Chapter 85: The Arrival of Reinforcements

“Seventh Child?” Ji Feichen contacted Tu Shan. “Your true form is a girl?”

“What girl? Stop talking nonsense!” At this moment, Tu Shan was outside the Lingwei Immortal Estate, watching a distant group of immortal and demon masters, unable to find a way to approach them.

He held the Heaven Concealing Talisman and said, “Is there really any doubt whether I am male or female?”

It wasn’t that Ji Feichen didn’t believe him, but Tu Shan never spoke truthfully, and his Heavenly Fox Illusion was the finest illusionary magic in the world. Not only could he blur the lines between male and female, he could transform into the old or the young, and most people could not distinguish the difference.

His title as the Demon Star was well deserved.

“But the mirror you produced before—”

“My mother’s keepsake. Is that unacceptable?” Tu Shan replied irritably, “Male fox, male fox—how many times must I say it!”

“If you’re a male fox, why did Yang Fei mistake you?”

“The Huangyang Demon Sect once had a group of maidservants murdered. To replace them, they sought outsiders for service. I took the opportunity to disguise myself and infiltrate. Of course, there is a real Linghu Seventh Miss. We went together. One would confuse the demons, the other secretly search for the sacred map. Yang Fei misunderstood, but let it be. Just don’t foolishly approach the real one and speak up, or I won’t be able to help you.”

Linghu Seventh Miss was the Fox King's youngest daughter. At that time, she and Tu Shan had sneaked down the mountain to search for the map, but were later caught by their clan. That little princess had a temper, and now Tu Shan had gone to unlock the sanctuary alone, enjoying the spoils by himself. If she learned of it, she would surely throw another tantrum.

“By the way, that fellow said you owe him a debt, and he wants you to transfer it to me.”

Tu Shan frowned. “Back when Seventh Miss and I stole the map from the Huangyang Demon Sect, that girl was foolish, using her real name and nearly exposing herself. So I used illusions to cover for her, barely making it through. I do owe Yang Fei a favor. He claims it’s still with you? What, how do you want me to repay it? Binding grass in gratitude, or transforming into a woman and marrying you?”

Detecting the jest in Tu Shan’s words, Ji Feichen’s suspicions eased: so he really isn’t a vixen?

Ji Feichen wanted to say more, but suddenly the connection was cut. Tu Shan hurriedly said, “I’ll come find you in the Immortal Estate later!” At that moment, Tu Shan saw immortal light flying toward the estate. He immediately stepped forward to block it. “Senior Sister Jingxun! Wait for me!”

Li Jingxun hurried from the mountain gate, stopped mid-way by someone. She looked closely and laughed, “Tu Shan, are you interested in the Immortal Estate as well?”

“No, I just heard there’s trouble inside. What about you, Senior Sister?”

“Indeed. The sect leader said some senior brothers are in trouble and sent me to help.”

“Then, could you bring me inside?” As he spoke, Tu Shan transformed into Zhou Yan’er’s appearance, concealing his demonic aura, appearing entirely like an orthodox mystic cultivator. “You know, I was born different. Those people probably wouldn’t let me in.”

Li Jingxun’s gaze flickered, and she agreed with a smile. Zhou Yan’er was still refining treasures in the mountains, her powers shallow, unable to participate in the estate’s contest. Tu Shan disguising as her was a perfect way to slip in.

The female cultivator led Tu Shan openly past the immortals and demons. With young disciples arriving, the mystic sects would not obstruct them, and the two entered the Immortal Estate smoothly.

“Senior Sister, you go ahead. I’ll find Senior Brother Qinghong!” With that, Tu Shan vanished into white smoke, and Li Jingxun watched his direction, silently divining a hexagram.

“He’s coming in at this moment—he must understand something. Besides, his cultivation has reached the Human Immortal realm, likely not inferior to the Sacred Land’s heirs. No, he is the Sacred Land’s heir, future master of the demon clan’s sanctuary, the next Supreme Demon King.” Li Jingxun herself had not reached Human Immortal, only the late stage of Transcending the Mortal Realm. Yet her Dao was deep, and she understood fate, recognizing Tu Shan’s identity.

She put the matter aside and began exploring the estate.

Regarding the many treasures within, Li Jingxun and Ji Feichen shared similar views. If fated, claim them; if not, do not force. Avoid greed, stay within bounds.

After all, the estate was not created from primordial chaos, but from immortal craft. Every blade of grass and tree belonged to the Lingwei Sect. Those demon folk acted without morals, but the Pure Dao Moral Sect would never do such things.

The female immortal wandered, pausing here and there, noticing many treasures and immortal herbs exuding faint red mist.

This red mist was the karma of the Lingwei Sect. Unless their heirs came for it, anyone else would be tangled in karma, and heirs would return to settle accounts in the future.

Apart from treasures shrouded in red mist, there were some clean items, free of karma. These were provided by Lingwei elders for mystic sect visitors. The moon lotus and sun lotus Ji Feichen obtained were among these.

Finally, Li Jingxun stopped before the front hall of the Lingwei Sect, at the pill platform.

The front hall was the chief of three, aligned with the triad, facing the Dao of Heaven, also known as the Qiong Heaven Hall. It was solemn and majestic, radiant with immortal light.

“Li Jingxun of the Dao Moral Sect pays respects to all elders.”

The hall was empty, with no response.

Li Jingxun’s expression did not falter, and she continued, “Now the demon of the Blood Sea stirs chaos. He seeks the elders’ primordial spirits. I beg your guidance so I might use the estate’s forbidden arts to subdue him.”

At that moment, crimson clouds glowed above the pill platform, celestial music sounded. A vague figure appeared in the golden haze, said nothing, and motioned for Li Jingxun to seek her own fortune.

When the Lingwei Sect was destroyed, the immortals, after discussion, sank the estate in anger, perishing with the demons. Some immortals reincarnated, hoping to return and reunite with their comrades. Others kept their souls within the estate, awaiting their kin’s return.

Li Jingxun stared at the pill platform. The crimson jade was carved with coiling dragons, lifelike statues breathing clouds and mist, surrounded by pearls of sun and moon, and patterns of wind and thunder.

Suddenly, the immortal woman smiled.

“Thank you, elder.” She stepped forward, her slender fingers pointing at the reverse scale beneath the dragon’s neck.

At her touch, the crimson dragon came to life. Its roar thundered, clouds billowed, and it lunged at Li Jingxun.

Li Jingxun calmly cast a spell, activating the wind and thunder patterns, binding the dragon with their force. Finally, she touched the reverse scale again and commanded, “Stand down!”

Touched twice, the dragon shuddered and dissolved into mist.

This was the secret spell left by Lingwei Pan. If not activated properly, it would become a human-immortal level dragon to drive away intruders.

Li Jingxun subdued the dragon. The pill platform rose, and a demon-subduing flag flew into her hand. This was one of the nine ancient demon-subduing banners.

The Lingwei immortal’s expression eased, about to fade, but suddenly changed, looking south, and said, “Save him. The treasure he guards will be yours.”

With that, the golden haze vanished, the primordial spirit departed.

Li Jingxun pondered, understanding. “Someone must be targeting the Lingwei Sect’s remaining souls. Mystic sect cultivators uphold righteousness and would not dare such acts. Is it a demon sect member?” She rushed forward to rescue.

Meanwhile, Tu Shan fought across the void with the Blood Sea demon. Without the Golden Demon Ranking shielding him, he would never have survived.

“Impressive, truly a terrestrial immortal. His real form is no less than Lady Chen.” Tu Shan struck and retreated, heading to the Flying Immortal Hall to find Ji Feichen.

Ji Feichen was hidden behind the hall, refining treasures. He withdrew spirit sands and mud from his leopard pouch—spirit sands forged by the Yin Nether Sect’s Yellow Vein, and mud granted by the Golden Turtle Heavenly Official. Mixing them together, adding poisonous herbs and demonic creatures, he produced an extremely evil substance, contained within a shell.

“You’re making Nether Sands,” Tu Shan strolled over, his white robe shimmering with silver light, warding off all evil energy.

“Yes. But I lack the supreme techniques of the Yellow Vein, so this is just an imitation. Using my own Nether River magic to condense the mud, as a defense for my demonic self. Otherwise, I rely too much on the Demon Dragon Mace, with too few offensive options.”

Nether Sands were a deadly weapon of the Yin Nether Sect, but Tu Shan’s celestial garment restrained sand, so he was unconcerned. He asked, “What are your plans now?”

“I’ll rendezvous with the Yin Nether Sect, then try to contact the mystic sect. Now that the Blood Sea terrestrial immortal is here, we must unite to eliminate him.”

“You’re quite busy.”

“What about you?”

“The Three Corpses technique!” Tu Shan spoke seriously. “Try to refine a Three Corpses spirit, using it as your vital energy avatar. The Three Corpses spirit is a legacy of the Qi Refiners. If you succeed, you needn’t worry about purity, it can serve as your energy avatar. Just infuse your power, or learn from Tiancengzi and anchor it in the Demon Dragon Mace, gaining dual identity in both demon and mystic sects.”

“The Three Corpses aren’t so easy to sever,” Ji Feichen protested. He had studied the technique, but was far from producing a Three Corpses spirit.

“Then use a treasure to craft an external avatar?”

“There are methods, but they aren’t perfect.” Ji Feichen had obtained the Nine Cloud Departure Talisman, with nine transformation symbols. If he mastered them, he could make a spirit avatar. But time was short; he couldn’t study it now.

Tu Shan laughed, “Go ahead and cast your spell. I’ll help you revive Tiancengzi. Once revived, he’ll assist you, giving you more strength.”

Ji Feichen considered, then summoned Tiancengzi’s demonic soul, using the lotus root he’d acquired with Zhang Yuanchu to rebuild his body.

Tu Shan broke the lotus root, tearing petals to piece together flesh and bone.

Ji Feichen said to Tiancengzi, “Senior brother, I aid your rebirth; how will you thank me?”

Tiancengzi vaguely realized Ji Feichen was not a simple Yin Nether disciple, not just here to seize treasures by his master’s order. Yet the chance of resurrection was before him, so he would not refuse.

Thus, Tiancengzi said, “I’ll serve you. But I have nothing except the Demon Dragon Mace. I wish for your Qiong Tree to protect myself. If you agree, I’ll devote my life to you.”

“That thing? Its branches are too many, and without formation diagrams, it can’t use our sect’s arts. Let me give you the Nether Shell I just made.”

“No, just give me the Qiong Tree!”

At his words, Tiancengzi sensed trouble. He’d been too eager.

Sure enough, seeing Tiancengzi’s urgency for the Qiong Tree, Ji Feichen narrowed his eyes. Tu Shan set down his work, and both looked at Tiancengzi.

Tiancengzi quickly tried to recover, “You just refined it, so I can’t use it fully. The Qiong Tree would be better as my treasure.”

“That Nether Shell was refined with our sect’s arts. Who would reject it?” Ji Feichen gazed at Tiancengzi. “Your words aren’t true, brother.”

The white-robed youth laughed, “Ji, what treasure have you found to make him so obsessed?”

“Not sure.” Ji Feichen handed the Qiong Tree to Tu Shan. Tu Shan examined it, but found nothing strange. Yet anything so coveted by Tiancengzi must be valuable.

Thus, both looked at Tiancengzi again.

“Brother Tiancengzi, what use does this thing have?” Tu Shan stepped forward, staring at his demonic soul.

Tiancengzi meant to make an excuse, but suddenly met Tu Shan’s eyes.

His silver eyes transformed the world, with a peculiar demonic charm that compelled Tiancengzi to reveal everything he knew.