Chapter 13: Fairy Suspends Sword, Aura Like a Rainbow

This was the last autumn rain before winter, falling abruptly with an indescribable chill, even before the sun had reached its zenith.

Leaden black clouds gathered and collided. Behind them, bright bolts of lightning writhed like colossal pythons in a sea of clouds, unleashing a thunderous clamor as they brought forth wind and rain.

Mist swirled over Qifeng Lake. In the Imperial City, pedestrians ran frantically. When the Blood-Feathered Lord suddenly appeared on the city wall, civil and military officials scattered in all directions. The interconnected palace halls, now veiled by dark clouds, resembled a cage for trapped beasts.

Outside the Imperial Preceptor’s mansion, the experts who had long been in hiding, lying in wait, were also shocked by this sudden turn of events.

The reappearance of the Blood-Feathered Lord was no small matter. Such a demon beast typically required a powerful cultivator to lead the charge, along with dozens of cultivators working together, to repel it.

However, they were united to kill Zhao Xiang’er, and this demon beast was never part of their calculations. They couldn't afford to suffer losses because of it. Furthermore, many here were from the Jin and Rong kingdoms; why would they bother with Zhao’s mess?

Heavy rain poured down across the land. On the city wall, demonic power raged. Amidst thunder and lightning, the Blood-Feathered Lord’s piercing shriek echoed sharply throughout the Imperial City, laden with a scent of bloody slaughter.

As the Blood-Feathered Lord stepped, the city wall began to crack, inch by inch.

But for some unknown reason, the demon bird did not head directly for the Imperial City. Instead, it moved along the city wall, trampling flags and toppling watchtowers, destroying everything in its path.

In front of Qifeng Lake, Ning Xiaoling’s face turned pale from the astonishing development. She stumbled backward, nearly falling into the lake had Ning Changjiu not pulled her back.

“Brother… Brother!” She clutched Ning Changjiu’s arm tightly, rain pouring onto her pale face. Ahead, large sections of shattered bricks occasionally collapsed, creating deafening noises.

Ning Changjiu’s expression was equally grim. He watched the monstrous bird wantonly destroying the palace walls. Its immense, devouring demonic power was clearly restrained, yet even from afar, he felt captivated and uneasy.

“Let’s go home,” Ning Changjiu said decisively.

Ning Xiaoling froze for a moment, then exhaled in relief. She had been afraid that her brother, unaware of the immense danger, would rush forward to fight the monstrous bird. The girl nodded repeatedly, “Yes, Brother!”

Fortunately, Zhao Shisong’s residence was in the opposite direction from where the monstrous bird was heading.

As Ning Changjiu left, he kept glancing back at the direction the monstrous bird had taken, while Ning Xiaoling ran, covering her ears, wanting only to get as far away as possible from the raging beast.

The Imperial City was in chaos.

Many years ago, when the Blood-Feathered Lord first appeared, it had rampaged through numerous small border towns, passing many passes and strongholds before reaching the Imperial City. At that time, the cultivators within the city were already standing ready.

This time, however, it appeared almost without warning. For the past twenty days, rumors about the Sparrow Ghost had grown, and when the Witch Lord appeared earlier and spoke the Blood-Feathered Lord’s name, many connected the Sparrow Ghost to it.

Back then, the Blood-Feathered Lord had fled in defeat and had not been heard from since. Such a powerful and vengeful demon beast must have harbored deep resentment.

Now, with no empress dowager to guard the Imperial City, it had returned.

The panic regarding the ‘Sparrow Ghost’ had already clouded the city for about twenty days, and now that the Blood-Feathered Lord had truly appeared, it instantly terrified everyone.

Many strange birds had already gathered in the city, and now, with its appearance, those birds braved the heavy rain to flock around it, chirping incessantly, like a retinue surrounding their sovereign.

The Blood-Feathered Lord flapped its wings, looking at the scattering crowds and the extremely excited birds. Then, it wearily crushed a brick, sighing.

When it first approached the city all those years ago, it had been so arrogant and overbearing, thinking that in such a small country, it could come and go as it pleased. Even when it was eventually ambushed and injured by an old man called the Witch Lord, forcing a temporary retreat, it had not been disheartened. It merely felt it was still young, and after a few more years of cultivation and recovery, it would surely become a Demon King that could dominate the Southern Continent.

Until later, it met that woman…

The Blood-Feathered Lord, though young among demon beasts, found itself strangely aged when contemplating the past. Looking down at the city now, its eyes held a hint of weariness.

The Imperial City’s grand formation had already been activated.

However, given Zhao’s current decline and the emperor’s weakness, this grand formation seemed somewhat ceremonial.

Yet, the Blood-Feathered Lord still did not rashly step inside.

Even a weak formation would be a hindrance, affecting its speed during its imminent escape.

Its objective was simply to create chaos, drawing everyone’s attention to itself to buy time for Zhao Xiang’er.

She had once warned it never to overdo things out of mischievousness. Everything must proceed according to plan, and it should know when to quit, otherwise…

At this thought, the infamous Blood-Feathered Lord couldn't help but shiver, thinking that she was indeed the daughter of that woman.

“Sigh, to think that after being a carrier pigeon for so many years, I’m starting to develop professional ethics…”

It muttered self-deprecatingly, then raised its head and puffed out its chest, extending its wings to their fullest span, looking majestic.

Wind was born between its wings.

It opened its long beak and spoke in human tongue. Its authoritative and sharp voice penetrated the curtain of rain, enveloping the entire Imperial City.

“Old Witch Dog, you treacherously ambushed me years ago, and I was carelessly wounded by a sword. Today, this Lord has returned, stronger than ever! Do you, old Witch Dog, who lives like a tortoise in its shell, dare to come out for a fair fight?”

It cleared its throat and continued:

“This Lord hears that a little girl from Yujian Tianzong has arrived today. Listen well, this is a private feud between me and that old Witch Dog. It has nothing to do with you, so do not interfere. Otherwise, hmm, otherwise…”

The Blood-Feathered Lord was still formulating its threat when the palace gates swung open.

Beyond the pitch-black palace entrance, a white figure emerged like a specter.

At the instant the white figure appeared, the overwhelming rain was drawn by sword energy, hurtling towards the Blood-Feathered Lord’s position. The figure lingered at the palace gate for only a moment. In the heavy rain, a brilliant white light erupted, stretching from the palace gate across the Imperial City. Where the white light passed, the raindrops were illuminated to a brilliant sheen, as if each strand contained immense light and reflected countless piercing murderous intentions.

A white rainbow pierced the sky!

As sword energy surged and receded, a clear sword hum rang out. The distance of several hundred yards was now crossed in an instant.

The Blood-Feathered Lord’s pupils constricted sharply, the whites of its eyes illuminated to an extreme brightness.

It cursed inwardly, thinking that those from the immortal sects were still the same, claiming to ignore mortal affairs yet always meddling.

After a swift calculation, it could only brace itself and meet the attack head-on.

Rain poured relentlessly, and the sky-clouds shattered.

Above the palace, two figures, one red and one white, were already entwined in battle. Sword energy crisscrossed, and demonic light raged. In their wake, roof ridges were violently torn open by spiritual power, and eaves, beams, and tiles were crushed into dust.

Ning Xiaoling covered her ears, still shaken, and looked up at the sky.

While the Blood-Feathered Lord’s massive form was discernible, the woman from Yujian Tianzong, carried by sword energy, was completely elusive. It was impossible to tell whether she generated the sword energy or if the sword energy propelled her. From afar, one could only see beauty like snow and sword energy like frost.

“Is that… an immortal?” Ning Xiaoling gazed blankly, momentarily forgetting to flee.

Ning Changjiu said, “Indeed, she is very formidable.”

Ning Xiaoling tilted her head and asked, “Brother, can we become this powerful someday?”

Ning Changjiu replied, “Sister, you are exceptionally gifted. As long as you cultivate diligently and avoid unrighteous paths, you will surely reach perfection.”

Ning Xiaoling pursed her lips, as if tasting the rain. She blinked and said, “Brother, you mustn’t lie to me.”

Ning Changjiu said, “Of course not.”

Ning Xiaoling cautiously asked, “Oh, what if I accidentally choose the wrong path one day?”

Ning Changjiu seemed to have had the answer ready. He calmly said, “I will slay the demon, and you will remain.”

At that moment, a chilling depth appeared in the girl’s eyes. She raised her hand, reaching out towards Ning Changjiu’s back.

Before her hand touched his spine, Ning Changjiu naturally caught her wrist and smiled, “When immortals fight, mortals suffer. Let’s head back sooner.”

Ning Xiaoling snapped back to reality. Ning Changjiu was already pulling her by the wrist towards Prince Zhao’s residence.

“Ouch, ouch…” Ning Xiaoling twisted her arm, wincing slightly.

Approaching the side courtyard, Ning Xiaoling took out the key, glancing at the sky with a mix of reluctance and fear.

The courtyard gate opened. Ning Xiaoling went around to push her brother into the house, muttering, “Oh, Brother, please don’t be a busybody again. This Imperial City is too scary. If anything happens to you, I won’t be able to drag you away.”

In the Undying Forest, the gate of the Witch Lord’s Hall opened silently.

He had heard the Blood-Feathered Lord’s challenge just now but had not acted immediately.

Only after seeing the sword light erupt from the Imperial City did he push open the door, still holding the ancient text in his hand.

This ancient text was the true inheritance of successive Witch Lords. It was like a living historian, growing its own pages to record the history of the Imperial City. At the same time, every line of text was also a true miniature map of the Imperial City.

He turned to the last page, where a prophecy, revealed only after he had refined it with his essence blood, was inscribed:

“Execute Heaven, Model Earth, Sacrifice with City-States.”

He had never understood what this sentence foretold, but he vaguely felt the extremely cold, murderous implication behind it.

He looked at the rain outside the window, and his old, hunched body trembled uncontrollably:

“Could it be… today?”

His gaze suddenly fell upon an ancient well in front of the Witch Lord’s Hall, but he quickly extinguished that absurd thought.

Only the Imperial Preceptor and he knew the secret of this well. Furthermore, even if the Imperial Preceptor had told Zhao Xiang’er, she shouldn't be so foolish as to go down the well to seek that almost nonexistent hope. If she truly did go down…

That would be even better. It would be a sure death, saving him the trouble of doing it himself.

He turned his head, looking at a black-winged pug on a wooden perch, and said:

“Tell Qiu Li that the plan remains unchanged. Keep a close watch on the Imperial Preceptor’s mansion. Don’t worry about that beast in the sky; I will kill it.”