Chapter 691: Meeting Zi Ji Again
The main headquarters of the Fenghuang God Sect was located to the west of the central area of Shenhuang City, while the very center was occupied by the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
The main branch of the Black Moon Merchant Guild stretched for dozens of li in both length and width. A scale of such magnitude rivaled a small city. If one had not seen it with their own eyes, it would be hard for anyone to believe that this was merely the site of a merchant guild.
The Black Moon Merchant Guild had a total of eight floors, each floor being astonishingly tall. Although there were only eight levels, stacked together they pierced straight into the sky... but his heart was completely dumbfounded...
What... is going on here?
Could it be... that there really once was someone named "Duotian" who existed? And was he a figure on the level of an ancient super boss?
Judging by Zi Ji's appearance... this unexpected "coincidence" had not only failed to create a flaw but instead further solidified the existence of his "powerful master"!?
"My master has long ceased to concern himself with mortal affairs and is unwilling to be mentioned. I hope Senior Zi will understand." Yun Che said with a very calm smile, but in his heart, he thought: I know absolutely nothing about this "Duotian Old Man." If we start talking about him, I might reveal a flaw... It seems I need to find a way to learn about that guy called the "Duotian Old Man" from ten thousand years ago.
"This old man only holds reverence for your master, with no intention of prying." Zi Ji said earnestly.
The young girl in green robes named "Qing Chen" walked over slowly, holding a freshly brewed pot of tea in her hands. Before she even drew near, a refreshing tea fragrance wafted to their faces, causing Yun Che to involuntarily take a light sniff. He said, "Speaking of which, I have been quite fortunate in both of my visits, arriving just when Senior Zi was at leisure. Given the great reputation of the Black Moon Merchant Guild, Senior Zi must be extraordinarily busy on ordinary days."
"Hehehe," Zi Ji shook his head with a smile. "That's not the case. This old man has been here for over a hundred years, yet I have never been busy. There are countless extraordinary people in the Tian Xuan Continent, but those qualified to enter this seventh floor are one in tens of millions at most. Calculating it, on average, one distinguished guest visits this place per month. The rest of the time, I am at leisure."
"One month?" Yun Che showed surprise, then said, "Senior Zi's profound cultivation is unfathomably deep, and your breadth of knowledge is probably unmatched. Even if you were to go to one of the Four Sacred Grounds, you would definitely hold a very high status. If what Senior Zi says is true... then wouldn't that be a severe waste of your abilities? And this seventh floor, though suspended in the air, is vast and boundless, like a fairyland. Just the construction cost alone probably far exceeds the imperial city of any of the six kingdoms, yet it is only used to receive guests who come once a month?"
"Not at all." Zi Ji smiled slightly. He took the teapot from the green-robed girl's hand and personally filled the teacup in front of Yun Che. "The Black Moon Merchant Guild has survived for thousands of years, flourishing for a long time without decline. It naturally has its own mature way of survival. The number of guests on the seventh floor is less than a ten-thousandth of that on the first six floors, but the construction and annual maintenance costs of this floor are more than a hundred times greater than the first six floors combined. That is because... those who can enter the first six floors are esteemed guests of my Black Moon Merchant Guild, but those who are qualified to enter here... are the lifeline of my Black Moon Merchant Guild!"
"I believe that with your intelligence, you will surely understand my words." Zi Ji said with a peaceful smile.
Yun Che closed his eyes slightly, pondered briefly, then opened them and slowly nodded. "I see. I have always prided myself on having considerable knowledge, but having come here twice, such a fairyland, and being personally received by a peerless expert like Senior Zi, I feel both honored and overwhelmed. In this way, each visit is a favor received. And the only ones in the Tian Xuan Continent who can make all the top powers and forces feel indebted are probably your Black Moon Merchant Guild."
"Hehe, drink your tea." Zi Ji smiled and raised his hand, picking up his teacup and taking a small sip, a look of aftertaste on his face.
Yun Che picked up his teacup, but drained it in one gulp. He swirled the cup and said with a smile, "Senior Zi's tea must be a true treasure of the world. But I have never understood the art of tea tasting, so I am simply wasting a precious gift."
"No matter how good the tea is, if it passes through your hands, even if you spill it, it would be a great fortune. How could it be called wasting?" Zi Ji said with a laugh.
"I am not worthy of such praise from Senior." Yun Che said with an ambiguous smile. He had come to Shenhuang City with murderous intent, but after arriving here, in less than half an incense stick's time, his heart had become calm and serene. The Zi Ji before him had a peaceful and ancient aura, like a vast ocean accepting all rivers... like an ancient well that had remained still and waveless for ten thousand years.
"If you are not worthy, then probably no one in the Tian Xuan Continent is." Zi Ji's tone remained the same, but he turned to a somewhat abrupt question. "Now that you have come, what do you plan to do to the Fenghuang God Sect?"
Yun Che's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, a fierce murderous aura surged from his entire body. The killing intent in his eyes was also laid bare before Zi Ji without any concealment. "What does Senior think I should do?"
The surrounding space suddenly became grim without warning, causing the three young girls beside him to shiver simultaneously. Zi Ji still had a peaceful and faint smile on his face, his expression unchanged by Yun Che's aura. "This old man only waits to see the result."
"Then what does Senior think the result will be?"
Zi Ji slowly shook his head. "Unpredictable. When I first met you three years ago, although I was surprised by your talent and your bearing and cunning far beyond your age, until you left, I always believed that if you went to the Fenghuang God Sect, there was over a ninety percent chance you would be buried there. The remaining ten percent, even if you managed to keep your life, you would never achieve what you desired. Because I understand the Fenghuang God Sect far better than I understand you."
"This old man has been stationed here for a hundred years, and all the people I have seen are outstanding figures. I prided myself on never being wrong about people or matters. But... you are the only one, Yun Che, whose outcome I utterly failed to guess. A young man less than twenty years old, with the profound strength of the Earth Xuan Realm, within the territory of the Fenghuang God Sect, made them suffer a complete defeat without being able to counter. In all these years, you are the only one I have completely misjudged."
"The Fenghuang God Sect has stood for five thousand years. Its foundation and depth are difficult even for the Four Sacred Grounds to fathom. Although your strength now far exceeds what it was three years ago, if you do not rely on your master's power and face them head-on alone... if this was my first meeting with you, the only thought I would have is 'throwing an egg against a rock.' But now..." Zi Ji slowly shook his head, as if mocking himself. "I dare not make any hasty judgments. We are only three feet apart, yet it feels like we are separated by ten thousand zhang. Heh, I simply cannot see through you at all."
The young girls standing on either side of Yun Che simultaneously opened their pink lips wide, their faces unable to hide the deep surprise despite their efforts to maintain sweet smiles. They knew best what kind of status Mr. Zi had. It was the first time they heard him say such words... and to someone so young.
"Hmph, the Fenghuang God Sect is not worth my master's personal intervention." Yun Che's brows furrowed, his voice filled with chilling killing intent. "I won't do anything too drastic to them. I just want to collect the debts they owe... at least ten times over!"
"Speaking of which..." Yun Che suddenly changed the subject. "I heard that three years ago, after the Primordial Mystic Ark disappeared, the Phoenix God of the Fenghuang God Sect appeared?"
The appearance of the Phoenix God three years ago had appeared in Ye Ziyi's memories from the Sun Moon Divine Palace, and also in Feng Huwei's memories... he had even witnessed it with his own eyes! The Phoenix God not only appeared, but its overwhelming pressure caused even the people from the Four Sacred Grounds to fall silent, and it publicly and ruthlessly punished Ye Xinghan.
But... the Phoenix God had already vanished!
"That's right." Zi Ji nodded slightly. "Three years ago, there was a rumor that the Phoenix God's lifespan had ended and it had passed away. Later, it was learned that the Fenghuang God Sect had lost its greatest backing due to the Phoenix God's death. Once exposed, they might face a catastrophic disaster. Therefore, the Fenghuang God Sect's Grand Elder, Feng Feiyan, secretly pledged allegiance to the Sun Moon Divine Palace and informed them of the Phoenix God's death. However, when the Phoenix God descended three years ago, everyone in Shenhuang City saw it with their own eyes, proving that its 'passing' was merely a test. The test was naturally aimed at people like Feng Feiyan who harbored ulterior motives."
"I see." Yun Che frowned slightly, his heart still full of doubts. The Phoenix God had passed away—this was something Feng Xue'er had personally told him. With Feng Xue'er's pure heart, it was absolutely impossible for her to lie. Moreover, Feng Xue'er had inherited all the Phoenix God's source power, soul power, and even memories... In that case, how could the Phoenix God still be alive!
"Don't doubt it. That Phoenix God spirit has long been dead." Mo Li suddenly said coldly.
Yun Che was startled. "Then the one who appeared three years ago..."
"Hmph, it was merely a soul fragment containing a bit of source power." Mo Li said indifferently. "Leaving behind a soul fragment with power—mortals cannot do this, nor can they imagine it. But for a Phoenix God spirit, which is a separated entity of the Phoenix's soul, it is effortless! After it transferred all its soul power and source power to Feng Xue'er, probably to prevent the emergence of someone like Feng Feiyan, it deliberately separated a small part and attached it to Feng Xue'er's body. However, this separated soul fragment could not last long, and by now it should have completely dissipated. To say it is still alive... absolutely impossible!"
"...I see." Yun Che roughly understood.
"Mr. Zi, in these three years, do you have any news about the Fenghuang God Sect's Snow Princess?" Yun Che asked.
Zi Ji gave Yun Che a deep look, his gaze carrying an inexplicable meaning. Then he smiled faintly and said, "Three years ago, after leaving the Primordial Mystic Ark and before the Phoenix God's appearance, the Snow Princess fell into a coma... Since then, she has been in a state of slumber for a full three years, unable to be awakened no matter what."
"What?" Yun Che's expression shifted abruptly. "Asleep for three years? A full three years?"
"Correct. If the information I received is accurate, she only woke up the day before yesterday."
"..." Yun Che's heart stirred. In Feng Huwei's memories, he had not found any information about Feng Xue'er's situation over the past three years. For the past two days, he had been thinking and puzzled. With Feng Xue'er's pure heart and her genuine feelings for him, she would have definitely tried to stop the Shenhuang Kingdom's invasion of the Cangfeng Kingdom! And Feng Hengkong doted on her immensely, granting her every wish... The Cangfeng Kingdom should not have fallen into such a miserable state.
So... she had been in a coma all this time, for three whole years.
Yun Che took a light breath and asked, "Does Mr. Zi know why the Snow Princess suddenly fell into such a long coma? It shouldn't be due to injury, right?"
"On this point, I am only speculating." Zi Ji said slowly. "After the Snow Princess fell into a coma, her entire body was surrounded by crimson flames that persisted for a long time, making it impossible for anyone to approach within three zhang. And the place where she slept for three years was brought there by the Phoenix God that appeared three years ago. Therefore, it should have been the Phoenix God using its Phoenix Flame to temper her body or perhaps granting her even stronger Phoenix Flame power, helping her advance from a Half-step Emperor Lord to the Emperor Lord realm... Something like that. Now that the Snow Princess has awakened, if you are concerned, you can go and ask her in person. Hehehe."
Zi Ji's smile was very meaningful.
It was only natural. Back then, the reason Yun Che was "buried" in the Primordial Mystic Ark was known to almost everyone in the Tian Xuan Continent. How could Zi Ji not know it? As a core figure of the Black Moon Merchant Guild, he would only know more than others.