Senior Brother Lu and I Both Studied Under Dou Tianzun

Zhu Tian’s expression shifted erratically, choked into silence. Never mind how he strutted around now, unifying the Demon Domain and establishing the Demon Empire. Back in the ancient era, he had been nothing like this. There had been plenty of beings stronger than him back then; leaving aside the human race, the demon race alone had dragons, phoenixes, and Qiongqi who were far more powerful. When it came to ancient hidden secrets, Jiang Lianyi certainly knew more than he did. While Zhu Tian focused on the mention of the Heavenly Court, the onlookers in the crowd fixated on the words “were it not that I am the wife of Immortal Kirin.” Two Dijiang clansmen whispered among themselves, “Who is Immortal Kirin?” “Are you stupid? Obviously, he’s the Demon Celestial!” Scholars had long theorized that the Demon Celestial was Immortal Kirin, but conclusive evidence had never been found. Today, through the conversation of two ancient great demons, the identity of the Demon Celestial was confirmed beyond doubt. The two Dijiang were utterly stunned. Exchanging wide-eyed glances, they held their breath, their voices trembling as the full weight of the revelation dawned on them. “Lady Jiang Lianyi is Immortal Kirin’s wife?!” This was an earth-shattering secret! Not only had Immortal Kirin married, but his wife was his former rival, Jiang Lianyi? It was common knowledge that Jiang Lianyi had been defeated by Immortal Kirin and lost her qualification to achieve immortality. The world had therefore assumed they were fierce rivals, believing that once Immortal Kirin became an immortal, his former competitors ceased to be threats, and past grievances were simply laid to rest. Yet no one could have imagined that Immortal Kirin had laid grievances to rest so thoroughly that the two had become husband and wife! The faces of the races that had secretly schemed against the Phoenix Clan instantly drained of color. If Jiang Lianyi’s return had merely forced them to abandon their designs on the Phoenix Clan’s paramount treasures, learning of her relationship with Immortal Kirin made them dread whether a reckoning was imminent. Before, they could still console themselves that Jiang Lianyi wasn’t invincible, that Immortal Kirin stood above her. Who would dare say such a thing now? Jiang Lianyi now represented the will of Immortal Kirin—she was the very heavens of the demon race! “Then the legitimacy of the Demon Empire…” If Jiang Lianyi refused to recognize the Demon Empire, even if it were successfully founded, its reputation would suffer a severe blow. Countless demons might curse the Ancient Ancestor behind his back, something he could never tolerate. It was often said that powerful cultivators viewed mortals like ants, but that was merely a figure of speech. If one truly viewed mortals as ants, why would one care how they cursed you? As fellow sentient beings, there might be disparities in power and status, but no gap was wide enough for someone to hear lower-status beings reviling them and simply act as though nothing had been said. “Jiang Lianyi and Immortal Kirin are husband and wife?” Shi Huagu asked, baffled. He remembered that the master of the ancient Heavenly Court was Dou Tianzun, who stood in opposition to the Four Ancient Celestials. How had Immortal Kirin’s wife ended up joining the Heavenly Court? Mu Baiyi, however, considered the matter on a deeper level. He shook his head gently, signaling Shi Huagu not to think so superficially. “Ancient affairs are intricate and multifaceted, filled with countless unknown secrets. Take the matter before us—who says being husband and wife implies an unbreakable bond?” “If friction arose between them or their philosophies clashed, why couldn’t Jiang Lianyi seek refuge with the Heavenly Court?” “Or perhaps Jiang Lianyi was originally a member of the Heavenly Court and only married Immortal Kirin later.” “There is yet another possibility.” When mentioning this third scenario, Mu Baiyi paused, a trace of dread flickering across his face. He feared the sheer might of the immortals implied by this third guess. Shi Huagu pressed, “Cult Master?” Mu Baiyi shook his head, forcing himself not to overthink, and continued, “There is also the possibility that the only opponents an immortal acknowledges are other immortals. Whether one is in the Qi Refinement stage or a half-immortal makes no difference in the eyes of an immortal. To the Four Ancient Celestials, where Jiang Lianyi stayed and which faction she joined were utterly inconsequential!” Arrogant! That was Shi Huagu’s immediate impression of the Four Ancient Celestials upon hearing the Cult Master’s speculation. Yet thinking of the unfathomable methods of immortals, he felt the Cult Master’s reasoning was not without merit. “Do you recall Young Cult Master Lu mentioning that he possessed the potential to become an immortal, which was why the Four Ancient Celestials suppressed him?” “Yes, he did say something along those lines.” “Then couldn’t we deduce this conclusion: Jiang Lianyi was incapable of becoming an immortal, which is why the Four Ancient Celestials didn’t care where she stood?” The two exchanged a glance, feeling as though they were gradually brushing against the truth. “The matter of the Heavenly Court was an oversight on my part,” Zhu Tian said. “Fellow Daoist, would you care to rest in the Imperial Palace for a moment? Once I have presided over the celebration, we can reminisce about old times.” Jiang Lianyi let out a soft chuckle, her expression turning frostily cold in an instant. “Zhu Tian, you sought to use the power of your rudimentary Dao fruit to control my clansmen. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice?” “And as for the matter of the Heavenly Court, you think a flippant excuse of an ‘oversight’ can brush it aside?” Jiang Lianyi pointed at Lu Yang and said coldly, “He is my senior brother. When my senior brother is insulted, how could I, his junior sister, simply sit by and watch!” … “Pfft—cough, cough…” The Grand Elder spat out a mouthful of tea, nearly choking to death. He had been leisurely sipping tea, delighting in watching those ignorant fools gawk in utter shock. He could hardly describe how immensely satisfying it felt. Until he heard Jiang Lianyi address Lu Yang as her senior brother. With a face full of sheer disbelief, he looked up at the Altar of Heaven. *Just what kind of lore did you kids concoct for this Heavenly Court?!* “Senior brother?!” The onlookers’ eyes widened in shock. Every single sentence Jiang Lianyi uttered unearthed an ancient secret, each more staggering than the last. Jiang Lianyi and Young Cult Master Lu were actually fellow disciples?! “He is your senior brother?!” Zhu Tian was completely bewildered. *Why have I never seen this person in the ancient era?* A cold sneer curled at the corner of Jiang Lianyi’s lips. “You haven’t seen him, that is all. The Four Celestials have all seen him!” These words were not untrue; all Four Ancient Celestials had seen Lu Yang through the time channel—though they had only seen a silhouette and had not seen his face clearly. “Senior Brother Lu and I both studied under Dou Tianzun, so of course we are senior and junior fellow disciples!” Lu Yang: “…” *Senior Lianyi, I know Senior Zhu Tian bullied the Phoenix Clan and you can’t stand it and want to fight him, but could you please not drag me into this?* “So, this cannot be resolved peacefully?” Zhu Tian’s expression darkened as well. As fellow half-immortals, Jiang Lianyi was showing him zero respect. Did she think he was afraid of her? He simply had no desire to stir up trouble; that didn’t mean he feared her! Three hundred thousand years had passed, and he was no longer who he once was! “Where are the Ten Generals!” Zhu Tian barked sternly. “Present!” Ten Tribulation Transcendence great demons stepped forward in unison, unleashing their oppressive might without restraint. The heavens shook, the earth trembled, the colors of the world shifted, and an overwhelming aura surged forth. As the foremost being beneath true immortality, backed by ten Tribulation Transcendence great demons, this lineup was virtually invincible among half-immortals. He refused to believe he couldn't take down Jiang Lianyi! If he could defeat Jiang Lianyi, he could naturally bring her under his control. By then, the question of legitimacy would be resolved, the combat power issue would be resolved, and the matter of establishing authority would be resolved—every single problem would be solved in one stroke. *Jiang Lianyi, you brought this upon yourself!* Faced with such a terrifying array, Jiang Lianyi chuckled softly, completely unbothered. “Indeed, with ten Tribulation Transcendence experts joining hands with you, even if Xiao Ling came, she would be no match for you.” “A pity your opponent is me.” Though she smiled, there was not a trace of warmth in Jiang Lianyi’s eyes. “Zhu Tian, have you forgotten something?” “You and I both possess a rudimentary Law of the Jungle Dao fruit. A battle between us isn't decided by who has the greater numbers.” Zhu Tian’s pupils contracted sharply as a terrible foreboding seized his heart. Jiang Lianyi raised a pale, slender hand and casually snapped her fingers. *Snap.* The master-servant imprints controlling the ten Tribulation Transcendence great demons vanished.