The West Queen Mother headed straight for Southern Heaven in the south. Though she had set out last, she was the first to arrive.
As soon as she entered Southern Heaven, the West Queen Mother felt the place was unbearably hot, with fire-element energy filling the world.
It had no effect on her, but she disliked it all the same. Without stopping, she headed straight for the Phoenix Clan. Her destination was clear.
The matter had happened in Southern Heaven, so it must have something to do with the Phoenix Clan.
Just as she was about to enter the Phoenix Clan's territory, she spotted a Qingluan Bird flying overhead. Taizhen swept her sleeve, pulling it straight down.
The Qing Niao had been flying along, unaware of what was happening, and suddenly found herself in front of the West Queen Mother.
The Qing Niao took human form, shook her head, and looked at the peerlessly beautiful immortal before her, dressed in splendid robes.
There was disbelief in her eyes. She shook her head again, only to realize it wasn't an illusion.
She asked timidly, "Did I get so dizzy from flying that I'm seeing things? Are you the West Queen Mother?"
The West Queen Mother found the Qingluan Bird strangely familiar, but couldn't remember when they had met. She nodded.
When the Qing Niao saw the West Queen Mother nod, she excitedly flailed her arms and legs.
"Your Majesty, West Queen Mother! It really is you! I thought I'd gotten dizzy from flying and was imagining things."
"You know me?"
The West Queen Mother couldn't remember ever meeting this Qing Niao. Besides, the Qingluan Bird's cultivation was weak, so she shouldn't have had the chance to meet her.
The Qing Niao pouted, but wasn't upset that the West Queen Mother didn't remember her. She began chattering away.
"Your Majesty, when I became an immortal, my spirit roamed Kunlun, and I once paid you a visit. You even patted my head and said I was cute."
That reminder helped Taizhen remember who the Qingluan Bird before her was.
But she had only called her cute because she hadn't known what else to say.
What she had really wanted to say was that the Qingluan Bird was a little dim-witted.
Still, seeing how excited the Qingluan was, she didn't explain.
Now that she was seeing her again, Taizhen found that although the Qingluan Bird was innocent and simple-minded, she had a pure heart. She was a fine candidate for the path of cultivation and immortality.
The West Queen Mother said, "Mm, I remember now. I did meet you. Your name is Qing Niao, right?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes! Your Majesty really does remember me! I'm so happy!"
Hearing the West Queen Mother's words, the Qing Niao jumped for joy.
Only after a while did she realize how undignified she was being. She stopped and sheepishly scratched her head.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I'm just so happy to see you in person, and that you still remember me."
The West Queen Mother said softly, "What's there to be happy about when you see me? There's no need to act like this. I'm just an ordinary cultivator."
"How could I not be happy? Your Majesty, you're the foremost female immortal in the Primordial Wilderness, the goddess I've always admired. If only I could become a female immortal like you someday!"
Hearing the Qing Niao's words, the West Queen Mother was both surprised and delighted. She was surprised that this little Qing Niao, who didn't know her place, dared to call her the greatest female immortal under heaven.
She was delighted that the little Qing Niao truly believed it.
Many people praised her every day, but never before had their praise made her feel so happy.
The corners of her lips lifted slightly, and her smile could have outshone the whole world.
The Qing Niao stared at her, dazed, and blurted out, "Your Majesty, you're so beautiful!"
The West Queen Mother had no words. But she really did like this sort of thing from the little Qing Niao.
Fate truly was a wondrous thing!
Thinking of this, the West Queen Mother raised her hand to divine their connection, only to discover that she and the Qing Niao before her were indeed deeply fated to meet.
"All right. I came to Southern Heaven on business. Could you take me to the Phoenix Clan?"
The Qing Niao happily said, "Your Majesty, you're really going to our Phoenix Clan? That's wonderful! You must come visit our Qingluan clan. I can sing for you. I sing really well!"
Seeing the Qing Niao like this, the West Queen Mother genuinely liked her.
There were many female immortals in the Primordial Wilderness who admired and adored her, but none were as sincere as the Qing Niao. Her admiration and affection came from the heart, with nothing expected in return.
The Qing Niao revealed her true form, becoming a Qingluan, and let the West Queen Mother ride on her back.
The West Queen Mother hesitated, but remembering what she had just divined, she didn't refuse. She climbed onto the Qingluan's back.
The Qing Niao took flight, heading straight for the Phoenix Clan's territory.
On the way, the Qing Niao kept chattering, but the West Queen Mother wasn't annoyed.
"Your Majesty, you're such a kind and gentle person. No wonder you're the foremost female immortal in the Primordial Wilderness, the Head of Female Immortals. You're just as wonderful as the Emperor Lord."
Hearing this, the West Queen Mother asked, "Who is the Emperor Lord?"
The Qing Niao replied, "The Emperor Lord is the foremost male immortal, His Majesty King Dong."
"You know Daoist Tai Wei?"
The Qing Niao nodded her phoenix head as she flew. "Yes! The Emperor Lord is wonderful, too. He even said I was his friend."
The West Queen Mother said nothing, and didn't ask why the Qing Niao knew Donghua.
"Is Daoist Tai Wei also at the Phoenix Clan?"
The Qing Niao replied, "Yes. The Emperor Lord is visiting the Phoenix Clan. But after the First Elder invited him over two hundred years ago, I haven't seen him again."
After hearing this, the West Queen Mother was sure this matter was connected to the Phoenix Clan. But Donghua had already arrived there, and the Heavenly Dao had still sensed that she should come here.
It seemed the trouble was serious indeed.
Seeing that the West Queen Mother had fallen silent, the Qing Niao hesitated, then asked timidly, "Your Majesty, you're not going to pluck my feathers and roast me, are you?"
The West Queen Mother asked in surprise, "Hm? Why would you say that?"
The Qing Niao replied, "The Emperor Lord said you'd pluck my feathers and roast me."
The West Queen Mother frowned. "Why would Daoist Tai Wei slander me behind my back like that?"
Hearing the West Queen Mother's words, the Qing Niao grew so anxious she looked close to tears. She hurriedly said, "No, no! The Emperor Lord didn't slander you. I was the one who said the wrong thing."
Then, without worrying about anything else, the Qing Niao recounted what had happened that day.
After hearing her story, the West Queen Mother looked at the Qing Niao in shock. This little girl really was bold—she had dared to make up stories about two Great Powers.
If the West Queen Mother hadn't known what she was like, she might really have roasted her for meat after hearing that.
The Qing Niao sensed the West Queen Mother's calm expression and panicked. At a loss, she blurted out,
"But I really do think you and the Emperor Lord are a perfect match! And after I said it, the Emperor Lord nodded in agreement. Sister Jin Feng, Brother Changqin, and the others agreed, too."
The West Queen Mother gave a cold snort. "Hm?"
Then the silly bird went on to tell her what had happened afterward.
But she innocently believed that Donghua and the others had nodded helplessly because they agreed with what she had said.
What a huge misunderstanding.
The West Queen Mother said no more. The Qing Niao seemed to realize she might have said something wrong, too. She lowered her head and flew on, not daring to say another word.
Before long, they reached the Phoenix Clan's territory.
The Phoenix Clan's First Elder, Yuan Jin, was already waiting outside to greet them.
"This humble Daoist Yuan Jin pays his respects to the West Queen Mother."
The West Queen Mother dismounted from the Qing Niao's back.
"We're both Quasi-Saints. You may call me Taizhen, Daoist."
After they exchanged greetings, Yuan Jin was about to lead the West Queen Mother inside.
Before leaving, the West Queen Mother glanced at the bewildered Qing Niao and felt a little reluctant to leave her behind.
In the short time they had spent together, she had already come to understand the Qing Niao's nature.
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