Chapter 28: Between City-States, Suzaku Burns

The trembling sensation quickly faded. She adapted to the new power in her body, unable to determine her current cultivation level.

The old fox provided the answer for her: "The fifth level of the Purple Court."

Zhao Xiang'er was clearly a little disappointed. "So, only five levels."

The old fox said, "Indeed, it's not quite enough."

Zhao Xiang'er looked at him indifferently and said, "Then add one more level."

Her aura surged again. The illusory shadow of a fire phoenix spiraled around her. The young woman took a step, and cracks in the floor tiles beneath her feet rapidly spread outwards like a spiderweb.

In the square in front of the imperial palace, two auras collided. At their meeting point, chaotic currents of air swept out like a whirlwind scattering clouds. The surrounding flags, statues, railings, and tiled buildings were easily torn apart as if they were paper.

Amidst the violent currents, Zhao Xiang'er moved like sudden lightning. In half a breath, her figure, sword in hand, appeared before the old fox.

The old fox was prepared. His figure flickered, and he circled to her side, pointing a finger at a concentration of vital energy near her waist.

Zhao Xiang'er retaliated with an elbow, colliding with his finger. At the same time, she lifted her knee and extended her lower leg like a blade, aiming directly for a vital point in his chest.

The old fox withdrew his hand, transforming his finger into a claw. After shifting his body to the side, he swiftly seized her ankle, gripping it with force, intending to crush her bones.

The young woman immediately leaped, using her sword tip to tap the ground for leverage. Her other foot swiped out like a knife. The old fox was forced to withdraw his grappling hand. The young woman, taking advantage of the momentum, gracefully sprang into the air and landed lightly. Then, like a leopard, she surged forward, striking with a horizontal sword slash.

The old fox dared not meet the attack directly. His figure vanished again, reappearing behind her. Zhao Xiang'er seemed to have anticipated this. Before he fully materialized, she redirected her sword tip and swung it backward with a reverse grip, striking directly behind her.

Shattered stones flew behind her, and a large pit formed in the ground. The old fox still chose not to avoid the sword. Instead, he stepped directly on the blade. With a powerful press of his foot, the sword bent sharply downwards. Zhao Xiang'er couldn't withdraw her sword immediately, and the old fox’s straight punch came directly at her chest.

Zhao Xiang'er countered with her other hand, turning it into a palm strike. When the two connected, powerful surges of energy erupted between their bones. The surrounding air, unable to withstand the pressure, crackled and popped. Zhao Xiang'er, fighting two fists with one arm, showed no signs of being at a disadvantage. As the old fox's fist approached again, the sword blade under his foot suddenly burst into flames.

His body was forced to retreat, but the sword seemed to stick to his foot, with flames following him like a shadow.

Zhao Xiang'er's fingers moved like blooming flowers, first forming a hand seal then clenching into a fist. Within that small space, countless small, sparrow-like shadows flew from her fingertips, firmly locking onto the old fox's figure.

The old fox pointed his finger forward. Where his finger landed, one after another, ethereal vortices appeared. The sparrow-like shadows flew into the vortices, as if swallowed whole, vanishing instantly. Yet, the fist that followed those small sparrows still came forward.

With a loud bang, their fists collided directly. The old fox took a step back. Zhao Xiang'er's body swayed but she remained standing. At the same time, the sword in her other hand thrust out again, the flame at its tip flickering like a snake's tongue, creating a faint, almost invisible line pointing directly at his throat.

The old fox extended his hand, just as he had at Qifeng Lake, intending to directly grasp the sword blade.

His hand did grasp the blade, but only for an instant. The sword sliced off his finger and continued its path, piercing through his throat. Zhao Xiang'er twisted and churned the sword before fiercely cutting horizontally. Under the sharp edge of the sword aura, the body's head was directly severed.

A burst of flames erupted from the body, scattering like countless fireflies before the body completely exploded. They converged in the air, forming the shape of a demonic fox, which looked down from above at the young woman, who stood resolutely with her sword on the ground.

This battle was not as unrestrained and wide-ranging as the one at Qifeng Lake, where it was one against two, but it was far more perilous.

At Qifeng Lake, there was a suppression of cultivation levels, allowing the old fox to act freely. However, in this direct confrontation, unless there were immobilizing techniques like a "sword lock," it would be difficult for long-range spells to hit an opponent of the same cultivation level. To truly decide victory or defeat, the most primal close-quarters combat was required.

The old fox looked at the woman's body on the ground, which had been instantly reduced to ashes by the sword fire. A flicker of fear actually crossed the depths of his eyes.

Although fighting directly with his spiritual manifestation was more uninhibited, without the protection of a physical body, it was like flesh without skin—any injury caused pain that was multiplied exponentially.

The young woman's recovery only took a moment. Her wings behind her glowed brightly, and with a slight flutter, her body instantly shot up, reaching the same level as the old fox.

Her wings, burning with fire, resembled an angel's, yet her dark, formidable attire made her look like a fiend sent from hell. This bizarre combination created a contradictory yet mysterious beauty. At this moment, she seemed less like a mere woman and more like a holy spirit descended from heaven.

In the night sky, the two figures were like two hovering orbs of fire. After an eerie suspension, they transformed into two streaks of light and collided.

The entire city's night sky was illuminated at this moment.

Ning Changjiu stepped out of the house and looked up from under the eaves. The night sky over the imperial palace was now like a sea of fire.

Ning Xiaoling walked to his side, followed his gaze, and sincerely said, "It's truly beautiful."

Ning Changjiu said, "Years ago, at the temple, there was a moon sacrificial ceremony every four years. When thousands of lanterns ascended into the sky all at once, the scene was probably much like this."

Ning Xiaoling didn't ask which temple he was referring to. She leaned against a pillar, slowly slid down, and then sat on the ground with her knees hugged, staring blankly at the night sky. "The story of the young Daoist you told me last time, that was actually your story, wasn't it?"

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then nodded gently. "As I remember it, yes."

Ning Xiaoling asked curiously, "You were killed by your master, and then you woke up in this body?"

Ning Changjiu said, "After my master killed me, I was trapped in an extremely desolate place. From what I remember, a very long time passed before I woke up."

Ning Xiaoling asked, "Extremely desolate?"

Ning Changjiu nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, I even felt that it wasn't a place on this world at all."

Ning Xiaoling asked curiously, "Is it the Hidden Realm you mentioned?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I don't know. I've never had any contact with the Hidden Realm."

Ning Xiaoling asked, "Then who exactly are you now?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "I haven't figured that out yet, which is why I've stayed in this imperial city."

Ning Changjiu countered, "Then who is it that's speaking with me now?"

Ning Xiaoling looked at him, no longer feigning an innocent expression. She asked calmly, "What do you think, Senior Brother?"

Ning Changjiu didn't answer directly, only saying, "When we returned that day, you pushed me into the courtyard and deliberately left the gate open. I don't know what methods that old fox used, but Lu Jiajia would certainly come here as soon as she entered the city. What seemed like a coincidence was actually inevitable. If I hadn't stopped you before, you would likely be in the imperial palace right now, wouldn't you? If you were in the imperial palace now, what would you do?"

Ning Xiaoling shook her head and said, "I don't know either. My mind isn't obeying me."

Ning Changjiu asked, "When did it start?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "After I woke up... After I woke up that day, I found that there seemed to be something extra in my body. Then a voice spoke to me, told me some things, and asked me to keep it a secret. It said it would help me become a great cultivator."

Ning Changjiu said, "It was that old fox, wasn't it?"

Ning Xiaoling nodded. "I didn't know then, but I know now that it was."

Ning Changjiu sighed. "He was actually deceiving you."

Ning Xiaoling seemed to have expected this. She lowered her head and said, "Senior Brother, if you kill me now, it's still not too late."

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "You can't be blamed for this. It's simply a twist of fate."

Ning Xiaoling suddenly choked up. "If you don't kill me, you mustn't regret it. I won't end my own life."

Ning Changjiu leaned down, looked into her eyes, and said earnestly, "I will save you."

Ning Xiaoling's small body trembled. She looked at Ning Changjiu and said hoarsely, "Senior Brother, you truly don't know how strong he is. In a little while, we'll all be dead—Zhao Xiang'er, Sister Lu, you, Senior Brother... and me. No one will escape."

She closed her eyes. The demonic seed planted deep within her heart suddenly pulsed. She felt her consciousness blur, as if a distant presence was connecting with her vital energy and then taking over her body.

Ning Changjiu gently rubbed her head.

Only then did the blurry voice gradually recede like a tide.

This scene had actually happened many times in recent days. Every time that voice spoke, Ning Changjiu would gently rub her head. This seemingly affectionate gesture was, in fact, a temporary means to dispel the demonic seed's influence from her.

He didn't speak of it, and neither did she, so the two of them implicitly continued this for many days.

Ning Xiaoling opened her eyes and softly said, "Thank you."

Ning Changjiu looked at the night sky and asked, "What else has that old fox told you these past few days?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "What else could it be? Just that typical trickery to lure little girls. I didn't believe any of it, but my life is in his hands, so what choice did I have but to believe?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Then tell me a story about your childhood."

Ning Xiaoling looked up at the sky, shook her head, and said, "It's too late. It's about to end."

Inside the blue-and-white sedan chair, Lu Jiajia slowly woke up.

Her injuries were no longer serious, but the previous scene kept replaying in her mind.

The old fox had clutched her neck and lifted her into the air. The terror of impending death repeatedly washed over her sword heart. Then, the figure rushing towards her with a sword appeared—that back, growing brighter and brighter in her sword heart, like a pure beam of light.

She had wondered if it might have been that somewhat mysterious and eccentric young man, but upon seeing him just now, she realized their attire was different.

Nevertheless, the young man named Ning Changjiu had saved her once again.

"Be careful of Ning Xiaoling..."

She took out the prescription again and looked at it upside down, the chill in her heart only intensifying.

She found it hard to imagine that the charming and adorable little girl could be so dangerous...

Recalling the time she had spent alone with her in the room, her body began to feel cold again. As she now recalled all the details, she gradually understood that the old fox must have planted a demonic seed within the young girl.

Logically, only those of the same lineage or origin could nurture a demonic seed. Could it be that Ning Xiaoling was also a fox spirit?

But she was clearly human...

Lu Jiajia couldn't understand how the old fox had done it, but she was now certain that there was an inseparable connection between the little girl and the old fox.

In her previous battle with the old fox, every one of his attacks coincided precisely with the moments she inhaled or exhaled her sword qi. This was no coincidence; it must have been Ning Xiaoling who, after reading the cultivation technique she had given her, relayed that information to the old demonic fox.

Her clever but misguided decision to take on a disciple had almost led to her own demise.

She sighed, remembering her true purpose for coming here, and gave a self-deprecating smile.

She had originally thought she could find an opportunity to break into the Purple Court realm. Now, her cultivation had not only failed to advance but had regressed, and her once clear and transparent sword heart was now clouded with dust.

She rolled up the curtain and stepped out.

At this moment, she was the only person in the imperial palace.

Above the imperial palace, seas of fire flared and extinguished, resembling the intermittent flashes of lightning behind the clouds.

She averted her gaze, having decided not to intervene further.

Before disaster truly struck, she had to return. In the current situation, no one but the Sect Master could help.

As for Zhao Xiang'er, the main culprit, she felt only regret, not pity.

High above, the battle was not intensifying; instead, it was rapidly nearing its end.

The old fox had been at a disadvantage from the beginning. His spirit had been struck by many swords, but none were fatal. The sword's trajectory, seemingly perilous, managed to narrowly avoid disaster every time. This was not luck or coincidence; he was feigning weakness.

In fact, he had begun feigning weakness since his very first battle at Qifeng Lake.

All the battles that occurred in the imperial city today were a performance staged for Zhao Xiang'er.

He wanted her to underestimate him. He wanted to give her the illusion that she could certainly defeat him once she left the city.

If he had wished, he could have easily killed Lu Jiajia on the long street earlier.

"How do you feel?"

After the two figures separated, the old fox asked the young woman opposite him with a smile.

Zhao Xiang'er flapped her fiery wings, hovering in the air. At this moment, her sword-holding hand was already a little unsteady, and her suppressive power in combat was weakening. After all, she was too young; even though she had suddenly gained Purple Court realm cultivation, she didn't know how to fully utilize it.

The disparity between them was, after all, too great.

Zhao Xiang'er looked at the old fox and said coldly, "The Vermilion Bird Fire Staff is on me. If you want it, kill me."

The old fox sighed and said, "Then I bid Your Highness farewell."

He raised his hand. From the flames behind him, a chilling aura suddenly condensed. At the same time, around Zhao Xiang'er, icy blue coldness and blood-red firelight simultaneously flared, like two chains.

This was the barrier he had created.

The icy and fiery elements had been hidden by the old fox around them during the previous fight. Now, at this moment, they activated, leaving Zhao Xiang'er no time to react before she was trapped within.

Zhao Xiang'er felt an extremely strong sense of absurdity.

She felt utterly weightless, as if the surrounding air had been sucked out. No matter how she flapped her wings, she couldn't generate enough wind to propel herself.

This was a barrier the old fox had erected by simulating the laws of heaven and earth. Within that barrier, his own laws reigned supreme.

A phantom sword condensed in his palm. The old fox aimed at the young woman's chest, about to unleash his strike.

Just as the old fox felt victory was assured, he suddenly saw the young woman, who should have been a cornered beast, curl her lips into a faint smile. He wondered if it was an illusion.

Zhao Xiang'er also raised the sword in her hand.

Trapped within the barrier, her sword couldn't possibly break through it quickly. How could she escape and counterattack?

But precisely at that moment, this seemingly ordinary movement caused a premonition of death to stir within the old fox!

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but it was that premonition that prevented him from unleashing his phantom sword as quickly as possible. And at that very same moment, the sword in Zhao Xiang'er's hand flew out.