Chapter Thirty-Three: Absolutely Dazzling

Southern Heaven Continent, border battlefield.

The Vermilion Bird Army encampment.

Bang!

The door to the commander’s quarters was violently kicked open. A tall, slender female general clad in blazing red armor strode inside.

She carried a jade talisman, which she set upon the table. Stripping off her armor, she was left in a black martial uniform, her already alluring figure now even less concealed.

“Little Chu, why don’t you ever listen? I’m not lying to you. That old friend’s grandson—handsome, talented, and now a commander of the million-strong Cold Crow Army…”

From the jade talisman on the table came the earnest, nagging voice of an elderly man.

The woman was none other than the commander of the Vermilion Bird Army, the legendary female war god of Azure Gift Continent—Chu Xiaotong.

Listening to her teacher’s endless chatter, Chu the War God frowned, clearly annoyed.

“Old man, are you ever going to stop? If you keep meddling with my marriage, I swear I’ll send a million Vermilion Bird soldiers up the mountain to rip out what’s left of your hair.”

Chu Xiaotong retorted irritably, pulling out a chair and sitting down, her long legs propped up on the table.

“Little Chu, if you say that, then I’m wide awake. Last time you sent me that anti-hair-loss miracle water, I drank it for a whole year—no effect at all.”

Chu Xiaotong’s lips twitched. “It’s for washing your hair, not drinking. Did you even check the instructions?”

“Sigh, I’m old now, muddled. My only wish is to see you find a partner, have a little Vermilion Bird, and inherit all I’ve taught you. Little Chu, really consider it—if it won’t work, look at all those young generals in the Border Guard Army. Any one of them is outstanding—choose one!”

“Shut it! I’ve already inherited everything you know. As for the next generation, forget it.”

Chu Xiaotong rolled her eyes. “I’m already invincible among my peers, can even defeat those above my rank, while those you mention—forget about crossing ranks, they can’t even match me at their own level. And they want to be my partner? Ridiculous!”

“Damn, does that mean you’ll be alone forever? Should’ve kept a few tricks back, taught you after you had kids.”

“Whether I stay single or not, stop nagging unless you find—no, not someone who can cross ranks, that’s easy for me. Only a man who can kill across realms—that’s a real man. Otherwise, all are soft.”

She smirked, “Old man, go find me a real man who can kill across realms and I’ll marry him right away!”

“What the hell, only those who can kill across realms count as real men? Then there are none in Azure Gift Continent. You insult even me…”

The jade talisman crackled with the old man’s furious curses.

Chu Xiaotong grinned, extended a slender finger, and tapped the talisman.

Whoosh!

The talisman’s light faded, the transmission cut off, and peace returned to the commander’s quarters.

Chu Xiaotong finally exhaled deeply, closed her eyes for a brief rest.

But annoying voices echoed from outside.

“Master, master, so handsome, so handsome!” A bell-like voice, full of excitement, drew closer.

“Qu Hongxiu…”

Chu Xiaotong showed a look of utter helplessness, sighing from the depths of her soul. Her fate was truly ill-starred: an unruly master above, and a wild disciple below. Headache upon headache.

Bang!

The door was kicked open yet again. Qu Hongxiu, dressed in scarlet, burst in, brimming with excitement.

“Qu Hongxiu, have you no manners? Ever heard of knocking?” Chu Xiaotong snapped.

“Oh, I know, master, but he’s so handsome—you have to see!” Qu Hongxiu showed no remorse, rushing forward.

Chu Xiaotong shook her head. “How many times must I tell you, I am beautiful, not handsome.”

“No, master, I wasn’t talking about you—I meant Uncle Xu. He’s unbelievably handsome!”

“Xu Zhe? Didn’t you come back from Valley of Talents raving about how pretty he was?”

“I misjudged him.” Qu Hongxiu blushed, then stubbornly added, “If I’d known he was so handsome, in Tianhe City I would’ve claimed him on the spot, made it a done deal. I missed my chance, master—I lost big.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?” Chu Xiaotong was baffled by Qu Hongxiu’s logic. What ‘done deal’? Was she defying heaven?

“Hehe, master, you don’t know yet?” Qu Hongxiu produced a jade talisman, grinning mischievously. “The Spirit Web is abuzz today. Uncle Xu showed incredible might in Tianhe City…”

“I know about that, I’ve seen it. Unexpected, really—he entered Qi Refinement in a day, tempered his body, clearly walking the physical cultivation path, able to fight four foes and slay four evil spirits. The actual strength of those spirits needs investigation.”

Chu Xiaotong grew solemn. “But we still don’t know who gave him the cultivation technique, who helped him ascend on his awakening day—likely with ulterior motives.”

“Evil spirits? Master, that’s old news. The big event today is the footage released by Destiny Dao. See for yourself.” Qu Hongxiu opened the talisman, handing it to Chu Xiaotong.

Chu Xiaotong’s first glance was at the bizarre headlines, her brows furrowing.

Those Destiny Dao folks had truly been influenced by Wang Jianguo, always chasing sensationalism.

Still, curiosity compelled her to tap the first recording.

Soon, her expression changed. She snapped, “Qi Ming is bold indeed. The Four Continents Council gave him ten thousand death row inmates, yet he dares seize innocents in Tianhe City. That’s a grave crime.”

“Master, don’t be angry yet—keep watching, it’ll be satisfying.” Qu Hongxiu reassured her with the confidence of one who’s seen it all.

Chu Xiaotong tapped the second recording.

This time, Qi Ming ordered the people of Tianhe City to slaughter each other. The footage caught a cultivator named Zhang Jiufeng, gravely wounded and knowing his end was near, asking his friend to take his head and approach Qi Ming for an assassination.

Sadly, they failed and were killed by Qi Ming.

Chu Xiaotong’s face grew darker, silent as she opened the third recording.

This time, the situation turned unexpectedly: Xu Zhe stole the Cold Crow Army’s warship, then through a series of wild maneuvers, crashed the Black Feather warship, causing an explosion that devastated the three thousand Cold Crow soldiers and Qi Ming alike, with heavy casualties.

“Hoo…”

Chu Xiaotong exhaled, feeling much relieved.

Yet soon, she frowned. How did Xu Zhe get the Black Feather warship?

Moreover, launching that vessel required the spiritual power of at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators—so who was helping Xu Zhe behind the scenes?

The more she considered, the more uneasy she felt.

“That boy Xu Zhe is naïve and innocent—could he have been used?” she murmured.

Qu Hongxiu remained silent, sitting quietly beside her.

Chu Xiaotong glanced at her, then opened the final recording.

Moments later—

Bang!

Chu Xiaotong sprang from her chair, nearly smashing the table with her long legs.

Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the footage in her hand, replaying it again and again…

After countless repetitions, Chu Xiaotong finally set down the talisman, dazed.

“Damn, that’s true handsomeness.”

…