Chapter 1685: Two Mothers-in-Law
U Minh Thái Tử returned to Nam Thiên and saw Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh on the bow of the ship, transformed into a Chu Tước (Chim Lửa Đỏ).
Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh remained in a dazed state, seemingly instinctively leading this ship of Nam Thiên nhân tộc away from the war zone, departing from Thiên Hà.
U Minh Thái Tử stepped forward. Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh seemed to recognize him, yet also not, and did not attack him.
U Minh Thái Tử examined her and frowned deeply. The memories in Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh's mind were too numerous—so many memories, and chaotic ones at that, causing her consciousness to be clouded.
U Minh Thái Tử attempted to sort through her memories, but they were far too vast and tangled, leaving him with no place to begin.
"What happened to her?" he asked the people of Nam Thiên.
The people on the ship told him the story, but as mere mortals, they could not understand why Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh had undergone such a transformation.
U Minh Thái Tử felt somewhat lost, unsure how to handle this situation.
In the distance, Thương Bình Ẩn led the remnants of Thiên Đình, not daring to approach.
This was Thiên Đình's granary. Although Dực La Thiên Vương had been defeated, Thiên Đình would surely send even more powerful beings and greater forces. The calamity of Nam Thiên would continue.
U Minh Thái Tử gazed into the distance at Thương Bình Ẩn, who stood on a distant tower ship, leaning on Lưu Ly Thanh Thiên Tràng.
Lưu Ly Thanh Thiên Tràng had been seized by Dực La Thiên Vương, and now it had fallen into Thương Bình Ẩn's hands.
U Minh Thái Tử was at a loss. Though he was the crown prince of the two Huyền Vũ emperors, he was not skilled in leading troops into battle, especially in leading these Nam Thiên mortals who had virtually no power at all—he was completely in the dark.
The people from the tower ships he had rescued had already been sent to other heavens for temporary refuge, but this was only a stopgap measure. If Thiên Đình sent reinforcements, these people would also be doomed.
Just then, U Minh Thái Tử suddenly sensed a peculiar summoning force emanating from the void. This force locked onto him, but it was not summoning him—rather, someone in another world was casting a reverse summoning thần thông, attempting to come over.
His heart stirred. This aura was Long Kỳ Lân's—he was very familiar with it, so he did not resist.
After a moment, Long Kỳ Lân stood atop the head of a colossal Void Mother Beast, descending from the Beast Realm.
"Is the war in Nam Thiên over?"
Long Kỳ Lân looked around, somewhat surprised, and asked: "Where is Mạnh Vân Quy?"
U Minh Thái Tử recounted the events. Long Kỳ Lân was silent for a long while, then said: "A true warrior."
U Minh Thái Tử asked him to examine Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh. Long Kỳ Lân inspected her for a moment and said: "Her current condition is quite peculiar. It seems the memories of Nam Đế Chu Tước have awakened, mixing with the memories of her nearly two hundred past lives, causing her thoughts to be in disarray. If the two sets of memories fully merge, she will regain clarity."
"After she wakes, will Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh still be Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh?" U Minh Thái Tử asked.
Long Kỳ Lân shook his head: "She will be Nam Đế. I just checked—their memories have already begun to merge."
"Then, has Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh died because of this?"
U Minh Thái Tử felt regretful and said: "I believe Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh is not merely a part of Nam Đế. She is a living, breathing person. If she is reduced to an insignificant fragment of Nam Đế, it would truly be a waste of such a heroine."
Long Kỳ Lân pondered for a moment, then said: "The memories of Nam Đế and Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh have already begun to merge. Once this merging starts, it cannot be interrupted. Moreover, her thoughts are extremely chaotic right now—it's hard to distinguish which memories belong to Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh and which belong to Nam Đế. I do not possess such thần thông to help her sort through her memories. In this world, there is only one person with such power—that is the Giáo Chủ."
U Minh Thái Tử looked at him, and the people of Nam Thiên on the ship also revealed hopeful expressions.
Long Kỳ Lân looked at these faces, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said: "The Giáo Chủ's Luân Hồi chi Đạo can allow her to keep her own memories, allowing her to remain Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh. In truth, the Giáo Chủ has always held great regard for Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh, because they share a similar plight. Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh is the reincarnation of Nam Đế's divine soul, yet she has developed her own consciousness—she is an independent life. The Giáo Chủ is also a second consciousness born from the same body. Back then, because of Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh's words, the Giáo Chủ did not directly make her become Nam Đế. If I go to plead with him, the Giáo Chủ will most likely agree to awaken Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh. However, this move will likely offend Nam Đế..."
He hesitated and said: "Nam Đế Chu Tước's determination to reclaim her divine soul is very firm. When Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh awakened the Chu Tước soul, she definitely could not have hidden it from her—she would inevitably sense the revival of her Chu Tước soul. If I go to seek the Giáo Chủ and she finds out, she wouldn't dare hold any grudge against the Giáo Chủ, but she will certainly have some opinions about me. She is my mother-in-law—her daughter is already married to me..."
The people of Nam Thiên on the ship all knelt down, praying: "Please, honored deity, save our benefactor..."
Long Kỳ Lân's face changed drastically, and he quickly dodged aside: "Diên Khang has no such custom of kneeling to others! Get up quickly—I agree, even if it means offending my mother-in-law!"
His expression shifted between uncertainty and resolve as he paced back and forth, saying: "After all, Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh counts as half my mother-in-law too. Even if I offend the other half of my mother-in-law, this matter is still worth doing... You people of Nam Thiên always pray to gods and Buddhas, placing your hopes on others. How to break the gods in your hearts truly requires Mother-in-law Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh..."
Suddenly, his aura shook, and he cast a summoning thần thông. Above the sky of Diễm Minh Thiên, spatial cracks appeared one after another, and beast kings of ancient colossal beasts flew out from the cracks.
Among them, many colossal beasts transformed into towering giants—these were the thần thông practitioners of the beast race. These beast-race thần thông practitioners were Long Kỳ Lân's direct subordinates.
Long Kỳ Lân summoned over ten thousand beast-race thần thông practitioners and beast kings in one breath, then said to U Minh Thái Tử: "You don't have enough troops, and you are no match for a Thiên Sư like Thương Bình Ẩn. I'll first give you these troops for emergencies. Once Mother-in-law Bạch is awakened, you and I can leave Nam Thiên and hand it over to her."
"How will you get to Diên Khang?"
U Minh Thái Tử said: "Going to Diên Khang from here, even at your speed, would take several years. By the time you see Mục Thiên Tôn, Thiên Sư Bạch will likely have already been assimilated."
Long Kỳ Lân laughed: "The Giáo Chủ and I are like father and son... brothers! Yes, like brothers! I will cast a reverse summoning thần thông to lock onto him. I don't have enough power to reach him, but once the Giáo Chủ senses me, he can summon me over!"
Full of confidence, he took out a spiritual pill and said: "This is a spiritual pill the Giáo Chủ personally refined for me. I kept one—it carries his aura. With this aura, I can lock onto his location and cast the summoning thần thông."
He activated the summoning thần thông. Just as he established a connection with Tần Mục, who was far away in Nguyên Giới, and before he could even channel the power of the thần thông, suddenly the void shook violently. A vast, profound force pierced through from the distant Nguyên Giới, space collapsed, and Long Kỳ Lân was instantly pulled into the depths of space.
U Minh Thái Tử was startled: "Is this the power of Mục Thiên Tôn? In an instant, he locked onto Long Sơn Tán Nhân's position and teleported him over! By the way, how did Long Hào Thiên Tôn show such mercy as to release Long Sơn Tán Nhân and give him so many troops?"
Long Kỳ Lân's world spun, and the next moment he found his feet on solid ground. He saw himself in a great hall in the Thái Thanh Cảnh of Vô Ưu Hương. At the main seat sat Tần Mục and Linh Úc Tú as a couple, with Lãng Oản, U Minh Thiên Tôn, Khai Hoàng Đế Dịch Nguyệt, and Sơ Tổ Nhân Hoàng accompanying them.
Tần Mục and Linh Úc Tú were receiving a guest. The guest was dressed in bright red robes like blazing fire—a beautiful woman, none other than Nam Đế Chu Tước!
Long Kỳ Lân's heart skipped a beat. He quickly stepped forward, not bothering to greet Tần Mục first, and hurriedly paid respects to Nam Đế Chu Tước, announcing loudly: "Your son-in-law pays respects to Mother-in-law!"
In his heart, he muttered: "Speak of Nam Đế, and Nam Đế appears! Truly worthy of being the fastest in the world. Could it be that Mother-in-law sensed the awakening of Mother-in-law Bạch's Chu Tước soul and worried that the Giáo Chủ would ruin her plans, so she rushed over?"
As he was thinking, Nam Đế Chu Tước said with a smile: "Good son-in-law, truly my good son-in-law. Phi, get up. Aren't you supposed to be in Nam Thiên? How goes the war in Nam Thiên?"
Long Kỳ Lân stood up, lowering his head with his eyes darting around, thinking about how to answer.
Tần Mục laughed: "Phi, Nam Đế has brought good news this time—she came to tell me of the great victory in the Southern Sea. In the Southern Sea battle, the situation is very favorable. Xích Đế Tề Hàm Dư has surrendered. Xích Hoàng and Minh Hoàng led the Xích Minh remnant clan, joining forces with Xích Đế and Yên Nhi. After several fierce battles, they destroyed most of the thirty-nine route army marquises of Nam Thiên and have already landed, driving the enemy forces toward Vô Ưu Hương."
Linh Úc Tú smiled: "Nam Đế wants Diên Khang to send another army to block the path of Thiên Đình's defeated troops, to prevent them from being rescued by Thiên Đình's main forces."
Long Kỳ Lân heard the couple say this, and his heart stirred: "The Giáo Chủ and the Giáo Chủ phu nhân are helping me cover. It seems the Giáo Chủ has already sensed something."
"Giáo Chủ, phu nhân, I did not come here for Nam Thiên, but for the Beast Realm."
Long Kỳ Lân looked dejected and choked up: "My adoptive father, Long Hào Thiên Tôn, because he violated the Tiểu Thổ Bá chi Ước, has already perished, his soul scattered. Phi, with shallow virtue, now inherits my adoptive father's position, unworthily serving as the master of the Beast Realm."
Nam Đế was visibly moved, overjoyed, and laughed: "Then my Yên Nhi is the mistress of the Beast Realm?"
Tần Mục laughed: "Congratulations, Chu Tước tỷ tỷ."
Nam Đế quickly said: "What joy is there? What joy is there? Long Hào was my worthy son-in-law's adoptive father. Though his death was deserved, I am still grieved. Worthy son-in-law, though you are the new master of the Beast Realm, you must not become arrogant. You must remain humble and cautious, guard against pride and impatience!"
Long Kỳ Lân thought of how well Long Hào had treated him, and grief welled up in his heart.
Nam Đế quickly comforted him and said: "Worthy son-in-law, Long Hào's death was a matter of fate. Blame no one else, and do not blame yourself."
Tần Mục sighed: "Phi, I know the father-son bond between you and Long Hào. Do not grieve. Now that you have become the new master of the Beast Realm, you must indeed, as Chu Tước tỷ tỷ said, guard against pride and impatience. Even I reflect on myself three times a day, reviewing each day's actions to see if I have made mistakes."
Light flowed from the top of his head, and a bright mirror flew out from the radiance. He said: "This mirror is called Cố Thị (Self-Reflection). It is my treasure for examining my own heart each day. Today, I give it to you."
Long Kỳ Lân stepped forward and received the Cố Thị precious mirror.
Tần Mục then encouraged him further: "The war in Nam Thiên is also of utmost importance. Holding Nam Thiên can cut off Thiên Đình's grain supply and logistics. I cannot be in two places at once and cannot go personally. You are now the master of the Beast Realm with great power and authority—you must hold Nam Thiên!"
Long Kỳ Lân said: "Giáo Chủ, the people of Nam Thiên are ignorant. How should I break the gods in their hearts?"
Tần Mục pondered for a moment, then said: "Doesn't the Beast Realm also have Diên Khang? Those people, I permit you to deploy them."
Long Kỳ Lân was overjoyed. Just as he was about to withdraw from the great hall, Nam Đế quickly stood up and laughed: "I haven't seen my worthy son-in-law for a long time. Let me see him off!"
Long Kỳ Lân had no choice but to walk out of the great hall together with Nam Đế.
Outside the hall, Nam Đế Chu Tước laughed: "Worthy son-in-law, let me admire the Cố Thị precious mirror that Mục Thiên Tôn gave you."
Long Kỳ Lân had no choice but to take out the Cố Thị precious mirror. Nam Đế Chu Tước looked into the mirror, then looked at the back of the mirror, found nothing unusual, and returned it to him, laughing: "How will my worthy son-in-law return to Nam Thiên?"
Long Kỳ Lân said respectfully: "To answer Mother-in-law, this is simple. I will cast a reverse summoning thần thông to return to the Beast Realm. Once in the Beast Realm, U Minh Thái Tử will cast a summoning thần thông to summon me, and I can descend."
Nam Đế Chu Tước nodded and said: "Take care of yourself."
Long Kỳ Lân took his leave, cast the reverse summoning thần thông, and returned to the Beast Realm.
Not long after arriving in the Beast Realm, U Minh Thái Tử cast his thần thông, and Long Kỳ Lân descended from the Beast Realm. He took out the Cố Thị precious mirror and said: "This precious mirror was refined from the Giáo Chủ's Luân Hồi đại đạo. My mother-in-law does not understand the Luân Hồi đại đạo, so I escaped by the skin of my teeth. With this mirror, Mother-in-law Bạch can be saved."
He carried the Cố Thị precious mirror to the Chu Tước that Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh had transformed into. The Chu Tước looked at the mirror, and after a moment, two streams of fiery tears flowed from its eyes.
In the mirror was not only Bạch Ngọc Quỳnh's entire life, but also her past life from long, long ago—Tước Phi Nhân.