Chapter Sixteen: Order of Status

Little Phoenix bit her lip, her delicate brows furrowed in worry as she recalled the old ragged man’s words meant to frighten her: “I won’t play with you anymore.” Those words seemed to possess a strange power, echoing endlessly in her heart, impossible to dispel.

“What is a little sister-in-law…?”

The young girl glanced at the old ragged man, fast asleep on the ground, snoring like thunder—there was no hope of getting an answer from him.

Her fair, tender fingers fiddled anxiously with each other, betraying her concern. She thought it best to quickly find someone else to ask.

Nine Stars City was incomparably prosperous. Shops, the Treasure Pavilion, auction houses—everything one could imagine was here. This was one of the central hubs of trade in the universe. To do business here required not only immense wealth but powerful connections; behind each great treasure house stood first-rate Daoist sects and divine realms.

Palaces clustered around the city, their architecture magnificent and splendid, resplendent with treasures and divine light. Among them stood grand divine gardens, radiating holy brilliance—residences belonging to figures of great importance.

The city bustled with crowds. There were young men in azure robes, bearing ancient swords and cold expressions; merchants whose smiling faces masked sly intentions; and noble ladies in celestial carriages, emerging from the Treasure Pavilion and hurrying through the city streets.

Here, the air was thick with the sounds of life, the influence of powerful factions mingled freely, and cultivators from all directions arrived daily. Almost any treasure could be bought here, and one need not fear envious eyes. It was famed as one of the most prosperous and safest metropolis in the Spiritual Energy Universe.

Beyond Nine Stars City rose a divine tower shrouded in chaotic laws.

This was the Starheaven Tower, nine stories tall, with each level vast beyond measure.

Legend said this tower lacked only a single step to be listed among the legendary weapons; it belonged to the elusive Lord of Nine Stars City.

Starmasters could enter only the first three levels of the tower; to ascend further required at least the cultivation of a Domain Lord. Years ago, even when the illustrious Sage of Starsea visited, he merely paused to rest on the sixth floor.

“Let’s go back.”

Little Phoenix gripped a slip of Void Jade, murmured two gentle words, and in a blink, the slip flared with azure light, whisking her away from the clamor of Nine Stars City.

At the heart of the ninth floor of Starheaven Tower—

Brilliant daylight streamed down, warm and gentle. Silver waterfalls cascaded from the sky with a thunderous roar. Spirit herbs shimmered with auspicious light, their mature fragrance sweet and intoxicating.

At the very center stood a divine tree, towering ten thousand feet high. From its boughs radiated dazzling brilliance, illuminating every inch of the ninefold world. The air among the leaves was filled with the aura of the highest laws, exuding an overwhelming sense of might and supremacy.

Were the seven Divine Lords of the Sea of Flowers to see it, they would surely bow in respect and address it as Senior Myriad Boughs.

“My child, you’ve returned.”

A warm, gentle voice emanated from the Divine Tree of Myriad Boughs.

“Yes, Grandpa Myriad Boughs. I went to play with Grandpa Ragged earlier, but I got tired sitting atop the city walls, so I came back to rest.”

Little Phoenix greeted him obediently, her bright black eyes darting nimbly among the countless branches, searching until she spotted a familiar figure.

“Qing!” Little Phoenix called out joyfully.

Halfway up the Divine Tree, a little girl was perched on a branch, absorbed in the pages of an ancient book. Though only nine years old, she was breathtakingly beautiful—bright eyes, pearly teeth, skin as fair as snow, long black hair cascading down, her refined features serene and cool.

What was most astonishing was that aside from her dark hair and frosty demeanor, her face was identical to Little Phoenix’s!

“What is it?”

The girl named Qing didn’t look up from her book, seemingly reading a particularly riveting passage, her delicate brows slightly knitted.

“I miss Brother Fengshang.”

Little Phoenix lifted her small face, her clear voice ringing out, her cheeks soft and rosy, big eyes sparkling with innocence—so adorable one could hardly resist pinching her.

At these words, Qing’s page-turning fingers paused. She closed her book without a word, looked over at Little Phoenix’s eager gaze, and said coolly, “Brother Fengshang has gone to the Sea of Flowers. He’ll likely stay there for some time. You don’t need to cling to him every day.”

“But…” Little Phoenix’s face was puzzled as she looked at her mirror image and said, “But Qing, I saw in your dream that you were always clinging to Brother Fengshang, too?”

The innocent words pierced straight to the truth in the girl’s heart.

A faint blush, almost imperceptible, swiftly spread across Qing’s snow-white neck. In the blink of an eye, she bit her lip, cheeks tinged with red, and with a tone that belied her feelings, she chided, “We often share memories and dreams. If you weren’t always pestering Brother Fengshang, making me annoyed, why would I have so many strange dreams?”

“Oh, I see…”

Unsuspecting, Little Phoenix blinked her eyes, accepting full blame.

Then, looking a little lost and worried, she asked, “Qing, do you know? Just now, Grandpa Ragged said Brother Fengshang wants to find a little sister-in-law and won’t play with me anymore. I said he was teasing me, and Grandpa Ragged agreed, but Qing, what is a little sister-in-law? Do you think he was telling the truth?”

“You said… little sister-in-law?”

Qing’s brows drew together, her frosty, lovely face touched by uncertainty and confusion. She pressed her lips together and asked, “Did the old ragged man really say this to you?”

“Mhm.” Little Phoenix nodded with certainty.

“Brother Fengshang wants to find a little wife?”

Just then, a small shadow flowed from the vast shade of the Divine Tree of Myriad Boughs, coalescing into another stunning little girl.

She, Little Phoenix, and Qing all shared the same face—only her brows held a touch of softness, lending her an even more winsome, pitiable air.

Little Phoenix and Qing were not surprised by her appearance.

“Ying, what is a little wife?” Little Phoenix asked curiously, her pure eyes brimming with a thirst for knowledge.

Ying pondered for a moment, then replied sweetly, “It’s our little sister-in-law. If Brother Fengshang finds a little wife, he’ll only play with her and not with us anymore.”

“Really?” Little Phoenix’s mouth dropped open in shock, as if struck by lightning. Even her fair fingers trembled.

Ying shook her head. “I’m not really sure. I don’t know much either. But even if Brother Fengshang doesn’t want to play with us, we can still go play with him, can’t we?”

“Hey, Ying, that makes sense! Even if Brother Fengshang doesn’t play with us, we can still find him to play!” Little Phoenix exclaimed, immediately nodding like a pecking chick, completely won over by Ying’s wisdom.

Ying looked a bit bashful at the praise.

Little Phoenix giggled uncontrollably, all her worries gone.

Qing pressed her hand to her forehead, troubled. These two little simpletons, these precious fools—how could they be so naive? Should she call them adorable? Who was going to teach them the basic meanings of relationships and titles?

Forget it…

Qing stopped thinking about the two girls, her beautiful face turning slightly solemn. If Brother Fengshang truly found a little wife, it would not merely be a matter of playing or not—it would concern the order of rank and proper titles!

Though most likely, this was just Grandpa Ragged teasing Little Phoenix for her innocence, there was still a chance he had divined some truth.

After all, whenever Brother Fengshang got in trouble in recent years, it was always Grandpa Ragged who cleaned up the mess—and he had never been wrong.