You Have Taken the Wrong Path

One was old, the other young. The elder was Haoranzi, and the young woman was Yu Jiaolong. These were the two Nascent Soul cultivators whom Huamei had told Luo Chen were currently being kept as medicine thralls on Mount Cangwu. As it happened, Luo Chen knew them both. Haoranzi in particular had enjoyed quite a good relationship with him, once feeling like a close friend despite the difference in their ages. Yet Luo Chen had little attention to spare for this matter right now. For Youquan had sent him a voice transmission: Monarch Qixia had awakened and would summon him in three days. An audience with a legendary powerhouse of such caliber was something Luo Chen had to treat with utmost caution. It was no wonder he was so wary; beings at that realm simply could not be measured by ordinary standards. In his life, Luo Chen had crossed paths with very few Soul Formation powerhouses—only two or three. One he had observed from afar: Li Canghai, the master of arrays from the North Sea. Li Canghai cared nothing for the struggle between humans and demons, desiring only to harvest mountains and seas to forge spirit treasures; strictly speaking, observing him from a distance hardly counted as dealing with him. Yet the other two had left a profoundly deep impression on Luo Chen. The Alchemy Saint Chu Yan, despite having no deep ties with him, had gifted him a Heavenly Mechanism Pill upon ascending. One had to understand that Chu Yan had only refined five Heavenly Mechanism Pills in total; Luo Chen had no intimate connection to him, so by what right had he received one of them? An unprompted gesture of goodwill was hard to fathom, but since Chu Yan had already ascended and there would be no further entanglement between them, Luo Chen simply chalked it up to the man's benevolence. Then there was Heize of the Mingyuan Sect. At their very first meeting, he had aggressively recruited Luo Chen, stooping to the rather underhanded tactic of placing a divine ability technique upon him under the guise of offering protection. Furthermore, as far as Luo Chen knew, Heize was the very person who had personally ventured to Mount Cangwu years ago in an attempt to capture and kill Qingshuang. The man was entirely unlike what one imagined of an exalted senior powerhouse—he cared nothing for grace or dignity, pursuing only pragmatism! Because Qingshuang posed too great a threat, Heize had cast aside all propriety to bully the weak with superior power, seeking to nip her in the bud. Because Luo Chen's alchemy skills were too extraordinary, Heize had used whatever means necessary to recruit him into the Mingyuan Sect; Luo Chen had no doubt that had he refused back then, the man would certainly have resorted to drastic measures. Thus, of the three Soul Formation figures Luo Chen had observed: one paid no heed to worldly matters and cared only for his own cultivation; one treated others with utmost kindness, bringing a feeling like a gentle spring breeze; and one was ruthless and pragmatic, stopping at nothing to achieve his ends. What, then, of Monarch Qixia? Rumors regarding her were legion. A demon powerhouse who had risen in the Eastern Wilds over the past thousand years, she had attained the Dao after Di Tian, Lord of Pingshan, yet held a completely transcendent status, ruling Mount Cangwu's sacred ground alone. The destruction of the North Sea's Yuan Demon Sect had been too swift and too bizarre, and the shadow of Monarch Qixia flickered behind that event. Within the Land of the Fallen Demon, the artifact spirit of the Heaven Refining Cauldron, a Heaven-Transcending Spirit Treasure, had claimed that Demonic Lord Liantian had fought to the death against Monarch Qixia and even perished in the Mountain Sea Realm. Was that Qixia the same person as this Qixia? Furthermore, in the war between humans and demons across the Eastern Wilds, though nominally led by the three ancient demons in alliance, Monarch Qixia had never once been seen taking action from start to finish. Even the lineage of Mount Cangwu could not truly be said to have participated in the war between the two races, were it not for the Thunder Prison Divine Peng accepting an invitation from his good friend, Commander Seven Rhinos. From rumor after rumor, it was impossible to delineate Monarch Qixia's style of conduct, let alone divine her temperament. She was far too enigmatic. Luo Chen could hardly picture what their meeting would look like. He only knew that he had to bring himself to peak condition, lest he lose his footing and falter. Before stepping into the cultivation chamber, a thought suddenly crossed Luo Chen's mind. "Awakened?" "Does that mean her refusal to see me before had nothing to do with her mood, but because she was in deep slumber?" "It couldn't be that Mount Cangwu stayed out of the war between humans and demons in the Eastern Wilds simply because their boss was sleeping, could it?" ... Three days later. A full month had passed since Luo Chen arrived at Mount Cangwu. Aside from the disturbance Youquan and Leiyu had caused earlier, everything had remained calm and tranquil. It was so serene that one could almost believe this was a paradise cut off from the world, where none of the turmoil outside could disturb its quiet grace. And yet, the Eastern Wilds war had begun right here! Whoosh... A gentle breeze blew past, dispersing the mist that guarded the cave abode. Clad in white robes, Luo Chen stepped outside. Someone was already waiting. She was an unfamiliar woman with a shapely figure, slightly dark skin, and a rather lovely, round face. Looking closely, one felt as though their entire attention was being pulled into those deep, dark eyes. Though her appearance was unfamiliar, her aura was unmistakably known to him. Luo Chen blinked. "It seems Vice Hall Master's transformation went splendidly. Accomplished in a mere three days." "Hmph. I prepared for this day for who knows how long. Once Huamei delivered your pills, everything fell into place naturally," Youquan replied with a soft snort, feigning indifference while secretly brimming with joy. Standing before Luo Chen, she appraised him closely, a look of surprise surfacing on her face. "I heard that when you first arrived, your magic power was severely depleted, and your physical body had suffered serious injuries. In just one short month, you have completely recovered?" Luo Chen demurred modestly, "Thanks to the abundant spiritual energy in this cave abode." Youquan shook her head. No matter how rich the spiritual energy was, that was merely an external condition. To recover so quickly depended entirely on oneself. She circled Luo Chen once, then suddenly said, "Have you already completed the Second Nirvana of the Nine Tribulations and Three Nirvanas?" Without waiting for his answer, she continued to herself, "Yes, it must be so. Only by completing the Physical Nirvana can one absorb fire-attribute spiritual energy from heaven and earth at such speed. No longer a pseudo Heavenly Spiritual Root, but a genuine fire-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root—and even a Fire Spirit Body!" "Earlier, I was astonished at how quickly your cultivation realm advanced, wondering if you had taken some demonic shortcut." "Now it seems everything makes sense." Luo Chen's expression shifted subtly. The Nine Tribulations and Three Nirvanas were three realms within the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, his primary cultivation method back during the Golden Core stage. They were Magic Power Nirvana, Physical Nirvana, and Divine Soul Nirvana. Completing each nirvana conferred immense benefits upon a cultivator. He was not surprised that Youquan knew about them; after all, Youquan had been the one who took the initiative to grant him that manual in order to enhance his fire-control arts so he could refine the fourth-rank Transformation Pill. Yet he was astonished that from the single detail of his rapid magic power recovery, she had deduced that he had completed the Second Nirvana. Knowing about a technique was one thing, but to understand it in such intricate detail without having practiced it herself could not help but make Luo Chen feel a chill of vigilance. "Wait, something's not right!" Youquan suddenly blurted out, halting in front of Luo Chen and staring intently into his face. Luo Chen sensed nothing amiss and asked, "What's not right?" A look of bewilderment appeared on Youquan's face. "I don't know what it is either, but you shouldn't be like this." Now Luo Chen was genuinely intrigued. Just as he was about to press further, their attention was abruptly cut short. Both raised their heads in unison, looking high into the sky. At the peak of Mount Cangwu stood an incomparably magnificent palace named Tongxuan Hall. Towering with imposing majesty, Tongxuan Hall suppressed Duzhen and Zhoukong Halls flanking it below. Yet it gave off the impression that it was poised to take flight, as though it might soar away at any moment. Today, the heavy doors of Tongxuan Hall, closed for so many years, were slowly opening. Surging spiritual energy spewed forth from within. An indefinable aura began to permeate the air, prompting countless birds to flap their wings and soar, wheeling above Tongxuan Hall. Even some third-rank demon kings who had taken human form could not resist revealing their true forms at this moment, circling and flying around Tongxuan Hall. In an instant, an extraordinary spectacle of myriad birds offering homage beneath gathering auspicious clouds unfolded. Not being of the avian race, Luo Chen felt little of that resonance, but Youquan beside him was visibly thrilled. "The doors are open." "Follow me!" Youquan soared into the sky, with Luo Chen trailing close behind. As they drew closer to Tongxuan Hall, Luo Chen felt his magic power grow increasingly vibrant. Even some lingering hidden injuries within his meridians that had yet to be resolved were quietly unblocked as his magic power circulated on its own. Now Luo Chen was truly astonished. A moment ago, he had guessed that the myriad birds were paying homage because they sensed the aura released by Monarch Qixia. That aura possessed a nourishing effect on avian demonic beasts, which was why it had prompted such a display. Yet he was no bird—why was he affected as well? Suddenly, a possibility struck him. Their cultivation techniques shared the same origin! Because their magic power was of the same nature, an echoing resonance was produced between them! Monarch Qixia also practiced the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture! "We have arrived!" The man and woman halted before the entrance. Just then, the grand doors finished swinging open. A figure with a contradictory temperament stood quietly at the threshold, withdrawing her hands and taking a respectful stance to the side. Evidently, it was she who had pulled open the massive doors just now. The instant he saw her face, Luo Chen's heart trembled, and three words nearly burst from his lips. Yet the moment Luo Chen's gaze swept over her, that cool, aloof, yet breathtakingly seductive face lowered. The fairy-like woman said with downcast eyes, "The Monarch awaits within." Youquan waved her hand and strode inside with eager steps. Luo Chen lagged behind, unable to resist casting a backward glance. At that exact moment, the woman looked up, their eyes meeting for a fleeting second, before she swiftly lowered her gaze again. And that single glance dispelled all lingering doubt. Why was Moon Hermit here inside Mount Cangwu's Tongxuan Hall? He could never mistake her! Under heaven, women with such an aura were extraordinarily rare, virtually unmatched. Cold yet fervent, aloof yet alluring. Clearly as pure and aloof as a fairy from the moon palace, yet with every glance and movement, she exuded a sultry, coquettish charm that made men helpless against the urge to throw themselves at her feet. This was Moon Hermit! One of the Three Great Rogue Cultivators of the North Sea, the master of the Myriad Immortals Association. And Luo Chen's bitter enemy! Luo Chen had envisioned meeting her again countless times—perhaps reuniting in their old stomping grounds in the North Sea, or locked in a duel to the death. He had even imagined bizarre scenarios, such as Moon Hermit being recruited by the Tianyuan Dao Sect into the Star Gate, and encountering her atop Tiandi Peak. Yet he had never dreamed she would appear before him in such a manner, under such circumstances. A powerhouse of a generation, reduced to a servant opening doors for another? "Do you know the maidservant the Monarch took in?" "A maidservant?" Luo Chen lost his composure; he simply could not associate that word with Moon Hermit. Youquan replied naturally, "Indeed. A maidservant the Monarch picked up in passing when she returned. When viewing the moon, having her dance alone beneath the moonlight was rather pleasing to behold, and it brought the Monarch quite a bit of delight for a time." A moon-viewing maidservant? Luo Chen grew even more bewildered. What in the world had transpired after she left the North Sea? Yet this confusion lasted only a moment. Luo Chen instantly realized that if someone as fiercely proud as Moon Hermit—who had severed ties with the Penglai Immortal Sect just to wage war against the Yuan Demon Sect—had been reduced to such submission, Monarch Qixia was definitely no one to be trifled with. When he met her, what attitude should he adopt? Cringing servility? Neither servile nor haughty? Defiant pride? All his apprehension vanished the moment he caught sight of that splash of crimson above. She reclined half-lounging on a daybed, eyes languid and heavy with sleep, resembling a young noblewoman who had just awakened from her inner chambers. A phoenix crown rested beside her, and silky black hair cascaded like a waterfall. Her crimson robe draped loosely in disarray, revealing a fleeting glimpse of a fair, full thigh. And that face... Though Luo Chen had encountered countless beautiful women throughout his life, he had never seen such peerless magnificence. Whether it was Cheng Haixin's charming delicacy, Sima Huiniang's gentle elegance, Fu Qinglan's proud brilliance, Qingshuang's aloof detachment, or even the sultry allure of the woman he had just brushed past—none of them could bear comparison with the woman on the couch. Gracious and magnificent, regal and commanding. An inborn nobility was expressed to perfection in her every aspect; even the casual gesture of brushing a strand of hair aside emanated an unspeakable supremacy. For any man, facing such an existence provoked thoughts that could be reduced to only two paths: Either conquer! Or submit! Yet her terrifying power and realm that could look down upon an entire world instantly obliterated the first thought. "Luo Chen pays his respects to Monarch Qixia!" In the vast hall, Luo Chen bowed slightly, clasping his hands in salute. His greeting echoed across the empty chamber. No reply came. All that came was a beckoning wave of the woman's hand. Then, with a flash of black light, Youquan transformed into a black crow, flapping her wings joyfully as she flew onto the woman's shoulder, preening the woman's disheveled hair with gentle pecks of her sharp beak. Still, there was no reply. Even though the woman emitted not the slightest ripple of magic power, Luo Chen felt a pressure as heavy as a mountain, far exceeding the dread he had felt when facing Ancestor Heize. Even Li Canghai's world-shaking feat of seizing the Ice Polar Palace paled before the silence and oppression filling this hall. It felt as if an eternity had passed, yet also like a mere instant. Only when a faint, indifferent voice sounded did Luo Chen dare raise his head. "Is the Dao Combining Pill on you?" From the moment he saw Moon Hermit, Luo Chen knew his experiences in the Land of the Fallen Demon were no longer a secret to Monarch Qixia. He shook his head. "I do not have the Dao Combining Pill." Monarch Qixia's brow furrowed slightly. "There was no Dao Combining Pill inside the Heaven Refining Cauldron?" After pondering for a moment, she found it only natural. "When Ye Mingzhao researched the Dao Combining Pill back then, though he made headway, he was still gathering the ingredients. It is indeed possible he never refined it." "Do you have the pill recipe?" Ye Mingzhao, Mingzhaotian, Demonic Lord Liantian... So that was Demonic Lord Liantian's true name? The thought flickered through Luo Chen's mind. Without hesitation, he produced a jade box in response to her inquiry. "It is here." Whoosh! The jade box flew into the woman's hand. Only then did she sit up, swaying slightly with languid grace. Luo Chen kept his gaze strictly forward, evidently having prepared himself beforehand. Monarch Qixia toyed with the jade box, carefully examining its intricate restrictions. "It is indeed his handiwork." "However, with this sovereign's current realm, I fear I cannot open it." With a flip of her fair wrist, the jade box vanished. Only now did Monarch Qixia look Luo Chen squarely in the eye. "You are sensible enough—unlike that pretentious girl, Little Yue." "Since you retrieved this treasure for me, this sovereign shall bestow a stroke of good fortune upon you!" Before her words finished echoing, and before Luo Chen could react, he saw the woman flick her finger. A streak of fiery meteor descended upon him in an instant. In that split second, Luo Chen's expression twisted in horror. Could it be that Monarch Qixia was also someone who cast aside all senior dignity? "Monarch, you—" Yet Monarch Qixia's next words froze him in his tracks. "You have taken the wrong path."