Chapter 703: Feng Jiu

Chapter 703: Feng Jiu

Since their hiding place had been easily discovered, the immortals of the Xinghai Sect were forced to heighten their vigilance. People everywhere were already packing up to move to another temporary refuge.

Lishang raised her chin toward the distance as she softly remarked, "The messengers said they'll wait outside our camp since they dislike being approached."

Wang Sheng followed her gaze, finding two people standing quietly atop a shattered peak. Even at a distance, their silhouettes made it clear that they were women. However, his immortal perception could not detect them at all.

They were truly powerful.

Wang Sheng and Lishang flew toward them together. Before they even drew close, one of the two stepped forward, her expression cold. She had average looks for a female immortal and wasn't particularly striking. Still, though she appeared no older than sixteen or seventeen, the faint pressure she deliberately released made both Wang Sheng and Lishang stiffen in alarm.

She was far stronger than they were.

Still, Wang Sheng quickly deduced that she was not one of the Heavenly Court's most powerful members. The pressure she gave off was nowhere near as overwhelming as that of Wang Shan or Qinghua.

Lishang telepathically said, "

She's the one who came looking for you last time.

"

Wang Sheng nodded in understanding. He was about to speak when the woman appeared before them and raised a hand to stop Lishang.

"Pi Kachew, please make the descendant of Empress Nuwa stay here with me. My master wishes to see you alone."

Lishang lowered her head and agreed without hesitation, remaining in space with the woman. Since they were no match, she naturally saw no reason to put on airs.

Her master?

Wang Sheng looked at the woman in the distance, surprise stirring in his heart.

Could she be the one controlling the Fengli Sect behind the scenes?

The closer he flew, the clearer the silhouette became. When he reached her, she took a step forward. Sunlight fell from the side, illuminating her.

The Queen Mother? Paper effigy? No, it can't be.

Wang Sheng sensed that her appearance, her bearing, and the faint Dao Rhythm she radiated were all perfectly natural. Everything about her formed a seamless whole, exuding not even the slightest sense of discord.

If she claimed she was the twin sister of the Queen Mother, no one would doubt it.

She was in a light-purple robe cut in the style of men's clothing. Her long hair was tied up with a flowing cloud ribbon. Though she had no makeup on, her eyebrows were slightly thicker than those of ordinary women.

Could she be one of Yaoyun's sisters?

Wang Sheng wondered as he stopped at a respectful distance.

He extended a Daoist salute. "Greetings, Senior. I am Pi Kachew."

She returned the salute with cupped hands. Though her movement lacked feminine softness, it didn't feel wrong.

"Forgive the intrusion, Daoist Friend."

Her voice had an indescribable quality. She had the natural delicacy of a woman's tone, yet she sounded crisp and decisive. Even when spoken plainly, the simplest words stirred an inexplicable urge in the listener to draw closer to her.

What he felt had to be... her unique presence. The way she spoke and her aura possessed a remarkable ability to influence others.

"Ever since my left general mentioned you, I have been hoping to meet you in person. I did not expect to find such a young hero."

Wang Sheng smiled in embarrassment. He was already well over a thousand years old, yet she still called him young.

She softly smiled back. "Would you sit and chat with me for a bit?"

Still smiling, he replied, "I wouldn't dare refuse, Senior."

She nodded lightly, then pointed behind her. Out of thin air, a pavilion appeared under the sunlight that had been illuminating the peak.

The sight made Wang Sheng's heart tighten.

Could her left general be the great expert who possessed the Fengli Sect's sect master? If that being is only her left general, the force backing the Fengli Sect has to be truly frightening.

Since he was already here, he calmed himself and drifted into the pavilion. After exchanging formalities, the two sat across from each other at a stone table.

The female immortal in the distance returned, served tea and pastries, then withdrew again to Lishang's side.

Meanwhile, the other woman sat quietly, studying Wang Sheng. Her clear gaze showed a trace of recollection and a hint of amusement.

Wang Sheng cleared his throat and cupped his hands. "May I ask for your name, Esteemed Senior?"

"Feng Jiu. What is your true Daoist name?"

His lips curved upward. "Fei Yu. The alias was only for convenience. I hope you don't mind."

Feng Jiu smiled back and approvingly repeated, "Fei Yu, huh? It has a fine sense of poetic restraint."

She lifted the teacup and personally poured him half a cup.

Afterward, as if discussing family matters, she casually said, "I have come a long way from the Western Sky Region just to meet you. Why is Yaoyun not with you?"

He thought briefly. Still smiling, he answered, "I'm sure you're well aware of our situation, Senior. Since we're in a tough spot right now, I asked Yaoyun to invite a few experts to support us."

She laughed softly. "Troubles abound when a new force is rising, especially when you have to rebuild your cultivation from nothing. The fact that you endured this long before seeking out the Heavenly Court's former members is already quite commendable."

He remarked seriously, "Speaking of, Senior, why did you make the Fengli Sect withdraw? It truly caught me off guard."

"After careful consideration, I gave the order to vacate this place myself."

She interlaced her fingers and rested her hands on the stone table, a gesture uncommon for a female immortal. Wang Sheng also noticed that she had light-purple gloves on, which were likely powerful artifacts. Just a few glances at them made his heart pound with unease.

"I'm afraid I still do not quite understand the motive behind it," he replied.

Feng Jiu smiled once more. Calmly, she explained, "You and I are destined to fight one day. By placing a few obstacles in your path now, I slow the momentum of your growth. That is why I ordered the Fengli Sect to withdraw. Now, you and I may compete on equal footing."

Wang Sheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Do you consider me a threat? If so, why not simply attack me head-on?"

"Would that not make the days ahead rather dull? To be frank, in the entire endless space, you're the only one I regard as my opponent."

The sword cultivator was rendered speechless.

Is this powerful being... afflicted with chuunibyou

[1]

?

He cleared his throat and carefully probed, "Senior, have you not heard that Emperor Qinghua has already resurrected?"

"I naturally have, but he is devoted to avenging the Heavenly Court, and his Dao of Death is far too domineering for me to control right now. Moreover, even though he changed his Dao, he remains fundamentally gentle. He is not the one I seek for the future. Besides, he appears to be on your side."

A chill ran through Wang Sheng's heart.

This woman is far more delusional than simply being afflicted with chuunibyou.

"May I ask who you truly are, Senior?"

"Feng Jiu, a lone soul who has been left behind when the Heavenly Court fell."

"What's your relationship with the Queen Mother of the West?"

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"I was quite close to her." The woman sighed softly. "I use her appearance with her permission. Unfortunately, she devoted herself completely to the pursuit of the Dao and has vanished into nothingness. This face is all she left for me."

Wang Sheng cupped his hands. "If you were once an immortal of the Heavenly Court, why are you trying to compete with a junior like me?"

"I do not wish to restore the Heavenly Court. All I want is to follow His Immortal Majesty's example and unify the Immortal Saint Realm once more. In time, you will learn many things that you do not yet know.

"At present, the Heavenly Court's heavenly fate is divided. One portion rests with you, one is scattered among the surviving remnants of the Heavenly Court, and one lies within the Immortal Saint Realm itself. Through certain methods, I have also obtained a small share. What we will contend for in the future are the rest of it and the right to rule the Immortal Saint Realm."

Thoroughly confused, he asked, "Did you come here to offer guidance?"

Feng Jiu smiled. "I did entertain that thought, but I wish to play a game of chess with you, using the Immortal Saint Realm as the board. I will gather power in the Western Sky Region, while you rise in the Eastern Sky Region.

"One day, we will meet in battle within the Immortal Saint Realm, contending under the banner of His Immortal Majesty. Regardless of who wins, we will smile in the face of death and look down upon the ages. Would that not be a splendid affair?"

This woman... has to be a psycho. Those few sentences make it sound like she has already conquered the entire universe!

Wang Sheng had come across teenagers with

chuunibyou,

but this was his first time meeting an extremely powerful being suffering from it. His horizons had broadened once more.

Still, strength dictated the situation. One had to show respect to the strong. He shook his head and smiled wryly. "You overestimate me, Senior."

"You can do it. Only you can." Feng Jiu lifted her teacup as she looked at him. "However, I will not stop my own expansion to wait for you. You have to pick up the pace. Isn't there a saying on your home planet? 'One wrong step can lead to total defeat.'"

Wang Sheng's gaze sharpened. "You have been to my home planet?"

"More precisely, I lived there for a time." The woman smiled. "When I came looking for you but ultimately failed, I wandered about and discovered that it had become rather interesting. Even without primal qi, your kind has created a completely new civilization. Empress Nuwa's human race is truly the most wondrous of beings."

The sword cultivator did not know how to respond. As the pressure mounted, two beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead. She was revealing far too much information.

The expert before him was like layers of mist wrapped around an abyss. She spoke lightly, yet at any moment, she could swallow him whole.

She added seriously, "I am not threatening you, Fei Yu. You likely do not understand what true solitude is. To me, you are the cure. Even if you fall to me tomorrow and lose this game, I would still let you roam freely and treat you as a confidant if you ask to be spared."

Wang Sheng sprang to his feet. Starlight glinted in his eyes, as though he was trying to see through her completely.

"Senior, what is your relationship with His Immortal Majesty?"

Smiling, Feng Jiu shook her head. "Rest assured, I have no connection with him. I simply know a little more than most. Anyway, that should be enough for today. Judging by your expression, you no longer have any interest in tea."

She stood and cupped her hands toward him.

"When we meet again, I hope to contend with you for dominion over the Immortal Saint Realm."

Wang Sheng tried to reply, but she and the pavilion blurred. The woman beside Lishang also disintegrated. Their entire party dissolved into strands of multicolored mist, which then imploded and vanished.

Wang Sheng heard Feng Jiu's voice once more.

"If you win, you do not have to spare me."

Utterly at a loss for words, Wang Sheng could only stand in place. When Lishang flew over, he covered his left eye and began to tremble.

Alarmed, Lishang asked, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"Quick!" Wang Sheng shouted. "I can no longer suppress my Evil King True Eye!"

Lishang tilted her head and blinked, suddenly feeling that something about this was... not very intelligent.

1. Also known as middle school second-year syndrome or eighth-grader syndrome. It describes someone, usually teens, who have delusions of grandeur. They act like they have secret powers, a hidden destiny, or are the chosen one. They might wear dramatic clothing, use cool-sounding but made-up terms, and take themselves extremely seriously. ☜