Chapter 57: Waiting by the Tree for the Hare

Pengcheng.

This imperial capital, having enjoyed a millennium of peace, now flourished in culture and prosperity. By day, the streets bustled with endless carriages; by night, the city glowed with countless lights.

Among the Three Kingdoms, Great Ming was the strongest, Great Han inherited the most from Former Qin, yet unbeknownst to many, Great Chu had become the wealthiest of all.

“Willows in the mist, painted bridges, emerald curtains in the breeze, ten thousand households scattered among them…”

From the sky, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign gazed down upon Pengcheng, unable to suppress her awe at the city’s beauty.

She thought to herself, “I need only kill that man surnamed Fan. Once Zhi’er becomes empress, the wealth of Chu will be mine to command.”

Within the city, three architectural complexes stood out in grandeur: the imperial palace of Great Chu, the Dragon God Hall, and the Fan Residence.

“The palace is as it should be, but both the Fan Residence and the Dragon God Hall shall belong to me. Though of little practical use, they will serve well to host the other Sovereigns of the Pure Land, to show them what I am capable of.”

Her mood soared.

With hands clasped behind her back, she hovered above the void, her gaze finally settling upon the Dragon God Hall as she descended gracefully.

“Wuzhui, come out and meet me.”

She landed upon the wide plaza before the Dragon God Hall, making no attempt to force her way in.

Wuzhui was now the Guardian Divine Beast of Chu, possessing considerable status. Having cultivated the body of a dragon and attained first-grade Mahayana strength, she was not much weaker than the Blood Phoenix Sovereign herself.

It was only proper to show courtesy before resorting to force; at this moment, Blood Phoenix was willing to grant Wuzhui a measure of respect.

Moreover, rumor had it that Wuzhui had imprisoned Fan Li. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, thought the Blood Phoenix. There was no need for conflict between her and Wuzhui.

The great doors slowly opened with the creak of pressed wood.

A woman in black emerged from within, pausing atop the steps, gazing down at the Blood Phoenix who stood ten paces away.

“I am Wuzhui.”

“I am Blood Phoenix, from the Pure Sound Land,” she replied with a smile. “I hear Fan Li has offended you? Hand him over, and I’ll kill him for you.”

Wuzhui remained silent, her quiet gaze fixed upon the Blood Phoenix.

After a brief wait, impatience crept into the Blood Phoenix’s voice. “What is the meaning of this? Are you unwilling?”

Still, Wuzhui said nothing.

At last, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign sensed something amiss. Was Wuzhui stalling for time? She said coldly, “Did you know I was coming? Are you waiting for me on purpose? Are you in league with Fan Li?”

Wuzhui nodded. “Yes.”

The Blood Phoenix was stunned. Such a crucial piece of information, and yet Xiang Chong had not told her? What use was he!

With a new Mahayana opponent to contend with, the Blood Phoenix was more than a little vexed. Fortunately, her own strength surpassed Wuzhui’s by a grade, and she was confident of victory.

“What has Fan Li given you? If you’re willing to follow me, I can offer you so much more!” she said through gritted teeth.

Wuzhui shook her head. “It’s of no use. I’ve sworn by the Heavenly Way to accept him as my master.”

The Blood Phoenix was utterly shocked. For a Mahayana master to accept another as their lord? Impossible! What could Fan Li possibly possess? Rumor had it he had just begun his cultivation journey, the weakest of all practitioners.

“No, something’s wrong!”

A sudden realization dawned. If Wuzhui had known she was coming, was the Dragon God Hall a trap laid for her? She could not believe Fan Li could set such a trap and defeat her. More likely, Fan Li was not here at all!

To kill Fan Li was the Blood Phoenix Sovereign’s sole aim.

She prepared to leave at once; even if Wuzhui tried to stop her, she would not waste another moment.

“Honored Sovereign, I ought to greet you as host of Pengcheng, but alas, I am timid and cherish my life. I must have protection to dare meet you, even from afar.”

As the Blood Phoenix prepared to depart, a lazy, slightly provoking voice drifted from the Dragon God Hall.

She froze, then sneered in delight.

Within the hall, a man waved at her with a smile—it could only be Fan Li.

“Hmph! Does he think Wuzhui can guarantee his safety? Utter folly!”

With Wuzhui between them, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign studied Fan Li.

She possessed secret arts from the Pure Sound Land, able to see through many disguises and illusions.

Her pupils shimmered with a subtle light.

When the technique was done, she confirmed that the man in the Dragon God Hall showed his true face—no disguise at all.

His cultivation was as rumored: laughably weak, at the very first stage of body refinement.

“If you would do me the favor, Wuzhui, I could recommend you to train in the Pure Sound Land,” the Blood Phoenix suddenly suggested.

It was a powerful temptation.

The Pure Sound Land was revered as a ‘Holy Land’ because its rate of ascension was exceptionally high—over half its sovereigns throughout history had soared to the immortal realm.

Yet the entry threshold was daunting. Unless chosen as a child for extraordinary talent, as Princess Changle had been, it was nearly impossible to join. Even with thousands of years of cultivation and Mahayana strength, someone like Wuzhui would still be considered a thief coveting their secrets.

Of course, the Blood Phoenix had no intention of truly welcoming Wuzhui into the Pure Land.

Since Wuzhui had pledged herself to Fan Li, she was an enemy, not an ally.

All she wanted was to sow a moment’s hesitation in Wuzhui, enough for a surprise attack.

As expected!

Wuzhui’s eyes grew clouded—was she tempted?

Blood Phoenix sneered. In a blur, she darted past Wuzhui with dazzling speed, striking straight at Fan Li, who hid within the Dragon God Hall.

“Die, foolish man!”

She reached out with one hand, intending to crush him like an ant.

The speed of a second-grade Mahayana was simply overwhelming; Fan Li had no time to react.

His gaze was still fixed upon the spot where the Blood Phoenix had stood before her attack.

“It’s done!” she exulted inwardly.

The difference in strength was insurmountable—Fan Li had no hope of resistance.

But just as these thoughts flashed through her mind, a barrier sprang up a pace before Fan Li, blocking her path.

Her outstretched hand collided with the barrier, sending a jolt of searing pain through her fingertips.

“What kind of defense is this? Even I can’t break through?”

The Blood Phoenix was stunned.

Yet in the next moment, an even greater shock awaited her.

The barrier, colored like earth and stone, was not merely defensive—it pushed forward, slamming into her and tossing her bodily out of the Dragon God Hall.

“There’s another expert here?!”

She barely managed to halt herself midair, unharmed but shaken. Instantly she realized that someone else within the Dragon God Hall was shielding Fan Li.

A flash of radiant light, dazzling as the rising sun, filled her vision.

In an instant, the barrier expanded a hundredfold, enveloping the entire Dragon God Hall in a flawless protective dome.

The Blood Phoenix, well-traveled and knowledgeable, could not help but exclaim, “A Confucian Dao artifact—‘The Annals of Lü Buwei’?!”

She had no time to wonder why a Confucian Dao master would oppose her, when suddenly a furious wind rose behind her.

Turning instinctively, she glimpsed a massive pillar of black shadow crashing down.

She quickly saw it for what it was—the tail of a black dragon.

Smack!

The second-grade Mahayana master, Blood Phoenix, the lowest-ranked Sovereign of the Pure Sound Land, was struck from the sky by a single mighty blow from Wuzhui’s tail.