Section 205

Yan Fei stepped forward, looked closely, and said, "The Fel Energy Crystalss are evil energy crystals collected by the Nine Netherworld Sect from rifts to other realms. They can be used to fuel evil techniques and strengthen demonic humans. As for these Blood Fiend Golems, they are refined from living souls and the remains of Yao Beasts; they are exceptionally fierce and extremely difficult to kill. It seems the Nine Netherworld Sect has spared no expense this time, intending to conquer Ice City in one fell swoop."

She paused, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "General, if these Fel Energy Crystalss are used properly, perhaps... they can also be used by us."

Zhao Yun's heart tightened. "What do you mean by that?"

Yan Fei smiled slightly, her smile carrying a hint of mystery and allure. "My Wu Shen Cult also possesses some secret techniques that can transform this evil energy into another kind of power. Of course, this requires some special 'primers' and 'vessels'..."

Her words were like a pebble thrown into the calm lake of Zhao Yun's heart, stirring up layers of ripples. This Wu Shen Cult seemed even more unfathomable than he had imagined.

The bustle of Xianyang and the bitter cold of the Northern Frontier seemed separated by ten thousand mountains and rivers. Black Kirin, dressed in plain, tight-fitting clothes and cradling the recently repaired 'phoenix cry' zither, set out on her journey south. Her injuries had recovered seventy to eighty percent under the influence of Daoist Qingxu's Medicinal Pills and her own meditation, but a lingering trace of fatigue and gravity remained between her brows.

Your Majesty had entrusted her with the heavy responsibility of finding the 'phoenix feather crimson flame,' which concerned the success or failure of the Dragon-Suppressing Array; it was both an act of trust and immense pressure. The Southern Border, that mysterious and ancient land, was full of the unknown and danger. The Mohist records regarding the Southern Border were mostly vague legends and some fragmented maps, pointing toward an ancient tribe long buried in the river of history.

In her luggage, besides the travel permit bestowed by Your Majesty and some essential wound medicine and rations, there was also a specially made 'Star-Seeking Compass' given to her by Daoist Tianjizi. This compass, forged from ancient profound iron, was engraved with the stars of the heavens. It was said to be able to sense the pure fire-element spiritual energy of the world, which might be helpful in finding the phoenix feather crimson flame.

Traveling south, the scenery changed from the thousands of miles of fertile fields of the Guanzhong Plain to rolling hills, and then to towering mountains shrouded in miasma. The official roads gradually became rugged, and human habitation grew sparse. Black Kirin traveled by day and rested by night, trying to avoid large towns to prevent unnecessary complications. As a disciple of the Mohist school, she was well-versed in the arts of mechanics and scouting; ordinary bandits and thieves could not get near her.

On the way, she several times took out the 'ink swallow token' that had been given to Ximen Chuixue by the other 'Black Kirin' at the top of the Eastern Dragon Mausoleum pagoda, and which later found its way back to her. The token felt warm to the touch, and its design was completely different from the Mohist tokens she knew; the swallow pattern carved on it was more ancient and lifelike. What was the origin of that mysterious red-clad 'Black Kirin'? What was her connection to the Mohist school and the Seal of the Eastern Dragon Mausoleum? These questions lingered in her mind like a thick fog.

Half a month later, Black Kirin finally reached the gateway to the Southern Border—Zhennan Pass. This pass sat majestically between two mountains in a strategic position, serving as the Great Xia's first line of defense against the various tribes of the Southern Border. Inside the pass, Han and barbarians were mixed, and merchants came and went incessantly, filling the air with a rich exotic atmosphere.

Black Kirin found a quiet inn to stay in and did not rush to gather information. She knew that the Southern Border had many tribes with strong xenophobic sentiments; acting rashly would only be counterproductive. She needed to first understand the local customs and traditions before slowly planning her strategy.

For several consecutive days, Black Kirin wandered through Zhennan Pass during the day, observing the speech and behavior of the locals and listening to various rumors. She found that the relationship between the Han people and the various tribes of the Southern Border was quite subtle... there was trade and exchange of goods, but also frequent friction and even brawls over issues like land and resources.

From some traveling merchants, Black Kirin learned that deep within the Southern Border, there were indeed some ancient tribes that lived in seclusion for generations and did not interact with outsiders. They worshipped ancient deities and possessed mysterious Legacies. Among them was a tribe known as the 'Huo Huan Clan'; legend had it they could command divine fire, and their sacred object was an inextinguishable 'Undead Bird Feather'.

Could this 'Undead Bird Feather' and the 'phoenix feather crimson flame' be the same thing?

Black Kirin's heart stirred, but she also knew that these legends were likely exaggerated and hard to verify. Moreover, the secluded home of the Huo Huan Clan was said to be in the deepest part of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, where poisonous insects were everywhere and miasma was rampant, making it impossible for ordinary people to enter.

This day, Black Kirin was sitting by the window on the first floor of the inn, sipping the local specialty bitter tea while pondering her next move. Suddenly, a commotion came from the street.

A group of Southern Border tribal youths dressed in strange clothing with dark skin were arguing with several Han merchants, pushing and shoving, looking as if they were about to come to blows.

"You Han people are treacherous! You're cheating us with fake goods!" a tribal youth roared in broken Han speech.

"Slander! Our goods are honest and fair to all!" The Han merchant was not to be outdone.

More and more onlookers gathered, but no one stepped forward to mediate. Such incidents were not uncommon in Zhennan Pass.

Black Kirin did not want to meddle in others' business, but when she saw a fire-red jade pendant worn at the waist of one of the tribal youths, her gaze narrowed slightly. The shape of that jade pendant was very much like a burning feather, bearing some resemblance to the scattered descriptions of the 'phoenix feather crimson flame' in Mohist records.

She quietly set down her teacup and walked out of the inn.

By now, the conflict had escalated. One Han merchant, relying on their numbers, actually punched one of the tribal youths in the face. The youth, in pain, roared and drew a scimitar from his waist.

"Stop!"

A clear shout, like the song of an oriole in a deserted valley, drowned out the noise of the scene.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a woman in plain clothes with a clear and beautiful face walking over slowly. It was Black Kirin.

Although she was just a woman, the calm and composed aura she carried made people not dare to underestimate her.

"Young lady, this matter has nothing to do with you. Don't meddle!" The Han merchant, seeing Black Kirin step forward, was somewhat displeased.

Black Kirin ignored him and instead looked at the tribal youth holding the scimitar, saying in a relatively soft tone, "Young man, let's talk this through. Why resort to blades? If the goods are truly fake, you can report it to the officials for a resolution."

The tribal youth, seeing that Black Kirin's tone was friendly and unlike those Han people who held prejudices against them, felt his anger soften slightly, but he still looked at her warily. "Who are you?"

"My name is Black Kirin, I am just a passing traveler." Black Kirin smiled slightly. "I see that the jade pendant at your waist seems quite extraordinary. I wonder if I might have a look?"

As soon as she said this, not only the tribal youth but even the surrounding onlookers were stunned. At a time like this, she actually had the mind to look at a jade pendant?

The tribal youth frowned even more and instinctively covered the jade pendant at his waist. "This is an imitation of our Huo Huan Clan's sacred object. It is not for loan!"

Huo Huan Clan! Black Kirin was delighted; it was indeed them!

Chapter 195: Fine Fire Jade! Fair Prices!

"I have no other intentions; I am simply quite interested in this kind of fire-red jade." Black Kirin took out a small silver ingot and handed it over. "If you are willing to part with it, I am willing to pay this price to buy it."

The tribal youth's eyes flickered when he saw the silver. They had come out of the mountains this time specifically to exchange for some daily necessities, but the mountain goods they brought had been undervalued by the Han merchants, and they were harboring anger.

"This... this is not for sale." The tribal youth hesitated.

"Fifty taels!" Black Kirin increased the price.

The surrounding people were in an uproar. Fifty taels of silver for an imitation jade pendant—was this woman mad?

Seeing this, the Han merchant's eyes darted around, and he also crowded forward. "Young lady, if you like this kind of jade, I have fine Fire Jade here as well, at a fair price!"

Black Kirin ignored him, just quietly looking at the tribal youth.

The tribal youth exchanged glances with his companions, seemingly deliberating. After a moment, he gritted his teeth, untied the jade pendant from his waist, and handed it to Black Kirin. "Fine, fifty taels, it's yours! However, you must promise us to help us seek justice from the officials. Those Han merchants sold us inferior coarse salt and even short-changed us!"

"Alright, I promise you." Black Kirin took the jade pendant; it felt warm to the touch, indeed different from ordinary jade. She handed the fifty taels of silver to him.

With Black Kirin's intervention and promise, a conflict that was about to explode finally calmed down temporarily. Black Kirin accompanied the Fire Sparrow Clan youths to the magistrate's office. With her eloquence and the subtle intimidation of the travel permit, she managed to get some justice for them.

Afterward, the Fire Sparrow Clan youth who sold the jade pendant to Black Kirin, named Lei Shi, was quite grateful to her.

"Miss Mo, thank you for your help," Lei Shi said sincerely. "If not for you, we would have suffered a great loss today."

"It was just a small effort," Black Kirin said. "Lei Shi, does your Fire Sparrow Clan live deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains?"

Lei Shi nodded, a hint of caution in his eyes. "Why do you ask, Miss Mo?"

"To be honest, I came to the Southern Border to find an old friend. I only know that my friend might have some connection with your Fire Sparrow Clan," Black Kirin said, mixing truth with fiction. She knew that asking directly about the sacred object would only arouse suspicion.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Lei Shi looked at her with suspicion: "An old acquaintance? Our Fire Sparrow Clan rarely interacts with outsiders."

"That old acquaintance might be an old friend of one of your clan's Elders." Black Kirin took out a wooden kite specially crafted by the Mo Family from her bosom. The wooden kite was exquisitely made and lifelike. "This is a token of my Family. If the Elders in your clan have seen this object, perhaps they might recall something."

Lei Shi looked at the exquisite wooden kite, a flash of curiosity in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment and said: "Miss Mo, outsiders cannot easily enter the settlement of our Fire Sparrow Clan. However, three days from now is our clan's 'Fire God Festival.' According to custom, a team will go to the Holy Land, the 'Phoenix Nest,' to offer worship. I can take you to meet the leader of our team, Elder Huang Lei. He is knowledgeable and experienced; perhaps he knows clues about your old acquaintance."

"Phoenix Nest?" Black Kirin's heart stirred. This name brought her one step closer to the phoenix feather crimson flame.

"Many thanks, young brother Lei Shi," Black Kirin said. "Three days from now, I will wait here."

After sending off Lei Shi and his companions, Black Kirin returned to the inn and carefully examined the fire-red jade pendant. The jade felt warm and smooth to the touch, faintly emitting a strange energy. She took out the Star-Seeking Compass and placed the jade pendant on it. The needle of the Star-Seeking Compass trembled slightly, pointing toward the southeast.

It seemed that this Fire Sparrow Clan and the so-called 'Phoenix Nest' were the key to her journey.

However, Black Kirin knew clearly in her heart that things would not be so smooth. Most Southern Border tribes were xenophobic and believed in mysterious Gu sorcery. As the Holy Land of the Fire Sparrow Clan, the 'Phoenix Nest' would surely be heavily guarded and fraught with danger.

She gently stroked the 'phoenix cry' zither in her arms, a flash of determination in her eyes. No matter how difficult the road ahead might be, for the sake of Great Xia and for His Majesty, she must find the phoenix feather crimson flame.

The night deepened, and Black Kirin sat cross-legged and began to regulate her breath. She needed to adjust her state to its Peak to cope with the unknown challenges that were about to come.

Just as her mind was calm, a very slight, strange sound suddenly came from outside the window, like a feather brushing against the window paper.

Black Kirin opened her eyes abruptly, her gaze as sharp as lightning.

"Who?!"

Outside the window, a black shadow flashed by and disappeared, too fast for anyone to catch.

Black Kirin felt a shiver in her heart. She immediately rose and went to the window, pushing it open to look out. The night was hazy, and the street was empty and silent; there was no sign of anyone left.

Was it an illusion? Or... was someone secretly watching her?

Black Kirin frowned deeply. It seemed that this Zhennan Pass was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface. Her whereabouts might have already attracted the attention of certain forces.

The trip to the Southern Border had been full of variables from the very beginning.

The night breeze was slightly cool, blowing against the window lattice and making a faint "creak" sound. Black Kirin stood by the window, her eyes calm as she carefully identified the direction in which the black shadow had just disappeared. The street was empty, and the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the bluestone road, casting a cold light. Although that aura had flashed by and vanished, the person's light-body technique was clearly not weak; they were definitely not some ordinary petty thief.

"Within Zhennan Pass, besides the government and local Gangs, what other forces are there?" Black Kirin whispered to herself. She was a newcomer and had kept a low profile. Although today's contact with the Fire Sparrow Clan had been eye-catching, it shouldn't have immediately invited such prying. Unless... the target of the other party was the Fire Sparrow Clan from the beginning, and she had just happened to be there and was included in the scope of observation. Or perhaps, it was that jade pendant?

She returned to the table and picked up the Fire Sparrow Clan jade pendant. The jade felt warm and smooth, and under the moonlight, the fire-red patterns on it seemed to flow slowly as if they had life. The reaction of the Star-Seeking Compass had already confirmed its potential connection to the phoenix feather crimson flame. If someone really came for this, things would only become more complicated.

Over the next two days, Black Kirin did not rush to act. During the day, she would either meditate and regulate her breath in her inn room or wander around Zhennan Pass like an ordinary traveler. She was dressed simply and acted with restraint, blending into the passing crowds without attracting any attention. However, her eyes were like those of the sharpest hawk, silently observing every detail of this important border town.

Zhennan Pass was a melting pot of people: Han Chinese, people from various Southern Border tribes, merchants, porters, Jianghu travelers... all forming a vivid and complex picture. She specifically visited a few teahouses, which were the places where information traveled fastest. She would pick an inconspicuous corner to sit, order a pot of coarse tea, and could listen to the diverse chatter for half a day.

"Have you heard? It seems like it hasn't been peaceful outside the pass lately. Several merchant caravans have said they encountered 'shadows' in the Miasma Forest."

"What shadows? I think it's just those petty thieves who don't know any better!"

"It doesn't look like it. The guards of the caravans that lost their goods all said they didn't see the people clearly. They only felt a gust of wind pass by, and the goods were gone. It's very eerie!"

Black Kirin listened without changing her expression, but she secretly noted it down in her heart. Miasma Forest, shadows... these terms reminded her of the unique Gu sorcery of the Southern Border.

She also went to the largest herb shop in Zhennan Pass, "Hundred Herbs Hall," and under the pretext of purchasing some medicinal herbs unique to the Southern Border for her Elders at home, she struck up a conversation with the knowledgeable old shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, I've heard that in the 100,000 Great Mountains of the Southern Border, there are many rare flowers and grasses. Do you know if there is any jade that can emit strange heat and looks like a flame?" Black Kirin asked, appearing casual.

The old shopkeeper stroked his goat beard and sized her up: "What you are talking about, young lady, could it be the 'Fire Sparrow Jade' of the Fire Sparrow Clan? That is a rare item. The people of the Fire Sparrow Clan live in seclusion, and their things do not easily flow out. I have been in this Zhennan Pass for decades, and I have only seen it a few times. It is said that the true sacred object can be reborn from fire, though I don't know if it is true or false."

"Reborn from fire?" Black Kirin's heart stirred. "Have you heard of the legend of the 'Phoenix Nest', shopkeeper?"

The old shopkeeper's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his voice: "Young lady, this is a taboo. The Undead Bird is the totem god-bird of the Fire Sparrow Clan, and the 'Phoenix Nest' is their Holy Land. It is said that it is guarded by divine fire, and if outsiders trespass, it is a matter of nine deaths and one life. Let alone me, even the local government would not dare to mention it easily."

"Many thanks for your guidance, shopkeeper." Black Kirin thanked him, bought some ordinary herbs, and left the Hundred Herbs Hall.

It seemed that the Fire Sparrow Clan and the Phoenix Nest indeed held an extraordinary status in the hearts of the local people of the Southern Border, and were filled with mystery and awe.

Over these two days, she also sensed that the feeling of being watched had not disappeared; instead, it followed her like a maggot on a tarsal bone, lingering faintly. The other party was clearly very patient and extremely skilled at hiding. Black Kirin had tried to counter-track them several times, but they had skillfully avoided her each time.

That night, after the third watch, Black Kirin changed into a night-traveling outfit convenient for movement and slipped out of the inn as silently as a civet cat. She did not disturb anyone; even the guard dog kept by the inn did not bark once. She wanted to take the initiative and see who exactly was spying in the dark.

The moon was hidden and the stars were sparse; the night was as thick as ink. Relying on her keen perception, Black Kirin traveled through the intricate streets and alleys of Zhennan Pass. She deliberately slowed down, as if to lure the snake out of its hole. Walking near a quiet, abandoned residence, she keenly felt the faint aura behind her pause slightly, and then it cautiously followed her again.

This is the place!

Black Kirin turned around abruptly, advancing instead of retreating, and like an arrow leaving the bowstring, she lunged toward a section of ruined walls not far behind her.

"Friend, after following for so long, aren't you tired?" Her voice was cold and clear, exceptionally distinct in the silent night.

Behind the ruined wall, a black shadow seemed not to have expected her to be so decisive. He paused slightly, then without a word, turned around and tried to flee.

"Want to leave? It's not that easy!" Black Kirin snorted coldly. She flicked her fingertips, and several "Mo Spikes" specially crafted by the Mo Family shot silently toward the black shadow's path of retreat.

The black shadow was extremely agile. In the split second, he avoided most of the Mo Spikes, but one still grazed his sleeve, tearing off a piece of fabric. The black shadow let out a muffled groan, but his speed increased, and with a few leaps, he disappeared behind the layers of overlapping buildings.

Black Kirin did not pursue relentlessly. The other party's light-body technique was extremely high, and he was very familiar with the terrain of Zhennan Pass. If he was truly determined to escape, it would be difficult to catch him in this complex environment. She walked to the spot where the black shadow had just stood and picked up the piece of black fabric torn by the Mo Spike. The fabric had a peculiar texture, neither silk nor hemp, and felt cold and greasy to the touch.

Chapter 196: Government Officials! Coiled Dragon Wooden Staff!

"Material from the Southern Border?" She brought the fabric to her nose and sniffed it; there was a faint, lingering scent mixed with herbs and some kind of fishy smell.

This was definitely not an ordinary Gang or government official.

She returned to the inn, and the sky was already beginning to brighten. Pushing open the window, the morning breeze carried a hint of coolness. Tomorrow was the day agreed upon with Lei Shi. The Fire Sparrow Clan, the Phoenix Nest, and this mysterious force spying in the dark... the trip to the Southern Border was more treacherous and unpredictable than she had expected. But she, Black Kirin, had never feared a challenge! She put the piece of fabric away properly, sat cross-legged, and began to regulate her breath, adjusting her state to its Peak. A great drama seemed to have just begun.

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.