š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurersā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø and āļø Moran! āļøšā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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The grand hall of the Heavenly Expanse Palace exuded its usual aura of majesty, with its towering pillars adorned in celestial motifs and the faint hum of Heavenly Energy resonating throughout the chamber.
On the platform sat the three most prominent figures of the palace: Shangguan Tianyang, the Palace Master; Shangguan Tianyue, his stern younger brother; and Shangguan Longyin, the respected Master of the Storing Skill Palace.
Zhou Weiqing entered the hall with an air of nonchalance. His usual cheeky grin danced on his lips as he looked around, appreciating the grandeur of the palace. Despite the obvious tension in the room, his demeanor remained calm, even playful.
He cupped his fists and greeted them with exaggerated politeness. "Greetings to the three seniors..."
Shangguan Tianyue's icy glare could have frozen fire. He slammed his palm onto the armrest of his chair. "Zhou Weiqing! Do you know what you've done wrong?!"
Zhou Weiqing blinked, feigning innocence. "Wrong? Father-in-law, what could I have possibly done wrong? Unlessā¦ Oh no! Is Bing'er pregnant already? But I swear I haven't done anythingā¦ yet."
Shangguan Tianyue's face turned a dangerous shade of red. He almost stumbled from his chair, his hands trembling in barely suppressed fury.
Shangguan Longyin coughed to hide his laughter, while Shangguan Tianyang shook his head, the corners of his mouth twitching. It was clear they were both entertained by the young man's antics.
"Stop calling me that!" Shangguan Tianyue barked.
"But you will be," Zhou Weiqing replied with a grin. "Bing'er and I are meant to be together, after all."
Despite Zhou Weiqing's lighthearted approach, he knew full well why he was summoned. The Heavenly Expanse Palace's plans in the Lustre Spatial Realm had been thwarted by his actionsāand more significantly, by his master, Jason. But Zhou Weiqing wasn't about to cower. If anything, this was the perfect opportunity to establish boundaries.
Shangguan Tianyang raised a hand, signaling for silence. His expression was calm but carried a weight of authority. "Zhou Weiqing, enough of your games. Let us discuss what truly matters. You've freed the two Dragons, Hui Yao and Duo Si, residing in the Lustre Spatial Realm. Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"
Zhou Weiqing's grin faded slightly, but he maintained his composure. "I do, Palace Master. But I acted with good reason. This place is Bing'er's home. She would have been heartbroken if I hadn't done that."
"Excuses!" Shangguan Tianyue growled. "You dare put the blame for your actions on Bing'er? Youā"
"Father-in-law," Zhou Weiqing interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "Take some deep breaths and calm down, or else you'll age prematurely. What would happen to Mother-in-law and your daughters if you keeled over? Think of their grief!"
Shangguan Tianyue's fury reached its peak, and he looked ready to leap from his seat and throttle the shameless youth. But he held himself back, knowing full well that Zhou Weiqing wasn't someone he could intimidate with mere words.
Shangguan Tianyang's calm voice cut through the tension. "Weiqing, elaborate. How exactly did your actions save the Heavenly Expanse Palace?"
Zhou Weiqing's expression turned serious, though the mischievous glint in his eyes remained. "First Uncle, you only know that I freed the two dragons, but I did that as a favor to a great senior."
"A great senior? Who might that be?" Shangguan Tianyang asked, his curiosity piqued.
"The Patriarch of the Dragon Clanāthe Dragon Emperor. An existence on equal footing with the Elven Empress," Zhou Weiqing said calmly. "He is currently a guest at our Heaven and Earth Sect. I merely let the two juniors meet their ancestor. If I hadn't done that, the Dragon Emperor himself would have come here with twelve Heavenly God Realm Heavenly Beasts. May I ask, does the Heavenly Expanse Palace have the strength to face them?"
The hall fell into a stunned silence as the three men stared at Zhou Weiqing, searching for any signs of deceit. But his expression remained unwavering, his confidence unshakable.
Shangguan Longyin finally spoke, his voice hesitant. "Weiqingā¦ you're not joking, are you?"
Zhou Weiqing shrugged nonchalantly. "You're free to think whatever you like. I just did what I thought was bestāfor Bing'er's sake. If you don't believe me, you're welcome to visit the Heaven and Earth Sect and see for yourselves."
The three men exchanged grave glances. The scenario Zhou Weiqing described was enough to put them on high alert.
Shangguan Tianyue opened his mouth to retort, but Shangguan Tianyang raised a hand again, silencing him.
"And what of your master, Sect Master Jason?" He asked. "The Heaven and Earth Sect's recent actions have unsettled the balance of the Boundless Mainland. Do you truly believe his intentions are benign?"
Zhou Weiqing smirked, crossing his arms. "My master is not a man who acts without reason. If My Master truly wished to disrupt the balance, he wouldn't stop at two small kingdoms. He could conquer the entire Boundless Mainland if he wanted to."
Shangguan Longyin, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "And why hasn't he?"
"Because he doesn't care," Zhou Weiqing said bluntly. "My master isn't interested in ruling or expansion. The Kalise and Bai Da Empires must have provoked him, and he simply taught them a lesson. If My Master were the warmonger you fear, would we even be having this conversation? He'd already be here, dismantling your palace."
The room fell silent, Zhou Weiqing's words hanging heavily in the air.
Shangguan Tianyang leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "What you say may be true, but that doesn't mean we can dismiss the Heaven and Earth Sect's actions. Their strength is unparalleled, and their leader's motivations remain unclear."
Zhou Weiqing nodded, acknowledging the point. "I understand your caution, but I assure you, my master has no interest in conflictāunless someone forces his hand. Instead of viewing him as a threat, perhaps you should see him as an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Shangguan Tianyue asked skeptically.
"Yes, an opportunity for cooperation," Zhou Weiqing replied. "My Master values relationships built on respect and mutual benefit. The Heavenly Expanse Palace has always prided itself on wisdom. Isn't it wiser to build bridges rather than walls?"
Shangguan Longyin chuckled softly, breaking the tension. "Zhou Weiqing, you're as clever as ever. You've managed to turn this entire discussion in your favor."
Zhou Weiqing grinned. "Thank you for noticing, Senior Longyin. I do try."
Shangguan Tianyue rolled his eyes. "You're insufferable."
"Only to you, Father-in-law," Zhou Weiqing quipped.
Shangguan Tianyang allowed himself a small smile. "Very well, Zhou Weiqing. We will take your words into consideration. However, know thisāshould the Heaven and Earth Sect's actions threaten the stability of the Boundless Mainland, the Heavenly Expanse Palace will not stand idly by."
Zhou Weiqing nodded. "Fair enough, Palace Master. I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
Just as they finished, a soft voice interrupted. "What are you all discussing so seriously?"
Tang Xian entered the hall with Shangguan Xue'er at her side. The two women regarded the tense atmosphere with curiosity.
Zhou Weiqing immediately straightened and greeted them with his trademark grin. "Mother-in-law, Big Sis Xue'er, what perfect timing! I was just explaining to these esteemed seniors how I prevented a potential catastrophe."
Tang Xian raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze darting between her husband and Zhou Weiqing. "Tianyue, what trouble has Weiqing caused this time?"
"Trouble?" Zhou Weiqing feigned innocence. "I saved the Heavenly Expanse Palace from a disaster, Mother-in-law! Surely you can trust your future son-in-law to have noble intentions."
Shangguan Xue'er snorted softly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "You really are shameless, Zhou Weiqing."
Before the conversation could continue, a member of the palace staff entered hurriedly, bowing deeply to Shangguan Tianyang.
"Palace Master, an envoy from Blood Red Hell has arrived. They request an audience with you."
The mood in the hall instantly shifted. The playful banter disappeared, replaced by a palpable tension.
Shangguan Tianyang's expression darkened. "Blood Red Hellā¦ What could they want now?"
Zhou Weiqing's eyes narrowed, a glint of cold light flashing through them. "Looks like the fun is just beginning."
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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