Beauty's Tongue

Weren't these Extraterrestrial Wraiths just transmigrators?!

Fang Hong was inwardly startled, but his face remained as placid as a still lake, betraying no emotion.

So the cultivators of this world not only knew transmigrators existed, they were searching for them closely!

Why hadn't I been discovered, then?

Thoughts surged restlessly through his sea of consciousness. Only then did he suddenly recall that, before leaving Shangqing Immortal Market for the Shangqing Sect, he had used the Fate Mirror to divine his fortune.

The result that time had been: fortune hidden within misfortune.

He had originally thought the so-called "misfortune" referred to the brutal trial within the Yin-Yang Sect's secret realm. Looking back now, however, the little danger in that realm could not have threatened him at all.

With the Golden Core Divine Ability Fang Jian had bestowed protecting him, ordinary Qi Refining cultivators could never have posed any real danger to him.

The true "misfortune" should have referred to the Shangqing Sect's bodily inspection!

If the Shangqing Sect discovered that an otherworldly wandering soul had possessed him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Neither the Shangqing Sect nor the Fang Household would spare him.

Why did neither the Shangqing Sect nor the Yin-Yang Sect see through me?

Fang Hong was puzzled, vaguely sensing that this might have something to do with Fang Qing!

Fang Qing had been Rogue Person Xuanyin, a Golden Core elder of the Yin-Yang Sect, in disguise. He was the only person capable of tampering with Fang Hong at the time.

Could I have drawn his attention when I used the Fate Mirror to examine the Fate-Chart Divine Baleful in his fate configuration...

Fortunately, since then, I haven't examined the fate configuration of any cultivator with a higher cultivation than mine.

As he pondered, the two of them had already flown over North Island, leaving Fang Hong no choice but to set the matter aside for now.

Seen from above, the island resembled a giant tortoise and spanned a full hundred li. Its terrain rose in the center and sloped down toward the edges, and lush vegetation covered it in verdant green.

The [Jia Liu] cave abode stood along the island's northern coast: an exquisite little White Jade Pavilion rising amid the coastal forest.

The building had three stories, with eight upturned eaves on each. A cluster of spiritual light at its summit cast a dome-shaped curtain of light over it.

Dense coconut palms and shrubs surrounded the building, with exotic flowers and herbs growing everywhere, like a tropical garden.

Beyond the shrubs lay a beach stretching for more than ten li, covered entirely in clean, soft white sand that formed a beautiful picture against the clear seawater.

The tide rose and fell, its white waves like snow.

There was no second cave abode within more than ten li. Apart from the seabirds wheeling along the coast, the place seemed exceptionally quiet.

The two used their token to open the Jade Tower's restrictions and walked inside, finding it completely empty, without any furnishings or utensils.

Beneath the building lay an underground palace containing a hall and several secluded chambers. In the center of the hall, a brilliantly shining mass of seven-colored clouds coiled into a vortex over ten feet tall, radiating dense fluctuations of spiritual energy.

This was the upper-grade first-tier spiritual spring!

The vortex rotated slowly, constantly drawing in and releasing great quantities of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, making the spiritual energy within the White Jade Pavilion more than ten times denser than outside!

Meanwhile, the many spiritual springs throughout the island drew in vast quantities of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the expansive surrounding seas.

"Later, I'll visit a nearby market to buy some furniture and decorations and furnish the building properly. While I'm there, I'll look for a way to send word to the Fang Household that I'm safe."

Fang Hong spoke as he and Su Yao reached the building's top floor, gazing out over the sea and letting his eyes roam and his spirits expand.

Su Yao stood close beside him like a little bird nestling against its protector and said softly, "There's no hurry to visit the market. We can wait until we're familiar with the sect and have found our footing."

As she spoke, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she glanced at Fang Hong. "Besides, we've both just made breakthroughs. We still need to consolidate our cultivation properly."

Fang Hong noticed that her features had acquired a shy, alluring charm, with even a faint trace of anticipation.

So this was what it meant to taste the marrow and crave its savor.

He thought to himself.

Truthfully, over these past days, he too had become somewhat lost in Su Yao's beautiful young body, unable to pull himself away.

Six or seven days slipped by unnoticed.

A streak of escaping light flew in from afar. Upon reaching the White Jade Tower, its radiance faded, revealing a tall, thin man in black robes.

It was Chai Hongzhou of the Ghost King Sect.

Seeing the dome-shaped curtain of light surrounding the White Jade Tower, he called out, "Are you here, Senior Brother Fang? It's Chai Hongzhou. I heard your immortal residence was here and came especially to pay my respects."

On the third floor of the White Jade Tower, a black dragon and a white phoenix circled and entwined above a jade bed. The spiritual energy in the room was so dense that it condensed into fine strands of spiritual rain.

Only after a long while, just as Chai Hongzhou thought no one was inside and prepared to leave, did a clear, warm voice emerge from the Jade Tower. "Please wait a moment, Junior Brother Chai."

Before long, the Jade Tower's restrictions opened, and Fang Hong walked out in splendid, wide-sleeved robes, looking refreshed and invigorated.

Chai Hongzhou hurried forward and bowed with clasped hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother Fang."

"You're too courteous, Junior Brother Chai."

Fang Hong invited Chai Hongzhou to sit at a stone table in the garden and asked with a smile, "How did you find my place, Junior Brother?"

Chai Hongzhou took out an exquisitely crafted porcelain jar and gently set it on the stone table. Smiling, he said, "After leaving the Dragon-Phoenix Hall, I heard from Senior Brother Zhang Jun at the General Affairs Hall that you had settled here, so I came especially to congratulate you on successfully entering the inner sect!"

"This tea is called Beauty’s Tongue, a renowned specialty of the Xiao Household, a Golden Core aristocratic clan on Biluò Island. It has remarkable effects in refreshing the spirit, clearing the mind, and nourishing the spiritual meridians. Please accept it, Senior Brother."

Ever since transmigrating, Fang Hong had frequently received all manner of gifts. Presumably, this was also the Auspicious Deity "Golden Carriage" in his fate configuration taking effect.

He made no polite show of refusing and immediately took a tea set from his storage pouch, looking curious. "You'll have to excuse me, Junior Brother. This tea has quite an interesting name. I'd like to try it."

With that, he raised a finger, and a ray of icy mystic light appeared in midair. With a gentle flash, it condensed a crystal-clear block of ice.

"Ice-Soul Mystic Light!" Chai Hongzhou's face filled with envy.

Fang Hong placed the ice in the teapot and added the tea leaves, then formed a hand seal. A ball of flame appeared, immediately melting the ice in the pot and bringing it to a boil.

Chai Hongzhou said with feeling, "It's said that this Divine Ability can turn the water inside a person's body into solid ice. Once its mystic light sweeps over someone, they'll suffer grave injuries at best, or have their very life frozen away at worst."

"Have some tea." Fang Hong smiled without confirming or denying it and raised his hand to pour two cups.

The tea leaves were dark brown and utterly unremarkable at first glance, but once brewed and poured into white porcelain cups, they became a golden-yellow liquid.

Fang Hong lifted his cup and sniffed. A refreshing fragrance immediately greeted him, its spiritual resonance lingering.

As the tea entered his mouth, it was first fragrant and warm, followed by a smooth sweetness. After it slowly passed down his throat, a current of spiritual vitality welled up from his dantian, leaving his entire body comfortable.

On the first sip, as the tea suddenly entered his mouth, it truly felt as though a fragrant, soft, warm, moist tongue tip had slipped inside.

"No wonder it's called Beauty’s Tongue!"

Fang Hong clicked his tongue in wonder.

Chai Hongzhou said, "My Dao companion comes from the Xiao Household on Biluò Island. She was originally a disciple of the Xiandu Sect, and later became my partner in the Dragon-Phoenix Hall. She brought this tea from the Xiao Household."

Fang Hong poured another cup and savored it carefully before asking, "Which pair were you to come out, Junior Brother Chai?"

Chai Hongzhou toyed with his teacup. "We were the fifth pair. I was fortunate enough to enter the inner sect too."

"Congratulations, congratulations," Fang Hong said.

Chai Hongzhou set down his cup and changed the subject. "Senior Brother Fang, as the saying goes, even in peace, one must think of danger. I came this time to discuss something with you. Have you heard of the Fish-Dragon Assembly?"

Fang Hong nodded and said calmly, "I have."

The inner sect disciple token contained the Yin-Yang Sect's various rules, including mention of the annual Fish-Dragon Assembly.

The Fish-Dragon Assembly was held among the Furnace Disciples, outer sect disciples, and inner sect disciples.

During the assembly, the Yin-Yang Sect's Furnace Disciples and outer sect disciples could all challenge inner sect disciples. If they succeeded, they could take their place as inner sect disciples.

Inner sect disciples were not permitted to refuse these challenges.

But if a challenger lost, they had to offer the inner sect disciple a treasure meeting the stipulated requirements.