Chapter Forty-Five: Returning to the Sect

Descending south from Nine He Mountain lies the Southern Frontier, home to the Black Saint Sect, the Radiant Sun Demon Sect, and the Netherworld Sect.

“Coming down from Nine He Mountain, the first territory to cross is that of the Black Saint Sect.” At this moment, Ji Feichen was clad in a robe of black silk, his entire being shrouded in chilling murderous aura, resembling a demon emerging from the depths of the underworld.

The Southern Frontier is a flourishing land of the demonic path, ranking among the most formidable regions in the Four Wilds. Even the boldest of the mystic sect dare not lightly provoke the great demon sects found here. Ji Feichen, donning the attire of the demon gate and bearing the identity of a Netherworld Sect disciple, made it so that many monsters and demons did not dare approach him recklessly.

“Transforming the Dao foundation, cultivating the Primordial Unity Qi, now my immortal and demon techniques shift with ease. It’s almost too effortless.” Ji Feichen separated his inner energy, allowing the murderous aura to seep naturally from his body. “Tu Shan’s technique of True Illusion can invert reality, confound the masses, and delude the world—surely an application of the Qi method.” Outside the path of the qi cultivator, simply cultivating the spirit or demonic aura would never allow one to so convincingly replicate the powers of opposing sects.

Ji Feichen traversed among the clouds, a black radiance enveloping him, his momentum sweeping grandly toward the direction of the Netherworld Sect.

At that moment, cries and wails rose from below. Ji Feichen focused his gaze and saw a group dressed as sorcerers raiding a mountain village, snatching infants and setting the place ablaze.

Ji Feichen frowned, “Are those Black Saint Sect people?” After a brief contemplation, he approached proactively. Looking closely, he understood what those sorcerers were doing.

The Black Saint Sect shares its origin with the Six-Armed Demon God Sect, both worshipping an ancient demon god. One leans toward sorcery, the other toward martial arts. The Black Saint Sect maintains the traditions of the ancient wild era, with blood sacrifices as their most common practice.

Recalling that the Blood Moth Curse he bore also originated from ancient sorcery, Ji Feichen’s face showed disgust. “Seems these fellows intend to use infant skulls as utensils, or perhaps dig out hearts and drain blood for their sacrificial rites?”

Ji Feichen raised the Nine Heavens Black Gold Dragon God Tower; from the first tier of the tower, a jet-black light shot out, like a divine dragon’s tail slashing the horizon. Under its lash, the sorcerers below perished instantly.

The Nine Heavens Dragon Tower can amplify nine treasures; at present, Ji Feichen had only placed the Demon Dragon Mace, Jade Tide Pearl, and a few other artifacts within, yet the tower’s power was already comparable to that of an immortal’s treasure.

A simple test: striking out with the Demon Dragon Mace, even an ordinary attack matched the momentum of an immortal. Yet, with this move, a tenth of Ji Feichen’s inner power was instantly drained.

“My current strength far surpasses the past, but even now, activating the Nine Heavens Tower once costs a tenth of my power. In the past, would I have managed only a single strike?”

Then he mused, “The tower’s might is immense. If I carefully refine nine treasures and place them within, it should rival an immortal artifact!”

With a single blow, the demons were annihilated, and Ji Feichen descended.

By now, the village was a charred ruin, its residents nearly all dead or wounded. Only a woman knelt on the ground, cradling a fading infant in tears. Beside her, a man sat in bewilderment, lost and helpless.

“We secluded ourselves here to avoid the world, who would have thought we’d attract the attention of demon cultists? Truly, this is the fate of those unprotected.”

Judging from the village’s size, Ji Feichen was curious, “Your settlement has only a few dozen households—how did you take root in these mountains?”

“Replying to the immortal, we were brought here by Lady Golden Silkworm.” The man slowly rose, clad in coarse linen, his manner clear, his face older than Ji Feichen’s by a few years. “A few days ago, Lady Golden Silkworm died, leaving us unprotected, so the Golden Silkworm Village caught the eye of the demon cultists.”

“Golden Silkworm? Is she of the line of the Golden Silkworm Demoness?” Ji Feichen understood. “The Seven Transformations of the Golden Silkworm” is a rare direct path to earth immortality in the demon sect, allowing one to undergo seven metamorphoses like a silkworm cocoon, ultimately comprehending the true secrets of earth immortals. The demoness herself was a fallen immortal from the mystic sect, who, after hiding in the Southern Frontier, established her own domain. She usually kept apart from the three major demon sects, setting up villages around Golden Silkworm Mountain to serve as her support.

“So, this is Golden Silkworm Mountain?” Ji Feichen surveyed the verdant hills, ancient trees towering, green creepers entwined, blossoms in profusion, and clear streams murmuring.

“No, that distant peak is the true Golden Silkworm Mountain.” The man pointed afar; Ji Feichen gazed at the spirit mountain, seeing golden brilliance and morning glow endlessly shining, where multicolored clouds constantly billowed from a cave—the Seven Mysteries Cave of Lady Golden Silkworm.

A thought rose in Ji Feichen’s heart, but he stifled it. “If Lady Golden Silkworm wasn’t killed by the mystic sect, how could she die so suddenly? The demon sect has no reason to trouble her. Is there some hidden secret here? Yet, her cave is mysterious and hard to investigate, and besides, I have no time for it now.”

He let the thought go and turned to the man and the mother and child.

The woman knelt before Ji Feichen, clutching her child, her voice urgent, “I beg the immortal to save my son’s life!”

The man echoed, “Please, save my child!”

Ji Feichen examined the infant. The child, seized by the Black Saint Sect, had bruises on his body and was tainted with demonic energy, which was slowly spreading across his skin.

The Earthly Turbid Demonic Qi is a deadly poison for ordinary people. Before Ji Feichen cultivated the Demonic Dragon Sutra, he had to spend several years gradually acclimating his body to the demonic aura, forging the “Black Demonic Body” before truly practicing the Demonic Dragon Art.

“Fortunately, the child didn’t encounter those demons who eat human hearts raw.” Ji Feichen glanced around; none of the black-robed sorcerers were familiar, so he relaxed.

Cannibalism was a custom of the ancient wilds. In the Black Saint Sect and Six-Armed Demon God Sect, it still persists. Among the Black Saint Sect’s favorite dishes is roasted infant.

Ji Feichen flicked his finger, channeling his power to extract the demonic energy from the child. Yet, the Black Saint Sect’s sorcerous curse was cunning and malignant, and Ji Feichen feared his power might harm the infant, so he dared not act too forcefully.

“This demonic energy is hard to remove.” Ji Feichen pondered alternative methods. At that moment, he sensed a peculiar fluctuation in the ruins.

He waved his hand, and from the rubble floated out a huqin. Its head was carved with a dragon’s visage, the dragon energy within catching Ji Feichen’s attention.

“What is this?”

“This is a family heirloom, brought over when we migrated from the Central Plains,” the man hurriedly replied. “If the immortal fancies it, please take it; all I ask is your mercy in saving my son.”

A strand of dragon energy emerged from Ji Feichen’s hand, and the huqin flew into his grasp.

“This huqin is an artifact, and the aura within is subtly demonic, clearly of the Western Demon Sect’s style.” Ji Feichen thought of the Yazi Blade in his possession, similar to this instrument.

He set the huqin aside and said, “Your child is contaminated by demonic energy; I alone cannot cure him. Even if I succeed, he will be left mentally impaired, doomed to a life of dullness.”

The man was stunned, then gritted his teeth. “If you can save him, even a lifetime of foolishness is enough!”

“No rush. My power is limited; healing has many drawbacks. But I know an extraordinary person who can surely cure your child.” Ji Feichen wrote a letter, drew a map, and instructed them to head north.

“Your village has been burned; survival will be difficult. I’ll help you to the end. Go north to Nine He Mountain, stand on the northern cliff and call out. That person is reclusive; if he refuses to appear, simply take your child and leap off the cliff.”

“Leap off the cliff?” The couple was startled, but seeing Ji Feichen was not joking, their hearts were uneasy.

Ultimately, the man agreed, “Thank you for your guidance.” This immortal was powerful; if he meant harm, he wouldn’t need such elaborate measures. Perhaps the eccentric truly had some peculiar habit?

The man bowed to Ji Feichen. “We have no way to repay you for saving our child. Please accept this Prisoned Ox Huqin as a token of gratitude.”

“Prisoned Ox Huqin?” Ji Feichen mused; Prisoned Ox, like Yazi, was a dragon-kind beast.

“Together with the Jiaotu I saw earlier, perhaps these are somehow linked to my Dragon Path?”

Ji Feichen took out a leopard pouch, prepared some rations, and sent the couple on their way. He lingered in the ruins for a while, and seeing no one come to trouble him, he relaxed.

“Since the Black Saint Sect doesn’t care, they won’t pursue the matter or trouble the couple.”

Ji Feichen stowed the Prisoned Ox Huqin and moved on. When he returned to the Netherworld Sect’s territory, he suddenly halted. “You who hide and skulk like phantoms—are you from the Azure Branch? Could it be Sister Qingyi leading the group?”

The haunted woods were windless, the valley empty, no sign of beasts and no birdcalls. Ji Feichen raised the Demon Dragon Mace, a black river unfurling behind him. “If you fellow disciples don’t reveal yourselves, don’t blame me for being rude!”

From the woods, blue smoke rose, and a graceful woman with numerous disciples emerged. As they walked forth, ghostly flames leapt from the forest.

Ji Feichen’s sword brows arched. “Well done; you set the Hundred Ghost Phosphorus Fire Array just for me?”

The dense forest was now a land of absolute ghosts, transformed by the Azure Branch’s magic. If Ji Feichen approached, even from above, the ghost fires would drag him down, allowing the Azure Branch to capture him.

Luo Qingyi led the group out. She had been tricked by Ji Feichen at Tiger Departure Mountain, forced to act as a scout alongside Xiao Ying and to battle the Black Moon Demon Fox. Though she escaped, most of her followers were slain by Ji Feichen and Xiao Ying; only Luo Qingyi survived.

Harboring deep hatred, Luo Qingyi had ordered her people to guard every peak of the Netherworld Sect.

Yet, the deeper her resentment, the sweeter her smile. She coquettishly said, “Junior Brother Ji, after you left Tiger Departure Mountain, you disappeared. Sister has been worried. Would you come to my Azure Robe Hall as a guest, so I can help you heal your wounds?” As she spoke, her allure was evident, her enchanting gaze sent repeatedly toward him.

“Another charm technique from the Heavenly Heart Demon Sect?” Ji Feichen was dismissive; he was never afraid of Luo Qingyi’s petty tricks. Now, her enchantments were utterly powerless against his will.

Luo Qingyi stared fixedly at Ji Feichen. Since his return, his aura was completely different—besides its former depth, it now held a bold, domineering quality.

“He’s fully comprehended the Dragon Path through his Demonic Dragon Sutra?” Luo Qingyi’s face became greedy. If she could dual cultivate with Ji Feichen, borrowing his Dragon Path insight to refine her Heavenly Demon Dao, she could finally blend strength and softness, washing away the aftereffects of her former practices.

“If we trap him with our Hundred Ghost Phosphorus Fire Array, then call a few senior brothers to subdue him—”

Suddenly, Ji Feichen moved!

The black river behind him exploded, countless streams of Nether Spirit Poison Water like rain dousing the ghost fires in the forest.

He swept away all obstacles, overwhelming heaven and earth, his energy flowing like rivers, converging like a hundred streams to the sea. In the blink of an eye, Ji Feichen’s vast power crushed all of Luo Qingyi’s arrangements.

Ji Feichen tapped his palm with the Demon Dragon Mace, speaking leisurely, “Sister Luo, I appreciate your kindness. But I am perfectly uninjured; why not spar with you all a bit?”

“You’re about to break through?” Luo Qingyi’s face was pale; she sensed that Ji Feichen’s power now rivaled the sect’s outstanding disciples—not just his generation, but those senior brothers nearing the human immortal realm.

“By the measure of his power, he could condense ninety thousand True Waters.” Distracted, she heard screams erupt; all her followers were wounded by Ji Feichen’s Demon Dragon Mace.

Calmly, Ji Feichen walked past her. “Sister, you play those empty games all day, but your cultivation never advances. A few days without seeing you, and you’re just the same. Perhaps in a hundred years, I’ll truly see a pile of beautiful skeletons.” He patted her shoulder lightly, and Luo Qingyi broke into a cold sweat, afraid that Ji Feichen might turn murderous at any moment.