Laying the groundwork

Green Luo, Azure Sky Peak.

Xu Xuan weighed the truth of Jingyan's words. After seeing the strange vision in that ancient painting, he had suspicions of his own.

The schemes involved ran deep, far beyond anything he could shake. His expression darkened, and he spoke with mixed feelings:

"Thank you for the warning, Master Jingyan. But why did you come specifically to tell me? Wouldn't that offend the other side?"

The monk opposite him lowered his eyes and sighed.

"The Great Moonlight Temple should have little say in this matter, but your monastery's ancestors once did ours a kindness. That is why I came to tell you."

Xu Xuan did not know what to think. He merely asked quietly:

"Is there any room to negotiate?"

Jingyan rose, put away the glass treasure box, and looked toward Witch South Commandery. He offered a few words of reassurance:

"Restoring [Calamity Poison] to its rightful place was a compromise reached by all sides. That Great Shaman resides at Heavenly Poison Mountain in the Wilderness of Witches. His cultivation is approaching perfection; few in this world can match him."

"They have not forgotten old ties. My journey is precisely to ask about this. Monastery Master Xu, between you and the sect master of the Hollow Sword Gate, if either of you develops sword intent, they will place their wager on him. Whatever it takes, they will pile up enough resources to bring him to the Purple Mansion stage."

"But it must happen before the upheaval in the Plainlands. Otherwise, they cannot afford to wait."

Xu Xuan nodded in acknowledgment and was about to ask more when insects suddenly began chirring all over the peak. Countless venomous bugs crawled out of cracks in the rocks and gaps between the paving tiles.

Jingyan's expression changed. He said no more and bowed toward the east. Only then did the venomous insects dissolve into a stream of black vapor and disperse.

Watching the changes around him, Xu Xuan's heart sank to its lowest depths. He sighed and said:

"Master, you willingly risked danger to bring me this news. I will remember this kindness."

Jingyan did not dare say anything further. He merely returned the bow and took his leave, intending to visit the Hollow Sword Gate in the Plainlands and meet Zuo Mohe before entering the Wilderness of Witches directly.

Jingyan walked swiftly. His white-robed figure disappeared into the mountains and was soon out of sight.

The hall lay in ruins. Xu Xuan first cast several spells to level the floor, then sat motionless, pondering the crux of the matter.

"Tiantuo, is there any way to turn this around?"

The old demon's voice rang out in his mind. This time, he was utterly serious, as though he had become a different demon:

"This is trouble indeed. Once an old shaman has set his sights on you, he can drag you back even if you flee to the ends of the earth."

As he spoke, a dark inscription surfaced on Xu Xuan's palm, writhing incessantly.

"It seems that fellow from Heavenly Poison Mountain has already obtained some of your flesh and blood, or something else belonging to you. He has locked onto you with a divine ability."

Tiantuo's voice was eerie, like a ghost's whisper.

"If your identity weren't so sensitive, and you weren't in southern Red Cloud, where the situation is a pool of muddy water, he would have captured you long ago."

"So every move I make is under his gaze now?"

"Of course not. The ancient stele inside you has an exceptionally clever means of concealment, substituting the false for the true. He can sense you, but your actual words and actions are all concealed."

Only then did Xu Xuan relax. He had feared that the Great Shaman of Heavenly Poison Mountain might notice something amiss and strike directly.

"As for this matter, according to Jingyan, the chance to turn it around lies with you. If you develop sword intent, they may even protect you until you reach the Purple Mansion stage."

"How difficult is it to develop sword intent? There probably aren't more than ten people in the entire Li Kingdom who have managed it."

Xu Xuan sighed. If he truly had to rely on comprehending sword intent, he might as well wait for death.

"Why should they wait? According to Jingyan, refining Zuo Mohe and me directly would work just as well. Why bother with a little pawn like me?"

"You're no little pawn. Heh, even I never imagined that this shabby place of yours inherited that lineage from Ancient Shu."

Xu Xuan's interest stirred, and he wanted to ask for details. But Tiantuo seemed wary of something and changed the subject:

"Reaching the Golden Core stage means joining with the Dao. Every word and action becomes an expression of your lineage. If that old shaman truly harms a friendly lineage, he will no longer be able to use the method of seeking the Golden Core passed down by his ancestors. It would be no different from cutting off his descendants' path forward."

Tiantuo's voice grew solemn as he continued:

"It is as though your three lineages made a pact back then to jointly oversee the secret keys leading to [Calamity Poison]. Now yours has declined and is holding the others back. It is only natural that they are growing anxious."

"If you develop sword intent, Heavenly Poison Mountain will instead become your support."

Something stirred in Xu Xuan's heart. He thought of another matter and asked quietly:

"You said I still have a [Sword Rises from the Deep Abyss] seal inscription. If it fully manifests, could I develop sword intent?"

Tiantuo considered it briefly before answering:

"It is hard to say, but it is already the most reliable way for you to comprehend sword intent."

"If you are going to succeed, you must do so before the Demon Calamity. Otherwise, they will no longer be able to sit still."

Xu Xuan let out a long sigh. Over the years, the clear qi on the ancient stele had gradually increased. Apart from the half-formed [Five Poisons-] seal inscription, there should have been enough to complete another, yet nothing had happened.

"If you cannot manifest it yourself, why not transfer it to me? If I cultivate anew, with both my innate nature and life force whole, I should receive the seal directly."

Only now did Tiantuo reveal his true intentions, his tone carrying a hint of temptation.

"We'll discuss it when the time comes. If I give it to you directly, I fear the first thing you'll do upon waking is eat me, seize the treasure, and flee."

Tiantuo laughed loudly, his voice echoing through Xu Xuan's mind. The demon abandoned his earlier agreeable tone and spoke in a low, somewhat crazed voice:

"Immortal artifacts naturally belong to the virtuous. Profound cultivation is virtue. Mighty divine abilities are virtue. Powerful backing is virtue."

"Boy, you have no virtue. Usurping an immortal artifact is a sin."

Xu Xuan could not be bothered to argue with him. After a while, Tiantuo also fell quiet. He seemed to have recalled his own experiences and grown despondent.

"Have you arranged the matter of the external body?"

Only a few days remained before his trip to Mountain Flame City. This was the most pressing matter at hand.

"This is a genuine [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale]. Just nourish it with your blood qi according to the instructions in [Six Paths of Rebirth]."

Tiantuo answered and delivered an object into Xu Xuan's hand.

A dragon scale radiating dense mysterious yin light appeared in Xu Xuan's hand. Its substance resembled metal, and its edges were extraordinarily sharp. Xu Xuan even felt that using it as a magical artifact would make it far superior to [Cinnabar Thunder].

Doesn't this old demon have only a remnant soul left? Where did he get this thing from?

Xu Xuan lightly stroked the reverse scale, lost in thought. It seemed Tiantuo was still hiding a great deal.

Xu Xuan had no time to wrangle with the old demon over such matters. He returned to the True Abode Hall first and sent word to everyone in the monastery that he was entering seclusion and would see no one for the time being.

This object was not at the Foundation Establishment level. It seemed to have been taken from some Purple Mansion Dragon King. Although its killing aura had dissipated, probing it with spiritual awareness was like striking an iron wall.

Just as Xu Xuan was worrying over how to refine it, the [Dark Flood Dragon Commands Thunder] seal inscription inside him stirred and released a wisp of clear qi. The [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale] ceased resisting and obediently allowed his spiritual awareness inside.

Following the instructions in [Six Paths of Rebirth], Xu Xuan channeled blood qi into the reverse scale. Soon, the dusky gray scale began to change, gradually taking the shape of a tiny flood dragon. It bared its fangs and brandished its claws as though alive.

Xu Xuan hurriedly activated the secret art, compressing his consciousness into a mustard seed and settling it onto the tiny flood dragon. It felt like a great dream. When he opened his eyes again, he had possessed its body.

[Dark Flood Dragon Commands Thunder] shone brighter than ever before. Xu Xuan recalled the method of transformation and, with a shake of his body, assumed the form he had worn in [Deep Abyss].

He wore treasured armor of azure scales, with lightning coiling around his jade horns and a dusky gray reverse scale at his neck. With a thought, mysterious yin light spread from him.

His connection to his original fleshly body elsewhere grew faint, but he could still sense and control it to a limited degree. He could even return to that body with a single thought.

"This incarnation now has a pure Great Mist Marsh bloodline through and through. Even if the Dragon Court came to identify you, they would find nothing amiss."

Tiantuo chuckled, his voice shrill.

The incarnation's cultivation matched Xu Xuan's original body, reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining. It perfectly replicated his qi sea, allowing him to use all his cultivation methods and secret arts as usual. Its flesh was even tougher than before.

Tiantuo still seemed dissatisfied and added:

"I have a secret scroll the Dragon Court uses to train its descendants. It explains the origins of the Great Mist Marsh and how to fight and cultivate in a demon body. Study it, and don't let the horse's hoof show when the time comes."

With that, countless words appeared in Xu Xuan's mind and formed a jade slip titled "Mist Marsh Secret Scroll."

Xu Xuan read it carefully and finally gained some understanding of the Great Mist Marsh.

The Dragon Court seemed to have originated in the Northern Sea. A son of a true dragon had come ashore and established its legacy, but his descendants' bloodlines had degenerated. They no longer counted as true dragon stock, only as flood dragons. The Dragon Court now secluded itself within a grotto-heaven, for reasons unknown.

The remaining portions of the secret scroll explained how to fight and cultivate in a flood dragon's body. Xu Xuan studied them intently. After all, he might have to meet a Purple Mansion Demon King. If that king saw through the deception, death would be his only outcome.

Xu Xuan put the flood dragon body away inside [Upper Firmament Thundercloud]. But the incarnation possessed no innate spirituality, so it provided no enhancement.

The greatest gain to Xu Xuan's cultivation this time was that, with the colored light and moonlight Jingyan had drawn down, he had cultivated the second extraordinary manifestation of [Jade Blood Heavenly Heart Art]: the [Sky-Venerating Eye].

An additional heavenly eye had grown between his brows, with the wondrous ability to see through illusions. According to Tiantuo, this extraordinary manifestation imitated a certain True Lord from Shu. Though it merely borrowed his form, it still possessed many marvels.

If Xu Xuan fell under a spell that bewitched the mind, he could regain clarity in an instant. It was well suited for use in magical combat.

Next, I should focus on dealing with the cultivation-method problem. At the very least, I need to find a [Shock Thunder] method above the fourth grade, preferably the higher-tier method that my Thunder Radiance Spirit-Inquiry Method belongs to.

With that thought, Xu Xuan steadied himself. The road ahead was perilous, but he had to focus on the present and proceed one step at a time.

Chonghua Commandery, Mountain Flame City.

This ancient city occupied the spiritual land with the richest spiritual energy in Chonghua. It was one of the Li Kingdom's sacred grounds for demons, and many avian demons came here to cultivate.

Inside the Perching Feather Tower, Yang Yuanxin was entertaining an honored guest, a practitioner of the immortal Dao.

They sat facing each other. Opposite her was a cultivator in bright blue treasured armor. He looked very young, but his cultivation was profound, already at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

"Fellow Daoist Yuanxin, our Thunder Edict Path sincerely wishes to establish friendly ties with your clan and undertake great endeavors together. Please give it some consideration."

The man spoke respectfully and appeared exceedingly courteous.

"Fellow Daoist Shunfu, our lord has already spoken on this matter. Although immortals and demons enjoy friendly relations in the Li Kingdom, there are still certain difficulties. We will not trouble your sect over the matter of [Surging Tribulation Heaven]."

Yang Yuanxin frowned slightly. The man before her was Luo Shunfu, a direct-line disciple of the Thunder Edict Path. She had heard some unsavory rumors about him and did not much care for him.

"In that case, I will say no more. I merely fear that your clan may fail to find a suitable candidate. Even if someone enters, obtaining spiritual treasures will be difficult."

With that, Luo Shunfu took his leave. Yang Yuanxin did not see him far, merely watching as he rode away on lightning.

As soon as Luo Shunfu left, a great Foundation Establishment demon dressed in red appeared. He was Yang Yuanyi, Yang Yuanxin's elder brother by the same mother.

"Yuanxin, did you politely refuse that man from the Thunder Edict Path as our lord instructed?"

"Rest assured, Brother. He did not persist and has already left."

Yang Yuanxin breathed a sigh of relief, but Yang Yuanyi beside her remained troubled. He said quietly:

"In a few more days, it will be time. If that dragon scion does not come, we can only have those rogue cultivators from before try entering."

"If the Thunder Edict Path did not have such a poor reputation, there would be no harm in working with them."

Yang Yuanxin was displeased. She snorted and said reproachfully:

"Brother, you haven't heard what they have done. If we work with them, there will be far too much to guard against."

The two were discussing minor details when the red feathers at their temples grew scorching hot. Their expressions immediately changed. They rushed straight to Flame-Offering Mountain behind Mountain Flame City, reached its highest peak, and entered a cave abode.

Roaring flames filled the place. The outer layers were mostly spiritual fires at the Foundation Establishment level, while farther in were Purple Mansion spiritual fires. Even a trace of the heat leaking from them could burn a Foundation Establishment cultivator to flying ash.

The two stood in attendance outside the cave abode, awaiting instructions. A pair of scarlet eyes appeared amid the firelight, almost as tall as the two of them. An aged voice came from within:

"Did that visitor from the Thunder Edict Path say anything else?"

Yang Yuanxin answered respectfully:

"My lord, Luo Shunfu did not persist. He left."

The voice inside the cave fell silent for a moment, then spoke loudly with a hint of mockery:

"Heh, True Person Lingming has coveted our clan's [Tribulation-Transforming Thunder Talisman] for a long time. His ascension to the Purple Mansion stage back then was not clean. Being trapped at the early stage for so many years is his retribution."

The two outside did not dare speak. Old affairs between Purple Mansion cultivators were not theirs to judge.

"First, let us see how genuine that dragon scion from the Great Mist Marsh is. If someone has sent an impostor to lay a trap, I will tear out his sinews, pull out his bones, and give him a proper treatment."

The flames within the cave intensified. Those scarlet eyes flickered, and the spiritual fires surged with them, though they remained inside the cave and did not spill out.

"My lord, are we certain the outer palaces contain a suitable cultivation method? That dragon scion cultivates the [Tribulation Heart Pool] branch. I fear its method may be missing."

"Do not worry, Yuanxin. The outer palaces contain three divine branches and two Shock Thunder branches. [Shock Thunder] happens to include the higher-tier method of [Tribulation Heart Pool]."

The voice inside the cave seemed somewhat wistful, and even the surrounding flames fell still for a moment. As though lost in recollection, he spoke in a daze:

"The fifth-grade Marsh Thunder Dragon-Treading Scripture forms the immortal foundation [Thunderfall Marsh]. It arose from Jidu, nurturing the divine and sacred, unbroken through a hundred generations. It holds the key to the generation and gathering momentum of [Shock Thunder]."

"It has not been seen for centuries."

As those words ended, dark clouds seemed to gather on the horizon. Several bolts of lightning descended with deafening thunder.

(End of chapter)