Chapter 46: The Burden of the Saintess: A Feast of Horrors

Shanzhou City, a county-level city nestled within Kuaiji City in Shiyun Province of the Huaxia Nation, embarked on an extraordinary path.

A millennium ago, it ushered in an era of Law Technology, a development that propelled its scientific advancements far beyond those of any other nation across the globe.

Unable to curb Shanzhou’s accelerating technological progress, the Huaxia Nation had no choice but to forge a cooperative partnership for mutual advancement.

This unique arrangement ultimately transformed Shanzhou into a world unto itself, a beacon of innovation that, even as the rest of the world still harnessed nuclear energy, was already venturing into the cosmos using its advanced Law Technology.

Despite its advanced status, the populace of Shanzhou City steadfastly regarded themselves as an integral part of the Huaxia Nation.

Consequently, they readily shared their groundbreaking technologies with the state, facilitating continuous national technological upgrades.

In turn, the Huaxia government established a “green channel,” ensuring that as long as matters did not directly impact ordinary citizens or Shanzhou’s internal governance, they would refrain from intervention.

Within this grand context, Shanzhou underwent significant expansion.

Presently, it comprises forty-five districts.

The sheer expanse of its territory is staggering; a high-speed train journey from the northernmost Beizhou District to the southernmost Izayoi District alone spans over three hours, while traversing it from east to west takes a full two hours.

The Crow Feather Region stands as one of Shanzhou City’s numerous districts.

Given Shanzhou’s immense size, its forty-five districts are systematically categorized into five distinct domains: East, South, West, North, and Central, with the Crow Feather Region falling within the Western Domain.

Notably, Shanzhou’s pinnacle of power is held by a mere ten families.

Within the Western Domain, the most formidable lineage, the Cold Spring Courtyard Family, makes its home in the Future District.

The Xian Family, though prominent, is but one of twelve preeminent families.

The Qiyuan Realm, a world under the direct jurisdiction of the Crow Feather Region, notably submitted to its capture entirely of its own volition.

Towards the twilight of the ancient era, the Qiyuan Realm suffered a devastating cataclysm, plunging it into an acute spiritual energy drought.

It was only through the ingenuity of the Huaxia Xian Family’s ancestors, who harnessed the sophisticated technology of the Xiandu Wood Dynasty to construct the magnificent Immortal Lake, that a complete collapse was averted.

With an act of self-preservation, the Qiyuan Realm willingly submitted to the Immortal Lake’s embrace.

Following this symbiotic capture, the spiritual energy within the Qiyuan Realm soared dramatically, reaching levels that even eclipsed those of the primordial chaotic era.

The Xian Family’s arrival in Shanzhou City was the pivotal event that led to the Qiyuan Realm becoming a subordinate world of the Crow Feather Region.

Consequently, the Xian Family ascended to the position of the most formidable lineage within the Crow Feather Region itself.

It is worth noting, however, that the Immortal Lake’s miraculous domain extends solely across the Crow Feather Region and the Qiyuan Realm.

Should any cultivator from these two regions venture into other districts, their cultivation will vanish instantaneously, reducing them to the status of ordinary mortals.

The Izayoi Family, renowned for its mastery of Space-Time Law Technology, holds the esteemed fifth position among Shanzhou’s ten supreme families.

The remaining nine are: the Shen Family, ranking first with Reincarnation Law Technology; the Jin Family, second with Divinity Law Technology; and the Long Family, third, specializing in Devour Law Technology.

Following them are: fourth, the Augusta Family, masters of Dimensional Law Technology; and indeed, the Izayoi Family, claiming the fifth spot with their command over Space-Time Law Technology.

The families from sixth to tenth are, in order: the Ling Family, the Cold Spring Courtyard Family, the Selena Family, the Ya Family, and the Saint Flora Family, whose specialized Law Technologies encompass Element, Void, Star, Alchemy, and Fate, respectively.

Naturally, none of these aforementioned families or their specific Law Technologies will actually feature in the narrative of this particular work.

Xian Yuan declared, “Let Ju Ming handle the main world; after all, she is its true protagonist.”

Ju Ming, however, shot back, “You lazy author! The main world barely has seven hundred thousand words, yet you’ve abandoned it, running off to coddle Xian Yuan instead, haven’t you?!”

“Well, is that all settled, then?”

“There is.”

“Couldn’t you possibly clarify everything in one go next time?”

Xian Yuan truly yearned to stride over and deliver a swift reprimand to Qing.

‘Couldn’t he just finish his thoughts in one go next time? It would certainly make my own explanations far more convenient!’

“It’s simply this: once our clan departs, where will we settle? As the Saintess, you are surely obligated to make arrangements for us.”

“And why, pray tell, should I be the one to make these arrangements for you?”

“Because you are our clan’s Saintess! Are you suggesting you no longer wish to be involved?”

“I…!”

Xian Yuan found herself utterly speechless.

It dawned on her that this matter truly did fall under her purview.

She then cast a profoundly resentful gaze at Qing, remarking, “You appointed me Saintess simply to find someone to bear the brunt of your responsibilities, didn’t you?”

“Saintess, why utter such words? Did you not voluntarily accept the mantle of Saintess? When, pray tell, did this king ever compel you?”

“Damn it!”

This predicament could only spell significant trouble for Xian Yuan.

Whether Qing harbored such intentions at the time remained ambiguous, yet now, having accepted the mantle of Saintess, she found herself unable to simply shirk the responsibility.

Should she succeed, she would be hailed as their clan’s revered Saintess; but failure would inevitably brand her as the primary architect of their decline.

Compounding this, Xian Yuan was fundamentally human.

Despite the Ice Demon Dragons’ current adoration for her, the inherent species divide meant their loyalty would ultimately lean more towards their own Dragon King.

Thus, any unforeseen calamity would undoubtedly see Xian Yuan bearing the full weight of culpability.

‘This presents quite a challenge.’

Xian Yuan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as she chewed on her thumb, her steps carrying her back and forth across the expanse of the royal court.

‘Where on earth could she possibly secure a suitable territory for the Ice Demon Dragon clan? The Eastern Sea? Or perhaps the Qiyuan Continent? The Heavenly Domain was practically an impossibility! Furthermore, if she were to settle them in the Eastern Sea, it could very well ignite a devastating civil war among the region’s existing powers!’

‘Considering the Qiyuan Continent, while the Divine Beast Mountain Range harbored a multitude of dragon clans, the prevailing issue was that these appeared to be exclusively high-ranking dragons.

The Forest of Elves, the Western Border Empire, the Mountains and Seas Immortal Dynasty, and the Northern Dynasty were all unequivocally out of the question.

The Eternal Frost Ice Plains in the northern reaches of the Qiyuan Continent appeared to be a viable option, yet its depths remained entirely uncharted, with only the outermost regions having been explored.

As for the Netherworld Sea, beyond the Eastern Sea, it was rumored to be teeming with creatures of an unspeakable nature.’

After considerable deliberation, Xian Yuan concluded that the most judicious course of action would be to settle the Ice Demon Dragon clan within the sea region of Heavenly Gate Island.

As for any potential objections from the various sects? She reassured herself that Shen Xiulan would undoubtedly handle any complications.

****

“Achoo!”

In the outside world, Shen Xiulan, seated at the dais, suddenly let out a sneeze.

She had an unsettling feeling that something unpleasant was targeting her.

“Sect Master Shen, it seems someone is thinking of you,” Jun Jinghong remarked placidly from beside her.

“Nonsense. I must have simply caught a chill,” Shen Xiulan replied, though even she didn’t believe her own words.

How could an Immortal Emperor-level expert possibly catch a cold?

“In that case, Sect Master Shen, you truly must take care of yourself,” Jun Jinghong stated with a gentle tone.

“Thank you for your concern, Sword Son.”

****

Within the Secret Realm,

“I’ve arranged this matter.

When the time comes for us to leave, you can simply follow me out.”

“Then I can rest easy.”

With the settlement issue resolved, there were no further concerns.

Xian Yuan then bid farewell to Dragon King Qing.

Thus, that evening, the Ice Demon Dragon clan organized a farewell banquet in Xian Yuan’s honor.

However, Xian Yuan’s jaw dropped when a mountain of insects, each considerably larger than herself, was brought to the table; this was the main course of the feast!

Murong Fier nearly fainted outright, for a fear of insects was an innate trait in women, one that even the highest cultivation could not overcome.

‘Oh, I was so wrong, truly wrong. I never should have attended this farewell banquet! If I could do it all over again, I would absolutely refuse!’

Xian Yuan tried to rationalize, but gazing upon the hellish cuisine, she finally broke, rushing to the side to vomit.

And so, that farewell banquet ended in the defeat of two guests.

The following morning, Xian Yuan and Murong Fier departed Taiyun Mountain.

Only after reaching the exit of Cold Dragon Valley did both of them finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Finally, we’re out.”

Their faces were pale, making it seem as if they had endured some form of torture, and the mere thought of yesterday’s farewell banquet made their stomachs churn once more.

A few figures approached them, observing Xian Yuan and Murong Fier with a hint of surprise.

“Lin Feng? Li Mengyue?”

That familiar spiritual energy fluctuation meant Murong Fier didn’t even need to look to know it was those two.

“Is that some of the Rising Cloud Island group? What are you doing here?”

Seeing their unified attire, it was clear that these individuals all belonged to the same sect.

“Isn’t this Young Miss Murong? Why are you with this little devil girl? Have you forgotten the shame?” Li Mengyue scoffed.

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