Free Web NovelChapter 444: Chapter 76: Dragon King, Get Out Here
’I’m... back?’
Central Celestial Court, Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace.
Cui Yin was in a daze. A complex expression appeared on her face as she gazed at the familiar, towering Emperor’s Palace, but it soon melted into delighted surprise.
’Here, my cultivation progresses so much faster, and my status is so much higher!’
’Everyone I interact with here are Immortal Officials and Divine Officials. Even some Celestial Venerables greet me with a smile!’
At this thought, Cui Yin straightened her Divine Robe, a smile gracing her lips as she called out:
"Someone!"
Her resonant, powerful voice echoed through the vast Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace, but no one answered.
"Hm?"
Cui Yin froze, her slender eyebrows arching as her gaze grew somber.
’What... what happened??’
To her astonishment, she noticed that many parts of the Emperor’s Palace were covered in dust, as if they hadn’t been cleaned in a long time. The gifts from many Immortal Gods, which had been piled at the side of the great hall, had also vanished.
Nearly half of the eighteen Golden Jade Divine Pillars in the hall were missing. The remaining pillars had grown dim and lusterless, making the towering Emperor’s Palace seem as if it were on the verge of collapse!
’The Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace... what on earth happened here???’
Her heart skipped a beat. The Emperor’s Palace was supposed to have over a hundred fairies as attendants and nearly a thousand servants at the Celestial Human Realm. But now, not a single one could be seen. The entire palace was deathly still and empty!
Cui Yin’s expression changed. After a moment of thought, she stepped forward, pushed open the great doors of the Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace, and walked out of the dust-covered palace.
Outside the Emperor’s Palace, auspicious clouds formed the ground, and auspicious omens were everywhere. In the distance, the South Celestial Gate remained as majestic and vast as ever, shrouded in a dazzling Immortal Light.
Cui Yin’s sharp eyes spotted a familiar-looking old immortal, and she hurried forward to call out:
"Matchmaker!"
The old immortal stopped and looked over in surprise. He sized up Cui Yin for a moment before saying with some hesitation:
"You’re... Steward Cui?" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"It’s me!"
Cui Yin was even more surprised. She frowned and asked:
"Matchmaker, what happened to the Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace? Why is it in this state?"
She was anxious, and given that The Matchmaker had always been extremely respectful to her in the past, her tone was unconsciously a bit sharp.
The Matchmaker furrowed his brows. After a moment’s thought, he said anyway:
"Everyone was saying Steward Cui had gone missing. It seems you were in seclusion, huh? Nine thousand years... that’s quite a long time!"
"Nine thousand years?!" Cui Yin was stunned. She was so shocked she didn’t even notice the slightly mocking tone in The Matchmaker’s voice as she asked in alarm:
"In these nine thousand years... what exactly happened?"
The aging Matchmaker, whose lifespan was nearing its end, lifted his eyelids and said nonchalantly:
"It seems Steward Cui really doesn’t know anything at all... For the sake of our past acquaintance, I’d advise you to leave the Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace as soon as possible."
As he spoke, he slapped his forehead and said with a chuckle:
"Ah, but I forgot. You’re a steward of the Profound Yellow Palace. Your Immortal Record is tied here. Those Celestial Maidens and servants could leave, but you can’t. Heh!"
Cui Yin finally noticed something was wrong. This Matchmaker’s attitude towards her had changed completely, devoid of its previous respect.
She knitted her brows and said:
"So, please, Matchmaker, enlighten me. What exactly happened here?"
"I’m old. Too lazy to talk about it..."
The Matchmaker was about to turn and leave, but then he saw a menacing aura rise from the steward before him and remembered that she, too, was a True Immortal.
He hesitated. Ultimately not wanting to make an enemy of a True Immortal, he slowly explained:
"Five thousand years ago, the Immortal Mother issued a decree summoning the Profound Yellow Emperor. There was no response, which angered her."
"Then, eight hundred years ago, Emperor Gouchen returned to the Celestial Realm from the Underworld. He held a grand banquet and invited all the Immortals and Buddhas of the heavens. Everyone of note who received an invitation attended—everyone except the Profound Yellow Emperor, who didn’t even show his face..."
After a pause, The Matchmaker’s voice became distant:
"That time, Emperor Gouchen was furious. Subsequently, a celestial official performed a Divination, only to discover with shock that the Profound Yellow Emperor was no longer in this world—his name had even been erased from the annals of Time. He had most likely fallen in some forgotten corner."
"So, over the past eight hundred years, the immortals affiliated with the Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace have either left or switched their allegiance to new masters. And that’s how it ended up in the state you see today."
After a moment’s hesitation, he added:
"It wouldn’t have gotten this bad, but over the years, both the Immortal Mother and the various other Emperors have, to some extent, expressed their dissatisfaction with the Profound Yellow Emperor."
"Now that the Profound Yellow Emperor has likely fallen, many immortals naturally... In fact, a few of them even managed to win the favor of a certain Emperor by doing so!"
Cui Yin was dumbfounded.
’The Profound Yellow Emperor... has fallen??’
Her heart felt empty, and she was overcome with a sense of helplessness.
The Matchmaker, however, just shrugged and said lazily:
"Alright, that’s all this old man has to say. Steward Cui, you’re on your own... Oh, right. From time to time, some Immortal Families come to the Profound Yellow Palace to strip some Immortal Gold Divine Iron. Even though you’re back, Steward Cui, it would be best not to try and stop them!"
After saying this, The Matchmaker scurried away as if fleeing a plague, leaving Cui Yin standing alone and in disarray amidst the astral winds.
’The Profound Yellow Emperor... has fallen!’
She was suddenly horrified, and a strange sense of sorrow welled up in her heart. She had never even met this Emperor...
...but she had, at the very least, benefited from his name and enjoyed a hundred years as a carefree immortal. But now...
Cui Yin sighed softly, lamenting the impermanence of the world. After thinking for a very, long time, she ultimately decided not to go to the Immortal Registration Department to renounce her position as a Profound Yellow Palace Steward.
A sliver of hope remained in her heart. The Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace hadn’t been completely dismantled, after all. ’What if... what if the Emperor is still alive? What if he comes back one day?’
At this thought, Cui Yin returned to the Profound Yellow Emperor’s Palace. As she gazed at the now-dilapidated great hall, her heart filled with disappointment.
Even so, she personally took it upon herself to use a Profound Skill. She spent the better part of a day tidying up the entire Emperor’s Palace, clearing away the dust.
The Emperor’s Palace looked brand new, barely regaining a hint of its former splendor. Cui Yin stretched lazily and then gave a wry smile.
