Chapter 70: The Queen Mother of the West
Huang Feiyan didn’t seem to mind, so Mingyan didn’t dwell on it.
He followed Yue Qingying and Huang Feiyan into the inner courtyard.
Unbeknownst to him, he was the first man to ever enter.
The Huang family was unique. Their women never married outsiders, and there was no precedent for such a thing.
In fact, the women of the Huang family were quite proud. As descendants of the Phoenix, they wouldn’t allow their bloodline to be tainted by others. No Huang family woman had ever fallen in love with an outsider, let alone engaged in any intimate contact, which they considered a disgrace.
But this pride was deeply ingrained, and they were always polite to others. Like Huang Feiyan, they wouldn’t ignore his help just because he was a man.
Upon entering the inner courtyard, Mingyan felt the temperature rise, but it was a comfortable warmth, not scorching.
He looked up at the colossal Phoenix Divine Statue, which seemed to cover the sky, its eyes as bright as two suns, illuminating the entire estate. Even though it was just a statue, its presence exuded an imposing aura. He wondered what the real Phoenix had been like.
The inner courtyard was filled with numerous pavilions, the scenery picturesque, with a clear stream flowing through it, its gurgling sound soothing. The spiritual energy here was as dense as in the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land.
Most of the pavilions were inhabited by women in red dresses, with slight variations in their adornments, but all of them were beautiful. Every woman in the Huang family was a beauty. The genes of the Phoenix must have been exceptional, as there were no ugly descendants.
Many of the women looked at Mingyan with curiosity. They likely knew his identity and weren’t surprised to see him with Huang Feiyan.
“As far as I know, Junior Brother is the first man to enter the inner courtyard?” Yue Qingying asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Yes… From the birth of our ancestor to the establishment of our family, and until now, Mingyan is indeed the first man to enter the inner courtyard.” Huang Feiyan nodded. “We wanted to thank him for his help.”
It’s probably more than just that… Yue Qingying pursed her lips. The Huang family’s attitude towards Mingyan was strange. Although he had helped them greatly, was it enough to make them abandon their long-standing rules?
Her friend was likely hiding something, something important. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have kept it a secret from her.
But she decided not to worry about it. The Huang family likely wouldn’t harm Mingyan. There was no need to pry.
Mingyan also sensed something was off. This feeling had started with Huang Junyi’s overly familiar attitude and had now reached its peak.
The Huang family’s attitude towards him was too ambiguous, as if they wanted something from him…
He pondered this. The Huang family had been respectful towards him. If they had ulterior motives, they could have acted on them when they first brought him back, not after he had been sent to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land and gained a powerful backer. Back then, he had no power to resist them. But now, as his master’s personal disciple, they couldn’t force him to do anything.
It seemed they would still respect his wishes…
But what did they want from him?
The inner courtyard was beautiful, with a picturesque landscape, its streams and flowers imbued with spiritual energy, creating a celestial paradise filled with beautiful women. Walking through it was like entering a celestial realm, with celestial maidens everywhere.
Mingyan didn’t stare at them, but he returned their smiles when they looked at him.
“The Huang family has a large population, and everyone cultivates. But due to individual differences, our cultivation levels vary.” Huang Feiyan smiled. “For us, cultivation is about protecting our family and extending our lifespan. Because we have Phoenix blood, we cultivate more easily than most. I’ve been delayed by searching for a cure for my aunt. Although I’ve tried to cultivate in my spare time, my progress has been slow. I’ve only just reached the peak of the Qi Sea Realm. My mother is quite disappointed with my cultivation.”
She looked slightly embarrassed.
Not satisfied with the peak of the Qi Sea Realm… Feiyan’s mother must be very strict with her. But in a prominent family, the expectations for a disciple were different, especially for the daughter of the family head. Stricter requirements were understandable.
Mingyan noticed that all the Huang family women he saw had higher cultivation levels than him. He couldn’t even sense their true strength… But he hadn’t seen anyone his age. They all seemed to be adults. He wondered what cultivation level the Huang family women were at his age.
The inner courtyard seemed even larger than the outer courtyard and had several small teleportation formations. Huang Feiyan led them to a nearby one, and in the blink of an eye, they were teleported to another location.
The inner courtyard alone was hundreds of times larger than the former Rain Terrace Blessed Land. These Emperor-level families had incredibly deep foundations. The former Rain Terrace Mountain would be a mere decorative hill in this inner courtyard…
They emerged from the teleportation formation and saw several exquisite mansions, even more beautiful than the pavilions he had seen earlier. Huang Feiyan led them inside without any introduction.
As they approached, Mingyan felt a vibrant life force in the air. The flowers and grass seemed even more vibrant and beautiful, as if influenced by some mystical law.
Huang Feiyan stopped at the entrance and smiled. “Aunt Ning, Feiyan has come to disturb you~”
“Hehe, what disturbance? Feixuan was just talking about going to find you. Come in.” A gentle voice came from inside, carrying a special magic that instantly calmed one’s heart.
Mingyan was surprised. Huang Qingfei’s voice had been gentle, but this voice was even more so, as if imbued with the power of laws, directly affecting a cultivator’s heart!
“I’ve also brought two friends this time, both old friends of Aunt Ning. They’re disciples of Holy Master Yue Ying. One is the Moon Shadow Holy Maiden of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sacred Land, and the other is her junior brother, Mingyan. They’re both close friends of mine.”
“Hmm, come in together.” The Queen Mother of the West wasn’t surprised that Yue Wu Xia had made an exception and accepted a disciple. Feixuan must have already informed her.
Huang Feiyan led them into the mansion.
Upon entering, Mingyan saw Ning Feixuan standing beside another woman. She smiled and nodded at him when their eyes met.
He nodded back, then looked at the woman beside her, and his gaze was almost stolen…
He had seen many beautiful women before: Huang Feiyan, his senior sister Yue Qingying, Ning Feixuan, the temptress Huang Junyi, the ethereal Huang Qingfei, and even his breathtakingly beautiful master, Yue Wu Xia. But he was still captivated at first sight…
The woman wore a light red palace dress, her figure hidden, but her face was so beautiful it could stir one’s soul, comparable to his master’s. Beneath her willow-like eyebrows were a pair of clear, beautiful eyes, shining with a faint light, as if they could see through everything.
She wore a faint crimson eyeshadow, and like the other Yaochi celestial maidens, she had a lotus mark on her forehead. But hers was different. It was in full bloom, incredibly vibrant and magnificent, shimmering with a faint silver light, exuding an air of nobility and grace, enhancing her already otherworldly beauty… For a moment, Mingyan couldn’t find a word to describe her.
