Chapter 33
Ming Jian Su held Feng Chiyue tightly. Although most of the time they were lost in passionate pleasures, there were moments when they engaged in serious cultivation. Dual cultivation wasn’t solely beneficial to Feng Chiyue; Ming Jian Su gained a lot from it too. After all, her junior sister was quite remarkable.
After feeding her the last of the spiritual pills, Feng Chiyue didn’t move her hand from Ming Jian Su’s lips. She continued to caress and tease them gently. When Ming Jian Su took her fingertip between her teeth, Feng Chiyue withdrew her hand, pushed away Ming Jian Su’s arm that was wrapped around her waist, and jumped out of her embrace. In the blink of an eye, she had disappeared into the distance.
Ming Jian Su sighed softly and patted her slightly flushed cheeks, then turned her attention back to the Chaos Mirror. She wanted to see who was spreading those negative rumors! Did they think a few obstacles would derail her plans? Absolutely not. She would eliminate all enemies, both hers and her junior sister’s!
Although the Celestial Feather Ministry was currently focused on verifying the Feather Clan registries, Ming Jian Su hadn’t forgotten about the upcoming examination. Being a compassionate person, she wouldn’t resort to “surprise attacks.” After pondering for a moment, she used Feng Chiyue’s Chaos Mirror to publish a new announcement, listing the required reading materials and a general outline of the examination process. In addition to demonstrating knowledge of their own clan’s culture and customs, candidates also needed to understand the history of the Heavenly Court, the principles of Daoist magic, and the rules, regulations, and responsibilities of the department they wished to join. This broadened the scope of the examination to encompass hundreds of historical records and Daoist scriptures.
— Once again, I’m thankful to be born human. My condolences to our feathered friends.
— Even with our immortal memory, aren’t hundreds of books a bit excessive? I’ve never even heard of some of these titles. I’d love to know where Feng Chiyue even found this information.
— I’m starting to see black spots. Maybe I should just renounce my candidacy and become a carefree wandering immortal.
— To the Daoist friend above, I heard the Feather Clan is verifying their registries. Who knows if they’ll start vetting and testing wandering immortals next? Those who fail will be sent back down to the mortal realm for reincarnation and further cultivation.
— I’m just asking, is anyone planning to assassinate Feng Chiyue? Who gave her this terrible idea?
— Based on my thousand years of experience roaming the mortal realm, this resembles the examination system used by mortal sects. Perhaps you could ask other Human Immortals about it.
— Checking the registries is no easy task. I bet this Celestial Feather Ministry reform will fail at the very first step.
…
The Chaos Mirror was filled with lamentations, and the various Feather Clan factions were also shrouded in gloom. Those who had submitted their clan information early were somewhat relieved, but some had inflated their numbers, hoping to get away with it. After all, the Feather Clan population was vast, and the Celestial Feather Ministry had limited manpower. They couldn’t possibly check every single individual. Even if they did, as long as they kept their mouths shut, how would the Ministry officials know the truth?
In the marshes of Qingqiu, within the Great Wind Clan.
This lineage had always had a small population. Now, all its members were gathered together, discussing the Celestial Feather Ministry’s actions. The members of this clan were known for their fierce and aggressive temperaments. During the time when the Danxue Mountain lineage controlled the Celestial Feather Ministry, none of their members had been allowed to become immortal officials. As a result, they were either candidates waiting for a position or wandering immortals who had given up on pursuing official roles in the Heavenly Court.
“Clan Leader, I heard they found those four Barbarians who weren’t registered.”
“Even the Barbarian Clan Leader didn’t know where they went. How did the Celestial Feather Ministry find them?”
“Our clan isn’t that big. If we’re missing two members, wouldn’t the Ministry notice?”
The Great Wind Birds chattered amongst themselves, their voices laced with worry.
Da Feng Li, their clan leader, however, remained calm. “Barbarians are naturally timid. Who knows if this is just for show, to scare the other Feather Clans? The Danxue Mountain lineage knows our situation, but would they tell the Phoenixes? I think we’re worrying for nothing. How could those immortals in the Heavenly Court on Kunlun Mountain truly understand us?” There were vast differences between the various Feather Clans. The Five Phoenixes and Three Feathered Clans were at the top, while those like them were simply lumped together as “Feather Clan” or “other.” How could those lofty immortal officials possibly care about their small and insignificant clans?
As Da Feng Li spoke, the anxieties of the other Great Wind Birds subsided. After a brief pause, another Great Wind Bird spoke up. “What about Qingqiu?” Their Great Wind Clan resided in the marshes of Qingqiu, neighboring the Qingqiu Kingdom. They didn’t have a good relationship with those foxes. In ancient times, they would capture fox cubs for amusement, while those cunning foxes would steal their eggs. Now, their clan had dwindled to near extinction, but fortunately, Qingqiu had also closed its borders and was no longer involved in outside affairs.
Da Feng Li chuckled coldly. “Their relationship with the Heavenly Court is even worse.”
The Great Wind Clan meeting concluded without reaching any concrete conclusions. However, the anxieties of the clan members had been eased, and they no longer dwelled on the Celestial Feather Ministry’s actions.
However, on the very next day, a golden invitation descended upon the marshes of Qingqiu like a shooting star, landing in Da Feng Li’s hands.
As he scanned the inscription on the invitation, Da Feng Li’s brows furrowed. Without hesitation, he struck a large drum. The booming sound reverberated through the marshes, reaching every corner. Several dark figures shot down from the clouds, transforming into valiant figures as they landed in the plaza.
Once everyone had assembled, Da Feng Li cleared his throat and said gravely, “The Celestial Feather Ministry has sent us an invitation, requesting information on Da Feng Zhi and Da Feng Ting.” The two names were like stones dropped into a lake, creating ripples that spread outwards. They were members of their clan, but their unruly nature and refusal to be disciplined had forced them to send them away. As for their whereabouts, they couldn’t disclose that information.
“How did the Celestial Feather Ministry even know about their existence? Their names weren’t even on the old registry,” one Great Wind Bird said, baffled.
“Perhaps the Danxue Mountain lineage leaked the information?” another speculated. “If that’s the case, we should just report their information.”
“Nonsense!” a sharp voice interrupted. It was an elder Great Wind Bird. He glared at the younger clan member. “If that information gets out, our Great Wind lineage will be wiped out from the Immortal Realm!” No matter how strong their temper, they wouldn’t dare to defy those in power.
Da Feng Li spoke up. “If the Celestial Feather Ministry officials come to investigate, we’ll simply say they’re dead. No one is to say a word without my permission.” Did the Ministry expect them to dig up the bodies for inspection?
“What if the Ministry already knows about that place?” someone asked, trembling.
“Impossible,” Da Feng Li declared resolutely. Even the Heavenly Emperor didn’t know about that place.
The Great Wind Clan prepared to deceive the Ministry officials. However, when they sensed a powerful aura descending upon the marshes and went out to investigate, the first thing they saw were two swords radiating a sharp, cold light. One sword had a blade like two intertwined branches, black and white energies merging into a swirling taiji symbol, emanating a murderous aura. The other sword had a simple and ancient design, its hilt adorned with a tassel of phoenix feathers. The Phoenix’s cry echoed through the air, its overwhelming presence pressing down on the Great Wind Birds, leaving them momentarily breathless.
One was Ming Jian Su’s magic sword!
And the other, with its Phoenix feathers, could it be Feng Chiyue’s weapon?
Why were they using their sword intent to intimidate them from the start? Were they bullying them because their clan was small?
Alarm bells blared in Da Feng Li’s mind. His lips thinned, and his eyes flashed with a hint of malice.
Moments later, a golden chariot descended from the sky, its bells tinkling melodiously.
Before the occupants could emerge, Undefeated twitched, beating Eternal Sword to the draw and flinging open the curtain. A figure dressed in ethereal blue stepped out. Ming Jian Su didn’t even glance at the wary Great Wind Birds. Instead, she bowed and extended her hand towards the chariot, helping Feng Chiyue, resplendent in red and wearing a bright smile, to step out.
Feng Chiyue’s gaze fell on Da Feng Li’s tense face. “You underreported the population of your Great Wind Clan,” she said with a sweet smile. “The fine is twenty thousand Cinnabar Jade, payable within one hour.”
Ming Jian Su glanced at Feng Chiyue. She hadn’t mentioned this rule in the Chaos Mirror. But it didn’t matter. If her junior sister said there was a fine, then there was a fine. With a flick of her sleeve, her cold gaze landed on Da Feng Li. The two swords hummed, their sword intent as sharp and piercing as a biting wind. The message was clear: if Da Feng Li uttered a single word of defiance, they would be upon him.
Da Feng Li: “…” Were they officials from the Celestial Feather Ministry or bandits? When was this fine even established? Why hadn’t the Barbarian Clan been fined? He almost blurted out his questions, but fortunately, he caught himself just in time. He couldn’t give them any ammunition to use against him. Suppressing his rising anger, he took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Da Feng Zhi and Da Feng Ting are already dead. There are only thirteen members in our Great Wind Clan. The information we submitted is accurate.”
Feng Chiyue scoffed. “Do you dare to swear on the Heavenly Dao?”
Da Feng Li didn’t answer. He frowned at Feng Chiyue and raised his voice. “What are you implying, Emissary? Are you accusing our Great Wind Clan of falsification?”
“I’m not accusing you,” Feng Chiyue said, shaking her head. Seeing Da Feng Li’s expression relax slightly, she immediately added, “I’m certain of it.”
The Celestial Feather Career Book clearly stated that Da Feng Zhi and Da Feng Ting were still alive. Who were they trying to fool by claiming they were dead?
Da Feng Li was so angry he laughed. “If you’re so certain, Emissary, does that mean you have some miraculous elixir that can bring the dead back to life? If you don’t provide evidence, does that mean you can arbitrarily decide how many members each clan has? Two people, twenty thousand Cinnabar Jade. If you go to a large clan with a thriving population, can you extort ten million Cinnabar Jade from them for a thousand people?” He was trying to paint Feng Chiyue as a greedy extortionist. As they argued, one of the clan members discreetly took out their Chaos Mirror and started recording the scene.
Recently, there had been a lot of news about Feng Chiyue and the Celestial Feather Ministry. As soon as those keywords were mentioned, a large crowd of idle immortals flocked to watch the drama unfold.
At that moment, many were glued to the scene titled “Feng Chiyue Extorting the Great Wind Clan.” Some even found watching through the Chaos Mirror unsatisfying and had already set off for the marshes of Qingqiu.
Ming Jian Su was acutely aware of the shifting energy. Her gaze, sharp as a blade, shot towards the Great Wind Bird holding the Chaos Mirror.
A chill ran down his spine. His hand trembled, and the Chaos Mirror slipped from his grasp, crashing to the ground with a bang that broke the tense silence.
Da Feng Li glanced at the fallen Chaos Mirror and sighed theatrically. “Are you refusing to even give us a chance to voice our grievances, Emissary?” Seeing that Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue remained silent, his courage grew. He took out another Chaos Mirror and channeled his consciousness into it. “Although our Great Wind Clan is small, we will not suffer such injustice!”
Ming Jian Su frowned slightly. When had these fierce and aggressive Great Wind Birds learned to play the victim? Were they planning to use the Chaos Mirror to rally public opinion against her? Her sword moved with her thoughts, its sword intent flashing forward like starlight. A crack appeared on the surface of several Chaos Mirrors.
Feng Chiyue reached out and grasped Ming Jian Su’s hand, her fingers stroking the back of her hand gently. So they wanted to exploit the Chaos Mirror? Fine, she could play that game too. She had spent the past two hundred years mastering the Chaos Mirror. Her eyes flickered with a faint golden light. “What grievance?” she asked, her voice deceptively sweet. “Tell us all about it.”
Just as Da Feng Li was about to launch into a tirade against Feng Chiyue, a Phoenix’s cry echoed in his ears. His mind was seized by an inexplicable force, and the lies he had prepared vanished from his tongue. His arrogance melted away, and he bowed to Feng Chiyue and Ming Jian Su. “Da Feng Zhi and Da Feng Ting were forced into labor in a mine,” he confessed. “They were not registered, they were not officials, and they did not become immortals. I implore Emissary Feng to seek justice for us!” His words stunned the other Great Wind Birds, leaving them speechless as they stared at their leader. Was their clan leader truly capable of such humility?
In the Chaos Mirror, many were still watching.
— Can someone please tell me what just happened?
— Weren’t they condemning Feng Chiyue just now? How did the situation suddenly turn around?
— Forced labor? Where? What kind of mine?
— Was Da Feng Li cursed? Is there a Daoist friend who can explain this?
The Vermilion Birds and Bifangs from Danxue Mountain were also watching. When they first heard the names Da Feng Zhi and Da Feng Ting, they hadn’t thought much of it. Seeing Da Feng Li berating Feng Chiyue had brought a smug smile to their faces. But that smile quickly vanished. As soon as the words “forced labor” were uttered, the Vermilion Bird elders paled.
“Virtuous Sound. Feng Chiyue is using the Phoenix’s Virtuous Sound,” an elder who was well-versed in Phoenix lore exclaimed. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, and he finally understood how those Bifangs had died. Without the power to completely suppress Feng Chiyue, their own cultivation would be backfired by the Virtuous Sound. The last Phoenix to master this technique was the one whose name they dared not speak.
But now wasn’t the time to worry about the Virtuous Sound. It was about their mine! Da Feng Li didn’t know the true situation of that mine, but Feng Chiyue and Ming Jian Su would investigate. Even if they didn’t find that particular mine, if they discovered any of their other mines, it would be a disaster. After all, the vast majority of the laborers in their mines were unregistered.
The scene in the Chaos Mirror abruptly cut off.
Feng Chiyue had given Ming Jian Su a look, signaling her to interrupt the broadcast.
They couldn’t let anyone know about the mines involved.
After a moment of stunned silence, Da Feng Li snapped out of his trance. His expression shifted rapidly, and he glared at Feng Chiyue through gritted teeth. “You used a curse to trick me!”
Feng Chiyue rolled her eyes at him. What an idiot.
Ming Jian Su said coldly, “The Danxue Mountain lineage already knows you leaked information. Whether you tell us the location of the mine or not, the outcome for your Great Wind Clan will be the same.”
Da Feng Li’s voice turned icy. “I was only responsible for sending them away. I don’t know where the mine is.”
Feng Chiyue scoffed. “Aren’t you curious?”
Da Feng Li remained silent.
Feng Chiyue continued, “Although I don’t know the location of the mine where the Great Wind Birds are working, I do know the locations of several unregistered private mines owned by the Danxue Mountain lineage. I’ll tell them you were the one who revealed the information.”
Da Feng Li stared at Feng Chiyue in disbelief, fuming. “You’re twisting the truth!”
Feng Chiyue nodded unabashedly. “Yes, I am.” She paused, then added earnestly, “You’re all going to die anyway. But there are many ways to die. You should strive for a meaningful death, so you can rest in peace without regrets.”
“Won’t your Celestial Feather Ministry protect our Great Wind Clan?” one of the other Great Wind Birds blurted out, unable to contain himself any longer.
“Why would we protect you? Have you paid your protection fee?” Feng Chiyue glared at him. Then, with a sweet smile, she said menacingly, “Didn’t you say there are only thirteen members in your clan? Perfect. Let’s kill two. Then we can search their souls. Perhaps we’ll find out the location of the mine.” Her tone resembled that of a villain in a play. The Great Wind Birds looked pleadingly at Ming Jian Su. To their surprise, she nodded in agreement, her actions completely at odds with her reputation as a dutiful and upright immortal.
Feng Chiyue continued, “Don’t even think about ‘redeeming yourselves through meritorious service.’ The two of us are more than enough to handle your entire Great Wind Clan.” As if to punctuate her words, light blazed from the two magic swords. The swords multiplied, their sharp and frigid sword intent encircling the Great Wind Birds, leaving them no chance of escape.
When had the Celestial Feather Ministry officials ever acted like this?
Humiliated, Da Feng Li weighed his options. He could be killed by Ming Jian Su right now, or he could risk being dealt with by the Danxue Mountain lineage later. He chose to reveal the location of the mine.
“The Red Jade Cave in Chongxuan Mountain,” he confessed. “They’re mining Red Agate.”
After contributing two skilled miners, the Great Wind Clan had received some benefits from the Danxue Mountain lineage. However, Da Feng Li was not easily satisfied. He had tried to gather information, hoping to leverage it for greater profit. Of course, when he discovered it was the Red Jade Cave, all his schemes vanished. Being bold was one thing, but he knew where to draw the line. The Danxue Mountain lineage might be willing to share some small profits, but crossing them on a matter of such importance would only lead to death.
Red Agate was a type of crystal that was extremely beneficial to Feather Clan cultivation and incredibly rare in the entire Immortal Realm. A thousand years ago, this vein belonged to the Phoenix Sovereign and was located in Danxue Mountain. But then a great calamity struck Danxue Mountain, and treasures like the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit Tree and other mystical trees were destroyed. Later, during the inventory, the Vermilion Birds had reported the Red Agate vein as destroyed as well. In truth, they had secretly moved the entire vein to Chongxuan Mountain. Currently, only a select few Feather Clans had access to it. Even the Heavenly Emperor was unaware of its existence.
“Red Agate?” After hearing Da Feng Li’s confession, Feng Chiyue pondered for a moment, then exclaimed excitedly, shaking Ming Jian Su’s arm. “Elder Sister, that’s mine!”
Da Feng Li: “…” How could it be hers? It clearly belonged to the Phoenix Sovereign, and if there was to be an heir, it should be a Phoenix from Phoenix Mountain. Wait, Feng Chiyue was also a Phoenix. Didn’t that mean she had every right to claim the Red Agate in Chongxuan Mountain? Hold on, wasn’t she supposed to be acting on behalf of the Celestial Feather Ministry? How did it suddenly become her personal property?
Ming Jian Su seemed to understand something. Her gaze softened as she looked at Feng Chiyue. “Mm,” she said gently. “It’s all yours.”
In Phoenix Mountain.
Feng Yao was the most attentive to Feng Chiyue’s actions. Although the mere thought of Feng Chiyue made her head spin with anger, she couldn’t help but keep tabs on her. She had hoped that Ming Jian Su would be able to control Feng Chiyue and prevent her from causing chaos in the Immortal Realm. However, after Ming Jian Su’s return, things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. The once-respectable East Abode Master was gradually becoming “Feng Chiyue-fied.”
“How did they even confirm that the Great Wind Clan underreported two members? They even knew their names.” Feng Yao was puzzled. The Barbarian Clan incident could be dismissed as a coincidence, but the Great Wind Clan as well? Did Ming Jian Su have such a deep understanding of their Feather Clan? That seemed unlikely.
“Virtuous Sound. It’s the Phoenix’s Virtuous Sound,” the Phoenix Elder said, her voice trembling. The Phoenixes were known for their virtue, and every true Phoenix had a “Virtue” character imprinted on their head feathers. However, only a handful in their entire lineage had cultivated their “Virtue” into the “Virtuous Sound.” Ignoring Feng Yao’s muttering, she turned sharply. “What did the East Abode Master say about Feng Chiyue’s origins?”
“She just said she found her somewhere. She didn’t specify where,” Feng Yao replied. Of course, they had dismissed Ming Jian Su’s vague explanation as a lie and unanimously agreed that she had stolen a Phoenix egg from Phoenix Mountain and hatched Feng Chiyue. Once they were convinced of this, they hadn’t bothered to check who was missing an egg. Some things were better left unexamined. “What do you mean?”
The Phoenix Elder lowered her eyelids and said after a long pause, “The Heavenly Court has the Merit Mirror. We, the Feather Clan, have the Career Book.” She didn’t elaborate, simply saying, “Let’s wait and see.” If the Celestial Feather Ministry knew the exact population of every Feather Clan faction, it couldn’t be attributed to one person’s ability. There must be a higher power at play. A while back, the East Abode Master had mentioned Nirvana… perhaps it wasn’t just a casual remark? Could Feng Chiyue be harboring a deeper secret?
Chongxuan Mountain was located three thousand miles south of Danxue Mountain, a desolate and uninhabited land.
Since this involved her future fortune, Feng Chiyue decided, for once, to be discreet. She suppressed her aura, making herself practically invisible.
Ming Jian Su donned the disguise she had used in Asura City, her appearance transforming in an instant.
Feng Chiyue stared at Ming Jian Su for a long moment, then suddenly covered her face and sighed dramatically.
“Junior Sister?” Ming Jian Su looked at her, confused.
Feng Chiyue frowned. “Put on your veil.”
Ming Jian Su obeyed. As she covered her face, she noticed Feng Chiyue releasing a sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Ming Jian Su quickly understood. Her junior sister was hiding her plain face! Was this appropriate? Was this reasonable? If she, Ming Jian Su, had disguised herself as an ordinary person, her junior sister wouldn’t have reacted this way!
“Junior Sister,” Ming Jian Su said, displeased. After mentally lecturing herself to be more tolerant, she added, “You should disguise yourself too.”
“No,” Feng Chiyue refused flatly. But with her striking appearance, everyone would recognize her immediately. After thinking for a while, she reluctantly transformed into a palm-sized white bird and perched on Ming Jian Su’s shoulder.
Ming Jian Su was startled. Without thinking, she scooped Feng Chiyue into her arms. Apart from its wings and tail feathers, the bird was covered in soft, snowy down. It was incredibly soft and fluffy to the touch. Although she had never seen her junior sister’s true Phoenix form… this adorable transformation wasn’t bad either.
Feng Chiyue, after being petted by Ming Jian Su, felt dizzy for a moment. She glared at her with her round, black eyes, then pecked her hand sharply, calling her name angrily.
She knew Ming Jian Su was evil! Did she think she could just see her true Phoenix form whenever she wanted? Dream on!
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