Chapter 596 - 24: Celestial Ruins, Blood Phoenix, The Bell Chimes

On a vast, boundless grassland, a colossal mountain rose abruptly, majestically standing between heaven and earth.

Atop its peak sat an immense Immortal Palace, wreathed in auspicious light and blessed clouds, its immortal air ethereal and faint.

On the mountain’s southern face was a thousand-zhang-high cliff, upon which were inscribed two enormous characters, written with flourishes like soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes—

North Netherworld.

Encircling this great mountain were eleven Floating Mountains, guarding it like stars orbiting the moon.

These Floating Mountains, too, were covered in palaces and pavilions, vibrant with a potent Spiritual Mechanism.

The long-bearded elder and the boy arrived above one of the Floating Mountains. As they descended from their Escape Light before the grand hall on the summit, they were stopped by a red-lipped, white-toothed Daoist Child.

"Please halt. My master is in seclusion and is not seeing outside guests."

Facing this young Daoist Child, the long-bearded elder dared not show any disrespect. He said solemnly, "Spiritual Child, please inform the Third Elder that Zhang Shiyin and Yelv Chucai have urgent business and request an audience."

This place was the domain of Ascendant Tianyu, the Third Elder of the Beiming Immortal Palace.

Ascendant Tianyu had originally been a young master from a noble family in the Jade Flower Realm. By a stroke of fortune, he met a Female Cultivator from the Beiming Immortal Race. After they became Daoist partners, he leveraged the resources of the Beiming Immortal Race to rise to prominence, becoming the most outstanding among their many sons-in-law by marriage.

Beneath the Palace Master, Beiming Yong, the Beiming Immortal Palace had eleven Tribulation Realm Elders. Their backgrounds were incredibly complex. Some were experts from branch families of the Beiming Immortal Race, others were Honored Guest Elders recruited by the race, and some were relatives or sons-in-law like Ascendant Tianyu.

Behind these individuals lay a web of conflicting interests and internal power struggles within the Beiming Clan. There were open conflicts and secret struggles among them. In fact, many of the Elders were not loyal to Palace Master Beiming Yong, but were instead placed by other factions within the Beiming Immortal Race to restrain and monitor him.

The long-bearded elder and the boy were considered direct subordinates of Ascendant Tianyu.

Naturally, they could not bypass Ascendant Tianyu to report this matter directly to Beiming Yong.

Unexpectedly, Ascendant Tianyu’s Daoist Child showed them no courtesy whatsoever, stating bluntly, "My master is cultivating a Secret Technique. Before entering seclusion, he said he will emerge in one month. Unless the Beiming Palace Lord himself summons him, he is not to be disturbed even if the heavens fall."

The two exchanged a look of helplessness and had no choice but to wait before the hall.

Fortunately, for beings like them, a month was but the blink of an eye.

...

「Thirteen days later.」

The tribulation clouds filling the sky dispersed, and Feng Yan drifted down to land on the Snow Mountain Peak.

Her black dress swayed like a flame in the wind, and the lingering aura of tribulation lightning still clung to her.

Fang Cheng immediately offered his congratulations. "Congratulations on successfully passing your tribulation, Fellow Daoist. Ascension to the Upper Realm is now within your grasp."

"I could not have reached this day without your help, Fellow Daoist. Though we have not spoken of it, in my heart, I have always considered you an ally on the path of the Great Dao. If I am able to ascend to the Upper Realm in the future, I will certainly leave behind my insights on the process from the Nine Tribulations to ascension for your reference."

Feng Yan smiled enchantingly. The joy on her stunningly beautiful face seemed to bring a touch of spring to the Snow Mountain Peak, which had been covered in ice for ten thousand years.

Fang Cheng cupped his hands in thanks, then added, "While you were undergoing your tribulation, Fellow Daoist, someone was spying on you. Although I have already dealt with the matter, I fear news of your tribulation has still been leaked. Now we must see what attitude the Beiming Immortal Palace will take."

Feng Yan nodded. "No matter. I have fought against the heavens and against men my entire life. Now that my path on the Dao is nearing completion, why would I fear them? I will handle whatever they throw at me."

Fang Cheng smiled. "Indeed. You should first consolidate your Cultivation, Fellow Daoist. I must make a trip to Yuhua Tower."

As he spoke, he took out a Talisman and handed it to Feng Yan. "If you run into trouble during your seclusion and need my protection, you can contact me with this Talisman. I have already set up several Teleportation Arrays nearby and can return in an instant."

Feng Yan accepted the Talisman, her beautiful eyes fixed on Fang Cheng. "You are very thoughtful, Fellow Daoist. After I have consolidated my Cultivation, I also have a matter to discuss with you."

Fang Cheng asked, puzzled, "What is it that cannot be said now?"

Feng Yan smiled, pursing her lips, her eyes dancing. "It would be pointless to speak of it now; it would only disturb your Dao Heart. It would be better to wait until I have consolidated my Cultivation to discuss it with you."

Fang Cheng replied coolly, "Very well. We shall discuss it after you emerge from seclusion, Fellow Daoist. I will take my leave now."

With that, his zhang-tall Profound Gold Body shot into the sky, transforming into an ethereal, shimmering white Sword Qi that sliced through the firmament. It streaked across the heavens and vanished in a flash.

Watching Fang Cheng’s departing figure, Feng Yan turned to Xia Yue and said, "Disciple, follow your master back to seclusion."

The young girl in colorful clothes nodded. The two of them summoned their Escape Light and returned to the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm.

The young girl in colorful clothes asked softly, "Master, are you preparing to go to the Lingkong Celestial Ruins?"

Feng Yan smiled faintly and nodded. "I never had the chance before. But now, with Fellow Daoist Fang’s help, great things can be expected."

*

*

*

「Beiming Immortal Palace.」

On the Floating Mountain, the Daoist Child walked out of the palace. Looking at the long-bearded elder and the boy, he announced in a crisp voice, "My master summons you both inside."

The two hurried into the palace and saw a Daoist in a Feather Robe and Star Crown sitting on a Jade Couch, his body glowing with a soft, flowing light.

He was handsome and elegant, with a perfectly straight nose, eyebrows that slanted up toward his temples, and immaculately groomed silver hair. The faint smile on his face made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

"My two Daoist Brothers, what wind has blown you here?" Ascendant Tianyu asked with a warm smile.

"It has been some time, Elder. Congratulations on your improved Cultivation and for taking another step on the path of the Great Dao..."

The long-bearded elder first offered a few lines of flattery before his tone shifted. "To inform the Elder, we have come this time to report an urgent matter. A month ago, on the Celestial Snow Plateau, an unrecorded Cultivator underwent a tribulation. According to our observations, that person was likely undergoing the Eighth Celestial Tribulation..."

As he spoke, he respectfully presented a jade slip.

Ascendant Tianyu himself was a Six Tribulation Cultivator, but in terms of status in this world, he ranked among the top five. Moreover, he cultivated an incredibly powerful Divine Technique. Gu Yongtu, a Seven Tribulation Cultivator from the Mountain Sea Xuan Sect, had visited him three times to spar, and had been defeated every time.

Now, after receiving the jade slip, he swept his Divine Sense over it, and his brow immediately furrowed.

The long-bearded elder and the boy instantly grew tense.

"What Eighth Tribulation? This is clearly the Ninth Tribulation."

Ascendant Tianyu’s expression turned grave. His insight was naturally far superior to the two before him. He had even seen a Spirit Immortal Incarnation before, so he recognized the lightning of the Nine Tribulations at a single glance.

"In the last ten thousand years in this realm, besides Gu Yongtu of the Mountain Sea Xuan Sect, the only other person with the highest Cultivation is Liu Xuan of the Luling Liu Family. Both of them are registered with the Immortal Palace. If they were to undergo a tribulation, it would be impossible to hide it from our eyes and ears..."

’Could this person be an Ancient Cultivator from the Jade Flower Realm?’

His thoughts surged. Such a situation had occurred before in Beiming Heaven.

A Tribulation Realm Cultivator had gone to explore the Outer Void, became trapped in some forbidden ground for a hundred years, and upon returning to Beiming Heaven, discovered that thirty thousand years had passed.

He immediately summoned the Spiritual Child and instructed, "Take this jade slip to the Ninth Elder’s domain. Search the records of Cultivators at the Seven Tribulations and above from ten thousand years ago in the Jade Flower Realm. See if you can find anyone whose Divine Techniques match this person’s."

The Spiritual Child respectfully accepted the jade slip and departed.

"This matter shouldn’t be difficult to investigate. We’ll know the truth shortly. It’s good that you two came today. The Palace Master wants me to host the Qionghua Conference, and I’m far too busy for that. You two..."

Ascendant Tianyu began to chat idly with the two over tea.

In less than half a day, the Spiritual Child returned with several jade slips.

"Master, this person is the Blood Phoenix who brought chaos to the world eighteen thousand years ago. The Divine Technique she used during her tribulation is the legendary Celestial Demon Slaying Immortal Technique," the Spiritual Child reported.

At the mention of the two words "Blood Phoenix," Ascendant Tianyu, Zhang Shiyin, and Yelv Chucai all felt a jolt.

That calamity of the past was known as the "Blood Phoenix Tribulation." The world-shaking war had caused the number of Tribulation Realm Cultivators in the Jade Flower Realm to wither, making even Dharma Aspects a rare sight. It had also indirectly led to the current state of power in the Jade Flower Realm.

Too much time had passed, and many truths had been lost to the river of history.

As Tribulation Realm Cultivators, the three of them had heard bits and pieces about the event. They knew the root cause of the disaster was a strange artifact called the "Undying Jade."

Looking back now, although a treasure like the Undying Jade was wondrous, it hardly seemed capable of inciting a slaughter that could sweep across an entire World Heaven.

Today, with the Beiming Immortal Race ruling the Jade Flower Realm, the horizons of Cultivators had broadened countless times over compared to eighteen thousand years ago.

They had heard of more than just a few similar treasures capable of protecting a Cultivator’s physical body and resisting celestial tribulations.

Ascendant Tianyu’s eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly. "I guessed correctly. I just didn’t expect that the Blood Phoenix was still alive... Fellow Daoist Zhang, Fellow Daoist Yelv, you two may return for now. I will report this matter to the Palace Master and let him decide."

Hearing the order of dismissal, the long-bearded elder and the boy had no choice but to rise and take their leave.

The two left the palace, mounted their Escape Light, and flew toward the western sky.

"To think it was the Blood Phoenix. That incredible power... was that truly the legendary Celestial Demon Slaying Immortal Technique?"

Yelv Chucai sighed, secretly lamenting the loss of one of his incarnations.

The long-bearded elder, Zhang Shiyin, remarked with emotion, "The world has changed so much. To think the Blood Phoenix is still alive. The hatreds of that era have likely been long forgotten by the world."

"With the Undying Jade appearing, given the Beiming Immortal Race’s way of doing things, they certainly won’t let it go. However, the Blood Phoenix has already passed the Ninth Celestial Tribulation and is an unparalleled terror. I’m afraid the Beiming Immortal Race won’t gain any advantage... Why do I have a feeling that after so many years of peace, a great chaos is about to erupt?"

Yelv Chucai chuckled darkly. "It’s better if there’s chaos. If things don’t get chaotic, when will we ever have our chance to rise?"

"You have a point. If the Blood Phoenix could establish a new orthodoxy in this realm and break the Beiming Immortal Race’s monopoly..."

The two continued their idle chat as they flew off into the distance.

On the Floating Mountain, Ascendant Tianyu took the few jade slips and leisurely flew toward the Beiming Immortal Palace.

Not long after, the toll of a bell echoed from above the Immortal Palace, vast and lingering, spreading throughout the heavens.

Around the Immortal Palace, the Cultivators on the eleven Floating Mountains were all astonished to hear this bell.

This bell would absolutely never be rung unless a world-shaking event had occurred.

And once this bell was rung, it meant that the eleven Tribulation Realm Elders of the Immortal Palace, regardless of where they were or what they were doing, had to return to the Immortal Palace immediately.

...