Chapter 125: Collective Effort

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

They had a bird’s-eye view of the entire Qu Shuang City below them. Qu Shuang City was built atop an immoral meridian. Immortal Qi filled the entire city, but immortal Qi was especially thin outside of the city. This caused the city to stand out from its surroundings. In particular, its shape.

The city was initially built in a haphazard manner – it did not take on any particular shape. If people wanted to reside in the city, all they had to do was apply with the City Lord for permission to build a house. As long as the City Lord gave his permission, they could build their house anywhere they wanted. That explained why there was so much space in the city.

But at that moment, from where they were in the sky, the group saw that the city had taken on a square shape. They did not know when this began, but the entire city looked like it was planned out using a measuring tape. Not a single house was out of place. The main lane running through the city was placed neatly in the center of the square, bisecting the square into two equal halves.

They had not noticed before but from such a height, the entire Qu Shuang City did look like… a gate! A huge gate. The places which Bao Feiping had pointed out earlier as being odd were scattered neatly around the gate so that they looked just like nails around the door.

“City Lord Bao,” Lonemoon suddenly called. “Do you have a method to temporarily suspend Immortal Qi from flowing into the city? Or do you have an immortal equipment for us to examine the immortal meridian?”

“Examine the immortal meridian? Do you mean…” Bao Feiping looked perturbed. His heart was thumping in his chest as a frightening idea surfaced in his mind. He nodded furiously. “Yes! The Sky-Covering Seal!”

He immediately conjured a seal with both of his hands. A huge crystal in the shape of a human face appeared, looking down through a glass lens. The entire Immortal City’s immortal Qi disappeared in an instant. The constantly flowing silver immortal meridian slowed down, finally revealing a black core right inside of it.

Just as Shen Ying had said, the trained cultivator would be able to sense that there was a strong cold Yin aura around the black door, which had two red-eyed baboons on it, licking rings.

Those are the gates of the demonic realm!

Bao Feiping’s hands began to tremble. He did not even have enough strength to keep searching and investigating. The crystal in front of them broke into pieces suddenly, and panic filled Bao Feiping’s heart. Everything that did not make sense before suddenly clicked. How did the demon suddenly escape? Why couldn’t they find a trace of the demon no matter how hard they looked? Why was it so easy for the demon to break through the demon-dispelling array they set up outside the city gates?

It was because the gates of the demonic realm were not located within Qu Shuang City – it was formed by the entire Qu Shuang City.

The immortal meridian in Qu Shuang City was genuine, but the immortal meridian was also a seal containing the gates of the demonic realm.

Bao Feiping broke out in cold sweat upon figuring it out. He became as white as a sheet. “Brother Lonemoon, this is a huge matter. We need to inform my father immediately” Now that they had found the gate, they had no choice but to report it to the capital. They also needed to let His Majesty know.

“City Lord, please go ahead.” Lonemoon nodded. “If you need anything, please tell us. The Invincible Sect will do our best to help.”

“Thank you!” He flew down toward the ground and started making follow-up arrangements.

Once again, Lonemoon looked down and surveyed Qu Shuang City below him. The gates of the demonic realm did not look like they were going to open anytime soon, but the demonic Qi surrounding the gates was enough to frighten people. Especially given that there were specific areas where immortal Qi was scarce, it became clear that the immortal meridian could not suppress the demonic gates’ aura any longer. The demons that invaded the City Lord’s Abode earlier could have just made use of loopholes, or perhaps they were not full demons.

Qu Shuang City was no longer suitable for immortals to reside and train in. Otherwise, the city’s immortal meridian might become weaker and weaker, and the gates of the demonic realm might take on a clearer form. It looked like Bao Feiping would have a lot to do.

But Lonemoon was not worried that the gates would open anytime soon. At least from the novel, Lonemoon learned that the demons would need to pay a huge price in order to open the gates. They would also need a demonic descendant to lead the way.

Bao Feiping did become extremely busy in the days to follow. First, he closed down the immortal city and forbade anyone from leaving or entering the city. Then, he informed Bao Yi of the situation. They had found the gates, but they did not have the power to decide what to do next. Lonemoon did not stay behind any longer as well. Once the gates were found, he returned to Invincible Sect with the others.

——————

Three months later.

The corners of Lonemoon’s mouth twitched. The grandfather, father and son of the Bao Family were seated in front of him. He nearly dropped the basket which he was holding loosely in his hand.

He had just gone out to pluck some roots. What is going on?

How did these people appear all of a sudden?

“Brother Lonemoon!” Brother Feiping greeted him with a huge grin on his face. “We haven’t met in a long time. How have you been?”

“City Lord Bao.” Lonemoon glance at him. “All of you are…”

“We are here because of the matter concerning the gates of the demonic realm,” Bao Feiping sighed. He continued, “After we reported the matter to the authorities, His Majesty Ge You came down to Qu Shuang City to check things out for himself. He confirmed that the gates indeed led to the demonic realm. In the interests of safety, the entire Qu Shuang City has been closed down.”

“Closed down? What’s going to happen to the gate?”

“I’m not sure about that. His Majesty is our country’s highest authority, and he is an Immortal Emperor! He must have a way of handling things, right?” He was just guessing.

“…” Lonemoon frowned. He was not that optimistic. The novel did not mention any solution.

“After Qu Shuang City closed down, His Majesty promised to give another immortal city to my Bao Family. However, it will take some time for that promise to be kept. Since we could not stay in Qu Shuang City anymore. we decided to take you up on that invitation you extended to us earlier, Brother Lonemoon. That’s why we are here.”

“…” He had only invited them over in passing. Were they really taking him seriously? They even brought their entire family here.

“We expect that we would have to stay here for quite some time. I hope we are not troubling you?”

“Not… at all!” Was there any point in saying they were? They were already at their doorstep!

Lonemoon glared at Shen Ying, who was still engrossed with her steak and rice at that moment. Then, he entered the hall, greeting Bao Yi and sending the spring onions he had picked into the kitchen.

“I have only just come to realise that Invincible Sect is a really good place,” Bao Feiping said, smiling. “Your disciples each have their own strengths. It is much livelier and more exciting here than it was in Qu Shuang City.”

“City Lord Bao, you are too kind…” Lonemoon answered. He had a business-like grin plastered onto his face.

Bao Feiping and Lonemoon began to exchange pleasantries characteristic of business partnerships. From time to time, Bao Yi – who held his grandson in his arms – chimed in.

Shen Ying remained utterly disinterested in all of this. She continued to focus on her food. She took two huge bites off her steak and suddenly became aware of someone staring at her. She turned and found her little friend, Ning Zi’an, staring at her with huge grape-like eyes. He looked extremely curious.

When she met his gaze, he paused and then broke into a huge grin. He turned and looked pointedly at the pastries, looking eager to try them.

“You want to eat?” She asked.

Little Friend Ning looked at the pastries again and looked back at her. He hesitated. Then, finally giving in to the temptation, he nodded sheepishly.

“Oh…” Shen Ying picked up a pastry from the plate and held it in front of his face. “This is a walnut cake.”

Little Friend Ning’s eyes lit up. He was just about to take the cake with his little hand, when Shen Ying twisted her chopsticks. The pastry made one round in front of his eyes and went straight into Shen Ying’s mouth. He heard the sound of Shen Ying’s teeth biting the walnuts.

Ning Zi’an: “…”

(இдஇ)

He froze as his little eyes began to redden and well up. He looked so wronged.

Shen Ying sniggered. She fidgeted with the chopsticks in her hand and hurriedly finished off the pastries one by one. The plate in front of her became increasingly empty. She even ate all the peanut rice.

Once she finished all the food on the table, she let out a satisfied burp.

Ning Zi’an: “…” He really wanted to cry now. He pouted and tutted loudly, turning to bury his head in Bao Yi’s arms. He did not want to look at her anymore.

Hey… bullying kids is really addictive!

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