Translator: CinderTL
The Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple and the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect were sworn enemies, their feud stretching back centuries. Whenever an opportunity arose, they would inevitably sabotage each other.
In the early days, before the Four Factions of the Demonic Sect merged, it was the Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple that spearheaded the alliance of the Source Worship Sect, the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect, and other sects and noble clans to jointly besiege the Four Factions. This pressure forced the Four Factions to unite, giving rise to the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect.
Later, after a century of meticulous planning, the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect executed a "lure the tiger from its mountain" strategy. They infiltrated the temple, turned its monks against each other, and stole the sect's mystic treasure, the Demon Suppression Pagoda, killing many in the process.
This deepened the mutual hatred between the two factions to an irreconcilable level.
Meanwhile, the Source Worship Sect and the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect adopted a neutral stance, content to watch the two rivals clash.
Shangyin Mountain, a sect that straddled the line between righteous and demonic, had always remained aloof from such conflicts. Though it maintained the lowest profile among the Five Great Sects of the Central Region, no one dared underestimate its power.
Back in the arena, Jingyi faced three opponents simultaneously, yet showed no sign of faltering.
Among Tu Wanshan's group of three, two were at the Initial Stage of the Dao Seeking Realm, while the third was at the Mid Stage. Although Jingyi was also at the Mid Stage, he effortlessly suppressed all three.
"Damn it, that Little Bald Donkey is fierce!" one of them muttered, shaking his numb arm.
Golden light swirled around Jingyi, rendering him impervious to their blades and swords. Instead, they had to be wary of his bare palms, which carried a sharp wind force at their tips. Each strike was heavy and powerful, leaving the trio in dire straits.
"Holy Son, I'll hold him off. You two retreat first. There's no need to waste time here," a tall, gaunt elder called out.
"Good!"
Tu Wanshan turned to leave with the other man, unconcerned for the elder's safety. Their brief exchange had revealed that while Jingyi's offense and defense were formidable, his speed was lacking. His movements were somewhat clumsy, whereas the elder was renowned for his agility. Jingyi would be hard-pressed to catch him.
As Tu Wanshan and his companion retreated, a faint smile crept across Jingyi's usually serene face. His gaze locked firmly on the gaunt elder.
"Hey, Little Bald Donkey, what are you staring at?"
"This humble monk is Jingyi, not 'bald donkey.'"
Jingyi's face wore a serene smile as he pressed his palms together, slowly closed his eyes, and his golden aura intensified severalfold.
In an instant, Jingyi's eyes flickered open, his pupils now dyed gold.
"Today, this humble monk will avenge the wronged souls you've slain!"
"Demon Subduing Palm!"
A colossal golden palm descended from the heavens, bathing the entire area in golden light.
"Ah!"
The gaunt elder's face twisted in horror. Escape was now impossible. He channeled his spiritual power to resist the overwhelming force.
After a prolonged stalemate, the golden light dissipated. Jingyi smoothed the wrinkles in his kasaya and strode purposefully into the distance.
Tu Wanshan watched the receding golden glow, his expression dark and uncertain. He hadn't expected the little monk to be so formidable. Even from this distance, he could feel the monk's terrifying aura. Elder Ma's chances of survival seemed grim.
"Let's go. No point waiting."
Tu Wanshan led his group toward their designated rendezvous point.
At the same time, Xu Sanyan and the Zuoqiu sisters, Hui and Xin, stood before a massive stone monument, gazing upward.
"The Nether Phoenix returns to its nest, oblivious to the seasons. What does that mean?" Zuoqiu Xin asked.
"I don't know. Let's just write it down for now," Zuoqiu Hui replied, shaking her head.
Xu Sanyan stroked his chin, equally puzzled. Perhaps they would only understand the phrase when they reached the place it referred to.
Suddenly, a head popped out from behind the monument. "Holy Son?" the person exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Sanyan smiled. "Elder Qin, what are you doing here?"
It was Qin Manyang.
"Upon receiving word of your arrival, I headed south and happened to run into you," Qin Manyang said, letting out a silent sigh of relief. The secret realm was full of dangers, and staying close to the holy son would offer much greater peace of mind.
"And these two are...?"
"I am Zuoqiu Hui, and this is my younger sister, Zuoqiu Xin. Greetings, Elder," Zuoqiu Hui said, stepping forward to offer a formal bow.
"So you're the Huai Lake Seven Heroes," Qin Manyang said, her tone polite. "It's an honor to meet you."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xu Sanyan urged, "Let's hurry. We need to make the most of our time."
Before he could finish speaking, the mother stone in his robe pocket began to radiate warmth. He pulled it out and glanced at the message:
[Senior Brother, come quickly! The Chinese crabapple tree is about to bloom!]
It was from Xiang Tan.
"Are there others with you?" Xu Sanyan asked.
"Yes," Xiang Tan replied. "Four members of the Lu Clan, three from Southern Heaven Valley, and others—over thirty people in total."
So many?
Xu Sanyan frowned, but after a moment's reflection, it made sense.
Nearly ten thousand Foundation Establishment and Dao Seeking Realm cultivators had entered the secret realm. While the city was vast, the Chinese crabapple tree was conspicuously prominent. It was only natural that nearby cultivators would converge on the site.
"Stay safe," Xu Sanyan replied. "I'll be there soon."
He pocketed the mother stone and turned to the trio. "I'll go ahead. Catch up when you can."
"Alright, be careful," they replied.
Beneath the Chinese crabapple tree, over forty people stood in their respective small groups. Some groups had four or five members, while others consisted of just a single person. They had to observe the tree while also keeping a wary eye on their neighbors.
From above, the massive tree dwarfed the crowd, making them look no larger than cats or dogs.
The deep brown trunk was covered in ancient patterns, and layers of lush green branches cascaded downward, dotted with pink flower buds on the verge of blooming.
Xiang Tan hid in the farthest pavilion, stealing glances. She knew her place: with her mere Initial Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level, she could only observe from afar.
Why isn't Senior Brother here yet? Xiang Tan fretted inwardly. Ever since entering the secret realm and being separated from Xu Sanyan, her sense of security had dwindled.
Back on Crimson Dragon Mountain, as someone close to the holy son, others had treated her with deference out of respect for Xu Sanyan. But now, no one cared about her status; everything depended on strength.
"It's opening! The flowers are blooming!" someone exclaimed. Xiang Tan focused her gaze, watching as the pink petals slowly unfurled, revealing a fiery crimson core at the flower's heart.
A gentle breeze carried waves of delicate fragrance through the air. Xiang Tan twitched her nose, a look of blissful intoxication spreading across her face.
"So fragrant..."
Countless flower buds burst open simultaneously, transforming the verdant trees into a riot of vibrant colors.
Boom!
Rumble!
Suddenly, a series of earth-shattering explosions echoed from the distance, as if pavilions were collapsing and the ground was splitting apart. Everyone snapped to attention, turning their heads in unison to gaze toward the source of the commotion.
A massive cloud of dust billowed into the sky, obscuring the sun. Through the gaps between the distant pavilions, they could vaguely discern something rising within the swirling dust.
"There!"
One person reacted swiftly, their figure blurring as they shot toward the disturbance, eager to seize the advantage.
Xiang Tan felt a surge of anxiety, but she could only narrow her eyes and peer into the dust cloud. There, an octagonal wooden tower was rising from the ground, soaring straight toward the heavens.
"Holy shit, it's huge!"
Xiang Tan gasped in astonishment. The octagonal tower dwarfed the surrounding pavilions, towering at least a dozen stories high.
"Why isn't Senior Brother here yet?!"
Xiang Tan stomped her foot in frustration, her eyes darting around anxiously.
Even when Senior Brother had teased her in bed, she hadn't felt this desperate.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (HB) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c242. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (4.1K+) Chapters, (5.8M+) Words.