Chapter 119
"Phoenix Sovereign, the Celestial Emperor has a close friendship with our tribal chief Chang Qin, making him a senior to our emperor. How could our emperor possibly go to the Celestial Emperor to..."
Recalling Feng Ran's domineering temperament and her reputation over these tens of thousands of years—not to mention that everyone knows of the past between the Celestial Emperor and the former Heavenly Palace's Second Prince—if she truly went to Phoenix Tree Island to propose marriage, she would likely be struck down by a divine thunderbolt from the Celestial Emperor.
Chang Yun's heart turned as bitter as coptis root, unable to continue speaking.
"Then there is nothing more to say." Feng Yin waved her hand, still wearing a gentle and amiable expression. "After all, it is unreasonable for a disciple to marry before her master. However, this was an agreement between my Master Sovereign and Chief Chang Qin..." Mentioning Chang Qin, Feng Yin's expression grew slightly more serious. "Elder Chang Yun, although I have no marital fate with the Demon Emperor, since this was a promise made by our elders, let us find a compromise."
A compromise? Everyone in the hall was stunned. What kind of compromise?
"Since I cannot become husband and wife with the Demon Emperor, becoming sworn siblings would still honor the friendship between our two families." Feng Yin's voice rang out steadily from the throne. "Chief Chang Yun, convey my words to the Demon Emperor. If he has no objections, choose a day to come to Phoenix Tree Island, pay respects to the three mountains and five sacred peaks and my Master Sovereign, and establish this sworn sibling bond with me."
The hall fell silent at Feng Yin's words. Before the immortals could voice their opposition, Chang Yun had already taken a swift step forward, bowing to Feng Yin with uncontrollable joy. "Phoenix Sovereign is truly magnanimous. Chang Yun will certainly convey Your Majesty's promise to our emperor."
Chang Yun had never expected to marry Feng Yin back to the Demon Tribe, but Feng Yin, unconstrained by the Immortal Tribe, was willing to form a sworn bond with Hong Yi—this was already a stroke of incredible luck. As for the Phoenix Sovereign referring to it as a brotherhood rather than a sibling bond, such minor details were of little importance.
"Phoenix Sovereign!" The immortals' reactions were not as quick as Chang Yun's, but they were not slow either. Supreme Venerable Jing Lei immediately rose to his feet, his face filled with anger. "How can Your Majesty form a sworn bond with the Demon Tribe?"
"Oh? Why not?"
"The Demon Tribe and our Immortal Tribe have a deep enmity. Your Majesty, you..."
Feng Yin's gaze fell heavily upon Jing Lei. "Supreme Venerable Jing Lei, over a thousand years ago, when my Master Sovereign underwent Nirvana Rebirth in Rakshasa Land and ascended as sovereign, she proclaimed to the Three Realms and Nine Provinces that our Wutong Phoenix Island would no longer involve itself in the conflicts between the two tribes. Have you forgotten?"
Feng Yin's gaze swept over the faces of the immortals in the hall before she spoke calmly, "My Master Sovereign had few lifelong friends. Back when she was stranded in the Abyssal Marsh, she was raised by an ancient demon tree. In truth, Chief Chang Qin is her only friend. The promise she made with Chief Chang Qin—even if I do not fulfill it, I will not treat it as if it never existed."
Feng Yin's words were entirely correct. Back when Feng Ran was stranded in the Abyssal Marsh, she was even pursued by the Immortal Tribe. If not for the pleas of the former Heavenly Emperor Mu Guang and the tragic death of Jing Jian, Feng Ran would have had no interest in Heavenly Palace affairs. On the contrary, it was a well-known fact throughout the Three Realms that Chang Qin and Feng Ran were close friends.
Seeing Feng Yin bring up this less-than-honorable past of the Immortal Tribe, the immortals in the hall coughed awkwardly and fell silent. Even Supreme Venerable Jing Lei opened his mouth in frustration before sitting back down with a murmur under Venerable Yu Feng's disapproving shake of the head.
Only Hua Shu stared fixedly at Feng Yin, her eyes blazing with barely contained fury.
Lan Feng died at the hands of the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, and Hong Yi remains the prime suspect to this day. Yet Feng Yin, disregarding the generations-old enmity between the Immortal and Demon Tribes, actually intends to form a sworn bond with Hong Yi. What right does she have to sit upon the Ninth Heaven and receive the worship of immortals?Hua Mo sat beside Hua Shu, noticing the grief and anger in his daughter's eyes. Uncharacteristically, he did not offer comfort but instead allowed Hua Shu's fury to deepen.
"Very well, the matter is settled thus. Elder Chang Yun, take the Fox race's crown and my words back to the Third Heaven for your king."
"Yes, Phoenix Sovereign. Chang Yun takes her leave." Seeing the Immortal Tribe's High Venerables and Sect Leaders suffer a setback at Feng Yin's hands, Chang Yun, disregarding her own earlier rebuff by Feng Yin, smiled in response. She bowed and prepared to withdraw with the Demon Monarch.
The gathered Immortal Lords watched Chang Yun's triumphant demeanor, nearly grinding their teeth in frustration, yet they could do nothing about it. Their own Immortal ancestors had committed wrongs against the previous Phoenix Sovereign, and this young Phoenix Sovereign, who tolerated no injustice, naturally would not trouble the kin of her Master Sovereign's only close friend.
Outside the hall, Yan Shuang's inner anger dissipated greatly upon hearing Feng Yin's reply. Peering through the hall's entrance at the cunning Feng Yin upon the throne, a strange yet familiar feeling stirred within her.
"Wait." A clear, cold voice came from the high seat in the hall. Chang Yun halted her steps and looked up, meeting Yuan Qi's icy gaze.
Chang Yun's heart tightened, and she cupped her hands. "Does Divine Lord Yuan Qi have further instructions?"
"Instructions, no. But I have yet to answer your question. As the host of this longevity banquet, it would be poor hospitality to send an Elder away disappointed." Yuan Qi's lips curved slightly. "Elder, did you not ask whether I am the Divine Lord of the Heavenly Palace or of Clear Pond Palace? I shall answer you now..."
His gaze sharpened, a faint divine pressure settling upon Chang Qin. "I have always been the master of Clear Pond Palace. But..." He paused, his voice growing more authoritative, "since I entered the gates of Great Marsh Mountain twelve hundred years ago, I have also been a member of the Immortal Tribe. The safety of the Immortal Tribe is my responsibility. Do you understand?"
Chang Yun's breath caught, her expression shifting under Yuan Qi's stern query. With some difficulty, she raised her hand and replied hoarsely, "Chang Yun understands."
As soon as Yuan Qi spoke, Feng Yin, who had maintained a calm demeanor, also subtly tensed. She knew these words were meant for her.
He was Divine Lord Yuan Qi of Clear Pond Palace, but he was also Gu Jin, disciple of Great Marsh Mountain. After the fall of Great Marsh Mountain, protecting the Immortal Tribe meant protecting Great Marsh Mountain. He was asking her, a thousand years later, whether besides being the Phoenix Sovereign, she still considered herself Ayin, disciple of Great Marsh Mountain.
Feng Yin lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
"Good that you understand." Yuan Qi seemed oblivious to Feng Yin's emotions as he looked at Chang Yun and spoke calmly. "And..." He paused, his voice deeper than before, "The Three Realms of Immortals, Demons, and Humans have existed for merely over sixty thousand years since the dawn of creation. Some old customs may not be well understood by both the Immortal and Demon tribes. Since all are gathered today, I shall clarify."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned. Even Chang Yun was somewhat bewildered, looking inexplicably toward Yuan Qi.
"Since the Ancient Divine Realm began, True Gods have possessed the right to select divine beasts from the ancient divine beast races as their companions. My father chose the qilin, True God Blazing Sun chose the black tortoise, True God Tian Qi chose the purple dragon, and the divine beast that accompanies my Chaos lineage..."
As soon as Yuan Qi spoke these words, Feng Yin recalled what her Master Sovereign had once told her. Before she could frown and intervene, Yuan Qi had already turned his gaze toward her, his eyes as clear and cold as moonlight."Traditionally, it has always come from the Fire Phoenix lineage of the ancient divine beast Phoenix clan."
Yuan Qi's words were resolute and unyielding, echoing through the Hall of Imperial Cosmos.
The hall fell into silence, followed by a sudden wave of relieved sighs.
The elderly Immortal Lords looked at Chang Yun's somewhat pale face, each with eyes curved as they gazed at Yuan Qi upon the throne. Their affectionate and proud gazes were just short of stepping forward to pat the Little Divine Lord on the shoulder and praise him for having "guts"!
Let your Demon Tribe travel thousands of miles to our Ninth Heaven to poach talent—Divine Lord Yuan Qi is simply too majestic and domineering, isn't he?
Yuan Qi's words were so domineering that even the usually composed Venerable Yu Feng and the Kunlun Patriarch couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of their mouths.
If you want to set your sights on the Phoenix Sovereign, you'll have to see if the Demon Emperor has the capability.
"In addition to the crown of your Fox race and the Phoenix Sovereign's oath of brotherhood, these words of mine shall also be entrusted to Elder Chang Yun to bring back to the Third Heaven for your Demon Emperor." Yuan Qi lightly waved his hand, finally concluding his speech.
On the hall floor, Chang Yun's charming face had already cycled through a spectrum of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. She opened her mouth, struggled for a moment, and finally replied dryly, "Understood."
Chang Yun silently glanced at Feng Yin upon the throne, seeing the Phoenix Sovereign glaring at Yuan Qi with phoenix-like eyes. Realizing she could expect no help from that quarter, she prepared to lead the wooden-stake-like Demon Monarchs away, her heart alternating between bitterness and sweetness. But just as she took a step, another unexpected event occurred.
"Elder Chang Yun, please wait a moment!"
In the hall, a slightly youthful yet steady voice rang out, not loud but firm.
Chang Yun turned back in confusion, following the gazes of the crowd to the upper left of the Hall of Imperial Cosmos, where a young man in blue robes stood up and bowed to her—it was Qing Yi.
Seeing Qing Yi suddenly rise and call out to Chang Yun, the immortals in the hall tensed. They suddenly recalled that Great Marsh Mountain had fallen at the hands of the Fox King Hong Yi, now the Demon Emperor. Could it be that this young Immortal Lord, overwhelmed with grief and indignation upon seeing Chang Yun, intended to seek revenge against this fox?
Chang Yun did not recognize this young Immortal Lord, but since he was seated below the five High Venerables of the Heavenly Palace, his status was surely significant. She bowed and asked with a puzzled expression, "This Immortal Lord is...?"
"I am Qing Yi, a disciple of Great Marsh Mountain. Greetings, Elder Chang Yun." Qing Yi stepped out from his seat, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed slightly to Chang Yun before speaking slowly.
Chang Yun's expression changed as she looked at Qing Yi's still-youthful face. Her demeanor grew even more awkward than before, tinged with a hint of guilt.
As an elder of the Fox race, Chang Yun was well aware that her own emperor had once been protected by Elder Xianshan of Great Marsh Mountain but later destroyed its mountain gate. While Yuan Qi's unique identity had overshadowed his connection to Great Marsh Mountain, this young Immortal Lord was the sole surviving disciple of the mountain. Even if her emperor's actions had been compelled by circumstances, he had ultimately committed the wrongdoing of betraying trust and destroying the mountain gate. Chang Yun never imagined that Qing Yi would also be present in the Hall of Imperial Cosmos today; otherwise, she would have refused this assignment even if she had to push through the entire Demon Tribe.
"Immortal Lord Qing Yi, I..." Chang Yun opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, and finally sighed. As an elder of the Fox race, she bowed halfway to Qing Yi and said, "I do not know what words Immortal Lord Qing Yi wishes to convey to His Majesty. Please rest assured, whatever the message, Chang Yun will faithfully relay it.""You misunderstand, Elder." Qing Yi's expression remained unchanged as he raised Chang Yun to his feet, speaking gently, "Today, I do not seek an explanation from you or Her Majesty in this Hall of Imperial Cosmos. Instead, I wish to ask you to bear witness and convey my words in this hall to Her Majesty."
Without waiting for Chang Yun to respond, Qing Yi turned and walked toward Yuan Qi and Feng Yin.
He stood three steps before the imperial throne and bowed deeply to them.
"Disciple Qing Yi of Great Marsh Mountain earnestly requests Divine Lord Yuan Qi and Phoenix Sovereign to reinvestigate the truth of the massacre of my entire sect a thousand years ago, and to restore justice to all of Great Marsh Mountain!"
Three steps away, both Yuan Qi and Feng Yin grew solemn, quietly watching him.
Had anyone observed them at that moment, they would have noticed the profound and peculiar compassion and sorrow deep within their eyes as they gazed upon Qing Yi.
No one but the two upon the imperial throne knew that of the sixty-thousand-year legacy and Immortal Foundation of Great Marsh Mountain, only these three remained.
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