Chapter 68: Consecutive Departures

Yuyang Palace.

"I truly didn't expect your Liu family to have a descendant awaken the Phoenix Divine Body bloodline," said Marquis Nanyun, who was clean-shaven and had a humble smile, looking like an ordinary scholar. "Speaking of which, the Gongsun family hasn't had anyone awaken the Phoenix Divine Body bloodline for five hundred years. Including Liu Qiyue, neither of the two individuals with Phoenix bloodline in the world today are from the Gongsun family. Indeed, the world is full of surprises."

Liu Yebai sat nearby, smiling as he glanced at his daughter, Liu Qiyue, beside him. He then said, "My Liu family had a marriage alliance with the Gongsun family in my grandmother's generation."

"I know," Marquis Nanyun nodded. "To preserve their Phoenix bloodline, the Gongsun family used to prohibit intermarriage with outsiders. However, after several centuries without a descendant awakening the bloodline, coupled with the threat of the demon race, the Gongsun family began intermarrying. Haha, this intermarriage has brought two Phoenix Divine Body Godfiends to our human race."

"Can I become a Godfiend?" Liu Qiyue couldn't help but ask. "I only achieved the Unity realm last year."

"Achieving the Unity realm at sixteen is quite good," Marquis Nanyun nodded. "Rest assured, if Yuanchu Mountain intends to cultivate you into a Godfiend, you will certainly succeed."

"Qiyue, since you've awakened the Phoenix bloodline, you should become a Godfiend," Liu Yebai also said.

Marquis Nanyun continued, "The news of you awakening the Phoenix Divine Body bloodline has already reached Yuanchu Mountain. They have dispatched someone who is already on their way and will arrive in Dongning Prefecture today! At that time, you'll have to leave and go to Yuanchu Mountain."

"Leave today?" Liu Qiyue felt everything was too sudden.

"Yes," Marquis Nanyun nodded. "I cannot stay in Dongning Prefecture indefinitely, nor can Yuanchu Mountain dispatch powerful Godfiends just to protect you. Therefore, entering Yuanchu Mountain immediately is the safest option."

Liu Yebai also said, "Qiyue, with the awakened Phoenix bloodline, you must cultivate diligently and make yourself powerful."

"Mhm," Liu Qiyue nodded solemnly. Having witnessed the demon invasion firsthand, she intensely yearned to become stronger to fight against the demon race.

Meng Chuan and his father arrived at Yuyang Palace.

"Young Master Meng, please wait here for a moment. The Marquis is currently meeting with Young Master Yan." An elderly man led them, and Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang could only wait to the side. They also saw Liu Yebai and Liu Qiyue sitting in a nearby pavilion.

"A'Chuan!" Liu Qiyue was even more surprised. She hadn't truly met Meng Chuan since the demon invasion. After Meng Chuan killed two demon grand commanders at Lieyang Dao Academy and then led the Poison Pond Demon King away, fleeing all the while, Liu Qiyue, on the other hand, was quickly brought to Yuyang Palace. The two of them hadn't had a chance to speak properly.

"Qiyue," Meng Chuan also ran over happily. "Are you alright? You seemed quite heavily injured back at Lieyang Dao Academy."

"I just used a forbidden technique for a bit too long," Liu Qiyue smiled and shook her head. "I'll recover after resting for about a month."

Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

"A'Chuan, I... I..." Liu Qiyue whispered with some reluctance, "I might be leaving Dongning Prefecture today."

"Leaving Dongning Prefecture today?" Meng Chuan was surprised. He recalled the fiery arrow Liu Qiyue had once shot.

"Why the sudden departure?" Meng Dajiang couldn't help but ask. Qiyue had come to Mirror Lake Meng Manor when she was very young, and over the years, she had been like their own child. Meng Dajiang was also reluctant to see her go.

Liu Yebai then said, "Qiyue has awakened the Phoenix Divine Body bloodline. Yuanchu Mountain wants to take her immediately, and she will cultivate there from now on."

"Awakened the Phoenix bloodline and entering Yuanchu Mountain?" Meng Dajiang was somewhat astonished. He, of course, knew about the Phoenix bloodline. There are many types of divine bodies. Divine bodies like 'Thunder-type' are generally powerful but difficult to cultivate, with the cultivation for the pinnacle Thunder divine body being exceptionally rigorous. However, the Phoenix Divine Body is even more demanding; outsiders cannot cultivate it at all. Only those who awaken the Phoenix bloodline can. This makes Godfiends cultivating the Phoenix Divine Body extremely rare; the 'Gongsun family,' known as the Phoenix clan, hasn't had a descendant awaken the bloodline in five hundred years. In the world, there is currently only one Phoenix Divine Body Godfiend, and Liu Qiyue will be the second.

"Being able to enter Yuanchu Mountain is something we all dream of," Meng Dajiang quickly realized, smiling as he looked at Liu Qiyue. "We should be happy for Qiyue."

"A'Chuan," Liu Qiyue was very reluctant to part with Meng Chuan.

"I'll also enter Yuanchu Mountain this coming twelfth lunar month," Meng Chuan smiled. "We'll be able to see each other then."

"Mhm," Liu Qiyue nodded, though there was still much reluctance in her heart.

While Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were chatting, inside the hall, Marquis Nanyun was speaking with Yan Jin.

"This time, the sword seal King Anhai placed on you saved the entire Dongning Prefecture," Marquis Nanyun said with emotion. "It's destiny. If you hadn't been in Dongning Prefecture, it might truly have been annihilated by the demon race."

Yan Jin stood there, listening obediently.

"However, with the failure of this demon invasion, they will certainly investigate the cause thoroughly," Marquis Nanyun stated. "King Anhai has always been stationed at Anhai Pass, and the might of that 'Heavenly Tribulation Sword' was only one or two tenths of what King Anhai could personally unleash. Thus, it's easy for the demon side to deduce that this was likely just a sword seal from King Anhai. Sealing a sword seal is difficult and requires a great price. King Anhai has only sealed sword seals on a few of his children."

"King Anhai has seven children; five of them have already become Godfiends. Only the youngest two are still mortals, and the sixth child cultivates within Anhai Pass. Only you came to Dongning Prefecture," Marquis Nanyun explained. "Although your identity is confidential, the demon race might still be able to uncover it. Once they discover you are King Anhai's son, it would be normal for them to send the Heavenly Demon Gate to assassinate you. Therefore, you must leave Dongning Prefecture."

"Leave?" Yan Jin was taken aback.

"You might die if you stay here," Marquis Nanyun said. "You can come with me to the Prefectural City; you'll naturally be safe at my place. Or you can return to Anhai Pass! You'd have even less to worry about at Anhai Pass."

"No," Yan Jin shook his head. "I won't go to Anhai Pass, nor do I want to go to the Prefectural City."

Marquis Nanyun frowned. "Why are you so unreasonable?"

"Don't worry, Marquis, I will leave Dongning Prefecture. It won't be easy for the demon race to find me," Yan Jin stated.

"You..." Marquis Nanyun shook his head, recalling what the letter had described: that King Anhai's seventh son was indeed reclusive and extreme in nature. "How about this: you're planning to take the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination this year, aren't you?" Marquis Nanyun asked.

"Yes," Yan Jin nodded.

Yuanchu Mountain has strict rules; only truly peerless prodigies are invited to enter. Everyone else must take the entrance examination. This applies universally, whether one is a child of King Anhai or a prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Those whose strength is insufficient are all eliminated. Liu Qiyue's 'Phoenix bloodline' makes her the second person in the world to possess it. Naturally, she doesn't need to be tested; Yuanchu Mountain will admit her immediately. As for Yan Jin, he still had to undergo the examination.

"In that case, you can go directly to Yuanchu City and take the Yuanchu Mountain examination when the twelfth lunar month arrives," Marquis Nanyun said.

Yan Jin considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright." He disliked Anhai Pass, and even more so the Prefectural City, because both places had a large number of King Anhai's clan members.

"Someone from Yuanchu Mountain will come to pick up Liu Qiyue today. You can travel with them to Yuanchu City then," Marquis Nanyun said with a slight smile.

"Yes," Yan Jin nodded.

A short while later, Meng Dajiang and his son, Meng Chuan, came to pay their respects to Marquis Nanyun.

"Marquis Nanyun." The moment Meng Chuan saw Marquis Nanyun, his heart was secretly startled. His senses were usually infallible, yet in his perception, Marquis Nanyun seemed to not exist at all! Even while in the same hall, within a ten-zhang radius, his 'sensing' domain couldn't detect Marquis Nanyun in the slightest. Only his physical eyes could see him. This strange situation startled Meng Chuan and made him realize something: "There's always someone better, and a higher realm beyond. While my senses are special and mysterious, they are clearly useless before Marquis Nanyun." After all, the Marquis was one of Wuzhou's most formidable Godfiends; it was understandable that his 'sensing' ability would be completely ineffective.

"Greetings, Marquis," both Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan bowed.

"Be seated," Marquis Nanyun instructed, looking at Meng Chuan with curiosity. After Meng Chuan sat down, he asked, "Meng Chuan, I heard that at Lieyang Dao Academy, you successively killed two demon grand commanders?"

"Yes," Meng Chuan immediately replied.

"Have you reached the realm of 'Blade Intent'?" Marquis Nanyun pressed.

The unification of body, mind, and technique constitutes the first major realm, 'Unity'. When techniques like swordsmanship and saber-play form a unique 'momentum', their power greatly increases, and they can even draw upon the power of heaven and earth. The 'Momentum' realm is the second major realm. Furthermore, if one advances, the blade's momentum becomes a cohesive whole, nurturing one's own 'Blade Intent'. Blade Intent is profound and unfathomable; many Godfiends spend their entire lives pursuing the power of the 'Intent' realm. 'Blade Intent' is also the third major realm of saber techniques.

"No, I haven't comprehended Blade Intent yet," Meng Chuan quickly stated.

"Oh," Marquis Nanyun was slightly disappointed. He had heard that a young man named Meng Chuan in Dongning Prefecture had killed a demon grand commander with a single strike, and then another one consecutively. Marquis Nanyun's first thought was that Meng Chuan must have comprehended 'Blade Intent', reaching the third major realm of saber techniques. To comprehend 'Blade Intent' at eighteen would indeed make him a peerless prodigy capable of astonishing Yuanchu Mountain, warranting immediate recruitment without needing to take the entrance examination. Unfortunately, he had overthought it.

"Then how did you kill the demon grand commanders?" Marquis Nanyun asked, puzzled.