A Pawn's Passage

Once freed from the demonic fire’s influence, Qi Xuansu’s body regenerative abilities began to take effect again. The sword wound in his abdomen quickly started to heal.

Within moments, the flames surging from Qi Xuansu’s orifices gradually went out. The charred marks upon his body flaked away like scabs, and his appearance slowly returned to normal.

Qi Xuansu struggled to his feet, and Zhang Yuelu immediately came forward. Though she said nothing, her worry and concern were clear as day.

Seeing this, Qi Xuansu forced himself to say, “I’m fine.”

As he spoke, his face still flickered between light and dark. Though the flames in his orifices had disappeared, the dying embers continued to release wisps of black smoke.

Had it been anyone else facing what he just endured, survival would have been unlikely. But Qi Xuansu was different. His cultivation at the Wuliang stage was just one reason. More importantly, he possessed the Longevity Stone Heart, which was the pinnacle achievement of the Daoist outer elixir faction. It was built for immortality, so marrow cleansing and rebirth were considered trifles to it. So long as Qi Xuansu did not die instantly, he would always have a sliver of hope for survival even if given the barest chance to breathe. It was this very principle that had allowed Madam Qi to save the dying Qi Xuansu once before with the Longevity Stone Heart.

The demonic fire’s nature was stubborn and malignant, like a bone tumor. Though Izanagi’s strength had greatly diminished, his rank far exceeded Qi Xuansu’s. So even though the demonic fire was powerless against the Heavenly Preceptor, it was more than enough to overwhelm Qi Xuansu.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Preceptor had intervened, helping to suppress it.

With the Longevity Stone Heart and the Heavenly Preceptor’s aid, Qi Xuansu had the confidence to utter the words, “I’m fine.”

However, Qi Xuansu still felt a lingering fear. Had he faced Izanagi alone, without Zhang Yuelu’s intervention, the outcome would surely have been disastrous.

This was where Qi Xuansu showed a lack of fairness. Clearly, it was the Heavenly Preceptor who saved him, but he credited Zhang Yuelu with the greatest merit.

However, on deeper thought, Zhang Yuelu played a crucial role. At the critical moment, she had not panicked but instead used her full strength on a gamble to summon the Heavenly Preceptor, thus giving Qi Xuansu a chance of survival.

This revealed Zhang Yuelu’s decisiveness. Had she lost her composure at Qi Xuansu’s peril and rushed forward to share his burdens, or even hesitated out of unwillingness to harm him, they would have missed their one chance. Qi Xuansu would then have died at best, or at worst, become Izanagi’s vessel.

Thus, while the Heavenly Preceptor’s role was undeniably pivotal, Zhang Yuelu’s contribution was equally indispensable.

The Longevity Stone Heart began repairing the damages within Qi Xuansu’s body. Not long after standing, he sat cross-legged, circulating his true essence and divine power to supplement the Heart. This restoration differed from the Martial Arts Practitioner’s body-regenerative abilities. It was more akin to his revival after falling into the Starry Sea.

While Qi Xuansu recovered, Zhang Yuelu kept watch by his side.

Once in meditation, Qi Xuansu’s consciousness sank into his sea of awareness. Since he had once exchanged consciousness with Izanagi, his sea of awareness had undergone a strange change. It had been split into two halves—one dazzling with light, like sunlight shining forth; the other steeped in darkness, as if yin energy surged endlessly. Together, light and darkness formed a yawning abyss.

Gazing into the abyss, Qi Xuansu faintly discerned a figure wreathed in flickering firelight. As Qi Xuansu looked at him, the figure looked back. This was a phantom of Izanagi formed from the demonic fire. Its appearance resembled the golden giant Qi Xuansu had seen in Izanagi’s memory, only at human size.

Izanagi’s phantom tried to climb out of the abyss, but the moment he moved, three bolts of endless lightning appeared out of nowhere, piercing his body and rendering him immobile. The first was the thickest, as wide as a forearm, piercing his lower abdomen; the second was slimmer, like a wrist, piercing his chest; the third was the thinnest, at finger-width, piercing his forehead. These three bolts were illusory yet real, and their positions corresponded precisely to the three major Dantians.

Qi Xuansu immediately understood that this must be the seal the Heavenly Preceptor had left within him using the Five Thunder Celestial Heart Method.

This was a unique power of the Five Thunder Celestial Heart Method.

The Holy Xuan had been tormented by the inner demon of the Taiyin 13 Swords in his youth, and it was the Heavenly Preceptor of that era who had sealed it away for him, delaying its outbreak. That was what led to the later Holy Xuan’s version of the Taiyin 13 Swords that did not cultivate an inner demon.

All of a sudden, stars lit up one after another, forming a star map. The 28 constellations took their places: the Eastern Azure Dragon, the Western White Tiger, the Southern Vermilion Bird, and the Northern Black Tortoise. The heavens turned, the stars shifted, and the patterns changed endlessly.

Suddenly, one star within the Southern Vermilion Bird’s seven constellations blazed bright, beaming down rays upon Izanagi.

Qi Xuansu saw it clearly. It was the fifth southern star, located at the joint of the Vermilion Bird’s body and wings. The spread of wings signified flight, hence people often said that it was a sign of great fortune.

This star was named Zhang Yuelu, which meant Extended Net, Moon, and Deer.

By chance, the Zhang family had long dwelled in the south, famed as the foremost household of the southern lands. They matched this star exactly; hence, the Heavenly Preceptor had given Zhang Yuelu her name.

Bathed in the star’s radiance, Izanagi’s phantom revealed his true form, gradually losing his human guise until he became nothing but a flaming severed arm. However, this arm was still shackled by the three lightning chains, unable to move. No matter how it struggled to climb out of the abyss, all was in vain.

In the next instant, Qi Xuansu jolted awake, his body wracked with unbearable pain. This was no doubt the price of his healing wounds. However, after this small-scale rebirth, it was not worth mentioning.

Then, a delighted voice rang out in his ear. “You’re awake!”

Qi Xuansu turned his head and saw Zhang Yuelu’s face, her gaze filled with concern.

“Yuelu.” For a moment, Qi Xuansu felt dazed, unable to tell apart the stars above from the woman before him.

Zhang Yuelu was slightly surprised because Qi Xuansu had never addressed her as such, usually by courtesy name. But she did not mind it and asked, “How are your injuries?”

Qi Xuansu answered with a different question, “Where is the Heavenly Preceptor?”

Before Zhang Yuelu could reply, the Heavenly Preceptor said, “I’m here.”

Following the source of the voice, Qi Xuansu turned and saw Purple Afterglow and Green Cloud standing side by side not far away, like two execution pillars shrunk countless times in size. Upon the hilt of Green Cloud stood a tiny figure, which was a miniature Heavenly Preceptor.

At this time, the Heavenly Preceptor was just a projection, so he could be as large or small as he wished.

Qi Xuansu first bowed deeply to thank the Heavenly Preceptor, then glanced at Zhang Yuelu before saying, “Just now, I entered an illusory realm within my sea of awareness. I saw an abyss formed of light and darkness. Izanagi was in the abyss, but he was pierced and bound by three bolts of lightning, unable to move.”

As he spoke, Qi Xuansu glanced again at the spot where the severed arm had been. The stone doors were now closed. However, this time, the Buddha’s palm print was gone, replaced by a talisman fully inscribed in strokes of lightning.

Clearly, it was the Heavenly Preceptor’s work. If Izanagi had been in his prime, it would have taken a lot more to keep him contained. However, a mere severed arm was nothing before the Heavenly Preceptor.

Qi Xuansu could not help but feel ashamed. They had stirred up this disaster, and in the end, an elder had to clean up their mess.

But looking back now, they had all been affected by Izanagi to some degree. Little Yin, being a yin creature, was influenced the most. In a sense, each of them harbored greed, though Little Yin’s was greatest, not that she was to blame. They were simply too weak compared to such an ancient god. Without the Daoist Order backing them, they would have been toyed with at his whim.

The Heavenly Preceptor spoke slowly. “I have resealed Izanagi. His final disposition will be debated at the Golden Tower Council, in which the Imperial Preceptor, the Earthly Preceptor, and I would take part.”

Sage Qingwei had already reported what he learned about Mount Fuyo to the Golden Tower Council, so the Heavenly Preceptor was naturally well informed about Izanagi and the demonic fire.

The Heavenly Preceptor paused briefly before continuing, “Now let us speak of your problem. In order to replace you and make you into a suitable vessel, Izanagi poured a great mass of demonic fire into your body without regard for the cost. This demonic fire was nearly half the essence of the severed arm. It took root and began to fuse with your body, so it will be difficult to purge, like hidden embers smoldering beneath ashes.”

Qi Xuansu nodded slowly.

In truth, with the Heavenly Preceptor’s cultivation, he could very well purge the demonic fire. However, it would be difficult to do so without harming Qi Xuansu. If the Heavenly Preceptor unleashed his full power, the demonic fire would certainly be wiped out, but Qi Xuansu’s fate would be hard to predict. Even if he did not die, he would likely be severely injured beyond repair.

Zhang Yuelu could not help but ask, “Grandpa, is there truly no other way?”

The Heavenly Preceptor smiled. “Misfortune and fortune coexist. In this world, blessing and disaster have always gone hand in hand. This demonic fire is indeed a hidden danger, but if harnessed, it could become a strength. It’s like a wild wolf. If you handle it poorly, it will slaughter cattle and even devour the shepherd. But if you handle it well, it can be tamed into a dog and become a loyal guardian.”

Zhang Yuelu instantly grasped his meaning. Her eyes lit up as she clarified, “Grandpa, do you mean to say that this seal you placed upon Tian Yuan is a chain on the demonic fire, so as long as Tian Yuan learns to wield it, he can turn the tables and master the flames himself?”

The Heavenly Preceptor nodded. “Indeed. Given time, once Tian Yuan becomes a Pseudo-Immortal and completely refines the fire seed Izanagi left in his body, then Izanagi will have lost everything.”

Zhang Yuelu was even more concerned than Qi Xuansu himself. She pressed further. “Then how should it be refined?”

The Heavenly Preceptor explained, “Among the Ten Great Witches of Lingshan, one was especially skilled in mastering fire. If you obtain that Great Witch’s legacy, refining the demonic fire shouldn’t be difficult. For ordinary people, such a legacy would be nearly impossible to obtain. But for Tian Yuan, it’s not a great obstacle, for it already lies within his Heart.”