The snow kept falling heavier, turning the world outside the Flying Boat into a vast expanse of white.
Yet Ji Feixue insisted on not flying above the clouds, keeping the Flying Boat suspended just thirty feet in the air, its bottom grazing the tips of the bamboo as it passed.
Bamboo groves clustered together, swaying like waves in the wind, resembling a tumultuous sea when viewed from above.
The Flying Boat slowed down, and Ji Feixue seemed to fall into a reverie as she gazed at the bamboo forest.
The Three Phases Monk clasped and then opened his hands, looking eagerly in the direction of Changyue Manor. Just as he was about to suggest speeding up, a glance from Ji Feixue silenced him.
He looked sullenly at Su He, who shrank back into his shell, helpless. Although Su Huanian was clear and frosty, he could still persuade her, and she would listen to him.
But Ji Feixue was a different story altogether.
The Three Phases Monk sighed, sat cross-legged next to Su He, and took out a wooden fish from his belt, starting to strike it rhythmically.
The wooden fish was transparent, made of crystal. Inside, a red flame burned, and within it, Yuan Yi Monk sat in a lotus position, hands joined in prayer, struggling to keep the flames at bay.
He had maintained a delicate balance with the flames, but the moment the Three Phases Monk struck the wooden fish, Yuan Yi Monk screamed and fell into the fire.
Each strike of the wooden fish was like a descent into hell for him, worse than death!
The sound of the wooden fish brought flames that peeled away his flesh. When the sound ceased, his flesh writhed and healed, only for the sound to strike again.
An endless punishment!
The Three Phases Monk, barefoot and shirtless, his muscles knotted, was surrounded by red flames. The small wooden fish in his hand seemed like a child’s toy, fragile enough to break if not handled carefully.
The monk’s appearance was dignified, a picture of a high monk in meditation, his left hand swiftly turning prayer beads, his right hand striking the wooden fish like raindrops. With each strike, he turned a bead and chanted a sutra.
“I’ll beat you to death, you bald donkey, you thief from the village, may the thunder of the heavens strike you dead…”
After half an hour flying over the bamboo sea, the Three Phases Monk cursed without repeating a single insult. At first, Su He thought he was venting, but then he noticed that with every curse, Yuan Yi Monk would roll on the ground clutching his bald head, as if struck by divine power.
Su He narrowed his eyes, his true essence circulating in his eyes and ears, and looked towards the Three Phases Monk. But suddenly, everything went dark, and he heard Ji Feixue’s teasing voice: “Little husband, you’re quite brave, daring to rush into the Three Phases Monk’s sutras?”
As the darkness dissipated, he saw Ji Feixue and Su Huanian both looking at him, Ji Feixue smiling sweetly: “Live well, don’t court death.”
The Three Phases Monk, with muscles that actually surpassed the understanding of the Buddha’s teachings of the ancient Jingzhai monks, even the previous abbot admitted inferiority, not to mention the current generation.
In his presence, all laws were the Buddha’s teachings, laughter and scolding, love between men and women, murder and arson… Where was there not the compassion of Buddha?
The Three Phases Monk’s sutras were as he wished, the meaning was in the heart, not the voice.
The Flying Boat flew higher and higher amidst the Three Phases Monk’s cursing that sounded like chanting, yet it still did not break through the clouds.
Crossing the bamboo forest and leaving Dongyun Mountain, they had not yet reached Changyue Manor. Below, a surge of blood rose to the sky. After a heavy autumn rain, the hard-earned grain of the people had sprouted, which was a minor issue, but the real problem was the rotting piles.
Some kingdoms had emperors who led by example, reducing their own consumption, exempting taxes, opening granaries, and sharing the disaster with the nation. Yet there were others who truly courted death, not caring for the lives of the people.
There were even officials who entered the homes of the people, forcibly seizing their stored grain, insisting that people could die but taxes must not be interrupted.
People will resist!
In autumn, there was still food to eat, so chaos was avoided, but now in winter, most people couldn’t even find grass roots to eat.
Below the Flying Boat was a battlefield, one side no more than bandits resembling refugees, barely wielding real weapons, the other a true army.
Yet, paradoxically, the refugees fought more fiercely, and the army was losing ground.
Behind the army, a flying sword rose, aiming to kill the refugees, but with a glance from Ji Feixue, the sword rider suddenly turned into a rainbow light and disappeared, leaving only a scream behind.
Su He turned his head and looked at Ji Feixue: “Why don’t the various powers unite the realms of cultivation and mortals like the Fenghuang Great World?”
It would be too easy for cultivators to rule the mortal world, but few sects seemed to do so. Even if they participated, it was usually in secret support, rarely directly involved.
Ji Feixue looked at the falling snow, tapping her feet, and smiled sweetly: “Little husband, people seek different things. Emperors want to rule the world for generations, cultivators seek immortality and to ride swords through the sky. Each sect seeks disciples with extraordinary talents.”
She turned to look at Su He: “Little husband, guess, does a world in constant turmoil produce more astonishing talents, or does a stable region produce more monsters?”
I won’t guess!
Su He fell silent for a moment, and beside him, the Three Phases Monk struck the last note on his wooden fish, put it away, and turned to Su He: “Our Qianjiang War Cultivator was once a general of a nation. He has experienced all the splendors of the world. Indulging in pleasures, lingering in brothels, marrying princesses, conquering mountains and rivers, strategizing over the land…
His nation has prospered and declined, he has fought and won battles, tasted the finest of the mortal world, and also drunk the urine of beasts, struggled, fought valiantly, experienced the utmost carnage on the battlefield, survived life and death, yet failed to save his nation. His country fell, his family was lost, and he even attempted to assassinate the new king, became a bandit, started rebellions…”
“With his talent, he should have struggled even to reach the Subdue Demons Realm, but now he stands in the sixth layer of the Traverse Heaven Realm, unmatched in combat! Without such mortal experiences, how could he have reached this point?”
Su He knew about the War Cultivator, having specifically asked Orient Loong God about him, as it was Orient Loong God who found the Martial God Path for Ya Ya, he couldn’t ignore it.
To be able to fight against Orient Loong God with a cultivator’s body—even if he was pressed to the ground within three moves, it was a symbol of strength.
Not everyone could last two moves against Orient Loong God. Even an ordinary Traverse Heaven seventh layer couldn’t do it! Let alone a War Cultivator who was only at the sixth layer of Traverse Heaven.
The gap between truly top cultivators was far greater than that between those at the bottom. The difference between one Traverse Heaven seventh layer and another was no smaller than that between a Divine Beast and a wild dog.
The Flying Boat descended, and outside Changyue Manor, the Jiaoren were already waiting to greet them.
Today, the lord and lady were bringing guests home, and the Jiaoren could not afford to be rude.
Welcoming the guests into the manor, on the big tree at the gate, the Barbarian King sat astride his giant panda, his huge axe resting on his shoulder, scrutinizing the entering crowd.
The Three Phases Monk stopped in surprise and looked at the puppet: “Spirit?”
After a moment, he shook his head: “No, it’s just a wooden carving, but it has a bit of the essence of a spirit. Who created this masterpiece?”
Su He smiled: “I bought it casually in Taiyue City, without paying much attention.”
Spirits are naturally occurring beings of heaven and earth, even once called gods. Water has its water god, mountains have their mountain gods. The mountain soul is closely related to the mountain god.
Unexpectedly, in the eyes of the great Three Phases Monk, this wooden puppet had a bit of the essence of a spirit.
“When I have the chance, I should meet this fellow daoist who sells puppets,” said the Three Phases Monk, chanting Amitabha. Following Su He into the water mansion, he sat for a moment before looking eagerly at Su He. Dragon Min bowed and presented a jade pendant.
The Three Phases Monk’s breath tightened, he rubbed his hands together, wiped them on his pants, and then shakily took the jade pendant.
At the same time, he handed a bright pearl to Dragon Min, expressing his gratitude: “Thank you, fellow daoist, for your help. This pearl is a Jiaozhu I won from a bet with a Traverse Heaven Realm Jiaoren, containing its Dao essence, which should be somewhat helpful to you.”
Dragon Min was taken aback, not daring to accept it. She had only danced the shamanic dance at the altar because she was following the orders of her god, not to receive a favor from this master.
She dared not accept it nor refuse it, and turned to look at Su He.
A glint of amusement flashed in Su He’s eyes, and he nodded. A single Jiaozhu was not precious in his eyes.
Dragon Min immediately rejoiced, bowed in thanks, and accepted it. Seeing the monk’s eagerness to look at the jade pendant, those with insight bowed and retreated.
“South Ming’s old jade pendant, damn, I owe a big favor. I’m afraid I’ll have to offer my body to repay it?”
The Three Phases Monk held the jade pendant and muttered to himself: “Maybe I should just kill him one day, then I won’t owe him anything.”
As he mumbled, he touched the jade pendant, and from within it, Qianqianzi’s soul floated out. Landing, she opened her eyes: “Thank you, Three Phases…”
She was about to bow in gratitude, but upon seeing the red flames burning around the Three Phases Monk and his appearance restored to that of a thirty-year-old, she was stunned.
He had overexerted himself!
The Three Phases Monk’s cultivation was special; only by pushing his true essence to the limit could he restore his appearance. The red flames around him were the result of his true essence dissipating, and Qianqianzi felt a sudden tug at her heart.
Su He’s eyes lit up, sensing drama.
He quietly slipped away, passing by Ji Feixue and Su Huanian, who, with a tacit understanding, both landed on his shell.
Snowflakes fell on the surface of the autumn lake, melting into the water. Looking up from beneath the water, the whole world was a blanket of white, the pure world rippling with the lake’s movements.
A dragon, a turtle, and a person all remained silent, quietly watching the snow and wind on the water’s surface.
At Dongyun Mountain, the battlefield, a hearty laugh rang out, and space was split open by a chain, a man emerged riding a sword, his left hand dragging the corpse of a Fenghuang Palace cultivator, his right hand swinging his iron chain.
This was a unique technique of Xuantian Gate, capable of extracting the iron chains of Fenghuang Palace members and condensing them into real objects, with extraordinary uses.
As he emerged, he looked around: “Eh? Has the battle between the Three Phases Monk and the little Dragon Turtle friend not ended yet?”
Unexpectedly, he was the quickest! A sense of pride welled up in him, only to hear a voice above his head: “No, they finished long ago, one immersed in the bliss of others, one anxious for the dreamer, and they both forgot about you.”
The middle-aged man from Xuantian Gate: “…”
He opened his mouth, feeling a lump in his throat, and looked up at the huge dragon turtle floating above him.
“Did Elder Orient Loong come for young friend Su He?”
There was only one Traverse Heaven third layer cultivator from Fenghuang Palace in that underground palace, right? Did the little Dragon Turtle actually call for backup?
After all, he’s still young, and despite being evenly matched in strength, he still lacks experience.
Orient Loong shook his head and raised his dragon head to look into the distance.
His gaze was lost.
Your Su He doesn’t need me, he’s got a wife now.
I’m just sticking around here, waiting to see when that rascal will remember that he has an uncle who crossed several great worlds to save him. It’s fine if he doesn’t meet me, but he didn’t even say thank you!
Above the autumn lake, Su He shivered slightly: “I have a sense of crisis, have I forgotten something?”
Ji Feixue giggled: “Little husband, don’t overthink it. At our realm, there are only things we don’t want to remember, nothing we would inadvertently forget.”
Su He’s face was lined with black.
From underwater, the Three Phases Monk’s voice transmitted: “Young friend Su He, rest assured, I have a clone left at Dongyun Mountain. When Qu Xing daoist returns, I will personally thank him and present a generous gift. If not for Qu Xing daoist’s battle today, I would have had a hard time.”
A fairy in front, and you still have time to listen to our idle talk, Master?
“Master, please thank Qu Xing daoist on my behalf.”
Qu Xing came to guard the two realms’ battlefield for Su He’s sake, and Su He should show his appreciation.
Within the Mountain and Sea Mystic Realm, Su He’s consciousness let out a long howl towards Orient Loong.
“Thank you, Uncle Lei, for saving me, remember to come earlier next time!”
I won’t give you a bad review this time since you weren’t as quick as my wife.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky of the Mountain and Sea Realm, flipping Su He over and leaving him convulsing on the ground for a long time, unable to recover.
Beside him, Frost Turtle’s eyes held a hint of amusement as she nodded towards Orient Loong, sending a star decree.
“Thank you, Uncle, for the trouble!”
It was the first time she experienced the feeling of calling for backup, and there was a different feeling in her heart.
Su He’s consciousness fell silent, and she immediately sought help from Orient Loong. She had just called for backup and then encountered Ji Feixue.
This woman must have been paying attention to Su He’s battle all along.
“What’s going on with Ji Feixue?” Orient Loong’s voice transmitted back.
The dignified Ji Feixue calling him a little turtle husband, her expression seemed serious, not playful!
Frost Turtle shook her head slightly.
Orient Loong fell silent for a moment, his voice solemn: “No matter who she is, if you feel wronged, just tell the elders of the clan, and we will bear the burden of any big issues for you!”
Even without considering Su He’s relationship, with Ya Ya there, Su Huanian was forever a member of the Dragon Turtle clan.
Frost Turtle bowed her head…
…
Six hundred thousand miles east of Changyue Manor was the former Yuan Mountain Stronghold, now the Orient Loong Stronghold.
At this moment, the stronghold was more than twice as large as it was three months ago, but only about ten people were left to guard it, and the rest of the mountain bandits were nowhere to be found.
The ten or so people guarding the stronghold all looked down the mountain with a mix of excitement and worry.
Following their gaze, in a place they couldn’t see, amidst the snowstorm, was a large city.
Outside the city, a group of well-equipped bandits surrounded the western gate, ready to attack.
Below the city walls, Ya Ya rode a white tiger, which roared at the city gates.Atop the city gates, a figure floated up, gazing down at the bandits below with an icy expression: “Su, the head of the household, each territory has its own rules. For the past three months, you’ve subdued many strongholds—that’s your business as bandits, and Changfeng City has no jurisdiction over it.”
“You do your banditry, and I’ll be my city lord. We don’t interfere with each other. If you wish to return the wealth to the common folk, that’s because of your kind heart, Su. But to kill my yamen runners and lead a bunch of peasants in resisting taxes, isn’t that going too far?”
“Bullshit!” The toad that had just arrived on the flying boat immediately cursed upon landing: “I, from the Orient Loong God Stronghold, have conquered many strongholds over three months and returned the wealth. Was it for you to tax them? How dare you demand seventy percent from the commoners? That’s one thing, but this year’s disaster has already forced the common folk to spend their wealth on food. You can’t collect taxes, so you capture people? If you don’t release them today, I, the toad, will flatten your Changfeng City!”
Are you capturing people? Those are the hearts of the people that Orient Loong God Stronghold has painstakingly won over!
This grandson has taken away those who are loyal to Orient Loong God Stronghold!
This is unbearable! If it weren’t for Dragon Turtle needing it, I would have killed This Turtle long ago.
The old man looked at the toad, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
Here comes the toad again!
This is an Exotic Beast! Definitely the legendary Exotic Beast! He often went to Taiyue City, where he saw more cultivators and had seen someone with a canine Exotic Beast.
An Exotic Beast that can speak is especially rare!
He had been observing for several months, and this Exotic Beast had never entered the Sense Realm of This Turtle or Green Snake, which meant it hadn’t been subdued by the two demons, and he still had a chance!
If he could obtain the Exotic Beast, he might be able to advance further, reaching the sixth step of the Demon Subduing Realm, or even catch a glimpse of the legendary Traverse Heaven Realm!
As long as he kills Little Turtle and that Green Snake…
His gaze swept over Green Snake’s figure, a hint of greed in his eyes. The Green Snake could be spared!
As long as he deals with them, the Exotic Beast would be his!
He looked down at the bandits swarming below the city walls, a cold smile on his lips: “The three mountains and fifteen counties outside Changfeng City have always been under its protection. Isn’t paying taxes a matter of course? A few treacherous troublemakers, not killing them is already merciful and just!”
If it weren’t for the abundant Cloud Spirit Grass here, which is extremely special and cannot be approached by cultivators before harvesting, as their presence would ruin the grass, would he care about the lives of mortals?
Riding on a tiger, the girl looked up at the old man, wanting to knock him down, but she couldn’t.
The old man’s cultivation level was not low.
Originally a third-grade Martial God, equivalent to the early stage of the Demon Subduing Realm, she transformed into Dragon Turtle and her combat power soared. But she had just stabilized her realm bead, and among the Dragon Turtle clan, she was truly an infant, capable of fighting up to the fifth step of the Demon Subduing Realm was already her limit.
She wasn’t Su He, without any cheats, relying solely on her own cultivation, she couldn’t progress quickly.
She had been fighting with the old man for three days. The old man could stop her, and there were still cultivators in the city, not something the bandits could breach.
Auntie Green is so dumb, she doesn’t even know how to fight!
A trace of a smile appeared on the old man’s face: “Little Mother Turtle, three days have passed, the Formation in my city has been activated. I advise you to leave behind the Green Snake and the Exotic Beast and withdraw early! You couldn’t do anything to us three days ago, and now you still delude yourself with thoughts of breaching the city?”
Daydreaming! Do you think my clan’s eight hundred years of guarding Changfeng City is a game?
A large city guarded by a cultivator family, is it something two demons can just attack as they please?
Merely demons, nothing more than lost souls and wandering spirits, wild beasts that happened to obtain the Demon Morphing Fruit, how could they understand what a family is, what power is?!
Their family has been operating for nearly a thousand years, with him at the Demon Subduing level, and hundreds more who have Transcended Mortality. How could two demons possibly imagine that?
These two demons probably haven’t even seen the true face of the cultivation world and have presumptuously come knocking, simply courting death!
“Pah!” The toad spat, if it weren’t for fear of harming the commoners in the city, I would have blasted you to death with one shot!
Dare you fly a little higher!
“Need to call your daddy?” The toad moved closer to the girl.
The girl rolled her eyes at it. She was the one who wanted to be the Empress, not her father!
How could she always turn to her father for everything?
She raised her hand and waved it backward: “Retreat!”
The bandits surrounding Changfeng City began to withdraw slowly. Though chaotic, they were not panicked, with the rear guard becoming the vanguard, trotting away.
Changfeng City was not far from the town, and even if they marched until dark, everyone would have returned.
In the town, the commoners who had lost family members looked forward with anticipation.
They were overjoyed at the return of the people, but when they didn’t see their loved ones among them, they were disappointed again.
But the disappointment lasted only a moment before they immediately brought out hot soup to welcome the bandits.
The bandits did not return to Orient Loong God Stronghold but camped outside the town.
As soon as they were settled, the girl reached out her hand to the toad.
The toad was puzzled.
“Lend me the little flying boat, I’m going to call for reinforcements!”
Comparing forces, comparing troops?
Who’s afraid? I am the Exotic Beast Empress!