Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Oath of Loyalty (A Four-Thousand-Word Chapter)

“Hurry and search! Sima Kang must be here!”

A group of disciples from the Radiant Sun Demonic Sect scoured the ancient ruins surrounding the Immortal Mansion, seeking any trace of Sima Kang. But no matter how thoroughly they searched, they could not find the Immortal Mansion at this moment.

“Senior brother, do you think he might be dead?”

“Hmph! The life flame in the sect’s sacred altar hasn’t extinguished, so he must still be alive.” The leader replied coldly, “But the disciples who accompanied him have all died mysteriously. Clearly, he ambushed them, intending to seize the Immortal Mansion for himself. If he’s alive, he must be hiding within.”

Indeed, Sima Kang was inside the Immortal Mansion. Yet, contrary to the sect’s assumptions, he was not occupying the mansion as its master, but had become a prisoner under the control of Ji Feichen and his companion.

Suddenly, clouds and mist ahead burst apart with a thunderous roar. The demonic disciples looked up to see a grand, majestic Immortal Mansion standing amidst the clouds, immortal light swirling, and the sounds of the Dao echoing gently.

“We’ve found it!” Elated, the group hurried over to investigate.

But at that moment, a surge of azure light flashed from within the mansion.

In the blink of an eye, a clear, luminous tide swept over the heavens, softly brushing past them.

The next instant, all of them perished on the spot, their souls cast into the underworld.

“Who are you?” At that moment, dark red flames erupted from the corpses, the flickering fire gathering together to form a humanoid figure of flame.

The azure light coalesced at the mansion’s entrance, taking human shape. Ji Feichen, shrouded in luminous clouds, spoke in a cool, distant tone, “Radiant Sun Demonic Sect, Seven Avian and Twenty-One Envoys—which one are you?”

The Radiant Sun Demonic Sect worshipped the Golden Crow, cultivating the Great Sun Demonic Fire. The Golden Crow was revered as king of all birds. The sect’s treasured artifact was an ancient feather fan, inlaid with seven avian plumes, capable of summoning world-consuming fire. The Seven Avian: Bi Fang, Vermilion Bird, Roc, Peacock, Wild Goose, Crane, and Ghost Chariot; under each avian, three envoys of Immortal rank were ranked as Left, Center, and Right. This was the sect’s core fighting force, used to suppress the southern tribes and as a symbol of their martial power.

Black smoke roiled within the flames, red light blazing, the figure’s features indistinct. He exchanged no pleasantries with Ji Feichen and, with a backhanded sweep, struck out.

Wild flames surged, overwhelming the sky. Lotuses of golden fire clustered together, soaring like birds with golden wings, screeching through the air.

Ji Feichen’s eyes narrowed in amusement. “The Flame of Golden Splendor—not Bi Fang, not Vermilion Bird, but the Roc’s Soaring Fire.” With a casual wave, he cast a sheet of emerald radiance.

Watery brilliance gathered, clouds and mist churned, and a gentle rain fell, quenching the inferno.

The azure figure deliberately asked Sima Kang at the entrance, “This fiend—who is he, among the Roc division?”

Seeing Sima Kang, the fire figure erupted in fury. “You wretched brat! How dare you defect to the Daoist sects!”

Sima Kang wore a look of bitter despair, a blade pressed to his side by Mu Sheng, leaving him no choice but to answer honestly, “He is the Left Envoy of the Roc Division—once my master.”

Ji Feichen smiled with meaning, turning his gaze to the Roc Left Envoy.

At once, flames swept across the world, scorching earth and sky, rushing once more toward the mansion. “You little traitor—seeking death!”

Ji Feichen flicked his sleeve, sending forth several orbs of dazzling light.

The envoy could not discern their nature, only that in their brilliance shone intense white radiance, dazzling and fierce. Before he could react, the light shattered his soul, and the flames were doused by clear water.

“Cunning wretch!” From the main altar of the Radiant Sun Sect’s Roc Division, a beam of golden light soared heavenward. A gaunt man stood atop a mountain, gazing toward the southern border. “A Daoist? A Daoist actually dares set foot in the southern lands?”

The ancient Immortal Mansion lay at the border of the southern wilds, a frontier between the forces of immortals and demons. The central plains, vast and rich, seldom saw immortals venture into demonic strongholds. No one dared trespass lightly. Thus, this place became a tacit meeting ground for demonic sects and wandering cultivators.

Now, the sudden appearance of a Daoist forced the Roc Left Envoy to reconsider.

“The Daoist sects are known for their alliances. In case this is a trap, it’s better to muster our forces and sweep the area clean!” He went to rally his disciples, but before he could act, another hurried over to stop him.

“The Lingwei Immortal Mansion is about to emerge. Now is not the time for complications. Withdraw at once. Seizing the Demon-Subduing Artifact is paramount.”

At the mention of the Lingwei Immortal Mansion, the Roc Left Envoy halted, suppressing his wrath. “Very well. That artifact concerns the fate of our sect—I cannot let the Daoists claim it. As for that traitor Sima Kang, once my hands are free, I’ll wield the Tri-Sage Divine Fire Banner to take his life.”

With the threat abated, Ji Feichen sensed the change, put away the Azure Tide Pearl, and asked Sima Kang at the door, “Well then, what do you say now?”

Sima Kang heaved a sigh. Ji Feichen had deliberately exposed him to the Radiant Sun Demonic Sect; how could he escape the backlash of a blood oath in the future?

“Brother Ji, you have doomed me.” Sima Kang forced a bitter smile. “I beg you, for the sake of the ‘Book of the Supreme’ that I gave you, help me dissolve my fate and escape by false death. The Tri-Sage Divine Fire Banner gathers all the blood oath curses of our sect’s disciples. Now that I’ve betrayed them, I’m doomed.”

“No need to rush. The demonic blood vow won’t strike you down in a day or two. Your sect’s blood oath is a curse of fiery torment, burning you from within? As it happens, I am skilled in water arts—perhaps I can help you break it.”

Ji Feichen flicked his finger, sending several drops of true water before Sima Kang, shimmering with red, yellow, and blue light—the essence of sun, moon, and stars, refined after his recent breakthrough. This water, drawn from the Azure Tide Pearl, allowed Ji Feichen to command spiritual waters at will.

Sima Kang swallowed the true water, the spiritual liquid dissolving within him, temporarily suppressing all his power.

“As long as you don’t use your power recklessly, my Three Lights Divine Water will keep you alive for now.” Ji Feichen then said to Mu Sheng, “Mu Sheng, watch over him. The Radiant Sun Sect won’t seek vengeance for a while. I’ll make a trip back to the Nether Yin Sect. We’ll deal with the rest when I return.”

With that, Ji Feichen rode the clouds away, this time cloaked in demonic wind and shadow, returning to his sect as a disciple of the demonic order.

The moment he left, Mu Sheng’s demeanor changed. She glared coldly at Sima Kang. “Brat! Did you come here at your sect’s bidding? You kept quiet all along—waiting for your comrades to rescue you?”

The she-devil stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Senior brother forbade me from killing you—did you think I wouldn’t know how to torment you?” Her blood-gold wood, having absorbed the blood of demons for centuries, brimmed with malice, fiercer than most. Before Ji Feichen, she dared not act out, but once he was gone, the rest suffered her wrath.

...

Meanwhile, Ji Feichen returned to the Nether Yin Sect. Revealing only part of his strength—three-tenths of his Immortal power—he first visited Master Blackpool in secret, presenting two treasures and spiritual herbs he had brought from Mount Jiuhe.

“I was injured in Golden Tortoise City and later rescued by Lady Chen. She gifted me these treasures for you, uncle, to aid in your ascension to Earth Immortal.”

The two items were major ingredients for the ‘Xuanming Seven Aperture Pill’. Blackpool’s eyes flickered, and he nodded. “The Lady has been most considerate.”

Accepting the gifts, the master appraised Ji Feichen. Noting his recent breakthrough, he praised, “You surpass your junior Lingfeng. To have cultivated the Weak Water Divine Art marks you as a leading figure in our Black Vein. In time, you may well become a True Demon of Earth Immortal rank. Of course, that depends on your master... Heh.”

Ji Feichen immediately donned a look of anxious humility. “That old villain is cunning and ruthless. I beg you, uncle, to protect me once you ascend.”

“Rest assured, once I reach Earth Immortal, I’ll help you deal with him.” Blackpool gazed northward. “It’s time I settled old scores with him.”

His true intention: as soon as he advanced, he would offer Blackflow up as nourishment to his own master, to help him ascend to Celestial Immortal. The Seven Aperture Pill? Merely a stepping stone for his master! Once that arch-demon was sent to the Nine Abysses, who would control the Black Vein but himself?

The demonic elder’s thoughts churned, then he instructed Ji Feichen, “I’ve taught you the advanced techniques of the ‘Profound Fiend Demon Dragon Scripture’. Work hard. Only then can you escape your master’s control.”

Ji Feichen complied dutifully, then asked, “Uncle, may I ask—are the ingredients ready?”

“Nearly. With the aid of the Blood Sea, most materials are gathered; only three main herbs are lacking. By next year, we can begin refining the pills.”

Leaving Blackpool, Ji Feichen returned to his cave, then went to report to the Lord of Kanming Hall, relaying Blackpool’s situation.

The Demon Hall was eerie and foreboding, spectral skeletons flickering in and out of sight.

Kanming Hall’s master calculated, “Refining begins next year, and the pill takes three years—so the time to act will be in four years?” He pondered, weighing truth and falsehood, and finally nodded. “Very well. Go and focus on your cultivation. I am aware of this matter.”

He was generous enough: seeing Ji Feichen had reached the Immortal realm, he allowed him to study the ‘Black Nether Demon Codex’.

Ji Feichen feigned apprehension, hesitating to accept.

“Don’t worry—I won’t tamper with you here. Take the book and study it. You needn’t practice it, just comprehend its principles. It will help your work with the Demon Dragon Scripture.”

“Also, take this jade token, and when you have time, visit the rear mountains to see our Black Vein’s demon dragons.”

“How many?” Ji Feichen was stunned, unable to believe there were so many.

“Heh... To contend with the Blood Sea and stand as a sacred land of the demonic path, how could we go without a trump card? Besides, we are not alone in this.”

The ‘Profound Fiend Demon Dragon Scripture’ detailed the forging of many treasures, culminating in artifacts that could transform into demon dragons of Earth Immortal level. Through generations of effort, the Nether Yin Sect had amassed several such dragons. This force alone could sweep away a sect’s headquarters. Yet, the methods for forging these dragons were far from honorable.

Ji Feichen thought to himself: How many lives were consumed to create these fiendish dragons? If I fail in my cultivation, wouldn’t my master turn me into a dragon chariot as well, fusing my soul with the dragon, becoming yet another demon dragon after millennia?

These dragons, under Kanming Hall’s master, had been refined to obey him, ensuring no rivals for power emerged and providing the sect with Earth Immortal-level might.

No wonder, Ji Feichen thought coldly, there are no senior disciples of the Demon Dragon Scripture left—most likely...

As if sensing his thoughts, the old hall master smiled. “Don’t worry—that plan was from my youth. Now, I see its flaws. Over the millennia, I’ve personally ruined many promising talents who practiced the scripture, and I regret it deeply.” He wore a look of benevolent sorrow, which only chilled Ji Feichen further.

Still, there was truth in his words. The hall master was but a step from Celestial Immortal; once ascended, who would care for the fate of those left behind? And even if he cultivated Ji Feichen now, he would not live to see him become an Earth Immortal.

Before long, Ji Feichen took his leave and returned to his cave to meditate on the path of the Immortal.

The next day, Blackflow summoned him.

Ji Feichen arrived to find his master seated in solemn dignity, waiting. “Disciple greets Master.”

Blackflow’s expression flickered. Seeing Ji Feichen had become an Immortal, a storm of emotions roiled within—nearly enough to kill him on the spot and forge him into a dragon chariot.

In the end, Blackflow swallowed his anger, saying coldly, “Now that you have attained the Dao, mind your conduct. Report any news from Blackpool to both me and the master.”

In other words, both Blackflow and Kanming Hall’s master required updates.

Ji Feichen’s eyes flashed as he bowed in assent, repeating all he had told Kanming Hall the previous day.

“Four years?” Blackflow murmured, a mix of relief and excitement. Decades of grudges—finally nearing resolution.

At last, his expression returned to calm, and he spoke of Ji Feichen’s life-defining task. “Your assignment has arrived.”

He handed Ji Feichen a list, speaking lightly, “Kill everyone on it.”

Seeing the list, Ji Feichen relaxed inwardly—there were no depraved or heinous assignments.

Every demonic cultivator who sought enlightenment of the Dao received such a sect task—a ‘pledge of allegiance’.

Upon reaching the Immortal stage, memories sealed by the sect would begin to return. Previously, one knew nothing of one’s origins, only loyalty to the sect. But with memories restored, many would wish to leave. Then, the sect issued the pledge.

Under the watchful eye of a senior, one was forced to commit evil in the outside world. The worse, the better; after that, could anyone dream of joining the Daoist sects? Not a chance.

Even if one left the sect, they could only become wandering, unaffiliated demonic cultivators. If one committed heinous acts, and recorded them, what Daoist sect would accept such a defector? At best, imprisonment in the Suppression Tower; at worst, execution on the spot.

No matter how much Ji Feichen wished to leave, he had no desire to spend his life confined in the Suppression Tower.

He glanced at the list and could only feel relieved. His task was merely to kill: one target was He Wenkai; another, a mundane family; and a third, the destruction of a small Daoist sect.

“At least these leave some room to maneuver.”

“You have half a month. Fail, and the blood curse on you will activate instantly.”

“And... which master will supervise me?” Such tasks were always overseen by a senior, to ensure there was no chance of escape.

At this, Blackflow’s expression turned odd. “Your supervisor will be your uncle, Blackpool.”