Free Web NovelChapter 328: Chapter 327: The Celestial Fox Lineage of Cyan Hill Mountain
Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain were in the neighboring prefecture. Their relationship wasn’t particularly close, so after attending the New Year’s ritual and making a few tentative inquiries, they took their leave.
White Spirit Mountain, however, was a different matter.
After leaving Taoist Shen Hao to serve as the abbot of the Daluo Temple on Black Rock Mountain and Taoist Yu Zhang as abbot in the neighboring Shide Prefecture, Gu Zhao returned to Cuiluo Mountain with the other senior Daoists, Bai Fei, and Li Qingshuang.
"The overlapping green peaks, so artfully arranged... It’s truly beautiful," Bai Fei praised.
"Let me give you a tour!" Gu Zhao said, making a guiding gesture with his hand. The group landed directly before the mountain gate of Daluo Palace.
From the Cyan Dragon Mountain Gate, they followed the mountain path past the Eastern Seven Stars Shrine to the Spirit Official Hall, which marked the official entrance to Daluo Palace. Within the palace grounds were the Four Imperial Lords Hall, the Jade Emperor Hall, and the Three Pristine Hall, as well as a series of other shrines: the God of Wealth Hall, the Yuelao Hall, the Wenchang Hall, the Medicine King Hall, the Salvation Hall, and the Thunder Ancestor Hall.
The halls were bustling with worshippers, and the air was thick with the smoke of incense.
Bai Fei could feel the worshippers’ almost fanatical devotion. Wisps of Incense and Candle Telekinesis lingered on every Divine Statue. The tall statues, carved from Purple Sandalwood, were practically overflowing with the power of the incense.
Meanwhile, Everlasting Lamps burned day and night throughout the palace. Their wicks held a condensation of incense power and a stable Spiritual Telekinesis, which felt similar to a Ghost God, yet was distinct.
Bai Fei glanced at the sky, then at the ground. An incredibly profound resonance of the Dao permeated the world around them.
This Dao resonance seemed to connect Daluo Palace with the entirety of Cuiluo Mountain. Even if she couldn’t perceive the array itself, she guessed this was an ambient effect of a Mountain Protection Array that spanned dozens of miles.
Bai Fei realized she had underestimated Daluo Palace. ’Just by seeing how this Mountain Protection Array can merge its Qi Mechanism with the world while inactive, I can get a glimpse of its true power.’ She reckoned that even if she were to attack Daluo Palace herself, she might not succeed.
"This is the main courtyard of Daluo Palace, where most of the worshippers spend their time," Gu Zhao explained. "In addition, there are several side halls dedicated to other deities or ancestors. Our disciples are responsible for their daily upkeep."
As Bai Fei listened to Gu Zhao’s explanation, she mentally cataloged the deities worshipped at Daluo Palace. ’This is enough to form a complete administrative system for a whole realm.’
’That’s a frightening thought—even more so than the legendary Spirit Realm Upper Gods!’
’The Spirit Realm Upper Gods may have impressive-sounding titles—Cyan Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Xuanwu, Qilin, Golden Crow, the Great Roc, the Giant Kun—but they lack any real system, focusing only on raw power.’
’And yet, Daluo Palace also has positions for Great Demon Divine Beasts: the Cyan Dragon Mountain Gate, White Tiger Cliff, Vermilion Bird Forest, and Xuanwu Pool.’
’In other words, Daluo Palace has positions equivalent to the Spirit Realm Upper Gods. And not only that, but each of the four cardinal Upper Gods has seven auxiliary deities under them. That’s something I’ve never heard of before.’
’Dream Transmission... a connection to the Upper Realm... so many deities...’
The more Bai Fei thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. Li Qingshuang had mentioned some of these things to her, but her Cultivation had been too low at the time, so her knowledge was limited and her explanations were vague.
Only now, having come here herself, did she discover that the hidden depths of Daluo Palace were likely far greater than she had ever imagined.
"Young Master!"
Just then, a clear yet gentle voice called out from nearby. The Silk Embroideress hurried over with light, quick steps, her eyes filled with joy at the sight of Gu Zhao. "You’re back! And Miss Li is here too!"
The next moment, the Silk Embroideress noticed Bai Fei in the crowd, who stood out like a dazzling pearl. She couldn’t help but lick her lips. "This lady is so..."
Gu Zhao made the introductions. The Silk Embroideress jumped in surprise and quickly bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Mountain Master Bai!"
"There’s no need for such ceremony." Bai Fei raised a hand, and a gentle force lifted the Silk Embroideress to her feet.
The next moment, her eyes fell on Bai Ke, who was trailing behind the Silk Embroideress. Bai Ke zipped over using her Magical Power, waving at Gu Zhao. "You’re back! The Silk Embroideress and I invented a new honey-roasted chicken! It’s super delicious!"
Sensing Bai Ke’s Demon Power, Bai Fei’s gaze sharpened. "A Celestial Fox bloodline?" she asked in surprise.
"Huh?" Hearing Bai Fei, Bai Ke stopped in her tracks. She tilted her head and eyed the woman suspiciously. "Who are you? How can you see my bloodline?"
The Silk Embroideress quickly explained, "She is the Mountain Master of White Spirit Mountain."
Bai Ke’s eyes lit up. "So she’s the Mountain Master of White Spirit Mountain? The greatest beauty in all of Jiangzhou?"
The Silk Embroideress nodded repeatedly. Bai Ke glanced at Bai Fei, who was standing with Li Qingshuang, then turned her head to Gu Zhao and asked, "Did you mate with her, too?"
A stunned silence fell over the group.
The Silk Embroideress lunged forward, clamped a hand over Bai Ke’s mouth, and started dragging her away.
"Mmph! Mmph!" Bai Ke struggled, her voice muffled by the Silk Embroideress’s hand. "He already mated with Zhuo Qingyan and Li Qingshuang! And Bi Yingying and Chen Zhi want to mate with him, and he didn’t say no! The White Spirit Mountain Master is so pret—mmph!"
As Bai Ke was dragged away by the Silk Embroideress, a temporary silence fell over the group.
Li Qingshuang stifled a laugh and glanced over at Bi Yingying, who was standing nearby. Bi Yingying’s expression was impassive, but she still snuck a quick glance at Gu Zhao.
The senior Daoists standing by either feigned deep meditation or chuckled to themselves, but none of them said a word.
Gu Zhao’s mouth twitched. He explained to Bai Fei, "She’s in Harmony with the Silk Embroideress and has always been... unfiltered. Please don’t take offense."
Bai Fei gave Gu Zhao a teasing look, then shook her head and smiled. "The Celestial Fox Race has many beauties. They’re also intelligent, wise, and kind. Anyone who can make them lower their guard must be a trustworthy person themselves. It’s just..."
She let the sentence hang in the air. Gu Zhao dutifully took the bait. "Just what?"
"It’s just that Celestial Foxes typically stay within the Southern Mountains and rarely venture into the Central Province. For Bai Ke to appear in Changping Prefecture, there must be a reason," Bai Fei reminded him.
Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Bai Ke says that for as long as she can remember, she’s been all by herself. Er, a lone fox."
Bai Fei nodded. "Among the vast Southern Mountains, there is a place called Cyan Hill Mountain. The Celestial Fox Race lives there. The Celestial Fox Ancestor of Cyan Hill Mountain has Ten Thousand Years of Dao Practice; his Cultivation is no less than that of the Chaoyang Ancestor, and he also possesses a lineage passed down from the Spirit Realm Upper Gods."
"Cyan Hill Mountain..." Gu Zhao’s expression remained neutral, but he and the other senior Daoists took note. ’So that’s how it is,’ they thought.
"Since Bai Ke has Celestial Fox blood, she must be from the Celestial Fox Race of Cyan Hill Mountain," Bai Fei speculated. "Perhaps her parents met with some accident while visiting the Central Plains, and that’s why she was left all alone."
Gu Zhao asked curiously, "So you’re saying the Celestial Fox bloodline is actually that impressive?"
"Of course it is," Bai Fei said with a sigh. "The Celestial Fox bloodline is considered top-tier among the Demon Race. Their chances of achieving Realm Breakthroughs and ascending to the Spirit Realm are far greater than those of ordinary demons."
Gu Zhao rubbed his chin in doubt. "Really? But when I first met Bai Ke, she hadn’t even achieved her human Transformation. And her cultivation speed since then hasn’t seemed all that fast."
At his words, even Li Qingshuang couldn’t help but burst out laughing, to say nothing of Bai Fei. "How old do you think Bai Ke is?" she said, exasperated. "She hasn’t even received her full ancestral inheritance yet. Besides, her cultivation speed since entering the Harmony with the Silk Embroideress is already incredibly fast. It’s been less than a year, and she’s not only achieved her human Transformation, but her Dao Practice has already exceeded a hundred years. What more could you possibly want?"
