Chapter 38

Sheng Ningyu had already sensed something before Feng Qingli made her move.

As someone who had once been a Sword Master, Sheng Ningyu, though unable to dodge, was not caught off guard by Feng Qingli's push.

Unexpectedly, after so many years, his cultivation level had reached the Tianxuan Realm, the eighth stage of cultivation.

Remembering Feng Qingli's disgust for her face, Sheng Ningyu sighed inwardly.

Why did she provoke him back then?

Regardless of how they met, the reason for their falling out is particularly ridiculous.

It was just because of a joke.

"The breeze is like a tangled mess, impossible to unravel. How can you possibly unravel a wisp of breeze? Perhaps you should change your name to Feng Qingli."

Li Qingfeng, who had not yet changed his name, was speechless: "Everyone says that my Hehuan Sect is arrogant and unrestrained, but I don't think you, a famous cultivator, are any better."

"Nonsense, I am a proper sword cultivator."

"A proper sword cultivator?" Li Qingfeng stood amidst a sea of ​​vibrant flowers at the Hehuan Sect. A gentle breeze ruffled his robes, further highlighting the young master's unparalleled beauty and his face as lovely as a woman's.

But beneath those crimson robes and crane-feather cloaks lay deep, bone-revealing wounds.

The young master raised his eyebrows, flicked his crimson spirit whip named "Wan Hongchen" at the sword cultivator, and rolled his eyes: "Heh, what kind of serious sword cultivator changes people's names right off the bat?"

"How could there not be? I'm here now, aren't I?"

Sheng Ningyu propped her head up with one hand and said to Li Qingfeng, "Let's make a bet. The Hehuan Sect's Affectionate Flower is renowned far and wide. Let's bet on whether the number of flowers falling into the Rainbow Pool in five seconds will be yin or yang?"

Yin represents pairs, Yang represents singles.

Sheng Ningyu had forgotten the final outcome of the bet, but she remembered that neither she nor Li Qingfeng would admit defeat. They both took out their magical weapons, and she was almost thrown into the lake by Li Qingfeng's "Tender Red Dust" spell. He didn't get away with it either, as Sheng Ningyu's sword cleaved the flowing water in the Rainbow Pool.

Despite its name, the Rainbow Pool is actually a lake. Sheng Ningyu's sword strike directly stirred up a raging torrent on the once calm surface of the pool.

She vaguely remembered that year, the love flowers on the shore were in full bloom, blooming beautifully. The soft petals were dyed by the water of the Rainbow Pool, turning into a transparent pinkish-white color, which fell on her skin like an endless blizzard.

Sheng Ningyu, sword at her side, said, "Ha! I knew it! There was still a flower petal in your collar!"

Li Qingfeng snorted and flicked Juan Hongchen away: "You dare to criticize me? What makes you any better?"

They were all soaked to the bone. The once handsome young immortals were now disheveled and muddy, no different from the children rolling around in the fields.

The two looked at each other, then pointed at each other and burst into laughter.

Many complex emotions were masked by a seemingly frenzied joy.

Now, when Sheng Ningyu thought about it again, she suddenly realized that it wasn't entirely true.

Sheng Ningyu dared not rashly fuse with the spirit bone in such a dangerous situation. When she was pushed down into Linzhou, she quickly took out the petal from her Star River Pouch.

This was specially placed in the Star River Pouch by Lady Xiang before her departure.

Sheng Ningyu channeled a bit of spiritual energy into it, and in an instant, plum blossom petals bloomed above her head, centered on her, forming an upside-down black plum blossom that enveloped her in the blink of an eye.

However, such protection is clearly far from sufficient for the current situation.

Unexpectedly, her ability to seize opportunities remained as strong as ever.

My body was falling uncontrollably, the raging wind beside my ears drowned out all the noise, and a flash of white light almost split the heavens and the earth in two. My mortal body could not withstand such stimulation, and my heart pounded in my ears.

In a flash, Sheng Ningyu suddenly remembered something else.

Feng Qingli's biological father is unknown, and neither he nor his mentally unstable mother have ever mentioned it.

But later, Sheng Ningyu heard from others that Feng Qingli's father was very likely a member of the Phoenix Clan.

The character “风” is a homophone of the character “凤”.

Did he think she was deliberately teasing him when she brought it up? Or had he already harbored resentment during her subsequent jokes, which led to the final explosion and the point where they would never speak to each other again?

Sheng Ningyu was tightly enveloped by the ink plum blossoms and was falling rapidly.

Though it may be swaying, it remains unaffected by wind and rain.

The black petals gradually became transparent, and Sheng Ningyu could see the outside world.

A fierce wind howled and a torrential downpour poured down. There was not a trace of the scene that was unforgettable in the past, but inexplicably, when the feeling of weightlessness came over her body, the stinging sensation in the corner of her eye caused by the flash of white light reminded Sheng Ningyu of that young master from back then.

Fragile and sensitive, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.

He was like the unique, passionate flower in the Hehuan Palace; everyone despised him, yet everyone wanted to possess him.

Sheng Ningyu didn't regret it. She just suddenly thought that what had been poured over her back then was perhaps more than just the water from the Rainbow Pool that she had cleaved open with her sword.

There are also other people's tears.

...

Sure enough, we entered an unknown secret realm.

Now that we've avoided being seen by others, there's no need to hide anymore.

Sheng Ningyu swiftly took out the sword that she had kept hidden in Xinghe's pouch for a long time.

This was specially found for her by Yuan Bushu; it could withstand her sword moves and would not be limited by her cultivation level.

After hovering in the air for a moment, it rolled once on the ground.

Before I could even think about the pain in my body, I heard a joyful voice.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, what are you doing here?!"

As Sheng Ningyu turned around, she saw Feng Jiutian standing there, along with a girl from the Chu family whom she had met a few times at Qingyi Academy.

The person who spoke just now was Feng Jiutian, who was obviously overjoyed to see Sheng Ningyu.

"I never expected to meet Fellow Daoist Wang here!"

The female cultivator from the Chu family beside Feng Jiutian also stopped and looked at Sheng Ningyu with a wary gaze.

Sheng Ningyu remembered this little girl. That day at the Ling Shui Meng Fu Sheng Banquet at Qingyi Academy, she had a quarrel with Chu Lesheng, and when she parted, she smiled at this little girl.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Feng Jiutian, drenched in sweat, interrupted Sheng Ningyu, wiping away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead: "Fellow Daoist Wang, I believe you! I believe you, okay?"

If she keeps criticizing me, what will I do with my dignity?!

The female cultivator from the Chu family beside him also softened her expression, blushing as she clasped her hands in a fist salute to Sheng Ningyu: "I am Chu Yanshu. It's not that I don't trust you, fellow Daoist, but this place is strange, so we can only be extra careful and act cautiously."

Sheng Ningyu nodded: "That's how it should be."

With her discerning eye, there was no need for the two to prove themselves again, but the two were unaware of Sheng Ningyu's thoughts, so after another round of explanations, the three of them finally traveled together.

"So, you were unintentionally drawn into this secret realm, which is why you got separated from your companions?"

Feng Jiutian didn't doubt Sheng Ningyu's words. He sighed and said, "Looking at it this way, we're still lucky! Although we were also caught up in this secret realm during the process of removing obstacles, at least we're together, so we have each other for company." Chu Yanshu was exploring the way when he was a little worried. "I don't know when we can get out of here. For some reason, I always feel uneasy."

Sheng Ningyu glanced at her, pondering to herself.

The Chu family is close to the Ghost Realm. Due to their special cultivation methods, although they are not quite like the mystical fortune tellers of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, they have an innate instinct to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune because of their bloodline as Ghost Kings.

Sheng Ningyu: "Secret realms often have their own way of opening, and the time you can stay depends entirely on chance. If you want to leave early, you can only do so if you obtain the largest treasure in the core of the formation beforehand."

"I haven't been in this secret realm for long. Have you encountered any spirit beasts or immortal herbs before?"

Feng Jiutian shook his head, also feeling puzzled: "I did encounter a few puppet barriers before, well, calling them puppet barriers isn't quite accurate. Those things were like black mist, and they vanished before I could even make a few moves. But I didn't see any of the 'spiritual treasures' or 'immortal artifacts' mentioned in the book."

Sheng Ningyu's heart skipped a beat.

Just then, the sky suddenly changed, and rolling dark clouds appeared from nowhere, quickly covering the entire sky. The bright sun, which had been fixed at the top, seemed to have been stained black, and even the few faint rays of light that shone through the gaps in the clouds carried a chilling and desolate air.

The sky darkened.

Then, just a few seconds later, snow suddenly began to fall from the sky.

At first, there were only a few scattered snowflakes, and Feng Jiutian was still in the mood to joke around with Sheng Ningyu and Chu Yanshu. However, as time went by, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and in just a short while, it accumulated into a thick layer on the ground, turning everything in sight into white, which inevitably made people feel a little uneasy.

"This is normal." Feng Jiutian gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, muttering to himself, "The ways of Heaven are ever-changing, and the secret realm is inherently unpredictable. It's normal, it's normal."

I don't know if I'm comforting myself or others.

Sheng Ningyu glanced at it, her eyebrows slightly raised: "I haven't seen Fellow Daoist Feng's sword before."

Chu Yanshu nodded in agreement: "Surrounded by divine energy and concealing its sharpness within, it is truly a rare and divine sword."

As he got excited, Feng Jiutian wanted to draw his sword and show it off. However, before his hand could even touch the hilt, a blood-red light flashed, and Feng Jiutian felt as if he had been burned by a raging fire. He quickly withdrew his hand and applied a layer of spiritual medicine to his fingertips.

The movements were fluid and graceful, clearly not the first time.

After completing this entire set of actions, Feng Jiu suddenly woke up with a start.

They were not in their clan's territory, but in an unknown secret realm.

He turned around and saw that the two female cultivators were staring at him. He couldn't help but blush: "This sword, this sword is, after all, an ancient artifact. It has been passed down for ten thousand years. There are very few people in the Phoenix Clan who can wield it. Even the young lord is not very comfortable using it... It's normal that I'm not used to it!"

Chu Yanshu asked in confusion, "Then why did Young Master give it to you?"

Feng Jiutian blushed and remained silent. Sheng Ningyu understood that young people were concerned about their image, so she comforted him, "Perhaps he felt that this sword would make Fellow Daoist Feng appear even more youthful and heroic, with a dignified bearing."

Feng Jiutian: "..."

Chu Yanshu suddenly realized: "So it's just like some low-grade spiritual artifacts and hairpins produced by the Weapon Refining Sect. They're not very useful and mainly serve as decorations."

Sheng Ningyu nodded approvingly: "Exactly."

Feng Jiutian: "…………"

Feng Jiutian said weakly, "You two don't need to say any more."

He really can't take it anymore, sob.

As the three were talking, Chu Yanshu noticed something ahead. He looked closely and hesitated before asking, "Is that... a village?"

Village?

Could this thing be found in a secret realm?

Before Sheng Ningyu could see clearly, a red mist rushed towards her!

"Fellow Daoists, be careful!"

The red mist seemed completely unable to resist, and after only a few seconds of fighting against the two, it dissipated without a trace.

Feng Jiutian lowered his hand and looked towards the source of the red mist, but there was only a vast expanse of white snow, and nothing else in sight.

He frowned: "Nothing was left behind."

Chu Yanshu: "Logically speaking, this shouldn't be the case."

Sheng Ningyu suddenly chuckled: "It's not that nothing was left behind." She took a step forward, bandaging the wound on her right hand that she had just cut, and said in a light voice, "It's driving us towards that 'village'."

Feng Jiutian and Chu Yanshu exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

"Fellow Daoist, is your right hand injured?"

"Yes, I was just brushed against by the aura carried by that red mist."

Feng Jiutian muttered to himself, "She's too fragile." But no matter how he looked, he couldn't find where Sheng Ningyu was injured.

Sheng Ningyu reminded her, "Little finger."

Feng Jiutian leaned closer and looked again before finally finding a wound less than half the length of a fingernail on the knuckle of his little finger.

Feng Jiutian: "...Fellow Daoist Wang, why don't you apply the medicine slowly? Maybe the injury will heal in a little while."

Sheng Ningyu sighed deeply: "There's nothing I can do. My fellow disciples keep a close eye on me and won't allow me to get hurt in any way. Otherwise, they'll tie me up and nag me endlessly. I'm forced by life's circumstances."

Chu Yanshu thought for a moment and asked, "May I ask who your fellow disciple is?"

Sheng Ningyu said honestly, "The Palace Master of Yunwang Palace is not to forgive me."

Feng Jiutian: "..."

Chu Yanshu: "..."

I never expected there to be a fellow disciple.

Both of them twitched their eyelids violently, but before they could say anything, an old voice rang out.

"Nine Heavens".

"Chu Yanshu!"

The three of them turned around at the same time, only to see Chu Le with a pale face, and about ten cultivators dressed in phoenix robes.

The leader took out a token from his pocket, which flew straight towards Feng Jiutian and hovered in front of him.

Feng Jiutian took it down and examined it, then quickly stepped forward, exclaiming in surprise, "Third Elder?! What are you doing in this secret realm?"

Chu Yanshu's relaxed smile vanished, and he quickly walked behind Chu Le: "Young Master Le, are you injured?"

Chu Le held a superior position in the Chu family; even his peers usually addressed him with respect.

Upon seeing Sheng Ningyu, Chu Le's expression changed drastically. He snorted coldly, turned his head, and whispered a few words to her.

Sheng Ningyu followed behind the two and heard the third elder of the Phoenix Clan say, "This place is strange. We sensed something was wrong as soon as we entered. On the way, we encountered the young master of the Chu family, who was also troubled by the puppet barrier and trapped in this village. Fortunately, we found a way to break it. You young friends, just follow me."

They were now standing at the entrance to the village.

The surrounding area was a vast expanse of white, as clean as unpainted rice paper, but there was not a single snowflake in the village inside. Instead, there were weeping willows with fallen flowers and birds singing, as if it were a completely different world from the outside.

Feng Jiu subconsciously took a few steps forward, then felt something was missing. She turned around and saw Sheng Ningyu standing there.

She leaned against a willow tree, her voice soft, yet carrying an innate air of authority that made people unconsciously want to submit at her feet.

"Why is the Third Elder in such a hurry? Has he discovered something?"

For a moment, the Third Elder seemed to be captivated. Through those deep, dark eyes, he seemed to see that arrogant genius.

Not only the Third Elder, but also the people behind him felt a chill run down their spines, and their hands began to tremble. Scenes from the past seemed to flash before their eyes, but they quickly calmed down.

The person in front of her was not the Bright Moon Sword Master who could see through all laws with a single sword strike, but just a little girl wearing a mask who didn't even have any spiritual power.

The Third Elder placed a hand on Feng Jiutian's shoulder, stopping him from moving forward, and said arrogantly, "I'm taking you out of respect for Jiutian. If you don't want to, you can stay here."

Sheng Ningyu calmly asked, "Is the Third Elder going to abandon the lives of the people in this village?"

Feng Jiutian suddenly raised her head, struggling to break free from the Third Elder's grasp: "The lives of an entire village? Third Elder, what she said is..."

"Nine Heavens".

The Third Elder of the Phoenix Clan interrupted him, raising his hand with wide sleeves like clouds. His aged face was utterly serene, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, like the most compassionate and benevolent immortal in human legends.

"We are of divine blood, born noble, coexisting with heaven and earth, and living as long as mountains and seas. Unless our divine hearts are shattered, we will be immortal and eternal in this world."

The Third Elder looked at Feng Jiutian quietly, as if he saw too many people through him.

In their youth, who doesn't yearn for the mortal world? Even with countless admonitions and numerous attempts to stop them, the desires of the younger generation remain undiminished, and they rush off to it.

Just like they were back then.

You have to smash your head against the wall until you're bleeding before you'll turn back.

Those who refuse to turn back will find their long divine life turning into a harsh winter with no spring to look forward to.

He, being in the midst of it, will eventually be eroded by the wind and snow, leaving no trace.

The third elder of the Phoenix Clan calmly said, "If you want to shed tears for mortals, you will never be able to stop."

"Moreover, if we care about a few unrelated mortals, why not pity the birds flying outside the window and the fish swimming in the water? They are also living creatures, yet they are captured and killed by mortals, becoming food on our plates. Isn't that a wasted life, pitiful and regrettable?"

"You are not acting out of kindness, but out of ignorance and cowardice!" The Third Elder of the Phoenix Clan slammed his staff to the ground and shouted, "If all the younger generation of the Phoenix Clan are like this, not a single person will be able to attain the Great Dao in the next hundred years!"

Feng Jiutian's step left a deep footprint in the snow, but he lowered his head, his handsome face covered with snow that was almost turning into frost.

On the other side, Chu Yanshu's hand was held tightly by Chu Le, and he looked up, staring intently at the person not far away.

The silver mask covered his face, reflecting the vast snow, like the cool moonlight, silent and still, blending into the world.

Sheng Ningyu never looked at him; she only looked at the Third Elder of the Phoenix Clan. After a while, she finally raised her lips.

"Third Elder's words are full of loopholes, but I'm too lazy to argue with you today." Sheng Ningyu's eyes still held a hint of amusement, but her voice was surprisingly calm. "The reason you're so eager to take us away is, as you say, because you're focused on your own path, or because you're willing to sacrifice the lives of an entire village and don't want anyone to discover anything amiss?"

Just now, when that red mist appeared, she deliberately cut her little finger to test whether it was a puppet barrier.

Unfortunately, the magical artifact that Senior Brother Fei Fou gave her was not activated.

The red mist was not a barrier of puppets, but a "soul-driving" technique used in sacrifices.

It will drive the body containing the desired soul to the location of the person making the sacrifice, according to their request.

The Third Elder suddenly looked up, and an overwhelming pressure swept towards Sheng Ningyu.

-----------------------

Author's Note: In these chapters, Mingyue will grow and break through!

And the truth behind Xiao Xie's statement that "she's the best talker" is still rising (x)

This chapter still offers red envelopes within 24 hours!!!

Because after I said I'd send out red envelopes yesterday, a company asked me to cancel a promotional photoshoot event today!

This starfish is going to have three days of good luck!!! [Good luck][Good luck][Good luck]