Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Forty-Six

No wonder they traveled thousands of miles to bring a diviner into the foreign city. Immortals had their spiritual power sealed here, unable to sense the spiritual qi of the phoenix tree's heart, but diviners could calculate locations using similar objects—the more powerful the diviner, the more accurate the results. The phoenix tree was a sacred relic of Phoenix Island. It must have taken Yunxiao considerable effort to obtain this withered branch.

"Daoist Bai?" Nan Wan stared at Bai Shuo, his voice lowering slightly, impatience already evident in his eyes.

"Your Highness, please don't rush. This humble Daoist will now divine the location of the phoenix tree's heart for you." Bai Shuo cradled the withered branch as a faint wisp of spiritual qi rose from it. She closed her eyes, murmuring incantations in a mystical manner, and the qi slowly drifted into the spiritual platform between her brows—

What kind of divination method was this?

Mingxin frowned in confusion. Couldn't this Daoist read his fate at a glance? Could she really locate the phoenix tree's heart by channeling spiritual qi into her spiritual platform? This looked more like the tricks of a Jianghu charlatan.

Within Bai Shuo's divine sense and spiritual platform, two tattered turtle shells slowly rotated under the guidance of the phoenix tree's qi.

The moment they entered the foreign city, Bai Shuo had seized the chance to hide the turtle shells in her spiritual platform. She knew nothing about divination—she relied entirely on Old Black's two broken shells, which anyone with spiritual power could use. If Nan Wan discovered this secret, the three of them would likely be thrown out by Yunxiao's people, probably with a few kicks for good measure.

The turtle shells in her spiritual platform stopped rotating, faintly revealing three characters. At the same time, the spiritual qi in the withered branch in Bai Shuo's hand was exhausted, and the branch turned to dust.

Nan Wan's expression darkened, but before he could speak, Bai Shuo opened her eyes and looked at him. "Your Highness, I've found it."

Nan Wan's face lit up with joy as he grabbed Bai Shuo's wrist. "Where?"

A bruise instantly formed on Bai Shuo's wrist, and she gasped in pain. "Ow, ow, ow!"

"Get off!" Fan Yue shoved Nan Wan away with a palm strike, shielding Bai Shuo behind him.

Caught off guard, Nan Wan stumbled back several steps. Mingxin drew his immortal sword, ready to strike at Fan Yue.

"Stand down!" Nan Wan commanded, meeting the young man's icy gaze with a hint of unease. Suppressing his displeasure, he turned to Bai Shuo. "My apologies for my rashness. Daoist Bai, where did you divine the phoenix tree's heart to be?"

"The spiritual qi in the withered branch was too weak. I couldn't sense the locations of all three segments of the phoenix tree's heart at once—only a vague glimpse of the first segment. It seems we'll need to obtain the first heartflame before we can find the next two."

"Where is the first segment, then?"

"The Tomb of the Foreigners." Bai Shuo spoke slowly.

"The Tomb of the Foreigners?" Mingxin murmured. "What place is that?"

Bai Shuo shook her head and spread her hands. "I don't know either. The withered branch could only reveal that the first heartflame is hidden there. As for where the tomb is, this humble Daoist has no idea."

Since its founding, the foreign city had been sealed in this desolate land, with no outsiders ever entering. Neither immortals nor demons knew anything about the foreign race, let alone something like the Tomb of the Foreigners.

Still, if it was a tomb, it must be a burial ground for the ancestors of the foreign race. It shouldn't be too hard to find.

"Your Highness, we only have two days left. We must find this tomb quickly, or we might not have enough time to locate the other two heartflames." Bai Shuo spoke urgently, putting on a show of concern for Nan Wan.

"Mingxin, go search." Nan Wan's voice was calm. "Everyone, go."

"Yes, Senior Brother." Knowing there was no time to waste, Mingxin turned and left."Master Bai, you shall stay in the chamber next to mine. Once we locate the first fragment of the Heartfire, we will still rely on your abilities."

Even Kunlun's Bei Chen couldn't find any trace of the phoenix tree's core, yet Bai Shuo could divine its location. Naturally, he treated her with more respect now.

Bai Shuo was about to follow Mingxin out when she yawned sleepily, "Yes, yes, this humble Daoist needs a good sleep. I'm utterly exhausted today."

With that, she quickly pulled Fan Yue into the neighboring room. Hua Da Tie, dragging her heavy eyelids, was about to follow when Fan Yue mercilessly shut the door in her face.

Hua Da Tie grimaced at the closed door for a long while. Glancing left where Yunxiao's Nan Wan slept, then right where Kunlun's Bei Chen resided, her half-raised fist paused mid-knock. Sullenly, she hugged her hammer and dozed off by Bai Shuo's door.

Once inside, before Bai Shuo could speak, Fan Yue grasped her hand, rolled up her sleeve, and began carefully massaging her wrist. Seeing the boy's tightly pressed lips, Bai Shuo grinned reassuringly, "It's alright, Mu Mu, Master doesn't hurt."

The boy remained silent, his expression stern.

Bai Shuo patted his head, "This place isn't dangerous. Don't worry, as long as I'm with the Yunxiao Sect, no one will bully me."

Still, the boy lowered his head, refusing to acknowledge her.

Bai Shuo continued explaining, "I was just worried about A-Zhao and wanted to check on him. A-Zhao is your Senior Martial Uncle, I told you about him..."

Fan Yue's hands paused mid-massage, the atmosphere growing heavier.

Bai Shuo twitched her lips and hastily raised her other hand in oath, "Master was wrong. Master will never leave you alone again. I swear, even if I go to Hua Da Tie's house to steal chickens, I'll take you with me!"

Fan Yue finally looked up, pouting, "Really?"

"Really, really, truer than pure gold!" Bai Shuo pinched his nose, "You little grump!"

Relieved that Fan Yue had spoken, Bai Shuo swiftly pulled two paper figures from her Qiankun Bag. With a tap on their heads, they transformed into replicas of herself and Fan Yue, sitting on the bed.

Fan Yue blinked in surprise as Bai Shuo quietly cracked open a window. Outside, Hua Da Tie's thunderous snores perfectly masked the faint sound.

"Mu Mu, let's go. The Yunxiao disciples are all out—this is our chance to find your Senior Martial Uncle."

A flash of spiritual light, and they vanished through the window.

The streets of the strange city were eerily quiet, dotted with only a few flickering lanterns.

Bai Shuo blew gently on the bamboo flute around her neck. A wisp of spiritual Qi drifted from it, heading eastward.

"A-Zhao is nearby! Mu Mu, follow me!" Delighted, Bai Shuo tugged Fan Yue along, chasing the flute's guidance.

The flute was forged with Chong Zhao's spiritual Qi and could sense his presence.

Meanwhile, in a dilapidated inn, Chong Zhao abruptly opened his eyes during meditation, pulling out the bamboo flute from his chest.

It emitted a brief sound.

"A-Shuo?" Chong Zhao's expression turned astonished as he channeled Qi into the flute, but it fell silent again.

"Could A-Shuo be in this city?" The city's spiritual suppression made him uncertain whether the flute's sound truly indicated Bai Shuo's presence.

"Impossible. The city is sealed—she can't enter..." he murmured, yet unease gripped him. Unable to focus, he tightened his grip on the flute and disappeared.Chong Zhao had just landed outside the inn when a dark shadow suddenly streaked across the sky. The shadow carried a thick, foul stench, and its form was indistinct.

Such heavy demonic energy? How could there be evil spirits in Yi City? Damn it, if A-Shuo really came to Yi City...

Chong Zhao's expression turned grave as he pursued the shadow.

On the street, Bai Shuo had been following the bamboo flute when its Spiritual Qi abruptly cut off, causing it to fall from the air. She quickly caught it.

"Oh no, oh no! Yi City suppresses Spiritual Qi too strongly—this thing is useless now!" Bai Shuo blew into the flute desperately, but it remained lifeless, devoid of even a trace of Qi.

Yi City was vast beyond measure. Without the flute, Bai Shuo was completely lost, stumbling blindly.

Just then, a figure drifted past overhead, and the bamboo flute flickered faintly.

Did it work again? Could it be A-Zhao?

Overjoyed, Bai Shuo was about to leap after it when Fan Yue grabbed her arm.

"Master, don't chase it."

Bai Shuo turned to see Fan Yue scanning the dark surroundings, his brow slightly furrowed, his eyes carrying a cold intensity he himself didn't seem aware of.

"What's wrong?" Bai Shuo's heart skipped a beat.

"The smell here is foul," Fan Yue muttered, gripping her tightly.

"Smell? What smell?" Bai Shuo sniffed the air. "I don't smell anything at all."

She glanced around—the city was eerily quiet. With a playful flick to Fan Yue's forehead, she grinned.

"Good disciple, don't be scared. This is Yi City—anyone who enters this place is barely stronger than a half-immortal..." She clenched a fist. "Even if there are monsters, they might not be a match for your master..."

Besides, with you—the biggest monster of all—by my side, what do I have to fear? Bai Shuo mumbled under her breath. The bamboo flute in her palm flickered again, pointing east. Without hesitation, she sprang into the air.

"It's A-Zhao! Mu Mu, follow me—we've found your Senior Martial Uncle!"

Fan Yue's heart lurched as he moved to follow, but a foul wind suddenly swept past, and an indistinct shadow lunged at him.

In that instant, Bai Shuo's figure vanished into the night.

"A-Zhao!" Bai Shuo chased the figure, leaping through the air as the bamboo flute in her palm trembled incessantly.

Suddenly, the figure flickered and disappeared before her. She skidded to a halt, realizing she had unwittingly run into a dead-end alley.

"Mu Mu?" Bai Shuo turned—there was no one behind her. Fan Yue was gone!

A chilling wind rustled the leaves, making the nighttime streets feel unnervingly desolate.

"A-Zhao?" Bai Shuo retreated cautiously, calling softly into the darkness.

No one answered. That couldn't be—hadn't the flute been reacting all along? Then the bamboo flute trembled violently again, and Bai Shuo realized its shaking wasn't from sensing Chong Zhao's presence—it was more like... fear!

A cold dread gripped her as she recalled Chong Zhao's words.

"A-Shuo, this flute was forged with the Spiritual Qi from my spiritual core. Not only can it sense me, but it can also warn you of evil spirits..."

Beads of sweat dotted Bai Shuo's forehead. Under the moonlight, a loud thud sounded behind her. She froze, too afraid to turn around. Trembling, she looked down—a towering shadow loomed at her back, its ragged, stinking breath grazing her neck.Under the night sky, Bai Shuo suddenly grabbed the Qiankun Bag at her waist and hurled it behind her. Hundreds of talismans from the bag instantly enveloped the creature. Without looking back, she leaped into the air.

A deafening explosion sounded, followed by a furious roar as the creature tore through the hundreds of talismans. Its massive hand shot upward, seizing Bai Shuo’s leg mid-air.

Bai Shuo plummeted violently, her body hurtling toward the ground. At that moment, she finally caught sight of the creature’s true form—and every hair on her body stood on end.

The monstrous thing gripping her stood six feet tall, its face oozing pus and blood, with bulging eyes that barely resembled a human’s. A massive tail extended from its back, and four inhuman claws sprouted from its sides. One claw held Bai Shuo captive while the other three shredded countless talismans to pieces.

What the hell is this thing?!

“Mu Mu! Save me!”

Unable to contain her terror any longer, Bai Shuo screamed into the darkness.

Provoked by her cry, the monster on the ground extended its three remaining claws toward her, as if intent on tearing her apart.

Oh god, I’m gonna die!

Bai Shuo squeezed her eyes shut in fear. Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed, and instead of being ripped apart, she was flung into the air. When she opened her eyes, she saw a figure who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere—a single swing of his staff had cleanly severed the monstrous claw gripping her!

The creature’s grotesque face twisted in agony as a fountain of blood gushed from its severed limb. With a furious howl, it vanished into the shadows.

A young man darted from the distance, catching Bai Shuo as she fell from mid-air.

“Master!” The youth, covered in blood and seemingly terrified beyond measure, clutched Bai Shuo tightly in his arms.

Warmth enveloped her, but Bai Shuo still trembled uncontrollably from the overwhelming fear. Yet when she saw the person who had shattered the monster’s claw with a single strike, she couldn’t help but blink in disbelief.

“Y-you… what are you doing here?”

“I-I—I almost died of fright! You damn Daoist, what kind of hellhole have you dragged me into? Waaah!”

Hua Da Tie plopped onto the ground, her forging hammer rolling away helplessly as she wailed, her makeup smearing everywhere.

Meanwhile, Chong Zhao pursued the shadowy figure through the strange city, leaping across rooftops. Just as the shadow vaulted over a wall, a razor-sharp Saber Qi suddenly shot out from within, aimed straight at Chong Zhao.

Though the Qi lacked overwhelming Spiritual power, its murderous intent was palpable. Chong Zhao barely managed to evade it by leaping back several yards, yet the force still sent his internal Qi churning. Before he could steady himself, lanterns abruptly lit up within the courtyard ahead. As the glow fully illuminated the scene, Chong Zhao’s expression shifted to one of shock.

Before him stood none other than the Palace of the Strange King!

Before he could process this, the palace gates swung open, and a figure emerged slowly—none other than Wu Zhao, the deputy general of the Strange King’s army who had greeted the immortal and demon clans at the city gates the night before.

“Who dares trespass into the royal palace?” Wu Zhao’s saber gleamed in his palm as he materialized three paces away from Chong Zhao. “A disciple of the immortal clan?”

Though not particularly tall among the Strange People, Wu Zhao’s face bore a horrifying scar that ran from his brow to the corner of his mouth.

“Chong Zhao of Piaomiao greets General Wu Zhao.” Chong Zhao hastily bowed.

“Piaomiao? I never expected a remote minor sect to produce a disciple like you.” Wu Zhao scrutinized him. “I didn’t sense your Qi yesterday. You’ve been hiding your abilities, haven’t you, boy?”

“This Junior wouldn’t dare.”"Don't play coy with me, boy. If you can withstand one move from me, your skills must be on par with that Bei Chen or that useless pretty boy Yun Xiao. But do you really think your meager abilities give you the right to act recklessly in our Yicheng? How many lives do you have, daring to sneak into the Yiwang Palace at night?!" Wu Zhao spoke coldly.

"General, please forgive me. Chong Zhao meant no offense to His Majesty. It's just that I detected traces of evil Qi in the city earlier and followed it here, only to see that malevolent presence enter the Yiwang Palace—"

"Nonsense! What evil presence?" Wu Zhao cut him off sharply. "I think you're using this as an excuse to sneak into the palace searching for the Phoenix Heart Flame!"

"General, that was never my intention—"

"You Immortal Clan folk are always scheming. Let me tell you—a thousand years ago, His Majesty Mu Guang laid down the Spirit-Sealing Array beneath this city to protect our kind. That array doesn't just suppress the spiritual power of immortals and demons—it's the natural enemy of all evil. Any corrupt Qi entering Yicheng would trigger the array's defenses. Not even demons could breach our city, let alone some evil presence."

Chong Zhao paused, frowning.

The Spirit-Sealing Array was created by the former Heavenly Emperor Mu Guang—invincible to all below divine rank, capable of vanquishing all evil. With this array protecting the city, no malevolent presence could exist here. Had he been mistaken earlier?

"Since the Spirit-Sealing Array stands guard, I must have been mistaken. This junior meant no offense and begs the General's forgiveness."

"Go search for your Phoenix Heart Flame elsewhere. If you dare trespass into the Yiwang Palace again, you won't get off so lightly." With a cold snort, Wu Zhao turned and entered the palace gates.

With a heavy thud, the gates slammed shut. As Chong Zhao turned to leave, a figure landed behind him.

"Senior Brother!" Er Yun hurried over, his face full of concern. "What happened? Why are you outside the Yiwang Palace alone in the middle of the night?"

"It's nothing." Chong Zhao shook his head. The bamboo flute at his chest remained utterly silent—no trace of evil Qi remained.

After one last glance at the Yiwang Palace behind him, Chong Zhao turned and left with Er Yun.