Amidst a cacophony of seductive voices, Nan Yan and Qi Yang passed groups of intertwined figures. Most wore snake-shaped masks, indicating their status as servants or “furnaces” in the Palace of Extreme Pleasure. This made it easier for Nan Yan and Qi Yang to blend in, as no one could recognize anyone else behind the masks. Yet, after walking through the palace for a while, Nan Yan still felt out of place—she considered herself quite proper, though she wasn’t sure about Qi Yang’s propriety.
Fortunately, the little ghost guided them through the maze-like palace. Soon, they arrived at the main hall.
Qi Yang, following closely behind Nan Yan, scanned the hall and reported, “All side passages are blocked by formations. Only the main hall connects to the rear hall. To find Yin Yakelin, we’ll have to pass through here.”
The main hall appeared to be the palace’s primary reception area. Nan Yan was surprised to find few seats, each partially obscured by screens. Behind these screens were lounging couches, from which occasional hoarse laughter emerged.
“Can we act natural enough to blend in?” Nan Yan asked.
Just then, a pair of cultivators entered the hall, whispering intimately. They disappeared behind a screen emanating a Nascent Soul aura, their flirtatious voices drifting out.
Qi Yang asked, “How natural do you want to be?”
Nan Yan was at a loss for words. Suddenly, they felt a Nascent Soul aura behind them, and a middle-aged voice spoke:
“You there, girl. Let this Perfected One see what you look like.”
Nan Yan instantly recognized the voice. Glancing at a nearby bronze mirror, she was shocked to see it was Perfected Xuanyan, whom she had argued with in Chen State. She had treated Foundation Building and Core Formation cultivators for corpse poison in Dragon Capital’s military city, refusing Xuanyan’s invitation to join the Nascent Soul camp. After Mu Zhanting drove him away, she hadn’t heard of him again, yet here he was in Si State.
“I told you to turn around and remove your mask. Why hesitate?”
Nan Yan thought Xuanyan had never seen her true face and was about to turn when Qi Yang grasped her hand.
A flower picker from the main hall approached Xuanyan, rubbing his hands. “Ah Elder Xuanyan from Chen State, you’ve finally arrived. Everyone’s waiting to discuss the details of Qitian Plain’s partition.”
So he was sent by Chen State.
Chen State’s Dragon Declaration Guard, composed entirely of Nascent Soul cultivators, was their core force. Each Nascent Soul held an important position, and Xuanyan was one of them.
Xuanyan had noticed Nan Yan from afar, her pure aura distinctly different from Si State’s demonic women. Wanting a change of pace, he said, “I came in a hurry and didn’t select a furnace. This Core Formation female cultivator looks good. Can she accompany me?”
The flower-picker glanced at Nan Yan and said, “Hurry and remove your mask. Let the elder have a clear look.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Qi Yang interjected.
Xuanyan’s eyes narrowed, unable to comprehend how a Core Formation cultivator dared offend him. “Why not?”
“Because…” As Xuanyan’s face suddenly paled, Qi Yang lifted his mask, his voice carrying a perfect note of disdain as he turned, “She’s taken.”
Xuanyan’s mind reeled. As Daosheng Heaven’s spy in Chen State, he had narrowly escaped this man before, unaware that he was the long-sought traitor. He never expected to encounter him here.
In his panic, Xuanyan heard a mental transmission: “I recall you’re the second disciple of the Six Celestial Masters?”
“You…” No one from Daosheng Heaven wasn’t afraid of the Sect Master, and the man before him had once been the closest to the Sect Master in all of Daosheng Heaven. Xuanyan, his heart already faltering, dared not speak aloud and could only grit his teeth and respond mentally, “Daosheng Heaven will not spare any traitor. If you return with me to face justice, I won’t have to use force.”
“Now? Exposing Daosheng Heaven’s identity here? Even if you could escape Si State alive, would Chen State let you off?”
The nearby flower-picker was already looking suspicious. Xuanyan, having spent years away, ultimately valued his life more. Revealing Qi Yang now would put himself in danger too. He grudgingly asked, “What do you want?”
Conversing with Qi Yang was dangerous; once he found a weakness, he quickly took control of the conversation.
“Since we’re from the same sect, we’re in the same boat in this foreign land. I didn’t come to target Daosheng Heaven. How about this: help me enter the main hall, and I’ll pretend I never saw you…”
Nan Yan watched Xuanyan’s expression change several times before he finally said to the flower-picker with a gloomy face, “I’ve chosen these two as my companions. Lead the way.”
The flower-picker sensed something amiss but, unable to question a Nascent Soul cultivator’s decision, could only lead them into the main hall to be seated.
“Friend Xuanyan, it’s been months since we parted at Qitian Plain. The true fire wound you left on my right arm still aches unbearably.”
Many present were adversaries from the Qitian Plain battle. Xuanyan, already uneasy, responded perfunctorily, “Since our two States are now at peace, let’s put past events aside for now. I’ll send you the antidote for the true fire later.”
“Oh?” A nearby Nascent Soul demonic cultivator from Chen State chimed in, “You’re notorious for being difficult, Xuanyan. Why so generous today? Did the Young Lord perhaps gift you something special?”
“…Friend Wu, don’t make such baseless claims. There’s nothing of the sort.”
The demonic cultivator surnamed Wu sneered, “What’s this? Are all Chenzhou cultivators so quick to betray after receiving benefits? The Prince said that as long as Daoist Xuanyan delays things in Chenzhou for a few more days, allowing us to clear out the mine, the Extreme Pleasure Palace could be yours.”
“Let’s not discuss this… Let’s drink,” Xuanyan mumbled, his words feeling like nails in his mouth. As Daosheng Tian’s inside man, profiting between Chen and Si States while being overheard by his sect master’s former disciple was excruciating.
Fearing Xuanyan might renege and jeopardize Sizhou’s plans, Wu frowned and barked at the attendants, “How are you serving? Pour some wine for the elder!”
Xuanyan’s hand trembled violently as he held his cup. Suddenly, an idea struck him. “These wooden dolls can’t even pour wine. Go away and send someone else.”
Ji Yang fixed his gaze on Xuanyan. “My sister is unwell. I’ll stay to make amends.”
Nan Yan noticed Xuanyan freeze and glanced at Ji Yang questioningly.
“I want to hear what else in Qitian Yuan is worth Sizhou’s time besides the spirit stone mine. Be careful when you go. I’ll have the fierce ghost follow you,” Ji Yang transmitted.
Nan Yan nodded and slipped into the back hall amidst the busy attendants.
The back hall had many branching paths, but thankfully, a small ghost guided her. Soon, Nan Yan detected the strong scent of aphrodisiac incense. Under a dark red glow, she spotted a half-open palace door.
The ghost’s charred, skeletal hand emerged from a corner, pointing towards the hall.
Nan Yan, concealing her aura at the Foundation Establishment stage, approached to investigate. She nearly tripped over something and recoiled in shock upon looking down.
A shirtless man lay at the entrance to Li Mian’s bedchamber, his skin a grayish-blue, long dead with all his yang energy and vitality drained.
Peering inside, Nan Yan was horrified to discover even more corpses—this wasn’t mere dual cultivation, but outright murder for cultivation purposes.
“What are you doing?” a cold voice suddenly rang out from behind. Nan Yan recognized it as Sizhou’s Prince Li Chi. Before she could react, he ordered, “We have many guests today. Clean this mess up quickly.”
Li Chi frowned as attendants behind him rushed in to remove the bodies. Nan Yan, silent and masked, helped load the corpses into spatial pouches. She glimpsed Li Chi approaching a circular flower bed, where Li Mian’s silhouette rose behind heavy veils, having just discarded her last cauldron vessel.
Seeing her finished, Li Chi sat beside the bed. “Mian’er, how’s your progress with the method Father found to dispel the curse?”
Li Mian, still bandaged and hoarse, no longer sounded sweet. “Too slow… Brother, will my face never heal?”
“Nonsense. You’ve advanced to late Core Formation, haven’t you?”
Li Mian’s voice turned vicious. “Once I’m better, I want Father to capture that ghost and refine its soul! And I want those people dead! Yin! Mu Zhanting! And that woman who looks like Sovereign Nan Fang! I want them all dead!”
Li Chi, remembering Li Mian’s horrifically cursed face, felt repulsed but focused elsewhere. “Mian’er, you’ve found a path through hatred, turning misfortune into a blessing. You must think long-term. Our joint technique has increased in power by fifty percent, enough to rival Song Zhu’s Heavenly Scabbard Sword Intent. This greatly aids my pursuit of the Mountain and Sea Forbidden Decree’s crown.”
After a long silence, Li Mian relented. “Brother, find me more men. I need to recover quickly.”
“The Flower-picking Envoy mentioned a promising demonic cultivator in the side hall, likely more useful than these mortals. But you’ve just absorbed eighteen Foundation Establishment cultivators. Rest for now. I’ll handle some matters in the front hall… Once my Evil Dao excavates that world-creation vein, we’ll no longer fear Zizhou’s constraints.”
Li Mian snarled, “That ghostly place is linked to Zizhou. We’ve done enough for them. Once the… once Daoisheng Tian’s Xuanzai ascends, we’ll have no more concerns.”
Li Chi was surprised by Li Mian’s viciousness, recognizing her improved cultivation and intellect since the Youquan Creek incident.
“Oh, right,” Li Mian added. “I called you for something else… At Youquan Creek, I encountered a demonic cultivator who stole my Corpse-subduing Sickle. I thought I’d lost all living captives, but heaven smiled on me, and he’s now locked in my secret chamber.”
Puzzled, Li Chi asked, “Why didn’t you report this to the elders?”
Li Mian’s voice darkened. “Who can say there aren’t Daoisheng Tian spies among the elders? I think keeping him can help us learn about Youquan Creek. Brother, if you’re interested in ambushing, why not help me erase the soul imprint on his storage ring? Then you can search his soul or interrogate him as you please.”
Although Li Chi spoke softly, Nan Yan’s keen senses caught every word.
“Her brother must be here,” she thought. “But what’s this world-creation vein?”
“Alright, let’s go. Don’t disturb Miss Mian’s enjoyment of her cauldron vessels,” an attendant urged as they left Li Mian’s chamber.
Nan Yan pretended to leave with them but, once outside and alone, swiftly incapacitated the two Foundation Establishment attendants, hiding them behind large flowerpots. She instructed the small ghost to watch the chamber door and slipped back inside.
Recalling Li Mian’s words about Yin Que in a side hall, Nan Yan pressed her ear against the wall, determined a direction, and circled a screen painted with battling demons. As she searched, she heard Li Mian’s sudden scream.
“Ah! Help! Someone help!!!”
Nan Yan quickly set up a soundproofing barrier around Li Mian’s chamber. She rummaged through a shelf near the wall, moving a jeweled ram’s horn to reveal a secret door.
Li Mian burst out, falling to the ground with two centipede-like ghosts clinging to her legs. An intensely cold ghostly aura seeped from the hidden room. Nan Yan swiftly knocked Li Mian unconscious with a Buddhist seal and darted into the secret chamber.
There, she found Yin Que chained, his face covered in blood sigils, looking deranged. His hair wild, he was furiously beating Li Chi—who was buried under a pile of small ghosts—with a chair.
“I’ll show you what happens when you mess with me!” Yin Que raved. “Don’t think I can’t see through your human disguise, your ghost! Come on, I’m not afraid! Nobody’s getting out of here alive today!”