Chapter 6
Zhu Wan couldn’t fathom how her master had managed to refine such a “useless object.”
All she knew was that when she channeled her celestial energy into the black box, it would play her master’s voice, mostly reciting love poems that made her skin crawl. Feng Chiyue treasured the black box and never allowed anyone to touch it. Now, with her master gone, even the black box was breaking… It was truly a tragic situation.
“It’s been a long time since Dong’e Mountain has collected any refining materials from the Longding Palace, hasn’t it?” Feng Chiyue’s voice rang out.
Zhu Wan’s eyes widened, sensing trouble brewing. As expected, Feng Chiyue continued, “I need Dragon Star Sand, Star-Patterned Meteorite Iron, Yu Wood, and Dragon Tendon Glue.”
Zhu Wan asked cautiously, “…From the Longding Palace?”
Feng Chiyue countered, “Is there anywhere else that provides them?”
Zhu Wan sighed heavily. The Immortal Lord of the Longding Palace was a fellow disciple of the Jingde Immortal Lord. After offending the Supreme Palace just today, she doubted they could obtain these precious materials from the Longding Palace. But she couldn’t contradict Feng Chiyue, so she simply replied, “Yes,” while secretly wondering if there was anything usable among the gifts from Phoenix Mountain.
Feng Chiyue had informed Zhu Wan of her needs but had no intention of letting her handle it. After fiddling with the black box for a while, seeing that it remained silent, Feng Chiyue grew frustrated. She tossed it aside and lay down on the couch, sulking.
Ming Jiansu had disappeared, and the things she left behind were breaking down. The Celestials were all turning their backs on her, as if the whole world was against her. It was utterly unbearable. Who did they think she was? Was she destined to suffer? Why did everything seem to be going wrong? She couldn’t suppress her anger any longer.
Zhu Wan had already retreated. The hall was silent. A dark aura emanated from Feng Chiyue, as if countless shadows were clinging to her Phoenix Dharma Body, slowly devouring her celestial energy, trying to drag her into an abyss of despair. She felt a deep unease, and in her sleep, an indescribable sensation tormented her, jolting her awake. She instinctively reached out to embrace Ming Jiansu, but her hand grasped only emptiness. “Elder Sister?” she mumbled, her eyes flashing crimson as she opened them, a sinister aura surrounding her.
The next day:
Feng Chiyue didn’t wake up until noon.
Seeing her emerge from her chambers, Zhu Wan didn’t mention the refining materials. When Feng Chiyue didn’t ask either, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had decided to search for the materials elsewhere instead of requesting them from the Longding Palace. Once she had gathered everything, she would present them to Feng Chiyue.
But Feng Chiyue had other plans. When she woke up, she checked the Chaos Mirror. Last night, she had directly contacted the Longding Palace, demanding that they deliver the materials to Dong’e Mountain the next day. However, her message had been rejected. It seemed she would have to make a trip herself. She was reluctant to leave, but the thought of the silent black box intensified her anxiety. She couldn’t endure the night without it.
Unlike the Daoist boy at the Supreme Palace, the boy at the Longding Palace didn’t sneer at her when he learned of her identity. Instead, he greeted her warmly and inquired about the materials she needed. Feng Chiyue didn’t bother bringing up the rejected message. She simply listed the names of the materials.
The boy’s smile faded, replaced by a troubled expression. “Master, unfortunately, those materials have already been taken by someone from the West Sea.”
It took Feng Chiyue a moment to process his words. “You mean they’re gone?” she asked, staring at the boy. The West Sea? Which loach had taken what belonged to Dong’e Mountain?
The boy flinched at her fierce gaze. He had been polite at first, but now he felt like he was facing a predator, fear gripping his heart. He trembled slightly and whispered, “The West Sea Dragon Prince. He wanted those materials. We couldn’t stop him.” Fearing that she wouldn’t believe him, he hurriedly took out the registration book from his pocket and showed it to her. When she remained silent, he added with a nervous laugh, “Master Feng, perhaps you could wait a few days?”
“You want me to wait?” Feng Chiyue shifted her gaze, a strange expression crossing her face. She chuckled and said, “I can’t wait.”
Before the boy could say another word, Feng Chiyue turned and left, the clear chiming of her bells echoing through the hall. He scratched his head, sighing in relief. Sending her away felt like a great accomplishment. He turned to attend to his duties, but just then, a fellow disciple entered. He whispered, “Senior Sister, about what happened at the Supreme Palace yesterday… I think the Immortal Lord might have been telling the truth.”
The disciple looked at him with pity. “Have you been working too hard? Should I ask the Immortal Lord to give you a few days off?”
The boy’s face fell. “We don’t get vacations.”
After leaving the Longding Palace, Feng Chiyue headed straight for the West Sea in her golden chariot.
In the Celestial Realm, besides the Celestial Court, there were other powerful forces, such as the Four Seas Dragon Clans, the Merfolk, and the Qingqiu Foxes. They were nominally under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Court, but it was debatable how much control the Heavenly Emperor actually had over them. It was highly likely that the Longding Palace had given the West Sea Dragon Prince special treatment, allowing him to take materials that didn’t belong to him. The Immortal Lord of the Longding Palace might even be trying to avenge his fellow disciple, the Jingde Immortal Lord, by deliberately obstructing her. But did they think they could manipulate her? How naive!
As the golden chariot left Mount Kunlun, it streaked across the sky like a ball of fire, its brilliance illuminating the heavens. The primal energy of the world surged, distorting space, sending ripples in all directions, creating a powerful spiritual tide that pressed down on the sea, whipping up waves hundreds of feet high. As the waves crashed down, the reefs scattered across the sea were smashed to pieces, then swept up and tossed around by the churning white water.
The Four Seas had enjoyed peace for a thousand years. They had never witnessed such a spectacle. The West Sea soldiers and generals on duty immediately dived into the Dragon Palace to report the news. Soon, a thunderous roar echoed from all directions, as if a thousand thunderbolts were striking at once. The already turbulent sea grew even more ferocious, rising like an enraged dragon, almost touching the clouds. Atop the towering waves, a man in black robes, with sharp brows and starry eyes, stood wielding a long halberd.
This was the West Sea Dragon Prince, Ao Chaofeng. He stared at Feng Chiyue, who stood calmly in her golden chariot, her hands clasped behind her back. His brow furrowed, and he demanded in a cold voice, “What brings you to my West Sea?”
Feng Chiyue, consumed by anger, glanced at him indifferently and asked, “The West Sea took what belonged to my Dong’e Mountain. Don’t you owe me an explanation?”
Ao Chaofeng was taken aback for a moment before realizing who she was. The Dong’e Mountain Lord was dead, her disciples scattered. This woman, claiming to be from Dong’e Mountain, must be the legendary most beautiful woman in the Celestial Realm. Beautiful, yes, but nothing more than a pretty face. Ao Chaofeng scoffed inwardly. He knew he was in the wrong, so he cupped his hands towards Feng Chiyue and said with a forced smile, “I needed those materials urgently, and they have already been used. How about this? The West Sea will compensate you with Cinnabar Jade. What do you think, Master Feng?”
Feng Chiyue replied coldly, “I don’t think much of it.”
Ao Chaofeng felt a surge of anger, but he managed to control his temper. He had an important guest in the West Sea and couldn’t afford any disturbances. “What do you want then, Master Feng? Speak your mind.”
Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow and said calmly, “Dragon Star Sand, Star-Patterned Meteorite Iron, Yu Wood, and Dragon Tendon Glue.”
Ao Chaofeng: “…” He had gone to the Longding Palace precisely because the West Sea didn’t have those materials. They were already gone. Where was he supposed to get them now? Was Feng Chiyue deliberately picking a fight? He gritted his teeth, finding her utterly unreasonable. His expression hardened. “They have been used up. Perhaps you could choose something else, Master Feng.”
Feng Chiyue laughed, her eyes mocking. “Then I’ll take your dragon scales and tendons.”
Ao Chaofeng’s fury exploded. He had merely been careless for a moment. Did she have to push him so far? He snarled, “The Dong’e Mountain Lord is dead. I advise you to watch your words. The fact that I could take those materials from the Longding Palace means they didn’t belong to you in the first place. Even if I refuse to compensate you, what can you do about it?”
Feng Chiyue scoffed. If those materials had belonged to Chang Li or Ming Yuheng, would Ao Chaofeng have dared to take them without permission? How ridiculous! She was the one who had been wronged, yet she was expected to be understanding? Who made these rules? She didn’t like them, and she would break them today!
Ao Chaofeng, tired of dealing with her, turned to leave, assuming that the “useless” Feng Chiyue couldn’t pose any real threat. But as he moved, a cold voice pierced through the air.
“Who said you could leave?”
Ao Chaofeng’s heart skipped a beat. He felt a wave of scorching flames engulf him, threatening to boil the entire West Sea. A sense of danger washed over him. He swung his halberd, summoning a torrent of water. He dodged the flames with nimble steps, but as he looked up, he saw fiery rain falling from the sky, landing on the sea like crimson lotuses, spreading rapidly. Trapped in a sea of fire, his control over water weakened drastically.
“Phoenix Fire,” he murmured. He had sparred with Phoenix cultivators before, but none of their Phoenix Fire had been able to suppress his powers, especially not on the West Sea. He looked up at Feng Chiyue, who stood amidst the flames in her red robes. Rumors were often exaggerated, but this… This was beyond exaggeration!
Feng Chiyue asked nonchalantly, “When will I get my dragon scales and tendons?”
Ao Chaofeng weighed his options. “Give me two days. I’ll deliver the materials you need.”
The sea wind howled, the flames danced, like a blazing sun sinking into the West Sea.
It wouldn’t be long before the other West Sea cultivators were alerted. Would Ao Chaofeng be able to keep his promise?
Even Ming Jiansu had lied to her. What hope was there for others?
Dragon scales could replace Dragon Star Sand and Star-Patterned Meteorite Iron. Dragon tendons could be boiled into glue. As for Yu Wood, she could simply pluck a feather from Feng Yao. Feng Chiyue quickly formulated a plan. She took a step forward, her red dress swaying, the jade pendants on her belt chiming. A torrent of scorching flames rained down on Ao Chaofeng, and a deafening dragon roar shook the heavens. A black dragon, several zhang long, soared into the sky!
T/N: 1 Zhang ≈ 3.2 – 3.3 meters aprox
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