Great Mist Marsh

[Deep Abyss] was a realm jointly opened by ancient great sages, a place where Monster-kind could anchor their Spirit Sense.

Just as the heavens had their corresponding regions below, the territory Xu Xuan had entered corresponded to the commanderies near Red Cloud in Great Li.

He was about to leave this initial stone mountain. Once he crossed that gate, he could enter, but a voice behind him forced him to stop.

Turning, he saw a woman in a peach-red skirt and jacket with an apricot-yellow waist wrap. Her features were delicate, with almost no signs of Monster-kind nature save for a few red feathers beside her ears.

"She's a Fire Crow, a noble breed too, though nowhere near my level."

Tiantuo was still offering his commentary, while Xu Xuan had no idea how to answer and was panicking.

Seeing the azure flood dragon before her remain silent, the woman assumed he had an eccentric temperament. Still, he had come down the highest path, so his lineage ought to be ancient and noble beyond words.

Her branch oversaw this crossing. Having noticed something extraordinary about Xu Xuan, she had approached to try to make his acquaintance.

"Stop talking about that. How am I supposed to answer her?"

Xu Xuan saw quite a few Monster-kind nearby looking over curiously. Clearly, simply walking away now would be inappropriate.

"Tell her you're from Great Mist Marsh, and your name is-Mu Youdu. She'll understand."

Tiantuo sounded utterly confident, so Xu Xuan answered as instructed:

"I am Mu Youdu, from Great Mist Marsh. Is there something you need, fellow Daoist?"

As he spoke, Tiantuo used some unknown spell inside him, causing a reverse scale on Xu Xuan's neck to emit a dense mysterious yin light.

The woman in red froze. That reverse scale, unique to Great Mist Marsh, could not have been more genuine. Her expression immediately grew more respectful, and she said softly:

"So you're a noble descendant of the Mist Marsh Dragon Court. Your branch lives secluded in a grotto-heaven, and few venture out. Meeting you today truly must be fate."

"I am Yang Yuanxin. This crossing in Li Kingdom is currently overseen by our [Bing-Day Flame-Offering Crows] branch, which is why I had to ask a few questions."

Xu Xuan merely nodded. Lightning curled between his jade horns, and his Green scales radiated clear light. There was not a trace of demonic aura about him; instead, he seemed wondrous and transcendent.

Seeing that he remained silent, Yang Yuanxin assumed she had offended him. She stepped forward with a smile, the red feathers at her temples stirring gently, and offered him a red jade token.

"Fellow Daoist Youdu, once you leave here, you'll arrive at Mountain Flame City, our territory. Enter with this [Flame-Walking Token], and someone will receive you."

"I have some business to attend to, but I'll be along shortly. Please let me fulfill my duties as your host then."

With that, Yang Yuanxin personally escorted Xu Xuan through the black wooden gate. Intent on befriending him, she smiled and insisted that he meet with her again the next time he came.

"I finally managed to bluff my way through."

Even after leaving, Xu Xuan's heart was still pounding. When Yang Yuanxin had approached, some great demon had glanced at him.

It had probably been one of Yang Yuanxin's elders-if not at the Purple Mansion stage, then at least at the peak of Foundation Establishment. A single glance had weighed on Xu Xuan like a mountain.

"What exactly is Great Mist Marsh? Won't borrowing their banner get us into trouble?"

The earlier mishap during transport had already given Xu Xuan some sense of Tiantuo's unreliability. He immediately thought of this concern, afraid someone might settle accounts with him later.

"Use their name without worry. No one will come looking for you. They might even be eager for someone to act in Great Mist Marsh's name."

Tiantuo reassured him, saying only that he knew Great Mist Marsh very well and could not possibly be mistaken.

As for how much of that was believable, Xu Xuan reserved judgment for now.

Outside lay a pale wilderness of dead trees and withered grass, swept by bleak winds. A city stood nearby, pitch-black throughout, its gate gaping like a beast's maw, deep and sinister.

"What exactly did we come here for?"

Xu Xuan was somewhat confused. Though he had come to gather information, now that he was actually here, he felt blind in both eyes, with no idea where to go.

"To find your cultivation method, naturally."

Tiantuo gave a sinister chuckle and said mysteriously:

"[Deep Abyss] isn't like a grotto-heaven. You can't bring physical objects here, but information from every faction circulates through it. Even if [Shock Thunder] is rare, we can still uncover some traces."

Xu Xuan had not expected the old demon to have thought things through so thoroughly. He continued:

"You say information flows freely here, but where should we go now?"

Growing impatient, Tiantuo said heavily:

"Do you see that token in your hand?"

"That Fire Crow gave it to you. Once you enter the city, someone will come to receive you."

With that, Tiantuo urged Xu Xuan into the city.

The city gates were ancient, covered in countless scars from weapons and traces of lightning and fire. Much of the blood had dried into layers of dark red. Above the gates, the words [Mountain Flame] looked somewhat dazzling beneath the light of the sun and moon.

"Isn't this place formed from the mind? How could there have been battles here?"

Xu Xuan looked at the marks on the city walls in puzzlement.

"Even if it's formed from the mind, weren't these cities copied from the waking world?"

"Mountain Flame City is in Great Li. You simply haven't heard of it. It's a sacred site of the Demon Race, ruled by those Fire Crows. Though they're on good terms with the Immortal Dao now, great battles still broke out in the past."

Sounding as though Xu Xuan was making a fuss over nothing, Tiantuo told him to hurry inside and stop wasting time.

Once inside, the city did not look much different from an ordinary one, except that its shopkeepers and pedestrians were demons of every kind.

The [Flame-Walking Token] began to glow. Sure enough, an elderly servant approached and respectfully led Xu Xuan to a splendid tower, then into an elegant private room.

This place was called [Perching Feather Tower], private property belonging to the Fire Crow branch within the city. It could certainly be considered a prized establishment.

Xu Xuan went inside and sat down. It was a quiet little chamber, undisturbed by any clamor.

After an indeterminate time, Yang Yuanxin arrived as promised. She entered with a bright smile, though how much calculation lay behind it was hard to say.

Xu Xuan could see clearly that she probably wanted something from him, which explained her enthusiasm.

Yang Yuanxin spoke first:

"What brings you here, Daoist brother? Our territory is rather remote."

Tiantuo spoke into Xu Xuan's mind:

"Just say you're trying to complete your cultivation method. Ask whether she knows where to find a method for the immortal foundation called [Tribulation Heart Pool]."

The [Tribulation Heart Pool] was precisely the immortal foundation formed through Xu Xuan's "Thunder Radiance Spirit-Inquiry Method," though he did not know what the higher immortal foundation of this method was called.

Xu Xuan asked as Tiantuo instructed. Yang Yuanxin looked thoughtful and said quietly:

"I've heard that dragons mostly cultivate the three paths of [Spirit Thunder], [Gui Water], and [Vast Water]. It's rare for someone like you to cultivate [Shock Thunder], Daoist brother."

Tiantuo told Xu Xuan to put on an act, so he adopted the air of someone burdened with troubles he could not voice. Yang Yuanxin seemed to understand something.

Although he has a [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale] and is undoubtedly from Great Mist Marsh, his scales are azure rather than gray. Could he be the offspring some lord left behind after a dalliance, unable to cultivate the true inheritance and forced to take lesser paths instead?

Yang Yuanxin's fiery-red eyes flickered. She seemed to have worked out his origins. No wonder he had taken the most ancient and exalted path yet come to this remote territory. He must have his own difficulties.

The woman immediately said:

"Forgive my bluntness, Daoist brother, but are there some difficulties surrounding your birth?"

Unable to take a clear stance, Xu Xuan could only nod, tacitly admitting it.

Yang Yuanxin was now certain of Xu Xuan's identity: a dragon son of impure blood, ostracized by the main branch and struggling even to find cultivation methods. Still, he was from Great Mist Marsh, and his noble status far surpassed hers.

Besides, if a true dragon son had arrived, she would not have been worthy of approaching him. This one, however, was someone she could befriend, and doing so could greatly strengthen her standing within her clan.

"I've traveled everywhere simply to find this cultivation method and pave a road for my future. My present circumstances are rather awkward, after all."

Xu Xuan followed the lead of Yang Yuanxin's words, looking melancholy. Even the clear light of the jade horns on his head dimmed a little.

"Though you come from the Dragon Court, Daoist brother, you must have your own hardships. I'm not yet two hundred, so I should be much younger than you. Brother Youdu, please just call me by my name."

Yang Yuanxin had never seen a dragon son so easy to talk to. The last time she had been fortunate enough to meet one from the Eastern Sea, he had not spared her a second glance.

Xu Xuan's friendliness only strengthened her suspicion that he had suffered years of frustration and fallen on hard times within his clan. Her words immediately grew warmer, with a hint of an attempt to draw him to her side.

"Yuanxin, do you have any news? I've searched for so long. [Shock Thunder] is scarce these days, and I only cultivated this path because I had no choice."

"If I hadn't cultivated it, I'm afraid several of my peers in the clan would never have tolerated me."

Xu Xuan spoke bitterly. Clearly feeling that this confirmed her suspicions, Yang Yuanxin comforted him:

"Don't fret, Daoist brother. Speaking of thunder-path methods, there has been some activity in Li Kingdom lately."

Xu Xuan's heart jolted. He had not expected to actually learn something, and he said quietly:

"Do you have some connections, Yuanxin? This is my first time leaving home, and I don't understand the current situation. Could you tell me a little?"

The woman in red answered with playful reproach:

"Don't be so impatient, brother. I have something I need your help with too, Brother Youdu, and it happens to concern that cultivation method."

Xu Xuan grew solemn. The reverse scale on his neck radiated mysterious yin light as he said quietly:

"My dear sister, explain it to me. Whatever you ask of me afterward, I'll agree."

Yang Yuanxin broke into a smile, leaned closer, and said softly:

"It's a grotto-heaven, said to have ties to the Thunder Palace. It's called [Surging Tribulation Heaven], and it will soon descend."

"Several scripture repositories on its outskirts are about to open. Every faction wants to send people inside, first having them cultivate the methods there to Foundation Establishment. Then, when the grotto-heaven truly opens, the benefits will be limitless."

"If you're interested, brother, I can introduce you to my elders so we can discuss it. If the lord behind Youdu agrees as well, we can enter together."

Yang Yuanxin felt somewhat apprehensive. [Surging Tribulation Heaven] contained a spiritual treasure her clan had to obtain, but most of her branch cultivated fire virtue. How could they cultivate thunder? Though they had found a few demons, none were of any use.

Xu Xuan possessed a noble bloodline and happened to be at late-stage Qi Refining, with a deep, powerful aura. Only his background was somewhat sensitive. Had he been someone without backing who cultivated this path, he would long since have been seized and trained.

Xu Xuan, however, frowned. He had heard of grotto-heavens-things on the level of Golden Core. How could a mere Qi Refining cultivator like him get involved?

Yang Yuanxin's clan surely had a Purple Mansion demon king, but behind him stood only Tiantuo, an old fellow already halfway into the grave.

"Agree to it. I have ways to handle this, so don't worry. There are plenty of good things in [Surging Tribulation Heaven]," Tiantuo cried, his voice ringing through Xu Xuan's mind.

Helpless, Xu Xuan could only agree as Tiantuo instructed. His life was at stake; he hoped the old demon would not make a mess of things. Then he addressed her in a low voice:

"This can be discussed. The lord on my side is also somewhat interested, but he cannot conveniently travel at present. I'm afraid I'll have to act on his behalf."

Joy appeared on Yang Yuanxin's face, and she smiled:

"That's easily arranged. My elder is still traveling, but will return in a month. You can come to Mountain Flame City in Chonghua Commandery then. It's west of Red Cloud Commandery, near the border of Qing Province."

"Then we can prepare to enter those outer palaces and seize the scriptures."

The two chatted for a little longer, laughing and conversing freely. Suddenly remembering something else, Xu Xuan asked:

"While traveling through Li Kingdom, I found the Jade Flow Mountains rather interesting. Do you know who cultivates there?"

Somewhat surprised by his question, Yang Yuanxin nevertheless answered:

"That's where the snakes live. I've heard that two immortal ladies, one azure and one white, cultivate there. The older one is called Fairy Bai Xuan. She's highly respected, a veteran Purple Mansion cultivator. The other is Demon King Qing Ling, at early-stage Purple Mansion. That one is somewhat difficult to speak of."

"Oh? That's interesting. Why does this one seem to have a poor reputation?"

Xu Xuan feigned curiosity, and Yang Yuanxin said quietly:

"I've heard that Qing Ling was originally raised up by Fairy Bai Xuan, but later she sided with the Immortal Dao, and the two fell out."

"The surviving people of the Shu Kingdom here in Red Cloud are now being herded by Demon King Qing Ling at the Immortal Dao's command."

"Speaking of which, the opening of [Surging Tribulation Heaven] has something to do with this as well."

Xu Xuan felt excited, but maintained his composure and asked as though it meant little to him:

"These schemes of the Immortal Dao twist and turn so much. I've seen little of the world. Could you enlighten me, Yuanxin?"

The woman in red smiled with a trace of playful reproach:

"You really are curious, brother. Then let me tell you."

"South of Red Cloud are the surviving people of the Ancient Shu Kingdom. I've heard some descendants of its emperors still remain. The true fruition of the [Wu Earth] path was held exclusively by the Ancient Shu Imperial House. Later, when Shu fell, that fruition seat ended up in [Kunwei Heaven]."

"There were many reasons for Ancient Shu's destruction, but in the end it was we Monster-kind who raised an army and utterly destroyed the kingdom. [Kunwei Heaven] then withdrew from the world and vanished."

Something stirred in Xu Xuan, and he vaguely grasped a crucial point. He asked:

"You truly are knowledgeable, Yuanxin. But what does keeping a bunch of old loyalists and their descendants have to do with this grotto-heaven?"

Looking rather pleased with herself, Yang Yuanxin chuckled:

"Gather those old loyalists and their descendants together, and once they reach Foundation Establishment, they can condense a little of the remaining national fortune. Then have Monster-kind charge through and slaughter them, reenacting the past. That will utterly sever Ancient Shu's last shred of destiny and shake [Kunwei Heaven] down."

"Several Immortal Dao factions covet [Wu Earth] dearly."

Waves surged through Xu Xuan's heart. He now understood his predicament, but not how to break free of it. Keeping his expression unchanged, he continued:

"So that's how it is. But what does [Surging Tribulation Heaven] have to do with this?"

Seeing how deeply Xu Xuan was probing, Yang Yuanxin nevertheless felt there was no harm in discussing such matters, since both were of noble blood. She continued:

"Wu Earth harbors the two thunders, Shock and Divine. After the Thunder Palace perished, one branch of its inheritance fell into Shu. A later inheritor attained Golden Core and opened [Surging Tribulation Heaven]."

"Now that [Kunwei Heaven] is being shaken, the first to descend will naturally be [Surging Tribulation Heaven], with its deep ties to Ancient Shu."

Everything became clear. Matters that had once been shrouded in mist were laid bare before Xu Xuan in an instant, all because of Tiantuo's maneuvering and Yang Yuanxin's words.

Ultimately, it was still because of Purple Mansion.

Only at Purple Mansion did one have the right to see the situation clearly. Otherwise, the only ending was to stumble blindly to one's death.

Tiantuo said nothing, but Xu Xuan had never yearned for Purple Mansion as intensely as he did at that moment.

"[Surging Tribulation Heaven]... let's see how to weather this tribulation."

Xu Xuan let out a long sigh, then resumed chatting and laughing with Yang Yuanxin. Yet lightning flickered around the jade horns on his head, as though about to leave his body and soar straight into the clouds.

I'm heading home today and have been traveling the whole time, so the update was slow. Sorry (●●)

(End of chapter)