Chapter 631: The Phoenix That Delivered Itself to the Door

On the eastern city gate tower.

Yin Qi and Ding Ce stood side by side, with over a dozen generals beside them.

One of the generals snorted coldly: "A million-strong army, surrounding three sides and leaving one open—Qingzhou has such great resolve. They intend to swallow us all up; are they not afraid of choking to death?"

Over the past three years, they have fought countless battles, large and small, with Qingzhou.

But this is the first time they have been pushed back to Qingyang City by Qingzhou. The expressions of these generals were all unsightly, and they stole glances at Yin Qi one after another, wanting to see Yin Qi's reaction.

After all, being pushed back to Qingyang City by Qingzhou, if reported upward, would be a sign of their incompetence.

Yin Qi stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, but a layer of green mist clouded his eyes as he looked toward the command chariot deep within the army, where a streak of Purple Gold Luck shot into the sky.

That belonged to Jin Ning.

Purple Gold Luck does not belong exclusively to the Royal Family.

As long as one cultivates to the Golden Immortal stage, the Fortune Essence will transform into purple gold.

A distance of several dozen miles could not obstruct Yin Qi's sight.

He saw that on the tall command chariot, a woman wearing a fire-red fairy dress stood side by side with Fengyun Zong; she held her head slightly high, revealing her snow-white neck, just like a proud Golden Phoenix.

Perhaps sensing Yin Qi's gaze, Jin Ning also looked over from afar.

Before they had even clashed, the mere collision of their gazes caused a great wind to blow out of thin air, and in the void, it was as if countless sparks were darting about like lightning.

…………

"What is it, Holy Envoy?"

Fengyun Zong asked in confusion.

He suddenly felt a change in Jin Ning's aura, and turning his head, he discovered her expression was grave, completely unlike her previous relaxed and comfortable—or more accurately, arrogant—demeanor.

It was to be expected; she was, after all, a dignified Peak Golden Immortal.

For her to take action personally to settle a Human Race army should be an easy task.

Jin Ning's beautiful eyes narrowed, staring straight at the city wall, and she said in a deep voice: "A Golden Immortal. I did not expect there to be a Golden Immortal in the Yin Shang army, and by the looks of it, he is specifically waiting for me."

With a single thought from a Golden Immortal, their immortal sense can instantly sweep across ten million miles.

She had scouted Qingyang City yesterday and had not discovered the other party's presence; the highest was only at the Mysterious Immortal Initial Stage.

Therefore, she suspected that the other party was targeting her.

"How is this possible!"

Fengyun Zong almost jumped on the spot. He hurriedly looked toward the city tower, and then his pupils suddenly constricted as he said in a deep voice: "Yang Daoren, the National Teacher Yang Daoren. Holy Envoy, is the Golden Immortal you speak of the person to the left of Ding Ce?"

"Oh, so he is the Yin Shang National Teacher, Yang Shen Yang Daoren!"

Jin Ning raised an eyebrow.

When she left Wahuang Palace, Nuwa had mentioned this person, Yang Shen, to her, saying he was very likely a pawn of Tongtian Jiaozhu.

After arriving in Qingzhou, she had also learned about this person, knowing that the prosperity and flourishing of Yin Shang today was largely due to his contributions—not that he was skilled in governing the country, but that he was skilled in the Cultivation of Hundred Professions.

Those strange and peculiar civilian Dharma Treasures were said to have all been invented by this person, and he had also pioneered a new method of cultivation for the Heaven Realm.

She had originally thought the other party was at most a Peak Mysterious Immortal, but she had not expected him to be a Golden Immortal.

Fengyun Zong became nervous at once and asked hurriedly: "Holy Envoy, are you confident?"

Jin Ning smiled faintly and said proudly: "A mere Golden Immortal Initial Stage, I can suppress him with a flip of my hand. After breaking through Qingyang City, we will reach Youhun Pass at the fastest speed, so as to avoid the Jie Sect sending experts to reinforce them if the delay is too long."

Fengyun Zong breathed a sigh of relief: "That is good then."

………

"Interesting!"

The corners of Yin Qi's mouth curled up slightly.

This Jin Ning was actually a Golden Phoenix with pure bloodlines.

Taking the Nine Yin Power, it could almost approach Chaos.

Among these Nine Yin, there is the Phoenix.

And the Golden Phoenix is the king among the Phoenix Clan.

Ever since the Phoenix Clan withdrew from Honghuang, it has been very difficult to see pure-blooded phoenixes in this Honghuang; like the previous Phoenix singing at Qishan, the bloodline of that phoenix was actually not pure.

Regarding the Nine Yin Power, Yin Qi had not deliberately gone looking for it.

But since she delivered herself to his doorstep, he would not be polite; it could be considered collecting some interest from Nuwa first.

……

One hour later.

The Qingzhou army arrived three miles outside the city.

Jin Ning waved her long sleeves and soared into the sky, arriving high above to look down at Qingyang City, and shouted: "Yang Shen, come up and fight. Otherwise, I will attack Qingyang City directly."

Yin Qi flashed and arrived high in the sky.

With a faint smile on his lips, he cupped his hands and said: "So it is Fairy Jin Ning, this humble Daoist greets you."

Seeing Yin Qi so courteous, Jin Ning found it difficult to be overbearing.

Her demeanor softened quite a bit, and she said in surprise: "You know me? Since you know me, you should know whose will it is that Qingzhou has raised its army. Considering that your cultivation was not easy to come by, if you leave now and no longer interfere in the affairs of Yin Shang, I can let bygones be bygones. Even after the new dynasty is established, you can still be the National Teacher."

Yin Qi said: "Of course I know you. Fairy is the high disciple of the Saint Mother, the former Heaven Maiden of the Phoenix Clan; I have admired you for a long time, and to see you today is truly a great honor of three lifetimes.

However, please forgive this humble Daoist, as I cannot do what you ask.

As the saying goes, one who eats the lord's salary must be loyal to the lord's affairs; how could this humble Daoist abandon Yin Shang halfway!

Instead, it is I who wish to advise you, Fairy.

The current Human Emperor is benevolent and wise, reforming the civil service, appointing people on their merits, and bestowing grace upon the common people; he has great merit to our Human Race, and even if he cannot compare to the Three Sovereigns, he is at least comparable to the Five Emperors.

With such a wise ruler for the Human Race, how could the Saint Mother support the Qingzhou Marquis?

That Qingzhou Marquis Fengyun Zong, whether in character or ability, in what way can he compare to Di Qi?"

Hearing the first part, Jin Ning felt inexplicably happy and proud.

After all, who doesn't like being praised?

But as Yin Qi continued, her expression grew increasingly cold and stern.

It wasn't just that Yin Qi was ungrateful and completely failed to appreciate the gesture; he didn't even bother to lower his voice, allowing the entire army to hear him.

He was complaining about the Lady!

Jin Ning's phoenix eyes filled with rage, and she coldly snorted: "Di Qi is muddled and devoid of Dao; he actually wrote a lewd poem while offering incense at Nuwa Palace, blaspheming the Lady. Is this what you call benevolent and wise?"

Yin Qi shook his head and said: "Regarding this matter, the world is well aware that a Demon Dao bewitched the Great King's mind. Even with Wen Zhong present at the time, he did not discover it in time, which shows how formidable the Demon Dao is. Logically speaking, the Demon Dao is the primary culprit. If the Saint Mother wishes to punish someone, she should punish that Demon Dao. Why assist Qingzhou in raising an army to punish the Human Emperor?"

"A Saint cannot be insulted!"

Jin Ning said coldly: "As for that Demon Dao, the Lady will naturally punish them, but the Human Emperor cannot be spared either."

Yin Qi put on a look of grief and indignation, sighing: "A Saint indeed cannot be insulted, but the Saint Mother is the Holy Mother of the Human Race. How can it be that when children say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, the mother must beat them to death? I hope the Fairy can temporarily withdraw and report to the Saint Mother that Di Qi has already repented and is willing to build new Nuwa Palaces throughout the Yin-Shang territories."

Listening to the conversation between Yin Qi and Jin Ning, the head of Fengyun Sect broke out in a cold sweat and felt anxious, because he could hear the guiding intent in Yin Qi's words; he was playing the victim in front of the army to win sympathy.

Sure enough, from the originally solemn and silent army, buzzing sounds of discussion came from all directions.

He looked around and discovered that the soldiers' eyes were filled with shock and suspicion.