Chapter 1431: Yue Haitang's Concerns, Five Elements Transformation
Night fell, and a brilliant crescent moon hung high in the sky. The gentle moonlight made the clouds above Cloud Brocade City look like a jade belt, changing endlessly and filled with mystery.
The banquet was very sumptuous. Chixiao, Luo Feng, Su Zhuyun, and others sat at the same table, eating and drinking while discussing various anecdotes and events from the five major domains. The various intriguing stories broadened Luo Feng’s horizons as it was his first time leaving the Canglan Dynasty, and he gained much knowledge.
During the meal, Luo Feng remembered encountering a wolf demon expert in the Red Blood Wilderness and asked:
“Chixiao, do you know if there’s any grudge between the wolf demons and fox demons in East Ridge?”
“Wolf demons and fox demons in East Ridge?”
Chixiao was taken aback for a moment and then smiled, “Why are you suddenly interested in the Demon Region of East Ridge?”
“Just a little curious.”
Luo Feng touched his nose; he naturally wouldn’t reveal anything about the Demon Form Technique.
Chixiao didn’t inquire further and said, “Indeed, there’s a grudge between the wolf demon and fox demon clans of East Ridge, and it’s a life-and-death enmity.”
Putting down his wine cup, Chixiao continued, “You probably know that the strength of the Demon Race depends on the power of their bloodline—the stronger the bloodline, the greater the achievements in the future.”
Luo Feng nodded. He had seen these matters before in the texts of Linglong Hall.
“Among the countless demon races in the East Ridge Demon Region, there are twelve demon races with the most powerful bloodlines, born as kings. Among them are the Silver-Eyed Wolf Demons and the Nine-Tailed Fox Demons… The Twelve Heavenly Demons are the royal family of their respective races, each leading their own clan, ruling different territories within the East Ridge Demon Region. They lived in peace until about a decade ago…”
“What happened ten years ago?” Luo Feng immediately asked.
“A decade ago, a significant event happened in the East Ridge Demon Region.”
Chixiao took a sip of wine and continued, “Although the Twelve Heavenly Demons ruled different territories, they always regarded the powerful fox demon clan as the leader. The leader of the wolf demons, the Crimson Blood Wolf King, was always unhappy about this. Finally, a decade ago, while the leader of the fox demon clan, the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon Shen Yue, had just given birth and was greatly weakened, he plotted to kill Shen Yue. Because he feared the powerful Nine-Tailed Fox Demon clan, he ordered the extermination of all high-ranking fox demons. It is said that the battle lasted for more than a month, with countless casualties on both sides. Ultimately, the fox demon clan lost their leader and fell into chaos, leading to their defeat by the wolf demons, with all members of the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon clan, regardless of age or gender, being slaughtered.”
Luo Feng frowned, “Does that mean the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon clan has completely disappeared?”
Chixiao nodded, “That’s what they say. But there’s another story that, during the great battle a decade ago, a strong member of the fox clan took away Shen Yue’s newborn child.”
“I’ve heard of this too, but I don’t know if it’s true.” Jiang Fengfeng chimed in, her face slightly flushed from the alcohol.
Chixiao mused, “It’s probably true. For the past decade, there have been wolf demons active throughout the five major domains, seemingly searching for something. I believe there’s an eighty to ninety percent chance they’re looking for Shen Yue’s blood relatives.”
Jiang Fengfeng’s eyes lit up, nodding, “I saw a wolf demon in Melt Fire City last time.”
“So there’s such a hidden story. No wonder those wolf demons wanted to kill me last time. They probably sensed the aura of the Demon Form Technique and mistook me for a member of the fox demon clan.” Luo Feng thought to himself.
Su Zhuyun frowned slightly, “That Crimson Blood Wolf King is really overbearing. Even after achieving his goal, he wants to eradicate everyone.”
Everyone was silent, clearly agreeing with Su Zhuyun’s words.
“You all take your time eating; I’m heading back first.” Yue Haitang suddenly stood up.
Luo Feng found it strange that Yue Haitang was leaving so suddenly and said, “Wait, let’s go back together.”
“No need.” Yue Haitang shook his head and turned to leave the banquet.
“Luo Feng, what happened between you and Yue Haitang?” Jiang Fengfeng curiously asked Luo Feng as she watched Yue Haitang leave.
Luo Feng shook his head in confusion, “Nothing. Why do you say that?”
“That’s strange then.”
Jiang Fengfeng pouted slightly, resting her chin on her right hand, and said with some envy, “Before you returned, Yue Haitang was worried about your safety every day. Now that you’ve returned safe and sound, he should be happy, but since a while ago, he’s been looking deeply troubled.”
Luo Feng nodded. He also noticed that Yue Haitang seemed a bit off tonight and hadn’t said a word since the banquet started.
“I’ve had enough to eat; I’m going back too.”
After some thought, Luo Feng put down his chopsticks and also got up to leave.
As he walked out of the garden where the banquet was held, Luo Feng decided to check on Yue Haitang’s residence. As he passed by the artificial lake in Filariasis Residence, he noticed a figure sitting under the willow tree by the shore—it was Yue Haitang.
Yue Haitang sat under the shadows of the willow tree, staring blankly at the reflection of the moon on the water.
Suddenly.
With a thud, a stone fell from the sky, splashing a ripple on the calm water surface, shattering the reflection of the moon.
“Who?”
Yue Haitang was startled and almost jumped up. He quickly turned around to see Luo Feng standing behind him.
Whoosh!
Luo Feng placed his index and middle fingers of his right hand on Yue Haitang’s neck and laughed, “If I were an assassin, you’d be dead by now.”
With that, Luo Feng lay down beside Yue Haitang, facing up, and said:
“The moonlight is lovely tonight. What were you thinking about so deeply?”
Yue Haitang looked at Luo Feng, his gaze flickering. After a moment, he lowered his eyes and said softly, “Luo Feng, am I useless?”
Luo Feng turned his head, “What’s wrong?”
Yue Haitang looked at the moon on the water’s surface gradually coming back together and said, “Today, when you fought with the City Lord of Cloud Brocade City, I couldn’t help at all, not even as much as Xuelian.”
Yue Haitang always knew there was a gap between him and Luo Feng, but it was only during the recent confrontation that he realized how vast the gap had become. When Luo Feng fought with the City Lord of Cloud Brocade City, Yue Haitang had no opportunity to intervene at all.
Luo Feng smiled bitterly; so this was why Yue Haitang was upset.
“You don’t need to blame yourself. I’m not a match for the City Lord of Cloud Brocade City either. If Chixiao and Su Zhuyun hadn’t arrived in time, I would have been defeated long ago.”
Yue Haitang gently shook his head, pursing his lips, “That’s not what I care about. I just feel like I’m drifting further and further away from you.”
Luo Feng was taken aback and seriously looked at Yue Haitang, “No matter what happens in the future, I’ll always be the Luo Feng you know.”
Yue Haitang stared blankly at Luo Feng, his lips moved as he hesitated to speak, then suddenly curled into a smile, nodding and smiling, “Then let’s go back. We have to set off early tomorrow, so let’s rest early tonight.”
He wanted to go back and train right away, even if it meant working twice, thrice as hard as before, to close the gap with Luo Feng.
“Okay.”
…
Deep into the night.
In the small courtyard where Luo Feng resided.
Luo Feng sat cross-legged in the center of the courtyard, with Xuelian standing beside him, casting a blood-colored Gang Qi shield to firmly seal off the space around Luo Feng.
Within the blood-colored Gang Qi shield, light of five colors constantly changed, dazzling in the moonlight—this was the Five Elements Yuan Qi.
During the time apart from Luo Feng, Xuelian had not stopped refining the heart of the Five-Colored Glazed Toad. After each training session, the heart of the Five-Colored Glazed Toad would release some pure Five Elements Qi. The accumulated Five Elements Qi was now sufficient for training the Five Elements Transformation.
Luo Feng had long waited for this moment. As soon as he returned to the courtyard, he immediately prepared to train the fourth transformation of the Divine Dragon Nine Changes, the ‘Five Elements Transformation.’