Chapter 216: Chapter 118: Zuoqiu Feng

In a luxurious courtyard within the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, a female cultivator in red robes leaned languidly against a pavilion railing, admiring the rare flowers and exotic plants in the garden.

Her inky-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

A young man in a green Magic Robe entered the courtyard, walking straight to the edge of the eaves without a single glance to the side.

“Young Master Ye, Guo Chuanzhi has met with Yang Jing. He should have given the One-Element Heavy Water to him by now.”

“It’s clear the master-disciple lineage doesn’t think Yang Jing can beat me,” a fair-skinned young man in a black gauze robe said with a faint smile.

“This One-Element Heavy Water… they claim it’s to counter my Nanming Li Fire, but it’s more like compensation for his inevitable failure to become a True Disciple. After all, who could possibly succeed in refining One-Element Heavy Water in just one short month? And even if he did, so what? Could he block a single attack from my fan? It’s a pity they lack the deep resources of my Zuoqiu Family, which allow us to wield an elementally compatible Magical Treasure with ease, even at the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

The young man picked up a feather fan made of five-colored plumes and fanned himself, creating a cool breeze.

“Even if they gave him a Magical Treasure, Yang Jing wouldn’t be able to refine and subdue it on such short notice. In fact, he’d probably end up being harmed by the artifact instead.”

Spiritual Artifacts already possessed simple consciousness. Some Spiritual Artifacts with abundant Spiritual Essence had intelligence nearly on par with a four or five-year-old child. Once upgraded to a Magical Treasure, that intelligence would reach an even higher level.

The hierarchy among cultivators was strict, and the same was true for Magical Treasures. An ordinary Magical Treasure would never allow itself to be refined by a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

There were even cases of Foundation Establishment Cultivators who, in their foolish attempts to refine a Magical Treasure, were killed outright by the artifact’s enraged True Spirit.

The greatest advantage that scions of Noble Families like them had over the master-disciple lineage was the ability to refine a Magical Treasure during the Foundation Establishment Stage. These Magical Treasures had been refined by their families for generations, their Qi Mechanisms long since linked to their bloodlines. As long as one’s own foundation wasn’t too poor, they could successfully refine it.

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, having an extra Magical Treasure was enough to grant an almost overwhelming advantage. By just slightly activating the Magical Treasure’s power, they could easily fight opponents of a higher stage.

However, even without using the Three Flames Five Beasts Fan, Zuoqiu Ye could still defeat any cultivator of his generation within the Five Elements True Spirit Sect. Otherwise, he never would have been able to beat the cultivators from the master-disciple lineage into genuine submission.

The cultivator in the green robe looked hesitant.

Before coming to the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, he had been full of confidence in Zuoqiu Ye, certain that Yang Jing would be no match for the young master. But after learning the details of Yang Jing’s battle record, his confidence had been shaken.

Among those defeated by Yang Jing were numerous Demon Cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Take Yan Gao, for instance. He practiced Body Refining Techniques and wielded a Spiritual Artifact that was perfectly suited to him. Many Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Six Sects had fought him, and his power was widely acknowledged as formidable within the Demon Suppression Army.

Without his Magical Treasure, the Three Flames Five Beasts Fan, the young master would have been, at best, evenly matched with him.

Yet, even an expert of that caliber had fallen at Yang Jing’s hands.

But within the Zuoqiu Family, the hierarchy was strict. A disciple of mediocre talent like himself dared not show any defiance when facing Zuoqiu Ye.

Zuoqiu Ye noticed his hesitation and felt a flicker of displeasure.

’Truth be told, there are even rumors within the Noble Family that if I don’t use the Three Flames Five Beasts Fan, I’m no match for that Yang Jing. They say even if I rely on my Magical Treasure to win for now, once we both advance to the Golden Core stage, Yang Jing will surely surpass me.’

As a member of the Zuoqiu Family’s direct lineage, and possessing Gold, Wood, Fire, and Earth Four Elements Upper Grade Spirit Roots, Zuoqiu Ye had been meticulously groomed by his clan from a young age, fostering a proud and arrogant personality. After entering the Sect, he had never once been defeated by his peers. His only losses had been in private Magical Combat against the seniors within the Zuoqiu Family.

Now, the widespread rumors that he was inferior to a junior not yet thirty years old stung him to the core.

“Hmph. The only reason he’s been able to defeat so many True Disciples from the Demon Sect is because his Void True Thunder and Great Cave True Thunder naturally suppress Demon Cultivators,” Zuoqiu Ye said, displeased.

Ever since he arrived at the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, the name “Yang Jing” was all he ever heard. Everyone was talking about the string of True Disciples from the Demon Sect who had died at his hands.

“In a duel with me, I’m not about to give him the chance to build an altar and summon lightning. If he can’t set up an altar to call upon the Thunder Department True Dragon’s Spiritual Charm, then at the end of the day, he’s just an ordinary Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.”

“Pfft!”

The female cultivator in red couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Since you’re so confident, Nephew Ye, why not set aside your Three Flames Five Beasts Fan? That way, you can make sure that Yang Jing accepts his defeat completely.”

Her narrow, phoenix-like eyes shifted, her gaze falling upon Zuoqiu Ye with a hint of mockery.

Zuoqiu Ye was struck speechless. A blush crept up his face; he was clearly getting flustered.

This female cultivator’s name was Zuoqiu Feng. She was the most talented member of the previous generation of the Zuoqiu Family. Though only twenty-four years his senior, she had successfully undergone Core Formation ten years ago, becoming a Golden Core Cultivator.

In the clan’s internal competitions, he had never once defeated this elder; she had always put him firmly in his place. This was despite him being of the direct lineage and enjoying far more cultivation resources than this “aunt” of his.

If Zuoqiu Feng’s father hadn’t been a man who married into the Zuoqiu Family, the one to wield the Three Flames Five Beasts Fan should have been her.

After Zuoqiu Feng formed her Golden Core, her status within the Zuoqiu Family soared. However, she always ignored the family’s attempts to placate her, remaining on the fringes of the Zuoqiu Family’s inner circle and showing no interest in clan affairs.

The Zuoqiu Family naturally knew why. For a Noble Family like theirs, with a heritage spanning tens of thousands of years, recruiting talented sons-in-law was a common method of acquiring new blood. Zuoqiu Feng’s father had been an outstanding disciple from the master-disciple lineage. Having fallen in love with Zuoqiu Feng’s mother, he willingly forsook his own lineage to marry into the Zuoqiu Family.

However, after he married in, the other disciples of his generation within the Noble Family did not forget their past grievances. He was ostracized within the Zuoqiu Family and died, full of sorrow and regret, at the young age of only one hundred and fifty-six.

Just as Zuoqiu Ye was about to say something, Zuoqiu Feng stretched lazily and stood up.

“Zuoqiu Muxun, take me to see this Yang Jing. Speaking of which, for such a genius to appear in the Sect, I’ve never even met him. I hear he’s a rare beauty among men, which has certainly piqued my curiosity.”

The green-robed young man glanced at Zuoqiu Ye, looking troubled. This “grand-aunt” of theirs was notorious within the Zuoqiu Family for doing as she pleased, and after she formed her Golden Core, she became even more unrestrained.

Zuoqiu Ye simply turned his head away. Out of sight, out of mind.

Zuoqiu Muxun had no choice but to turn and lead Zuoqiu Feng away.

Watching the two of them leave, Zuoqiu Ye gripped the Three Flames Five Beasts Fan in his hand tightly. Although he had long ago spread the word that he was preparing for Core Formation, only he knew the truth of his situation.

He was still one final step away from Core Formation. A step that could take anywhere from three to five years, or perhaps even thirty to forty.

’Hmph. Just wait until I achieve Core Formation. I’ll make you pay!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep