Chapter Seventy-Five: The Peach Orchard

"Are you the rogue immortal Qinghong?" The man behind him stepped onto a blood lotus, a ferocious demonic aura surging straight toward them.

Ji Feichen frowned. This man was utterly different from any human immortal he had ever encountered. His eyes flashed with a sharp light as he invoked his spiritual vision. In his eyes, the man before him resembled an endless, winding river of blood, within which countless vengeful souls and baleful spirits floated among the surging crimson waves.

To cultivate a Dao Fruit was not merely an individual achievement—it was a communion with heaven and earth, a penetration into the very principles of the Dao. If one's cultivation was high enough, one could manifest their Dao Fruit, affecting the workings of the surrounding world.

"A Dharma Aspect?" Ji Feichen murmured, subconsciously summoning his own Dao Fruit—a boundless, azure sea of clear waves. The water was gentle and persistent, white waves rolling in layers, with the shadow of a dragon drifting beneath the surface, resonating with the clear waters beneath the lotuses.

Seeing Ji Feichen reveal his Dharma Aspect, Duan Ying's face darkened with murderous intent, his heart filling with caution.

In the Xuan-Yuan tradition, the divisions of realms were crude, for cultivation level did not always equate to combat strength. Even a newly ascended human immortal, armed with a few immortal artifacts, could easily overpower seasoned immortals—such as the demon-restraining artifacts within the Lingwei Immortal Palace. Moreover, with shortcuts like Dao Fruit Oaths, there were experts like the Demon Consort and Master Peng, whose Dao Fruit had reached the Earth Immortal level, yet whose bodies and spiritual power remained at the human immortal stage.

Thus, the Human Immortal realm had no strict grading or subdivisions—no first, second, or third grades, nor early, middle, or late stages. Instead, it was described by one’s own cultivation and understanding: Dao Stabilization, Divine Manifestation, and Profound Comprehension.

After becoming a human immortal, there was a period spent stabilizing the foundation—this was Dao Stabilization, wherein one determined their future path, tempered their body, and refined their spiritual power.

Once everything was solidified, one could manifest their own Dharma Aspect, elevating the power of the Dao Fruit—this was called the "Divine Manifestation." At this stage, one could wield supernatural powers at will. The primordial spirit began to develop, attaching itself to the Dharma Aspect, allowing the "Yin Spirit" to leave the body and roam the world.

Go one step further, and one attained Profound Comprehension, entering a subtle and wondrous state, contemplating the Yellow Court, and gaining insight into the true meaning of the Dao. It was said this term originated from the Supreme Palace’s own "Three Caverns True Scripture." Any disciple of the Supreme Palace, once becoming a human immortal, would step directly into the Profound Comprehension realm, their level surpassing all others. Yet, in the end, realm did not equal strength—even if you foresaw your own death, you could only watch as doom descended, powerless to escape disaster.

"He cultivated his Dharma Aspect soon after ascending, truly a master of the One-Yuan Path. Only by condensing a Dao Fruit while still mortal can one swiftly bypass the initial stabilization and manifest their own Dharma Aspect!"

Ji Feichen, mastering the One-Yuan Dao, had consummate spiritual power. Earlier, during his clash with the Western demon, he had instinctively grasped the power of the Dharma Aspect, sending his Yin Spirit dragon to roam outside his body. If he wished, he could send the celestial dragon flying across the land, acting independently. Of course, his body could not be harmed or left unattended for too long, or he might suffer the fate of a certain Eight Immortal from China—a cautionary tale.

"So the current heir of Blood Sea is no more than this. This boy cannot be allowed to live!" Duan Ying’s face was icy, the blood curtain behind him sweeping outward, the vengeful souls within the waves surging toward Ji Feichen, seeking his life.

Though experienced, Ji Feichen had only just formed his Dharma Aspect and was unaccustomed to combat between human immortals. His techniques were raw, but his comprehension was extraordinary. He quickly learned the true essence of battle from Duan Ying.

"Change!" Ji Feichen’s right hand dropped, white light stirring the waves, from which water-serpents, dragon-shaped, leapt onto the blood lotus. In his other hand, he raised a jeweled pagoda, golden light and dragon shadows shattering the phantoms of vengeful souls.

"These are not true ghosts. Of course—who would dare imprison souls? Are they not afraid of trouble from the Netherworld?" These vengeful souls were cultivators slain by Duan Ying, their spirits recondensed by his bloody demonic aura. Yet such things were supremely sinister, perfectly suppressed by the Dragon God Tower of Celestial Gold.

"You have a fine pagoda there, boy. Which immortal sect did you inherit it from? It seems to have ties to the East Sea Dragon Palace?" Duan Ying didn’t even glance at the water serpents. With a shake of his robe, they were all dispersed, the splashing droplets swallowed up by the blood on his body.

Ji Feichen’s heart pounded; he could already sense that this man’s spiritual power was far beyond his own.

"We’re both in the human immortal realm, with Dharma Aspects, but I’m still too weak."

Little did he consider that he had cultivated for just over a decade, while Duan Ying had been training for three hundred years. If he couldn’t defeat Ji Feichen, the Blood Sea Holy Land might as well close its doors for good.

After a few exchanges, Ji Feichen realized he was outmatched. Meanwhile, in the distance, Duan Ying’s companion was polluting the clear waters of the lotus pond, intending to turn the place into a demonic domain.

"Summon clouds and call rain!" With just a snap of his fingers, Ji Feichen’s Dao Fruit power was unleashed. This was the essence of supernatural powers—acting at will, a heaven-bestowed gift of every human immortal.

The silver celestial dragon plunged into the water, inhaling deeply before spraying clear water into the air. Mist rose, and fine rain fell. A rainbow arched across the blue lotuses, distinctly separating the blood and clear water.

Mist shrouded the scene, pure light filling the air. Duan Ying and his companion wore looks of disgust, using demonic light and baleful aura to purify the celestial rain.

"That water is the demon-restraining purification left by the Lingwei Immortal Palace—be careful," his companion warned.

"I know." Duan Ying’s gaze locked onto Ji Feichen, who had no intention of continuing the fight. Turning, he fled toward the Azure Clouds Gate.

Duan Ying gave a cruel laugh. "Trying to run, boy?" Behind him, a blood-red chariot surged out of the waves, drawn by demonic beasts and trailed by blood spirits. Leaping onto the chariot, its wheels spinning, he drove the black wind and demonic fire after Ji Feichen.

Ji Feichen advanced step by step toward the gate, the blood chariot thundering down upon him at many times his speed. With a gesture, Duan Ying unleashed his own demonic fire, causing the blue lotuses beneath Ji Feichen’s feet to wither and die.

"His supernatural power touches on the laws of life and death?" Ji Feichen twisted his body, freezing a patch of ice beneath his feet to stand firm.

But now, Duan Ying was only a few paces away.

"This is bad. If he catches up and entangles me, and his companion manages to pollute the water, I’ll surely be defeated!" Ji Feichen’s heart sank. Suddenly, something in the water caught his eye.

The clear water revealed the bottom, where several glittering pearls lay.

"They’re similar to my Azure Tide Pearl. If used in the demon-suppressing waters..." Inspiration struck, and without hesitation, he hurled the Azure Tide Pearl.

A beam of azure light shot to the bottom, striking one of the pearls.

Crack—

The pearl shattered, and a string of bubbles rose. Soon, the other pearls began to break, fine golden light gathering at the bottom.

Ji Feichen spun around. "Fan, come!" The dragon whisk in his hand transformed into a jeweled fan. With a powerful sweep, he used the recoil to propel himself toward the Azure Clouds Gate.

The Blood Sea demons were quick to recognize it. "The Yin-Yang Dragon Whisk Fan of Cloud Sky Pavilion? So you’re a remnant of Cloud Sky Pavilion!"

Duan Ying raised a jeweled gourd at his waist, spraying blood and demonic light to form a shield before him.

"Brother, be careful!"

Just as Duan Ying was about to take the fan’s blow head-on, his companion’s urgent cry came from behind, voice tense as though they had discovered something.

Duan Ying instinctively checked—golden light was surging through the clear waters all around. Ripples shimmered in layers, waves rising and falling with immense power, already purifying the outermost blood water back into clear water.

"Demon-Subduing Heavenly Light?" Duan Ying sounded alarmed, quickly retreating.

The 108 pearls in the water exploded in a chain reaction, a massive pillar of light shooting into the sky. Everything in the water was enveloped in golden light.

Duan Ying couldn’t dodge in time. Enveloped by the heavenly light, both he and his blood chariot were purified.

"As expected, the key was not the clear water itself, but the 108 Demon-Subduing Golden Pearls within. Breaking one triggered a chain reaction to suppress the demon."

The golden light endured for a quarter hour. Bathed in it, the blood and water in Duan Ying’s body were slowly purified, and his cultivation steadily fell. But as a veteran demon, he barely managed to self-destruct several magic treasures to save his life.

"Lingwei Sect!" His battered body floated in midair. After a furious roar, Duan Ying glared hatefully at Ji Feichen. His supernatural power was intricately tied to the laws of life and death; a lotus bloomed upon his body, healing his flesh with powerful magic. "Boy, if I ever catch you—"

"And if you do, what then?" Ji Feichen, now beneath the Azure Clouds Gate, cupped his hands from afar. "Senior, safe travels."

Before Duan Ying could react, a blade of sword energy fell from the portal above, shattering both the lotus of life and death and his Dao Fruit. His soul dispersed into nothingness, returning to the Netherworld.

The companion on the shore looked on with a complicated expression, having already noticed the sword above the Azure Clouds Gate. Hidden within it was the light of the Nine Heavens, resonating with the Demon-Subduing Golden Light in the pool, possessing the power to wound even an Earth Immortal. Ji Feichen, unfamiliar with its use, had not realized that if the trap were properly triggered, it could have slain them both instantly.

"Lingwei Sect..." the surviving demon muttered, as if finally understanding why his sect so feared this place, and why so many of his peers were reluctant to come here.

This immortal palace was not merely difficult to seize; for demons, it was a veritable dragon’s lair.

"With defenses like these, what could possibly lie beyond the Azure Clouds Gate that warrants such careful protection?"

...

"After all, these are forbidden wards left by an immortal palace—far too effective against demons." Ji Feichen turned and entered the gate. At that moment, a streak of azure light followed and flew automatically into his hand.

Looking closely, he saw it was a Water Spirit Pearl, verdant and crystal clear—the essence of the pool, condensed after the Demon-Subduing Waters had been unleashed.

Ji Feichen weighed the pearl in his palm. "If thrown, it will automatically turn into a pool of demon-suppressing water—perfect against demons. No doubt left here deliberately by a predecessor."

If the golden light failed to kill, and the sword didn’t finish the job, then the orthodox cultivator could strike one last blow with the Water Spirit Pearl.

"Our predecessors were truly meticulous." Ji Feichen carefully put away the pearl, then looked ahead. Instantly, an aura of immortal energy overwhelmed him.

Peach trees in full bloom, verdant leaves, a fragrance wafting for miles, a thousand trees in every forest.

"Peaches of Immortality?" Ji Feichen was stunned. Before him, immortal energy condensed into colored clouds, within which stood row upon row of flourishing peach trees, laden with fruit, each peach a spiritual object nourished by immortal energy.

"This..." Ji Feichen was so shocked he could not speak. The endless groves of immortal peaches stretched beyond sight, their intoxicating aroma alone making his spiritual power surge within him. This was a true immortal treasure!

"Let alone our Netherworld Sect—even among the orthodox schools, this forest rivals several of the great paradise sects. Is this the true foundation of the Lingwei Sect?"