Chapter 698: Becoming Human (Part 2)
Xiang Beifei was greatly disappointed!
"What's wrong with being a guy? If you're unhappy with someone, just grab a stick and beat them up! Isn't that good?"
Erha's voice hadn't changed much either, still carrying that lazy tone.
Xiang Beifei: "..."
"Haven't you noticed that among the Four Kings of the Edge Corner Airspace, masculinity overwhelms femininity?" Xiang Beifei said.
Xiaohei and Erha both turned their eyes to Youmong.
Youmong was curiously touching Xiaohei's chubby cheeks and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed when everyone looked over.
Xiang Beifei also stared at Youmong and said, "Youmong, tell me, you're a girl!"
He had never paid attention to this before since Youmong was just a mascot, sleeping in his pocket every day. He never expected Youmong to do anything.
Youmong rolled his eyes and said, "Youyou."
"Huh? Is that how tree people are?" Xiang Beifei said, half-laughing, half-crying.
Mu Youmeng is a bit special. Before reaching adulthood, there's no differentiation between male and female. It is only upon reaching adulthood that a direction gets determined.
It's said that their coming-of-age ceremony requires fighting: those with combat talent become males, and those without become females.
This is different from humans. After all, back in Jiuzhou, the Martial Arts College had a bunch of powerful girls with a knack for fighting.
"With your poor combat ability, you should just be a girl in the future!"
Erha nonchalantly picked up Youmong.
Youmong wasn't pleased, baring his teeth and punching with his little fists, hitting Erha twice.
He was determined to seek revenge, never slacking off from training, and following Xiang Beifei. His current strength had already reached the orifice transforming phase!
"I'm not even an adult yet, what's the hurry."
Xiang Beifei patted Youmong on the head, then looking at the humanized Xiaohei and Erha, he couldn't help but ponder.
Xiaohei was a perfectly human little boy, while Erha, with his green, shaggy hair, looked like a delinquent teenager.
"Your horn is way too obvious. People can tell at a glance that you're not from the Immortal Realm," Xiang Beifei said.
"Then I'll shrink my horn a bit."
Erha tried hard to shrink his horn, but he couldn't completely retract it.
"Never mind, I'll wear a hat. I look cooler with a hat like this."
Erha cheerfully waved his hand, a leaf floating out of the air, transforming into a green baseball cap, which he put on his head.
"Do you really have to wear a green hat?" Xiang Beifei asked in shock.
"What's wrong with a green hat? I like green. Just look at my head, the vibrant green is so energetic."
Erha twirled his green hat, tilting the brim to the back, looking quite pleased with himself.
Xiang Beifei: "..."
Erha not only wore a green hat, but also green pants, green clothes, green wristbands, and green shoes. He was green from head to toe, which was quite striking.
Xiang Beifei couldn't be bothered with Erha's preferences, thinking that one more person added another force for causing trouble.
They were preparing to form the Four Kings of the Broken Dao Race of Edge Corner Airspace and give Dao Palace a run for their money.
——
——
When Ge Hengzi arrived in Chi Mu City, it was already too late. The battle stage had long been dismissed, and the audience had mostly left. The entire city was left with only the legend of the "Broken Pot Brothers" but none of their traces.
He looked visibly upset, knowing he had missed the Broken Dao Race yet again.
"Broken Pot!"
Ge Hengzi stared at the person on the battle stage.
The Dao Palace battle stage used powerful formations to record the battles of Earth Ranking geniuses. As long as you fought on the stage, every move would be captured by the formation.
"Broken Pot's" appearance was no exception!
This young man, aside from being a bit handsome, had nothing special about him.
Ge Hengzi memorized "Broken Pot's" appearance carefully, certain that this was the real appearance of "Broken Pot" because the formations on the Dao Palace stage were very powerful, capable of stripping away any disguise and revealing the essence clearly.
To be sure, he even drew the appearance to confirm it with others, finding that what the formation displayed matched what others saw.
In other words, Broken Pot hadn't intentionally disguised himself!
This was the first time in two months that they had recorded a member of the Broken Dao Race, making it a very precious clue.
"Did he not come here to register after defeating Guan Wanli?" Ge Hengzi inquired of the steward from the Dao Palace of Chi Mu City.
"Replying to the Honorable Dao Envoy, he did not. Neither Broken Pot nor Broken Handle came to register, nor have they come to claim their breath soil rewards." The steward replied respectfully.
"Without registering, how did their names appear on the Earth Ranking?"
Ge Hengzi astutely grasped this key point.
He was more than clear on the rules of the Earth Ranking; if someone defeated a genius listed for the first time, the Dao Palace mark would register the opponent's cultivation and age first. Once it was confirmed that the opponent met the requirements, the Dao Palace mark would then attach to the person's wrist.
The Earth Ranking can only be altered after registration.
"If Broken Pot first defeated Xu Jue, the Earth Ranking list shouldn't change so quickly under normal circumstances. Xu Jue was staying in Chi Mu City to defend his rank, which means Broken Pot would have to come to Chi Mu City to register before he could replace Xu Jue's rank. How could you not know?" Ge Hengzi asked sternly.
The steward was startled and quickly said: "Replying to the Honorable Dao Envoy, really, they didn't. Broken Pot and Broken Handle did not register in Chi Mu City."
"If they didn't register here, how could the ranking list change so quickly?" Ge Hengzi rebuked.
The steward, sweating profusely, said: "Dao, Honorable Dao Envoy, it's possible Broken Pot and Broken Handle registered in another city. You know there is a situation where if a newcomer, before being ranked, already has a name recorded in the Dao Palace, then he doesn't need to register; the Earth Ranking will change directly."
Ge Hengzi snorted coldly and said: "No matter what, issue a notice to all city stewards: if any of 'Ragged,' 'Broken Hat,' 'Broken Pot,' or 'Broken Handle' come to exchange breath soil, they must report to headquarters first. Do not hand out the breath soil casually; keep them steady first!"
"Yes." The steward promptly agreed.
Ge Hengzi snorted coldly and left Chi Mu City.
He had already determined his next destination!
——
Crane Dao Courtyard.
Xiang Beifei returned before He Qing. He was ardently assisting He Yunfang in the renovations of the Crane Dao Courtyard.
"Young Master Xiang, you once gave us the Dao Stone, and now you bring me breath soil; I am quite ill-at-ease." He Yunfang said.
Last time, to buy the Dao Stone, they dismantled parts of the Crane Dao Courtyard, and recently, the courtyard's Formation had issues, destroying several buildings. Fortunately, Xiang Beifei stepped in and restored the Formation to its original condition.
"No need to be polite, it's a small matter." Xiang Beifei waved his hand and asked: "How is the comprehension of the Dao Stone going?"
He Yunfang laughed: "It's been immensely beneficial! Xiao Qing's experience is incredibly important to us."
"That's good."
Xiang Beifei followed He Yunfang into the hall of the Crane Dao Courtyard. He Yunfang poured Xiang Beifei a cup of tea, exemplifying courteousness.
"Daoist Xiang, you might also try perceiving this Dao intent; the Dao this senior cultivates is quite unique."
He Yunfang eagerly shared his comprehension of the Dao Stone with Xiang Beifei, who listened patiently, occasionally offering advice.
However, at that moment, he suddenly sensed something and slightly furrowed his brows.
"What's wrong?" He Yunfang asked, noticing Xiang Beifei's expression.
"Strange, we have a guest." Xiang Beifei said.
"A guest?"
He Yunfang was slightly puzzled; he didn't understand what Xiang Beifei meant.
Xiang Beifei gazed out the window. In the vast void, a very powerful aura was scanning the entire Crane Dao Courtyard.
This perceptive power was extremely covert yet strong, undetectable even to ordinary Immortal Realm cultivators.
This cultivation level was at least in the Inquiry Dao Realm!
Xiang Beifei's heart stirred with a subtle suspicion.
"Be careful, I reckon someone from the Dao Palace is here to investigate matters." Xiang Beifei said.
"The Dao Palace!"
He Yunfang was greatly shocked!
Their small Crane Dao Race had only moderate strength, with just one clan member on the Earth Ranking, placed near the bottom. They were hardly qualified to interact with the Dao Palace's upper echelon. How could someone from the Dao Palace arrive here?
"Are you sure it's someone from the Dao Palace?" He Yunfang asked.
"I must leave first. Be careful." Xiang Beifei said, and his aura instantly quelled, disappearing from the hall.
Almost right after Xiang Beifei left, a figure appeared in the hall, its presence elusive!
"Chief He, it's been a while!"
Ge Hengzi's voice resonated.
He Yunfang was caught off guard.