Chapter 142 There Has Never Been a Sword (Part 10) Don't lie to your senior brother. ...

The Northern Plains of the Human Realm are vast and sparsely populated. Apart from the Goddess Sect in the far north, there are almost no other sects guarding the area. The closest one is the Daohe Palace in the Central Plains. Therefore, when the disciples of the Daohe Palace go down the mountain to exorcise demons, some of them will go to the Northern Plains.

However, the Northern Plains are dangerous, and a disciple of the Free Realm is needed to lead the team.

When Lin Feiran first went to Beiyuan, it was Ji Changying who led the team. At that time, the clouds were piled up, the sky was thick, and snow was falling continuously.

Although it was dawn, not a ray of sunlight could be seen, and even the sky was tinged with a pale gray.

At the time, she didn't think much about it and was only focused on slaying the demon beasts.

Until he went on an inspection tour with Ji Changying, he was injured without realizing it. The wolf demon scratched three deep wounds on his arm. Lin Feiran immediately tried to stop the injury, but neither magic nor medicine could completely heal it.

The exposed flesh at the wound was not white, but rather, like the sky, it had a deathly gray, like embers.

She sensed something was wrong, so she took him back to the village. When the village chief heard about this, he immediately brought a medicinal herb to treat him.

It was a very ordinary, common grass.

The medicine was greenish-blue, and when dripped onto the wound without any treatment, the grayish-white color faded after a few moments. The previously applied medicine took effect, and the wound finally healed.

She was very puzzled, so she asked the question that was on her mind, but the old village chief just stared blankly out the window.

"Because of the snow. This kind of snow is our punishment, and bloodshed is a form of atonement, but you outsiders must not be injured here; it has nothing to do with you."

Although the creeping grass is common, it is extremely precious in the Northern Plains. Since you are Taoist priests here to exorcise demons, we will give you three stalks, but that's all we have. Take care of yourselves.”

After saying this, the old village chief left, leaving only Lin Feiran and Ji Changying behind.

She turned to him and asked, "Senior brother, what did he mean by that?"

Ji Changying pressed down on her wrist, her light eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness.

"He means, don't get hurt here."

“Junior sister, I know you want to help others, but the Northern Plains are not like the Central Plains. There are too many secrets here that no one knows, and this is one of them. Before protecting others, protect yourself first.”

With my experience serving as a cautionary tale, I think you won't follow in my footsteps, right?

His complexion was pale and not intimidating, yet irresistible.

Lin Feiran said, "...I will find time to rest later and not work so hard."

"Alright, since you've promised, you have to keep your word and not lie to your senior brother."

Later, Lin Feiran learned that the phenomenon of wounds turning gray was not uncommon in Beiyuan. The villagers only said it was because of the snow, but Ji Changying could not give a definite answer as to the truth.

On the path of spiritual practice, one encounters countless strange tales and theories, and not every one of these strange occurrences has an answer.

For Lin Feiran, this was just one of many strange tales, one that she had almost forgotten. But now, seeing the same misty snowy landscape, her past memories flooded back, vivid and clear.

The snow clouds that had accumulated over the sea were not many, nor were they as thick as those over the northern plains. There was only a layer of ice floating on the sea surface, which had not yet been completely frozen.

After her initial shock, Xuanzhen immediately looked at Zeyu beside her and asked, "When did this strange phenomenon begin? Has it been reported?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than hundreds of merfolk leaped out of the sea, their bodies like crescent moons, and landed on the shore in an instant.

Behind them, the once calm sea suddenly trembled, turning into a raging torrent with roaring waves. The surging waves crashed up, and in the next moment, a powerful spiritual force shot straight into the sky from the center of the eddy. The floating ice shattered into dust, and the accumulated dark clouds were also suddenly dispersed!

As the clouds dispersed and the snow cleared, a ray of sunlight finally peeked out, and the overflowing spiritual energy transformed into a gentle rain that fell among the white clouds!

Lin Feiran and Xuan Zhen had never seen such a strange phenomenon before. They subconsciously reached out their hands to confirm whether the rain was real or not, but the water droplets melted as soon as they entered their palms, and a warm current surged through their spiritual veins.

It was the purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

On the shore of the sea, the merfolk who had come ashore leaped back into the sea, all of them overjoyed.

Lin Feiran murmured, "What is this?"

Ze Yu looked up at the sky and shook his head: "No one knows what that is, but it obviously wants to devour the Ji Hai, so it caused snow and ice to fall in an attempt to seal the Ji Hai. But the ocean is not afraid of the sky. On the fifth day of our joint cloud-breaking, this spiritual power suddenly erupted from the seabed and has not stopped since."

If the whale race were here, the spiritual energy of the outer sea would surely be even more abundant.

Lin Feiran asked in confusion, "The whale clan?"

Xuanzhen explained: "Although all sea creatures are merfolk, there are also branches. The giant whale clan moved away from the International Sea decades ago and their whereabouts are unknown."

"I see." Lin Feiran looked at Zeyu and couldn't help but remind him, "I have seen snow like this in the human world. It is not pure white, but rather grayish. If a bloodied or injured person gets close, he may bleed uncontrollably."

Only a few wisps of lingering gray remained in the clear sky. Ze Yu pursed her lips and nodded: "Thank you. I will inform the clansmen of this news. Mingyue is still waiting for you in the tower. Please come with me."

As the strange phenomenon at the sea suddenly appeared, Ze Yu seemed much more hurried than before, and his expression became more composed. He hurriedly led the two up to the pavilion, and after seeing Ming Yue, he only leaned over to hug her for a moment before immediately turning around and leaving.

Mingyue glanced at Lin Feiran, her face slightly flushed, then coughed lightly and said, "Long time no see, how have you been?"

"Very good." Lin Feiran smiled knowingly, pretending not to have seen it. "It seems the princess is having a very good time here."

Mingyue did not deny it: "Mermaids are free by nature, and I really like it here..."

She pursed her lips, blushing as she brushed aside the matter: "There's no need for pleasantries between us. The matter of Jingyangpo is more urgent, so I won't beat around the bush. Jingyangpo is located north of Jihai, not far from here, and it's the territory of the Linghua clan."

However, they are known for their aloofness, and the merfolk are not familiar with them; if one were to visit them, a formal invitation must be presented.

She took out a gold booklet from the cabinet. The booklet was decorated with a hundred flowers and had a faint fragrance.

"Before you arrived, I sent a document in my own name, saying that I wanted to exchange sea pearls for some exotic flower seeds. I received a reply this morning that they were willing to see me. You have come at just the right time."

Although Mingyue and Zeyu have not yet tied the knot, the nearby tribes are already well aware of her identity. Sending a visiting card in her name would certainly be more effective than sending one in Lin Feiran's name, but in doing so, wouldn't that also implicate Mingyue?

Lin Feiran looked surprised and immediately stood up: "Since I have something to ask of you, how can I trouble you to come forward?"

Mingyue shook her head, her smile gentle: "Although I don't know why you ended up in my palace, to me at that time it was truly a 'divine intervention'. No matter how well or poorly you are doing now, it cannot repay the debt of gratitude you owe me for sacrificing yourself."

This is merely a visiting card; please allow me to offer my humble assistance.

Lin Feiran remained silent. She had previously learned about the Linghua clan. They were proud and aloof, rarely seeing outsiders. If something pleased them, they would not give up even if it meant their death, but if it did not please them, they would not do it even if it meant their death.

Even if Lin Feiran sent a visiting card as an envoy, he was not sure they would accept it. Moreover, time was of the essence, so he had no choice but to accept Mingyue's kindness.

She performed a traditional Chinese bow and said earnestly, "Thank you."

Mingyue smiled at her: "No need to thank me. There's no time like the present. Today is their flower viewing party, and there will be many guests. Didn't you say you vaguely saw the jawline and corner of the lips of the person who received the letter? Now is the most appropriate time to go and see them."

Lin Feiran pondered for a moment. When the letter flew to Jingyang Slope that day and was received by a man in white, the letter swayed, and she did see a blurry image of that person, with the jawline and the corner of the lips being the clearest. If she wanted to find someone, such a flower gathering would be the perfect place.

Even if you can't find the person, it's not a bad thing to get to know the clan chief at the meeting.

She nodded in agreement: "Then let's set off now."

The three of them went down from the pavilion together and headed towards Jingyang Slope. On the way, Lin Feiran looked back and saw that there was no trace of gloom in the clear sky and the sun was shining brightly as always, but she inexplicably became anxious and felt a sense of impending storm.

From the day of her nighttime journey until now, everything seemed ordinary, yet there was an eeriness in everything. She had a feeling that something was wrong, but she couldn't figure it out for the time being. So she could only speed up her sword flight and head to the Spirit Flower Clan as soon as possible to return to the Demon Capital.

...

In the spacious council hall of Qingqiu, King Qingping sat on a high seat, his hands clasped together in front of him, smiling faintly as he looked at the water mirror before him. There was no reflection in the mirror, only a gentle voice.

This demonstrates our sincerity in forming an alliance. No matter how strong the Demon Lord is, can he be stronger than a curse?

Just recently, the final ten incantations were cast, and the formation was complete. When it will be activated depends entirely on Prince Qingping; however, please do so soon, for time waits for no one.

The Prince of Qingping's expression was cold, but his words carried a smile: "I am naturally at ease with His Majesty the Emperor's actions. You have already fulfilled the promises made during the alliance, and I will certainly not break my promise either."

I had originally planned to leave a few days ago, but my children have been returning one after another recently, and they've all done a great job with what I asked them to do. As a father, of course I want to reward them before I leave.”

"Oh?" The emperor sat in his study, his hand holding the memorial paused, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.

"You mean, in the past few days, apart from your youngest daughter, all seven of your other children have returned to Qingqiu to visit you?"

The Emperor first looked puzzled and repeated his question, then his expression relaxed.

"My offspring are few. Although only a few of my children have been granted fiefdoms, if one day they all return to the capital, I cannot think of any other reason besides rebellion."

Does she still miss her heartless father?

King Qingping gazed quietly into the hall, his eyes deep and unfocused, seemingly lost in thought. He then spoke, “Your Majesty and I are different. You rule the entire human realm, while I govern only a tiny place. They have no fiefdoms and live in the palace. They are deeply devoted to their children and brothers, so how can there be any talk of rebellion?”

In their hearts, I will always be their father, not the Prince of Qingping.

The Emperor laughed loudly, but did not refute: "What Prince Qingping said is true. I have always had few children and few close relatives, so how could I understand your relationship? I will not speak of things I do not understand. After they return, when will you set off again?"

Prince Qingping sat up straight and said calmly, "Today."

"Very well, I will await news of Prince Qingping's triumphant return."

As the water mirror dissipated, the usually composed Emperor suddenly burst into laughter, his voice clear and resonant, like that of a young man, though at certain moments when he couldn't contain himself, a hint of the hoarseness of a middle-aged man would emerge.

He immediately fell silent, lowered his eyes, a hint of displeasure flashing in them. He then picked up a pill from the side and put it in his mouth, instantly feeling a cool sensation in his throat.

He glanced to the side, where the head eunuch, bowing low, immediately felt a chill run down his spine and stepped forward, asking, "What is it, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor's handsome and refined face remained expressionless as he asked, "Did I gain weight this morning?"

The chief eunuch swallowed hard, his thoughts racing, but he still chose to tell the truth: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has gained one pound and two ounces."

The study fell silent. Countless fine beads of sweat trickled down the back of his neck. The old eunuch, with his wrinkled skin and white hair, continued, "However, this is exactly what the Holy Palace Empress likes the most. She once said that His Majesty is too tall and thin. If he were a pound or two heavier, it would be even better!"

In the past, these words would have calmed him down, but now, all he felt was impatience.

"Back then? How long ago was that?"

The chief eunuch's heart skipped a beat, and he said in a trembling voice, "Ten...twelve years ago."

"I am no longer young. How can I compare to a youth? Besides, I only have three years left to live."

As soon as he finished speaking, the servants in the study immediately knelt down and kowtowed, not daring to say another word. The chief eunuch was so frightened that his legs trembled and his breathing became intermittent; he might faint at any moment.

Everyone knows that successive emperors were entrusted by Heaven to rule the human world, but their lifespans were short, and they would die at the age of forty. The current emperor is already thirty-seven years old, and at most, he only has two more years to live. These words are tantamount to touching a sore spot.

The chief eunuch never imagined that his momentary eagerness would lead to such a terrible slip of the tongue, costing him his life...

In the silent study, a short laugh suddenly rang out. No one dared to look up, but they all knew that it was the Emperor's laughter.

The laughter contained neither self-deprecation nor sarcasm, but pure joy.

"Alright, get up, all of you. This is the truth. Are you going to hold a grudge against me?"

Age is the emperor's Achilles' heel. He does not want to grow old, nor does he want to see the Holy Palace Empress in this state. In recent years, whenever someone mentions it, someone is punished. But today, they were let off the hook.

While everyone was bewildered, he continued.

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten?" The eunuch, on the verge of fainting, managed to speak with his last breath, "Her Majesty has been in seclusion these past few days and has not been seen."

With a clang, the Emperor threw the bronze pen in his hand onto the table, and the Grand Eunuch finally fainted as he had wished. Everyone trembled with fear, and then they heard the Emperor say in a calm voice.

"With death imminent and the crown prince still undecided, we will have several Grand Secretaries come here in three days to decide on the crown prince."

"yes."

The crowd immediately kowtowed, then dragged the chief eunuch out in single file, not daring to linger any longer.

The emperor sat alone in his room, gazing at the bronze mirror on the table. Its gleaming surface reflected his face and expression perfectly.

Mortals are mortals after all. They worry every day and are getting old. How can they not show their age? The Holy Palace likes his appearance the most. How can such an old appearance be pleasing to the eye?

Fortunately, it will be over soon.

...

Like the sea tribe, the Spirit Flower Clan has various branches, but they are remarkably harmonious. Perhaps it is due to their bloodline, but both men and women are extremely interested in cultivating flowers and plants.

The Flower Cultivation Feast is created for appreciating flowers. Everyone can bring their own cultivated flowers and plants here to judge whose is the most beautiful. The winner will receive a blessing from the clan chief.

Such banquets are held almost once a month.

After carefully examining the invitation, the guards at the gate let Lin Feiran and the other two in. However, as soon as they entered, Xuan Zhen started sneezing, but soon her nose and eyes were running, as if she had been bullied.

He immediately covered his mouth and nose, shrank outside the door, and said with tears in his eyes, "There's too much pollen here. I can't help but sneeze as soon as I smell it. You guys go ahead, I'll wait for you outside. Call me if you need anything."

Lin Feiran hadn't expected him to do this. She stepped forward and handed him a handkerchief before saying, "The south is in chaos. Although it's safer here, we can't let our guard down. If you need anything, please remember to call us."

Xuan Zhen nodded repeatedly, then waved to them and hid in front of the door. The two girls at the door couldn't help but laugh, then went up to talk to him and handed him a handkerchief to separate the powder.

Before leaving, Lin Feiran took one last look and, seeing that the two were indeed friendly, went inside with Mingyue.

Most members of the Spirit Flower Clan are arrogant and aloof, focusing only on what they like. Lin Feiran was mentally prepared before coming here, but she was still somewhat shocked when she actually saw them.

Each of them was beautiful and had an extraordinary appearance, but they only had eyes for their own flowers. Even though Lin Feiran and Mingyue could tell at a glance that they were human, no one paid them any attention or asked them any questions as they walked along.

They only looked at their own flowers and discussed them with others, completely oblivious to everything else.

Lin Feiran inevitably thought of Ru Xian.

Author's Note: There will be a make-up chapter, and the mini-drama will be released tomorrow.