Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Fifty-Six

The City of Yi was located in the wilderness, and the Yi King's Palace was unlike ordinary immortal abodes, which were often shrouded in ethereal Immortal Qi and exuded solemn grandeur. The Yi King's Hall was carved from massive stones, with fierce totems of blades and axes covering its walls, lending it an imposing and unyielding aura.

Bai Shuo was determined to find Chong Zhao and discuss their plans. She hurriedly followed the maidservant into the grand hall, only to freeze in shock the moment she stepped inside. The hall was already filled with Fairy and Demon Disciples who had come to participate in the Wutong Martial Banquet. Yet, Bei Chen, Nan Wan, Mu Jiu, and Chong Zhao were seated in places of honor just below the throne.

As merely an Outer Sect Disciple of Piaomiao, Bai Shuo had only secured a seat thanks to Chong Zhao's influence. Hers and Fan Yue's seats were arranged closest to the hall's entrance, a good several meters away from Chong Zhao.

Word of the events on Nameless Mountain had already spread. The gathered immortals and demons whispered among themselves, casting disdainful and envious glances at Chong Zhao. The disciples of Yunxiao sat beside Nan Wan, their expressions cold and grim.

Bai Shuo frowned as she eyed the delicacies and fine wine on the table before her. She picked up a pastry and a cup of wine, sniffing them cautiously.

Finding no poison in the food or drink, Bai Shuo let out a sigh of relief. She desperately tried to catch Chong Zhao's eye, but he seemed oblivious to her, silently drinking alone.

That blockhead! How can he still be sulking at a time like this? Bai Shuo was exasperated. Quietly, she pulled a small paper figure from her Qiankun Bag and blew on it.

The paper figure stretched lazily, yawned, and stood up.

"Go to A-Zhao and tell him..." Bai Shuo whispered her instructions. The paper figure perked up, stealthily climbed down from the cushion, and scurried along the wall toward Chong Zhao.

While keeping an eye on the paper figure, Bai Shuo recalled the bonfires and crowds of Yi City's citizens gathered outside the palace gates when she had passed by earlier. The Wutong Heartfire was not within the spiritual platforms of Yi City's people—so why had the Yi King summoned them to the palace gates?

By dawn the next day, the Spirit-Sealing Array would open, and Yi City would no longer be an isolated city. Whatever the Yi King was planning, as long as she could rally the Fairy and Demon Disciples to hold out through the night, they would be fine.

The key was whether Bei Chen and Mu Jiu would believe her. Given their shared experience on Nameless Mountain, that shouldn't be a problem.

As Bai Shuo schemed, two more paper figures slipped from between her fingers, stealthily crawling toward Bei Chen and Mu Jiu.

Thank goodness the old turtle taught me so many unorthodox tricks. They really come in handy at times like this.

Fan Yue, noticing Bai Shuo's flurry of activity, thoughtfully handed her a cup of water. "Master, take it slow. Don't tire yourself out."

"Good disciple." Bai Shuo gulped down the water in one go. Just then, the three paper figures reached their targets.

Her eyes lit up, but her relief was cut short when the paper figures suddenly went limp, collapsing motionless on the ground.

What happened? Bai Shuo stiffened in alarm as a deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

"Esteemed guests who have traveled from afar, this king has been remiss in his hospitality. I shall punish myself with a drink—please, enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

At some point, the Yi King had taken his seat upon the throne. He raised his cup and drained it in one go, addressing the assembly.

The hall fell silent. The Yi King's courtesy left the gathered immortals and demons—all juniors in comparison—unable to act presumptuously. They hastily raised their cups in return.

Whether intentional or not, as the Yi King set down his cup, his gaze lingered meaningfully in Bai Shuo's direction.

A chill ran down Bai Shuo's spine. She hurriedly lowered her head, her palms trembling.

A pair of hands clasped hers. Bai Shuo met her little disciple's eyes and felt a surge of reassurance.

Not far away, Chong Zhao happened to witness the scene. His expression darkened as the wine burned bitterly down his throat."Your Majesty, I heard from Senior Brother Nan Wan that the third Phoenix Heart Flame will be chosen by the common people of Yi City. May I ask if this is true?" Wuliang glanced at Nan Wan's expression before cupping his hands toward the Yi King.

"And you are...?" The Yi King's gaze descended.

Shou An coughed lightly. Seeing all eyes turn to him, he straightened his crown. "This junior is Wuliang Shou An."

"So you're a disciple of Immortal Lord Yu Zhen." The Yi King's expression softened slightly. "Indeed, the selection method for the third Heart Flame's owner was personally decided by Immortal Seat Jin Yao. Does Immortal Lord Shou An have doubts?"

"I wouldn't dare." Shou An hurriedly replied, "The Phoenix Martial Feast has always been a competition between our fairy and demon races. This time, the common people of Yi City are being involved. This junior merely felt puzzled, hence my bold question..."

Under the Yi King's gaze, Shou An's voice grew increasingly faint. His previously arrogant face paled slightly, with thin beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

The assembly in the great hall also sensed the overwhelming pressure and aura emanating from the throne, instantly falling silent.

The Fairy and Demon Disciples present couldn't help but curse inwardly. Though the Yi people were lowly, the Yi King was a genuine Peak Upper Lord, just one step away from demigod status. This Shou An from Wuliang Mountain must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard to dare question the Yi King publicly!

Just as the entire assembly stood frozen in uncertainty, a sigh came from the throne. Everyone felt the hall's oppressive atmosphere ease slightly as the Yi King spoke.

"The doubts of Immortal Lord Wuliang are likely shared by all present. In truth, hosting the Phoenix Martial Feast in Yi City was my request to Immortal Seat Jin Yao. Today, seeing all of you, I feel genuine envy. The fairy and demon races have rising talents as numerous as clouds and waves, while our Yi people lag far behind."

At these words, everyone was stunned, turning their gazes uniformly toward the Yi King.

"After tomorrow, I have decided to lift the barrier that His Majesty Mu Guang established over Yi City, allowing our people to enter the world."

These words struck like thunder from clear skies, leaving everyone exchanging bewildered looks.

The Yi people couldn't cultivate spiritual power. To fairies and demons, they were like uncivilized barbarians. Were it not for the protection of this city, they might have gone extinct long ago. Yet the Yi King wanted to let them enter the world?

"Due to their origins, our Yi people cannot cultivate spiritual power. Moreover, being confined to Yi City for generations, our younger generation's knowledge and cultivation are far inferior to yours. I am growing old, and Yi City must eventually be handed over to our young people. Therefore, I requested Immortal Seat Jin Yao to hold the Phoenix Martial Feast here—to have you all visit Yi City and see for yourselves. The Three Realms hold many misconceptions about our people, believing us cruel and violent. This Phoenix Martial Feast is my hope that you might set aside your prejudices against the Yi people. When our people venture into the Three Realms in the future, I ask that you remember today's destiny and show them kindness rather than hardship."

Having spoken these words, the Yi King looked at the assembled Fairy and Demon Disciples, his expression full of earnest entreaty.

Only then did everyone understand why the Yi King had welcomed them into the Yi Royal Palace before selecting the final Phoenix Heart Flame's owner. So this was the reason.

The Yi people found no acceptance in the Three Realms. The Yi King sought to use the Phoenix Martial Feast to break their thousand-year stalemate and secure a path to survival.

Bai Shuo stared dumbfounded at the worried Yi King on his throne. Had she been too cynical? The Yi King's words just now had been sincere, without pretense. How could someone who cared so deeply for his people allow evil spirits to run rampant in the city? Perhaps the Yi King was unaware of the strange occurrences in Yi City?

Should I tell the Yi King about the evil spirit aura clinging to the heir apparent? Bai Shuo pondered uncertainly."Your Majesty overstates the matter. From this day forth, whenever extraordinary beings traverse the Three Realms, our Kunlun shall surely offer them sanctuary." In the grand hall, the usually indifferent Bei Chen suddenly spoke.

The King of Extraordinary Beings turned his gaze to the Sword Cultivator from Kunlun. Seeing Bei Chen's solemn expression, his countenance softened slightly.

Nan Wan hadn't expected the typically reticent Bei Chen to show goodwill at this moment. Cursing inwardly about his false propriety, she quickly clasped her hands: "Our Yunxiao pledges the same."

The assembly hastened to echo their support. The King smiled in gratitude and raised his cup once more to toast the gathering. Apart from that slight reaction when Bei Chen spoke, his expression remained composed no matter how fervently the other disciples pledged their promises.

Bai Shuo, torn by inner conflict, mindlessly followed the others in repeatedly raising her cup.

The wine of the Extraordinary City was unlike the sweet mellowness of the immortal clans' brew, nor did it possess the fiery kick of the Yao Race's liquor. It carried a peculiar sweetness upon the tongue, bringing an extraordinary sense of comfort throughout the body. Shou An, ever the wine enthusiast, downed several cups until his vision blurred and his courage swelled. Gulping another mouthful, he chuckled foolishly.

"Your Majesty!" He abruptly stood up. Those nearby who knew his drunken tendencies couldn't stop him in time as he staggered toward the center of the hall.

"Does Immortal Lord Shou An have more to say?" The King's expression remained genial.

"Your Majesty need not worry! After today, I shall inform my master about the reopening of the Extraordinary City. Henceforth, our Wuliang and Yunxiao will surely protect the extraordinary clans well!" Shou An thumped his chest, making loud promises.

At least he hadn't said anything outrageous, the crowd sighed in relief.

"With the two immortal abodes of Yunxiao and Wuliang standing guard, our extraordinary people may traverse the Three Realms in peace henceforth."

"Th-that's right!" Shou An hiccuped drunkenly. Encouraged by the King's goodwill, his manner grew even more unrestrained. "But Your Majesty! Regarding this Phoenix Martial Banquet—I have some grievances! I beg Your Majesty to judge fairly!"

"Oh? What grievances?"

"I heard there were two Phoenix Heartfires on Nameless Mountain. Our immortal clan and the Yao Race each obtained one. I won't comment on the fox clan's share—Your Highness Mu Jiu is renowned across the Three Realms for her formidable spiritual power. But that fellow—why should he obtain our immortal clan's Heartfire? By all rights and reason, this Heartfire should have gone to Lord Bei Chen or Senior Brother Nan Wan!"

Lord Bei Chen. Senior Brother Nan Wan.

The target of Shou An's drunken words needed no explanation.

Pointing at Chong Zhao with disdain, Shou An declared, "A nobody from some rundown School in the East Sea—what right does he have to take our immortal clan's Heartfire?!"

Wuliang Mountain had always been subordinate to Yunxiao, so his acting as Nan Wan's mouthpiece wasn't surprising. But his words struck a chord with many immortal disciples. Though they remained silent, they too harbored discontent about this matter, whispering among themselves and casting scornful looks at Chong Zhao.

Even with Chong Zhao's steady Heart-Nature, facing a hall full of mocking gazes inevitably made his expression darken.

Bei Chen frowned slightly, but before he could speak, the King's calm voice rang from the throne.

"Before the Tomb of Extraordinary Beings, this young immortal brother helped our clan pacify Rong Xian's lingering resentment. His contributions were substantial—obtaining this Heartfire is only fair."

"Your Majesty!" Too drunk to remember his earlier impropriety, Shou An actually interrupted the King. "Lord Bei Chen and Senior Brother Nan Wan also entered Nameless Mountain! Surely they contributed to pacifying Rong Xian's resentment too?"

"They did.""If such is the case, then why should the Heartfire be given to this boy? Your Majesty, matters concerning our Immortal Clan should be decided by us. Since we are dissatisfied, why not ask us, the disciples of the Immortal Clan, who truly deserves this Phoenix Heartfire?" Shou An, emboldened by wine and not entirely foolish, seized upon the fact that the Yiren King had requests for both clans and dragged all the Immortal Clan disciples in the hall into the dispute as his backing.

Seeing Shou An making trouble over this, Bei Chen frowned. The Heartfire given to Chong Zhao was his own gift and should not trouble the Yiren King. Just as he was about to speak, the Yiren King waved him off.

"The Heartfire was bestowed upon this disciple of Piaomiao. I believe there is no partiality in this decision." The Yiren King, who had been courteous to the disciples of both clans moments ago, spoke calmly and indifferently.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow you will reopen Yicheng. A minor sect of the Immortal path cannot protect the Yiren." Seeing the Yiren King unmoved, Shou An lost composure and spoke angrily.

Shameless! He was actually threatening the Yiren King with the future safety of the Yiren in the Three Realms to take the Phoenix Heartfire from A-Zhao! If not for Fan Yue holding her back, Bai Shuo would have rushed forward to kick Shou An several times.

The gathered Immortal Clan disciples, initially resentful, were left speechless by Shou An's shameless words. While they envied Chong Zhao, threatening the Yiren King with innocent Yiren civilians was another matter entirely.

Exchanging the Yiren's future safety for the ownership of the Phoenix Heartfire—such a disgraceful act was beyond them!

"Your Majesty, we do not share this intention." One of the Immortal Clan disciples, face flushed, quickly stood and clasped his hands in apology.

The throne room fell silent. The Yiren King lowered his eyes, toying with a wine cup, his expression unreadable.

The apologetic disciple felt utterly awkward, his face uneasy, inwardly cursing Shou An for being as foolish as a pig.

"So this is the righteousness spoken of by Immortals. For a thousand years, my Yiren people have been trapped in this barren land by your hypocritical kind. Truly unworthy."

A sigh echoed from the throne.

The sigh carried sorrow, but more so, icy mockery.

In the distance, Bai Shuo suddenly looked up, a sense of unease gripping her heart.

What was happening? Was the Yiren King condemning the entire Immortal Clan over a single Shou An?

The Yiren King's words were indeed severe. The apologetic disciple couldn't help but speak up.

"Your Majesty, Shou An has been disrespectful, but you should not insult our entire Immortal Clan."

"And if I have, what will you do?" The Yiren King looked up and smiled, his eyes cold.

The disciple who met his gaze paled and tried to speak again, but suddenly felt dizzy. Without warning, he spat blood and collapsed to the ground.

"Immortal Lord Lan Shu!"

His fall shocked everyone in the hall. The nearest Immortal Lord cried out and moved to help, only to find himself unable to rise. He too spat blood and collapsed.

This seemed to trigger some sinister spell, as the Fairy and Demon Disciples in the hall began vomiting blood one after another, collapsing to the ground—Nan Wan among them.

"What's happening?" Bei Chen and the others also turned pale, feeling dizzy.

Only Bai Shuo remained unaffected. Instead, she felt a gentle force rapidly seeping into her weak Spiritual Veins, strengthening her spiritual power significantly.

A thud sounded beside her. Bai Shuo turned to see her little disciple's face darken as his forehead hit the ground."Mu Mu?!" Bai Shuo hurriedly took out a bottle of medicine from her Qiankun Bag and fed it to Fan Yue, but it was utterly ineffective. In her panic, she turned and shouted at Chong Zhao, "A-Zhao, it's the King of the Otherworld!"

Before Bai Shuo could even finish speaking, Bei Chen, Chong Zhao, and Mu Jiu had already summoned their Magical Artifacts, pointing them at the King of the Otherworld.

Mu Jiu's handsome face was deathly pale as he barely swallowed back the blood rising in his throat, his hand trembling slightly on the Small Wheel of Annihilation. "King of the Otherworld, what have you done?"

Upon the throne, the King of the Otherworld remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, a brutal force struck down, and the three could no longer hold on. They spat blood and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"A-Zhao!" Bai Shuo rushed toward Chong Zhao, but a force blocked her path, rendering her immobile. She stared in horror at the King of the Otherworld descending from his throne, her fists clenched tightly.

There had been no poison in the wine—how had they been drugged? These Fairy and Demon Disciples, though their spiritual powers were sealed, were all outstanding talents of their generation. Having consumed countless Immortal Pills and Spirit Medicines over the years, ordinary poisons would have no effect on them. How had the King of the Otherworld managed this?

Why had everyone else been poisoned, while she alone remained unharmed?

The King of the Otherworld slowly walked into the hall, stopping before Bai Shuo. He seemed equally curious about her lucidity and probed her forehead. "So this is why—you haven't even cultivated a Spiritual Platform. Girl, your half-immortal status must have been achieved through Medicinal Pills alone."

No Spiritual Platform? What did that mean? Bai Shuo was even more confused.

"You're curious how I accomplished this?"

Bai Shuo glared at the King of the Otherworld but nodded nonetheless.

"I never poisoned them."

Perhaps because his grand scheme was nearing completion, the King of the Otherworld was unusually patient with Bai Shuo.

No poison? Then what had happened to them? Bai Shuo's heart raced as she sensed the warm, pure energy within her body. A sudden realization struck her, and she spoke hoarsely.

"You made them consume the last Phoenix Heartflame?!"

The Phoenix Heartflame was a treasure of the Phoenix Clan, a semi-Divine Grade artifact. Besides forging Magical Artifacts, it could also cultivate spiritual power. However, the Heartflame's energy was too potent—only those at the Peak of the Upper Realm could barely withstand integrating it into their Spiritual Platform for refinement.

No poison in the world could have been ingested by these Fairy and Demon Disciples without their notice—unless what they consumed wasn't poison but the Phoenix Heartflame refined by the King of the Otherworld.

The Heartflame's power was overwhelming. Once it entered their Spiritual Platforms, they couldn't endure it. Their vomiting blood wasn't due to poisoning but the shattering of their Spiritual Platforms.

Bai Shuo was the only half-immortal in the hall. Without a Spiritual Platform, the Phoenix Heartflame became nourishment for her instead.

"Clever indeed. A pity you're merely a half-immortal. Girl, offering yourself as a sacrifice to my people will at least give your death meaning."

Sacrifice? What sacrifice? Bai Shuo's eyes widened—what was the King of the Otherworld planning?!

Bai Shuo felt herself entangled in a colossal conspiracy, but she had no chance to ask further. The King of the Otherworld raised his palm, and darkness engulfed her vision as she collapsed limply to the ground.

Before losing consciousness, Bai Shuo suddenly remembered—the Otherworld Princess who had been protecting Fan Yue all along had vanished without a trace after they left the hot spring.

As Bai Shuo fell, Wu Zhao silently appeared before the King of the Otherworld.

"Your Majesty, everything is prepared."

"Proceed."

Wu Zhao hesitated. "Your Majesty, are you certain about this? Zhen Yu is not to be trusted. If we truly execute these Fairy and Demon Disciples, the Three Realms will no longer have a place for our kind.""Don't worry. After tomorrow, our people will never be trapped in this isolated city again."

The Otherworld King gazed into the depths of the night sky and spoke slowly.