"My head, my head hurts!" Ma Hongyun clutched his reddened forehead, grimacing as he scrambled up from the ground.
"Huh! Where is this place?" Only then did he notice that the torrential snowstorm had vanished. The surroundings were warm as spring — this was no longer a frozen wasteland but a vast primeval forest.
Beside him, enormous ancient trees rose nearly a hundred zhang high, their trunks so thick that more than a dozen adults linking hands couldn't encircle them.
The towering trees blocked out the sky, their lush canopies shutting out the heavens while shafts of bright daylight filtered through the gaps between leaves, casting a serene green shade below.
Compared to the outside world, this place was practically a paradise.
"You are now inside the True Yang Building." A voice suddenly echoed in the ears of both Ma Hongyun and Hei Loulan.
"Who's there?" Hei Loulan's pupils contracted.
Ma Hongyun shrieked: "A ghost!"
He fled in panic, instinctively running to Hei Loulan's side.
"A ghost? I'm no ghost. If I could become a ghost, things would be far more convenient. Alas, I am merely a wisp of will left behind by my true self — not even as good as a ghost."
Giant Sun's will let out a sigh, and suddenly golden sand-like particles of light materialized in midair.
The particles of light rotated gently, then condensed with a surge, forming a majestic half-body projection — the very image of Immortal Venerable Giant Sun.
"You — you are!?" Ma Hongyun stammered, pointing at Giant Sun's will in utter shock.
Hei Loulan's pupils contracted. As the patriarch of the Hei family, he knew a great deal. His expression turned solemn, and he placed a hand over his heart, offering a slight bow. "A junior descendant pays respects to Ancestor Giant Sun!"
Giant Sun's will sighed again. "I know you two are filled with confusion, so I'll keep it brief. Not long ago, this person broke into the True Yang Building and unsealed the Earth Spirit, the Frost Jade Peacock, plunging the Royal Court Blessed Land into mortal danger."
As these words were spoken, the golden sand particles of light condensed once more, forming an image of Chang Shanyin.
"That's Lord Wolf King!" Ma Hongyun recognized him immediately.
"It's him?!" Even Hei Loulan couldn't help but exclaim.
But Giant Sun's will continued: "What you are seeing is not this person's true appearance."
As he spoke, the image of Chang Shanyin in midair gradually shifted, ultimately transforming into Fang Yuan's true face!
"This is the person's true appearance," Giant Sun's will said.
Fang Yuan had used the Human Skin Gu to impersonate Chang Shanyin. It was an ordinary Gu — enough to deceive the likes of Hei Loulan and the others, but not an Immortal Venerable's will.
Although Giant Sun's will had been dormant when Fang Yuan ventured into the True Inheritance secret realm, the True Yang Building naturally had Gu insects that had recorded his image.
Upon seeing Fang Yuan's true face, neither Hei Loulan nor Ma Hongyun recognized him.
"So this Chang Shanyin was an impostor! To dare invade the Royal Court Blessed Land — his audacity is beyond measure!" Hei Loulan snorted coldly, detecting the thick stench of conspiracy within and feeling a mixture of alarm and fury.
"Not only is he audacious, but his preparations were remarkably thorough. Judging from the two schemes used against me, this is far from something one person could accomplish. A formidable force must be standing behind him. You are both my bloodline descendants. The True Yang Building has been plotted against by outsiders and is in grave peril. Now I need your strength," Giant Sun's will said.
Hei Loulan and Ma Hongyun exchanged a glance. Both expressed their willingness to cooperate with Giant Sun's will.
Giant Sun's will spoke concisely, and in short order he had explained the gist of the matter.
"So that's how it is." Hei Loulan's eyes lit with sudden understanding. Now he knew why the True Yang Building had assisted Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
His heart was pounding wildly. Giant Sun's will's meaning was clear — he was to become one of the owners of the Royal Court Blessed Land. The profits this represented were staggering.
"The conditions for becoming the master of the Royal Court Blessed Land are quite unique. The Blessed Land has two masters. No wonder Immortal Venerable Giant Sun originally built the Sacred Palace specifically for the Holy Empress to reside in. He doted on her enormously — and now it seems the Holy Empress was the female master of the Royal Court Blessed Land."
"Using the Insincere Affection Gu can deceive the Earth Spirit — that works nicely. But what ability does this boy have to be chosen by Ancestor Giant Sun as a fellow master of the Blessed Land?"
Hei Loulan's gaze was sharp, and the look he cast toward Ma Hongyun was laced with deep contempt.
Could it be that Ancestor Giant Sun chose him precisely because he would be easier to control? At that thought, Hei Loulan's gaze trembled. Fearing Giant Sun's will, he dared not let his thoughts wander any further.
Unlike Hei Loulan, Ma Hongyun suddenly remembered something and shouted: "Wait! Miss Xiao Yun and Lady Chang Li are still outside! I don't want to be some Blessed Land master — I need to go out and rescue them right away!"
Miss Xiao Yun, of course, referred to Zhao Lianyun.
And Lady Chang Li was Chang Li herself. Back then, to win over Ma Yingjie, Chang Biao had given his adopted daughter Chang Li in marriage to Ma Hongyun, making her Ma Hongyun's wife.
Giant Sun's will seemed to hold Ma Hongyun in particularly high regard. He laughed heartily: "Hahaha! Cherishing flowers and precious jade — worthy of being my descendant, Giant Sun. Boy, as long as you become the master of the Royal Court, this entire place will be your domain. You can bring in as many women as you like."
Ma Hongyun froze for a moment, then shouted stubbornly: "No! It's too dangerous out there right now. I have to rescue those two first. Whatever else there is to discuss, we can talk about it later. Let me out — let me out right now!"
"Silly boy, with your strength you can barely protect yourself, let alone others." Giant Sun's will laughed. "Just stay here like a good lad and cooperate — become the master of the Royal Court Blessed Land. As for your women, I'll save them myself."
Giant Sun's will was decisive and efficient. No sooner had the words left his lips than he sprang into action.