Chapter 10, Victory in the Universal Capital

The ice-bound coal is buried deep beneath the extreme north, covered by hard permafrost. Even the most powerful celestial beings would require a significant amount of time to break through the frozen ground. The extreme cold of the far north makes the task of extracting coal truly arduous. In the past, it was always the guards and celestial generals who sent people to undertake this task, and it should never have fallen to "Lord Kunpeng".

Xiang Su took a cold breath, as if she had messed up; the monarch was not moved by her gratitude. Indeed, it was what Kunpeng had said, but to expose him like this was truly ungracious. "It is... it is what I saw myself," she did not lie; what it meant to take advantage was indeed something she had witnessed with her own eyes, thus achieving a win-win situation.

Xiang Su instantly beamed with joy, more obedient than ever, and trotted over to sit down next to Dong Tianyun, completely forgetting her initial intention. Wen Sheng intended to speak up to stop her, but seeing that the sovereign was not only unperturbed but also personally served a bun to Xiang Su, he asked her, "Is it delicious?" Wen Sheng silently clasped his hands in salute and withdrew.

The fragrant sorceress howled and cried for a while, but no one paid attention, nor did she fall. Gradually, she quieted down. Although her appearance was unseemly, the danger of being shattered into pieces had passed; she had been startled by the suddenness of the situation. Her body was not that heavy; as long as she clung tightly to the leg of the sovereign and did not get blown away by the wind, everything would be fine

"Go back to sleep," he said淡淡地, his long eyelashes casting a shadow over his eyes, which were illuminated by the moonlight, making the glimmer within them appear even more ethereal. This caused Xiang Su, who was gazing at him, to feel a sudden sense of vertigo, as if she were falling from the tree. In a flurry, she grasped a branch, only to realize that she was still securely perched on the fork of the tree, causing the poor plum tree to tremble and rustle.

The plum tree is not tall, and Xiangsu sits on a sturdy fork. Being a plant herself, she can faintly smell the fragrance of the plum blossoms in the branches and leaves, feeling refreshed and at ease

Xiang Su was happily eating, completely unaware that she was the culprit, not even knowing when Kunpeng had left. She had a new understanding of "eating" and was filled with excitement and joy.

Dong Tianyun waved to her, "Go ahead and eat."

"What are you doing here? Your powers are weak, and you cannot withstand the cold air of the high cliffs." Dong Tianyun slowly walked to the tree, aligning his gaze with Xiang Su.

"You eat too, you eat too!" The wood spirit has always been very generous in sharing. Xiang Su, unable to use chopsticks, placed a bun on the empty plate in front of Dong Tianyun.

"What did Kunpeng say to you?" Dongtian Yun asked coldly

Wen Sheng noticed her pale complexion and made an apologetic expression, "The palace has the emperor's seal, and the celestial officials can all use the teleportation technique. I didn't expect to frighten you."

She was too wary of the two gatekeeper trolls and only realized she was already inside the mansion after turning around the jade screen

Xiang Su was startled and jumped up, while Wen Sheng seemed to have appeared out of thin air in front of her

Fragrant Herb Fairy

Wen Sheng nodded with a smile and said, "I will inform the other celestial officials in the government."

I am the chief official of the Shenghuan Mansion, named Wen Sheng. His Majesty has instructed me to arrange a suitable residence for you. Please follow me, little immortal." Wen Sheng smiled and gestured for her to follow. Xiang Su found him very amiable, much more so than His Majesty and the Kunpeng master and servant. She did not expect there to be such a person in the Shenghuan Mansion.

Your Majesty? The Kunpeng clasped his fists in salute to the eastern sky and, after returning to the palace early in the morning, summoned him, which had not happened for a long time

The Shenghuan Palace is built against the mountains, with its palaces arranged in an orderly manner. When night falls, it feels as if the stars and moon are surrounding it, as if one is placed in the celestial realm of the Nine Heavens. Such a scene is beyond the imagination of Xiang Su, who grows at the foot of the mountain; she can only stand there in a daze, looking around, and before long, she loses sight of the sovereign.

Dong Tianyun fell silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his tone was surprisingly gentle, "It will be fine soon. You must also understand that the Five Elements Spirit Realm has its own rules, and you are no longer just a tree."

As a wood spirit that thrives in a community, the feeling of loneliness is a difficult and unpleasant sensation to combat ... With the absence of Jin Zhan and Bai Zhi Cao ... Xiang Su understands that she will eventually have to overcome this hurdle; Jin Zhan had said that a fully formed wood spirit must first learn to survive on its own. Xiang Su walked into the courtyard, where many flowers and plants were cultivated around the Liu Su Hall. A few plum trees, not yet in bloom, appeared understatedly green under the moonlight. Even though they lacked spiritual awareness, Xiang Su felt a sense of familiarity. The trees and plants exuded a refreshing vitality that she could perceive; as long as she approached them, she felt at ease and stable, as if she were returning to the soil. Xiang Su walked into the courtyard, where many flowers and plants were cultivated around the Liu Su Hall. A few plum trees, not yet in bloom, appeared understatedly green under the moonlight. Even though they lacked spiritual awareness, Xiang Su felt a sense of familiarity. The trees and plants exuded a refreshing vitality that she could perceive; as long as she approached them, she felt at ease and stable, as if she were returning to the soil.

"You ... ... you ... ... you ... ..." He managed to come out from the corner last night, but to suddenly appear like this in broad daylight, she really can't stand it

Xiang Su had many things on her mind that she originally intended to share with Jin Zhan, but unfortunately, it was interrupted by Kunpeng. Under the tranquil moonlight, the Lord looked kind, and she couldn't help but pour out the depression she had accumulated over the past few days. "The Lord is not what I imagined; after taking form, we still couldn't be together. Jin Zhan said that I can no longer share a bed with him in the future. The new Lord seems powerful, yet he still has to let the Dragon Lady touch his backside. Kunpeng is very fierce, and his relatives are also unpleasant..." "The Lord is not what I imagined; after taking form, we still couldn't be together. Jin Zhan said that I can no longer share a bed with him in the future. The new Lord seems powerful, yet he still has to let the Dragon Lady touch his backside. Kunpeng is very fierce, and his relatives are also unpleasant..."

"Is that Xiang Su the little fairy?" A person suddenly emerged from around the corner, startling Xiang Su so much that she almost jumped up

Xiang Su was very puzzled as to why the monarch would brush down his sleeves when he left, indicating that the matter of being taken advantage of by the Dragon Lady had deeply hurt him. It is understandable; when he first met him, he was so impressive, and the rumors about him were always imposing. Bai Zhi Cao is indeed Bai Zhi Cao, who had long told everyone the adage, "Under the eaves, one must bow their head." Forget it, from now on, the embarrassing stories about the monarch having to bow his head will remain buried, and even expressions of sympathy should not be voiced.

Xiang Su admired the exquisite craftsmanship of the Purple Chant Dragon Lady and her generosity towards the monarch

What is that smell? Xiang Su sniffed, her eyes fixated on the table, which was laden with a variety of dishes.

Wen Sheng smiled, gave a slight fist bump, and then withdrew

I... I will just sleep here." She stammered, looking at her hand scratching the tree bark. "I am not yet accustomed to being alone in the room.

Delicious! Xiang Su is about to shed tears; these items are both exquisite and tasty, presented in beautiful bowls and dishes, making them appear so clean. The dry crisp cakes that Kunpeng gave her, received from the boss's dark hands, are simply incomparable! She is now increasingly certain that Kunpeng hates her

Um... yes. Xiang Su, still shaken, saw clearly in the moonlight that the visitor was a kindly-looking immortal, who surprisingly had three strands of soft, long whiskers, resembling the scholar seen during the day, but with much more grandeur.

Xiang Su couldn't help but glance at the empty Shenghuan Mansion again, wondering if there really were "other celestial officials"

Kunpeng cast a disdainful glance at her, while Xiangsu remained indifferent.

What else is there? Dong Tianyun's expression was calm. He still understood Kunpeng. Judging by Xiang Su's expression, it was likely that he had recently taken her to a remote small town by the East Sea, making her first visit to a human settlement a very unpleasant memory

Dong Tianyun glanced down and seemed to sigh as he said, "I no longer need it."

This is a steamed bun

Yes. Kunpeng responded with a serious expression, filled with various doubts about what mistake he had made to incur such a moderate punishment from the sovereign.

Xiang Su's eyes were fixated on a luminous pearl, unable to look away. "Satisfactory, satisfactory! Much better than when I was in..." she wanted to say it was countless times better than her room in the Qing Sui Mansion, but she wisely stopped herself. In her heart, her master was still Sister Qing Sui, and she could never speak ill of her own people in front of these golden spirits. "... In short, it is very good"

She swallowed a dry mouthful of saliva, inhaling the cool essence of the moon, which finally steadied her mind. Only then did she notice that the prince's appearance was even more enchanting than the last time she saw him, likely due to the moonlight, as she could clearly see the breathtaking curve formed by his thick eyelashes on his eyelids

"Please stop calling me 'little fairy'." Xiang Su frowned slightly; it was the first time she had encountered someone so polite to her, and she found it quite unfamiliar. "Just call me Xiang Su."

Sleep well, get up early tomorrow, and come to Shengyun Hall to find me

Teleportation? Xiang Su furrowed her brows and blinked; no wonder there were no pedestrians in Shenghuan Mansion, as they probably teleported from one place to another in an instant. "Please appear a few steps away from me the next time you teleport, so I won't be startled," Xiang Su proposed a compromise, simultaneously showing an apologetic expression to Wen Sheng. Although she was reluctant to admit the reason, she knew... it was still because her magical power was weak that she caused trouble for others. "Please appear a few steps away from me the next time you teleport, so I won't be startled," Xiang Su proposed a compromise, simultaneously showing an apologetic expression to Wen Sheng. Although she was reluctant to admit the reason, she knew... it was still because her magical power was weak that she caused trouble for others.

Xiang Su felt a bit regretful; it was unkind to hit someone where it hurts. She looked at Dong Tianyun with guilt and sincerely said: "It is all because of me, I am sorry, Your Majesty"

Gulu... Xiang Su lowered her head to look at her sunken belly, feeling utterly exasperated! Every few hours, she had to fill it up again; drinking water was ineffective. When would she be able to rid herself of this torment?

"It is all for the sake of making me a ribbon." Xiang Su did not actually think that the loss to the ruler was a big deal; in fact, it was even worth the cost, as touching her bottom would not cause her to lose any flesh. However, it seemed that for a while, she would still have to stick with him, as it was necessary to enhance their relationship. She had to appear a bit more sorrowful in order to seem grateful.

Dong Tianyun felt a significant change; the veins on his forehead, which had been calm for many years, were now pulsating incessantly. He remained silent, gazing straight at Xiang Su, who was busy admitting her mistakes.

Although she knew that these two iron towers were subordinates of the monarch, their fierce and intimidating appearance still caused her to display a furtive expression. As she passed by their legs, she unconsciously tiptoed, fearing that she might disturb them. The two gatekeeping deities gazed straight ahead, completely disregarding the sneaky spirit at their feet, which was roughly the size of a mouse in comparison.

Stepping out of the courtyard, towards the layers of palaces beneath her feet, Xiang Su felt exhausted again. Where could she go to find the Shengyun Palace? The Liusu Palace was almost at the highest point of the Shenghuan Mansion, and the entire mansion was laid out before her. On such a beautiful morning, the roads were devoid of any human presence; if it weren't for the dazzling lights everywhere, one might truly suspect that this was an abandoned residence.

Although Xiang Su is no longer young, her understanding of this world is still so limited, akin to that of a human child

The celestial attendants of the Victory Palace are fewer than those of the Azure Age Palace. She walks higher along the white marble path, and it seems that clouds are drifting by her side, yet she sees no one. Could it be that everyone is asleep? What should she do now? Should she shout loudly or return the way she came?

The Kunpeng suddenly appeared behind Dongtian Yun, and Xiang Su knew that this was the teleportation technique. Although she was slightly startled, it did not hinder her from eating at all

The tone of the sovereign gave Xiang Su a false impression, as if he also understood her current sorrow and loneliness. She nodded and even let out a sigh. "In fact... it is not so bad to just be like a tree."

The corners of Dong Tianyun's mouth twitched slightly, "Who told you about me and the Dragon Lady?"

"Speak of what you have seen today." Dong Tianyun took a breath, regaining her composure. It seems that her journey in the human world was quite unpleasant, leaving her in such a state of dejection

Upon discussing experiences, Xiang Su was once again full of complaints. "Human beings are very ugly, they age, the pastries are unappetizing, and the cities are quite dirty"

The sky has darkened, and Kunpeng does not know where it has flown. Without anyone to observe and mock, it feels less distressed. Shenghuan Mansion is built high atop a cliff, shrouded in mist, with the vast and boundless East Sea behind it, giving the impression that this magnificent residence is constructed amidst the clouds and fog. The moon has risen between the sky and the sea, exceptionally bright, casting a shadow from the highest pavilion of Shenghuan Mansion, resembling a palace in the air.

With Wen Sheng leading the way, Xiang Su felt calm and composed, taking in the scenery along the path. Compared to Qing Sui Mansion, this place did not possess the solemnity and grandeur typical of the Emperor's residence, likely due to its relatively low foot traffic. Sheng Yun Hall was not far away, almost situated on the solitary cliff directly beneath Liu Su Hall. As Xiang Su ascended the white marble steps, she saw Dong Tian Yun already seated at the table in the courtyard, waiting for her.

The auspicious day for forging the sword is approaching; you should go to the far north to fetch the ice extreme coal. Dongtian Yunqian took a sip, disregarding the pale face of Kunpeng.

Wen Sheng smiled and said, "Then please settle down early, I shall take my leave. If there is anything needed in the future, do not hesitate to command."

Xiang Su touched here and looked there, feeling emotional in her heart. Dong Tianyun had so many more good things than Sister Qing Sui; they must have been seized by him in his usual arrogant manner. She recalled the resentful yet helpless expression of the Ming Yu after its scales were stripped away, and suddenly felt boundless sympathy for the owners of these treasures. No wonder Bai Zhi Cao always pretended to be profound when saying that the outside world is a place for the strong; it was indeed true. The higher the magical power, the more one could seize good things.

It turns out that the sovereign walks without making a sound... Xiang Su was originally gazing at the moon in the sky when she thought she caught a glimpse of a faint light passing by. As she turned her head, she saw the sovereign silently standing by the lilac tree along the corridor. He happened to be wearing a long robe in lilac color, which should also be made of Bi Bo brocade, with a design and pattern that were quite simple. The moonlight cast a faint pearlescent glow on the garment, making it appear even more luxurious and ethereal

Xiang Su frowned, "Is 'low magical power' a new catchphrase of the monarch and Kunpeng? Eating, drinking, and other basic needs are considered low magical power, being afraid of cold and heat is also low magical power, from head to toe, she is low magical power!" Xiang Su wanted to protest, but she knew she lacked the courage. She glanced at the monarch and found him looking at her as well. From the very beginning, she was afraid to look into the monarch's eyes, as if beneath the clear and serene water surface lay a bottomless icy pool, where falling in would mean certain death. Regrettably, she had looked this way without intention; she had already regretted it. Previously, when she looked at the Dragon Lady Ziyin and the others, their enchanting eyes seemed to have hooks that could reach out, but the monarch's eyes were like a vast, mystical lake with demonic power, requiring no hooks at all. From the very beginning, she was afraid to look into the monarch's eyes, as if beneath the clear and serene water surface lay a bottomless icy pool, where falling in would mean certain death. Regrettably, she had looked this way without intention; she had already regretted it. Previously, when she looked at the Dragon Lady Ziyin and the others, their enchanting eyes seemed to have hooks that could reach out, but the monarch's eyes were like a vast, mystical lake with demonic power, requiring no hooks at all; just meeting his gaze would draw a person in, leaving nothing but their soul behind.

Even the most magnificent palaces face this issue: they are too quiet

Xiang Su thought it over and realized that he had long since freed himself from the burdens of the physical body. She savored the exquisite flavor of the bun's meat juice and dough mingling together almost greedily; in fact, "eating" need not necessarily be a burden

Sleeping in a tree is quite uncomfortable; not only does it cause aches in the waist and legs, but it also leaves one covered in mist. When Xiang Su jumped down from the tree, the thin droplets of water clinging to her clothes shook off, leaving her attire completely dry. She couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the shimmering waves. Unfortunately, her hair was not as fortunate; it hung damply at the back of her head, which was quite uncomfortable. Yesterday, she forgot to ask the Lord for a crane feather hairpin, so the first thing she needed to do upon meeting today was to request the hairpin. Next, she wanted to learn the water spell that the Lord had used last time, as it was incredibly practical.

Although the time spent with the new monarch has been short, Xiang Su has already discovered that he is extraordinarily popular among the fairies, with a multitude of them in red, yellow, green, and purple... It seems as if they are all enamored with him like they are with the elixir of immortality. Xiang Su imagined that when the enormous vermilion gate of the Shenghuan Palace, shrouded in clouds and mist, opened, a vibrant group of fairies would rush out to greet him, just like the dragon maidens welcoming the monarch. However, to her disappointment, the ones who greeted him were two armored giants, each as tall as the monarch, with fierce features. When they clasped their fists in salute to the eastern sky, Xiang Su felt that although the monarch was not yet taller than them when they bent down, he appeared exceptionally imposing, especially as he did not even glance at the two giants, merely responding with a dismissive 'hm' as he walked past, exuding the aura of an emperor. Indeed, she had once hoped that her sister, Qing Sui, would embody this demeanor.

Xiang Su was led by him to a delicate palace, where the gilded plaque shimmered under the moonlight, but unfortunately, Xiang Su could not read. The room was spacious and well-furnished, and even without lights, many items emitted a faint glow, clearly not ordinary goods. "This is the Liusu Palace, which has not been inhabited for several hundred years. Everything here is brand new. Is the little fairy satisfied?"

Dong Tianyun slowly picked up the teacup, lightly sniffed it at the tip of his nose, and casually cast a sidelong glance at Kunpeng, causing a layer of cold sweat to immediately surface on Kunpeng's back