Free Web NovelChapter 311: Chapter 310: Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain
As Xu Yan and Wan Ping returned to Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain respectively, a steady stream of news about Daluo Palace began to arrive.
"Jiangzhou? Changping Prefecture? The Old Dragon King’s territory?"
A sea breeze rustled through the ancient trees on Chaoyang Island. Sunlight mingled with the cool, salty air, leaving a pleasant warmth in its wake.
Inside the main hall of Chaoyang Palace, Celestial True Monarch was reviewing the information in his hands.
"Daluo Palace was only established in Changping Prefecture last year?" Celestial True Monarch looked up at Xu Yan. "And you’re saying their Palace Master has at least two thousand years of Dao Practice?"
"Correct." Xu Yan nodded. "His aura was no weaker than the Netherfire Sect Leader’s during the battle at Shide Prefecture."
Celestial True Monarch’s eyes narrowed. ’An expert of this caliber doesn’t just appear out of nowhere.’
Qiao Qian’er asked curiously, "There are plenty of experts in the world. Aside from those who’ve made a name for themselves in the Central Province Land and the four surrounding regions, many more live in seclusion, cultivating on their own. I’ve even heard there are nameless individuals whose power rivals that of the Ancestors. What’s so strange about one of them suddenly appearing?"
"One appearing isn’t strange, but for nine to appear at once—all from the same sect—that is strange."
Celestial True Monarch stated calmly, "Nameless individuals typically cultivate alone and avoid worldly affairs. Even the Hidden Sects couldn’t field nine such experts at once. Furthermore, they are neither Demons nor Ghost Gods, but pure Human Mages."
Xu Yan added, "That’s right. At first, I thought they must all be Mages in Harmony with a Spirit Monarch. After all, pure Mages who can achieve five hundred years of Dao Practice on their own are as rare as a phoenix’s feather. How could nine of them appear at once?"
"But they are indeed pure Human Mages." Celestial True Monarch gazed at the report. "At least on the surface, it’s these Mages, who call themselves Daoists, running Daluo Palace and its various... Taoist Temples."
Qiao Qian’er asked, puzzled, "So what’s going on?"
Celestial True Monarch’s gaze hardened. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "There are many possibilities, and I can’t be certain right now. But no matter how you look at it, this Daluo Palace is by no means ordinary."
"Of course they’re not ordinary," Xu Yan grumbled. "Nine people wiped out the Nether Fire Sect in just over half a day. Even on our Chaoyang Island, unless the Ancestor, you, the Island Master, and the venerable Moon Spirit Monarch acted personally, the rest of us combined wouldn’t have the power to do that."
"The thing is, based on their apparent strength, they should have been evenly matched with the Nether Fire Sect. I still can’t figure out how they did it," Xu Yan said, still perplexed. "Was that Array of theirs just that powerful?"
"And that was the Nether Fire Sect’s main headquarters. Plus, the Netherfire Sect Leader had become a Fallen Demon, which made him even stronger," Qiao Qian’er added. "It’s a shame they used an Array to seal off the area, so we couldn’t see what was happening inside."
Celestial True Monarch nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes. ’On that point, I’ll have to ask the Ancestor. Perhaps it’s related to the Spirit Realm.’
"The Spirit Realm?" Xu Yan and Qiao Qian’er were both stunned.
"How could it be related to the Spirit Realm?" Xu Yan asked, not understanding. "Isn’t Ascension to the Spirit Realm only possible for us of the Demon Race? And throughout all of history, very few Great Demons have ever managed to ascend."
Celestial True Monarch shot Xu Yan a sidelong glance. "Did you not hear me say ’perhaps’?"
Xu Yan was speechless.
Qiao Qian’er couldn’t help but laugh. She then asked, "So, are we still going to attend the opening of Daluo Palace’s new temple on Black Rock Mountain?"
"Yes, of course we’re going." Celestial True Monarch nodded. "It’s a perfect opportunity to probe their origins. Besides, judging by their actions, we aren’t the ones who should be worried."
Qiao Qian’er, who had also read the report, couldn’t help but smile. "Carrying out justice for heaven, vanquishing wickedness and evil... Silent God Mountain is the one that should be worried."
Xu Yan snorted in disdain. "And to think, those guys on Silent God Mountain are all ghosts of former humans, yet they still kill people and practice Soul Refining. They treat their own kind worse than we demons do."
...
’The Nether Fire Sect coveted Changping Prefecture, so they were annihilated by Daluo Palace.’
On Silent God Mountain, a benevolent-looking old man sat beneath an ancient tree on the summit, questioning Wan Ping. "It only took them half a day to take down that Old Fire Corpse?"
"Yes." Wan Ping nodded grimly. "I was nearby. I sensed the fluctuations of Magical Power not long after the battle on Black Rock Mountain erupted. I arrived shortly after, and Lu Yu from He Yan Mansion got there around the same time.
Their Array completely shrouded Black Rock Mountain. There were some Nether Fire Sect members in Heiyan Town at the time who tried to attack the Array from the outside, but all their Attacks were dissipated, having no effect whatsoever.
That Array is formidable. I couldn’t spot any weaknesses from the outside. And when it blocked Attacks, it didn’t just meet them with brute force; it broke them down and dispersed them, consuming almost none of its own energy."
Wan Ping’s Dao Practice was profound, so his observations were sharp. "The battle lasted for just over half a day. But when the Array dissipated, not only were the Netherfire Sect Leader and the Five Flames Venerable dead, but the several hundred members of the Nether Fire Sect had also been completely annihilated."
"Based on Daluo Palace’s past conduct, they wouldn’t have exterminated every last person in the sect," the old man said, shaking his head. "It must be that everyone in the Nether Fire Sect had become a Fallen Demon."
Wan Ping thought for a moment, then conceded, "That’s right. Just as the Array dispersed, the Nether Fire Sect disciples remaining in Heiyan Town all began to emit Demonic Qi. A Demon Seed must have already been planted inside them."
At this point, Wan Ping paused, glancing at the old man with some hesitation.
However, the old man didn’t meet Wan Ping’s gaze, simply continuing with his questions. "They can eliminate the Demon Realm beneath Black Rock Mountain? Eliminate, you say, not just seal it away?"
"At least, that’s what they claim," Wan Ping said. "Furthermore, the Daluo Palace Master said he plans to establish a branch temple of Daluo Palace on Black Rock Mountain and has invited us to attend the opening ceremony."
The old man’s eyes narrowed. After a moment’s thought, he remarked, "To be able to slay the Old Fire Corpse in half a day and also eliminate Demonic Qi... this Daluo Palace is far from simple!"
"Could they be people from the Court?" Wan Ping asked.
"Absolutely not. Neither the Xuanwei Divine Sect nor the Spirit Court possesses that kind of power," the old man replied, shaking his head. "Daluo Palace has its own Dharma Gate for Mages to cultivate. If they were from the Court, they would never have shown up in Wanling Jiangnan."
Wan Ping considered this and saw the logic. "But where did they come from, then? The East Sea is mostly home to the Demon Race, and the West is full of gods. Could they be from the Southern Mountains? The Southern Mountains are a chaotic free-for-all of demons; it would make sense for a force like this to emerge from there."
"Whether that’s true or not, we’ll find out when we go see for ourselves," the old man said calmly.
Wan Ping was startled. "You’re going in person?"
The old man nodded, a profound smile gracing his lips. "Given that they possess the strength to annihilate the Nether Fire Sect, they are worthy of a personal visit from me."
...
Meanwhile, Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Shen Hao remained at Black Rock Mountain, while the others—Taoist Yu Zhang, Taoist Qingyuan, and Taoist Ming Yu—stayed behind in He Yan Mansion and Shide Prefecture to continue Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits.
However, Taoist Yi Hong, Taoist Yan Ling, and Taoist Jing Feng needed to oversee their respective branch temples, so they returned to Daluo Palace along with Gu Zhao.
As Gu Zhao descended from the sky, he saw Zhuo Qingyan waiting for him in the small courtyard, a serene and gentle smile on her face.
"You’re back."
"I’m back."
