A Clash

When mountains lose their ridges and heaven and earth unite... And she calls that not making things difficult! Throughout all history, the only being in the Three Realms capable of that was the primordial Ancestral God Qing Tian!

Watching the girl on the rock hold her fishing hook and stare intently at the water, Feng Ran choked back her words. Her phoenix eyes went round, and her red hair stirred with fury despite the lack of wind. She stepped forward and sat cross-legged beside the girl. After a long standoff, she finally stammered, "Hou Chi, at least ask for something a little easier... Don't forget, the last time High God Gu Jun returned to the palace, I was the one who warned you. Otherwise, all those Mortal World play scripts Chang Que brought you would have been discovered long ago."

With a clear little ting, the fishhook traced a circle in the pool, sending ripples spreading across the surface in widening rings.

"Feng Ran, how long ago was that? In these ten thousand years, how many times have I taken the blame for you with Chang Que? I've long since repaid you." Without turning around, the girl called Hou Chi looked at the weightless hook in her hand. "These fish have gotten clever. None of them will take the bait anymore. How boring..."

Feng Ran's mouth twitched. How could fish raised in Huajing Pool be ordinary creatures? Most had long since become spirits. They refrained from taking human form only to give you something to pass the time with.

"Hou Chi... Fish in the Mortal Realm will take the bait." Accustomed as she was to being arrogant and overbearing, she had extraordinary patience with the person before her, offering only an ingratiating smile.

"Do you want to attend Dong Hua's birthday banquet that badly?" Hou Chi had never seen Feng Ran so humble and pleading, and a hint of puzzlement entered her voice. She turned to look at Feng Ran and raised her eyes slightly.

The girl who turned around had delicate features and looked no more than fifteen or sixteen. At a glance, she still had something of a child's innocence about her. Dressed in plain blue-green cloth, she looked utterly ordinary.

Had she not been in this blessed immortal sanctuary, with a High Lord humbling herself before her, no one could have imagined that she was High God Hou Chi, renowned throughout the Three Realms.

Only when those eyes looked at you did you fleetingly sense the weight of all things passing like a white horse glimpsed through a crack. Had Feng Ran not known her for a thousand years, she might have fallen into a daze as well.

She, too, had been startled and doubtful at their first meeting, but later she had come to understand. However weak the Little Divine Lord's spiritual power might be, tens of thousands of years had passed since she hatched from her shell. Naturally, she could not be compared with ordinary immortals.

Feng Ran knew how difficult it had been for Hou Chi to grow even this much. When she first entered the palace, Hou Chi had already been the size of a ten-year-old child. Now, ten thousand years later, she still did not look fully grown. Watching her grow bit by bit over the years, Feng Ran often thought how truly pitiable High God Gu Jun was. In an ordinary immortal household, someone with Hou Chi's foundations for cultivation would probably have turned to dust long ago. Only Qingchi Palace's concentration of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, along with its vast stores of medicinal herbs, had allowed her to be raised to this size.

Ordinary as she might look, her words carried an authority beyond the reach of most immortals. It was rare for Hou Chi to question her so earnestly. Feng Ran hesitated a moment before replying, "Yes, I really do want to go. Only you can attend with a High God's invitation. If I went... With High God Gu Jun away, those people would be only too eager for me to cause some trouble."

"That's true. I doubt Dong Hua would dare make trouble for me." Hou Chi nodded and casually set down her fishing rod. Propping her chin on her hand, she asked lightly, "When does Dong Hua's birthday banquet begin?"

"In five days."

"Then get things ready. We'll set out in four days."

"Hm?" Caught off guard, Feng Ran froze, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Hou Chi, you're willing to go out?"

How strange. Someone who would rather spend thousands upon tens of thousands of years gathering mold in Qingchi Palace had agreed so easily?

"Feng Ran, how long have you been at Qingchi Palace?" Hou Chi asked unhurriedly as she started toward the palace.

"About ten thousand years..."

"You've never asked anything of me before..." Hou Chi turned and glanced at the woman behind her, who had visibly faltered. Something meaningful flickered in her eyes.

Even across the Three Realms, those at the pinnacle of the High Lord rank were exceedingly rare. Feng Ran came from the Phoenix Clan and was exceptionally proud by nature. Though High God Gu Jun had saved her and she willingly remained at Qingchi Palace, that did not mean she would bow in submission to any Immortal Lord other than High God Gu Jun.

In all these ten thousand years, Hou Chi had never seen Feng Ran plead so urgently. After ten thousand years together, their bond, though unspoken, was far deeper than most. Although she instinctively resisted leaving the palace, she could make an exception for Feng Ran.

"I've never asked why you came to Qingchi Palace back then, and you've never told me... Yesterday, Chang Que told me Zi Yuan would be attending Dong Hua's birthday banquet. Are you going because of him?"

Only yesterday had she learned from Chang Que of the entanglements of ten thousand years ago.

Feng Ran nodded without speaking. She never brought her past grievances into Qingchi Palace, nor had she ever intended to use High God Gu Jun's influence to exact revenge. In her heart, until Old Demon Tree was avenged, she would always be Feng Ran, the orphan girl of Yuanling Marsh. Vengeance was hers alone to pursue, and so she had never told Hou Chi about those old enmities.

"Feng Ran, you are a High Lord of the Immortal Realm. Whatever orders Father God gave back then, you needn't shrink from everything you do or worry over every possible consequence. However inadequate Qingchi Palace may be, it can still protect you."

Feng Ran watched Hou Chi walk away after saying this, a complicated expression on her face. After a long while, she rubbed her chin. Recalling what High God Gu Jun had said before leaving the palace, she suddenly began to understand.

"Feng Ran, Hou Chi has grown up in Qingchi Palace since childhood. She has a quiet, unassuming nature and never sets foot outside its gates, but she is fiercely protective of her own. If one day you need her, you need only tell her plainly."

High God Gu Jun must have foreseen that sooner or later she would go looking for trouble with those people. That was why he had given her those instructions.

Standing beside Huajing Pool, Feng Ran felt a measure of relief enter her eyes. She could not help smiling as she muttered a gentle rebuke. "You just want to help me. Why make it sound so righteous and solemn? Honestly, you're so awkward."

High Lord Dong Hua's immortal residence stood on Mount Daze, on the shores of the Eastern Sea. In the days leading up to his birthday banquet, it was already filled with distinguished guests, immortals gathering from every quarter.

High Lord Zi Yuan chose another birthday gift and, after much hurrying, finally arrived the day before the banquet. Seeing the assembled immortals, he could not keep a self-satisfied smile from his eyes. The more immortals there were, the farther word would spread when he made a scene at tomorrow's banquet.

Meanwhile, Feng Ran glared furiously at Hou Chi, who sat cross-legged on an auspicious cloud looking utterly shameless. Feng Ran's expression was one of such wounded indignation that she seemed positively heartbroken. "Just look at you, look at you... I always tell you to practice your immortal arts at Qingchi Palace, but you never do. Now you can't even steer a cloud! Who knows how those immortals will laugh at you if they see this!"

Hou Chi waved a hand dismissively. "What does it matter? I'm a High God. Having you beside me is enough. Who in the Three Realms doesn't know a gust of wind could knock me over? Besides, would anyone actually dare make a dignified High God like me demonstrate cloud-riding?"

Feng Ran's earnest admonitions caught in her throat. Helplessly, she flicked her sleeves and turned away from Hou Chi, who was exploiting her without the slightest shame.

"Remember, Dong Hua is, after all, a highly respected Venerable High Lord with a whole host of disciples and granddisciples. Don't show up at his door wearing that sour expression. Even if you're in the right, you'll end up in the wrong." Hou Chi delivered these instructions at a leisurely pace. Seeing Feng Ran's defiant face, she knew further words would be useless and simply narrowed her eyes and began to yawn.

Oh well. Whatever trouble Feng Ran stirred up, she would never let her come out the worse for it.

It had to be said that, in certain respects, this mistress and servant followed astonishingly similar lines of reasoning. Of course, one let her strength do the talking, while the other... naturally let her powerful backers speak for her.

When people in the Mortal Realm spoke of wastrel heirs who threw their weight around on the strength of their ancestors' protection, they probably meant precisely the sort of person Hou Chi was.

Traveling slowly by cloud, the two finally reached the foot of Mount Daze on the night before the birthday banquet. It was already late. Though the immortal residence was festooned with lanterns and decorations, not a single Immortal Lord was there to receive guests. Only a few listless young attendants sat outside the gates, their eyes lowered as they yawned.

One of these two was a terror who had lain low in Qingchi Palace for ten thousand years; the other was that rarest of High Gods, whose name had been heard for ten thousand years but who had never appeared in person. Never mind the young immortal attendants—even an Immortal Lord with a discerning eye would probably have failed to recognize them. Thus, when they arrived by cloud at the residence halfway up the mountain, the attendants guarding the gates could not even be bothered to come over and acknowledge them.

Given High Lord Dong Hua's reputation, quite a few immortals had shamelessly turned up over the past few days to reap some benefit, make connections, or curry favor. To spare these Immortal Lords undue embarrassment, High Lord Dong Hua's second disciple, Xian Zhu, had arranged special lodgings for them at the foot of the mountain. Word of this had spread among the immortals as the invitations were delivered, so those without invitations had all gone to the foot of the mountain of their own accord.

Of course, common knowledge did not necessarily extend to the two now standing outside the gates. As they stood alone in the square before the residence in the dead of night, waiting for someone to usher them in, they actually began to feel rather forlorn.

When no one came out to welcome them even after a long wait, Feng Ran's eyes immediately widened in anger. Taking Hou Chi by the hand, she made to march straight inside.

Seeing the two approach, the young gate attendant started. Afraid he had misjudged them, he hastily asked with great respect, "May I ask which High Immortals you are? Do you have an invitation?"

His voice was soft and clear, with a trace of childish apprehension. Feng Ran was softhearted, and much of her anger immediately dissipated, though she still put on a show of sternness. "Of course we have an invitation..."

She was only halfway through her reply when someone tugged at her robe from behind. Turning, she saw Hou Chi scratch her head, her usually composed expression now thoroughly sheepish. "Feng Ran, I forgot to get the invitation from Chang Que..."

Feng Ran froze, then rolled her eyes. "What a splendid memory you have... Never mind. Giving our names will do just as well..."

While the two whispered together, the young attendant caught a few indistinct words. Seeing them stand there doing nothing for so long, he rolled his eyes and said bluntly, "Immortal Lords, our High Lord has prepared lodgings for guests at the foot of the mountain. Please make your way there."

Feng Ran paused. Ever since leaving Yuanling Marsh, she had lived in Qingchi Palace; in worldly matters, she was really little better informed than Hou Chi. Hearing the attendant's words, she assumed all the guests were staying at the foot of the mountain. Without further ado, she pulled Hou Chi onto a cloud and hurried downhill.

Only Hou Chi narrowed her eyes, casting an unfathomable look back at the young immortal attendants from the cloud that frightened the children into a cold sweat.

A number of bamboo cottages stood scattered haphazardly through the bamboo grove at the foot of the mountain, making quite a picturesque scene. Feng Ran chose one at random and went inside to meditate. Having slept on the cloud all day, Hou Chi was full of energy. Seeing Feng Ran close her eyes in concentration, she left a note and went out for a stroll.

Once outside the bamboo cottage, Hou Chi felt rather puzzled. Immortal mist wreathed the place, and its spiritual power was so abundant that it rivaled even Qingchi Palace. Yet it was close to the Eastern Sea, where tens of thousands of living creatures depended on Mount Daze's immortal energy for sustenance. By rights, even if the energy here had not been depleted, it should not have been so plentiful. Besides... this spiritual energy always gave Hou Chi an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Hou Chi's spiritual power was weak, but her discernment was excellent. Certain there must be something unusual within Mount Daze, she slowly made her way alone toward the back of the mountain to investigate her suspicions.

Four hours later, deep in the rear of the mountain and just about to give up, she was suddenly startled by the sight before her.

Within a maple forest lay a clearing a hundred meters across, where a Sword Tomb stood. Thousands upon thousands of broken swords were thrust into it at every angle, their overlapping blades pointing toward the heavens. Seen from afar, it possessed an ancient, weighty presence, tinged with the desolation of primeval wilderness. An unending flow of spiritual power gathered within the Sword Tomb and slowly drifted outward, finally spreading throughout Mount Daze and its surroundings.

This nameless Sword Tomb, stretching for several li, was actually the reason Mount Daze possessed such abundant spiritual power.

Hou Chi stood to one side, frowning at the tens of thousands of battered immortal swords. She had never known such a place existed in the Three Realms. Tens of thousands of immortal swords, even badly damaged ones, were an exceedingly rare sight. How could they have remained here undisturbed to this day, unknown to the Three Realms?

"Hou Chi, so this is where you are!"

Feng Ran's relieved voice came from behind her. Hou Chi turned to see Feng Ran flying toward her on a cloud in great haste.

"How could you go wandering off like that? There are plenty of immortal beasts on Mount Daze, and they won't recognize your status as a High God..." Feng Ran's tongue was sharp, but she looked scarcely worried. After all, High God Gu Jun had left Hou Chi countless protective treasures; an ordinary Immortal Lord could not get near her. Only when Feng Ran reached Hou Chi's side did she give a soft exclamation of surprise. "High Lord Dong Hua certainly has time on his hands, building such a huge empty tomb in the mountains."

Hou Chi looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes. "What did you say? An empty tomb?"

"Yes, there's nothing in this pit. It looks downright creepy." Startled by Hou Chi's suddenly raised voice, Feng Ran paused and took another couple of looks into the pit before answering.

"You don't see anything at all?"

"Nothing."

Hou Chi turned to gaze at the tomb full of broken swords, then cast a couple of doubtful glances at Feng Ran. Rubbing her chin, she said in a particularly mysterious, self-satisfied tone, "Feng Ran, I finally understand why I was destined to be a High God..."

That tone gave Feng Ran goose bumps all over. Seeing Hou Chi narrow her eyes in utter contentment, she could not help asking, "Why?"

She regretted the question the moment she asked it. Who in the Three Realms did not know that High God Gu Jun had forcibly demanded Hou Chi's High God status for her sixty thousand years ago, at the Heavenly Emperor's wedding?

"Heaven's will, Heaven's will. It cannot be spoken of. Feng Ran, go on ahead. I want to look around here a little longer." Hou Chi waved a hand and began examining the Sword Tomb closely from all sides.

"But it's almost dawn..." Feng Ran rolled her eyes at this.

The first light of dawn glimmered. Bells halfway up the mountain broke the stillness of the sky, their peals carrying far and near.

Seeing that Hou Chi had not heard her at all, Feng Ran sighed. "Then I'll head up first. Hurry up and join me!"

Only after Feng Ran's figure had vanished into the sky did Hou Chi narrow her eyes slightly at the tomb full of broken swords.

Was this why it was unknown to the Three Realms? Then why was she, of all people, able to see it?

Dong Hua's Immortal Residence halfway up the mountain was particularly lively. High Lord Zi Yuan stood among the immortals, his face wreathed in smiles, his expression haughty. When he turned and caught sight of a familiar figure entering the main hall with a group of minor immortals, an almost imperceptible flash of resentment crossed his eyes. He laughed heartily and went forward to greet her.

"Well, look who it is! It has been ten thousand years since you last appeared in the Three Realms, High Lord. This Lord thought you had long since ascended to bliss to enjoy eternal life!"