Chapter 2534 - 2532: Chaos and Turmoil
After the command from Yaochi, Heavenly Soldiers were soon dispatched for self-checks.
Each palace cooperated with the investigation, and they checked everything within their courtyards thoroughly.
The Peach Garden was the first to report; besides the stolen Peachtree and Peaches, even a large patch of weeds was pulled out from the ground.
The Hundred Flowers Palace reported a pond full of Dragon-Headed Fish, and over two hundred flower pots.
Other palaces such as the Palace of Musical Sound, Palace of Culinary Delights, and Palace of Attire reported losses of hundreds of flower and plant bonsai as well.
Heavenly Empress Mother chuckled at the antics of this group of thieves upon receiving reports from each palace.
Stuff going missing in the Heavenly Court was a common occurrence; she was long accustomed to it.
But this time, there were actually thieves who came to the Heavenly Court just to steal these plants and trees, not even sparing the wild grass on the ground.
Apparently, these thieves also had a taste for elegance.
Initially, Heavenly Empress Mother planned to hand this matter over to the Judicial Palace for investigation, but news soon came from the Palace of Five Directions and Five Elders.
The Palace-Suppressing Divine Sword and the Five Emperors’ Swords were all missing from the Palace of Five Directions and Five Elders.
Heavenly Empress Mother jumped in shock, then cursed, "How audacious, even the Five Emperors’ Swords weren’t spared. Is this theft of plants merely to cloud the truth? Is the real goal the Five Emperors’ Swords?"
The people below listened, kneeling and bowing repeatedly, pleading, "Forgive us, Heavenly Empress Mother, forgive us."
The cold sweat ran down the back of Huang Fangyong, the Defensive Commander of the Peach Garden, thinking this time they were doomed.
Sanqing and the Four Imperial Lords, Five Directions and Five Emperors.
These were figures on par with the Jade Emperor himself, not like those immortals on the Investiture of the Gods, whom the Jade Emperor could control at will.
Now, even the possessions of the Five Directions and Five Emperors were stolen.
Moreover, it’s the revered Five Emperors’ Swords echoed through the Three Realms.
These five divine swords are said to be crafted by the Five Directions and Five Emperors from the first strains of Wood Spirit, Gold Spirit, Earth Spirit, Fire Spirit, and Water Spirit in the universe.
Later, they absorbed the merit of the Heavenly Emperor, transforming into the Five-Directional Heavenly Emperor Swords.
These five swords are renowned alongside the Xuanyuan Sword in the Mortal Realm, yet who would expect them to be stolen today?
Heavenly Empress Mother pondered for a moment and deemed the matter unusual; she decided to personally go to the Heaven-Piercing Palatial Hall to report to the Jade Emperor.
The party from the Hundred Flowers Palace and the Defensive Commander of the Peach Garden were temporarily detained and taken to the Heavenly Prison.
Two cells, one for males and one for females.
This Heavenly Prison is also a palace-like structure, towering a hundred meters high and stretching ten thousand meters long, divided into southern and northern sections.
The female cell is in the south, and the male one in the north.
Inside, there are separate small rooms, and the doors are made of cast iron. They appear ordinary but are actually engraved with Spatial Talismans all around.
On the doors is also an array of Thunder and Lightning; anyone daring to touch the cell door will be immediately struck by entwining thunder and lightning.
Not many prisoners are held within, consisting of Demon Clan, Demon Race, and Human Race.
After they entered, these demonic spirits cried loudly, scaring a group of female cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Palace into tears.
On the opposite side, Huang Fangyong continuously comforted Zixuan, saying, "It’s all my fault for being ineffective, falling into the cunning trap. Sister Zixuan, rest assured, I’ve already sent word to the Ancestor. If the Ancestor speaks up, we won’t lose our lives."
Among the group of female cultivators, only Zixuan maintained a calm demeanor.
She nodded at Huang Fangyong and sat down in the cell, carefully recalling the events of the day.
The image of the Little Kirin kept replaying in her mind, inducing a sense of unexplainable familiarity.
It felt as if they knew each other in the past life.
While the other sisters cursed the Little Kirin and his crew, she remained silent, recalling the Little Kirin’s fish-eating habit with amusement.
Not long after they were locked up, a big guy with dragon-head features was also thrown in, persistently shouting, "Jade Emperor, this old dragon is wronged, this old dragon is wronged!"
Huang Fangyong was startled, "East Sea Dragon King?"
The maidens gazed intently, seeing that this Dragon King was locked in the cell next to Huang Fangyong.
In a fit of despondency, he cursed fervently, "This group of little thieves has ruined me!"
After the Jade Emperor sent people to investigate, they used the Realm of Time and Space to reverse time, discovering the Little Kirin and their allies.
These five were brought by the Dragon King.
When they left, they even rode in the Dragon King’s carriage.
The Immortal Realm is vast, and the Mirror of Time and Space can only probe the Thirty-Two Layers of Heaven’s time, unable to trace where the Little Kirin and his companions originated.
The case is temporarily shelved, with the Dragon King unable to narrate anything coherent, resulting in his being locked up.
The Demon Liqing guarding the South Heavenly Gate was reprimanded, though spared imprisonment due to three brothers pleading for leniency.
The female immortals of the Hundred Flowers Palace wept bitterly, "It’s over, it’s over, even the Dragon King is locked up; we’re all finished."
A female immortal sought help from Zixuan, saying, "Sister Zixuan, quickly inform your teacher, have your teacher plead for us! Your teacher is Lady of Mount Li, she holds great prestige both in the Netherworld and Immortal Realm. As long as she speaks, we’ll surely be safe."
"Indeed, Sister Zixuan. Now only you can save us; otherwise, heading to the Nine Nether Platform means years of cultivation will be wasted."
A female immortal clutched Zixuan’s arm.
Zixuan advised them, "Don’t worry, everyone; we didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just a matter of being outmatched. I believe Heavenly Empress Mother and Jade Emperor wouldn’t punish us like this."
She didn’t want to bother her teacher over such a trivial matter.
Furthermore, her teacher is in the Mortal Realm, often traveling around; either in seclusion or absent, making communication difficult.
The group of female immortals cried and sobbed before gradually calming down.
Huang Fangyong kept staring at Zixuan, pondering if that dream had been real, he might as well be dead.
Alas, the Zixuan from earlier was the villain’s transformation.
Mortal Realm Liangshan Island, over a month had passed since the Little Kirin and their departure.
The East Sea Dragon Palace was entirely managed by the Ninth Princess and Cang Tianba.
The army from the Nether Sea had all assembled, awaiting orders in the East Sea Dragon Palace, numbering a hundred thousand, all elite troops of the Sea Dragon Clan of the Nether Sea.
Cang Tianba’s uncles and brothers arrived, totaling over a hundred people.
Many of these individuals were disciples of Saint Kunpeng Ancestor of the Nether Sea, each possessing great strength and cultivation levels that had surpassed the True Immortal Realm.
Cang Tianba held a banquet in the East Sea Dragon Palace for them, indulging in a grand drink.
Cang Tianba’s uncle, Cang Leicheng, clung drunkenly to his nephew’s neck, shouting, "Tian’er, you see our Sea Dragon Clan hasn’t disgraced you, right? This display, this momentum, could surpass your East Sea Dragon Palace?"
"Yes, indeed, naturally."
Cang Tianba poured him wine, happily thinking, "To be honest, Uncle, this East Sea Dragon Palace is just for show. Don’t be fooled by my father-in-law’s command over the East Sea and various Water Gods of the land, they’re utterly useless. When trouble arises, he only cries to the Jade Emperor. Look, it’s been over a month since he went to the heavens, not a word has come back. Probably the Jade Emperor is bothered by him and doesn’t want to deal with him. Facing issues, only our family is reliable!"
Cang Leicheng and his nephews roared with laughter, "Indeed, we’ve come this time to make a name for ourselves in the East Sea, and Southern Observation Continent. Our Sea Dragon Clan will show the East Sea who the true underwater sovereign is."
He raised his wine bowl, taking a bold gulp, "Come, let’s drink heartily tonight! Tomorrow morning, we mobilize for Liangshan Island!"
"Drink!"
A group of commanders and nephews laughed loudly, raising their wine bowls and gulping heavily into their mouths.
Originally the Dragon Palace was noble and solemn, now rendered disorderly by them, leaving the Dragon Mother and the juvenile dragon sons and dragon maidens speechless.