Everlasting Immortal Firmament

Book 8: Chapter 91: Jingwei’s Naivety

The East Spiritual Fire Sea, within a massive eight-trigram ritual array:

Ba and Jiang Lianshan met once more.

Father and daughter reunited, but there was no warmth between them; they even came to blows.

Jiang Lianshan and Ba clashed palms. Flames shot everywhere as they gave off ferocious auras.

Both were fire-attributed experts, able to manipulate the flames in their surroundings. Both wore imperial robes with fierce expressions; neither was willing to back down.

Yinggou and a worried-looking Jingwei stood behind Jiang Lianshan.

The anxious Hou Yi stood behind Ba.

No one dared to intervene—they couldn’t. Only Yinggou occasionally showed signs of hesitation and indecision.

“Elder Sister, Father, stop fighting. Elder Sister! Father!” Jingwei called out anxiously.

However, Ba and Jiang Lianshan paid no heed, continuing their confrontation.

“Unfilial daughter, what are you up to?” Jiang Lianshan glared at Ba.

Ba gazed at Jiang Lianshan with icy eyes. “You really didn’t die?”

“You wish for my death?” Jiang Lianshan asked coldly.

“Humph! I don’t care if you’re alive or dead, but you shouldn’t have troubled Jingwei!” Ba replied icily.

“Elder Sister, no, Father didn’t trouble me!” Jingwei interjected urgently.

Ba looked at Jingwei and frowned. “Jingwei, come to my side immediately. I’ve already made an arrangement with Gu Hai. The Vermilion Bird Deity will be given to you.”

“No, Father said that once the Vermilion Bird Deity leaves Lin Waner’s body, it will scatter, so that won’t work!” Jingwei said anxiously.

“Do you trust his words?” Ba asked coldly.

Jingwei looked at Jiang Lianshan, torn between her father and her elder sister, her expression one of anguish. She did not know what to do.

“You don’t trust my words? The Vermilion Bird Deity is something I created. What do you understand about it? I’m the one who helped you become the fire-attributed zombie ancestor! Humph! Now, you’re questioning me? Unfilial daughter, I should have let you burn to death in that seal back then, saving me from being angered by you now!” Jiang Lianshan glared.

As soon as Ba heard about the seal, her eyes reddened, and she erupted with murderous intent again.

“Seal? Hahaha! You have the nerve to mention the seal? Gu Hai was right; you may have a shadow of Jiang Lianshan, but you lack his emotions. If it weren’t for my strong desire to survive, I’d have turned to ashes by now. Do you really expect me to be grateful to you?” Ba’s face twisted into a grimace.

“In the end, you gained great strength, didn’t you?” Jiang Lianshan said coldly.

“Humph! Do you expect me to be grateful? Right now, I’d rather tear open your chest, peel back your flesh, and see what color your heart is!” Ba snarled in an icy voice.

“Humph! Unfilial daughter! Unfilial daughter!” Jiang Lianshan glared at Ba.

“Jingwei, what are you waiting for? Come over here!” Ba shouted again.

Jingwei was torn and did not know what to do.

“Jingwei, don’t listen to her; she’s gone mad!” Jiang Lianshan said sternly.

“Jingwei, why do you trust him? How did you die back then? Look at Yinggou next to you; it’s your body. Who drowned you in the Eastern Sea? Are you still thinking about him? Chiyou and I, what did we become because of him? Do you believe him, or do you believe me?” Ba scolded.

Jingwei could not make sense of it. “Elder Sister, I…I believe both of you!”

“Believe, my ass! Today, there can only be him without me, or me without him. If you still acknowledge me as your elder sister, come to my side immediately, or you’ll never have to come back!” Ba’s voice dripped with hatred.

“I…I’m coming, Elder Sister!” Jingwei said anxiously.

“Jingwei!” Jiang Lianshan shouted.

“Father?” Jingwei’s figure stiffened.

“Do you still want to acknowledge me as your father?” Jiang Lianshan said coldly.

“I…” Jingwei looked pained.

What should I do?

“And you, Hou Yi, do you remember what we told you back then?” Jiang Lianshan asked gravely.

Nearby, Houyi’s expression changed.

“Humph, we sealed your cultivation and had you follow Jiang Ba. After Jiang Ba was sealed, we allowed you to leave the Yan [old] Heavenly Dynasty and establish your own faction in the nether realm, recruiting a large number of hanba zombies. We were preparing for her return. We helped her build her faction. Now, you think you can just turn your back on us? You ungrateful wretch!” Jiang Lianshan said coldly.

Hou Yi’s expression changed. What Jiang Lianshan said was not baseless.

“Humph! Jiang Lianshan, you’re wrong. Hou Yi and Xingtian managed those factions in the nether realm for me. We established those factions before we were sealed. They are our subjects, helping us guard the nation. It’s not because of you!” Ba said coldly.

“Hou Yi and my ignorant, unfilial daughter, you now no longer think anything of your father. Today, we are revoking our previous orders. Hou Yi, come back to our side!” Jiang Lianshan said sternly.

Ba’s face sank.

Hou Yi now showed a complicated expression.

“Hou Yi, you were once a subject of the Yan [old] Heavenly Dynasty, and we gave you everything!” Jiang Lianshan called out again.

Hou Yi’s gaze shifted momentarily, but his eyes soon hardened with resolve.

“Emeritus Emperor, I respect you as my former lord, and I can do many things, but I cannot do this! Sorry.” Hou Yi shook his head.

“Huh?” Jiang Lianshan glared.

“I am the Yan [new] Heavenly Dynasty’s Archer God Marquis, Hou Yi! You previously instilled loyalty to my nation in me. If I were to join you, I would be a traitor to my nation. I apologize, but now I have pledged loyalty to the Yan [new] Heavenly Dynasty and Her Holy Eminence!” Hou Yi shook his head again.

“We will soon reestablish the Yan [old] Heavenly Dynasty. What is ours is all ours!” Jiang Lianshan shouted.

“Sorry!” Hou Yi shook his head with unwavering determination.

“Humph!” Jiang Lianshan snorted furiously in response.

However, Ba showed a hint of satisfaction before returning her attention to Jingwei. “Jingwei, what are you waiting for? Come over here.”

“Alright,” Jingwei replied as she took a step forward.

“Jingwei, do you not acknowledge me?” Jiang Lianshan shouted.

Jingwei’s face stiffened.

She lowered her head, remaining silent for a while before finally revealing a painful expression. “Elder Sister, he is our father, after all. Maybe he caused you great harm by sealing you, but ultimately, it was for your own good. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be the Yan [new] Heavenly Dynasty. Also, even though I drowned in the Eastern Sea, I don’t blame Father. Really, I don’t blame him.”

“What did you say?” Ba’s face sank, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.

“I’m sorry, Elder Sister. I miss Father. He asked me to help him leave this East Spiritual Fire Sea. I must help Father and stay by his side to help him escape from this place,” Jingwei replied, shaking her head.

“You’re out of your mind!” Ba exclaimed, wide-eyed.

“I’m sorry, Elder Sister,” Jingwei repeated, shaking her head.

“Hou Yi!” Ba called out.

“This official is present,” Hou Yi replied promptly.

“Bring Jingwei back!” Ba ordered.

“Yes!” Hou Yi stepped forward.

“Take Jingwei away? Did you even ask me?” With a mocking smile, Yinggou suddenly shielded Jingwei.

Jingwei frowned as she glanced at Yinggou but remained silent.

“Whoever gets in our way will be killed, and Yinggou is no exception! Kill!” Ba declared coldly.

“Yes!” Hou Yi responded.

He reached for his divine arrow, a fire-attributed one.

As Hou Yi drew the bowstring taut, his eyes turned cold. On the other hand, Yinggou’s face revealed a hint of disdain.

Bang!

Hou Yi released the arrow, and it transformed into a fiery dragon with teeth and claws, charging straight at Yinggou.

Yinggou’s eyes narrowed as she thrust her fist forward.

“Be careful! That is not the Sun Shooting Arrow! It’s the Sun Nourishing Arrow!” Jiang Lianshan shouted.

The Sun Shooting Arrow specialized in extinguishing flames, as it was a water-attributed divine arrow. However, the Sun Nourishing Arrow was different—it was fire-attributed. As the divine arrow flew towards Yinggou, it gathered the fire-attributed energy of the world.

Yinggou’s face suddenly sank. She punched the arrow, but by the time it reached her fist, it had absorbed the endless fire-attributed energy of the East Spiritual Fire Sea. It exploded violently upon hitting Yinggou.

Boom!

A loud report rang out. The force behind this arrow was no weaker than Ba’s attack.

The immense impact triggered powerful shock waves, forcing Yinggou a step back.

“What? Your divine arrow isn’t affected here?” Yinggou exclaimed in astonishment.

In the East Spiritual Fire Sea, the power of the three spiritual souls was suppressed. Even Yinggou could not fully unleash her strength. Nonetheless, Hou Yi’s divine arrow seemed unaffected, its might not much less than Gu Hai’s back in the day.

After driving Yinggou back with a single arrow, Hou Yi prepared to rush forward to get Jingwei.

However, Yinggou reacted faster and swiftly pulled Jingwei towards the nearby blaze.

“Take Jingwei away and wait for me there!” Jiang Lianshan commanded.

“Alright!” Yinggou charged into the raging fire with Jingwei.

“Father, please don’t harm Elder Sister!” Jingwei shouted before they disappeared.

Jingwei did not resist Yinggou, as she had made her decision earlier. She had chosen to stand by her father’s side, even though it was an excruciating choice. She had to apologize to her elder sister later. For now, she had to assist her father, even if she disappointed her elder sister.

“Stop, Jingwei, you foolish girl!” Ba roared angrily.

Boom!

Both Ba and Jiang Lianshan exerted even more force. In the fierce clash, father and daughter stared at each other with icy determination.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Hou Yi pursued swiftly.

However, Hou Yi was unfamiliar with the East Spiritual Fire Sea’s terrain. Flying was impossible here, so he had to sprint. After a while, he lost sight of Yinggou and Jingwei.

“Come out!” Hou Yi shouted in frustration.

Jiang Lianshan and Ba were locked in a fierce battle, their gazes icy and unyielding.

After a short struggle, Jiang Lianshan’s face hardened. “Unfilial daughter, if you have any issues, wait until I return to Divine Farmer City to discuss them. This is not your place; leave immediately!”

Ba glared coldly at Jiang Lianshan but said nothing.

“Troublemaker. Humph!” Jiang Lianshan snorted.

Boom!

Jiang Lianshan threw a powerful palm strike, separating himself from Ba. Then he rushed into the fire.

This time, Ba did not pursue. She watched Jiang Lianshan disappear into the inferno in silence.

As Ba gazed at Jiang Lianshan’s vanishing figure, her eyes turned bloodshot, tears welling up in them.

“Unfilial daughter? Hah! Troublemaker?” A hint of hatred flashed across Ba’s face.

At that moment, Ba suddenly remembered her childhood.

Back when Ba was only three years old, she would ride on Jiang Lianshan’s shoulders.

Jiang Lianshan would playfully tease Ba, carrying her while spinning around.

“Riding the big horse! Riding the big horse! Whee!”

“Hahaha! Little Jiang Ba, my precious, you are the best gift from heaven. Ride on, ride on! Hahaha! Is it fun?”

“It’s fun! It’s fun! Father, I want to go over there!”

“Hahaha! Wherever my precious wants to go, we’ll go!”

“Father, I-I wet my pants! It got on your neck.”

“It’s alright. Haha! My daughter’s pee is more precious than divine spring nectar. Haha!”

…

The love of the past has been reduced to being called a troublemaker?

“What a ‘troublemaker,’ indeed! Jiang Lianshan, you’ve changed so much! I honestly wish you had died back then!” Ba gritted her teeth, her eyes revealing a mixture of anger and sadness.

“No, he’s not Jiang Lianshan!” Suddenly, a voice came from behind Ba.

“Who is it?!” Ba’s face abruptly hardened as she turned around.

To her surprise, Gu Hai, Vairocana, and a weakened Divine Farmer Hoe had silently appeared behind her without her realizing it.

“Salutations, First Princess!” the Divine Farmer Hoe said weakly.