335: Chapter 335 Does he even deserve it?

Ye Qingyao's voice was kept very low, but every word was crystal clear.

"The Left Protector of the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall—Elder Meng Lie of the Burning Heavens—has already arrived at the southern foothills of Divine Flame Mountain."

"He didn't send word through the Taixu Immortal Sect's channels; instead, he sent a Soul Transformation Stage attendant directly outside the Traveling Palace to say—"

Ye Qingyao's tone turned cold.

"'If the Spiritual Void Desolate Dao Master knows what's good for him, he should personally visit the Sacred Hall's Traveling Palace to pay respects to the Lord Left Protector before sunset today. Otherwise, his participation slot for the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly can be reconsidered.'"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Tian, standing nearby, immediately exploded with anger.

"What does this mean? A threat? One Huo Yan just left, and now a Left Protector shows up? Does the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall intend to never let this end?"

Su Changge sat in his armchair, the expression on his Face remaining unchanged.

But his mind had already begun racing frantically.

[Elder Meng Lie of the Burning Heavens? The Left Protector? This is a figure who is countless levels higher than that Huo Yan from just now, right?]

[And he gave a deadline—before sunset. This isn't an invitation; it's an ultimatum.]

[The Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall is dead set on giving me a show of authority.]

[But if I actually go, the persona I established in front of everyone will completely collapse. 'This Revered Master will not bow to anyone on this trip'—I said those words myself.]

[Going would be like slapping my own Face. Not going... means offending the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall.]

[A dilemma.]

He picked up his teacup and took a sip to hide the slight stiffness at the corners of his mouth.

Looking at Su Changge's unruffled appearance, Ye Qingyao's judgment was reinforced once again.

[Revered Master isn't panicked at all.]

[To him, whether it's Meng Lie or Xiao Huang, they are all just buffoons.]

[But as his Disciple, I cannot allow these people to annoy Revered Master time and time again.]

Ye Qingyao turned to Zhao Tian.

"Is that Soul Transformation Stage attendant still outside?"

Zhao Tian nodded.

"Yes, he's standing right outside the gates of the Traveling Palace. He's acting all high and mighty, with a Face that says 'I'm from the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall, you wouldn't dare touch me.'"

The corners of Ye Qingyao's mouth curved slightly, a very shallow arc that was cold to the bone.

"Let him in."

Zhao Tian was taken aback, but quickly understood something. He grinned and turned to leave.

A moment later, a middle-aged Cultivator dressed in a crimson robe was led into the hall.

A cultivation at the Late Stage of the Soul Transformation Stage would be considered a regional hegemon in the Lingxu Wasteland. But in this hall filled with Nascent Soul and Body Integration Stage prodigies, his cultivation could only be considered lower-middle tier.

However, this man clearly didn't rely on his cultivation for his livelihood.

He relied on the sign behind him—the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall.

"I am Zhou Mu, here to deliver a message by order of Elder Meng Lie of the Burning Heavens."

After Zhou Mu entered the hall, his gaze bypassed Ye Qingyao and landed directly on Su Changge.

"Is the Spiritual Void Desolate Dao Master present? The Lord Left Protector has prepared a banquet at the Sacred Hall's Traveling Palace and awaits the Dao Lord's arrival."

When he said the word "awaits," there was a trace of imperceptible mockery at the corner of his mouth.

Awaits? A rogue Cultivator from the Lingxu Wasteland—is he even worthy of being 'awaited'?

It was merely giving him some Face.

Su Changge sat in his armchair, looking down at the tea leaves in his cup.

He didn't look up.

He didn't speak.

He didn't even lift an eyelid.

Zhou Mu's expression changed slightly.

What kind of attitude was this?

He was a man of the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall's Left Protector; coming to deliver a message was already giving Face. This rogue Cultivator from Lingxu Wasteland didn't even spare him a glance?

"Dao Lord?" Zhou Mu raised his voice. "An invitation from the Lord Left Protector is not something just anyone can receive. If the Dao Lord—"

"Enough."

Ye Qingyao's voice interrupted him.

Zhou Mu turned to look at Ye Qingyao, his mouth twitching.

"Saintess Ye, I am speaking with the Dao Lord."

Ye Qingyao ignored his words and instead took a step forward.

She didn't release any Spiritual Pressure, and her expression didn't even change much. But that one step caused Zhou Mu's body to instinctively retreat half a step.

The crushing weight of the Mahayana Stage over the Soul Transformation Stage required no deliberate display.

"You just said—your Left Protector has prepared a banquet and 'awaits' my Revered Master?" Ye Qingyao's phoenix eyes were half-lidded, her voice cold as if falling from the Nine Heavens.

Zhou Mu swallowed hard and said through gritted teeth, "Exactly."

"Then let me ask you."

Ye Qingyao lifted her eyelids, her gaze pinning Zhou Mu's Face like a nail.

"Is a mere Xiao Huang even worthy of having my Revered Master pay respects first?"

The moment these words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to be sucked out.

Zhou Mu's pupils constricted violently.

It wasn't because of the lethality of the sentence—it was because Ye Qingyao didn't say "your Left Protector," but directly addressed the Hall Revered Master of the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall by his name.

Xiao Huang.

She didn't even bother to add the title "Hall Revered Master."

In the Chixiao Dao Domain, what did the name Xiao Huang signify? An absolute powerhouse at the Late Stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, the Revered Master of the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall, the organizer of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, and a figure at the very pinnacle of the Chixiao Dao Domain's pyramid.

Even Mahayana Stage experts from other Dao Domains would show some respect when mentioning Xiao Huang.

But Ye Qingyao—she threw out Xiao Huang's name like a piece of trash.

"Even worthy."

Those two words were more lethal than any Spiritual Pressure.

Zhou Mu's lips trembled.

He opened his mouth, wanting to defend the Hall Revered Master.

But Ye Qingyao's gaze fell on him, cold as a blade's edge.

There was no anger in that gaze, no killing intent, not even disdain—only a pure, condescending indifference.

Like an emperor looking at an ant scurrying by his feet.

Zhou Mu's back was soaked.

His cultivation was only at the Late Stage of the Soul Transformation Stage; he wasn't even an ant in front of Ye Qingyao. But he represented the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall, the strongest power in the entire Chixiao Dao Domain.

"Saintess Ye... do these words represent the Taixu Immortal Sect?" Zhou Mu's voice was already shaking, but he was still making a final struggle.

Ye Qingyao gave a light smile.

That smile was like the coldest wind in winter, scraping across everyone's spine.

"No."

"These words are spoken on behalf of my Revered Master."

"My Revered Master doesn't even care to speak to you."

Zhou Mu's Face turned from red to white.

Su Changge sat in the armchair, still looking down at his teacup, appearing as if "you all can argue, it has nothing to do with this Revered Master."

That posture was too natural, so natural that everyone felt—he truly didn't care.

It wasn't an act; he genuinely felt that the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall's invitation wasn't worth mentioning.

This kind of "disregard" was more lethal than any words.

The internal monologue in Su Changge's mind, however, was a different scene altogether.

[Ye Qingyao, oh Ye Qingyao, you really are my 'dear father'.]

["Is a mere Xiao Huang even worthy"—you actually dare to say such things? Aren't you afraid Xiao Huang will directly lead his people here to flip the table?]

[But then again, now that she's done this, I can't open my mouth even more. She's already said things to this extent; if I say even one soft word, my persona will immediately collapse.]

[Fine, I'll keep acting the part. Anyway, she's the one standing in front taking the heat.]

Zhou Mu stood in the center of the hall, caught in a dilemma.

Stay and continue to argue? He didn't have the strength, nor the courage.

Just leave? How would he explain this to the Left Protector when he got back?

Silence lasted for a full ten seconds.

Zhou Mu took a deep breath and cupped his hands toward Su Changge.

"The words of the Dao Lord and Saintess Ye shall be truthfully conveyed to the Lord Left Protector by this humble one."

With that, he turned and left.

This time, he walked very quickly.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the hall, carrying a sense of panic.

When he reached the door, Zhou Mu didn't leave any threatening words like Huo Yan did before.

Because Ye Qingyao didn't even put Xiao Huang in her eyes; as a small character in the Soul Transformation Stage, anything he said would just be asking for humiliation.

The hall fell quiet once again.

Watching the direction where Zhou Mu disappeared, Zhao Tian couldn't help but chuckle.

"Satisfying."

Ye Qingyao turned around to Face Su Changge.

"Revered Master, your Disciple guesses that the Blazing Dragon Sacred Hall won't send anyone else for a short while."

"But—Xiao Huang is a narrow-minded person; your Disciple dealt with him in her past life. Having lost Face this time, he will not let it go easily."

Su Changge put down his teacup and said indifferently, "No matter."

Ye Qingyao nodded slightly.

["No matter."]

[Revered Master only said two words, but the amount of information contained in those two words is enormous.]

[He doesn't care about Xiao Huang's revenge.]

[This shows that Revered Master has an absolute trump card.]

What Su Changge was thinking, however, was—

["No matter" my foot! I'm scared to death!]

[But what can I say at a time like this? "It's over, it's over, I've offended someone, what should I do"?]

[A two-word answer is the safest. Saying one more word could lead to exposure.]

Ye Qingyao tidied up the chairs in the hall and added fresh tea for Su Changge.

She performed these tasks with light, natural movements, not at all like a Mahayana Stage powerhouse, but rather like a careful and attentive Disciple serving her mentor.

Su Changge glanced at her.

The glance was brief, but just enough to see the section of her wrist exposed from her sleeve as she lowered her head to add tea.

Her skin was white as congealed fat, her bones slender, and her fingertips were slightly damp with tea.

Su Changge quickly looked away.

[Don't look, don't look. This is your Disciple. Your current persona is a transcendent Revered Master, not a lecherous rogue.]

After adding the tea, Ye Qingyao stood up straight.

"Revered Master, regarding the matter of the Four Directions Dragon Court, your Disciple suggests letting Zhao Tian continue the investigation."

"Mhm."

Ye Qingyao glanced at Su Changge again, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Su Changge noticed her expression.

"Is there something else?"

Ye Qingyao was silent for a moment.

"Revered Master, your Disciple takes the liberty of asking—is your true purpose for coming to the Chixiao Dao Domain this time... related to that Seal under Divine Flame Mountain?"

Su Changge's finger paused at the rim of the teacup.

[How does she know about the Seal?]

[Wait, she's a Mahayana Stage powerhouse and a Reborn Empress; it's not strange for her to know these things.]

[But how do I answer this? If I say "yes," she'll ask for more details. If I say "no," it won't match my previous behavioral logic.]

Su Changge was silent for two seconds, then smiled slightly.

"What do you think?"

Ye Qingyao's heart skipped a beat.

[He didn't deny it!]

[And he asked me back—"What do you think?"—this is a test of my Comprehension Ability!]

[Revered Master indeed came for the Seal. No wonder he wanted to come to the Chixiao Dao Domain during the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, and no wonder he has been secretly observing the situation since he arrived.]

[He knows everything! He had already detected the abnormal movements of the Seal!]

Ye Qingyao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Your Disciple understands. Your Disciple will fully cooperate with Revered Master."

Su Changge nodded and picked up his teacup.

[I don't know anything! I just casually asked a question back!]

[But it doesn't matter now. What matters is—Ye Qingyao filled in the answer herself, and this answer just happens to help me maintain my persona.]

[As expected, the Chief Overthinker never disappoints.]

Ye Qingyao left the hall.

Su Changge sat alone in the empty hall, slowly finishing the tea in his cup.

The sunset shone through the pillars of the hall, stretching his shadow very long.

Zhao Tian walked in from outside, holding a spiritual talisman in his hand.

"Lord, new intelligence has arrived."

Su Changge glanced at him.

Zhao Tian's expression was very grave.

"It's about the Four Directions Dragon Court."

Su Changge put down his teacup.

"Speak."

Zhao Tian took a deep breath and lowered his voice—

"The four leaders of the Four Directions Dragon Court have all arrived."