Chapter 26: What Fengxi Said Was Actually True

The Heavenly Scar Secret Realm was vast. An hour had passed before they finally encountered Xing Wu of the Beast Taming Sect.

Xing Wu had never seen eye-to-eye with Jun Wen, as the two had clashed on several occasions in the past. Consequently, he had no intention of bothering with Feng Xi and her companions. To his surprise, Feng Xi waved her hand enthusiastically and took the initiative to greet him.

"Senior Brother Xing Wu, I have long heard my master speak of you. He says you are the most gifted inner disciple of the Beast Taming Sect and often uses you as an example to motivate my Fifth Senior Brother..."

Seeing the constipated expression on Jun Wen's face, Xing Wu became firmly convinced of Feng Xi's words. It seemed Xiao Baidao really had showered him with praise. In a better mood, he found Feng Xi much more agreeable.

Noticing his expression soften, Feng Xi chattered on, "Senior Brother Xing Wu, I don't think this secret realm trial is fair. It's one thing for us at the Profound Heaven Sect—we're the weakest, after all, and we'd be last regardless of how they rank us. But your Beast Taming Sect clearly had a chance at first place this time. The Primordial Chaos Sect is just too shameless! That Lu Xiuhan should have participated in the previous trial, but he didn't. The reason is obvious: he held back just to show off and take first place this time! He’s at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment; none of us are a match for him. We can only watch them take the top spot—it’s infuriating!"

This resonated deeply with Xing Wu. He snorted coldly, "What can we do? They followed the rules, so we just have to swallow it."

Feng Xi blinked and said, "Senior Brother Xing Wu, I actually have an idea. Why don't our three sects join forces to deal with the Primordial Chaos Sect and eliminate their members first? Our Profound Heaven Sect has no grand ambitions; we'd be content with third place. As for whether the first place goes to your Beast Taming Sect or the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, that’s up to you. I came to discuss this with you first because my master said that among all the inner disciples, you are the most strategic and courageous. If you don't dare to do this, I doubt anyone else will. So, do you dare?"

Xing Wu sneered, "Do you think a challenge works on me? It’s true I don’t like the Primordial Chaos Sect, but I don’t want to cooperate with your Profound Heaven Sect either."

Jun Wen thought to himself, *See? I told you this wouldn't work. Little Junior Sister is still too naive!*

Feng Xi nodded. "Fine, if you're not willing, then consider it unsaid. No wonder Shen Zhilan looks down on you—it turns out you really don't measure up to Lu Xiuhan!"

Xing Wu’s expression darkened instantly, his eyes gathering rage. "What do you mean by that?"

Feng Xi shrugged. "Exactly what I said! You should know I used to be from the Primordial Chaos Sect, right? Before the incident where we fought over the herbs, Shen Zhilan and I were on decent terms. She told me herself that she admires Lu Xiuhan, and she even said that among the four great sects, you, Xing Wu, are the most useless! She said your sect only knows how to rely on beasts and has no real ability of its own..."

Before Feng Xi could finish, Xing Wu struck out with a palm. "You're courting death!"

Unfortunately, he didn't even touch a hair on Feng Xi's head because Jun Wen had caught his arm. "Xing Wu, you must be tired of living, daring to lay a hand on my Junior Sister! I’ll kill you today!"

The two had always disliked each other, and they were ready to fight on the spot. Feng Xi snorted coldly, "Xing Wu, those were Shen Zhilan's words, I'm just repeating them. Why are you coming after me? If you don't believe me, let's go find her and you can ask her yourself. If I'm lying, you can do whatever you want with me."

Xing Wu was absolutely livid. A young man in the throes of infatuation, he held Shen Zhilan in high regard, and Feng Xi’s words felt like a bucket of ice water to his heart. On one hand, he didn't want to believe Shen Zhilan would say such things; on the other, Feng Xi spoke with such certainty that she didn't seem to be lying.

Xing Wu gritted his teeth. "Fine! I will ask her to her face. If it's a lie, I won't spare you! If it's true, I'll form an alliance with you!"

Feng Xi nodded. "Deal!"

As luck would have it, they hadn't walked far before they ran into Shen Zhilan and Lu Xiuhan. Lu Xiuhan was stunned for a moment, then a flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes. *I didn't expect this fool Feng Xi to enter the secret realm. If you're looking for death, don't blame me.*

Shen Zhilan was also delighted. Feng Xi, that piece of trash, had become an eyesore, and this was the perfect opportunity to use Lu Xiuhan to get rid of her. But why was Xing Wu with them?

As she wondered, Feng Xi asked, "Shen Zhilan, you told me before that you admire Lu Xiuhan. Is that true?"

Lu Xiuhan was surprised and pleased. "Junior Sister, is what Feng Xi said true?"

Shen Zhilan was caught in a dilemma. Up to this point, Lu Xiuhan was the biggest fish in her pond; if she denied it, she might offend him. But she didn't want Xing Wu and Jun Wen to misunderstand, so she replied ambiguously, "I did say something like that, but I only admire the Second Senior Brother's cultivation and character. I didn't mean anything else."

Feng Xi immediately asked, "Then what about what you said earlier about Xing Wu?"

Shen Zhilan asked instinctively, "What words?"

"You know, the stuff about beast taming, how his cultivation is such-and-such, how his contracted spirit beasts are such-and-such... you know, those things. Do you admit it or not?"

Shen Zhilan vaguely sensed something was wrong, so she hesitated and did not answer immediately. Xing Wu saw this and misunderstood. *What Feng Xi said was actually true! Otherwise, Shen Zhilan wouldn't look so unable to speak!*

*Good, very good!* All his sincere feelings had been fed to the dogs! He sneered, "Shen Zhilan, what right do you have to look down on me, to look down on our Beast Taming Sect? Just wait, I'll show you what it's like to be judged by someone looking through a crack in the door!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off. Feng Xi grabbed the bewildered Jun Wen and followed close behind.

Shen Zhilan tried to explain, but Lu Xiuhan pulled her back. "Junior Sister, why bother talking to people like that? Their Beast Taming Sect is inferior to our Primordial Chaos Sect anyway—they're just a bunch of grooms who raise spirit beasts!"

Xing Wu heard this clearly, and now he had no doubts left about Feng Xi's words. *So you look down on me, huh? This time, I'll make sure your Primordial Chaos Sect hits rock bottom!*

He gritted his teeth and said to Feng Xi, "I agree to form an alliance with your Profound Heaven Sect!"

Feng Xi nodded. "Then you go contact your senior brother, Yuan Zongheng. My senior brother and I will go find the people from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. Let's meet back at the place we passed earlier."

Xing Wu agreed and left in a fit of rage. After he was gone, Jun Wen clicked his tongue. "Xing Wu must be furious! The thing their Beast Taming Sect hates most is people talking down their spirit beasts. I didn't realize Shen Zhilan had such a poisonous tongue!"

Feng Xi glanced at him but said nothing.

Jun Wen: "...She didn't say it? It—it was all made up by you?"