Chapter 61
Heartache, pity, self-blame… A myriad of emotions surged within her. Ming Jian Su looked up at Feng Chiyue, her eyes filled with tears, unable to contain her feelings.
Feng Chiyue understood her thoughts and sighed softly. She wiped away her tears and said, her gaze unwavering, “But when you were suffering in the lower realm, I wasn’t there for you either.”
“My suffering was nothing compared to yours,” Ming Jian Su said, her voice choked with emotion.
Feng Chiyue felt helpless, unsure of how to comfort her. After a moment of silence, she forced a smile. “If you had ascended earlier,” she said, trying to lighten the mood, “you might not be so powerful now. Then we would both be getting beaten up.” She placed her hands on Ming Jian Su’s shoulders, kissed her eyes, and added, “Don’t blame yourself. Our long separation was only meant to lead to a better reunion.” She didn’t ask what Ming Jian Su had seen, but those fragmented memories were likely about the “Fall of the Phoenix.” Afraid that Ming Jian Su would fall into despair, she said, “Elder Sister, I want you to avenge me.”
Even if she hadn’t asked, Ming Jian Su would have avenged her. Hatred burned within her. No one deserved forgiveness. “I’ll send them to hell,” she said, her voice filled with venom. “Even if it costs me my life…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Feng Chiyue’s fingers pressed against her lips.
An image flashed through Feng Chiyue’s mind: a figure, bathed in blood, approaching with a sword in hand, leaving a trail of blood with every step. That face, as pale as snow and moon, was stained with blood. She pressed her lips together, her gaze, momentarily unfocused, returning to Ming Jian Su. “No,” she said. “You have to live. That’s more important than anything else.”
Ming Jian Su’s eyes were filled with tears. She had a thousand words to say but couldn’t find the right ones. It was as if a lump were stuck in her throat. She tightened her grip around Feng Chiyue’s waist, holding her close, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted to merge with her junior sister, to become inseparable.
Feng Chiyue nestled in her embrace. They remained silent, their turbulent emotions gradually subsiding, their pounding hearts calming down, their rhythms strong and steady. Ming Jian Su recalled the images she had seen, her eyes turning cold and murderous. This Minor Realm would eventually connect to the Immortal Realm, but its Heavenly Gate would never be on Kunlun Mountain!
After what felt like an eternity, or perhaps just a blink of an eye, Ming Jian Su whispered, “Junior Sister.”
“Hmm?” Feng Chiyue responded lazily, her voice drowsy.
“Did you see it?” Ming Jian Su asked softly. Those memories that had suddenly appeared in her junior sister’s Sea of Consciousness, only to be rejected, would eventually resurface. Written records only offered a censored version of the truth. How could they compare to the firsthand experience, the visceral shock? That betrayal was enough to turn a warm heart into cold ashes.
“A little,” Feng Chiyue said. She wasn’t particularly concerned about the past. The fire of Nirvana had given her rebirth, burning away her former self, purging all that was unnecessary.
“I wonder where Suxin Jianzhu is buried,” Ming Jian Su said, her voice turning somber. After realizing the depth of the connection between Suxin Jianzhu and the Phoenix Sovereign, she couldn’t help but compare herself to her. But such comparisons were meaningless. The dead were dead.
Feng Chiyue looked at her, a strange expression in her eyes.
“I want to pay my respects to her,” Ming Jian Su said. After all, she had given her junior sister a chance at life. If she hadn’t sent the Phoenix Sovereign to the Abyss of the Milky Way, she wouldn’t have met her junior sister.
Feng Chiyue: “…” After a long moment, she finally said, “Alright.” Her eyes were heavy with sleep, and she clung to Ming Jian Su, unwilling to let go.
***
While they processed those fragmented memories in the cage-house on the tree, the phoenixes outside didn’t dare to disturb them.
They had transcribed the cultivation techniques and records from the divine tree, intending to show them to Ming Jian Su. However, before she emerged, they had read through them themselves, their anger growing with each page.
Only at noon the next day did Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue appear.
Learning that these feathered immortals were former guards of the Phoenix Sovereign, Ming Jian Su’s attitude towards them softened considerably. However, she still politely declined the spiritual fruits offered by Feng Shuo and handed her a Qiankun bag instead. The Feather Guards in the Celestial Feather Ministry were descendants of those traitors. Their loyalty and faith were far from pure compared to these phoenixes. Before Feng Shuo could refuse, Ming Jian Su said slowly, “Very few of you possess the strength to ascend.”
Feng Shuo immediately fell silent.
They desired revenge, but their Minor Realm’s peak was merely a starting point for those in the Immortal Realm. The gap was indeed difficult to bridge.
She presented the compiled records to Ming Jian Su.
Having already glimpsed some of the past through Feng Chiyue’s memories, Ming Jian Su still read the Minor Realm phoenixes’ history carefully, reliving that pain and betrayal. Her junior sister had suffered so much, and yet those responsible were living carefree lives in the Heavenly Court? And what about those from Phoenix Mountain? Did they really think that their guilt could erase their silence? If the Phoenix Sovereign hadn’t killed their chosen successor, would they still be living harmoniously with the Vermilion Birds and Bifang lineages in Danxue Mountain?
She hated them!
Her gaze, sharp and filled with bloodlust, fell upon them through the gaps in the branches, sending shivers down their spines.
Feng Chiyue, sitting beside her, was unusually calm. Despite being the victim of that past betrayal, her expression was devoid of worry or sadness. She simply smiled at Ming Jian Su, as if she were her entire world, everything else, good or bad, irrelevant.
Feng Shuo’s gaze shifted between them. She finally understood. They desired revenge, but they weren’t waiting for orders from their long-awaited Sovereign. They were following the sword cultivator who had accompanied her.
“We’ll be leaving soon,” Ming Jian Su said casually.
“What should we do?” Feng Shuo asked.
Ming Jian Su smiled. “Apart from improving yourselves, what other choice do you have?” She paused, then added, “It’s fortunate that this Minor Realm appeared in the Demon Abyss. I’ll use the demons as an excuse to conceal its existence.”
Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow. “The Heavenly Emperor will punish you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Ming Jian Su said with a smile. She met Feng Chiyue’s gaze, then sighed. “Then I won’t have any salary, and I’ll have to rely on you, Junior Sister.”
Feng Chiyue’s smile widened. Dong’e Mountain was wealthy, but spending their own money wasn’t as satisfying as plundering others.
In the Demon Abyss.
Chang Li, after receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s decree, waited for Yu Gao’s arrival in Asura City.
The Emperor wanted them to retrieve that “Fallen Phoenix” artifact hidden in Ming Ji’s tomb, but she was more concerned about the Minor Realm. According to his instructions, he would be sending other Star Monarchs besides Ming Jian Su. But how many had he summoned from the Realm Beyond Heaven?
“Aren’t we leaving yet?” Yu Gao’s impatient voice came from outside. “We’ve received news that the demon generals and soldiers guarding the Hall of Heroes have all gone to the Cold Prison. It’s completely empty now.” He had been humiliated in the Heavenly Prosperity Department. The Chaos Mirror was filled with gossip about him. He desperately needed to achieve something, to earn the respect of the Heavenly Court’s immortals. He had always wanted to compete with Chu Yi, but now he wasn’t even worthy of being compared to her. He had received a secret decree this time. If he succeeded, the Emperor would grant him the status of a prince, and he would be on equal footing with Chu Yi, able to compete for the “Mandate of Heaven”!
Chang Li lowered her gaze, a sense of unease settling over her. She glanced at Yu Gao Star Monarch, his face beaming with excitement. “Do you believe that artifact truly exists, Fellow Daoist?” she asked.
He was puzzled. “Didn’t you send the report?” Seeing her skepticism, he grew impatient. “Demons revere strength. The dead are the weak. It’s already surprising that anyone bothers visiting the Previous Demon Sovereign’s tomb. Why would they station heavy guards there? There must be something else hidden within the Hall of Heroes. Now that they’ve moved their troops, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to infiltrate it.”
“You’re right,” she agreed. She had also captured a few demons who had been guarding the Hall of Heroes and had extracted their memories. Their stories were consistent. However, the information had come too easily, and she couldn’t shake her doubts.
But Yu Gao lacked her caution and patience. His desire to “achieve great things” had inflated to an unprecedented level. Seeing her hesitation, his eyes flickered, and he chuckled. “If you’re concerned, South Vermilion Lord, just wait for my good news in Asura City.” He didn’t believe she would truly abandon him.
Her eye twitched. How could she let him go alone? He might be safe in Asura City, but she wasn’t, let alone allowing him to face danger alone. A faint smile played on her lips, but her eyes were cold and sharp. “What are you saying, Fellow Daoist?” she asked slowly. “I’m here under the Emperor’s orders. Of course, I’ll accompany you.”
Seeing her reaction, he smiled. “Excellent.” Among the four generals under the Heavenly Emperor, Ming Yuheng and Ming Jian Su were close and couldn’t be swayed, while Bai Guchan was cold and aloof, having even humiliated him publicly. Only Chang Li, the South Vermilion Lord, was sensible. He wished all those under the Emperor were like her. Well, after the Phoenix Sovereign’s fall, the feathered lineages were leaderless. They should naturally submit to the Heavenly Court. However, recent events had made the Emperor suspicious of the Vermilion Birds. He was testing Chang Li, afraid she might harbor resentment. Lost in thought, he glanced at her before leaving. “I’ve heard about the incident in Danxue Mountain,” he said. “I sympathize with your situation. You must understand the Emperor’s predicament. After we’ve handled this matter, I’ll help you seek justice.”
Her eyes turned even colder. She stood up and smiled slowly. “Thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist.”
After Ming Ji’s death, it had been the current Demon Sovereign, Tu Shan Liusu, who had collected his remains. However, it had been after the chaos in the Demon Abyss, and everything had been in disarray. She hadn’t buried him near the Demon Palace but had built a tomb and the Hall of Heroes twenty miles east of the Abyss, assigning Ming Ji’s former guards to tend to it. The Hall of Heroes had been built for him, but it also housed memorial tablets for other demon heroes who had perished over the past thousand years.
Perhaps because the demons were focused on seizing the new Minor Realm, the Hall of Heroes was left vulnerable.
The complex formations were still active, but Yu Gao had brought an immortal skilled in formations. They waited patiently for two days and, without alerting the guards, infiltrated the hall.
“There’s something underground,” Chang Li said, her senses sharp, her gaze piercing the mound of earth like a sword. A powerful aura was hidden beneath the surface. They hadn’t sensed it from outside due to the formations’ interference. But now that the barrier was gone, the closer they got, the stronger the aura became.
“Ming Ji was clever,” Yu Gao said, chuckling, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Chang Li was worried about him. “There are still demon patrols nearby. We must be cautious,” she warned.
He agreed readily, but the next moment, he shot towards the tombstone like lightning, his hand pressing against its surface. A cracking sound echoed through the air as the tombstone shattered into pieces. He had moved too quickly for her to stop him! Behind the broken tombstone, a dark passage appeared.
A foul, pungent odor wafted out, followed by a cloud of black smoke that instantly transformed into a black hawk, pecking at Yu Gao’s eyes. He scoffed, formed hand seals, and, with a powerful strike, shattered the hawk. A piercing cry echoed through the air, alerting the nearby demon patrols, who quickly gathered, glaring at the intruders.
Chang Li frowned, her eyes filled with annoyance. “What are you doing, Fellow Daoist Yu Gao?”
He shrugged. “As long as the Demon Sovereign doesn’t appear, South Vermilion Lord, you can easily handle these demons.” He summoned his sword and charged towards them. The Heavenly Emperor had initially instructed him to retrieve “Fallen Phoenix” discreetly, but it seemed there were problems with the Minor Realm in the Cold Prison. He had received a new message, ordering him to act boldly, even attracting the Demon Sovereign’s attention, drawing their focus away from the Cold Prison and towards the Hall of Heroes. He hadn’t asked for details, assuming that the Star Monarch sent to the Realm Beyond Heaven had encountered trouble.
Indeed, there had been trouble.
News arrived from the Realm Beyond Heaven: Ming He Star Monarch’s abode had been destroyed.
Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Emperor immediately suspected Ming Jian Su. He didn’t know what was happening in that Minor Realm, but he instantly decided to destroy it completely. Not just erasing its nascent Heavenly Dao but sending Heavenly Soldiers to collapse its spiritual foundation, leading to its utter annihilation. However, mobilizing Heavenly Soldiers wasn’t easy. They needed formations to power them, and the demons would definitely interfere. After much deliberation, he decided to abandon that “Fallen Phoenix” artifact for now and focus on this more immediate threat. He would reverse the roles of the forces stationed at the Cold Prison and the Hall of Heroes. The hidden force would become the overt one.
As for the potential dangers faced by Chang Li and Yu Gao, he didn’t care.
Trading the Vermilion Birds’ lives for the rebellious Ming Jian Su was a worthy sacrifice.
In the Demon Palace.
Tu Shan Liusu was puzzled upon hearing that Chang Li and Yu Gao had appeared at the Hall of Heroes so openly. Logically, they should have been concealing their movements. Why were they provoking the demons? Had she made a mistake by sending the demons guarding the Hall of Heroes to the Cold Prison? She hadn’t provided those arrogant immortals with enough entertainment.
“Your Majesty, should we drive them away?” a demon general asked, his eyes filled with killing intent.
“Go,” she said with a chuckle. “Send those from the Cold Prison. I want to see what they’re up to.”
“But if we withdraw from the Cold Prison, the Minor Realm will fall into the Heavenly Court’s hands,” the general said, hesitating.
“We can’t have that Minor Realm anyway. And Ming Jian Su has already entered it. Do you really think we have a chance?” she asked, smiling.
“Two people might not be able to accomplish much,” the general said stubbornly.
Her eyes turned cold, and a wave of pressure, like a crashing tide, descended upon him.
He collapsed to the ground, his face flushed red. “As you command,” he said through gritted teeth.
She smiled sweetly. “You should have said that from the start.”
Chang Li’s face was cold, a sword in her hand, its red light flashing like raindrops against a window. Those demon soldiers, equivalent to Heavenly Soldiers, were no match for her. If she had been alone, she would have entered the tomb passage directly, but unfortunately, she had the troublemaking but incompetent Yu Gao beside her. He had been granted the title of “Star Monarch” by the Heavenly Emperor, but he was all show and no substance. He was actually losing against a demon general and a few soldiers.
She glanced at him, her gaze filled with mockery. Sensing her disdain, he felt a surge of annoyance.
His face darkened, and without a word, he channeled his magic power, meeting the demons’ attacks head-on. Only when Chang Li cleared a path with her sword did he wipe the blood from his face and glare at her.
But she didn’t look at him. She frowned at the sky, which was darkening with a swarm of demons, and sighed. “They’re here,” she said.
“Who’s here?” he asked, startled, then, following her gaze, he chuckled. “Just in time!”
“You deliberately attracted them? No, it was the Emperor’s order?” she asked. “What is he planning?” Which one was the bait, the Cold Prison or the Hall of Heroes?
“Who knows?” he shrugged, looking at her with a mocking smile. “The East Abode Master can fight a hundred enemies alone. Surely the South Vermilion Lord is no less capable.”
The sky was gloomy, the wind biting.
A chill ran down her spine. She looked at him, his face beaming with confidence, and smiled suddenly. “If I fall, Fellow Daoist, will you join me in death?”
His eyes flickered. “Don’t speak of such depressing things now,” he said.
The sea of fire in the Cold Prison was almost impassable.
After the demons’ inexplicable retreat, very few of the officials who had followed Ming Jian Su remained. They had either been killed or had fled.
The survivors stared at the blazing inferno, hesitant.
“The East Abode Master will surely complete the mission, right?” someone whispered.
No one answered.
After a moment, he was distracted by several streaks of light flashing across the sky. He looked up and saw figures, ethereal and elegant, descending.
Were they reinforcements? Weren’t they a bit late?
The leading official glanced at the inferno and, holding up a talisman, declared, “By the Emperor’s decree, this foreign realm shall be destroyed.”
The crowd erupted in gasps.
Night.
Countless stars twinkled in the sky, a breathtaking spectacle.
Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue were sitting on a high branch of the parasol tree, gazing at the vast, starry expanse.
Suddenly, a streak of light, like a shooting star, crossed the sky, plummeting towards them. This seemed to be just the beginning. Hundreds, then thousands of streaks of light, like a fiery rain, filled the sky.
“Those aren’t meteors. They’re Heavenly Soldiers,” Ming Jian Su said, her voice cold, standing up abruptly.
This Minor Realm wasn’t just inhabited by cultivators but also by millions of mortals. If those Heavenly Soldiers crashed down, it would cause widespread devastation, disrupting the realm’s spiritual foundation.
She knew that the Heavenly Emperor was heartless, but she hadn’t expected him to be so ruthless!
Feng Chiyue looked up and said slowly, “He wants to destroy this Minor Realm. If it collapses, his Mandate of Heaven, unable to bear the karmic consequences, will instantly shatter.” He was aware of his Mandate but didn’t understand its true nature. He believed that eliminating all unstable factors would solidify his rule, but the path of immortality was fraught with consequences, ultimately leading to destruction. “If we don’t intervene, we can achieve our goal and attack the Heavenly Court directly, eliminating the root of the problem,” she said, her voice soft, a strange smile playing on her lips.
Ming Jian Su’s expression turned icy. “Save them,” she said, her figure shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Undefeated, Eternal Sword, and Three Feet Above Heaven – the three swords she had brought with her – shot out, transforming into whistling sword energy, soaring towards the sky. The sword light divided, countless strands of sword intent scattering, their brilliance rivaling the stars. Her control over her sword intent was precise. Each Heavenly Soldier, still in mid-air, was struck by a sword beam, exploding into a shower of light, scattering like a magnificent fireworks display.
Such a massive surge of spiritual energy shook the heavens and earth. How could the cultivators not sense it? But with their limited power, they could only feel their own insignificance. Compared to the stars, their strength was like ants trying to shake a giant tree.
Various sword techniques manifested in the sky. Ming Jian Su looked down and, reaching out to Feng Chiyue, said softly, “Let’s go back, Junior Sister.” Those Heavenly Soldiers weren’t just meant to destroy the Minor Realm, but to eliminate her!
A phoenix cry pierced the night sky. Those phoenixes had followed them.
Feng Chiyue walked towards her, not looking back.
Their auras surged, their figures becoming translucent, and just as they were about to escape the Minor Realm, Ming Jian Su suddenly reached downwards.
A chilling sword energy surged upwards, gradually forming a cold, sharp sword, its killing intent overwhelming.
Its name: Reincarnation!
In the Demon Palace.
Tu Shan Liusu had been watching the drama unfold.
But when she saw the Heavenly Court officials sending Heavenly Soldiers into the Minor Realm, she couldn’t sit still any longer. She was about to go to the Cold Prison herself when the demon soldiers guarding the Hall of Heroes arrived, seeking reinforcements.
“That South Vermilion Lord is incredibly powerful,” one of them reported. “The general is no match for her. The Hall of Heroes has been destroyed, and the Previous Demon Sovereign’s tomb has been split in two. They’ll soon obtain the artifact inside.”
“Artifact?” she chuckled. “Do you know what’s hidden there? Do you really believe that Ming Ji could craft an artifact specifically to kill the Phoenix Sovereign?”
“I personally sealed his coffin. There is indeed an artifact inside.”
“But it’s not ‘Fallen Phoenix.’ It’s Suxin Jianzhu’s personal weapon, the Endless Sword Case!”
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