The ebony gates leading to the Hengye clan's Divine Channels opened above the Evernight Palace, and in a column of divine light, a figure descended into the Ancestral Hall. All elders and immortals assembled in earnest, ready to welcome their sovereign.
Xinzi returned to the Great Desolation World, and as the light surrounding him dispersed, one could see divine flames and lightning flicker in his eyes. Rippling waves of Divine Power undulated his form, adding to the intensity of his crushing aura. That aura left even an expert such as the great elder, Hengye Mochen, terror-struck.
Fear superseded awe, and all prostrated themselves on the ground—quivering like a pack of worthless worms before the apparition of absolute divinity.
"Oh, Greatest One, welcome back!" Pushing through the terror taking possession of his Divine Soul, Hengye Mochen led the greeting. Xinzi didn't deign to acknowledge the immortals of the Eternal Night Dynasty, causing their pulses to beat at uneven rates.
'Oh, Zhen'er, what have they done to you?' Hengye Baxian couldn't recognize his little brother. Even in the Zhen-body, the distance between Xinzi and him had never been so overwhelming. At the moment, Baxian had no doubt that the wrong word said at the wrong time would get him slaughtered summarily.
"On this trip, My Divine Self made a plentiful harvest. The officials of the Celestial Assembly were extremely generous, and have provided My Divine Self with enough resources to reach the peak of Immortal Foundation within a couple decades. I will set aside the required resources and control every step of the process. You no longer have to involve yourself with the cultivation of My Divine Self," Xinzi said, his voice like a strange mix between celestial melody and grumbling thunder.
Till now, since Xinzi's Divine Soul stayed far from the Evernight Palace, the Zhen-body's cultivation relied on formations controlled by the Eternal Night Dynasty. Until Xinzi permanently returned, that state of affairs couldn't change. So, his words made some immortals wonder if the Greatest One planned to abandon his outside task and permanently reside in the Evernight Palace.
In other circumstances, they would have asked directly. But at the moment, none had the courage to request an explanation.
"No. My Divine Self no longer needs to be here to control this mortal shell. The elder council can manage the Evernight Palace's day-to-day activities, My Divine Self will concentrate on cultivation and other—more important tasks. You may leave." Xinzi answered the unspoken question and dispersed the immortals.
The Glorious Eye of Heaven opened, shining with the same divine flames and lightning that filled Xinzi's eyes. Its glow swept past the Evernight Palace, spreading to cover the entirety of the Great Desolation World.
If Xinzi didn't want them to, none could feel his gaze. He on the other end could see through all barriers, thoughts and souls, instantly getting a clear picture of the hidden forces, inheritances, plots and schemes all across the world.
His gaze settled on the Central Domain, where the Taiyang clan elder council held court. Led by their great elder, and by relying on the temporary absence of Taiyang Yuan, the elder council summoned Xue Jingzhao—putting her on trial.
"Xue Jingzhao, by relying on the opportunity granted to you by his Divine Majesty, you surrendered to the Eternal Night Dynasty, became their God-Monarch's plaything, and relied on him to cultivate to the peak of the Human Immortal realm.
All that wasn't betrayal enough? As the Noble Consort of his Divine Majesty, how you dare come back with a slave collar on your neck? A collar devoted to the Hengye Monarch at that?!"
"You even received an artifact so powerful that it enables you to run amok before our Earth Immortal elders. A tiny worm whose splendor and success relied on our goodwill dared to smack a Taiyang elder in the face! How proud and conceited!"
"Damn you! The Taiyang clan has ruled the four continents for millions of years, but never have we suffered such a crude humiliation! Even Hengye Wuxin and that venomous Hengye Yuemi's past actions cannot match the disgrace you've brought upon us!"
"This is why only Divine Spirits are worthy to stand beside Divine Spirits! All other entities are too vulgar and obscene to be granted our favors!"
"Once a treacherous slut, always a treacherous slut. His Divine Majesty was wrong to enable a benefit-thirsty strumpet such as you to serve as a consort of the Solar Palace! Today, on behalf of His Divine Majesty and all Taiyang scions, we will execute your whore-self, and rid the Solar Palace of a filthy, walking, breathing shame!" With their Heavenly Immortal great elder to suppress Jingzhao's artifact, the Taiyang elder council spoke the words that had been burning their chests since her return.
Solar flames flickered in their eyes, each spark threatening to set the Demon Slaying Hall Master on fire.
The other consorts of the Solar Palace, who just like Jingzhao held nominal positions for the sake of appearances and had no direct contact with Taiyang Yuan, watched with rapt attention. They had never liked the Xue Ice Spirit, seeing in her a despicable opportunist that balked at no evil to climb a hierarchy she had no business approaching.
But following Jingzhao's resounding return, their hatred of her rose immensely. After all, there was not a single Immortal realm expert among the Solar Palace's Sun Spirit consorts. How did Jingzhao become so fortunate as to not only beat them all to the Human Immortal Realm but directly reach the peak?
The gold-digger had to pay!
Her face twisted by a scowl, Xue Jingzhao bit her lips. Taiyang Yuan didn't want to offend the Hengye, but he was currently pushing through a cultivation breakthrough and naturally couldn't suppress the elder council.
Jingzhao tried to contact Xinzi through the collar but got numb silence as her only response. This convinced her that her master was either in secluded cultivation or ignoring her fate. Regardless, he couldn't save her from this.
