Chapter 56
Demons revered ultimate strength and didn’t consider it a disgrace to submit to a stronger being. Although his physical body was destroyed, his soul still had a chance to survive. He didn’t dare to look at the face hidden beneath the cloak, but he grinned ingratiatingly at Chang Li, claiming to know everything.
Chang Li frowned slightly, disgust towards demons filling her eyes. She had no patience for his blustering and, without wasting any time, delved into his memories, searching for any trace of the Phoenix Sovereign. This old demon had once guarded the Hall of Heroes in the Netherworld, but his cultivation had stagnated, and he had been replaced by a younger, stronger demon. He hadn’t participated in the war between gods and demons a thousand years ago, but his father had been a general who had escorted the Phoenix Sovereign back to the Demon Abyss. He had claimed that his previous stories were fabrications, but those distant memories revealed the truth!
During the war, both sides had suffered heavy losses. On the demon side, Ming Ji’s descendants had been slaughtered by the Phoenix Sovereign, fueling his hatred towards her. When she had fallen into the Demon Abyss, he had wanted to tear her to pieces. But her flames burned fiercely, preventing any demon from approaching. Left with no other choice, the Demon Sovereign had imprisoned her in the Cold Prison and ordered his followers to find a way to kill her. They had spent nearly a hundred years crafting an artifact called “Fallen Phoenix” and had celebrated her demise. But had she truly perished? She was the most powerful among the feathered lineages and possessed the ability to undergo Nirvana.
The scattered demon soul dissipated into faint, dark sparks. Chang Li adjusted her hood, her face hidden in the shadows. Perhaps she shouldn’t be searching for traces in phoenix feathers but should investigate the Cold Prison. The matter wasn’t settled yet. Without sending any further messages to the Heavenly Emperor, she transformed into a wisp of smoke and headed towards the Cold Prison. If the Phoenix Sovereign returned seeking revenge, the Immortal Realm would descend into chaos, and the demons would invade. She couldn’t allow her to destroy the peace!
In the Demon Palace.
Tu Shan Liusu had been aware of Chang Li’s presence in the Demon Abyss from the moment she entered. Those arrogant immortals, did they really think she was blind? Did they truly believe they could conceal their repulsive pure energy? Apart from Chang Li, several immortals from Phoenix Mountain had also infiltrated the Demon Abyss. They were aware of their limitations but still hoped to use the demons to eliminate their enemies. How naive.
“She’s heading towards the Cold Prison. Should we intercept her?” a demon general asked nervously.
Tu Shan Liusu scoffed. “Why bother? Let her go.” The Cold Prison had once been a place to imprison immortals, a land of ice and snow, devoid of sunlight, filled with turbid energy. But since the Phoenix Sovereign’s arrival, it had transformed. Unquenchable flames had turned the earth into molten rock, and the hidden veins of ore had become volatile rivers of fiery magma, impossible for ordinary beings to approach. She was eager for Chang Li to reach the Cold Prison. A grand surprise awaited her there.
In the Heavenly Court on Kunlun Mountain.
After consuming a few elixirs, Yu Gao’s broken limbs healed completely.
But the incident had been a great humiliation. He had visited Mount Sumeru with good intentions, hoping to establish a friendly relationship, but he had been attacked by Bai Guchan before even entering the mountain. She hadn’t even given him a chance to speak before knocking him off his chariot. That terrifying aura, those cold, vertical pupils… he had almost thought she was going to snap his neck!
Even back in his palace in the Heavenly Prosperity Department, he was still shaken. He touched his neck, the pain of that crushing force lingering. After a long moment, he finally let out a breath, trying to suppress his fear and anger.
The young attendant, entering the hall cautiously, didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, but the Immortal Monarch from the Supreme Palace was waiting impatiently. He had no choice but to speak up. “Star Monarch,” he said softly.
Yu Gao glared at him coldly. Seeing him flinch, his anger flared. “What is it?” he asked impatiently.
“Officials from the White Tiger Department are here demanding compensation,” the attendant said quietly. “They claim that the elixirs from the Supreme Palace contain excessive levels of toxicity.”
A loud crash echoed through the hall as Yu Gao, his eyes bloodshot, smashed a bronze vase against the floor. For the White Tiger Department to cause trouble at this time… how could he not overthink it? Bai Guchan had been the one to attack him, and now they were seeking justice for her? “How could there be excessive toxicity?” he said coldly. “Why haven’t we heard any complaints before? Tell them to provide evidence. Don’t make baseless accusations.”
The attendant trembled even more, his voice barely audible. “They have appraisal documents from several renowned wandering alchemists.”
Yu Gao’s expression was murderous. He didn’t go out to meet the officials from the White Tiger Department but growled through gritted teeth, “Have the Heavenly Prosperity Palace assess their losses and send them away!”
The attendant nodded repeatedly and fled the oppressive atmosphere of the palace, as if pursued by demons.
The officials from the White Tiger Department were aggressive, demanding compensation. The attendant didn’t dare to bargain with them and hastily paid the amount they requested. However, this incident seemed to open the floodgates. Not only the White Tiger Department but also other officials and even wandering immortals who had previously dealt with the Heavenly Prosperity Department came seeking compensation.
The Heavenly Prosperity Department was in chaos. Zhu Wan was thrilled.
Feng Chiyue was lounging in a hammock, while Ming Jian Su, taking over Zhu Wan’s duties, was feeding the birds in Dong’e Mountain.
Zhu Wan chattered incessantly, her laughter filled with schadenfreude, no longer the timid and submissive disciple she had once been.
Feng Chiyue peeked out from the hammock and said slowly, “The Minister of Fortune had been in charge of the Heavenly Prosperity Department for so long. Now that he’s gone and his disciples have scattered, there are naturally no capable officials left.”
Zhu Wan fell silent.
Feng Chiyue looked at her with disdain. “Stupid,” she said.
Under her intimidating gaze, Zhu Wan’s mind started working again. Suddenly, it clicked, and she exclaimed, her head bobbing like a chicken pecking at grain, “I understand!”
“Understand what?” Ming Jian Su asked calmly.
“Jing De Immortal Monarch is unhappy with Yu Gao’s appointment as the Head of the Heavenly Prosperity Department,” Zhu Wan said loudly. “He’s deliberately causing trouble, knowing that Yu Gao has no one to rely on! He’s waiting for Yu Gao to beg him to return!”
Feng Chiyue sat up, praising Zhu Wan for once. “You’re learning,” she said.
Zhu Wan had become well-acquainted with the wandering immortals who frequented the Chaos Mirror. Encouraged by Feng Chiyue’s praise, she immediately instructed them to spread this rumor. As expected, Yu Gao was furious upon hearing it. How could mere alchemy and artifact crafting cause so much trouble? There had been no issues when the Minister of Fortune was in charge. Why was the entire department falling apart now that he was in charge? He had thought Jing De Immortal Monarch and the others had tactfully retreated, but it turned out they had been waiting for this opportunity! He would rather hire other immortals at a high price than allow those from the Minister of Fortune’s lineage to return.
Although he said this, he didn’t post any recruitment notices on the Chaos Mirror. In his eyes, the positions in the Heavenly Prosperity Department were highly sought after. He didn’t need to actively recruit anyone. He contacted the Minister of Records, asking him to select some suitable candidates. The Minister of Records, although he looked down on Yu Gao, still had to give him some face as the Heavenly Emperor’s son. Neither of them had considered the possibility that no one would be willing to join the Heavenly Prosperity Department.
The chaos in the Department discouraged those who lacked skills in alchemy and artifact crafting, while those who possessed such skills, aware of the conflict between the Heavenly Emperor and the Celestial Mother, didn’t want to get involved. This was a matter of choosing sides. They might gain benefits in the Heavenly Prosperity Department, but nothing was more important than their lives.
When no list was presented, the Minister of Records was dumbfounded. “What about the candidates?” he asked.
“As you know, Your Excellency, very few of us Heavenly Immortals, apart from Jing De and the others, delve into alchemy and artifact crafting,” the official replied. “As for human immortals… ever since Feng Chiyue’s incident at the Heavenly Gate, their ascension rate has become a joke. None of them want to become officials anymore. They prefer to be carefree wandering immortals.” And they were being hired by the Celestial Feather Ministry, but he didn’t dare to mention that last part.
“There’s no one at all?” the Minister of Records asked again.
The official hesitated. “There are a few,” he said softly, “but they’re affiliated with the Azure Sovereign Hall.”
The Minister of Records’s eyes narrowed. If the Azure Sovereign Hall was involved, he didn’t want to interfere. He would leave it to Yu Gao to handle, perhaps by requesting a decree from the Heavenly Emperor. That would give him a reason to defy the Celestial Mother.
Yu Gao was furious upon receiving the Minister of Records’s message.
He blamed Jing De Immortal Monarch and the others for this. Calming down, he first ordered his followers to investigate their accounts, hoping to squeeze some profit from them, then went to the Purple Empyrean Palace to complain. Between Bai Guchan and his son, the Heavenly Emperor naturally favored his son, but he needed Bai Guchan’s support and had suppressed his anger. He hadn’t sent anyone to comfort Yu Gao, feeling slightly guilty. Now, seeing his son pleading for alchemists and artisans, he agreed without hesitation. However, when he realized that the immortals Yu Gao had chosen were affiliated with Chu Yi, he hesitated. He told Yu Gao to wait patiently and contacted Chu Yi, who was still in the East Sea, asking for her opinion.
Chu Yi’s expression remained neutral, but she scoffed inwardly. Her biased father was becoming increasingly blatant. Now, he even wanted to take her people and give them to Yu Gao. She wasn’t in the Heavenly Court now. Even if she refused, Yu Gao might not give up. It was better to use this opportunity to gain something else. She agreed readily, then mentioned that those immortals had helped her a lot and waited for the Emperor to offer compensation.
She was right. Relieved by her easy agreement, the Heavenly Emperor felt generous. If Chu Yi had caused trouble, it would have been a hassle. Now that a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, he was happy to play the role of a loving father, sending her many valuable gifts. After he left, Chu Yi’s expression turned cold. She thought for a moment, then contacted Ming Jian Su. “I heard that the Celestial Feather Ministry is recruiting alchemists and artisans,” she wrote. “I have a few candidates to recommend.”
In Dong’e Mountain.
Ming Jian Su was reading news about the Heavenly Prosperity Department to Feng Chiyue when Chu Yi’s name seal flashed. She stopped abruptly.
Feng Chiyue tugged at her sleeve, yawning. “Why did you stop?” Zhu Wan could also tell her these gossipy stories, but she preferred listening to Ming Jian Su’s voice.
“It’s Chu Yi,” Ming Jian Su replied.
Feng Chiyue’s eyes flickered. She sat up abruptly. “What does she want?” she asked, her voice sharp.
Ming Jian Su chuckled. “She said she wants to recommend a few talented individuals to the Celestial Feather Ministry.”
Feng Chiyue scoffed. “She’s up to no good.”
Ming Jian Su thought for a moment. “That’s probably true,” she agreed. The alchemists and artisans in the Heavenly Prosperity Department were incompetent, so they had to find new ones. Yu Gao, with his stubborn pride, refused to hire wandering immortals at a high price, leaving the Heavenly Mechanism Department to search for suitable candidates. However, with the conflict between the Heavenly Emperor and the Celestial Mother, anyone with a brain wouldn’t get involved. The candidates Chu Yi was recommending were likely her own people. For some reason, she couldn’t keep them, so she wanted to use them against the Emperor, preventing him from benefiting. She explained her theory to Feng Chiyue, whose expression immediately darkened. “Chu Yi is truly a cunning, malicious, and heartless wretch!” she cursed. After ranting for a while, she looked up at Ming Jian Su. “Should we let her have her way?”
“I’m working with the Celestial Mother,” Ming Jian Su said frankly. “Technically, we’re on the same side as Chu Yi. Anyone she recommends must be somewhat capable and useful to the Celestial Feather Ministry.”
Hearing the word “useful,” Feng Chiyue relented. “Then invite them to the Ministry for an assessment,” she said grudgingly. If they failed, they were useless. The Celestial Feather Ministry didn’t accept trash.
Yu Gao, after receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s promise, excitedly urged the Heavenly Mechanism Department to transfer their records.
Knowing that the Emperor was involved, the Minister of Records, Si Li Star Monarch, felt reassured and delegated the task to his subordinates. The officials in the Heavenly Mechanism Department were notoriously slow, delaying for several days. When they finally attempted to access the records, they discovered that a bright seal had already been affixed to them – the Celestial Feather Ministry Head’s seal. This meant that those immortals were already employed. They couldn’t be transferred to the Heavenly Prosperity Department until the seal was removed!
Si Li Star Monarch: “…” He hated dealing with Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue more than anyone else in the entire Immortal Realm, but now he had no choice but to visit Dong’e Mountain personally.
He was greeted by a puppet. Dong’e Mountain clearly didn’t take him seriously. Frustration simmered within him, and he silently repeated the names of Bai Yang Star Monarch and Yuan Yao Star Monarch, using their cold, lifeless names to suppress his anger. Thankfully, when he entered the Dharma Hall, it was Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue who were seated on the main platform, not a puppet.
“I apologize for not welcoming you personally, Fellow Daoist Si Li,” Ming Jian Su said gently. “It was an oversight.”
He lifted his eyelids. He couldn’t detect any sincerity in her words. As for Feng Chiyue… she was openly displaying her mockery and disdain, as if afraid he wouldn’t notice. “I apologize for my intrusion,” he said politely.
“Get to the point,” Feng Chiyue said impatiently. Sometimes, immortals would waste an entire tea session exchanging pointless pleasantries. Of course, she had no intention of offering him tea today. She glanced at Ming Jian Su, thinking, “Elder Sister, please don’t adopt those old fools’ tedious customs.”
His face twitched. He didn’t want to stay in Dong’e Mountain for another moment. “Has the Celestial Feather Ministry recently recruited human immortals?” he asked directly.
Ming Jian Su had known that he was here for those alchemists. “Yes,” she said calmly. She paused, then asked, “Is the Heavenly Mechanism Department planning to interfere in the Celestial Feather Ministry’s personnel matters?”
“Of course not,” he chuckled. “But the records of human immortals are under my jurisdiction. Shouldn’t you have informed me before transferring them?” If he had known, he would have rejected their application. Those were the immortals the Heavenly Emperor had reserved for Yu Gao. He couldn’t control the movements of otherworldly beings, but the appointment and dismissal of human officials were his responsibility.
“Then what are you planning to do, Fellow Daoist Si Li?” Ming Jian Su asked with a faint smile, her tone meaningful. “Perhaps we should thoroughly investigate all the irregularities within the Heavenly Mechanism Department?”
Si Li Star Monarch: “…” The Heavenly Mechanism Department valued personal connections. Procedural irregularities were commonplace. Sometimes, they wouldn’t even bother with official documentation until absolutely necessary. If they investigated, many officials would be implicated. But if they didn’t, the East Abode Master wouldn’t let this go. He couldn’t use his authority to suppress her anymore. He tried to reason with her. “The Celestial Feather Ministry has already absorbed many officials from the Heavenly Prosperity Department. Can’t you let go of a few?”
“Haven’t you heard the saying, Fellow Daoist Si Li?” Ming Jian Su asked calmly.
He looked up, confused.
“The more, the merrier,” Feng Chiyue chimed in, her face full of mockery.
He stared at them, his eyes wide. “Is the Celestial Feather Ministry trying to replace the Heavenly Prosperity Department?”
“Why not?” Ming Jian Su countered. Meeting his astonished gaze, she continued, “Wasn’t it the Heavenly Emperor’s decree? The Celestial Feather Ministry will no longer rely on the Heavenly Prosperity Department for any resources. We will handle everything ourselves.” Now that both personnel and financial control had been relinquished, how could the Emperor still control them? His blunder had saved her a lot of trouble. She had to thank him for his stupidity.
Unable to argue or fight, and knowing that using his authority would only cause more problems, Si Li Star Monarch could only leave in defeat. However, he couldn’t let Yu Gao know that there had been other options. He blamed everything on those immortals, claiming they had already pledged their allegiance to the Celestial Feather Ministry. As for Chu Yi’s involvement, he didn’t mention it, but Yu Gao would figure it out himself. Unfortunately, without concrete evidence, the Emperor and the Star Monarchs wouldn’t support him. He could only vent his frustration on Jing De Immortal Monarch and the others.
It turned out that the former Minister of Fortune, never expecting such a miserable fate, hadn’t kept his accounts perfectly clean. Yu Gao’s followers, under immense pressure, were determined to find fault, even adding a few extra charges, demanding repayment from Jing De Immortal Monarch and those former officials from the Heavenly Prosperity Department. Jing De and his fellow disciples had already become carefree wandering immortals and had no intention of paying. Technically, Yu Gao could have filed a complaint with the Celestial Pivot Department, but if he did, those assets wouldn’t end up in his pockets. He had to rely on his own people to collect the debt. This back-and-forth drama became public knowledge on the Chaos Mirror.
Jing De Immortal Monarch and the others were speechless. Typically, after an official’s resignation, past matters were considered settled. Why was Yu Gao suddenly digging up old accounts? He had missed his chance. They wouldn’t give him a single Cinnabar Jade now.
While Yu Gao and Jing De Immortal Monarch were locked in a bitter struggle, the training ground in Danxue Mountain was completed under Chang Huai’s supervision. The newly conscripted Feather Guards, without even catching a glimpse of Feng Chiyue, were thrown into the training ground.
Finally, it was over. Chang Huai sighed in relief, thinking about taking a few days off.
However, upon returning to the Celestial Feather Ministry, she was met with devastating news: from this day forward, the newly established Feather Cauldron Palace and Feather Elixir Palace would be open to the entire Immortal Realm. Any immortal, official or wandering, could purchase elixirs and artifacts as long as they had Cinnabar Jade or something of equal value.
The Ministry Head was trying to replace the Heavenly Prosperity Department while it was in chaos!
Thinking about their future “grand undertaking,” Chang Huai felt a surge of excitement.
Apart from those truly detached from worldly desires, most immortals engaged in trade and bartering, albeit on varying scales. In the past, with the Heavenly Prosperity Department regularly providing elixirs, artifacts, and other necessities, there had been little need for private transactions. But now, with elixirs containing excessive toxicity and artifacts prone to exploding, even those provided by the Department were deemed unsafe. Under these circumstances, immortals had no choice but to trade with those who possessed specialized skills on the Chaos Mirror. However, some wandering immortals were temperamental and demanding, often disappearing for years after receiving materials. The Celestial Feather Ministry’s announcement was a godsend for many immortals. They knew that a power struggle was raging within the Heavenly Court, and the human immortals, afraid to act openly, sent feathered immortals to make purchases. At first, no one noticed anything unusual, but as the volume of transactions increased, the truth became apparent. Fortunately, everyone tacitly agreed to keep it quiet.
By the time Yu Gao and Jing De Immortal Monarch were locked in a deadly feud, the Heavenly Prosperity Department had become deserted, a shadow of its former self.
In Dong’e Mountain, Ming Jian Su glanced at the account books, then set them aside.
The resources of mountains and mines would eventually be depleted. The Celestial Feather Ministry couldn’t rely on them alone to function independently.
“Now we don’t have to worry about running out of money,” she said, sighing in relief. She thought, “Dao Ling Star Monarch from the Celestial Pivot Department is on the Celestial Mother’s side. The Heavenly Prosperity Department will soon be a mere shell. As for the remaining Heavenly Mechanism Department, they’re not a threat.” However, the Department possessed the Merit Mirror, an artifact created by the Heavenly Dao itself, recording merits and demerits. Could it cause any trouble? After a moment of contemplation, she turned to Feng Chiyue. “Junior Sister, how much do you know about the Merit Mirror?” Her memories from before Nirvana might be gone, but her connection to the Dao remained.
“The Heavenly Dao judges merits and demerits on the Ascension Platform,” Feng Chiyue said lazily.
“Does it only judge mortals?” Ming Jian Su asked.
“Yes,” she hummed, then, sensing Ming Jian Su’s thoughts, added, “The Heavenly Mechanism Department’s selection process deviates from the Heavenly Dao’s will. The number of tribulation lightning strikes is a reflection of their defiance.”
A sense of foreboding washed over Ming Jian Su. She hadn’t paid much attention to the Heavenly Mechanism Department in the past. Her eyes narrowed. “What are the consequences?” she asked urgently.
Unlike Ming Jian Su’s seriousness, Feng Chiyue’s face was lit up with a mischievous smile. “Karmic fire will incinerate their sins, and the Mandate of Heaven will strip them of their immortality,” she said. She walked towards Ming Jian Su, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist, and whispered in her ear, her voice seductive, “Elder Sister, do you want to see my true form?”
Her voice was soft, gentle, and laced with her usual laziness, but a shiver ran down Ming Jian Su’s spine. “No!” she blurted out.
Her junior sister’s sword was called Karmic Fire!
Feng Chiyue pushed her away and sighed. “Your heart is truly unfathomable, Elder Sister,” she said. “Who was the one crying and begging to see it before?”
Ming Jian Su, snapping out of her fear, studied Feng Chiyue’s expression but couldn’t detect anything unusual. Burying her doubts, she defended herself with a huff. “I didn’t cry.”
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