Chapter 620: So This Is How It Is

“Hmm?” Luo Feng’s eyes lit up.

It seems that Marquis Yinxue, Ji Tianzang, had indeed good reasons for preventing Ji Qing from being with Big Brother.

“Sit!”

Marquis Yinxue gestured to a nearby seat.

Luo Feng nodded and sat down.

“Ji Qing,” Marquis Yinxue sat as well, pouring himself a cup of wine while speaking, “this child is the most outstanding descendant our Ji Clan has seen in countless eons. When I first met her and exchanged only a few sentences, I was delighted to discover her extraordinary talent.”

Luo Feng listened quietly.

“She is a genius, an unparalleled genius of our Ji Clan,” Marquis Yinxue smiled. “She follows the path of a mentalist illusionist.”

“Illusionist?” Luo Feng raised his eyebrows.

From the previous Genius Competition, where only Fantasymage Galesi stood out, one could see how incredibly difficult it is for illusionists to achieve greatness.

“Yes, an extremely gifted illusionist, so she was recruited into the core of the Cosmic Mercenaries Alliance,” Marquis Yinxue continued smiling. “You should understand that those who achieve remarkable feats in illusion must have profound insights into human nature.”

Luo Feng nodded.

To become a powerful illusionist requires extremely high standards—profound understanding of human nature, desires, and more.

“Ji Qing, such a genius who sees through human nature and desires clearly, is someone I don’t need to worry about,” Marquis Yinxue chuckled. “I trust her completely with whatever she does! And in the cosmos… love and affection are common; it’s perfectly normal for powerful beings to have thousands of partners. A powerful man can have countless women, a powerful woman countless men. By my nature, even if Ji Qing and Hong were mutually fond of each other, or even if she had a thousand lovers, I wouldn’t care much.”

Luo Feng looked puzzled at Marquis Yinxue.

What did he mean by that?

If he didn’t care, why stop Ji Qing and Hong?

“It’s not me who opposes Ji Qing and Hong,” Marquis Yinxue looked seriously at Luo Feng. “It’s her teacher—the Illusion Sovereign!”

“Her teacher?” Luo Feng was surprised. “Illusion Sovereign—is she the great being of the Chimei Clan—the Illusion Sovereign?”

“Yes.”

Marquis Yinxue nodded solemnly.

Luo Feng’s heart sank.

While following Master Zhenyan, he had heard about some extremely powerful figures. Tianyu King was one, and Illusion Sovereign was another.

Illusion Sovereign was a member of the Cosmic Mercenaries Alliance, one of the most terrifying among the Immortal Kings. Though she had only passed the nineteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge, seemingly a tier below Zhenyan King and Tianyu King in comprehension of cosmic laws, she was an incredibly mysterious illusionist…

Thus, among the Immortal Kings, Illusion Sovereign was one of the most fearsome.

Once attacked by her, one might unknowingly fall into an illusion and perish.

Even more formidable were her servants—

She had eighty-one immortal servants under her control, seventy-nine of whom were Marquis-level Immortals, and two Immortal Kings.

This level of control surpassed even that of the master of Yimo Star, Master Huyan Bo.

When Luo Feng first heard these stories, he was deeply shaken… it was just too impressive. Eighty-one immortal servants? And two Immortal Kings? It was known that Master Zhenyan had trained many disciples, yet only one had become an Immortal King.

“Illusion Sovereign holds an extremely revered position,” Luo Feng frowned. “Even if Ji Qing is her disciple, why would she interfere so much? Does becoming her disciple mean one can’t fall in love?”

“That’s exactly the case.”

Marquis Yinxue shook his head in lament. “Luo Feng, do you know if you’ve ever collected information on Illusion Sovereign’s disciples? She has a total of nineteen disciples—seven men and twelve women. Some of them have lived for extremely long periods, even over countless eons. But they all share one commonality—”

“Commonality?” Luo Feng grew more puzzled.

“They all have no partners!” Marquis Yinxue said gravely.

“Huh?” Luo Feng was startled.

Across the vast cosmos, even someone who has given up on love might still find someone to cherish in the endless universe.

So for all nineteen disciples to have no partners was indeed strange.

“When Illusion Sovereign learned of Ji Qing and Hong’s relationship through some channel, she was furious and came directly to ask me,” Marquis Yinxue continued solemnly. “She asked… whether Qingqing had engaged in any intimate relations. Through my spiritual sense, I could feel that Qingqing’s life force was still pure and untouched. Upon learning this, Illusion Sovereign calmed down but sternly ordered me to prevent Qingqing and Hong from being together, or else she would have to expel Qingqing and no longer accept her as a disciple.”

Luo Feng finally understood.

Marquis Yinxue looked at Luo Feng and sighed softly. “You should now understand why I intervened—not because I wanted to, but because Illusion Sovereign demanded it. Having a peerless genius is not enough; one must also have an excellent teacher. This is the most outstanding genius our Ji Clan has produced in countless years. How could I let her be expelled by Illusion Sovereign?”

Luo Feng nodded.

Marquis Yinxue’s reasoning was easy to understand.

It is extremely rare to be accepted as a disciple by a great being. For example, among the thousand participants of that Genius Competition, fewer than ten were accepted by Immortal Kings. Even fewer could be accepted by those who stood among the greatest Immortal Kings—it required extraordinary fortune.

“Why would this be the case? Illusion Sovereign is just taking on disciples, why interfere with their romantic affairs?” Luo Feng frowned.

“I don’t know the exact reason,” Marquis Yinxue shook his head. “I only know… Illusion Sovereign does not allow her disciples to engage in romantic relationships, or she will expel them.”

“This…”

Luo Feng felt troubled.

What should be done now?

Illusion Sovereign!

She was a being nearly equal to Tianyu King and Zhenyan King. Luo Feng glanced around the hall. These Immortal Lords present held high positions in the Qianwu Cosmic Empire, but none of them were Immortal Kings. Illusion Sovereign had two Immortal Kings among her immortal servants!

Illusion Sovereign could easily disregard everyone present.

“My status is nothing before Illusion Sovereign. Even my Master… might be able to stand on equal footing with her, but couldn’t make her yield,” Luo Feng thought to himself.

Zhenyan King and Illusion Sovereign were equals in strength and belonged to different factions.

Illusion Sovereign had no reason to yield to Zhenyan King.

“Marquis Yinxue, is there any way?” Luo Feng asked.

“I have no way,” Marquis Yinxue shook his head. “Illusion Sovereign wouldn’t even acknowledge me.”

Luo Feng frowned deeply.

“If your Master, Zhenyan King, intervenes, there might be a slight chance,” Marquis Yinxue suddenly suggested.

Luo Feng looked at Marquis Yinxue. He didn’t want to trouble his Master with such a matter.

“I’ve already told you the detailed reasons. I can’t do anything else, but I must tell you—Qingqing’s acceptance as a disciple under Illusion Sovereign is an opportunity one can only dream of. I absolutely will not allow her to be expelled,” Marquis Yinxue looked at Luo Feng.

…

In the main banquet hall.

The great beings of the Qianwu Cosmic Empire chatted in small groups. In a corner of the hall… Hong, Boshika, Luo, and Dylan stood together.

“I wonder how my Younger Brother is doing,” Hong looked into the distance, where Luo Feng and Marquis Yinxue were conversing.

“Don’t rush.”

Luo, with his white hair, smiled. “Prince Luo Feng holds a special position, backed by the three powerhouses of the Qianwu Branch. Even Marquis Yinxue must show him respect.”

“He can ignore my respect, but he dares not ignore Prince Luo Feng’s,” Boshika, the tall, thin man with a head full of bumps, also smiled.

“Hmph!”

Dylan, the bald man in black robes, snorted lightly. “Most of the Immortal Lords in this banquet hall have many immortal subordinates, but none would dare to disrespect the Prince.”

Hong nodded slightly, watching Luo Feng and Marquis Yinxue in the distance.

Moments later—

Luo Feng and Marquis Yinxue finished their conversation and Luo Feng turned directly toward Hong.

“Little Brother,” Hong stepped forward.

“Big Brother,” Luo Feng approached, his expression complex.

Seeing Luo Feng’s expression, Hong felt a sense of foreboding.

“What’s wrong?” Hong lowered his voice.

“Big Brother,” Luo Feng found it hard to speak. “The truth is, it’s not Marquis Yinxue who truly opposes you and Ji Qing—it’s Illusion Sovereign. And this Illusion Sovereign…”

Luo Feng proceeded to describe her terrifying nature.

Boshika, Luo, and Dylan listened nearby.

“That’s the situation,” Luo Feng looked at Hong.

“Behind it all is Illusion Sovereign,” Boshika’s expression changed.

“Illusion Sovereign is extremely difficult to deal with,” Dylan frowned. “Even if my Master intervened, it might be useless unless my Grandmaster stepped in… perhaps then there would be a chance.”

Luo, with his white hair, looked at Hong solemnly. “Disciple… since it’s Illusion Sovereign who opposes you, and all her disciples are single, it’s clear she will never easily change her rules. In my opinion… you should give up.”

Hong stood silently.

“Give it up. Why cling to a woman,” Boshika also advised. “Once you see through it, it’s nothing.”

“Some things can be abandoned, but some must be upheld,” Hong smiled faintly, looking at Luo and Boshika. “Master, Senior Boshika… I will never give up easily.”

“Little Brother,” Hong turned to Luo Feng.

“Whatever you need me to do, just say it,” Luo Feng looked at his Big Brother.

“This has indeed troubled you. Otherwise, I might never have known the reason,” Hong shook his head with a smile. “Now, there’s one last thing I need your help with.”

“Big Brother, just say it. You and I came out from Earth together—we’re brothers in life and death. No need for more words,” Luo Feng looked at Hong.

“I want…”

Hong looked at Luo Feng. “To meet Illusion Sovereign—just once!”

Luo Feng, Dylan, Boshika, and Luo were all startled.