Chapter Two: Sorry, I’m Undercover

In the land of Xuan Zheng, the orthodox Daoist sects flourished while the demonic paths cowered in the shadows, their power scattered across the four corners of the realm. The Yin Nether Sect, to which Ji Feichen belonged, resided in the southern wilderness. In his daily life, Ji Feichen disguised himself as a disciple of the orthodox path, and his hidden abode was located near the southern border, upon the ruins of an ancient battlefield. This region was a gathering place of both dragons and serpents, teeming with all manner of Daoists, demons, and those who walked in the shadows—making it the perfect place to conceal his true identity.

Ji Feichen's masquerade as a daoist disciple was a private affair; even his own sect was unaware of his deception. Thus, he established a cave-dwelling at the entrance to the southern wilds, upon the ancient battlefield. Each time he ventured out, he would first stop here to change his identity. This cave also served as his base for eluding the control of his demonic sect.

Legend held that this ancient cave-dwelling was once left behind by an immortal. Though it had become a ruin in the great war over a thousand years ago, the outer protective array still functioned, warding off intruders and shielding the unclaimed sanctuary within.

Holding the Black Dragon Scale, Ji Feichen invoked the Water Mirror Reversal Spell. This technique, using water as a medium, cast ethereal ripples that reflected the surrounding landscape. Even the white mist-shrouded cave before him was laid bare in the dragon scale’s reflection. Starlight traced out the paths of the great array upon the scale, and Ji Feichen, well familiar with the route, slipped inside. It was thanks to the dragon scale’s wonders that he had first discovered this cave-dwelling.

The cave commanded a solitary mountain peak, but was unremarkable amidst the ruins. Ji Feichen made his way through the winding passages to a secluded courtyard within. He had not claimed the entire sanctuary, but rather transformed a single spiritual garden into his own. There, he painstakingly restored the formation’s wards, establishing it as his stronghold.

First, the ancient battlefield masked his presence; then, the ruined cave drew away attention; only then did Ji Feichen’s stronghold come into play.

The spiritual garden had been constructed to collect dew from the sun and moon. Ji Feichen found it well preserved: clear blue pools, jade-brick walkways, vermilion rooftops, and tranquil chambers arranged in harmony. Thus, he chose it as his temporary abode.

Above the garden’s gate hung a plaque inscribed with the words “Moonlight Sun Court.” On either side, elegant calligraphy read, “The flying moon sinks in the western hills” and “The morning sun bathes the nine heavens.”

On his first visit, Ji Feichen had been so taken with the place that he decided to claim it as his secret residence.

He flicked his finger at the plaque, and the three characters of “Moonlight Sun Court” danced like dragons and serpents before inverting and casting a white beam downward. Instantly, a Taiji yin-yang fish appeared on the gate.

Next, Ji Feichen cast spells upon the couplets. On the left, a bright moon arose, shedding silvery light; on the right, a radiant sun ascended, scattering golden brilliance. The sun and moon soared into the air, transforming into keys that illuminated the eyes of the yin-yang fish. The Taiji diagram spun thrice clockwise, then nine times counterclockwise, before the door slowly opened.

This was the defensive ward Ji Feichen had prepared to deter intruders. As he entered, the gate closed automatically behind him.

Within the garden, ancient vines draped the corners, their green leaves adorned with red blossoms and fruit. Bamboo and peach trees grew in abundance—the bamboo swayed emerald-green in the breeze, the peach blossoms burned crimson and delicate.

Originally, the garden had few plants; Ji Feichen had transplanted them all. Aside from peach and bamboo, he had scattered medicinal seeds along both sides of the courtyard, but his frequent absences meant that even the hardiest herbs struggled to thrive. Only a few sparse shoots took root in the soil.

After a brief survey, Ji Feichen proceeded to the garden’s heart: the Dewfall Terrace.

The Dewfall Terrace gathered celestial dew from the clouds above. Ancient texts proclaimed: “Raise the immortal’s palm to receive the dew, and let twin golden stalks stand firm.” To emperors, the Dewfall Terrace was a sacred relic, believed to grant longevity by collecting heaven’s dew. To cultivators like Ji Feichen, however, “heaven’s dew” was merely the refined essence of sun and moon, a vital elixir for daily use. The terrace itself was but an architectural device for condensing this spiritual essence.

The jade terrace stood three zhang high, encircled by eight golden dragon columns. At its center, a jade cauldron held a few hundred silver pills.

As the saying goes: “Fragrant haze curls above the jade cauldron, the sunlight shifts upon golden stalks.”

This Dewfall Terrace absorbed the essence of sun and moon, gathering celestial dew. Each pill shimmered like a droplet of water, within which gleamed a point of silver starlight—a sign of starlight condensed within. Wisps of fragrant mist rose from the cauldron, filling the air with a heady aroma.

Ji Feichen carefully collected the star dew, when suddenly an alarm sounded from the Authority Stele on the other side of the garden. The young man frowned slightly, as if remembering something, and hurried to the right.

The two most important features of the Moonlight Sun Court were the Dewfall Terrace on the left and the Authority Stele on the right. The former gathered sun and moon essence, the latter monitored the entire cave and controlled the external protective array, driving out intruders.

Approaching, he saw the nine-foot white jade stele projecting an image of the protective array. At the array’s edge, seven figures crept cautiously into its bounds.

“Is it that time again? Has another hapless soul obtained the token I cast out back then?” Ji Feichen chuckled, casually tossing twenty-four Azure Tide Pearls from his sleeve. The pearls, streaks of flowing light, soared out and entered the array’s nodes.

Outside the ancient cave stood a formation called the “Eight Wastes Divine Lock Cloudlight Array.” It used eight gates as array nodes, cloaking the cave in mist and immortal aura, while within the clouds, a golden light would strike any enemy. In its prime, this array could withstand the assault of an earthbound immortal. Ji Feichen surmised that this sanctuary must have belonged to such a being, hence the presence of so formidable a defense.

The eight directions corresponded to the eight gates: Opening, Resting, Life, Harm, Obstruction, Scene, Death, and Shock. Ji Feichen cast the twenty-four pearls into the formation, three per gate, using the twenty-four solar terms to cycle the eight gates.

In ancient times, winter was considered the start of the year. The Opening Gate came first, symbolizing new beginnings and great fortune, so the pearls for Beginning of Winter, Minor Snow, and Major Snow were set there.

The Resting Gate was suppressed with Winter Solstice, Minor Cold, and Major Cold; the Life Gate with Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, and Awakening of Insects; the Harm Gate with Spring Equinox, Clear Brightness, and Grain Rain; the Obstruction Gate with Beginning of Summer, Grain Full, and Grain in Ear; the Scene Gate with Summer Solstice, Minor Heat, and Major Heat; the Death Gate with Beginning of Autumn, Limit of Heat, and White Dew; and finally, the Shock Gate with Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, and Frost Descent.

The twenty-four Azure Tide Pearls summoned the power of water, activating the eight gates in sequence. Thick mists shrouded the cave, their hidden lethality lying in wait.

This ancient battlefield was the remnants of a war between Daoists and demons a millennium past. Scattered throughout were the ruins of immortal and demonic sanctuaries—once a fabled blessed land, now devastated by war. Blood-red mists and baleful energies surged to the sky, and with spiritual veins ninety percent destroyed, only low-level cultivators now came in search of treasure; true immortals rarely set foot here.

“Boss Cao, do you think we’ll succeed this time?” a shrill-voiced, sharp-faced man in a short jacket asked. “This battlefield’s been here a thousand years—any treasures from those immortal lairs were surely taken long ago. What could be left for nobodies like us?”

“Brother Feng speaks true,” replied a veiled woman in white, her voice gentle. “In the early years, immortals scoured these ruins countless times. What treasures could still remain?”

At the center, Boss Cao laughed heartily. “Fair Lotus, you see only half the truth. Yes, the great ones did clear out the battlefield and investigate the caves. Over the years, most were ruined and stripped bare. But that’s from an immortal’s perspective. For us, cultivators who have yet to transcend the mundane, even a single blade of grass left behind for a thousand years is a priceless herb!”

The four realms of cultivation were: Refining Essence into Qi, Refining Qi into Spirit, Refining Spirit into Void, and Merging with the Dao. All those Boss Cao had gathered were at the first stage, called Shedding the Mortal Shell. Only those who reached the second stage and formed the Golden Core were truly considered to have entered the Dao—immortals among men.

Most ruins on the battlefield had belonged to such immortals.

“Moreover, this very sanctuary I found once belonged to an earthbound immortal. Its spiritual energy is rich; perhaps some immortal herbs remain within.”

A hint of disdain flashed in Lotus Fairy’s eyes. For someone of her background, mere mundane herbs held little appeal.

“I observe that the jade token in Boss Cao’s hand exudes immortal energy—surely a guide to some immortal’s lair. If preserved, perhaps some treasures remain.”

The group stepped into the range of the Eight Wastes Divine Lock Cloudlight Array. Ji Feichen immediately activated the formation; beams of golden light shot from the mists and killed two of the intruders before they could react.

Seated beneath the jade stele, Ji Feichen smiled. He had cast a token from his cave; invariably, people would solve its riddle and arrive. All he needed to do was wait, then use the array to slay the intruders and seize their belongings.

The battlefield was littered with immortal ruins, and deaths were commonplace, so few paid attention. Ji Feichen’s caution had already seen him through three such groups.

Sitting calmly, he fished for the greedy—using an immortal’s cave as bait, the covetous would inevitably come, laden with treasures.

With a few deft moves, Ji Feichen dispatched two immediately. The remaining five turned pale, each wielding their magical tools in defense.

“With the array under my control, only an earthbound immortal could hope to survive. All others are doomed.” Ji Feichen was about to unleash further force when his expression grew grave, eyes shifting beyond the mists. Another group of five had arrived, evidently tracking the first group to ambush them.

“This is getting out of hand,” Ji Feichen muttered. He had set this trap, casting out just one token to limit the number of seekers. Yet word leaked—such was the treacherous nature of the southern wilds, where betrayal, murder, intrigue, and vengeance played out endlessly.

He weighed the newcomers: five, two of whom surpassed his own strength.

“But I hold the array and the cave. I need only let them fight among themselves.” To avoid alarming them, Ji Feichen suppressed the array’s power and let the second group enter.

At this moment, Boss Cao, Lotus Fairy, and the others reached the main gate.

Boss Cao’s jade dragon paperweight transformed into a small dragon-shaped beast, which spat out a breath of dragon energy to open the door. The paperweight returned to his hand.

He addressed his four remaining companions, “Friends, I’ve opened the door. But the cave is warded with immortal restrictions; inside, we must watch each other’s backs. As agreed, whatever treasure we find is divided into six shares—I’ll take two.”

Since Boss Cao led the group, none objected to his larger share.

But just then, a mocking laugh echoed from the mists behind them. “Two shares? Don’t you think you should reconsider, my friend?” A scarlet-robed man led four companions forward.

From his vantage, Ji Feichen’s brows arched in surprise. “Members of the Solar Radiance Sect?”

“The Solar Radiance Demon Sect!” The faces of Boss Cao’s group changed dramatically, for this was one of the ten great demonic sects of the south, the undisputed leader of the southern wilds.

“You… you followed us in?” Boss Cao’s mind raced, recalling who might have leaked their plans.

“Boss Cao, to see is to share. Since we’re here, shouldn’t we get a portion as well? Besides, this is our territory—shouldn’t you pay some protection fees?”

“Nonsense! Though this battlefield borders the southern wilds, it’s still under the dominion of the orthodox sects. Aren’t you afraid our immortals will come after you?” Boss Cao blustered, signaling his companions to slip into the cave and bar the door.

Suddenly, he felt a chill at his back—an overwhelming force snuffed out his life in an instant.

Boss Cao’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the companion behind him. “You…” He reached out with a trembling hand, but the other snatched the paperweight and hurled him to the ground.

“Sorry, I’m an undercover agent.”