In the year 1733 of the Great Xuan Calendar, at the end of summer.

The Sect Master of Shenxiao Sect, Patriarch Dongfang Qing, personally piloted the Sect's Guardian Divine Artifact, the Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder City, to attack Divine Sorrow Ridge after his disciples were captured and plundered by them.

This battle resulted in the capture of Xiahou Xuanji, King of the Yin Tian Nation of Divine Sorrow Ridge.

Over one hundred thousand Demonic Evil Cultivators from the Yin Tian Nation were slain.

This was the most significant loss the Demonic Evil Cultivators had suffered in their decade-long invasion of Dianchuan Province!

Currently, there was no response from Divine Sorrow Ridge.

In August of the same year, Shenxiao Sect announced to the world:

"[Since Divine Sorrow Ridge and the Yin Tian Nation unreasonably captured and injured disciples of our Sect, their crime is unforgivable, and death is not enough to atone!]"

"[From today, our Sect declares to the world, hoping our colleagues in the cultivation community will take heed.]"

"[Those who offend Shenxiao Sect, no matter how far, shall be punished!]"

This proclamation caused an uproar throughout the land!

Many of the older generation privately sighed.

Although Shenxiao Sect was no longer at its peak, the ruthlessness in its bones and its protective nature towards its members had not changed in the slightest.

The current Sect Master, Dongfang Qing, truly embodied the essence of his predecessors.

For the sake of a direct disciple, he had boldly driven the Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder City to descend upon Divine Sorrow Ridge.

And in the presence of numerous Dao Body Realm Demons and that mysterious Primordial Spirit Boss, he forcefully captured the King of the Yin Tian Nation.

Suddenly, Shenxiao Sect became the hot topic of the entire Dianchuan Province and even several neighboring provinces.

Similarly, Divine Sorrow Ridge, for indifferently watching as their Dao Expert was captured, became the subject of much gossip among cultivators over tea and meals.

And because of this incident, the internal political winds within Dianchuan Province seemed to be subtly shifting.

...

「Shenxiao Sect, Yunti Peak.」

"AH!!!"

A dreadful scream sent the immortal cranes, leisurely circling the mountain, flying away in fright.

Within the pure azure waters of the Hua Sheng Thunder Pond on Guanlan Cliff, Wei Wujie frantically thrashed about.

But the thunder liquid was extremely dense and heavy. It contained endless vitality, and each drop weighed over ten thousand pounds.

No matter how Wei Wujie struggled, he could not break the surface.

"Master, will Eldest Brother be alright like this?" Standing to the side with his arms folded, Qi Xiu looked on with a complex expression.

Isn't Master's healing method a bit too brutal?

"He will be~" With absolute confidence, Daoist Yunxiong waved his hand dismissively. He picked up a rock and forcefully dunked Wei Wujie—who had just managed to raise his head above water—back into the pond.

"Eldest Brother's body has suffered severe depletion. First, it was eroded by the Power of Hell, then he heedlessly sacrificed his lifeblood. It's a miracle he even made it back alive. This Hua Sheng Thunder Pond is a treasured possession of our sect, only accessible to elders at or above the Dao Body Realm. If not for the Sect Master's grace, he would never have had such good fortune. Let him soak in this Hua Sheng Thunder Pond for ten days or half a month first to replenish the vitality and potential he has lost. After feeding him a few hundred divine soul elixirs, his injuries should be mostly healed."

During the mission to Divine Sorrow Ridge, Wei Wujie was the most severely injured. His body and soul were almost completely shattered, utterly spent. Qi Xiu, meanwhile, had suffered the lightest injuries. Therefore, he was assisting his master, Daoist Yunxiong, in healing their martial brothers.

Daoist Yunxiong fetched a bamboo stool to sit on. He casually picked up a bamboo rod and, each time Wei Wujie surfaced, he pushed him back under.

"Xiuer, regarding that Black Water True Skill you mentioned yesterday, I've asked Wanfa Pavilion to look into it," Daoist Yunxiong said, motioning for Qi Xiu to sit beside him. "The Black Water True Skill is one of the supplementary texts to 'The Great Five Elements Extinction Scripture,' the main scripture of the Five Emperors Demon Sect. The Five Emperors Demon Sect was also once a formidable force in the Demonic Path. The reason it wasn't listed among the top ten demon cults of the Middle Ancient Era wasn't due to a lack of strength, but rather due to severe infighting within the sect.

"Inside the Five Emperors Demon Sect, five demon emperors presided. They each had their own subsects and branches beneath them. Due to the nature of their cultivation techniques, these subsects and branches were adversaries, fighting among themselves more fiercely than they fought outsiders. Even the five demon emperors themselves didn't see eye to eye.

"According to unofficial history, the sect's collapse began with a skirmish between the Blackwater Demon Emperor and the Redflame Demon Emperor, which escalated into a violent conflict. The Greenwood Demon Emperor tried to break it up but was cursed by the Redflame Demon Emperor. In a moment of anger, the Greenwood Demon Emperor then struck the Yellowearth Demon Emperor, who was merely watching from the sidelines. The four demon emperors became truly enraged and fully committed to a bloody conflict. By the time the Whitegold Demon Emperor arrived, the other four had already killed each other. Disheartened, the Whitegold Demon Emperor disbanded the Five Emperors Demon Sect and vanished without a trace, never to be seen again."

Hearing about the demise of the Five Emperors Demon Sect, Qi Xiu looked complex, a hint of bewilderment in his eyes. "Such a huge demon cult... ended so... haphazardly?"

"This is from unofficial records; whether it's true or not, no one knows. However, fragments of 'The Great Five Elements Extinction Scripture' have indeed surfaced over the years. The volume of the Black Water True Skill in your possession is one of the supplementary texts to 'The Great Five Elements Extinction Scripture.' There is also a corresponding volume called the 'Blackwater Compendium.' I've already asked Wanfa Pavilion to search for it, and they will deliver it to you once it's found. As for that vast figure you saw standing in the midst of the ocean, I suspect it's the lingering soul of the Blackwater Demon Emperor," Daoist Yunxiong explained leisurely, stroking his long beard.

"After all these countless years since the Middle Ancient Era, could the remnant soul of the Blackwater Demon Emperor really not have dissipated completely?" Qi Xiu found it unbelievable. The Middle Ancient Era was at least over one hundred thousand years ago; for the remnant soul of this Blackwater Demon Emperor to actually linger for so long was astonishing.

"The cultivators of that era had terrifying cultivation levels, their abilities rivaling the Dao itself. The realms of the five Demon Emperors even far surpassed today's Primordial Spirit Bosses. His spiritual will was even imprinted within the Divine Marvels of the Dao. As long as someone cultivates the Black Water True Skill and pushes this technique to a certain level, it will manifest a Divine Marvel and simultaneously trigger the traces imprinted by the Blackwater Demon Emperor," Daoist Yunxiong explained.

"So, based on what you're saying, should I stop practicing this technique?" Qi Xiu frowned slightly; the Black Water True Skill was extremely powerful, and he didn't want to give it up.

"It's not necessarily that dire. The Blackwater Demon Emperor may have left his mark within the Divine Marvels of the Dao, but he is dead. That's a fact. The traces of his remnant soul are merely instinctually sensing a familiar aura, which is why they manifest. Tens of thousands of years have passed. Even if his original body hadn't perished, he wouldn't be able to do anything to you. Perhaps the next time, or the time after that, this phenomenon won't appear again."

The advice Daoist Yunxiong gave Qi Xiu also came from Wanfa Pavilion. This organization, nestled deep within the core of the Shenxiao Sect, possessed a mystical structure unknown to the outside world. Their research into the true scriptures of various techniques was profound, penetrating to the very marrow.

The phenomenon Qi Xiu encountered when using the Black Water True Skill wasn't unique. Others who had cultivated the supplementary volumes of "The Great Five Elements Extinction Scripture" had also triggered such phenomena. But after a few occurrences, the phenomenon would disappear without a trace, never to emerge again. Over one hundred thousand years was enough time to grind away any arrangements or contingencies.

With the reassurances from Daoist Yunxiong and Wanfa Pavilion, Qi Xiu was able to set his mind at ease. The previous phenomenon had indeed been quite startling to him.

Fortunately, it was a false alarm.

...

「At night, Qi Xiu sat cross-legged atop Guanlan Cliff.」

The moonlight above cast a soft and hazy aura. In front of him, the Hua Sheng Thunder Pond kept emitting bubbles with a GURGLE GURGLE sound. This signified Wei Wujie's protest from beneath the surface. By Daoist Yunxiong's command, Qi Xiu was there to guard Wei Wujie, preventing him from secretly surfacing.

Looking up at the moon hanging in the sky, Qi Xiu took out an antique bronze mirror. With a slight shake of his palm, he softly called, "Tai Yin."

HUMMM—

The void trembled, and a Divine Marvel circulated. A gentle breeze swept by, and a handsome Daoist in black robes, his expression indifferent, appeared beside Qi Xiu.

Previously, the Daoist of the Taiyin had been killed by Xiahou Xuanji, the King of Yin Tian Nation, at Divine Sorrow Ridge. After returning to Shenxiao Sect, Qi Xiu had asked his master, Daoist Yunxiong, to spend two million Dao coins to restore the vitality of the Dual Heart Mirror. He then summoned Tai Yin back.

"It seems the matter has been resolved, then." Surveying his surroundings and realizing he was back in Shenxiao Sect, Tai Yin sat cross-legged on the ground and looked at his original body. "How was it? Was the process thrilling? Tell me about it?"

As an avatar, Qi Xiu, the original body, could perceive all of Tai Yin's thoughts and memories, but Tai Yin could not access the original body's memories. Therefore, Tai Yin was unaware of everything that had happened after his "death."

"It was quite convoluted. After we destroyed the soul-summoning altar, Master and the Sect Master arrived, bringing the Sect's Guardian Divine Artifact, the Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder City. You saw the outcome yourself; it was perilous, but we emerged unscathed."

After briefly describing the subsequent events, Qi Xiu looked down at Tai Yin. "As for you, you must have had a grand time traveling the outside world all these years."

"Original body, you're being quite cheeky, benefiting and then feigning innocence. If it weren't for me, would we have access to such a profound technique as the Black Water True Skill?" With a mischievous grin, the Daoist of the Taiyin leaned back against a rock. "Speaking of which, we had an agreement: once Ge Ping's matter was resolved, you would let me go out again. Shenxiao Sect is great in every way, but it's just too stifling here. I still prefer the outside world—free and unrestrained. Shouldn't life be like this—riding the wind and rain, carefree and joyous? Original body, your life is too dull. Why don't you come out with me for a change of pace?"

"Everyone has their own path; you don't need to worry about me. When do you plan to leave?" Qi Xiu, who had no intention of keeping Tai Yin, replied casually before asking.

"As soon as possible. Perhaps tomorrow, or even tonight," the Daoist of the Taiyin said, scratching his eyebrow.

"So soon?"

Qi Xiu glanced at Tai Yin but said nothing more. Although the Daoist of the Taiyin was his avatar, and both were fundamentally Qi Xiu, their temperaments and personalities were vastly different. Qi Xiu sometimes couldn't fully fathom Tai Yin's thoughts. If it weren't for the mysterious connection between them that allowed him to find Tai Yin at any time, Qi Xiu suspected he might never see Tai Yin again once he departed.

"By the way, I didn't get a chance to tell you when I was at Divine Sorrow Ridge. Do you know who I met before heading there?" Suddenly remembering something, the Daoist of the Taiyin gave a secretive smile.

"Who?" Seeing the Daoist of the Taiyin's sly expression, Qi Xiu asked with a furrowed brow.

Although he could look into Tai Yin's memories and thoughts, he couldn't possibly review them all at once. Minor details were easily overlooked.

"An old acquaintance of ours—Song Tingye, the former County Magistrate of Baoho County!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.