242 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

Ning Songwu dismissed the thought, convinced that as a former beggar, he couldn't possibly have any significant background. Instead, he assured himself that the sense of familiarity was due to a precognitive dream he had, envisioning this exact scene. Next came the gift-giving session. Those who approached Ran Fanyin for a brief exchange were swiftly disregarded, ending up disappointed. Meanwhile, anyone seeking to connect with Ning Songwu was blocked by Luo Sheng. It had to be said that the balance at Cangyun Mountain tipped more towards the female disciples, with higher-ranking female disciples outnumbering their male counterparts. Luo Sheng and Lin Yuxue were both present at the ceremony. Many attendees, unable to approach Ning Songwu, shifted their attention towards Luo Sheng, considering it just as beneficial to form a connection with him. Standing beside Ran Fanyin, fewer people dared to provoke her, so she started observing the scene. Luo Sheng was surrounded by those trying to cozy up to him; his expression showed impatience, though he restrained his anger to avoid bringing disrepute to Cangyun Mountain. When she turned to Lin Yuxue, she noticed that fewer people were bothering her. Ning Songwu observed that while Lin Yuxue conversed with members of other factions, she occasionally glanced towards Luo Sheng. Whenever Luo Sheng sensed her gaze and looked back, Lin Yuxue quickly retracted her glance. "Senior Sister, Elder Gongsun from Zhenqi Sect is here, and we can seek their help regarding the formation at Wan Family Village." Cen Ran turned to his absent-minded senior sister to speak. Ran Fanyin snapped out of her reverie and responded, "You handle it; there's no need to ask me." Cen Ran sighed lightly, "Yes, Senior Sister." The noisy atmosphere began to irritate Ran Fanyin, and just as she was about to instruct her junior brother to wrap up the ceremony quickly, she caught a whiff of demonic energy. Her expression hardened, and she struck out abruptly. A fierce wind erupted, forcing the cultivators to channel their energy to resist and avoid being blown away and embarrassed. When the wind ceased, everyone was secretly fuming but dared not speak up. Ran Fanyin paid no heed to their petty thoughts and called out loudly, "You've come all this way; why hide?" The crowd below was startled and drew their weapons in caution. A figure began to materialize above the assembly, a brash voice echoing overhead, "Hahaha, as expected of the Frostblade Venerable. Though we've known each other for hundreds of years, you didn't invite me to celebrate the induction of your beloved disciple?" Ning Songwu looked up to see a man in a long, fiery-red robe hovering above. His eyes and hair were both a deep red, and his gaze was profound. Suddenly, Ning Songwu realized the man's eyes were fixed on him, a gaze filled with an incomprehensible resentment. It made Ning Songwu deeply uneasy, like his soul was being chained, and he turned pale. Ran Fanyin intervened, stepping between Ning Songwu and the red-robed man's oppressive gaze. Feeling a sense of security behind his master, Ning Songwu recalled that he now had backing. Sneaking a glance from behind his master, he made a playful face at the man in red. Ran Fanyin tolerated her disciple's antics, her own anger simmering at the direct targeting of her pupil. Her voice grew colder, "Dan Qing, you've overstepped." The man in red shifted his expression as if wounded, "Perhaps the Frostblade Venerable should address me as the Demon Emperor. Using my full name seems rather impolite." Ran Fanyin calmly retorted, "Dan Qing, crossing the boundary so openly—are you in such a hurry to die?" Dan Qing shrugged, "This is merely a projection. My true form remains in the Demon Realm." Ran Fanyin locked eyes with him, and soon Dan Qing, who initially appeared indifferent, grew visibly alarmed. His real body in the Demon Realm sensed an imminent threat. Collecting himself, Dan Qing's demeanor turned serious, "As expected of the Venerable. I shall take my leave." Dan Qing's figure began to fade. Before completely vanishing, he cast one last look at Ning Songwu, who stared back defiantly. Once Dan Qing disappeared, the gathered immortals collectively breathed a sigh of relief, the atmosphere bustling again. "Truly worthy of the Frostblade Venerable! A few words and that Demon Emperor is fleeing like a rat!" "Indeed, if it weren't for the difficulty of attacking the demon stronghold, their nest would have been eradicated long ago!" "The current Demon Emperor is a phoenix by nature—every part of a phoenix is treasure, ideal for alchemy and crafting." Among the crowd, greedy murmurs arose. Ning Songwu quietly listened, a fleeting sense of disgust crossing his mind so swiftly that he failed to notice it. Ran Fanyin frowned, her voice cool as she commanded, "Silence." The noise instantly ceased, reminding everyone of the Venerable's preference for quiet. Having already committed their misstep, they stood on edge, wary of making any further sounds. After sitting there for so long, Ran Fanyin felt weary and, with a displeased expression, addressed the crowd, "That's enough for today. My disciple and I will take our leave. Please enjoy yourselves." Ran Fanyin took Ning Songwu's hand and exited, leaving the bustling venue behind. Cen Ran reluctantly stepped forward to clean up the mess, "My senior sister has been fatigued lately. Please don't mind her. Cangyun Mountain has prepared Bai Ling Wine for our esteemed guests. Please, drink to your heart's content." Bai Ling Wine, being the pinnacle of spiritual wines, enhances cultivation and physical constitution. Normally, obtaining a single drop would be a rare occurrence for cultivators. Offering such an abundance to guests was unanticipated from Cangyun Mountain. The crowd's earlier dissatisfaction quietly dissipated, realizing that confronting someone far more powerful would only harm them. "What do you think, Brother Yang?" Gongsun Yin queried the wine-drinking Yang Yu beside him. Yang Yu set down his cup, a hint of intoxicated enjoyment in his expression, "What do I think? Do you dare to question the Frostblade Venerable, Brother Gongsun?" Gongsun Yin chuckled, twirling his crystalline wine cup, "Of course not. But it is peculiar. The Demon Emperor usually stays cloistered within his stronghold. What brought him out today to provoke us?" Yang Yu sneered, "Provoke us? It looked more like he came to be humiliated. This Demon Emperor lacks his sister's strength, and she was slain by the Venerable. Still, his true form is a phoenix. If controlled..." Yang Yu didn't finish, but Gongsun Yin understood. The Yushou Sect gained its stature by commanding demonkind, though taming a phoenix might be an overambitious dream—the phoenix being a supremely proud creature after all.