Devil Dao in Turbulent Times, a One-Year Promise

The Prince of Heavenly Sea's residence

The Prince of Heavenly Sea sat upright in the seat of honor, while Zhou Jiayue stood obediently beside him with her head lowered, glancing up at Qin Yi from time to time. "Qin Yi, I still don't know where you come from."

The Prince of Heavenly Sea was very interested in Qin Yi's background. Since he had defeated Wu Pingjian, he was presumably also a disciple of a major sect.

"I studied under a master at the Eight Gods Pavilion. My master is a Golden Core elder of the pavilion."

Qin Yi was no fool. After all, Song Qi had made quite a few enemies during his travels in his early years, so it was better to be cautious. When the Prince of Heavenly Sea heard that Qin Yi was the disciple of an elder of the Eight Gods Pavilion, a gleam flashed in his eyes. Excellent! He had actually hooked a golden-turtle son-in-law from a power stronger than the Azure Cloud imperial family.

Though the Eight Gods Pavilion lay within the Azure Cloud Imperial Dynasty, it did not fall under the dynasty's jurisdiction. In terms of strength alone, the Eight Gods Pavilion utterly eclipsed the Azure Cloud Imperial Dynasty. Rumor had long held that the pavilion's grand elders had all reached Spirit Transformation, a realm that the mere Azure Cloud Imperial Dynasty could not hope to match. This was also what gave the Eight Gods Pavilion the confidence to sit firmly atop the Eastern Region's immortal sects.

"Oh... I see." The Prince of Heavenly Sea let out a stale breath. As things stood, the two could be considered a match in both status and standing.

Just as the Prince of Heavenly Sea was about to speak, Qin Yi suddenly frowned. "Forgive me, Your Highness. My master has sent word that a great war between the righteous and devil paths is about to begin. I can only take my leave now."

Song Qi had just sent him a message, telling him that wherever he was, he was to set out for Falling Cloud City at once.

The Prince of Heavenly Sea's expression stiffened. If he had not just learned Qin Yi's identity, he might well have attacked him on the spot. He did not care about any great war between the righteous and devil paths. What he wanted to know was, if Qin Yi left, what would become of his daughter?

Qin Yi seemed to see what was on the Prince of Heavenly Sea's mind and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. My master just sent word that this journey will be extremely dangerous, but I cannot disobey his command. I am willing to make a one-year promise with the princess. If I have not returned after a year, she may choose a husband for herself. If I do return after a year, I shall marry her. She can also use this time to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."

Hearing Qin Yi mention her cultivation, Zhou Jiayue, who had looked indifferent until then, could not help blushing. Though exceptionally gifted, she was playful by nature and had never put her mind to cultivation. Seeing the Prince of Heavenly Sea's face darken somewhat, she reached out and poked him with a finger.

"Very well, but Yue'er will wait for you for only one year. If you have not returned after that, Yue'er will have nothing more to do with you." Since his own daughter had agreed, the Prince of Heavenly Sea did not stop him.

As for Zhou Jiayue, she could hardly wait for Qin Yi to leave. Though she did not dislike him, she could not say she liked him either. Naturally, she was more than happy for everyone to get what they wanted.

Qin Yi rejoiced inwardly. His heart was set on cultivating immortality, and he had entered this martial contest for a bride only to hone his martial skills. He had not expected Zhou Jiayue to choose him, and there was no way he could marry her.

Setting aside whether her meager cultivation would become a burden on his path of cultivation, merely becoming entangled in karma with the Azure Cloud Imperial Dynasty would certainly bring trouble to his door in the future.

Fortunately, Song Qi's message had arrived in time. Otherwise, he would have been in trouble. On this trip to Falling Cloud City, regardless of how dangerous it was, he could never return to Heavenly Sea City in the future.

After receiving the Prince of Heavenly Sea's permission, Qin Yi did not linger. He summoned Cangyuan and flew toward Falling Cloud City.

After he left, Wu Pingjian, who had been cultivating in seclusion in the prince's residence, opened his eyes, picked up Heavenly Flame, and walked out. At the same time, in one of the residence's upper rooms, Yang Hua watched Qin Yi depart, lost in thought. He then summoned his guards and said something to them.

"Yi'er, the devil path is running rampant. The sect has received word that its forces have gathered in Falling Cloud City. Several immortal sects have already sent people to support them. A great war between the righteous and devil paths is about to begin. Set out for Falling Cloud City at once and join the battle. Take care."

Song Qi's message was brief, but it showed the sheer scale of the devil path's offensive. The devil path was no longer what it had once been, while the Eight Gods Pavilion, foremost among the immortal sects, stood at the height of its power, like the sun at high noon. Who knew what scheme the devil path had now, to dare declare war on the righteous path at such a time?

An Azure Dragon formed from spiritual power surged through the clouds and mist. Qin Yi rode the Azure Dragon, transformed from Cangyuan, toward Falling Cloud City at breakneck speed. Along the way, he saw quite a few cultivators from other immortal sects heading there, including many at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

"It looks like things are rather serious," Qin Yi murmured. The devil path had actually forced the immortal sects to send so many cultivators. It seemed their visitors had come with ill intent. At that thought, Qin Yi put on White Visage, making his features utterly ordinary, then changed into the robes of an Eight Gods Pavilion inner disciple.

Away from home, it was better to be cautious. Once he felt everything was in order, Qin Yi sat cross-legged on the dragon's head and admired the scenery in the distance. Green mountains and clear waters lay wreathed in clouds and mist, like an immortal paradise on earth.

"It's a pity my cultivation is so mediocre. I'm not worthy of this beautiful scenery."

A day later

Qin Yi finally reached Falling Cloud City. At the gate, two armored Qi Refining cultivators were collecting an entry fee. All sorts of people mingled here, so Qin Yi obediently paid two Spirit Stones and entered the city without trouble.

The city bustled with pedestrians, and cultivators had set up stalls to sell their wares. Even the teahouses were lively. Nothing about it looked like a place on the brink of a great war between the righteous and devil paths. Qin Yi was puzzled. Was this what a city looked like with a great war approaching? To find out what was happening, he entered a teahouse called the Heavenly Cloud House.

As soon as he entered, he saw that the people from the various major immortal sects were seated together by sect. Several strands of Divine Sense swept toward him the moment he stepped inside, taking him aback. He sensed hostility in several of them. It seemed the immortal sects were not united among themselves either.

Qin Yi surveyed the forces in the teahouse. Those seated on the second floor were mostly disciples of the five great immortal sects, while the first floor was occupied by the weaker immortal sects. His arrival immediately drew their attention, and an Eight Gods Pavilion disciple hurried downstairs to greet him.

"Senior Brother, my name is Zheng Yuan. This way, please. Our people are all upstairs." Zheng Yuan was an outer disciple at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Unable to afford a Foundation Establishment Pill, he had been stuck there for three years. He had come this time in search of a fortuitous opportunity, or a backer for himself.

Qin Yi nodded and followed Zheng Yuan upstairs. The people there were all dressed in Eight Gods Pavilion robes, but most were outer disciples, with only a few inner disciples among them. Qin Yi was puzzled. Hadn't they said there was going to be a great war between the righteous and devil paths? Why were they all ordinary disciples?

Seemingly noticing Qin Yi's confusion, Zheng Yuan gave an embarrassed laugh before Qin Yi could ask. "You may not know this, Senior Brother, but this is only one of our bases. Most of the disciples are staying behind closed doors, cultivating diligently at the inns. Some direct disciples of distinguished status have even been assigned a courtyard each."

"Tsk, tsk. When will I get that kind of treatment?" Zheng Yuan said enviously.

Qin Yi shook his head after hearing him out. Falling Cloud City was currently crowded with forces from all sides, and there might even be a Devil Cultivator right beside him. He still had to keep a low profile. He then found a seat, ordered a cup of tea, and began to sip it.