Chapter Sixty – Fate’s Jade

As the visitors outside departed, the phoenix’s tail feathers swayed gently, and the dwelling’s door slowly closed.

Sensing no ill intent from the phoenix, Nan Yan struggled to crawl out. But before she could take two steps, the phoenix gracefully lowered its head, using its long beak to sweep her back into its embrace, wrapping her tightly with its wings. Nan Yan wondered if she was imagining the… maternal look in the phoenix’s sapphire-like eyes.

“…”

The phoenix’s warm, soft embrace was undeniably comfortable, but Nan Yan hadn’t forgotten her purpose. Aware that time was running short before her next martial duel, she cautiously looked up and said, “Respected Phoenix, if you can understand me, I’m Nan Rong’s daughter from the Mortal State. I want to check if my mother’s destiny jade is still here. Could you let me in?”

The phoenix tilted its head, studying her for a long while. Seemingly recognizing the familiar bloodline, its gaze softened. It rose from the petal-strewn courtyard and elegantly strode towards the rear pavilion. After three steps, it turned back, gesturing for her to follow.

Delighted, Nan Yan quickly lifted her skirt and followed.

The dwelling was spacious, with pavilions and towers more grand than elsewhere. Due to the owner’s absence, many areas emanated barrier fluctuations. Any outsider without blood ties who touched anything would trigger the barriers and face instant death.

This phoenix, with its scaly plumage and cloud-like crown, had three magnificent tail feathers in blue, red, and yellow, each exuding a different pressure. Possessing unique abilities, it must be the dwelling’s guardian spirit beast.

Nan Yan inwardly chastised herself for her recklessness. If this phoenix had been malicious, she might have been killed on the spot.

Lost in thought, she followed the phoenix past a pavilion to a solemn Buddhist hall. On both sides grew swaying udumbara flowers, somehow blooming out of season and remaining vibrant.

The phoenix glanced back at her once more, then pecked at the door. The barrier slowly dissipated, revealing the interior and surprising Nan Yan.

While each State in the Upper State had its traditions, and the Nan Fragrance Master led the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, logically venerating the Flame Emperor, this Buddhist hall seemed out of place.

Seeing the phoenix lie down at the entrance as if encouraging her to enter, Nan Yan nodded and stepped inside.

The hall’s walls were covered in murals. In the center stood an incense table with five stone boxes, and a tablet inscribed “Ancestral Mother Dan Ying’s Seat.”

This being Nan Rong’s dwelling, Dan Ying must be her maternal grandmother.

Feeling obligated, Nan Yan knelt on the central cushion and said, “Granddaughter Nan Yan pays respects. I’ve disturbed you, Grandmother, to investigate whether Mother is still alive. Please forgive me.”

As Nan Yan bowed her head, the phoenix outside suddenly looked up, turning towards the exterior without making a sound.

After sincerely kowtowing three times, Nan Yan rose, clasped her hands, and approached the incense table to examine the five stone boxes before the empty tablet.

The Nan clan, direct descendants of the Red Emperor, had a thin bloodline. These five boxes likely corresponded to the Red Emperor, Demon Empress Dan Ying, Cloud Empress Dowager, Nan Rong, and Nan Yi.

With no names on the tablets, Nan Yan had to try them one by one. She placed her hand above a box, sensing its barrier. After a moment’s hesitation, she bit her thumb and dropped blood on one. As expected, the box flashed with a dim light and opened, revealing a destiny jade the size of a chicken egg, emitting a bright luster.

“This is Uncle’s…” The jade bore Nan Yi’s name. Slightly relieved, Nan Yan quickly dripped blood on the next box. Opening it, she found this destiny jade had a grayish mist inside, inscribed with “Yun Xiangzi”—the Cloud Empress Dowager’s jade.

Nan Yan felt a twinge of regret, murmuring, “It seems the Cloud Empress Dowager’s lifespan is nearing its end.”

She hastened her actions, applying blood to the remaining two boxes before the empty tablets. Though prepared, her eyes still stung at the sight.

Of the two destiny jades inside, one was cracked, the other completely shattered.

The phoenix outside, sharing her emotions, poked its head into the hall. Seeing the state of the jades, it let out a mournful cry, blue tears welling in its jewel-like eyes.

“Mother… truly is gone.”

All these years of Buddhist cultivation were meant to calm her mind, freeing it from worldly troubles. Yet after a lifetime of wandering, she still came from and returned to the mortal realm.

After a while, Nan Yan knelt before the incense table, kowtowing three more times. Holding back her earthly tears, she carefully collected the destiny jade inscribed with Nan Rong’s name, then turned to the shattered one.

The tablet next to this jade was larger than the others and placed centrally, clearly belonging to her legendary grandfather, the Red Emperor.

“But the Red Emperor didn’t exhaust his mortal lifespan; he ascended… Does ascension shatter the destiny jade?”

Puzzled, Nan Yan carefully replaced all the stone box lids, meticulously wiping away the blood stains. Just as she was about to search for clues elsewhere, she felt a tug at her collar. The phoenix had plucked her out of the hall.

Bewildered, Nan Yan found herself tossed into a patch of udumbara flowers, with the phoenix once again pressing her beneath its belly as if incubating an egg.

Nan Yan: “…”

Having learned her lesson, Nan Yan knew the phoenix must have a reason. She carefully held her breath and concealed her presence. Sure enough, a moment later, a new aura entered the dwelling.

“Who dared enter Nan Rao’s chambers?” A powerful divine sense swept through the entire dwelling. As it reached Nan Yan, she felt the phoenix feathers work their magic, completely concealing her presence. Despite the repeated scans, she remained undetected.

Soon after, hurried footsteps approached. Nan Yan peered through a small gap in the feathers. She glimpsed a reddish-brown skirt embroidered with phoenixes. Its wearer, visibly enraged, stormed into the backyard. Sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, spotting the phoenix feigning sleep by the shrine. Suspiciously, she moved closer.

“Phoenix Lord, has your master returned?” It was Cloud Consort’s voice.

The phoenix opened its eyes, reflecting Cloud Consort’s furious face. It shook its head slightly before closing its eyes again, seemingly drowsy.

Gone was Cloud Consort’s elegance from the earlier banquet. Her face darkened as she clenched her fists, veins bulging on the back of her hands. She strode forward and entered the shrine.

After a while, Nan Yan heard Cloud Consort’s cold laugh inside. She listened intently.

“Nan Jue Yun, Dan Ying, it’s been so many years. Can’t you let me live out my remaining days in peace?”

Cloud Consort seemed agitated. Her fingers brushed over five stone boxes, pausing at Nan Rao’s.

“Dan Ying, I dreamed of you again last night. Seeing your daughter reminds me of the humiliation you both inflicted on me years ago. She’s just like you, with many admirers. Even yesterday, the young Dragon Lord of Chen State sent someone, asking to meet her… How could I allow that?”

Nan Yan’s breathing quickened. If Cloud Consort opened the box and found Nan Rao’s life jade missing, she’d surely discover her presence.

Fortunately, Cloud Consort moved on, opening Nan Yi’s box instead. She picked up the bright, smooth life jade inside, her gaze alternating between nostalgia and fury.

“My child, you were meant to be the successor of the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace… Why, oh why, did you have to follow your father and fall for a lowly demon?” Cloud Consort spat these words through gritted teeth, nearly crushing the jade. After a moment, she muttered, “But it’s fine now. All the demons in the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace are gone… It’s cleaner than ever. Mother will arrange everything for your return.”

The hatred in her words chilled Nan Yi to the bone. What did she mean?

Cloud Consort stood still in the shrine for a while longer, her rage finally subsiding. Suddenly, an urgent voice called from outside.

“Report for the Consort!”

Cloud Consort composed herself. “What’s the commotion about?”

“The Young Lord… he escaped from the demon-sealing formation on his own!”

Cloud Consort’s pupils contracted. “Is that true?!”

“Yes, the news came from the cities surrounding the formation. Many cultivators witnessed it. Once the Young Lord recovers his powers, he should return to West Emperor Mountain.”

Nascent Soul cultivators could briefly tear through space, appearing thousands of miles away in an instant. If Nan Yi wished, he could return to West Emperor Mountain in the blink of an eye.

Cloud Consort gripped the life jade tightly. “He truly is prescient. This news will tarnish the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace’s reputation. I’ll owe him another favor… So be it. I’ll repay him another day.”

With that, Cloud Consort vanished from the chambers.

As silence fell, the phoenix rose from Nan Yan’s body and gently patted her head with its wing.

Nan Yan’s head throbbed. This Consort harbored prejudice against demons and Nan Rao. She probably wouldn’t welcome Nan Yan’s appearance either.

In Confucian cultivation, someone like her would be considered an illegitimate child of unknown origin. Being acknowledged was out of the question; she’d be lucky if they didn’t send assassins after her to protect their reputation.

Moreover, Cloud Consort’s words suggested her involvement in past events. Regardless of Jiao Niang’s situation, she likely knew of Nan Rao’s death, yet still deflected the Dragon Lord’s inquiries.

Feeling powerless, Nan Yan realized she could only gather evidence to present at next month’s Dragon Capital meeting. The life jade was one piece, and she was another.

Exhausted, Nan Yan hugged the phoenix’s wing and whispered, “Senior Phoenix, you must have accompanied my mother for a long time, right?”

The phoenix gently nuzzled her head, letting out a soft, mournful cry.

“Before coming here, I thought if Mother were still alive, we’d return to Mortal State after finding her. We’d settle in a small town, and I’d beg to support her, making sure she’s happy every day,” Nan Yan’s voice grew quieter. “I miss her so much…”

After confiding in the phoenix for a while, Nan Yan remembered it was time to leave. “Senior, I snuck in here and must go now. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday.” She bowed to the phoenix and turned to leave, but the creature seemed reluctant to part, wrapping its wings around her once more.

Wondering if she was imagining things, Nan Yan looked up and asked, “Senior, you keep wrapping me up. Do you think I’m cold?”

The phoenix nodded, flew to a nearby pavilion, and returned with a fur-trimmed brocade coat, draping it over Nan Yan.

Realizing her thin spring clothes must make her look like a chick in need of warmth to the phoenix, Nan Yan couldn’t help but smile. The phoenix called out twice more, insisting she put on the coat properly.

With a mix of amusement and gratitude, Nan Yan donned the coat, bid farewell once more, and left Nan Rao’s chambers.

At the front hall of the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, on the ‘Heaven’ battle platform, the fight was in full swing. This match drew the largest crowd, as it featured the prince of Shen State, a favorite of Cloud Consort.

Unlike other cultivators, Confucian practitioners honed their skills through literature and willpower. By simply reciting technique names, they could greatly enhance their power.

“Prince, this is my final move: the Raging River Sword Formation. Brace yourself!” The sword cultivator facing Cloud Nian unleashed his formation, filling the platform with a murderous aura.

Sword cultivators were known for their unparalleled destructive power. Faced with this onslaught, Cloud Nian remained motionless, producing a jade brush and writing in mid-air.

“Clear skies paint the landscape, calming wind and waves.” The young man’s voice rang clear and bright. As he spoke, the ink transformed into a mirage of mountains and rivers, not only blocking the sword formation but also morphing into a massive mountain pressing down on his opponent.

The sword cultivator tried to resist but found the mountain impossibly heavy. He quickly conceded, “Stop! I yield!”

Cloud Nian immediately withdrew his attack and bowed respectfully. “Thank you for the match.”

The audience erupted in cheers, with even Nascent Soul cultivators nodding in approval.

“The prince not only excels in strength but also martial virtue. No wonder the Consort favors him.”

Though accustomed to praise since childhood, Cloud Nian remained modest and composed. After exchanging pleasantries, he moved to observe other matches. As he walked, a commotion arose from the Profound battle platform.

Isn’t that where the Buddhist sister is fighting?

Cloud Nian looked over just in time to see an explosion of Buddhist light. A contestant flew off the platform, landing before him with a look of disbelief.

On the platform stood a female Buddhist cultivator with disheveled hair. Having defeated her opponent, she inexplicably coughed up blood.

“Your inner strength is formidable, forcing this poor nun to use her ultimate move. I admire you.”

As the defeated cultivator was carried away in confusion, Cloud Nian overheard nearby spectators whispering:

“I don’t believe this nun anymore. She always dominates her opponents, claims to use her ultimate move, and spits blood as if on the verge of death.”

“And then she goes on to dominate the next match.”

“Indeed. Who knows where she came from?”

Cloud Nian was baffled. What were they talking about? He couldn’t make sense of it.

Suddenly, a Nascent Soul cultivator appeared on the platform, looking anxious. “Would any cultivator be willing to challenge the prince of Chen State to a duel? If you’re confident in victory, the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace will reward you with three drops of thousand-year spirit beast essence!”

Thousand-year spirit beast essence was the best treasure for demon beasts to advance, beneficial even to demon cultivators.

Cloud Nian’s interest was piqued. Though he didn’t understand why this Nascent Soul cultivator was so eager to bring Mu Zhan Ting to the duel, he also wanted to test himself against other prodigies from various States.

“I’m willing…”

Before he could finish, the female Buddhist cultivator on the Profound platform had already written a challenge letter and tossed it to the Nascent Soul cultivator. With a determined expression, as if about to vanquish a great evil, she asked, “Though we traveled here together, we’ve had many grudges. Tell me, how thoroughly should I defeat him?”