Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy 10 chapters and thank you for your support this year!
Tang Muxi and her companions arrived at the banquet when the sky was already dark.
By the time they left the Exquisite Delicacies House, it was already late at night.
Qixuan is a large city, bustling and lively.
Even past midnight, some shops still had their lights on.
The cold wind blew gently, and large red lanterns hung high, casting warm light through the paper with the character for “fortune,” reminding people that the New Year was just days away.
Cultivators have long lifespans and a different sense of time compared to ordinary people.
They often spend years in seclusion, so they don’t pay much attention to such festivals.
Only in places like the Nine Evil Hall, where mortals and cultivators live together, can you see lanterns in the twelfth lunar month.
Wen Fei, who spent most of her time in the demon realm, rarely saw such things.
She glanced at the upside-down “fortune” character on the square red paper and couldn’t help but wonder, “Who is so careless that they didn’t notice the character is upside down?”
Her voice was very soft, like an unconscious murmur, but Zhou Qin was close to her, and with the keen hearing of a cultivator, she naturally didn’t miss this question.
Zhou Qin wasn’t the type to enjoy teaching others.
If someone else had asked, she wouldn’t have bothered to respond.
But Wen Fei was different; she was Tang Muxi’s master and cared deeply for her disciple.
This strong bond often reminded Zhou Qin of her own former master, stirring up inexplicable irritation and chaos in her heart.
Seeing that Wen Fei didn’t even know such common knowledge, Zhou Qin couldn’t help but mock, “Mortals like auspicious things.
The upside-down ‘fortune’ character sounds like ‘fortune arrives,’ a custom to pray for smooth sailing.
I didn’t expect that even a senior like you, who continues the tradition of your sect, wouldn’t know such common knowledge.
Truly admirable.”
Her sarcastic tone was infuriating.
There’s no denying that Zhou Qin was unmatched in provoking anger.
A casual remark could hit Wen Fei right in the heart, instantly making the usually good-tempered Wen Fei angry.
But since what Zhou Qin said wasn’t untrue, and Wen Fei was someone who cared about her reputation, she didn’t get angry despite her face burning with embarrassment.
She snorted coldly and shook off Zhou Qin’s hand, “I’m not a saint; how could I be without doubts? It’s disappointing to see a princess being so rude.”
With that, Wen Fei stormed off, no longer keeping a close watch on Zhou Qin like she did at the banquet.
To prevent her from escaping, Wen Fei had held her wrist throughout the banquet, only letting go now.
Wen Fei was from the Qingluan demon clan, guarding the Qiluo Green Lotus for years and often accompanying the cold pool, making her blood cooler than that of ordinary demons or spiritual cultivators.
She wasn’t tall, and her hands were of average size, but when they covered Zhou Qin’s wrist, they felt like a clear, cold spring, carrying a refreshing chill.
Zhou Qin was sensitive to the cold and usually had to use spiritual energy to keep warm.
Being held by Wen Fei, no matter how she circulated her spiritual power, there was always a trace of coolness in her meridians.
Now that Wen Fei had left in a huff, her body finally warmed up.
But for some reason, there was no comfort, only a lingering restlessness in her heart.
Zhou Qin looked ahead, focusing her gaze on Wen Fei’s slender figure, and the agitation in her heart eased a bit.
Clearly, she was nothing like her master, yet she was like a firefly, drawing people in.
Zhou Qin felt she was quite unwell, finding solace in the presence of someone else’s master on the street.
She wanted to step forward and apologize, but before she could take a step, someone called out to her from behind.
“Princess.”
It was Wen Mingyu, the master of the Treasure Pavilion and the daughter of the Western Demon King.
Zhou Qin knew of her noble status and that she would provide strong support when entering Panlong City, so she couldn’t be negligent.
She glanced deeply at the already distant Wen Fei, suppressed the irritation in her heart, and nodded in response, “What brings the Pavilion Master here?”
Wen Mingyu, seeing that Zhou Qin didn’t put on airs as a princess, felt somewhat relieved and approached with a smile, “I heard from my junior sister that the princess once entered and exited the city before the Panlong blockade.
I came to inquire about how to break the blockade formation.”
Zhou Qin understood, “The Pavilion Master is mistaken.
I don’t have the ability to break the formation.
I was just lucky enough to occasionally find a way to enter the city unnoticed.”
“The city-sealing formation was personally created by my mother, using a peculiar stone seal as the formation’s core.
The stone seal’s power is unfathomable, and even my floating dust umbrella can’t counter it.”
At this point, she paused for a moment.
Remembering the bow that could transform, she thought it might be able to contend with the formation’s power.
“Therefore, it can’t be overcome by force, only by strategy.”
Wen Mingyu was curious, “How do you strategize?”
Zhou Qin replied, “With the Guiyi Order.
As far as I know, the formation my mother set up isn’t completely sealed.
To allow some nobles to leave, she left a gap.
Holding the Guiyi Order allows one to enter and exit the formation, but the core is in my mother’s hands.
Any entry or exit will surely alert her, stirring up trouble.
Therefore, some tactics are needed.
The floating dust umbrella is weak in attack but is known for confusing the mind and concealing one’s presence.
With its help, one can enter Panlong unnoticed.”
Wen Mingyu nodded repeatedly after hearing this, unable to help but praise, “A brilliant plan.
But I suppose the Guiyi Order is no longer in the princess’s hands?”
Zhou Qin was surprised, not expecting her to think so quickly.
If she had the Guiyi Order, she wouldn’t have gone to great lengths to kidnap the junior sister; she could have found a way to enter the capital alone.
“Indeed, I was confined to the Qixuan Palace by my mother, so I naturally don’t have the Guiyi Order.” She smiled and added, “But it can be taken from someone else.
It depends on how determined the Pavilion Master is and whether she’s willing to risk it all.”
“Risk it all…” Wen Mingyu shook the black fan in her hand, her expression somewhat indifferent, “The princess is quite the joker.
My Treasure Pavilion never engages in business with a high risk of death.
If we want to obtain something, it must be foolproof and allow us to retreat safely.”
“That’s good.
Since the Pavilion Master has already made up her mind, I won’t keep you in suspense.
The only Guiyi Order near the capital is in the hands of Cheng Ze, the lord of Qixuan City.
It was he who was ordered by my mother to take me away from Panlong!”
A fierce light flashed in Wen Mingyu’s eyes.
She hadn’t expected him to have a way into the city.
Just a few days ago, she had sent people from the Treasure Pavilion to secretly inquire with Cheng Ze, offering a large number of precious spiritual plants and magical talismans, but received nothing in return.
According to her subordinates, Cheng Ze had personally said he knew little about the city-sealing and was helpless.
So he was playing her for a fool!
“Hmph! If that’s the case, since we can’t avoid a confrontation with the city lord, we might as well act early and finish it quickly.” The capital had been sealed for a long time, and delaying further might endanger her subordinates in the pavilion.
Wen Mingyu was now full of anger.
“Indeed, recently Cheng Ze has been mobilizing the city’s defenses to capture me, leaving the inside vulnerable.
It’s the perfect time to strike! A surprise attack now will surely catch them off guard.
The Pavilion Master should plan quickly and not delay the grand plan.” Zhou Qin had been confined in Qixuan for over a month, and when she left, the capital was already plagued by demons.
She didn’t know the current situation.
And her father, who had fallen ill since her mother’s birthday, might be in danger without her care.
“I understand.”
The two discussed some details about seizing the Guiyi Order and, seeing the sky darken and the remaining city lights almost gone, they paused their discussion.
“Would the princess like to stay at the Tianci Pavilion?” Wen Mingyu asked again before parting.
Zhou Qin hesitated for a moment but shook her head, “No, the Tianci Pavilion is too conspicuous.
I’m still wanted, and being so reckless might expose my identity.”
Wen Mingyu thought about it and agreed, so she didn’t insist.
Remembering the friction between Zhou Qin and her aunt, she couldn’t help but add, “My aunt is stubborn and sometimes acts rigidly, but she has a kind heart.
If she offends you, please forgive her.”
After all, they would be working together, and she hoped they could get along.
Zhou Qin was slightly taken aback, lowered her eyes, and felt a strange emotion in her heart, “Don’t worry, Pavilion Master, it’s just minor squabbles, nothing serious.”
She had no ill intentions and was often drawn to Wen Fei.
Causing trouble wasn’t her intention, but the special feelings she had for the word “master” always influenced her decisions.
In the end, she was unconsciously merging the two.
“Rest assured, Pavilion Master, I’ll control myself.”
Wen Mingyu saw that she seemed to have taken it to heart and didn’t continue to be annoying, waving goodbye.
Stealing the Guiyi Order would inevitably lead to a confrontation with Cheng Ze.
If he reacted quickly, it might even attract the city’s guards.
Qixuan is a major city within the Nine Evil Hall, with nearly twenty cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage.
Although their strength varies due to magical tools and main cultivation techniques, their sheer number is enough to surpass most small and medium forces.
Taking the Guiyi Order from the city lord under such circumstances is no simple task.
Wen Mingyu pondered all night and shared her thoughts with everyone.
Although the city’s defenses are concentrated near the city gates, the City Lord’s mansion is somewhat relaxed.
However, if we can’t ensure a single, decisive strike to trap the City Lord in an illusion array, we might not be able to avoid leaking information and attracting a siege from a group of Nascent Soul cultivators.
I plan to first have the subordinates of the Treasure Pavilion in Qixuan City quietly disperse, and then wait for the second batch of demon domain reinforcements to arrive before taking action.
Currently, Lin Anjing and her group are the vanguard, with another team following behind.
Once they all arrive, they will have nearly twenty Nascent Soul cultivators, which should be enough to contend with Qixuan if absolutely necessary.
Not to mention, they also have the Imprisoning Demon Sword and the Illusion God, two powerful artifacts, which should not be underestimated.
Wen Fei frowned upon hearing this, “What about the city protection array? The City Lord’s strength far surpasses that of Feng Yuan and others.
We certainly can’t kill him instantly.
If he retaliates before dying, using the city protection array to attack…” It’s not unstoppable, but it would inevitably implicate the entire city.
“No worries,” Jiang Yin stepped forward to counter, “There’s still some time before the second team arrives, enough to find the array’s core.
We don’t need to destroy it, just make some modifications so it can’t be activated properly on the day of action.”
Wen Mingyu nodded, “I was thinking the same.
However, I’ll be busy coordinating personnel next, so I’ll have to trouble Aunt and Miss Jiang to search for the array.
If you need any help, just let me know.”
