspected this incident might have been a conspiracy between the two, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

If that were true, Ji Hengyu wouldn’t have severed his arm, inviting hatred from the Divine Realm. Though Situ was mischievous, she wouldn’t allow Ji Hengyu to kill so many of their peers, nor would she come begging in the middle of the night.

Was the karmic obstacle truly so terrifying?

Thinking of Ji Hengyu’s uncontrollable eyes, Shen Zheyou sighed inwardly and closed his eyes briefly.

**

Two days later, the banquet of immortals.

Immortals from all directions gathered at the Mingxiao Hall of the Divine Realm.

This divine palace, located in the ninth heaven, was perpetually enveloped in radiant light, guarded by divine dragons, exuding auspicious energy. At its center was the Welcoming Heaven Gate, made of jade, majestic and grand. On both sides, divine soldiers stood guard. Through the Cloud Corridor bathed in immortal light lay the Mingxiao Hall.

‘South Mountain Immortal arrives!’

‘Qu Bei Hai Yun Chuan True Lord arrives!’

‘Ling Tian Immortal arrives!’

‘Snow Goddess arrives!’

The immortals arrived one after another, walking in small groups, chatting cheerfully.

‘Gui Xu Sea Tianheng Immortal Lord arrives!’

Upon hearing this name, the crowd on the Cloud Corridor fell silent for a moment.

‘It’s said that two days ago, Tianheng Lord’s karmic obstacle erupted, injuring many disciples of the Heavenly Gate, and even the goddess was unfortunately hurt.’ This incident had been well-hidden, yet rumors still leaked out.

When mentioning this, the tone of the immortals was mostly mocking.

Ji Hengyu wasn’t a properly cultivated immortal. He relied on a drop of universal blood to transform and ascend to the ranks of immortals. While outwardly they were colleagues, inwardly most immortals felt disdain when mentioning his name.

Everyone knew about his engagement to the goddess, but this engagement was seen by others as a joke.

One was an upper-level immortal transformed from a snake demon; the other carried the blood of a sinful deity. Their union was laughable—who knew how this farce would end?

If the Divine Realm turned a blind eye, they as immortals naturally couldn’t say anything. But if they wanted to hold him accountable, they would naturally demand justice from the Divine Realm against Ji Hengyu.

In short, which side to take depended on the attitude of the Divine Realm.

‘This banquet is going to be quite entertaining.’

As they spoke, a figure gracefully approached.

The person had a broad stature, wearing silver-white robes embroidered with cloud patterns and gold edges. His sleeves flowed like clouds as he walked, crowned with a jade crown, his cold features perfectly matching the fairyland scenery.

It was said that Ji Hengyu, plagued by his karmic obstacle, wouldn’t live for long. Yet, observing his calm strides and upright posture, he didn’t appear to be someone on the brink of death.

Despite their disdain, appearances still had to be maintained.

A group of immortals smiled and greeted him: ‘It’s been a long time, how are you, Tianheng Lord?’

Ji Hengyu stopped, glancing sideways: ‘Who are you?’

The smile almost faltered on the immortal’s face: ‘I’m Lingxu True Lord. We’ve worked together before, have you forgotten?’

Ji Hengyu casually shifted his gaze: ‘Never seen you, so how can it be a long time?’ Without bothering to engage with the group, Ji Hengyu strode away, leaving them awkwardly behind.

Qiman, who accompanied him, apologized to the group of immortals and quickly followed.

After his figure disappeared, the other immortals consoled each other: ‘True Lord Lingxu, don’t mind him. With such arrogance, the Divine Realm will surely punish Ji Hengyu.’

‘A lowly snake clan member, where does he get the audacity?’

‘We’ll file a complaint against him later and see how he reacts.’

‘…’

With a few words, the group dissipated True Lord Lingxu’s anger, and the conversation moved on to other topics.

Mingxiao Hall.

The attending immortals took their seats according to rank. Ji Hengyu sat in the front row. Above him were four divine thrones: the Supreme Dao Master in the center, flanked by the gods of good and evil, and the seat on the far edge, left empty for the long-deceased Emperor Qi.

‘Esteemed immortals, your presence at this banquet brings us great joy...’

The voice of the Supreme Dao Master echoed throughout the hall, filled with formalities. Ji Hengyu lowered his head, pretending to listen while his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

Beside him sat the little Snow Goddess.

About four or five years old, with two buns on her head, it was likely her first time attending such an event. She kept fidgeting restlessly, her buns bouncing along with her movements, irritating Ji Hengyu.

Perhaps sensing his annoyance, the little Snow Goddess turned her head to look at him.

She blinked curiously for a moment, revealing two tiny milk teeth, then whispered: ‘Recently, I received many offerings from grateful mortals thanking me for the snow. But upon investigation, I discovered that it wasn’t me who brought snow to Yuntian City—it was you.’ The little Snow Goddess scolded him sternly with her childish voice: ‘Manipulating the weather without permission is a grave offense against heavenly order!’

Ji Hengyu shot her a cool glance, instantly startling the little Snow Goddess.

Terrified, she clung to her protector, tears welling up in her eyes. Sensing the tension, the protector hurriedly carried her out, planning to comfort her before returning.

The little Snow Goddess had never experienced such injustice, softly sobbing into the protector’s shoulder.

As she cried, winds and snowflakes swirled around her, making it impossible for others to ignore.

Jin Min, who had been patrolling nearby, immediately noticed the commotion. His eyes darted around as he discreetly dismissed his fellow disciples and approached alone.

‘Is that you, Little Snow Goddess?’

The little Snow Goddess, her eyes red from crying, lifted her head slightly and frowned, her voice muffled: ‘Who are you?’

‘I am a disciple of the Heavenly Gate. Seeing that the Snow Goddess was upset, I came to inquire about why you were shedding tears.’

The little Snow Goddess blinked in surprise, then began to chatter away, recounting her grievances against Ji Hengyu.

He had only recently taken up his position when Huashan City was suddenly blanketed with snow. Confused and unsure of what to do, he had been reprimanded by his protector for not understanding the situation. Eventually, he discovered that Ji Hengyu had forcibly cast a snowfall spell.

While such an act might be overlooked elsewhere, it was particularly problematic in Yuntian City.

Yuntian City and Xue Ming Mountain had longstanding grievances, with strict prohibitions against snowfall for a thousand years. Ji Hengyu’s actions had blatantly violated this rule, leaving no choice but to confront him.

Jin Min was startled: ‘Ji Hengyu caused snowfall in Yuntian City? Do you know why?’

The little Snow Goddess pouted: ‘To woo a girl, of course. What other reason could there be?’ She recalled the image she had conjured earlier: ‘That girl was exceptionally beautiful. If I were in his shoes, I’d do the same.’

Thinking of the lovely older sister, the little Snow Goddess smacked her lips and promptly stopped crying.

Jin Min wanted to press further, but just then, the protector returned with the little Snow Goddess to their seats.

Standing still, Jin Min pondered deeply, then suddenly froze—

From the little Snow Goddess’s description, the woman in question was clearly… Sang Li?!

Jin Min’s eyes widened in shock.

This unexpected discovery sent his heart racing. He had always thought Ji Hengyu wasn’t someone who meddled in trivial matters—why would he offend a disciple of the Heavenly Gate over a mere maid?

It seemed Ji Hengyu had been keeping things under wraps, intending to keep the prize for himself.

Fury boiled within Jin Min. Recalling the humiliation he endured at Gui Xu, his blood surged with rage.

**

No one paid attention to this minor incident.

The banquet continued.

After all the major and minor matters were discussed, the Supreme Dao Master finally mentioned the name everyone had been waiting for.

‘Today, there is another important matter to address.’

As he spoke, the gaze of the highest authority fell upon Ji Hengyu, drawing the attention of the others as well.

As expected, despite prior knowledge, the Supreme Dao Master intended to proceed with the marriage arrangement between the goddess and Gui Xu. However, judging by his tone, this announcement seemed more like a test of Ji Hengyu’s and the other immortals’ reactions.

Ji Hengyu remained expressionless, raising his wine cup and draining it in one sip.

‘That is…’

‘Wait a moment.’

Before the words could fully leave the Supreme Dao Master’s mouth, a figure entered the hall.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ji Hengyu saw Shen Zheyou approach, his right sleeve hanging empty, his lips pale.

Noticing the vacant sleeve, the Supreme Dao Master’s brows furrowed slightly.

Shen Zheyou knelt before the hall: ‘I pay my respects to the Divine Lord. I have something to report.’

Ji Hengyu continued drinking, his demeanor indifferent, as if none of this concerned him.

Ignoring the reactions of the gathered immortals, Shen Zheyou pressed on: ‘Two days ago, Tianheng Lord’s karmic obstacle erupted, killing several disciples of the Heavenly Gate, severing my right arm, and injuring the divine veins of the goddess. Even if unintentional, as the Immortal Lord of Gui Xu, Tianheng Lord must bear responsibility.’ After a pause, he added, ‘In my opinion, Tianheng Lord cannot control himself. As the goddess of the celestial realm, Situ should not marry him. I humbly request the Divine Lord to punish Tianheng Lord and annul the engagement.’

Shen Zheyou’s words were smooth and logical. Bowing deeply, he heard the low gasps of the surrounding immortals.

Ji Hengyu’s lips twitched faintly into a smirk.

Whispers filled the air as the assembled immortals exchanged glances, their expressions shifting uneasily.

Ji Hengyu remained still, his lashes calmly lowered.

Soon, Lingxu True Lord stood up: ‘Tianheng Lord has wantonly harmed his peers. This humble one believes he deserves punishment.’

‘Tianheng Lord disregarded the heavenly laws and principles. Shen Xianzhang, as a sword immortal, losing an arm is a great pity. The Divine Lord should restore justice for all!’

Most of these immortals were opportunistic, swaying whichever way the wind blew.

With Shen Zheyou taking the lead, those who already disliked Ji Hengyu naturally seized the opportunity to pile on.

The Supreme Dao Master fell silent, his gaze fixed on Ji Hengyu.

Amidst the uproar, Ji Hengyu sat upright, completely unaffected.

The Supreme Dao Master tightened his grip on his lap.

He knew Ji Hengyu was plotting something. If Shen Zheyou hadn’t appeared, this matter could have been quietly swept under the rug. Now that Shen Zheyou had brought it into the open, it couldn’t be ignored any longer.

‘What does the Divine Lord intend to do?’ The god of good clenched his teeth, his voice whispering through the mindscape.

The god of evil chimed in: ‘Keeping him around is a disaster. If not for Fuxi’s bloodline, he should have been eliminated long ago.’

The Supreme Dao Master said nothing.

A fire burned fiercely in his chest, and Ji Hengyu’s presence below only fanned the flames.

He had known from the start that Ji Hengyu was not someone to be underestimated.

If left unchecked, he would inevitably become a source of trouble.

Now, the engagement could not proceed.

Nor could he follow the original plan of eliminating Ji Hengyu after he sired heirs. Worse still, this matter was now public knowledge. Any self-respecting celestial family would never allow their daughters to marry him.

Good, good.

What a fine mess Ji Hengyu had created.

‘Tianheng Lord,’ the Supreme Dao Master called out sternly.

Ji Hengyu rose and stepped forward, kneeling gracefully.

Supreme Dao Master: ‘Do you admit your guilt?’

Ji Hengyu bowed his head: ‘Of course, I acknowledge my guilt.’

‘Go to the prison department to accept your punishment,’ the Supreme Dao Master said, watching his calm expression, his forehead twitching slightly. ‘And dissolve the engagement.’

‘Thank you, Divine Lord.’

Ji Hengyu bowed deeply, then rose, his departing figure as carefree as the wind.

Rather than appearing as though he were accepting punishment, he seemed more like someone claiming a reward.

Just as he was about to leave the Mingxiao Hall, a voice interrupted: ‘Wait!’

Judging by the attire, it was yet another disciple of the Heavenly Gate. The Supreme Dao Master sighed inwardly, feeling weary.

The one who stepped forward was none other than Jin Min, who had been punished by Ji Hengyu at Gui Xu.

He boldly walked to the front of the hall: ‘During my six months at Gui Xu, I never once witnessed Tianheng Lord’s karmic obstacle flare up. With Der Zhao Xu Zhenren’s care and monthly medication, how could his karmic obstacle suddenly erupt?’

His reasoning made sense.

Hearing this, the assembled immortals began to suspect something was amiss.

Seeing the crowd convinced by his words, Jin Min grew even more confident.

Eager to prove his discovery, Jin Min stood tall, glaring at Ji Hengyu with a mix of disdain and jealousy, and declared: ‘Tianheng Lord clearly conspired with a lowly maid, plotting to secretly eliminate the goddess. Am I correct, Tianheng Lord?’

After being humiliated and driven out of Gui Xu, Jin Min harbored deep resentment toward Sang Li and the entire Gui Xu domain.

Upon reflection, however, something didn’t sit right.

Ji Hengyu had always been aloof and uninterested in women. Why did he show special treatment toward Sang Li? Thinking of their flirtatious exchanges, Jin Min became increasingly suspicious.

Adding to this the little Snow Goddess’s account, Jin Min became even more certain of his suspicions.

—Ji Hengyu had orchestrated this entire scheme just to elope with that beautiful maid!

Sure enough, the Supreme Dao Master’s expression turned severe: ‘Tianheng Lord, is this true?’

Golden light filled the hall, whispers abounded.

Ji Hengyu’s low laughter rang out, sharp and jarring.

‘As a disciple of the Heavenly Gate, you caused trouble at Gui Xu, repeatedly harassing my maidservants. Out of kindness, I spared your life. Yet instead of showing gratitude, you slander me with baseless accusations.’

Jin Min’s emotions shifted violently—

‘Ji Hengyu! How dare you deny having a secret affair with that maid?!’

Ji Hengyu’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes clear and cold.

‘Very well. Since you insist, let’s settle this.’ His gaze swept across the hall, landing on the god of good. ‘I’ve heard that Your Highness possesses a divine artifact called Yi Xian Qian, capable of detecting whether someone harbors affection.’

Ji Hengyu’s smile deepened, his gaze icy as he stared at Jin Min: ‘If I am guilty, I will accept additional punishment. But if I am innocent, you will forfeit your life.’

The coldness in his eyes resembled that of a serpent, forcing Jin Min to take two steps back.

Before Jin Min could react, the god of good ordered the Yi Xian Qian to be brought forth. Qi, ever dutiful, stood silently behind Ji Hengyu, his masked eyes filled with unease as he watched Ji Hengyu don the inconspicuous red thread.

The Yi Xian Qian could detect true feelings.

If the person harbored affection, the thread would bind itself to their wrist. If not, it would fall off.

Everyone held their breath.

They watched as the thread passed through Ji Hengyu’s heart, circled once, and then floated gently to the ground like a feather.

Jin Min’s face turned ashen.

How could this be?

He refused to believe that Ji Hengyu and the maid were entirely innocent!

If there was no affection, why would Ji Hengyu go to such lengths to break the heavenly laws, casting a snowfall just for her?

In the next instant, amidst the shocked gasps of the immortals, Ji Hengyu’s fingers curled like claws, piercing Jin Min’s chest like a sword and ripping out his still-beating heart.

The luminous heart pulsed vividly in his palm, dripping with fresh blood.

The crowd scattered in panic, leaving him alone amidst the chaos. Crimson blood dripped from his fingers onto the floor, staining his silver robes.

Silence reigned. Shock outweighed fear in everyone’s eyes.

Jin Min stared wide-eyed at his empty chest, his expression a mix of disbelief and astonishment. He couldn’t comprehend how Ji Hengyu dared to strike so brazenly at the banquet, in full view of the Divine Lord and the assembled immortals.

He had even prepared his defense.

But Ji Hengyu gave him no chance to speak.

Holding the heart, Ji Hengyu surveyed the hall, his voice cold and clear, like shattering jade against a spring: ‘I am well aware of my lowly status, unworthy of comparison with the esteemed immortals. But as Tianheng Lord, I hold this position. For as long as I remain among the ranks of immortals, I will not tolerate others sullying my name.’

Ji Hengyu raised his head, meeting the Supreme Dao Master’s gaze with a mocking smile: ‘I trust the Supreme Dao Master will not fault me for this.’

The Supreme Dao Master could no longer contain his anger.

Whether it was Jin Min’s reckless behavior or Ji Hengyu’s arrogant defiance, the tension in the hall was palpable.

The grand hall fell silent as Jin Min collapsed stiffly, his body gradually disintegrating into celestial dust amid eerie quiet.

Ji Hengyu’s methods were ruthless and decisive, leaving Jin Min no chance to rebuild his body.

Crushing the heart in his hand, Ji Hengyu turned and walked out of the hall, leaving behind a scene of chaos.

An elder immortal sighed helplessly—

‘A mad dog.’

Truly, a mad dog.