A Pawn's Passage

“What is this? Is it what’s left of the plague?” Qi Xuansu looked toward the crimson mist shrouding the royal palace.

Madam Wu said, “I don’t think so. Logically speaking, the royal palace should have been the most heavily guarded place. The most likely scenario would have been that the plague swept through the city while the palace alone remained a sanctuary. It makes no sense for the opposite to happen, that the palace would be overrun by the plague while everywhere else remained untouched.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but sigh. “The way of Heaven is to reduce excess and make up for deficiency, while the way of man is to take from the deficient and give to the abundant. The Primordial Daoist Ancestor had already explained the nature of humanity long ago.”

After thinking for a moment, Qi Xuansu continued, “Looking at it from the opposite perspective, if the plague covered the entire city while the palace remained the only safe haven, could this crimson mist have been some means the palace used to resist the epidemic?”

“We can’t rule out that possibility.” Madam Wu motioned for Qi Xuansu to step back. “Don’t take the risk yourself. Let me go first.”

Qi Xuansu did not insist on showing off. Even with the physique of a Martial Arts Practitioner, he was no match for Madam Wu, who could withstand the Supreme Taiyi Technique head-on. The Longevity Stone Heart could only do so much.

The palace contained an enormous central square, but its walls had already been swallowed by the jungle, and the square itself had become a part of the rainforest. What should have been a palace standing proudly above everything else was now hidden beneath layers of vegetation. Coupled with the crimson mist, it was impossible to take in the palace’s full appearance.

Madam Wu burned away a section of the palace wall with fire and stepped into the rainforest and the crimson mist.

Almost immediately, Madam Wu sensed the malicious divine power concealed within the mist. But as an immortal object, this divine power was insignificant to her, much like an ordinary person inhaling a few breaths of common fog with little effect.

Madam Wu pointed toward Qi Xuansu, who was still outside. A ball of flame seeped into his body without harming him in the slightest. It was precisely the Profound Fire Healing she had mentioned earlier. She then signaled for Qi Xuansu to come in.

As Qi Xuansu stepped into the crimson mist, he likewise sensed its sinister nature. However, the flame within his body automatically burned away the mist that had infiltrated him. It seemed that Profound Fire Healing served not only as a cure but also as a preventive measure.

The two switched to communicating through divine sense.

Qi Xuansu said, “It seems we guessed wrong. The plague in the city didn’t disappear because everyone either fled or died. Instead, it all gathered within the palace district. Perhaps because the plague’s miasma became so dense and concentrated, it actually transformed into something tangible, manifesting as this visible crimson mist. You know I don’t have much faith in human nature. Could the royal family of Paititi who live off the people really have been so noble as to sacrifice their own lives for the survival of the city’s common folk?”

Madam Wu replied, “I don’t believe in human nature either, so I think the plague itself was aimed at the royal family. You’ve wandered the Jianghu before, so you’ve probably heard of plenty of massacres in which entire families were wiped out. The killer would hide in the shadows and usually begin by murdering the servants, maids, and other peripheral members, gradually increasing the pressure on the real target. Isn’t the same principle at work here? Someone wanted to force the royal family into a corner, so they started with the ordinary people surrounding them. Once the city had descended into complete chaos and the royal family had been driven to utter despair, they could launch the final assault on the royal family and accomplish their objective.

Qi Xuansu rapidly sorted through his thoughts. “If our earlier deduction is correct, and all of this is connected to the God of Death, then what exactly were they trying to accomplish? In the Jianghu, massacres of entire families are sometimes carried out for treasures, treasure maps, or cultivation manuals. So what were the ancient gods after? Or rather, what did the royal family of Paititi possess that the ancient gods coveted? Aside from the divine artifact, there was only the Paititi pocket realm. A divine artifact is equivalent to an immortal object. While precious, it doesn’t seem valuable enough for the ancient gods to go to such extraordinary lengths, especially since a single immortal object wouldn’t be enough to satisfy so many gods. That leaves only the pocket realm.”

Madam Wu said, “I have a theory. The Paititi pocket realm was originally sealed off, with its entrance and key controlled by the royal family, so the ancient gods were unable to enter it. In order to obtain or gain access to the Paititi pocket realm, they descended upon Paititi and reached certain agreements with the royal family. At first, the ancient gods probably adopted a diplomatic approach, hoping to gain access to the pocket realm by peaceful means. That explains why there is a temple dedicated to Itzamna here. The ancient gods became the guardian deities of Paititi and dispatched the humanoid insects, who had long been loyal to them, to serve as priests.”

Following Madam Wu’s line of reasoning, Qi Xuansu added, “In reality, it was poison coated in sugar. The royal family of Paititi accepted the sugar coating but threw away the poison hidden inside. The ancient gods invested heavily yet received nothing in return for a long time. Humiliated and enraged, they abandoned diplomacy in favor of force. So the God of Death, who represented the dark aspect of the ancient gods, took action, unleashing this horrifying plague that emptied the city and drove the royal family into utter despair.

“Because this was a coordinated effort by the ancient gods, the resources and divine power available to the God of Death were far beyond the ordinary. They must have been even more terrifying than the ‘Gifts’ that True Lord Siming bestowed upon Jinling Prefecture. No matter how powerful Paititi’s royal family was, they could not withstand it. Faced with such circumstances, they had no choice but to open the pocket realm and lead the remaining survivors into it to escape the plague. In doing so, however, the ancient gods were also able to follow them into the pocket realm.

“This plague mist was only meant to pressure the royal family, not exterminate them. That’s why it ultimately gathered and remained within the royal palace instead of spreading elsewhere. From this, we can also conclude that the entrance to the Paititi pocket realm must be located somewhere inside the royal palace.”

Madam Wu clapped her hands. “Excellent analysis. There are no major flaws in the logic, so this is most likely what happened. The ancient gods came for the pocket realm and ultimately succeeded in taking possession of it. At that time, Itzamna was still the leader of the ancient gods, and the Holy Court had not yet invaded the New Continent. Later, Itzamna left behind the key to the Paititi pocket realm within the ruins belonging to himself and Ixchel. After that came the Holy Court’s invasion. Itzamna was defeated and killed, and Kukulkan seized power and led the ancient gods to the Southern Continent.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Why would they leave the key behind on the Northern Continent?”

Madam Wu replied, “It is said that Itzamna possessed the ability to foresee the future. Perhaps, when the Holy Court’s armies were closing in, he foresaw a certain future and deliberately left the key behind for a fated person. I’m guessing that you are that destined person, because you have indeed arrived at Paititi carrying the key, just like Itzamna’s prophecy.”

Qi Xuansu thought of the immortal abilities that the Heavenly Preceptor and True Lord Ziguang had. Even his own journeys between the past and the present had unfolded within their expectations. Naturally, he dared not underestimate Itzamna’s methods, even though the chief god was already dead.

Qi Xuansu took out the key. “If this is indeed the key to the pocket realm, then how did everyone else enter the Paititi pocket realm?”

Madam Wu said, “The key mechanisms for a pocket realm are actually divided into big and small keys, much like a water control system has a main sluice gate and subsidiary gates. Once the main gate is opened, the subsidiary gates become usable. Take the Kunlun Paradise for example. The Three Treasures Scepter is the main key. It can open or seal the pocket realm, but there is only one Three Treasures Scepter. With so many people entering and leaving the Kunlun Paradise, you can’t expect Jiang Hedao to personally open the gate for everyone every day, can you? In reality, once the Three Treasures Scepter opened the Kunlun Paradise, the Daoist Order established additional restrictions at each entrance and exit. Only those possessing the access key mechanism issued by the Daoist Order could pass through.”

Qi Xuansu understood immediately. It was equivalent to the original builders of the pocket realm installing a main lock with one unique master key. Later generations then added numerous smaller locks with corresponding smaller keys. The main lock remained permanently open, while entry and exit were controlled through the smaller locks and their respective keys.

The key in Qi Xuansu’s hand was one of those small keys.

Qi Xuansu said, “In that case, the divine artifact that the Emperor of Paititi possessed was the pocket realm’s main key, equivalent to the Three Treasures Scepter. The entire Paititi pocket realm was originally sealed, preventing the ancient gods from entering. When the Emperor of Paititi was eventually forced to use the divine artifact to open the pocket realm, the ancient gods took the opportunity to enter. From then on, the pocket realm remained open, but the ancient gods established additional access restrictions. As a result, entry into the pocket realm no longer requires the divine artifact but the ancient gods’ small keys.”

Madam Wu nodded. “Exactly. You shouldn’t underestimate restrictions jointly established by multiple ancient gods. Back when the Six Enlightened Witches fought God Luwu, they worked together to set up a formation that even God Luwu was unable to break through. So without the proper key, there’s no way the two of us could enter the Paititi pocket realm.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but ask, “Madam Wu, you can contact Elder Jiang, can’t you? If all of this truly unfolded according to Itzamna’s foresight, then entering the pocket realm may not be a good thing. We might end up confronting the ancient gods directly.”

Madam Wu replied, “Even if the Daoist Order could dispatch reinforcements quickly, they’d still be hopelessly outnumbered. It’s more realistic to count on the Western Daoist Order and Ixchel.”

Qi Xuansu said nothing further and continued deeper into the royal palace district.

Before long, Qi Xuansu and Madam Wu arrived at the base of the palace’s main structure. Strangely enough, the rainforest seemed completely unaffected by the plague mist and continued to flourish.

Ravaged by the overgrowth, the once-majestic palace had fallen into ruin. In many places, plants bursting up from beneath the ground had forced the stonework upward, leaving the surface uneven. The outer walls were blanketed in moss, causing the palace to blend seamlessly into the surrounding jungle. Combined with its stepped, trapezoidal structure, it looked more like a small green hill than a palace.

The two ascended the staircase until they reached the main hall of the royal palace. Its main doors were tightly shut, and a line of script was inscribed upon them.

Madam Wu read the inscription aloud. “When the seal was opened, a great earthquake occurred. The full moon turned as red as blood, for the wrath of the gods had arrived.”

Qi Xuansu said, “It seems our deduction was correct. The wrath of the gods was really their fury born of humiliation. The opening of the seal should refer to the seal of the Paititi pocket realm. In that case, the legend that the pocket realm contains something capable of allowing one to overcome the heavenly tribulation and ascend is probably true as well. No wonder the ancient gods fought so fiercely over it.”

Madam Wu sighed. “The royal family possessing something so valuable made them a target.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “It’s said that the Kunlun Paradise also possesses something of that nature, right?”

Madam Wu replied, “Of course it does. But it can only be opened with the Three Treasures Scepter, which is precisely why the Three Treasures Scepter symbolizes the authority of the Grand Master and ranks first among all immortal objects.”

With that, Madam Wu slowly pushed open the main doors of the palace. “Perhaps my own destined opportunity lies here as well. After existing as an immortal object for so many years, perhaps this is where I finally become a true Immortal.”