634: Chapter 45 Heading to Fengdu

"Elder Brother Meng, what happened next?"

"Later, I met the Descendants of Nüwa and the God Race Shepherd, the Holy Maiden, at that tavern. From the Holy Maiden, I learned that although Wan Yuzhi was a fox demon, she had never committed any truly heinous crimes, so I let her go," Elder Brother Meng replied briefly when Lan Kui asked about the follow-up.

And his words were not empty talk.

In the original plot, Zi Xuan mistakenly thought Xu Changqing had purified Long Kui, became disappointed with him, and felt she no longer needed Wan Yuzhi's heart.

The Holy Maiden still intervened to save Gao Yong.

While Zi Xuan's plea was certainly a factor, it was also related to the fact that Wan Yuzhi had not committed murder or evil deeds.

Otherwise, forget saving Gao Yong; the Holy Maiden would probably have directly annihilated Wan Yuzhi. After all, she was not like Zi Xuan, who was emotionally driven by love, but clearly understood her duty.

"Descendants of Nüwa, Holy Maiden?"

Hearing two new figures emerge, Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan's curiosity was piqued once more.

Hong Kui and Lan Kui had previously heard Elder Brother Meng talk about Zi Xuan and Xu Changqing, so they were not curious this time. They merely glanced at Xu Changqing but said nothing. When Elder Brother Meng finished explaining, he had specifically cautioned them that the affairs between Zi Xuan and Xu Changqing were complicated and messy, advising them not to get involved and just let nature take its course.

Xu Changqing noticed the gazes from Hong Kui and Lan Kui but paid them no mind.

This was because Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan were also looking over due to curiosity.

He explained along the way: "The Descendants of Nüwa are the lineage of the Earth Mother Nüwa. There is only one in each generation, and they are all female, bearing the heavy mission of protecting all people on Earth. The God Race Shepherd, the Holy Maiden, is a Senior who is responsible for assisting the Descendants of Nüwa."

"Both of these individuals are figures worthy of respect, possessing great strength and unfathomable abilities."

"Since it was the Senior Holy Maiden who spoke, there should be no falsehood in it. Wan Yuzhi likely truly did not commit any truly heinous crimes."

Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan nodded.

"What else?" This time, the question came from Hong Kui.

Elder Brother Meng replied: "During this process, I unexpectedly learned some things about my own Legacy from the Holy Maiden, so I inquired with her in detail. Daojun is a title within my system of Legacy. Wan Yuzhi happened to overhear it and thus called me 'Daojun'."

Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and the others finally understood.

Just then, they arrived at the Inn, so the group ceased talking and entered to rest.

Elder Brother Meng returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, held the earth spirit pearl in both hands, merged his spirit with the Dao Embryo, and entered a state of enlightenment, which was vastly different from before.

Before, his enlightenment was like groping alone in the vast darkness.

Now, he saw a light in the darkness—that was the Earth Element Law contained within the earth spirit pearl.

Following that light of the Law, Elder Brother Meng quickly entered a state that was profound and ineffable.

Earth is the root of all things and possesses the ability to generate and develop.

It carries all things, occupies the center among the Five Elements, and assists in the balance of all things.

Earth corresponds to Kun and Gen, representing the ordinary, the masses...

After an unknown amount of time, a knock on the door startled Elder Brother Meng, pulling him out of his enlightenment state.

Elder Brother Meng put away the earth spirit pearl, glanced out the window, and saw that it was already dawn. He figured it was time to set off for Fengdu.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and walked to the door to open it. He saw Hong Kui, Lan Kui, Jing Tian, Xu Changqing, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan all present and with their luggage packed, confirming his guess.

"Elder Brother Meng, we are about to depart," Lan Kui said with a smile.

Elder Brother Meng nodded, went out, and joined them to check out.

However, after a short while, Elder Brother Meng noticed things were a bit strange.

Tang Xuejian was not bickering with Jing Tian as usual; instead, she began subtly targeting Xu Changqing.

Once they left Anning Village and the group prepared to fly to Fengdu, Tang Xuejian even initiated gender-based grouping.

"You men group together, and we women group together."

"What are you doing?" Jing Tian was completely confused by Tang Xuejian's maneuver, then complained: "We don't mind. I'll take Mao Mao, and Elder Brother Meng and White Tofu can fly on their own. You can't ride swords, so if we follow your plan, won't you have to go with Hong Kui and Lan Kui?"

"Although you girls are slender, isn't it too crowded for three people to share one sword?"

Tang Xuejian froze.

She really hadn't considered this problem.

But in an instant, she retorted: "We don't have to ride swords; we can ride the Flying Tiger Jade Beast instead."

Unexpectedly, Hong Kui directly undermined her: "I don't know how to command the Flying Tiger Jade Beast."

This was the truth, and also a retort to Tang Xuejian.

Hong Kui didn't know why Tang Xuejian's mood had suddenly shifted to act willfully, but this behavior was clearly antagonistic toward Jing Tian, dragging Elder Brother Meng into it as well.

If it were Lan Kui, facing Tang Xuejian's unreasonable pestering, she might have just let it go.

After all, her nature was delicate.

But Hong Kui had a strong personality and was somewhat annoyed by Tang Xuejian's constant opposition to Jing Tian, so she certainly wouldn't let it slide.

The dignified Eldest Miss of the Tang Family?

She was a princess!

Seeing Hong Kui undermine her, Tang Xuejian's expression stiffened, and she looked toward Lan Kui.

Who knew that Lan Kui immediately took out the Flying Tiger jade pendant and handed it to Elder Brother Meng: "Elder Brother Meng, I'm returning the jade pendant to you."

Tang Xuejian: "..."

Lan Kui doing this wasn't to undermine Tang Xuejian; it was because the Flying Tiger jade pendant originally belonged to Elder Brother Meng. Elder Brother Meng had given it to her before for protection. Now that Elder Brother Meng was present and it might be needed, she naturally had to return it.

Elder Brother Meng smiled slightly: "No need, keep it for protection and transport."

Saying that, he condensed a spark of spiritual light and dotted it onto Lan Kui's forehead: "This is the method of command."

Seeing Elder Brother Meng do this, Lan Kui was both surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Elder Brother Meng."

Hong Kui, seeing this, lightly pursed her red lips, harboring a faint trace of envy, but she quickly thought of her Jade Waist Bow, realizing she and Lan Kui were one entity, and felt relieved.

Tang Xuejian also felt a pang of envy.

She had witnessed the power of the Flying Tiger Jade Beast before; in Pili Hall, with just a slight flap of its wings, it had severely wounded Luo Rulie, and it could carry people while being kept close. Such a miraculous Magic Treasure, and Lan Kui received it just like that; it would be strange if she weren't envious.

After Lan Kui absorbed the method of command, she immediately cast the spell to transform the jade pendant into the Flying Tiger Jade Beast, looking around excitedly and curiously, like a little girl who had gotten a new toy.

Hong Kui also examined it carefully.

After looking, they sat on the tiger's back one after the other.

Then, Lan Kui beckoned to Tang Xuejian: "Sister Xue Jian, come up. Didn't you say we were one group?"

"Okay." Tang Xuejian snapped back to reality, agreed, then glanced sideways at Xu Changqing and lifted her chin at Jing Tian before sitting on the tiger's back.

Once she was seated, Lan Kui immediately commanded the Flying Tiger Jade Beast to take off.

Regarding Tang Xuejian's behavior, Xu Changqing frowned. Yesterday at dinner, she had already started showing displeasure toward him. At first, he thought he had done something inappropriate that offended Tang Xuejian and tried asking, but he couldn't get a clear answer and just felt it was inexplicable.

Fortunately, Tang Xuejian was only being sarcastic and didn't affect the mission, so he didn't dwell on it.

Jing Tian couldn't help but complain: "What's so great about that? She's still relying on my sister to fly."

Elder Brother Meng, combining the situation, vaguely guessed the reason for Tang Xuejian's sudden change in attitude, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he transformed into a streak of light and followed Lan Kui and the others by riding a cloud.

Jing Tian and Xu Changqing followed one after the other.

In a short while, the group ascended into the clouds, heading toward Fengdu...