Chapter 628 - 434: The Bee Queen Awakens, Heaven-Defying Divine Techniques

A smile touched Fang Qingyuan’s lips, but his eyes were ice-cold. He watched Chunyu Hua’s group, their reactions unfolding one by one in his mind as he categorized and analyzed them.

Behind Fang Qingyuan, a group of Cultivators and Spirit Beasts were gathered around him. Qiqi and Jinbao flanked him on either side, while a few disciples from the Qingyuan Sect and Nangong Wan of the Nangong Clan stood on the periphery.

With the duel imminent, Fang Qingyuan had decided to come and scout the site of his upcoming battle with Chunyu Hua. He hadn’t expected, however, that they would both have the same idea.

’It seems I’m putting a good deal of pressure on this Chunyu Hua.’

’Well, a man’s reputation precedes him. I’ve only been cultivating for a century, yet I built this foundation from scratch. If Chunyu Hua has any brains at all, he won’t mistake me for some worthless pushover.’

When it came to life and death, one could never be too cautious. Although Chunyu Hua was likely confident he wouldn’t lose, he still had to make the necessary preparations.

"Calm down. Now is not the time."

Beside Fang Qingyuan, Qiqi’s eyes reddened and her body began to tremble slightly the moment she saw Hao Shi standing next to Chunyu Hua.

Faced with the one who had killed the Great White Bear, Qiqi wanted nothing more than to tear him apart and devour him. But in this situation, Fang Qingyuan could only tell her to endure for now, which was why he had sent her the mental transmission.

Hao Shi, the target of Qiqi’s furious gaze, turned to look back at her. But in his eyes, Fang Qingyuan saw only numbness.

Apparently, Hao Shi couldn’t comprehend Qiqi’s rage. Or perhaps he had seen such hateful stares so many times that he had simply grown numb to them.

"Nangong Wan, you’re not on duty today. How dare you bring people in without authorization?"

Next to Chunyu Hua, Nangong Ru began to lash out at Nangong Wan, who stood with Fang Qingyuan. The two were supposed to be like sisters of the same generation, but due to various trivial matters in their youth, they had become bitter enemies, and their feud was now irreconcilable.

"So you’re allowed to bring people in, but I’m not? We’re both Cultivators of the Nangong Family, Nangong Ru. Your..."

Fang Qingyuan paid no mind to the two women from the Nangong Family bickering. He focused most of his attention on Elder Ya across from him, with the rest on Hao Shi.

Only a sliver of his awareness was spared for Chunyu Hua. As for the two Golden Core Female Cultivators beside him, including Nangong Ru, they were practically invisible in Fang Qingyuan’s eyes.

The opposing Elder Ya was not tall; he was even somewhat stooped, lacking the commanding presence one would expect from a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

But his eyes glittered with an otherworldly light that seemed to pull at one’s very soul, completely captivating Fang Qingyuan’s gaze.

In an instant, Fang Qingyuan’s vision went black. He seemed to see a raven with vast, thousand-zhang wings unfurled, blotting out the entire sky.

It was an iridescent black. Some said that crows were actually the most beautiful of birds, but that the human eye simply couldn’t perceive the brilliant colors on their feathers, seeing only blackness.

Now, Fang Qingyuan saw it. The wings shimmered with magnificent colors—an extreme beauty, enough to leave one utterly intoxicated.

Just then, a rich fragrance of Divine Incense wafted from the body of Jinbao, who was beside Fang Qingyuan. The scent gently entered his nostrils, snapping him out of the illusion.

Where was the black raven with thousand-zhang wings?

There was only the slight curl at the corners of Elder Ya’s mouth.

"Ngh..."

Fang Qingyuan knew he had almost fallen into a trap. If not for the scent of Divine Incense from Jinbao, he feared his mind would have been completely suppressed by that black raven with thousand-zhang wings.

Fang Qingyuan didn’t yet know what the consequences would have been, but it was clearly nothing good. The most likely reason Elder Ya had suddenly attacked him was as retaliation for when Fang Qingyuan had forced the duel upon Chunyu Hua while the elder was away.

Elder Ya was under orders to protect Chunyu Hua, yet Fang Qingyuan had now dragged Chunyu Hua into the dangers of a duel. How could that not infuriate the elder?

Now that Bear Wind wasn’t by his side, Elder Ya had seized the opportunity to take a shot at him.

Even more likely, Elder Ya intended to use this method to plant some hidden advantage that would ensure Chunyu Hua’s victory.

Understanding this, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t help but admire the elder’s decisiveness. At the same time, however, he added Elder Ya to his list of people to get even with.

"Alright. As it happens, Fellow Daoist Chunyu Hua is also here today. Let’s not impose. We’ll come back another day."

After making this perfunctory statement, Fang Qingyuan led his group away. Chunyu Hua’s party was surprised by his abrupt departure, which seemed like a strong start with a weak finish.

Elder Ya’s technique had just acted directly on the spiritual soul, planting something in Fang Qingyuan’s mind palace. The method was so sophisticated and insidious that it was completely beyond the comprehension of Chunyu Hua and the others.

Only Hao Shi’s gaze swept naturally over Elder Ya for a moment before returning to its usual state of placid stillness.

...

Ignoring the reactions of Chunyu Hua’s group, Fang Qingyuan led everyone back to a high-end residence he was staying at in the Black River Marketplace.

On the way back, Fang Qingyuan began to reflect on his actions. His long-held complacency vanished like smoke, replaced by a lingering fear that welled up in his heart.

’This isn’t the Qingyuan Sect, and Bear Wind isn’t with me. How could I have been so reckless as to get close to that Elder Ya?’

’Most importantly, I’ve already left the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect and made an enemy of Chunyu Hua. Elder Ya, who originally had no reason to move against me, now has far fewer reservations. To think he would actually stoop to bullying someone of a lower generation.’

’Elder Ya is no saint. Suppressing others with his higher cultivation realm is what he enjoys most.’