Chapter 109 Cloud Soul and Rain Spirit (Part 8) "Impossible, this is impossible..."
The morning rain was light and the sun was shining brightly.
Lin Feiran sat atop the imperial carriage canopy, holding an umbrella. Gazing at the nearby clouds and rain, she unusually revealed a sense of leisure.
"You really like rain?"
The spirit of the Golden Wave Sword spoke up and asked.
Lin Feiran glanced to the side and saw that she had been sitting down beside him at some point. Her scarlet shawl swayed in the wind, and her crystal-clear figure was illuminated by the sunlight. The leather armor on her arms shone with a faint light, and she exuded a calm and composed demeanor.
Suddenly, she also turned her head to look.
A veil hanging from her forehead obscured her face, its slightly comical dark circles swaying and rippling, yet remaining remarkably still.
Lin Feiran smiled and said, "Originally, I had no feelings about it. It's just that my mother liked it. She said that after she passed away, she would turn into rain. So I also regarded the rain as her. As time went by, I also felt that the rain was nice."
She came as soon as it started raining.
The Golden Wave Sword Spirit nodded, shifting her gaze back: "You like your mother very much?"
Lin Feiran nodded: "I like it very much."
The Golden Wave Sword Spirit didn't speak again, but it followed her actions and raised its hand to receive the sword.
The sword spirit was actually invisible, so the drizzling rain passed through her palm and fell onto the top of the phoenix carriage canopy.
She watched silently, then said, "It won't rain in the Valley of Pilgrimage."
Lin Feiran watched quietly, then placed her hand in the sword spirit's hand, merging it with her own.
Raindrops gathered in her palm, and under the sunlight, they seemed to fall into the hand of a sword spirit.
Lin Feiran was silent for a moment, then looked at her and said, "I don't know how to make the sword spirit feel the wind and rain either, I only know this clumsy method."
The sword spirit twitched its fingertips slightly and tilted its head slightly, as if looking at her, or perhaps tilting its head to look at the rain. Since its facial features were not visible, it was impossible to determine where its gaze was fixed.
After a moment, she said earnestly, "You're not stupid, you're a very smart child."
Lin Feiran smiled knowingly: "Thank you, senior."
At this point, she suddenly remembered that this senior sword spirit was very knowledgeable and could even recognize the rare Cloud Soul Rain Spirit Grass. Perhaps he also had some insights into the magic seal engraved in her mind.
"Senior, I have an extremely complex magic seal in my mind, which makes it difficult for me to recall many things from the past. Is there any way to undo it?"
"Dharma seal?"
The sword spirit murmured to herself, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, she raised her left hand, but it remained suspended in mid-air, not falling.
Lin Feiran glanced at it, moved the umbrella handle slightly away, and spontaneously brought his head close to her palm.
Lin Feiran wasn't surprised that the sword spirit suddenly stopped, because Ru Xian often did that.
Whether it was forming a bond with her or investigating for her, he would never reach out first. He would simply raise his hand casually, leaving it suspended in mid-air, waiting for her to come closer.
She is now very skilled at performing this action.
Lin Feiran raised his eyes to look at the sword spirit: "Senior, you may investigate at will, without worrying about my feelings."
The sword spirit couldn't actually touch her, but suddenly someone crawled into her palm. Looking at that head of black hair, a strange itch seemed to rise in her palm as well.
"...Then I will make my move. Please bear with me for now."
As strands of spiritual energy flowed in, Lin Feiran did not feel any discomfort. Instead, she felt that the spiritual energy was very gentle and did not have the slightest intention of aggression.
A few breaths later, the sword spirit withdrew its hand, its voice suddenly becoming serious: "Who placed this seal on you?"
Lin Feiran had learned the truth about the past from Xun Fang, and at that time she knew that her memory was wrong. When she was puzzled, she actually had a guess in her heart.
Could that memory have been altered because her mother sealed it away?
If it was her doing, she should have just sealed away the memory of that one day. Why seal away the entire past?
So she said, "I don't know, I just have a vague, not-so-accurate guess."
The sword spirit withdrew its hand, its tone solemn: "I have followed my former master for many years and have a good understanding of formations. The mark in your mind is not something an ordinary person could have placed. It is not only extremely complex, but it is also more like two seals combined into one, which is extremely ingenious."
Lin Feiran was somewhat surprised: "You mean, this seal might not have been made by the same person?"
If an ordinary person wanted to place two seals, they would simply overlap them, never creating a double seal like this. Therefore, I speculate that it was most likely the work of two people.
Lin Feiran lowered his eyes and asked again, "Senior, is there a way to undo this?"
The sword spirit thought she was afraid, so it comforted her, "You don't need to worry too much. It's actually harmless to you. You just don't remember some things from the past."
Lin Feiran looked straight at her, a glimmer of light flashing in his deep, calm eyes.
"But I want to remember."
Her mother passed away when she was six years old, and this mark sealed away her memories from before she was six. As time went by, she would inevitably forget them completely, and she didn't want that.
The memories may be painful, but she cannot bear the numbness born of ignorance.
The sword spirit fell silent for a long while before softly saying, "You are very persistent, which is not necessarily a bad thing. There are many extraordinary people in the world. I do not know if there is anyone who can decipher such a seal now, but a long time ago, there was a cultivator surnamed Bai who was the only disciple of the Genqian Saint. This person may be able to help you break the formation."
Genqian was the master of array formations. He became a saint hundreds of years ago and later passed away in the Pilgrimage Valley, disappearing into the world.
Lin Feiran was puzzled: "But I have never heard of the Sage Genqian having any disciples, and there is no record of it in the classics or ancient books."
The sword spirit's previously tense voice suddenly relaxed, carrying a faint smile.
“The Sage of Genqian did not like to cultivate in seclusion. He often hid among the common people and was no different from an ordinary old man. Therefore, very few people knew his whereabouts. My late master had some dealings with him, which is how I was fortunate enough to meet him and learn that he actually had a disciple named Bai.”
But so much time has passed, and I have no idea where that disciple is now.
Lin Feiran racked his brains and searched for a long time. He could name a few famous cultivators with the surname Bai, but they all came from major sects and did not practice the art of formations.
The two were about to continue their conversation when they suddenly heard a rustling sound inside the carriage. The sword spirit swallowed her words, patted her shoulder, and transformed into a stream of light, merging into the Golden Wave Sword.
"Lin Feiran."
Biqing's voice came from inside the car. Soon, she also climbed onto the roof and squeezed next to Lin Feiran. Lin Feiran immediately tilted the umbrella towards her.
Before she could even ask, Xuanzhen also climbed onto the roof and squeezed to her other side.
Lin Feiran couldn't help but ask, "Why did you all come up here?"
Xuanzhen shook the water droplets off her hair, her voice becoming muffled: "The Lord is asleep. He is such a light sleeper that he can't even hear his breathing, so he kicked us out and set up a soundproof barrier."
Xun Feifei went to the rear to take inventory, and since we had nothing to do, we came here.
Lin Feiran felt a little strange: "It seems like he slept last night."
Biqing, however, did not notice anything amiss and said with certainty, "The Lord must have just been pretending to sleep last night. We have known him for many years and have never seen him sleep at night."
That's true, but Lin Feiran still felt a little strange.
She suppressed her doubts and asked the two of them, "Have you heard of the Sage Gengan?"
Throughout history, there have been many people among the human race who have become saints, but not all of them are well-known. Lin Feiran only asked a question, but the two nodded repeatedly.
"I've heard of it!"
Xuanzhen's eyes brightened slightly: "He is the only human saint who has lived in the demon realm for many years. Many years ago, he settled in the Jade Clan!"
"What?"
Lin Feiran looked quite surprised; this was truly a case of "searching high and low without finding it!"
She immediately turned to look at Biqing: "Did the Sage Gengan stay in your clan?"
“No.” Bi Qing puffed out her chest, looking quite smug. “He is clearly a resident monk!”
The three of them shared an umbrella and huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
Biqing recalled: "When I was young, I was naughty and often stayed up late at night, pestering the elders of the clan to tell me stories. They mentioned this human saint."
Our clan is naturally gifted with an understanding of jade, and even more so with the ability to nurture it. Mineral veins often appear where we reside. At that time, the Sage of Genqian was searching for the most suitable material for his formations and wanted to experiment with naturally occurring spiritual jade. Therefore, he came to live with our clan for ten years.
Upon hearing this, Lin Feiran immediately recalled his protective jade pendant and the jade talismans he had seen before.
Human cultivators using spirit jade to form arrays was indeed first invented by the Genqian Saint, and the effect was the best, but it was unexpected that it originated from this.
She then asked, "Did your clan elders ever mention that the Sage Gengan had a disciple?"
Bi Qing recalled for a moment, then shook her head: "No. After all, the Gengan Saint stayed in our clan for ten years and taught a lot about array formations. The reason the clan elder mentioned him was only to encourage me to study array formations, and he did not mention the matter of me being a disciple. It's just a pity that I eventually chose the path of archery."
Upon hearing this, Lin Feiran was not discouraged: "Has anyone in your clan personally witnessed the Sage Gengan?"
“That all happened hundreds of years ago. If anyone has seen it…” Biqing pondered for a long time, “I think the clan leader should have seen it.”
Xuan Zhen looked at Lin Feiran with clear eyes and asked, "Why did you suddenly ask about the Genqian Saint? Do you want to switch to cultivating the path of formations?"
After pondering for a moment, Lin Feiran decided to explain the reason.
“I have been placed under a sealing formation, but there is no way to remove it at the moment. I have also heard that the Sage of Gengan had a disciple, so I would like to inquire about his past and find out who this disciple is.”
The two looked surprised: "What kind of seal? Could it be harmful to the body?"
Lin Feiran shook his head: "It's just a magic array that seals memories. It's not harmful, but I can't remember many things from my childhood."
Unlike the others, Biqing and Xuanzhen did not feel relieved upon hearing this; instead, they frowned.
Biqing said, "How could this be! If I forget what happened in my childhood, the elders will surely be weeping all day long, and I will not be able to bear it either!"
Xuanzhen also looked dejected: "Yes, if we forget about our mother, wouldn't our dog life be hopeless?"
Lin Feiran was taken aback.
Almost everyone who hears about this seal says it's nothing to worry about, just a matter of forgetting some things from the past.
But that wasn't the case for her.
Those nearly forgotten memories were almost the most tender period of her life, containing her, her mother, and her father.
Others could not understand these feelings, but Biqing and Xuanzhen could not.
Like myself, the warmest days of their lives are hidden in their childhood, a past that can never be forgotten or lost.
Biqing looked at her with a regretful expression, and couldn't help but purse her lips. She hugged her and said, "Many years ago, we moved to the vicinity of the Demon Capital. After we return to Lan City, I will take you to see our clan leader. If you have any questions, feel free to ask her."
"If there is indeed no news of that disciple, our Jade Clan has many skilled practitioners of formations, some even holding the title of disciple of a Saint. Perhaps one of them can break this formation!"
Lin Feiran's heart stirred slightly, and just as she was about to speak, Bi Qing covered her mouth.
"No thanks allowed. Who says 'thank you' all the time?"
Xuanzhen nodded in agreement: "You can treat us to a big meal!"
Biqing turned to look at him and chuckled, "You invited me."
Xuanzhen readily raised her hands: "Treat Biqing to a big meal, and I'll come along for a free meal too!"
The two of them simultaneously covered her mouth: "You're not allowed to talk about this kind of good thing where eating can replenish spiritual energy!"
Biqing and Xuanzhen immediately sat down calmly and lowered their voices.
"How about we order two jars of sake for Xun Feifei? He has a terrible alcohol tolerance; he gets drunk after just one cup and loves to dance!" Bi Qing's expression clearly indicated that she was recalling something. "Don't let his cold and aloof face fool you; when he dances, he's incredibly vulgar. It makes my eyes water and my blood boil, and I keep wiping away sweat."
Xuanzhen immediately waved her hand: "He won't drink. Since that time, Brother Fei hasn't touched a drop of alcohol... We can order sweet fermented rice balls!"
Biqing suddenly realized: "You really do have a way."
Lin Feiran: "..."
Xuanzhen, I misjudged you.
The three of them drifted off into daydreams, until the phoenix finally flew to the Endless Sea, raised its head and let out a long cry, and Xun Feifei appeared at the head of the group, beside the phoenix carriage.
Just as he was about to raise his hand, he felt an undeniable gaze upon him.
He turned his head and met three completely different pairs of eyes.
One pair was excited, one pair was unfocused, and one pair was calm with a hint of guilt.
"..."
He had no intention of investigating further. After adjusting the silver mask, he raised his right hand high and declared loudly, "Enter the realm!"
In an instant, the endless sea was filled with starlight, line after line. More than ten phoenix caravans flew down. In this way, the stars shifted and the days and nights were reversed. When they entered the demon realm, the moon had just risen and the sky was full of stars.
Afterwards, all the carriages stopped at the lookout point in the demon realm, but the one they were riding in, because it was like a hailstone inside, flew straight over the tower and headed towards the demon capital.
...
The autumn moon hangs high, obscured by dark clouds.
Inside the palace of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, servants hurried along, carrying flowers and picking up silk, all heading towards the banquet hall to prepare to welcome a distinguished guest from afar.
A maidservant picking flowers was suddenly stopped. She wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, looked up, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"So it's Lady Ruoqin. Is there anything I can do for you?"
The maidservant, addressed as Ruoqin, looked solemn and asked only, "Where is the King?"
The maidservant replied, "In Yuan Yi Palace, I heard that the Human Race's Pilgrimage Valley opened today, and many people have already obtained spiritual treasures from it. His Majesty is discussing this matter with his ministers... However, the Queen's cold illness has flared up again, and she needs His Majesty's assistance."
Ruoqin shook her head and said calmly, "The Queen doesn't know who the distinguished guests are, so she's unsure about her makeup and just wants to ask the King. Since he has something to do, we can figure it out ourselves."
The maidservant understood: "The Queen's beauty is divine; no matter how she's adorned, she'll always look stunning..."
Ruoqin didn't listen to the whole story. She hurriedly walked back. The maid was taken aback when she saw this. With a puzzled expression, she carried the flowers and walked towards the banquet hall.
Ruoqin returned to her room, looked at the woman sitting in front of the mirror, took a few steps forward, and whispered, "I've inquired, and the King is still in a meeting and won't be here for a while. Many people went to set up the banquet hall today, so none of the distinguished guests will be here tomorrow."
"Alright, you step back and guard the door for me." Jiuxing turned around and ordered, "No one, no matter who it is, is allowed to approach this place."
Ruoqin nodded and left, closing the door behind her. She then set up a magic array herself before taking out a square cauldron about the size of a palm and lighting the incense inside.
The wisps of smoke, carrying a strange fragrance, made Jiuxing's heart pound like a drum. She couldn't help but clutch her skirt and gaze intently at the smoke.
Today, the Pilgrimage Valley opens. Judging by the time, Qiu Tong should have seen the Sage and asked him about his doubts by now.
A few moments later, a wisp of smoke appeared, revealing the daughter's face. Unlike her own tension and gloom, her eyes and brows were filled with joy.
"Mother!"
Qiu Tong seemed to be sitting in an inn, with the bright sunlight behind her making her look radiant.
She said, "Mother, I have asked the sage!"
Jiuxing felt a tightness in her throat, a sticky feeling that made it difficult to open her mouth. She couldn't help but move, and asked anxiously, "How is it? Where is your father?!"
Qiu Tong's eyes curved into a smile as she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Mother, you've all misunderstood Father. The Sage said that he is my biological father, the Prince of Qingping, and your good husband. There's no such thing as him being replaced!"
With a clang, all the pearl powder beside Jiuxing's hand spilled out, leaving a pale white mess on the ground.
Her expression was the same; she simply shook her head and said, "Impossible, this is impossible..."
Jiuxing murmured to herself, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her gaze unfocused, becoming somewhat bewildered.
She seemed to be quickly recalling the past, trying to find irrefutable evidence to convince her daughter and herself.
After all, neither she nor her other children who had doubts had noticed anything unusual yet, but they had no concrete evidence. That's why they wanted Qiu Tong to find the answer from the human saint.
Unfortunately, this was not the answer they wanted.
Suddenly remembering something, she looked up abruptly and said, "Qiu Tong, your mother is not exaggerating. You saw him last time, and you clearly felt something was off, didn't you?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tong's joy faded, and she became hesitant.
She was clearly thinking of that conversation that night, of that shadow that collapsed like a mountain, and of that soft "Autumn Eyes".
At that time, his father wanted him to defeat Pei Yu, enter the Sword Realm, and steal the scroll of the "Immortal True Man Scripture." His gaze was indifferent, and his words were merely commands, devoid of any warmth.
Despite her reluctance, she couldn't help but agree with it in her heart.
That was not the father she knew.
"But the sage said that he was my father..."
With the portraits of the twelve saints before her, Qiu Tong didn't hesitate at all and directly chose the Mad Taoist, thus meeting this all-knowing saint.
As soon as one steps into the painted scene, one sees a man dressed in tattered clothes, with his half-white hair disheveled and humming a tuneless melody.
He lay down on the spot, holding a tattered scroll in his hand, looking relaxed. When he heard the sound, he casually looked up. The next moment, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he immediately sprang up from the ground.
"What incredible luck! What incredible luck!"
He tossed the book aside, rushed to Qiu Tong in a few steps, and examined her closely as if she were some rare treasure.
Qiu Tong felt uncomfortable being stared at like this for no reason. Because she was a member of the demon race, she was afraid that this saint would see through her, so she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. So she gripped the sides of her skirt with both hands and forced a smile.
"Junior Qiu Tong greets the Sage."
"Qiu Tong?" The mad Taoist priest tucked his hands into his sleeves, as if recalling something. "I've heard your name before. It's like a wind blowing from the endless coast... Are you the daughter of the King of Qingping?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tong almost lost her smile.
Many saints experienced the great war between the two realms long ago and do not have a good impression of the demon race. Otherwise, they would not have forbidden the demon race from entering the Sacred Valley.
Regardless of her past or present life, this was the first time she had met a human saint, and she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
Before replying, she paused for a moment, then bowed again.
"Yes, my father is indeed the Prince of Qingping. However, I joined the Daohe Palace a few months ago and am now a disciple of the Dao."
It seemed like just a casual remark, but it made Qiu Tong's heart skip a beat, and she hurriedly looked up.
She wasn't just complaining.
If a person from the foot of the mountain wants to join a sect, they cannot use spiritual power to ascend the mountain; they must climb the three thousand three hundred and thirty stone steps one by one.
She had just been reborn not long before, and she already harbored resentment towards Zhang Chunhe. Having to climb such a high mountain, she couldn't help but mutter to herself the whole way, mentioning her past and present lives a few times along the way.
If this saint heard all of this, would he take it to heart and sense that something was amiss?
However, after saying this, the mad Taoist looked at her meaningfully, but immediately changed the subject.
"There's no need to be so nervous. I didn't become a saint very early, and I have no prejudice against the demon race. After all, I hate both demons and humans equally."
It's just that your aura is so strong that I can't help but take a few more glances.
However, I have some questions. How did you manage to participate in the Flying Flower Festival? Did you also enter into a demon-summoning oath with someone?
Qiu Tong looked surprised: "It's impossible for me to have made a demon-summoning vow with anyone, but as for why I was able to participate in the Flying Flower Gathering, it's because..."
It was because she sought out that mysterious old man and obtained a piece of jade.
After a moment of silence, she simply said, "The sage should know."
The mad Taoist priest, contrary to his usual demeanor, looked at her calmly and said, "The strange thing about this is that I haven't heard a word about it. However, I should be able to guess who it is now."
Now that you've come this far and chosen me, there's no need to dwell on the past. So, what do you wish to ask?
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tong quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and then mentioned the Flying Flower Society's fishing altar to the Mad Taoist, mentioning the note with writing on both sides inside the altar.
The mad Taoist priest fell into deep thought.
He naturally wouldn't tell Qiu Tong that he was the old man who led them to the fishing platform, and as for the reason why...
He looked up and said, "I can tell you the answer to the mystery, but entering the Pilgrimage Valley is not easy. Are you sure you want to ask a question that already has an answer?"
Qiu Tong hesitated for a moment, many questions flashing through her mind, before finally lowering her eyes.
Having been reborn, she already knew the cause and effect, and the outcome of many things, so why bother questioning them again? Besides, the answer was equally important to her.
"Yes, please enlighten me, senior."
The mad Taoist laughed wildly, muttering incoherently. Only after he finished laughing did his words gradually become clearer.
"I, the Mad Taoist, do not understand the art of divination. I only know too much to deduce past events and find the only path. Some people call this pre-divination, but that is not true. I cannot divine anything."
If you ask me about my marriage, I have no answer. But if you insist on asking about Prince Qingping, then I can tell you with certainty that he is your father.
After saying that, the mad Taoist examined her aura more closely.
"People with such great fortune as you are rare; you should cherish it."
He lay down again, picked up the torn scroll that had been discarded, and began to read it.
Qiu Tong was even more puzzled and took a few steps forward urgently: "But it's not just me, even my mother, my brothers and sisters all feel that there is something strange about him!"
The mad Taoist lowered the tattered scroll in his hand by half an inch, revealing a pair of eyes with fine lines.
"Feelings are one thing, facts are another. He is your biological father, the Qingping King who has ruled the fox clan for a long time, and your mother's husband. He has not been replaced by anyone."
“But…” Qiu Tong’s voice suddenly dropped, “Father loves us very much. He would never make us do things we don’t like. How could he have changed?”
At this point, she thought of Consort Wei again in her confusion.
She had actually noticed something; Consort Wei had changed too.
And Lin Feiran... she has changed a lot too.
Qiu Tong closed her eyes slightly, finally swallowing the resentment and resistance in her heart.
Perhaps it wasn't that people had changed, but rather that she had never truly seen them for who they were.
"I understand, thank you for your clarification, senior." After saying that, she turned and left, looking lost in thought.
...
Qiu Tong looked at the blue smoke. Her mother was staring blankly at the table, her expression exactly the same as hers back then—so unwilling, doubtful, and confused.
She moved her lips slightly, suppressing the regret in her heart, and comforted her, "Mother, perhaps Father has always been this kind of person. He... he is a regional overlord, the King of Qingping who rules Qingqiu, so how could he care about such personal feelings between children?"
Look at the Human Emperor, he's already the ruler of a realm, yet he still easily sends his daughter to the demon realm for a political marriage. What do children mean to them?
As she spoke, Qiu Tong herself became aggrieved and sad, her eyes turning red with suppressed emotion.
"He asked me to retrieve the 'Immortal True Man Scripture,' without considering what I would face. If it weren't for... if someone hadn't helped me, how could I be sitting here unharmed!"
Jiuxing was already filled with doubt and unease, and upon hearing this, he immediately raised his head with concern in his eyes.
"My son, have you encountered some danger?"
Qiu Tong wanted to speak, but when she saw her mother's pale face, she couldn't bear to make her worry any longer.
"I almost lost in the sword fight, it wasn't anything serious."
She thought, her father was always like this, and would immediately care when he heard that she was in danger. How could he have been so indifferent?
Is it really true that the imperial family is heartless?
But this tiny Qingqiu is only about the size of two or three human cities. What kind of emperor is that? Even the Demon Lord doesn't put on such a grand show!
Feeling wronged and angry, she spoke without thinking, criticizing Prince Qingping from head to toe.
"What are they talking about? Why are they sitting here in silence, yet their eyes are red?"
A gentle voice came from outside, startling the two. They immediately looked up and saw Prince Qingping walking out from behind the curtain, a faint smile on his handsome face.
Jiuxing was shocked and subconsciously looked out to see Ruoqin kneeling in front of the door, her body trembling. When he looked up and met her gaze, he silently shook his head.
Jiuxing lowered her eyelashes, trying to find some excuse to cover it up, but her mind was already in a panic, and she had been thinking about many things, so she didn't know how to answer for a moment.
“Father, I obtained a spirit sword from the Valley of Pilgrimage. It is the Tai’a Sword, which is ranked second in the world. My mother and I are so happy that we couldn’t help but cry tears of joy.”
Qiu Tong suddenly spoke, wiping her eyes and raising the Tai'a sword that was on the table.
King Qingping's eyes lit up slightly, then he laughed loudly: "Good! As expected of my fox princess, even the second best spirit sword in the world must submit to you. It suits you very well."
Qiu Tong did not respond, but the spirit of the Tai'a sword heard her words and, feeling resentful, the sword immediately began to vibrate and hum.
King Qingping nodded: "You see, even the Tai'a sword agrees."
The longsword in its hand trembled even more violently. If Qiu Tong hadn't been quick enough to press down on the hilt, it would have been sent flying on the spot!
Now was not a good time to talk to her mother again. Qiu Tong said to King Qingping, "Father, the spirit sword is a little unstable right now. I will contact you after I have calmed it down."
Nine Stars had already composed himself and said "Good." He then used cold tea to extinguish the incense pill, and the smoke in the air dissipated, leaving only a wisp of smoke.
She turned to look at Prince Qingping and smiled with a sigh: "Qiu Tong has grown up a lot and has obtained the Tai'a Sword. As her mother, I am always happy for her."
Prince Qingping smiled and nodded: "I am naturally delighted as well."
After saying that, he sat down next to Jiuxing: "How has your cold been lately? I've heard that many people have obtained branches of Fusang wood from the Pilgrimage Valley. Why don't you have Chaosheng fetch them for you in a few days?"
Jiuxing shook his head, glanced at him, and quickly looked away: "Chaosheng is my child after all. You are willing to let him run around, but I am not."
King Qingping sensed the reproach in the words, but didn't take it to heart: "Chaosheng is the oldest and has the highest cultivation. He will naturally take over the fox clan in the future. How can he not be trained?"
Nine Stars rose from beside him, smoothing the hem of her skirt: "We are demons, our lifespans are incomparable to those of ordinary humans, you are too hasty."
She didn't want to argue about it too much.
"Weren't you discussing something? Why did you suddenly come over?"
Prince Qingping stood up and said, "I came here to tell you that a distinguished guest has sent word that she will arrive tonight, and we need to greet her in advance."
"Welcome?" Jiuxing lowered his eyes, pondering the two words. "Alright, I'll have Ruoqin come and help me with my grooming."
Prince Qingping nodded and went outside to wait.
Nine Stars watched his retreating figure, but her heart remained uneasy.
The sage's words may be reasonable, but she also trusted her intuition. After hundreds of years together, she knew the nature of the man beside her.
People may change, but it never happens overnight.
She still believed that Prince Qingping was suspicious.
...
The Banquet Hall is located on the west side of the Prince's Mansion. It is a three-story Ming Tower with a pavilion on the top floor. The pavilion is decorated with pearls and jade, and is adorned with flowers and brocade, exuding an air of luxury.
Prince Qingping and the Nine Stars stood in front of the railing, gazing at the bright moonlit night sky.
She couldn't help but ask, "Who is this distinguished guest? Why have you never mentioned him before?"
Prince Qingping slowly raised his lips, but what he said was shocking: "She is a guest whom neither you nor I can curry favor with. She is not someone I can invite. She will only come if she is willing."
"Her?" Jiuxing turned to look. "A man or a woman?"
Prince Qingping looked only at the sky: "Woman."
Nine Stars were secretly alarmed and turned to look. In the boundless night, a firebird flew in, burning half of the night sky. Behind it was a jade carriage that was also burning with white flames.
Like a fire about to fall, its brilliance is dazzling and dazzling.
A young Taoist priest, as lovely as jade, was attending to the carriage, but his face was expressionless.
Having held a high position for many years and possessing considerable cultivation, Jiuxing immediately recognized that the flame was no ordinary item, resembling the legendary Sumeru Fire, capable of melting gold essence and transforming divine souls.
Who exactly is this person?
As soon as they entered the palace, the flames on the giant bird suddenly went out, and the young Taoist flew forward and led it to the courtyard. The Sumeru Fire on the jade carriage suddenly burst into flames, rolled up the curtain, and the woman in the carriage flew out and landed in the flying pavilion like a snowflake.
Nine Stars focused their gaze and saw that this person wore a light veil and a snow-white robe. He had an elegant demeanor and a cold, aloof look. Standing there silently, he was like a snow tree blooming in the Tianshan Mountains, making people dare not approach him even a little bit.
The white flame that everyone feared yet longed for suddenly shrank, splitting into two balls that floated down and landed beside her ears, like two pom-pom earrings.
Prince Qingping smiled slightly and bowed.
"Lord Aoxue, it's been a long time. Your fire control technique has improved even more."
"It's still a long way off."
After the person on the other side finished speaking, he sat down in the head seat as if no one else was there. The young Taoist who had previously led the firebird to the side flew into the pavilion and stood beside Ao Xue.
Nine Stars secretly observed them. The two were dressed normally, but the style of the Taoist robe worn by the child was peculiar.
The embroidered white threads rise from the hem of the robe, resembling auspicious cloud patterns, and then converge towards the back, swirling and intertwining to create a vortex.
Prince Qingping took his seat with Jiuxing and asked with a smile, "What important matter brings you here today, Lady Aoxue?"
Ao Xue didn't stand on ceremony: "Is there any trace of the 'Immortal True Man Scripture' that I asked Prince Qingping to search for earlier?"
King Qingping was not surprised, and said only: "Not yet. I'm sure Lord Aoxue has also heard that when the Daohe Palace Sword Realm opened, a cultivator broke in and stole the Iron Qidan Book. So, whether this Immortal True Man Scripture is still in the Sword Realm is still unknown."
Ao Xue sneered, but did not say anything unpleasant. She only said, "We have already sent people into the Sword Realm to investigate. There is no trace of the Immortal True Man Scripture there. It must have been taken away by the person who stole the book. You don't need to worry about it until we find out who that person is."
She looked at Prince Qingping, her eyes reflecting the white flames, which shimmered faintly.
"It concerns the human envoy from the demon race."
...
As the imperial carriage passed over Lan City like a streak of light, everyone knew that the Demon Lord had returned.
Inside Xingzhi Palace, the ginseng boy, having received the news, was already waiting in the courtyard, where shimmering flames shone everywhere.
As the imperial carriage landed, Lin Feiran and the others were already waiting outside. After waiting for a long time, there was still no movement from inside the carriage.
Biqing couldn't help but ask, "Is he still not awake?"
Xuanzhen moved closer to the window, but because the inner room was covered by a magic array, she couldn't see any further: "Should we call out? Your Excellency?"
Although he spoke, his voice was like a puppy whimpering, as if he was afraid of disturbing the people inside the car.
Xun Feifei: "..."
He frowned slightly and said, "That's not right. It's already nighttime, so the Lord couldn't possibly still be asleep."
He simply walked to the car, raised his hand and knocked on the window, calling out, "Your Excellency, Your Excellency?"
The car is equipped with a soundproofing array, so this is the only way to send a warning.
But after knocking for a while, there was still no response.
Lin Feiran frowned slightly, glanced at Bi Qing, and then walked to the carriage shaft. Just as he was about to raise his hand, he heard some noises coming from inside. A moment later, a soft voice came from inside the carriage.
"Lin Feiran."
When Ru Xian finally spoke, she replied, "I'm here."
As soon as she finished speaking, the magic array inside the car was removed. The other three turned to look at her, and Lin Feiran immediately felt like she was being pricked by thorns.
Once she could see what was in front of her, her eyes widened immediately.
Ru Xian looked up at her, raised a finger to her lips, and gestured for her to be quiet.
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