Chapter Eighty-Nine: Ice and Thunder Subdue the Enemy

After a brief silence, Tao Wanru broke the deadlock. The clear voice of the young girl rang out: “I heard there is a shortcut for cultivating into an immortal in the Blood Sea.”

“To demon-corrupt nine earth immortals of the same rank, until one reaches the state of the Ninefold Unity?” Ninefold Unity, like the Five Qi Returning to the Origin of human immortals, was a symbol of the utmost limit of cultivation.

No one here was foolish. Though they had been attacked, the assailant did not give chase, and everyone had already begun to understand. The Blood Sea earth immortal’s true target was not them at all, but the earth-immortal spirit souls of the Lingwei Immortal Abode who refused to leave.

Earth immortals who had cultivated the yang spirit might die, but their intelligence would not perish. Since the inheritance of the immortal abode had not yet been passed on, and their obsessions remained unresolved, they were unwilling to enter reincarnation directly. They waited for the future, hoping to find a successor and then merge back into the cycle of rebirth, or else have their successors restore them to life.

The aim of the Blood Sea earth immortal numbered fifty-six was precisely their spirit souls. To demon-corrupt the dao fruit of an earth immortal’s spirit soul—what sort of “merit” would that be? This merit was the achievement bestowed by the Blood Sea dao fruit itself, following the logic of the demonic path. If he turned the spirit souls of nine earth immortals into blood spirit puppets within the Blood Sea dao fruit, he could in one step ascend to the realm of heavenly man.

Though retaliation from the Orthodox sects might follow afterward, compared with some sect’s inheritance or the safety of others, with the chance to attain the Dao lying right before him, how could he yield?

“Actually, there’s no need to worry about that. Compared with us, those from the Orthodox sects will certainly not let the matter rest if they are protecting the spirit souls of the Lingwei Sect’s earth immortals.” After some thought, Toad Palace River Zen suddenly smiled. “That senior’s intent is the earth immortal spirit souls. It doesn’t really intersect with our interests. So long as we don’t rush up and oppose him head-on, I believe he won’t easily move against us.”

Would a tiger ever chase a mouse that did not even count as prey?

At first, everyone had merely been caught in the moment and happened to run into the earth immortals. But now, as long as they avoided direct conflict properly, that person might not necessarily trouble them.

“By then, once he has attained the supreme dao fruit of heavenly man, he naturally won’t keep hounding us.”

Yang Fei picked up the thread. “So we let the people of the Orthodox sect take the blow?”

“Exactly.”

“But what if he targets us?”

“Then we promptly submit. We might even borrow his power to deal with the Orthodox sect.”

The others discussed it. The four from the Netherdark Sect exchanged looks. The Blood Sea was not on their side.

Zheng Qiong considered it repeatedly. Though the Netherdark Sect had old grudges with the Blood Sea, that person probably would not strike at a few junior disciples of the Netherdark Sect at a time like this.

“We can help a little. But the best outcome is not that he succeeds in becoming a heavenly immortal. Rather, it should be that he and the earth immortals of the Orthodox sects perish together. Only then will it serve the interests of our Netherdark Sect.” Zheng Qiong secretly conferred with his companions, and the other three gave barely perceptible nods. Ling Feng and the others also approved of this plan. First, they would act cordially while harboring other intentions, then find a way to scheme against both the Blood Sea and the Orthodox sects.

Yet in his heart, Ji Feichen thought: the people of the Orthodox sects likely are no match for that Blood Sea earth immortal. It would still be necessary to lend them a hand.

“If we do not disturb that senior’s cultivation, and if there are people from the Orthodox sect to take the blame, then our next task is simply to seize control of the immortal abode and obtain the nine Demon-Subduing Banners.”

As for the Demon-Subduing Banners, it was clear that Toad Palace and the Fierce Yang Demon Church desired them the most.

“And there is also the hidden Earth Demon Church. The Four-Directions Church is determined to get this treasure.” Ji Feichen happened to possess one Azure Cloud Demon-Subduing Banner himself, and thus understood the might of this ancient treasure. The banner was forged from the pure numinous clouds of the nine heavens, bearing innate clear and harmonious yang energy capable of restraining all evil arts and demonic techniques. With a single wave, it could surround the body in golden flowers and auspicious radiance, making most demonic methods unable to harm it. It could truly be called a supreme treasure for suppressing the demonic path. If all nine banners were combined, they could form an ancient immortal array and annihilate demonic cultivators.

After that, everyone split up.

Tao Wanru led part of the group to take over the immortal abode. The northern and southern demon sects moved separately to search for the Demon-Subduing treasures. Ji Feichen and Heavenly Successor went one way, while Zheng Qiong and Ling Feng went another, charged with gathering the remaining two kinds of spiritual medicine.

“The immortal abode is the most important. Once we have gathered the spiritual medicine, we’ll go back and help Tao Wanru. On one hand, we can rely on the immortal abode for protection; on the other, we can earn a favor from the Demon Consort.” After instructing his fellow disciples, Zheng Qiong split off with them and departed in two directions.

Ji Feichen had not gone far with Heavenly Successor when, all at once, a surge of Water-Quintessence thunder light struck at him.

He remained unmoved. Before him, a dark river of netherwater automatically manifested to block the water thunder, and he lifted his eyes toward the source. “Why have you come? Aren’t you afraid of being discovered by the Orthodox sect?”

The white-clad youth was perched atop a rocky outcrop, eating a red fruit. With one leap, he descended and extended a hand before Ji Feichen. “I’ll help you disguise yourself as a demonic cultivator. First, you go over there in your Orthodox sect identity to rendezvous, and find a way to help the Orthodox sect deal with the Blood Sea earth immortal.”

As he spoke, Tu Shan’s aura shifted. Being very familiar with Ji Feichen, his Fox Heaven mystique could perfectly imitate every gesture and movement of Ji Feichen.

Ji Feichen handed him the Demon Dragon Staff. “How is the situation on the Orthodox sect side?”

“They split into two groups. Some went to inherit the immortal abode, while the rest are preparing to search for treasures within it. Be careful not to let the Blood Sea man discover you.”

The two exchanged roles, and Tu Shan left with Heavenly Successor. Ji Feichen revealed the face of an Orthodox sect loose cultivator and went first to find Li Jingxun.

Among the exchanges of the demon lords just now, Li Jingxun had already become a must-kill figure for the demonic side. Moreover, in their calculations, she might still be staying put to trap the demonic disciples. So Jiang Chan took two companions and rushed off to kill her.

Of course, this was also because they had learned from the Fierce Yang Demon Church that the successor of the Supreme One was not there. Otherwise, even with ten times their courage, they would not have dared trouble Li Jingxun.

Ji Feichen knew Li Jingxun from before, and he hurried ahead by water escape to find her. However, he was not the third wave to arrive. Before him, another group of Orthodox sect disciples had already reached the palace where Li Jingxun was hiding.

Jing Xuan, Fu Yutang, and Zhang Yuanchu came together.

Jing Xuan said, “Senior Brother divined for Junior Brother Fu and said there is a fated treasure here for him. I wonder where it is?”

As soon as they entered, they looked up and saw the painting hanging high inside.

The three immediately bowed. “We juniors have come to seek treasure. We respectfully invite the senior to reveal himself.”

Li Jingxun was hiding within the painting. She blinked at Zhang Yuanchu and Jing Xuan, thinking to herself, Why have my two senior brothers come here? Should I have them help me ambush the demonic cultivators?

Her lovely eyes swept toward Fu Yutang beside her. Li Jingxun understood the workings of fate and immediately realized that Fu Yutang was bound by destiny to some Demon-Subduing treasure in her possession.

“I don’t lack magical treasures anyway. Why not give it to him?” So the painting stirred, and the figure within it smiled faintly, extending a hand to point at a meditation cushion and lead the others to seek the treasure.

Li Jingxun had imitated the immortal method of imparting the Dao, leaving a scripture on the cushion. Only the one who could read the scripture would obtain the magical treasure.

Zhang Yuanchu stepped forward and glanced at it. The scripture was not difficult; the Dao Virtue Sect already had explanations for such texts. “It seems this was intentionally set up to keep demonic sect members from taking the treasure. So long as one is from the Orthodox sect, there should be little difficulty.”

Fu Yutang cultivated overseas, but his master, Lady Yuzhi, had taught him the methods of the Cloud-Soaring Pavilion, so the scripture was within his basic abilities. In the end, the Seven Stars Demon-Suppressing Lock left behind by the immortals was taken by him. Zhang Yuanchu and Jing Xuan, wary of karmic entanglements, did not take so much as another item from the immortal abode.

“This is an immortal’s cave dwelling. When that immortal returns from tribulation in the future, it will still be his.”

To refrain from greed—that was the way to live in peace. The greedier one was, the more likely one was to die an unnatural death.

As for their gains from the immortal abode, once the Lingwei Sect’s successor inherited it, the proper rewards would naturally be given from the immortal abode’s secret treasury according to custom. This was the usual understanding among the Orthodox sects. Even overseas, it was the same.

After they left, Li Jingxun waited in silence once more, and eventually Ji Feichen arrived in a hurry.

“Senior Brother Qinghong? He’s here to seek treasure too? He’s a loose cultivator, so perhaps he needs these treasures for protection.” Li Jingxun was just about to use the same trick again when Ji Feichen suddenly smiled.

His gaze was fixed on the painting. “Though there is immortal charm within this painting, it differs from the golden radiance of the Lingwei Sect. Instead, it bears an air of the Supreme One’s lingering essence. Is the one in the painting Junior Sister Jingxun?”

After he spoke, he waited a moment. In the painting, the man smiled faintly. Ripples shimmered across the image, and a girl in a plain green skirt slowly stepped out. Her appearance was not as beautiful as the Demon Consort’s or Tao Wanru’s; she was merely ordinary, so unremarkable that one might never be able to find her again in a crowd. Yet about her there was a profound and subtle principle of Dao and virtue, especially in those bright eyes, impossible to forget.

“I have been hiding here, and even Senior Brothers Zhang and Jing Xuan did not notice. How did Senior Brother Qinghong know?”

“Your eyes.”

The eyes of the female immortal were brilliantly clear, like a mirror that reflected the vast world. They were her penetrating wisdom, but also the greatest obstacle to her return to simplicity.

“How long has Junior Sister been here?” Ji Feichen asked Li Jingxun, pretending not to know.

Li Jingxun explained her plan for being there. Ji Feichen shook his head. “You are here trapping and killing demonic people, yet you have not wiped them all out. What if someone comes to take revenge? You are alone and unsupported, and you have not yet become an immortal. You should come away with me to avoid bringing calamity upon yourself.”

Li Jingxun had her own reliance, but just as the words reached her lips, she thought better of it and nodded. “Very well. Once I seal the immortal hall, I’ll go with Senior Brother.”

She sealed the palace gates, layers of golden radiance wrapping the immortal hall, until the grand immortal palace vanished from before the two of them.

“I only hope that senior will be able to return safely in the future.” Thinking of how Jiang Chan had damaged that person’s spirit soul, Li Jingxun silently shook her head. He would not be back for several hundred years.

She left with Ji Feichen.

They had only taken a few steps when Ji Feichen’s expression changed: they were coming quickly.

He looked up to the sky and said to Li Jingxun, “You go first. Head to find Senior Brother Jing Xuan. I’ll come find you later.”

“Hm?” Li Jingxun seemed to sense something and saw three strands of demonic aura flying in their direction. “Senior Brother, you alone...”

“That’s enough to deal with them!”

Ji Feichen laughed loudly. “So long as it isn’t that Blood Sea man, and not the demonic sect cultivators Zheng Qiong or Song Shaoming, what is there to fear?”

Indeed, Ji Feichen had the confidence to say so. After he cultivated the Primordial Chaos Dragon Pearl, the energy of heaven and earth would automatically replenish his mana. His aura was enduring and his mana abundant; he did not fear being besieged at all.

Before Jiang Chan and the others could even draw near, twenty-four precious pearls flew up of their own accord. Ji Feichen leaped into the air, and the Three Lights Divine Water transformed into a celestial river that pressed down upon the three of them.

Seeing that Ji Feichen was full of confidence, Li Jingxun did not linger here to cause trouble. She went off on her own to find fellow disciples of the Orthodox sect.

After she left, Ji Feichen let loose without restraint. He shook the Azure Cloud Demon-Subduing Banner, and golden flowers whirled as blue clouds gathered around him, first shielding himself and nullifying all evil-arts attacks.

Then he moved his finger to drive the twenty-four precious pearls, evolving them into a world of azure seas. Above his head, the Three Lights Divine Water manifested sun, moon, and stars, crackling as they crashed down upon the three men. Hidden among the radiances were several Ice-Heart Divine Thunders lying in ambush.

In a single exchange, one demonic cultivator was slain by Ji Feichen.

“Junior Brother!” Another demonic cultivator beside Jiang Chan rushed forward in alarm, but the Ice-Heart thunder art had already destroyed his vitality. Under the combined assault of the Three Lights Divine Water and Ice-Heart Divine Thunder, that man’s life force had been completely extinguished.

“Qinghong, our Myriad Forms Mountain will not let this go!”

“No need to let it go. Today, not one of you will survive.”

Ji Feichen swept his sleeve, and dense layers of lightning, accompanied by the three radiances of sun, moon, and stars, had already filled the sky and encircled the three of them completely.