CHAPTER 1013: CHAPTER 1012: A SOLUTION

A few moments later, a voice emerged from the Jiazi Hall, and several people walked into the secret chamber, all somewhat disappointed.

The chamber remained unchanged, containing only the Turing Scroll and the Cretaceous Stone, with the broken sword still nowhere to be found. Nineteen Aunt sat cross-legged on the floor, pale-faced, clearly exhausted of her powers. Seeing the four enter, she said weakly:

"I saw it; it’s your Sword Tomb small world, moved by a Stone Sword into the Otherworldly Space, but I cannot retrieve it. This is beyond my abilities."

Master Xu and the others were considerate, understanding that such an operation heavily depleted heart power, and was not something a simple Golden Core Realm cultivator could manage. Knowing the Grotto Heaven wasn’t lost was already a great event; there would be a day to retrieve it, much better than having it stolen.

The three bowed together, "Thank you, Nineteen Aunt. In the future, any instruction from you, the Sword Sect will be at your service."

Only Hou Niao remained indifferent, "Seeing it but not retrieving it is worse than not seeing it; it’s just frustrating! I say, Nineteen Aunt, do you have a method? Wouldn’t someone be able to steal it from the Otherworldly Space without going to Dushan?"

Master Xu glanced sharply at him to silence his foul mouth, but they misunderstood the little peacock’s nature. She liked to bicker, was the least tolerant of politeness, yet engaged readily in sharp-tongued disputes.

Glaring fiercely at Hou Niao, "Since your aunt can find it, I can surely retrieve it, but I need to borrow True Monarch’s strength; do you have it in your Sword Sect?"

Hou Niao impatiently replied, "If we had a True Monarch, would we need to find you? Would we need to be so cautious? We’d directly lock up all Dushan’s foreign guests and interrogate them... Enough nonsense, say something useful."

The little peacock, defiant, "I want my own Ice Hall along Dushan’s central axis, named Peacock Palace, with me as the Palace Master!"

Hou Niao grumbled, "Fine, choose any existing one, pick any location. If you’re dissatisfied with the layout, we’ll rebuild it, with Master Wu personally constructing it and a group of servants for you..."

Satisfied, the little peacock nodded, "My own power won’t suffice unless we find the practitioner who moved the Stone Sword to retrieve the Grotto Heaven. But if we don’t find this person promptly, there are alternative methods, like using the Turing Scroll and Cretaceous Stone to swap out the Sword Tomb Cave Heaven. If doing so, I can’t guarantee the swapped Grotto Heaven won’t collapse..."

Master Xu hurriedly asked, "Nineteen Aunt, could you explain clearly? We still don’t quite understand."

The little peacock shot Hou Niao a glance, "I saw the Sword Tomb Cave Heaven in Otherworldly Space and realized this space is incomplete. The reason is simple; the one who manipulated it initially was greedy, aiming to move not only the Sword Tomb but also Turing and Cretaceous Spaces, which proved too ambitious and ended in failure.

My method is to forcibly insert either Turing or Cretaceous Space, squeezing out the Sword Tomb Space. This involves many space principles, which can’t be fully explained to you, but I’m not entirely sure. If I can’t squeeze it out, I may have to destroy the Turing Space forcefully, which gives a better chance."

Hou Niao knew her so-called inability to explain was actually a lack of understanding. The peacock clan, as ancient Holy Beasts, primarily relied on instinct, without clear comprehension of their own innate abilities.

"One taken, one drawn; Nineteen Aunt, do you still have the nerve to build a Peacock Hall?"

The little peacock jumped up, "Why don’t you try then? You couldn’t even retrieve Sword Tomb Cave Heaven if thrown into Dushan! Clingy and indecisive, make a decision quickly before dawn if you want to face those laughing predators."

Hou Niao pondered, "How certain are you?"

The little peacock counted on her fingers, nobody knew how she calculated, probably bluffing. For an ancient Holy Beast like her, she couldn’t be held to human maturity standards; at hundreds of years old, she was equivalent to a human child.

"Hmm, squeezing out intact, with both Grotto Heavens unharmed, chances are slim, maybe less than thirty percent. But forcibly squeezing the Otherworldly Space by damaging Turing Cave Heaven increases Sword Tomb Cave Heaven’s chance to emerge to seventy percent. Of course, Otherworldly Space’s force may tear both apart..."

This was a difficult choice, and Master Yang hesitated, "Should we gather everyone to discuss?"

The three Masters seemed inclined, but Hou Niao shook his head, "No! No discussion! As Sect Hierarch, I must make the unilateral decision! Accountability will be transparent, not involving everybody."

Master Xu stepped forward, "We four shall bear the responsibility!"

The four exchanged glances and each extended a clenched fist, opening to reveal the word ’push!’

This was the Sword Cultivator’s inevitable choice, preferring to risk losing a Grotto Heaven rather than remaining controlled; it was an attitude conveying to conspirators: it isn’t over, retribution will come!

Resolute, uncompromising.

Hou Niao looked at the little peacock, "What artifacts are needed? We’ll fetch them now."

The little peacock listed a set of items, none too extraordinary. For those unavailable in Dushan, substitutes existed.

The three Masters immediately dispersed to gather the artifacts, leaving Hou Niao and the little peacock alone in the hall. Hou Niao adopted a different demeanor,

"Nineteen Aunt, is there any danger? You shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew; you’ve already exhausted yourself from one inspection... If it’s risky, let’s not retrieve it. After all, things are dead; people are alive. If something happens to you, I can’t face your clan.

Sword Tomb Space left here temporarily won’t cause immediate issues; gradually, there are solutions to be found."

The little peacock regarded him, "I’m afraid you’d be humiliated at the grand ceremony."

Hou Niao was indifferent, "Do you think I’m someone whose pride overwhelms all else? After so many years, my pride’s been battered countless times. What of it? I’m still alive and well."

The little peacock smiled slightly, "Nothing dangerous, I don’t enter the Otherworldly Space. But if one Turing Cave Heaven isn’t enough, I might fill in the Eocene Cave Heaven."

Hou Niao didn’t hesitate, "For our Sword Sect, Sword Tomb Cave Heaven holds true value; the rest doesn’t matter. If lost this time, we’ll seize more opportunities to reclaim others later; what’s the big deal?"

An hour later, the three Masters returned with materials, and Hou Niao made arrangements, "Master Xu and I will prepare for the ceremony; the rest is up to you three."