Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 664 Old Ruins
Leaving the state.

This place was originally a famous sacred land in ancient times, where wood and fire were abundant. There was once a sacred mountain called Chongming, which was said to be the place where the Vermilion Bird once lived. However, it has now been hidden by the adults and can no longer be seen.

The former capital of Qi was built west of Lizhou and located in Yongzhong. It was a place of great construction, boasting thousands of palaces and towers. In the end, it was all burned to ashes by the fire of Lizhou. It burned for twelve days and the flames could be seen soaring into the sky day and night.

Heading east, you'll find the newly designated Central Peak, known as Gaoyang.

This mountain rises high into the clouds, with brownish-yellow light rising between its peaks, as if hundreds of thousands of gods are being worshipped in the mountains. The faint scent of incense emanates from the temple on the mountaintop, reaching straight into the void.

Standing atop the mountain, one can see the crimson glow above the Southern Capital, which illuminates the southern sky as if dyed red, with the great star Yuanluo hanging high above.

On the southern outskirts of the capital, the vermilion city walls seemed to stretch endlessly, as far as the eye could see. The Tianque Gate, located on the due south side of the city, slowly opened a crack, allowing a thunder chariot to enter.

The bronze chariot traveled along the long road, pulled by celestial horses, guarded by strongmen, and with divine figures holding the reins, appearing extremely majestic and ferocious.

A faint aura of calamity emanated from the carriage, accompanied by crisscrossing thunderous energy, causing the guards and palace maids on both sides of the road to avoid looking directly at them, bowing their heads in respect and calling out, "My lord!"

Through the small window beside the carriage, one could see a man in a silver robe, leisurely looking at the surrounding palaces and corridors. His supernatural powers were subtly revealed, and one could sense the presence of many supernatural beings here.

The Emperor summoned Xu Xuan to the capital, but instead of allowing him to cross the cloud path above the Southern Capital directly to enter the palace, he sent a separate carriage, instructing Xu Xuan to proceed slowly and leisurely along the path according to ancient etiquette.

"The spiritual energy of Nandu is so abundant that it probably surpasses that of some blessed lands; it could even support multiple Purple Mansions without any problem."

The entire Southern Capital covers an area of ​​thousands of miles and is covered with many large formations that gather spiritual veins and enhance spiritual energy, making the spiritual energy within it extremely rich and balanced. With a little refinement, it can be used for one's own benefit.

We entered a long path paved with green jade bricks, with gleaming red walls on both sides. On the right was a green wooden gate, simple and quiet, with a courtyard inside. The bamboo shadows were dappled, and we could hear voices coming from inside.

"The ruler is the head of state, and the ministers are the pillars of the state. They are like the sun and the moon, like yin and yang, mutually dependent and complementary. This is truly the greatest state of the world, which cannot be illuminated by a single light."

A deep, resonant male voice rang out, followed by a flurry of discussion.

"Master, what kind of supernatural power is this? What are its uses? How powerful is it in combat?"

Amidst the cacophony of voices, a lively girl's voice suddenly broke the silence, silencing the room until only the sound of wind rustling through the bamboo grove could be heard, and the flickering firelight on the wall seemed to brighten slightly.

With a thought, Xu Xuan stopped the carriage, stopping right next to the vermilion wall, without crossing the green wooden gate.

"This is the highest form of ritual, the 'Mutual Compatibility,' which establishes the relationship between ruler and subject, balances the changes of Yin and Yang, and emulates the ancient Dao of Harmony. However, in terms of magical combat, it is not particularly formidable."

"Then I won't listen."

Suddenly, a girl who looked no more than eleven or twelve years old darted out from the green wooden gate. She had vermilion eyes, a smiling face, and wore a robe with vermilion bird patterns. A black short sword was hanging at her waist.

The aura emanating from his body was slightly leaking out, indicating that he had already reached the Qi Refining stage and was cultivating extremely pure Sha Qi.

The girl moved with agility, like a young beast, rushing straight out without even looking where she was going, and ran right into the front of the thunderous chariot.

Undeterred, she raised her eyes to look at the group of powerful warriors, her crimson pupils gleaming with curiosity.

Xu Xuan looked at the girl through the curtain and felt that she had an extraordinary destiny, with an imperial aura that was as bright as the sun, and was even quite similar to that of Tian Chi.

The other person wore a bluish-white pendant around their neck, which seemed to radiate a little sunlight. Xu Xuan recognized its origin at a glance; it was the Zheng Yang Dao Seed from the Kunwei Heaven of yesteryear.

“Princess, don’t run away. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll be in trouble.”

A young man stepped out from the gate. He was handsome and refined, dressed in a white robe. He stood there like a jade statue, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

The young man's aura was extremely peaceful, like that of an ordinary person. However, according to the perception of [Extinction of Life], he was already at the Purple Mansion level. Moreover, that mysterious aura reminded Xu Xuan somewhat of the Demon King who stole the text.

Within the inner realm, Tian Tuo was also somewhat tempted, and asked doubtfully:

"This is... the Purple Mansion of Offerings?"

Xu Xuan had never expected to see such a person in the capital. He pushed open the front curtain, intending to reveal himself. But the girl in front of the carriage had already started running, crawling under the carriage to avoid the teacher behind.

Several Thunder Warriors reached out to stop the girl, but she suddenly emitted a Taiyin Xuan light that enveloped her, preventing the warriors from touching her.

The young man in front of the gate looked somewhat anxious, glancing at the carriage ahead, and said softly:
"excuse me."

His gaze shifted to the girl fleeing beneath the vehicle, and he spoke, his lips like jade:
"Stop."

This sound, like some kind of imperial decree or a divine law, transformed into white-brown mystical characters, falling directly towards the location of the thunder chariot, and capturing the fleeing girl.

However, as soon as the mysterious inscription approached the carriage, it encountered lightning and instantly vanished like mud melting into water, turning into scattered five-colored light.

The girl had just crawled out from under the car and was about to run towards the outside of the long road when a silver-robed man suddenly descended in front of her. A flash of dark lightning blocked the yin light on his body, preventing him from hiding any further.

"Who are you, daring to stop me—"

A soft white light descended from behind, instantly freezing the girl, causing her figure to blur rapidly, flatten, and finally be contained within a slowly descending sheet of Xuan paper, landing in the painting.

"Master Xie, you!"

"His Majesty said that if you do not follow the rules, he will use this treasure to punish you for a day."

The young man in white robes behind stepped forward and carefully put away the sheet of Xuan paper. The girl inside was still running around, quite indignant.

"I am Xie Kuo. Today, thanks to General Xu's help, otherwise Princess Qingci would have caused trouble again."

"You recognize me?"

"Who doesn't know the Lord of Lei?"

Xie Kuo smiled slightly and stepped aside. At this moment, the girl in the Xuan paper in his hand was still restless, constantly struggling, showing a stubbornness.

"Master Xie talks useless things all day long. I want to go north and join the army. I'd rather not be a pedantic scholar!"

"Battlefield matters are not child's play."

Xie Kuo's tone grew increasingly helpless as he steadied the Xuan paper in his hand and sighed:

"The Lord Xu before you is one of the most renowned sword immortals in our Great Li, having slain countless demons. Ask him if the borderlands are any good places."

Upon hearing this, the girl in the painting's eyes lit up, her bright red pupils sparkling. She had initially been hostile towards Xu Xuan for stopping her, but now she seemed quite excited.

"You are the great sword immortal that Father Emperor spoke of. He said you have beheaded many people; you specialize in decapitation!"

"That's not bad."

Xu Xuan looked at the girl in the painting and guessed her identity. She was probably the offspring of Tian Chi, but she had kept it well hidden and no news of her had come out.

"The so-called Thunder Palace Sword Dao is specifically designed for beheading executions."

"I've seen it, I've seen it."

Qingci's eyes lit up in the painting. She drew a short sword from her waist and began to brandish it in the painting.

“Every autumn, many people are executed at the execution ground outside the palace. It’s beheading, cutting off their heads. Sometimes the blade is dull, and the person’s neck is stiff, so it’s like sawing, and it takes a long time.”

"Could I learn?" Her eager tone left Xu Xuan momentarily speechless, but he remained composed and replied:
"The princess does not cultivate lightning, so naturally she cannot learn it."

When did you run to the execution ground?

Xie Kuo's face turned somewhat dark, and five-colored light gradually emerged from his hand as he held up a mysterious grain, which had a nourishing effect, causing the human figure in the painting to gradually freeze, as if fixed in place, completely indescribable.

Xu Xuan observed the opponent's methods, his heart stirring, when he heard Tian Tuo whisper:

"It is the [Nine Merits] that can cultivate the Five Virtues."

"Master—"

A voice pleading for mercy came from the painting, but Xie Kuo showed no mercy, directly rolling up the Xuan paper in his hand and tying it tightly with a gold rope.

"I apologize for disturbing you, fellow Daoist. Please leave."

He stepped aside and retreated into the doorway.

Xu Xuan nodded slightly, returned to the carriage, and had the somewhat flustered warrior and deity drive the carriage again, heading straight towards the end of the road ahead, where the cloud path stretched out and led directly into the imperial palace.

The carriage stopped, and Xu Xuan stepped out, then entered the cloud path, heading alone towards the imperial palace.

"【Mutual Compatibility】, Yin and Yang in harmony, 【Nine Merits】, Five Virtues for Nourishment and Cultivation, the supernatural powers of the Shangli Dao are indeed vast and magnificent, but I wonder about its combat techniques—"

"Terrible."

Tian Tuo's tone was slightly low as he said:
"This lineage is not meant for magical battles, and now that it's weakened, it's even less effective. It only has some merit in other areas."

The old demon wanted to say a few more words, but since they were already very close to the imperial palace, he stopped talking.

A vast and radiant blaze of fire descended from the sky, spreading imperial aura and illuminating the primordial chaos. Clouds drifted across the plaza below the imperial palace, and flames rose, with numerous red sparrows and pheasants faintly visible perched on the jade steps and vermilion terraces.

Xu Xuan descended from the cloud path and entered this ethereal plaza, where he saw a young man waiting for him.

This person's appearance had a somewhat demonic quality, with black fire patterns on the center of his brow, pupils as black as lacquer, and eyebrows like long, sharp blades. He wore a wide black robe with black tiger-eating ghost patterns on the sleeves.

It was Nan Wang, a martial arts master whose two supernatural abilities were already quite perfect, and whose aura was extraordinary.

A black cat was lazily perched on his shoulder, looking around. Suddenly, it looked in Xu Xuan's direction and its fur stood on end.

call out!
Dan Ting suddenly drew his sword, transforming into a thunder sparrow that flew over and landed on top of the black cat, chirping away.

"return."

Xu Xuan flicked his fingers, causing the sword spirit to return to its sheath, while the black cat, feeling rather aggrieved, snuggled into its master's arms.

"【Holding a crow】, you coward, sigh."

Nan Wang shook his head, looked at Xu Xuan, and after a brief examination, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you have... perfected your third divine power?"

"It was a matter of chance."

Xu Xuan was unwilling to discuss matters of supernatural cultivation, and instead looked at Nan Wang with slight doubt:
"You've been summoned here too, this is..."

"I don't know either, but it must be related to the northern expedition. The other day, the two princes of Lanshan and Lishan were summoned to the palace. These two are the main forces advocating the northern attack. His Majesty must have made arrangements."

Nan Wang's eyes and brows showed a certainty, clearly indicating that he had other information.

"However, the Imperial Preceptor is currently in seclusion, and there has been some activity from Tiandu Mountain. It is said that the Great Witch Yuan'e has mastered the secret technique and may make a move."

"Heavenly Poison Mountain? Wasn't that guy asking for gold?"

Xu Xuan's mind stirred, but he never expected that the great shaman would appear, since the other party should have been planning to seek gold long ago.

"The path of calamity is not a closed-door tradition. This time, we must fully realize its potential. The witchcraft he practices has been passed down from the Yin Dynasty, and he enjoys blood sacrifices."

Nan Wang spoke with some apprehension, and said quietly:

“In ancient times, when these great shamans sought the Dao, they would offer sacrifices. The more substantial the offerings, the more favored they would be in terms of rank.”

Xu Xuan's expression shifted slightly. If examined closely, the killings he committed for Lei Weiquan of the Xingshe Society seemed to be fundamentally the same as the other party's actions.

Was he in the right? It seems not. When two countries fight and kill each other, who can claim a universally recognized moral high ground? The lives lost under his sword were more for the sake of the path than for morality.

"My master will also be involved this time; he has already received His Majesty's order."

Nan Wang spoke in a low voice, looking over, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Senior Beiyin."

Xu Xuan was shocked. The news that the Great Witch Yuan'e would take action was already quite astonishing, and now this Great Master of the Wu family was also going to participate in the Northern Expedition.

"Isn't the senior preparing to seek gold and get involved in the war?"

Those who are at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm and have a chance of achieving the Golden Core stage rarely get involved in such conflicts between two countries, unless it is required by the Daoist tradition to enter the world. Otherwise, getting tainted by worldly affairs, karma, and killing will damage their pursuit of the Dao.

Ancient cultivators mostly avoided these things like the plague, and it seems that the Daoist tradition of Qi is not one that focuses on warfare and killing.

Nan Wang's expression darkened slightly. After a moment's hesitation, he still said:

"My ancestor has given up all hope of getting gold."

He was unwilling to say more, and instead looked at the majestic and mysterious imperial palace, changing the subject.

"You saw Princess Qingci earlier, right? She's His Majesty's legitimate daughter, causing trouble everywhere in Nandu, and nobody dares to interfere. Only that Xie family master..."

At this moment, a golden imperial edict emerged from the palace, summoning the two to enter the palace and meet the emperor.

Xu Xuan and Nan Wang walked forward and entered the vermilion hall. There, they saw a surging, sea-like light, and maids in apricot-red dresses lined the left and right sides, bowing in worship.

"See Your Majesty."

The two bowed and then looked up.

On the imperial throne, a man in a vermilion imperial robe sat quietly, his brows seemingly radiating a golden aura, while the brilliance of the flames around him surged, exuding a vast and majestic majesty.

On the dark table in front of him, there seemed to be two long talismans, one emitting dark blue demonic light and the other silvery lightning, which gave Xu Xuan a sense of familiarity.

His body's pure energy stirred slightly, as if he had encountered seal script.

Tian Chi looked down and a smile gradually appeared on his face, but combined with his face that looked as if it had been carved by a knife and axe, it added a fierce aura to his expression.

"I wish to prepare for the northern expedition, and I need the two of you, my dear ministers."

(End of this chapter)