Chapter 22 King Yan 'King of Hell'

Both divine beasts, the azure luan, were comparable to top-tier loose immortals, and the two squads of golden-armored forbidden soldiers were even more formidable—even if ten Floating Cloud Immortals came, they would have no recourse.

"This, what can be done? He's with Princess Xiyue—how can I kill him?" The Floating Cloud Immortal's mind was momentarily flustered, but he soon sobered: "Princess Xiyue is a woman, and she had no prior acquaintance with this Ji Ning. This is merely their first meeting; she recruited Ji Ning and thus shared a chariot... Surely they will part soon. Ji Ning will return to his residence, and Princess Xiyue will go back to her manor."

"Pursue."

"Once they separate, I will kill Ji Ning." The Floating Cloud Immortal immediately sent a voice transmission to his subordinates, ordering them to tail the pair, while he followed far behind to avoid detection.

...

The spies of Shaoyin clan secretly tracked them, only to find that Ji Ning and Princess Xiyue had not separated at all.

The azure luan pulled the immortal chariot, whistling through the air, all the way to King Yan's manor.

"Let's go." Yuchi Xiyue descended from the chariot.

Ji Ning, along with the Whitewater Marsh, also alighted and entered the manor with Yuchi Xiyue.

"Senior, Ji Ning and Princess Xiyue have both entered King Yan's manor," the spy reported.

"What? Entered the manor? Ji Ning went into King Yan's manor?" The Floating Cloud Immortal could hardly believe it. "Keep watch. I refuse to believe he won't come out. Report to me the moment he does."

"Yes." The spy returned to his watch.

...

King Yan's manor was vast in area but rather desolate.

For ordinary princes would have many close kin, but King Yan's only relative was Princess Xiyue, leaving the manor quiet and lonely. However, King Yan had only recently become a celestial immortal; surely, after a thousand or ten thousand years, this manor would become exceedingly lively.

"The manor is large," Princess Xiyue said with a smile. "Many places are unoccupied. Later, I'll help you pick a good spot."

"They say it's hard to settle in the capital of Great Xia, that ordinary cultivators can't afford to live here," Ji Ning laughed. "I never thought I, Ji Ning, could pick and choose freely. It seems my luck is truly good."

Princess Xiyue laughed as well.

The two walked along, chatting and laughing.

The two female soldier attendants following were astonished. Their princess was usually very reclusive and had few friends she could talk with. Even those she did get along with were all women. They had never seen her so cheerful with a young man.

"Xiyue, bring Ji Ning to me." A voice sounded in Princess Xiyue's mind.

"Let's go," Princess Xiyue said. "My grandfather wants to see you."

"King Yan wants to see me?" Ji Ning felt a surge of tension. Though he knew King Yan was a friend, not a foe, the other was still a celestial immortal! Ji Ning had never met a celestial immortal patriarch before.

Perhaps the Judge Cui he had seen in the underworld was a celestial immortal or even stronger, but back then Ji Ning was merely a mortal soul, and Judge Cui had completely suppressed his aura. Ji Ning had no idea how powerful Judge Cui was.

Now it was different.

Ji Ning was now a cultivator, and his divine soul rivaled that of earthly immortals and loose immortals, making him all the more aware of a celestial immortal's might.

"Let's go." Princess Xiyue smiled and took Ji Ning's hand.

"Holding hands?" The two female soldier attendants behind them stared wide-eyed. "Could the princess have fallen for Ji Ning?"

As personal maids, though shocked, they would never speak of what they saw. Every personal attendant had to swear a Heavenly Dao oath.

Soon.

Princess Xiyue led Ji Ning to an elegant mountain peak. King Yan's manor spanned a thousand li, and within it were naturally some rolling peaks, even rivers and lakes.

"This Mount Guantian is my grandfather's favorite spot," Princess Xiyue said. "He also forbids servants from coming up. Usually, only I can ascend."

"Oh?" Ji Ning nodded.

Xiaoqing and Uncle Bai remained at the foot of the mountain, as King Yan only wished to see Ji Ning.

At the mountain's summit, a gnarled old tree grew. Beside it was a pavilion, within which were a table, a stool, and a person! It was a tall, stalwart man in a black robe, sitting alone in silence, drinking wine, gazing into the endless scenery.

In that moment, heaven, earth, and man seemed as one.

"Grandfather." Princess Xiyue called out, her voice breaking the stillness.

The man rose and turned to look.

He was about eight feet tall, with eyebrows so black and thick they seemed excessive. Beneath those brows, a pair of eyes fixed on Ji Ning.

Ji Ning also looked at this King Yan.

Whoosh!

Everything around him vanished. Ji Ning only felt an endless baleful aura, overwhelming and all-encompassing, so intense that it made his heart tremble. But Ji Ning's divine soul was strong, his Dao-heart firm, and his sword soul quickly stabilized him, allowing him to break free from that state. Ji Ning looked at the man before him: "What a King Yan! He didn't even attack me deliberately, merely revealing the baleful aura from his cultivation, and I nearly lost myself."

"His cousin said his grandfather had mediocre talent and wasn't even valued by the imperial clan of Great Xia. Yet he dared to use demonic arts, making the heart demons more terrifying to temper himself... He's a madman. And because of his madness, despite mediocre talent, he managed to become a celestial immortal." Ji Ning knew well that in all of Great Xia, a celestial immortal appeared only once in a million years.

King Yan's talent was mediocre among earthly immortals, yet he became a celestial immortal.

There must be something fearsome about him.

Not to mention anything else, just the baleful aura in his eyes... Ji Ning understood that this man must have undergone terrifying experiences; otherwise, the baleful aura would not be so strong.

"Ji Ning pays respects to King Yan." Ji Ning bowed with great ceremony.

"Not bad. You've cultivated for thirty years, yet your Dao heart was not swayed by my baleful aura—you broke free instantly." King Yan nodded slightly and said with a faint smile, "Impressive, impressive."

Princess Xiyue exclaimed in surprise, "Grandfather, you praised him twice? I've never seen you praise anyone like that."

"Xiyue, don't you know your grandfather's nickname?" King Yan revealed a hint of pride.

"You mean the King of Hell?" Xiyue said.

Ji Ning showed a puzzled expression.

"The King of Hell of the underworld!" Xiyue explained, "I don't know how Grandfather got that nickname either."

"Precisely because I rose to the position of Celestial Immortal through slaughter, precisely because my baleful aura is strong enough—otherwise, how could I be called the King of Hell?" King Yan said with a smug smile. Before his only granddaughter, he still laughed when pleased, showed off when proud, and frowned when displeased, just like an ordinary person.

King Yan looked at Ji Ning. "So it's quite impressive that you weren't affected by my baleful aura."

"I know you and Xiyue are cousins," King Yan nodded. "I also know you both have a grudge against the Shaoyin clan. But the Shaoyin clan is deeply entrenched and not easily toppled. Xiyue hasn't even publicly revealed her true surname. However, Ji Ning, since you've openly clashed with the Shaoyin clan, you still need to be careful in daily life."

Ji Ning nodded. "I understand."

"Grandfather!" Princess Xiyue quickly said, "Didn't you say that the Shaoyin clan's 'Ancestor Xuanji' dotes on Shaoyin Nong and will definitely avenge him?"

"Mm, I did say that," King Yan nodded. "That Xuanji is indeed an unreasonable person. Though I am wild, I still follow reason. But he doesn't. So you must be cautious."

"Don't you have Golden Armored Guards under your command? Assign a squad to my younger cousin," Princess Xiyue urged.

Ji Ning was startled.

His cousin hadn't mentioned this at all beforehand.

"Golden Armored Guards?" King Yan frowned. "Xiyue, the Golden Armored Guards are the imperial guards of the Grand Xia Empire. Usually, only those with imperial status can lead them. You are a princess, so it's fine for you to bring some guards. But Ji Ning leading them..."

"Grandfather!" Princess Xiyue said urgently, "The Emperor granted you the Golden Armored Guards to deploy as you see fit, didn't he? I'm not asking you to have all the Golden Armored Guards protect my cousin—just a single squad. The Grand Xia imperial code doesn't stipulate that Golden Armored Guards can only protect the imperial clan."

King Yan shook his head with a helpless smile.

Indeed.

The Grand Xia code could not possibly stipulate that Golden Armored Guards could only protect the imperial clan. After all, the Emperor also had some high ministers under his command, or formidable lone cultivators he needed to win over. To show favor, the Emperor would sometimes assign Golden Armored Guards to accompany them.

"Fine," King Yan nodded. "I'll assign a squad of Golden Armored Guards. At worst, some people will mutter behind my back."

"Thank you, Grandfather. You're the best," Princess Xiyue said, hugging King Yan's arm affectionately.

"Hahaha." King Yan laughed.

It was only before this granddaughter that he could feel the warmth of family affection.

Before others, he remained the legendary 'King of Hell.'

"Hurry and thank my grandfather," Princess Xiyue said, looking at Ji Ning.

"Thank you, King Yan," Ji Ning said quickly.

"Mm." King Yan nodded with a smile. "Go on. You seem restrained around me. Xiyue, arrange a good place for your cousin. The prince's mansion is vast—let him pick any spot he likes to settle down. Within this mansion, no one dares to barge in."

"Grandfather, I'll take my leave now," Xiyue said, then pulled Ji Ning and quickly descended from the Guanshan Tower.

King Yan watched Princess Xiyue and Ji Ning go down the mountain and nodded lightly: "Xiyue is clearly much happier. She's been burdened by hatred for too long. It's family affection that can make her happy."

King Yan then turned and sat down again, alone, holding a wine cup, gazing at the vast expanse of heaven and earth.

...

On a patch of weedy ground before a lake, Ji Ning nodded. "Right here. I'll stay here."

"Here?" Princess Xiyue was stunned. "But this is just a patch of wasteland with no dwelling at all. Our mansion has plenty of places to stay. You want to live in this wilderness?"

"Look."

Ji Ning waved his hand.

Whoosh.

Instantly, a huge, magnificent immortal mansion appeared, with pavilions, towers, carved beams, and painted rafters, as if cast from gold and jade, filled with the aura of heaven and earth.

"What a fine immortal mansion," Princess Xiyue exclaimed in surprise. "This mansion can be carried along—it must be worth a fortune."

"Mm, this immortal mansion can only be refined and carried after reaching the Wanxiang level, and it's worth a million catties of primal liquid," Ji Ning said. In truth, this mansion was a free gift from the Yellow-Haired Bear, but although it was given, Ji Ning absolutely could not sell it.

Because inside this mansion, worth a million catties of primal liquid, there was a region concealing the Water Mansion.

The Water Mansion hidden within the immortal mansion.

With layers of internal restrictions... it was absolutely safe.

"A million catties of primal liquid? Impressive," Princess Xiyue praised. "Was it also from Shaoyin Nong?"

"No, I obtained it from a fortuitous encounter," Ji Ning said.

"I thought so. To kill Shaoyin Nong and a Yuan Shen-level Fiendgod, you must have had a great fortuitous encounter," Princess Xiyue said with a smile. "Alright, settle in and rest first. I'll prepare a banquet tonight, and you can come over then."

"Alright," Ji Ning nodded.

"Rest well. You haven't had a proper rest since arriving at the Grand Xia imperial capital," Princess Xiyue said, then left with her two female soldier attendants.

Ji Ning, along with Uncle Bai and Xiao Qing, entered his immortal mansion.