The Other Shore Across the Sea of Fire

"A chance of survival..." Xu Ying stood up. Though his tone was calm, a bold spirit surged in his chest. "There is only one chance of survival: to find them and send these decrepit beings to their deaths!" Old Ancestor Guo sighed. "Easier said than done." Xu Ying's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Old Guo, after you opened the nine cave-heavens of your Crimson Palace, did you see the other shore?" Old Ancestor Guo asked in confusion, "The other shore?" Xu Ying recounted what he had seen upon opening his Jade Pool cave-heaven, saying, "I suspect the jade world pointed to by the Jade Pool cave-heaven might be a world of the other shore, and the Jade Pool cave-heaven is the bridge connecting to that world. Because our cave-heavens have not been punched through, we cannot enter that realm and can only steal power from the other shore." Old Ancestor Guo said, "You mean that the world of the other shore corresponding to the Jade Pool cave-heaven holds yuan qi, while the one corresponding to the Crimson Palace cave-heaven holds heart power. The Six Secret Depositories of the Human Body actually correspond to six great shores, don't they?" Xu Ying nodded, feeling a little sheepish. "I only recently became a Nuo Master, so I don't understand the inner workings. I don't even know if what I said is right or wrong." Old Ancestor Guo paced back and forth, pondering. "If you were just a minor Nuo Master saying this, I would have slapped your ears off for daring to doubt ancestral teachings. But you happen to be older than me, so I cannot help but give your words serious thought." He came to an abrupt halt and said, "When I opened the ninth cave-heaven, I saw an immortal palace within a sea of fire. There was writing upon that immortal palace, but I couldn't read it." Xu Ying's spirits soared, and he smiled. "Since there is an immortal palace, there must be an other shore! Perhaps reaching that other shore directly could even allow one to bypass the master of the Crimson Palace!" Old Ancestor Guo shook his head. "I only saw that immortal palace in the fire once. It was likely just my excitement playing tricks on my eyes at the time." Just then, Pei Du's voice carried over, chuckling, "Could it be that my eyes deceived me as well? Truth be told, when I opened the ninth cave-heaven of the Jade Pool, I also saw an immortal palace. Unlike Brother Guo, however, I memorized the writing on it." He strode briskly over to Xu Ying and Old Ancestor Guo, tracing several characters onto a stone with his finger. The characters were none other than the long-lost bird-and-worm seal script! Old Ancestor Guo said, "The immortal palace I saw in the fire also had a few similar characters! I just didn't memorize a single one!" Looking at the characters, Xu Ying muttered in a low voice, "Jade Void Palace!" Pei Du looked up in astonishment and blurted out, "Brother Xu, you recognize these characters?" Old Ancestor Guo coughed and said, "Call him Senior Xu! Don't try to take advantage of me by pulling rank!" Xu Ying said, "I recognize these three characters. They do indeed read 'Jade Void Palace,' though I have no idea where I learned them." Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo exchanged a look, and Old Ancestor Guo whispered, "Old Pei, if there really is an other shore, perhaps we truly can avert the misfortune of a Nuo Master's twilight years. Want to give it a try?" Pei Du asked, "How do we test it?" "Fight our way in!" Old Ancestor Guo reached out into the air, and the Green Dragon Halberd flew into his grasp, his vigor soaring to the clouds. "Open your cave-heavens, and I will charge in to see if I can reach the other shore! I'll punch a path through for you, and then you punch one through for me!" Pei Du shook his head. "You've always been reckless. I'm afraid you won't punch through to the other shore, but punch right through me instead. I'll make the attempt this time. Open your cave-heavens, and I will fight my way in!" "Good!" Old Ancestor Guo stood tall, suddenly throwing open his Realm of Xiyi without reservation to reveal the location of his Heart Mountain Crimson Palace. His qi and blood surged, and the nine Crescent Moon cave-heavens of his Crimson Palace materialized before everyone's eyes. The nine great cave-heavens thrust into a raging sea of fire. The flames burned with immense fury, yet strangely, though they saw the fire, they felt no heat from it. Pei Du immediately sprang up, turning into a streak of flowing light that flew into Old Ancestor Guo's Crimson Palace Crescent Moon cave-heavens, soaring deeper along the raging sea of fire. Xu Ying grew tense. He was extremely familiar with the Crescent Moon cave-heaven; this cave-heaven was actually a Crescent Moon Furnace, a massive crucible where the temperature grew hotter the deeper one went! The flames in the first layer of the crucible were already divine fire, and each subsequent layer grew even more powerful. Otherwise, the Crescent Moon Furnace could never provide the physical body with such terrifying might! However, Pei Du was, after all, a Nuo Immortal reputed to possess immortal magic power. He forced his way straight through, relying on his vast, boundless yuan qi to suppress the fiery nature of the Crescent Moon Furnace cave-heavens, plunging deeper and deeper. Moving at blistering speed, he swiftly traversed the nine cave-heavens and reached the end of the ninth Crescent Moon Furnace cave-heaven. Xu Ying activated his Heavenly Eye, straining his vision to the limit. He saw Pei Du muster his magic power and unleash divine arts, bombarding the far end of the ninth cave-heaven. Under his onslaught, Old Ancestor Guo's ninth cave-heaven actually expanded further toward the other shore! Xu Ying could not help but grow excited. The bronze bell also flew out, watching the scene with rapt attention. Pei Du advanced like splitting bamboo at first, but soon he could no longer bear the strain. Blood began to seep from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Seeing this, Xu Ying immediately shouted, "Lord Bell, let's go lend him a hand!" The bronze bell rose into the air and followed Xu Ying. Xu Ying transformed into a streak of sword light, whistling into Old Ancestor Guo's cave-heavens with the bell and charging through all the way. After a long while, he and the bronze bell finally reached Pei Du's side. The bell inverted itself downward, shielding Pei Du against the increasingly ferocious sea of fire. With their assistance, Pei Du could finally unleash his full might toward the depths of the ninth cave-heaven. Suddenly, a blinding beam of light struck the bronze bell. The bell tilted, and a distinct crack appeared across its surface! Xu Ying supplied his qi and blood to the bronze bell with all his might, holding it steady to protect himself and Pei Du. The bronze bell called out, "Chancellor Pei, there's something bizarre in the fire!" Pei Du still did not retreat, braving the sea of fire and another oncoming beam of light as he pressed forward with everything he had. "What is he trying to do?" Xu Ying's heart leaped into his throat. He peered ahead with his Heavenly Eye, and a chill ran down his spine. Amidst the sea of fire, an immortal palace loomed faintly. Before the palace stood figure after figure, some seated and some standing. Bathed in the immortal fire, they remained entirely motionless! Pei Du extended a hand beyond the bell's protection, reaching out into the sea of fire. The instant his arm left the shelter of the bronze bell, it ignited violently, swiftly charring black. Even his surging yuan qi could not suppress the flames! Pei Du pulled his hand back, seemingly having grabbed hold of something, and clutched it tightly to his chest. He opened his mouth and shouted something to Xu Ying. Suddenly, the bronze bell was struck by another beam of light, spinning out of control and hurtling back toward the exit of the cave-heaven. Xu Ying grabbed Pei Du and pulled him inside the bell. Raging immortal fire flowed beneath them like water. With both their bodies sheltered under the bell, Pei Du still refused to let go, holding that object in a death grip! Struck by beam after beam of light, the bronze bell clanged continuously, ricocheting and stumbling its way through Old Ancestor Guo's cave-heavens before finally escaping to the outside. The bronze bell crashed to the ground, and Xu Ying and Pei Du rolled out from underneath. The bronze bell was scorched glowing red. Breathing like a dying ember, it cried out, "Ah Ying! Old Man Pei! If you two don't give me sixty percent of your qi and blood today, we aren't even!" Pei Du's burned arm snapped and turned to charcoal, falling to the ground. Yet the chancellor was overjoyed, laughing, "Never mind sixty percent, I'll promise you seventy or eighty!" Old Ancestor Guo started in fright and rushed forward. "Old Pei, you..." Pei Du laughed heartily, swaying to his feet in sheer exhilaration. "There are immortals in the fire! I caught an immortal!" In his embrace was a young girl who appeared only eight or nine years old, her eyes shut tight and without a breath in her. Her heart was not beating, yet her complexion was rosy, like a living corpse. Beneath her nostrils, immortal flames still burned without extinguishing, drifting in and out of her nose. Xu Ying walked forward and said, "There are many people like this in front of the immortal palace in the sea of fire. Are they truly immortals?" Overcome with excitement, Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo gathered around the little girl. She had jade-like bones and icy flesh, as though carved from fine jade without the slightest flaw. "A true immortal!" the two marvelled. Suddenly, the immortal fire under the girl's nose vanished into her nostrils. Her chest rose and fell as her breath returned. Not only that, her pulse gradually picked up, as if she were returning to life from death! She sat up with a tumble and turned her head to look around. With a puzzled expression, she began to speak. It was a strange, ancient tongue. Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo were entirely baffled, and the bronze bell was equally bewildered. Xu Ying, however, felt a stir in his heart, and he opened his mouth to utter a string of obscure, difficult words in response. The girl's face turned solemn. Suddenly, her figure pierced through the air and vanished without a trace! Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo stood frozen in place. Before they could even attempt to stop her, the girl had already disappeared. "Ah Ying, what did that girl say just now?" the bronze bell asked hurriedly. Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo snapped back to their senses and quickly looked at Xu Ying. It was Xu Ying's exchange with the child immortal that had prompted her sudden flight. Xu Ying answered carefully, "She was asking, 'Is this the Immortal Realm? Have I already ascended?' I told her, 'This is still the mortal world.'" "And then?" Old Ancestor Guo pressed. "That was all." Pei Du and Old Ancestor Guo went blank. Then, realizing what had happened, Pei Du immediately turned to leave, saying, "I will mobilize the clan's younger generation to search for the child immortal's whereabouts! Brother Guo, if you hear any news on your end, don't forget to notify me!" Old Ancestor Guo also hurried outside, but then abruptly stopped. Pulling a book from his robes, he tossed it toward Xu Ying. Xu Ying caught it. Old Ancestor Guo kept walking, his voice drifting back: "Back then, I stumbled into an immortal's grotto and received the Crimson Palace Crescent Moon Furnace Crucible Technique. Cultivating this technique allows one to sense those eyes." Xu Ying hurriedly glanced at the scroll. Sure enough, the words *Crimson Palace Crescent Moon Furnace Crucible Technique* were written upon it! "Later, when I realized the fate awaiting Nuo Immortals in their twilight years, I never passed this technique to anyone else, not even my own son. Once you have read it, destroy it, whether you choose to cultivate it or not." Old Ancestor Guo's voice carried from outside, calm and steady. "I will keep fighting! Even if my body perishes and my Dao is extinguished, I will never admit defeat! So long as there is the slimmest hope of victory, I will seize it! But I need to be free of worries about what comes after." His worry about what came after was the fear that no one would follow after him—that no one would rise in rebellion just as he had! He needed someone to take up the *Crimson Palace Crescent Moon Furnace Crucible Technique* and continue the fight as he had! Yet he would not force Xu Ying to cultivate it. Like Zhou Qiyun, he had his own pride. Xu Ying put the scroll away. The bronze bell wobbled as it rose into the air, spinning once to inspect its new crack. "Ah Ying, does Old Ancestor Guo lack confidence in facing the master of the Crimson Palace?" Xu Ying's eyes gleamed. "The master of the Crimson Palace is an existence just as powerful as the master of the Mud Pill Palace, and his patience is just as great. Old Ancestor Guo's heart has not aged and his confidence remains, but his body is steadily growing old." The bronze bell said, "Old Pei left so fast, almost as if he forgot he still owes me seventy percent of his qi and blood. Ah Ying, when are you going to give me your sixty percent?" Xu Ying replied, "Lord Bell, steal it yourself." Overjoyed, the bronze bell struggled to fly into the back of his head. Xu Ying looked in the direction the child immortal had fled, thinking, *Could the figures in the sea of fire really be immortals? Was that girl just now truly an immortal?* He felt something was amiss, but since he could not make sense of it, he set it aside for now. Calming his mind, Xu Ying opened the *Crimson Palace Crescent Moon Furnace Crucible Technique* and read it carefully. This technique likened the Crescent Moon cave-heaven of the Crimson Palace to a crucible used to fish for heart power. The method of cultivating within the Crescent Moon cave-heaven was exceedingly ingenious, expanding the Crimson Palace and boosting the heart's strength. After that came the process of reeling in heart power and refining it into the physical body and soul. For Xu Ying, however, that part was unimportant. What he truly lacked was how to cultivate the Crescent Moon cave-heaven itself! He activated the first half of the technique, fishing out heart power from the boundless sea of fire. At that moment, that peculiar sensation came rushing back once more. He felt as though he were standing in total darkness, while a pair of eyes behind him slowly opened. The master of the Crimson Palace had taken notice of him. In the darkness, Xu Ying stared back at the eyes, memorizing the being's aura. He circulated the Taiyi Guiding Technique. The power of both the Crimson Palace and Mud Pill cave-heavens poured out endlessly, refining into his flesh. Xu Ying felt his physical body grow more powerful than ever before, brimming with vibrant life. Every move of his hands and feet sent immense strength rumbling through him! By now, the sunlight was no longer suitable for cultivation, but even without absorbing the light from outside, the two secret depositories within him continuously provided a vast wellspring of vitality and power, bolstering his cultivation! "This is a true grotto-heaven and blessed land! This is true Qi Refining!" Xu Ying was both shocked and thrilled. Inside his mind, the bronze bell was also very pleased with his diligent cultivation. "Ah Ying, you've opened the Mud Pill secret depository and cultivated the legacy of the master of the Mud Pill Palace, and now you've opened the Crimson Palace secret depository and cultivated the legacy of the master of the Crimson Palace. Once you cultivate both secret depositories to the ninth heaven, which of the two will come to eat you?" Xu Ying paused. He had never thought of that question... Basking in the sun nearby, Yuan Qi said lazily, "Maybe they'll both want to eat Ah Ying, end up fighting each other, and both suffer heavy injuries." The bronze bell sneered, "Old monsters like that will surely sit down peacefully together. 'You eat Ah Ying's Mud Pill, and I'll eat Ah Ying's Crimson Palace.' They won't fight at all. They might even invite each other to sample their respective culinary skills!" Yuan Qi went slack-jawed. "What if Ah Ying opens all six secret depositories? They'd have to fight then, right?" The bronze bell replied, "Then all six will definitely sit down and feast together. It's called sharing a meal!" Xu Ying shivered, asking with a guilty conscience, "Lord Bell, if I open all six secret depositories, wouldn't my cultivation and strength reach transcendental heights? Defeating them shouldn't be hard, right?" The bronze bell asked, "What if all six join forces to gang up on you?" Xu Ying let out a low grunt, thoroughly disheartened. Just then, a fruit pit struck the ground at his feet. Xu Ying looked up and saw an eight- or nine-year-old girl with braided hair sitting on the Guo manor's wall, clutching a handful of cherries in her hand. The girl stood up, her figure blurring, and arrived beside him in an instant. In a voice far beyond her years, she demanded, "What are you cultivating?" She spoke in that ancient tongue. Oddly enough, Xu Ying could still understand her, so he replied in the same language, "I cultivate the Nuo arts." "Nuo arts? Never heard of them." Carrying herself like an adult, the girl said, "Write it out so I can see which character it is." Xu Ying traced the character *Nuo* on the ground. The girl studied it and declared, "This is clearly *tan*—it means lying there without moving!" "The character is pronounced *nuo*," Xu Ying corrected her. The girl retorted, "Or maybe it's pronounced *nan*!" Xu Ying said patiently, "Repeat after me: *nuo*." The girl rolled her eyes at him and yelled, "Whether it's *nuo* or *nan*, it's *tan*—meaning lying flat! Are you cultivating arts for lying flat? Stop lying down! From now on, you will follow me and protect me! Once this ancestor recovers her cultivation, I'll grant you great rewards so you never have to lie flat again!"