CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 258: DO YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER?

Liang City!

An ancient city that had stood unwavering for tens of thousands of years.

It is located on the border of the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty, with the Heavenly Dragon region to its left and the Ancient Dynasty to its right. Though it has endured the ravages of war for countless years, it remains intact.

This is because the Thirteen Armies, the most powerful legion within the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty and governed by successive State Preceptors, is stationed here.

Moreover, Liang City housed a Sacred Soldier, the primary reason for its enduring resilience.

Along the way, Lan Xiuzhi had been explaining all this.

After listening, Chen Pingping was horrified. Something’s not right! Isn’t that old woman the commander of the Thirteen Armies?

Why would Lan Xiuzhi run to her?

Didn’t they part ways?

"I grew up here," Lan Xiuzhi said with a cheerful smile.

"..."

I get it!

This was her old haunt—a terrifying ancient city, a powerful legion.

Chen Pingping began to suspect. Does Lan Xiuzhi know my identity? Is she planning to bring me into Liang City and then suppress me?

Lan Xiuzhi began to recount stories from her past: how she was sent here as a child, learned literacy under the State Preceptor, and eventually martial arts and cultivation.

Within the Thirteen Armies, she had also met many "big brothers," all kind and friendly; every one of them was like family to her.

After turning fifteen, she was taken back to the palace to learn etiquette.

"Alas!" As she mentioned this, Lan Xiuzhi grew melancholy. "It was so much better being free in Liang City, drinking and eating meat every day, with no one to control me. After returning to the palace, I had to learn all sorts of etiquette. It was so annoying!"

She grumbled, "What’s most important is that those people didn’t dare to get close to me."

"Huh?" Chen Pingping was puzzled. "Why? Is it because of your identity?"

The young princess of the Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty, adored by all—such a status was too high and too noble; ordinary people truly wouldn’t dare to approach her.

Partly out of a sense of inferiority, and partly out of fear.

Lan Xiuzhi shook her head. "Not at all!" She paused, then continued, "I have an abnormal constitution. Anyone who gets close to me will suffer bad luck, which is why my Imperial Father sent me to Liang City. After I turned fifteen, the State Preceptor suppressed my constitution with his Great Divine Skills, and I was finally relieved."

"That’s not right!" Chen Pingping frowned. "Before it was suppressed, you were doing fine in the Thirteen Armies, weren’t you? They didn’t suffer any bad luck, did they?"

"That’s because Liang City has a heavy killing aura, and the killing aura of the Thirteen Armies is even more immense and terrifying; it’s not at all afraid of the ’inauspiciousness’ about me," she explained. "Even though it’s suppressed now, ordinary people still dare not approach me—except for you!"

Lan Xiuzhi blinked and suddenly chuckled.

Chen Pingping’s face darkened, and he said in a low, somber tone, "So, if I were to run away now... would it be too late?"

HAHA!

She laughed loudly. "No way! You can’t! If you dare to run, I’ll use the Phoenix Cauldron to suppress you!" Saying this, she slung an arm over Chen Pingping’s shoulder. "Don’t worry! For now, my constitution is quite stable. Nothing inauspicious will happen. If it really were to happen, there would definitely be signs."

"Like what?"

"Like the sky suddenly filling with dark clouds and a terrible catastrophe descending."

"..."

I’m doomed!

No wonder this girl was so easy to approach; so that’s why.

With such a constitution, it’s not just ordinary people; probably even her own father wouldn’t dare to get close, would he? After all, as the ruler of a nation, if he were to suffer bad luck, the entire Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Dynasty would suffer too.

Chen Pingping wore an expression of utter dismay.

Before long, he followed Lan Xiuzhi into Liang City. True to her words, this ancient city was filled with a heavy killing aura. The moment he stepped inside, a terrifying killing aura assaulted him.

He had every reason to believe that an ordinary person simply wouldn’t dare to enter Liang City.

As they ventured deeper into the city, passersby cast unfriendly glances at him. Lan Xiuzhi, in contrast, was as lively as a bird, chattering and hopping about, her youthful vitality on full display.

Soon, they arrived at an inn.

Chen Pingping was somewhat surprised, having thought she would go to the Thirteen Armies’ barracks or perhaps some grand residence.

The inn was called Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

Lan Xiuzhi said with a cheerful smile, "Let’s go!" Then she ordered the people behind her to wait outside before leading Chen Pingping into the guesthouse.

The interior was utterly different from how the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion appeared from the outside. It was elegant and opulent, resembling an inn from a bustling metropolis rather than one in an ancient border city.

They went to the third floor, to a room on the left.

She pushed the door open and entered. Inside, several figures were present—men and women alike.

Chen Pingping glanced around and saw a familiar face, suddenly freezing.

It couldn’t be! What a coincidence!

The Tianxuan Saintess was also here.

The latter was also momentarily taken aback.

"Let me introduce you. This is Liu Yeqing, Sister Liu..." Lan Xiuzhi smiled. "And this is Chen Pingping, Brother Chen. You can also call him Pingping!"

Both of them: "..."

Also present were two men: one with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, the other with a rugged face and spirited pupils. Both were dressed with an extraordinary air and were likely young masters from prominent powers or great families.

"Hello!" The two of them exchanged looks, tacitly greeting each other.

They couldn’t acknowledge each other. They both came from the Heaven Martial Continent. Recognizing each other now would be tantamount to courting death.

Lan Xiuzhi, leaving Chen Pingping and Liu Yeqing to themselves for a moment, turned to the two men. Tilting her head, she asked, "What are you discussing?"

"A chicken," Zhangsun Yige said, his eyes rolling. "Not long ago, a chicken appeared over by South Mountain. After Brother Hu saw it, he got excited and wanted to catch it—*cough cough*—but it ended up making a fool of him."

"That was no ordinary chicken," Hu Ming explained, his face dark. "It’s a Demon Bird with an extraordinary bloodline, absolutely!"

"You’re a Divine King, a prodigy of the younger generation, yet you couldn’t even handle a chicken?" Zhangsun Yige continued to tease.

"I..." Hu Ming was choked with anger, his eyes wide.

Lan Xiuzhi’s interest was piqued. "Oh? Such a thing happened?"

The Saintess, standing to the side, silently glanced at Chen Pingping. Connecting the dots with the chicken Zhangsun Yige and Hu Ming had mentioned, she instantly understood.

If I’m not mistaken, that must be Chen Pingping’s pet, right? How did this guy get into the Spirit Realm?

Chen Pingping was pondering the same issue. I was brought here by Hei... so how did the Saintess enter the Spirit Realm?

"South Mountain? Is it still there?" Lan Xiuzhi’s eyes gleamed, her fascination with the extraordinary chicken growing. If it really is some ancient Demon Bird or fearsome beast, I absolutely have to catch it and raise it in an enclosure!

"Don’t know, but it should still be there!" Zhangsun Yige said.

"Then let’s go!"

"Go now?"

"Why not?"

The two of them chattered back and forth, completely ignoring Hu Ming’s feelings. He, frustrated, simply plopped down onto a seat with a huff, watching them.

At that moment, Chen Pingping suddenly spoke up, "I think... drinking is more important!"

He was somewhat panicked. The Golden Cicada is still watching from the shadows. If I acknowledge the Earth Chicken now, won’t I be immediately exposed? But if I don’t acknowledge it, given the Earth Chicken’s extraordinary nature, it’s likely to cause one terrible slaughter after another, isn’t it?

"Yes! I think so too," the Saintess quickly interjected, backing him up.

"Huh?" Lan Xiuzhi suddenly turned her gaze to them, her eyes narrowed. "Do you two know each other?"

"No!" Chen Pingping and the Saintess said in unison.

"Really not?"

"Absolutely not!" they replied, still in unison.

"Say it again?"

"Let’s not, shall we?" Chen Pingping and the Saintess replied in unison for the third time.

Lan Xiuzhi was dumbfounded!

Zhangsun Yige and Hu Ming, who were nearby, were also somewhat dumbfounded.