64: Chapter 64: Phoenix and the Thousand Moons

[Seven days later, the group landed in Mingke City.]

[This city was countless times larger than Bailu City, and the most obvious difference was the cultivation levels of the passing cultivators.]

[Although Qi Condensation cultivators still predominated, cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage were no longer as elusive as dragons in Bailu City, and one or two could occasionally be encountered.]

[After your group of six entered the city, you headed straight for the location of the teleportation array. At the strong insistence of Bai Shouzhuo and his daughter, you put on a magical veil capable of blocking prying eyes.]

[After all, that kid surnamed Cao still had a bruised face! Of course, this wasn't done by your hand, but rather came from his father's love.]

[The teleportation square was surging with people, with a huge circular array disc embedded in the high platform, surrounded by nine star-patterned crystal pillars, upon which a faint brilliance flowed.]

[A long queue had already formed in front of the array, and within such a vast space, it appeared extremely crowded at the moment.]

[Your arrival did not attract much attention. As it was the period of the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament, ninety percent of the cultivators coming here had the same purpose.]

[Just as you were about to step into the teleportation array, a tall figure clad in dark scale-armor, with a crimson flame emblem branded on the shoulder armor, blocked the way in front.]

["Might you be City Lord Bai in person?"]

[Bai Shouzhuo's face revealed a look of surprise, and he promptly nodded.]

["Please come with this subordinate for a trip; someone wishes to see you."]

["It's the Chixiao Guard!"]

["Who is this person? How could the Chixiao Guard be so respectful to him?"]

[A commotion broke out among the surrounding crowd.]

[The Chixiao Guard was the backbone combat force of the Tianfeng Dynasty, with a minimum cultivation of Foundation Establishment. Only Profound-grade cities were qualified to be equipped with them, and the quota was extremely limited.]

[Your gaze flickered slightly. Just what other secrets was Bai Shouzhuo hiding?]

[Yet meeting his gaze of confusion that didn't seem fake, you truly couldn't find any flaws.]

["Alright."]

[Seeing the other party's unquestionable attitude, Bai Shouzhuo had no choice but to nod, then turned around to look at you all.]

["You guys go find a place to stay first, and I will go reunite with you later."]

["This young lady is also requested to go together."]

[The tall figure shifted his gaze toward you.]

[Hearing this, Bai Shouzhuo frowned slightly, wanting to say something, but was stopped by you grabbing his wrist.]

["It's fine, this concubine will accompany my husband."]

[Being at the mercy of others where it was clearly impossible to refuse, it was better to build up some favorability in front of everyone.]

[After leaving the teleportation array, that Chixiao Guard remained silent, leading you all in a swift journey that ultimately entered a solemn and respectful mansion.]

[Inside the front hall of the City Lord's Mansion.]

["This young lady, please come with me. City Lord Bai, please wait a moment in the hall."]

[Your eyes met Bai Shouzhuo's, and seeing him nod slightly, you then left with him, looking back every three steps.]

[After passing through a series of corridors and alleys, before long you arrived at a courtyard with a quiet and secluded environment. After cupping his fists in a salute, the Chixiao Guard turned and stepped into the depths of the corridor.]

[What kind of setup was this?]

[Many questions welled up in your heart, but adhering to the idea of accepting whatever came, seeing that no one paid attention to you, you walked straight to the stone table and sat down.]

[Suddenly, a wisp of tea fragrance drifted into your nose. Your gaze swept over the teacup on the table, and you swallowed a mouthful of saliva, but in the end you still didn't dare to rashly drink it.]

["What is your name?"]

[The voice suddenly ringing beside your ear made goosebumps rise all over your body. You stiffly turned your head to see that on the stone stool beside you, an extraordinary-tempered woman was already sitting upright at some unknown time.]

[Peerless and magnificent—this was your first impression.]

[The woman wore a bright red wide-sleeved long dress, draped externally with a red-and-gold intertwined cloud-patterned cloak, her hair tied up high in a bun, secured only by a dark jade hairpin.]

[Between her cold and detached brows and eyes seemed to naturally carry a sense of innate nobility, and the imposing aura around her was as steady as an abyss or towering peaks.]

[Cold sweat quietly oozed from your palms, your spine grew slightly stiff, and you inexplicably gave birth to an instinctive trembling.]

["Tap, tap..."]

[The woman's slender fingers tapped lightly on the stone table, unhurriedly, as if quietly waiting for your reply.]

["Junior Lin Qianqian."]

[You only then suddenly snapped out of your daze, hurriedly stood up, and bowed deeply toward the woman with a respectful posture.]

[What level of big shot was this again!]

[You wailed in your heart; the feeling of things spinning out of control made you extremely uneasy.]

["Sit."]

[The woman's cold voice seemed to carry a certain magic. With just a single word, it caused your disordered thoughts to gradually calm down.]

[You obediently sat down as told.]

[Seeing her pick up the teacup on the table and take a sip, you also took the opportunity to lift your veil and secretly take a sip.]

[Good tea!]

[Your pair of eyes widened round. Not to mention the exceptional taste, in an instant it transformed into a surge of pure spiritual power rushing through your whole body, leaving one feeling refreshed and invigorated.]

["This seat is Feng Qianyue."]

[The woman chuckled and spoke again.]

[The surname Feng?]

[You were shocked in your heart. In the Tianfeng Dynasty, only the imperial family could use this surname.]

["It seems you are clear about what this surname represents."]

[Feng Qianyue glanced at you, her fingertips tapping the tabletop pausing slightly.]

["This seat has come to see you personally because there is a matter that requires you to handle it."]

["Senior, please give your instructions."]

[You didn't ask why it had to be you; with such a posture, you probably didn't have any room for refusal to begin with.]

["You're quite quick-witted."]

[Feng Qianyue nodded slightly, her sleeve gently brushed, and a bottle of blood-red liquid appeared out of thin air on the stone table.]

["Drink this item at the very first moment after you reach the Foundation Establishment Stage."]

[???]

[You were completely baffled, not knowing what medicine the other party was selling in her gourd.]

["Rest assured, if this seat truly wanted to kill you, or had other intentions, you wouldn't have the slightest qualification to resist."]

[Hearing this, you sheepishly took the jade bottle, a bellyful of words wanting to be asked yet not daring to speak out.]

["Heh~"]

[Seeing you so tactful, Feng Qianyue's lips curved slightly upward.]

["Do not ask for the reason, otherwise you won't be able to walk out of the City Lord's Mansion today. This seat can grant you a request that isn't too excessive."]

["The foundation establishment pill!"]

[Without even thinking, you blurted it out.]

[For you who possessed the simulator, no treasure was more important than foundation establishment.]

[If the Ring Old Man's judgment was correct, you could extend your lifespan after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, allowing you to have greater room for performance in the simulation.]

["A foundation establishment pill?"]

[Feng Qianyue raised the outer corners of her eyes slightly.]

["You guys are heading straight for the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament this time, right? The top ten all have foundation establishment pills as rewards, but this seat's promise is far more valuable than a mere foundation establishment pill."]

["The foundation establishment pill!"]

[Your gaze was incomparably firm, without the slightest wavering.]

[With your current body at the perfection of the first stage of Body Refining, your Qi Condensation foundation being even more immensely profound, plus your soul nourished multiple times by the spirit-nourishing fruit, as long as you obtained the foundation establishment pill, the success rate of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage could be as high as ninety percent.]

[However!]

[There was still a full ten percent probability of failure, and furthermore, what if an accident happened during the competition? You were unwilling to bear even a shred of risk; this simulation must complete the Foundation Establishment Stage!]

[Feng Qianyue gave you a deep look.]

["Very well, someone will naturally send it to you after you arrive in Duanlong City. You may leave."]

[Finished speaking, a fiery red mark sank into the center of your brows.]

[Your expression was startled, instinctively wanting to dodge, only to find that you couldn't move a single fraction of an inch at all.]

[After the mark sank into the center of your brows, a flash of brilliance caused it to disappear without a trace.]

["Is there anything else?"]

[Seeing that you didn't immediately stand up to leave, but instead continued gazing eagerly at her, Feng Qianyue frowned slightly.]

["Beautiful and powerful senior sister, can that tea be bestowed upon me a little?"]

[Your pretty face flushed slightly, and with a shy smile, you lowered your little head.]

["Heh~"]

[Feng Qianyue was laughed into anger by you, yet she couldn't be bothered to entangle herself in such minor matters. With a wave of her sleeve, a palm-sized jade jar burst through the air and came out.]

["If you fail to act according to this palace's instructions, you had better pray that you can die a quick death."]

[Sigh~ What kind of matter was this?]

[Looking at the big shot who had disappeared in place, you sighed in your heart. It was truly an undeserved disaster.]

[Yet lowering your head to see the jade jar in your arms and the foundation establishment pill promised by the other party, your brows and eyes instantly curved into crescents, and your steps were light as you walked outside the courtyard.]

[This was you, an immortal-cultivating beauty who had her heart set on the Great Dao and also loved to casually pluck a few minor opportunities along the way~]