Chapter 400 - 379: The Goose-Riding Maiden

Song Ciwan had unexpectedly obtained a Celestial Fiend Incarnation, a development that brought her more caution than joy.

The Demon Cultivator’s death led Song Ciwan to a single conclusion: when you’re flying high, don’t get arrogant. The moment you do, Death comes knocking.

’Truly, one must not be arrogant. The arrogant are struck down by lightning!’

Furthermore, the Celestial Fiend Incarnation required one to be at least in the Divinity Transformation Stage to control it. However, Song Ciwan couldn’t break through anytime soon, as she wanted to accumulate more Lifespan and build a much more solid foundation for her cultivation.

It was, admittedly, a great test of her patience to have such a treasure right in front of her, yet be unable to use it.

Song Ciwan could only keep reminding herself to be patient and avoid recklessness, to endure and restrain herself, just to suppress the impulse to break through immediately.

’Holding back isn’t a sign of stagnation. I’m doing it for a stronger foundation and a better future!’

’To achieve what others cannot, one must endure what others cannot.’

’Endure, endure, endure! I must bear it all with a smile!’

...

With endurance as her mantra, Song Ciwan tempered her state of mind once more.

The Big White Goose, however, was oblivious to the turbulent storm in her mind. It just kept flying along joyfully.

It flew over countless mountains and rivers, bypassed one city after another, flying from moonset to sunrise.

As the morning sun broke through the clouds once more, the magnificent silhouette of a great city, nestled amidst mountains and rivers, came into view.

From a distance, it appeared to be a megacity, perhaps even larger than Pinglan City.

The Big White Goose knew that all cities in the Great Zhou had restrictions on flying overhead. Seeing that they were only about twenty-odd li from the city, it prepared to fly around it.

But just then, a squad of Cultivators on Flying Swords suddenly streaked across the sky toward them.

The leading Cultivator shouted from a distance, "Who goes there? How dare you fly a mount in the airspace of Guangling City? Land your beast at once and submit to an inspection!"

As he spoke, a Token materialized in the leader’s hand. He aimed it at Song Ciwan, and a brilliant beam of light shot forth.

The silhouette of a great city was faintly visible within the light, which was empowered by a host of immense auras.

Even from a distance, before the beam of light even reached them, the Big White Goose was frozen in place, immobilized by its immense, irresistible aura.

Just as the light was about to envelop both her and the Big White Goose, Song Ciwan gently patted the goose’s back. The next instant, they both reappeared twenty li away.

This instantaneous teleportation was clearly beyond the scope of the light’s suppressive power.

The lead Cultivator let out a surprised "Huh?" Unsure of what to do, he saw several more figures suddenly fly out from above the great city in the distance.

At the lead was a woman in flowing, colorful robes. She stood upon a flying ribbon of Long Silk that carried her over in an instant. From a great distance, her voice called out:

"Is that the Celestial Pride, Fairy Song? Please, Fairy Song, slow your pace! These brash men from the City Patrol Department were unaware that a Fairy was gracing Guangling City with her presence. They’ve made a terrible blunder, failing to recognize one of our own. Please don’t take offense, Fairy. My master will be sure to punish them for this!"

Her voice was crisp and gentle, her tone humble and polite. Song Ciwan had been about to leave, but after being hailed from so far away, she felt it would be rude to simply turn and depart.

She patted the goose’s back lightly, and the Big White Goose hovered in mid-air.

The woman in colorful robes arrived in a flash. Once she was close, she gave Song Ciwan a graceful curtsy.

Just as Song Ciwan was about to reply, the Heaven and Earth Scale manifested and collected several clumps of energy.

[Human Desires: Astonishment, confusion, and worry from an Early-Stage Qi Cultivator. Weight: one jin and two taels. Exchangeable.]

[Human Desires: Astonishment, doubt, and worry from a Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator. Weight: two jin and one tael. Exchangeable.]

[Human Desires: Astonishment, curiosity, and worry from an Early-Stage Qi Cultivator. Weight: one jin and nine taels. Exchangeable.]

...

This stream of human desires was clearly coming from the City Patrol Department squad twenty li away.

The lead Cultivator, still holding the Token, was completely stunned.

His comrades gathered around him, chattering amongst themselves. "A Celestial Pride? Fairy Song? Could... could she be the new tenth-ranked Celestial Pride, Song Zhao?"

"It has to be Song Zhao! Why else would the Prince’s Mansion’s own Chief Historian come out to greet her personally? She wouldn’t do that for an ordinary Celestial Pride."

"So Song Zhao is a woman... Chief, what do we do now? We just tried to stop her!"

"She’s tenth on the Celestial Pride List! She could probably crush us with a flick of her finger, couldn’t she?"

"She wouldn’t dare! No matter how powerful she is, we represent the Court! We were just following orders. It’s not just about her—anyone flying within twenty li of Guangling City is subject to investigation..."

"You want to try investigating a Celestial Pride? Go on, give it a shot."

...

The chattering group immediately fell silent.

Meanwhile, Song Ciwan, hovering in the distance, had received nine clumps of emotional energy in just a few short moments!

The harvest was so sudden and intense that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Bolstered by this influx of emotional energy, the expression on Song Ciwan’s face softened, taking on an air of casual ease.

The woman in colorful robes, now before her, carefully observed her expression. Seeing that Song Ciwan remained silent, seemingly lost in thought, she secretly formed an initial judgment:

’Song Zhao... this tenth-ranked Celestial Pride clearly possesses the arrogance common to her station. While it’s not obvious—she even appears rather serene on the surface—she is not an easy person to approach.’

The woman in colorful robes braced herself inwardly and quickly introduced herself. "I am Yun Chong, and I humbly serve as a Chief Historian in Prince Yun’s Mansion. Ever since the Heir returned from collecting his bride, he has often spoken of you, Fairy Song. He expressed great regret that he was too preoccupied with the wedding procession that day to properly acquaint himself with you."

"Our Heir’s Consort also thinks of you often, Fairy Song. She frequently says that she must meet with you again if the opportunity arises!"

’So her name is Yun Chong, a Chief Historian of Prince Yun’s Mansion.’

Song Ciwan recalled, however, that a Chief Historian had also accompanied the Heir of Prince Yun during the wedding procession, and it had not been this woman.

’Did Prince Yun’s Mansion replace its Chief Historian in such a short time, or does the mansion simply have more than one?’

’It’s probably the latter.’

Only after Yun Chong mentioned the Heir’s Consort a second time did Song Ciwan respond. "The Heir’s Consort and the Heir are newlyweds. It would be improper for me to impose."

The Third Princess of the Stealth Race was now known as the Heir’s Consort in the Mortal World. Song Ciwan had to admit, saying the title "Heir’s Consort" felt a little strange.

’The world works in mysterious ways. So Prince Yun’s Mansion is located in Guangling City.’

After parting ways at the wedding banquet, Song Ciwan had thought she wouldn’t see the Stealth Race sisters again for a long time. She never expected the Big White Goose’s flight would bring her right to the Third Princess’s new home city.

Yun Chong’s lovely features were wreathed in a smile. "Fairy Song, you are an honored guest. Anyone would be delighted to see you, so how could it possibly be an imposition? Our Heir’s Consort has already given explicit orders: if anyone from the Prince’s Mansion should see you, they must invite you to be a guest."

"In fact, anyone who saw you and failed to extend an invitation would surely be punished."