From this angle, Yunxi felt she truly was Su Qingzhao's benefactor. At the very least, because of her intervention, the Su clan would not be forced to shoulder a false charge, nor become everyone's target.
With the Su clan as his backing, Su Qingzhao would also not be easily killed by evil cultivators. His life would be safe, and Feng Fen would not be exposed before them. At minimum, Tianyun Gate's lineage would not be severed.
Feng Fen had downed two cups of spirit wine. Once his emotions settled, he said, "In the past I was narrow-minded. I thought that by keeping my distance from Qingzhao he would be safe, but I failed to realize the evil cultivators were after me in the first place. Fortunately, Qingzhao waited for you."
Yunxi smiled slightly and steered the topic back. "Feng Fen Daoyou still has not answered my question. What is the meaning of 'Heaven's Chosen Girl'?"
"A hundred centuries ago, before minor ascension, Tianyun Gate's first Ancestor was enlightened by the Heavenly Dao and cast a hexagram. He divined a catastrophe for Weiyu Realm, yet he also saw that a 'Girl of Luck' and a 'Heaven's Chosen Girl' would descend into Weiyu Realm. One of the two would become the realm's leader.
But the key person was not stated outright. The Ancestor said only that this person would be chosen by the cultivators of Weiyu Realm itself. Whether the realm declined or broke free of control would depend on the cultivators' choice."
Yunxi lifted a brow. That was plainly pointing at her and Wei Yunqing. Judging by the unfinished novel, the cultivators of Weiyu Realm chose Wei Yunqing.
Had she not suddenly crossed over, Sheng Yuhong would have been seized by Lei Hongxuan from the upper realm. If he dared suppress his cultivation to smuggle himself into Weiyu Realm's secret realm, how noble could his character be?
The novel also made it clear that Wei Yunqing was selfish by nature. She would never sacrifice her interests for Weiyu Realm. The realm's ending was easy to guess.
Her crossing over came at a delicate node. She reclaimed the golden finger that was hers to begin with. The road thereafter was perilous, and more than once she was wounded, yet each time she gritted her teeth and endured, while intentionally or not wrecking the evil cultivators' plans. Bit by bit, she broke the fetters of the original plot.
By now she had long since stepped away from that script and lived as the true Wei Yunxi, fully shedding the old trajectory of fate.
These thoughts flashed and were gone. Yunxi said evenly, "From what you say, Tianyun Gate has placed its stake on the 'Heaven's Chosen Girl,' and you believe this Zhēnjūn is she."
Feng Fen nodded. "Yes. There are things I cannot state outright."
He paused, lifted his eyes to the sky, then went on, "I can only say this is the last chance. If we are wrong this time, there will truly be no turning back."
Yunxi's apricot eyes narrowed, her brow slightly arched. "Two choices, a fifty percent chance of choosing correctly. Feng Fen Daoyou need not be so pessimistic."
Feng Fen sighed and said no more. Some things he could not say; to speak them was to die. He believed that with Wei Yunxi's wits she would grasp the deeper meaning sooner or later.
Yunxi did not press. No matter how many obstacles there were, they would not shake her resolve to cultivate and ascend. She changed the subject directly. "Then speak of what you can. What is this great calamity around this Zhēnjūn? Can I keep my life?"
On the topic of his specialty, Feng Fen finally had some spirit. He said seriously, "Ran Xi Zhēnjūn, my words earlier were no alarmism. You truly must be careful in the near term. Someone will make a move against you."
"Good. This Zhēnjūn will remember."
Yunxi planned not to leave Huaxian Gate for the time being. She wanted to see who would try to strike.
Feng Fen tilted back another cup of wine, then rose and cupped his hands. "This old man came to try his luck and, unexpectedly, luck was good. My doubts are settled. Since the evil cultivators aim for me and Qingzhao, I will return to guard my disciple. I will not let their designs succeed."
Yunxi approved of the scruffy old man's decision. She rose with a light smile and cupped her hands in return. "Feng Fen Daoyou, I asked Qingzhao to investigate certain matters. Speak with him and you will know the whole story. We will meet again if fate allows."
"Haha, good. Until we meet again. I will not reveal your identity to a third person."
With that, Feng Fen vanished from the private room.
Yunxi looked at the empty bowls and wine ewers, the corner of her mouth twitching. She called for the waiter and settled the spirit stones.
Dian Dian and Cong Shan, who had listened to everything, were whispering in the spirit beast pouch.
"Never thought Master was this amazing." That was Cong Shan's heartfelt sigh.
Dian Dian said smugly, "Of course. Master is the best. We will be able to strut across Weiyu Realm in the future."
Dian Dian was already dreaming of tomorrow.
Yunxi sighed speechlessly, reached into the pouch to grab Dian Dian, then kneaded it in her palm until its fur puffed up. She tapped its head. "You want to strut sideways like a crab? If you want to walk sideways, rely on your own strength. A 'mouse' leaning on its master's power is nothing to be proud of. What you heard today stays in your bellies. Do not bring disaster down on me. I have not reached Divine Transformation yet."
Dian Dian's eyes rimmed red. It gave a pitiful "Got it," which set Cong Shan tumbling about with laughter in the pouch, mocking Dian Dian for getting cocky on the strength of their master's favor.
After finishing with her spirit pets, Yunxi returned to the guest peak of Huaxian Gate.
Since being taught a lesson by Yunxi that day, Wei Yunqing had not left the guest peak. She holed up in her assigned cave dwelling to meditate. The unlucky Shadowscale Serpent had suffered another lost tail. By the time its tail restored, it was forced into hibernation.
This made Wei Yunqing grind her teeth in fury, but she was no match for Wei Yunxi. All she could do was sulk and curse daily in her cave, wishing Yunxi would lose in the tournament and be beaten to a pulp.
Later that day, Zhang Lingrui and Lin Keyang met Yunxi, confirmed she was fine, and chose to remain on the guest peak to await the tournament.
Over the next seven days, participants from the Eastern Region, Southern Region, and Northern Region arrived one after another at Huaxian Gate. They were housed on different guest peaks of the outer gate. With more people came more friction. Each regarded themselves as a favored child of heaven, and the outer gate's dueling arenas grew lively.
When cultivators had quarrels, they naturally took it to the stage. Anyone who could come to the tournament had real skill, and the battles drew crowds of spectators. The outer gate elders of Huaxian Gate even set up wagers. Cultivators with spirit stones to spare joined in eagerly. Some won, some lost; all were in it for fun.
Haoran Sect disciples went to watch as well. Yunxi, however, specifically reminded them that the formal matches had not begun, and that injuries from ring bouts now would not be worth the loss.
Her warnings were aimed mainly at the Foundation Establishment juniors. Yunxi also ordered that they were not to fight more than two bouts a day. They obeyed.
Today, Yunxi arranged to meet Yun Chen Fózǐ, Han Lian, and Xun Kun Zhēnjūn. She left Cong Shan on the guest peak to watch the Shadowscale Serpent and brought only Dian Dian to the meeting.
Knowing that Xun Kun Zhēnjūn was terrible with directions, she detoured to the guest peak where the Southern Region's cultivators were staying, planning to pick up this senior first, then meet the other two.
Not long after she sent a transmission talisman, Xun Kun arrived at the foot of the mountain in a black robe patterned with dark-gold lines and a black openwork mask on his face. A female same-sect cultivator trailed after him.