Chapter 258: Not Wondering Why He Doesn't Want the King of Hell

When Lu Xingzhou and his disciple stayed overnight in Xiaobaimao’s ice house, Ye Tinglan’s divine sense scanned the area once at night and again in the early morning when they awoke to explore the small secret realm. Seeing that everything was normal, she focused on her search for the dragon bones.

From the moment Lu Xingzhou met Long Qinghuang, returned to Hanlan City, and then came back to the glacier, very little time had passed. How could Ye Tinglan have imagined that in just two hours of not paying attention, Lu Xingzhou would have developed such a deep connection with the Demon Empress?

Meanwhile, her own search for the dragon bones had encountered difficulties.

The so-called winning bidders were, of course, people from their Heavenly Radiance Holy Land, and all the dragon bone fragments were currently in their possession. When the Hanlan Sect went to search the location where the original owner had found the fragments, the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land’s bidders were secretly observing nearby, aware that the Hanlan Sect found nothing.

It was easy to conclude that if ancient dragon bones truly existed, they would most likely be in the central area of the glacier, and for some reason, they would be close to emerging from the ice.

The Heavenly Radiance Holy Land organized personnel to set up various defenses in the central glacier, primarily to guard against the inevitable arrival of the Demon Empress. Upon her arrival, Ye Tinglan personally took command and began exploring the ice layer.

After a night of exploration, they also found nothing.

The ice layer in the central glacier was extremely solid, making digging downward very inefficient. Even digging simultaneously in several directions, they had only managed to excavate a few feet overnight.

However, finding nothing after digging a few feet was not right.

Since the fragments were found scattered on the surface, the dragon bones shouldn't be buried very deep. Logically, part of them should have been exposed even without digging. How could they dig several feet and still find nothing?

“Something isn’t right,” Ye Tinglan said. “Stop the excavation, recover your strength, go into hiding, and fully set up traps to deal with the Demon Empress. I’m going to find someone for advice.”

An elder from the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land looked at her questioningly.

Seeking advice just to dig something?

“Sect Leader, someone has crossed the ice barrier and is approaching the center.”

“The Demon Empress?”

“...It seems to be someone from the Yama Hall.”

Ye Tinglan swept her divine sense over the area, her brow slightly furrowed. “Ji Wenchuan, the Eastern Ghost Emperor, what is he doing here?”

“He insists on breaking in where there’s no entry. Let him be the first to experience the traps meant for the Demon Empress.”

“Wait,” Ye Tinglan said, pinching her forehead. “Go forward and negotiate with him. Ask him what he wants. If he’s just here for the dragon bones, tell him I am personally present and persuade him to turn back.”

The people of Heavenly Radiance Holy Land were astonished. “Why? This is a perfect opportunity to weaken the Yama Hall.”

Of course, it was because Ji Wenchuan was rumored to have the best relationship with the Judge, and at least it would save Lu Xingzhou some face. Ye Tinglan didn’t elaborate, simply saying, “Just do as I say.”

“I’m here to deliver a message!” Before the negotiators even reached him, Ji Wenchuan’s voice carried from afar. “I know the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land has set up an ambush here, don’t try to ambush me!”

He actually knew the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land was setting up an ambush... The people of Heavenly Radiance Holy Land exchanged glances. An elder stepped forward. “Mr. Ji, what message are you delivering?”

“Someone asked me to deliver a message to his mentor, saying that if she keeps pondering over the dragon bones, he’ll auction off her veil.”

Everyone simultaneously turned to look at Ye Tinglan, whose face flushed and paled. She personally went to meet Ji Wenchuan. “What else did he say?”

Ji Wenchuan stared blankly at Ye Tinglan, as if he had seen a ghost. “You’re his mentor?”

“What about it?”

I wondered why that kid was so content he seemed to forget about Yama; turns out he found a substitute!

She looks almost like a mature version of the Yama King. Where did Lu Xingzhou find her?

As one of the few people in the world who knew the true appearance of the Yama King, Ji Wenchuan’s voice was now three parts more cautious and flattering. He carefully said, “He said there’s a very high possibility that the dragon bones don’t exist, though he doesn’t know where the fragments came from.”

Ye Tinglan was utterly bewildered. “How does he know about the dragon bones, and with such specific details? Wasn’t he just on a herb-gathering trial in the periphery a thousand miles away? What happened in the mere two hours I haven't seen him?”

This was utterly absurd, like a student from a village school inexplicably knowing about the court's secret deliberations from that morning, and even having a general from an enemy nation help deliver a message.

Ji Wenchuan said, “If it’s him, nothing he does is surprising. Hmm... Since you are his mentor, I, Ji, suggest that you lay things out clearly with him instead of treating him as an ordinary disciple. That would truly be a waste of talent.”

Ye Tinglan retorted impatiently, “If I lay things out clearly with him, do you even know who I am?”

Ji Wenchuan said, “Of course, you’re the object of his pursuit. Why else would he take you as his master?”

Ji Wenchuan’s thinking had been skewed by Lu Xingzhou, believing that “Master was involved with the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land,” and he hadn’t dared to consider that this person was the Holy Lord of Heavenly Radiance. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land elder standing nearby was utterly dumbfounded, his mouth agape for a long time.

“Do you people from Yama Hall know what you’re saying?!”

*You’re dead.*

However, the imagined furious outburst from the Holy Lord did not occur. Ye Tinglan’s face was simply ashen. “I’ve long heard that Ji Wenchuan speaks without thinking; now I know it’s true.”

The elder remained silent.

*It seemed he had learned something extraordinary.*

*I’m dead.*

Ji Wenchuan wasted no more words, stating directly, “I’ve read the letter; it just says there’s something wrong with the dragon bones and asks you to meet him in person. Nothing special. Anyway, I’ve delivered the message. I’ll be leaving now; it’s up to you whether to go or not.”

With a cupped-hand salute, he drifted away.

Ye Tinglan watched Ji Wenchuan disappear, her face ashen. Catching a glimpse of the elder standing nearby, eyes downcast in contemplation, her silver teeth ground together. “What kind of expression is that?”

The elder stammered, “Huh? This subordinate has no expression. Um, those demonic cultivators speak nonsense without thinking, Sect Leader, please don’t let it upset you.”

“If you’re so loyal, why didn’t you hit him just now?” Ye Tinglan’s chest heaved with anger. With a whoosh, she vanished.

The elder wiped cold sweat from his brow. *Was this what they called shyness?*

Ye Tinglan appeared above Lu Xingzhou like a streak of lightning, raising an enormous ethereal palm, ready to strike downward.

Just as she was about to strike, she suddenly remembered that it was Ji Wenchuan who had been spouting nonsense, and it didn’t mean Lu Xingzhou had said such things. It seemed she couldn’t blame Lu Xingzhou. After a few seconds of thought, the ethereal palm suddenly changed direction.

Ji Wenchuan, who had been hiding nearby watching the show, was suddenly slammed into the ground, greatly shocked.

“Are you sure this is a first-rank Master?”

*I’ve also broken through to the first rank, so how could I not even withstand one of her moves?!*

*Lu Xingzhou, what kind of women are you pursuing?!* Ji Wenchuan broke out in a cold sweat and instantly fled, leaving a remarkably lifelike human-shaped pit on the ice.

Lu Xingzhou also noticed Ye Tinglan beating someone and quickly called out, “Master, that’s my friend!”

“I know he’s your friend, and that’s precisely why!” Ye Tinglan landed on the ground furiously. “What kind of scoundrels do you associate with?!”

“...I’ve known him for several years longer than I’ve known you.”

“By your tone, are you displeased with me now?”

“Can’t I be displeased?” Lu Xingzhou retorted angrily. “You claimed to be taking A’nuo and me on a trial, but in reality, you were here for the dragon bones. Did you not consider that with the dragon bones appearing, the situation would drastically change, and A’nuo and I would be in great danger here?”

Ye Tinglan paused, her voice softening significantly. “I originally thought that the glacier was so vast, and you were only in the outer periphery, so the matters here wouldn’t concern you.”

Theoretically, that was true... Lu Xingzhou also wondered what kind of terrible luck he had, to be in such a vast area, yet so far on the periphery, and still manage to encounter the Demon Empress?

He still said angrily, “Even so, it would greatly increase the chance of accidents. What if the demon race launched a massive invasion and swept through the glacier?”

“Then I would have transferred you immediately.”

“It would be too late. By the time you transferred us, A’nuo and I would be buried six feet under!” Lu Xingzhou fumed. “Do you know who we just encountered?”

Ye Tinglan was silent for a moment, then whispered, “The Demon Empress?”

Lu Xingzhou was surprised, his anger subsiding quite a bit. “Getting smart now?”

“If you know about the dragon bones, are involved so deeply, and are angry with me, it must involve danger,” Ye Tinglan said, pursing her lips. “I apologize, I was inconsiderate. But your... your luck is truly indescribable.”

Since she had apologized, Lu Xingzhou did not remain angry. He then said, “You’ve been here all night, and you haven’t seen any experts from the Heavenly Frost Nation, have you?”

At his words, Ye Tinglan immediately realized there was a problem. “No, we haven't.”

“Then notify the Heavenly Radiance Holy Land to relocate immediately. What needs to be done now is not to search for dragon bones, but to use your combat abilities to search for the hidden experts of the Heavenly Frost Nation. If there truly are dragon bones, they would only be found there! Once you find them, hide and observe. If nothing unexpected happens, the demon race will fight them first, as the Demon Empress is determined to obtain them, while you and I don’t have such an intense need. The initiative will be ours.”

Ye Tinglan’s expression became somewhat strange. “You... analyzed all this with the demon race?”

“What about it? The Heavenly Frost Nation isn’t just tricking the demon race, but you too! Is there anything wrong with letting them fight each other to exhaustion?” Lu Xingzhou said indignantly. “You foolish woman, you’ve infuriated me! You put me in danger, yet I still have to worry about you!”