Chapter 54: Exchange, Two Halls

Upon hearing these words, Youming Huan’s eyes flickered uncertainly. He fixed his gaze on the distant woman before him, inwardly speculating how much truth lay within her statements.

Among the Luan Bird tribe, Elder Luan Honghong ranked among the top three in power. Not only was she a true authority within her people, she also held the position of Grand Inspector, guardian of the Luan Bird demon realm. Her Phoenix bloodline had been fully awakened, transforming her into a true Luan Phoenix, her status within the tribe equal to his own.

That brat from the Surging Moon Sect, who had slain one of his young clansmen—how could he expect such an old demoness at the peak of Nirvana to speak on his behalf? The notion struck him as absurd beyond compare.

Yet… his own methods had never failed him before. Where had things gone awry?

“Youming Huan, do you truly believe that person from the Surging Moon Sect remains within the territory of my Luan Phoenixes?”

Luan Honghong, observing his expression, quickly surmised his line of thought and let out a scornful laugh.

“The tricks of your Howling Moon Wolves are no secret, not only to yourselves but also to your adversaries in the Surging Moon Sect. Anyone daring enough to slay your kin within the demon lands would naturally know to evade your patrols. You’d best recalculate your divinations if you wish to catch the real culprit. Don’t let yourself be toyed with like a fly, oblivious to the fact. Those cultivators of the Surging Moon Sect have a natural aversion to such fiery, volatile places.”

This…

Youming Huan found himself half-convinced by her reasoning. Yet with only his own means, it would be difficult to uncover any new traces. Suddenly recalling something, he reluctantly drew an item from his robes and tossed it to her.

“Take this. In exchange, give me a Luan Cindersmoke Seeker.”

“The Luan Cindersmoke Seeker is one of my clan’s rarest treasures, a peerless tool for vendetta. We Luan Phoenixes devised this flame to overawe outsiders. You know its power: so long as the quarry is within the Bottle Realm, no matter how far, it will be found. But it comes at a steep price…”

Luan Honghong instinctively caught the offering, uncorked it, and inhaled the fragrance. Her eyes brightened, and glancing at the old wolf, she was visibly delighted. After a moment’s hesitation, she removed a phoenix hairpin from her head and handed it over.

Seeing the hairpin fall into his palm, Luan Honghong, fearing he might change his mind, spun around and vanished in a blaze of fire, her voice brimming with glee.

“A windfall, a windfall! A hundred-moons nectar—what a treasure indeed!”

Youming Huan watched her departing figure, then glanced at the phoenix hairpin in his hand, his heart aching. Of course it was a treasure—he’d hoarded it for a century and had only three bottles left.

The Hundred Moons Nectar was refined from the essence of a hundred full moons, unique to the Howling Moon Wolves. Only those above the Treasure Body stage could condense it, making it exceedingly precious.

He had suffered a great loss today, but if it meant catching the Surging Moon Sect brat—using him as bait to lure out the true mastermind—it would all be worthwhile.

Staring at the phoenix hairpin, a glint flashed in his eyes. He retrieved the corpse of his clansman, flicked his wrist, and plunged the hairpin into the body.

A crimson glow emerged from the hairpin, quickly blossoming into a mass of fire that consumed the corpse, reducing it to ash. The flames then coalesced into a tiny Luan bird, which greedily devoured all the ashes, its eyes now gleaming with a spark of intelligence. Flapping its wings, it flew off in the direction from whence he had come.

Youming Huan’s lips twitched in annoyance as he gave a low growl and, with a wave, captured the fiery Luan bird in a jade bottle before soaring away.

…

What had happened, that my host’s heart would tremble so?

Within Mirror City, Hongyun sat cross-legged in a quiet chamber, a trace of confusion in his heart: this sensation was akin to a premonition.

But in this world, his powers of divination were limited, so for the moment he had no way of knowing what had transpired.

He had now lingered at the mid-Nirvana stage for some time. Though there remained some distance to the late stage, it was not far off. His strength now already surpassed that of his host’s former master, Elder Yao Yue, who had fallen. Even among the great sects, he could be considered a mainstay.

Yet he dared not reveal his true identity. The demon race harbored an innate enmity toward humans. Even half-demons, though they might show friendliness toward humans, were far from universally so. If he were to expose his human identity—as a Nirvana-stage human cultivator—who would believe he harbored no ulterior motive?

His thoughts ran wild, churning up his previously calm heart. Looking up at Chai Xiaoyue, who was diligently practicing the Demon-Suppressing Mantra he had taught her, he regained some composure. After instructing his two demon companions to watch over her, he left the inn and headed toward a certain district in Mirror City.

Within the half-demon nation, aside from their own strength, there were several major branches that underpinned their existence in both the human and demon realms.

The two largest branches were known as “the Two Chambers.”

First, the Treasure Chamber, which served as the primary link between the human and demon worlds, the greatest center of commerce and wealth.

Second—the place he intended to visit today—the Wind Chamber.

The Wind Chamber was the foremost intelligence network spanning both realms. All manner of vital information could be obtained here, whether by exchange or purchase.

Both the Treasure and Wind Chambers were deeply rooted in the Bottle Realm. If one wished to unearth secrets or acquire treasures, there was no faster or better way than through these two chambers.

Before advancing to the Treasure Body stage, his host had visited here several times, purchasing news of the Surging Moon Sect’s pursuit and thus averting disaster more than once.

This left him with a favorable impression of the organization.

Most Wind Chambers operated in secrecy, but within Mirror City, the Wind Chamber stood openly, a thirteen-story tower that piqued his curiosity.

Arriving at the Wind Chamber’s entrance, Hongyun gazed up at the tower, his brow arching slightly.

Upon entering, no one barred his path or approached him.

The first floor, he knew, was for those of little consequence. To find the information he sought, one had to ascend to the second floor or higher.

Familiar with the place, he made his way to the stairwell, placed his hand on a mirror panel, and after a brief dimming, a bright light flared.

He now found himself in a refined private chamber, not large but tastefully appointed, with a formation for gathering yin energy as potent as any cultivation room.

Looking up, Hongyun saw a concealed panel before him, with a small square drawer inside. A low, muffled voice issued forth.

“Who would have thought an honored guest would grace the eleventh floor of my chamber? Forgive me for not coming sooner to greet you.”