As he spoke, Lu Tianqing’s eyelids lifted slightly, scrutinizing Jue Yan’s expression.

The result, however, brought him disappointment. Though this Venerable Saint made his joys and angers clear.

Yet, to deduce what he thought or planned from this was nearly impossible.

“You have labored well. At least you did not delay my urgent matter.”

Jue Yan waved his sleeve, accepting the jade casket. He flipped it open, glanced inside, and then smiled contentedly, casually tossing it into the hands of the red-robed girl beside him.

At this moment, Lu Tianqing angled his gaze toward Lu Hanyan.

“Venerable Saint, if I recall correctly, this woman still has another twenty years remaining on her sentence.”

He truly could not fathom why Jue Yan would lift the seal on this woman and bring her out of the Death Prison.

Could it be—

This question was as much one of curiosity as it was a probe.

Hearing this, Jue Yan merely let out a cold, dry laugh: “What? Does the old man not have the authority to release her for a mere twenty years of servitude? Must even such a small matter be reported to you?”

Lu Tianqing’s body trembled slightly, feeling as if his very soul and consciousness were being crushed into dust.

Being in the presence of a Supreme Venerable Saint, this aspect alone was what he detested most, making him profoundly uneasy.

At this, he could only bow slightly with a look of apprehension: “Naturally, I dare not presume.”

“Good that you dare not!”

Jue Yan chuckled softly, withdrawing the soul-pressure he had exerted. Then, he asked again, his tone mild: “So, during these ten days, have you come to a decision? If you still know what is good for you, then that betrothal concerning your descendant can be dropped. Also, relay this to Xuan Hua for me: the old man is growing rather impatient with his conduct in recent years—”

Lu Tianqing felt a dull clang echo in his mind.

It was clear that the Venerable Saint sending him to retrieve the Cangwu Sacred Fruit held profound meaning.

—When the Venerable Saint Jue Yan mentions impatience with the actions of State Lord Xuan Hua in recent years, does it refer to Xuan Hua colluding with outsiders, befriending a Venerable Saint from an external clan?

A sense of relief flooded his chest; he felt he had already managed to surmise some of what Venerable Saint Jue Yan was planning.

If that were the case—

Lu Tianqing’s peripheral vision flicked toward Lu Hanyan once more.

Bringing this woman out of the Death Prison—was it preparation to once again support the Burning Sky Sacred Emperor who had been in seclusion for so long?

After only a moment’s thought, Lu Tianqing let out a cold laugh.

It was likely not yet time for that; this was more likely a means to warn Xuan Hua.

Otherwise, that Zong Shou should have been brought out as well.

He also thought that this Venerable Saint had truly remained aloof from worldly affairs for far too long! To actually be foolish enough to use Lu Beiwu as leverage.

Twenty years ago, there were sixty or seventy figures in the Lu family, nearly seventy percent of the whole, who had grievances with this Sacred Emperor. If this man were to regain power, who wouldn’t worry about the Sacred Emperor settling scores later?

At that time, it would not just be a matter for Xuan Hua alone; the few others who opposed the State Lord Xuan Hua would likely not escape involvement either.

Did this Venerable Saint truly believe that the Lu Clan at present could still control everything based on a joint force of three Supremes?

The Eight State Lords all possessed the power to contend with the Supremes.

Setting aside Venerable Saint Yan Yuan, the other Saint, the ancestor of the Lu family, might not necessarily approve of Jue Yan’s actions.

Then, regarding his own daughter’s marriage—did this dissatisfaction from Venerable Saint Jue Yan stem from this?

No wonder he had felt Jue Yan’s every word and action to be somewhat strange since that time.

To manage the Death Prison, and under his jurisdiction, yet enter into a marriage alliance with someone he was displeased with.

The Venerable Saint was naturally displeased.

With everything now clear, the feeling of unease and vexation receded instead.

After a moment of hesitation, Lu Tianqing shook his head: “Since the marriage has been decided, how can it be easily revoked? I will certainly convey the Venerable Saint’s words to State Lord Xuan Hua.”

Although this action was somewhat risky, what he sought was the addition of more longevity, and preferably, a further step in his cultivation.

Jue Yan could not grant him these things, but Xuan Hua could.

Furthermore, if he were to die, his descendants would still need someone to look after them.

Venerable Saint Jue Yan had seldom involved himself in affairs for many years, and Venerable Saint Yan Yuan was also gradually withdrawing from the Holy Court. Furthermore, some enmity had already been established over this matter of Lu Hanyan and the Crimson Beebird.

Conversely, the Xuan Hua lineage was currently at its zenith, undeniably the foremost figure in the Holy Court. Even if he could not ascend to the position of Sacred Emperor, the next Sacred Emperor would certainly be within his grasp.

With the combined efforts of the three State Lords, and a Supreme Venerable Saint as an external backer, in his view, they had clearly reached an invincible position!

Even if the Lu Hanyan affair from years ago were overturned, it could not damage their foundation.

Besides, his interests were intertwined with Xuan Hua’s, their connections already deep—how could they possibly tear themselves apart?

Once many matters were brought to light, he, Lu Tianqing, would surely face eternal damnation.

At this juncture, he could only take the risk.

Jue Yan’s expression indeed shifted, his gaze instantly turning grim as he coldly stared at Lu Tianqing.

He wore a smile that was not quite a smile, seeming to suppress a surge of killing intent with great effort. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone flat as ice: “Lu Hanyan has been in the Nether Prison for twenty-four years, additionally suffering the torture of the Crimson Beebird’s pecking. Moreover, her son served out her sentence in the Death Prison. This is sufficient to negate her crimes—”

Speaking to this point, his tone held deeper meaning: “As for you, Tianqing, for being lax in supervising the Death Prison and bending the law for personal gain, I will notify the Holy Court to strip you of your position as the Guardian of the Death Prison. You may proceed to the Hall of Penalties to receive your punishment!”

Lu Tianqing listened quietly, his expression calm, a faint trace of mockery flickering in his eyes.

This Venerable Saint, in the end, still harbored reservations and did not instantly strike down Lu Tianqing here and now.

It seemed that State Lord Xuan Hua having a Supreme as a retainer was truly not an empty boast!

For now, the time was certainly not ripe for a complete falling out. Although Jue Yan held hostility, Xuan Hua’s methods were equally extraordinary; it might still be possible to make this Venerable Saint change his mind in the end.

Receiving punishment in the Hall of Penalties, even if the sentence was severe, would not harm his fundamental well-being.

He had already informed Xuan Hua in advance; they would surely have countermeasures ready.

The current situation appeared perilous but was, in fact, safe.

Lu Hanyan, however, trembled slightly, looking at Jue Yan in astonishment.

Her son serving out her sentence in the Death Prison? What did these words signify?

Her chest felt tight, and her heart throbbed uncontrollably. Without a second thought, she spoke directly: “May I ask the Venerable Saint, what is the meaning behind saying that Hanyan’s son is currently in the Death Prison?”

Jue Yan gave a dry laugh, offering no reply.

Lu Tianqing raised an eyebrow, then the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile, shaking his head slightly: “Princess Hanyan, are you not yet aware? In truth, ten days ago, you already met him once. I wonder how things have been during the ten days I was away.”

As these words were spoken, Lu Hanyan felt her mind spin, then clear once more.

Like the striking of a great bell, the obstruction of her perception shattered completely.

It was! That child was my Hanyan’s son!

He had mentioned it to me before. He called himself Zong Shou—

Why hadn't I realized it then?

The youth who was regarded so highly by Jue Yan, who didn't hesitate to use Jade Bone Spiritual Marrow to nourish his body, and who seemed only a single step away from awakening the Lu family’s ultimate bloodline treasure—the youth who nearly incinerated the entire Nether Prison world with the World-Burning Flame before the change occurred—was her Shou’er?

At first, she could not believe it. If that were true, her child had actually reached the Immortal Realm at less than thirty years of age!

And he had, through his own power, forced his way into the eighth layer of the Death Prison to find and see her?

She then recalled how, during these past ten days, every attempt Zong Shou made to break through the ninth-level Abyss Gate had ended with him returning, battered and bruised, yet refusing to yield.

He had even finally reached the point of utter despair—

Despite suffering under the forbidden technique, tormented by the curse of the Blood Spirit, he absolutely refused to give up.

All that hardship, it turned out, was for her sake?

Lu Hanyan could not help but grit her silver teeth. The emotions surging within her breast at this moment were truly indescribable.

Overwhelmed with unexpected joy, she was nearly crushed by the magnitude of this happiness.

She felt that the suffering she endured over these twenty years counted as nothing.

For this child, even if she were imprisoned for hundreds or thousands more years, she would willingly accept it!

Yet, she was also filled with grievance and indignation; Shou’er was too careless with his own life.

Even death, she would not wish to see her child suffer thus.

She then glared angrily at Jue Yan. Although she could see things, she could not know everything; only Venerable Saint Jue Yan possessed such capabilities.

A realization dawned in her heart: today’s events truly began because of her child.

Pity her Shou’er, he was about to be dragged into the quagmire of the Burning Sky Lu family, unable to escape—

Jue Yan seemed to have his calculations, but Lu Tianqing was completely unaware that Zong Shou was on the verge of awakening the Lu family’s peak bloodline, the World-Burning Pupil.

Recalling Jue Yan’s words before leaving, saying he needed to leave the Death Prison to avoid disaster.

She instantly understood: the internal laws of the Nine Absolute Death Prisons were robust, but only the Burning Sky Flame was unrestricted; instead, it was greatly amplified. It possessed the ability to restrain all manner of Great Dao rules.

And the World-Burning Flame was of a higher order than that!

Once it erupted, it would surely incinerate the Nine Prison world!

She did not know the outcome for the other eight prisons, but the Death Prison world would most likely be destroyed.

If the Lu family did not wish for this rare opportunity for bloodline evolution to be halted due to unforeseen circumstances, they would not only refrain from suppressing it but would welcome its emergence.

Then this Venerable Tianqing, the guardian of the Death Prison—

She paused, still unable to fully accept the conclusion of her deductions.

However, the schadenfreude in the eyes of the young girl earlier, and the barely concealed sneer on Jue Yan’s face, did not appear to be fake.

“Too talkative!”

Jue Yan, on the other side, unhappily waved his sleeve: “You may leave now! Just remember this choice, and do not regret it in the future.”

A look of cold ridicule returned to Lu Tianqing’s eyes. To speak of choice—did he truly have any choice in the matter?

He said no more, bowing once more to Jue Yan. After offering a phrase of apology, he traversed the void back towards the location of the Nine Absolute Death Prisons.

Before Jue Yan could officially notify the Holy Court to relieve him of his post, he was still the Guardian of the Death Prison, holding the duty of supervision.

Only a few steps after leaving, he heard Jue Yan’s voice drift back from afar.

“Take good care of this child, Zong Shou. I hope he remains safe and his life secure within the Death Prison—”

Lu Tianqing’s figure froze, his brow furrowing in deep thought.

He then shook his head. He had anticipated everything.

He had simply failed to imagine that Xuan Hua’s act of inviting an external Saint to serve as a retainer had angered Venerable Saint Jue Yan.

Not only had he failed to put the mother and son, Zong Shou and Hanyan, to death, but he had inadvertently given Lu Beiwu a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

His chest settled somewhat. While this matter did not unfold entirely according to his wishes, it was resolved nonetheless.

Without further hesitation, he broke through the void and stepped once more into the eighth layer of the Nine Absolute Death Prisons.

Upon entering the Nether Prison, Lu Tianqing’s expression became slightly blank.