Chapter 1
It was the 1326th year of the Celestial Abyss, in the third month.
Ming Jiansu, the East Ah(Dong’e) Mountain Lord and one of the four great generals of the Celestial Court, had vanished on the battlefield between Celestials and Demons.
Over a thousand years ago, after the first Great War between Celestials and Demons, the Celestial Realm and the Demon Abyss had signed the “Fallen Phoenix Pact.” Since then, there had been relative peace, with only minor conflicts arising. The battlefield, a remnant of the past war, became a no man’s land and a place for the two realms to settle their disputes.
At the beginning of the year, as was customary, Dong’e Mountain Lord Ming Jiansu went to patrol the battlefield. However, she disappeared without a trace. The Celestial official on duty with her had returned to the Celestial Realm long ago, but there was no sign of her for three months. The Heavenly Emperor had sent people to search for her several times, but to no avail. Although no one knew what had happened, one thing was certain: Ming Jiansu, the Dong’e Mountain Lord, had perished.
The Celestial Court had four great generals. With the Dong’e position vacant, there were still three Sword Masters: West River(Xi He), South Departure(Nan Li), and North Star(Bei Chen). The Heavenly Emperor(Tian Di), without much worry, began to slowly select a new Dong’e Mountain Lord, not taking Ming Jiansu’s death to heart. However, the other Celestial officials were fixated on Dong’e Mountain, eager to watch the drama unfold. Of course, they weren’t watching Ming Jiansu, but rather the other, less legitimate “master” of Dong’e Mountain – Feng Chiyue – and waiting for her downfall.
There were two widely disliked figures in the Celestial Realm. One was the arrogant and domineering Heavenly Empress, Chu Yi. The other was the indolent, troublemaking, yet beautiful Feng Chiyue. But if they had to choose the one they disliked the most, it would undoubtedly be Feng Chiyue. The reason? Empress Chu Yi was a formidable fighter. It was said that the Demon Abyss worshipped strength, but the Celestial Realm was no exception. Of course, there was another unspoken reason: jealousy! They couldn’t fathom why Ming Jiansu favored Feng Chiyue. Was it solely because of her breathtaking beauty? Impossible. Dong’e Mountain Lord Ming Jiansu couldn’t be so superficial. Feng Chiyue must have used some underhanded tricks to bewitch her.
But now, all that talk was meaningless. Feng Chiyue’s only and greatest backer was gone. Could she continue her arrogant ways? She would probably be driven out of Dong’e Mountain soon, wouldn’t she? At this thought, many Celestial officials revealed smug smiles, exchanging knowing glances with their colleagues as they walked. If Feng Chiyue were truly left with nowhere to go, they might even generously offer her shelter.
Unaware of their wishful thinking, Feng Chiyue was lying on a couch, leisurely reading a book, her fingertips delicately holding a piece of fruit. The entire Dong’e Mountain was shrouded in grief over Ming Jiansu’s death, yet she was the only one so heartless, concerned only with her own enjoyment.
When news of the Dong’e Mountain Lord’s death returned, who would have thought that the good-for-nothing beauty, who had always been under her care, wouldn’t shed a single tear? She merely uttered two words: “My condolences.” Then, she turned around and went back to her own amusements, without a care for anyone else’s feelings. Even a pretense of sadness would have sufficed!
“Master, are you planning to lie there indefinitely?” Zhu Wan, the registered disciple of the Dong’e Mountain Lord, couldn’t bear it any longer. Years of ingrained habits prevented her from being disrespectful to Feng Chiyue. Unable to snatch away the fruit or the book, she could only emphasize her displeasure through a stern tone.
“Hmm?” Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow and slowly sat up. Her red robes draped over the couch, complementing her snow-white skin. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her chest, a few strands braided into delicate plaits that swayed gently. Silver chains adorned her hair, a crescent moon ornament resting on her smooth forehead. A red necklace graced her chest, and silver bells hung from her waist, chiming melodiously with her every move.
As the most beautiful woman in the Celestial Realm, she possessed an ethereal face. Yet, looking at her expression, Zhu Wan felt a pang of despair. Seeing those exquisite accessories reminded her of her master’s monthly allowance, which had been completely drained! Now that her master was gone, could the Celestial Jade provided by the Celestial Court as compensation even sustain this idle beauty?
Should she be returned to Phoenix Mountain? No, Dong’e Mountain and Phoenix Mountain were already at odds. Two hundred years ago, when her master took charge of Dong’e Mountain, the Celestials from Phoenix Mountain came, not to congratulate her, but to accuse her of stealing their Phoenix egg and attempting to take Feng Chiyue back. Her master, being reasonable, agreed. However, within two days, Feng Chiyue was sent back. Phoenix Mountain claimed that her master had spoiled her, rendering them incapable of handling her.
She had heard that Phoenix Mountain had been in decline since the Celestial and Demon War a thousand years ago and cherished their descendants greatly. Feng Chiyue, the returned Phoenix, was the first of her kind in millennia.
Feng Chiyue remained unfazed, but Zhu Wan was anxious. Before she could persuade her further, a deafening roar shook Dong’e Mountain, like a thousand thunderbolts exploding at once. Zhu Wan’s expression shifted, and she dashed outside. Less than a quarter of an hour later, she returned, panting, and declared, “This is bad! Your nemesis is here!”
Finally, Feng Chiyue set aside her book. She raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked nonchalantly, “Nemesis? Which one? The little loach from the Four Seas? The old geezer from the Supreme Palace? The fat-headed fish guarding the Heavenly Gate? Or that—”
Zhu Wan couldn’t stand Feng Chiyue’s demeanor any longer. If she kept her mouth shut, she might still possess a semblance of grace. But once she spoke, it shattered her elegant facade! Which Celestial official, high or low, hadn’t she offended? By the time she finished guessing, Dong’e Mountain might be reduced to rubble! “It’s the Heavenly Empress,” Zhu Wan interrupted, unsure why she even bothered telling her. Did she expect Feng Chiyue to pick a fight with the Empress? One must know that Chu Yi was on par with the four great generals of the Celestial Court. If not for her special status, she would have long become a Celestial General.
“Oh, it’s Chu Yi.” Feng Chiyue seemed to suddenly understand and rose gracefully. Meeting Zhu Wan’s ashen face, she drawled, “Why the panic? She can’t break through this barrier.”
Zhu Wan: “…” Why wasn’t she, this walking disaster, the one who died on the battlefield? Oh, right, she was weak and frail, having never witnessed bloodshed. Who would dare send her to guard the battlefield?
Outside Dong’e Mountain:
Although the relentless bombardment had caused a tremendous commotion, just as Feng Chiyue had said, it couldn’t shake the barrier protecting Dong’e Mountain in the slightest. Unless the Heavenly Emperor himself issued a decree to appoint a new Dong’e Mountain Lord, the barrier of this entire mountain remained under Feng Chiyue’s control.
Chu Yi’s brows furrowed, her eyes flashing with anger. She had initially come to witness Feng Chiyue’s misfortune, but she hadn’t expected to make the trip herself and end up fuming with rage. Her feud with Feng Chiyue was longstanding. Firstly, she couldn’t understand how Feng Chiyue, who possessed nothing but a pretty face, could be so arrogant and haughty, even more so than herself, the Heavenly Empress. Secondly, it was because of Ming Jiansu. She had repeatedly sought to spar with Ming Jiansu, but the only response she received was: “My junior sister is waiting for me.” Junior sister, junior sister, always the junior sister! Was Feng Chiyue going to lose a limb or become incapable of taking care of herself without Ming Jiansu?
In the past, with Ming Jiansu’s protection, no one could touch Feng Chiyue. But things were different now. She had to seize this opportunity to vent her pent-up frustration.
She reached out and drew her sword, channeling her celestial energy as she silently prepared to attack. The booming gradually subsided, and the barrier shimmered with flowing light, painting the sky with a mesmerizing array of colors. In this brief silence, a cool voice rang out, “Why did you stop? Have you exhausted your arsenal?”
Chu Yi’s temple throbbed, and her sharp gaze shot towards the source of the voice. As expected, standing leisurely on a cloud was none other than the ostentatious and infuriating Feng Chiyue. The entire Dong’e Mountain was draped in white mourning for Ming Jiansu’s death, yet Feng Chiyue was the only one dressed so flamboyantly. For a moment, Chu Yi felt a surge of sympathy for Ming Jiansu!
“You’ve finally decided to show yourself,” Chu Yi said icily.
Feng Chiyue’s lips curved into a faint smile as she crossed her arms. “Didn’t you come to invite me out?”
The word “invite” struck a nerve with Chu Yi. How could she possibly invite Feng Chiyue? She would never be so courteous. She let out a cold laugh. “My father is already searching for a new Dong’e Mountain Lord. If you know what’s good for you, pack your things and leave Dong’e Mountain. Save yourself the embarrassment of being thrown out later.”
Feng Chiyue maintained her smile. “No one else will reside in Dong’e Mountain.”
Chu Yi rolled her eyes and scoffed, “You still think Ming Jiansu is around? Back then, she shielded you from everything, allowing you to live as you pleased. Now that she’s gone, I advise you to learn some humility. Don’t tell me you’re hoping Phoenix Mountain will come to your rescue? Let’s not mention that the Phoenix Mountain lineage has long been in decline. The fact that they kicked you out is already a laughingstock throughout the Celestial Realm. I’ve never met a more useless Phoenix than you!”
Feng Chiyue’s lips twitched, but her expression remained devoid of shame. “Well, now you have.” Seeing Chu Yi speechless, she sighed dramatically. “The Dong’e Mountain Lord died fighting for the Celestial Realm, her body still cold, yet the Celestial Court is already here to reclaim Dong’e Mountain and drive out her disciples. How utterly disheartening. No wonder those with any ambition prefer to be carefree Immortals in their own secluded paradises. With the Celestial Court teeming with Celestial Immortals, it’s as if you’re intentionally pushing out the Human Immortals.”
In the Celestial Realm, there were two types of Immortals. The first were those who ascended from the mortal realm after overcoming tribulations, known as Human Immortals. The other type were born as children of Immortals, possessing the innate destiny of Immortals, known as Celestial Immortals. On the surface, the two groups seemed harmonious, but secret rivalries were inevitable. You look down on my mortal origins; I despise your indolence and extravagance. Of course, no one would ever admit to such sentiments. Just like Chu Yi at this moment, she was so furious her teeth could shatter, but she couldn’t acknowledge Feng Chiyue’s words. She was the Heavenly Empress, representing the face of the Celestial Court. Certain things should not, and could not, be uttered from her mouth.
Watching the fuming Chu Yi depart, Feng Chiyue chuckled softly and murmured to herself, “Elder Sister is gone. How will I ever endure these long, lonely nights?”
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