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Chapter 28p1

Ming Jian Su was exceptionally skilled at “selling” her sword. Feng Chiyue was instantly persuaded. If Ming Jian Su was too busy to spend time with her, then it was better to let the sword shoulder some of the burden.

“Aren’t you going to the Celestial Feather Ministry today?” Ming Jian Su asked.

“Rest,” Feng Chiyue replied lazily. She had no desire to move, let alone go to that dreadful Celestial Feather Ministry. She wrapped her arm around Ming Jian Su’s waist, her fingers gently caressing her through the thin robe, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Ming Jian Su’s breath quickened. She let out a soft hum and pushed away Feng Chiyue’s wandering hand. “I’ve been absent for a while. I need to explain things to the Heavenly Emperor,” she said.

Feng Chiyue rested her chin on Ming Jian Su’s shoulder, looking at her with a hint of disappointment. “Can’t you just send a message through the Chaos Mirror? Do you really have to go in person?” she asked, her voice laced with displeasure.

“Wouldn’t that be disrespectful to the Heavenly Emperor? Too audacious?” Ming Jian Su replied. The Heavenly Emperor wouldn’t deduct her salary for this, but with his stingy nature, he would probably hold a grudge. That meant her share of the rewards might be reduced. After all, he was the Heavenly Emperor, chosen by the Mandate of Heaven. She had to give him some face.

“Respectful?” Feng Chiyue looked at her suspiciously, then gently nibbled her earlobe. “You, Ming Jian Su, you have someone else in your eyes now. Does that mean you’ll have someone else in your heart soon?”

Ming Jian Su was used to Feng Chiyue’s strange focus. “Of course not,” she said without hesitation. “Besides you, Junior Sister, no one else is worthy of my attention.”

Feng Chiyue finally smiled in satisfaction. She released Ming Jian Su and started dressing herself.

Shortly after they got up, a whooshing sound, accompanied by a clap of thunder, exploded outside Dong’e Mountain. A foot-long, purple-red token shot towards them like lightning, aiming for Feng Chiyue. Feng Chiyue didn’t even flinch. She sat down on a chair, allowing Ming Jian Su to comb her tangled hair.

When the token was about five feet away from Feng Chiyue, a blinding sword light, as radiant as a starry river, erupted, intercepting the token with a loud clang. The lightning surrounding the token dissipated, and it fell to the ground, seemingly unwilling to give up, twitching like a fish out of water before finally falling still.

After carefully placing a crescent-shaped ornament on Feng Chiyue’s forehead, Ming Jian Su turned to look at the token. “It’s a Criminal Pursuit Thunder Token from the Grand Decree Temple of the Celestial Pivot Department,” she said, her brow furrowed. She quickly understood the reason. After the sudden deaths of so many feathered immortals last night, Danxue Mountain couldn’t possibly ignore it. But she believed she had erased all traces. They couldn’t possibly know it was them. “I’ll handle this.”

“Of course you will,” Feng Chiyue snorted. She had no desire to deal with such matters. She didn’t even look at Ming Jian Su. “Come here, lower your head,” she said, and with a finger stained with lip rouge, she dabbed it on Ming Jian Su’s lips.

In the Grand Decree Temple of the Celestial Pivot Department.

The officials noticed that none of the Criminal Pursuit Thunder Tokens had returned and hastily reported it to Junior Monarch Yun Ze. According to the laws of the Heavenly Court, the tokens were used to apprehend suspected criminals. If anyone resisted, their crime would be considered more severe, and officials would personally arrest them. However, to save effort, the Grand Decree Temple often issued the tokens before a verdict was reached, leading to a gradual decline in their power.

“Are the Phoenixes resisting the decree? That’s typical of them,” Junior Monarch Yun Ze said, frowning slightly. “You go to Dong’e Mountain.” But then, he remembered the recent rumors on the Chaos Mirror and changed his mind. “No, I’ll go myself.”

Yun Ze was a man who enjoyed making a grand entrance. Four black dragons pulled his ornate chariot through a storm of thunder, arriving at the cloud-wreathed Dong’e Mountain within a quarter of an hour. The two attendants at the front of the chariot lifted the curtains, and after a moment, Yun Ze, his face as handsome as jade, stepped out.

“Sound the Kui Drum,” he commanded.

The two attendants immediately understood. They took out the Kui Drum and started beating it, producing a sound like a thousand thunderbolts exploding in the sky. Whenever officials from the Celestial Pivot Department went out on official business, they would sound the Kui Drum to warn everyone: “The Celestial Pivot Department is at work. All others, step aside.”

Waves of sound echoed through the air.

Zhu Wan, practicing her swordsmanship in the mountains, was startled. What was happening now? She frowned, wanting to investigate the source of the noise. But as she took a step, she saw her Master, emanating an otherworldly aura, emerge from the Dharma Hall. Feng Chiyue, who should have been on duty, was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed, her eyes gleaming, a spring in her step.

Romantic encounter, returning soul… one word after another popped into Zhu Wan’s mind, her rusty brain suddenly whirring to life. She pinched herself, the pain making her gasp. It wasn’t a ghost or a phantom. Her Master had secretly returned.

Outside the mountain.

Yun Ze stared intently at Dong’e Mountain. Although the elders of Danxue Mountain had accused Feng Chiyue and the Phoenixes of killing their clansmen, he didn’t believe they were truly capable of such a feat. To silently kill so many immortals within the territory of Kunlun Mountain was too far-fetched.

However, Danxue Mountain had made a big fuss, so he had to put on a show. He couldn’t simply dismiss them. The Heavenly Emperor was also displeased with Feng Chiyue’s actions in the Celestial Feather Ministry. Perhaps they intended to use this opportunity to completely suppress her, preventing her from causing further trouble.

As Yun Ze pondered the Heavenly Emperor and his colleagues’ motives, his mind wandered. However, the attendants accompanying him remained vigilant, their gazes fixed on Dong’e Mountain. Suddenly, a figure dressed in blue, a color recognized by even a three-year-old child in the Immortal Realm, appeared in the sky. “J-J-Junior Monarch…” one of the attendants stammered.

“What is it?” Yun Ze snapped, startled out of his thoughts. Seeing his two subordinates staring in shock and terror, as if they had seen a ghost, he felt his face burning with shame. How could such incompetent fools be part of the Celestial Pivot Department? How did the Heavenly Mechanism Department even select their officials? Yun Ze suppressed his anger and finally sensed the shift in the energy around them. He looked up, equally startled.

Hadn’t he just seen a ghost?

Damn it, why was it the East Abode Master?

He had expected Feng Chiyue to resist the decree or surrender, but he hadn’t anticipated the return of the supposedly dead Ming Jian Su!

Ming Jian Su looked at the stunned Yun Ze and smiled faintly. “Fellow Daoist Yun Ze, what brings you to Dong’e Mountain? Has someone violated the laws of the Heavenly Court?”

Yun Ze masked his surprise and bowed to her. The East Abode Master wasn’t dead. She had returned to the Heavenly Court. Why hadn’t there been any news on the Chaos Mirror? If she was here, could they still arrest Feng Chiyue? How would he explain this to Danxue Mountain? His mind raced. He forced a smile and said, “Fellow Daoist Dong’e.” He didn’t mention that Ming Jian Su was considered “dead” in the Heavenly Court. Instead, he directly stated his purpose, putting all the blame on Danxue Mountain. “The elders of Danxue Mountain have accused Minister Feng of the Celestial Feather Ministry of murder. Although I don’t believe it, I still have to come and inquire.”

Ming Jian Su didn’t believe his lies. Not a single word from those Heavenly Court officials could be trusted. That Criminal Pursuit Thunder Token was still in the Dharma Hall. “My Junior Sister is kind-hearted, innocent, and naive. How could she possibly kill anyone? Are those fellow Daoists from Danxue Mountain confused?”

Yun Ze felt a twinge of discomfort. A month ago, he would have believed those words without hesitation. But after the incidents of “the Supreme Palace’s cauldron being destroyed” and “the West Sea Dragon’s scales being plucked,” he believed that using words like “kind-hearted” and “innocent” to describe Feng Chiyue was an insult to language.

He knew Ming Jian Su was protective of her junior sister, so he didn’t badmouth Feng Chiyue directly. Instead, he used the elders of Danxue Mountain as a shield. He sighed softly. “I share your sentiments, Fellow Daoist. But those from Danxue Mountain claim that Minister Feng overturned the cauldron of the Supreme Palace, proving her considerable power.”

Ming Jian Su smiled “kindly.” Two sword lights swirled around her, their intent as sharp as frost in the depths of winter. “My Junior Sister is benevolent. Why would she attack the Supreme Palace’s cauldron for no reason?”

Yun Ze: “…” Did these two have a misunderstanding about the word “kindly”? He was here to investigate the mysterious deaths of those feathered immortals. He tried to steer the conversation back on track. “I–” he began, but then he heard the frantic snorting of the dragons pulling his chariot, as if they were being stalked by some terrifying creature.

“I understand, Fellow Daoist Yun Ze. You’re saying that Jing De Immortal Monarch, disrespectful of his seniority, bullied my Junior Sister for no reason, right?” Ming Jian Su offered him a grateful smile. “I was trapped on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms and was unaware of the events in the Immortal Realm. Thank you for informing me of the truth.”

Yun Ze was confused.

What truth? Hadn’t he said nothing?

“I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll visit the Celestial Pivot Department another day,” Ming Jian Su said, emphasizing the word “visit.”

Yun Ze returned to his chariot in a daze and hurried back to Kunlun Mountain, his chariot crackling with thunder and lightning. It wasn’t until he was halfway there that he suddenly snapped out of it.

Ming Jian Su had risen from the dead! Did the other immortals know? He no longer cared about the “murder case” in Danxue Mountain. He hastily took out the Chaos Mirror and sent messages to all his fellow Daoists who had exchanged name seals with him. Then, he posted a message in the public pavilion of the Chaos Mirror.

Ming Jian Su was back. Those who were hoping to see Feng Chiyue suffer a tragic fate would be disappointed.

However, the comments below were different from what he had expected.

— Ah, the heavens have eyes.

— The East Abode Master is back! Does that mean she won’t leave Dong’e Mountain again? She’ll be like before, won’t she?

— The Celestial Feather Ministry… can it return to normal?

 

Chapter 27 p2

In Dong’e Mountain.

Zhu Wan was frantically searching for Feng Chiyue. With so many enemies, her late return was a cause for concern. She might be in danger. The Phoenixes had relented and agreed to help search, but after two hours, there was still no sign of her. Where could she have gone? Should they ask the Heavenly Court for help?

“What are you looking for?”

As Zhu Wan turned around, a familiar voice reached her ears, and she almost burst into tears of joy.

“Where have you been? Why are you back so late?” She had been afraid that the next day, the Heavenly Court would summon her to identify a body. If that happened, how could she face her Master?

Feng Chiyue’s lips moved, and two words came out: “Romantic encounter.”

Zhu Wan’s face froze. She studied Feng Chiyue from head to toe. “Are you joking?” she asked tentatively. As far as she knew, no one, except her Master, could catch Feng Chiyue’s eye. This one even dared to scold the Heavenly Emperor. What kind of beauty could earn the word “romantic” from her? Could it be that after causing so much trouble for Dong’e Mountain, she was planning to run away?! The thought filled Zhu Wan with horror. Feng Chiyue had no bottom line. She wouldn’t be surprised by anything.

Feng Chiyue didn’t care what Zhu Wan thought. She flicked her sleeve and returned to the Dharma Hall, reclining on her couch and channeling some magical power into the black box. Hearing Ming Jian Su’s voice, she closed her eyes, her body relaxing. She couldn’t be bothered to be angry. Compared to the past, the present was far more important. Ming Jian Su was back. She could be carefree and irresponsible again.

A breeze rustled the leaves of the peach tree, its shadow swaying gently.

Zhu Wan stood under the tree, staring at the fallen blossoms, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Ming Jian Su, upon returning, saw Zhu Wan lost in her own world. “What are you doing here?” she asked curiously.

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhu Wan thought it was coming from the black box in the hall. But then, she realized something was wrong. The voice from the black box wouldn’t be so calm and peaceful. It would be filled with longing and desire. She snapped out of her daze and looked up, her neck cracking as she did so.

Zhu Wan: “…”

Ming Jian Su gently adjusted her neck and said softly, “Go back and rest.”

“Yes, Master,” Zhu Wan mumbled, her body stiff. She walked away, her steps awkward, her mind still hazy. Her Master had returned from the dead, but she spoke so casually, as if she had just returned from a day of work.

Had her Master leaving Dong’e Mountain been a hallucination? She looked back and saw her Master standing tall, her gaze fixed on the Dharma Hall, her expression unreadable. Why wasn’t she going in? Had something really happened to her? Was this just her soul or a phantom? Was she afraid of upsetting Feng Chiyue? Zhu Wan’s mind raced with wild thoughts. She didn’t dare approach Ming Jian Su again.

Whether it was real or not, if she dared to cry out or hug her Master’s leg, Feng Chiyue would definitely throw her out of Dong’e Mountain.

Ming Jian Su was unaware that in Zhu Wan’s eyes, she looked like a wandering soul.

With her cultivation, she could easily hear the sounds coming from the hall.

She actually regretted giving Understanding to Feng Chiyue because she hadn’t anticipated what Feng Chiyue would do with it. Her intention had been to provide some entertainment for Feng Chiyue while she was away on official business. However, Feng Chiyue had come up with other ideas, using Understanding at inappropriate times, claiming it was for “flirting.”

Didn’t she, Ming Jian Su, have any shame?!

If she entered the hall now… she didn’t even need to think about what would happen.

Inside the hall.

Feng Chiyue knew Ming Jian Su was outside. She didn’t call out to her, but instead, took out a brush and paper and muttered to herself, “Only hearing the voice but not seeing the person is not perfect. Elder Sister almost stepped out of the painting before, but Undefeated ruined it. Now’s the perfect opportunity. I can have as many Elder Sisters as I want.”

Ming Jian Su: “?” For someone as lazy as Feng Chiyue to actually do this, it meant she was serious. She was right outside, and Feng Chiyue wanted to summon a painting spirit that looked exactly like her for entertainment? That was unacceptable! Ming Jian Su didn’t hesitate. She took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and strode into the hall.

The brush touched the paper, and wisps of spiritual energy swirled around it. A fake Ming Jian Su was about to emerge from the painting. Ming Jian Su panicked. She rushed forward and slammed her hand onto the painting, suppressing the gathering spiritual energy. A painting spirit? Fine, but it would stay trapped in the painting forever.

Feng Chiyue glanced at her sideways.

Ming Jian Su sighed softly, surrendering immediately. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have run away in anger. I shouldn’t have hidden in Asura City for so long. I should have come back the moment you were bullied. But–” she quickly added, aren’t you also at fault, Junior Sister? You hid things from me. I actually thought you were weak and helpless.”

Feng Chiyue shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, I was wrong. So what? Kill me.”

Ming Jian Su: “…” Heaven and earth could bear witness! Apart from accidentally injuring Feng Chiyue during their sparring sessions in the past, she had never hit her, okay? How had it escalated to “kill”?

Feng Chiyue fiddled with Understanding and said slowly, “I understand. You left your weak and vulnerable Junior Sister alone in the Heavenly Court, facing all those hardships, just to train her, to make her dance on the edge of death a few times, so she could understand your good intentions.”

Ming Jian Su felt a pang of guilt.

But she quickly recovered. Dance on the edge of death? Whose death? Even if Feng Chiyue was truly weak, she had left behind enough protection for her—although now it seemed completely unnecessary.

Ming Jian Su wisely changed the subject. “Your Grand Unity Fiery Light is quite impressive, Junior Sister.” It was a technique she had forcefully obtained from Phoenix Mountain, a move that had further strained the already tense relationship between Dong’e Mountain and Phoenix Mountain. But she didn’t regret it. Her junior sister was a Phoenix. What was wrong with her cultivating the Grand Unity Fiery Light? Those guys from Phoenix Mountain were too stingy.

Feng Chiyue blinked. “It’s not as good as your Heavenly Dao Sword Stance, Elder Sister.”

Ming Jian Su couldn’t tell if it was genuine praise or sarcasm. Based on past experience, the best solution was to shut Feng Chiyue up.

But she still voiced her small request. “Junior Sister, can you put Understanding away?”

She didn’t want to hear her own voice whispering sweet nothings from Understanding at a crucial moment.

Feng Chiyue pondered for a moment, then agreed. After all, they had argued about this before. Compared to Ming Jian Su disappearing again, putting Understanding away was clearly the better option.

—

In Danxue Mountain.

The disappearance of twenty to thirty immortals, including Bi Feng, was unusual. When the various lineages checked their life flames and discovered that they had all been extinguished, they were horrified and couldn’t sleep.

In such a short time, dozens of immortals had died silently! They tried to use divination techniques to retrace Bi Feng and the others’ final moments, but all they saw was a vast emptiness, devoid of any clues. The elders of Danxue Mountain gathered for a meeting, even summoning Chang Li. Apart from the calamity a thousand years ago, they had never suffered such a large-scale loss.

“According to the Chaos Mirror, that little immortal from Dong’e Mountain is looking for Feng Chiyue. Could she be responsible?” Most of the deceased were officials who had been dismissed from the Celestial Feather Ministry and held deep grudges against Feng Chiyue. However, the idea that Feng Chiyue alone could wipe out a group of feathered immortals was too far-fetched.

“Does she have the ability?” someone retorted. It wasn’t that they wanted to defend Feng Chiyue, but among the deceased, some, like Bi Feng, were quite capable.

“Perhaps Feng Chiyue alone couldn’t do it, but what about with Phoenix Mountain’s help?” an elder suggested, a cold smile on his lips. If something major happened in Danxue Mountain, those from Phoenix Mountain would surely be delighted.

“But Feng Chiyue doesn’t seem to be close to Phoenix Mountain.” After all, after she became the Celestial Feather Minister, the Phoenixes hadn’t benefited at all. Instead, they had been harshly suppressed.

“Perhaps it’s just a facade,” the Vermilion Bird elder said. He turned to Chang Li, who had remained silent, and asked, “What are your thoughts?”

Chang Li massaged her forehead, her brow furrowed. Recommending Feng Chiyue as a gate emissary had been a mistake. They had underestimated her. Who could have imagined that she would be so cunning and ruthless? Her face hardened. “Let the Celestial Pivot Department handle this,” she said coldly. The Celestial Pivot Department was in charge of justice and punishment in the Heavenly Court. All major cases were handled by them.

The next day.

The elders of Danxue Mountain went to the Celestial Pivot Department to file a complaint.

Among the three major departments, the Celestial Pivot Department was considered a relatively idle one. Many matters were resolved privately among immortals and never reached their ears, preventing unnecessary gossip. As usual, Dao Ling Star Monarch, the head of the Celestial Pivot Department, didn’t show his face. The elders were greeted by his deputy, Junior Monarch Yun Ze. Yun Ze appeared relaxed and indifferent, but after hearing the elders’ description, his expression changed drastically. He immediately dispatched officials to Phoenix Mountain and Dong’e Mountain to apprehend the suspects.

In Dong’e Mountain.

Feng Chiyue was in a good mood. She woke up with her arms no longer empty, and the inexplicable melancholy that often plagued her had vanished as she embraced Ming Jian Su. She poked Ming Jian Su’s cheek, waking her from her sweet dreams. “You obtained a new sword called Eternal Calamity, right?” she asked.

Ming Jian Su mumbled a response, her eyelids heavy with sleep. Although that embarrassing artifact, Understanding, was gone, Feng Chiyue always found other ways to torment her. In her daze, she had agreed to try a dual cultivation technique that involved intertwining their consciousnesses. The result… they were both addicted. Their cultivation had improved, but their bodies were exhausted, lacking any energy.

Feng Chiyue frowned and popped an elixir into Ming Jian Su’s mouth.

Ming Jian Su swallowed it without resistance. She opened her sleepy eyes and asked hoarsely, “What kind of elixir is this?”

“Tonic,” Feng Chiyue replied succinctly. She fed her another elixir. Before Ming Jian Su could ask, she explained, “For your throat.”

A hoarse voice was unpleasant.

After Ming Jian Su absorbed the medicinal power, Feng Chiyue pulled her up and draped a robe over her shoulders.

Ming Jian Su looked at Feng Chiyue suspiciously. In the past, she was always the one attending to Feng Chiyue. Why was Feng Chiyue dressing her now? Something was amiss. What was she planning? Could it be that in broad daylight—no, she couldn’t agree to that. She had been hiding for so long and still had to report to the Heavenly Emperor.

Feng Chiyue didn’t beat around the bush. “I saw the phoenix feathers on the sword’s hilt. Where did you get them?” If she remembered correctly, Ming Jian Su had tried to steal her feathers several times. Could it be that unable to obtain them from her, she had taken them from another Phoenix? Unacceptable! She wouldn’t allow a second Phoenix to appear in Dong’e Mountain!

Ming Jian Su, relieved that it wasn’t what she had feared, replied, “They were already on the sword.”

Feng Chiyue stared at her. “Then why did you keep them?”

Ming Jian Su explained helplessly, “I tried to remove them, but they’re integrated with the sword. If the feathers are damaged, the sword will be destroyed.”

Feng Chiyue didn’t think Ming Jian Su would lie about this. She thought for a moment and said, “Don’t you already have Undefeated? Why do you need another sword, Eternal Calamity? How many life-bound swords do you have?” Before Ming Jian Su could answer, she glared at her, her voice filled with accusation. “You’re two-timing!”

Ming Jian Su: “…” After encountering Eternal Calamity, she had realized that she couldn’t resist the allure of a good sword. She had only had one before because she hadn’t found any others worthy of her attention.

“Junior Sister, let me explain.” Ming Jian Su’s mind worked quickly. She had learned about Undefeated’s miserable experience handling documents and felt no sympathy, instead using it as an excuse. “We can train Eternal Calamity to be as powerful as Undefeated. It can do many things for you, Junior Sister,” she said earnestly.

“Hiring attendants requires paying them Cinnabar Jade, elixirs, and robes. But a sword doesn’t need any of that.”

Chapter 27 p1

Inside Heaven in a Pot.

Bi Feng, the Vermilion Birds, and the other feathered immortals channeled their magical powers, resisting the effects of the Phoenixes’ Virtuous Sound. Undefeated split into countless sword lights, swirling and clashing with their various magical artifacts.

Bi Feng and the others looked for an opportunity, slowly approaching Feng Chiyue. Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning erupted, and a wave of fire surged towards them, a fiery cloud spanning over thirty feet. A scorching heat washed over them.

Bi Feng, experienced and observant, abruptly stopped, channeling his magical power forward to counter the fiery cloud. “Be careful, everyone! This is the Grand Unity Fiery Light!” he shouted, warning his companions.

The fiery light surged towards them like a raging river, its power immense. The immortal at the forefront was caught in its path. His protective aura shattered, his skin ripped apart. He cried out in pain and hastily retreated. But the fiery light was fast, catching up to them in an instant. It swept over them, leaving a trail of blood and gore in its wake.

Feng Chiyue was also surprised. She had just been testing it out. This technique was something Ming Jian Su had forced her to learn, stolen from somewhere unknown. She hadn’t expected it to be so powerful. She blinked, not restraining her power, but instead, unleashing it further. The fiery cloud expanded, spanning over a hundred feet.

The immortals, initially confident, were now panicking. They had to deal with both Undefeated, which darted around unpredictably, and the devastating fiery light. After several of their companions were killed or injured, Bi Feng finally found an opportunity to approach Feng Chiyue.

He roared, hurling a short spear towards her. The spear gleamed silver, its flight accompanied by a rumbling sound, carrying immense force as it hurtled towards its target.

Feng Chiyue, focused on chasing the other immortals with the fiery light, didn’t even turn to look at the spear. Her eyelid twitched, and a red mark appeared on her forehead, transforming into a crimson sword light.

The sword light clashed with the spear, producing a grating sound. The silver light on the spear shattered, sliced apart by the sword light, leaving nothing behind. Bi Feng watched in horror, his heart pounding.

How did Feng Chiyue have another sword?

Having suffered repeated setbacks, Bi Feng lost all his fighting spirit. He didn’t dare stay any longer. He channeled his magical power and prepared to flee, shouting as he flew, “Fellow Daoist, deactivate Heaven in a Pot!” But his cry received no response. There were still about ten immortals left, but the one who controlled Heaven in a Pot was gone, obliterated without a trace.

A mocking smile appeared on Feng Chiyue’s lips. She squinted at the Grand Unity Fiery Light, like a child who had just discovered a new toy, playing with it gleefully. The golden-red light darted around erratically, its fiery energy filling the air. Bi Feng and the others, who had been so smug before, were now forced to flee in all directions, their dignity shattered.

Left and right, the fiery light attacked relentlessly. It tore through their protective auras and even their flesh and blood, leaving them pale and wounded. They saw a chilling indifference and cruelty in Feng Chiyue’s eyes.

Bi Feng cursed, and a look of desperation appeared in his eyes. He stopped running and roared, his body engulfed in a crimson light, like a blood shadow! A high-pitched cry pierced the sky, and a Bifang image materialized behind him.

But before it could even reach the raging fiery light, the Bifang image let out a shrill scream. A sword light descended from above, slicing it in half. The accumulated magical power dissipated before it could even be unleashed, scattered like dust in the wind.

The remaining immortals looked up, their gazes fixed not on Undefeated, but on the pale hand gripping its hilt. Their eyes slowly traveled up the arm, and they saw a female immortal dressed in a blue Daoist robe, wearing a lotus crown. A light blue cape fluttered gently in the wind. Her eyes were cold, as if looking at insignificant ants.

It was Ming Jian Su, the East Abode Master!

Wasn’t she dead? Hadn’t they said there was no trace of her on the battlefield? Why was she here now?

Silence descended upon the world.

After a moment, a mocking voice rang out.

“My dear Elder Sister, if you had been any later, I wouldn’t even need to bury the bodies.”

Ming Jian Su stiffened, feeling a surge of nervousness. She knew that upon returning to the Heavenly Court, the most difficult hurdle would be Feng Chiyue.

That sarcastic tone… as expected of her junior sister, always true to her nature.

“There won’t be any bodies,” Ming Jian Su said.

Most of these feathered immortals were from Danxue Mountain: Vermilion Birds, Bifangs, Swan Geese… To avoid future trouble, she needed to erase all traces. Heaven in a Pot… good, they had dug their own graves. If she hadn’t mastered the “Heaven and Man as One” technique of the Heavenly Dao Sword Stance, if Undefeated wasn’t connected to her and also present here, she wouldn’t have been able to break through Heaven in a Pot.

Without waiting for Feng Chiyue to speak, Ming Jian Su swung Undefeated. “Heaven and Earth Return to Origin” swept forward, and everything in its path vanished instantly. Not even their robes or Qiankun bags remained, let alone their flesh and bones. Everything was obliterated by the terrifying sword intent, leaving no trace behind.

There was no sarcasm, no praise. Only silence behind her. Ming Jian Su bit her lip, preparing herself mentally before turning around. “Junior Sister,” she called out.

Feng Chiyue ignored her. She was playing with a jade pot, the artifact that controlled Heaven in a Pot, which she had snatched from an unknown feathered immortal. When Ming Jian Su reached her, she tossed the jade pot to her and stared at her silently.

“I-I didn’t mean to stay away for so long,” Ming Jian Su stammered, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a lie, putting in as much effort as she did when practicing her swordsmanship. She summoned Eternal Calamity, the sword she had accidentally obtained, and her words flowed more smoothly.

After all, eighty percent of it was true. As for the rest, it was just embellishment and omission. Could that be considered lying? “I accidentally fell into a crevice on the battlefield and received a fortuitous encounter. That’s where I found this sword. The inheritance within the sword–” Before she could finish, a sharp clang interrupted her. Undefeated had struck Eternal Calamity. The two swords clashed, sparks flying.

Ming Jian Su: “…”

Feng Chiyue grabbed Undefeated, a smile playing on her lips. “The Dao begets one, one begets two, two begets three… who said that, Elder Sister? You’ll have thousands upon thousands of swords in the future. What’s so special about this one?” At her words, Undefeated trembled, and Ming Jian Su, as its master, could sense its “sadness.” Before ascending, she would have comforted her precious sword, but now, she could barely handle Feng Chiyue. She muttered a few perfunctory words and stored both swords in her Purple Mansion.

“Junior Sister, are you angry?” she asked cautiously.

Feng Chiyue glanced at her and said nonchalantly, “Why would I be angry? I wouldn’t waste my energy on someone who’s already dead.”

Ming Jian Su, who was supposedly dead: “…” No, she couldn’t keep giving in. Wasn’t it both their fault that she had run away? If Feng Chiyue hadn’t angered her, would she have acted so impulsively? Besides, her junior sister hadn’t apologized yet! And she had lied too! Couldn’t they just call it even, considering how much she had suffered?

By the time Ming Jian Su emerged from her internal turmoil, night had fallen, and Feng Chiyue was gone.

Chapter 26 p2

In Danxue Mountain, the immortals who were waiting for Feng Chiyue’s downfall were furious.

Feng Chiyue still had time to insult people on the Chaos Mirror every day. She didn’t seem busy at all.

They questioned Bi Feng, and as expected, regardless of the chaos within the Celestial Feather Ministry, Feng Chiyue remained carefree, as if she were on vacation.

“If we wait any longer, no one will remember us.”

“The Heavenly Mechanism Department won’t seek justice for us. If that’s the case, we’ll take matters into our own hands!”

“What are your plans, fellow Daoists?”

“If we join forces, can’t we defeat Feng Chiyue?”

“I have an artifact called ‘Heaven in a Pot.’ It can temporarily pull the battlefield into a separate dimension. That way, the Heavenly Court won’t notice. Once Feng Chiyue is dead, it’ll be too late for the Heavenly Emperor to punish us.”

“The elders suspect that Ming Jian Su isn’t dead. What if–”

“It’s been a while, and there’s still no sign of her. It means she’s already dead. There’s no need to worry. Feng Chiyue might have some skills, but if thirty Heavenly Immortals join forces, can’t we defeat her?”

“It’s settled then. In two days, when Feng Chiyue returns to Dong’e Mountain, we’ll strike!”

On the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms.

Not only were the Vermilion Birds, Swan Geese, and other feathered immortals from Danxue Mountain searching for traces of Ming Jian Su, but the disciples of Ming Yuheng, the North Star Lord, were also involved.

They scoured the battlefield, their presence impossible to miss. The demons, usually arrogant, chose to avoid them, retreating to the Demon Abyss and reporting the news to Tushan Liusu, the current Demon Sovereign.

The Immortal and Demon Realms were separated by a river, with the battlefield between them. Beyond the battlefield and the Demon Abyss lay the territory of the demons. The creatures of the Demon Realm were bizarre and grotesque, with bulging foreheads, wings, horns… They had evolved their own forms, using humans as a reference point, but there was always a lingering sense of crudeness about them, distinct from the fallen Human Immortals and Demon Immortals.

In a vast hall, a woman dressed in a red and white robe sat on a throne made of thorny bones, her nine snow-white fox tails swaying gracefully. However, none of the demons prostrating themselves before her dared to look up. This fox might seem delicate and harmless on the surface, but she was actually ruthless and cruel.

The demons had always revered strength. After the previous Demon Sovereign, Ming Ji, was slain by Suxin Jianzhu, his subordinates had fought amongst themselves for the throne. Many demons had believed that the Left General would become the new Demon Sovereign, but in the end, it was this nine-tailed fox who had fallen from the Immortal Realm and ascended to the position of supreme authority.

The blood of the renowned Left General had been used to create a carpet leading to the throne. His spirit had been obliterated, and his skull and bones had been refined into the throne itself, becoming a macabre ornament to Tushan Liusu’s power.

“The Heavenly Court is looking for Ming Jian Su, is that right?” Tushan Liusu asked casually. The rumors outside claimed that Ming Jian Su had fought against a group of demons on the battlefield and perished. However, the demons knew the truth. None of them had encountered Ming Jian Su. They believed that it was an internal conflict within the Immortal Realm, and the blame had been shifted onto them.

“Yes,” a demon replied, his voice deep and guttural. “Sovereign, should we send demon generals to kill them all?”

“There’s no need to kill them. It’s not the right time to start a war. But we can obstruct them,” Tushan Liusu said, playing with her fingernails, a casual smile on her lips.

With her command, the demons who had been lingering near the Demon Abyss crossed the boundary and entered the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the immortals who had been diligently searching for Ming Jian Su finally found a clue: a slip of paper protected by several formations, hidden within a crevice in a rock.

“What does it say?”

The immortal official who first obtained the paper turned red, struggling to speak. Finally, she squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth. “I quit.”

“What?!” A fellow Daoist beside her glared at her and snatched the paper. But after a single glance, his expression also changed. The paper bore a name seal. It was undoubtedly the East Abode Master’s. But what did it mean? Was she still alive? Should they inform the Heavenly Court? As he hesitated, a deafening boom shook the air, and a wave of turbid energy, like a black river, surged towards them.

“Demons!” someone shouted. For now, they couldn’t worry about the paper.

The news of the clash between immortals and demons on the battlefield quickly reached the Heavenly Court, and Ming Jian Su’s whereabouts were forgotten. The Heavenly Court didn’t take the conflict seriously. Such incidents happened every now and then. As long as it wasn’t a major war like the one a thousand years ago, they could remain comfortably seated on Kunlun Mountain, their hearts and minds unperturbed.

However, even if they didn’t intervene, the matter still had to be discussed on the Chaos Mirror. Both officials and wandering immortals enjoyed expressing their opinions on warfare. Feng Chiyue also saw the news about the battlefield.

For a moment, she thought of Zhu Wan’s words. Could Ming Jian Su really be injured? Could she be in the hands of the demons? She frowned, her expression hardening. But then, she relaxed again.

If Ming Jian Su could send Undefeated away, she couldn’t be in any real danger. She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. Her golden chariot sped through the swirling clouds. Suddenly, Undefeated buzzed, and the energy around them shifted subtly.

Feng Chiyue, sitting in the chariot, narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. She lifted the curtain and stepped out. The celestial horses, conjured from magical power, pawed the ground restlessly, snorting and panting. The scenery looked the same as before, but the real had shifted into the illusory. This was… Heaven in a Pot! She quickly figured it out. She smoothed the wrinkles on her sleeve and said calmly, “Are you going to come out?”

As her words faded, a chorus of bird cries rang out. The feathered immortals who had been hiding in the shadows revealed themselves.

Feng Chiyue glanced at them. Apart from Bi Feng, whose name she remembered, the others were only vaguely familiar.

“Feng Chiyue, you violated the rules of the Celestial Feather Ministry and dismissed officials without cause. We can’t tolerate you any longer,” a Swan Goose immortal shouted, his expression cold, his eyes burning with fury. “Blame–”

A spurt of blood splattered like an arrow.

A head flew into the air, then crashed to the ground. The body collapsed, blood oozing from the wound. Before the severed head and body could be reattached, the surging sword intent extinguished all life.

Feng Chiyue’s right hand was hidden within her sleeve. She smiled at the crowd before her. “What were you saying? I didn’t hear you clearly. Why aren’t you speaking? Don’t you want to say it anymore?”

The feathered immortals hadn’t expected her to kill without hesitation. They exchanged stunned glances, their hearts chilled. They had come here with the intention of killing Feng Chiyue. Now, they couldn’t let her escape.

“Attack!” Bi Feng shouted, his scalp tingling, a wave of fear washing over him. The previous scenes flashed through his mind. He looked at Feng Chiyue, his eyes filled with apprehension. He alone might fear that sword, but if they all retreated, they would be a laughingstock.

Feng Chiyue wasn’t afraid of them. She tilted her head and chuckled. “It’s not good to kill in public. But here in Heaven in a Pot… you’ve even chosen your own graves. How thoughtful of you.” Her tone was sincere, as if she were genuinely praising them. The bells on her chariot jingled incessantly with the fluctuations of energy. A high-pitched phoenix cry pierced the sky, and a magnificent phoenix image materialized behind Feng Chiyue. Many of the immortals present were of the Phoenix lineage. They could also produce a phoenix cry, but hearing this one, they could barely resist the urge to submit.

“Virtuous Sound…” Bi Feng murmured, a sense of foreboding gripping his heart. The suspicion he had previously dismissed resurfaced, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. He raised his voice and shouted, “Fellow Daoists, guard your minds! This is the Phoenixes’ Virtuous Sound!”

—

In the crevice on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms.

Ming Jian Su was immersed in the profound sword intent, vaguely aware of the sounds of fighting outside. She gradually absorbed the strands of sword intent that bound her, and finally, her legs were free. As she absorbed the last trace of sword intent, she jumped to her feet and flicked her sleeve, storing the now-subdued Eternal Calamity.

Whenever she was conscious and free, Ming Jian Su would channel her consciousness into the Chaos Mirror, searching for news about Feng Chiyue.

Seeing the changes in the Celestial Feather Ministry, she felt no surprise, believing that anything was possible.

But then, she noticed a message with very few replies.

Wasn’t that name seal… her registered disciple, Zhu Wan’s?

— Has anyone seen my Immortal Monarch?

After she left Dong’e Mountain, the only person Zhu Wan would address as “Immortal Monarch” was Feng Chiyue, right? Or had Zhu Wan found a new master?

Below was an unfamiliar name seal. “The Master has left the Celestial Feather Ministry,” it said.

Alright, Ming Jian Su was certain that Zhu Wan was talking about Feng Chiyue.

But where could she have gone besides Dong’e Mountain? Feng Chiyue didn’t bother socializing. She had no close friends to discuss the Dao with. Of course, she also disdained associating with those immortals.

Ming Jian Su frowned and focused, sensing Undefeated’s aura. Undefeated was her life-bound sword… one of them. It was connected to her mind and soul, and she could sense its state. As she sensed it, her expression darkened, her face clouding with anger like an approaching storm!

The energy fluctuations from the sword were intense, tinged with killing intent.

She knew Feng Chiyue wouldn’t bother sparring or fighting anyone. That left only one possibility: someone was bullying her! They might even be trying to kill her!

Conflicts were common in the Immortal Realm, but very few escalated to life-or-death battles.

Who was so audacious?! Damn them!

 

Chapter 26 p1

With almost half of the officials gone from the Celestial Feather Ministry, the incessant chatter and noise subsided, bringing Feng Chiyue some peace and quiet.

In the following days, Bi Feng didn’t try to make things difficult for Feng Chiyue, wisely steering clear of the storm she had created.

While Feng Chiyue reveled in her newfound tranquility, the dismissed officials seethed with anger. Being humiliated on the Chaos Mirror was a minor inconvenience, but losing their positions and income was a major blow. Both the emissaries and attendants had certain authority, which they used to gain benefits far exceeding their official salaries. Feng Chiyue’s actions had cut off their source of wealth, making her their sworn enemy.

“I’ve already informed our fellow Daoists to slow down their work. Once the Celestial Feather Ministry grinds to a halt, she’ll have to beg us to come back,” one of them said.

“But what if she recruits from other lineages?”

“Which lineage would dare oppose us?!” another official snapped. The one who had asked the question fell silent. Smaller lineages wouldn’t dare, but the problem was that there might be a traitorous fool within their own ranks!

With almost half of its officials gone, the Celestial Feather Ministry did encounter some problems. However, it wasn’t Feng Chiyue who suffered. It was Que Chen Yi, who was now working from dawn till dusk, exhausted and overwhelmed. The only consolation was that Feng Chiyue didn’t deduct her salary and even approved several bonuses. But could Cinnabar Jade compensate for lost time? She started to question her decision to join the Celestial Feather Ministry. Wouldn’t it have been better to remain a free and carefree titmouse? Being an official sounded impressive, but that was about it.

“Minister,” she called out weakly, “the numbers for the various lineages of the feathered race don’t add up. We don’t have enough people to send to their territories to verify the counts.”

“Why do we need to send people?” Feng Chiyue asked, looking up.

Que Chen Yi: “…” How did this person even become the Celestial Feather Minister? She forced a smile and explained, “The lineages have to provide laborers. The Celestial Feather Hall needs to confirm their population numbers. In the past, the Celestial Feather Emissaries or attendants would handle this, but now, they say they’re too busy.”

Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow. “Can’t the lineages report their own numbers?”

Que Chen Yi massaged her forehead and sighed. “The numbers aren’t accurate.”

Feng Chiyue chuckled coldly. “And you think the numbers would be accurate if a Celestial Feather Emissary went there?” Everyone knew that officials were easily bribed. She didn’t want to listen to Que Chen Yi’s lengthy explanation. “Tell them to report their numbers. We’ll randomly select some lineages for inspection. If any lineage has more members than reported, kill them all!” Her voice was filled with killing intent, leaving no room for doubt.

Que Chen Yi remained silent for a moment, then nodded stiffly. “Alright,” she said. Then, she brought up another problem. Seeing Feng Chiyue’s darkening expression, she felt a surge of fear, worried that Undefeated would slice her in half. But despite her fear, she had to speak.

Her words, initially hesitant, became increasingly fluent. Finally, she sighed. “The Carriage Hall provides transportation for immortals, but now, we have immortals requesting rides, but no one to pull the carriages. We’ve inquired with the lineages, but they’re all passing the buck. The emissaries who had good relationships with the lineages have been dismissed, and the remaining ones have no connections.”

Feng Chiyue knew that the Celestial Feather Ministry had a Carriage Hall, but she hadn’t paid much attention to it. After hearing Que Chen Yi’s explanation, she finally understood its purpose. “Humans are asking our feathered race to be their beasts of burden?” she asked, puzzled.

“It’s not just humans. All races need transportation. And it’s not just the feathered race who provide it. There are other beast spirits as well. They prefer cranes, phoenixes, dragons, tigers, lions, and elephants,” Que Chen Yi replied.

“Why doesn’t anyone crawl on the ground and offer themselves as beasts of burden? Don’t they like it?” Feng Chiyue asked.

Que Chen Yi didn’t know how to answer. This was how it had always been for the past thousand years.

“How much Cinnabar Jade do they earn for being beasts of burden?” Feng Chiyue asked.

Que Chen Yi thought for a moment. “It depends on the generosity of the immortals.” An elder from her clan had once served as a beast of burden and received five hundred Cinnabar Jade from a wealthy immortal. She had heard that some lucky ones even received tens of thousands. But receiving Cinnabar Jade wasn’t the greatest fortune. If an immortal took a liking to them and accepted them as a servant or even a direct disciple, they wouldn’t have to wait for selection and could become an attendant directly. If the immortal they served was high-ranking, their path to advancement would be smooth, and their lives would be much more glamorous than those stuck in the Celestial Feather Ministry.

“And you’re proud of this, aren’t you?” Feng Chiyue said mockingly. She didn’t care about those people. “From now on, the minimum price for a beast of burden from the Carriage Hall is fifty Cinnabar Jade per hour. The price can be set by the beasts of burden themselves. The Celestial Feather Ministry will take a tenth of their earnings, and the rest belongs to them.” Those immortals were getting transportation from her ministry for free. It was too cheap.

Que Chen Yi: “…” She hadn’t expected this one to have a knack for making money. “If we do that, the immortals will just go to the Four Seas Ministry or the White Tiger Ministry,” she said, concerned.

Feng Chiyue chuckled. “Good riddance. Less noise for us.”

Regardless of Que Chen Yi’s thoughts, she could only follow Feng Chiyue’s orders. The announcement was posted outside the hall and also on the Chaos Mirror. This angered some immortals who enjoyed showing off their wealth. It wasn’t that they were unwilling to pay, but giving willingly and being forced to pay were two different things. “Why should we pay them Cinnabar Jade?” one immortal commented.

However, his comment received little support and was met with a barrage of insults. It wasn’t just the feathered race, but also the aquatic race and the beast race who were dissatisfied with the current rules. Yes, some lucky ones were chosen by immortals, but those were a minority. The announcement from the Celestial Feather Ministry clearly benefited those who served as “beasts of burden.” Besides, would the immortals who valued them really give up just because they became more expensive?

In any case, after the announcement, the lineages that had been persuaded by those with ulterior motives immediately sent their fastest fliers, those with elegant true forms and beautiful feathers, to the Carriage Hall to wait. If they were late, they might miss their chance.

The problem was half-solved, but Feng Chiyue wasn’t happy. Que Chen Yi’s occasional complaints about the inefficiency of the officials fueled her anger. Why couldn’t those incompetent fools do anything right? Since Ming Jian Su’s disappearance, her troubles had only multiplied, becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

Undefeated, seeing Feng Chiyue’s gloomy mood, spun around the hall, emanating sharp sword intent, as if wanting to slay all those who weren’t working. However, Feng Chiyue didn’t command it. Even if she killed one batch, another would appear. The troubles would be endless.

She sighed and contacted Chang Huai, an unremarkable refining attendant from the Dragon Cauldron Palace in the Heavenly Prosperity Department, through the Chaos Mirror.

Without any backing, no matter how skilled she was, it was difficult to gain a foothold in the Dragon Cauldron Palace. Chang Huai had long understood this, but she had discovered that without status or connections, she couldn’t get promoted and couldn’t even receive any other orders. She had posted several messages on the Chaos Mirror, but they had quickly sunk without a trace, ignored by everyone.

Just as she was about to give up, a message from Feng Chiyue pulled her out of her despair. Without hesitation, she abandoned the menial task she had been working on, excused herself, and rushed to the Celestial Feather Ministry.

The emissaries in the Dragon Cauldron Palace had initially intended to stop her, but upon hearing the words “Celestial Feather Ministry,” they immediately abandoned the idea. After all, with the Supreme Palace, the West Sea, and the Morning Sun Assembly as precedents, they didn’t want to provoke that fiend.

“I need an artifact,” Feng Chiyue said as soon as Chang Huai arrived at the Celestial Feather Hall. Chang Huai glanced at her and saw resentment and coldness in her eyes. She quickly lowered her head and said respectfully, “Tell me what you need.”

“I want it to encompass the entire Carriage Hall. Immortals who come to the Carriage Hall can select their desired beasts of burden directly through the artifact, and the information will be transmitted to the corresponding beasts of burden. It needs to be able to track time, plan routes, issue alerts, calculate Cinnabar Jade… let me think.”

The joy of receiving a major order gradually faded, and Chang Huai’s face stiffened. She couldn’t even force a smile.

Perhaps she should just continue working her meaningless job at the Dragon Cauldron Palace.

After listing her requirements, Feng Chiyue finally noticed Chang Huai’s expression. She sighed dramatically. “You can’t do it? I suppose I shouldn’t expect anything from the officials of the Dragon Cauldron Palace. If only my Elder Sister were here, I wouldn’t need you.”

Her gaze was filled with disdain, instantly triggering Chang Huai’s competitive spirit. She had boasted about her skills back at Dong’e Mountain. If she couldn’t even fulfill this request, it would be even harder to get any jobs and earn Cinnabar Jade in the future. “I can do it!” she declared, afraid that Feng Chiyue would find someone else.

“How many days will it take?” Feng Chiyue asked.

Chang Huai: “…” Was it measured in “days”?

Feng Chiyue smiled at her. “I need a few more artifacts refined. If you’re too busy, I’ll post a request on the Chaos Mirror and hire other skilled refiners.”

How could she possibly give up the food she had already snatched? Chang Huai immediately said confidently, “I can do it! Ten days, no, five days! Give me five days, and I’ll refine this artifact for you!”

Feng Chiyue’s smile widened. She fiddled with the jade ornament on her waist and said, “You should be the one leading the Dragon Cauldron Palace.”

Chang Huai nodded repeatedly, leaving the Celestial Feather Hall in a daze. The wind snapped her out of it. Refining an artifact in five days? That meant working day and night without eating or sleeping. Even then, she might not be able to finish it. How had a few sweet words made her lose her mind? She returned to the Dragon Cauldron Palace, her face etched with worry. Her dejected demeanor attracted curious glances from several attendants. One of them, who had also ascended from the mortal realm, pulled her aside and asked with concern, “Did she give you a hard time?”

“No,” Chang Huai mumbled. She searched the Chaos Mirror for posts about the other unlucky souls who had been summoned by Feng Chiyue. Seeing their misfortune from beginning to end, she sighed in relief. Compared to those who had been beaten or killed, she was lucky. Feng Chiyue had invited her this time. Last time, she had been abducted. It seemed her treatment had improved slightly.

Chapter 25 p3

---

The next morning.

Que Chen Yi went to the Celestial Feather Hall for her duty.

After she had cleaned the tables several times, Feng Chiyue arrived, tossing a stack of dismissal notices onto the table without a word.

Feng Chiyue yawned, sent Undefeated to handle the paperwork, and lay down on her couch, saying lazily, “Take those to the side hall and get them stamped.”

Que Chen Yi was shocked. “Dismiss everyone?” she asked. If that was the case, what was the point of the assessment?

“Keep the dismissal notices for those who passed,” Feng Chiyue said.

Que Chen Yi: “…” Did she write these dismissal notices in advance because she intended to fire all the emissaries and attendants? She offered Feng Chiyue a polite but awkward smile and left with the notices. But before long, she returned, carrying a brocade box on top of the documents.

“The Junior Minister said that you’re the Minister, so you should keep the seal,” she said cautiously, stealing a glance at Feng Chiyue.

Feng Chiyue frowned. “Can’t he even handle being a stamping clerk? Useless!” She didn’t even look at the box. “You do it,” she said.

Que Chen Yi could only obey.

She thought for a moment and understood. Bi Feng had been withholding the Minister’s seal, trying to assert his authority. However, the Minister didn’t seem to care and had simply sent him all the documents that needed stamping. Now, she was dismissing dozens of officials, a move that would undoubtedly offend many. The seal had become a hot potato. Why would Bi Feng want to keep it? With the Minister acting so recklessly, wouldn’t she be finished soon? Should she start preparing to escape?

Lost in her thoughts, Que Chen Yi stamped the dismissal notices. After stamping the last one, she turned to Feng Chiyue, who was smiling brightly. “I’ll deliver these,” she said. After spending a couple of days with Feng Chiyue, she had figured out her personality and didn’t expect a response. But as she was about to leave, a sharp sword hum rang out. Feng Chiyue had sat up at some point. She patted Undefeated’s blade and said, “Let it go.”

Que Chen Yi sighed in relief. She had been afraid of being beaten up by the emissaries and attendants when she delivered the notices. It seemed the Minister still had some humanity. But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Feng Chiyue spoke again.

“No one would listen to you. It would be a waste of time.”

Que Chen Yi: “…” She could have kept that to herself.

Dismissing officials, especially on such a large scale, was unprecedented, both in the Celestial Feather Ministry and the entire Heavenly Court. The emissaries and attendants knew their assessment results weren’t good, but dismissing them solely based on that was too harsh. They suspected that Feng Chiyue was deliberately targeting them because they were from the lineages of Danxue Mountain, who had a thousand-year-old grudge against the Phoenixes.

Naturally, they were dissatisfied. However, Undefeated stood before them, its sword intent so powerful that it felt like it could slice their throats if they uttered a single word. No matter how angry they were, they had to accept their dismissal notices, remove their official hats, and return their seals. But they weren’t going to give up so easily. After leaving the Celestial Feather Hall, they marched towards the main office of the Heavenly Mechanism Department.

The Star Monarch of the Heavenly Mechanism Department didn’t show his face. He sent his deputy, the Junior Monarch, to deal with them. He was secretly grateful that he had gotten rid of Feng Chiyue early on. Otherwise, the main office would have been plagued by her eccentric ideas. However, this matter wouldn’t be resolved simply because the Heavenly Mechanism Department chose to do nothing. Complaints and criticisms filled both the Chaos Mirror and the real world, reaching the ears of the Heavenly Emperor.

The Heavenly Emperor: “…” He knew that Feng Chiyue had been promoted to the Celestial Feather Ministry by the Star Monarch. He had even planned to use her as an example to attract Human Immortals and wandering immortals. Who could have imagined that little Feng Chiyue would cause such a commotion?

Chu Yi, ever eager to prove herself, was the first to praise Feng Chiyue, even suggesting that all departments in the Heavenly Court should follow suit. Unfortunately, her lengthy speech was cut short by the Heavenly Emperor, his face grim.

Changing long-established practices would cause significant upheaval. He provided benefits to the immortals, and they supported him in return. He wasn’t willing to disrupt the current balance of power in the Heavenly Court.

“It’s a matter for the Celestial Feather Ministry. We shouldn’t interfere,” the Star Monarch said, his expression indifferent, as if the fate of other races had nothing to do with him.

“I actually think it’s a good idea. Perhaps the Four Seas Ministry could implement it as well,” a Dragon King chimed in, a jovial smile on his face.

“What are your thoughts, South Vermilion Lord?” the Heavenly Emperor asked. Chang Li, as a Vermilion Bird, was the most representative figure of the feathered race among the Star Monarchs and Generals.

Chang Li smiled. “All lineages of the feathered race are treated equally. It’s very fair.” She didn’t argue or try to gain any advantage for Danxue Mountain. However, as soon as she spoke, the Heavenly Emperor’s expression changed. He certainly didn’t treat all lineages equally. He intended to suppress Phoenix Mountain. That incident had humiliated him and alienated him from his friends and family. He feared the Phoenixes’ resentment.

If Feng Chiyue had been from Phoenix Mountain’s main branch, he would never have allowed her into the Heavenly Mechanism Department. However, he couldn’t voice his true thoughts.

He lowered his eyelids, pondered for a moment, and said, “Minister Feng’s intentions are good, but drastic changes can lead to chaos. We shouldn’t take such a big step all at once. In my opinion, it’s best to suspend the assessment for now. As for those who were dismissed, they have served diligently, even if they haven’t achieved great feats. Let them return to their positions.”

The Heavenly Emperor’s words were law. As he spoke, they formed a decree. However, before the attending Star Monarch could even touch it, it crumbled into stardust.

The Heavenly Emperor’s expression changed drastically. Silence descended upon the hall.

It was Chu Yi who broke the silence, calling out, “Mother.”

Cold moonlight flooded the Purple Empyrean Palace. A female immortal, her face as cold as ice, emerged from the moonlight, her entire body radiating a chilling aura. It was Chu Yi’s mother, the other master of this palace – the Great Yin(Taiyin) Celestial Mother.

The Heavenly Emperor shifted uncomfortably. He forced a smile and said, “Why have you left seclusion?” When he was still the Crown Prince, his Dao companion had devoted most of her energy to cultivation, spending most of her time in seclusion. He had almost forgotten her existence. The last time she had appeared in the Purple Empyrean Palace was over a thousand years ago, when the Phoenix Sovereign had fallen into the Demon Abyss. She had lashed out at him on the Phoenix Sovereign’s behalf, showing no mercy. He had been furious but helpless. Fortunately, she had returned to seclusion soon after, and the matter had been dropped.

“Return to their positions?” the Great Yin Celestial Mother asked coldly.

“You misheard,” the Heavenly Emperor denied hastily. He no longer had any interest in dealing with the Celestial Feather Ministry. He just wanted to send the Great Yin Celestial Mother back to seclusion.

Chang Li remained silent.

The matter wasn’t resolved in the Purple Empyrean Palace, and it was unlikely to be brought up again.

With the Heavenly Court indifferent and the Heavenly Mechanism Department trying to appease both sides, what would the dismissed officials do?

“Chang Li.” A voice whispered in her ear. Chang Li turned and saw Ming Yuheng, the North Star Lord. They weren’t close. She offered him a polite smile and returned his greeting. “Fellow Daoist Yuheng.”

“Many wandering immortals from Danxue Mountain have gone to look for the East Abode Master?” Ming Yuheng asked.

Chang Li was unaware of this. Surprise flickered in her eyes.

Ming Yuheng ignored her reaction and continued, “My disciple is also going. He’ll travel with the fellow Daoists from Danxue Mountain.”

Chang Li: “…” Wasn’t he implying that they were deliberately hiding Ming Jian Su? She wasn’t fond of Human Immortals who ascended from the Immortal Realm. She discreetly took a step back and nodded. “Very well.”

—

In Dong’e Mountain.

Zhu Wan scrolled through the Chaos Mirror, her mood fluctuating like a bucket on a rope.

“Immortal Monarch, they’ve filed a complaint against you with the Heavenly Emperor. The Great Yin Celestial Mother has left seclusion.”

“The Heavenly Mechanism Department is truly skilled at passing the buck.”

“Many people on the Chaos Mirror are cursing you.”

“Many wandering cultivators from Danxue Mountain have appeared on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms. They seem to be searching for a lost treasure belonging to the East Abode Master?”

Zhu Wan’s voice suddenly rose.

Feng Chiyue, who had been indifferent, sat up abruptly, her brow furrowed. “Did Elder Sister have other treasures that I don’t know about?”

Zhu Wan: “…” Were they really doomed? Was that really what she should be focusing on?

“They’re looking for Master. Are they going to silence her?” Zhu Wan asked, her voice lowered, her eyes wide with fear.

“They should be silenced. Their existence is a waste of pure spiritual energy,” Feng Chiyue said without hesitation.

Zhu Wan was speechless. “I’m talking about Master! What if she was injured on the battlefield before? No matter how strong she is, she can’t withstand a siege from those immortals!”

“Don’t think so poorly of immortals,” Feng Chiyue said, glancing at her. “Didn’t you believe that Ming Jian Su was fine before?”

It was normal to worry. Concern naturally led to fear, didn’t it? It had nothing to do with whether there was actual danger. She found Feng Chiyue impossible to reason with, but she still tried to appeal to her conscience, which was barely there. “Aren’t you worried about Master?”

“I am,” Feng Chiyue said.

Zhu Wan sighed in relief. There was still hope.

But then, Feng Chiyue continued in a melancholy tone, “Without her, I’m worried that my alchemy skills will deteriorate.”

Zhu Wan stared at her, dumbfounded. “You know alchemy?” Since she had arrived at Dong’e Mountain, she had never seen Feng Chiyue practice alchemy. Wait, something was wrong! “What does Master’s presence have to do with your alchemy?” she asked.

“Everything,” Feng Chiyue replied matter-of-factly. “The person who eats my elixirs is gone. Why should I bother making them?”

Zhu Wan was speechless. She understood. Apart from her Master, they were all unworthy. So why had she gone to the Supreme Palace to demand elixirs before? Was it just to cause trouble for Jing De Immortal Monarch because she disliked him?

Chapter 25 P2

…

Unrelenting mockery appeared on the Chaos Mirror in the form of cold, heartless words.

Feng Bu Liu’s face flushed red and white, his anger building up like a volcano about to erupt. He had prepared himself for a fight, but what kind of questions had Feng Chiyue asked? Not only had she humiliated him in the hall, but she had also uploaded the jade slips to the Chaos Mirror for public humiliation! How could anyone endure this?

“She’s deliberately making things difficult for me! She doesn’t want me to pass the assessment! What’s the point of knowing those things? They didn’t know them in the past, but they still became officials, didn’t they?” Feng Bu Liu, summoned to the hall, vented his frustrations without restraint, not noticing the change in the elders’ expressions.

“Everyone received the same questions. She didn’t single you out,” Feng Yao said fairly.

Feng Bu Liu’s face stiffened. After a moment, he said angrily, “She’s just being absurd! The Heavenly Court is actually letting a good-for-nothing like her be the Celestial Feather Minister!”

“Silence!” An elder sitting behind the bronze table slammed his cane on the ground. “In the year 1308 of the Heavenly Emperor’s reign,” he said calmly, “an attendant from the Celestial Feather Ministry went to the Man Man tribe. Because he didn’t understand their taboos, he offended them and was skinned and dismembered. Although he survived, he was left to live in endless agony.”

“They’re just savages,” Feng Bu Liu muttered. If no one could answer those questions, it meant that Feng Chiyue’s method was wrong. She was clearly making things difficult for them, wanting to see them make fools of themselves.

The elder looked at him and said, “The Five Phoenixes and Three Feathers are known as the Eight Lineages of the Feathered Race. But in reality, there are thousands of smaller lineages within the feathered race. You know this, right?”

Feng Bu Liu nodded. However, those thousands of smaller lineages only accounted for twenty percent of the feathered race. They were insignificant.

“Then do you know why Chang Li, after leading those lineages in rebellion, couldn’t become the next Phoenix Sovereign?” the elder asked slowly.

“Because she wasn’t strong enough to suppress the entire feathered race,” Feng Bu Liu mumbled.

The elder’s gaze sharpened, piercing Feng Bu Liu like a sword. “Do you think the Phoenix Sovereign relied on brute force to rule the lineages?” he asked, his voice raised. Seeing Feng Bu Liu’s pale face, he continued, “That’s not entirely wrong. But more importantly, the Phoenix Sovereign had a deep understanding of all the lineages of the feathered race and respected their customs and traditions.”

“Wasn’t it to exploit their weaknesses?” Feng Bu Liu asked.

The elder’s face stiffened. After a moment, he exploded. “Shut your mouth!” His chest heaved as he struggled to control his anger. Finally, he pointed at Feng Bu Liu and said, “You, no, all the candidates for selection from the Phoenix, Azure Dragon, Mandarin Duck, and Chongming lineages, go to the library and copy ‘The Records of the Feathered Race’ a hundred times! You’re not allowed to leave until you’re done!”

Feng Bu Liu: “…”

Feng Yao stood beside him, trembling, not daring to speak. She could only offer Feng Bu Liu a helpless look.

There weren’t many voices criticizing Feng Chiyue in Phoenix Mountain, but it was a different story in Danxue Mountain. Both the Vermilion Birds and Bifangs couldn’t understand the purpose of this assessment, convinced that Feng Chiyue was deliberately making their lives difficult. The elders, however, thought more deeply. After the assessment of the candidates for selection, it would be the turn of the attendants and emissaries. Would Feng Chiyue really dismiss those who failed? If so, where did she get the courage? Was she relying solely on the Emperor’s Daughter’s name seal? They knew that although the Emperor’s Daughter had shown her support, she wouldn’t interfere if conflicts arose within the feathered race. Feng Chiyue had Undefeated, but could it withstand a siege from all the other immortals?

“Why is she doing this?” the Vermilion Bird elder asked, searching for a reason.

“She’s even more arrogant and domineering than before,” the Bifang elder said after a moment of thought. “In the past, she only dared to act this way because of Ming Jian Su. So now…”

“Could it be that Ming Jian Su isn’t actually dead, but hiding somewhere, cultivating in secret?” someone voiced the Bifang elder’s suspicion.

“We never found her body. We simply declared her dead based on the assumption that anyone missing for a certain period of time is deceased,” the Vermilion Bird elder said thoughtfully. “Perhaps we should send someone to the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms to search for traces of her.”

“It would be best if she truly is dead.” A collective sigh echoed through the hall. Among the Four Generals of the Heavenly Court, Ming Jian Su was the most formidable. Even Chang Li was overshadowed by her. With her gone, the soldiers under her command now answered directly to the Heavenly Emperor. But if she were still alive, many would be willing to serve her. Among the soldiers, the admiration for strength was deeply ingrained.

—

Feng Chiyue was unaware that someone had already decided to search for Ming Jian Su on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms. She was lying on a hammock under the peach tree, contemplating life.

The attendants and emissaries also had to be assessed, but she didn’t want to bother coming up with new questions. Should she just reuse the previous set? But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she dismissed it. After all, the previous questions had already been publicly displayed on the Chaos Mirror. She was starting to regret her actions. Although she had enjoyed the drama on the Chaos Mirror, the subsequent troubles were now flooding towards her like a tidal wave.

“Why can’t you handle everything?” she asked, frowning, her voice filled with frustration.

Zhu Wan, passing by, thought the question was directed at her. She instinctively replied, “This disciple is incompetent.” But then she realized, wait a minute, why should she be capable of handling everything? Seeing Undefeated buzzing in protest, she suddenly understood. Feng Chiyue was trying to exploit Undefeated.

What sword had ever been reduced to such a state?

Feng Chiyue heard Zhu Wan’s voice. She turned and stared at her for a moment, then said slowly, “Incompetence is simply a lack of practice.”

Zhu Wan: “…” She wished she were deaf and blind.

Feng Chiyue took out a large book and tossed it to Zhu Wan. “Can you write test questions? Choose some content from ‘The Records of the Feathered Race’ and come up with a hundred questions.”

Zhu Wan had also seen the drama on the Chaos Mirror. She had initially felt sorry for the candidates for selection, but now, she was about to become the “merciless executioner” herself. She looked at Feng Chiyue, her expression troubled. “I’m from the human race. I don’t know what the feathered race should know. Immortal Monarch, if you’re trying to select talented individuals, I’m afraid I’m not qualified to write the questions.”

Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with you writing them? They should know everything in ‘The Records of the Feathered Race,’” she said lazily.

“But… isn’t that unreasonable?” Zhu Wan asked.

“That’s the point,” Feng Chiyue replied matter-of-factly.

What else could Zhu Wan do? Under Feng Chiyue’s “benevolent” gaze, she embarked on the path of “aiding the evildoer.” She feared that if she refused, the assessment would be held in Dong’e Mountain, even though currently, it was only her, Feng Chiyue, and a few wood spirits pretending to be dead.

When it was time to assess the attendants and emissaries, Feng Chiyue didn’t show up.

Que Chen Yi, who had just taken office, was entrusted with a major responsibility. She stood on the platform, clutching Undefeated, her body stiff with tension.

She had reviewed the assessment questions beforehand and couldn’t help but feel grateful that she hadn’t been selected as an attendant last year. Otherwise, she would have been dismissed for failing and even publicly humiliated on the Chaos Mirror. The thought of it made her want to hide.

This time, the Minister had given her specific instructions: instead of selecting based on the percentage of correct answers, she was to choose only the top twenty-eight individuals. She glanced at the attendants and emissaries below. There were about fifty of them. More than half would be dismissed. She wondered how they would react when they learned the truth. She had read the regulations and knew that the total number of officials in the Celestial Feather Ministry was thirty. Including the Minister and Junior Minister, there were only a few positions left. Wait, if she selected twenty-eight, what about her? Que Chen Yi frowned and discreetly changed the number of successful candidates to twenty-seven. She was just following the rules. No one could fault her for that. The Celestial Feather Ministry was overstaffed. It was time to correct that.

An hour later.

Undefeated, without waiting for Que Chen Yi’s instructions, collected all the jade slips.

Que Chen Yi couldn’t multitask like Feng Chiyue. She had to patiently review them one by one.

She worked until midnight, uploading the jade slips to the Chaos Mirror. Finally, she stretched, her legs wobbly, and left the Celestial Feather Hall.

The cold moon, like a silver disc, hung above the magnificent Heavenly Palace. Moonlight washed over the long corridors, where immortal clouds drifted lazily.

Que Chen Yi was fortunate enough to be assigned a room in the dormitory. Upon returning to her room, she took out the Chaos Mirror and contacted the elders in her village.

— The Minister is incredibly knowledgeable. The rumors about her being incompetent are clearly false. It seems many immortal officials are blind.

— There’s going to be an assessment. I’m going to be nailed to the pillar of shame.

— Tell my younger sisters not to come to the Heavenly Court to be officials. There’s too much work and the salary is too low. It’s better to stay on the mountain and eat wild fruits.

After sending her messages, Que Chen Yi transformed into her true form, a small bird with fluffy feathers. She curled up in a hanging basket and fell asleep.

Chapter 25 p1

In Danxue Mountain.

The elders of the Vermilion Birds, Bifangs, Swan Geese, and other feathered lineages gathered for a meeting. The Celestial Feather Minister held considerable authority. Although they hadn’t obtained the seal yet, with Bi Feng’s limited abilities, he couldn’t possibly control Feng Chiyue. Besides, the Emperor’s Daughter had already stamped her seal on the announcement. The assessment was inevitable.

“Didn’t the Emperor’s Daughter have a grudge against her? Why is she speaking up for her?” the Swan Goose elder asked, puzzled.

“Who knows? Perhaps they’re birds of a feather,” the Vermilion Bird elder sneered. He wasn’t fond of the arrogant Emperor’s Daughter. In his opinion, she should show some respect to them, the elders, even if she was the Emperor’s Daughter. But in reality, she treated them with disdain, showing no respect whatsoever. Her gaze seemed to say that they were nothing but trash.

“The assessment is in three days. Should our juniors participate? What if they don’t? Will she really dismiss them?” someone asked.

“Why wouldn’t they participate?” the Vermilion Bird elder retorted. He squinted and shook his head. “Do you think our juniors will lose? They won’t lose to anyone in a fight. This is a perfect opportunity to show those from Phoenix Mountain who the true masters of the feathered race are!”

The feathered immortals of Phoenix Mountain were equally confident. Feng Bu Liu and Feng Yao, initially enraged by Feng Chiyue, fell into a long silence after seeing the announcement on the Chaos Mirror.

“Did she… reject you to prepare for the assessment?” Feng Yao wondered, trying to decipher Feng Chiyue’s motives. If she was truly wicked and ungrateful, the East Abode Master wouldn’t have raised her for over two hundred years. Perhaps it was just her sharp tongue? She glanced at Feng Bu Liu, who looked like he was about to collapse. “Everyone on the Chaos Mirror is saying that Feng Chiyue is impartial,” she said.

“Impartial? She’s merciless!” Feng Bu Liu retorted, unable to hold back his sarcasm. He massaged his temples and said, “She’s not just humiliating me. She’s humiliating the entire Phoenix race. If we had kept her back then, could we have straightened her out?”

“I’d rather not,” Feng Yao said, shuddering. What had Feng Chiyue done after returning to Phoenix Mountain? She had demanded that they transplant precious trees from Danxue Mountain, excavate the Phoenix Pool, and build a magnificent palace for her. She wanted a golden chariot to accompany her everywhere… The elders had disagreed, and she had thrown tantrums. The Phoenixes were already in a precarious state. How could they afford her extravagance? In the end, they had hastily sent her back to Dong’e Mountain, sighing in relief. “Are you confident?” she asked, changing the subject.

A cold glint flashed in Feng Bu Liu’s eyes. “Yes,” he said firmly.

In Dong’e Mountain.

Zhu Wan was also asking Feng Chiyue about the assessment.

She had ascended from the mortal realm. Back in her sect, they had climbed the ranks through countless assessments and competitions, starting as outer disciples, then becoming inner disciples, direct disciples, and finally, leading disciples. The sect’s resources were limited, so they could only nurture those who excelled. But in the Immortal Realm… there didn’t seem to be such concerns. Would an assessment even be effective?

“What did you assess back then?” Feng Chiyue asked curiously. Ming Jian Su had told her about life in the mortal realm, but she herself… wasn’t a good reference point for assessments.

“Mostly combat skills,” Zhu Wan replied honestly. She paused, then added, “Or trials in secret realms, to see who could obtain the most treasures. Or slaying demons and heretics.”

“That’s it?” Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow.

Zhu Wan: “…” That was already a lot. It took up about eighty percent of a mortal cultivator’s time.

“How are you planning to assess them? Combat?” she asked. There were no ancient secret realms in the Immortal Realm. As for the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms… it was guarded by immortals taking turns. They wouldn’t allow candidates for selection to train there. That left only combat, just like in the mortal realm, where strength spoke for itself.

Feng Chiyue’s answer was irrelevant. “The five elements have their strengths and weaknesses. Techniques have their levels of power. But compared to magical powers, being a good person is also important.”

Zhu Wan: “…” Coming from Feng Chiyue, that was rich. Seeing her expression, she decided not to worry. Perhaps Feng Chiyue would just call off the assessment before it even started.

The announcement remained on the Chaos Mirror for three days.

On the appointed day, emissaries, attendants, and feathered immortals waiting for selection all arrived, filling the hall with a cacophony of noise. Feng Chiyue, unusually, sat on the head table. The noise gave her a headache, so she grabbed Undefeated and slashed it through the air. The sharp sword intent shook the formations within the hall, threatening to collapse the entire structure. Everyone was startled and fell silent.

Satisfied with the silence, Feng Chiyue instructed the attendants to lead the candidates to their designated seats. With a flick of her wrist, a hundred streaks of light shot out, landing in front of the immortals like falling stars. She tapped the table with her sword and said casually, “Begin.”

Begin? Begin what? The immortals exchanged confused glances. After a moment, someone channeled their consciousness into the jade slip in front of them. A single glance, and many of their expressions changed! How many lineages were there in the feathered race? What were the taboos of the Man Man(蛮蛮) tribe? Why was the Gu Diao so hated? Was the Kun Peng a fish or a bird? How were they supposed to know? What did this have to do with the assessment?

Feng Chiyue knew what they were thinking from their expressions. This was exactly the reaction she wanted: complete bewilderment. Her eyes flickered, and she discreetly activated the “Virtuous Sound” technique. “The Celestial Feather Ministry was established for the benefit of our feathered race,” she said. “If you don’t even understand your own race, how can you understand other races? ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.’ Don’t tell me you’re going to fail at the first step?”

The candidates: “…” They couldn’t help but think that what she said made sense.

Bi Feng wasn’t participating in the assessment, but out of curiosity, he also requested a jade slip from Feng Chiyue. He scanned through the questions related to the feathered race. Apart from those concerning the Bifangs, he couldn’t answer a single one. But that was normal. Only immortals from the past would bother remembering such things. Now that the feathered race was fragmented, who cared about the well-being of other lineages or their customs?

Feng Chiyue announced her standard. “After half an hour, those who answer eighty percent correctly will stay. As for the rest, go back and start over.”

Bi Feng frowned at her harsh words. “Minister, isn’t the standard too high?” he asked.

Feng Chiyue looked at him, intrigued. “Is the Junior Minister part of the bottom twenty percent?”

Bi Feng: “…” He was, but he couldn’t admit it.

The candidates below scribbled furiously.

Feng Chiyue, on the head table, took out the Chaos Mirror and started watching plays, ignoring everyone else.

Half an hour passed quickly. Feng Chiyue stretched lazily and tapped the table. Undefeated immediately understood. It shot down, collecting the jade slips, its posture threatening to strike anyone who refused.

Was she going to let Undefeated review them? Bi Feng wondered. But this time, Feng Chiyue picked up the jade slips herself. She wasn’t that hopeless. She multitasked effortlessly, quickly discarding most of the jade slips like trash, keeping only one in her hand.

“Minister?” Bi Feng called out.

“Keep the Dust-Rejecting Clothes from the Silver-Tailed Titmouse clan. Everyone else, get out of my sight. I’ll upload the jade slips to the Chaos Mirror. You can learn from each other’s experiences as failures,” Feng Chiyue said. She paused, then added, “Attendants and emissaries, choose a good day for your own assessment.”

So many jade slips… it was exhausting!

She was starting to regret this. She should have just slashed anyone who dared to complain at the Drum of Grievances Hall with her sword, setting an example for others. This would have saved her so much trouble. It was all Ming Jian Su’s fault, that heartless and unfeeling wretch! If she were here, she would have stopped her, wouldn’t she? She wouldn’t have let her strain her brain and do such tedious work.

Her face darkened, and Undefeated hummed in response.

The atmosphere in the Celestial Feather Hall grew heavy and oppressive. All the feathered immortals, regardless of their lineage, felt a sense of unease and fear. Was the East Abode Master’s sword intent truly that terrifying? Even though she was gone, her sword intent lingered. No wonder both the Supreme Palace and the West Sea had suffered defeat.

Who would dare stay any longer? Without a word, they all turned and fled, as if chased by a monster. Only one female immortal remained, dressed in a silver-gray robe. It was Que Chen Yi, the one Feng Chiyue had chosen to keep.

She had initially been overjoyed to pass the assessment, but seeing the fear on the faces of the other immortals, she wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. She was the only one from her village who had the chance to become an attendant. She couldn’t afford to mess this up.

“Come here,” Feng Chiyue beckoned. She had mentioned uploading the assessment jade slips, but she didn’t have the time to do it herself. “You’ll be working at the Celestial Feather Hall from now on. First, copy all the assessment jade slips to the Chaos Mirror,” she instructed Que Chen Yi.

“Is that… appropriate?” Que Chen Yi asked hesitantly. But as soon as she spoke, several sharp gazes pierced her like swords. She shut her mouth, regretting her words.

The ones glaring at her were the emissaries and attendants who hadn’t left yet. According to Feng Chiyue’s announcement, they would also be assessed. If they didn’t participate, they might lose their jobs. If they did, they needed to prove their worth. Thus, the content of the assessment that had terrified the candidates was something they desperately wanted to know. As for whether the candidates were embarrassed, what did that have to do with them?

Bi Feng, however, had a strange smile on his face.

He knew that Feng Chiyue’s actions would offend even more immortals—and that was exactly what they wanted.

If the immortals didn’t erupt in outrage, how could they drive Feng Chiyue out of the Celestial Feather Ministry?

There weren’t many questions on the jade slips, only fifty. Que Chen Yi felt ashamed as she answered them because she couldn’t answer several of them. But now, after reviewing all the jade slips, she realized that very few immortals had answered even half the questions correctly. Many of the candidates were from prominent lineages like the Vermilion Birds, Swan Geese, and even Phoenixes, yet they didn’t know the answers either. Was their basic education truly that lacking?

On the Chaos Mirror, many wandering immortals and officials were waiting for the drama to unfold. In past assessments, there would always be injuries, and then the elders of the injured parties would come seeking revenge, leading to feuds between clans. What kind of excitement would the feathered race provide this time? They waited and waited, but instead of news about someone getting hurt, they saw the assessment jade slips publicly displayed.

“What is this?”

“Common knowledge about the feathered race? I know all of this. I should have been the one taking the assessment.”

“So many mistakes? Don’t they have any self-awareness?”

“As expected, those beast spirits are mostly illiterate. Our ancestors were right. I think we should let humans manage the Celestial Feather Ministry. They can’t govern themselves.”

Chapter 24

Feng Yao hadn’t been to the Celestial Feather Ministry in a long time.

Not all Heavenly Immortals from Phoenix Mountain were willing to join the Heavenly Court and wait for selection. They yearned for revenge and were willing to try any path that could increase their power and influence.

Within the Celestial Feather Ministry, there was a hall called the Drum of Grievances Hall. It was overseen by the Drum of Grievances Emissary, who was responsible for receiving complaints from dissatisfied officials and recording their grievances. Of course, unless one had wealth, power, or connections, such protests were pointless. Thus, the hall was usually deserted, and the emissary and attendants were quite lazy. However, today, the Drum of Grievances Hall welcomed some “dissatisfied immortals.” The attendant, quite astute, immediately sent word to Bi Feng.

Bi Feng had been anticipating this outcome. He chuckled coldly and gave his instructions. “Don’t turn them away. Let the Minister handle it.” The more chaos, the better! Was being the Celestial Feather Minister really that easy? Why should he be the one getting scolded for Feng Chiyue’s decisions?

In the Celestial Feather Hall, Feng Chiyue had just finished watching a popular immortal drama. The ending was unsatisfactory, and she was filled with frustration. Hearing that Feng Bu Liu and Feng Yao were here, she frowned. “What do they want?” she asked, her voice laced with displeasure. The illusory images from the drama dissipated. She glanced at Undefeated and said coldly, “Bring them here.” The Drum of Grievances Hall was a hundred paces away. She couldn’t be bothered to move.

The attendant, seeing the sharp sword intent, didn’t dare disobey. He read the Chaos Mirror every day. Both Jing De Immortal Monarch and the West Sea Dragon Prince had been severely beaten. He didn’t want to share their fate.

Within a quarter of an hour, Feng Yao and Feng Bu Liu entered the Celestial Feather Hall.

Although Feng Yao hadn’t expected much from Feng Chiyue, seeing Undefeated handling documents while Feng Chiyue lounged in the sun, she still gasped, a feeling of suffocation washing over her. There was no need to ask. The scene before her eyes provided the answer. Feng Chiyue wasn’t even looking at the documents!

“What do you want?” Feng Chiyue asked, her expression cold.

Before Feng Yao could speak, Feng Bu Liu burst out angrily, “I’ve been waiting for selection for five years! Why did you reject my application, Minister?”

Feng Chiyue fiddled with the bell hanging from her waist, her face filled with mock admiration. “Five years? You’re quite patient.”

Feng Bu Liu: “…” He wanted to punch her right now! He couldn’t suppress his anger. His eyes flashed dangerously. “Aren’t you going to give me an explanation, Minister?”

“Explanation?” Feng Chiyue scoffed. Apart from Ming Jian Su, no one had ever dared to demand an explanation from her. She glanced at him and asked casually, “Is this your first time at the Drum of Grievances Hall?”

“Yes,” Feng Bu Liu said, his face sullen.

Feng Chiyue laughed. “The previous Minister and Junior Minister suppressed your application, and you didn’t even dare to question them. Why are you so bold now that I’ve rejected you? Where did you get the courage? You’ve endured for years. Can’t you endure a little longer?” She stood up, crossed her arms, and studied Feng Bu Liu’s furious face. Raising an eyebrow, she said arrogantly, “If they can suppress you, why can’t I?”

Feng Bu Liu’s mind reeled, as if a thousand thunderbolts had exploded simultaneously, almost shattering his sanity. If Feng Yao hadn’t grabbed him, he would have attacked.

Seeing the anger on their faces, Feng Chiyue’s smile widened. She continued to add fuel to the fire. “If you can be trampled underfoot by the Vermilion Birds and Bifangs, what’s wrong with me stepping on you? We’re family, after all. If I rise to power, you’ll benefit too, won’t you?”

Feng Yao couldn’t believe how shameless Feng Chiyue was to claim they were “family.” She stared at her, her eyes filled with disappointment. “Apart from driving you out of Phoenix Mountain, we haven’t mistreated you. After the East Abode Master’s death, we even prepared many things for you. It seems we were being sentimental.” Her heart sank like a stone. She pulled Feng Bu Liu down with her, bowed to Feng Chiyue, and left the hall. She looked up slightly, the sunlight stinging her eyes. It seemed that whether it was Feng Chiyue or a Vermilion Bird sitting in the position of Celestial Feather Minister, the outcome would be the same.

Feng Bu Liu stopped in his tracks and glanced back at Feng Chiyue, his teeth gritted. “You traitor to the Phoenix lineage!”

Feng Chiyue shrugged, unfazed. “It’s in my blood. I can’t help it.”

Feng Bu Liu was about to explode. He transformed into a Phoenix and soared into the sky, a streak of crimson fire staining the heavens.

Feng Yao followed closely behind.

In the side hall.

Bi Feng listened to the attendant’s vivid description, laughing so hard he almost fell off his chair. But soon, a new question surfaced.

Feng Chiyue had antagonized Danxue Mountain and refused to give Phoenix Mountain any face. What was she thinking?

Meanwhile, Feng Chiyue, having sent Feng Yao and Feng Bu Liu away, had lost her interest in watching plays. She let her consciousness wander aimlessly through the Chaos Mirror.

Someone was performing for alms. Someone was complaining about their poverty. Someone was cursing their superiors. Someone was grumbling about assessments. The first time she saw a message about assessments, she ignored it, but when she came across it again, she took a closer look. It was a sect founded by a wandering immortal, still adhering to the rules of the mortal realm, completely incompatible with the Heavenly Court. Perhaps it was the stark contrast that had sparked countless complaints about the “assessment.”

An idea suddenly struck Feng Chiyue. Weren’t there many Heavenly Immortals and Human Immortals from the feathered race waiting for selection? Today, the Phoenixes had set a bad example. Tomorrow, other lineages might come knocking, and she would be annoyed to death. She now had a perfect solution. As for whether those below would suffer, what did that have to do with her? Using her authority as the Celestial Feather Minister, she posted an announcement on the Chaos Mirror: All members of the feathered race serving in the Celestial Feather Ministry or waiting for selection were to participate in an assessment at the Celestial Feather Hall in three days. Those who were absent or late would be considered to have abandoned their positions.

The announcement sent the Chaos Mirror into a frenzy.

— Am I seeing things? What does this mean?

— Assessment? What kind of assessment?

— Can someone from the Celestial Feather Ministry explain?

Bi Feng was also dumbfounded.

He couldn’t understand Feng Chiyue’s motives.

He had a choice: ask Feng Chiyue directly or inquire with the Heavenly Mechanism Department. He chose the latter. Soon, the Heavenly Mechanism Department gave him an answer: They didn’t know. As long as it didn’t interfere with their own affairs, they wouldn’t concern themselves with Feng Chiyue’s actions.

Shortly after, a glowing name seal appeared below the announcement. It belonged to Chu Yi, the Emperor’s Daughter, from Qingjun Palace.

“Feng Chiyue has certainly become more sensible after the East Abode Master’s death,” Chu Yi commented casually. She knew that some wandering immortals liked to assess their disciples, but in the Heavenly Court, where connections reigned supreme, it was difficult to implement. Regardless of whether Feng Chiyue succeeded or failed, she decided to show her support.

In the crevice on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms.

Ming Jian Su sat cross-legged on a cushion, a long sword resting on her lap. She trailed her fingers across the phoenix feathers, thinking to herself that they couldn’t possibly be as soft as her junior sister’s. But then again, Feng Chiyue never transformed into her true form in front of her. Touching her feathers was an impossible dream. A bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart. She took out the Chaos Mirror.

Feng Chiyue was trending again!

Ming Jian Su gritted her teeth. This was bad. She couldn’t wait any longer. Feng Chiyue was about to turn the heavens upside down. If she didn’t return to the Heavenly Court soon, the mess would be impossible to clean up!

As she stood up, strands of sword intent wrapped around her legs like silver threads.

Ming Jian Su: “…”

The sword contained an inheritance. As expected, there was no such thing as a free lunch.

The sword hummed, rising and falling.

Ming Jian Su understood. It was reminding her that her fifteen-minute break was over.

But she had only taken a quick glance! How was it already fifteen minutes?

Chapter 23

The faint sword intent echoed within the narrow crevice. Ming Jian Su stared at the sword, which was clearly a treasure, her mind racing.

Undefeated was with Feng Chiyue.

She needed a sword, and heaven had delivered one to her. As expected, the heavens favored her.

A sword without an owner was hers for the taking. However, she needed to replace the phoenix feathers. Feng Chiyue would definitely be unhappy seeing them. But they were so beautiful. Feng Chiyue had never been willing to give her any of her feathers. How could she convince her to willingly offer some to decorate the sword?

Lost in thought, Ming Jian Su continued forward. She didn’t care which demon the skeleton belonged to. With a single palm strike, she shattered the remains into dust and flicked her sleeve to disperse the particles. The sword remained firmly embedded in the ground, its sword intent growing stronger.

The sword’s spirit had weakened over the centuries, but even a sliver of it remained. Anyone who wanted to subdue it would have to put in some effort. Ming Jian Su cultivated the sword path. In the past, she had only had Undefeated, but now, seeing this sword, she suddenly felt like having another one wouldn’t be a bad thing. She circled the sword twice, then finally reached out to draw it.

The moment she touched the hilt, sharp sword intent erupted, and a buzzing sword hum filled the air. The ground trembled, and rocks tumbled down, sealing off the narrow passage she had come from. Ming Jian Su paid no attention. She was focused on the sword, testing its strength. The instant she grasped the hilt, she knew.

The sword’s name was Eternal Calamity. Its owner was Suxin Jianzhu, known for slaying the previous Demon Sovereign, Ming Ji.

Why wasn’t Suxin Jianzhu’s sword called “Suxin”? The thought crossed her mind but quickly vanished.

Ming Jian Su didn’t dwell on it. She gazed at the sword, its history filled with glory. Good, it was hers now.

Back in Dong’e Mountain, Undefeated, resting on its ornate sword rack, suddenly leaped into the air, buzzing angrily.

Feng Chiyue, half asleep, casually flicked a pine nut at the sword and mumbled, “What’s all the noise about?” Undefeated, sensing the approaching projectile, tried to dodge, but the pine nut split into several pieces, blocking its path. With a soft thud, the nut disintegrated into powder upon contact with the blade. Undefeated trembled and flew to Feng Chiyue’s side, poking the bed with its tip. But Feng Chiyue ignored it.

Undefeated: “…” Still sleeping! Its owner had found a new love!

The next day.

Feng Chiyue arrived at the Celestial Feather Hall.

As usual, she placed Undefeated on the head table and found a sunny spot to settle down, continuing her entertainment on the Chaos Mirror.

Undefeated was filled with resentment but didn’t dare disobey Feng Chiyue. Its owner had found a new love. If it didn’t work hard, wouldn’t the newcomer steal its place? What if its owner abandoned it? Where would it find another skilled sword cultivator?

While Feng Chiyue slept soundly, Bi Feng, the Junior Minister of the Celestial Feather Ministry, spent the night deep in thought. He had spent an entire day as a “stamping fairy,” and it had brought him nothing but trouble. He couldn’t let Feng Chiyue push him around like this again. He no longer feared the sword intent in the documents. His clan had given him a “Sword Devouring Jade.” As long as the sword intent didn’t exceed the jade’s absorption limit, it would absorb it all.

In his quarters, Bi Feng carefully took out the Sword Devouring Jade. He now had the confidence to oppose Feng Chiyue. He would reject everything she approved. He picked up the topmost document and scanned through it, his expression changing abruptly. The application was from a Phoenix named Feng Bu Liu. According to the old rules of the Heavenly Court, the waiting period for selection was three years. However, the Phoenixes had been deliberately suppressed, and it had already been five years. He should have become an attendant long ago. Bi Feng had assumed Feng Chiyue would approve the application, but a large cross marked the document, rejecting it outright.

How did Feng Chiyue, or rather, Undefeated, review these documents? Was it based on mood? He couldn’t understand, but it didn’t stop him from feeling pleased. He slammed the Minister’s seal down and immediately sent an attendant to deliver the document to Phoenix Mountain. He had a brilliant idea. He couldn’t deal with Feng Chiyue, so he would let the Phoenixes handle her. Now that she was the Minister, did the Phoenixes think their chance to rise again had come? How unfortunate. A Phoenix raised outside their ranks would never be one of them.

In Phoenix Mountain.

Although they hadn’t seen any preferential treatment from Feng Chiyue, the Phoenixes still harbored a faint hope. They didn’t expect to be favored, but at least they could be treated fairly, right? After the East Abode Master’s death, they had sent a considerable amount of Cinnabar Jade and treasures to Dong’e Mountain.

Feng Bu Liu was one such hopeful Phoenix.

He was capable and talented, considered one of the best in his clan. However, he had been waiting in the Heavenly Court for five years, still a mere candidate, not even an attendant.

“Senior Brother, Senior Brother, the document is here!” A fluffy little Phoenix, carrying the document in its beak, flew in so hastily that it tumbled on the ground. It flapped its wings, got back on its feet, and crashed into Feng Bu Liu’s arms.

Feng Bu Liu’s face lit up. “Did it pass?” he murmured. In the past, the Celestial Feather Ministry wouldn’t even respond to him. They would just hold onto his application, neither approving nor rejecting it. He had inquired several times, but the answers he received were always vague and dismissive. Now that the document had finally arrived, he didn’t think too much about it, assuming his long wait was finally over.

But when he eagerly opened the document, he was struck by a bolt from the blue. The joy on his face vanished, replaced by a deathly pallor. His hand trembled violently. After a long silence, he let out a strangled cry, as if he had been dealt a heavy blow.

“Junior Brother?” Feng Yao happened to be passing by. She looked at the devastated Feng Bu Liu, her eyes filled with concern.

“F-Feng Chiyue… she… she rejected my application!” Feng Bu Liu’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice filled with resentment. “Is she even a Phoenix?”

Although Feng Yao also thought Feng Chiyue was a good-for-nothing, she still tried to defend her. “Most of the officials in the Celestial Feather Ministry are from Danxue Mountain. I heard that even the Minister’s seal is in Bi Feng’s possession. She might be the Minister, but she’s alone and outnumbered. She can’t withstand the pressure from those villains from Danxue Mountain.”

Feng Bu Liu disagreed. He chuckled coldly. “Wasn’t she alone and outnumbered when she attacked the Supreme Palace? And when she targeted the other gate emissaries? But she didn’t back down. I think she’s just holding a grudge, angry that we drove her out of Phoenix Mountain.” He paused, then said, his voice tight with anger, “I can’t let this go! I’m going to confront her and demand an explanation!”

Feng Yao frowned, worried that he would do something rash. “I’ll go with you,” she said quickly.