Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Realm of the Primordial Sovereign

Hearing movement outside, Hua Feng stepped out to investigate. He saw a man approaching, dressed in a light blue suit, a white shirt, and black-and-white striped leather shoes.

“Hey, kid, remember me? That handsome, suave, elegant, and dashing gentleman you and Xiao Li rescued in Australia a year ago.” He stopped two meters from Hua Feng, talking to himself with self-assured flair.

Both Nangong Li and Hua Feng couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated at such a narcissistic introduction. Good grief, this guy was really full of himself. They had never seen a Yuan Emperor like this before! And he was a great demon at that—if a human Yuan Emperor of the same rank didn’t have a perfectly suited divine artifact, he would stand no chance against him.

After all, humanity was never a species evolved primarily for combat.

“Uh, of course I remember,” Hua Feng replied. “Have your injuries healed, Senior?”

“Of course! I always thought everyone, regardless of gender, ought to remember this handsome face of mine. Thanks again for last time. My wounds healed ages ago. Though Bashu is a minor world, it enjoys unique geographical advantages, with no shortage of rare treasures, spiritual veins, and divine springs.” Panda Mozart swept his hair back, striking a pose he clearly thought was irresistibly cool.

“All right, you win. You’re just here to show off your wealth and good looks, aren’t you? Let’s get down to business! I got word a couple of days ago—the elders of my Heavenly Fox tribe should be arriving any day now,” Nangong Li said, punching Mozart lightly in the arm to hurry him along.

“Go warm a pot of wine for me. A formation like this is a piece of cake—just watch!” With that, Panda Mozart vanished like a ghost.

Hua Feng and Nangong Li knew this was simply speed taken to the extreme—the naked eye could no longer perceive him, but he hadn’t truly disappeared. It was just that he was unbelievably fast.

As a level 76 Yuan Emperor and master of formations, it was easy for Mozart to erect a barrier that gathered spiritual energy and shielded the area from outside investigation. After all, this was only a Yuan Emperor advancement—not too troublesome.

“Let’s go warm his wine! Panda Mozart falling in love with alcohol—it really is something hard to fathom. But these days, nothing is too strange. The world isn’t what it used to be,” Nangong Li said, leading Hua Feng inside, her words thoughtful.

“Thank you, Sister Li. Come, try my cooking.” Hua Feng bowed slightly, gesturing for her to enter.

Inside, Nangong Li saw a dozen or so dishes laid out on the table, covering all flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty. There were appetizers, home-style stir-fries, soups, dim sum, and staple foods from the local farm kitchen—everything one could desire. Her appetite instantly surged. Though, as a Yuan Emperor, neither humans nor demons needed to eat at regular intervals, eating for pleasure was always welcome.

Nangong Li was not one to forgo good food. Her motto was that in this world, only fine cuisine and handsome men should never be let down!

Hua Feng started the charcoal to warm the wine. Nangong Li could hardly keep from drooling at the spread. Over the past year, Hua Feng had rarely cooked; every day, Shen Qiu would have disciples from the farm kitchen bring meals. While not crude, the food had grown monotonous.

“Mozart! Are you done yet? If you don’t hurry, we’ll start without you!” Nangong Li called loudly outside.

Hua Feng sensed a gentle breeze, and Panda Mozart was suddenly there, seating himself at the table with a chair. The table, much like a traditional octagonal one, held three people at three sides, and they began to eat naturally.

Hua Feng was surprised at Mozart’s speed. Circulating his Taiji Diagram to sense the surroundings, he found the spiritual energy had indeed grown denser. He couldn’t help but admire this seemingly eccentric Mozart. Perhaps he was one of those who hid great wisdom behind a foolish facade.

Watching the two Yuan Emperor-level demons enjoying his food with gusto, Hua Feng felt deeply satisfied. Every cook delights in seeing their creations enjoyed, and he was no exception.

After a few rounds of wine and a variety of dishes,

“Come, brother, drink this cup with me! Then let’s get down to business!” Mozart raised his glass.

“Cheers!” Nangong Li drank her strong liquor, her cheeks flushed.

“Cheers! My respects to both of you. Thank you! I have nothing more to offer, but when I am stronger, I will come to express my gratitude in person!” Hua Feng was a little emotional. He realized he’d rarely shown such feeling in all these years. Since entering the cultivation world, with all its mysteries and monsters, he sometimes felt lost, but he considered himself lucky.

“No need for thanks. I’m only here for Nangong’s sake. As for that favor from back then, this is nothing at all!” Mozart clinked glasses with Nangong Li and Hua Feng.

Once satisfied, Hua Feng sat cross-legged at the center of the formation. Nangong Li and Mozart respectively placed items of immense spiritual energy—a ten-thousand-year lingzhi, a thousand-year meat-ganoderma, spirit beast cores, energy crystals… Each took up a position, guarding four directions. A Taiji-shaped diagram began to spin rapidly in midair, the accumulating energy pouring into Hua Feng’s mind. The other two channeled their power to keep the formation running at full strength.

Hua Feng’s bones began to creak and stretch, his meridians widening and strengthening. Pure, compressed energy flooded his body. His internal core visibly grew larger, then was compressed again and again by the Taiji Diagram, repeating the cycle. After eight hours, the density of his core had reached the very limit a Yuan Emperor could endure.

Nangong Li knew the breakthrough was near. She dared not slacken, only slowing the influx of energy to let Hua Feng adjust to the changes in his body.

Mozart guarded the formation’s stability. At this critical moment, the least mistake would see the entire Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Spirit Gathering Array blow up along with Hua Feng. He dared not lose focus for an instant. The tension was equal to facing a heavenly tribulation at demonhood’s threshold.

Hua Feng’s mind was utterly clear. He sensed energy building, needing release. His spiritual senses reached farther than ever, the Taiji Diagram shifting more swiftly with each thought. Many philosophical puzzles that once confused him now became clear.

He seemed to have crossed a threshold. Yet while his mind expanded, the agony in his body was almost overwhelming—his skin began to crack, his bones to fissure, as if he might explode at any moment.

“Aaah!”

With a long howl, Hua Feng channeled the energy from his dantian outward, sending a beam of purple-gold lightning skyward, nearly shattering the defensive barrier. Luckily, Mozart reinforced it in time, and Nangong Li dissipated the energy.

The cracks on Hua Feng’s body vanished, his seated posture unchanged. But the pressure radiating from him was now beyond anything a peak Yuan Emperor could emit.

“Yuan Emperor! Haha, he made it!” Nangong Li laughed in delight, even happier than when she herself had broken through.

“It wasn’t easy. This kid’s advancement speed far exceeds ours back in the day. What potential! As long as he has enough energy and the right level, he can keep breaking through. Though perhaps we gave him a bit too much this time, but all’s well that ends well.”

“You’ve got some nerve—even risked destroying a Yuan Emperor,” Nangong Li chided, though her gratitude toward Mozart was plain.

Half an hour later, having adapted to his new state, Hua Feng opened his eyes. The first word from his mouth was, “Thank you!”