045 Exchange · First Phoenix Out of the Pass

  At first, San Feng saw with her own eyes how Yue Qing used the Ding Jia Shen Mo to capture the five demons in Yan Shi's hands so easily. From then on, she had a change of heart and thought that if she also had such a treasure, not only would her status in the palace be like the sun in the sky, becoming the second person after her older sister, but also having an extra layer of security when crossing the tribulation. According to her greedy personality, she was unwilling to use the Xuan Guang Chi to exchange for it, because although the Xuan Guang Chi was not properly cultivated in her hands, it was still one of the top-ranked magic treasures among the people in the Purple Cloud Palace. She only wanted to use some other ordinary objects to exchange for Yue Qing's Shen Mo Hu Lu, and even plotted with Dong Xiu multiple times behind closed doors, thinking about how to make Xu Fei Niang and Yue Qing owe her a great favor, and even thought of using helping the Wu Tai Sect resist Emei as an exchange condition.

  Yue Qing's sudden departure made her thoroughly flustered. At first, she thought of the Zi Yun Palace's celestial residence, not only was the scenery unparalleled in the world, but there were also countless rare and precious spiritual fruits and jade that couldn't be found elsewhere, and the servants attended to her every need with meticulous care. Yue Qing must have thought that he would return soon. But who knew that Yue Qing had been gone for two months, she waited anxiously, asking Xu Fei Niang several times, almost to the point of sending someone out to look for him.

  This time when she met Yue Qing in the East Sea, she had hesitated and didn't want to take out the Xuan Guang Chi. It wasn't until Yue Qing said that someone wanted to use a powerful treasure to exchange it for the gourd that she became truly anxious and made up her mind to use the Xuan Guang Chi to exchange for the Divine Demon Gourd.

  San Feng and Dong Xiu arranged a sumptuous banquet, guessing that Xu Fei had already informed them in advance, so they came to Da Xiong Jiao on the pretext of inviting the two over for dinner to inquire about the situation.

  Things have come to this, and it's already a done deal. Xufei Nang opened the door and said straightforwardly: "The matter you asked me for, sister, I've already discussed with Yueshi brother. He was initially unwilling, but because that demonic gourd is so evil and ominous, it's the most inauspicious treasure in this world. He's willing to get rid of it. Moreover, his friend from Zhēn Yuè Palace helped him out a bit back then, so if we're exchanging treasures, he should prioritize that friend first." She saw Sanfeng's face turn urgent and waved her hand, saying: "Don't be in a rush, sister, listen to me finish. I told Yueshi brother that Zhēn Yuè Palace is far away at the eastern end of the sea, and they've always avoided getting involved in the struggles between the Central Plains. Moreover, he didn't give a definite answer about exchanging treasures, so there's still room for maneuvering. It took a lot of effort to persuade Yueshi brother to agree to exchange the gourd with you."

  San Feng was overjoyed upon hearing this, and bowed his hands to Yue Qing: "Younger brother, rest assured that in the future when your sect and Emei have their three sword fights, my Purple Cloud Palace will not stand idly by!" After finishing speaking, he took out the Xuan Guang ruler and handed it over to Yue Qing, who was already impatient to obtain the Divine Demon Gourd.

  Yue Qing also took out the black jade gourd, holding it in his hand, and said seriously: "This gourd of mine is a treasure of the demonic path, and your Xuanguang ruler is also a rare treasure of the mysterious gate. If we compare which one is superior or inferior, the disciples of the demonic path naturally respect the gourd, while the people of the Taoist school think the ruler is above. I say these things not for anything else, but I'm afraid that in the future, the three palace masters will hear some words with ulterior motives and give rise to discord, and when the time comes, friends will become enemies, which would be contrary to our original intention."

  San Feng only wanted to get the treasure as soon as possible, fearing that Yue Qing would regret it. She hastily said: "Brother Yue, rest assured, today we exchange treasures, is a voluntary agreement between us, and Sister Xu and Dong Xiu can bear witness. We swear on heaven, earth, sun, and moon, if anyone regrets it in the future, they will be considered ungrateful, and heaven, earth, gods, and humans will punish them together!"

  Yue Qing smoothly handed over the black jade gourd, San Feng took it and was about to walk out happily when Dong Xiu pulled her sleeve, only then did she remember the original intention of Da Xiong Jiao. She suppressed her emotions, put away the gourd, and invited Xu Fei Niang and Yue Qing to have a meal at Shan Hu Ting.

  The meal was eaten quickly, Sanfeng thought of the gourd, Yueqing thought of the Xuguang ruler, Xu Feinang and Dongxiu also had their own thoughts, but they all retreated after going through the motions. The remaining immortal fruits and delicacies were divided among the disciples, with the good ones given to them and the bad ones given to the servants.

  Three Phoenix returned to her own palace, announcing that she was going into seclusion and focusing on using magic to refine the gourd. Yue Qing returned to Da Xiong Jiao, using immortal methods to sweep away the magical seals on the surface of the Xuanguang ruler, then re-refined it, causing this dark door demon-subduing treasure to regain its luster. With a self-satisfied smile, he muttered to himself: "My way is accomplished!"

  Yuè Qīng was at Dà Xióng Jiāo every day, offering sacrifices to the Xuān Guāng Chǐ, cultivating the Huì Yuán Zhēn Qì, and practicing the techniques from the Tiān Shū of Guǎng Chéng Zǐ he had newly obtained in Qīng Luó Yù. In his spare time, he would occasionally offer guidance to Wú Fān.

  When it comes to Wu Fan, this kid doesn't have any other shortcomings, just that he's a womanizer. However, in Yue Qing's opinion, what 18 or 19-year-old boy isn't? Wu Fan simply hasn't met a master who is willing to teach him with dedication, and relying on his flying and escaping skills, as well as his charming techniques, he has become lawless. If he didn't know any Taoist magic and only knew martial arts, perhaps he would be a bandit who steals women's hearts. If he lived in modern society, he would probably be an otaku who watches porn and plays video games.

  Yue Qing had been busy running around since he arrived at the Purple Cloud Palace, taking care of Wu Fan's every need, from food and clothing to daily life, even more diligent than serving his own father. Although he had ulterior motives, who in this world doesn't get up early without a profit? Therefore, in his heart, he still cherished Wu Fan's kindness. Whenever Wu Fan came to ask for guidance, Yue Qing would spare no effort to teach him, from cultivating energy to swordsmanship and various magical techniques, as well as the secrets of heaven and earth. He also warned Wu Fan to restrain himself, be frugal, and focus his heart on the Taoist teachings. Wu Fan treated Yue Qing with utmost respect, listening to his words and following his advice, and indeed restrained many of his past bad habits.

  San Feng was also in seclusion, cultivating the divine demon gourd. The twelve divine demons were too powerful and unyielding, extremely cunning. They originally came from Zhu Honglian and were later refined by Yue Qing using the Five Tai Sect's Ten Demon Classics' inherited techniques.

  The Ten Demon Classics is a secret manual of the Wu Tai Sect, and Yue Qing naturally wouldn't teach it to San Feng. He only gave her twelve hand seals to control them. San Feng was not satisfied, so she used the techniques recorded in the Tian Mo Secret Manual she had learned before to re-cultivate them. Only by doing so could she use her mind to control them. However, with her current strength at the peak of the Scattered Immortal, it was still very difficult for her to cultivate such a powerful demon, so she closed herself up in the Coral Pavilion and didn't come out for a long time.

  Chu Feng and San Feng were both in seclusion, Hui Zhu had always been quietly cultivating in her own palace, with Er Feng and Jin Xu Nu taking charge of all the major and minor matters. Dong Xiu lost a lot of momentum without San Feng's support, but fortunately, she still had Xu Fei Nang by her side, often chatting and discussing Daoist techniques with Er Feng. Jin Xu Nu looked down on both Dong Xiu and Xu Fei Nang, and also devoted herself to cultivation in her own palace. Dong Xiu squeezed out Jin Xu Nu, becoming even more arrogant, frequently taking the Wu Yin Demon Flag out to kill many ferocious sea beasts near Zi Yun Palace, and also collaborated with Xu Fei Nang and Er Feng to refine several furnaces of Di Quan Golden Elixir.

  That day was the day when the first phoenix was released from its cage, and even Sanfeng temporarily put down the black jade gourd in his hand to come out and welcome it together with everyone.

  The first phoenix wore a purple palace dress, slowly coming out from the golden courtyard inside the back hall, and the golden light that was forbidden at the gate of the hall scattered all over the ground.

  Jin Xulü stepped forward first and asked anxiously: "Master, has the great task been accomplished?"

  Chu Feng nodded: "I've already mastered it!"

  San Feng and others all came forward to congratulate, only Hui Zhu's face was calm, Jin Xu Nu had a worried look.

  It turned out that in order to counter the five-hundred-year catastrophe of the scattered immortals, Sanfeng cultivated the most powerful magic recorded on the back of the Tianmo Secret Book, called the Inversion of the Five Elements Chaos Great Law. This was a method of cultivating demons with demons, and after completing this law, all the magics on the Tianmo Secret Book could be fully applied, and even summoning heavenly demons from other domains to serve oneself.

  Hui Zhu was originally a thousand-year-old oyster, who had saved three girls and brought them into the palace. Later, she went through a transformation and was reborn as a human being. Before being taken back by the three girls, she had practiced Buddhist teachings and although she also cultivated the Tian Mo secret book, she could maintain her concentration and wisdom, not being confused. Seeing that the three girls were obsessed with magic, she advised them several times but they didn't listen, so she just let everything go as it may.

  Jin Xunü was originally a pike spirit, extremely ugly. Five hundred years ago, he was caught by Tie Pian Dao Ren and sealed in a ceramic jar at the bottom of the sea with a spiritual symbol. He was rescued by Chu Feng, who later helped him transform into a handsome young man using Tianyi True Water. Therefore, in his heart, he always regarded Chu Feng as his benefactor, often addressing her as such before marrying Er Feng.

  That day, the mysterious book was taken out by Dong Xiu from the Moon Island. Because he didn't get along with him, he wasn't allowed to practice magic. He was the only one in the Purple Cloud Palace who had never practiced magic and also the most profound in Taoism, deeply understanding the drawbacks of magic. Chu Feng had been practicing magic for three years and six months, and he had always been worried, afraid that something unexpected would happen to Chu Feng, causing him to be counterattacked by the heavenly devil and go crazy. Now that Chu Feng had achieved his magical powers, he was worried that Chu Feng would become too deeply entrenched in magic and might not end up well in the future. As everyone congratulated Chu Feng, Xu Fei Nang even said a few humorous words, making everyone laugh together, but on his handsome face, there were only worries.