Chapter 300 - The Sky Above the City Has Changed

Blood flowed like threads through the grooves of the grinding stone, slowly completing the pattern of the other half of the sun.

With a crack, the eyes of the two stone ghosts turned blood-red as the sun pattern filled with blood.

From their eyes, pairs of blood-colored chains shot out, tightly binding Baili An and Fang Geyu.

Baili An’s expression darkened, “What is happening?”

Fang Geyu’s face paled, showing neither arrogance nor composure, and he was panicked, “The Spiritual Power in my body is being devoured…”

Ji Ting, kneeling on the ground, suddenly trembled.

Then, within the desolate house, apricot blossoms bloomed from nowhere, swirling in with the night wind, crimson against the frosty white snow.

His head slowly lifted, his hands covering his face, shoulders trembling even more violently.

At first, one might think he was terrified, trembling in fear, but the next moment…

“Heh…

hehehe…

hahaha!!

Hahahaha!!!!”

He broke into laughter, from a restrained, quivering giggle to unrestrained, exuberant laughter.

Beneath his fingers, gone was the timid gaze of a struggling scholar; his eyes, wide with excitement and filled with blood-red veins, trembled violently with laughter, tears streaming through his fingers.

“Although it’s somewhat embarrassing to interrupt you while you are laughing so joyfully,” said Baili An, whose face had been somber, with a smile playing on his lips, “I think you could hold your laughter for a bit longer, because there’s something even more joyful coming up.

After all, I’m really about to break this grinding stone.”

As he finished speaking, a swift shadow of blood flickered within Baili An’s dark eyes, and suddenly, with a loud burst, the sun filled with blood exploded, stone fragments flying, Blood Pearls scattering.

It was burst apart directly!

A mocking cold smile appeared in Fang Geyu’s eyes.

The blood chains binding them began to fade, turning to a lifeless grey, and then crumbled into dust like burnt char, swept away with the swirling apricot blossoms.

Baili An shook his hands, the wounds on his palms healing rapidly.

Fang Geyu also casually took out a Star Needle and pricked it, his injuries instantly vanishing without a trace.

Both were unscathed.

However, the black grinding stone at their feet, cracked in pieces, emitted visible strands of Yin Fire, steaming up like mist.

Bright green, still emitting the phosphorus fire of bones.

Baili An stepped back and approached Ji Ting, who was stiffened, chuckling, “Whenever it’s worth your happiness, why not share it with us too?

After all, we’ve seen too much sadness on this journey, and every time you meet me, you fall on your knees crying, so it’s rare to see you laugh so genuinely.”

He patted Ji Ting on the shoulder, sighed, “Given the many painful events that have occurred, seeing you truly laugh like this is unusual.”

Ji Ting’s body tilted and he fell to the ground, convulsing, vomiting dark, foul-smelling blood.

His excited eyes also severely contracted as if he had just been rescued from drowning despair back to the Mortal World, gasping and coughing heavily, his gaze pained and confused as he looked at Baili An.

“Uh…

my lord, what happened just now?” he gasped, “My chest hurts as if it is on fire.”

Baili An’s face showed surprise, then he fell into thought, and after a while, he said solemnly, “It seems the Ghost Tears Pearl greatly affects you.

It is truly terrifying.

We must quickly break this sinister curse, or you really will become like a ghost.”

Ji Ting, terror-stricken, pleaded, “Please save me, my lord!”

Baili An nodded, “The urgent matter at hand is to find Miss Ji Ying as soon as possible.”

In the tranquil night, Karma Fire ignited the heavens, grass and snow turned to ash.

Below the sky dome, fierce flames intertwined with rampant Sword Qi.

From time to time, Yin Thunder snakes startled across, tearing through the ancient darkness.

In a desolate house covered in darkness, the azure Yin Fire burned the space into a twisting mess, as if a gate from Hell had opened a crack, letting ghostly flames flow into the Mortal World.

Even above the sky, the thick night snow clouds could not overshadow the cold brilliance of the moon waning under this magical battle.

Clearly, Ghost and Ghost Sword scion Ying Xiu had reached the fiercest point of their battle.

Such magnitude, not just the Inner City, but even tribes outside the border city could see this strange sky.

Tall buildings stood solemnly, the cold wind blowing robes.

The wind carried snowflakes, causing the lantern on the corner of the city tower to flicker.

Two men, under the night sky, exchanged toasts, clinking their cups in camaraderie.

Tales in the windy night, petals like snow, falling into the cup.

The action of the eldest son from Shifang City, about to drink, suddenly paused as he looked at the crimson apricot blossom petals, like blood floating on the pure liquor, casting a profound depth to his eyes.

He seemed quite pleased, pouring the wine in his cup off the platform, the vermilion brocade sleeves fluttering with the wind-blown arc of the liquor.

Eldest son Fang Zhuohang slightly lifted his head, his calm and steady eyes displaying a trace of concern when looking westward.

“Xiaoyu has been in the city for some days now, not even bothering to visit her two brothers, only knowing to mess around in the Inner City, mingling with that filthy Ghost fellow.

What’s there to stir up?”

Second son Fang Zhuozhong, with a dashing and romantic appearance, appearing much more exuberant compared to his brother’s composure, picked up an apricot blossom soaked with liquor, smiled helplessly and chuckled, “Don’t you know Xiaoyu’s temperament, big brother?

She loves to dig into chaos; she wouldn’t be satisfied until she stirs up significant trouble.”

He sighed deeply, his legs lazily placed on the table without much decorum, “Let her make a fuss then; you can guard day and night but a thief within the family is hardest to prevent.

Father had even locked her identity down, fearing she’d wreak havoc right under the Empress Dowager’s eyes.

But we underestimated the shadowy forces within the city; the identity documents we kept in Father’s secret chamber ended up in the girl’s hands anyway.

Not creating a big fuss about it would be a disservice to the secretive little mice that pulled strings.”

Fang Zhuohang’s brows twitched slightly as he turned to look at him, his expression odd, “Are you suggesting that Xiaoyu…”

“No, no, no.” Fang Zhuozhong waved his hands repeatedly, chuckling, “With that girl’s temperament, how could she pull off such a gentle move?

If she really cared for Xianling City, she wouldn’t have rejected the Empress Dowager’s offer to take her as a disciple.

This identity document…

clearly, someone intentionally passed it to her.”

A touch of coldness appeared on the second son’s smiling face, “I heard that on her first day in the city, people from the Wandao Immortal Alliance had their eyes on her.”

Fang Zhuohang placed the empty golden cup on the table, smiling meaningfully, “If Xiaoyu truly has no interest in contesting for the position of City Lord of Xianling City, even if others plot and scheme, what can they do?”

“Yo?

Big brother, from what you say, it seems you’re quite concerned about Xiaoyu’s entry into the city this time.” The second son’s smile carried a trace of mockery, “I thought you, big brother, despite competing with me, with our father, even with your own fate, would never compete with Xiaoyu.

After all, you adore that little girl the most, don’t you?”

Fang Zhuohang was taken aback for a moment, unexpectedly at his words, then chuckled, “I’ve never thought of competing with Xiaoyu for anything.

You know this as well, don’t you, second brother?”

Fang Zhuozhong looked at him lazily, his gaze quite improper, patting his hands, “So, big brother doesn’t really care whether Xiaoyu has designs on Xianling City, but rather, you’re well-informed and know why that girl came to Xianling City.”

The gentle smile that had constantly been on Fang Zhuohang’s face finally disappeared.

The second son, completely unaware of the change in his brother’s expression, chuckled softly, “Recently, the Lan family’s young lady has almost gone mad because our girl has finally made something of herself, actually starting to play with men.

I heard that the young man she keeps is quite charming and capable; even the notorious old ghost Zhou Ruyan from Xianling City was caught by him, earning a lot of favor from the Empress Dowager.”

Fang Zhuohang huffed coldly, without a word.

The second son continued with a cheeky laugh, “I’m sure you, big brother, have plenty of information.

Xiaoyu doesn’t want Xianling City, but rather the first-place prize of the city’s grand contest, the ‘Immortal Tears.’ Tsk tsk tsk, indeed, the girl truly stands out among those from the Immortal Sects, even keeping such a precious man, needing the first-place prize just to keep him happy.”

Fang Zhuohang’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of unknown chill appeared in his steady gaze.

Lowering his eyes, his voice turned detached, “Do you realize what nonsense you are talking about?”

“Nonsense?” Fang Zhuozhong lifted his chin, his flirtatious smile suddenly carrying a few hints of cold provocation.

“Perhaps at this moment, Xiaoyu is in the abandoned house in the Inner City, listening to such nonsense with her kept young man?”

Fang Zhuohang’s lips tightened, his expression indifferent, “Xiaoyu might be unruly, but when it concerns the bloodline heritage of our Shifang City, she knows the limits.”

“Pfft, knows the limits…” The second son’s eyes narrowed mockingly, “Then, big brother, have you ever entered the white jade carriage Mother left for that girl?

I heard from the eldest Miss Lan that the young man Xiaoyu keeps almost had his clothes completely stripped off in there.”

“How dare you!”

Fang Zhuohang’s body instantly wrapped in a bone-chilling frosty aura, his eyes filled with clear anger, which made his generally gentle and steady demeanour turn somewhat grim and frightening.

“Do you understand whose reputation you are besmirching!

She is our sister!

If Father hears such talk…”

“And what then?”

Facing his furiously livid brother, the second son just lazily flipped his gaze, his smile indescribably mocking.

“And what then, if it reaches Father’s ears?

Reputation?

Are you talking to me about our sister’s reputation, big brother?

Ha, do you really not know, or are you just pretending to be ignorant?

We, the Fang Family, are a family of talisman spirits, and every rightful descendant undergoes a talisman spirit awakening ceremony at the age of three.

You have the Taowu spirit in you, and I have the Sky Wolf in me, but only Xiaoyu, empty inside, not to mention those ancient rare talismans, she can’t even awaken a common Spirit Talisman.

Tell me, is she really a child of our Xue Family?”

The second son glanced at Fang Zhuohang’s expression then continued to chuckle.

“Those rumors around the city naturally aren’t unfounded.

Xiaoyu has been increasingly willful and reckless in recent years.

Do you really think she is just acting on her identity irresponsibly?

Ha…

it’s just her way of telling the world that she is the unique and sole Miss of Shifang City, the inheritor.

But, you see, Xiaoyu seems to have forgotten, the fake cannot become real.

Even though Father indeed dotes and values her, when have you ever seen Father avoid the city’s rumors even once?”

The vermillion brocade sleeves fluttered slightly, caused by the tightly tensed arms trembling beneath them.

Fang Zhuohang closed his eyes, speaking, “All I know is what Mother said—she is our sister, and we should take good care of her.

Mother was always solitary in her lifetime, without much familial affection, never close with Father or us, but on her deathbed, she asked us to do this, so I have to be a good brother.”

“Good brother, ha…” Fang Zhuozhong’s eyes filled with undisguised mockery, his palm rubbing over his heart, as if reminiscing, delicately stroking under his clothes the scar there, “That really is a good brother indeed.”

Eldest son of the Fang Family turned his grim face, “What are you trying to say?”

Fang Zhuozhong smiled, dropping his hand, his eyes resting on the night sky lit by thunder and fire, revealing content in his eyes, “Nothing, big brother, you might as well start thinking about how to gain the position of City Lord of Xianling City.

I have a feeling that this Inner Sect city will not wait three months before it opens.”

Fang Zhuohang let go of his icy grim expression, returning to his usual patient and calm demeanor.

“Several forces in the city are watching and plotting, now that the Crown Prince of Central Netherworld has already broken the rules by entering the Inner City, those hungry wolves lurking in the shadows can hardly restrain their claws anymore.”

The second son smiled, his lips curling up, his gaze deep and inscrutable, “The sky above this city is bound to change.”