Journey to the Northern Darkness

Chapter 11: Journey to the Northern Darkness

It was the third day since Di Jun had visited, and Taiyi finally emerged from the Sun Palace.

It wasn't that he was deliberately avoiding anyone; he just needed some time to sort through the tangled threads in his mind. The Chaos Bell needed malevolent energy, Pangu Hall had to be visited, and that old fellow Kunpeng also needed to be met – the position of Demon Master had been vacant for too long, and someone had to fill it. Bai Ze had mentioned more than once that the Heavenly Court lacked someone to oversee everything, and there were some tasks Bai Ze himself couldn't handle.

Kunpeng was suitable.

That old scoundrel was cunning and slippery, without the fussiness of a gentleman. Taiyi thought that having this old guy handle the dirty work would be most appropriate.

The question was, how to invite him?

Taiyi stood on the terrace behind the Sun Palace, looking down at the churning sea of clouds. The wind was strong, making his robes flap noisily. He pondered for a long time, then suddenly smiled – invite him? When had Eastern Emperor Taiyi ever needed to "invite" someone to do something?

With that thought, he felt completely relaxed. He turned and went back to his chambers, changing his clothes. It wasn't court attire, just a simple, dark, fitted garment. The material was good, woven with golden sun threads and Northern Darkness cold silkworm silk, making it impervious to water and fire. He fastened the two jade pendants at his waist, the Golden Crow and the eagle, feeling their weight.

As he pushed the door open, the on-duty Demon Guard was startled. "Your Majesty is going out?"

"Mm, going to the Northern Darkness," Taiyi said, not stopping his steps. "No need to follow."

The Demon Guard opened his mouth, then swallowed his words. He watched Taiyi's retreating figure disappear at the end of the corridor before muttering softly, "The Northern Darkness? That desolate place..."

Taiyi didn't hear him, and even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. He exited the Sun Palace, bypassed the South Heaven Gate, and leaped directly from the terrace. The wind shrieked past his ears. After descending a hundred zhang, his form transformed into a golden rainbow, streaking north.

The Northern Darkness was in the far north of the Great Wilderness, a long way from the Heavenly Court. Taiyi didn't fly too fast, giving himself some time to think. This trip wasn't just about inviting someone – it was about gauging that old fellow's strength, and also about gauging his own current standing.

After flying for more than half a day, the surrounding scenery began to change.

The sea of clouds gradually thinned, revealing a vast ice field below. White, white everywhere. White ice, white snow, blindingly white. The temperature plummeted, and his exhaled breath instantly condensed into white frost. Taiyi activated his protective True Sun Fire, golden flames circulating around him, keeping the cold at bay.

After flying for another hour, a continuous range of ice mountains appeared ahead.

The mountains were ink-black, like primordial ice frozen for ten thousand years, standing out starkly against the white ice field. Black mist coiled around the mountains, so thick it couldn't dissipate, exuding an eerie aura of death and stillness. Taiyi stopped in mid-air, narrowing his eyes to observe – deep within the mist, he could vaguely discern the outline of a palace, also black, blending seamlessly with the ice mountains.

Well hidden.

He cleared his throat, his voice amplified by his magic, and sent it out: "Eastern Emperor Taiyi, I have come to visit."

His voice echoed among the ice mountains, creating a series of reverberations. After about ten breaths, an ancient laugh came from the depths of the mist: "Heh heh... Eastern Emperor Your Majesty graces us with your presence. This old one has failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me, forgive me."

As the voice faded, the black mist parted to the sides, revealing a passage.

Taiyi didn't stand on ceremony, his form flickering as he entered. The passage was winding, and the mist on either side flowed slowly like living things. After flying a hundred zhang, the view suddenly opened up –

It was a palace.

Carved entirely from black primordial ice, its style was ancient and somewhat rudimentary. Standing in the open space before the palace was a person, dressed in a dark green daoist robe, leaning on a withered staff. His figure was hunched, his face hidden in shadow.

Kunpeng.

Taiyi landed, dispelling his flight technique. They faced each other across ten zhang, neither speaking first.

The wind blew from the ice field, whipping up fine ice shards that crackled against his protective spiritual light. Kunpeng finally moved, slowly raising his head to reveal his gaunt, sinister face. He wore a smile, but it looked fake, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Your Majesty has traveled far," Kunpeng said, his voice hoarse. "Why not come into the palace for a cup of tea? The Northern Darkness is barren, with nothing good to offer, only some aged Ice Soul Tea, which is barely palatable."

"No need," Taiyi waved his hand. "I'll leave after we've settled matters."

"Oh?" Kunpeng's smile didn't change. "May I ask what Your Majesty requires?"

"I've come to invite you out of seclusion," Taiyi stated directly. "The Heavenly Court is short of a Demon Master; you will take the position."

The words were too blunt, so blunt that even an old fox like Kunpeng faltered for a moment. The old fellow narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Taiyi from head to toe, as if weighing how serious the offer was. "Your Majesty is joking. This old one is accustomed to leisure. I've been holed up in the Northern Darkness for so many years, my bones have rotted. How could I possibly bear the heavy responsibility of Demon Master?"

"You can bear it," Taiyi took a step forward. "If I say you can bear it, then you can bear it."

The smile on Kunpeng's face faded slightly. "Your Majesty is... forcing my hand?"

"You could say that," Taiyi admitted frankly.

The atmosphere became tense.

The cold wind blew even harder, whipping up snow dust from the ground, stinging their faces. Kunpeng leaned on his staff, his body hunching further, as if unable to stand against the wind. But Taiyi knew this old scoundrel was faking it.

Faking weakness, faking age, faking indifference to worldly affairs.

Anyone who could survive in this godforsaken place like the Northern Darkness, and manage to run their domain so impregnably, couldn't be a simple character.

"Your Majesty," Kunpeng spoke slowly, drawing out his words, "this old one is old and cannot withstand much turmoil. That place, the Heavenly Court... the waters are too deep. This old body of mine fears it cannot wade through."

"Whether you can wade through or not, you must," Taiyi's voice turned cold. "I am not discussing this with you."

These words carried a threat.

The smile on Kunpeng's face vanished completely. He raised his head, a sharp glint flashing in his narrow eyes, like a snake hunting at night. "Your Majesty is... using your power to oppress me?"

"And if I am?"

"Heh heh..." Kunpeng laughed, this time devoid of pretense, leaving only coldness. "Though Your Majesty is powerful, this old one is, after all, a Quasi-Saint. If we truly fall out, it remains to be seen who will win and who will lose."

Finally, he revealed himself.

Taiyi sneered inwardly, but his expression became even calmer. "Then let's try."

As the words fell, he moved.

He didn't charge forward. Instead, he suddenly retreated, raising his right hand simultaneously. The phantom image of the Chaos Bell appeared behind him. The bell body vibrated, and invisible ripples spread out, solidifying space wherever they passed.

Time and space froze!

Although it was just a prototype, and its range was only ten feet, those ten feet happened to envelop Kunpeng.

Kunpeng's expression changed.

He clearly hadn't expected Taiyi to get serious right away, nor had he anticipated this spatial ability. He tried to dodge in haste, but the surrounding space felt like thick glue, slowing his movements by more than a beat.

That slight delay was enough.

Taiyi formed a hand seal with his left hand. The ball of True Sun Fire in his dantian exploded, transforming into countless fine threads that surged from his palm. The threads intertwined in the air, coiling and instantly forming a giant fiery hand that snatched down towards Kunpeng!

It was terrifyingly fast.

From the spatial stagnation to the formation of the fiery hand, less than half a breath had passed. Kunpeng was, after all, a Quasi-Saint. Though shocked, he remained calm. He slammed his withered wood staff onto the ground, and rolling black mist erupted from his body. The mist was bone-chillingly cold and collided with the fiery hand, sizzling and steaming up large patches of white fog.

The fog spread, obscuring their vision.

Taiyi narrowed his eyes and extended his divine sense. Within the fog, Kunpeng's aura vanished—not because he had escaped, but because he had hidden. This old fellow was best at stealth and evasion techniques.

"A petty trick."

Taiyi snorted coldly, and the phantom image of the Chaos Bell vibrated again.

Clang—

The bell's chime was clear and resonant, carrying a majestic righteousness. Wherever the sound waves passed, the fog instantly dispersed, revealing Kunpeng hidden within. The old fellow's face was a little pale; it was clear he had suffered a slight disadvantage in that clash.

"Your Majesty has impressive skills," Kunpeng said, leaning on his staff and catching his breath. "To push back a Quasi-Saint at the peak of Great Luo... truly worthy of being Eastern Emperor Taiyi."

The words sounded like praise, but Taiyi heard the probing within them. He retracted his fiery hand, the phantom image of the Chaos Bell hovering above his head. "Less nonsense. I'll ask you again—are you coming out of seclusion?"

Kunpeng stared at him, at the bell, his eyes flickering. He was weighing his options—if they fought head-on, he was confident he could win, but victory would come at a cost. Moreover, if he truly offended Eastern Emperor Taiyi to the bitter end, it would be difficult to get by in the Heavenly Court later.

But to back down so easily, he was unwilling.

"Your Majesty," Kunpeng changed his tone, a hint of negotiation in his voice, "I can come out of seclusion. But I have a condition."

"Speak."

"The Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation of the Heavenly Court," Kunpeng said word by word, "I wish to study it."

Taiyi raised an eyebrow.

This old fellow's appetite was not small. The Great Zhou Heavenly Stars Formation was the foundation of the Heavenly Court. Besides him and Di Jun, even Bai Ze only knew the superficial aspects. Kunpeng wanting to study it was clearly an attempt to uncover the Heavenly Court's secrets and gain leverage later.

"Very well," Taiyi agreed. "But you can only study the outer formations. You are not qualified to touch the core formation eye."

Kunpeng smiled, this time more sincerely. "Deal."

The two exchanged a look, and each withdrew their divine abilities. The solidified space around them resumed its flow, and the steaming white fog gradually dissipated. The ice plain was still the same ice plain, the ice mountain was still the same ice mountain, as if the brief confrontation had never happened.

"When does Your Majesty need me to take up my post?" Kunpeng asked.

"In three days," Taiyi said. "Come to the Heavenly Court first to familiarize yourself."

"Alright." Kunpeng nodded, paused, and then added, "Your Majesty's visit to the North Sea today was likely not just to invite me out of seclusion, was it?"

Taiyi glanced at him. "What makes you say that?"

"Although I am in the North Sea, I know a little about what's happening in the Great Wilderness," Kunpeng said slowly. "Your Majesty has... changed quite a bit recently."

There was meaning behind his words.

Taiyi's expression remained unchanged. "People always change."

"Yes," Kunpeng smiled. "But changing too quickly can easily arouse suspicion. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

They looked at each other again for a moment.

Taiyi suddenly smiled too. "Demon Master, you worry too much. Whether I change or not, I am still Eastern Emperor Taiyi. The Eastern Emperor of the Heavenly Court, the Eastern Emperor of the Demon Race."

These words were grand and righteous, but their meaning was clear—mind your own business.

Kunpeng, being perceptive, didn't press further. He leaned on his staff and gestured to the side, clearing a path. "Your Majesty, travel safely. In three days, I will report to the Heavenly Court as promised."

Taiyi nodded, turned to leave, then stopped. "Oh, right."

"Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?"

"When you arrive at the Heavenly Court, behave yourself," Taiyi said without looking back. "I invited you to work, not to cause trouble. Understand?"

Kunpeng bowed. "I understand."

Taiyi said no more. His figure flickered, transforming into a golden rainbow that shot into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye above the vast ice plain.

Watching the direction he disappeared, the smile on Kunpeng's face gradually faded. He stood there, leaning on his staff, motionless for a long time. The cold wind whipped his dark green Daoist robe, making it rustle.

"Eastern Emperor Taiyi..." he murmured, his eyes shifting between uncertainty and clarity. "Have you truly changed, or... have you been replaced?"

The ice plain remained silent.

Only the whistling wind seemed to respond, or perhaps to mock.