Like a rainbow piercing the sun, the golden light faded into the distance.
The terrifying aura capable of crushing the entire Qingluan Mountain finally vanished completely with the departure of the figure in black robes.
Silence returned to the world once more.
Only the wind blowing through the treetops swirled a few peach blossom petals, letting them fall to the ground.
At the entrance of the main hall, the group of ragged survivors from the Pill Cauldron Sect remained in their positions, gazing up at the sky.
Their necks were stiff, and their mouths were slightly agape.
A long time passed.
Gulp.
It was unclear who swallowed first, but in the deathly silence of the mountain peak, the sound was exceptionally loud.
Immediately following were the sounds of heavy breathing, rising and falling one after another.
The Elder who had previously been jumping and cursing Zhou Xuan for being muddled, shouting that he would rather die than submit, was now trembling as he leaned against the doorframe, his old face flushed the color of pig liver.
It wasn't exactly shame... having lived to such an age, his skin had long since grown exceptionally thick; why would he feel ashamed over such a small matter?
He was simply excited.
Trembling, he pointed at the golden trail remaining in the sky and stammered, "Is... is it... is it over?"
Three Ascending the Tower Great Demon Emperors!
Just like that...
Like slaughtering chickens or dogs.
Two dead and one fled?!
"It's over."
Zhou Xuan let out a long breath of turbid air. Looking at the group of once-aloof Senior Martial Uncles and Junior Martial Uncles before him, he said helplessly, "What else did you expect, Senior Martial Uncle?"
The Elder whipped his head around, any trace of his previous complaints gone. He grabbed Zhou Xuan's wrist with such force that it actually caused Zhou Xuan pain.
"Little Zhou... no, Nephew Zhou! That... that person... is she really from the Great Tang?"
"Is she... is she really willing to protect us?"
Zhou Xuan pulled his hand away inconspicuously and said calmly, "As this Disciple said before, as long as the Pill Cauldron Sect submits to the Great Tang and never betrays it, the Great Tang will naturally ensure your safety."
"Submit! We must submit!"
The Elder nodded his head like a chicken pecking at grain. "With such a figure backing us... what mortal Dynasty? That is a True Dragon in the abyss! That is an Immortal Dynasty of the Human Realm! For our Pill Cauldron Sect to climb such a high branch, smoke must be rising from our ancestral graves!"
The others also snapped back to their senses.
Exchanging looks, they all saw a glimmer of hope in each other's eyes.
If they could cling to such a thick leg...
Why worry about the Sect not flourishing?
Perhaps even...
These old bones with half their bodies in the grave might even be able to continue their Dao paths under Your Highness's guidance?
For a moment.
Everyone chimed in, their faces blooming with smiles.
"Exactly! Nephew Zhou is indeed our Sect's qilin child. This old man is ashamed of his own lack of foresight!"
"From now on, we are subjects of the Great Tang. If anyone dares say a single bad word about the Great Tang, this old man will be the first to lose his temper with them!"
Seeing these old men change their faces faster than flipping pages in a book, Zhou Xuan felt little disdain, but rather a sense of sorrow.
This was the way of the world.
Before absolute power, so-called integrity and dignity were nothing more than a fig leaf bestowed by the strong.
To the side.
Running Ox stood with his arms crossed, gazing at the horizon and smacking his lips as if wanting more.
His rugged face was full of envy.
"If only I, Old Ox, could have such a day..."
He chuckled foolishly.
Clearly.
He was lost in fantasy again.
"Enough."
Zhou Xuan glanced at him, feeling somewhat helpless.
Then.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the group of Elders with their varying expressions.
"Senior Martial Uncles and Junior Martial Uncles, you have now seen it with your own eyes."
Zhou Xuan's tone was flat, devoid of emotion. "This is the Grand Princess of the Great Tang, and she is the true backbone of the Great Tang today."
"Submitting to the Great Tang is not a disgrace to the Pill Cauldron Sect's reputation."
"On the contrary..."
Zhou Xuan paused and said softly, "It is our Pill Cauldron Sect that is reaching above its station."
As soon as these words were spoken.
Everyone present fell silent.
Had this been said half an hour ago, someone would have surely jumped out and pointed at Zhou Xuan's nose, cursing him for forgetting his ancestors.
But now.
Who dared?
Even the Spirit Mountain Demon Emperors were slaughtered; what right did they have to say anything?
Cough, cough...
The leading old man coughed twice, forcing a smile onto his wrinkled face that looked like a blooming chrysanthemum.
He hunched his back and approached Zhou Xuan.
He no longer called him "Little Zhou."
"Um... Sect Master Zhou."
The old man rubbed his hands together with a flattering look. "We were just being muddled earlier, failing to recognize greatness. Please be patient with us, be patient."
"Yes, yes, Sect Master, we are all one family. There's no such thing as 'reaching above our station'."
The other Elders also gathered around, bowing and scraping. Their shift from arrogance to deference made Zhou Xuan feel a wave of disgust.
"Sect Master, what are Her Highness's usual preferences?"
One Elder lowered his voice and asked mysteriously, "Does she like Spirit Pills and medicines? Or Heaven And Earth Treasures? Or maybe..."
He glanced at Zhou Xuan, hesitating.
Zhou Xuan frowned. "Or what?"
"Or... does she have a preference for handsome men?"
The Elder gritted his teeth and went for it. "If Her Highness doesn't mind, although there aren't many young men in our Sect, those few young boys who just entered are quite..."
"Stop right there!"
Zhou Xuan's face turned black.
What on earth was this?
Had these old fellows' brains rotted after being locked away for five hundred years?
Zhou Xuan waved his hand and said irritably, "Don't you dare harbor such crooked thoughts. Her Highness has a cold personality and dislikes such superficial things."
"If you truly want to repay Her Highness, then focus on Alchemy once we reach the Great Tang. Her Highness has always been clear about rewards and punishments. As long as you are capable, the Great Tang will never mistreat you."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.
"That's good, that's good. Alchemy is our specialty; we're good at that."
"Alright, don't just stand here."
Zhou Xuan waved his hand and began issuing orders. "Hurry and pack up. See if there are any remaining Disciples, dead or alive; bring them all."
"Also, the Pill Furnaces and medicinal ingredients in the main hall—pack up everything that can be taken."
At this point.
Zhou Xuan looked the group up and down, noting their ragged clothes and disheveled appearance, his frown deepening.
"Find some clean clothes to change into and wash your faces."
"Her Highness likes cleanliness. If she sees you looking like ghosts..."
Zhou Xuan snorted coldly. "If you end up displeasing Her Highness, don't say I didn't warn you."
Hearing this, everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
How could they dare to dally?
Like they had been granted a great pardon, they all turned and ran toward the main hall.
Before long.
Only Zhou Xuan and Running Ox remained in front of the previously chaotic main hall.
Zhou Xuan let out a long sigh of relief.
He had finally tidied up this mess.
He turned his head to look at Running Ox, who was still chuckling foolishly.
"Fellow Daoist Running Ox."
Zhou Xuan spoke, "The matters on my end are settled."
"What about your business?"
"Huh?"
Running Ox was immersed in a daydream where he could also slap a Demon Emperor to death. Hearing this suddenly, he couldn't help but be stunned.
He blinked blankly. "Me? What business do I have?"
Zhou Xuan was somewhat speechless.
On the way here, he had clearly been grumbling with a face full of bitterness about coming to Spirit Mountain to save someone.
How could he have forgotten his main task in the blink of an eye?
"Didn't you say..."
Zhou Xuan reminded him, "You were coming to save your... Big Sister?"
"Big Sister?"
Running Ox scratched his head.
A moment later.
His body shook violently.
"Holy crap!!! My Big Sister!!!"
A world-shaking cry erupted from Running Ox's mouth.
It's over, it's over...
I was so busy watching Her Highness show off her power that I forgot my main task...
That old woman is still suffering over there!