Chapter 321 - Second Visit to the Burg of the Feral Phoenix (2/2)

Xiao Chen and the group had flown more than several hundred miles away by now. The second month of the year saw the melting of the ice and snow and the blossoming of warmth and flowers. It was verdant in many places. Everyone was at peace watching the mountains and creeks beneath and feeling the spring wind. How beautiful these mountains and rivers were! How could they allow the Devil Clan to turn this place into purgatory?

Yu Yifeng chuckled. “That reminds me. Junior Brother Xiao Chen, Senior Brother Xu Gu, Fairy Xiaoyue, this is our second time heading somewhere together, is it not?”

The four of them were also in the group heading to the Wuwang Wind Cloud City last time. Xiaoyue sat delicately on the corner of the Flying-cloud Stone with her clothes and hair fluttering in the air, looking like a fairy in the human world. She smiled but didn’t reply.

Xu Gu put his palms together and said, “Of the countless paths in this world, everything boils down to fate. Considering our destiny, why don’t you reconsider, Benefactor Xiao? Study the Dharma with me at my temple and distance yourself from the hardships of the secular world…”

Xiao Chen faked a laugh. “Ah, what a lovely day…”

“You must be joking, Benefactor Xiao. The way I see it, it’s going to rain soon…”

The horizon shifted uncertainly from an expanse of dark clouds to an expanse of clear sky. Zhiluan, still sulking over being forced on this trip, lay lazily on the straw mat and said nonchalantly, “It’s not a bad idea for you to shave your head and become a monk, kid, lest you break the hearts of girls everywhere.”

He suddenly leaped up and put his claws together the way a human would. “Amitabha. Well done, well done. The way this great Immortal sees it, this is considered an act of virtue, an act of…”

Xu Gu nodded, smiling. “Benefactor Zhi is right. It looks like you’re fated with Buddhism as well. Why don’t you come with me…?”

“Meow!” Zhiluan immediately hid behind Ziyun’er. “I’m not becoming a monk!”

Xiao Chen shook his head with a wry smile. Suddenly, he remembered the strange expressions of those from the Wuyin Monastery whenever the name Xiao Ning was mentioned. He said, “By the way, Senior Brother Xu Gu, I have a question for you.”

Xu Gu put his palms together. “Feel free to ask, Benefactor Xiao.”

“Senior Brother Xu Gu, have you heard of Xiao Ning?”

The moment he mentioned the name, the Frigid Jade Pendant resting on his chest shuddered. Xu Gu’s expression also turned strange. He put his palms together and began reciting scripture under his breath over and over.

This confused Xiao Chen immensely but he didn’t find it appropriate for him to continue questioning. When he looked at the others, he noticed that while they looked tranquil, they must have a lot on their minds as well.

Qi Feng, the eldest disciple of Senior Xingxiu of the White Mist Academy in West Continent, looked about twenty years old but his true age was unknown. Xiao Chen’s late return meant that he wasn’t able to witness Qi Feng fighting his way into the top twenty of the competition but he had heard from Xian’er that Qi Feng was capable of some truly splendid magic spells. His spells could summon the wind and lightning. It was as if there wasn’t anything he wasn’t capable of.

Qin Shaoyang and Liu Feiyan of Xianyong Sect, as well as Han Moyang of the Order of the Countless Blades, were familiar faces to Xiao Chen. Seated on the straw mat, the three of them were engrossed in a quiet conversation.

There was another one in the group that caught Xiao Chen’s attention: Zhong Buhui of the Yin-Yang Sect in the North Continent. Zhong Buhui was a sullen-looking man at the age of 23 or 24 who didn’t like conversing with others. Since the beginning of the trip, he leaned against a boulder all by himself. He placed a leaf by his lip to produce a melancholic song. Though the song was desolate, it didn’t carry a hint of regret. Whoever listened to it would feel an indescribable feeling of sorrow.

Of course, there were another two that Xiao Chen had been noticing all along: Ling Fei of the Ling family and Wan Yanyan of the Order of the Divine Fire. The two of them sat close together. It went without saying that Ling Fei looked vicious, while Wan Yanyan was holding a grudge against Xiao Chen for ruining his plans.

The last of them was the disciple of the Third Elder of the Immortals’ League, Bai Yushu. With a face as elegant as a piece of jade and a jade ornament decorating his hair, Bai Yushu looked like he was in his early twenties even though his real age was unknown. Even though he was the disciple of the strict, red-robed Elder, he was mild-mannered and handsome. Quite a few junior sisters harbored a crush on him. It was even rumored that many female disciples from other sects deliberately participated in the Immortal’s Sword Assembly to see him.

Even on this perilous trip to the Abyss of Devil’s Aura, he didn’t forget to bring books with him. He read his books quietly in a corner, unperturbed by the world around him.

Time gradually slipped out of their hands. Since they were riding the fastest Flying-cloud Stone in the Immortals’ League, it took them about three days to reach the Burg of the Feral Phoenix. The citizens immediately dashed out of their houses with their children upon their arrival to the City Master’s Manor, forgetting to even lock their doors.

Folks that were working hard in the shops abandoned their tasks and ran over. Within minutes, the City Master’s Manor was surrounded by so many people that not even a fly could enter. The crowd immediately looked disappointed when they saw eighteen youngsters stepping off the Flying-cloud Stone and sounds of lament resounded all around.

“What’s going on? Why did they just send some kids?”

“What can these kids do when even the Three Friends of Winter were left helpless? Is the Daoist League of the Five Continents really abandoning us to our fate…?”

The citizens had no idea just how powerful these youngsters were. Xiao Chen, Su Zimu, and the rest naturally wouldn’t take their opinions to heart, but Ling Fei and Wan Yanyan were both frowning in annoyance.