"Someone's here!" the old man with double pupils, who was drinking wine at the stern with Ju Xun, Feng Chu, Ji Chenmu, and others, suddenly exclaimed.
Following the cry of a crane, two white cranes flew from the sky, carrying two people who landed on the deck of the purple bamboo boat.
"May I ask if you are the City Lord of Xiandu City?" Chao Yangzi asked as the visitors descended from the flying cranes.
"It is indeed Bi Mou! Young Sect Master Chao, I've long heard your name," Bi Fang cupped his hands in greeting.
"You are too kind! Please sit!" Chao Yangzi returned the bow and gestured for the City Lord of Xiandu City to sit and talk.
Chao Yangzi invited the two to sit at the stone table on the deck. Bi Jiu did not sit, standing behind the City Lord of Xiandu City. Xiao Wangyou served tea and then retreated. Ju Xun did not step forward, remaining at the stern with the old man with double pupils, Feng Chu, and the others.
As soon as Bi Fang boarded, he sensed several powerful auras on the boat. He did not dare to extend his divine sense. He had no enmity with the Chao Tianxian Sect and merely wished to understand their reasons for going to the Tianxing Continent. He did not wish to be their enemy.
"I didn't expect the City Lord of Xiandu City's spiritual pet to be a celestial crane. Legends say that celestial cranes are first-grade birds that only recognize people with virtuous character as their masters," the old man with double pupils said enviously, looking at the celestial crane standing on the roof of the boat.
"Is that true?" Ji Chenmu's interest was piqued.
"Why would I lie to you!" the old man with double pupils glared, daring to question him?
"Heh heh, Senior, please don't be angry. It's just that I don't understand. Please, tell me more!" Ji Chenmu immediately poured wine for the elder.
"That is indeed true. Celestial cranes are often mounts for immortals in the Upper Realm. They are considered 'one bird below, ten thousand birds above,' a first-grade bird second only to the phoenix!" Feng Chu said. His phoenix clan, the king of all birds, understood the combat strength of celestial cranes. The arrogance of celestial cranes meant they never bowed to phoenixes!
"This City Lord of Xiandu City does not seem like an ordinary cultivator. Do you know his origin?" Ju Xun mused.
"I'm not sure. His cultivation doesn't seem high, but the fact that he can have a celestial crane as a mount means he is not simple!" The old man with double pupils relied on his intuition. He hadn't used his cultivation techniques, but having this intuition meant the person was extraordinary!
"I'll go and meet him!" Tian Ji suddenly stood up.
At this moment, Tian Ji also arrived on the deck.
"Greetings, City Lord. I am Tian Ji."
"Are you Tian Jizi of the Canglan Sect?" Bi Fang rose to ask.
"Indeed, I am." Tian Ji sat down.
"May I ask, City Lord, can we cross the border this time?" Chao Yangzi steered the conversation. He also did not wish to resort to force. Judging by the City Lord of Xiandu City's demeanor, he did not seem to be here to stop them!
"Naturally, you can. Bi Mou came here to ask where you are going. As far as I know, the Tianxing Continent is not stable at the moment. I haven't found out the specifics, but lately, people have been secretly crossing the border. Just the other day, I was injured by a man in black. That person's cultivation was incredibly high," Bi Fang said without concealment, but with a hint of probing.
"Oh, is that so!" Tian Ji and Chao Yangzi exchanged glances, both suspecting if it was a disciple of the True Man Dongfang Taiyi.
Seeing the strange expressions on their faces, Bi Fang quickly pressed: "Do you two know anything?"
"Chao Mou speculates it might be a disciple of the True Man Dongfang Taiyi. To be frank, we are going to settle past grievances with them."
"Oh? So the disciples of True Man Dongfang Taiyi dare to cause trouble in Tianchen? It seems we have been negligent!" Bi Fang's expression turned grim.
"City Lord, you needn't blame yourself. I heard some news in the city that the Ninth Prince of the Tianchen imperial family is an inner disciple of True Man Dongfang Taiyi. Do you know if this news is true?" Tian Ji suddenly threw this out.
"What?" Bi Fang's face changed dramatically. When he was injured, he already suspected someone. And he had seen this person before. No wonder the figure looked so familiar; he had reported to the imperial court last year, and it was the Ninth Prince who had received him. As city lords, although they had jurisdiction and freedom, they had to report to the imperial city every few years and pay taxes. That he, as a city lord, did not know such important information made him believe there was a spy among his subordinates. He would investigate thoroughly upon his return!
Tian Ji initially suspected that the City Lord of Xiandu City had deliberately spread the news, but noticing the City Lord Bi Fang's reaction, he dismissed his doubts.
"City Lord, why are you so surprised? Have you discovered something?" Chao Yangzi asked.
"To be honest with you two, the person who injured me the other day, I suspected it was someone I knew, like the Ninth Prince. But thinking that the imperial city was tens of thousands of miles away, I thought it impossible! However, after hearing what fellow Daoist Tian Ji said, I am now certain," Bi Fang said with a grave expression. The prince of the Tianchen imperial family being a disciple of Dongfang Taiyi from Tianxing, what were they planning? Was that old rascal coming back?
Chao Yangzi was still skeptical of this news, but hearing City Lord Bi Fang say so, he also felt that something was amiss. It was perfect timing; he would go find True Man Dongfang Taiyi to settle accounts and also figure out what scheme he was plotting!
"City Lord, leave this matter to us. I happen to be going to find out," Chao Yangzi said solemnly.
"Young Sect Master Chao, Bi Mou trusts you. I'll give you a piece of advice: when you see that old rascal Dongfang, you might want to think more about the common people and act with caution!" After saying this, Bi Fang took his leave, his movements hurried as if someone were chasing him.
With two crane cries, the two flew away swiftly on the celestial cranes!
Chao Yangzi was stunned, pondering Bi Fang's words, and watched the departing figures. What did those words mean?
Tian Ji hesitated to speak. He had observed the stars and performed divination last night and saw that this journey would be a great test for Qing Yang. The omen indicated "kin destruction," referring to Qing Yang and Qing Yin.
Now, hearing City Lord Bi Fang's words, it seemed that True Man Dongfang Taiyi had a connection with Qing Yang!
Ju Xun came over at this moment, seeing the two in a daze, "They're gone? Why the long faces, you two?"
"Your Highness, it's nothing. We can cross the border now. Set up an invisibility formation on the Purple Bamboo, and we'll hide our tracks on the Tianxing Continent. According to the City Lord of Xiandu City, it's quite chaotic over there!" Chao Yangzi concealed his thoughts and relayed the plan to Ju Xun.
"Alright, let's do that! Is everything really alright?" Ju Xun asked again, concerned. To show respect to the City Lord of Xiandu City, she had set up an isolation formation at the stern and had not overheard their conversation.
"Your Highness, it's truly fine. Qing Yang can handle it!" Tian Ji saw that Chao Yangzi really didn't want to say anything and stepped in to help.
"Tian Ji, did this City Lord reveal anything about his origin?" Ju Xun asked curiously.
"Your Highness, this City Lord's cultivation is clearly not what he appears to be. It seems he is using some secret technique to hide his cultivation." Tian Ji's cultivation technique allowed him to discern truth from falsehood and see through the essence of all things. This was a fundamental technique of his stargazing skills. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"I feel so too. His aura is long and continuous. How could someone who owns celestial cranes as mounts be ordinary?" Chao Yangzi had learned about the City Lord of Xiandu City's past. His origin was very mysterious, as if he had appeared out of nowhere.
"Fine, let's set off now. Since this City Lord has no ill intentions towards us, we'll ignore him for now. Let's go meet Dongfang Taiyi first. I still have accounts to settle with him!" Ju Xun waved her hand. The most important thing now was to go and fight with this sect.