Chapter 71: The Oath of Allegiance (Part Two)

In the Eastern Sea, where dragons lie hidden, immortals gather and dwell. Among its islands stands Flying Cloud Isle, famed for its wondrous scenery and radiant aura of immortality. Rivers converge, cliffs vie in splendor. Jade trees sway elegantly, and celestial birds and spirit beasts perch in abundance.

A young man was practicing swordplay in the pear orchard on the island when his heart suddenly surged with unrest, unable to find tranquility. In the depths of fate, he sensed that a momentous event was about to affect his destiny.

He attempted to divine the cause using the “Jade Micro Changing Heaven Calculation Canon” imparted by his master, but his efforts yielded nothing. Thus, sword in hand, he set out for Flying Cloud Palace to consult his teacher.

His master was a female immortal, known across the seas as “Lady Jade Orchid.”

Upon hearing her disciple’s purpose, Lady Jade Orchid secretly calculated the causes and effects, and her expression changed abruptly.

“Master?” The young man, seeing her silent for long moments, probed, “Could it be that I am facing a great calamity?” He was but a step away from attaining immortality; was a disaster looming?

“You are indeed close to becoming immortal. Once you achieve it, come to me again for answers.” Lady Jade Orchid would not speak further at that moment. The disciple pleaded, “Master, you know how unsettled my heart is. If I cannot understand the truth behind this matter, how can I calmly pursue immortality?”

Unable to resist her disciple’s entreaties, Lady Jade Orchid said, “I have calculated the causes and effects; your family, the Fu clan, is facing turmoil. I fear your kin have fallen victim to the hands of a demon.”

“What?” Fu Yutang was aghast and pressed for details.

The immortal lady disclosed everything, telling him how the demon had massacred his family.

Seeing Fu Yutang lost in grief and turmoil, Lady Jade Orchid sighed, “Your mind is unsettled; this, too, is your karma before achieving immortality. Go forth from the island, return to the Central Plains, and resolve your grievances. Once you become immortal, you may return to Flying Cloud Isle.”

Fu Yutang clenched his fists and asked in a low voice, “Does Master know who was responsible?”

“Someone from the Nether Sect, likely a newly ascended immortal. It must be another trial for a demon sect immortal.” Lady Jade Orchid had long heard of the demon sect’s ways.

“He has already achieved immortality, while you are still mortal. Seeking revenge would only add another soul to your family’s tally of the dead.” After some thought, Lady Jade Orchid added, “I have heard that the Lingwei Immortal Mansion is about to emerge. Go there and seek your fate. If you can obtain an artifact for subduing demons, you may yet avenge your kin.”

“Lingwei Immortal Mansion? Master, what is that place?”

“The Lingwei Sect was once a great celestial school, but its legacy was severed when it was destroyed by the demon sect. Now, with the Immortal Mansion appearing, perhaps its lineage is not yet extinct. I will write you a letter; go to the Taiqing Sect and seek refuge there, journey with their fellow disciples.”

The mention of the Immortal Mansion made Lady Jade Orchid recall her own lineage.

“Our branch was eradicated three thousand years ago. Aside from my scattered inheritance, I do not know if any of our kin remain.” A thought struck her, and she said to Fu Yutang, “On your journey home, search for any remnants of our lineage in the Central Plains. If you find companions, it will aid our revival in the future.”

Lady Jade Orchid penned a letter and forged a “Dragon Whisker Sword” from the energies of yin and yang. “Take this sword; it will protect you and ward off disaster.”

...

Ji Feichen, having committed his “evil deeds,” had already attracted retribution, and now he was preparing for his final act of proving himself.

His last target was Yuanping Sect, a minor school of the celestial way, hardly worth mentioning.

The celestial way flourished; under the three palaces were thirty-six caves of heaven, seventy-two blessed lands, and countless minor sects. The Yuanping Sect’s leader had once been a fire attendant under a Taiqing Sect earth immortal. Later, he descended the mountain, achieved cultivation, and founded the Yuanping Sect. This small sect had only three generations: its leader, his five apprentices, and twelve further disciples.

Late at night, two figures arrived at the spiritual mountain where the sect resided.

In darkness, the scenery was hidden, but birds and beasts slept, the mountain silent save for the low reverberations of Daoist chants echoing through the sect.

Ji Feichen charged alone into the sect, while Master Heichi kept watch nearby.

“It’s… oddly quiet here.” Master Heichi surveyed the mountain, detecting nothing amiss. He sat under an ancient pine to wait.

After a while, a surge of baleful energy soared skyward; a river of the underworld hung from the heavens. Though immortal light and auspicious clouds resisted, in the end, the three yin waters washed over all, and the immortal glow faded, leaving not a single soul in the sect.

Sensing Ji Feichen had finished, Master Heichi smiled. “It’s done.” Now, Ji Feichen could never hope to associate with the celestial way again.

Of course, all this was but an illusion.

After the two departed, the ancient pine transformed into an elder immortal, who raised his hand in a gesture. The green mountain shimmered, and a scroll of landscape painting flew from the mountain, depicting the extermination of Yuanping Sect.

Feng Qianli shook out the scroll, which turned to blank paper. “Come forth!”

The leader of Yuanping Sect, with his disciples, emerged fearfully from beside the mountain.

“Thank you, elder, for your rescue.”

The old immortal nodded, “I have used this event to set a scheme. To prevent the demon sect from becoming suspicious, I ask you all to follow me to Phoenix Hill for cultivation.”

To follow an earth immortal in cultivation was a rare fortune. None objected, and all departed with Feng Qianli for Phoenix Hill.

...

With three tasks accomplished, Master Heichi was completely reassured about Ji Feichen. Having done these deeds, he was now truly a member of the demon sect, and so Master Heichi led him westward.

“Uncle, isn’t this direction away from the sect?”

“Yes, we’re heading to the Lingwei Immortal Mansion.”

“Wasn’t the Lingwei Sect destroyed long ago?”

“A centipede does not die easily. Lingwei Sect was a great celestial school; now it’s on the verge of revival, the Immortal Mansion appearing to seek inheritors and continue its legacy. There are things within that our Yuan Dao must claim. I need to refine the Xuanming Seven Aperture Pill; its key ingredient lies there.”

Ji Feichen’s eyes glinted in understanding, obediently following Master Heichi.

“Lingwei Immortal Mansion was left behind by a major celestial sect. There might be treasures.” Ji Feichen pondered, “If handled well, I can also let my identity as a Celestial of Clear Stream resurface.”

The demon sect converged, and the celestial way would not lag behind. At that time, the Immortal Mansion would be a gathering place for all.

“The new year has passed; I wonder how many acquaintances in the celestial way have broken through to the realm of immortality?”

On the road, Ji Feichen sought advice from Master Heichi about immortal cultivation.

Now a true member of the demon sect, and with Master Heichi’s fondness for talent, he explained, “The celestial way says, ‘The Great Dao is mysterious upon mysterious,’ taking Dao as the mother, the root of heaven and earth, and calling cultivation ‘seeking the Dao.’ Yet the heavenly way is vast; even with Dao fruits to probe the universe and comprehend mysteries, the Dao remains elusive.

Our Yuan Dao believes that the transformation of heaven and earth is driven by primordial energy. Compared to the nebulous heavenly way, we focus more on the gathering of primordial energy and magical power, starting from the tangible, advancing step by step.”

“Our Nether Sect’s White Bone Demon God manifestation was modeled after an ancient demon god.”

Simply put, at the realm of human immortals, one must choose whether to merge soul and body. This is the greatest difference between the celestial and Yuan Dao paths, and they cannot be reconciled.

If the soul merges with the body, the spirit and flesh become one; even if torn asunder, decapitated, one can endlessly regenerate. But if one chooses the celestial method of the Primordial Spirit, then if the body is damaged, it can be replaced without harm to the primordial spirit.

Ji Feichen now faced this choice. Having just ascended, he had not yet fully comprehended the wonders of Dao fruit, so there was no hurry to take the next step.