Chapter Thirty-Three: The Woman's Corpse in the Tower

As fate would have it, just as Ji Feichen and his companion were considering the inheritors of the Supreme Firmament, a surge of azure light suddenly swept across the sky, accompanied by flashes of scarlet and green thunder. Ding Shan looked up and said to Ji Feichen, “Look, here comes the main figure.”

Ji Feichen and Tu Shan raised their heads, gazing upward. Amidst the rolling thunder, the indistinct figure of a young man emerged—handsome and striking, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, dressed in a Nine Heavens Thunder Robe, striding through the air.

“The Nine Transformations of Divine Firmament encompasses the realms of Scarlet, Azure, Cyan, Vermilion, Radiant, Jade, Lang, Violet, and Divine Firmament—each a stage of attainment. Judging by his aura, he has already reached the Cyan Firmament, only a step away from entering the gate of the Human Immortal.”

Each sect possessed its own hierarchy of cultivation; the Supreme Firmament Palace utilized the nine-tiered Firmament system. Terms like ‘Shedding the Mundane’ and ‘Human Immortal’ were merely conventional equivalents for comparison.

In the Underworld Sect’s terms, the so-called Nine Transformations of Divine Firmament was akin to their own Nine Revolutions Elixir or Nine Yin Underworld Fire.

The Cyan Firmament corresponded to the late stage of Shedding the Mundane—the very realm Ji Feichen and Tu Shan currently occupied. Here, one began to comprehend the essence of the Dao and set about forming the immortal core, the most critical step in ascension.

Yet, the condensation of the fundamental Dao varied: one could refine ten thousand drops of Underworld Spirit Poison, or a hundred thousand. The depth of one’s power dictated the starting point upon entering the Human Immortal realm.

The might of thunder magic was immense, its consumption of spiritual power surpassing ordinary arts. This direct disciple of the Supreme Firmament Palace clearly cultivated the path of ‘Perfect Unity’.

Every bolt of lightning around him was condensed from his own power. When he could manifest one hundred and twenty thousand strikes of thunder, he would sweep through the Shedding the Mundane realm, invincible.

This was much like how Ji Feichen condensed his spiritual power into Underworld Spirit Poison. Typically, an early-stage cultivator could only form three thousand drops; the middle stage, between three thousand and ten thousand; at the late stage, one began to attempt core formation, with ten thousand as the starting point.

In the cosmic order, one great cycle equals one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years—‘A Yuan’. This Yuan is divided into twelve epochs, each corresponding to the twelve earthly branches: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig—each epoch spanning ten thousand eight hundred years.

The number of a Yuan represents the ultimate limit of a cultivator’s power. Those in the late stage of Shedding the Mundane who reach ten thousand eight hundred drops of true water may attempt core formation and become immortals. But with such a foundation, their roots are unstable, power shallow, and they are unlikely to achieve greatness.

In the Underworld Sect’s Black Branch, most disciples attempted their breakthrough at eighty or ninety thousand drops, with the extreme limit at one hundred thousand. Yet this crucial step was deliberately omitted from the Black Dragon Demon Sutra, to maintain control over disciples. To access higher-level teachings, one had to serve the sect loyally. Beyond this, the secret of the ‘Limit of the Yuan’ was perhaps only recorded in the Nether River Heavenly Scripture. The ultimate boundary of Shedding the Mundane was a special realm, kept strictly secret by the sect—disciples like Ji Feichen had no access to it.

This marked the distinction between minor annotations, true explanations, and canonical scriptures within cultivation methods.

The canonical scripture was the complete, authentic version, representing the core inheritance of a Daoist lineage. In the Underworld Sect, only the sect master had final authority over the Nether River Heavenly Scripture. Not even the heads of the five branches or the Grand Elders could obtain the most complete version. It was said the Nether River Heavenly Scripture was on par with the methods of the great sacred sites, thus called ‘Heavenly Scripture’—a text transmitted from a mysterious demon immortal.

From this scripture, five canons were derived for each branch, forming five complete cultivation methods that could lead to the Earth Immortal stage. However, the ultimate insights for each realm—the ‘Great Secret of the Yuan’ for Shedding the Mundane, the ‘Five Qi Converging at the Ancestral Origin’ for the Human Immortal, and the ‘Nine Mysteries Returning to One’ for the Earth Immortal—were absent. The Black Demon Canon only recorded the forging of one hundred thousand demon energies into the White Bone Demon Pearl. The true explanations of the five branches, considered core methods in other sects, were inferior to the sacred land’s teachings. In comparison, the Black Demon Canon and the Supreme Lightning Canon of the Nine Heavens were much the same.

Below this, the true explanations were further abridged and simplified for ordinary disciples—Ji Feichen’s own Black Dragon Demon Sutra was such a version.

“The Demon Dragon Sutra must have a complete version, but even that is derived from the Nether River Heavenly Scripture and falls within the realm of ‘true explanations’—it certainly cannot record the core ‘Great Secret of the Yuan’.” Ji Feichen pondered, and his thoughts turned to the Supreme Jade Transformation Scripture.

“Could these Daoist methods contain insights into the Great Secret of the Yuan?” He recalled the Supreme Method Sima Kang had given him, yet it entirely lacked any method for refining spiritual energy.

“As expected, this is also a fragment. Was it Sima Kang’s deliberate concealment, or was it already incomplete when he acquired it?”

Sima Kang only sought to use Daoist methods to suppress his inner demons; he cared little for the completeness of the Supreme Method, so long as it pacified his heart. Thus, the Supreme Method was riddled with missing supplementary techniques.

At that moment, the thunder descended to the base of the Demon Suppression Tower, and aside from Qin Wu, the Supreme Firmament disciple, a dozen or so demon cultivators were shackled in chains. Qin Wu gave a tug, “Come here!” He dragged the demon cultivators along like a string of gourds and pulled them all to the foot of the tower.

Qin Wu greeted the tower’s warden, “I have subdued demons outside. Please, junior brother, confine these people in the Demon Suppression Tower.”

At present, only Senior Brother Ma was present. Helpless, he stood on the hill and called out to Ji Feichen and the others, “Junior Brother Chen, come give me a hand!”

Ji Feichen’s heart stirred—this was his chance to enter the Demon Suppression Tower. He was about to step forward when a shrill cry echoed in his mind.

“Don’t go! That man possesses the Heavenly Eye!” For the first time, Tu Shan’s voice trembled with fear, transmitted through the Concealing Talisman upon Ji Feichen. He could sense the fox spirit’s terror.

In the past, Tu Shan had always exuded calm and confidence, yet faced with an heir of the Supreme Firmament Palace, she was finally unsettled.

Whether it was the thunder’s natural restraint over spirit beasts, or Qin Wu’s possession of the Heavenly Purple Eyes, Tu Shan was deeply frightened. The gulf between the two sides was simply too great.

Ji Feichen hesitated, secretly channeling the Azure Tide Pearl, layering illusions within his body and shrouding himself in mist and electric light. He also focused his mind on the image of the Supreme Lord within his Mud Pill Palace. A trace of the Supreme State of Forgetfulness circulated within him, and an unfathomable power began to stir the Gui Water Divine Thunder.

As Ji Feichen approached, a demon broke free of his chains and charged toward him.

“Out of my way!” The demon’s face was fierce, and he flung a sheet of green demonic fire.

“Azure Phosphor Fire?” Ji Feichen started—wasn’t this the Azure Branch’s technique from the Underworld Sect? Without thinking, he raised his hand and blasted the demon aside with several bolts of Gui Water Divine Thunder.

A chain instantly leapt after the demon, binding him once more and dragging him to Qin Wu’s side.

Ji Feichen stepped forward to greet Senior Brother Ma and Qin Wu. “Greetings, senior brothers.”

Qin Wu scrutinized ‘Chen Luo’, a violet light flickering on his brow.

In the distance, Wu He tensed—“The Heavenly Purple Eyes!” The Supreme Firmament Palace’s peerless celestial gaze, which could pierce any demon or evil.

Qin Wu’s gaze swept Ji Feichen, perceiving only the surging true water within, forming the Gui Water Divine Thunder. Countless strands of thunder and lightning coursed through Ji Feichen’s body.

Ji Feichen returned his gaze with a look of confusion, “Senior brother, is something the matter?”

“Nothing.” Qin Wu withdrew his gaze, then turned the Heavenly Eye on Tu Shan.

Tu Shan, now composed, breathed deeply and transformed her own formless power into the Wood Element Thunder Technique, brilliant green lightning flickering throughout her body. “The Heavenly Eye is formidable, but at present he can see through no more than Shedding the Mundane cultivators. The Concealing Talisman my mother crafted can deceive even ordinary Human Immortals. Unless he already possesses the sight of an Earth Immortal, in which case, if we’re exposed, so be it.”

Thus, Tu Shan stepped forward to assist. Qin Wu scrutinized her but detected nothing amiss, secretly perplexed, “Just now, I sensed a trace of demonic energy. Could it be unrelated to them?” With his unique senses, he was highly attuned to demonic auras. He then scanned Senior Brother Ma and the others in turn.

Still, he found nothing.

Sensing tension, Senior Brother Ma intervened, urging Ji Feichen and Tu Shan to help secure the demon cultivators in the Demon Suppression Tower.

Ji Feichen glanced over the assembled demon disciples, feigning curiosity. “Senior Brother Qin, who are these demons?”

“They’re from the Underworld Sect. Later, question them and see if the sect has any grand plans afoot. I’ll try to capture a few more.”

“I’ve long heard of your mastery of thunder arts, senior brother. Might I ask for your instruction?” Tu Shan exchanged glances with Ji Feichen while distracting Qin Wu, affecting an innocent and persistent demeanor befitting a youth.

Unwilling to remain in the tower, Qin Wu stayed outside to expound upon thunder cultivation.

Taking the opportunity, Ji Feichen followed Senior Brother Ma inside to confine the Underworld Sect disciples. He recognized many faces among them from the Azure, Yellow, and Black branches. Unfortunately, now was not the time to attempt a rescue.

Ji Feichen surveyed the interior of the Demon Suppression Tower. Senior Brother Ma grinned, “Well, how does our Demon Suppression Tower compare to your Immortal Locking Tower?”

“It’s rather formidable,” Ji Feichen replied as he examined the surroundings. The tower’s structure differed from the Immortal Locking Tower. The first floor housed the Supreme Firmament disciples, while the upper levels imprisoned demon cultivators—far more than the Immortal Locking Tower, and in far harsher conditions. Each was confined in a cell, bound by various demon-restraining chains, their circumstances more dire than those of the Daoist prisoners.

Dim light pervaded the tower, with only the central water-fire column illuminating the corridor.

“Blatant discrimination,” Ji Feichen muttered inwardly as he and Senior Brother Ma led the prisoners to the third floor.

Innate water and fire energies permeated the tower, the Dao light of water and fire forming a pillar that spanned all seven levels.

“It’s similar to our Glazed Divine Pillar.”

“Not quite. The wonders of our water-fire pillar have yet to be revealed,” Senior Brother Ma said with pride. He pointed south, “At noon each day, terrestrial fire erupts here, scorching the demon prisoners and tormenting their meridians, leaving them no chance to recover.”

Then he pointed north, “At midnight, northern ice spreads, freezing their very souls, to prevent any demonic mischief.”

“Each day, we regulate the powers of water and fire, spinning the tower with the force of yin and yang. At night, icy cold restrains the demons, at midday, fierce fire burns their flesh. Not a moment’s respite is allowed within these walls.”

The two deposited a dozen Underworld Sect disciples into their cells. Chains rose automatically, securing their limbs, while nearly invisible white threads extended from the central water-fire pillar.

“Beware—these threads are poisoned and serve as conduits for both fire and ice. At noon and midnight, these filaments transmit intense heat and chill.”

Having secured the prisoners, Ji Feichen and Senior Brother Ma descended past the water-fire pillar. Suddenly, the Underworld Spirit Poison within Ji Feichen’s body began to churn uncontrollably, as if drawn by something beneath the pillar.

Looking down, he was startled by a pale face staring back at him.

A cry escaped Ji Feichen’s lips, and he nearly stumbled.

Peering closer, he saw a woman slumbering deep within the water-fire pillar. Her features were beautiful, but her face was pallid, bloodless—like a corpse lying at the column’s core. All the white threads extending from the pillar were, in fact, her hair.

“So the fire and ice that emerge each day come from her?”

Suddenly, terrestrial fire surged along her hair, linking to the demon prisoners. Agonized screams and the scent of burning flesh filled the tower.

Seeing the red-black flames, Ji Feichen felt a twinge of recognition. “Drought Demon Poison Fire?” The realization struck him—he knew who the woman in the pillar was.

The Corpse Immortal from three thousand years ago!

Once the instigator of chaos in the Daoist world, the culprit behind a dynasty’s fall.

“Junior brother, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Ji Feichen cautiously probed, and found that only he could see the drought demon’s corpse—Senior Brother Ma seemed blind to it.

“Is it because of my cultivation method?”