Chapter 291: The Engagement Broken
"I will."
Leng Shuang answered and she was making her way to the back when she saw her Mistress coming out with a big yawn as she walked. Seeing that, she called out in address: "Mistress."
"Mm." Feng Jiu acknowledged with a grunt. Having just awoken, she was still taken with sleepiness and she was feeling mighty lazy.
"Mistress." Leng Hua saw her and his face could not help but to show a delightful smile as he came forward to greet.
Feng Jiu's gaze looked Leng Hua up and down throughout before she smiled and said: "Looks like your body buffed up quite a bit."
"I practise Tai Chi every morning and night. The condition of my body has improved tremendously." Leng Hua said happily.
"That's great." Feng Jiu nodded and she walked herself over to the Old Patriarch who already could not help himself and had started drinking to say with a smile: Grandfather, aren't you afraid you'd get drunk? The kick from that wine packs quite a punch and you must not drink too much at one go."
"Hahaha, I'm alright, I can hold my drink very well!" The Old Patriarch said with a great laugh as he poured out more wine to take a sip before he waved his hand to call out: Since everyone's here, have the servants serve up the food. Come come, everyone take your seats."
"Big Sister Feng." Sunny came running over to hug her thigh. His face was rather happy as he said: "Big Sister Feng's house is so beautiful. Uncle Feng even brought Sunny to go see fish!"
Hearing that, Feng Jiu laughed and ruffled the little fella's head and said: "It's great that you like it. Be a good boy in here alright?"
"Mm mm, Sunny will be good." Sunny said with a clear voice as he nodded his head solemnly.
That night, the entire family gathered together happily, eating and chatting till the night deepened, before they dispersed one after another feeling a little tipsy…..
-- Two days later --
News that the engagement between Murong Yi Xuan and Feng Qing Ge had been dissolved spread throughout the Cloudy Moon City. The moment the news reached the people, some of them gloated, while some clapped their hands in approval. It could be said that the majority of the people did not look upon the engagement between the two people well, and now that it had been called off, many of the people were secretly happy about it.
Afterall, from what they could see, Feng Qing Ge was not worthy of such a proud son of the Heavens like the Third Prince. For a man like that, the woman at his side must definitely hold great might behind her and possess outstanding individual powers herself. Otherwise, just having great looks alone was completely useless.
Everyone felt that Feng Qing Ge was not worthy of Murong Yi Xuan and it was only the people from the Feng Residence who felt that it was Murong Yi Xuan that was not good enough for Feng Qing Ge. Hence, when the people outside were heatedly discussing about the matter, every one of the guards and servants in the Feng Residence were indignant with rage.
In their point of view, their Eldest Miss was stronger than anyone! And more outstanding than anyone!
And Feng Jiu in her courtyard was not bothered by it at all. She only needed to know that the engagement had been dissolved as at that moment, all her thoughts were focused upon the book she held in her hand. Having carefully studied it for two days and the spirit herbs she had stored in the space, all that was left was for her to start learning by experimenting with her own hands the most basic of Alchemy.
For her to be able to advance into becoming a Foundation Cultivator, then the Foundation Pill was a must and it would be too impractical to go out and purchase it. Needless to say that it would be highly difficult to find just one single Foundation Pill in the Sun Glory Country and even if there was one, she felt that it would not set her mind at ease as much as one that she had cultivated by herself.
Moreover, in the manual that her Master gave her, it mentioned a kind of Perfect Foundation, a kind of Foundation that was so rare it was almost one in ten thousand. If she could achieve the perfect Foundation, then that would set the best foundation for her to advance into the Golden Core or even the Nascent Soul stages.
Hence, over this period, Feng Jiu was not anxious in advancing her own cultivation but was instead getting everything properly prepared so that nothing would go wrong when she was striving for a Perfect Foundation.
Chapter 292: A Loud Explosion!
Feng Xiao came walking over and saw her reading a book in the yard. His stern face then showed a loving and indulgent smile as he said: "What book are you reading? You seem to be so engrossed in it."
"Father."
She closed her book and stood up as she flashed a sly smile at Feng Xiao. "Just researching into something new."
"Being so mysterious. Alright, Father won't probe. I came here just to see how you're doing and to tell you that the little courtyard you wanted cleared out is ready. By the way, what are you intending to use that courtyard for? Do you need me to add anything to it?"
"There's no need. It just needs to be emptied out." Feng Jiu said with a smile and then continued on: "I might be a little busier over the upcoming period, so I'll have to trouble Father to help me look after Sunny for me."
"No worries about that! That child is just so obedient. I already employed someone to teach him how to read and write. I'll also teach him to practice the horse stance to build his foundation. Come on now! Let Father accompany you to go have a look at the courtyard. If there's anything you're dissatisfied with, tell me and I'll have someone take it down."
"Alright." Feng Jiu said with a smile, as she walked out together with Feng Xiao.
When the two of them came to some replica miniature mountains as they walked, they could hear laughter coming from afar. She raised her eyes up to look and saw the full white flabby body of Old White teasing several servant maids in play.
Seeing that scene, Feng Xiao went on to say with a laugh: "Old White was initially locked up in the stables by the servants but it just refused to stay in there. I then asked people to release it from its tethers and allowed it to roam by itself within the manor."
Looking at Old White who was lying on its back with its hooves up in the air as the servant girls rubbed its belly, Feng Xiao shook his head and said while laughing: "I must say, Old White is highly intelligent. I saw that it likes to go stick itself among the servant girls but is always treating the guards with disdain, which is really strange. Even the Old Patriarch said that he has never seen a dragon horse like Old White."
Feng Jiu glanced at Old White who laid there with its belly exposed and its hooves in the air, and she found herself rather speechless.
"Old White has always been that lecherous. When I encountered Old White for the first time, it had refused to move a single step no matter how hard its previous owner pulled at it. Who would have known once it met me, it immediately came pounding its hooves over to me, chasing me the entire way, and its previous owner then decided to give it to me as a gift."
As the father and daughter pair came near, the several servant girls then hurriedly scrambled to curtsy respectfully in greeting, calling out in soft voices: "Old Master, Young Miss."
"Neigh!"
Old White flipped itself up onto its hooves to stand on the ground, immediately wanting to go sidle itself up against Feng Jiu but was stopped by Feng Xiao.
"Ay ay ay, this dragon horse. Don't go sticking yourself right up against my daughter all the time."
Standing behind, Feng Jiu saw her father's brawny figure standing in front to block Old White away from her, she just could not help but laugh out loud slightly.
"Father, just accompanying me up to here will do. I'll make my own way to the courtyard myself from here." She said as she stepped out from behind him. As she passed beside Old White and she saw Old White's body that was hanging over with fats, she turned her head around with a smile and said: "Don't let Old White have its fill too much. Let it shed off a bit of all that flesh."
"Rest assured about that. Just leave it to your father and there will not be a problem. I'll bring it out later to run a few rounds." Feng Xiao said with a boisterous laugh, and gestured for Feng Jiu to go on ahead while he remained behind, leading Old White away in another direction.
After Feng Jiu came to the courtyard, she then took out the pill furnace and some of the spirit herbs she had scammed out of the Hell's Lord, thinking to start learning from the most basic and simplest pills. Her first trip to the courtyard, quickly took up the entirety of six whole hours.
As the doors into the courtyard were closed, and the doors of the emptied out Alchemy Room were similarly shut, no one knew what she was so busy with inside. Until, a suddenly loud boom sounding like an explosion rang out within the Feng Residence. That sound quaked through the Feng Residence, sending a slight tremor through the floor, causing the people inside the manor to come running out in shock to take at look.
Chapter 293: Failure on the First Try
Only a plume of black smoke could be seen rising above a certain courtyard, accompanied by a pungent burning smell spreading through the air, causing everyone to become highly alarmed.
"That seems to be the courtyard that the Eldest Miss got people to empty out!"
" The Eldest Miss went in there early this morning and she still has not come out from there ever since!"
"Heavens! Could something have happened to her?"
Once that thought came into their mind, the servant girls and guards all went running towards the courtyard, deeply afraid that something had really happened to their Eldest Miss.
"What's going on? Did something happen?"
When Old Patriarch Feng heard the noise, he came running out as well and peered all around. When he saw that smoke was spewing up from one of the courtyards, he was rather alarmed as he asked: "What is going on over there?"
"Old Grand Master, that is the courtyard that the Eldest Miss asked people to empty out. The Eldest Miss went in there this morning and she has not come out from there since. The loud noise earlier came from that courtyard and it sounded like something exploded in there."
The steward who came running in said hurriedly, and his voice had just fallen when the Old Patriarch lifted up his robes and went shooting forward like an arrow towards the courtyard. Seeing that, the steward rushed forward to follow after being stunned in his spot for a moment.
When everyone came rushing over to the courtyard in a hurry and saw the scene inside through the doors, they could not help but stared completely flabbergasted.
They only saw their peerlessly beautiful Eldest Miss fallen onto the ground in a sitting position, her entire body black with soot and in a complete mess. It was impossible to tell the original colour of the casual clothes upon her body that she wore within the manor, her dark hair sprayed full of bits and pieces of remnant herbs, looking slightly curled seemingly from having been exposed high temperature. Her face was botched black and white in places, her entire person looking rather wretched as she sat on the ground coughing, while the room in front of her continued to spew out puffs of burning smoke.
[What….. What kind of a situation is this?]
Everyone stood there staring, stunned with shock. Someone then snapped back to his senses and shouted: "Eldest Miss, are you alright?"
"Cough cough, cough cough cough….."
Feng Jiu who had been thrown back from the blast to fall sitting on the ground waved her hand before her to disperse the charred smoke spewing out of the room before her as she covered her hand over her nose and mouth while still coughing. She then slowly stood up and turned her head to see that many people were gathered outside the courtyard, before she waved her hand at them.
"I'm fine. You all do not need to crowd around here. Just go carry on with whatever you have you do."
Upon finishing those words, she then walked herself towards the Alchemy Room that was still spewing out charred smoke. Her first try at alchemy, had the furnace exploding. The blast from the furnace had spurted out all of the spirit herbs she used, which had been more than ten kinds. Even she had not been able to avoid the blast where she had then been sent flying out, turning her into a complete mess.
She opened the windows to let the charred smoke disperse and when she saw the remnant herbs scattered all over the floor, the expression on her face was one of pain from all of that being wasted.
"What a waste. It would cost a lot money to go buy them."
"Little Feng? Are you alright Little Feng?"
Rushing in from outside, Old Patriarch Feng immediately went into the Elixir Room upon stepping into the courtyard while the steward stood dutifully just outside the doors as the other people dispersed.
Turning her head back and seeing that it was her Grandfather, Feng Jiu rubbed at her nose and said with a smile: "Grandfather, I'm fine, but I just wasted a whole stove full of good herbs."
"As long as your person is fine. I heard that loud blast and saw he spewing smoke. I had thought something serious happened."
The Old Patriarch saw that she was fine, but looking just rather dirty and messy, and he was finally relieved. As he looked over the big mess throughout the entire place and saw the Pill Furnace, he became slightly startled before he asked: "You….. You are refining pills?"
"I'm just learning how to! And I have….. destroyed one whole furnace full here." Feng Jiu said with a helpless shrug. "It was easier while reading about it on paper, and I only realized that there are endless obstacles after I put it into practice."
Suppressing the shock in his heart, Old Patriarch Feng then said lovingly: "Don't be discouraged. Grandfather believes that you will definitely succeed."
Chapter 294: Determined to
"Mm. I definitely will."
She then smiled conspiratorarily and said: "But Grandfather, no one must come into this courtyard of mine. Will you go give the order to the servants when you go back? Do not even let my Father come in here."
"Haha, alright. Not a problem with that. Your father brought Old White to circle a few rounds and is not in the manor now. If he was here, he would have already come charging right in." The Old Patriarch said with a laugh. Glancing around at the messed up Alchemy Room, he then asked: "Do you want to have somebody come help you?"
"When Leng Shuang comes back, just ask her to come here."
"Alright then! You be a bit more careful yourself. Just don't get hurt." The Old Patriarch reminded, still a little worried.
"Mm. I will." Her heart filled with warmth as she saw her Grandfather out and went back into the Alchemy Room to tidy up, analysing once again the reason for her failure.
For a long while, she stood before the pill furnace and summoned up the spirit energy within to light the fire under the stove. As the natal flame roared to life under the pill furnace, she retracted back her hand and controlled the intensity of the flame as she watched the temperature in the furnace carefully.
In the beginning of the previous round, everything had been fine. It was only until the back where the pill was coagulating that the problem occured. It must have been because she had not controlled the flame and her spirit power well enough.
With the experience from her first failure, she carefully worked the furnace again another time, not daring to be careless in the slightest. But after about four hours, the pill furnace started to quake and she was startled when she saw that, immediately picking up her legs to run the very next moment.
'Boom!'
Charred smoke spewed out from the courtyard once more, and this time, everyone in the manor merely paused a moment in startlement, before they continued on with their own tasks, because the Old Patriarch had given his orders that they need not bother with anything that happened in the Eldest Miss courtyard, and they did not need to go see as well.
But, they were all still rather curious. [What is the Eldest Miss doing in there? Why is there another loud explosion?]
Over at the Alchemy Room, Feng Jiu was determined to tackle the challenge. She paused a moment in the courtyard to recollect herself as she watched the charred smoke disperse before she walked herself inside once again. This time, even the pill furnace had toppled over.
Seeing that, a corner of her mouth twitched. Fortunately the things she had scammed off the Hell's Lord were top quality items. Otherwise, it was thought that they would have been reduced to scrap under all this abuse.
Her next attempt already stretched all the way into evening, and almost an entire day had passed but she still had not been able to successfully cultivate a complete elixir. She had also wasted a great amount of spirit herbs which did not leave too much of a stock left in the space.
When Leng Shuang who had just come back into the manor heard that loud explosion, she paused in her steps. Seeing the guards and the servant girls looking calm and unaffected by it, she then turned to look towards the slightly more remote courtyard and thought to herself: [That couldn't be her Mistress refining pills right?]
Coming to the outside of the courtyard, she saw her Mistress choking till she had her back bent forward and her hands resting on knees as she coughed. She then went out to call out: "Mistress, I have returned." She had gone out to go to the black market today and as she had been held back with some matters, she had only come back now
"Leng Shuang? You came back just at the right time."
Feng Jiu then walked up to come just outside the doors where she then pulled out a prescription and a crystal card to hand over to her. "Go to the black market and get twenty portions of each and every spirit herb on this prescription. Get thirty portions for the one right at the top of the list, the Scarlet Red Grass. There's money in there, use that to go buy."
"Yes, Mistress." Leng Shuang did not question her but just speedily made her way back towards the black market.
What surprised everyone was her determination in challenging pill refining. After repeated and successive failures, she had tried again and again, never getting discouraged as she persisted, her heart only thinking that she did not believe she would not be able to succeed in cultivating a round of good grade pills!
Hence, she remained in the Alchemy Room for the entirety of three days and three nights…..
Chapter 295: Pill Refining Draws Lightning
"Father, say, the child Qing Ge has already been in there for three days and nights. Could anything have happened to her? Why not I go in to take a look?"
Feng Xiao said a little worriedly as he stood outside the courtyard's doors and was stopped from going in. Hence, he started to wonder what the situation was really like inside.
The Old Patriarch glanced at him and said: "Don't you see that even I am standing out here to wait? Little Feng has said that no one must go in to disturb her and she will come out on her own when she wants to. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Although that was what he said, but his eyes would occasionally turn to look towards the courtyard.
Saying that he was not anxious, he was not worried, that was all false. It had already been three days and nights and besides having Leng Shuang deliver some food to her, the lass had not gone back to rest at all. Would it really be okay for her to slog on like that?
Thinking about it, he then looked at Leng Shuang standing guard inside the courtyard and asked: "Will you go in to see again whether she will be coming out soon?"
However, Leng Shuang remained standing in her spot and said: "Mistress ordered me to stand guard here and without her summons, I am not to go inside to disturb her." Pausing a moment, she continued to say: "Old Master, Family Head, you should just go back first. It will be fine with me keeping guard here."
"Sigh! Alright then! If anything happens, you must inform us immediately." Old Patriarch Feng said and he turned around to walk away but saw Feng Xiao still standing there. He then called out: "Are we going? What are you standing there in a daze for? Is there anything to be worried about here in our own house?"
Feng Xiao looked at his father in speechlessness as he thought to himself: [He is obviously so worried himself and here is him admonishing me.]
But he did not continue to stay outside the courtyard but followed the Old Patriarch to leave.
Seeing the two men depart, Leng Shuang then retracted her gaze back and quietly kept guard, not allowing anyone to come close. After about two hours, she detected a strong scent of herbal fragrance wafting through the air. She was properly surprised as she turned to gaze towards the Alchemy Room.
[Has the Mistress succeeded?]
If it was concocting medicine, the smell of herbs would not be so thick nor tinged with such fresh fragrance. Moreover, the herbal fragrance caused one to perk up with vitality like the exhaustion was seeping out from the body completely. She was feeling very curious just what kind of effects the pill her Mistress had refinined would have.
In the Alchemy Room at that same moment, a filth covered Feng Jiu had her forehead bathed in perspiration as she held her breath to control the final moments of the flame for the elixir to form up. Although she could smell the herbal fragrance spreading into the air, she did not dare to be careless.
Until the final step after the pill took shape, did she then blew out a breath in relief, but was shocked by a sudden bolt of lightning that shot down from the sky.
'CRACKLE!'
The first bolt of lightning struck with a loud crackle down from the sky, piercing through the roof to fall upon the Elixir Furnace, which surprised her so much she jumped back quickly, to stare in stunned shock with her eyes widened.
"This….. This….. Pill Formation Draws Lightning?"
Her heart was in shock and feeling flustered as she looked up incredulously at the hole in the roof that had been struck by lightning. Through the hole, she could see the light of day and the blue of the sky with white clouds floating past, the sound of thunder still rumbling in the distance.
"Darn it! Lightning strike under such a clear sky that created such a loud commotion, it would surely have alerted people from all over!" She mumbled to herself, her mind quickly whirring.
'Crackle!'
At the moment the second bolt of lightning struck, it was just as Feng Jiu as said, the loud crack of lightning under such a clear sky had alerted the various powers in the Cloudy Moon City, including the ruler in the Imperial Palace who noticed it. No one sent their people out to investigate but went out on their own, summoning their Qi to leapt straight towards where the bolt of lightning had surged.
When the Old Patriarch in the Feng Residence heard the loud crack of lightning, the expression on his face had instantly changed. He was considered to be an old man who knew much about the ways of the world and he would naturally know how significant it was for something to be able to draw down lightning from the Heavens.
He immediately went striding with wide steps towards the Alchemy Room as he shouted out anxiously: "Feng Xiao! Feng Xiao! Guard the Feng Residence's main doors! Do not hesitate to kill anyone who seeks to barge their way in!"
Chapter 296: Extraordinary
Feng Xiao who heard the commotion from inside the manor naturally knew that something big has happened and was guessing that it was linked to her daughter's endless tinkering throughout the past few days without sleep. Hence, when he heard the Old Patriarch's loud shout, his imposing voice that was imbued with strong powerful mystical powers sounded out in the manor right after.
"All guards of the Feng Manor, hear my order! Guard the Feng Residence and do not let even a fly in!"
The hearts of all the guards jumped as they scrambled around within the manor, readying themselves for battle immediately as they acknowledged the order in the next instant. "Yes, Family Head!"
The resounding and powerful reply was filled with battle readiness as it rose up within the various courtyards of the Feng Residence. Some of the guards were already standing guard at the different courtyards, some of them patrolling the walkways. Some were watching around the pond, and there were also some hidden in the shadows.
But, when they heard the Old Patriarch's and Feng Xiao's voices, every single one of them sped over like warriors prepared for a bloodbath to the perimeter walls of the courtyards, to stop anyone from sneaking in over the manor's walls.
All the servants gathered under the steward's order to wait within the house. The stared in bewilderment and uncertainty at the black clouds swirling in the sky above the house, throwing down frightening thunder and lightning, their hearts filled with shock.
A bolt out of a clear sky. To think that they would actually see such a thing. Moreover, it seemed that it had something to do with the Young Miss?
Little Ball who had originally been lazily soaking up the gentle morning sunshine upon the miniature mountain immediately sat itself up straight when it saw the sudden bolt of lightning strike down from the Heavens. Humanlike astoundment appeared within its sharp and bloodthirsty eyes and it immediately picked up its legs to go running towards the courtyard.
[Drawing lightning bolts down from the Heavens on a clear day like this? What has that woman been up to?]
Not just Little Ball had rushed itself over there, even Old White who had been attempting to crawl under the servant girls' skirts had raised it head up and looked up into the sky. It sniffed at the air and immediately went running straight towards the courtyard as well.
'CRACKLE!'
With the fall of the third Heavenly lightning strike, the swirling and rolling black clouds in the sky then dispersed away, and calm seemingly resumed back in the Feng Residence for a moment, but everyone knew that the problems had just begun.
Because the people who had come rushing from various sides out there were gathering outside the Feng Residence's main doors one after another in succession, some shocked, some astounded, some bewildered, some incredulous as they stared upon the tightly shut doors of the Feng Residence.
[A bolt out of the blue, and it was three Heavenly strikes at that! What has happened within the Feng Residence?]
Everyone was eager to know, but the Feng Residence was afterall not just an ordinary family. With the Feng Residence's main doors shut, however curious they might be, they would not dare to barge their way in without the owner's permission.
"What would you say happened in the Feng Residence? Why had it drawn down bolts from the Heavens?"
"Who knows? The Feng Residence has their doors tightly shut. Who would dare to go knock on their doors at a time like this?"
"Even if you knock, they will not tell you. But I'm really very curious what has happened in there?"
"Look there! Isn't that the ruler? He actually came here personally himself!" One of the Family Heads exclaimed in a low voice, causing everyone to turn towards the figure approaching fast.
Another Family Head looked deep in thought as he said: "Even the country's ruler has personally come, you can see just how grave a matter this is. I think the doors of the Feng Residence will definitely open."
"Mm. I agree. We might not be able to get into the Feng Residence, but the ruler will definitely be able to go in."
Among everyone's low whispers, the ruler Murong Bo tapped the tip of his feet to soar up onto the roof of a restaurant. Although he was unable to see the situation within the courtyard, but it could be ascertained that the three lightning bolts from the Heavens had indeed been drawn here by the Feng Residence.
The incisive gaze flashed with a grim glint and standing straight backed with his hands behind his back, with a tap of the tip of his feet, he came right before the Feng Residence and knocked upon the tightly shut doors…..
Chapter 297: Elixir Formed
"Who is knocking on the door! ?"
A deep and authoritative voice came out from behind the doors. That was Feng Xiao's voice, stalwart and authoritative.
"Feng Xiao, open the door."
Standing with his hands behind his back, Murong Bo's similarly deep and majestic voice then sounded. His voice was tinged with imposing power, the tone naturally commanding the moment he spoke.
When he heard that voice coming in from outside, Feng Xiao who was seated steadily behind the doors on the inside with a large blade clasped in hand immediately had his brows furrowed together, the imposing expression on his face sinking slightly. He hesitated for a moment, and his stalwart voice sounded out, tinted with apology.
"My Ruler, please forgive your vassal for not being able to comply."
When Murong Bo outside the doors heard those words, his brows knitted up and the humiliation turned to rage. As the ruler of the country coming here personally up to their doors, he was to be spurned like this?
Not just Murong Bo was feeling a little humiliated, but everyone who had crowded just a distance away to watch and had not come forward were all showing faces of shock.
[Who would have thought! ?]
[To think that Feng Xiao would actually dare to refuse the Ruler and keep him standing outside? Isn't he being too audacious? It must be known that the Feng Residence was not really the same as Family Clans like them. Besides being the Family Head of the Feng Residence, Feng Xiao was also a Great General of the Sun Glory Country, a subordinate of Murong Bo. This outright refusal to obey orders, could possibly bring severe consequences.]
"Feng Xiao! Do you know what you are saying?" Murong Bo said, his face darkening, and his voice turning slightly chill with rage.
Just as the air before the Feng Residence's main doors was congealing, to become tense and dangerous, Feng Jiu was opening the pill furnace in the Alchemy Room. When she saw the three dark red pills inside, a smile of delight and excitement that came from deep in her heart showed on her face.
She succeeded!
Without guidance or instruction from anyone, she had based it only on her experience and understanding of Medicine, relying only on the simple steps and explanations depicted in the manual, to decipher the way to refine pills. After spending three days and three nights and after wasting quite a lot of spirit herbs, she had finally succeeded!
She took the three pills out and put them on the table at the side to look at them carefully. She saw the spirit energy swirling upon the pills, and five grain lines upon the tiny pill, clear and distinct.
"It's five grain lines indeed. Little wonder it drew down Heavenly lightning to temper the pillss."
She said to herself in realization, as her heart filled up with surprise as she saw the grain lines on the pills. She had not thought that her first batch of pills would be of such a high level. It was recorded in the book that only pills with five grain lines and above would draw in Heavenly lightning.
Not to mention that this was in the ninth grade Sun Glory Country. Even if it was in the sixth grade Green Gallop Country, it would not be easy to find a pill that possessed five grain lines.
"This is great! I did not lose out after having wasted all those magical herbs."
With a slight smile, she took out three bottles and put those three elixirs into each bottle separately. She stored them in the space and also kept the elixir furnace away before she walked out from the Alchemy Room.
When she came out of the courtyard, Old Patriarch Feng who had been watching outside immediately asked when he saw her: "Little Feng? You succeeded with your alchemy? Those three strikes of Heavenly thunder have alerted everyone. Even the Ruler has come running here. Your Father is guarding the main doors but I fear he would not be able to hold it much longer."
Hearing those words, Feng Jiu's eyes flashed briefly as she walked over to the Old Patriarch. She then turned around and said to Leng Shuang: "Go clean up the place inside."
"Yes, Mistress." Leng Shuang acknowledged, before she went walking towards the Alchemy Room.
"Grandfather, don't worry. It will be fine. With the Feng Residence's fame, no one will dare barge their way in forcefully."
Feng Jiu reassured her grandfather in a soft voice and showing him a smile as she came to his side. "Although I spent quite a bit of time on it, I have succeeded in refining those pills. I have not been thorough enough with my thoughts into the matter. I had not expected that the first batch of pills I refine would draw down Heavenly lightning and it really shocked me."
Chapter 298: Curiosity Killed the Ca
Hearing those words, the Old Patriarch's eyes lit up, so excited was he that his voice trembled as he said: "I've heard that only pills with five grain lines and above would draw down lightning from the Heavens! Your….. your pills possess five grain lines! ?"
"Mm. They are indeed five grain lined Transformation Pills."
Feng Jiu replied with a smile as she looked at her excited grandfather. "Grandfather, you should go up front to watch over things. I'll go back to wash up a little and change my clothes first before I'll come. Remind the servants to keep mum and even if the Ruler asks, tell them to not say anything."
Although the Old Patriarch did not know what kind of effects the Transformation pills had, but his heart was filled with absolute delight.
"What you've said is correct. With the reputation of the Feng Residence, those people outside would not dare to barge their way in. Even the Ruler would not bring himself down to the level of forcibly barging his way into a subordinate's home. Go on ahead to wash up and change! Grandfather will go to the front and see what the situation is."
He spoke hurriedly, and then readjusted his demeanor before he went walking out to the courtyard in the front of the house.
Seeing that, Feng Jiu similarly went walking to her courtyard, ordering people to prepare the bathwater.
At that moment, Murong Bo standing before the Feng Residence already had his rage risen to its peak. He had thought of kicking the Feng Residence's doors open or to go inside by leaping over the perimeter wall, but his position and pride would not allow him to commit such a low brow act. He could flick his sleeves and leave but could not swallow the indignation, hence, the atmosphere grew extremely tense.
And it was right at that moment that the tightly shut doors opened with a creak. Old Patriarch Feng was beaming with smiles while slightly apologetic as he came out in greeting while the grim faced Feng Xiao followed behind with his head slightly lowered, looking like he had just been admonished.
"Sigh! Blame it on this old man. This old man made Feng Xiao guard the door and told him to not let anyone come in, but I had not thought that the Ruler would also be alarmed, causing the Ruler to stand in wait outside the doors. How disrespectful we've been." Old Patriarch Feng prattled on with his hand clasped over his fist as he repeatedly bowed in apology, coming forward to welcome the Ruler, till he stood right in front of him.
"Ruler, please come inside at once." Old Patriarch Feng said as he stretched his hand out in invitation, his body tilted to the side to allow the Ruler to enter first.
Murong Bo's dark face cast a glance at Feng Xiao and with a sharp flick of his sleeves, he harrumphed loudly before he went striding his way inside.
When the people crowded around outside saw that scene, their expressions were greatly varied. Some of them jumped up forward, calling out to Old Patriarch Feng who was about to make his way inside.
"Old Patriarch please hold on for a while."
The Old Patriarch turned around and looked at the two middle aged men behind him. Seeing that it was two Family Heads from the several bigger family clans in the Cloudy Moon City, he put on a smile and asked: "Is there something the two Family Heads want?"
Hearing those words, the two men thought to themselves in their hearts: [Isn't that asking the obvious? Could he possibly be unaware of what they want?]
Though that might be the case, their faces did not show what they were thinking in the slightest but continued to smile and say: "It's like this. We saw three Heavenly lightning strikes that fell within the Feng Residence, we are wondering what could have drawn down those Heavenly strikes? Can the Old Patriarch disperse the curiosity in our hearts?"
Old Patriarch Feng halted his footsteps and he raised a hand to stroke at his beard as he looked at the two men. His gaze then moved over the crowd of people who had not come forward but were standing near enough to hear those words and waiting for his answer. He then put on a smile on his face and said a statement that stumped them all speechless.
"As people say, curiosity killed the cat. Our two gentlemen here are not that young anymore. It is better that you do not become curious about things that you shouldn't get curious about."
Seeing Old Patriarch Feng turn around and walk inside, the two Family Heads' faces flushed red, staring speechlessly as the Feng Residence's main doors slowly closed…..
When the crowd of people not far behind heard those words, their faces were ones of astoundment. They had not thought that the Old Patriarch would not even give the two Family Heads any face, and was so direct and harsh with his words. Afterall, those two Family Heads were quite highly regarded in the Cloudy Moon City as well!
Chapter 299: What Kind of a Explanation?
But thinking about it, when had the Feng Residence's position in the Cloudy Moon City been lower than any of the Family Clans and nobility?
When they thought about the might behind the Feng Residence, the two men who had been bottled up with anger felt their rage dissipate. When even the Ruler had been refused entry earlier to stand in front of their doors, what more them? But since the Ruler had gone inside, it was thought that whatever had drawn down the Heavenly thunderbolt should be made known to them very soon, hence, there was no need to rush it at that moment.
At that same moment inside the Feng Residence's main hall, the Ruler was seated upon the main seat with a grim face. Though he had not said a word, it was clear that his anger had not subsided.
"Ruler, please have some tea."
After the servant retreated after serving up tea, the Old Patriarch gestured invitingly, before he down on the secondary seat with Feng Xiao standing beside him, his head lowered.
Murong Bo glanced at the two men and with the expression on his face lightening, he picked up cup of tea and scraped back the tea leaves with its lid to take a sip before he said in a deep tone: "Speak! What is it about those three Heavenly thunderbolts?"
However, after he posed the question, he was met with a bout of silence in response. His brows pinched up as he drank his tea, his gaze turning upon Old Patriarch Feng, his eyes showing clear displeasure: "What? You can't tell me?"
The seated Old Patriarch Feng let out a soft sigh and said apologetically: "Ruler, this is a matter that really cannot be told as this old man doesn't even know how to put it in words."
Hearing that, Murng Bo's lightened expression darkened once again, his gaze turning sharp and imposing as it swept over the figures of Old Patriarch Feng and Feng Xiao.
"To have drawn down lightning from the Heavens, could the two of you be thinking that it is matter of little significance? For one's cultivation to draw down the Heavenly thunderbolt, one would need to attain the Martial Emperor level before that will happen. Now that the Feng Residence drew down three strikes of the Heavenly thunderbolt which alarmed the entire Cloudy Moon City. So, shouldn't an explanation be given to your liege?"
'I wonder what kind of an explanation does the Ruler want from us?"
A light leisurely voice tinged with an ounce of indifference reached them, alleviating the tense atmosphere within the main hall.
Murong Bo looked over towards the source of the voice and saw Feng Qing Ge dressed in full white walking in with graceful steps, an air of pure elegance around her, her countenance exquisitely beautiful, thinking that it was little wonder that his most outstanding son's heart had fallen for her.
Old Patriarch Feng saw her appear and did not say another word but just sat there with his eyes lowered to sip at his tea, seeming to hand the floor entirely over to Feng Jiu, for her to deal with the situation.
Seeing that, Feng Xiao's lips moved, but did not speak and just imitated his father to play dead.
Walking slowly into the main hall, Feng Jiu perfunctorily offered up a bow and then stood there quietly to look at the seated Murong Bo who had occupied the family host's main seat.
It might be because he had always assumed the superior position for so long, and had too often always taken the lead over things, and was too used to using an ordering tone to relay his wishes. Like this matter about her having drawn down the three Heavenly thunderbolts. If it had been anyone else, no one would dare to question them about it at all, as it was the Feng Residence's own business. If they chose to not say anything, who could do anything about it?
When Murong Bo heard her words, his brows knitted up and he said in a deep voice: "What do you mean by that? Your liege came here because of the three Heavenly thunderbolts and you will just need to tell your liege truthfully, how those three Heavenly thunderbolts came about and that will do! There's no need to utter so much garbage!"
Feng Jiu smiled and then asked: "Dare I ask the Ruler, it's just three thunderclaps that sounded on this day. Why is it made out as if it's something so serious? Those three thunderclaps did not kill anyone, nor did it cause the mountains or lands to split. Having just three thunderclaps sound out in our Feng Residence's backyard and the Feng Residence is now expected to give an explanation? What kind of an explanation should we give?"
Chapter 300: Leave With An Angry Flick Of The Sleeves
Hearing that, Murong Bo's sharp gaze turned chill as it swept over her before turning to look at Feng Xiao where he said with a deep bellow: "Feng Xiao!"
That call of Feng Xiao was imbued with the dominance of a powerful pugilist and delivered with a conqueror's vigor, feeling as if the moment his voice sounded, a visible surge of mystical Qi swept through the hall, exceptionally oppressive, which made Feng Xiao who had been trying his hardest to minimize his presence to have no choice but to come walking forward.
"Your vassal's present."
Murong Bo was not able to blow his top at Old Patriarch Feng as he was the Feng Residence's Old Patriarch. Even though he was the Ruler of the country, he had to abide by the ancient teachings of deferring a certain level of respect as Old Patriarch Feng was an elder that was of his father's generation and hence if he was to throw a rage, he could not direct the rage upon the old man.
As for Feng Qing Ge, she was merely Feng Xiao's daughter, and the Feng Residence's Eldest Miss. Firstly, she was not his subordinate, and secondly, neither was she his daughter in law. Moreover, she was from the junior generation so instead of getting angry with her, he would very much rather question Feng Xiao directly.
He glanced at Feng Xiao who was bowing respectfully and he went on to directly ask: "What is going on with those three Heavenly thunderbolts?"
"About that….."
Feng Xiao raised his head and glanced up at Murong Bo before he shook his head in bewilderment. "Your vassal does not know what happened."
He really did not know. When he ran out upon hearing the thunderbolt, he immediately heard the Old Patriarch's orders. So how could he know what was going on with the Heavenly thunderbolt?
But, it was still his Family Clan's affair afterall and it must have something to do with his daughter. Hence, even if he knew, he would still have to say he did not not anything.
His belly already brewing with rage, when Murong Bo heard that answer, he immediately placed the teacup he held in his hand heavily down onto the table and shot to his feet. His face dark, he then flicked his sleeves before he left, without saying another word.
His unexpected actions caused the three people in the hall to be slightly taken aback, but they did not say anything as they watched his leave.
"Qing Ge, what exactly happened? What are you fiddling around with in that room? How did it draw lightning down from the Heavens?" Feng Xiao asked, a few vague guess in mind but he could not be certain.
There were only three situations that would draw a thunderbolt down from the Heavens. The first instance being when exceptional treasures descend from the Heavens, the second would be when one's cultivation advanced in their levels, and the third was when cultivated elixirs turned out to become very precious. But all three scenarios were just too incredible from his point of view and hence, his mind was one of bewilderment.
"Leng Shaung, guard the doors into the hall. Do not allow anyone to come close." Feng Jiu ordered.
"Yes." Leng Shuang answered from outside, taking up guard in front of the door.
Seeing that, Feng Xiao could not help but become excited as he looked at his daughter whose face was showing a joyous smile, feeling that the guess he held in his heart was about to be verified, and he was a little nervous, a little excited.
"Grandfather, Father, the two of you take a seat." Feng Jiu indicated as she pulled the slightly dazed Feng Xiao and pushed him down onto his seat. She then pulled a chair in for herself as she sat herself in between the two men. Next, she pulled a bottle out from the space and poured the pill inside out onto her palm.
"Look at this. This is the Transformation Pill. Five grain lines. This was what drew down the Heavenly thunderbolts."
Even having lived to such a ripe old age, this was the first time Old Patriarch Feng was seeing a pill with five grain lines, and it was refined by his very own granddaughter! At that moment, he was feeling as if the blood in his body was boiling, becoming so excited that his face flushed red, and his hands were shaking slightly.
"Good good good! Little Feng, you've really made Grandfather very proud!"
Comparing the two, the Old Patriarch was at least still able to speak. Feng Xiao was completely stunned into a daze, his mind gone blank. His eyes were staring wide as he felt a gush of blood shoot up into his head and the next moment, his entire person fell into a dead faint from over excitement.
Feng Jiu cried out in shock: "Father?"