After returning to Wuwei Tower, Nangong Jingtang’s first act was to apologize once more to Dong Kui, Jiang Jinhe, and the others. Having chosen to accept everything about Ye Yu, she naturally strove to integrate herself. With Yue Wanqiu’s advance efforts and now this sincere apology, the sisters readily forgave her.
However, Dong Kui insisted on reclaiming her Justice Textbook. Though just a small booklet, she had always cherished it dearly. Seizing the moment, Dong Kui transmitted her thoughts to Ye Yu, asking him to confirm her status as his consort—after the earlier teasing had left her utterly embarrassed. With Ye Yu still present, she would publicly clarify her position once and for all.
Ye Yu, of course, did not refuse. He was not the sort to eat without paying; once he committed, he would honor it. When he announced to all the ladies that Dong Kui was indeed his consort, Zhu Diezhen and Wei Aoshu’s faces turned a thousand shades ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) of awkward. Had the painstakingly refined elixir they so laboriously produced really gone to “rival” Dong Kui? Oh heavens, what abysmal luck!
Zhu Diezhen quickly composed herself and telepathically reassured Wei Aoshu, “Don’t worry. Let’s try again—good things come with trials.” Wei Aoshu, tears unshed, shook her head. “Master, I won’t try anymore. I’ve given up. Perhaps it’s fate that my junior brother and I are not destined. But it’s fine—just watching you all makes me happy.” She forced a smile to comfort Zhu Diezhen, which only made Zhu’s heart ache more.
After much thought, Zhu Diezhen resolved to seize the moment while the sisters remained assembled and confess everything to Ye Yu—only to have Wei Aoshu firmly grip her wrist and stop her. Ye Yu noticed this odd gesture and asked curiously, “Zhen’er, what’s wrong?”
“N-nothing—she wanted to get me some immortal fruit to eat!” Wei Aoshu covered for her friend and winked at Zhu Diezhen, silently saying, “Don’t you dare.”
Ye Yu raised an eyebrow. “Immortal fruit? Just that?” As he opened his mouth to ask more, Feng Yingzhi burst in, holding a pink bead aloft. Excited, he exclaimed, “It’s done—I’ve completed it! The Heavenly-Demon Boundary Pearl is ready. Though untested, I believe it can carry you through the dimensional barrier to the Demon Realm or the Fiend Realm.”
At this, everyone’s expressions froze. Feng Yingzhi, puzzled, asked, “Why are you all looking at me like that? Shouldn’t you be excited? Ye Yu, the Boundary Pearl!”
Ye Yu inhaled deeply and patted Feng Yingzhi’s shoulder. “Save it. My Great Azure Passage has collapsed. Now that the Five Realms Passage is restored, we no longer need boundary pearls.”
“What?” Feng Yingzhi’s eyes widened. “The Five Realms Passage is restored? Since when? How did I not know?”
Ye Yu sighed, then beckoned to Pei Chuxia. “Take your friend downstairs and give her a proper briefing on the current Heavenly Realm situation. Let her gain some insight!”
Perhaps scholars are prone to obsession, for Pei Chuxia and Feng Yingzhi were close. Upon hearing Ye Yu’s command, Pei Chuxia readily agreed and led Feng Yingzhi away, much to the amusement of the consorts.
Over the next few days, Ye Yu monitored the Heavenly Realm’s affairs while enjoying happy times with his consorts. With patient observation, he noted many changes. Since the Five Realms Passage reopened, numerous demon immortals and ghost immortals had arrived in the Heavenly Realm. Over time, fiend immortals also came, though far fewer in number—and they all watched warily.
Ye Yu paid them little mind. His focus remained on the Mortal Realm, where many consorts had yet to ascend. With the passage open, the Heavenly Realm would surely grow more chaotic, and newly ascended consorts—still weak—might suffer if anything unexpected occurred. He felt he must devise a way to ensure that, once they ascended, he could welcome them immediately.
Yet this idea proved difficult to realize. Though the Mortal Realm passage was open, its Heavenly Dao force had grown stronger: any cultivator exceeding the peak Ascension Realm would be struck down by heavenly lightning. Demon and fiend immortals alike had paid a harrowing price; many powerful beings had perished.
Thus, Ye Yu temporarily abandoned the plan. Surprisingly, however, no consort had ascended for quite some time—an abnormal lull. Ye Yu longed to visit the Mortal Realm himself, but as an Immortal King Realm powerhouse, his overwhelming aura would trigger heavenly lightning before he even arrived.
After much deliberation, Ye Yu decided to give Feng Yingzhi one more chance and set out to find her. Yet on the way he unexpectedly encountered Zhu Diezhen.
“Zhen’er, no cultivation today?” Ye Yu greeted and tried to pass by, but Zhu Diezhen stepped directly into his path. Curious, he asked, “What’s the matter? Is something important going on?”
“Yes—very important. Spare me the time it takes a single incense stick to burn!” Zhu Diezhen suddenly grew serious, chanting softly as she formed incense from spirit energy and placed it against a nearby stone wall. Her solemnity struck Ye Yu as most peculiar.
“What could be so weighty?” he asked.
Zhu Diezhen said nothing, instead yanking Wei Aoshu—bound in intricate knots—from the shadows beside her. A red cloth gagged Wei Aoshu’s mouth, imparting a bizarrely comedic sight as Wei Aoshu frantically shook her head in protest at her attire.
