Chapter 147 The Gaze of the Shepherd! Su Changqing enters the Evergreen Realm at night, preparing to

The night was completely deep.

The unprecedented "double immortals' night trial" in front of the Taiji Hall did not cool down. On the contrary, it became even quieter after Zhao Xuance uttered the words "shepherd".

It wasn't an awkward silence.

Rather, it is a silence that comes after being suppressed by a deeper truth.

Previously, when everyone saw the immortals fall into misfortune, the celestial officials be imprisoned, the patrol seals be dismantled, and Su Changqing suppress the so-called majesty of the upper realm with one hand, they felt more shock, more pleasure, and a kind of ecstatic joy after shattering something high and mighty.

But when the words "Shepherd" were actually uttered, a heavy chill finally crept into that ecstasy.

It turns out that the Xunjie Hall is not the highest point.

It turns out that those who are called immortals, world patrol envoys, seal-bearing immortal officials, and patrol generals are nothing more than henchmen in a much larger system.

And at that higher place, there really were people who treated each realm as a field and pasture, managing, selecting, and harvesting it.

Human geniuses, heroes of the martial world, emperors of the imperial court, and countless ordinary people.

In their eyes, perhaps it really is just numbers, materials, "fruits" that can be packaged, valued, and harvested on schedule.

Such a truth is enough to chill the heart of anyone with a modicum of blood.

During the meal, some people's hands holding teacups stiffened slightly.

Some people subconsciously looked up at the faint white streak in the sky, as if trying to see through the crack to see what kind of faces were hidden higher up.

Others instinctively looked at Su Changqing.

It seemed that just looking at that figure in green robes could lift the heaviness that had been pressing down on their hearts.

In front of the Taiji Hall.

Su Changqing remained seated, casual in demeanor and calm in expression, as if what Zhao Xuance had uttered was not some earth-shattering secret that could shake an entire realm, but merely the name of a new dish on the menu of some distant tavern.

He rested one hand on the edge of the soft couch, and with the other hand he took the warm tea that Li Hanyi handed him, blew on it gently, and then took a sip.

Steam rises, and the aroma of tea is delicate.

It was a completely different place from the oppressive atmosphere emanating from the nearby Immortal Cage.

Li Hanyi looked at him and said softly, "You already guessed there was something else upstairs in the Patrol Hall?"

"Um."

Su Changqing put down his teacup.

"Judging from the marks on Gu Changxuan's body and the traces of the Abyss Dimension, it's impossible that there's only one Patrol Hall."

"They're like patrolmen."

"Like an accounting office."

"Like a rent collector."

"But not like a landlord."

These few words, spoken casually, are extremely clear.

Li Hanyi frowned slightly: "So that look you gave me tonight...was from the landlord?"

Su Changqing smiled and said, "More or less."

"But it can't be considered the main character yet."

"At most, it's just an eye guarding the door for the main entity."

Upon hearing this, Sikong Changfeng, who had been listening intently, felt a chill run down his spine.

An eye that guards the door for the rightful owner?

So that oppressive feeling from the sky that made his scalp tingle just now wasn't even the thing at the very top?

He swallowed subconsciously and whispered, "Mr. Su, you make it sound so easy. I'm already struggling to keep track of my accounts. And if I ask higher up the chain, it's just one layer after another... How are we supposed to do business together in the future?"

Xiao Se was still flipping through the list of names reviewed at night when he heard this, and he looked up at him.

"You're worried about business now?"

"What else?"

Sikong Changfeng spoke with righteous indignation.

"Even if I'm afraid of dying, the score still needs to be settled."

"Besides, Changqing Tower has already locked up the immortals and is collecting tickets. If they don't also connect with their existing customer base, wouldn't that be a waste of resources?"

"..."

Xiao Se looked at him, remaining silent for a long time.

He discovered that after spending so much time at the Changqing Tower, Sikong Changfeng had developed an extremely bizarre kind of courage.

Or rather, it's not about courage.

Business instincts prevailed over fear.

Even knowing that there were even more terrifying things at higher levels, his first reaction was still, "Can we connect with the customer base?"

Simply outrageous.

But what's even more outrageous is—

After listening, Su Changqing actually nodded.

"Your idea is correct."

"If we really go up there, we need to know what they lack, what they like to watch, and what they can afford."

"The most important thing in doing business is to understand the market."

Sikong Changfeng's eyes lit up immediately.

"Mr. Su's insight is brilliant!"

Xiao Se closed his eyes and decided not to participate in the conversation for the time being.

Looking at the group's expressions, Li Hanyi's lips curved slightly, and the somber feeling that had arisen from the "Shepherd" title dissipated considerably.

She knew that this was actually something Su Changqing had done on purpose.

The more you emphasize something, the more likely it is to crush a person.

However, if it is glossed over lightly with such an almost absurd tone, others can remain calm.

This is not because I don't care.

Rather, it is so powerful that it can use the lightest tone to support the heaviest sky.

……

And inside the fairy cage.

After Zhao Xuance uttered the words "Shepherd," he seemed to let out a sigh of relief, and the aloof and cold demeanor he had exuded as a high-ranking official was noticeably diminished.

Yue Zhenchuan sat on the other stool, his face still frighteningly dark, but the fierceness in his eyes had quietly turned into a suppressed wariness.

As for Gu Changxuan, he stood at the corner of the cage, his expression incredibly complex.

He had thought tonight that he was just an accessory, an old ornament that had been unlucky enough to be labeled earlier.

But as the night interrogation progressed, he realized more and more clearly—

We are probably just scraps.

What Su Changqing truly cared about was never them.

It's not the net they're in, but the entire network behind them.

That net that weaves all realms into a hunting ground and counts all living beings as fruits.

Outside the cage.

Sikong Changfeng has regained his spirits and continues to preside over the night trial.

"Second question—"

How does the Palace of Boundary Patrols define a realm?

"The third question—"

What exactly is the relationship between the Abyss Dimension and the Thirty-Three Heavens?

"The fourth question—"

"If a shepherd truly intends to reap the harvest of a realm, what would they typically do first?"

As questions were posed one by one, the powerful dignitaries, high-ranking officials, and martial arts masters at the table all held their breath.

They originally thought they were just here to watch the fun tonight.

In the end, it was as if a corner of the sky had been forcibly torn open, revealing a truth that the world should not have known to them.

Zhao Xuance initially gritted his teeth and refused to answer, while Yue Zhenchuan remained completely silent.

Su Changqing only flicked his fingers twice.

The first time, several thin white talisman chains automatically grew from the small stool where Zhao Xuance sat, binding him tightly.

The second time, the small table in front of Yue Zhenchuan suddenly spun around on its own and bumped right into his knee, making his face turn blue.

Then, the cage became much quieter.

Gu Changxuan's eyelids twitched as he watched from the side.

He is now increasingly grateful that he had already experienced a psychological breakdown during the day.

Otherwise, they would probably be driven crazy by now.

As the secrets from the three people were gradually revealed, the expressions on the faces of everyone at the table changed repeatedly.

The Boundary Patrol Hall is positioned within a boundary by relying on "boundary marks" and "auspicious anchors".

The emergence of prodigies, the gathering of imperial destiny, the birth of divine artifacts, the cracking of the abyss, and fluctuations in the world's origin... all could become signals that attract attention from above.

Once a realm is fully incorporated into the map, it's like having a noose around its neck.

When to tighten and when to loosen depends entirely on the mood of the person above.

What's even more chilling is that the Abyss Dimension and the Thirty-Three Heavens are not truly opposed.

At least in the minds of Zhao Xuance and others, the Abyss is more like another "degraded harvesting system".

A crude, flood-like, and experimental external channel.

If the Patrol Palace and the Heavenly Palace are like meticulous herding, then the Abyss is like releasing dogs to probe, forcing out a realm's trump cards, and then taking advantage of it to extract a layer of origin.

The two sides may not be allies, but they are bound to be eyeing the same piece of meat.

Upon hearing this, even Xiao Se's eyes darkened.

"So, in their eyes, our land is nothing more than a piece of fat meat coveted by many?"

Zhao Xuance remained silent for a moment, then finally whispered, "Yes."

Lei Wujie, who was listening with a plate of snacks, turned red with anger upon hearing this.

"These bastards, do they really think they're God?"

Wushuang didn't speak, but looked up at the crack in the sky, his fingers unconsciously pressing on the edge of the sword box, a subtle chill flashing in his eyes.

He usually appears calm and composed, but when it comes to this kind of situation, the sharpness in his bones is colder than Lei Wujie's.

Su Xiaonuo, however, didn't understand much at all.

The little girl only grasped a few key words, and asked Li Hanyi in her childish voice, "Mommy, are they trying to take our house away?"

Li Hanyi was slightly taken aback.

Then, she looked at her daughter and whispered, "Hmm, more or less."

Su Xiaonuo immediately puffed out her cheeks, hugged the small porcelain bowl, and said seriously, "Bad person!"

"Stealing from others is the worst thing!"

After she finished speaking, she looked up at Su Changqing and shouted, "Father, we can't let them steal our peaches and tavern!"

Upon hearing this, Su Changqing smiled.

"rest assured."

"If anyone dares to touch our things, Father will chop off their hand."

That's a very understated statement.

For some reason, the three True Immortals in the cage felt a chill run down their spines.

Because they have already seen it.

When the man says "chop," he really means chop.

And most of the time they'll use it to do some new project.

……

The trial lasted until past midnight.

Later on, many people at the table were no longer just there to watch the fun; they were listening, taking notes, and pondering as they took notes.

Some things may not be needed immediately.

But once you know, you can never pretend you don't know.

On the contrary, Sikong Changfeng became more and more excited as the interrogation progressed.

Because he discovered that the added value of this project far exceeded his expectations!

Not only can they sell tickets for viewing, but also tickets for information, limited-edition notes, compilations of secrets from the upper realm, and even "exclusive information from within the Evergreen Pavilion," with tiered pricing.

This has great potential!

He had already begun planning in his mind to have tonight's content compiled into a booklet first thing tomorrow morning, with the first limited edition sold to the elites of Apocalypse, and the price already set...

Thinking of this, Sikong Changfeng suddenly felt the abacus beads in his hand getting hot.

Good deal!

What a fantastic deal!

However, just as he was getting excited, Su Changqing raised his hand and tapped on the table.

"That's about it."

Sikong Changfeng was taken aback: "Mr. Su, are we not continuing tonight?"

"Um."

Su Changqing stood up, his expression remaining calm.

"Ask about the rest tomorrow."

"You can't squeeze a person dry all at once."

"Leave some room for maneuver; we can sell a second batch tomorrow."

Sikong Changfeng was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what he meant and was filled with admiration.

high!

That's brilliant!

This is what sustainable operation is all about!

If we really squeeze every last drop of information out of the three of them tonight, why will the audience buy tickets tomorrow?

But if we stop here and leave some suspense, we can raise the ticket price even further tomorrow!

Thinking of this, Sikong Changfeng almost wanted to kowtow to Su Changqing on the spot.

This is hardly an invincible powerhouse.

This is a born business genius!

Xiao Se listened from the side with a complicated expression, and finally only uttered two words.

"Heartless."

Su Changqing glanced at him: "What do you know? This is called operations."

Xiao Se: "..."

Li Hanyi turned her face to the side, her shoulder seemed to twitch slightly, as if she wanted to laugh but forcibly held it back.

Su Xiaonuo immediately chimed in, "Yes! Operations!"

Although she had no idea what "operations" meant, if her father said it was right, then it must be right.

Thus, the first "Double Immortals' Night Trial" officially came to an end in an atmosphere where everyone was still unsatisfied, the three immortals in the cage were filled with humiliation, and Sikong Changfeng was refreshed and invigorated.

As the audience gradually left, they were still whispering among themselves, their expressions excited.

"I'll be back tomorrow night!"

"Me too!"

"Today we've only covered the Heavenly Palace and the Shepherd; there's definitely more to come!"

"I heard they'll be adding more close-up Q&A booths!"

"It's just a bit expensive..."

"So what if it's expensive? Hearing immortals speak of secrets from the upper realms is worth any price!"

"Changqing Tower, truly amazing..."

The crowd slowly dispersed.

The lights did not go out immediately.

In front of the Taiji Hall, the night wind stirred the runes on the Immortal Cage, producing a very faint hum, like some kind of suppressed panting.

Zhao Xuance sat back in the cage with his eyes closed, as if he never wanted to look outside again.

Yue Zhenchuan remained silent with a sullen face.

As Gu Changxuan gazed at the gradually emptying square, a deeper sense of bewilderment welled up within him for some reason.

He suddenly couldn't tell who was the one being kept in captivity.

These people from the upper realm thought they controlled the fate of all beings, but now it is they who are imprisoned in cages.

Meanwhile, the "mortals" outside the cage, who were supposed to be harvested, valued, and recorded, were sitting high up, drinking tea, eating fruit, chatting, selling tickets, and deciding whether they should continue operating the following night.

absurd.

The more absurd it was, the more chilled he felt.

Because this precisely illustrates—

The rules are really changing.

……

After that, only the main characters and members of Changqing Tower remained in the square.

Sikong Changfeng was still busy counting gold notes and checking the roster with his assistants.

Exhausted, Lei Wujie plopped down on the steps and gulped down half a pot of cold tea.

"I'm exhausted."

"I've never been this tired, not even when I was fighting."

Wushuang stood beside him, wiping her flying sword with her head down, and said calmly, "Making a cage is more delicate than cutting people."

Lei Wujie wholeheartedly agreed, nodding repeatedly: "That makes sense. It's mainly because you're asking for too much. You want it to be beautiful, sturdy, and have a good viewing angle. I'm starting to suspect that we're not imprisoning immortals, but building a stage for a play."

Xiao Se walked over and said indifferently, "At least the theater doesn't charge such expensive tickets."

Lei Wujie slapped his thigh: "That's right!"

As he spoke, he suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer to Xiao Se.

"Hey, do you think we can sell a bit more stuff tomorrow?"

Xiao Se glanced at him: "For example?"

Lei Wujie asked earnestly, "For example, chains like those worn by immortals, wooden plaques depicting immortal cages, or commemorative fans that say 'I've seen a true immortal sitting in a cage'?"

Xiao Se fell silent.

After a long silence, he slowly uttered a sentence.

"You've been corrupted too."

Lei Wujie scratched his head and chuckled a little sheepishly.

Not far away, Li Hanyi had already picked up the sleepy Su Xiaonuo.

The little girl was so excited tonight that her eyelids were already drooping, but she still refused to sleep, her little head nodding as she kept talking.

"Father..."

"Um?"

"I want to watch it again tomorrow..."

Su Changqing reached out and took her, naturally pulling her into his arms.

"Okay, I'll check again tomorrow."

"Then...they can't run away..."

"They can't escape."

"Um……"

Little Nuonuo responded softly, buried her face in Su Changqing's shoulder, and quickly fell asleep, smelling of milk and fruit.

A night breeze blew, and her soft, wispy hairs swayed gently across her forehead.

Su Changqing looked down and reached out to help her gather the fabric.

Li Hanyi stood to the side, her voice much softer.

"She had a blast today."

"rare."

Su Changqing smiled.

"Besides, kids always want to look at new toys for a while."

Li Hanyi glanced at the three True Immortals in the cage and couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.

"You call this a toy?"

"That's how it is in her eyes."

Su Changqing spoke with a touch of nonchalant gentleness.

"It doesn't matter if the sky falls down, as long as she finds it interesting, then let her find it interesting."

Li Hanyi looked at him, and her heart softened slightly.

She was once the Snow Moon Sword Immortal, used to keeping the wind and snow, the martial world, and the killing outside.

But she later realized that what truly supports a person is not how cold their sword intent is, but that someone is willing to protect you along with your little world.

Now, Su Changqing is protecting not only her, but also Xiao Nuonuo, and their small, ordinary life.

This feeling is both wonderful and reassuring.

"Let's go back to the Evergreen Realm."

She said softly.

"Um."

Su Changqing responded and then glanced at Sikong Changfeng and the others who were still busy.

"You guys keep an eye on things here. Don't dismantle the cages. Keep selling tickets. We'll add another daytime show tomorrow morning."

Sikong Changfeng immediately looked up, his eyes shining: "Understood! Don't worry, Mr. Su, I guarantee everything will be arranged perfectly!"

"besides."

Su Changqing looked at Xiao Se.

"If anyone in court tries to use this incident tomorrow to their advantage, you'll have to figure out how to handle it."

Xiao Se remained calm: "Don't worry."

"I'll handle what I can."

"If you can't handle it, then I'll trouble you to bury the person."

Su Changqing nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, you've learned how to divide the work."

Xiao Se's lips twitched slightly, too lazy to reply.

next moment.

Su Changqing raised his hand and made a sweeping motion.

hum-

In the air, it seemed as if an extremely light and thin ripple of blue water spread out.

Right in front of the Taiji Hall, in the darkness of night, a quiet and gentle doorway slowly emerged.

Behind the door are peach blossoms, a sacred spring, and moonlight shrouded in mist—a tranquil world completely different from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Evergreen realm.

Even though it wasn't the first time they had seen each other, Lei Wujie and Sikong Changfeng still couldn't help but stare wide-eyed.

Beyond that gate, the spiritual energy mingled with the moonlight, and even the breeze carried an indescribable sweetness. In the distance, peach blossoms swayed, springs gurgled, and the outline of a familiar little building could be vaguely seen, its warm lights seeming to have been waiting for its owner to return home.

Lei Wujie smacked his lips.

"Boss, this place is more and more like a paradise... ah, no, it's even better than a paradise."

Sikong Changfeng felt so sour that his teeth almost fell out.

"He can suppress immortals and dismantle magic seals outside, and still come home to hug his wife, take the kids, and soak in the spiritual spring. He's living the life he wants."

Xiao Se said calmly, "You might be happier if you earn less money."

Sikong Changfeng sneered: "Impossible, making money makes me happy."

Amidst the laughter and chatter, Su Changqing, carrying the sleeping Su Xiaonuo, stepped into the Changqing Realm with Li Hanyi.

The portal slowly closed behind them.

The night wind, lights, noise, immortal cages, true immortals, court affairs, and celestial cracks outside all seemed to be gently kept outside by that door.

……

Within the Evergreen Zone.

The night is softer than the outside world.

The moon was round, hanging in the clear sky. Its light shone down, falling on the peach grove, on the spring, and on the small path paved with small white stones in front of the tavern.

The air was filled with the faint scent of peach blossoms, and a hint of the cool, refreshing vapor unique to the spring.

In the distance, Little Flower's talkative parrot was probably already asleep, unusually quiet.

The polar snow bear cub, Big White, was curled up in a big, fluffy ball next to its den by the peach grove, its round back visible as it slept soundly.

It's so quiet here that you can almost hear the moonlight falling to the ground.

Su Changqing carried Su Xiaonuo all the way back to the small building.

The little girl was fast asleep, her face resting on his shoulder, her breathing soft and gentle. She would occasionally smack her lips, perhaps dreaming of the two immortals locked in cages.

Li Hanyi followed beside her, her steps very light.

Upon entering the room, Su Changqing first placed Su Xiaonuo on the bed, took off her little shoes, covered her with a blanket, and then casually placed a wisp of extremely gentle Qingyi (a type of aphrodisiac) beside her pillow so that she could sleep more soundly and peacefully.

The little girl rolled over, hugged the corner of her blanket, and continued to sleep soundly.

Su Changqing glanced at it before turning and leaving.

Li Hanyi had already sat down at the stone table in the courtyard and poured him a cup of tea.

The tea from Changqing has a more refined quality than that from outside, and upon tasting it, a very subtle, original sweetness unfolds.

Su Changqing sat down and accepted the teacup.

Neither of them rushed to speak.

A night breeze swept by, causing the peach branches to sway gently. A few petals fell onto the table and then slid down to the ground.

After a moment, Li Hanyi asked softly:

"Did you deliberately let that gaze witness everything tonight?"

Su Changqing nodded.

"Um."

Why?

"Because they need to know that I have seen them."

He put down his teacup and looked up at the night sky over Changqing Realm.

"In the past, they stood on high ground and looked down."

"Now, I want them to know—"

"They might not be able to take this land back."

"Besides, I might also turn around and look for them."

Li Hanyi looked at him and listened quietly.

Su Changqing's tone remained calm, but she could hear the almost certain sharpness hidden beneath that calmness.

It's not about being impulsive.

It wasn't anger.

Rather, it is a sense of composure that has already begun to lay the groundwork.

"So, you're not going to completely drain the three of them tonight, is that also a long-term strategy?"

"Some of them are."

Su Changqing smiled.

"Of the three of them, they weren't the ones who knew the most, but they were all connected by strings."

"Zhao Xuance is connected to the lineage of the Palace of Border Patrol, Gu Changxuan has the remnants of the Heavenly Gate coordinates on his body, and Yue Zhenchuan has been covered with many cleansed boundary marks."

"Keeping them alive is more useful than killing them."

Li Hanyi nodded slightly.

Then, her gaze fell on the patrol seal that had been brought in with her in the corner of the courtyard.

This thing used to hang high in the sky during the day, suppressing the region, but now it has been shrunk considerably and stands quietly under the peach tree, like a huge piece of ancient white jade.

The intricate runes on the surface still occasionally flowed, but they became much more subdued after being enveloped by the aura of the Evergreen Realm.

"And what about it?"

Li Hanyi asked.

"How do you plan to train?"

Su Changqing followed her gaze and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Disassemble it first."

"Peel away the layers of sealing, positioning, and suppressing the source inside."

"Useful, integrated into the evergreen world."

"It's no use. Take it and make you some new jewelry, or make a swing for Xiao Nuonuo."

Li Hanyi: "..."

She remained silent for a few moments, then finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He took the border patrol seal and used it to make a swing for his daughter.

Only Su Changqing would say something like that.

"Are you serious?"

"It's half true and half false."

Su Changqing stood up, looking at the patrol seal, his gaze deepening.

"However, one thing is true."

"Now that this thing has fallen into my hands, it can't just be used as a cage skeleton."

"It should reveal everything it knows and everything it can do."

The night wind rises again.

Deep within the peach grove, the soft sound of a spring can be heard.

Under the moonlight of the Evergreen Realm, the shrunken patrol seal suddenly trembled very slightly.

It was as if it had sensed something.

Su Changqing slowly raised his hand, and a wisp of blue light shone from his palm, highlighting the distinct features of his profile.

He looked at the seal, his expression calm, yet carrying a hint of something unsettling.

"Come."

"Let me see what's inside you, this stone that fell from the sky—"

"Just how many more routes are hidden?"

Moonlight as water.

A faint blue light appeared.

But tonight, the real refining process has only just begun.