Chapter 219: Tian Sisi
"As a Divine Department member of the Military Suppression Department, I agree to give the Jiao Heart to Tian God Department!"
"Absolutely not!"
"How could we do that!"
The moment Pu God Department finished speaking, the arguments flared up again.
"All of you, shut the hell up!" Pu God Department roared coldly, and the figures fell silent.
Pu God Department continued, "Why are you all hiding in the Qiankun Realm, just barely hanging on? Isn't it because here, your lifespans are longer and you have a better chance to break through to a higher Realm? Everyone is aware of our current predicament. The Qiankun Realm shrinks by the day, and the Heavenly Dao Laws of the present world greatly suppress us. The disappearance of the Qiankun Realm is only a matter of time. If none of us can be the first to break through this containment, then all that awaits us is a dusty grave."
"Tian God Department is the youngest among us to have reached the Internal Scenery Realm. We should help her without reservation. Perhaps she can lead us out of this predicament. She is the hope of our generation of Martial Artists!"
After Pu God Department's impassioned speech, the hall fell silent. They may have each had their own agendas, but his words were not without reason.
Seeing that the others were silent, Pu God Department pressed on. "It's just a single Jiao Heart! Does anyone still object?"
Everyone silently consented.
A pleasant female voice broke the silence, saying calmly, "The Jiao Pearl is still within this Flood Dragon's body. It's merely been sealed. If that seal can be broken, the Jiao Pearl would be the most valuable treasure of all!"
"What?"
"The Jiao Pearl is still inside?"
The representatives of the six great clans were outraged and astonished!
A heaven-shaking aura suddenly erupted within the hall. A slender, fair hand waved gently, channeling the Power of Heaven and Earth to tear a hole in the Flood Dragon's forehead. A dull, fist-sized pearl hovered beside the draconic corpse.
"It really is the Jiao Pearl!"
"But why is it sealed?"
"If it weren't for the seal, this would be a truly priceless treasure!"
The Jiao Pearl then fell. With another gesture from the slender hand, the Flood Dragon's chest burst open, and a Jiao Heart the size of a watermelon floated out.
"I shall take my leave now. Please, take your time with your discussions."
One of the four figures in the center then vanished.
The Tian Family Ancestor then spoke up. "As I've said, my Tian Family will not be involved in divvying up this Flood Dragon's corpse. I'll leave you to your chat."
And with that, one of the side figures vanished.
Pu God Department said, "I'm all alone in this world; I have no use for these things. You can divide them amongst yourselves." And with that, he too left the grand hall.
With several people gone, the arguments in the hall erupted once more.
As they argued, a graceful figure flew out of Zhenwu Hall, followed closely by the Tian Family Ancestor.
"Sisi, wait for me!"
The graceful figure paused and descended slowly to the ground. Her pale Thousand Water Smoke Gauze Skirt swayed in the wind. A cascade of black hair draped over her shoulders. Beneath her neat bangs was a face of breathtaking beauty, unadorned by any makeup. Her expression held an indifference that kept everyone at arm's length, even her own family's ancestor.
"Ancestor, what is it?"
The ancient, beardless Tian Family Ancestor smiled, the expression crinkling the lines on his face. "Sisi, are you planning to return to the Tian Family?"
"Perhaps."
The Tian Family Ancestor's expression turned serious. "Sisi, you only recently achieved the rank of Divine Department. You must be extremely careful! Let me accompany you on this journey."
The Qiankun Realm seemed peaceful, but it was rife with hidden currents. The Tian Family Ancestor couldn't afford for anything to happen to the Tian Family's greatest pillar of support. Besides, anyone could see that Tian Sisi's desperate need for the Jiao Heart meant she had a vital use for it, and such times were precisely when accidents were most likely to occur.
Tian Sisi replied coolly, "Ancestor, I am returning to the Liu Family. There's no need to worry."
Tian Sisi's mother had been a member of the Liu Family. Though her parents had passed away long ago, the Liu Family was, without a doubt, her maternal family and a source of support.
The Tian Family Ancestor nodded silently at her words. 'The Liu Family's strength, not counting the exception that is Tian Sisi, is far greater than our Tian Family's. She would indeed be safer there.'
Just then, a burly man standing around two and a half meters tall strode out of the hall. The loose Divine Martial Department uniform was stretched so taut over his frame it looked like a bodysuit. His face was chiseled, and his sharp, piercing eyes held a well-hidden trace of infatuation as they locked onto Tian Sisi. This was Pu Huo, also known as the Pu God Department, one of the four great Divine Departments of the Military Suppression Department.
Pu Huo approached the pair and smiled. "Tian God Department, what do you need the Jiao Heart for? Do you require any assistance? I have some treasured materials in my collection. If you need anything, Tian God Department, you have but to ask." His expression was filled with anticipation, as if he would be overjoyed if she took him up on his offer.
Tian Sisi shook her head slightly. "It is for no great purpose. I won't trouble you."
With that, Tian Sisi's figure blurred into motion, streaking away from the city.
The Tian Family Ancestor gave Pu Huo a respectful nod and immediately flew after her.
Pu Huo watched Tian Sisi's departing figure, his gaze filled with fascination. With no one else around, he no longer bothered to hide it. Slowly, that fascination twisted into something pathological.
The Tian Family Ancestor caught up to Tian Sisi outside Central City. Flying beside her, he said, "Sisi, that Pu God Department still hasn't given up on you! You know, you could just accept his marriage proposal. If our Tian Family gained another Divine Department, our position would become even more secure!"
Tian Sisi's voice was frigid. "Do not speak of this matter again!" She suddenly accelerated, leaving the Tian Family Ancestor in her wake.
When Tian Sisi had first broken through to the Internal Scenery Realm and joined the Military Suppression Department, Pu Huo had taken a liking to her at first sight and had proposed marriage to the Tian Family. Tian Sisi had rejected him flatly. Now that she had achieved the Internal Scenery Realm, no one could force her into something she didn't want.
Yet, after so many years, Pu Huo's attempts to curry favor with her had only grown more blatant, much to Tian Sisi's annoyance. Her only desire was to break the suppression of heaven and earth and ascend to a higher Realm; love and marriage were, to her, nothing more than a burden.
Her desperation for the Heart of the Evil Flood Dragon stemmed from her desire to attempt a breakthrough beyond the Internal Scenery Realm, to reach a level no one had attained in a millennium.