Chapter Forty-Eight: The Nine Dragons’ Treasure

Master Heichi acted swiftly. When Ji Feichen returned to his own cave residence, he found another copy of the “True Interpretation of the Mystic Fiend Demon Dragon” placed on his table.

“Silent and unnoticed, he entered my cave. Luckily, there’s nothing of value here.” Ji Feichen scrutinized his surroundings, but found nothing amiss.

“Would Uncle Heichi stoop so low as to secretly search my private matters?” Like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, Ji Feichen’s true secrets were hidden in Moon Sun Court.

He sat down and used a fire striker to ignite incense in a copper burner.

A rainbow glow rose, filling the air with a delicate fragrance.

This incense was the “Ice Moon Fragrance” crafted by the White Vein, meant to clear the mind and keep the spiritual embryo lucid.

Comparing the two scriptures, Ji Feichen’s expression darkened: “It seems both my uncle and master are quite confident in themselves.” The scriptures were genuine, both versions identical, explaining in detail in the preface how the “True Interpretation of the Mystic Fiend Demon Dragon” was extracted from the sect’s foundational text, “The Nether River Yuanluo Sutra,” and where its inspiration lay.

Not only that, but the experiences of several predecessors who had cultivated to the Earth Immortal realm using the Demon Dragon scripture over the past millennia were also appended at the end as imprints.

“I thought they would only teach me the method to condense the Dragon Pearl. Didn’t expect them to be so generous.” Clearly, this showed both men had great confidence in themselves. Each believed he could kill the other and bring Ji Feichen under his control, convinced Ji Feichen could not stir up any trouble.

Similarly, the Lord of Kanming Hall cared little for Ji Feichen’s personal opinions. Whether Heiliu or Heichi prevailed, as long as the ultimate Dao Fruit was achieved, it mattered not.

Ji Feichen himself also had his own calculations; it could be said everyone got what they wanted.

“As long as I maintain stability, balance, and keep a firm grasp, I might not be the loser in the end.”

After examining both scriptures, Ji Feichen focused his mind on studying the contents.

The inspiration for the “True Interpretation of the Mystic Fiend Demon Dragon” originated with the Nether River. It was said a predecessor once observed the Nether River in the Nine Netherworlds, suddenly perceiving its vast expanse as a giant dragon coiled upon a desolate land.

Thus, this “True Interpretation” was composed. At the Mortal Shedding stage, one cultivates fiendish energy; after becoming a Human Immortal, transforms it into a dragon body; and at the Earth Immortal stage, refines the Dao Fruit of the Nether River, cultivating the Weak Water of the Nine Netherworlds. This dragon is the Demon Dragon of the Nether River, laughing at the Three Realms, slaying immortals and gods.

The preface described this, accompanied by a simple sketch.

Ji Feichen gazed at the sketch and plunged his spirit into it. Instantly, a mighty black river appeared before him.

On the surface, ghosts wailed, Nether fire blazed, chilling winds howled on the banks, ghost willows cast their shadows. The eerie light reflected like the moon upon the water, bones turned to demons wandered incessantly. Within the river were various Yellow Springs sand and Nine Nether water.

This water embodied the supreme essence described in the Demon Dragon scripture.

The pitch-black Weak Water of the Nine Netherworlds flowed and meandered—this was the backbone of the Nether River.

“It’s said the Black Vein’s fundamental method is the ‘Mystic Black Demon Canon,’ but in truth, the Demon Dragon scripture seems closer to the Nether River’s essence. Why, then, do the predecessors claim the ‘Demon Canon’ is the root method? Is there some hidden mystery I am unaware of?”

Nine Nether Weak Water dissolves all things; Bone Demon Gods revel in blood and slaughter. This is the Black Vein’s most renowned method in the Yin Nether Sect. Logically, Nine Nether Weak Water ought to be the foundation. Yet, everyone cultivates Bone Demon Gods.

Ji Feichen could not find an answer and simply noted this question in his journal, to revisit it later.

Continuing onward, Ji Feichen delved deeply into the techniques, nodding as many past doubts were resolved. Then, he reviewed the insights of the Earth Immortal predecessors at the end: “Indeed, the key to refining the Dragon Pearl with a hundred thousand drops of true water is not the Ming Spirit Poison Water, but the Nine Nether Water.”

To forge a truly flawless and pure Dragon Pearl, one must use Nine Nether Water as the guide, never Ming Spirit Poison Water, which is inferior.

Having finished reading, Ji Feichen now had a plan. He took out the Demon-Separating Bottle.

The Demon-Separating Bottle was the treasured artifact of Tiger Departure Mountain, but served no purpose for Ji Feichen. He cared nothing for that barren mountain and its hardships, nor did he worry if the bottle broke.

“The bottle contains residual poison collected by the demon fox, which I can use to help transform the poison water within me.”

The Yin Nether Sect possessed a technique called “Weak Water Reverse Origin Art,” which uses the most sinister and evil toxins in the world to cultivate Nine Nether Weak Water. Only by mastering Nine Nether Weak Water can one be called a true demon among dragons.

He took a drop of poison water, wrapped it in Ming Spirit Poison Water, and gradually refined it into Nether River Weak Water.

It was a slow and arduous process. After nine days, Ji Feichen had used up half the poison water in the Demon-Separating Bottle, and his magical power was now entirely converted to the Weak Water attribute.

Weak Water circulated through his body, manifesting beside him as an inverted gray stream—the embryonic form of the Nether River. Nothing floated upon it, and it dissolved all things.

Ji Feichen scooped up the Weak Water, which condensed in his hand as droplets resembling crystalline dew. Each drop emitted a chilling, nether aura. In his body, he possessed a hundred thousand drops of Weak Water, reaching the pinnacle described in the “True Interpretation of the Mystic Fiend Demon Dragon.”

The trickling black water transformed beside him, sometimes as ribbons, sometimes as swords and spears. Water’s malleability was great—it could shape anything. If Ji Feichen could truly master the Nether River Dao, he could use Nether Weak Water as a weapon.

“But what I have cultivated is still acquired Weak Water, quite different from the innate Weak Water of the Nine Netherworlds.” Ji Feichen read the predecessors’ insights and found mention of this.

Before condensing the Dragon Pearl, if a drop of genuine Nine Nether Weak Water were used as a guide, the Pearl would be even purer and of higher quality.

“But where in Xuanzheng Continent could I find Nine Nether Water? Should I venture into the Nether Realm? The Nether Realm is forbidden to the living—it’s courting death. As for other avenues…”

Ji Feichen pondered: “I’ll have to search those places steeped in yin and fiendish energies to see if any remnants of Nine Nether Weak Water remain.”

True Nine Nether Weak Water was scarce, even the Yin Nether Sect had little, and Ji Feichen could not obtain it.

At this moment, a pleasant female voice came from the lamp in his ancestral palace.

“You really know how to give me trouble!”

Ji Feichen’s expression shifted, recognizing the transmission from the Dryad Immortal Lady. He asked, “Lady Chen, has that family arrived at your place?”

“Yes, you had them jump from the cliff; how could I not intervene?” the immortal complained, “If I hadn’t made it in time, wouldn’t their whole family have perished?”

“I trust your abilities. By the way, is there hope for the infant?”

“Infected by demonic energy, it cannot be removed. Therefore, I used great power to open a third eye for him, channeling the demonic energy into his brow’s ancestral palace to form a Demon Eye, thus averting premature death.”

“So, in adversity lies fortune; cultivating through the Demon Eye will allow him to progress faster than others in the future?”

“Precisely.”

With a Demon Eye, cultivation in the demonic path would be twice as effective. Ji Feichen, envious, asked, “Did you check what I mentioned in my letter?”

“You guessed there was trouble in Golden Silkworm Cave, so I went to see for myself. Indeed, I found something. The Golden Silkworm Maiden encountered a mishap ascending to Earth Immortal; the seventh transformation failed, and she collapsed as a spiritual embryo in the cave.”

“Went there?” Ji Feichen caught the implication: “Are you in Golden Silkworm Cave now?”

“That’s right, but it’s no use if you come. I’m about to take the Golden Silkworm Maiden back for recovery. We’re both unusual female immortals—if I can help, I should.” The Dryad Immortal Lady was sympathetic to the Golden Silkworm Demoness’s plight.

“The Golden Silkworm Lady isn’t one of the Ten Paths, but a side-path female immortal suppressed by the Daoists. Though eccentric, she can aid you, Lady.” Ji Feichen cautioned, “Still, guard yourself and be prudent.”

“I know. By the way, have you made progress in comprehending the secret of the One Origin?”

“I’m getting somewhere.” Ji Feichen flicked his hand, and the stream behind him split into nine, dividing his power into nine parts. Each stream contained tens of thousands of drops of true water.

Nine waters like dragons, they wove a great formation behind him, amplifying their power.

“Earlier this year, I acquired a formation diagram called the ‘Nine Origin Celestial Celebration Diagram.’” This was the treasure Ji Feichen obtained from Liang Chuming. This formation could stack its power ninefold.

“I use this formation to carve out the Nine Dragons Nether River, achieving the ninefold sequence, not inferior to the power of One Origin.”

The immortal, still in Golden Silkworm Cave, smiled upon hearing this: “You finally understand.”

“The so-called great secret of One Origin is the limit of the Mortal Shedding stage. The path of One Origin is cyclical and endless. Besides using magical power to explore it, there are other methods. The Supreme Palace values cultivation of the Dao, and their ‘Three Caverns True Sutra’ has another supreme true nature. Once mastered, the Dao heart becomes transcendent, one’s realm far surpasses peers—it’s a method no less than the great secret of One Origin. The secret of One Origin is but a general term; as long as you push your Dao to its utmost, it’s called ‘all laws return to One, the ultimate of One Origin.’”

“The Mortal Shedding’s limit is the ‘great secret of One Origin,’ the Human Immortal’s limit is ‘Five Energies Returning to the Sect,’ and the Earth Immortal’s pinnacle is ‘Nine Mystic Paths as One.’ The Dao begins at One, established at Three, fulfilled at Five, flourishes at Seven, peaks at Nine. The Mortal Shedding stage’s ultimate is forging your own Dao foundation. To refine your power to One Origin golden core is one limit. Using supreme true nature to realize the Dao heart is another. If you choose Ninefold Return to One, isn’t that your own path? Reaching this stage, you begin to resemble a founder of a new tradition.”

The Dryad Immortal Lady, lighting an oil lamp in Golden Silkworm Cave, said, “I left you some things here; if you have time, come and collect them.”

Busy rescuing people, she left some items before hurrying away with the silkworm cocoon to the Holy Land of the Demon Clan.

The spiritual fire in Ji Feichen’s ancestral palace dimmed. He quietly took out a scroll of formation diagrams.

The scroll’s material was strange—neither metal nor jade, its entire body yellow-green. This was the “Nine Origin Celestial Celebration Diagram” left by Liang Chuming.

As soon as he brought it out, the Nine Heavens Mystic Gold Dragon God Tower in his brow leaped forth.

Auspicious clouds surged, mist billowed, a giant dragon flickered in the tower, then absorbed the Nine Origin Celestial Celebration Diagram. The scroll fused into the base of the tower. Striking lights spread from the base up the tower, merging the formation diagram into the tower.

Soon, the first layer’s formation diagram and the Nine Origin formation fused, gradually spawning nine divine dragons within the tower. Each dragon contained the power of the celestial dragon. Entwined, they appeared as the embryonic form of a magical artifact.

But this was only the internal formation diagram—the “soul” of an artifact—automatically evolving as the tower and diagram merged. The soul was formed, but corresponding materials were needed to forge the artifact. The Nine Origin formation could combine and amplify nine kinds of power. Thus, the artifact had to be composed of nine combination-type magical treasures.

“Are the Dragon God Tower and Celestial Celebration Diagram from the same origin?” Ji Feichen furrowed his brow at the artifact’s embryonic form on the first layer. It was disk-shaped, forged from profound Dao force, named “Nine Cloud Mystic Crystal Disk.” It could survey mountains and rivers, calculate celestial mechanisms, wield the power of nine dragons to suppress foes.

Nine-colored clouds flashed unpredictably; the Yazi Blade and Qiu Niu Qin in the tower automatically flew into it, even the Demon Dragon Mace was drawn toward the cloud.

Ji Feichen was alarmed and quickly tried to retrieve his treasures: “These are my credentials in the Yin Nether Sect—I can’t lose them!” Yet the suction from the cloud was too strong; he could not compete. Helpless, he tossed the Jiao Tu inner pellet inside and managed to pull out the Demon Dragon Mace.

With three dragon-type treasures inside, the celestial disk began to take shape.

“The Nine Cloud Disk—do I need to find several more dragon-related treasures?” Ji Feichen did have a few. For example, the Wen Wu Stone Town in Moon Sun Court—the twin dragons atop it are the dragon beasts Bi An and Fu Xi. The Suan Ni stone statue at the immortal mansion’s gate could also be used. However, these items weren’t on hand; he’d have to return to Moon Sun Court.

“It seems I’ll need to discuss this with Uncle Heichi.” A sharp light flashed in Ji Feichen’s eyes. “Under the pretext of gathering medicinal herbs for him, I’ll go out for a few days.”