(Part 10)
"Mission at hand?" Xianwu thought alerted. "What mission?" she asked. "Xianwu…" spoke Zhijun while climbing the stairs. "Ten days ago, above the dragon city which lies on the western side of the Tian mountain range, there was an attack. No, more likely, it was a call. The Azure nine petal lotus burned ferociously for two days, engulfing the skies with a constant fire rain." He told. Xianwu listened to him carefully. "Everyone in the dragon city witnessed it, however in that constant rain of fire none of the mortals were harmed, not even a single scratch on them. Do you know what does that mean?" he asked.
"An Azure nine petal lotus… who does that sign belong to? It feels a lot familiar. Since, heavenly Supremes use this spell on their traits of powers." Xianwu pondered. "A Heavenly incantation. The spell any heavenly supreme uses when in a dire situation as a last resort. Although, it burns ferociously it doesn't harms however, alerts. She replied. "Correct, and it seems that the call this time could be assumed as either a warning, an alert or a call for help." Xianwu nodded in agreement, "Yes, a heavenly Supreme has used his or her final power to create an explosion like this to gain the heavenly realm's attention." "Correct." Zhijun spoke.
Xianwu stood beside him while gazing at the mirage of the burning red lotus. "I did not call everyone back immediately just because of the matter of the silent city, however, the words had already been spread into some ears. In the meantime, I tried to find the Heavenly supreme responsible for this, and even asked Shashou's palace to look into it. Turns out we already know who that missing person is, since the marks of the call were evident enough after soon investigation." He continued.
"Who is it?" Xianwu asked suddenly. "It turns out that some heavenly Supremes visited the Dragon city before to solve the cases of demons crossing the human's territory. And, Jiu Lianhua was one amongst those Supremes I sent. It turns out that she had interfered herself in something much bigger than the case I had assigned her with. Since, the dragon city and the gate of Hellhiem are on a short distance from each other." Zhijun told.
"General Jiu Lianhua?! A heavenly pillar of the Heavenly realm?!" Xianwu thought in shock.
"Something much bigger than the case you had assigned her. Does that mean, the Hellhiem realm is responsible of the problem General Jiu Lianhua is facing?" she asked. "It might just be my assumption, but we have to find her to know the truth. So, we have increase our search perimeters and immediately start searching for her."
"Many heavenly palaces tried to locate her whereabouts however, it's no use." Zhijun told. Xianwu keeping her figure on her chin spoke up, "Heavenly General Jiu Lianhua, is one of the pillars of the heavenly realm. For someone to force a Heavenly General like her to use an incantation like that as a call for help or a warning. The opponent must be quite intimidating." She spoke. "Since, the Dragon city is located right before the Hellhiem gate. Then there must be many evil spirits gathering around. Heavenly Emperor do you know the most prominent place amongst it where evil lurks in its highest peak?" she asked. Soon, Fa ling fringed outside Xianwu's hairs looking left and right. Gasping excitedly at the sight around it stretched himself looking high and low, right and left. Suddenly meeting Zhijun's gaze it instantly retracted behind her.
Zhijun blinked his eyes. "Haha… forgive me my lord…" Xianwu apologized while Fa ling bowed low as well. Zhijun sighed, "There is, Xianwu. And, it is very close. The moment the gates open. There lies the inferno city in which you were reborn. The root of all evils..." He told while walking forward towards her. Gently lifting his hand, he lightly tapped Fa ling who flinched. Xianwu looked at him in wonder. "The inferno city…" she thought.
The moment Zhijun tapped his finger on his head Fa ling glowed. Shining golden for a split second soon returning back to normal. Whatever happened was so sudden that even Fa ling looked around in wonder to find if something had even changed or not.
Zhijun turning around continued, "The Doors of Hellhiem which leads towards the depths of the Demonic realm begins with the inferno city. It acts as a bridge between the human and the demon world. The most prosperous place for demons of all kinds to trade and gather. The Supremes whom I told to investigate the Dragon city and its surroundings further towards the inferno city after seeing the fire of Lianhua's Lotus that day. But, due to my negligence, they were alerted leaving us no clues to her whereabouts. But, it is very likely that Jiu Lianhua who called for help was taken to the inferno city."
Xianwu looked at Fa ling and soon right back at him as Zhijun spoke, "So, this time I need someone to go over there clandestinely and search for clues to find Lianhua." Xianwu looked at him while bowing low, "Your majesty, kindly order me." She told. Zhijun eyed the burning lotus, "You were the first one whom I thought of…" he whispered. Xianwu eyed him keenly. "However, now I think that it is not suitable to hand you this mission." He continued.
Xianwu surprised questioned, "Why? My lord." Zhijun taking a deep sigh turned around. "Firstly, the Western side of Tian mountain range is ruled by Su Yuewei. If you were to go there you would surely have to work with her." Xianwu remembering Su Yuewei from before responded, "My Lord… but, I have no problem with that."
"Secondly, the relationship between you and the Inferno city. If you were to take any mission like this, it would be as if you would betray your own rebirth place and even the trust of the demon sovereign." Xianwu stared at him with her expression widened. "That is true… if that's the case then, I won't be able to face him. Nevertheless, the Lotus burned days ago, it was also the moment Xiao yin left the spirit sealing mountain. Since, the timings are corresponding each other so accurately, I wonder if there really is a connection there?" she thought engrossed in her world.