Volume One: The Misty Immortal Palace Chapter 119: After the Rain, Clear Skies

Chapter 119: Clear Skies After the Rain

Su Qing!

A woman unforgettable to anyone who laid eyes on her—pure and noble, more beautiful than a celestial fairy, draped in simple robes that flowed like a graceful water nymph. She was once the most outstanding prodigy disciple of Yunmiao Immortal Hall, destined to enter a prestigious academy renowned for cultivating immortal kings and powerful cultivators. Yet fate was unkind; heaven conspired to make her meet Zhou Hao, and she hopelessly fell in love with this once novice youth. In the end, she willingly gave up the immortal path, even her life, to save him when he was on the brink of death!

Every time Zhou Hao thought of Su Qing, a deep guilt weighed on him, for he owed her too much—her love, her very life—and yet, he would never have the chance to repay her.

“Turtle, tell me, can the Ninefold Golden Pill... bring Su Qing back to life?” Suddenly, Zhou Hao looked at the turtle with a solemn and resolute expression as he asked.

Silence, heavy as death!

Everyone stared at Zhou Hao in unison, knowing well that Su Qing had died to save him. Especially Huahuo—she had witnessed Su Qing condense her body into a pill and use the power of a Great Immortal-grade elixir to heal Zhou Hao’s near-fatal wounds. Though curious about how Su Qing had leapt from a newly entered Golden Immortal realm to a Great Immortal state in an instant, Huahuo understood deeply that Su Qing had indeed become a Great Immortal. Such terrifying power made even heaven and earth pale.

Beside them, Yu Nan’s heart roiled after hearing Zhou Hao’s question. She and Su Qing had always been opposites. Su Qing’s personality was like ice—aloof and distant—while Yu Nan herself was like fire—hot and untouchable. Only after falling for Zhou Hao had her fierce temper somewhat softened. Yu Nan knew Su Qing loved Zhou Hao too, and she could see that Su Qing’s sacrifices far surpassed her own. Su Qing’s love was not spoken but acted upon; exchanging one life for another, Yu Nan felt utterly defeated by Su Qing.

“Su Qing, compared to you, I’m not worthy to say I love Zhou Hao. Before, I lost to you in every way, but I never admitted it, always hoping to beat you once, yet I never could. Now that you’re gone, I have no chance left to win, but this time, I accept my defeat wholeheartedly,” Yu Nan sighed deeply.

The turtle paused for a long moment, its eyes drooping, then helplessly said, “Alas, when Su Qing sacrificed herself to become the immortal pill, she vanished from this world forever. The Ninefold Golden Pill may restore a fragmented soul, but it requires at least some soul remnants. After all, it can’t conjure an identical Su Qing out of thin air.”

Zhou Hao said nothing but nodded slightly. Though he had guessed the answer, his heart still ached—a wound no medicine could heal. Perhaps this sorrow would become a demon obstacle on his cultivation path, threatening his sanity and risking demonic deviation.

Seeing Zhou Hao’s state, everyone understood. The turtle then leapt lightly from his arms and faced Cheng Yan. Instantly, it grew to a full meter tall, standing upright like a turtle—with a comical yet majestic air, making onlookers laugh.

Cheng Yan, dressed in white robes, had a bruised, swollen face, looking like a pig’s head—no longer the handsome, domineering figure he once was. Now he knelt on the ground, begging desperately, answering the turtle’s questions with complete honesty, showing the mindset of a captured prisoner.

The turtle asked, “Who is this Azure Cloud Immortal King you mentioned?”

Cheng Yan replied, “I heard from my father that the Azure Cloud Immortal King is the master of our Yunmiao Hall’s lord. He rules a distant star region called the Azure Cloud Star Region, far from the Heluo Sect’s star domain. My father said the Yunmiao Lord betrayed the Azure Cloud Immortal King, fled the Azure Cloud Star Region, and eventually settled in this barren star region near the Ascension Platform, establishing Yunmiao Immortal Hall.”

“So, back then, the Yunmiao Ascendant fled the Azure Cloud Star Region because he stole the Purple-Golden Zhu Fruit Tree? He intended to use its power to become a Great Immortal? But that sounds far-fetched. Since he was the Immortal King’s disciple, he would eventually become a Great Immortal anyway. Why rely on the Zhu Fruit to advance?” Zhou Hao pondered.

The turtle chuckled, “That question stumps me. I’m but a lowly immortal disciple; how could I know?”

The turtle shook its head. “Never mind, let’s focus on what really matters now. Tell me, just how far has the Purple-Golden Zhu Fruit Tree grown?”

Cheng Yan answered, “My lord, I overheard Nangong Xun say he didn’t know either. It seems their alliance hinges on that tree. Ye Shi promised to help Nangong Xun break through to the Upper Immortal realm and join forces to eliminate the hall lord, while Nangong Xun would assist Ye Shi in seizing the Zhu Fruit. But because of Yunmiao Hall’s protective formation, the three of them couldn’t approach the Zhu Fruit Tree.”

The turtle considered, then asked, “Did they mention any way to break the formation’s seal?”

Cheng Yan thought hard, then replied, “They tried various methods but all failed. Later, after Lord Zhou Hao was defeated and imprisoned by Nangong Xun, Ye Shi conferred with Nangong Xun about obtaining Lord Zhou Hao’s gourd. They believe the mysterious sword light emitted by that gourd might be able to break the seal.”

“Ah, why didn’t I think of that? The yellow-skinned gourd is a treasure of that unscrupulous Great Immortal, its power undeniable. Using it to break Yunmiao Hall’s protective formation would indeed work. Truly, the proverbial iron shoes worn out—finding it without effort. Seems even heaven wants me to restore my peak realm quickly, hahaha...” The turtle suddenly understood and laughed heartily.

“Restore your peak realm? What was your previous cultivation level?” a voice questioned from behind.

The turtle turned, grinning mischievously. “Hehe, if I told you, you might die of shock. In my previous life, I was a legendary immortal... Zhou Hao? Trying to trick me? No way!”

Zhou Hao pouted. “Cheapskate. You won’t tell me now, but I’ll find out eventually.”

“Cheng Yan, I have one last question—where are the others of Yunmiao Immortal Hall now?” Zhou Hao looked down disdainfully at the white-robed youth who had bullied him since his arrival.

Cheng Yan stammered, “Report to Lord Zhou Hao, Nangong Xun ordered everyone to stay on their respective immortal mountains to cultivate and not to roam. Nangong Ying and I were specially assigned to guard Lords Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan.”

“Good. Then you... may leave!” Zhou Hao flicked his sword, slicing a bloody gash across Cheng Yan’s throat.

Golden light flared as horror and hatred filled Cheng Yan’s soul face. He tried to escape, but a white sword light shot after him like a meteor. How could Cheng Yan’s soul spirit outrun sword light that could hunt even Golden Immortals to the death?

With a hiss, the sword light pierced through the golden soul spirit. Cheng Yan didn’t even have time for a final scream before turning to ashes.

“Senior Brother Cao was my first friend in Yunmiao Immortal Hall. You kill him, I’ll kill you!” Zhou Hao sealed the gourd’s mouth with cold resolve.

At that moment, rain ceased outside the tower, clouds parted, and ten radiant suns burst forth golden light, illuminating mountains and rivers with splendor!

Sunlight streamed into the tower as the turtle stretched lazily and yawned broadly. “Alright, revenge is done, the sky has cleared. What now? Find Ye Shi and Nangong Xun?”

“No, I want the Purple-Golden Zhu Fruit. It’s a vital strategic resource for the future!” Zhou Hao shook his head.

“Good choice. In the eyes of Immortal Kings, the Ninefold Golden Pill is rare treasure. Now that one of its nine key ingredients—the Purple-Golden Zhu Fruit—has appeared, we can’t let it slip away!” The turtle nodded emphatically.

“Hehe, then what are we waiting for? Let’s go pick the fruit!” The little red-clad girl Huahuo, looking even younger than Xiao Shanshan at just eleven or twelve, smiled with crescent eyes—utterly adorable.

Xiao Shanshan, though over two hundred years old, looked like a fresh-faced girl of fourteen or fifteen—pure and straightforward. Naturally carefree, now with the situation clear and skies bright, her smile bloomed like sunshine.

“I’m the best at picking fruit. How about a contest to see who picks the fastest and most? Hahaha...” The two girls chased each other out of the tower.

Zhou Hao smiled knowingly, nodded at Yu Nan, and together with the turtle, they walked side by side out of the azure tower.

Stepping outside, the air felt especially fresh. The sunlight dazzled their eyes, and a splendid rainbow arched across the horizon. Unlike the rainbow bridges connecting immortal mountains to Yunmiao’s main peak, this was a true rainbow after rain—so breathtakingly beautiful.

Bathed by the storm’s cleansing, the entire immortal land pulsed with life. The previous silence vanished, replaced by birdsong and floral fragrance, rare birds soaring joyfully, their calls heavenly. On the immortal mountains, auspicious beasts frolicked and played gleefully, inspiring a profound realization: these rare creatures were the freest and most carefree beings in the immortal realm.

They soon arrived at the Sword Practice Plaza, paved with blocks of azure bricks. Even a Golden Immortal’s full-strength strike could not damage them, proving the bricks were forged from extraordinary immortal stone.

Yunmiao’s main peak towered majestically, shrouded in mist and clouds, surrounded by violet aura—a sacred place for cultivation. Standing at the plaza’s edge, looking down the mountain’s height made one keenly aware that even the Immortal’s Eye, which could see a thousand miles, could not penetrate to the bottom. All that appeared was swirling violet energy, thick clouds, or sheer cliff faces etched with ancestral inscriptions. Zhou Hao had no leisure to read them.

“If the Immortal’s Eye can’t reach, then I’ll try this!” Zhou Hao closed his eyes. The next moment, his pupils transformed into concentric circles, two beams of golden light shooting straight down to the mountain’s base.