557: Chapter 557 Even the Protectors Are Involved in Competition? The Twin Sisters Conspire for "Performance"

A hundred miles outside Peng City, the night was thick, shrouding the wilderness in a depth so profound that not a single glimmer of starlight could be seen.

In the deepest part of the clouds, ten thousand feet high in the sky, two figures floated in the Void Realm.

They did not intentionally hide themselves, yet they were as quiet as forgotten specks of dust in the Universe.

One wore a light green dress as airy as a summer lotus; her refined features held a hint of laziness in the night, as if she had just woken from a long nap.

The other wore a dark cloak as silent as winter plum blossoms, with dignified features and a temperament as steady as a mountain, though subtle sounds occasionally came from her hands.

They were the two Immortal Lord realm powerhouses handpicked and sent by Matriarch to protect her son, Su Chen—Immortal Monarch Xia He and Immortal Monarch Dong Mei.

However, under the severe suppression of the Tiannan Immortal Domain's planar Laws, their cultivation was forcibly restricted, and they could currently only display strength at the Peak of the Jade Immortal realm.

Nevertheless, even in this 'hand-tied' situation, the Jade Immortal realm was still an existence that stood at the tip of the pyramid in the Tiannan Immortal Domain, looking down upon all living beings.

At this moment, the two normally majestic Immortal Lords, who could cause mountain collapses and tsunamis with a flick of their fingers, were simultaneously—cracking Heavenly Immortal Rank spiritual melon seeds.

"Crack."

With a light flick of Immortal Monarch Xia He's fingertip, a plump melon seed was skillfully cracked open.

The seed shell she lightly spat out drifted barely two feet before being quietly swallowed by the invisible power of the Laws in the Void Realm, turning into primal nothingness.

"I say, Immortal Monarch Dong Mei," her voice held a bit of laziness, sounding like a casual complaint, "The Mistress is really something, insisting on releasing the Divine Son into such a godforsaken wilderness. Look at that canyon below; the chilly winds are howling and it's full of ghostly energy, looking just like a mass grave. How does this look like a Divine Son's trial?"

Immortal Monarch Dong Mei's eyes remained calm, only giving Immortal Monarch Xia He a brief glance while the movements of her hands did not stop.

Another melon seed was precisely sent into her mouth.

"The Mistress's arrangements have always been profound and unpredictable; she has her reasons. It is not for you or me to criticize or discuss them." Her tone was indifferent, yet it carried an inherent, unquestionable authority.

"I know, I know. A trial, to temper the Heart-Nature—I've heard that line for a thousand years!" Immortal Monarch Xia He didn't care at all and rolled her eyes grandly. Her expression was the spitting image of a veteran employee who had been given too many empty promises by a boss.

"But don't you think this trial is too... 'wild'? Six True Immortals are just standing there openly below, surrounding and killing a Young Master with Great Saint cultivation. What's the fundamental difference between this and using an elephant to step on an ant?"

Immortal Monarch Dong Mei did not respond immediately, only chewing the melon seed kernel finely, savoring the sweetness contained within the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Immortal Monarch Xia He cracked another seed and suddenly lowered her voice, her body leaning imperceptibly closer to Immortal Monarch Dong Mei.

That mysterious posture no longer held even a hint of an Immortal Lord's demeanor; she looked exactly like a gossiping colleague sharing office rumors.

"Hey, speaking of which, Immortal Monarch Dong Mei, have you heard?"

Immortal Monarch Dong Mei's movements paused slightly, and an imperceptible flicker passed through her eyes.

"Are you referring to... Spring Flower and Autumn Moon?"

"Exactly them!" Immortal Monarch Xia He's eyes instantly lit up, brighter than the stars in the night sky, and her speed of cracking seeds noticeably quickened. "Do you think Spring Flower and Autumn Moon obtained some incredible Great Fortune after following the Young Master in the Lower Realm for these past dozen years?!"

"How could I not have heard!" She didn't wait for Immortal Monarch Dong Mei to answer before continuing on her own, her tone carrying obvious envy and jealousy.

"The news has spread throughout the Ethereal Palace! After they returned, their cultivation actually skyrocketed! It was like they were on a rocket! Not to mention the Mistress also bestowed Supreme Treasures upon them, saying it was a reward for their meritorious service in protecting the Dao. Now even the personal maidservants around the Mistress occasionally come to us to ask about their 'Dao protection experience'!"

As Immortal Monarch Xia He spoke excitedly, she even started gesticulating wildly.

Those clear eyes were filled to the brim with a longing for 'promotion and a raise.'

"Immortal Monarch Dong Mei, think about it. Spring Flower followed the Young Master for only a dozen years and got such huge benefits! What does that mean? It means the Young Master is a walking source of Great Fortune! If we can perform well in front of the Young Master here in the Tiannan Immortal Domain this time and make our presence felt..."

She licked the corner of her mouth, her eyes almost glowing green.

"Then wouldn't we also obtain equal fortune? Or even more? When we return to the Ethereal Palace, what would Spring Flower and Autumn Moon count for? Won't they have to obediently give up their spots to us? We will be the Young Master's most trusted and powerful personal Dao Protectors!"

Immortal Monarch Dong Mei's hand, which was holding the melon seeds, finally stopped in the Void Realm.

She was silent for two seconds, and a faint trace of contemplation crossed her eyes that were normally as still as an ancient well.

Then, she casually flicked the melon seed shell into the Void Realm. Her tone was calm, yet it pierced through to the heart of the matter.

"You're overthinking it."

"I'm thinking quite well!" Immortal Monarch Xia He protested dissatisfiedly, her tone sounding like a young girl who had cold water thrown on her dreams.

"Have you forgotten what the Mistress once strictly lectured us about?" Immortal Monarch Dong Mei reminded her calmly, looking at Immortal Monarch Xia He's ambitious face.

"What? The Mistress said so many things, which one?" Immortal Monarch Xia He tilted her head with a face full of confusion.

Immortal Monarch Dong Mei exhaled softly. That breath condensed into an ice crystal in the Void Realm and then shattered instantly.

"The Mistress said the Young Master's temper is like hers. He dislikes being disturbed uninvited or having others take the initiative to interfere in his plans. He will be very unhappy."

The smile on Immortal Monarch Xia He's face froze instantly upon hearing the words 'He will be very unhappy,' as if she had been hit by a freezing spell.

She seemed to see that lazy face of Su Chen suddenly showing a displeased expression, while the Mistress's eyes, which could see through the ages, were also coldly staring at her.

"...Then what exactly should we do?" Immortal Monarch Xia He's voice became somewhat dry. Her previous excitement vanished without a trace, replaced by deep conflict and fear.

"Save him!" Immortal Monarch Dong Mei cracked another melon seed. This time, her tone held a hint of playfulness that others would find hard to detect.

"But it depends on the situation."

"If the Young Master can solve the predicament before him by himself, or even... if he is fundamentally luring this group of 'prey' into a trap on purpose, then we will act as if we saw nothing and continue cracking our seeds."

"If the Young Master truly falls into a dangerous situation and is forced to need our intervention... at that time, it won't be too late to time it perfectly for a 'grand entrance'."

Immortal Monarch Xia He let out a long sigh. That sigh was full of a high-level Cultivator's helplessness regarding her own 'career planning.'

"Fine, fine. It seems we'll have to crack a few more seeds first. We'll wait and see, wait and see."

She began cracking seeds again listlessly, her gaze slowly falling onto the pitch-black Luoyan Gorge below.

There, six powerful auras of the True Immortal realm were like lurking venomous snakes, spreading outward thread by thread with cold and brutal killing intent.

An inescapable net woven from invisible killing intent had already quietly opened.

Waiting for the prey to step in.