Fire Crows

The time had come to set out.

Chonghua Commandery lay just west of Red Cloud Commandery, along the upper reaches of the Li River. It belonged to Qing Province, while Red Cloud, Heavenwater, and Witch South Commanderies all belonged to Heaven Province.

Everything was ready. Xu Xuan had made all the necessary arrangements within the sect and needed only to depart.

Senior Brother Xi Wei had made further progress in his cultivation. Through his struggles with their neighbors over the past few years, he had reached the bottleneck of the sixth level of Qi Refining and shown signs of a breakthrough. This was the best news they had received lately.

Wang Qiyun was now stationed on Horse-Tethering Road, dealing with the demonic fiends from Eastern Secret. He rarely returned to Dangxia anymore, leaving Shen Shu to look after his son alone for the time being.

Wen Si'an occasionally visited Shen Shu and helped look after the one-year-old Wang Cheng Yan. She liked the child very much and would also take the opportunity to ask Xu Xuan about cultivation.

Xu Xuan's public excuse was that he would be entering seclusion to cultivate diligently. He used that excuse often, so no one found it strange.

But there was still one matter awaiting resolution.

Inside his secluded cave abode on Azure Sky Peak, Xu Xuan had already laid down several formations to conceal his aura and muffle sound, yet he still felt uneasy.

He sat cross-legged on a Greenwood Meditation Cushion. Before him, a Blue-Scaled Little Flood Dragon bounded through the air.

A thundercloud supported this incarnation, sustaining its vitality. This was precisely the wondrous utility of the [Upper Firmament Thundercloud]; otherwise, Xu Xuan would have needed to nourish the flood dragon's body constantly with his blood energy.

"I'm about to leave, but what if someone notices once I leave Red Cloud?"

Xu Xuan was somewhat worried. Someone was certainly watching this place, and he might be discovered the moment he went out.

"Your original body will remain here. What leaves is your incarnation, and with that Immortal Artifact concealing you, even a Purple Mansion cultivator won't be able to tell."

"Heh, cultivators these days can't survey mountains and rivers in their palms or inspect the heavens with a single thought."

Tiantuo reassured Xu Xuan. Their arrangements here were extremely secret, and no one would discover them.

Only then did Xu Xuan relax. He performed the secret technique [Six Paths of Rebirth], focusing his consciousness down to the finest detail and settling it within the flood dragon's body.

He used a transformation Spellcraft to become an azure carp, swam into the mountain spring inside the cave, and descended from the peak. Following the waterways into the Li River, he swam upstream toward the west.

The Li River was broad, originating in Qing Province, flowing through Heaven Province, and finally emptying directly into the Eastern Sea.

Xu Xuan concealed his aura, intending to swim all the way to Chonghua before transforming and going ashore. Along the way, he saw all manner of turtles, shrimp, fish, softshell turtles, river dolphins, and jellyfish. Some had already become demons and awakened their intelligence.

After leaving the Green Peaks, he spotted a giant turtle as large as an enormous ship at a confluence of waterways. Its entire body was ink-black.

A troop of shrimp soldiers and crab generals stood on the giant turtle's shell. Their leader was a Sow Dragon that had assumed a human body but still retained its crocodilian head.

This demon held a five-colored flag and was actually directing traffic along the waterways. As it waved the flag, the many aquatic creatures arriving here stopped, advanced, or changed course accordingly.

Xu Xuan mingled with a school of fish, hoping to slip through unnoticed. Unexpectedly, the Sow Dragon spirit glanced straight at him, looked startled, and immediately shouted:

"Lads, what backwater did this country-bumpkin carp spirit crawl out of? Trying to force its way through, is it? Catch it for me!"

A troop of shrimp soldiers and crab generals immediately surrounded him. Most were only at early Fetal Breath, and Xu Xuan could have blown them to death with a breath. Even the Sow Dragon was merely at the first level of Qi Refining, its cultivation so flimsy that it could not withstand a single strand of Xu Xuan's Sword Qi.

Wishing to avoid unnecessary trouble, Xu Xuan merely released a trace of his seventh-level Qi Refining presence, freezing the demons in place. He then swam straight up to the Sow Dragon and asked:

"What advice do you have for me, fellow Daoist? I've only just entered these waters and don't yet know the rules."

These demons bullied the weak and feared the strong. Seeing Xu Xuan's late-stage Qi Refining presence, the Sow Dragon's face grew several shades paler. It only dared to say, trembling:

"Please don't attack, Senior. We can talk this over. I was ordered by the Rain-Making Demon General to coordinate traffic here. Every demon taking this waterway must offer some spiritual treasures as a toll to Lord Rain-Making."

"If you simply leave, you'll be offending Lord Rain-Making."

With that, the Sow Dragon spirit produced a gleaming blue token. It did indeed bear the aura of a Foundation Establishment demon.

Xu Xuan considered this, withdrew his presence, wriggled his carp body, and spat out a quantity of Spirit Stones roughly equivalent in value to a Qi Refining magic artifact. He smiled.

"Why didn't you say so sooner, fellow Daoist? These Spirit Stones are my gift to your lord. If any are left over, consider them my apology to you."

At the sight of the Spirit Stones, the Sow Dragon's eyes went wide. It thanked him repeatedly and respectfully saw him off.

"A demon general should be at Foundation Establishment. Controlling this waterway must mean there's someone behind them."

Xu Xuan understood perfectly well that no mere Foundation Establishment demon general could claim this waterway south of Red Cloud. It was better to follow the local rules.

There were no more obstacles ahead. This incarnation of Xu Xuan's was an excellent swimmer, and he reached the border of Chonghua Commandery in less than a day.

Tiantuo surveyed the surroundings and confirmed that no one was watching. Only then did Xu Xuan leap out of the water.

He went ashore and, with a shake of his body, assumed the same appearance he had worn in [Deep Abyss].

Before coming, Xu Xuan had learned a little about Chonghua Commandery. Humans and demons governed it together without encroaching upon one another. There were two Purple Mansion powers: the [Bing-Day Flame-Offering Crows], which occupied almost the entire commandery, and the Thunder Edict Path, which held only a few mountains at Chonghua's westernmost edge, with its sect headquarters farther west.

Xu Xuan rode a cloud toward Mountain Flame City. As the saying went, wind followed tigers and clouds followed dragons; this incarnation traveled on clouds at tremendous speed, and before long he landed outside Mountain Flame City.

This ancient city differed somewhat from what Xu Xuan had seen in [Deep Abyss]. Its walls appeared to have been renovated, and all traces of battle had vanished.

According to Tiantuo, [Deep Abyss] had reproduced the city's ancient form. Naturally, much had changed since then. At the very least, the bloodstains from battles against the Immortal Dao had been erased to avoid arousing suspicion.

The [Flame-Walking Token] Yang Yuanxin had given Xu Xuan in [Deep Abyss] had now become a red feather, merely an imprint without physical substance. It grew warm, responding to something nearby.

Humans and demons walked side by side within the city. They all looked surprised at the arrival of an azure flood dragon. After all, this was a noble breed, comparable only to the Fire Crows throughout all of Chonghua.

Yang Yuanxin appeared in person, flying down from Spirit Mountain behind the city in her original form. She was a Fire Crow of deep crimson, with streaming flames trailing from both wings, wondrous beyond compare. Upon landing in the city, she shook herself and assumed human form.

A commotion rose around them, and most of those nearby bowed in greeting. After exchanging a few courtesies, Yang Yuanxin dismissed the surrounding people and led Xu Xuan toward Spirit Mountain behind the city.

This mountain was called Flame-Offering. Its spiritual energy was far more abundant than that of the Great Scenery Plains; even the Chen Household's Spirit Land fell far short of it. It also gathered sunlight, with fiery energy circulating through it, making it exceptionally suited to cultivating the Dao of [Bing Fire].

The mountain was lofty and precipitous, thrusting straight into the sea of clouds to draw down heavenly light. Most of its peaks were lush green. Only the tallest consisted entirely of Black Stone, without grass or trees, and frequently erupted with flames and lava.

Tiantuo concealed himself now, offering Xu Xuan only an occasional pointer and otherwise saying little.

Xu Xuan dared not ask too many questions for fear of exposing himself. He maintained an indifferent expression throughout the journey, though he saw many spiritual treasures he longed to seize and carry away.

That's the Foundation Establishment spiritual fire [Azure Sky Flame]. What's lying on the ground over there is [red marrow jade]. And this neatly paved road is made of [deliverance stone]?

Flame-Offering Mountain was magnificent. Even if every power on the Great Scenery Plains emptied its coffers, they probably could not produce so many spiritual treasures. And this was only a portion of them; the Fire Crow lineage surely possessed plenty of Purple Mansion Spirit Treasures as well.

Xu Xuan suppressed the urge to pick up the spiritual treasures beside the road. His face remained as still as an ancient well, though his flood dragon tail twitched slightly, betraying his inner turmoil.

"We must seem laughable to you, Brother Youdu. Flame-Offering Mountain is poor. When we moved the mountain here all those years ago, we lost many mineral veins and fire caverns. Naturally, we cannot compare with the Dragon Court."

Seeing the dragon scion's complete indifference to the mountain scenery, Yang Yuanxin sighed inwardly. As expected of someone from the Dragon Court-even a collateral descendant was nobility of heavenly blood. How could Flame-Offering Mountain catch his discerning eye?

"Your clan's Spirit Mountain is certainly a treasure land. But from what you said, Yuanxin, it seems it wasn't originally here?"

Xu Xuan asked without betraying anything. Yang Yuanxin showed no suspicion and instead explained with a smile:

"You entered the world late, Brother Youdu. It's only natural that you don't know our clan's history. Our [Bing-Day Flame-Offering Crows] lineage once served at the court of Great Xia. We were granted royal rank and bestowed the surname Yang."

"Back then, the Golden Crows still ruled the world, and their lineage controlled [Greater Yang]. Later, Great Xia's second emperor died suddenly, and our clan fled overseas to escape the calamity. Finally, with the rise of Li, we took the opportunity to settle in Chonghua."

Xu Xuan was somewhat stunned. The Xia dynasty had been an imperial dynasty of ancient times. He had heard that humans and demons governed it together, with Golden Crows as emperors. These Fire Crows truly possessed an ancient heritage. He sighed in admiration:

"Your clan's heritage truly stretches far back. I've seldom traveled and knew nothing of this. You must find me laughable, Yuanxin."

"Now that you've entered the world, Brother Youdu, you should see more of its sights. The Li Kingdom has plenty of fine places to visit."

Smiling brightly, Yang Yuanxin led Xu Xuan farther up the main peak. They reached an ancient hall, where she said they would meet one of the clan's elders.

Xu Xuan had already learned that the Fire Crow lineage had two Purple Mansion demon kings. One had broken through in recent years, while the other was a truly ancient demon whose cultivation had reached an unknown realm. The one he would meet was the recent breakthrough.

The hall was austere and entirely gray. A golden sun was painted on its ceiling, with a three-legged divine crow inside, its form indistinct. Surrounding it was a scene of myriad demons bowing in submission and immortals and Buddhas praising it together, magnificent in its grandeur.

A middle-aged man in sumptuous jujube-red robes sat upright in the hall's seat of honor. Majestic without anger, with a prominent nose and high forehead, he looked every inch a prince or high official.

The seated man looked over at Xu Xuan. His eyes were not crimson, but had clearly defined black pupils and white sclera, just like a human's.

An indistinct pressure washed over Xu Xuan, startling him slightly, but the other man soon reined it in. Xu Xuan bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Daw Yan Demon King."

Before they arrived, Yang Yuanxin had already told Xu Xuan a little about him. This demon king was her father, whose Daoist name was Dao Yan. He had successfully broken through ten years ago and was still at early Purple Mansion.

Dao Yan's expression softened, and he spoke warmly:

"No need for such ceremony, dragon scion. Yuanxin, why haven't you shown our guest to his seat?"

Yang Yuanxin led Xu Xuan to a seat below the dais, then sat beside him and instructed the servants to bring spiritual tea for their guest.

"Forgive the imposition, but might I ask you to reveal your [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale] to establish your identity? Only then can our clan feel at ease."

Dao Yan's tone was gentle, but it allowed no refusal.

The [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale] on Xu Xuan's neck immediately lit up, radiating a deep, shadowy mysterious yin glow. It even stirred the mural overhead, causing the flood dragons and dragons within the picture of myriad demons to roar incessantly.

This incarnation of Xu Xuan's had been formed from a Purple Mansion Tier [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale], with Seal Script completing its life and essence. Naturally, it could not have been more genuine.

"You are indeed of the Dragon Court's bloodline. But why did you leave that grotto-heaven? There seems to be more to the matter."

"Could you explain in detail? You will certainly be compensated afterward. Otherwise, if the Great Mist Marsh calls us to account, we cannot bear the responsibility."

Dao Yan hesitated but still asked, afraid that Mu Youdu might truly have a sensitive background and drag the Fire Crows into the Dragon Court's power struggles.

"I am a descendant of the [Vast Marsh Dark-Cloud Dragon King]. My mother's clan is of little standing, belonging to the [Dew-Bedecked Azure Viper] lineage."

"Because my bloodline is impure, I received no fief upon coming of age. My father's principal wife is a [White-Mystery Transforming Serpent]. Jealous by nature, she ate my mother alive.

"My father protected me for a time, but ultimately had me flee the grotto-heaven to seek a future for myself."

Xu Xuan explained each point. Tiantuo had helped him devise this account.

The [Vast Marsh Dark-Cloud Dragon King] had Purple Mansion cultivation. His principal wife's [White-Mystery Transforming Serpent] lineage had declined long ago and lacked the Fire Crow lineage's prominence. Only by attaching itself to the Dragon Court had this Transforming Serpent managed to reach early Purple Mansion.

As for the matter of the Dragon King's wives and concubines, who knew where Tiantuo had heard it, but it was indeed true. Whether a dragon scion had actually fled was another question. After all, the Great Mist Marsh had secluded itself for many years, and outsiders knew little of its affairs. Its last appearance in the world had been several centuries ago.

Xu Xuan was now waving someone else's great banner. Tiantuo seemed to be acquainted with the [Vast Marsh Dark-Cloud Dragon King] and told Xu Xuan to proceed without worry.

There's no time to worry about all that now. I'll take one step and see what comes next.

After recounting his background, Xu Xuan wore a forlorn expression, looking every bit a fugitive fallen on hard times.

Dao Yan remained seated, considering whether the story was true. If he could use this opportunity to establish contact with that Dragon King, it would be an extraordinary stroke of fortune.

The [White-Mystery Transforming Serpent] lineage had only one Purple Mansion cultivator and merely sheltered under the Dragon Court. Its influence was inferior to that of his [Bing-Day Flame-Offering Crows], so he naturally had no fear of offending it.

If he helped the Dragon King preserve this illegitimate son, the other party would surely owe him a favor.

Mu Youdu's [Mysterious Yin Reverse Scale] could certainly not be faked, but the other details merited scrutiny.

At least his bloodline was genuine. The grotto-heaven matter was urgent, leaving no time for further verification.

Several demon mountains under the Dragon Court's rule could relay messages. Dao Yan had already dispatched people to inquire, but it would take a long time. They probably would not receive word until after the outer palaces opened.

Once they obtained the cultivation methods, he could examine the Dragon Court's response. If Mu Youdu was truly a dragon scion, he would befriend him. If not, he would escort him to the Dragon Court's territory to face judgment. Either way, it was a profitable bargain.

Dao Yan then looked toward Yang Yuanxin and said:

"Yuanxin, go examine our clan records and ask the old lord whether the details match. While you're at it, bring a spiritual treasure to offer this dragon scion our apologies."

Yang Yuanxin immediately rose and departed, leaving Xu Xuan alone with Daw Yan Demon King. Daw Yan seemed reassured, his expression showing a hint of warmth as he asked casually:

"Dragon Scion Youdu, you've now reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. Once you enter those outer palaces and obtain a cultivation method, Foundation Establishment will be within reach."

"I've heard that the direct descendants of the Dragon Court in the Great Mist Marsh, as well as the Dragon Palaces in the Eastern Sea and Northern Sea, reach Purple Mansion upon coming of age. What about you, Dragon Scion Youdu?"

Xu Xuan sighed and answered softly:

"You must find me laughable, Demon King. My maternal bloodline is lowly and only guarantees that I reach the peak of Foundation Establishment. The [White-Mystery Transforming Serpent], however, is herself a Purple Mansion being, and the offspring she bore my father do possess such wondrous gifts."

Dao Yan merely smiled, dropped the subject, and turned the conversation elsewhere.

A little while later, Yang Yuanxin returned with a cheerful expression. Entering the hall, she said with a smile:

"Father, I examined our clan records and went to Venerated Sun Peak to see the old lord. There is indeed such an account."

Dao Yan nodded in satisfaction and laughed heartily:

"Yuanxin, bring out that item. We are royalty ourselves. We must not neglect propriety and slight our dragon scion."

Yang Yuanxin stepped forward and drew a pure black stone pearl from within her robes. It was somewhat translucent, with a speck of golden light inside, and carried a dense aura of mingled thunder and fire. A talisman affixed to it bore the words [Heavenly Lord's Wrath].

Xu Xuan looked at the stone pearl and felt the purple thunder within him become more active than ever before. It trembled faintly, as though about to explode.

"This is the [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl], an ancient magic artifact that came out of [Surging Tribulation Heaven]. Its wondrous power far exceeds that of present-day Foundation Establishment magic artifacts. Please accept it, dragon scion, and forgive our clan's conduct today."

Yang Yuanxin explained the pearl's origins and handed it to Xu Xuan with a smile.

Xu Xuan's expression grew solemn. He felt that this thunderfire pearl's power far surpassed the monastery's [Constant Light]. It was the finest magic artifact he had ever seen.

"This [Universalizing Thunderfire Pearl] was made by combining [thunderclap flame] of the [Ultimate Fire] path and [righteous heart thunder] of the [Divine Thunder] path within this [Mountain-Calming Pearl] of [Wu Earth]. Three supreme Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures went into it."

"If Dragon Scion Youdu reaches Purple Mansion, nurtures it with a Divine Ability, and refines some Purple Mansion Spirit Treasures into it, this pearl can immediately become a Purple Mansion Spirit Artifact."

Dao Yan's voice rang boldly through the hall. From his seat below, Xu Xuan offered his thanks and looked toward the mural overhead, his expression unchanged.