Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Eye That Pierces the Heavens

The assembled demons discussed their strategies, but soon reverted to their old ways, indulging in debauched pleasures upon the grand hall. Most of the women from the White Vein withdrew first, yet Luo Qingyi remained, boldly facing the horde alone. Skilled in the arts of harvesting and supplementing, she mingled among the demons not only unharmed, but her powers surged ever higher.

As for Ji Feichen, he observed all with the Bone Vision, coldly assessing the cultivation and strength of the demonic practitioners present.

“Hm... That young one from the Green Vein has only just entered the late stage. I could slap him dead with a single blow.”

“Oh? Wang, the junior brother from the Red Vein, has also reached the late stage? To deal with him, the Profound Yin Divine Thunder would settle it in three moves.”

Ji Feichen played with his wine cup, leisurely scanning the hall and all his fellow disciples.

According to the Ten Thousand True Waters Dragon Pearl refinement in the "Dark Fiend Demonic Dragon Manual," those who complete it become elite disciples of the Yin Nether Sect, assured of hope to ascend to the realm of Immortal Humans. Of the five veins present, counting Ji Feichen, there were seven disciples of this caliber. Against these, Ji Feichen calculated quietly; after roughly three hundred exchanges, victory would be his.

“The secret of Unity—I have already touched the very pinnacle of the Mortal Shedding realm. Ordinary cultivators are no match for me.”

Yet only one person present left Ji Feichen uncertain.

Zheng Qiong, seated in the central position, concealed his aura so thoroughly that Ji Feichen could not judge his power. Moreover, he did not mingle with the others, but quietly conversed with Wei Chen beside him.

“I have already surpassed the constraints of the Demonic Dragon Manual, advancing toward the Unity realm. If one does not enter Unity, how can they compare to me?”

Zheng Qiong certainly possessed strength equal to Ji Feichen’s own.

“The elder Drought Demon said the Yin Nether Sect’s 'Nether River Yuan Luo Celestial Manual' is comparable to the methods of the great sacred lands. Could it be he too has comprehended the way of Unity?”

As a fellow leader, Zheng Qiong far exceeded Wei Chen.

Later, several demons invited Ji Feichen to join their amusements. Luo Qingyi cast him flirtatious glances, her allure on full display.

Ji Feichen, unwilling to linger in such filth, found an excuse and left the hall for some air.

Outside, the bright moon hung high, and a cold wind sobered him considerably.

Just then, the sound of bells rang out. Ji Feichen, hands clasped behind his back, admired the moon without turning: "Junior sister, are you well these days?"

Xiao Ying approached with her head bowed: "May senior brother grant me medicine."

"The medicine I gave you that day—you haven't taken it, have you?"

Xiao Ying was silent. Ji Feichen had said he would control her with pills, but considering his character, she doubted he would use such methods.

For safety, she had the pills checked—indeed, they were merely ordinary supplements. So she set the matter aside. Yet, in recent days, her vital blood had reversed, making it impossible to focus on cultivation. Only now did she realize something was wrong.

"Good, you didn’t take it. You're not foolish, and neither am I. That medicine was never genuine." Ji Feichen tossed her another bottle: "Take it, and use with cold water. Of course, the best results come from using water from Ink Lake. But I doubt you’ll use that, will you?"

Ink Lake, at the foot of Black Gold Mountain, was a favorite spot for Luo Qingyi and the others to frolic and flirt. Often, the filthy remnants from men drifted across its surface. Xiao Ying found it unclean, and would never use its water.

"Is there something special about this cold water?"

"Water melted from winter snow and ice will suffice."

Ji Feichen inwardly chuckled—what he gave Xiao Ying was no poison pill. Her suspicions were her own, and nothing to do with him.

"Tell me, what has the sect said about this upcoming conflict between the immortals and demons?"

Xiao Ying answered carefully: "Not much. They simply forbade Immortal Humans from acting, to avoid excessive slaughter. So, led by Senior Brother Zheng Qiong, our Yin Nether Sect has come to reclaim our honor."

"Excessive slaughter? That’s certainly not our sect’s concern," Ji Feichen laughed. "With our people, when have we worried about killing?"

"Mm, it’s those hypocrites from the Moral Sect."

Hypocrites? Thinking of Li Jingxun and her sister, Ji Feichen mused: If all of the Celestial Dao are hypocrites, then what are we? True villains?

Truthfully, Ji Feichen’s feelings toward the Celestial and Demonic Dao were complex.

Having transmigrated here, he harbored no aversion to demonic arts as righteous cultivators did. There was a saying in his past life: "Yellow cat, black cat—whoever catches the mouse is the hero." Regardless of method, for Ji Feichen, the path that led to longevity was the true way.

But while the path could be flexible, the people within—

After years in the Yin Nether Sect, Ji Feichen understood the ruthlessness of the demonic; one misstep, and one could be devoured without a trace. But the Celestial Dao? They too had their villains—how else could they ally with the demonic, or produce traitors like the White Lotus Pure Sect?

If the demonic sects had a ratio of seven to three—seven parts scoundrels, three parts those with a shred of conscience—and of those three, only one in ten truly kept their hands clean, free of bloodshed.

The odds of a good person emerging from the demonic sects were slim. Many were victims of circumstance, compelled by peers or environment to commit evil. By tradition, upon entry, one’s memory was sealed, parents forgotten, and oaths made never to betray. Before regaining memory upon reaching Immortal Human realm, one was ordered to kill. Some sects, cruelly, had disciples slaughter their own parents; others simply targeted random immortals.

In any case, the entry token was handed in—was escape ever possible thereafter?

Thus, Ji Feichen knew he had to leave the sect before the order to kill came.

But after leaving, should he join a Celestial sect?

Most in the Celestial Dao, while not paragons, were not truly evil. Yet, what if he encountered hypocrites after joining?

Ji Feichen disliked the idea of joining any Celestial sect. Even the Moral Sect, with its impeccable reputation, surely hid power struggles.

What Ji Feichen sought was to be a carefree rogue immortal.

No need for grains, subsisting on wind and dew. Riding clouds and mist, commanding dragons and qilins, wandering the seas and mountains. Free from all worries, living unburdened among mortals.

Ascend and transcend, share lifespan with heaven—this was Ji Feichen’s vision of an immortal.

In his former homeland, "immortal" carried special meaning. Every worthy youth harbored dreams of chivalrous immortals—sword in hand, soaring through the skies.

Though Ji Feichen could not claim to be a peerless hero, everyone has their limits. What the Six-Armed Demon God Sect did today—eating human flesh, gouging hearts—was beyond what he could tolerate.

“We who defy heaven, seize its fortune, may slaughter and vie amongst ourselves, but dragging in mortals is too much.” Standing in the moonlight, Ji Feichen pondered, “With Li Jingxun present, perhaps I can scheme against the Six-Armed Demon God Sect. Obtain the Jade Egg for Uncle Black Pool, and sell out those depraved beasts at the same time.”

Lost in thought, Ji Feichen was undisturbed by Xiao Ying, who waited silently nearby.

Suddenly, beyond the bright moon, a white radiance shot skyward. In the direction of Golden Tortoise City, mist swirled and lotus flowers danced.

Xiao Ying turned to Ji Feichen: “Senior brother, what is…”

“The Celestial Dao has arrived.” Ji Feichen returned to himself. Besides the Taiji diagram, there was the Pure Lotus of Supreme Clarity and the Jade Tree of Thunder. “Moreover, not only the Moral Sect, but the Supreme Clarity Sect and Grand Vault Palace are here as well.”

Ji Feichen pinched his sleeve, using the "Jade Micro-Easy Heaven Calculation Manual" to divine the fate of the Celestial visitors and his own fortune. Yet before results could appear, a flash of lightning shattered all the secrets he sought.

“Qin Wu?” Ji Feichen glanced toward Golden Tortoise City, ignoring Xiao Ying’s presence, his face solemn. He returned to the Black Vein residence, summoned the Nine Clouds Profound Crystal Disk, and calculated Qin Wu’s current realm.

Qin Wu’s power now far surpassed when Ji Feichen last saw him.

In Golden Tortoise City, Qin Wu cast a thoughtful gaze toward the Yin Nether Sect’s quarters. Li Jingxun beside him asked curiously, “Senior brother Qin, what is it?”

“Someone is spying on me. Trying to divine my fate.” Qin Wu sneered, the Bi Xiao behind him manifesting, thunder swallowing and spitting, covering his destiny completely.

Li Jingxun said nothing, glancing toward the Yin Nether Sect before changing the subject: “Why have the senior brothers arrived so late?”

“Demons were causing trouble beneath Golden Tortoise City. We feared that travelers might fall victim once they arrived, so we sealed a three-hundred-mile radius with forbidden arts, preventing mortals from approaching.”

Several from the Moral Sect cast spells, secretly driving mortals away from where the demons lurked. Thus, it was only after nightfall that all were cleared.

“Still, our methods can’t last long. Within three days, the demons must be expelled.”

This was the first direct confrontation between immortals and demons since the massacre.

It concerned the lives of ordinary people. If the Celestial Dao lost, Golden Tortoise City would surely be destroyed.

“The day after tomorrow is when the Spirit Egg will emerge—there’s still time.” Li Jingxun led the group to the prepared inn. The Bi family, merchants by trade, excelled in speculation. Now, having offered both money and effort, they secured two inns in the city for the immortals to rest.

After a busy day, everyone settled in for meditation and rest.

Qin Wu was about to exercise his cultivation when, struck by intuition, he sensed another probing his fate. He repelled the intruder, but soon, a second person attempted to divine his fortune.

With a dark expression, Qin Wu spent the night fending off these attempts.

As the saying goes, the loudest bird gets shot. Qin Wu, attracting attention like a towering tree, became the first target for investigation as soon as he arrived in Golden Tortoise City. In a single hour, at least ten people tried to divine his fate and weaknesses.

“You think only you can calculate destiny?” Qin Wu raged, a red line splitting his forehead as a third eye gazed skyward. Thunder exploded above Golden Tortoise City; a golden rift slowly opened.

Heaven’s might surged, shaking the heavens; an eye seemed to open in the sky, staring directly at the Yin Nether Sect’s quarters.

“If it’s a matter of observing fate, who among you can rival my Eye of Penetration!”