Chapter Ninety-Five: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

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As the clouds dispersed, Bao Hua retracted, while Ji Feichen stood stunned, clutching the Dragon Whisker Fan.

“Senior Uncle, what’s wrong?” Now that Ji Feichen had obtained the treasure, Fu Yutang immediately addressed him as “Senior Uncle.” Regardless of cultivation or divine power, Ji Feichen was far superior. Possessing such a precious relic from the Yunxiao Pavilion symbolized another lineage, allowing him to interact on equal footing with his master.

Yet, why did he show so little joy after acquiring the fan?

Fu Yutang stepped forward to inquire, and Ji Feichen gave a bitter smile. “Although this fan belongs to our Yunxiao Pavilion, it is not yet complete.”

Upon receiving the Dragon Whisker Fan, Ji Feichen accessed the information within and learned the full story.

The Yin-Yang Dragon Whisker Fan of Yunxiao Pavilion was forged from a millennium-old immortal root. This root harnessed the primordial Yin and Yang energies, emerging when the realm was first formed—a sacred tree born from the original Yin-Yang essence. The tree bore two divine leaves, Yin and Yang, from which many Yin-Yang cultivation methods of Yunxiao Pavilion derived.

Whether it was the Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Ring or the Mother-Child Kan-Li Sword, the mystical arrays inscribed on these treasures were all drawn from the vein patterns of the Yin-Yang leaves. This artifact was of utmost importance to Yunxiao Pavilion: as long as it existed, the pavilion could never be destroyed.

Later, the founder of Yunxiao Pavilion encountered this tree and, without damaging its roots, transformed the entire immortal root into the Yin-Yang Fan. Modeled after the “Yin-Yang Dragon Whisker Fan” wielded by the Supreme Dao Ancestor, it became a famed supreme treasure of the Supreme Lineage. This was the Yin-Yang treasure of the Supreme Lineage, symbolizing its Daoist inheritance.

The Supreme Nine Treasures were created jointly by nine great sects and the Supreme Palace of that era, in harmony with the fate of the Profound Sect and corresponding to the Great Dao’s cultivation path. At that time, the Supreme Celestial Palace was still confined to a small domain, and the Supreme Origin Palace had yet to become one of the three palaces.

However, during the great upheaval three thousand years ago, this treasure of Yunxiao Pavilion shattered. Part of it transformed back into Yin and Yang energies, reconstituting into a banana leaf treasure tree—the very one before Ji Feichen. The other two leaves had been entrusted to a close friend, a terrestrial immortal, for safekeeping until the lineage could be restored.

“Though we have reclaimed the treasure, we still need to visit two places to retrieve the other parts,” Ji Feichen said, gleaned from the fan’s information. One leaf was given to a wandering immortal friend who cultivated in seclusion overseas. The other was entrusted to a close sect under the protection of the Supreme Palace, which had managed to survive the chaos steadily.

“A sect cultivating the Primordial Qi Dao, but weakened and small, also part of the Supreme Lineage—this scope is too narrow.”

Upon taking the Dragon Whisker Fan, the Yin-Yang spiritual energy of the valley surged into the fan’s surface. Outside, torrents of bloodwater rushed into the valley.

“Has the terrestrial immortal gone mad?” Ji Feichen was startled but then his gaze turned cold. “Perfect timing! We’ll use him to establish our Yunxiao Pavilion’s prestige!”

With that, he gently waved the Dragon Whisker Fan outward.

The fan stirred a Yin-Yang wind that shattered soul and bone, spreading a mist of dark and pale hues across the sky. The raging, perilous bloodwater outside vanished instantly.

Yet, the energy consumption was immense; even a terrestrial immortal could not easily wield this treasure. Ji Feichen could only manage three fan waves with his own power.

Draining a third of his cultivation instantly, Ji Feichen’s complexion paled. He silently held the fan, unleashing the energy accumulated over millennia within it to attack.

Even incomplete, this treasure surpassed the immortal artifacts of the terrestrial immortal. The stored energy spanning thousands of years allowed the wielder to resist a terrestrial immortal without exhausting their own strength.

This was the trump card prepared by the last generation Yunxiao Pavilion master for his successors.

In the future, if a Yunxiao Pavilion heir returned with insufficient cultivation, they might be targeted by enemies. Thus, the fan’s stored energy was a safeguard for survival.

With Ji Feichen’s Dragon Whisker Fan, the three emerged from the valley, facing a battlefield amidst the blood sea.

Countless immortal mansions and jade halls were swallowed by the bloodwater. The vast sea roared with towering waves. Despite the desperate efforts of Supreme Celestial Palace disciples to block them, the demonic cultivators of the blood sea successfully restored their terrestrial immortal Dao fruit.

Blooms of blood lotuses unfurled in the water, with a central thousand-petal blood lotus soaring over a hundred zhang high, standing tall and imposing.

An herbaceous fragrance permeated the blood sea. Gao Ning’s primordial spirit trembled with anger. “That fiend devoured all the sacred medicines of our immortal estate?”

Lingwei Immortal Estate was vast and rich, rooted in the heritage of a grotto sect. Aside from the immortals’ medicines, it also held many treasures composed purely of primordial energy. The blood sea terrestrial immortal had originally been unable to accumulate power but, by chance, discovered several herb gardens and enhanced his magic by absorbing the rare herbs.

Ji Feichen was silent. Even if the estate returned to Lingwei Sect’s hands, the loss was enormous.

Suddenly, a streak of light flashed before them, and a man cloaked in mist descended before Ji Feichen.

“Nameless of the Supreme?” The man in mist spoke sharply, yet the aura was familiar—just recently sensed. It was the presence of the Supreme Dao Ancestor, borne only by the Supreme Palace’s heirs.

Nameless’s gaze fixed on the Dragon Whisker Fan.

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“Old Lord is the origin of primordial energy, the root of the Great Dao. The Dragon Whisker Fan divides Yin and Yang energies, restraining the fate of the Profound Sect. Three thousand years ago, changes in primordial energy led the Supreme Origin Palace to arbitrate purity and impurity, altering the realm’s laws and shattering this precious fan that regulates primordial energy. Now that the Yin-Yang Fan has reemerged, it signals that heaven and earth are poised to reshape fate and realign the celestial way.”

The Supreme Nine Treasures were devised under the Supreme Palace’s guidance to survey heaven and earth, passed down through the nine great sects of the Supreme Lineage.

Three millennia ago, the fan’s destruction led to Yunxiao Pavilion’s collapse and the retreat of Qi Refiners from the cultivation stage. Its reappearance now marked a turning point.

Ji Feichen’s eyes gleamed as he recalled Lady Chen’s warning and asked, “As an heir of the Supreme Lineage, what do you intend for Yunxiao Pavilion?”

“Observe the Way of Heaven, uphold Heaven’s path,” Nameless recited a Daoist phrase. “As long as all accords with the heavenly way, I naturally follow it.”

Ji Feichen smiled and gently flicked the fan without exerting power, like an ordinary palm fan. A soft breeze stirred, refreshing and invigorating. “So, many aid the one who attains the Way?”

Nameless nodded. “Those who attain the Way receive abundant assistance.”

When Yunxiao Pavilion fell, the Supreme Palace may have helped or merely observed. With the shift in fate and the Profound Continent no longer needing Yunxiao to suppress Yin and Yang energies, responsibility for Yin-Yang Dao passed to the Clear and Turbid branches, splitting immortal and demon paths into Yin and Yang. Clear pure energy represented heaven’s pure Yang; turbid malevolent energy represented earth’s pure Yin. Yunxiao Pavilion, an immortal sect practicing ancient Qi Refining methods, did not cultivate clear and turbid energies and had gradually been phased out of cultivation circles.

The Supreme Palace’s principles did not contradict the great cosmic order, so it did not clash fiercely with the Supreme Origin Palace at that time.

But now is different! The return of the Dragon Whisker Fan indicates a shift in fate. After three thousand years of silence, the Qi Refiners’ lineage finally sees a glimmer of revival.

This is inevitable under the turning wheels of fate. When the Qi Refiner lineage fell, many immortals became disheartened and withdrew, later ascending to terrestrial immortals but unable to fly to celestial immortal status due to unfinished karmic ties.

Ji Feichen’s Yunxiao Pavilion is one of the leaders in this great change. Originally, a Yunxiao heir would return centuries later, cultivating further to restore the pavilion against this upheaval. But Ji Feichen’s arrival altered fate, a subtle shift only fully recognized when the Dragon Whisker Fan resurfaced, alarming all major sects. The next immortal-demon calamity may be far more turbulent than expected.

Nameless’s power might not surpass Ji Feichen’s much, but his Dao insight was profound, recognizing the shift in fate.

“What about those distant matters? What should we do now?” Fu Yutang pointed toward the lotus at the blood sea’s center. “How do we deal with this evil thing?”

The lotus swayed, sinister and eerie. Demonic souls sat chanting dark scriptures on its petals, while countless eyes rose from the leaves, attacking the entire immortal estate.

Black light swept, rocks collapsed; demonic might raged, immortal light scattered. The estate was in utter ruin.

Nameless asked Ji Feichen, “What do you think?”

“He swallowed the sacred herbs to breakthrough to terrestrial immortal stage. He has achieved the terrestrial immortal Dao fruit. But since the estate itself hasn’t suffered great demonic corruption, he resorts to violent destruction, meaning the other side has also succeeded.” As he spoke, celestial sounds echoed. Golden clouds danced chaotically as countless golden streams emerged from jade bricks and railings beneath the bloodwater.

Golden patterns intertwined, and the entire estate seemed to come alive. Immortal incantations activated automatically, repairing the shattered architecture. When the blood lotus neared the spells, it was immediately purified by immortal energy and light, shrinking the blood sea’s extent.

“Junior Brother succeeded?” Gao Ning beamed with joy. If Yu Ming controlled the estate with terrestrial immortal power inside, there was no need to fear the blood sea forces.

Ji Feichen and Nameless relaxed.

…

Under the golden light’s drive, the blood sea finally occupied half of the estate’s domain.

“Sun Xiaoyan” stood at the lotus core, the estate’s celestial omen. He snorted coldly: “Seized the estate? I have already attained terrestrial immortal form and can sense the Dao fruit of my true body. Even with the estate in your hands, what do I fear?” As he moved, he shouted to the demonic sect members, “If you want to live, kill all Profound Sect disciples in the Thick Earth Hall!” He then unleashed demonic souls charging toward the Thick Earth Hall.

Yang Fei and others hesitated. At this moment, Tushan and Tian Chengzi arrived.

Tushan, disguised perfectly as Ji Feichen, infiltrated the Yinming Sect’s ranks, secretly colluding with Yang Fei and Zheng Qiong. This cunning fox demon sowed discord with a few words, openly aiding blood sea terrestrials’ assault while covertly seeking escape opportunities, doing minimal work.

Tushan even secretly communicated with Profound Sect members, assuring them that he and his group would not fully exert themselves, encouraging them to focus on fighting the blood sea terrestrials.

The Profound Sect members were suspicious but cautious, holding back some strength to deal with demonic souls at the hall’s entrance.

Both sides exercised restraint, and few perished.

When all the estate’s forbidden spells activated, golden clouds formed a sea in the sky. Seven demon-subduing banners flew out automatically.

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Yang Fei’s eyes lit up as he shouted, “Members of the Radiant Sun Demon Cult, combine with me to activate the Seven Bird Divine Feathers!” The envoys behind him simultaneously produced feathers.

These feathers came from divine birds—the crane, green phoenix, ghost chariot, and others. Together with the golden crow feather in Yang Fei’s hand, the seven feathers merged into the illusion of a feather fan in the air.

The divine birds spread wings and soared, their cries incessant.

“Rise for me!” Yang Fei exerted all his strength and waved hard. Seven-colored flames became glazed celestial fire, engulfing all demon-subduing banners in fierce blaze.

The Qinwu Demon Banner emerged, striking like thunder at one banner. Meanwhile, Jing Xuan and Zhang Yuanchu charged toward other banners. Fang, Wu He, Li Xuange, and other Profound Sect disciples scrambled to seize the airborne demon-subduing treasures.

However, under the demonic flames’ assault, many were scorched and dared not advance further.

The fire raged fiercely as many fire crows took form, flying amid the inferno. Only a few cast spells standing unscathed in the blaze.

Qin Wu was surrounded by roaring thunder, suppressing the fire crows with overwhelming power.

Fang had a golden seal shaped like a dragon swirling beside him, restraining the flames.

Jing Xuan pointed upward as a giant blue lotus bloomed, emitting pure celestial light and immortal melodies that repelled demons. Clouds of auspicious energy shielded him.

Among the seven banners in the air, the three each seized one. Zhang Yuanchu opened a treasure parasol to claim the fourth but was struck by Yang Fei, who appeared from nowhere.

“You Profound Sect rats, the remaining four banners belong to me!” Yang Fei laughed arrogantly, snatching the banner before Zhang Yuanchu and then sweeping up the other three.

Suddenly, an icy moon hung in the sky, the blue sea rose in tides, and sand and stones flew as three distinct attacks burst forth from three directions. Three demon sect members seized banners. Within the icy moon, a silver-clad woman appeared, causing Yang Fei to pause in surprise. “Icy Moon?”

The Moon Palace’s Icy Moon was the current era’s most outstanding heir.

“You actually came? No, the Moon Palace never intended to ally with the Ganlu Palace from the start,” Yang Fei said angrily, his handsome face showing vexation. “Eastern Jiao Hai, Western Tian Ya, you two are here too!” He instantly realized the Radiant Sun Demon Cult had been betrayed by several fellow sects.

The Radiant Sun Demon Cult allied with Ganlu Palace, but the Moon Palace feigned alliance with the Demon Consort while secretly colluding with two other demon cults—Jiao Hai of the Eastern Demon Cult and Tian Ya of the Western Demon Cult, all waiting in the shadows. Icy Moon and Jiang Chan, one overt, one covert, used Ganlu Palace to gather intel on the estate, waiting to swoop in.

Originally, Icy Moon had joined forces with the others to enter first, ahead of the Demon Consort.

The ancient four directional cults divided into four, now bypassing Radiant Sun Demon Cult alone—clearly a betrayal! Yang Fei’s face twisted with rage, prepared to confront the three.

But Icy Moon was cold as ice, taking the banners and disappearing from the estate without a glance back at Yang Fei.

Tian Ya from the West chuckled twice and also vanished as a streak of light.

Only Jiao Hai from the Eastern Sea greeted Yang Fei: “The demon-subduing artifacts are critical. Our Holy Cult understands their power, so we devised this plan. Without your help, success wouldn’t be possible. Now that each takes a banner to suppress the four directions and prevent the nine banners from assembling, it’s a great blessing for our cult.”

Jiao Hai offered Yang Fei a graceful exit. Yang Fei’s expression softened somewhat as he retreated with his disciples.

“Only three others besides me and Senior Brother Qing Hong obtained the demon-subduing banners,” Li Jingxun said with concern. “Though the strongest Profound Sect disciples aren’t all here, this situation is grim.”

The demon-subduing banners were merely an appetizer. Next, the Golden Glow Pearl, Lingwei Disk, and Peachwood Sword soared into the air. These three Lingwei treasures resonated, golden light spreading, clouds obscuring the sky. From the front hall’s altar, the central Thick Earth Main Hall, and the rear secret vault, beams of light emerged.

Three illusions formed, manifesting immortal figures wielding the three treasures, standing amidst the clouds.

Sun Xiaoyan’s pupils contracted as he sneered, “So, the three of you dare to show yourselves?”

The three immortals manifesting were the Lingwei Sect’s hidden terrestrial immortal primordial spirits. With the estate’s heir restored, they emerged to contend with the blood sea terrestrial immortal, intent on slaying him within the estate.

(To be continued.)