This battle exposed the deficiency in my close-combat attack methods, and I must find a way to compensate for this weakness in the future.
After dealing with Zhou Teng and the other three, Xin Ci did not forget to collect the Sumeru rings from them.
Then, he continued on his way to Fengyang Mountain.
In the teahouse.
Xin Ci took a sip of clear tea, glancing casually at the continuous stream of people below, letting his thoughts drift.
He had been in Fengming City for three days, and what Xin Ci found strange was that Fengming City was located at the foot of Fengyang Mountain.
Yet, the highest cultivation realm among the martial artists who came and went was only at the Earth realm.
Logically, Fengyang Mountain, as the place where the phoenix fell, should attract many powerful cultivators above the Heaven realm.
The shopkeeper at the counter saw Xin Ci sitting by the window, lost in thought for a long time without ordering anything else, only a cup of clear tea.
So, he gestured to a waiter who was attending to other guests.
Upon receiving the instruction, the waiter approached Xin Ci with a smile.
"Esteemed guest, you have been in our teahouse for quite some time, but only ordering a cup of clear tea seems a bit inappropriate, don't you think?"
Xin Ci remained silent, slowly taking out a spirit stone and placing it on the table.
The waiter's eyes almost lit up. This was a spirit stone, not silver.
It seemed this young man was a martial artist above the Yellow realm, so he immediately bowed and said obsequiously,
"Esteemed guest, please tell me your needs. If it is within my ability, I will surely help you accomplish it."
Xin Ci took out another bag of spirit stones and placed it on the table. Judging by the sound, it was estimated to be over a hundred pieces.
"I would like to inquire about some information. If it satisfies me, this bag of spirit stones will be yours."
The waiter's eyes were practically glued to the spirit stones. He patted his chest and guaranteed, "Esteemed guest, please rest assured. My name is Li Xiaoliu, and there is nothing in the ten directions around Fengming City that I do not know. Please feel free to ask."
Seeing Li Xiaoliu bragging so boastfully, Xin Ci smiled calmly and asked, "I heard that a phoenix once fell in Fengyang Mountain. Is this legend true?"
"This..." Li Xiaoliu suddenly hesitated.
Seeing this, Xin Ci placed another bag of spirit stones on the table. Only then did Li Xiaoliu reply, "Esteemed guest, if I may be so bold, I believe that the story of a phoenix falling in Fengyang Mountain is merely a rumor."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"It's like this. I have been in Fengming City for twenty years. In these twenty years, I have seen no less than ten thousand cultivators go to Fengyang Mountain in search of phoenix remains, but all have returned empty-handed."
"What's more, some have disappeared directly into Fengyang Mountain without a trace."
Hearing this, Xin Ci frowned.
If the fall of the phoenix was just a rumor, then why would the mission hall issue a task to obtain phoenix essence blood from Fengyang Mountain?
Seeing Xin Ci's perplexed expression, Li Xiaoliu suddenly realized something and said hurriedly, "Esteemed guest, you're not planning to go to Fengyang Mountain, are you?"
"I do have that intention," Xin Ci replied, looking up.
Li Xiaoliu's expression turned somewhat fearful.
"Young man, you absolutely must not step into Fengyang Mountain. Do you know that ever since a pillar of fire erupted from Fengyang Mountain ten years ago, the environment within the mountain has become strange? Regardless of whether it is day or night, the air is unusually hot."
"Even the demonic beasts in the mountain have inexplicably fallen. Fengyang Mountain is now occupied by a king-level demonic beast, and very few martial artists dare to venture into it."
A pillar of fire, a king-level demonic beast.
Upon hearing this, Fengyang Mountain indeed seemed quite strange and dangerous.
"Alright, take the spirit stones and leave."
"Thank you, esteemed guest."
Xin Ci calmly gazed out the window.
He still had to go to Fengyang Mountain.
Regarding the pillar of fire mentioned by Li Xiaoliu, Mu Qingqing, who had read the original story, knew what it was.
Fengyang Mountain had indeed witnessed the fall of a phoenix, and that pillar of fire was the undying phoenix fire that formed after the phoenix's death.
Although in the original novel, this undying phoenix fire was refined by the male protagonist Xin Ci, greatly increasing his strength.
However, when he refined the undying phoenix fire, his cultivation realm was already at the Heaven realm.
Due to changes in the plot, the journey to Fengyang Mountain had been brought forward significantly.
And the current Xin Ci was only at the Half-step Profound realm, utterly incapable of refining the undying phoenix fire.
Therefore, Mu Qingqing was very worried that the male protagonist might meet with an accident in Fengyang Mountain.
"Xin Ci, I didn't expect you to be in Fengming City!"
Just as Xin Ci was leisurely drinking tea, a familiar voice, tinged with surprise, sounded.
Turning his head, he saw Su Baiwei.
Xin Ci was slightly surprised by Su Baiwei's appearance.
He had not seen this eldest daughter of the Su family since the entrance examination.
Looking at her attire, she seemed to have joined the Azure Dragon Academy, and she was accompanied by one woman and two men.
"Eldest Miss."
In response to Su Baiwei's surprised greeting, Xin Ci simply replied and then turned to continue admiring the scenery outside the window.
Xin Ci's single address of "Eldest Miss" created a sense of unfamiliar distance for Su Baiwei, leaving her momentarily at a loss.
A man with fierce eyes and sharp brows beside her could not stand it.
He stepped forward, pointing at Xin Ci, and reprimanded, "Xin Ci, is this how you respond when Junior Sister Su speaks to you so enthusiastically!"
However, Xin Ci acted as if he hadn't seen him, continuing to drink his tea leisurely and with ease.
"You're ungrateful! Since that's the case, today I'll teach you what it means to respect your seniors."
Saying this, he swung his arm, preparing to deal with Xin Ci.
"Stop! Senior Brother Lin Qi!"
Su Baiwei frantically tried to dissuade him. The Senior Brother Lin Qi in front of her was ranked ninth on the Earth Ranking.
She was worried that Xin Ci would not be his match.
But Lin Qi was determined to teach this kid a lesson and did not heed Su Baiwei's pleas at all.
Just as his fist was about to fall, Xin Ci raised his cold and stern eyes, his Cross Lock already prepared.
Unexpectedly, a gorgeously dressed senior brother beside Su Baiwei appeared behind Lin Qi out of nowhere.
With one hand, he placed it on Lin Qi's shoulder, rendering him immobile.
Xia Wu smiled with his eyes. Although his voice was calm, it made Lin Qi feel a chilling sense of dread and immense pressure.
"Junior Brother Lin, as senior brothers, we should leave a good impression on our junior brothers. Fighting is not a good way to do so."
"Y-yes... yes, Senior Brother Xia Wu..."
Xin Ci calmly watched the scene. Although Senior Brother Xia Wu had stopped Lin Qi,
He felt that this person was not as friendly as he appeared on the surface, and more like someone who had restrained his killing intent.
Then, Xia Wu confidently extended an invitation to Xin Ci.
"Junior Brother Xin Ci, are you on a solo mission? How about joining us? We happen to be heading to Fengyang Mountain as well."
"Thank you for the invitation, Senior Brother, but I prefer to act alone."
Xin Ci's decisive refusal made them uncomfortable.
Especially the woman who had been clinging to Xia Wu's arm since her first appearance. She pointed at Xin Ci and unleashed a barrage of criticism.
"Hey, you're going too far! It's one thing to ignore Su Baiwei, but you even dare to refuse Senior Brother Xia! You know, Senior Brother Xia is..."
"Miao Qing, be quiet."
Miao Qing's words were directly interrupted by Xia Wu. Seeing their usually gentle senior brother scold her like this.