Yet these two women had waited for her directly in the wilderness, and now they could instantly see through the seal inside Lin Feng's body. What made one's hair stand on end was that they only seemed somewhat surprised; their astonishment fell far short of everyone else's.
Chapter 16: Setting the Tone Too High
Lin Feng's appearance caused Bai Ze to abandon his intention to attack.
The Heavenly Demon Seal was of the utmost importance, and he coveted it as well; making a move against Turandot at this moment was ill-timed.
Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was captivated by Lin Feng, Turandot gave him a slight shake of her head, and Bai Ze had no choice but to rein in his imposing aura and return to the ranks of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Among those present, the Mad Bull Demon, Bai Ze, and Qing Lingzi possessed the highest cultivation levels. Though they could not fathom Lin Feng's true background, they knew that some practitioners possessed unique techniques and eccentric personalities. Meeting Lin Feng was purely a matter of chance, and they had no desire to dispute the matter here, wake him up, and incur his displeasure.
"Bai Ze, if you want to play the hero saving the damsel, come to the Dragon Gate Assembly. I'll be waiting for you!"
Dragging Turandot away, Qing Lingzi tossed back a calm remark, dripping with arrogant provocation.
The remaining people dispersed one after another. Bai Ze waved his hand, signaling his companions to fall back, then stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mad Bull Demon.
"Senior Brother Bai Ze, I am likewise unaware of this person's identity. But the Blood Fiend Twin Beauties of Little Dragon Pool possess extremely sharp senses; since they said he exists, there can be no mistake."
Staring at Lin Feng and voicing his conjecture, the Mad Bull Demon raised his hands in an empty embrace, and a mirrored spell slowly took form.
"What is it?"
"Master, a senior brother bearing the Heavenly Demon Seal has appeared in the Zongduan Mountains outside the palace, fast asleep. This disciple is unable to verify his identity."
Before the words had even faded, the Demon Emperor on the other end already understood the Mad Bull Demon's intent. The perspective shifted, and Lin Feng appeared within the projection.
"The spirit of the Heavenly Demon chooses its master based on affinity and aptitude. To prevent anyone from passing off a fake as genuine, you must use the Demon Emperor Scripture to test him, without disturbing his slumber."
A hazy purple aura, holy and auspicious, transformed the white dragon within the Mad Bull Demon's nose into a purple hue, cautiously forming a Bagua pattern around Lin Feng. A brilliant radiance emitted, enshrouding him from above.
Lin Feng was fast asleep when a surge of demonic energy violently burst from his body.
This!
Bai Ze and the Mad Bull Demon were dumbfounded by this surge of demonic energy. It was formidable and pure; measuring themselves against it, they realized their own cultivation was far from reaching such a level.
To think our Demon Race possesses such a heaven-blessed talent! How fortunate!
This was their shared thought. On the other side of the projection, the Qingniu Demon Emperor looked as though his eyes were about to pop out of his head.
*How is this possible? This brat is accepting both my seal and the Wuyou King's simultaneously—how can the Blood Spirit Technique be just as powerful as the seal of the Demon Emperor Scripture?*
*True enough, this person is not of the imperial lineage; he is indeed useless. Even so, he is already beginning to transform into a demonic form in this short span of time—what does having a few fortuitous encounters matter?*
Displaying remarkable composure, Qingniu simply watched.
"Master, verification complete!"
"Mm. Remember this: treat them as ordinary disciples, grant them no special privileges, and try not to interfere with the trajectory of their growth. If karmic entanglements are unavoidable, handle matters strictly according to protocol."
*He really is some senior brother?*
Hearing these words from the Demon Emperor, Bai Ze and the Mad Bull Demon were once again shaken.
This was personally confirmed by the Demon Emperor himself; there was nothing in the world more authentic than this.
The people from Little Dragon Pool had departed swiftly, showing no inclination to curry favor despite Lin Feng's noble status. As the Qingniu demon pondered where his own response had fallen short, the projection vanished.
"Junior Brother Niu need not take this to heart. Duty dictates that you must be thorough. The people from Little Dragon Pool likely harbor certain conjectures solely due to the presence of the Blood Fiend sisters."
There was another half to what Bai Ze left unsaid: if the Little Longwang was indeed holding the Dragon Gate Assembly because he was on the verge of a breakthrough, then having some perception of disciples carrying the Heavenly Demon Seal was entirely normal. Instructing their subordinates accordingly was the only logical course of action.
"Senior Brother is right; I was merely being high-strung."
Hailing from the ancestral lands, they appeared glorious on the surface, but in reality, being near a ruler was like being alongside a tiger. The Mad Bull Demon was terrified of making a single misstep that might incur the Demon Emperor's displeasure.
They too departed quietly, leaving only Lin Feng slumbering amidst the mountain ranges.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp!*
*Chirp, chirp, chirp!*
Time flew, and it was already noon the next day.
Birds chirped incessantly as sunlight pierced through the dense forest, spilling across Lin Feng's face.
*What is that?*
Hearing the calls of forest birds—which suggested a relative sense of safety—he woke up and sensed something hopping about on his body.
A small cyan bird was hopping back and forth, pecking at the warp and woof of his clothing, its beak already full of fuzz.
Flickering a finger, Lin Feng half-opened one eye. The bird pecked once, then raised its head to observe him, appearing exceedingly cautious.
It didn't matter if he didn't look; the moment he did, all of Lin Feng's sleepiness vanished.
*Spirit Rhinoceros Bird? How could there be a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird here?*
The territory of the Demon Race truly was different!
The bird inched closer and closer to the sash at his waist. As it darted through the underbrush, a few thread ends protruded from the sash.
*Does this fellow have an eye for the material of my clothes simply because it was refined by Turandot?*
*Strange, these loose threads actually refuse to dissipate. Just how many practitioners possess this kind of skill?*
His heartbeat skipped a beat. With a fierce sweep of his palm and a grab, Lin Feng caught one of its legs.
*Squeak, squeak, squeak!*
A surge of immense joy flooded his chest. Lin Feng sat up abruptly, observing its feather coloring and its tail—three colorful feathers about three inches long, accounting for half its body length.
*Hehehe, what a fine treasure! Let me take a good look at you!*
The Spirit Rhinoceros Bird was a marvelous treasure capable of sound transmission over a thousand miles, usually existing in male-female pairs. This one was a male. Just as Lin Feng was about to pluck out that middle tail feather, a sound like rustling thunder rang out.
With a roll on the ground, he ducked behind a large tree.
"Sister, eh? It should be right around here!"
*Chirp, chirp, chirp!*
The Blood Fiend Twin Beauties had returned.
Each of them held a drab-looking Spirit Rhinoceros Bird in her hands, their tail feathers barely over two inches long—they looked vastly uglier than the one in Lin Feng's grasp.
With the beak of the bird in his hand pinched shut, Lin Feng listened to the commotion outside.
As a cool breeze drifted by, he noticed that the fabric across his chest had been chewed into an unrecognizable mess by the creature; it looked like it was more than enough to build a nest.
"Huh? It really is nearby. How can it not be here?"
The other woman looked equally puzzled. Seeing the bird crying out in anxiety, her gaze fell upon the large tree.
Here, the bamboo grove grew in thick, sparse patches that could be taken in at a single glance. Only the area blocked by the large tree lay beyond their line of sight.
As the two of them slowly approached, the sound of stepping on dead branches and fallen leaves pushed Lin Feng's tension to the absolute limit.
*Don't come over, don't come over! You can't see me, you can't see me!*
Spirit Rhinoceros Birds were naturally cautious and easily startled by Divine Soul power. As the two women rounded the large tree, their beautiful eyes widened slightly!
"S-Senior Brother!"
Never had they expected Lin Feng to still be here. Both were startled and alarmed, especially when they saw the male bird caught in Lin Feng's hand with its beak pinched shut—a wave of awkwardness washed over them.
"Hi—hi there! How are you?" Nearly dazzled by the pair's beauty, Lin Feng half-raised a hand in greeting, causing the Spirit Rhinoceros Bird to squawk loudly!
He had already plucked the tail feather from his grip, and their eyes followed the swaying of his hand, fixated on the feather.
"Senior Brother, I'm sorry! My sister and I didn't know you were still here, nor did we know you had already calculated that a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird would build its nest nearby. This... Senior Brother, take it!"
*Good lord, is "sultry and dazzling" the only way to describe women like these?*
Daring not to look too long, Lin Feng immediately stood up.
"It's nothing. Just a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird; I merely happened to encounter it by chance. If you like it, take it!"
The Blood Fiend Twin Beauties looked identical, dressed in the exact same attire, and even spoke with the same vocal timbre. Seeing that they had already bonded the female bird, Lin Feng had no choice but to part with his prize through gritted teeth.
*Dared he refuse?*
With his meager level of cultivation, anyone else could snuff out his pitiful life with a single breath.
*Wait, what did they mean by "you are still here"? They saw me here before.*
Memories from before he lost consciousness surged back. A mix of bewilderment and lingering fear washed over him, but Lin Feng mustered his remaining breath and continued speaking.
"You both possess an icy yet dazzling allure, and your cultivation aura is perfectly matched. You are the ideal candidates for raising them. Take it!"
Unaccustomed to such nobility, the two women handed the female bird over to Lin Feng. Never had they imagined Lin Feng would be so magnanimous—not only refusing the trade, but gifting them the male bird as well.
Sound transmission over a thousand miles was merely a secondary feature of the Spirit Rhinoceros Birds; their true value lay in the immediacy of their communication.
So long as one carried a bird by their side and conveyed a message to it, within a thousand miles, the other bird would instantly know, achieving near-synchronous awareness.
As their masters grew stronger and the birds fed upon their master's lifeblood and Divine Soul, their range of perception would likewise expand. Even if they were outside that range, their mutual attraction and ability to track each other's locations remained extremely convenient.
They possessed no combat prowess and were delicate and fragile creatures, but their utility was extraordinary.
For a young cultivator like Lin Feng, possessing a pair of Spirit Rhinoceros Birds and gifting them to someone close would be immensely useful.
He had already plucked the tail feather, yet he was willing to part with the bird—the two women watched in a daze.
Had Lin Feng refused to give it up and instead bonded with the male bird, the woman who already possessed the female bird would have had to use spells every single moment to isolate her mind and sever the connection with the female bird, lest Lin Feng discover it.
Of course, slaughtering the bird would also eliminate the risk of exposing her thoughts.
Yet Spirit Rhinoceros Birds were far too delicate; they were treasures encountered only by chance. Sharing a bond of life and death, killing them would simply be too lamentable.
Deliberately adopting a slightly commanding tone, Lin Feng acted with extreme boldness. As the empty-handed woman carefully received the bird, he naturally extended his hand.
Holding the tail feather in one hand and extending the other, this gesture left the two women utterly bewildered.
Lin Feng was clearly intending to pierce her middle finger with the feather so the bird could immediately establish a bond.
Men and women should not touch hands when passing items—all the more so with seductive geniuses?
"Senior Brother, we are the Blood Fiend Twin Spirits of Little Dragon Pool. My name is Feng Ling, and my younger sister's is Hua Ling. For your generous gift today, Senior Brother, we will surely repay you in the future!"
As Hua Ling looked at Lin Feng, she too extended her hand quite naturally. Hearing Feng Ling speak, Lin Feng nodded, using the base of the tail feather to prick the center of Hua Ling's middle finger.
Blood welled up along the tail feather, transforming the colorful plume into one dominated by an eerie blood-red hue. He grasped Hua Ling's hand and inserted the tail feather into the wound on the male bird.
"Repay me with what? Just focus on your cultivation!"
Once the bird completed its bonding, Lin Feng turned and walked away, waving his hand at the two of them.
The sisters stood frozen in place, a brilliant light flashing incessantly in their eyes.
"Sister, this senior brother... is so extraordinary!"
At this moment, their minds were connected—who couldn't guess what the other was thinking?
Remaining silent, the two women watched Lin Feng leave, their gazes filled with a hazy fondness.
Acting on the philosophy of parting with wealth to avert disaster, Lin Feng picked up his long flute and walked away with a semblance of casual style, though his heart held a doubt even thicker than theirs.
*Strange. They discovered me, and then just let me sleep on the ground? Who are they looking down on? At least come over and kick me! How long have I been asleep?*
Lacking sufficient cultivation to intuitively sense the passage of time, Lin Feng maintained his facade of poise.
"Senior Brother, will you be coming to the Dragon Gate Assembly held by Little Dragon Pool half a month from now?"
*Good grief, does this young master's affinity with women run this deep?*
"At such a grand gathering, I shall naturally attend!"
To pose as an expert, one had to have the awareness of an expert; words must not be too numerous.
*Oh no, what am I going to use to back this up? I set the tone way too high—what am I supposed to do now?*
"Then we, along with Junior Brother Mu Qingfeng, shall await Senior Brother's esteemed presence!"
After all, they were thin-skinned; Hua Ling casually dragged Mu Qingfeng into it.
"Hehe, this kid..."
Free and easy, Lin Feng's tone carried a hint of mild reproach toward Mu Qingfeng, though he shook his head.
"Very well!"
As the single word "good" left his lips, the two women were completely certain: Lin Feng held a favorable impression of Little Dragon Pool!
Chapter 17: The Azure Water Beast That Loved Flattery
It was a joy that ended in disappointment. It was only at this moment that Lin Feng recalled the preciousness of the Spirit Rhinoceros Bird, hurting so badly in his heart that he deeply regretted saying he wanted no repayment.
The other party was clearly a pair of twins; even if they weren't, they likely practiced some technique that allowed them to sense each other's thoughts, otherwise they wouldn't have been so inseparable that they wanted to seek out a pair of Spirit Rhinoceros Birds.
He was also certain that the other party could produce a reward that would make his heart race.
*Just kill me! That was a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird! If I had a pair, wouldn't it be wonderful to gift them to Turandot? If all else failed, Shen Xuanyue could be considered too. Just kill me now!*
Filled with boundless remorse, Lin Feng finally laid eyes on a great river once more.
Perhaps it was fate: he came from this side of the river, while Tianchi brought Fuqu from the other side!
"Senior Brother, we meet again!"
Tianchi was exceedingly composed and carried himself with propriety, generating a favorable impression in Lin Feng's mind upon seeing him.
"You flatter me, Tianchi. A mere seal? In terms of cultivation and seniority, it should be me addressing you as senior brother instead. Fu Yao greets Senior Brother Tianchi!"
Knowing he had overplayed his hand and fearing his bluff would be exposed, Lin Feng took the initiative to lower his tone.
He needed to let Tianchi know that his cultivation wasn't all that impressive; he had merely capitalized on the seal to earn everyone's respect.
To think that upon their second meeting, Lin Feng would be so modest. Tianchi's favorable impression skyrocketed, and he hurriedly glided over to support Lin Feng's hands as he bowed in courtesy.
"Very well. I have lived a few more years, so I shall accept this title of senior brother without modesty."
*Hehehe, if you all think that ghostly seal is amazing, it's not like I deliberately deceived you; I've already bared my cultivation level.*
Without even needing to deliberately do anything, Tianchi naturally sensed Lin Feng's cultivation.
Giving it no mind and interacting as peers—who would have dared to think that a person bearing the Heavenly Demon Seal was actually a human, and moreover, truly possessed only the meager cultivation of the Spirit Movement Realm?
You couldn't blame Tianchi for jumping to conclusions and assuming Lin Feng practiced some immensely profound technique to conceal his cultivation; no one could have guessed that his boldness surpassed the heavens!
"Fu Yao? Junior Brother, what a magnificent spirit!"
Recovering his wits, Tianchi attached even greater importance to Lin Feng.
The Heavenly Demon was already the absolute pinnacle of the Demon Race recorded in history, surpassing even the gods.
*Fu Yao?* Wasn't that even greater than a Heavenly Demon? The Demon Emperor had founded the Heavenly Demon Palace; Tianchi refused to believe Lin Feng was unaware of the meaning behind the two characters "Fu Yao."
To dare take such a name, he must be a supreme figure among the Demon Race!
As the eras turned, could it truly be time for his Demon Race to become the darlings of heaven and earth?
His thoughts drifting a bit too far, Tianchi hurriedly reined in his mind and looked toward Fuqu, preparing to introduce her.
"Greetings, Senior Sister Fuqu!"
Seeing him take the initiative, Fuqu's eyes and brows curved into a smile. A youth achieving success early was not terrifying; the crucial thing was maintaining humility!
To possess such a clear and untainted mind while holding this position was truly no easy feat!
"Greetings, Junior Brother Fu Yao!"
With that, the two parties could be considered formally acquainted.
Catching a glimpse of the golden-threaded birdcage in Fuqu's hand, Lin Feng smoothly chimed in, "Senior Brother, are you two... searching for the traces of the Spirit Rhinoceros Bird?"
"Junior Brother truly possesses sharp eyes. Golden-threaded bamboo paired with a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird—my heart belongs to Junior Sister, so I intend to seek out a pair of Spirit Rhinoceros Birds to facilitate communication and contact." Tianchi was practically spelling it out: with a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird by Fuqu's side, he could protect her better.
Whether human or demon, happiness was likely when the person you loved happened to love you back. Fuqu's face flushed slightly, yet she nodded magnanimously.
"Could it be that Junior Brother knows the whereabouts of the Spirit Rhinoceros Bird?"
Fuqu asked casually, standard polite chatter meant to shorten the distance between them. Tianchi added, "Recently, I had an intuition and vaguely perceived that birds were active in these Zongduan Mountains, so we came to try our luck!"
*Talk about comparison driving a man to despair!* The Spirit Rhinoceros Bird—a spiritual avian that most feared others sensing them—was actually something Tianchi could calculate the general location of. Lin Feng felt deep regret!
Having just stepped onto the path of cultivation, he placed heavy importance on treasures that could directly enhance cultivation, while paying less heed to supplementary and supportive treasures.
Yet that was a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird after all! He hated himself!
If he hadn't been putting on airs, that treasure would have been his! And if he were to gift it to Tianchi and Fuqu right now—hehe, what kind of reward would that fetch?
"What a coincidence!"
"I had just woken from a dream when I was nibbled on by a Spirit Rhinoceros Bird. I had already managed to capture it, but two maidens from Little Dragon Pool happened to pass by, and they've already bonded with the female bird. As for my share, I gave it away. If I had known earlier that Senior Brother was searching for this creature, alas!"
That sigh was something only Lin Feng himself could truly appreciate the heart-wrenching flavor of!
"Ah?"
Never had they expected such a coincidence; Fuqu felt a trace of disappointment!
"No matter. Treasures have their price. By Junior Brother's account, those two maidens must be the Blood Fiend Twin Beauties. They already cultivate the sympathetic knot, and the Spirit Rhinoceros Bird is merely icing on the cake. This time, the Little Longwang is holding the Dragon Gate Assembly, and we just happen to go and take a look. If our affinity is right, we can simply trade with the two maidens for the Spirit Rhinoceros Bird."
Such remarks were exceedingly proper, and Fuqu nodded slightly.
"The Blood Fiend Twin Beauties? Dazzling and alluring they certainly are, but they told me they are the Blood Fiend Twin Spirits. Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this?"
Seeking to seize the opportunity to spark a conversation and probe what on earth this Dragon Gate Assembly was, Lin Feng used the identities of the two sisters as a smokescreen.
"Twin Spirits? Junior Brother, did the two maidens impart their true names to you?"
Nodding, Lin Feng felt inexplicable, not knowing what Tianchi was smiling at; even Fuqu appeared somewhat surprised.
"Haha, congratulations, Junior Brother! There are very few people in whose eyes those two girls would ever register, haha!"
Midway through speaking, unable to hold back his laughter, Tianchi's expression turned somewhat peculiar.
"Senior Brother, let me explain!"
"The Feng Ling sisters are twin blood-lotuses from the Heavenly Demon Altar, and their true forms are the Blood Spirit Twin Beauties. Hehe, if either of them takes a fancy to Junior Brother, the other will most likely follow suit. Junior Brother, you truly have great fortune!"
*Where on earth was this going?!*
Hearing that their identities were so terrifying, Lin Feng hurriedly straightened his expression.
"Senior Sister, please do not make sport of me. They merely asked if I would go to the Dragon Gate Assembly; as for anything else, absolutely nothing happened."
Appropriately displaying a bit of honest naivety, Lin Feng exhibited the shyness of a youth, causing Tianchi to burst into loud laughter.
"Well, well, Junior Brother! I can't even tell if you're showing off or just bragging. Still, graceful and demure young ladies are a gentleman's fair match, and it's only natural for a gentle scholar to catch the eye of beauties. This Dragon Gate Assembly—you must go!"
"Ah?"
Lin Feng wore a look of pure innocence and incomprehension!
"I hear that Junior Brother is also acquainted with Junior Brother Mu Qingfeng of Little Dragon Pool. At this Dragon Gate Assembly, the Little Longwang is likely to break through Taixu and reach the Immortal Realm. Junior Brother, getting out and moving about more is a good thing; no matter how high your cultivation, you cannot remain a lonely wanderer, can you?"
At this, Lin Feng understood.
Any romantic fortune was secondary; women like those two sisters likely wouldn't easily pledge their lives to someone. But if he seized the opportunity to befriend Little Dragon Pool, then on the day the winds and clouds turned in the future, having an extra helper was what truly mattered.
*Hehehe, this young master is just idling about before I make my escape. Senior Brother Tianchi, I never said I was a disciple of the Demon Race!*
"I fear it is not merely as simple as a breakthrough. Rumors say that the successive generations of Holy Maidens of the Merfolk Clan are water-spirits materialized in form. The Demon King perhaps harbors the intent to probe the power of incense offerings as well. Those who excel in water and water-based treasures are rare indeed; Turandot will likely be formally proposed to by the Demon King this time!"
"What? Formally proposed to?"
His face a mask of shock, Lin Feng was truly dumbfounded.
A dignified Demon King needed to propose to a maiden to augment his insights and cultivation?
He refused to believe it, yet the two of them slowly nodded.
His expression instantly turned colorful, shifting abruptly to tension. Lin Feng didn't know what to say.
If the Little Longwang discovered that Turandot had already lost her most precious possession, how would he react?
"Speaking of which, the Blood Fiend Twin Beauties are truly extraordinary. Turandot's concealment skills are formidable, yet she still fell into their hands this time. Impressive!"