Chapter 41
Meeting Feng Chiyue’s enigmatic gaze, Ming Jian Su felt her eyelids twitch. She hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn. After a moment of careful consideration, she replied cautiously, “It was just ordinary interaction between colleagues.”
“Did you really need to think about it for so long?” Feng Chiyue gave Ming Jian Su a sideways glance and, with a huff, brushed past her. She went outside to play with the flock of birds. Seeing that she wasn’t truly angry, Ming Jian Su felt the tension ease from her shoulders. She didn’t follow Feng Chiyue, as she still had a backlog of work from the Celestial Feather Ministry to deal with. After reviewing the records and dismissing some Feather Guard officials, several positions had opened up, requiring new appointments. She would have loved to erase the names of those from the Vermilion Bird and Bifang lineages, but unfortunately, the assessments were supposed to be “fair,” and she couldn’t give anyone a reason to criticize her junior sister.
Using Feng Chiyue’s Chaos Mirror, Ming Jian Su posted a notice announcing a selection for Mountain Patrol Emissaries and other officials to be held in three days. The Mountain Patrol Emissaries, under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Prosperity Department, were responsible for inspecting the mines and spiritual veins requested by the Celestial Feather Ministry. There were quite a few of these positions. In the past, they were chosen from among the Vermilion Bird, Bifang, and other feathered lineages, but since they refused to register with the Ministry, most of them had been dismissed. The new Mountain Patrol Emissaries would be tested not only on their basic knowledge but also on their combat abilities. After all, the previous officials had left behind a tangled web of connections that wouldn’t be easy to unravel.
— Does the Celestial Feather Ministry’s assessment vary depending on the position?
— I heard that the Vermilion Bird, Bifang, and other feathered lineages are moving. Will they even participate?
— I don’t know. Things have been really lively in the Heavenly Court lately.
In the new Danxue Mountain.
The Vermilion Bird, Bifang, Swan Goose, and others also saw the notice from the Celestial Feather Ministry. Ming Jian Su was actually going ahead with this plan, the Heavenly Emperor remained silent, and Chang Li was in seclusion, nowhere to be found. They had no choice but to accept their fate. There were only a limited number of Mountain Patrol Emissary positions, and considering that some members of the feathered lineages were loyal to the Phoenix, they would certainly participate. Even those who were originally affiliated with the Vermilion Bird were starting to waver. Could they really stand by and watch as all the Mountain Patrol Emissary positions were filled by others?
“At least they haven’t shown any favoritism towards Phoenix Mountain,” the Vermilion Bird Elder said in a deep voice. “Let the most promising candidates from our clan, along with the dismissed former Mountain Patrol Emissaries, take the assessment.” Based on the few jade slips related to the assessment that had been released, the content was directly related to the duties of the position. The former Mountain Patrol Emissaries had experience on their side, giving them a significant advantage over those from Phoenix Mountain.
After making their decision, the Vermilion Bird Elder entered a cave. Fearing eavesdroppers, he set up multiple shielding formations. Once the flow of energy inside and outside the cave was completely separated, he carefully took out a black talisman paper. Chanting incantations, he channeled his magic power into it. Moments later, the talisman transformed into a wisp of black smoke that rose into the air, vaguely taking the shape of a demonic creature. The smoke lingered for a moment, circling the Vermilion Bird Elder before dissipating. The Elder snorted, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
In the Demon Abyss Palace.
Tushan Liusu lounged on her throne, her legs crossed, her gaze fixed on the Chaos Mirror floating before her. It displayed the image of Tushan Xiurong’s indignant face.
Ever since Ming Jian Su had implanted sword energy in Tushan Xiurong, she had been cursing Tushan Liusu daily. Tushan Liusu was unfazed. After all, it wasn’t her body that was afflicted. When a demon soldier arrived to report, Tushan Liusu didn’t even bother putting away the Chaos Mirror. She glanced at the soldier, waiting for him to speak.
“Someone from the Heavenly Court sent a signal, requesting our assistance,” the demon soldier reported dutifully.
Tushan Liusu raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning contemplative. The Demon Abyss and the Heavenly Court were separated only by a river, their history entangled in countless millennia of conflict. It was impossible for there to be no contact between the demon race and the immortals. Most of the time, their interactions, whether peaceful or hostile, were driven by “profit.” There were certain longstanding traditions that Tushan Liusu hadn’t changed after becoming the Demon Sovereign. For example, if someone in the Immortal Realm wanted a promotion but lacked sufficient merit, they would bribe the demon race with valuable treasures to create chaos and artificially inflate their merit. Or, if someone had an enemy they couldn’t deal with themselves, they would hire the demon race to assassinate them… Why refuse a mutually beneficial arrangement?
“Make the necessary preparations,” Tushan Liusu replied with a smile.
Tushan Xiurong, who had overheard the conversation, stared at her with wide eyes. “You’re doing it again–” she started to say, but the scene before her shifted, and Tushan Liusu’s smiling face vanished. Tushan Liusu had unilaterally cut off the connection.
Tushan Xiurong: “…” Even the elders back in Qingqiu Mountain couldn’t remove the sword energy from her body. Her most important task each day was to contact Tushan Liusu, but unfortunately, her attempts to gather information always ended with her cursing at Tushan Liusu, gaining nothing in the process. Dong’e Mountain hadn’t contacted her again, as if they had forgotten about the incident. However, Tushan Xiurong couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease, since she was the one who had been threatened. After some thought, she decided to treat this as “intelligence,” hoping to earn a bit of “mercy” from the East Abode Master.
—
Ming Jian Su was surprised to hear about the movements in the Demon Abyss from Tushan Xiurong, but upon reflection, she realized it made sense. She dismissed Tushan Xiurong with a few words, showing no sign of hostility or indignation towards the demon race. Ming Jian Su had no interest in getting involved in this mess. The Heavenly Emperor hadn’t tasked her with dealing with it, so it was none of her business. Her focus was solely on the Celestial Feather Ministry. After all, she had received a decree from the Celestial Mother to protect and guide her junior sister.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. On the day of the Celestial Feather Ministry assessment, Ming Jian Su actually woke up early, intending to make an appearance. She hadn’t expected Feng Chiyue to come, but surprisingly, her junior sister was uncharacteristically active. She got ready with lightning speed and even thoughtfully summoned their golden chariot. Ming Jian Su looked at Feng Chiyue suspiciously, feeling that beneath her obedient facade lurked a mischievous spirit.
At the Celestial Feather Ministry.
Que Chenyi was nervous. She had assumed that neither Ming Jian Su nor Feng Chiyue would come. After all, she was just a small mountain sparrow. Faced with the combined pressure emanating from the bloodlines of so many feathered immortals, she couldn’t help but feel intimidated. The newly crafted puppet servants maintained order. Perhaps because more resources had been invested in their creation, not only were they more durable, but their appearance had also improved. At least they no longer had featureless faces.
The candidates for the Feather Guard positions varied in temperament, and being placed in the same space as their rivals inevitably led to some restlessness and agitation. Faint waves of magic power rippled through the air, coalescing into a powerful surge. Just as the tension threatened to boil over, a thunderous boom echoed through the hall. The immortals instinctively turned towards the source of the sound—a pillar of lightning, crackling with sword energy. Bai Zifeng, barely clinging to life, was suspended from it. Whenever he seemed about to lose consciousness, a puppet servant would force-feed him a spiritual pill. His presence served as a stark reminder to the feathered immortals of Bai Yang Star Monarch’s(White Phase Star Monarch) fate. The cacophony of voices quickly died down. No matter their thoughts, they all lowered their heads, silent as cicadas in winter.
The golden chariot from Dong’e Mountain stopped outside the Heavenly Feather Hall. As the solemn sounds of bells and chimes echoed through the air, the candidates entered the hall one by one. Only then did Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue emerge from the chariot. Que Chenyi glanced at them but remained silent. She distributed the jade slips that had been prepared in advance. The questions on the slips covered a range of topics, including the history of the feathered lineages, the properties of various mines, arithmetic, and law. Que Chenyi knew that Ming Jian Su had written the questions. As for their actual Ministry Head… no one could make her work. She had heard that in the mortal realm, cultivators had to undergo numerous trials to ascend. She wondered what kind of hardship the East Abode Master had endured to come up with such a brutal assessment method.
Indeed, Que Chenyi had already instinctively attributed everything to Ming Jian Su.
The hall fell silent.
Feng Chiyue found the atmosphere stifling after a while. She pulled Ming Jian Su to a side hall. Instead of taking out the Chaos Mirror to entertain herself, she uncharacteristically remembered her role as Ministry Head and, for appearances’ sake, expressed some concern for the affairs of the Celestial Feather Ministry. “After the written assessment, there will be another round of selection. What do you plan to have them do, Elder Sister?”
Ming Jian Su replied without hesitation, “A tournament.” The role of a Mountain Patrol Emissary wasn’t just about sitting around in a hall. They needed to prevent unrest within the mines, defend against wandering immortals trying to steal resources, and accurately calculate output. Their cultivation couldn’t be too weak.
Feng Chiyue snorted. “Troublesome.”
Ming Jian Su blinked. “Do you have any ideas, Junior Sister?”
“With such reluctant transitions between old and new, there are bound to be problems with the account books,” Feng Chiyue said. “Assign each candidate a mountain and have them compile a hundred years’ worth of records. Practical experience is the best teacher. Give them half a month. Those who fail are eliminated.”
Ming Jian Su considered this. “Those former Mountain Patrol Emissaries might not be so obedient. There could be problems.” A peaceful transition, a violent conflict, avoidance, or even collusion were all possibilities.
Feng Chiyue said calmly, “Then eliminate the problem directly.” The problem was caused by the immortals. If they eliminated those who were disobedient, wouldn’t the problem disappear? Ming Jian Su noticed a fleeting glint of murderous intent in Feng Chiyue’s eyes. After a moment of thought, she realized that this was also a good opportunity to weaken the power of the Vermilion Bird and Bifang lineages. “Alright,” she agreed.
The candidates, having gone through the written assessment, knew that further trials were inevitable. They took advantage of the time to cram as much knowledge as possible. When the time was up, they submitted their jade slips. Many of them wore confident smiles, believing they had aced the test. Que Chenyi didn’t bother asking Feng Chiyue or Undefeated to review the answers. After dismissing the candidates, she distributed the jade slips to the puppet servants. There were practically no blank or nonsensical answers. After a flurry of activity, Que Chenyi carefully selected one hundred and fifty slips and presented them to Feng Chiyue.
She knew that Feng Chiyue wouldn’t actually read them, so she reported directly, “This time, the results involve one hundred and nine feathered lineages. Neither Danxue Mountain nor Phoenix Mountain has a significant advantage. Instead, those from smaller, often overlooked lineages performed better.”
Feng Chiyue said casually, “Those who harbor resentment wouldn’t take it seriously, of course. The smaller lineages see this as an opportunity. How could they not give it their all?”
Que Chenyi asked, “Will there be a tournament next? When will it be held?”
Ming Jian Su glanced at Feng Chiyue and said, “The tournament is canceled.”
Que Chenyi: “?” Her gaze held a hint of both amusement and apprehension. What earth-shattering plan did their esteemed Ministry Head have in mind this time?
Ming Jian Su flicked her sleeve, and a stream of light landed in Que Chenyi’s hand. Que Chenyi blinked and channeled her consciousness into the jade slip. It was a map of the Celestial Feather Ministry’s mines, with over a hundred mountains marked. She looked up at Ming Jian Su, puzzled.
“Assign these candidates who passed the written assessment to each of the marked mines,” Ming Jian Su instructed. “Have them audit a hundred years’ worth of records for each mine.”
Que Chenyi thought for a moment, understanding Ming Jian Su’s intention. However, a new problem arose. The records in the Heavenly Prosperity Department’s treasury were also unclear. How would she evaluate the candidates’ performance? She voiced her concerns.
Ming Jian Su gestured to Feng Chiyue, who had originally come up with the idea.
The Feather Guard registry in the Heavenly Feather Hall could be cross-referenced with the Celestial Feather Career Book, but the mine yields and treasury records, as Que Chenyi pointed out, had no reliable reference point. Feng Chiyue lifted her eyelids lazily. “After they compile the records, those from similar mines can be compared against each other. Surely, those candidates from different backgrounds wouldn’t collude with each other, right?” Moreover, the records compiled by those from the Phoenix Mountain faction would definitely be reliable. After all, they had controlled these mines a thousand years ago and had a good understanding of the rate of resource depletion.
Ming Jian Su nodded. “Do it that way.”
Que Chenyi: “…” A single sentence from the Ministry Head, and it was up to her subordinates to flesh out the details and patch up any loopholes. Why had she bothered becoming a candidate and competing for a position in the Celestial Feather Ministry in the first place? The puppet servants did save her a lot of trouble, but there were some things they simply couldn’t do.
Looking at Que Chenyi’s dejected expression, Feng Chiyue, surprisingly, felt a flicker of sympathy. After a moment of thought, she took out a few spiritual fruits and placed them on the table. “These fruits can nourish your Yuan Qi and prevent feather loss.” They tasted quite ordinary, and as for their effects… she had no use for them.
Hearing the words “feather loss,” Que Chenyi felt a wave of despair wash over her. Her mood darkened even further.
Seeing herself in Que Chenyi, Ming Jian Su also spoke up after Feng Chiyue expressed her sympathy. However, unlike Feng Chiyue’s superficial gesture, her words were filled with genuine understanding. “I’ll find you an assistant.”
Que Chenyi’s eyes welled up with gratitude.
It wasn’t until they left the Heavenly Feather Hall that Feng Chiyue turned to Ming Jian Su, her brow furrowed. “Assistant?” Who else did her Elder Sister know among the feathered lineages? Was she planning to reach out to Phoenix Mountain? Ask a cultivator from Phoenix Mountain to help Que Chenyi?
Ming Jian Su smiled enigmatically. “You’ll see when we get back to Dong’e Mountain.”
Feng Chiyue, dissatisfied with her evasiveness, pressed further, “It’s not Zhu Wan, is it?”
Ming Jian Su looked surprised. “You want her to work at the Celestial Feather Ministry?”
“No,” Feng Chiyue replied. Although Zhu Wan was a bit of a fool and somewhat timid, she was still better than many of the useless immortals in the Heavenly Court. If her Elder Sister took on another disciple, who knew what kind of person they would be? What if they distracted her Elder Sister? In short, any potential for trouble should be avoided. The brief distraction had extinguished Feng Chiyue’s curiosity.
When they returned to Dong’e Mountain, Zhu Wan happened to be feeding the flock of plump little birds.
Feng Chiyue didn’t interrupt, her gaze fixed on the little creatures vying for food. Hearing Ming Jian Su’s footsteps, she pointed to a small green bird. “It’s not as lively as the others.”
Ming Jian Su smiled faintly. “Perhaps it’s sick.”
Feng Chiyue’s lips curled into a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “What if it’s contagious? Should we throw it out of Dong’e Mountain?” Upon hearing these words, the meek little green bird puffed up its feathers and, with a flap of its wings, launched itself at the other birds, crashing into them like a falling mountain. It was always domineering, and the other birds, having reached their limit, finally fought back. However, they were no match for its “slaps” and ended up huddled together in defeat. A few brave ones, tears welling up in their eyes, flew towards Feng Chiyue. However, upon meeting Ming Jian Su’s gentle gaze, they quickly changed course and landed on Zhu Wan’s shoulder, pecking at her empty hand.
Ming Jian Su’s smile vanished. In a calm yet firm voice, she said, “Come in.”
Zhu Wan was confused. “Huh?”
Feng Chiyue glanced at Zhu Wan and said slowly, “Not you.”
Zhu Wan: “?” If not her, then who? Her Master wouldn’t use such a cold tone with Feng Chiyue. Could there be some entity hiding in Dong’e Mountain without her knowledge? Her confusion deepened as her gaze darted around, finally landing on the stiff, dejected-looking green bird—its despondency was palpable. Could it be this grumpy little creature?
The despondent little green bird soon confirmed Zhu Wan’s guess, flapping its wings as it flew towards the Dharma Hall. The remaining birds seemed delighted. Zhu Wan thought she heard the sound of mocking laughter. She frowned, looking at the birds again—perhaps they were impatient for their food. With a flurry of wings, they scattered, embodying the concept of “heartlessness.”
Inside the Dharma Hall.
Feng Chiyue settled comfortably into Ming Jian Su’s embrace and summoned the Chaos Mirror, eager for some entertainment. However, seeing the emerald light entering the hall, she frowned. “Assume your human form,” she ordered. In this Dharma Hall, only she was allowed to be a little bird!
The green bird obeyed. It was enveloped in a green glow, and after a few moments, a young girl, no older than fourteen or fifteen, emerged. Dressed in shades of yellow and green, she possessed a delicate beauty.
“From the Azure Dragon lineage,” Ming Jian Su said. She had already noticed something unusual about this green bird, but seeing how well-behaved it was and considering its young age and the fact that her junior sister didn’t seem to dislike it, she hadn’t driven it out of the mountain.
The girl was somewhat afraid of Ming Jian Su. She had deluded herself into thinking she could hide among the other birds, freeloading in Dong’e Mountain, but now the East Abode Master had mercilessly exposed her, and despair washed over her like a tidal wave. If her instincts hadn’t told her that crying would only worsen her situation, she would have burst into tears.
“What’s your name?” Feng Chiyue asked, her voice languid yet polite.
“Qing Xun,” the girl replied softly.
“How old are you?” Feng Chiyue asked.
“Sixteen,” Qing Xun answered.
Feng Chiyue: “…” Why did she look even younger than her actual age? Was Phoenix Mountain so poor that they couldn’t even raise a single Azure Dragon? Had she come to Dong’e Mountain to fight with the other birds? “Can’t Phoenix Mountain afford to keep you?” When she said this, Feng Chiyue didn’t bother hiding her mockery and disdain for Phoenix Mountain.
Qing Xun was at a loss for words.
She didn’t lack food in Phoenix Mountain, but for some reason, she couldn’t seem to absorb enough energy. One day, she was drawn to the scent of Dong’e Mountain’s spiritual fruits and had secretly transformed into a small green bird to come here. She had spent a few days in fear, but no one chased her away, so she had stayed, pretending to be an ordinary bird. Now it seemed that they had simply been too lazy to deal with her.
Ming Jian Su wrapped her arm around Feng Chiyue’s waist and looked at Qing Xun calmly. “You ate the spiritual fruits from Dong’e Mountain.”
Qing Xun fidgeted, her voice small and hesitant. “I-I’ll compensate you.” Her voice grew fainter with each word, eventually becoming a mere whisper. Many of the spiritual fruits, originally native to Danxue Mountain but now extinct, how could she possibly compensate for them? She summoned the Chaos Mirror, but she didn’t dare mention this to the elders in her clan. She simply lowered her head, her gaze fixed on her toes.
Feng Chiyue looked at the young Azure Dragon, realizing that she was the “assistant” Ming Jian Su had mentioned. “Do you need me to contact the Azure Dragon Elder?” she asked coolly.
Qing Xun: “…”
Ming Jian Su rubbed her forehead, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt for bullying a child. She decided to stop beating around the bush. “Those spiritual fruits are priceless. Even Phoenix Mountain might not be able to afford them. You may be young, but you’re old enough to take responsibility for your actions. Go to the Celestial Feather Ministry and find someone named Que Chenyi. She’ll tell you what to do.”
Qing Xun, who had thought she was in deep trouble, looked up in surprise. Was this a lifeline? She had seen the fearsome reputations of these two on the Chaos Mirror and had assumed her fate would be the same as Bai Yang Star Monarch’s. She bowed deeply. “I’ll go right away!” Then, she spun around and ran, as if chased by a monstrous beast.
Feng Chiyue scoffed. “Her immortal body has a congenital defect. She’ll probably need to undergo Nirvana to be like the other feathered immortals.”
Ming Jian Su wasn’t an expert on the feathered lineages and hadn’t noticed anything wrong with Qing Xun. Hearing Feng Chiyue’s words, she smiled. “You’re truly kind, Junior Sister.”
Feng Chiyue glanced at Ming Jian Su but didn’t reply.
She couldn’t be bothered to communicate with Phoenix Mountain.
At the Celestial Feather Ministry.
Que Chenyi hadn’t expected the “assistant” she was given to be such a young Azure Dragon.
This wasn’t an assistant. This was a “disciple” she couldn’t possibly refuse!
Still, work needed to be done. As she assigned tasks to the one hundred and fifty candidates, she explained things to her new “assistant.” By the time her throat was dry, she gratefully accepted the spiritual tea offered by Qing Xun and took a sip. A surge of spiritual energy coursed through her veins, instantly dispelling her fatigue. She looked at the well-behaved Qing Xun and, forcing a gentle smile, asked, “Do you understand?”
Qing Xun bit her lip and answered honestly, “No.”
Que Chenyi: “…” Was it too late to tell the East Abode Master that she didn’t want this assistant?
After a moment of silent standoff with Qing Xun, the cold voice of a puppet servant rang out from outside the side hall.
Que Chenyi had a feeling it wasn’t good news. She wearily allowed the puppet servant to enter, but instead of a mountain of documents, it carried a tray piled high with spiritual fruits, their vibrant energy almost overflowing.
“These are from Dong’e Mountain,” the puppet servant reported mechanically.
Que Chenyi understood. These were for her little assistant, and she happened to benefit as well.
Seeing the longing in Qing Xun’s eyes, Que Chenyi coughed, trying to maintain her “dignity as a teacher.”
Wasn’t it just taking on a slow-witted disciple? What was the big deal? After sharing the fruits, she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you… related to the Ministry Head?” Otherwise, why would she receive such preferential treatment?
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