Chapter 117 Fallen Jade City: "So arrogant!"
Not only now, but even in the original book, Lin Feiran had never heard of the term "esoteric Buddhism".
The original novel, "Qing Qing Zhi Wo Yi," is a sweet romance novel that mainly revolves around the emotional entanglement between the two main characters. After Qiu Tong and Wei Changzai join forces to resolve the chaos of the fox clan, the plot comes to an end. In the following chapters, they confess their feelings to each other, and the lovers finally get together.
And so, the story ends here.
Many things are left unexplained in the book, but there is certainly no mention of esoteric Buddhism.
Lin Feiran was not surprised by this.
There are many sects and cults in this world, which were not listed in the original book. It is not surprising that one or two were omitted, perhaps they are some sects in the demon realm.
Qingzhu, fanning herself with a folding fan, continued, "The esoteric sect actually originated from the human realm. It is a sect with extremely confused doctrines. We have been paying attention to it for many years, but our lord's heart is not in it, so we have not interfered much."
I've heard that many tribes in the south have submitted to me. If I expand further, I fear I might become a regional hegemon.
Bi Qing's expression changed drastically. She leaned closer and sneered, "How could Xuan Zhen and I not know? You've been keeping it from us again! I'm heartbroken. When the clan leader pulls my ear, you'll have to come and stop him!"
She showed no sign of sadness; she simply wanted Qingzhu to help her escape this calamity.
Qingzhu smiled and shook her head, twirling her folding fan as she gently tapped Biqing's head: "Nonsense, I represent the Lord, how can I let someone pull my ear for you?"
Biqing was immediately disheartened and sighed to the sky.
The demon race is born with spiritual veins and is mostly warlike. Therefore, apart from the demon capital Lan City, the other territories are not very peaceful, and conflicts and struggles between different tribes occur frequently.
However, the demon race has always had few offspring, so even when they fight, it is far less large than that of the human race.
After Ziruxian took power, many non-warlike tribes surrendered to him, either moving to the Demon Capital or relocating to its vicinity in search of peace.
But his so-called protection was merely because he disliked noise and therefore forbade people to fight there; he wouldn't give a second glance to anything else.
Ru Xian has always been a self-centered person. Even after ascending to the position of the supreme ruler, his focus remained on what he needed to do, and he didn't really care about what others did.
Lin Feiran couldn't help but ask, "Why did the Venerable One choose to become the Venerable One of a Realm in the first place?"
Some say the previous demon king made a sarcastic remark, which is why he was nailed to death with a spear. Others say he enjoys being above everyone else and being admired by all. Still others say he wants to live in the Xingzhi Palace and lead a life of luxury.
There were many rumors circulating, and Lin Feiran felt that they all seemed similar, yet they were always just a little off.
Bi Qing shook her head: "I don't know either, but I heard from the clan elders that the previous demon king was licentious and dissolute. The fact that the Lord was able to kill him and ascend the throne can be considered a good deed. We should not investigate the reason."
Qingzhu twirled her folding fan, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Feifei and I actually had some guesses, but we felt they weren't very true, so you can just take it as hearsay."
Lin Feiran and Bi Qing immediately turned to look.
"At that time, the Lord had just ascended the throne, but he was only focused on the library tower in Xingzhi Palace and did not come out all day. Feifei and I handled all the affairs of the demon realm, and he never asked about them. He would only come out of the tower briefly when someone provoked him, defeat them in a few moves, and then nail them to the wall as a warning to others."
Therefore, we two guessed that the Lord had come for that library tower.
Qingzhu nodded seriously, though she actually agreed with the guess.
Biqing suddenly realized: "I heard the clan elder say that when he was young, he traveled in the human world and his favorite place was Langhuan Sect. It turns out that it was not only to learn medicine, but also because there were countless books there."
Lin Feiran was even more surprised: "So he learned his medical skills from the Langhuan Sect."
Bi Qing smiled with narrowed eyes, put her arm around Lin Feiran's shoulder, and looked sly.
"This is what my clan elders secretly told me. The medical skills of the demon race are declining and far inferior to those of the human race. Young Ruxian had the idea of cultivating medicine again, so he went to the human realm, joined the Langhuan Sect, and became the twenty-seventh generation disciple. During his cultivation, he would often go down the mountain to treat patients and became a well-known little fairy doctor!"
She saw it with her own eyes!
Lin Feiran nodded, but in his heart he thought: Many years ago, the human and demon races were not as harmonious as they are now. Even now, few demons can join human sects. How did he manage to do it back then?
Could it be that they were concealing their demonic identity while simultaneously seeking medical help?
She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to have a consultation with Ru Xian.
Is it better to suppress one's dislike of human contact and treat patients with a cold expression, or to directly extract the gold thread, disregard others' opinions, and proceed with the diagnosis and treatment?
Regardless of which one, calling her Little Fairy Doctor wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Lin Feiran?" Bi Qing called out to her, "Quickly snap out of it, we're almost in the territory of our Jade Clan!"
Qingzhu stopped her in her tracks with her folding fan at just the right moment.
Lin Feiran stopped and looked around. The scene before her made her eyes widen, and she couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"How incredibly arrogant!"
Before us stands a city built of jade, with a plaque made of a single piece of white jade bearing the three characters "Luoyu City". The city walls below are constructed of black jade, their hidden light and currents creating an ancient and profound atmosphere.
It doesn't look particularly striking, yet it inexplicably exudes a natural air of luxury.
Although the demon realm also values gold and silver, it uses jade coins for circulation. In this sense, it is equivalent to having a city in the human realm built entirely of gold, which is not only astonishing but also shows off its immense wealth!
Lin Feiran turned to look at Bi Qing: "I knew the Jade Clan should be wealthy, but I never imagined they were this wealthy!"
Biqing was originally a little listless, but upon hearing these words, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up, and she immediately straightened her chest and raised her head, feigning humility.
"A pittance, a pittance of wealth!"
Seeing this, Qingzhu couldn't help but smile: "Eight or nine out of ten jade coins are made by them, let alone an entire city?"
Lin Feiran was immediately filled with respect.
Even in the human realm, no one has ever heard of a family that can produce gold and silver. The Jade Clan truly deserves the title of the richest family.
Looking at the luxurious yet simple building, she asked curiously, "Won't someone come and break into the wall?"
Bi Qing waved his hand: "It's useless to chisel a wall. There are many kinds of jade. The jade used to make coins is flint jade, which is white when it is normally heated, turns red when heated, turns blue when frozen, and has flow patterns when placed in water. When viewed against the light, it has even spots. It is not the same as the jade used to build walls."
Moreover, if anyone manages to carve a piece from here, I, Biqing, will henceforth walk backwards, using my head as my feet!
The three of them went forward together, and it wasn't until they reached the foot of the city that Lin Feiran realized something was wrong.
The entire walled city was a single, seamless structure with no gates. She went up to observe it and then realized what was happening.
"As expected of your formation heritage, each jade brick has flowing patterns. A single brick can form an array, yet they can all be connected. I suppose this is your city-protecting formation?"
Biqing put her hands behind her back and nodded in agreement: "That's right, but this is only the first level."
She walked to the jade wall, placed her right palm on it, and a six-inch square magic array appeared. The patterns inside the array were densely intertwined, fitting together like mortise and tenon joints. The way they were connected made people dizzy and disoriented, let alone able to understand them.
Seeing this, Qingzhu spoke gently: "Biqing, you have made progress in being able to break such a formation. Don't underestimate yourself."
Biqing paused, then suddenly turned her head to look. The jade ornaments on her arm, neck, and hair jingled with her movements.
Her eyes were filled with grief and indignation, and her lips moved a few times, her voice barely audible: "But I don't know how to open it at all."
While Lin Feiran and Qingzhu were stunned, Biqing lay on the magic circle, cupped her hands to her lips, and shouted loudly.
"Elder! I'm back! Please open the door! I am Biqing!"
Lin Feiran: "..."
I felt like laughing, but it wouldn't be good to laugh out loud, so I had to hold it in.
Qingzhu didn't care about all that. She unfolded her folding fan, her eyes widened, and a clear laugh rang out.
Biqing dared not look back, unsure whether facing the clan leader's test was more difficult than dealing with the suppressed laughter of the two people behind her.
They're caught in a dilemma!
After shouting two or three times, a hand suddenly reached out from the complex magic array and accurately pinched Biqing's mouth.
"All you do is yell and call for people! None of you juniors are any peace of mind!"
Biqing dared not raise her hand to block it, nor could she speak, so she could only sob incessantly.
Another eye appeared within the formation, old yet vigorous, its sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Feiran and Qingzhu before finally showing its approval.
"If an enemy is chasing you from behind, and no one in the city opens the gate for you, wouldn't you be killed on your own doorstep? What an unjust death!"
The old man chanted incantations as he activated the magic array.
A faint light appeared on the jade wall, and several jade bricks became transparent, revealing a narrow passage large enough for one person to pass through.
At the end of the narrow path stood an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a hood and a white robe, holding a dragon-subduing staff as tall as a person, with a spirit jade pendant hanging from it.
He was somewhat hunched over, but not short; he was about the same height as Lin Feiran.
The three stepped into the narrow passage one by one, and the jade wall behind them reappeared, returning to its original state, so that not even a wisp of breeze could penetrate it.
Upon entering Luoyu City, Lin Feiran looked around, feeling a different kind of surprise.
Every house was built of jade, but the colors were different, some as transparent as glass, and some as deep blue as a clear pool.
Without exception, each house has a long corridor that leads in through the wall and out through the wall. It is this corridor that connects each household and, when viewed from afar, resembles a long river flowing by.
If the outer city's jade-paved landscape is both simple and luxurious, the inner city offers only a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
The elder coughed lightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over Lin Feiran and Qingzhu before landing on Biqing. Immediately, his long eyebrows shot up, and his previous air of superiority vanished.
"We told you to learn magic formations with us, but you insisted on going for archery. Now look what's happened, you can't even get into your own home!"
At this point, he changed the subject.
"How long has it been since you returned to Luoyu City? Is the Demon Capital really so busy that you can't even find time to come back?"
Biqing lowered her head and nodded, not daring to say anything more. Qingzhu then stepped forward and gave a graceful bow.
"Elder Dashi, Biqing has been keeping order in the Demon Capital every day, and her efforts are commendable. Moreover, it is not a bad thing for a young person to see and learn more outside. She has grown a lot now, and the elder should be happy."
These words were spoken so tactfully that Da Shi was pleased to hear them, and he couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile, his expression remarkably similar to Bi Qing's.
“What Zhu Youshi said makes sense. Biqing, you should learn more from them, so that you don’t talk nonsense all day long.”
"Yes, yes, yes." Bi Qing nodded repeatedly, then pulled Lin Feiran in front of her, "Elder, this is Lin Feiran! We have learned a lot from each other!"
Daishi looked up and examined him, feeling a sense of admiration.
This young man was neither arrogant nor humble, with a clear and upright expression. He did not have a shifty or cunning look. He was like a long sword that had been honed to perfection, exuding a noble and righteous aura that refreshed and invigorated anyone who looked at him.
“Indeed, my old Taoist priest Zhang Si mentioned you before. Now that I’ve met you, you are indeed extraordinary. I feel very reassured about Bi Qing’s association with you.”
"Come with me to the main hall; our clan chief has been waiting for you."
Leaning on his Dragon-Subduing Staff, he turned and led the way. Lin Feiran, however, was somewhat puzzled and asked Biqing, "Does Zhang Siwo often come to Luoyu City?"
After thinking for a moment, Bi Qing realized that the Zhang Siwo they were talking about was the blacksmith Zhang who forged swords in the Demon Capital City.
"Yes, weapon crafting and magic arrays complement each other. He is skilled in weapon crafting, so he often goes to the city. Over time, he has become a regular visitor."
Upon hearing this, something seemed to flash through Lin Feiran's mind: "Your area is rich in spirit jade, so many weapon refiners come here?"
Bi Qing nodded: "Naturally, many humans specifically obtain the documents to enter the realm in order to forge spiritual artifacts in Luoyu City."
Lin Feiran immediately asked, "Then can you tell from the spirit jade artifact which craftsman or which school of craftsman it came from?"
Biqing shook her head: "This seems a bit difficult."
Elder Da Shi, who was walking slowly ahead, turned around, glanced at Lin Feiran, and replied, "It's possible, but it requires extensive investigation. Although we can't determine who it is, we can determine which sect they belong to from the traces. Once the sect is identified, it won't be difficult to find them."
Biqing exclaimed in surprise and moved closer to him: "Elder, are we really that powerful?"
Da Shi couldn't help but tap her head with his Dragon-Subduing Staff: "How can you not be amazing? I told you to stay at the clan school to study, but you insisted on playing with the longbow!"
The Jade Clan are all made of copper and iron, so even swords and knives can hardly leave a mark on them. A mere wooden staff is nothing to them. Even if they were struck with a loud clang, Bi Qing would only laugh heartily.
She reached out and took Elder Da Shi's arm, then began to coax him softly.
"Elder, when the clan leader tests my cultivation later, please put in a good word for me! You always know that our Jade Clan cultivates very slowly due to our bloodline. The last time I saw her was two or three months ago, how could she possibly have made a major breakthrough now?"
Elder Da Shi gave a soft hum, which was taken as tacit agreement.
Unlike humans, demons are born with spiritual veins, and everyone can cultivate the Dao. They have extremely long lifespans. However, different tribes cannot reproduce, and cultivators rarely have the desire to procreate. Therefore, the number of demons has never been large.
Although they do not force it, they are very protective of the younger generation of their community.
The Jade Clan was once embroiled in a chaotic war, during which many of their members and descendants perished, their remains shattered into pieces of jade bones. These bones were then taken back and buried in the azure sea behind Fallen Jade City.
By the time of Biqing's generation, only three children had survived, and since both parents had passed away, they were raised by the clan leaders themselves, and the love and care they received goes without saying.
He turned to look at Biqing: "You often travel outside without the protection of Luoyu City. How can you survive if your cultivation level isn't high? The clan leader is worried about you."
Bi Qing's eyes flickered slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat, and she simply lowered her head and softly replied, "I know."
The two talked ahead, while Qingzhu and the other person walked behind.
He glanced to the side and saw that Lin Feiran's eyes were slightly vacant, as if she was lost in thought. He picked up the fan ribs, waved it in front of her, and said softly.
"Feiran, we're about to turn onto the corridor."
Lin Feiran then pulled himself out of his thoughts, turned around, and said to Qingzhu, "Thank you. I was thinking about some things just now, so I was a little distracted."
The group stepped onto the long corridor and walked forward.
Qingzhu pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Young Master, I noticed you seem quite distracted. May I ask why?"
Lin Feiran has never been coy in this regard; if she can't answer a question, she will refuse directly.
She said, "It's not a secret or important matter. I just heard Biqing say that, and it reminded me that I also have a few spirit jade magic artifacts. I wonder if the clan leader could take a look at them and see which one was made by which craftsman."
She was referring to the magical artifact she had obtained from the young Taoist boy, as well as the voice-transmitting jade token that Princess Mingyue had given as part of her dowry.
Qingzhu nodded knowingly: "I see."
He narrowed his eyes, unfolded his folding fan to obscure their faces, and whispered, "She'll definitely tell."
Lin Feiran was somewhat surprised: "Why?"
Qingzhu blinked, not saying directly, "Guess why I'm here on behalf of the Lord?"
Lin Feiran pondered for a moment: "Is it because we are on good terms that you've come to pay a visit?"
Qingzhu shook her head: "The Jade Clan has received much favor from the Venerable Lord. When they see me, they will know who I am here on behalf of. With the Venerable Lord's influence and my assistance, it shouldn't be difficult for Chief Qiyu to answer a few harmless questions."
"..."
What a gentle threat.
No wonder it wasn't the kind-hearted Xuanzhen or the taciturn Xun Feifei who came with them, but the smooth-talking and eloquent Qingzhu.
Lin Feiran remained silent for a moment before promising, "I won't ask any questions that could hinder our friendship."
Qingzhu closed her folding fan and smiled, "Even if you ask, it's no problem. I'll make sure you understand. It's not easy to come to Luoyu City, so don't leave empty-handed."
...
After walking through an unusually long corridor, the four of them arrived at a bamboo hall.
In front of the hall are rugged rocks, surrounded by a stream. The bamboo tubes used to draw water from the bank make a gurgling sound. When the tubes are full, they knock on the flower garden fence with a loud thud, pouring all the water down.
Inside the main hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and a woman sat alone, playing chess and brewing tea.
Lin Feiran walked past the group of people in front of her and looked into the house. Hearing footsteps, the person slowly raised his head and met her gaze.
The person's expression was indifferent, and on his beautiful face were several fine, dark cracks, like jade about to shatter.
Author's Note: [Heart emoji]
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