After hearing the City Lord's reply, Xu Tianyi spoke indifferently,
"Tell me, is there someone named Mu Qing who works as a steward in the City Lord Mansion?"
The City Lord was momentarily startled, then quickly nodded.
"Yes, Senior. Mu Qing is indeed one of the stewards under my command. She is responsible for managing the city's administrative affairs. Could she be the one you are searching for?"
"She is," Xu Tianyi's golden eyes flickered faintly. "Please summon her. I wish to meet her."
"As you command!" The City Lord bowed respectfully, then turned toward the door and ordered the servant outside,
"Go and summon Steward Mu Qing at once. Tell her to come meet me immediately."
The servant hurried away.
---
Mu Qing's POV
At that moment, Mu Qing was busy reviewing reports within the City Lord Mansion. As one of the senior stewards, she was responsible for managing most of the city's administrative matters. The City Lord rarely interfered unless it was a major issue; most of the daily affairs were handled by her and the other stewards.
Just as she was checking the latest documents, a servant ran in and said anxiously,
"Steward Mu, the City Lord has ordered you to meet him immediately!"
Mu Qing was slightly startled. "The City Lord? Did something happen?"
She quickly put away the scrolls and rose from her seat. While walking toward the appointed place, her mind raced.
Did I make a mistake somewhere? Or did something go wrong in the outer districts?
Before long, she arrived before a private guest room, following the servant's lead. Her brows furrowed slightly. The City Lord usually summoned his stewards to the main hall, Calling her to a private guest chamber was… unusual.
Still, she dismissed her stray thoughts, straightened her robe and bowed respectfully at the door.
"Reporting to the City Lord, Mu Qing has arrived."
A calm voice came from within. "Enter."
She gently pushed the door open and Upon stepping inside, her steps faltered slightly.
The before her was the reason for this.
Inside the room, the City Lord — the same man renowned for slaying countless demon beasts, whose fierce aura always carried the weight of dominance — was standing respectfully beside a young man.
That young man dressed in flowing black and white robes had smooth black hair, white skin, and golden eyes that shimmered like molten sunlight. He sat leisurely on the couch, one hand resting on the armrest, watching her with mild curiosity and a trace of surprise.
For a brief instant, Mu Qing thought he was just an ordinary mortal. But when her gaze met his, her heart trembled violently.
In that moment, she felt as though she was standing before an ancient primordial dragon — a being so vast and boundless that her soul seemed completely transparent before him.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively lowered her head. Mu Qing felt as if the heavens peeled open. Her instincts screamed that nothing could be hidden from this man's eyes.
---
Xu Tianyi's POV
When Mu Qing entered the room, I wasn't expecting much. I didn't know anything about her beyond her name and position.
But the moment I saw her, I was genuinely surprised.
She had fiery red hair that cascaded over her shoulders and emerald-green eyes that shone with clarity. Her skin was fair and lightly flushed, giving her a natural glow. Her figure was voluptuous, carrying the mature charm of a woman in her prime.
If this were my first life, I mused inwardly, I'd probably be screaming "Mommy" in my head right about now.
Still, her beauty wasn't what shocked me most. What truly drew my attention was the faint Phoenix aura lingering around her — similar to the one I often felt from Feng Feng.
It was extremely thin, barely perceptible, yet the purity of that bloodline was astonishing — just a step short of true–spirit grade Phoenix lineage.
At this time, the City Lord stepped forward and introduced her respectfully,
"Senior, this is Steward Mu Qing. Is she the person you were seeking?"
I nodded slightly, my gaze fixed on her. "Your daughter's name… is it Mu Qingluan?"
Mu Qing, still confused, blinked and hesitated before replying,
"Yes, Senior. My daughter's name is Mu Qingluan. May I ask… who might you be? And what business do you have with us?"
The City Lord, with my silent permission, spoke in a reverent tone,
"Steward Mu, this is none other than Xu Tianyi, the Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect — the Absolute Sword True Monarch."
The moment she heard that name, Mu Qing's eyes widened. Her expression turned pale, and a wave of nervousness rippled through her.
She immediately bowed deeply, her tone filled with respect.
"This junior greets the True Monarch. If there is any way I or my daughter can be of service, please command me."
The City Lord then turned to me once more, awaiting instructions.
I met her gaze again, thoughtful.
"Leave us," I said to the City Lord. "I need to speak with her privately."
"Yes, Senior."
The City Lord bowed deeply and quietly exited, closing the door behind him.
---
Now, only Mu Qing and I remained in the room.
She stood nervously before me, hands clasped tightly, trying to maintain her composure. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in amusement at her expression.
A Nascent Soul cultivator staring down a Foundation Establishment woman made quite the pressure, it seemed. I decided to ease her nerves. "No need to be so tense," I said lightly.
She looked like she might cry at any moment — a mature woman acting like a flustered young maiden.
I found it rather funny, though I decided not to tease her too much. I didn't want her to faint on the spot.
Instead, I asked calmly,
"Tell me, do you possess any Phoenix-related bloodline or physique?"
She blinked, visibly confused, and after thinking for a moment, shook her head.
"I… don't believe so, Senior."
"I see." I leaned forward slightly, my gaze lingering on her. "Would you allow me to check your meridians using my spiritual Qi? This concerns your cultivation potential and future. I promise, it won't harm you."
For a moment, she hesitated — but only briefly. Then she nodded resolutely.
"If Senior wished to harm me, I doubt I would have even the chance to resist. Please… go ahead."
A cultivator of his level did not need physical contact to harm her—she understood that well.
She stepped closer, until only half a hand's distance separated us. Then she raised her wrist, offering it to me.
I gently grasped it.
A soft warmth pulsed beneath her skin. My spiritual energy flowed into her meridians, circulating through her body as my divine sense examined every channel and blood vessel carefully, examining every thread of energy flowing through her body.
After some time, I opened my eyes again, contemplative. "As I thought…" I spoke aloud.
Hidden deep within her bloodline was a faint trace of Heaven-grade Phoenix lineage — thin, but astonishingly pure.
With the right Phoenix-related treasures and cultivation breakthroughs, this bloodline could be strengthened.
If she advanced to the Core Formation Realm, she might even awaken a divine ability belonging to the Phoenix race.
I withdrew my hand slowly, my golden eyes narrowing in thought.
So that's it. No wonder her daughter, Mu Qingluan, in my past life possessed Phoenix-related abilities and a Luan bird companion… Her Dao title was the Azure Phoenix True Monarch — everything connects now.
When I opened my eyes, I met Mu Qing's expectant emerald gaze — filled with nervousness, hope, and a touch of awe.
I smiled faintly.
"You possess a trace of heaven-grade phoenix bloodline. It's faint but incredibly pure. With proper cultivation, it could awaken fully once you reach the Core Formation stage. You may even comprehend a divine ability of phoenix race if guided correctly."
Mu Qing's breath caught, a mixture of awe and disbelief flickering across her face.
"Mu Qing," I said softly, "would you be willing to become my maid?"
Her eyes widened, clearly stunned. But only for a moment.
Then, she immediately bowed deeply, voice trembling but filled with determination.
"It would be this Mu Qing's greatest honor to serve Senior!"
In the cultivation world, being a maid was hardly shameful — especially for someone like her. To serve a Nascent Soul True Monarch was a fortune beyond imagination. Even Core Formation cultivators would line up for such an opportunity.
To her, it wasn't humiliation.
For Mu Qing, this single meeting might change not only her fate, but her daughter's destiny as well.