Chapter 5
What kind of person was Feng Chiyue? After spending over three hundred years together, how could she not know? Initially, she had kept Feng Chiyue by her side, thinking that it wouldn’t hurt for her to be idle and carefree.
However, all the comfortable positions in the Celestial Court were already filled. The only remaining tasks were menial chores, and she couldn’t bear to see Feng Chiyue subjected to such drudgery. So, she had considered bringing her into the army. After all, she was a Celestial Immortal, a true Phoenix, and had grown up wild in the Abyss of the Milky Way. Surely, she could pass the Celestial Soldier assessment with her eyes closed, right? But to her surprise, while she had been resting with her eyes closed, Feng Chiyue had been “invited” out by a Celestial official.
The official’s face had been grim as he declared, “What Phoenix? I could train a goose from the mortal realm to be stronger than her in a few months!” From that day forward, nicknames like “Worse than a goose” and “Good-for-Nothing Beauty” had spread throughout the Celestial Court, completely shattering any chance of Feng Chiyue rising through the ranks of the Celestial Soldiers.
How could such a Celestial Immortal exist? At first, Ming Jiansu had suspected that Feng Chiyue was putting on an act. After all, when she had first ascended to the Celestial Realm, young and naive, she had been tricked into signing a two-hundred-year contract and had considered playing dead.
She had cultivated diligently in the mortal realm, aspiring to become superior, not an underling among Celestials. If she had known how dreadful the Celestial Court was, she wouldn’t have ascended at all. No, she had already endured countless troubles in the mortal realm.
She should have become a carefree wandering Immortal, even if it meant a life of solitude, poverty, and hardship. Unlike now, where she was neither rich nor free from suffering.
Fueled by suspicion, she had decided to test Feng Chiyue. After several attempts, she became convinced that Feng Chiyue was not pretending. The final test involved staging a break-in at a dilapidated courtyard and attacking Feng Chiyue relentlessly. In the face of death, even the most skilled deceiver would reveal their true colors. But to her surprise, Feng Chiyue had remained nonchalant throughout the ordeal.
Unable to stop herself in time, she had severely injured Feng Chiyue, and it had taken almost all her savings to nurse her back to health. Yet, after learning the truth, Feng Chiyue hadn’t uttered a single word of blame. She had continued to cling to her as if nothing had happened. But the more forgiving Feng Chiyue was, the guiltier she felt. In the end, she had become completely wrapped around Feng Chiyue’s little finger.
Convinced of Feng Chiyue’s weakness, she had scoured countless Daoist texts, even risking the wrath of the Phoenixes, to find cultivation techniques suitable for her.
Although Feng Chiyue’s enthusiasm for cultivation was sporadic at best, she had managed to learn a few divine abilities. At the very least, she wouldn’t be ridiculed if she participated in the Celestial Soldier selection now. But even so, how could she possibly destroy the Supreme Palace’s alchemy furnace? Between refining elixirs herself and attacking the Supreme Palace, wouldn’t the former be the more logical choice?
Who had spread such baseless rumors, slandering Feng Chiyue? The Jingde Immortal Lord was thousands of years old. How could he resort to such petty lies? How dare they bully Feng Chiyue, her junior sister? Anger surged within her.
For a moment, Ming Jiansu wanted to abandon the Asura City and return to the Celestial Realm immediately! But then she thought of the hardships and injustices she had endured, of Feng Chiyue’s heartless nature, and she forced herself to calm down.
Ming Yuheng was there. She would help smooth things over. It was just the Supreme Palace spreading rumors about her junior sister. It wasn’t worth her concern. She couldn’t forget the vow she had made before ascending. She had ascended to enjoy a life of bliss. After three hundred years, she had finally made up her mind. How could she let a petty, ungrateful brat ruin everything?
—
Back in the Supreme Palace:
The Jingde Immortal Lord was fuming. The destroyed hall had been restored to its former glory with his celestial energy, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn’t swallow his pride. He had been born a Celestial, and after surpassing all his fellow disciples five hundred years ago, he had become the head of the Supreme Palace. Who dared to show him anything but a smiling face? Who dared to address him without respect? Who dared to cause trouble in the Supreme Palace?
Feng Chiyue! That damned Feng Chiyue! Hatred burned in his heart, his nails digging into his palms. He stood up abruptly, summoned his celestial chariot, and headed straight for the Purple Extremity Palace at the heart of the Celestial Court, where the Heavenly Empress, Chu Yi, resided.
Chu Yi had already received news of the incident at the Supreme Palace. Her beautiful eyes held a hint of skepticism. Feng Chiyue, with her lazy disposition, had destroyed the Supreme Palace’s alchemy furnace? It sounded more like a fabrication by the Supreme Palace.
“Your Highness, the Jingde Immortal Lord is here,” a maid announced softly.
Chu Yi picked up her jade ruler and parted the beaded curtain. As the beads clattered softly, she said nonchalantly, “Tell him I’m in seclusion.”
The maid hesitated for a moment before adding, “The Supreme Palace has stopped providing elixirs to Dong’e Mountain. They’re doing it for you.”
Chu Yi’s gaze turned cold. “Do I need them to fight my battles for me? That’s all the more reason not to see him.” If she sided with the Jingde Immortal Lord, wouldn’t that confirm the rumors of her mistreating Feng Chiyue? What would the other Celestial officials and wandering Immortals think of her, the Heavenly Empress? She might have her differences with Feng Chiyue, but she would never resort to such underhanded tactics. Whether it was an argument or a duel, she preferred to confront her opponents directly.
Rejected at the door, the Jingde Immortal Lord’s anger intensified. His gaze swept across the grand palace, and on impulse, he turned towards the Purple Extremity Hall, where the Heavenly Emperor resided, to lodge a complaint.
Melodious music filled the air as Tian Yuan enjoyed a performance with his officials. When he heard that the Jingde Immortal Lord had something to report, his brow furrowed. He dismissed the musicians and dancers with a wave of his hand, straightened his robes and jade crown, and finally allowed the Jingde Immortal Lord to enter.
Lost in his world of music and entertainment, the Heavenly Emperor had no idea about the commotion at the Supreme Palace. Listening to the Jingde Immortal Lord’s aggrieved tone, he thought he had misheard.
Before he could inquire further, someone exclaimed, “Who is the Jingde Immortal Lord talking about? The Dong’e Mountain Lord’s junior sister? That good-for-nothing little Phoenix who was kicked out of her own clan?” A wave of laughter followed.
Before the Jingde Immortal Lord could respond, another voice drawled, “Has the Jingde Immortal Lord been drinking? What nonsense is this? If you said the Dong’e Mountain Lord herself had destroyed the Supreme Palace, we might believe you. But that one… Hahahaha.”
“I heard the Supreme Palace stopped providing elixirs to Dong’e Mountain for no reason. Are they trying to find a justifiable excuse now to save face?” A cool, amused voice rang out. The Jingde Immortal Lord looked up and saw the Lord of the North Star(Bei Chen Zhu) Ming Yuheng, holding a wine cup, a smirk playing on his lips. Ming Yuheng and Ming Jiansu had both ascended from the mortal realm and were close friends. It was only natural for him to speak up for Feng Chiyue.
Ignoring Ming Yuheng, the Jingde Immortal Lord bowed deeply to the Heavenly Emperor. “Your Majesty, I beg you to see through her deception!”
Tian Yuan stroked his wine cup and coughed lightly. “The Dong’e Mountain Lord was a hero of the Celestial Realm. Your actions, Jingde, are disheartening.”
The Jingde Immortal Lord: “…” He had been taught a lesson by Feng Chiyue, his body still aching despite consuming healing elixirs. Yet, no one believed his accusations!
He sensed something strange in the gazes of the other Celestial officials, a hint of mockery, as if they were enjoying his humiliation. How had he fallen so low? His hands clenched into fists inside his sleeves. He looked up at the Heavenly Emperor, his voice sharp. “Your Majesty, do you not believe me?”
Tian Yuan averted his gaze.
Ming Yuheng chuckled softly. “Has the Jingde Immortal Lord taken leave of his senses?”
Just as the Jingde Immortal Lord was about to retort, a deep voice boomed through the hall.
“Jingde.”
The Jingde Immortal Lord froze. He slowly raised his head and saw his master, the Si Lu Star Lord, emerging from the swirling clouds. His master’s expression was grave, his eyes filled with disappointment. If he continued, he would only bring shame upon his master. Despite his resentment, the Jingde Immortal Lord could only bite his lip and force himself to back down.
—
Meanwhile
Zhu Wan, who had been anxiously awaiting her fate, finally received news from a friendly Celestial official. The official recounted the Jingde Immortal Lord’s humiliation in vivid detail. Listening to the story,
Zhu Wan couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t a big deal. The Jingde Immortal Lord acting like a dog to receive elixirs—that would have been truly embarrassing. In the entire Celestial Realm, only the Jingde Immortal Lord would receive such “treatment.”
“Tell me honestly, did Master Feng really beat up the Jingde Immortal Lord?” the official asked curiously.
Zhu Wan replied righteously, “How could that be? You know what Master Feng is like: delicate, frail, weak…”
“Stop!” The official cut her off, glancing at her. “I believe you. But your description is a bit much. Do you think I’ve never seen Master Feng?” With her bright eyes, white teeth, and radiant beauty, how could she possibly resemble the sickly person Zhu Wan described?
Zhu Wan felt like she was floating on clouds. As soon as they returned to Dong’e Mountain, she rushed to share the good news with Feng Chiyue. She had witnessed Feng Chiyue’s display of power and had been worried. It hadn’t occurred to her that Feng Chiyue’s reputation as a “good-for-nothing” would work in their favor. Even if the Jingde Immortal Lord filed a complaint, no one would believe him! What a turn of events! They no longer had to face the cold scrutiny of the Celestial Pivot Department. However, they still had to be wary of the Heavenly Prosperity Department.
“Master, did you hear?” Zhu Wan exclaimed, her face beaming with excitement. But after her animated retelling, the person she was addressing didn’t even spare her a glance, too engrossed in fiddling with an ugly, square, black box. Zhu Wan recognized the box. It was a magical artifact her master had refined long ago, with an elegant name: “Understanding Words.” It was neither offensive nor defensive, merely a child’s toy.
Feng Chiyue, with her love for all things luxurious and extravagant, had always baffled Zhu Wan with her inexplicable attachment to this black box that no one would even bother picking up if they saw it on the street.
Finally, Feng Chiyue looked up at Zhu Wan, her brow furrowed, the usual smile absent from her face. Clutching the black box, she said with frustration, “It’s broken.”
Seeing the beauty’s troubled expression, Zhu Wan felt a pang of sympathy. But she quickly snapped out of it, exhaling deeply.
This was Feng Chiyue, after all. What was there to pity?
“Should I try to fix it?” Zhu Wan offered tentatively.
Feng Chiyue glanced at her, her eyes filled with disdain. “Do you even know how?”
Zhu Wan: “…” Right. She didn’t.
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