Chapter 111: The Taiyuan Palace

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After the mysterious figure departed, Ji Feichen, under the guise of a wandering immortal, returned to the ancient battlefield in the southern frontier to meet with Yuan Chuping and another companion. The two of them hid in a secluded spot within the battlefield. When Ji Feichen arrived to join them, a red thread of calamity silk flew from Yuan Chuping’s body into the sky.

Above the heavens hung a diagram of the Clear and Turbid Taiji. Mortals might not understand it, but how could immortals and demons be ignorant? This Taiji diagram ensnared the karmic consequences of all immortals and demons in the world into its net. Except for wandering immortals following the ancient tradition, almost no one could escape it.

Ji Feichen thought to himself: Indeed, these two have already been caught up in this deadly calamity.

The aura of calamity entwined around them; once recorded by the Taiji diagram, one could not leave without fulfilling the quota of the killing calamity.

Yuan Chuping did not recognize Ji Feichen, as their first meeting was under Ji’s alias “Qinghong.” He eyed Feichen warily. “You’ve gone through the trouble to save me, but for what reason?”

Yuan’s face was haggard. Ji Feichen said to Tian Chengzi, “Senior brother, you leave first. I need to speak with him.”

Tian Chengzi, sensible and understanding that “the more one knows, the faster one dies,” quietly withdrew, leaving the two alone.

Ji Feichen transformed into the appearance of the wandering immortal Qinghong. “Does this make things clearer?”

Yuan Chuping, standing in the shimmering water light, held several jade-green pearls in his hands. “Is it you, senior?” He hesitated somewhat, recalling Ji Feichen’s earlier transformation into a demonic cultivator.

“In the ancient tradition, there is a distinction between the clear and the turbid. Although this turbid energy is perilous in its path to enlightenment, it is not necessarily an evil way. I entered the demonic path with the intention of establishing an orthodox lineage within it.”

Ji Feichen’s expression was filled with compassion, yet even he likely did not fully believe his own words. For Yuan Chuping, however, this explanation sufficed.

“So, senior, you wish to help me escape the demonic path?”

“Correct.” Ji Feichen studied Yuan Chuping closely. “But you have already entered the calamity—too late. Now the killing calamity has recorded you; you cannot escape this great calamity and must continue cultivating demonic arts.”

“I understand.” Yuan Chuping bitterly smiled. Since it was his own choice, he naturally had to bear the consequences.

Ji Feichen pondered briefly and produced the treasures recently obtained from the Blood Sea Earth Immortal.

Although this Earth Immortal was subdued by the mysterious figure’s words, his holdings were considerable. Besides his own Seven Killings Blood-Transforming Gourd, he possessed two magical demonic artifacts of treasure-grade quality and many elixirs and nectars.

The gourd exuded waves of bloody aura, surrounded by clouds of blood. Tian Chengzi, standing guard outside, seemed to sense something.

“This Seven Killings Blood-Transforming Gourd is an Earth Immortal’s treasure, imbued with spiritual essence. Although it was consecrated by the Earth Immortal as a life treasure, it lacks intelligence,” Ji Feichen explained as he handed the red-skinned gourd to Yuan Chuping. “Keep this gourd; you can consecrate it into your life treasure in the future.”

A life treasure contains the fundamental Dao of a cultivator. When the cultivator perishes, their life treasure usually shatters as well. This gourd already bore cracks, and its spiritual essence was fading, but after Yuan Chuping reaches the Dao fruit stage and replenishes it by infusing his own Dao, its power can be restored and it will regain the stature of an Earth Immortal’s treasure.

As for the other two demonic artifacts, Ji Feichen revealed his disgust. “I will use the Three Luminescent Divine Water to dissolve them later. Such repulsive things cannot be kept.”

Demonic artifacts are usually connected with blood sacrifices, a custom dating back to the ancient tribal era. The Yuan Dao Demonic Sect merges ancient Dao lineages, with witchcraft being a part of it.

The way of heaven worship and blood sacrifices, killing to offer life, is vividly manifested in the demonic path. The cannibalistic practices of the Six-Armed Demon Sect and the blood-infant ritual of the Black Holy Sect are related to this.

The two demonic treasures in Ji Feichen’s hands were: one, a whip forged from eight hundred mortal spines; the other, a demonic drum made from five hundred pieces of mortal chest skin.

He summoned three-colored water light, dissolving the demonic artifacts in an instant.

Then Ji Feichen collected the nectar jade stones and handed the Blood Sea-specific elixirs to Yuan Chuping.

“You will need to remain undercover in the Blood Sea for some time. Eventually, you will learn my name. But my identity is secret; you must not reveal it.”

Yuan Chuping carefully stored the bottles of Blood Spirit Pills, elixirs refined by the Blood Sea Earth Immortals specifically for disciples of the Blood Sea. For him, they would help avoid the necessity of consuming human blood later on.

“I understand,” Yuan Chuping swore, vowing not to leak Ji Feichen’s identity. “If I break this, may the Five Thunders strike me down!”

After settling Yuan Chuping, Ji Feichen went out to find Tian Chengzi.

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“I will help you two break the blood oath inside your bodies.”

Blood oaths are difficult to break, but the mysterious figure had informed Ji Feichen of the correct way to use the Nine Xiang Qiong Tree. He consecrated the Qiong Tree into a treasure, retrieved the branch embedded inside Yuan Chuping, and gently brushed the tree over both of them.

Seven-colored mists radiated from above their heads, spreading through their bodies, forcing out a forbidden law embedded within.

Blood snakes and a venomous insect shot toward Ji Feichen, but he swiped the Qiong Tree again, causing them to obediently settle on the tree motionless. These two blood oaths manifested as illusions on the tree. Not only were the blood oaths broken, but their essence was analyzed by the Qiong Tree. In the future, to counter such blood oaths, a simple brush would automatically transfer the oath to the Qiong Tree.

“The blood oaths are not broken but transferred to the Qiong Tree. You must be cautious when walking the demonic path to avoid detection.”

After resolving the oath, gifting the treasure, Yuan Chuping returned to the Blood Sea. Ji Feichen stayed behind to sort the nectar obtained from the Earth Immortal.

Nectar is a spiritual medicine traded among immortals, divided into three grades: sun, moon, and star. Star nectar condenses in a day, moon nectar takes a month, and sun nectar requires a year, also called Pure Yang True Water.

Though Ji Feichen had established the Chenglu Terrace in the Moonlight Garden, he possessed little moon nectar, let alone Pure Yang True Water.

However, the Blood Sea Earth Immortal, ranked eighty-ninth among Earth Immortals and quite low, held nectar mostly of the moon grade, including three bottles of Pure Yang True Water, with star nectar being the rarest.

“These moon and sun nectars will be perfect for consecrating the Three Luminescent Divine Water,” Ji Feichen smiled. Tian Chengzi could not help but ask, “Senior brother, you really gave him that gourd treasure?”

“What? You don’t want it?”

“That treasure is left by an Earth Immortal, surpassing even treasure-grade artifacts. It carries the Dao, a precious Dao treasure. Why wouldn’t you keep it for yourself?”

“The Blood Sea’s stuff—do you dare take it? Besides, that thing isn’t very effective for us. Our Dragon Scripture and Blood Sea cultivation methods differ greatly. The gourd can only unleash about seventy percent of its power in our hands. Giving it to him as protection is just right.”

Ji Feichen, a fellow cultivator, naturally did not begrudge giving away a few treasures.

Seeing Ji Feichen’s calm demeanor, Tian Chengzi swallowed his desire to claim the other two demonic artifacts. He had wanted the bone whip to remake his Demonic Dragon Mace. Unfortunately, Ji Feichen had already destroyed them.

“All right,” Ji Feichen stored the nectar away. “Senior brother is also caught in the calamity. You should return to the mountain and prepare, so our master doesn’t cause any trouble.”

“And you?”

“I have other matters.”

Tian Chengzi did not pry, leaving on his own. He was no fool; Ji Feichen claimed his Qi Refining cultivation method was passed down from their ancestor. Yet with a celestial maiden halfway rescuing him on the mountain, it was clear this ‘junior brother’ was no true disciple of the demonic path.

“More like a double agent from the Xuan Sect,” Tian Chengzi thought. “But that’s fine. Under his protection, this time we might survive the calamity. With him watching, those Xuan Sect disciples won’t kill me, sparing me from being sacrificed by my virtuous master.”

After resolving matters for these two, Ji Feichen returned to the Moonlight Garden.

“Senior brother!” Mu Shengzi, having finished tormenting the demons in the dungeon, immediately ran to Ji Feichen. “You’re back?”

Ji Feichen examined the young girl clad in a jade-green skirt stained with blood on her embroidered shoes. Yet her face was innocent and carefree, clearly unconcerned about the suffering she inflicted.

“After all, they’re not human, and she doesn’t understand human emotions or etiquette,” Ji Feichen thought. “I’ll need to teach her well so there are no mistakes later.”

He said, “Those demons in the prison deserved their fate, but I will be hosting Xuan Sect immortals soon. You must behave and relocate them to a hidden place.”

Mu Sheng’s eyes flicked. “Don’t worry, senior brother. The immortal estate is huge. I’ll hide them somewhere secret. But you said Xuan Sect immortals are coming? Why?”

“The killing calamity has begun. The Huangyang Demonic Cult will surely come to seize this estate as their base. I will invite several immortals to deal with them.” Ji Feichen took out the Dragon Whisk Fan. “On my recent journey, I met an heir from another branch of the Cloud Soaring Pavilion. I will visit overseas to meet our fellow disciples. That way, you and I can officially establish our status.”

“There are others from the Cloud Soaring Pavilion outside?”

“Perhaps a senior sister?” Ji Feichen recounted the situation with the Jade Ganoderma Immortal Mistress and her disciples. “You and I are peers, and we will be sisters with the Immortal Mistress. Train well, so you won’t be outdone by your juniors.”

Mu Sheng stuck out her tongue, grimacing at her own cultivation. As a tree spirit, to shed her original form and truly become an immortal spirit would require considerable effort.

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Ji Feichen stayed at the Moonlight Garden to instruct her, then two days later departed by water route to seek Lady Chen in the East Sea.

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While Ji Feichen journeyed eastward, numerous Xuan Sect immortals gathered at Taiyuan Palace. Now that the killing calamity had begun, sect masters from major factions personally arrived to inquire.

Li Jingxun and Qiao Yuan were among them. The palace was bathed in auspicious light, golden clouds swirling, with rainbow bridges greeting guests from all directions.

“I have cultivated at the mountain gate for many years. Though many fellow cultivators have visited, I have never seen Taiyuan Palace with such grandeur as today,” Li Jingxun expressed surprise.

Today’s visiting immortals were at least human immortals. The top figures from the major sects and cave heavens were all Earth Immortal masters, along with many wandering experts, all gathered in the main hall.

Human immortals waited on the outer square for news, while inside, auspicious clouds formed seats, and colorful spiritual light intertwined endlessly. Counting carefully, at least one hundred and eight Earth Immortals were present in Taiyuan Palace.

The lords of Wuwei Taiqing and the Three Dao sects sat together, followed by a large retinue. These sects belonged to the Supreme Lineage. The leaders of the Chongxu Dao and Suishui sects, both blessed lands, stood behind the three Earth Immortal masters.

In terms of lineage and origin, they were all from the same family, frequently interacting, with relationships incomparable to outsiders.

A sect master whispered to companions, “This madness at Taiyuan Palace is clearly aimed at our Supreme Lineage. I heard a new heir of the Cloud Soaring Pavilion was born recently?”

The Chongxu Dao leader’s eyes flickered. “This calamity is obviously targeting our Qi Refiners’ lineage. What, if they don’t wipe us out, they won’t be satisfied?”

The masters gathered together, and the elders seated on the main throne suddenly rose, bowing to the empty cloud seat suspended in midair.

At their movement, the sect masters and lords rose and bowed to the empty throne.

Ding—Accompanied by the sound of golden bells and jade chimes, pure yang energy on the cloud seat transformed into a human form.

“Friends from afar, no need for formalities,” said the palace lord. His face and figure were unlike normal people, resembling a child of seven or eight years.

He invited everyone to take seats and smiled humbly, “My true body is inconvenient; I can only meet you all through this avatar. Please forgive me.”

The avatar of the Pure Yang Child drew a glance from the Taiqing Sect leader to the Wuwei Sect elder beside him. “See that? The pinnacle of Earth Immortals!”

The disheveled elder of Wuwei looked up, yawned, and replied, “Who cares? Everyone has their own fate. He cultivates the Taiyuan Golden Chapter, I practice the Wuwei True Classic. No interference.”

“But this time, they’ve gone too far!” The Chongxu Dao leader’s face darkened. Qi Refiners had barely begun to revive, yet Taiyuan Palace’s upheaval left no hope.

“Nascent soul infants, pure yang immortality. My junior brother’s cultivation is even more profound.”

Suddenly, thunderlight filled the palace exterior. Purple lightning and celestial phenomena surged into the main hall.

The elders’ expressions changed as thunderclaps rained down on the palace lord.

One rose to intervene, but the child stopped him, patting his head. Behind him, three-colored Dao fruit light wheels slowly ascended, supporting a golden palace, triple-yuan halls, bathed in celestial light, earth dragons writhing, water brilliance shining, swallowing the thunderbolts one by one.

The child’s face remained unchanged as he bowed to the lightning, “Not a match for my senior brother about to comprehend the Divine Sky Realm.”

Another pinnacle Earth Immortal? The Taiqing Sect leader’s face darkened as he glanced at two companions. Compared to Taixiao and Taiyuan palaces, their strength was inferior.

“It’s a pity that Master Zhao ascended early, causing our Supreme Lineage to lose its edge.”

Although there were Supreme Immortals of the same generation as the two palace lords, some had ascended, others secluded, never showing themselves. The Supreme Palace was even more mysterious; none appeared this time.

Amid the lightning appeared a purple-robed man who walked to face the Taiyuan Palace lord alone. “Junior brother, you left us Taixiao and Supreme Palaces behind and made this killing calamity pact with the Blood Sea alone. No idle talk—explain yourself!”

Zhao Shenxiao spoke bluntly, not bothering with formalities, immediately addressing the matter upon sitting.