Chapter 83: One Misstep, a Thousand Regrets

The man from the Radiant Sun Demon Sect looked Ji Feichen up and down. “You know the Seventh Disciple?”

“Yes, Linghu Seventh,” Ji Feichen replied, relieved to see the other’s wariness subside. He leaned against a jade pillar to rest.

The man’s expression shifted, and he too found a place to sit and meditate.

The two silently regulated their breathing for a time before the man spoke first. “You’re in such a sorry state, and the stench of blood hasn’t faded—did you clash with someone from the Blood Sea?”

“Likewise. For someone like you, a southern sect elite, to flee so wretchedly—who else but Blood Sea could force your hand?”

The two exchanged barbs. The Radiant Sun Demon Sect and the Nether Sect had always been at odds, sharing the southern borderlands. He Wen Kai once fled the sect in a bid to join Radiant Sun.

“How is Xiao Qi now?” Yang Fei changed the subject, inquiring about Tushan.

“He’s mastered his cultivation and achieved Dao Fruit. But how did you come to know him?”

“What business is that of yours?” Yang Fei snorted and closed his eyes to rest.

Ji Feichen shrugged and quietly summoned his Weakwater magic, refining the tainted blood from his body. Fortunately, the Blood Sea Earth Immortal had only projected a portion of his power, using Sun Xiaoyan’s mana to attack Ji Feichen. With difficulty, he could just manage to purify the corruption through his Nether River Dao Fruit.

“Unfortunately, my Nether River Dao Fruit is damaged. For a while, I won’t be able to sense the workings of fate.” His Dao Fruit was shrouded in bloody mist, making it difficult to perceive the heavenly way; a fracture even marred its usually harmonious surface.

Immortals relied on the power of Dao Fruits to divine fate. Now, with its connection to the heavenly way obstructed, Ji Feichen had lost the ability to foresee his own fortunes and misfortunes.

That single strike had nearly shattered his Dao Fruit, almost casting him down from the rank of Human Immortal.

He opened his eyes to look at Yang Fei, who now stood with a blazing golden-crow demon image rising behind him, dark gold demonic fire burning fiercely. This was unmistakably the supreme Golden Crow method of the Radiant Sun Demon Sect. The three-legged golden crow clutched another Dao Fruit, using the demon fire to repair its own. But the realm of Earth Immortals was profound—the casual blows dealt by that being had damaged both their Dao Foundations, not something easily mended.

“Tushan, how did you come to know this fellow?” Ji Feichen asked.

“I just went to the Radiant Sun Demon Sect to look for something. He didn’t ask, so don’t you meddle either.” Tushan’s reply was vague; he was unwilling to say more and changed the topic. “You faced that Blood Sea Earth Immortal just now. Unless I’m mistaken, you were planning to ascend to Celestial Immortal within the Immortal Mansion. Be careful.”

The temperature around them rose as waves of heat swept from Yang Fei’s demon fire. At last, he burned away the blood on his body and looked at Ji Feichen. “Where is Xiao Qi now?”

“What business is it of yours?” Ji Feichen retorted. Yang Fei’s face darkened, but he said no more.

Ji Feichen rose and surveyed the palace they found themselves in. This hall was named the Flying Immortal Hall; its balustrades were of agate, its beams of gold and jade, and luminous night pearls embedded in the walls cast a light like day.

“See the patterns of clouds and grain—unless I’m mistaken, this should be Gan—”

“—Chenglu Hall, or something similar,” Yang Fei finished, coming to examine the place as well. His tone was chilly. “This was likely where the Lingwei Sect stored their starlight and moon dew. Such things can be used by both immortals and demons. Interested?”

Ji Feichen said nothing, his gaze drifting to the plaque and couplets flanking the hall. On the left side it read: “Subjugate Demons, Falling Sunset, Azure Microcosm—”

Bang—

Before Ji Feichen could finish reading, a blaze of demon fire blasted the couplet to pieces. Yang Fei strode into the hall with head held high. “If Lingwei’s nectar is here, then let it come now!”

Sun, moon, and star essence were all vital energy—easier for cultivators to absorb than any immortal herb or divine elixir, and without spiritual loss.

“Though I’m interested too, you’re rather shameless barging in like this. This place—careless folk don’t last long,” Ji Feichen said with a shake of his head, following him in as he glanced at the shattered couplet.

With the couplet destroyed, waves of golden demon light and azure radiance crisscrossed the hall. The neighboring golden bells and jade chimes gave off a booming Dao sound that shook the very soul.

“Indeed, immortal warding arts,” Ji Feichen muttered, helpless. Because Yang Fei had broken the couplet, the hall immediately activated its forbidden arts to repel intruders.

Demon fire and baleful clouds surged around them, swallowing every trace of light. As for the sound waves, Ji Feichen countered them with a roar; dragon’s cry and Dao sound canceled each other, unable to harm their souls.

“You handle the celestial sound, I’ll take care of the golden and azure lights,” Yang Fei said, suppressing the radiance with demonic power.

Seeing this, Ji Feichen tossed his Demon Dragon Mace. “Go!” The dragon rolled through the demon mist, shattering a golden bell. Suddenly, the jade chime on the other side shone with strange light, and the broken bell healed itself.

Examining it, he understood—the bell and chime were one; they couldn’t be destroyed separately. Ji Feichen produced another Demon Dragon Mace. “Elder Brother, prepare the Gui Water Thunder spell—blast it directly.” With that, he sent both maces flying, smashing bell and chime together and using thunder magic to disperse their cores, preventing them from reforming through the array’s script.

As Ji Feichen acted, Yang Fei scrutinized the surroundings. The golden and azure radiance was amplified by the hanging night pearls, each moment growing stronger. He tried attacking, but the light only fed on his power, expanding further.

“Careful, these night pearls seem to be part of the array,” Ji Feichen warned, recalling the Demon-Subduing Purification Water from Qingxia’s disciples not long ago.

“Hmph, trifling tricks!” Yang Fei, not to be outdone, sent forth several bolts of dark red thunderfire. The flames concealed a destroying force, bearing the aspect of Bing Fire, transforming into fiery birds and eagles that shattered the pearls one by one.

Without the amplification from the pearls, the golden and azure light could no longer threaten them. Yang Fei shot Ji Feichen a provocative look and strode toward the rear of the hall.

Watching his back, Ji Feichen blinked and secretly contacted Tushan. “What kind of person is this fellow? If you don’t mind, I’ll just deal with him right now?”

“Don’t—leave him be. Just mention my name and he won’t touch you. As for other matters, don’t act rashly for now.” Tushan paced in his chamber, debating whether to intervene.

“This Immortal Mansion doesn’t tempt me at all. Fighting an Earth Immortal incarnation is more trouble than it’s worth,” he thought, flopping onto his cloud bed and rolling back and forth.

...

Ji Feichen and Yang Fei reached the central courtyard, where a square platform stood.

“The Dew Platform?” Ji Feichen examined it. After centuries, a jade urn atop the platform still held a pool of clear water—sun, moon, and star dew gathered over hundreds of years. Floating on the water was a Pure Yang Jade Lotus, its root a three-sectioned silver lotus rhizome gleaming like the moon.

“This is the Moon Rhizome and Sun Lotus Uncle Heichi wanted?”

The rhizome curved like a crescent moon, the lotus round as the sun—perfectly balancing yin and yang, forged from the very essence of sun and moon, a knot of primordial energy. Such a lotus, nurtured by celestial essence, had been refined by an ancient Lingwei master. Now a thousand years old, it could serve as the main ingredient for the Xuanming Seven-Orifice Pill.

Without hesitation, Ji Feichen lifted his Demon Dragon Mace to retrieve the spiritual herb.

Yang Fei, seeing this, produced a feather fan ablaze with fire. The black feathers stretched three feet; with a wave, red clouds and black smoke swarmed forth, fire crows swooping at Ji Feichen. These crows were born of the Five Ding Divine Fire, carrying the number thirty-seven; in the Young Sect Master’s hand, their power multiplied. For a moment, the swarm of fire crows seemed ready to morph into a demonic sun crow.

“If you want it, you’ll have to get past me first!”

Yang Fei blocked Ji Feichen, pressing again, “Where is Xiao Qi?”

“I don’t know!” Ji Feichen snapped, producing another Demon Dragon Mace from his sleeve and flinging it at Yang Fei, while he himself darted toward the jade urn.

Tianchengzi, left with no choice, had to drive his demon soul to wield his treasures against Yang Fei, weaving through the fire crows, searching for an opening.

Tianchengzi had cultivated longer and understood the Radiant Sun Demon Sect’s arts well. “This man must be a direct heir of the sect; his Golden Crow technique rivals our Demon Dragon Scripture. Prolonging this fight won’t benefit me.”

He channeled his magic, a phantom Nether River coiling around the Demon Dragon Mace, intending to snuff out the demon fire and seize victory in a single stroke.

“A shade? Are you a remnant of the Nether Sect left here?” Yang Fei scoffed, flames surging in his right hand as he grabbed for the Demon Dragon Mace.

Boom—

Suddenly, a burst of immortal light exploded in the distance.

Ji Feichen, who had just rushed forward to seize the herb, was forced back in disarray as dragons, phoenixes, tortoises, and kirins—celestial beasts all—erupted from the jade platform. On either side of the courtyard, the jade groves unleashed waves of immortal forbidden arts.

These spirit beasts and jade trees attacked indiscriminately. Ji Feichen snatched back both Demon Dragon Maces, calling up waves of black Weakwater to shield himself.

On the other side, Yang Fei transformed into a three-legged demon crow with dark golden feathers, swooping toward the platform to snatch the treasure. But the illusory beasts were formidable; after several rounds, he was forced to retreat, wings tattered.

“Let’s join forces to deal with these guardians,” Ji Feichen called, quickly analyzing the situation. “I’ll handle the jade trees, you take the beasts—burn the totem patterns.”

They divided the labor. Ji Feichen used Nether River Weakwater to fend off the attacking trees, then advanced, pelting the surroundings with Frost Soul Thunder Orbs. Thunder exploded, freezing the jade trees into pillars of shimmering ice; crystal shards danced in the air, and the green trees became columns of frost.

Meanwhile, Yang Fei exerted himself to suppress the spirit beasts one by one. Before he could catch his breath, Ji Feichen lunged for the lotus, swinging his mace to hook it.

“Don’t think you can take it!” Yang Fei was about to intercept him when Ji Feichen suddenly withdrew, the move merely a feint. He darted away from the platform. “Brother, thanks for clearing the way.”

Huh? Before Yang Fei could react, a flash of water shot from the jade urn, sweeping him up entirely.

Ji Feichen, well-versed in mystical traps, waited at the side for the water’s glow to fade before planning his next move.

Unfortunately, reality was merciless. As he retreated to the courtyard’s edge, a misstep triggered a surge of demon-suppressing golden light from beneath his feet.

He leapt skyward, shielding himself with Weakwater. Suddenly, his gaze caught the jade urn atop the platform. The water was clear as a mirror, reflecting the world—and his own face. In the reflection, he saw himself swathed in demonic energy, malice etched in every line of his brow.

“Not good!” Ji Feichen instantly realized the danger and tried to flee, but light from the urn enveloped him, freezing him in place.

He was safe on the ground, but as soon as his figure was reflected in the urn’s water, he triggered its attack.

“Damn, the urn isn’t targeting those near the platform but anyone whose image falls on its surface.” He had barely grasped the truth before he too was swept away by the jade urn’s light.

Thus it is said: those who scheme against others will one day fall to their own tricks.

Ji Feichen, a master of traps and schemes, was finally caught off guard and fell into the very snare left by an ancient Earth Immortal.

Meanwhile, Tushan was still debating whether to go to the Immortal Mansion when suddenly the communication talisman cut off. No matter how he tried, he could no longer reach Ji Feichen.

“Did something happen to them?” Tushan wondered, hastily gathering his things and hurrying toward the Immortal Mansion.