[Year 400]
After the secret council in the Ancestor Space concluded, a new year began.
On the border between the Eternal Sun Prefecture and the Duravia Trade Prefecture.
Three figures could be seen, each heading towards one of the three most powerful powers in the Duravia Trade Prefecture. Within the prefecture, the sleeper agents planted by the Hall of Heavenly Principle all received the signal and commenced their operations.
Aeternus Sect.
The place was truly worthy of its name.
Dressed in immaculate white robes, unstained by a single speck of dust, Li Chang'an raised his head.
Above him, thirteen immortal mountains floated in the sky, sustained by some unknown grand formation.
He could sense that beneath the mountains, rich with spirit qi, lay a legendary Rank 4 spirit vein. The discovery made him itch to return to the clan, gather his people, and dig the entire thing out.
Cultivators flew through the sky on their swords, and the calls of numerous spirit beasts echoed from the mountains.
"So this is the Aeternus Sect, huh?"
Li Chang'an raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with delight.
This was the first mission the clan had given him since he returned. He had resigned his post as a law enforcer, bid farewell to his wife overnight, and eagerly made his way here.
"The mission," he mused to himself, "is to probe Daoist Puciof the Aeternus Sect. Failing that, to at least scout out the flaws in their formations. Figuring out how to annihilate the Aeternus Sect would also be a success."
Heavenly ladders descended from the thirteen mountains as Li Chang'an walked forward. He could already see numerous disciples from the sect coming down to question him. A faint, elusive smile touched his lips.
"Interesting," he mused. "Much more interesting than wandering around at sea with that useless son of mine."
He was reminded of his days in Spirit Province, of systematically destroying their Imperial Dynasty, one step at a time.
....
Perennis Immortal Palace.
In the Duravia Trade Prefecture, there is a spirit lake that has been crimson for tens of thousands of years. Yet, it carries no scent of blood; on the contrary, a single whiff is enough to refresh one's heart and mind.
However, no living creatures can be seen in the blood lake. Within 3 miles of its shores, life cannot survive. A no-fly formation covers the lake, forcing all visitors to walk across its surface.
And if someone were to fall in? Rumor has it that the only creature living beneath the lake is a terrifying demonic entity, and that none who fall have ever survived.
In the center of the blood lake floated a Red Spider Lily Flower that had existed for tens of thousands of years. Anyone in the Duravia Trade Prefecture who laid eyes on it would call it an object of unparalleled, worldly beauty.
"So this is the foundation of a great power, huh."
Li Kuanghua clicked her tongue in wonder, squatting by the shore and staring at her reflection in the blood-red water.
She truly couldn't figure out why, with a vessel as beautiful as the one reflected back at her, she hadn't been on Prince Qian's list of prospective brides.
Then, with a hint of resentment, she flicked her finger at the lake's surface.
In an instant,
BOOM!
The surface of the lake surged. Her single finger-flick had somehow caused the blood lake to churn with massive waves!
From within the Red Spider Lily Flower in the center of the lake, red-robed cultivators appeared one after another. One of them roared at Li Kuanghua, "Who dares cause a disturbance at our Perennis Immortal Palace?!!"
Li Kuanghua rose slowly to her feet. With her hands clasped behind her back, she stood with her head held high and her chest puffed out, her petite frame radiating confidence.
"I am Li Kuanghua of the Li Clan," she announced. "I have come seeking an audience with Palace Master Hongxiu to become her disciple and learn her arts. And if I were to become the next Palace Master myself, well, that would be even better!"
The disciples from the Perennis Immortal Palace were stunned for a moment. They had likely never imagined such a pretty young girl could be so outrageously arrogant.
Then, they roared in fury:
"How insolent!"
....
In a bamboo forest, east of the Duravia Trade Prefecture.
The bamboo forest stretched on endlessly; even from a hundred meters in the air, one couldn't see where it finished. Few people from the surrounding area, be they commoners or cultivators, dared to enter it.
This was because the forest was said to shift and rearrange itself every ten finger-snaps, and the white mist within was a deadly miasma. Legend told of a Golden Core cultivator who trespassed inside and died of old age, his entire lifespan exhausted before he could find an exit.
And yet, all of this was merely the entrance trial for the Myriad Dao Immortal Palace.
Just then, a Daoist with the air of a banished immortal arrived in the center of the forest on his sword, a horsetail brush in hand. The moment he set foot on the ground, his Daoist robes billowed as if in a strong wind, though the air was still, and ripples of power spread out from him.
With him as the epicenter, the surrounding bamboo stalks began to shatter one by one. He slowly raised his head, and a black glint flashed in his eyes.
"Senior Daoist Ming."
As his words faded, High above in the clouds, an illusory image materialized, like a mirage. Upon it stood magnificent jade towers and marble palaces.
Within was a ritual platform, inscribed with the runes of the Great Dao. A gentle smile touched the lips of an old man there.
"To be able to perceive this humble Daoist while only at the Nascent Soul Leaving the Body stage... the wondrous object my young friend carries is truly extraordinary."
"Li Yunlin, Sect Master of the Skyveil Sect, has come to ask for guidance on the Dao from Senior Daoist Ming!"
---
2/2
Donate on Ko-fi ➡️ [https://ko-fi.com/darktea] ⬅️
Get Early Access to 50 Chapters: Search for "Dark Tea" on Ko-fi (Explore tab) and join my membership to read ahead!