Chapter Five: I Won't Stoop to Your Level

A delicate hand transmitted an unusual sensation of being grasped and pressed. The pristine wrist, as luminous as frost and snow, was already caught by the young man, exposing a faint, slender mark—so old and obscure that she should have long since forgotten it.

With only the slightest release of spiritual energy, Fan Zhutian could have easily broken free. Such impropriety, even in the presence of elders, would be met with a few stern words at most. But that was in ordinary circumstances...

At this moment, Fan Zhutian’s bright eyes froze. When her gaze landed on the faint scar behind her fair wrist, she looked deeply at Feng Shang, an indescribable tremor stirring within her. For countless eras, her heart had been as calm and still as a placid lake; now, ripples suddenly spread across its surface.

How did he know about the origin of this scar?

Fan Zhutian’s brows knitted. Her lips, usually pressed together, parted slightly. Faded, distant memories—long dulled—rose slowly to the forefront of her mind. For a moment, she found herself lost in thought, and, surprisingly, did not shake off his hand.

“Shang’er, don’t be rude.”

Just as Fan Zhutian’s thoughts grew chaotic and she stood motionless, letting Feng Shang hold her soft, delicate hand, Da Jiuxing descended the Star Bridge at a measured pace and called out from afar.

Feng Shang let go.

Da Jiuxing seemed not to notice anything amiss, smiling as he said, “This child is accustomed to wildness and lacks proper manners. It’s my fault for not teaching him well. Please don’t take offense.”

Fan Zhutian gave a gentle acknowledgment, her exquisitely beautiful face quickly regaining composure. She seemed unconcerned by Feng Shang’s earlier action, her eyes shifting slightly as she spoke in a voice clear and melodious, “This must be the young master of Nine Stars City. With a mentor such as Jiuzun, a great future surely awaits him.”

A look of pleasure immediately appeared on Da Jiuxing’s face. He replied with a smile, “You flatter him too much. Advancing in the ranks of the Star Refiners is like crossing a chasm—Resonant Star, Distant Radiance, the Realm of Transmitted Stars, Echoing the Thousand Domains, Absolute Cosmos—each step harder than the last. The boy may have some promise, but Absolute Cosmos is still far beyond his reach…”

Fan Zhutian’s words were half in praise of Feng Shang, half in acknowledgment of Da Jiuxing’s status.

After all, to elders, their children are always their greatest treasure.

Though Feng Shang was often getting into trouble and causing headaches for Da Jiuxing, in the end, he was still the apple of his eye. Hearing an outsider praise his child, how could an elder not feel pleased?

Feng Shang rubbed his nose—he had never said he was willing to study, after all.

In Star City, those people devoted themselves for thousands of years, yet even the most accomplished veteran Star Refiners might require centuries to forge a single star, a thankless task. It was still more profitable to enjoy the results of others’ labor.

“The future is hard to predict,” Fan Zhutian said, glancing at Feng Shang. After a couple of polite remarks, she invited the two into the sea of flowers.

A warm breeze carried a faint fragrance, drifting gently past.

As they crossed the towering Gate of Deification, the glowing, misty world was already behind them.

A dazzling scene of countless wondrous spirits in bloom unfolded before their eyes.

Feng Shang was taken aback—the unique splendor of the sea of flowers struck him in an instant. He had witnessed many grand sights, but rarely anything half as beautiful as this.

In the distance, purple flames bloomed, like clusters of pale violet clouds drifting across the sky.

Golden Wheatcloud Chalices flourished, each stalk three meters tall, flowing with a golden radiance.

Delicate Seven-Colored Violets, tiny and refined, danced on the breeze among the chalices, like sparkling seven-hued gems adorning the scene, swaying with gentle smiles.

Silvery Starshine Grass shimmered with faint starlight, carpeting the ground beneath their feet.

Feathered Peonies, alternating in ink black and pure white, exuded a fresh elegance, blanketing the branches of the Amethyst Frost Spirit Trees.

These so-called Feathered Peonies bore left feathers as cold white, right feathers as deep black, resembling countless black and white firefly butterflies fluttering around the ancient spirit trees.

And this was merely the first glance.

Feng Shang’s spiritual senses expanded further out.

A Black Moon Snow Vine took root amidst millions of pure white Starflowers, its vines stretching skyward, basking lazily in the warm, luminous energy that drifted down from the sea of flowers.

At its apex, an ice-pure, crystalline bud glittered radiantly, exuding a strange aroma. As it slowly spun, spiritual energy surged and the surrounding Starflowers swayed in turn.

Though it did not stand upright, it reached a height of a hundred zhang, its slender shadow swaying with a unique grace.

This was a rare spirit, seldom found anywhere else.

Yet here, it was nothing special.

There were Light Dawn Irises exuding a faint mysterious fragrance, Scorching White Fairy Orchids radiating waves of heat, and the Nine Radiance Blooms, their leaves twinkling like diamonds in the sun…

“Someone is coming.”

“Oh…”

“It’s been so long since we saw anyone…”

“It’s the Honored God Fan—quiet, quiet…”

The voices were youthful and clear, countless and overlapping, utterly charming. Their chatter made Feng Shang, still immersed in the various wondrous spirits, pause in surprise.

“It’s these flowers and grasses?”

He quickly realized—in this miraculous sea of flowers, innumerable spirits were born, most as flower-spirits from the moment they emerged.

Elsewhere, even with abundant spiritual energy, a rare stroke of fate was needed to develop sentience—it was nowhere near as simple as in this place.

“Interesting. They can transmit spiritual thoughts—could they also take on forms?” Feng Shang’s eyes lit up, licking his lips. He’d heard before coming that the spirits here numbered in the hundreds of millions—this was truly extraordinary.

“There’s an old grandpa.”

“And a little brother, too.”

“Don’t crowd me, let me see…”

…

The childish voices rose and fell by his ear, like a chorus of young girls chattering. Da Jiuxing smiled gently, “How adorable—so many juniors. The gods of the sea of flowers must have their hands full.”

“So many innocent faces,” Fan Zhutian shook her head lightly and said, “Without a steady heart for the Way, how will you survive the heavenly tribulation and evolve?”

At the sound of her voice, the surroundings fell instantly quieter.

“Uh-oh… the Honored God Fan seems angry.”

“Hush, don’t make noise. Don’t upset the guests or big sister will get mad.”

“When the goddess gets mad, it’s really scary!”

“Fan is much too strict… It’s so rare to see a little brother, and she won’t even indulge our curiosity…” a small flower-spirit muttered in grievance.

Da Jiuxing burst out laughing, “How amusing, how amusing!”

“Heh—” Feng Shang grinned as well.

“One more sound, and you’ll spend a month in the Black Soil.”

Fan Zhutian spoke calmly. At her words, utter silence fell; all the little flower-spirits shuddered, instantly still and silent.

The Black Soil…

That was the poorest soil in the sea of flowers…

Not only poor, but with a stench so foul…

It was said the goddess had brought it from the outside world, used to punish errant spirits.

Even flower-spirits who had cultivated for centuries would rather not take root there for a single day.

The last unlucky one sent to the Black Soil for three days returned with wilted leaves and faded petals, needing a long time to recover.

“Fine, we won’t say anything. We little flower-spirits won’t stoop to your level, hmph,” thought one mischievous spirit to itself.