Chapter Seven: The Palace of Darkness

Yinming Sect, one of the Ten Sects of Yuan Gate. Their sect’s pocket realm could freely traverse the mountains and rivers, and was currently rooted in the southern frontier, contending with the Radiant Sun Demon Cult for territory.

Within Yinming Sect, there were five branches—Crimson, Yellow, Azure, White, and Black—plus the direct lineage of the sect master, making six in total. The sect master’s lineage was founded upon the “Nether River Yuanluo Celestial Canon.” The other five branches each derived a grand path from the Celestial River Canon, cultivating it through their own doctrines.

From their core principles, the five branches evolved myriad sinister arts, each more bizarre than the last. Their philosophies diverged greatly, leading to constant strife and frequent chaos atop Wujin Mountain.

Ji Feichen belonged to the Black Branch of Yinming Sect. The highest scripture of the Black Branch was the “Profound Nether Black Demon Codex,” which extracted the yin-chilled, baleful energy to condense a White Bone Profound Nether True Body. This branch focused on the cultivation of demonic forms and avatars. Ji Feichen’s own art, the “Profound Fiend Demon Dragon Canon,” which transformed one’s body into a demon dragon, was recorded within the codex.

Striding through the mountain gate, indifferent to the licentious songs and the shrill, agonized cries on either side, Ji Feichen’s expression remained unchanged as he entered the Kanming Hall of the Black Branch. He understood his own limits well—he would never foolishly stand up for others.

“Our Yinming Sect’s techniques temper the body but not the mind; it’s inevitable that unchecked emotions and desires cloud the spirit. I suppose someone is once again seeking release,” Ji Feichen thought, grateful that the Black Branch possessed the “White Bone Visualization Method,” which allowed him to retain his reason and refrain from depraved acts. Now, with the “Supreme Cloud-Forming Dragon Jade Blossom True Explanation” in hand, any hidden dangers in this regard were further averted.

The Kanming Hall was the core stronghold of the Black Branch among the Five Branches. Though called a hall, it was in truth nine mountains encircled within the Wujin Range, claimed by the Black Branch. Black Current Adept, a central figure of the Black Branch, was qualified to establish his own cave-dwelling here.

Above these mountains, thick black smoke rolled, forming a bank of dark clouds overhead. Within the clouds, the vague form of a white-boned demon god appeared and vanished—that was the master of the Black Branch, Ji Feichen’s nominal grandmaster, a dreaded earth-immortal demon.

Cultivation in Yinming Sect involved extracting black baleful energy, and each of the five branches had their own bent. The five halls within Wujin Mountains each specialized in absorbing a distinct aspect of this energy; Kanming Hall focused on the profound nether black baleful qi. Its nine peaks, known as the Nine Yin Peaks, were jagged and precipitous. At each peak’s base, a nether aperture spirit nexus was sealed, creating a realm of absolute death for cultivation.

Here, the nether black baleful energy was exceptionally thick. Upon entering, Ji Feichen’s demonic core instinctively began to circulate, drawing the energy into his cultivation. He proceeded into a palace within one of the spirit peaks.

The hall was paved with white jade, its pillars gilded with gold, and on the side, a bronze crane burner sent up curling clouds of incense. At the center, seated cross-legged on a jasper bed, was a gaunt elder in gray robes. Behind him, black watery radiance wove endlessly, with a white bone Profound Nether Relic floating up and down within the magical light.

This precious orb, luminous and translucent, was the very foundation of Black Current Adept’s Dao and the fruit of his cultivation. Manipulating the Profound Nether energy, the orb sometimes took the shape of a spirit serpent, sometimes a demon god; the chilling baleful energy suffused the chamber.

A flicker of awe passed through Ji Feichen’s eyes. The arcane method cultivated by Black Current Adept was precisely the “Profound Nether Black Demon Codex,” one of the five great arts distilled from the sect’s root scripture, the “Nether River Yuanluo Celestial Canon.” These five arts established the doctrines of the five branches, each guarded by an earth-immortal elder, securing their place among the Ten Sects.

By comparison, the “Profound Fiend Demon Dragon Canon” cultivated by Ji Feichen could also lead to earth-immortal rank, but its later stages were incomplete and far inferior to the sect’s fundamental scripture.

“However, with the Ink Dragon Scale in my possession, my affinity for the Demon Dragon Canon surpasses that for the Black Demon Codex. Moreover, now that I’ve acquired a supreme visualization method, perhaps one day I shall truly become a dragon.”

The Demon Dragon Canon ultimately allowed one to incarnate as a demon dragon, while the Black Demon Codex’s final stage was to refine the White Bone Profound Nether Pearl and attain the White Bone Profound Nether Body. The two paths diverged completely, though both might one day touch the pinnacle of the “Nether River Yuanluo Celestial Canon.”

Seeing that Black Current Adept had not yet concluded his cultivation and the room was thick with Profound Nether energy, Ji Feichen simply took out his Demon Dragon Mace and absorbed the black nether qi, refining the weapon in his hand.

As the ancient saying goes: “That which is above form is called Dao; that which is beneath form is called instrument.”

A magic treasure is but an instrument used by cultivators. Just as people cultivate, so too do tools. From rotten wood or stubborn stone, carefully refined step by step, an artifact becomes a vessel of the Dao, not much different from the cultivation of living beings.

Magical treasures are divided into two grades: magic implements and spiritual treasures. Magic implements are inscribed with Daoist patterns and arrays, akin to crafting flesh and bone. Spiritual treasures, radiant with spiritual light and nurtured to possess a spirit, are akin to the refinement of soul and essence. When both body and spirit are complete, a treasure is truly a vessel of the Dao. Should it transcend and gain form, it may even develop sentience and cultivate independently.

At present, all the treasures in Ji Feichen’s possession were magic implements, each with its own function and rank. Of these, his favorite was the Jade Tide Pearl.

This set of twenty-four Jade Tide Pearls was his greatest asset when traveling disguised as a righteous cultivator. Not only ordinary disciples—even Black Current Adept was unaware of its existence. Hidden beneath mists and the light of virtue, few could discern his true foundation.

Within the demon sect, the weapon Ji Feichen displayed was the Demon Dragon Mace, refined from the “Profound Fiend Demon Dragon Canon.” This scripture recorded twelve methods for refining implements. The Demon Dragon Mace, formally named the “Darklight Profound Fiend Heaven-Shaking Dragon God Mace,” boasted a grand name, and it was said that when fully refined, it could become a true demon dragon.

Legend held that deep within Wujin lay a demon dragon born from a mace that gained sentience after absorbing the essence of sun and moon.

Focused on the mysterious dragon incantations of the Demon Dragon Canon, Ji Feichen was refining his implement when suddenly all the black fiendish qi in the chamber dispersed. He immediately ceased cultivation. “Disciple greets Master and wishes Master endless longevity.” Endless longevity was the lifespan of a celestial immortal.

Black Current Adept glanced at the Demon Dragon Mace. This weapon matched the Demon Dragon Canon, its twelve bone segments like a dragon’s tail, short enough to be wielded as a mace, long enough as a whip. With proper refinement, it could become a treasure fit for a human immortal.

“Mm,” Black Current Adept prompted him to rise, then inquired about his recent travels.

Ji Feichen was well prepared. Concealing his masquerade as a righteous disciple, he simply spoke of roaming the mountains and seeking spirit herbs. Then he presented a jade box—an herb obtained from Sima Kang’s group, meant as a token for his master.

Opening it, Black Current Adept found a whole White Orchid Phoenix Dendrobium. Its white blossom resembled a bird’s head, its green leaves phoenix wings, and its roots a plume, lifelike and fragrant.

With a flick of his finger, the white blossom rang like a tiny bell, sounding eight crisp, melodious chimes, reminiscent of a phoenix’s call.

“Excellent, truly excellent,” Black Current Adept smiled in satisfaction.

Legend said the White Orchid Phoenix Dendrobium was born of the phoenix’s lingering aura upon the earth. The divine beast phoenix was a rarity, and herbs of the phoenix lineage rarer still. For one who cultivated the Demon Dragon Canon, phoenix energy was most taboo—if Ji Feichen ingested it, the clash of dragon and phoenix energies would disrupt his cultivation.

Black Current Adept understood at once why Ji Feichen had presented the herb.

“This plant is eight centuries old. In another two hundred years, it could absorb heaven and earth’s essence and transform into a phoenix,” he said, stroking his beard in feigned wisdom.

He then told Ji Feichen, “I see your cultivation is on the verge of a breakthrough. I’ll lend you a hand and send you to the Profound Nether Secret Realm for a few days.”

At this, Ji Feichen felt a weight lift from his heart, knowing his master had not seen through his hidden cultivation. He feigned wild joy, bowed deeply, received the token for the secret realm, and took his leave.

Once outside, his face darkened.

He did not return to his cave-dwelling, but instead cast a spell and went to wait by the Ink Lake at the mountain’s foot.

Soon, a young woman drifted over. “Senior brother, you summoned me in such haste—what’s the matter?”

She was clad in black gauze, her skin faintly luminous beneath, her beautiful eyes glimmering with subtle invitation, every movement enchanting as a moon goddess. She belonged to the White Moon branch, studying the moon goddess’s teachings and cultivating by harnessing the darkness of lunar eclipses.

Like a witch of the shadowy night, she appeared at Ji Feichen’s side. Instantly, the light around them was devoured by her power. Night fell, sun and moon extinguished.

“I want to ask you something,” Ji Feichen said directly. “What’s my master been up to lately?”

“How should I, a disciple of White Moon Branch, know what’s happening in the Black Branch?” the young woman replied, standing poised upon the water, bargaining as though raising her price.

Xiao Ying, Liang Chuming, and Ji Feichen had entered the sect at the same time, each joining a different faction. In secret, Ji Feichen and Xiao Ying maintained a fragile alliance—for in the demon sect, where deception reigned, it was necessary to have allies for mutual aid.

Seeing her stance, Ji Feichen smiled faintly and began to recite a breathing technique from the White Lotus Pure Sect.

After only a few lines, Xiao Ying’s eyes lit up. “Isn’t that the ‘Step-by-Step Lotus’ incantation from the White Lotus Pure Sect?”

Ji Feichen abruptly stopped. “Junior sister?”

Xiao Ying, understanding his meaning, quickly recounted what had transpired recently.

“It’s nothing much—your senior brother just presented Elder Black Current with a chariot,” she said, noticing Ji Feichen’s face go pale. “Senior brother? Is something wrong?”

Ji Feichen was silent. He understood now what his master intended. For immortals and demons, unless specially crafted, chariots required spirit beasts to draw them. And what beast was more imposing than a true dragon?

If the Demon Dragon Canon was cultivated incorrectly, one would fall into madness and become a mindless demon dragon—just right to be harnessed for a chariot.

Ji Feichen gazed at the calm lake, turmoil in his heart.

Generally, there were three kinds of disciples in a sect. First, those chosen as true inheritors of the Dao, heart and soul, as successors. This was rare in the demon path, where selfishness reigned—how many sincerely took on disciples? If they did, why bind them with blood oaths?

Second, disciples taken in out of obligation, perhaps due to kinship or special status, serving to cement alliances but never inheriting the true teachings.

The third, most common in the demon sect, was the utilitarian disciple. Demon sect methods had shortcuts—devouring others who practiced the same arts could boost one’s cultivation. When wounded, a master could seize such a disciple’s body as a new vessel. Disciples also served as gatherers of cultivation materials and as errand runners for the dirtiest work.

Black Current Adept himself was chosen by Ji Feichen’s grandmaster as a replacement vessel. It was said that, grievously wounded years ago, his grandmaster had no choice but to seize another’s body. But Black Current Adept anticipated this, sacrificing his own chief disciple as a vessel and escaping unscathed.

Through the years, disciples of Black Current Adept’s branch who cultivated the Black Demon Codex often disappeared or went mad. Ji Feichen surmised they were either consumed by Black Current Adept or sent to shield the grandmaster from harm. Thus, he never cultivated the Black Demon Codex.

“Yet despite all my precautions, I still ended up here!” Ji Feichen thought bitterly. Black Current Adept had received a chariot—did he now plan to force him into qi deviation, turning him into a mindless demon dragon to pull it?

“No—I must form my core as soon as possible, and escape his control. I will not have transmigrated to this world only to end up as someone else’s beast of burden!”

Passing the incantation to Xiao Ying, Ji Feichen clutched the Profound Nether Secret Realm token and headed directly for the secret realm.

“No matter what, I must gather power first. I’ll plan my next move later.”