Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Found Immortal Maiden Azure Luan

After resting two days at the Ninghua Sect, Shen Sang Ruo set out for the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins to look for the Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.

Her path crossed a grassland called the Immortal Mist Plain. In the mornings and evenings it lay under light fog like a fairyland, so people named it that. Blessed by the world’s Sun-Moon Essence, the grass and trees there grew thick, and the Spiritual Qi was richer than in other places. Because of this, herders and Disciples from the Beast Taming Sect often brought their cattle, sheep, or grazing Spirit Beasts to feed there.

It was the season of a hundred flowers. A soft wind rippled the blooms, and their scents washed over the plain. After days on the road, Shen Sang Ruo finally relaxed a little. She slowed down and walked through grass that reached her knees, her mood light. Dressed in red, she stood out against the green sea. In the flowers, she outshone the blossoms.

Only once did trouble break the peace. She helped some herders by subduing a thunder-type Demonic Beast that had mixed into an ordinary herd of cattle, and the shock singed her hair. Other than that, crossing the Immortal Mist Plain went smoothly. She did not notice that the bull she had angrily scorched bald kept sneaking after her. It only gave up with a regretful snort when she neared the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins.

The moment she stepped into the ruins, she felt a strong Wind Domain rise from below with the force to fling everything on the ground into the sky. This place connected to the Immortal Mist Plain and was flat as well, so with one glance she could see the ruins from end to end. It was empty. No sign of people.

She did not find it strange. If Immortal Lord Chang Li mentioned the Immortal Maiden Azure Luan by name, that being was not ordinary. The sight before her would not follow common sense. She kept walking patiently toward the depths of the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins.

Sure enough, after she went about a hundred meters, the Wind Domain around her surged. It lifted her straight into the air. She quickly ran the Fanning Wind and Stirring Fire Art. That art included control over wind, so she barely steadied herself in the gale.

The wind kept growing and hardened into countless Wind Blades. They swept toward her from all directions until she was surrounded. Whoever hid behind this power meant to finish her on the spot without showing themselves. She could still deal with it for now, but if this dragged on, the ever-stronger Wind Blades would slice her to pieces.

Shen Sang Ruo’s eyes flashed. She pulled a Heart-Link Pearl from her Cosmos Pouch and called out: “This junior seeks an audience with the Immortal Maiden Azure Luan!”

Whether it was the pearl or her words, a teal light flared in the sky. When it faded, a tall, slender figure stepped out on drifting feathers, full of graceful pride.

The Immortal Maiden Azure Luan wore a light cyan feather robe. The train that floated behind her changed into dark green feathers edged with gold light. Her fine face showed little expression, as if nothing in the world could hold her interest. After meeting Immortal Lord Chang Li’s Phoenix, Shen Sang Ruo understood at once that this woman’s true body was an Azure Luan.

Eyes narrowed at the corners, the fairy looked down at Shen Sang Ruo without much kindness. She spoke in a cool, distant tone: “Who dares trespass in my domain? Where did you get that Heart-Link Pearl?”

Her gaze swept over the pearl in Shen Sang Ruo’s hand. When she looked back, her eyes grew even narrower, full of inspection.

Holding off the Wind Blades with all her strength and trying to keep her voice steady, Shen Sang Ruo said, “This junior is Shen Sang Ruo. By Immortal Lord Chang Li’s guidance, I bring a Heart-Link Pearl to seek the Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.”

At a certain name, the fairy’s eyes moved, then her bright lips curved in a smile that meant many things. “So it is him.”

She lifted her hand, and the Wind Blades vanished, leaving only the Wind Domain, which held Shen Sang Ruo in the air.

Shen Sang Ruo let out a slow breath. The Immortal Maiden Azure Luan did not seem to have a mild temper, but thanks to Immortal Lord Chang Li’s referral and the pearl as a token, she was at least reasonable. It seemed the two must be old friends with real ties.

The fairy swept her with Divine Sense and said, neither warm nor cold, “That is his cultivation art. So you do belong to him.”

With that, Shen Sang Ruo’s heart settled. The rest would be easier. She was borrowing Immortal Lord Chang Li’s connections. He had already helped her so much that she felt grateful.

She was about to explain her purpose along the fairy’s line of talk when, without warning, the Immortal Maiden Azure Luan gave a hard, thin laugh. Her voice rose several times and turned angry as she shouted: “He stole my Heart-Link Pearl, and now he dares send someone waving it into my territory? Does that scoundrel Chang Li think I am easy to bully?”

Remembering the past, her voice even changed pitch, as if the anger truly ran deep.

Meanwhile, Shen Sang Ruo hung in the wind, stunned. [Shen Sang Ruo: ???]