Back then, Ye Yin was merely a ginkgo tree demon who yearned to become an immortal. Eventually, with the help of Mu Anxiao and Shen Yan, she ascended to true immortality. Therefore, from the bottom of her heart, she regarded Mu Anxiao as a friend. Over fifty years, she had cooperated tacitly with Mu Anxiao, making her one of the immortal beings who understood him. Thus, she believed she had the right to help Mu Anxiao.
However, among the celestial beings who cultivated demonic arts, while a few might appear within a century, they typically received no severe punishment. The other immortals would merely spectate, without singling them out.
As Mu Anxiao was a particularly unique immortal in the Heavenly Realm, naturally, they began to target her.
But, after hearing Ye Yin and Zhang Yan speak, they were rendered speechless.
The General Immortal glanced at the silenced celestial beings, and then at Zhang Yan’s surprisingly serious expression. A sinking feeling in his heart, he said, "Your disciple has no celestial post. Her cultivation of demonic arts is indeed her transgression. You..."
"You just want my disciple to die, don't you?" Zhang Yan interrupted unceremoniously.
The General Immortal faltered, "I am merely stating facts. Immortals who can use demonic arts are either related to their celestial posts, or they were originally monsters who cultivated into immortality. Your disciple's ascension was already peculiar; you must at least mete out some punishment to her."
"I refuse," Zhang Yan's stance was firm.
The General Immortal: "Then you..."
"My disciple is currently undertaking a significant task in the past, slaying monsters, which can be considered as benefiting mortals. Setting aside their deeds, may I ask," Zhang Yan interrupted, his gaze sharp, "what have you accomplished?"
"I..."
"You are merely a minor general in the Heavenly Realm. If my guess is correct, you have encountered fewer than ten monsters."
"I am a general of the Heavenly Realm, not an immortal who captures demons, so naturally, I have few opportunities to encounter monsters."
"..." Zhang Yan nodded, glancing at the other celestial beings, and continued, "If I recall correctly, while on your way to complete an important mission in the mortal realm, you encountered monsters. Ultimately, for your own benefit, you abandoned mortals. That mortal was nearly killed. If not for my disciple, you would have caused a grave mistake."
Zhang Yan had learned of this matter after his return, by perusing the celestial scrolls that documented Mu Anxiao's every action. He knew clearly how much Mu Anxiao had done and how many people she had saved. He had initially not wished to mention the General Immortal's incident, knowing that if brought up, the General Immortal's reputation would be irrevocably damaged.
However, since the General Immortal offered him no courtesy and instead sought to condemn Mu Anxiao to death, Zhang Yan saw no reason to continue considering the General Immortal's feelings.
As Zhang Yan had anticipated, upon hearing his words, the celestial beings gradually shifted their gazes to the General Immortal's face.
The General Immortal grew embarrassed.
Minor Immortal One: "Is that true?" he fixed his gaze on the General Immortal's face.
The General Immortal's eyes darted away, "This matter... doesn't seem related to the current issue."
"It is true," Minor Immortal One exclaimed in surprise.
Minor Immortal Two: "How can we immortals stand by and do nothing when someone is in danger? You are too much."
"Indeed," the hygiene attendant immortal chimed in agreement with Minor Immortal Two.
The second hygiene attendant immortal also cast a disappointed glance at the General Immortal, "You said that as immortals, we should benefit mortals, and if mortals are in trouble, we must save them."
"I can't be responsible for everyone. They have their own destinies," the General Immortal said stiffly.
Minor Immortal Three: "But when encountering monsters, it's no longer about destiny."
Minor Immortal Four: "You are a minor general of the Heavenly Realm. When faced with such a situation, you should have intervened. You are too much."
"I..." the General Immortal was speechless.
Hearing the words of the celestial beings and seeing the General Immortal's predicament, Zhang Yan said calmly, "Doesn't that feel quite unpleasant?"
Upon hearing this, the General Immortal's gaze settled on Zhang Yan's face, "What exactly do you want?"
"I simply don't want you to speak ill of my disciple anymore."
Hearing this, the General Immortal lowered his head.
The celestial beings fell silent after Zhang Yan uttered these words.
Shen Xian and Shi Yi watched the retreating backs of the celestial beings, exchanging glances. Shi Yi said, "I hope Mu Anxiao is alright."
Shen Xian: "..." He glanced at Shi Yi and remained silent.
In the past, the mortal realm.
Mu Anxiao remained in her spot, eyes closed, fists clenched and emitting a blue glow. She was completely unaware of the situation in the Heavenly Realm, believing she was already on her way back.
The dagger remained in her embrace, not daring to move.
Facing them, the man in black had already begun fighting the group of monsters.
Minutes later. The man in black wrapped the vine around the necks of all the monsters, then tightly pulled the other end of the vine, soaring up and landing before Xi’er.
The mortals, fearing they might be accidentally harmed, huddled together, not daring to move, waiting for Xi'er's rescue.
Xi’er, noticing the yellow light behind the man in black, dared not act rashly, "Who exactly are you?" she cautiously asked.
The man in black gritted his teeth, pulling the vine, and turned to glance at Xi'er, "You are their master, aren't you? It seems you are even more valuable than they are."
"What do you want?" Xi'er frowned.
The man in black smirked, "You'll know soon enough." As he spoke, he tightened the vine and rapidly ran towards a pillar outside a dilapidated house not far away.
Xi'er furrowed her brow and followed.
Next, the man in black, dragging the twenty monsters, unhesitatingly tied the vine securely to the pillar. The monsters, being restrained, could only stand in place, yowling and screeching.
The man in black covered his ears, then turned to face Xi'er, who had stopped in front of him, "You are a monster."
Xi'er did not directly answer the man in black. Instead, she glanced at the bound monsters and said, "Release them."
"No, they are my source of income."
"You..."
"Don't 'you' me," the man in black interrupted, extending his hand and conjuring a brand-new vine, "either obediently extend your hand to let me capture you, or... fight me and then be captured by me. Choose for yourself."
Xi'er looked at the man in black, who exuded such confidence, and sneered, "You think you're very powerful."
"I am a cultivator, of course, I am more powerful than you."
"..." Xi'er snorted lightly, turned her head to look at Mu Anxiao, who was still standing in place, believing she had already returned, and said faintly, "Come, look over there." She pointed at Mu Anxiao.
Immediately, the man in black followed Xi'er's gaze and obediently looked towards Mu Anxiao, who still had her eyes closed, asking, "What is she doing?" His gaze inadvertently fell upon Mu Anxiao's glowing blue hands.
Xi'er: "She is a monster."
"Huh?" The man in black froze, then turned to look back at Xi'er.
"Do you think I have the ability to control all the monsters?" Xi'er began to talk nonsense again.
The man in black: "You said you are their master, and they are your pets. Don't tell me that," he recalled, glancing at the mortals gathered together, "is all false."
Upon hearing this, the mortals' eyes widened.
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