Chapter Five: The Dungeon

Beneath the blood-veined golden wood, after winding down the long stairway passage, one finally entered the underground chamber.

The quiet stone room was overgrown with moss and algae, while tendrils of bloodvine seeped from the ground. In the corners stood stone seats and beds, alongside stone basins, bowls, and a variety of implements of torture. Torches flared in the damp, gloomy cellar, illuminating the dim stone chamber.

Ji Feichen tossed Sima Kang onto the central stone platform, where several bloodvines automatically bound him, forming a crimson wooden cage that hung above the prison floor.

Apart from Sima Kang, four other identical blood cages hung beside him. These held other demonic cultivators previously captured by Ji Feichen, kept alive in hopes of extracting secrets from their mouths.

“Brothers and sisters, rejoice! Celebrate! I’ve brought you a new companion,” Ji Feichen said, clapping his hands. “This is Brother Sima from the Radiant Sun Path. Come, let’s give him a warm welcome.”

Playing the role alone, Ji Feichen received only silence from the four cages. After so long in captivity, they had lost all strength to struggle.

“Ah, it seems everyone isn’t too welcoming to Brother Sima,” Ji Feichen shook his head and sighed, picking up a branding iron and gesturing idly in the air.

Suddenly, applause came from one cage, followed by scattered clapping from the others.

“That’s better, isn’t it?” Ji Feichen casually heated the iron over candle flame.

Meanwhile, Sima Kang endured the agony in his lower body, turning to observe the others. His legs had been severed, but bloodvines had rejoined them, forming a pair of wooden legs—at the cost of merging him irreversibly with the blood cage.

He gazed at the other four cages, surprise on his face, for he recognized two familiar figures.

“Zhang Ya from the White Lotus Pure Sect and Yang Siwen of the Six-Armed Demon Sect? Weren’t they rumored to have perished exploring an immortal mansion? Could it be the mansion they entered was here?”

Sima Kang immediately understood Ji Feichen’s intent. The death of Qiu Yuelian likely had to do with the fact that someone from the White Lotus Pure Sect had already been captured. Ji Feichen was seeking to gather representatives from all ten branches of the Yuan Gate to probe its supreme secrets. It was said that assembling the secret techniques of the ten branches could unlock supreme mysteries.

Ji Feichen played with the branding iron and approached one blood cage. “Sister Zhang, I’ve obtained a cosmic sachet from your White Lotus Pure Sect. Please, teach me how to open it.” His tone was polite as he extended the iron.

Zhang Ya’s hands had merged with the bloodvines. Seeing the iron enter her cage, she immediately recited a spell for Ji Feichen, enabling him to claim Qiu Yuelian’s possessions.

“Sister, you are indeed straightforward,” Ji Feichen lowered the cage slightly. “One more question: can your sect’s Lotus Reincarnation technique be performed before reaching the Human Immortal stage? Is it possible to seize another’s body?”

“Why do you ask?” Zhang Ya’s voice was hoarse. “Do you intend to seize someone?” She glanced through disheveled hair at the others. Was Ji Feichen planning to infiltrate other demon sects by body-snatching?

Sima Kang vaguely understood Ji Feichen’s plan—was he seeking to escape the blood curse's shackles? Sima Kang’s lips curled in a cruel smile: those of the Yuan Gate have sworn sacred blood oaths; how could you escape so easily?

“Sister, you’ve been here for months. Surely you know my temperament?” Ji Feichen’s smile was radiant, but his eyes grew colder. In the blood prison, only he asked questions; no one else had the right to interrogate him.

Fearing his implements, Zhang Ya reluctantly explained the White Lotus Pure Sect’s methods.

The Daoists call their path the Mysterious, the demon sects the Yuan. Both have myriad techniques, though most divide levels as Mortal Shedding, Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, and Celestial Immortal. Yet every sect has its own internal classifications.

The Yellow Vein of the Yin Nether Sect uses the Nine Refinements method, where sand mother signifies a golden core, and cinnabar marks the shedding of mortality. The White Lotus Pure Sect is similar—they do not cultivate the physical body, but refer to refining essence into qi as “Planting the Lotus of the Dao Heart,” condensing a lotus embryo. When the lotus blooms, the self is revealed; lotus of three grades corresponds to the Human Immortal fruit. Then, by raising the grade of the White Lotus Dao Embryo, when it reaches the ninth grade, one may ascend to Celestial Immortal.

Lotus embryos, cinnabar, bone pearls, and mysterious dragon pearls—all these are manifestations of the Dao’s essence, no different from the golden core. Every sect and every technique has its own unique divisions. Yet with three thousand immortal sects and eight hundred side paths, for convenience, the common terms Mortal Shedding, Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, and Celestial Immortal are used.

“Our White Lotus Pure Sect does not cultivate the body, but the spirit. As long as the lotus persists, one can be reborn endlessly in others. We call this the ‘Wheel-turning Secret Art.’ However, this reincarnation technique is restricted: only those who practice the ‘Pure World White Lotus Technique’ can perform it at the Human Immortal stage. If forced before that, one will lose their current body.” This was Zhang Ya’s warning to Ji Feichen, to prevent him from targeting her and the others for body-seizing.

“So, it means awakening in a new body at the cost of abandoning the present one?” Ji Feichen thought of similar practices in past religions.

In the White Lotus Pure Sect, before a saint dies, the Dao embryo is transferred into a newborn child, who then awakens to see the lotus, reviving once more. Such newborn girls are regarded as sacred maidens.

Ji Feichen mused, “This secret art could serve as a last resort—if all else fails, I could attempt to seize another’s body, sacrificing my own.” He felt little attachment to the body he had inhabited for several years, having transmigrated into it—he cared little for its preservation.

“But my ‘Mysterious Dragon Demon Scripture’ cultivates mysterious demonic qi, with all my foundation in the body. If I gave up this body and started anew, what would be the difference? Would I need to practice a method that cultivates the spirit?”

The ‘Pure World White Lotus Technique’ was excellent, but the White Lotus Pure Sect valued fairness, with the white lotus as the root, and the heart manifesting outward. Practicing their teachings turned one into a compassionate figure, exuding an aura of celestial benevolence that inspired devotion to the sect.

Ji Feichen disliked such methods, and besides, their effects were too obvious—any attempt would be immediately detected by the Yin Nether Sect’s experts.

“I must find a formless, invisible method to secretly strengthen the spirit,” Ji Feichen thought as he sorted his spoils.

Setting up the immortal mansion, waiting for others to deliver treasures—truly an effortless way to profit.

This time, Ji Feichen’s gains were substantial. The loose cultivators like Old Cao who roamed ancient battlefields had little worth, but the possessions of the demon sect disciples were what mattered.

Among Qiu Yuelian’s sachet, aside from several bottles of starlight dew, there was one of moon dew.

Heavenly dew was the most common currency in the cultivation world. A single drop of starlight dew equaled the daily mana a novice cultivator could condense. Cultivators traded starlight dew for pills, techniques, and other goods. Moon dew was superior, requiring a month’s lunar essence to condense one drop. Each drop contained a lunar pattern, reflecting the month’s cycle from new moon to crescent, then back again. Such moon dew was prized by Human Immortal level cultivators for nourishing the soul—the lunar essence was ideal for this purpose.

Day dew, meanwhile, took a year to condense—a single drop called Pure Yang True Water, worth ten thousand times more than starlight dew, suitable for Earth Immortal consumption.

Generally, moon dew and starlight dew were the circulating currencies. The legendary immortal nectar of the mortal realm was, in truth, moon dew—said to be a secret medicine from the lunar palace.

“Moon dew refines the soul—even consuming this bottle would enhance my spiritual nature,” Ji Feichen emptied the sachet. Besides the usual pills and herbs, there were two books. One contained Qiu Yuelian’s own notes—insights and tips gleaned from practicing the ‘Pure World White Lotus Technique.’

This was typical for most cultivators—few carried complete sect techniques, as sects never allowed them to roam with such treasures.

However, one might find books from other sects.

Qiu Yuelian had once infiltrated a Daoist sect to steal a scripture, but hadn’t read it yet, leaving it for Ji Feichen’s benefit.

“Nine Rays Turtle Platform Pure Heart Treasure Manual of West Hua.” Ji Feichen flipped through the text—it was a technique focused on spiritual cultivation, the first step being to visualize the turtle platform, then condense the true form of the fairy Yaoji. It was a method for female cultivators to ascend.

“This method suits the women of the White Lotus Pure Sect, not someone like me.” Ji Feichen shivered and tossed the book aside, searching through the others’ possessions.

Liang Chuming, who shared Ji Feichen’s lineage, had items Ji Feichen dared not use openly, lest the sect discover them. He carefully put away bottles of pills and spiritual sand, then discovered a scroll of array diagrams.

“Nine Elements Celestial Sky Diagram?” Ji Feichen studied the scroll, noting its peculiar material—neither gold nor jade, but yellow-green throughout. It described a method for multiplying the power of techniques nine times, layering the array’s might. In its ideal state, the main array wielder could amplify their strength eighty-one times.

Alongside the scroll was a booklet explaining how to fuse nine types of cinnabar to form a special sand mother, which could be inscribed with the array diagram innately.

“Liang Chuming’s handwriting—this must be his inspiration.” Reading the booklet, Ji Feichen understood why Liang Chuming had worked so hard to refine multiple cinnabars. He aimed to mix nine types to form a sand mother golden core with nine innate apertures, automatically carrying the nine-element array. This would let him, upon attaining Human Immortal, unleash several times the normal power—eventually, up to eighty-one-fold, sweeping aside peers.

Ji Feichen then took out his own notebook, calculating based on the ‘Mysterious Dragon Demon Scripture.’

“This array could amplify combat power. If I incorporate its patterns when refining my dragon pearl golden core, I could enhance my strength accordingly.”

If he prepared nine sets of materials for core formation, his power could be nine times greater than others’.

“It’s a fine idea, but where can I find nine-fold spiritual materials for the Demon Dragon Scripture? Besides, I’m not refining sand mother—how can I divide my mana nine ways?” He calculated halfway, unable to proceed, so he recorded the inspiration for later.

Lastly, he sorted the belongings of the Radiant Sun Demon Sect disciples. Aside from starlight and moon dew, he ignored their magical implements, tossing them aside without a glance. Sima Kang watched in pain as his prized implements lay abandoned, including one nearly at the level of a treasure weapon. Did Ji Feichen not even covet it?

The Radiant Sun Demon Sect focused on cultivating demonic sun, worshipping the sun as supreme and refining the Golden Crow demon body—quite different from Ji Feichen’s path. Their treasures could not be refined by him. However, in Sima Kang’s leopard pouch, another book brought Ji Feichen great delight.

“Supreme Jade Cloud Dragon Essence True Explanation?” Clutching the jade tome, Ji Feichen grinned, asking Sima Kang, “Brother, a proud demon disciple, yet you study a Supreme Daoist technique?”

Sima Kang, newly imprisoned and still arrogant, ignored Ji Feichen.

Ji Feichen nonchalantly pressed the branding iron to his body.

“Aaah—” Sima Kang’s screams echoed through the chamber, a scent of burned flesh drifting forth.

Zhang Ya and the others looked on with pity. They had suffered similarly—initially defiant, but ultimately their wisdom was squeezed out by Ji Feichen’s relentless questioning.

By extracting their insights, Ji Feichen broadened his perspective. He flipped through the book and understood, “Our demon sect methods emphasize rapid progress, lacking in spiritual cultivation compared to the Daoists. Especially the Radiant Sun Demon Sect’s techniques, which are fierce and aggressive, easily leading to inner demons. So Brother sought the Supreme Daoist visualization method to calm his mind?”

He picked up a thin needle and pricked Sima Kang’s acupoints, sending waves of numbness through him. Sima Kang nodded slightly and muttered, “Yes.”

Having pried open his mouth, Ji Feichen smiled with satisfaction and continued reading.

The Daoist schools trace their lineage to the Three Respectful Paths, with the Supreme Daoist venerable teaching all without discrimination, spreading the truth of the Dao and transmitting knowledge to three thousand immortal sects.

The ‘Supreme Jade Cloud Dragon Essence True Explanation’ was a visualization method for spiritual cultivation, not involving the Daoist purification of heavenly qi.

Daoists refine pure qi, demon sects cultivate turbid qi—if both are practiced together, disaster ensues.

“That’s right, both Qiu Yuelian and Sima Kang are from demon sects; the Daoist methods they sought must be compatible with demon cultivation.” Ji Feichen had lately sensed signs of inner demonic imbalance. Without Sima Kang’s book, he would have had to seek a Daoist scripture or use merit to suppress the inner demons.

The ‘Supreme Jade Cloud Dragon Essence True Explanation’ focused on spiritual cultivation through visualization, likening the spirit to a dragon—praising the Supreme Daoist as being flexible and powerful, able to ascend to the azure heavens or descend to the deepest abyss.

Ji Feichen closed his eyes, silently visualizing the Supreme Daoist’s form in his mind.