Chapter Forty-Six: The Nine Madmen

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Da Jiuxing felt he was close to guessing the right answer, and a faint smile crept onto his lips.

“Let’s return to Jiuxing City.”

“It’s been so long since you last went home; that girl Huang must be worried. She’s always the most attached to you. You’ve gathered plenty of spiritual treasures in the Sea of Flowers—pick some out as gifts for them.”

“Old man, speaking of which, you refined a Cosmic Thunder Tribulation this time. The Sea of Flowers must have paid you handsomely, right?” Feng Shang suddenly narrowed his eyes, watching him closely.

Here’s the point—whenever the old man refines stars for the Sea of Flowers, he certainly gets a reward befitting his stature. Almost forgot about it, but luckily remembered.

Da Jiuxing was caught between laughter and tears, knowing full well the boy was angling for something again, as relentless as ever, with a determination to get to the bottom of things. He coughed lightly and said:

“Isn’t the Xiu Xuan in your possession already?”

“No way, you’d hand over a Xiu Xuan just like that?”

Feng Shang looked at him suspiciously. “Tell me, what did you really get? Hiding things—what kind of famed Star Refiner are you?”

“The Sea of Flowers is tied to me by deep fate. The Lord of Li Immortals saved my life three times in the past! With such a great favor, could I accept payment? Would I even dare?”

Da Jiuxing shook his head with a world-weary sigh, earnestly instructing, “Shang’er, favors cannot be measured by money. Star refining has a price, but gratitude is priceless. You must understand, in this universe—”

“Nonsense, you needed saving from the Lord of Li Immortals?”

Feng Shang refused to believe his tall tales. Clearly, the old man was pretending. For all her brilliance, the Lord of Li Immortals wasn’t even from the old man’s era, merely a junior—how could she have saved him? Let alone three times!

If it had been the first Master of Flowers, maybe then it’d be believable!

“If you won’t say, when I get back to Star City, I’ll rummage through all your treasured Star Refining Essences.”

Feng Shang threatened, pulling out his trump card.

So many Star Refining Essences, accumulated over the old man’s long years—if Feng Shang really used them all up, even the old man, wealthy as he was, would feel the pain.

“All right, all right, you win.”

Da Jiuxing sighed deeply, shaking his head, reluctantly producing a silver, shimmering divine feather, radiating dawn light, dazzling and splendid, and handed it over with obvious reluctance, “Here. This is the Wish God’s Radiant Feather. Keep it safe—don’t lose it. It’s nearly equivalent to the life of a peak Divine Lord.”

“The Wish God’s Radiant Feather!” Feng Shang’s eyes lit up instantly. Such a treasure was indeed invaluable, and not yet part of his collection.

The Spiritual Energy Universe has two ultimate perilous realms: the Firmament and the Inferno, brimming with mysteries and opportunities, rumored to contain transcendence. This Radiant Feather is a treasure originating from the Wish God’s Heaven in the Firmament.

“Thanks, Star Lord.”

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Feng Shang took the silver divine feather with a broad grin, affectionately addressing the old man as “Star Lord” out of habit—whenever he profited, he’d always play the obedient child.

“You sly kid.”

Da Jiuxing shook his head with a smile, inwardly smug. Old age brings wisdom. He knew the boy wouldn’t believe him, so he deliberately told a lie easy to see through, waiting for it to be exposed, then offered a little more.

This way, the boy wouldn’t dig deeper—why was the reward only a single Wish God’s Radiant Feather?

One feather for his services?

Heh, by current standards, it wasn’t nearly enough.

Schemes, indeed.

Feeling quite pleased, Da Jiuxing was about to step into the void and travel through the Shadow Cosmos back to Jiuxing City when he suddenly paused and took out a white ten-pointed crystal, flickering with light. A wave of urging thought emanated from it.

“It’s Grandfather Jiufeng sending a message,” Feng Shang said in surprise.

Da Jiuxing snorted, a bit annoyed. This opportunistic brat, just received a gift and now calls someone else “Grandfather”—though, to be fair, that was proper.

This was his arrogant brother’s shadow crystal, used for the two to communicate.

Da Jiuxing infused a strand of divine power, and the ten-pointed crystal burst into radiance, floating into the air and projecting the image of an old man in azure robes.

The old man’s face was lean and clear, his figure tall and slender, his gaze as deep as a midnight lake, unfathomable. He stood with hands behind his back, casting a sidelong glance at Da Jiuxing, exuding a stern and proud air.

One look at him, and you knew he was fiercely solitary by nature—which was indeed the case.

Da Jiuxing’s Star Refining technique was unmatched in the universe, yet this old man in azure, his Extinguishing Scroll technique was equally unfathomable, the only master alive capable of crafting Divine Scrolls.

“Grandfather Jiufeng,” Feng Shang greeted with a smile.

“Hahaha, good child, I’ve missed you so much.”

The old man’s face, once haughty, melted instantly as if seeing a beloved grandson. The coldness faded, wrinkles relaxed, and his face bloomed with a radiant smile.

“Hmph!”

Da Jiuxing was displeased—he was the one who had picked Feng Shang up and raised him all these years, yet the boy seemed more attached to this old fool.

“Good child, Grandfather is currently in the Feathered Domain, subduing a giant crocodile. When I return, I’ll bring you a gift,” said the azure-robed old man named Jiufeng, his eyes full of doting affection.

“Okay.”

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Feng Shang grinned from ear to ear. To him, Grandfather Jiufeng was free-spirited, generous, and didn’t fuss over him. The old man, though generous, was simply too nagging.

“Grandfather also has something important to tell you.”

The old man in azure grew solemn. “While traveling across the Star Sea and the firmament, I encountered an exceptional young man. I promised him a favor in exchange for him coming to Jiuxing City to be your master. You must not refuse.”

Er...

Feng Shang’s smile froze, a bit incredulous. “Grandfather Jiufeng, did I hear you right? You said you found me a master?”

“Exactly!” The old man praised, “He is no ordinary youth. Remember, you must obey him. If he journeys to comprehend the Dao, follow closely. You will surely achieve great things.”

Feng Shang’s lips twitched, and he forced a smile. “Grandfather Jiufeng, perhaps let’s forget it. I’ve already driven away several masters.”

The old man widened his eyes, scoffing, “What kind of useless masters could you find in Jiuxing City? That old stick, Da Jiuxing—what judgment does he have?”

“Old fool, who are you calling blind?” Da Jiuxing’s face darkened. “Look at yourself, meddling and finding masters for Shang’er? I will select his master carefully—none of your concern!”

“You brat, dare to insult me?” The old man’s nose flared with anger, glaring furiously.

“Don’t forget who’s the eldest!”

“Nonsense, I was born first! How dare you claim otherwise?”

“Come on, let’s settle this!”

“Who’s afraid of whom?!”

“……”

The two elders bickered endlessly, faces red, necks bulging, trembling with rage. Feng Shang quickly covered his ears.

Here we go again.

This was always the way with the two elders—even trivial matters could lead to endless squabbles, sometimes even escalating to physical fights. It was hard to imagine they were the closest of brothers.

Their clan had always been rare and distinguished. Throughout the Spiritual Energy Universe, perhaps only these three existed—yet they couldn’t even unite...

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