Chapter 280

Chapter 280: Awaken the Feng Clan

Compared to Qiu Zhang, the Soul Beast’s injuries were less severe. As a beast of the Nether Realm, the dark energy had little effect on it. Though it had gorged on countless souls, it merely suffered from overeating. The real cause of its unconsciousness was the lightning strike from the Lightning Feather. Lightning naturally counters souls and ghost cultivators. Combined with the effects of "Momentary Retention," it became trapped.

Feng Rong aided its recovery several times. With Yuan Qi’s Soul Nurturing array, the beast healed within days. You You then learned what occurred that day.

As suspected, the Soul Beast had been dragged into that space by the city’s dark energy. Sensing something amiss, it initially didn’t resist—until encountering the Lightning Feather that trapped it.

“Forgetting Formation… in the city,” the Soul Beast stammered urgently. “Lightning Feather awakened… ‘Momentary Retention’!”

“Forgetting Formation?!” Feng Rong’s eyes widened. “You mean the ghosts linger because of that formation?”

The Soul Beast nodded. Yuan Qi frowned. “But the Forgetting Formation is a Divine Formation. We detected no trace of it in the city.”

“The city gate!” You You blurted, recalling her earlier unease there. “The formation must be hidden inside the gate!”

“So that’s why Qiu Zhang forgot escaping to the marsh,” Feng Rong realized. The Forgetting Formation muddled ghostly memories—a soul-control tactic. During their visit, the bustling city’s ghosts avoided the gates, restrained by the formation. As a ghost cultivator with a residual soul, Qiu Zhang triggered the formation upon exiting, landing in that space before washing up in the marsh—his memories erased.

“What’s the link between the Lightning Feather and ‘Momentary Retention’?” You You pressed.

“‘Momentary Retention’ belongs to the Yin volume… Only the Nether King controls it fully!” the beast explained. “Lightning Feather bound it… made ghost city!”

Three faces darkened.

“Impossible!” Feng Rong objected. “Lightning Feathers are Feng Clan royal relics! How could they create a ghost city? Only three fire phoenixes remain—none wield lightning—” He froze mid-sentence. You You and Yuan Qi stiffened simultaneously—remembering Qin Hong’s Lightning Feather during her coma.

“Another phoenix family?” You You eyed Feng Rong. “An unfriendly Thunder Phoenix?”

Feng Rong’s expression soured. Yuan Qi interjected, “Not necessarily. Each phoenix has one true feather. Multiple Feng Clan members couldn’t stay hidden—we’d sense them through our Divine Bloodline.”

You You nodded. The Feng and Long families’ longevity stemmed from Ancient Times bloodlines. Even one hidden clansman would be detectable.

“So someone planted the Lightning Feather deliberately?”

“Likely,” Yuan Qi agreed. “But who?”

The mystery remained unsolved. Regardless, they needed answers.

“I’ll have Ling Qi investigate,” You You decided. “With the Yin volume’s ‘No’ section found and injuries stabilized, let’s test awakening more Feng Clan members at the Sacred Tree space.”

Yuan Qi nodded. “I’ll inform the elders. Meet at the teleportation array.” He departed.

You You told the Soul Beast to rest, contact its negligent Messenger of the Underworld about workplace injuries, and keep Wen Ze the little monster from squabbling. Patting its head, she left.

Exiting, she noticed Feng Rong lingering behind.

“Feng Rong, come on.” She instinctively grabbed his hand, tugging him toward Second Peak’s teleportation array.

Near their destination, he abruptly halted, clutching her hand.

“What’s wrong?”

“You You…” He met her gaze, conflicted. “If another Feng Clan member planted that feather…”

Born recently as the last phoenix, he’d never known clansmen. His legacy demanded saving them—but what if their slumber wasn’t accidental? What if they’d caused harm?

“Worried?” She squeezed his hand. “We can postpone—”

“Sect Master You You!” Rong Mu materialized, seizing her from Feng Rong. “My grandson says you’ll awaken our clan! Worthy of being my daughter-in-law!”

“Mother!” Feng Rong glared at his empty palm. “It’s just an attempt.”

“It’ll work!” Rong Mu insisted. “Last time she woke us instantly! How many will rise now?”

“True!” Rong Fu added. “Our Feng Er’s temper is awful—stubborn, clingy, fiery—but he chose well!”

“Our clan’s divine treasures weren’t wasted!”

“Feng Er’s the lucky one!”

“If only he’d call me grandma…”

“Grandparents works too!”

You You: “…”

Feng Rong: “…” *Since when am I adopted?*

Yuan Qi: “…” *I’m still present.*