bookpower Chapter 304: The Sandstorm Approaches
Chapter 304: The Sandstorm Approaches
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At the heart of the Fragrant Grass Oasis, ten li deep into the verdant landscape stood the mountain gate of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.
A clear, meandering river wove through ancient, elegant palace halls, pavilions, gardens, and artificial hills.
On a stone platform along the riverbank stood a woman dressed in palace robes, her silk ribbons fluttering lightly, exuding a faint and refreshing fragrance.
She seemed like an ethereal fairy from a painting—her delicate features, crescent-shaped brows, and graceful demeanor radiating an otherworldly charm.
“I’ve waited for so long, and finally, Mister Xu is here,” the woman said, her smile soft and enchanting.
Fairy Ni Yue’s serene, moonlit eyes gazed at the refined middle-aged man standing before her, whom she had not seen in four or five years.
Her voice, clear and melodious like pearls falling onto a jade plate, carried a musical quality that lingered in Lan Chang'an’s ears.
“I’m humbled to have kept Fairy Ni Yue waiting,” Lan Chang'an responded with a polite cupped-hand salute.
Seeing the renowned number one beauty of Liang Kingdom again, even without any ulterior thoughts, her elegant presence was a feast for the eyes, lifting his spirits.
Her fate had indeed changed!
Lan Chang'an instinctively studied her beautiful face, discerning the subtle shifts in her aura.
The once faint gray hue of misfortune and the shadow of impending doom had significantly diminished, now softened by a faint trace of violet light.
If her fate had been one of great calamity and mortal peril before, it had now eased to merely an ominous sign of moderate misfortune.
“Mister Xu, you said you couldn't read faces,” Fairy Ni Yue teased lightly, a playful pout on her lips as a hint of charming reproach danced in her expression.
“I only dabble in it superficially—it’s hardly worth mentioning,” Lan Chang'an replied with a gentle smile, not denying it this time.
Fairy Ni Yue was no naive fool. She had harbored some suspicions about him since their last encounter at the auction.
“In two months, the Xuan Yin Pavilion will celebrate the creation of our new mountain gate and will extend invitations to many Daoist friends. At that time, the numerous female disciples of the Xuan Yin Hall from the nearby immortal cities will gather here at the mountain gate for the first time,” Fairy Ni Yue explained, her graceful figure standing elegantly by the riverbank as her palace robes swayed with the breeze.
Her words carried an underlying meaning: Lan Chang'an was among the first to witness the new mountain gate, ahead of many other cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.
“Mister Xu is merely an ordinary Core Formation cultivator. How could I possibly deserve such attention from the revered Sect Leader Ni Yue?” Lan Chang'an’s gaze flickered as he spoke, his tone laced with genuine puzzlement.
Even as a third-rank alchemist, a highly esteemed and rare profession in Fengyuan Kingdom, it seemed unlikely that someone at the peak of mid Core Formation stage—a sect leader, no less—would regard him so highly.
Fairy Ni Yue chuckled softly, her smile as calm as a moonlit night. “The Xuan Yin Pavilion’s criteria for selecting male guest elders are not solely based on skill or talent—we place even greater emphasis on character. Years ago, Mister Xu saved Ruotong and the others, displaying noble integrity that commands admiration.”
“People’s hearts are hard to fathom. Fairy, we’ve only met twice. Do you truly trust my character?” Lan Chang'an felt her reasoning was somewhat tenuous.
“My zither arts have reached the level of ‘Zither Heart Illumination.’ By engaging in close interaction, I can generally discern the goodness or malice within someone’s heart,” Fairy Ni Yue said calmly, her dignified posture unwavering.
This ability, she revealed, had enabled the Xuan Yin Pavilion to purge and expel several malicious guest elders in the early years of its establishment.
Zither Heart Illumination?
Others might have been awestruck by this revelation, easily fooled by her seemingly profound claim.
But with his Nascent Soul-level insight, Lan Chang'an understood the truth: while Zither Heart Illumination represented extraordinary zither mastery, relying on it to judge a person’s heart was far from foolproof.
Against lower-realm cultivators or those unfamiliar with its workings, this ability might be effective. But when faced with cultivators of the same level who were vigilant or possessed certain protective treasures, its accuracy would falter.
“Mister Xu need not overthink it. All that matters is that neither of us harbors ill intentions toward the other,” Fairy Ni Yue said softly, her lips curving slightly, her voice as gentle as a bubbling spring.
In truth, her explanation omitted certain details.
After the auction years ago, when Lan Chang'an had scrutinized her fate, Fairy Ni Yue couldn’t help but ponder the encounter in depth.
Three years later, she sought out a reclusive divination master in the heart of the Fengyuan Kingdom, offering a song as tribute to gain a single prophecy.
The diviner told her that she was indeed a beauty destined for misfortune, with a calamity written into her fate. However, she had encountered a benefactor who provided her with a chance at survival, though the crisis had not yet been fully averted.
When she asked for clues about this benefactor, the diviner said it was likely someone she had interacted with, as her fate would not have shifted otherwise.
Looking back over the years, Fairy Ni Yue reviewed the individuals she had interacted with. The only person she found truly enigmatic was none other than Mister Xu.
...
"Pavilion Master Ni Yue’s words are reasonable," Lan Chang'an remarked, no longer probing further into the matter. It was clear that neither of them harbored ill intentions, which was all that mattered.
The female cultivators who originally fled to the desert to establish Xuan Yin Pavilion had all been victims of harsh fates.
In order to survive and ensure the continuation of their sect, using their beauty and musical arts to achieve certain goals was understandable—a natural response to their circumstances.
“Might Immortal Xu be willing to stay in the Fragrant Grass Oasis for two months, until the day of the opening celebration? Any of the female musicians in our pavilion would be delighted to perform a song for you,” Fairy Ni Yue said, her brows and eyes picturesque, her invitation carrying a hint of hopeful anticipation.
“Any female musician? Does that include the Pavilion Master herself?” Lan Chang'an asked with a faint smile.
“Naturally,” Fairy Ni Yue replied with a gentle nod, her clear eyes glancing at him briefly.
“Very well,” Lan Chang'an agreed, appearing as though he was captivated by her beauty and music.
In truth, that was partly the case.
In the immortal cultivation world of the former Liang Kingdom, it was a rare luxury for an ordinary Core Formation cultivator to meet Fairy Ni Yue, let alone hear her perform a private piece.
As the Pavilion Master of Xuan Yin, her mastery of music and zither arts was unparalleled. Even a single performance from her could help soothe and refine the state of mind of a Core Formation cultivator.
Lan Chang'an himself would benefit from such an opportunity.
“If Mister Xu stays a little longer, you might come to love this place,” Fairy Ni Yue said with a subtle glimmer of joy in her heart. She hadn’t expected him to change his mind and agree so readily.
Based on his usual temperament, even soft pleas might not have worked.
If he was willing to remain in the Fragrant Grass Oasis, the likelihood of him becoming a guest elder of Xuan Yin Pavilion would significantly increase.
“Huan’er, arrange an upper-class residence for Mister Xu,” Fairy Ni Yue instructed after a brief conversation.
She then called over a petite maid in a green dress, who appeared delicate and agile.
“This way, Mister Xu. I will guide you,” said the maid, whose name was Li Huan. Her cultivation was at the Fake Dan stage.
Although her status as a maid seemed lowly, in reality, she was one of Fairy Ni Yue’s most trusted confidants, having served her for nearly two centuries.
“Thank you, Miss Huan,” Lan Chang'an said, glancing at the green-dressed maid. Her beauty was comparable to that of Guan Qiaozhi from his past life, yet in the Xuan Yin Pavilion, where flowers vied for beauty, she wasn’t particularly eye-catching.
“Here we are, Mister Xu,” Li Huan said after leading him to an elegant riverside courtyard.
Lan Chang'an expressed his gratitude and entered the courtyard residence.
As he settled in, he noticed Li Huan heading toward a nearby residence.
“Fairy Huan, have you used up the last batch of perfume again?”
The owner of the neighboring residence was a refined young man in white, with a warm and pleasant voice.
Lan Chang'an raised an eyebrow in surprise—it turned out that Alchemist Dongfang was living next door.
The soft glow in Li Huan’s eyes betrayed her feelings for Dongfang Xifang.
It was evident that she had deliberately arranged Lan Chang'an’s lodging here so she could drop by to see the man she admired.
Alas, it was a one-sided affection—like falling petals met by an indifferent stream. Dongfang Xi treated her politely but showed no romantic interest.
Li Huan didn’t seem discouraged and took her leave with laughter as clear as wind chimes.
“Mister Xu, it seems we’re neighbors now. What a coincidence,” Dongfang Xi said with a smile, greeting Lan Chang'an warmly.
The two exchanged pleasantries briefly but did not delve into deeper conversation.
...
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Lan Chang'an enjoyed the benefits of the mid-grade third-rank spiritual vein in the oasis, making his cultivation sessions particularly comfortable. He lived leisurely and contentedly in the Fragrant Grass Oasis.
Though Fairy Ni Yue only visited him once, each day, there were graceful and talented women who accompanied him, performing dances and melodies.
Among the cultivators of Xuan Yin Pavilion’s Fragrant Grass Oasis, three Core Formation female immortals stood out as unparalleled beauties, all of whom Lan Chang'an had met.
The first, of course, was Fairy Ni Yue—peerlessly stunning, outshining all others.
The second was Fairy Jiang, a classical beauty with a refined and serene temperament, reminiscent of an untainted green lotus rising from muddy waters.
The third was Fairy Bai, draped in a snow-white dress, cold and ethereal. Her elegance was like a startled swan, or a goddess walking under the moonlight.
“Elder Bai!”
Fairy Ni Yue, Fairy Jiang, and the other female cultivators cried out in grief and rage, their expressions twisted with fury.
Dongfang Xi, who had joined Xuan Yin Pavilion under the guise of admiration for Fairy Ni Yue, had been diligent, gentle, and courteous—all of it was actually a carefully crafted facade.
“Hahaha! Well done, Fellow Daoist Dongfang! From now on, you shall be an elder protector of my ‘Inferno Peak Sect!’”
A booming, low voice echoed from beyond the oasis’s protective formation.
Amidst the raging yellow sands behind the massive flaming mountain, three Core Formation Immortals and six Fake Dan cultivators revealed their presence, their auras chillingly oppressive.
The leader, a man clad in iron armor with thick brows and a square face, controlled the flaming mountain magical treasure. His presence was like a towering mountain, exuding the overwhelming pressure of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.
...
"Fang Zhen? It’s you!!"
Within the oasis, Fairy Ni Yue’s face was filled with rage as she recognized the intruder—a former high-ranking cultivator from the Liang Kingdom, once an acquaintance.
“We have no grudges. Why do you show such cruelty toward fellow cultivators from the same homeland?”
Her moon-like, serene eyes now brimmed with bloodshot anger, and her voice turned sharp and mournful as she questioned him.
“Fairy Ni Yue, you’re still clinging to old sentiments!”
Fang Zhen’s expression remained indifferent as he spoke coldly:
“Back then, you and I were equals in cultivation, and my talent was even slightly inferior. Yet today, you remain stuck at the mid-stage of Core Formation, while I have risen to the late stage. Do you know how I accomplished this? By being ruthless! By striking down my fellow countrymen without hesitation!”
Fang Zhen had prospered in the Fengyuan Kingdom precisely because he knew the strengths and weaknesses of his compatriots from the Liang Kingdom. By targeting familiar faces, he minimized risk and amassed wealth and resources without anyone stepping forward to seek justice.
Toward local cultivators of Fengyuan, however, he maintained a more diplomatic approach—either befriending them or steering clear of enmity.
“Cut the crap! All I want is Fairy Ni Yue! Bring her back so I can have her bear my children!”
From behind Fang Zhen, a thunderous voice rumbled like muffled lightning.
The speaker was a dark green-skinned giant clad in scale armor, his long braids swinging behind him. His broad, rough hands gripped an iron chain as thick as a child’s arm, and a purple nose ring adorned his enormous nose.
This individual exuded no trace of magical energy. Instead, his body radiated pure physical strength and a mysterious, primal power.
“Break it for this king!”
The giant with dark green skin, as tough as leather, flexed his bulging muscles and transformed into an ancient, savage bull. With a roar, he charged at the already-cracked third-rank formation.
BOOM! CRACK!
The mid-stage body refinement expert, with his mountain-crushing strength, forcibly squeezed through the formation’s cracks and entered the oasis.
Even Fang Zhen couldn’t help but twitch at the sight.
That was a third-rank mid-grade protective formation, capable of shredding ordinary low-grade magical treasures to pieces—yet this brute had broken through with brute force!
“Eshalu, stop! Don’t let Fang Zhen manipulate you!”
Fairy Ni Yue’s face turned ashen as she recognized the giant.
He was a tribal prince of the Heavenly Wind Tribe, once a suitor of hers during Xuan Yin Pavilion’s early days in Fengyuan Kingdom.
Zheng! Zheng!
Her flowing dress fluttered as she summoned an ancient zither radiating a glazed cyan light. Her slender fingers plucked the strings, producing cold, water-like melodies.
The invisible ripples of her zither’s sound waves spread across the spiritual plane, enveloping the braided giant Eshalu.
“Ni Yue...”
Under the influence of the music, Eshalu’s massive, bull-like eyes softened, showing traces of rationality and calm. The murderous aura surrounding him dissipated significantly.
“Back when Xuan Yin Pavilion first fled to Fengyuan, I helped you so much, yet in the end, you abandoned me. How cold-hearted you were,” Eshalu said, his voice thick with resentment.
Fairy Ni Yue’s face was tinged with sorrow as she replied gently, “Eshalu, Xuan Yin Pavilion gave you fair compensation and never mistreated you. It was you who insisted on helping us without asking for anything in return!”
“Eshalu, don’t let her zither ensnare you!” Fang Zhen shouted from outside the formation, his voice carrying a wave of spiritual energy.
“She used her beauty and music to manipulate your feelings. Don’t fall for her tricks again!”
Eshalu sneered, his expression twisted. “The compensation I wanted was you, Ni Yue! You knew that!”
“A calamity written in fate...”
Fairy Ni Yue sighed bitterly, her voice laced with regret.
Years ago, when Xuan Yin Pavilion fled their homeland, they were like stray dogs, their elderly, weak, and injured members struggling to survive amidst predators.
At the time, in order to secure a foothold, Fairy Ni Yue had taken advantage of Eshalu’s feelings for her, giving him a sliver of hope to protect the pavilion.
Now, the seeds she had sown in desperation had grown into this disastrous karmic backlash—a calamity she could not avoid.
“Fairy Ni Yue, why resist any longer? Submit to me, and I will spare your pavilion. Xuan Yin Pavilion will become a subsidiary force of my Inferno Peak Sect, and I will ensure that you and your disciples are well-treated,” Fang Zhen said with an eerie calm, his tone carrying a chilling undertone.
If he could take control of Xuan Yin Pavilion’s female cultivators and their musical arts businesses, he would gain not only a steady source of income but also a valuable intelligence network.
This would greatly aid his ambitions to dominate the Fengyuan Kingdom.
“Even if I were to shatter like jade, I will not let Xuan Yin Pavilion fall into your hands,” Fairy Ni Yue declared sharply.
Her clear eyes burned with determination as her fingers danced rapidly across her zither. The ancient instrument erupted with a killing melody, like the clash of swords and spears on a battlefield.
Countless crescent-shaped beams of sound rippled through the air, targeting Eshalu’s very soul and assaulting him relentlessly.
“Argh!”
Eshalu roared in pain, his eyes bleeding as his sea of consciousness shook violently. His qi and blood surged chaotically, leaving him momentarily suppressed and injured by the seemingly delicate yet deadly Fairy Ni Yue.
...
As Fairy Ni Yue held Eshalu at bay, Fang Zhen and his group outside the formation intensified their assault.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted within the oasis.
“Something’s wrong...”
“Pavilion Master, we’ve been poisoned!”
Li Huan and the other Fake Dan and Foundation Establishment female cultivators clutched their foreheads, their skin turning purple as their eyes glazed over. One by one, they collapsed to the ground.
“It’s Dongfang Xi’s doing! There’s something wrong with the perfume he provided us...”
Fairy Jiang clenched her teeth as she struggled to suppress the poison’s effects with her Core Formation cultivation. Her body radiated a fragrant aura as she activated her spiritual energy.
After consuming a third-rank detoxification pill, she managed to stabilize her condition and avoid losing consciousness.
However, the other female cultivators in the oasis were not as fortunate. Stripped of their spiritual energy, they lay unconscious and helpless.
“Don’t worry, fairies. You’re all valuable resources that Sect Master Fang intends to keep intact. The tranquilizing powder I developed, when paired with the perfume, only renders you unconscious and temporarily strips your cultivation,” Dongfang Xi said with a smirk.
Sitting cross-legged in a patch of grass, he clapped his hands on the ground, activating the medicinal herbs he had secretly planted throughout the oasis. A thick, green mist spread, enveloping the entire area.
It turned out that Dongfang Xi had tampered with the perfume he distributed to Xuan Yin Pavilion’s disciples. By itself, the perfume was harmless and untraceable. But combined with the hidden medicinal essence in the oasis, it triggered the tranquilizing powder’s effects.
Even those who hadn’t directly used the perfume had absorbed its ingredients through coming into contact with others.
Unfortunately, Fairy Ni Yue never used his perfume and, coupled with her profound cultivation, remained completely unharmed.
This woman possessed a unique constitution that naturally exuded a delicate fragrance, making perfume unnecessary, and she might also be carrying a treasure capable of resisting poisons.
“Sect Master Fang, I have exceeded expectations and completed the task,” Dongfang Xi said with a calm smile as he surveyed the fallen cultivators, tallying his “victories.”
At this moment, only two True Dan cultivators remained standing within the oasis.
No! There is still one more person...
Dongfang Xi’s expression shifted slightly as he realized he had overlooked someone.
“Hehe, Fellow Daoist Dongfang, are you looking for me?”
A warm male voice came from behind him.