Chapter 2639: Same Destination

When that city entered this area, a clear, cold voice suddenly came from within the Phoenix Nest: “Ba Qiu, how dare you! Bringing a city here, are you trying to start a war with my Phoenix Nest?”

As the voice fell, successive clear, melodious phoenix cries echoed from within the Phoenix Nest. Beside the Tai Chu Parasol Tree, the void twisted like a crumpled piece of paper.

Inside the city, Ba Qiu looked at the Phoenix Nest and slowly spoke after a long moment: “Of course not, Shiniang, you’ve misunderstood.”

“Shut up!” The clear, cold voice carried a hint of annoyance. “Did I give you permission to call me Shiniang?”

Ba Qiu frowned slightly, his expression somewhat conflicted, but he eventually complied: “City Lord Huang!”

Anyone familiar with him would have been surprised at that moment, as Ba Qiu rarely showed such an expression.

It was widely known that Ba Qiu’s rise was a bloody path. His reputation, and even Husband City itself, were forged by his sword alone, incurring the enmity of countless forces.

He had minor or significant grudges with almost all Ten Harmony Cities, and he had even single-handedly fought his way into Dragon City back then.

However, few knew that during his rise, Ba Qiu had an encounter with a certain Phoenix clan member from Phoenix City, who was now the Lord of the Phoenix Nest.

“If you’re not here to start a war, then why have you come?” Inside the Phoenix Nest, Huang Shiniang asked coldly.

“I’d like to ask the City Lord for a favor!”

“Hmph…” Huang Shiniang didn’t show herself, but her voice was full of mockery. “You, Ba Qiu, possess unparalleled strength, your cultivation reaching profound levels. You’re truly the strongest in the Inner Realm, always looking down on others. I really don’t know what I could possibly help you with.”

Ba Qiu said in a deep voice: “I want to ask the City Lord to open a wormhole and send me to a certain place.”

“Where?” Huang Shiniang was puzzled. Opening a wormhole wasn’t a major problem; the Phoenix clan controlled space, making it easy for them. But why would Ba Qiu come to the Phoenix Nest for help? In this vast Inner Realm, was there anywhere he couldn’t go?

“The Snowfield!”

Huang Shiniang was even more perplexed. “Although the Snowfield isn’t close, your Husband City isn’t slow. Even if you traveled there normally, it wouldn’t take more than a month or two, would it?”

Other Harmony Cities might not have such speed, but Husband City was different; it was arguably the fastest Harmony City in the entire Inner Realm.

“There’s no time!” Ba Qiu slowly shook his head.

Huang Shiniang paused, then flatly refused: “No help!” Although she was still curious about what Ba Qiu was up to, she couldn’t be bothered to ask more.

Ba Qiu nodded slightly: “Very well, then I’ll let that Blood Blight fellow be arrogant for a while.”

With that, Husband City began to retreat, seemingly intending to leave.

Just then, the void in front of Ba Qiu twisted, and a figure emerged. The figure was graceful and dignified, clad in a seven-colored ethereal gown. Her expression was cold, and a misty glow on her face made her appear breathtakingly beautiful.

She stared coldly at Ba Qiu: “Did you say Blood Blight?”

As she spoke, a chill emanated from Huang Shiniang, and a layer of frost coated the entire Husband City.

The Phoenix clan had enemies, and their greatest foe was Blood Blight. This strongest member of the Blood Clan had once lured out several Phoenix clan members, captured them, and used a secret art to forcibly strip them of their Phoenix bloodlines. This allowed Blood Blight to gain some control over space.

The Phoenix Nest had stood in the Inner Realm for many years. While it wasn't unheard of for clan members to die in battle outside, those deaths were always in honorable combat with enemies and were not considered major incidents. However, Blood Blight’s actions undoubtedly violated the Phoenix clan’s taboo.

As dragons have their reverse scale and phoenixes their vulnerable neck, no race would easily allow their bloodline to be used by others, let alone the Phoenix clan.

“What exactly is going on? Tell me in detail!” Huang Shiniang gritted her teeth.

Under heaven, she was probably the only one who could speak to Ba Qiu in such a manner. Had it been anyone else, Ba Qiu would have long since cut them down with his sword.

Before Ba Qiu could speak, a ray of light suddenly flashed from the Harmony Pearl on the bone throne, and then a figure abruptly appeared before Ba Qiu.

Ba Qiu and Huang Shiniang looked over in unison.

The next moment, Huang Shiniang snorted coldly: “Old Dog Qin!”

It was none other than Qin Feng, the Lord of the Battle Arena.

She wasn’t surprised at all that Qin Feng could appear near Husband City. People generally believed Ba Qiu was a lone wolf, always solitary, but only a few knew that Ba Qiu also had friends.

Qin Feng could grudgingly be considered one, as the two had once ventured together in their youth.

Just as Qin Feng stood firm, he heard the curse. His eyebrows shot up, and looking over, the warm expression on his face instantly vanished. He chuckled: “Ah, Shiniang, long time no see!”

Judging by his demeanor, he seemed quite familiar with the Lord of the Phoenix Nest.

“Hmph!” Huang Shiniang looked away with a look of disdain.

Qin Feng scratched his head somewhat: “Have I come at the wrong time, interrupting your reunion?”

Ba Qiu stared coldly at him.

Qin Feng suddenly realized: “Wait a minute…” He looked at Ba Qiu. “Where did you get your information?”

Ba Qiu’s presence near the Phoenix Nest already spoke volumes. He was undoubtedly trying to use the Phoenix clan’s power to reach the Snowfield as quickly as possible; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here.

This suggested that he had been staying near the Phoenix Nest since the battle that day.

The crucial question was: where did this old monster get his intelligence?

Ba Qiu continued to stare coldly at him.

Qin Feng knew then that the fellow didn’t want to talk. It made sense; although Ba Qiu was solitary, it didn’t mean he didn’t secretly support any forces, so his sources of information were undoubtedly reliable.

With the Snowfield incident escalating to such a degree this time, how could Ba Qiu not have heard about it?

It was precisely out of this concern that he rushed over, but he didn’t expect to still be a step too late.

“You’re going?” Qin Feng asked, looking at Ba Qiu.

Ba Qiu said: “A new treasure has emerged; such an opportunity is rare, so of course I’m going!”

“Do you know what the consequences will be if you go?” Qin Feng frowned.

“With my sword in hand, I can overcome any consequence with a single strike.”

Qin Feng had a headache: “Then why did I go to all the trouble of instigating the Snowfield conflict? People said he started the Snowfield conflict because his reverse scale was touched.”

But in reality, that wasn’t the only reason; a larger reason was Ba Qiu.

After that fellow’s battle with the Supreme Treasure Moonlight Wheel that day, countless people were looking for his whereabouts, hoping to seize the opportunity to attack. Fortunately, although Ba Qiu was confident, he wasn’t arrogant. He had actually sustained serious injuries in that battle and had been recuperating near the Phoenix Nest.

This prevented those with ill intentions from getting any opportunity.

And the Snowfield conflict instigated by Qin Feng also largely diverted the attention of those many hidden enemies.

But if Ba Qiu were to go out now, the Snowfield conflict Qin Feng instigated would be meaningless. Not to mention, his departure would surely cause another upheaval, giving others an opportune moment.

Huang Shiniang, too lazy to listen to their rambling, looked at Ba Qiu and said: “Tell me, what has Blood Blight done over at the Snowfield?”

Ba Qiu said: “Blood Blight drew out the Cosmic Chessboard and also attracted a new supreme treasure. It seems he wants to use the Cosmic Chessboard to seize that treasure. I intend to get involved; will you help or not?”

“Help!” Huang Shiniang sneered. “If that’s the case, of course I’ll help. Just wait!”

“Shiniang, think twice!” Qin Feng urged anxiously.

Huang Shiniang ignored him. Her figure rapidly faded, but before disappearing completely, she couldn’t help but glance at Ba Qiu: “Have your previous injuries healed?”

Ba Qiu nodded slightly: “There are no major issues anymore.”

Huang Shiniang said no more, and her figure vanished.

Qin Feng, however, looked at Ba Qiu with a worried expression: “You really must go?”

Ba Qiu said: “It is said that he is a sword slave enslaved by a supreme treasure’s will, which would make him perfect nourishment!”

Qin Feng sighed: “If you go, I’m afraid many people won’t be able to hold back. During the previous Moonlight Wheel conflict, those people were unprepared, and you had a chance to leave. This time is different; the situation in the Snowfield is now widespread, and those people are all watching! Moreover, Blood Blight is also involved.”

If it weren’t for Blood Blight, the problem wouldn’t be too big; Ba Qiu’s enemies wouldn’t easily be able to rush there. But Blood Blight had once refined Phoenix clan blood, and now possesses some spatial manipulation abilities. That’s the real trouble.

When the time comes, if Blood Blight simply raises his arm and calls, many will likely follow him.

“Can’t you wait a little longer?” Qin Feng still tried to persuade him.

“How many opportunities are there for a new treasure to emerge?” Ba Qiu countered.

Qin Feng fell silent. After a long moment, he finally sighed, knowing he couldn’t persuade Ba Qiu. He nodded and said: “Don’t die. The hope of the human race rests on you. If you die, the human race may never rise again.”

With that, he stepped forward, touched the Harmony Pearl, and returned to the Harmony Realm.

Ba Qiu was going to the Snowfield, and it wasn’t suitable for Qin Feng to accompany him, lest their relationship be known.

“The hope of the human race, huh…” Ba Qiu muttered softly. A young figure suddenly appeared in his mind. “Not necessarily!”

Just then, the massive Tai Chu Parasol Tree suddenly swayed, and one of its roots extended from the void, piercing forward.

With a single strike, the void shattered, and the root delved into it.

Spatial power surged, and phoenix cries echoed continuously within the Phoenix Nest. Slowly, the shattered void expanded, forming a wormhole leading to an unknown place.

Although Blood Blight had previously opened a wormhole by himself, allowing thousands of Harmony Cities to pass through, that was because he had made extensive preparations beforehand.

The spatial power he controlled was, in fact, incomparable to that of the Phoenix clan.

Long before, he had made many arrangements in that area, which allowed him to open the wormhole in one go.

What the Phoenix clan was demonstrating now was undoubtedly more sophisticated. Without prior arrangements, they could open a wormhole directly to the Snowfield.

Moreover, this wormhole was meant for a powerful individual like Ba Qiu and his Husband City!

This required the wormhole to be exceptionally stable, otherwise, accidents could easily occur midway through passage.

Gazing at the wormhole before him, Ba Qiu didn’t hesitate, urging Husband City to charge forward. However, just before Husband City was about to enter the wormhole, Huang Shiniang’s figure reappeared before the throne.

Ba Qiu looked over.

Huang Shiniang snorted coldly: “What are you looking at? I opened this wormhole, and I’ll go if I want to!”

Her main reason was to personally kill that Blood Blight fellow!