Soaring the Heavens

Sikong Wuwei acknowledged the order and thanked the Overlord!

Feng Ze turned back and cupped his fists towards Yue Tianbo to indicate that the procession had been successfully finished.

Yue Tianbo didn't have much else to say to Miao Yi and the others. There was simply too wide of a difference in status between the two parties after all. Even the gap between heaven and earth wasn't an apt enough description for their rift. Not to mention, these six returnees were not worth him meeting them in the first place. Yue Tianbo was only complying with the formalities of the Sea of Constellations Subjugation Crusade as dictated by the Six Sages. It was nothing more than a performance made to flaunt the prestige of the Subjugation Crusade survivors!

Yue Tianbo delivered a brief speech out of decorum, then got up from his throne, walked down, and left!

Following which, the Palace Lords gradually left the golden pavilion of the tower as well. Miao Yi and the others didn't dare walk in front of these people, so they waited for them to leave.

After all the other Palace Lords had left, the Traversing Moon Palace Lord was the only one remaining behind, standing in place as she smiled at Miao Yi.

If she wasn't leaving, then Miao Yi and the others couldn't leave either. Suddenly, the Traversing Moon Palace Lord began striding forward, placing one bare, beautiful foot over the other as she walked straight up to Miao Yi; her figure was absolutely enticing to behold. She lightly waved her arm and said to the other returnees, "The rest of you can go ahead and leave now!"

Gu Sanzheng and the others didn't know what was happening, but they didn't dare disobey her command. They secretly glanced at Miao Yi, feeling a little curious and worried at the same time. In the end, they cupped their fists and bowed to the Traversing Moon Palace Lord, then left.

Even after all the others had left, the Traversing Moon Palace Lord, Zhang Tianxiao, still didn't speak, and just smiled at Miao Yi. There was something deep within that smile of hers that made Miao Yi feel greatly uneasy.

Ultimately, Miao Yi decided to take a leap of faith, tossing the other party a smile as he cupped his fists and greeted, "Sister-in-Law!" He had no other cards to play besides this relationship.

"Sister-in-Law…" Zhang Tianxiao was momentarily dazed. However, she soon covered her lips and began to chuckle. As she burst into hearty, yet charming laughter, she lightly patted her half-exposed chest and teased, "What a nice title to have! Miao Yi, you just publicly gave a slap to your sister-in-law's face!"

Miao Yi was surprised by her statement. He plucked up his courage and asked carefully, "Sister-in-Law, why do you say such a thing?"

Zhang Tianxiao sighed and replied, "Did Huo Lingxiao not tell you anything? I was willing to let you manage the most profitable area within Traversing Moon Palace, but you completely disregarded my sentiments, choosing to go to some backwater place instead. Wouldn't you call that a slap to my face? And to think I even stepped forward personally to get Lan Hou to release you, yet you don't know how to appreciate the favor at all. Is my Traversing Moon Palace so unworthy in your eyes? How do you expect me to feel about this?"

Miao Yi's eyes were already widened in shock. "You are the Traversing Moon Palace Lord. Then, you and—" His words stopped halfway. 'So that bastard Huo Lingxiao really is spooning off a woman! No wonder he sent me off all the way to the Sea of Constellations!'

Zhang Tianxiao seemed to have guessed what Miao Yi was thinking. Smiling, she spread her arms and turned around charmingly as she asked, "Do I not look like the Traversing Moon Palace Lord?"

"This subordinate respectfully greets the Palace Lord!" Miao Yi cupped his fists bashfully. Secretly, he cursed that bastard Huo Lingxiao. He was really too good at keeping this relationship a secret. Miao Yi then tried to confirm Zhang Tianxiao's words, asking, "Palace Lord was the one who had Governor Lan Hou release me?"

Zhang Tianxiao lightly smiled, as though saying—'Do you think I need to lie to you?' She then changed the topic and asked, "I wish to know why you're so unwilling to remain in my Traversing Moon Palace? Is it because Huo Lingxiao sent you off to the Sea of Constellations?"

Miao Yi hurriedly waved his hands and said, "That isn't the case! Big Brother Huo already explained to me that he didn't know that I'd been sent to the Sea of Constellations. The truth is… if I may, Palace Lord, I wasn't supposed to be locked up originally. However, Governor Lan Hou suddenly decided to throw my comrades and me into prison after finding out that I am Big Brother Huo's sworn brother! This is something I discovered after getting out of prison. Even now, I have no clue why he would do such a thing. I do not wish to suffer such an injustice a second time, and at the same time, I do not wish to cause any more trouble to Big Brother Huo. That is why I decided to go someplace else."

This was the excuse Miao Yi had originally prepared for Huo Lingxiao. Little did he know that it would be put to use so quickly.

Zhang Tianxiao immediately understood everything. If it were someone else, they might not necessarily believe Miao Yi's words. However, she knew full well why Lan Hou had chosen to imprison Miao Yi because of Huo Lingxiao.

"Lan Hou, that despicable bastard! Why do you have to lower yourself to his standards? Forget it! You're not to blame for this!" The smile on Zhang Tianxiao's face seemed to immediately turn sour the moment Lan Hou's name was mentioned. She no longer continued talking to Miao Yi, and simply huffed coldly and left.

Her actions made Miao Yi wonder whether she was angry at him or at Lan Hou. After all, he knew nothing about the relationship between Lan Hou and Zhang Tianxiao. He was simply curious why Lan Hou didn't release him even after he had mentioned Fairy Hong Chen's name. If the latter didn't even have this much influence, why did she tell him to use her name back then?

As he glanced around the spacious golden pavilion, Miao Yi noticed that he was finally alone, and he heaved a sigh of relief. He closely examined the golden pavilion for a while, then started walking towards the exit.

Outside, within the beautiful garden, the Palace Lords were all conversing amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei stood in the corner, waiting for Miao Yi to come out. Surprisingly, Gu Sanzheng and the others didn't leave either and were patiently waiting alongside Zhao Fei and the others.

Miao Yi walked up to the five of them. Facing their worried gazes, he gently shook his head to show that he was alright. After which, the group decided to leave together.

Miao Yi and the others made their way to the edge of the steps and were about to descend the mountain. Off to the side, Lan Hou was listening to Pu Yigong's report with furrowed brows. Following which, his eyes gleamed, and he suddenly barked towards Miao Yi and the others, "Hold it!"

Miao Yi and the others turned their heads and saw that Lan Hou was staring right at them. Clearly, he was talking to them. While the rest of them were confused, Miao Yi had a hunch why Lan Hou wanted to talk to them, so he wasn't too perturbed by the sudden development.

Lan Hou's voice startled the Palace Lords as well. They all turned to look and saw Lan Hou leading Pu Yigong towards Miao Yi's group. He then waved his hand at the Gu Sanzheng trio and said, "This has nothing to do with the three of you. You may leave. As for you three, stay behind!"

Gu Sanzheng, Tan Lao, and Ye Xin exchanged glances with one another. They were afraid to disobey Lan Hou's command, so they cupped their fists in acknowledgment. After which, they looked at Miao Yi and the others for a while, then began their descent down the mountain ahead of them. Along the way, they couldn't help thinking to themselves—'Why do these three like to get into trouble so often?'

"Do you know why I had the three of you stay behind?" Lan Hou asked coldly.

Miao Yi and the others exchanged glances with one another, then cupped their fists as a gesture for Lan Hou to enlighten them.

"You will find out soon enough!" Lan Hou turned his head to look at Grandma Tao standing nearby, then shouted, "Take them away!"

The three of them were utterly flabbergasted. Pu Yigong extended his arm and said, "If you will!"

"Hold it!" An old voice suddenly resounded, and Grandma Tao started to slowly walk towards Lan Hou, the golden dragon-head cane in her hands tapping on the ground as she approached.

The other Palace Lords looked at one another, then out of curiosity, started walking towards Miao Yi and the others as well—they were simply being nosy!

Her face was heavily wrinkled and her eyelids were drooping, Grandma Tao walked up to Lan Hou, chuckling as she said, "Governor Lan Hou, would you care to explain what you're doing right now? You're taking my subordinates away right in front me. Don't you think you need to give me a proper explanation first?"

Lan Hou creased his brows, but he knew that it wouldn't be right to take these three away without giving Grandma Tao a proper explanation, so he nodded to Pu Yigong.

After paying his respects to all the Palace Lords in the vicinity, Pu Yigong then recounted the recent events involving Miao Yi and the others, the most important one being the one that just happened—Huyan Shou had just died in his prison cell! Not to mention, the way he died was a little too mind-boggling; it was clearly done by a cultivator!

The Palace Lords couldn't help feeling a little astonished. They never thought that such a thing had happened so recently.

"I see!" Grandma Tao sighed, then asked curiously, "According to you, that person has just died not too long ago. However, these three subordinates of mine were in an audience with the Overlord this whole time. They weren't anywhere near the prison at all. Everyone here can vouch for this, even you yourself, Governor Lan Hou. What makes you think that they're the ones responsible for the murder of Huyan Shou? Do you have some kind of reasoning to convince me with?"

Beside them, Zhang Tianxiao let out a chuckle and remarked, "Someone's clearly just trying to abuse his authority to get payback!"

Lan Hou ignored her and replied to Grandma Tao, "If a cultivator wishes to attack a mortal, the number of methods at his disposal are simply too many to count! I'm not saying that they're responsible for this crime. However, they are involved in some way, and thus, they warrant my suspicion. I naturally need to take them back to do a proper investigation. Innocent or no, all will be proven in time!"

Holding onto her cane, Grandma Tao shook her head gently and asked, "Meaning you don't have any evidence! Am I right to look at it that way, Lan Hou?"

Lan Hou frowned and asked, "Does Grandma Tao plan to obstruct my investigation?"

Grandma Tao waved her hand and said, "I didn't say that. But what right do you have to arrest my subordinates if you don't have any proof? Do you really think I'm easy to push around because of my old age? Even the Overlord himself has seen the three of them and can prove that their alibi is solid. If I allowed you to take my men away so easily, how could I show my old face to the world? Governor Lan Hou, all I have to say is this: if you have evidence, then even if you come all the way to my Traversing Water Palace to arrest my men later on, I won't make so much as a peep! As for now, though… since you don't have any proof…"

She turned to Miao Yi and the others and said, "You can excuse yourselves for now. Run along to your new posts! If something does happen, you will be summoned once again. When that time comes, you won't be able to run either way!"

Miao Yi and the others cupped their fists in acknowledgment. However, Lan Hou's face instantly darkened, and he held out his hand to stop them. "Wait! You can leave after the investigation is over! It won't take too much time anyway!"

"I have long heard stories of how Governor Lan Hou is a stickler when it comes to enforcing the law. But I see that mere hearsay doesn't do your reputation any justice!" Grandma Tao giggled menacingly and said, "Lan Hou, are you planning to use force against me? Do you really think I'm that easy to bully just because I'm old?"

The other Palace Lords were all smiling expectantly. Especially the Traversing Moon Palace Lord. Her face literally screamed—'Show me what you can do against Grandma Tao!'

Lan Hou said solemnly, "The one who died isn't just any normal riff-raff. This incident involves the Huyan family as well. If I let the suspects go so easily, the Huyan family could use this as an excuse to exacerbate the situation. Who will handle this issue then?"

"So what if it's the Huyan family?" Grandma Tao continued to chuckle and said, "Lan Hou! Don't try to use Huyan Taibao to intimidate me. When I was still a young woman fighting alongside Mu Fanjun for dominance of the realm, Yue Tianbo's position was still lower than mine, and Huyan Taibao himself was but a child. They would even bow their heads whenever they saw me. God knows where you were at the time. You're right! I am useless. After so many years in the cultivation realm, I watched as one youngster after another climb above my head, and every single one of them dared to bark at this old lady. I do regret it! But Lan Hou! Even if I'm old and useless, I still very much have the right to speak! I'd sure like to see who dares to arrest my men without any evidence! Forget about you, Lan Hou, even if Huyan Taibao himself were to dare come to my Traversing Water Palace and take my men away without any proof, I will go straight to the Realm Beyond Heaven and report this matter straight to Mu Fanjun myself! I'll ask her how can she possibly treat an old, loyal subordinate in such a way. I'll ask her if it's because this sisterhood from a bygone age is no longer of any value to her that she wishes to kick me aside like this?!"

She then slammed her cane into the ground, creating a loud, deep sound, much like the tone of her voice!