It was September. The crisp autumn breeze had driven away the sweltering heat of summer, leaving behind cool, pleasant weather perfect for traveling.
Tiandao Mountain, the main peak of the Tiandao Mountain Range, was also the tallest mountain in the cultivation world. Like a colossal sword, it pierced straight into the heavens.
According to legend, it was atop Tiandao Mountain that the Human Emperor discovered the Heavenly Dao Stele. He later placed it halfway up the mountain and, using the mountain as its foundation, established the Hundred Races Academy.
As the years passed, the entire Tiandao Mountain Range had become the territory of the Hundred Races Academy, with even the vast lands surrounding its foothills incorporated into its domain.
Although the Hundred Races Academy was not the strongest force in the cultivation world, when it came to influence, it stood in a league of its own. It truly embodied the saying: One signal arrow pierces the clouds, and an army of thousands comes to answer the call.
Many great clans and aristocratic families would send their children to spend several years at the Hundred Races Academy before having them participate in the entrance trials of the major sects, allowing them to build a reputation and forge valuable friendships.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Chu Feng looked up at Tiandao Mountain as it soared into the sky. Even after gathering multicolored spiritual light into his eyes, he still couldn’t see the summit. Thick layers of clouds completely obscured his view.
It was the first time he had ever seen such a magnificent mountain. There were no shortage of towering peaks in the cultivation world, but one this tall was truly rare. It reminded him of the line of poetry, “Tiantai rises forty-eight thousand zhang,” and he felt it couldn’t be more fitting.
“What are you looking at, little rascal?”
Su Tiantian smiled sweetly as she reached out and pinched Chu Feng’s cheek. It was soft and supple, almost like kneading a piece of clay.
“Sister Tiantian, how tall is this mountain?”
Chu Feng reached out and caught the delicate hand that was busy tormenting his cheek. If she kept kneading it like this, he’d have no choice but to admit that he really was the beloved pet of this group of older women.
“Tiandao Mountain? Even this Empress doesn’t know how tall it is. It’s said that the only ones who have ever reached the summit are the successive Human Emperors and the Demon Ancestor of the demon race.”
The previous Demon Emperor before Su Tiantian had also attempted to reach the peak, hoping to find an opportunity there to break through and become the next Demon Ancestor.
He had failed.
Great Emperors and Demon Ancestors were known as Pseudo-Immortals. Their strength had already reached the pinnacle; all that remained was to survive the heavenly tribulation. Once they did, they could ascend directly to immortality.
“Are you interested in the mountain, little one?”
Dressed in flowing white robes, Zi Xiner walked over, her entire presence exuding a holy, ethereal aura. She had changed out of her usual purple attire.
“A little.”
Chu Feng brushed a hand over his storage pouch.
To be more precise, it wasn’t he who was interested. It was the Human Emperor Sword. Ever since they had approached Tiandao Mountain, the sword inside his storage pouch had been trembling faintly without pause.
“Once you reach the Eighth Rank, little one, you’ll be eligible to apply to the Academy of the Hundred Races for permission to climb the mountain.”
Now it was Zi Xiner’s turn to pinch and knead Chu Feng’s soft cheek.
It was so plush that she couldn’t bring herself to stop.
Chu Feng wanted to lodge a serious protest, but with his cheek being squished, all that came out was a muffled, “Mmph… mmph!”
Watching the Holy Master’s actions from behind, Liu Shijing found herself tempted as well. She remembered that Xueyao also loved kneading the brat’s cheeks like this.
But there were too many people around at the moment.
She decided that later, when they were alone, she’d secretly give it a try herself.
Unlike her aunt, who was somewhat reserved, Liu Xueyao always acted immediately whenever she wanted something.
She walked straight over to her master. Seeing through her disciple’s intentions, Zi Xiner readily surrendered the privilege of kneading Chu Feng’s tender cheeks.
“W-Wait, Sister Holy Maiden, let me—mmph!”
Before Chu Feng could finish speaking, he was forcibly cut off.
Feeling the soft, squishy cheek in her hand, Liu Xueyao’s icy eyes glimmered with unmistakable delight.
Chu Feng felt like crying.
It really was just as the saying went: “If you don’t work hard, you’ll end up becoming a toy in the hands of older women…”
Watching her beloved little junior brother being passed around and having his cheeks pinched by one woman after another, Bai Yuyan couldn’t help but feel as though she had been made into the wronged wife right in front of everyone.
She wanted to lose her temper.
But considering the image she wanted to maintain in her little junior brother’s eyes, she forced herself to endure it.
Poor Chu Feng.
Just like that, he was completely at the mercy of the older women surrounding him.
At that moment, a hearty laugh rang out from the distance.
“Hahaha! The Holy Master of Yaochi and Her Majesty the Demon Empress have honored us with your presence. This old man failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive my discourtesy.”
An elderly man in yellow robes, with snow-white hair yet the youthful complexion of a child, slowly descended atop an enormous immortal crane.
Behind him followed a middle-aged man and a young man.
The elder was named Fen Yan, an Eighth-Rank cultivator. He had come specifically to receive Chu Feng’s group.
With a flick of his horsetail whisk, Fen Yan bowed respectfully to Zi Xiner and Su Tiantian.
The middle-aged man and the young man behind him also offered their greetings.
The young man’s gaze, however, settled on a certain youth.
At that very moment, the handsome young man was still being held in the embrace of the icy beauty, who continued happily kneading his cheeks.
A beauty who, if she appeared within the Academy, would undoubtedly cause a tremendous sensation.
Chu Feng naturally noticed the young man’s gaze as well. Seeing someone witness him in such a pitiful state, he hurriedly broke free from the Holy Maiden’s embrace.
Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, he backed straight into another soft, yielding bosom.
“Little rascal, this time I didn’t force you. You threw yourself right into this Empress’s arms.”
Su Tiantian flashed a mischievous smile.
Now it was her turn.
“Mmm…!”
Chu Feng was on the verge of shedding tears of humiliation.
A real man doesn’t cry easily. It’s only because the sorrow hasn’t reached its peak.
Fen Yan chuckled before looking toward the youth.
“This young man would be Elder Liu’s… Dao companion?”
He was completely confused.
Wasn’t he supposed to be Liu Shijing’s Dao companion? Then why was he currently nestled in the Demon Empress’s embrace?
Earlier, he’d seen the young man having his cheeks pinched by Liu Xueyao and hadn’t thought much of it. After all, she was Liu Shijing’s niece.
But how had he suddenly ended up in the Demon Empress’s arms?
“That’s right. This child is the son-in-law of our Yaochi Holy Land,” Zi Xiner said calmly.
Since the Holy Master of Yaochi herself had spoken, Fen Yan naturally had no reason to question it further.
With a flick of his horsetail whisk, the immortal crane lowered one of its wings to the ground, forming something like a boarding ramp.
“Holy Master,” Fen Yan said respectfully, “the Vice Dean has already prepared tea and has been awaiting your arrival for quite some time.”
“Very well. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her.”
Zi Xiner nodded before turning to Su Tiantian, her gaze seemingly asking whether she would like to come along as well.
Su Tiantian refused without the slightest hesitation.
“This Empress has no interest in getting involved in your human affairs.”
Why would she waste time meeting some human woman when she could be holding her little rascal instead? There was no way she was going.
Thus, Zi Xiner and Liu Shijing left first to meet the Vice Dean.
As for why Liu Shijing went along, it was because Xueyao had been putting far too much pressure on her. Whether through meaningful looks or voice transmissions, she kept urging her aunt to be more proactive in getting closer to the brat.
She was supposed to be the aunt.
Yet ever since confessing her feelings to him, she had somehow found herself losing more and more dignity in front of Xueyao.
“Hehe, then the three of you, please follow this old man.”
Fen Yan very gracefully ignored Chu Feng, who clearly possessed no human rights whatsoever.
Su Tiantian, Bai Yuyan, and Liu Xueyao stepped onto the immortal crane’s back at the same time with perfect unspoken coordination.
Chu Feng was sandwiched right in the middle of the three women.
On the surface, it looked as though they were protecting him with the utmost care.
In reality…
“W-Wait! It’s too cramped! And, Sister Tiantian… all of you, please stop touching me…”
Leave a Reply