Chapter 114: Only After Weathering the Storms Can One See the Rainbow of Maturity

This maneuver left the Dragon Driver’s soul, which had infiltrated Wuyun’s body, completely stunned.

Over a thousand strands of immortal beast soul energy surged in, scattering his eight divine soul attacks. They then began to weave through his consciousness, refusing to leave his chest and head. This sudden shift caused the Dragon Driver to clutch his head, howling in endless agony. His initial strike had been a total failure; as the shattered soul energy returned to his body, it was tainted by a grey residue.

Then, a terrifying power descended. Before he could dismantle his soul to flee, a thunderous force pulverized his entire physical form. In this realm, even a soul shattered into thousands of pieces does not necessarily perish, but once reduced to powder and merged into the phantom shadow, the entity is gone. Wuyun leaped out, unscathed, while the Dragon Driver was left with nothing.

Furthermore, the Phantom Beast was drawn into Wuyun’s chest, merging with his body until both vanished as one.

Surveying the vast underground space, Wuyun shook the monstrous treasure jar in his hand and sighed, "If you had fought with fists and feet, I would have been truly helpless and forced to extract some earth-shattering knowledge from you. Alas, you were too greedy!"

Before he could depart, a strand of divine sense swept over him. It was the Dragon Driver’s true self. Having suffered a massive drop in cultivation after his avatar was destroyed, he had been probing to see if any powerful figures were interfering. Wuyun burned the probe with the fire atop his head, captured it in the jar, and held it aloft to seal the prying consciousness inside.

Back in his cave dwelling, the Dragon Driver let out a shrill scream, clutching his head as a portion of his divine sense was forcibly ripped away.

"You brat, don't get cocky! Just you wait!"

The Dragon Driver crushed a secret talisman, opening a connection to another space, and began to report the situation truthfully.

"Little flaxen, little lad, carrying a schoolbag to the hall; fearing not the burning sun, fearing not..."

By the time Wuyun returned to the residence of Jia Youke, singing his little tune, his creditors had been waiting for a long time.

The spiritless Old Bai, a unicorn steed, lay limply before the cave entrance. Beside him, Jia Youke, Feiteng Shi, and Jue Li stood with faces full of gloom and helplessness. Because Wuyun had promised one hundred thousand immortal stones—even with the Dragon Driver promising to cover nineteen thousand, leaving eighty-one thousand—Old Bai dared not seek retribution from the Dragon Driver, so he had come directly to Jia Youke.

They say he is a stud horse, but that does not mean he is stupid.

"He is registered as your servant. When a servant owes a debt, the master pays. That is only natural."

"Fifty drops of essence blood! Each drop represents half a year of my cultivation. How many years will I have to sleep to recover from this!"

"How about I offer a discount? Can I pay half first? Or half of that? Will that work..."

Old Bai was mumbling when Wuyun arrived and mocked him, "What is it? Are you truly afraid that the matter of the tower collapsing will be blamed on you? You want a discount? I think a 'bone fracture' would be more appropriate!"

Seeing the Antuo circling Old Bai with reluctance, Wuyun sighed, "Regardless, you are the biological father of the little black horse in this life. Ah, how many immortals strive to 'leverage' their fathers, yet you are leveraging your son. You have such good luck."

Old Bai’s face changed, not understanding what was meant. But luck is one thing, and misfortune is another—like when he snuck into the Hundred Flower Valley to steal immortal pills and herbs, only to be caught and nearly executed, yet somehow managed to survive.

"The master is here! How will the immortal stones be repaid? Give them to me quickly! I want to regain my freedom and leave immediately!"

Old Bai knew his situation; it seemed like the punishment was over, but it was just another cycle. Wuyun, however, shook his head. "You cannot leave yet."

Old Bai was startled, fearing the tower incident was being pinned on him, but Wuyun added, "You must take your future wife—the little black horse’s birth mother—with you before you can leave!"

"What? Take her? How is that possible?" Old Bai’s horse face showed his reluctance. As he subconsciously began to complain, Wuyun waved his hand. "If you don't want to leave, then forget it!"

Back inside Jia Youke’s dwelling, Wuyun stretched and pointed toward the wine cellar, saying to Jue Li, "Go, fetch a barrel of wine!"

Jue Li’s expression shifted. Before she could speak, Jia Youke rushed over to do it for her.

"Who exactly are you? Why has your cultivation become so strong, and what are you plotting?"

Facing Jue Li’s question and Feiteng Shi’s curiosity, Wuyun waved a hand. Old Bai quickly crept over, his old eyes meeting Wuyun’s crossed legs as he hesitated. "Well, if I really can leave, taking the little black horse’s mother wouldn't be a problem. As long as she doesn't mind, I accept!"

Two questions: one urgent, the other as coy as a courtesan looking to be redeemed. Ignoring Jue Li, Wuyun said to Old Bai, "Enough. I didn't expect you to still have a sense of shame after being a stud for so long. I warn you, keep your petty thoughts to yourself. When the Yangchi Immortal King returns and the grand play begins, you can feel free to leave!"

Wuyun dismissed him with a wave. Old Bai transformed into a white unicorn steed, rubbing against him, unwilling to leave. Jue Li watched in secret shock: how could a Great Immortal-level demon act like an obedient child under Wuyun’s command?

After kicking Old Bai out, Wuyun said to Jue Li, "An old horse knows a good master—he knew to come and beg me, yet you’re still acting fierce. Let’s get the ugly truth out of the way: if Dao Yuan wishes to become a dao companion with Jia Youke, then you shall be the secondary wife, a dowry maid."

"You..."

Jue Li was furious. Her immortal body was nearly perfect; she was one step away from becoming a Great Immortal, which was why she even harbored thoughts of dual cultivation through divine sense. This was no different from selling everything she owned just to survive!

But if, as Wuyun said, Dao Yuan were to become a dao companion with Jia Youke, would she, with her status, look down on her as a maid?

A bold fantasy drifted into her mind, only to be quickly crushed—how could that be possible? Dao Yuan, a high and mighty Profound Immortal, marrying a mere immortal body? And Dao Yuan’s father, the Immortal King, was a supreme being, like the Master of Hundred Flower Valley. How could it be...

The more she thought, the deeper she sank. With her head bowed, an image appeared above her. Feiteng Shi covered his mouth, watching in horror as Wuyun cast a bubble illusion upon her.

Stopping Jia Youke from interrupting, Wuyun shook his head and said, "Give her some beautiful fantasies. Look, how simple, how innocent. I only magnified the desires of her heart, which, after all, are just to be happy with you."

After taking a sip of the wine Jia Youke had brought, Xiong Laosan, Long Yi, Xiao Chong, and the Dou Wang suddenly appeared. Feiteng Shi stared at the earring in horror, unable to believe it was a fourth-rank or higher immortal artifact. And this artifact was hanging on his good brother’s ear—just thinking about it was thrilling.

Wuyun remained expressionless, telling Feiteng Shi, "Register them all as servants and send them to the Demon Training Mountain. Let them learn about this Immortal Realm properly."

The latter nodded, but upon seeing the peak Great Immortal cultivation of Xiong Laosan and the others, he was stunned. Servants? Demon Training Mountain? This...

After arranging things for Feiteng Shi, Wuyun added, "Rest assured and register them; no one will dare stop you!"

No sooner had these arrogant words left his lips than a pressure descended, slamming directly into Wuyun’s face and driving him face-first into the jade floor tiles!

Jue Li woke up from her trance. Feiteng Shi screamed and fled. Xiong Laosan and Long Yi dared not look—how could the powerful Senior Wuyun be suppressed?

Especially the short, dark, unremarkable dwarf-horned horse—if Old Bai hadn't left earlier, who knows who would have ended up calling whom 'daddy'!

"Wuyun, quite the boastful senior! You dare force me into a horse stable? I am a high and mighty Immortal Emperor! You promised me a wealthy household, you promised me excellence, uniqueness, and supreme immortal quality, yet you force me into the body of a mule!"

The rampaging Antuo was unstoppable. Suddenly, he was startled and roared, "Why can't I feel the existence of my Emperor Bones? Where are my Emperor Bones?"

Pressed into the floor, Wuyun squeezed out two sentences: "Rest assured, once your soul is fully gathered, I will return them to you. How could I not keep your things safe?"

Long Yi, hearing this, muttered wickedly to himself, "They’ve already been ground into powder and eaten, and there are a few pieces left he’s planning to sell for a good price!"

"What?"

Long Yi’s throat was gripped. Seeing Antuo beginning to turn hostile, he hurriedly said, "They are being kept perfectly safe! No one can get their hands on them!"

Once Wuyun stood up, the Antuo—now a little black horse—dissipated his power and dove into the wine barrel, drinking deeply, unsure if he had reverted to his foolish horse state.

As the wine flowed, Xiong Laosan and the others stood in a row, unwilling to leave, all expressing their desire to follow by his side. However, Wuyun picked up Yue Qi, tossed away the dead-insect toy in her little hand, placed her on the Antuo’s back, and sighed, "Yue Qi, you eat dragon meat and ride an Emperor Horse; you cannot be spoiled from a young age. You must go to the Demon Training Mountain to play as well!"

Since even Yue Qi had to go, everyone quickly shut their mouths. Only Xiong Laosan grumbled under his breath, "Isn't it just because we didn't save you earlier and watched you trip over everything? Is it really worth giving us a hard time..."

Wuyun did not like Xiong Laosan’s tone. He frowned and scolded, "Giving you a hard time? I’m sending you to a food barbecue garden, and you’re complaining? If I weren't in such a precarious situation, unable to protect you, would you even have the chance to go?"

Wuyun gestured. Xiong Laosan took Yue Qi, called out to Feiteng Shi outside, and went to report. Everyone said their goodbyes, even Xiao Chong dragging his green leaf as he scurried outside.

When only Jue Li and Jia Youke remained in the cave, the latter worriedly asked, "Senior, this Hundred Flower Valley has thirteen Immortal Kings, gathering the core power of the entire planet. Will they..."

Wuyun waved his hands, pointing to the golden ring hanging around Yue Qi’s neck outside. "See that? A second-rank immortal artifact. Who can hurt them? Staying by my side, they’ll only ever be bit players, never achieving greatness. They must experience the wind and rain to see a mature rainbow."

Before they could ask more, he continued, "As for their identities, heh, Duoduo is controlling the two enforcement elders; matters will be handled perfectly."

Not waiting for Jia Youke to speak, Wuyun added, "You think I only control two elders? You underestimate the enemy. Just like the Piaoyi Immortal Emperor—the brothers he swore to die for were the ones to stab him in the back. What does this mean? Never leave your back exposed to the other party. That might work in the mortal world, but in the Immortal Realm, it is absolutely forbidden."

Every sentence blocked any further questions Jia Youke might have had, explaining things thoroughly. When he pulled Jue Li to bow and apologize to Wuyun, Wuyun said, "The cause of the previous life is the fruit of this one. As a relatively pure descendant of the Piaoyi Immortal Emperor, the Array Map chose you, making you the lucky one. Therefore, any immortal, beast, demon, or monster that has bullied, insulted, mocked, or beaten you shall meet with retribution. Go, make a list. Those enemies must be trampled one by one!"

The more wine Wuyun drank, the harsher his words became. When he mentioned the Immortal Emperors, he flared with anger, "I will ensure they have no return path! Once the matters of the Third Immortal Realm are complete, I will definitely seek you all out for a reckoning!"

Heaven knows what business Wuyun had to attend to. He was being chased into a corner, yet he remained firm and resolute, constantly pumping himself up!