CHAPTER 746: CHAPTER 613: INVITATION TO THE WORLD’S FIRST REFINING FINALISTS

Feng Lan detected the sarcasm in Earth Venerate’s words and raised an eyebrow.

"Do you hate Your Majesty?"

It was not just hate, it was outright loathing.

That woman was the source of her agony for the past decade.

But such things Earth Venerate would not reveal to Feng Lan, who probably wouldn’t believe it anyway.

In Feng Lan’s current memories, Empress Qingshuang had always been wise, proper, and empathetic.

Earth Venerate couldn’t be bothered to say more and shrugged off her fox fur cloak, tossing it back to Feng Lan.

"Or is it that the person you hate is me?" Feng Lan got somewhat irritated, threw the fox fur on the ground, and grabbed Earth Venerate’s hand. "Why do you hate me so much? Have we met before?"

Feng Lan indeed planned to depart tomorrow, but before leaving, he wanted some clarity.

This mention of ’meeting before’ touched Earth Venerate’s sensitive nerve.

She shook off Feng Lan’s hand at once.

"We don’t know each other, not in the past, not now, and let’s not know each other in the future. Feng Lan, you’re always so presumptuous. What makes you think that I would hate you? We’re merely strangers who crossed paths; you don’t even know my name!"

With that, she stamped her foot and turned away so that Feng Lan couldn’t see the tears in her eyes.

He didn’t even know her name.

Indeed, he didn’t even know her name.

He was, to his own surprise, concerned about the name of a woman whose name he didn’t know.

But at that moment, he didn’t even have the courage to ask.

Feng Lan stood in the courtyard, dazed, for an entire night.

At dawn, Feng Lan set off to return to Beiqing.

Only Feng Xun came to see him off.

"I’ll come back for the Phoenix Token sooner or later." Feng Lan looked at Feng Xun and suddenly realized that there were traces of Qing Feng in his features.

"Be careful of that woman from Emperor Beiqing," Feng Xun suddenly said, just as Feng Lan spurred his horse to leave.

Feng Lan tightened his grip on the reins without responding, spurred the horse, and quickly disappeared out of sight.

Feng Lan turned around to see someone emerge at the city gate.

"If you’ve come, why not join the farewell?" Feng Xun smiled upon seeing the person.

"An ugly bride is not favored by her father-in-law; she can only hide away." Ye Lingyue winked at Feng Xun. "I came to tell you that Earth Venerate’s face is almost healed. Too bad, Feng Lan is gone."

Ye Lingyue was anxious seeing Earth Venerate and Feng Lan interact like a frog being boiled in warm water.

Too bad Feng Xun wouldn’t let her intervene.

"It’s only the person who left; as long as the heart remains, there will always be a return. My only concern is that the Empress won’t let things go so easily."

Empress Qing Shuang had been coveting him for years and probably couldn’t wait any longer, now that he was right under her nose.

"And yet you’re letting him go back?"

Ye Lingyue pouted.

"Just like you said, a gradual boiling of a frog. Half-dead and half-alive isn’t good, better to stoke the fire. We juniors can’t be that fire; we can only trouble others to do so."

Feng Xun pinched Ye Lingyue’s nose.

Ye Lingyue dodged Feng Xun’s hand, grumbling.

"Feng Xun, why do I feel like you’re using others to do your dirty work? Feng Xun, that’s very sly of you."

"Being close to ink, one will turn black. My lady has taught well," Feng Xun smirked smilingly.

Ye Lingyue had an embarrassed smile, it seems someone’s craftiness is innate.

Behind them, a burst of hoofbeats.

Could it be that Feng Lan had come back?

Ye Lingyue and Feng Xun turned around, only to see an unfamiliar face jumping into view. It wasn’t Feng Lan, but a travel-weary foreigner.

Seeing the visitor, Ye Lingyue’s expression grew solemn, she shielded Feng Xun behind her, a face full of vigilance.

In the cold winter, this person was just wearing a thin coat, with the character "Southern" on the black clothes.

This person had a square face and a purple complexion, the steed he rode was spiritedly different from ordinary horses, hairless across its back and covered with dense scales.

In Ye Lingyue’s mind, she thought of a Spiritual Beast, the Ninth-grade Spiritual Beast Dragon Scale Horse.

With Ye Lingyue’s discerning eyes, she looked at the visitor’s strength and surprisingly couldn’t see through it.

"I am a messenger from Sifang City, here to deliver the Four Directions Token. May I ask where is the city lord of this city?" The man spoke from a commanding height, clearly not taking Ye Lingyue seriously.

Sifang City?

Ye Lingyue was at first surprised, then something came to mind.

Could it be the Sifang City hosting the World’s First Refining?

It is said that the Sifang City Lord has four envoys under his command, namely the Four Great Ambassadors of the four directions east, west, south, and north. By the looks of it, this person seems to be the Southern Envoy from Sifang City.

"I am Ye Lingyue, the city lord of Mercenary City. May I know what brings you here?" Ye Lingyue spoke with neither arrogance nor humility.

Truly the Southern Envoy, upon hearing that Ye Lingyue was the city lord, a flicker of astonishment crossed his face. He did not expect the vast Mercenary City’s city lord to be this beautiful young girl of fourteen or fifteen.

The Southern Envoy hesitated over Ye Lingyue’s identity.

Unbeknownst to him at this moment, a gaze shot out from behind Ye Lingyue.

The Southern Envoy couldn’t help but turn to look. With one glance, the Southern Envoy felt his limbs stiffen as a chill shot up from his feet.

It was an exceedingly handsome man drawing sideways glances, standing behind the self-proclaimed city lord Ye Lingyue. Naturally, the Southern Envoy assumed he was Ye Lingyue’s guard.

With a guard like this, Ye Lingyue’s identity was self-evident.

The Southern Envoy hurriedly dismounted, cupped his fists, and said respectfully.

"My apologies for the offense. I am here on the Sifang City Lord’s order to invite Miss Hei Yue, the Artifact Refining Master, and Young Master Hei Xiaoling to attend the final selection of the World’s First Refining." Having said this, the Southern Envoy took out two tokens with "Four Directions Token" etched on them, representing the symbolic Four Directions Token of Sifang City.

Hei Yue? Hei Xiaoling?

Ye Lingyue was puzzled, wasn’t Hei Yue herself?

As for Hei Xiaoling, what on earth is that?

Feng Xun quietly reminded behind her.

"Hei Xiaoling is the younger brother of Hei Yue, the siblings were separated for many years and have just recognized each other not long ago. You must have been too busy lately, city lord, and have forgotten."

With Feng Xun’s words, Ye Lingyue instantly came to her senses.

Turns out Long Baobao had used the alias Hei Xiaoling to participate in the World’s First Refining. But when did she participate as well?

Ye Lingyue brought the Southern Envoy back to the City Lord’s Mansion, and when she learned that Long Baobao’s Spiritual Artifact had been selected for the final selection, both Yan Jiu and Long Baobao were very surprised.

It wasn’t until Long Baobao told her that Ye Lingyue belatedly realized her own Life Qiankun Bag had been taken by Long Baobao to participate in the World’s First Refining under the name "Hei Yue."

"Sister Yue, this is great! This way, we can go to Sifang City together to participate in the final selection." Long Baobao was extremely excited, tugging at Ye Lingyue’s hand. This was the best New Year’s present he’d received.

On the side, the Southern Envoy was puzzled, how did this female city lord become Hei Yue?

Feng Xun watched from the sidelines without making a sound, and finally asked a question.

"May I ask the Southern Envoy, can the participants of this final selection bring their family members?"