Purple Phoenix Fairy

Purple Phoenix Fairy

Bai Ningbing's teasing voice rang out across the third floor of Phoenix Cry Tavern, leaving everyone present frozen in shock, their faces filled with horror.

Li Xianyun's lips curled upward at his words, the muscles in his cheeks twitching slightly as he said, "Young Master Bai, don't worry. I'll cover today's losses."

"Interesting, interesting." Just as Ge Tianfeng was about to strike, a soft laugh drifted in from outside. A peerless figure descended onto the third floor of Phoenix Cry Tavern like an illusion. Her hair was snow-white with a silvery sheen, and she wore a long violet gauze dress. A three-foot purple sword rested in her hand, lending her an elegant and refined air.

"Su Manman!" The moment the woman landed, everyone's expressions changed.

"Is Purple Phoenix Fairy here for Southern Isle Sect's selection as well?" Li Xianyun's face darkened slightly. Su Manman possessed the Heavenly Phoenix bloodline. Though she was not of the demon race, that trace of phoenix blood was enough to give her an absolute advantage over those of the same realm.

"What does Southern Isle Sect amount to?"

Su Manman's beautiful eyes flickered. She licked her lips and swept her gaze over Ye Guxue. "Li Xianyun, aren't you here for the Dragon Transformation Pool? Could it be that you truly intend to join Southern Isle Sect?" She stood directly in front of Chen Qiye, blocking most of the gazes directed at him.

At those words, Li Xianyun looked rather embarrassed.

Bai Ningbing merely smiled without speaking. The people present all had decent backgrounds. Even in Three-Fork Lake Mouth, they would be qualified to join the Feather Transformation Divine Dynasty. Even at Northern Azure Grotto-Heaven, they would be able to enter the inner residence and become core disciples.

"Miss, please move aside."

At that moment, Chen Qiye's calm voice rang out.

He wiped the grease from Little Nannan's mouth and the bloodstains from her hands. Her tiny bare feet were exposed, already pale from the cold. Only then did he remember that Little Nannan did not even have shoes. She had never cultivated; she was frail now, like frost in early spring, ready to shatter at a touch.

"What a cute little girl."

Su Manman glanced at Little Nannan. "What is your name?"

Upon hearing that, Little Nannan hid behind Chen Qiye. She blinked her big eyes at Su Manman, clutching tightly at Chen Qiye's robe with both hands and refusing to say a word.

"Miss, what do you mean by standing here?"

Chen Qiye frowned slightly. Tables stood to either side of his corner, while Su Manman happened to be blocking the only entrance to the corridor.

Su Manman laughed in disbelief. "You really don't know what's good for you!"

"Do you know who they are?" Su Manman pointed her sword at Ge Tianfeng, who stood by the stairs, and said coolly, "If not for how cute this little girl is, do you think I would have saved you?"

"I don't," Chen Qiye replied calmly.

"Hah, you don't know, yet you still dared offend them? Ge Tianfeng is at the One-Step Dao Palace realm and is the old servant of Grandmaster Mo Shan."

Su Manman stared fixedly at him, as though trying to see through Chen Qiye. She shook her head. "You are only at the Sea of Bitterness realm... Forget it. Give the little girl to me, and I'll guarantee that you both leave safely today."

"I don't want to!" Little Nannan refused in her childish voice. "I want to stay with Uncle."

Chen Qiye looked at Su Manman with interest. "Little Nannan is only an ordinary person. Why are you so interested in her?"

"I like her. It's none of your business." Su Manman raised her delicate brows. "You can barely protect yourself. How can you protect her?"

Chen Qiye suddenly laughed. "Miss Su, unfortunately, Little Nannan does not like you."

"Besides, that is merely your speculation."

"What makes you think I cannot protect myself?"

Chen Qiye's gaze remained calm as he looked toward Ge Tianfeng in the distance. He smiled faintly. "You are right. I am indeed at the Sea of Bitterness realm. But isn't One-Step Dao Palace also part of the Sea of Bitterness realm?"

"You!" Su Manman was left unable to refute him. One-Step Dao Palace was indeed still within the Life Spring realm.

She had said so much because she hoped Chen Qiye would retreat in the face of difficulty. Her teacher and Grandmaster Mo Shan had been enemies for many years. In this small territory, the enemy of one's enemy could naturally become a friend.

Besides, Chen Qiye had already entered the Sea of Bitterness realm at such a young age. Though he could not compare with Bai Ningbing or Li Xianyun, if she took him under her wing and nurtured him for a few years, he might yet enter the Dao Palace realm and challenge the Four Extremities.

"Ge Tianfeng has reached the Other Shore. An ordinary Sea of Bitterness cultivator cannot withstand three moves from him!"

"Li Xianyun has opened the Dao Palace Divine Treasury and could enter the Four Extremities Secret Realm at any time!"

"As for the old monster Mo Shan behind them, he is a Dragon Transformation expert!" Su Manman said each word distinctly. "After offending them, there are not many people within three thousand miles of Phoenix Cry who can protect you. I happen to be one of them. So long as you are willing to join my Mount Phoenix..."

She had already said this much, yet Chen Qiye remained wholly unmoved. Instead, he said indifferently, "Sorry, I don't have the habit of hiding behind a woman."

"You are courting death!" Su Manman snorted coldly in anger. "Fine. Once you die, I'll take the little girl away."

Chen Qiye shook his head and said calmly, "Miss Su, I appreciate your good intentions, but to me, everything you mentioned can be broken with a single sword strike."

"Broken with a single sword strike?"

Su Manman laughed softly. "You do not even carry a sword. How will you break it with one strike?"

"Purple Phoenix Fairy, he does not appreciate your goodwill. Why must you meddle in this matter?"

Li Xianyun flicked his fingertips, his expression displeased. "We cannot interfere in the grudge between Grandmaster Mo Shan and Lord Zhu, but this brat robbed someone from my Li Family. If he does not leave something behind, it would be hard to justify, wouldn't it? Young Master Bai, don't you agree?"

"Me? I'm drinking tea." Bai Ningbing grinned and took a sip of tea before adding to Li Xianyun, "Anyway, if anything gets broken, your family will pay for it."

"You!" Li Xianyun choked on those words, anger flashing across his face. "Why aren't you making your move? Are you waiting to become a joke?"

At his words, Ge Tianfeng circulated his aura. As he raised a hand, golden light condensed around it, faintly carrying an air of solemn majesty.

"A Buddhist cultivation technique. It is said Ge Tianfeng came from an ancient monk lineage. It seems the rumors are true." Bai Ningbing glanced at him.

"With Old Ge's Vajra body, he can fight even a Dao Palace cultivator." Li Xianyun's lips curled upward. "Old Ge, watch yourself. Killing him is enough. Don't damage anything."

Golden whirlwinds formed around Ge Tianfeng's hands, like gloves radiating dazzling golden light. Then he strode toward Chen Qiye step by step. "Purple Phoenix Fairy, I advise you not to meddle in this matter!"

"And if I do?" Su Manman frowned in anger. With a clang, her purple longsword left its sheath.

At that moment, everyone discovered in horror that the instant the sword was drawn, Su Manman's presence abruptly became sharp. Waves of purple light swirled along the blade, producing the howl of fierce wind.

"This is..." Ge Tianfeng's expression changed drastically as he stared at Su Manman in disbelief. "You have actually opened all five Dao Palace Treasuries?"

Su Manman snorted coldly and exhaled with a shout, like thunder exploding and jolting everyone present. The purple waves along her longsword surged outward, forcing Ge Tianfeng back seven or eight steps. After circling for a moment, the purple waves dissipated. The entire third floor suddenly turned cold and sharp, as though swept by an icy wind. It felt as if it were no longer the second month of early spring, but the depths of late winter.

"This... this!" Ge Tianfeng's face turned livid. His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets as he stared fixedly at Su Manman.

"Purple Phoenix Fairy, are you forcing me to make a move?" Li Xianyun's teacup trembled in his hand before instantly turning into a streak of light and striking Su Manman's longsword. With a clang, the sword quivered, while the teacup rebounded unharmed into Li Xianyun's hand.

"So you have also entered the fifth Dao Palace Divine Treasury." Su Manman said with a frown.

"Without opening all five treasuries, how would I dare head to the Dragon Transformation Pool? Not everyone has the bloodline of a mighty expert, right, Young Master Bai?"

Li Xianyun smiled. "This brat robbed my clansman. No matter what, he must leave something behind. Or how about leaving that little girl behind? I can give her to Purple Phoenix Fairy afterward."

Just as Su Manman was about to speak, Chen Qiye's voice sounded.

"Are you sure you want me to leave something behind?"