Chapter Twelve: The Phoenix Clan Emerging from the Secret Realm

Yu Xiyue knew the question was directed at her. “I’ll go.” No matter what Yuan Yibai’s true intentions were—whether it was the bamboo peach jade pendant or the Yin-Yang Jade of Immortal and Demon—if she was unwilling, it was all for naught. Besides, with Feng Qinghe heading into the Illusory Labyrinth, as his master, it was only right that she be there to support him. She couldn’t possibly rely on the clan chief, his fourth uncle, who still bore a grudge for his father’s death.

She wondered if she could help Feng Qinghe improve his cultivation within these two months.

Yuan Yibai was somewhat surprised by her agreement, feeling both honored and a little flustered. He glanced discreetly at the bamboo peach jade at Yu Xiyue’s waist, lost in memories, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

This made Junyang rather displeased. He secretly sent a voice transmission to Yu Xiyue, “I think that boy is coveting your universe pouch.”

Yu Xiyue opened her eyes, looked down at the little snake coiled by her side, who seemed a bit indignant, and said calmly, “He hasn’t unlocked the pouch’s spiritual incantation. What’s the use of coveting it?”

“As the saying goes, wealth should not be flaunted. I think you were a bit too high-profile today,” Junyang insisted, certain that Yuan Yibai was after Yu Xiyue’s universe pouch.

“Why don’t you move your assets somewhere else?” Junyang suggested.

Yu Xiyue sighed helplessly, ignoring his suggestion. Instead, she fished the Yin-Yang Jade of Immortal and Demon out of the universe pouch and began to slowly absorb the spiritual energy it had converted from demonic qi in Anlin Town, drawing it into her body.

Junyang eyed the jade spinning incessantly at her chest, continuously releasing spiritual energy to her, and couldn’t help but ask, “This amount of spiritual energy means nothing to you. Why bother absorbing it?”

Yu Xiyue was naturally gifted at absorbing spiritual energy, far surpassing ordinary people. In no time, she had absorbed every last bit from the Yin-Yang Jade.

Indeed, for her, it was almost negligible.

She turned the jade over in her hand, observing it for a while before speaking to Junyang. “This jade was born sentient. It told me that as long as I keep absorbing the spiritual energy it collects, its quality will improve—from divine grade to sacred grade, or even higher. So I want to try.”

Junyang looked at the jade, now much more curious. “So it can enhance itself this way without being refined? That’s quite a treasure.”

“Yes, but I don’t know how much spiritual energy it will take.”

“I bet it’s a lot,” Junyang mused. Suddenly, an idea struck him. “Besides converting demonic qi, can’t it also actively absorb spiritual energy from its surroundings? Why not leave it on Xingruo Island? That’s your life-bound island, with dense spiritual energy, and the absorption rate is a hundred times faster than outside. It might upgrade quickly there.”

“That would require a soul contract. I’m not ready for that yet.”

“True. Without a contract, it would be expelled and shattered the moment it enters,” Junyang conceded, dropping the idea. “Then you’ll just have to take it slow.”

“Mm.” Yu Xiyue tossed the Yin-Yang Jade of Immortal and Demon back into the universe pouch without much thought.

The heads of the various sects and clans around her were all sitting in meditation, but Yu Xiyue couldn’t do the same. If she entered meditative cultivation, the surrounding spiritual energy would be drained in no time.

She glanced at Feng Qinghe and Yuan Yibai, then rose to head directly to the temporary rest chamber in the back.

Inside, there was a simple bed and some chairs. Yu Xiyue placed the Dreamshade Mushroom on the bed, then lay down herself to sleep.

Junyang set up a protective array at the door, then hopped onto the mushroom as well, closing his eyes to rest.

Thus, Yu Xiyue slept away two whole days, while Junyang occasionally left the room to chat with Feng Qinghe for entertainment. He could never sleep as soundly as Yu Xiyue did.

After Feng Ling’er and her group were transported out of the Clouddeep Secret Realm, they chattered incessantly as they walked.

“That earth-level snow wolf spirit beast was terrifying. Thankfully, we had the Spirit Flame Pearl Sister Tianwu gave us to scare it off,” Feng Ling’er patted her chest in lingering fear, still rattled by the experience.

“Yes, yes,” the others echoed, “it was huge—felt as tall as the main hall of Qinglan Sect.”

“And that butterfly-eating spirit flower! When it suddenly opened its mouth so wide, I thought I was done for. I was so scared I froze,” Feng Yuechi added. Having come out of the secret realm, she was bolder now, laughing and even joking.

The group, relieved to be alive, giggled as they made their way to Feng Qinghe.

“Brother Qinghe, we’re out!”

“Good. Did you gain anything?” Feng Qinghe looked them over—no injuries, no one missing. After all, they were members of the Feng Clan from the seventeenth continent.

They carried plenty of life-saving treasures and wouldn’t be easily harmed. Feng Qinghe hadn’t been overly worried.

Feng Ling’er opened her universe pouch and proudly produced a fiery red spirit egg. “This is a Truefire Spirit Turtle egg. I stole it while it wasn’t looking. Once we’re back home, I’ll hatch it and make it my contract beast. It’s a quasi-heaven level spirit beast!”

“Not bad,” Feng Qinghe nodded, then turned to Feng Yuechi. “What about you, Xiao Chi? Did you find anything?”

A little embarrassed, Feng Yuechi opened her pouch and took out a rusted iron whip. “I only picked up this.”

“I told you it was just a chunk of scrap metal, but you insisted on treating it like treasure,” Feng Ling’er scoffed. “You’d have been better off picking some flowers—they could at least be used as medicinal herbs.”

Feng Yuechi just grinned foolishly. “When I passed by, I saw a flash of red on the rust. Thought it might not be ordinary, so I brought it back.”

Feng Qinghe took the whip, examining it closely, but couldn’t discern anything special about its appearance.

While he was still puzzled, Yu Xiyue emerged from the rest chamber with Junyang. With a gesture, the iron whip flew straight to her hand.

“What are you doing? Even if it’s scrap, it’s still Yuechi’s!” Women are naturally wary of those more beautiful than themselves, and Feng Ling’er had disliked Yu Xiyue since they met at the foot of the mountain. Now she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Give it back! Just because you’re Qinghe’s master doesn’t mean we all have to defer to you!” she snapped.

Feng Yuechi pulled at her arm. “Ling’er, I don’t mind. Perhaps this senior can see something we missed.”

“What could she possibly see? You’re just too nice to everyone,” Feng Ling’er huffed, puffing her cheeks as she prepared to snatch the whip back.

But Yu Xiyue was faster. A lightning incantation shot from her forefinger, striking the iron whip. The whip trembled violently, emitting a piercing roar.

Feng Ling’er and the others felt as if their ears no longer belonged to them.

Yu Xiyue glanced at the group, all clutching their ears, and pursed her lips in mild disdain. “Can’t you seal your own hearing?”