Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Three Who Returned from Snowy Azure Mountain

“My little ancestor, are you all right?”

Junyang rose and approached You Xiyue, looking her over carefully. Seeing no wounds, he felt much relieved.

“Why would anything be wrong with me?”

You Xiyue glanced at Junyang in bewilderment, her tone rather terse.

Junyang scratched his forehead, feeling guilty and not daring to speak further.

Fan Wuwei, for once, enjoyed watching Junyang’s discomfort. The satisfaction was written all over his face, making him forget he'd just brushed past the gates of death.

“Let’s head back first.”

Seeing the two elders still pale, You Xiyue unfurled the Divine Domain Map and pointed to the mansion of the Candle Dragon Clan.

In an instant, the three found themselves at the entrance of the Candle Dragon Clan.

“My little ancestor, how did you know we went to Snow Cang Mountain?” Junyang followed behind You Xiyue, asking.

Before You Xiyue could reply, she spotted the recently arrived patriarch of the Azure Dragon Clan, Qing Yushan, and a visibly excited Fan Lihua.

“I told her,” Qing Yushan stepped forward, eyeing Junyang and Fan Wuwei with a slight frown. “But what happened? Why are you back so soon? Did you find the He family?”

Fan Wuwei strode ahead, his expression turning serious, tinged with anger. “Still searching for the He family? We barely made it back alive! Let’s talk inside.”

Qing Yushan nodded and led everyone toward the main hall of the Candle Dragon Clan.

Junyang tugged at You Xiyue’s sleeve. “That woman…”

You Xiyue sighed softly. “I let her primordial soul escape.”

Junyang froze, releasing You Xiyue, and together they entered the main hall.

Fan Wuwei finally voiced his curiosity. “Junyang, this little girl—what’s your relationship? You call her ‘little ancestor’?”

Junyang sat beside You Xiyue, habitually pouring her a cup of tea. “I am now her contracted beast.”

“What!?”

Fan Wuwei and Qing Yushan were both astounded. An ancient beast clan patriarch, revered by all, now serving as a contracted beast to a young girl?

To call it a contracted beast was flattering—the unvarnished truth was, he was a servant beast.

Seeing their disbelief, Junyang only smiled, unwilling to explain further. Instead, he looked up and asked You Xiyue, “That woman from Snow Cang Mountain—she must be from the Sanctuary, right?”

You Xiyue accepted the tea and nodded. “The Snow Domain Saintess of the Sanctuary.”

“What?” Fan Wuwei nearly jumped out of his seat. “The Sanctuary is bad enough, but the Snow Domain Saintess? What’s someone of her stature doing here?”

Qing Yushan looked puzzled but had a rough idea, choosing to listen quietly while observing You Xiyue.

“I don’t know. She wouldn’t say.” You Xiyue answered, sipping her tea, her thoughts drifting.

“Is the woman still at Snow Cang Mountain, or has she returned to the Sanctuary?” Fan Wuwei was truly anxious—the sensation of almost losing his life was far from pleasant.

You Xiyue seemed lost in thought, so Junyang spoke for her. “She was slain by the little ancestor, but her primordial soul was allowed to escape.”

Fan Wuwei was first astonished that this young girl could defeat the Snow Domain Saintess, then puzzled, “Why let her primordial soul go? Shouldn’t she be utterly destroyed?”

Qing Yushan’s curiosity about You Xiyue only deepened.

Fan Lihua, meanwhile, grew more and more excited, goosebumps rising all over—she knew her little goddess was truly extraordinary.

Though Qing Yushan was curious, he also felt admiration or perhaps gratitude toward You Xiyue. He shook his head at Fan Wuwei, “Did you consider the consequences of annihilating the Snow Domain Saintess’s soul?”

“Consequences? What consequences?”

Junyang, rare for him, showed patience with Fan Wuwei and explained, “If the little ancestor killed her within the Holy Realm, the Snow Domain would soon learn of it and send people to inquire. Do you think they’d be polite? How many in the Holy Realm could withstand their questioning? You, me, our clans—could any escape? Letting her primordial soul go makes them wary, unwilling to act rashly. If they investigate, it will be quietly. The little ancestor… is protecting us.”

Junyang glanced at You Xiyue, who seemed lost in thought. With the woman’s primordial soul returning, it would likely bring investigation upon You Xiyue alone. Soon, someone from the Sanctuary would probably arrive.

Fan Wuwei nodded in sudden understanding, but grew resentful. “I’ve ruled the Holy Realm for hundreds of thousands of years, but this is the first time I’ve felt the weakness of my bloodline—never felt so useless.”

Qing Yushan, though he hadn’t experienced it, could well imagine, and remained calm.

You Xiyue’s eyelashes trembled as she withdrew from her thoughts. Junyang then asked, “Did any of the He family survive?”

“They’re dead. There is no sign of life left on Snow Cang Mountain.”

She spoke of living things, meaning even the animals native to the mountain had been exterminated.

“Does Snow Cang Mountain hold any special significance? Why would it draw the Snow Domain Saintess from the Sanctuary?” Fan Wuwei racked his brain but found no answer.

Qing Yushan and Junyang were equally clueless.

After her primordial soul escaped, the Snow Domain Saintess sped toward the Sanctuary, though lacking her body, her pace was much slower.

Just thinking of You Xiyue made her shudder—fear and fury mingled.

She knew You Xiyue had deliberately let her soul escape, meaning the girl feared nothing from the Snow Domain’s reprisal.

In her understanding, the Snow Domain stood at the pinnacle of this world—yet where had this monstrous little girl come from?

That terrifying suppression by bloodline shouldn’t even exist.

She never imagined her bloodline would one day be so utterly dominated.

Junyang, truthfully, hadn’t expected You Xiyue to so easily handle the holy clan woman. He’d been worried she might be injured.

Now, You Xiyue cared nothing for the Snow Domain Saintess. Her mind was occupied only with Hongchen’s affairs—the He family’s trail had been severed.

No one knew what was happening in the Wandering Immortal Map.

Junyang naturally understood what weighed on You Xiyue’s heart.

“Shall we return to the Demon Realm?”

You Xiyue looked up at Junyang. “Let’s rest one day before we go.”

Though Junyang had taken the Dreamshade Yin-Yang Pill, his complexion was still poor.

Had You Xiyue arrived a few seconds later, Junyang might truly have been killed by that woman.

Besides, the investigation at Green Sandalwood would take time—hopefully, it would yield answers.

Fan Lihua, seeing everyone fall silent, quietly edged behind You Xiyue and lightly tapped her clothing with a finger. “Little goddess, could I become your contracted beast too?”

Her words startled the patriarchs.

Fan Wuwei stared at Fan Lihua—how could she be as foolish as Junyang, wanting to be a contracted beast? What was so appealing about that?

Qing Yushan was equally bewildered—wasn’t being the Candle Dragon Clan’s heiress good enough?

Junyang was displeased—wasn’t this stealing his role?