Chapter 135
Chu Feng.
Seated at the banquet, Yu Yi glanced up to look at Chu Feng across from her. As always, Chu Feng exuded an ethereal presence, embodying the mysterious solemnity of Buddhism. Being a Sect Leader herself, even Qian Du addressed her with added courtesy, let alone others.
How could such a figure possibly have ties with demonic cultivators? Moreover, Manzhi being the Demon Empress should have perished long ago; surviving only by sheer luck as a fragment of her soul, without a physical body, trapped within the Small Realm for six millennia. How old could Chu Feng truly be?
Yet, Manzhi showed no intention of elaborating further. After revealing Chu Feng’s name, she paused briefly, then waved her long sleeve, sending Yu Yi’s consciousness back out of the sesame seed ring.
Perhaps sensing Yu Yi’s prolonged gaze, Chu Feng seemed about to look her way. Before she could, Yu Yi discreetly averted her eyes.
Well, this was between Manzhi and Chu Feng, none of her concern.
Yu Yi redirected her attention back to Song Pianxian.
Unexpectedly, without even seeking out Chu Feng herself, she received a formal invitation from her through her disciple after the banquet. She proposed discussing cultivation principles at their Lodging Courtyard the following day.
A discussion on cultivation between Buddhist and Daoist practitioners? And with the notoriously reserved and aloof Chu Feng no less?
Clutching the invitation, Yu Yi examined it repeatedly from all angles.
After the feast concluded, Qian Du asked Yu Yi and Song Pianxian to stay behind. They moved to another reception hall, waiting for Tang Miao to come pay his respects to Master.
The rest of the Lu Family had departed, leaving only Lu Yi to accompany them. Known for her chattiness, she observed Yu Yi reading the visiting card and remarked, “Master Chu Feng must truly cherish past bonds. Who would’ve thought that beneath her cold demeanor lies such deep attachment?”
Yu Yi’s thoughts turned to Qiong Ling, recalling the Chu Feng she often spoke of. However, with time having eroded those memories, they felt distant and hazy, as if veiled by a thin mist.
Yet one detail remained vivid—whenever Qiong Ling mentioned Chu Feng, another name invariably surfaced alongside hers.
That name was—
“Master, Senior Sister Yu Yi.”
Tang Miao strode into the hall energetically, his voice raised high as if greeting kin, though it betrayed his lingering weakness from blood loss. Before Song Pianxian, he lifted his robes and bowed low.
“This disciple Tang Miao greets Master.”
“Hmm,” acknowledged Song Pianxian, using a gentle surge of spiritual energy to help Tang Miao rise. “Your recovery is not yet complete.”
“Yes,” agreed Tang Miao. “Most symptoms have been managed with the medicinal pills Senior Sister Yu Yi provided, but the toxicity persists, making it challenging to fully eradicate.” His eyes brimmed with fervor.
His eyes brimmed with fervor. “As Master’s disciple, I ought to attend you during your stay in Tianfeng Province. This lingering poison is of little concern; please allow me to accompany Master and Senior Sister Yu Yi.”
Tang Miao spoke with youthful sincerity, but Song Pianxian would never compel someone still recovering to serve her. With a reassuring smile, she said, “There’s no need to worry about that now. You’ve been a guest at Qian Manor for quite some time; let us depart together first.”
Before Tang Miao could respond, another delicate female voice chimed from outside:
“Tang Miao, are you leaving?”
This was followed by Qian Du’s gentle rebuke:
“Du’er, don’t misbehave in front of Elder Song.”
It was unmistakably Qian Du and his daughter, Qian Duoduo, approaching.
Qian Duoduo, accustomed to indulgence, rarely faced her father’s scolding. Hearing that Tang Miao intended to leave only added to her sense of grievance. She stormed in indignantly, eager to see who this revered ‘Master’ and ‘Senior Sister Yu Yi’ looked like, whom Tang Miao constantly mentioned. As soon as she lifted her head, however, the sight of the beauties before her left her momentarily dazzled.
Qian Duoduo had always considered herself a charming young fairy, but these two figures before her were so captivating that even she, a fellow cultivator, couldn’t tear her gaze away. Clutching the edge of her skirt, her eyes first circled around the breathtaking beauty adorned in crimson-gold robes, quickly averting her gaze, afraid to linger too long. Then, her glance shifted to the maiden seated below, cradling a demonic beast—a vision that truly made her feel utterly inadequate.
Regarding the first figure, Qian Duoduo could reassure herself that the life-substituting puppet’s striking beauty was likely due to Master Qiong Ling’s exceptional craftsmanship—a semi-divine artifact after all.
But this “Senior Sister Yu Yi,” who also presented as a young maiden, exuded such purity and clarity, as if cleansed by sweet spring water. With just a gentle curve of her eyes, she seemed capable of melting one’s heart.
It was truly unfortunate that Senior Sister Yu Yi had lost her cultivation entirely. If anyone else suffered such a fate, Qian Duoduo wouldn’t have given them a second glance. Yet when it befell someone so beautiful, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Quickly regaining her composure, she wondered why she should sympathize with this stranger. After all, this was Tang Miao’s ever-present “Senior Sister Yu Yi.”
Qian Duoduo, initially brimming with confidence, now felt much of it dissipate. She bit her lip and hastily bowed, momentarily at a loss for words. As her gaze shifted, she met Song Pianxian’s enigmatic stare, part-irritated yet hinting at amusement, causing her heart to tremble. Afraid, she dared not look again.
Fortunately, Qian Du took over the conversation:
“Tang Miao holds utmost respect for his teachers and elders; how could he remain at ease recovering here knowing Elder Song has arrived?”
“Elder Song, please don’t take offense. My daughter is quite spirited, and finding a compatible companion is rare indeed—whenever you have leisure time, do bring Young Friend Tang to our manor more often.”
Song Pianxian’s gaze swept across the room before meeting Yu Yi’s eyes with a smile. “Of course,” she replied warmly.
Qian Du continued, “There is one more matter…”
Song Pianxian’s expression remained unchanged. “Mayor Qian, please feel free to speak your mind.”
“I’ve heard that the Lu Family merchant company has been searching for certain spirit medicines, all aimed at repairing meridians…” Qian Du smiled. “Among them is the Vein-Condensing Spirit Fruit, which hasn’t been seen in the markets for seven hundred years. However, I recently learned of a place where it might still be available.”
“It wouldn’t be right to withhold such information, so I decided to keep Elder Song and our young friends here a moment longer to share this tidbit.” Despite not directly looking at Yu Yi while speaking, everyone present quickly understood the implication.
In the entire cultivation world, there was likely no other merchant company from Flying Phoenix Valley willing to expend such effort to seek heavenly-tier spirit medicines for meridian repair—especially when rumors circulated on the black market about Yu Yi’s ability to mend meridians.
Observing Qian Du’s amiable smile, Song Pianxian mirrored it and said, “Oh? How serendipitous indeed. We hope Mayor Qian will kindly enlighten us.”
“It can be found within Beque Immortal Palace.”
Beque Immortal Palace.
Back at the Lodging Courtyard, Yu Yi mulled over this information.
The Beque Immortal Palace was an ancient relic, teeming with treasures and opportunities. To protect it for future generations, powerful cultivators of the cultivation world had joined forces, relocating the palace to a spatial dimension known as a mustard seed space. It opened once every thousand years, allowing cultivators to enter and vie for its resources.
And now, the time for its opening approached again.
Lu Yi mentioned, “Have you heard of the celestial spring that purifies one’s essence and marrow, accessible only to the top ten in the Tianfeng Union? That very same spring was originally extracted from the immortal palace—it truly is a grand event held once a millennium.”
Yu Yi unexpectedly responded, “With such high praise, I imagine you were planning to attend alongside Elder Lu, weren’t you?”
Lu Yi nodded matter-of-factly, “Of course. Since the Beque Immortal Palace opens in Tianfeng Province immediately after the Tianfeng Union, anyone participating would likely seize the opportunity if they have the quota, hoping to explore the Beque Immortal Palace.”
Yu Yi acknowledged her words.
Thus, there was a strong likelihood that the secret realm where Lu Yi met misfortune was indeed the Beque Immortal Palace.
Qian Du mentioning this undoubtedly aimed to persuade Song Pianxian—having an additional companion for the tribulation crossing could be akin to gaining a formidable advantage.
After Lu Yi left, Manzhi, transformed into a silver fox, gracefully leaped onto the table before Yu Yi:
“You must accelerate your cultivation.”
Yu Yi glanced at Manzhi but could no longer discern any emotion on her face. Even her voice carried its usual teasing lilt, utterly languid.
“Why?” Yu Yi asked.
“This Immortal Palace, you need to attend as well.” Manzhi licked her paw, her alluring fox eyes assessing Yu Yi. “Before then, your cultivation must reach Primordial Infant stage.”
“Me?” Yu Yi narrowed her eyes. “Qian Du won’t give me a spot; how can I go?”
The Beiguo Immortal Palace was no ordinary secret realm; securing slots for it involved fierce competition across the entire cultivation world. The allocations had been settled over a year ago. Despite their high status and strong cultivation, neither Song Pianxian nor Yu Yi would resort to murder or theft for a place—such actions were beneath them.
As for Qian Du, he wouldn’t spare an additional slot from his already limited quota for someone deemed worthless.
“Just be prepared,” Manzhi snorted dismissively, unwilling to elaborate further, ready to leap away.
“Hold on,” Yu Yi called out, stopping her. “Tomorrow, Chu Feng is coming.”
Without even turning her head, Manzhi replied, “That invitation reeks of incense so strongly, there’s no need for you to remind me.”
Yu Yi acknowledged this, still watching Manzhi closely.
“Have you heard of someone named… Qin Yi?”
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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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