Chores

Behind her, Chi Buzi burst through the void in hot pursuit, his azure robes fluttering. Taking one look at what had happened, he flew into a thunderous rage: “Wicked beast! I came to capture you with divine abilities, yet you dared to feast on mortals! You truly seek your own doom! If I do not capture you today, I have cultivated these divine abilities in vain!” The spirit sparrow sped through the empty air. When those words reached her ears, her feathers bristled in fury. She gnashed her teeth, her chest swelling with rage: ‘You… you dog of Lushui, shameless demonic scum! The people your Qingchi slaughters each year outnumber the feathers on my body! And yet you stand there draped in righteousness, bloviating about eating mortals!’ She had cultivated in the outer seas for many years, carrying herself like an immortal fluttering in celestial garments. In ordinary times, she never revealed her true form, and wherever she went, people treated her as a Violet Palace immortal cultivator. Since achieving sapience, she had rarely consumed flesh and blood. Only now, driven to a dead end, had she been forced to take a single bite. Rebuked so brazenly by Chi Buzi, she had grievances she could not voice and lacked even the time to turn her head and speak, forced to fly onward in stifled desperation. Behind her, seeing that she did not talk back, Chi Buzi cursed as he flew. Man and demon weaved back and forth through the Great Void, fading in and out of sight as the chase reached the easternmost boundary of the East Sea. Seeing the cape ahead, the spirit sparrow wheeled around, darting through the Great Void to retrace her path. Chi Buzi had been pursuing her at an unhurried pace precisely to herd her eastward. How could he allow her to turn back? He shook his head and said, “Fellow Daoist, that will not do.” With a flick of his sleeve, he produced a cauldron and cast it into the air. It immediately expanded into a colossal azure cauldron the size of a cottage. Murmuring an incantation, Chi Buzi swept his sleeve across its surface. A crisp resonance rang out as he intoned: “I invite the Celestial Aspect Palace to shift; let there be rain.” This spiritual artifact was originally of the Lushui line. As Chi Buzi activated it alongside his divine ability, ‘Ru Zhongzhuo’ transformed into billowing gray qi, blanketing the sky and the sea at startling speed, plunging their surroundings into somber gloom. Ahead, the Violet Palace spirit sparrow felt everything before her suddenly change. Rain pattered across the entire sea surface, draping far and near into a persistent gray world. Frightened, she hastily fled into the Great Void. Yet Chi Buzi followed right on her heels. After flying for a time, the sparrow found him catching up once more and had no choice but to drop back into the mortal world. Blinking carefully, she realized the Great Void around her had become uniformly flat, leaving her unable to discern her bearings. “What kind of spiritual artifact is this?!” She had to find an arbitrary spot to touch down, returning to the mortal realm only to find the same hazy drizzle stretching in all directions. Billowing fog surged beneath her feet; she knew neither where she was nor which direction she was heading. Gritting her teeth, she plunged into the roiling mist below. But she had traversed it for only an instant when she flew straight out of the clouds and rain overhead—running smack into Chi Buzi. His hands were clasped behind his back, staring down at her with cold indifference. ‘This spiritual artifact is extraordinary… It is an ancient spiritual treasure!’ Chi Buzi’s divine abilities gave her no pause. Lushui of jade-green hue, amassed in his hands for a long time, cascaded downward. She had not cultivated a body divine ability, was already wounded, and fell short of him in strength. Struck square on, she felt her feathers and bones melting away, tearing a shrill wail of agony from her throat. This strike truly jeopardized her life. Re-manifesting her form elsewhere, the spirit sparrow gritted her teeth and flew on blindly, lamenting bitterly in her heart: ‘Nine out of ten of Qingchi’s spiritual artifacts must have fallen into this bastard’s hands… A grand late-stage Violet Palace carrying three spiritual artifacts, bearing a grand array with him, and he still ambushes and deceives a junior like me…’ Yet no matter how far she flew, he soon caught up. Battered by divine abilities, her reactions grew increasingly sluggish. The array Chi Buzi had unleashed was astonishingly formidable, she was gravely wounded, and this spiritual artifact appeared to be of ancient make. A chill gripped her heart. As she flew, she watched her surroundings. Occasionally, a few small islets came into view, proving that the spell could not trap her in circles and was not as domineering as Ning Tiaoxiao’s spiritual artifact had been back then. ‘Yet the East Sea is vast… Such a wondrous effect, paired with Chi Buzi’s deliberate encirclement, is enough to leave me trapped! But now… how can I stay inside this artifact’s rain curtain, letting Lushui divine abilities whittle me down like a blunt knife sawing flesh?’ Her heart was fraught with misery, but Chi Buzi never took his eyes off her. She was, after all, an unaffiliated cultivator who had attained the Dao through the Shaoyin lineage. Though he had not heard of her gaining any miraculous encounters, one could never afford to be careless when facing a Violet Palace. He paused for a mere breath, and the spirit sparrow suddenly spun around. Channelling her Shaoyin divine abilities with all her might, she gathered ribbons of white tassels before her. Chi Buzi did not recognize the specific spell, but having investigated her background long before, he could make a good guess: ‘The Shaoyin divine ability “Xiang Juchen.” It is an ability born of nascent splendor and rising yin chill—cold in essence yet harboring fire, yin in essence yet parched. “Xiang Juchen” is a technique-type divine ability, bound to be a synthesis of cold and dryness, shaped into a spell through flame.’ Unflustered, he pinched two fingers tight. Sure enough, yin fire flared from the white tassels, blasting the surrounding rain into mist and even showing faint signs of burning away the gray smoke at his feet. Chi Buzi could not leave her unchecked and simply flicked a finger. ‘Clear Dusk Rain’! Torrents of rain cascaded down, momentarily suppressing the flames. Pushed by the sparrow’s full strength, the fire flickered unpredictably, swelling and shrinking in the downpour with unstable fury. Regret stirred in Chi Buzi’s heart as he sighed internally: ‘Shaoyin Cold-Parched Sovereign Fire should properly be suppressed by Lushui Calamity-Washing Precious Dew—an absolute counter. If only I had the divine ability “Calamity-Washing Dew,” taking this beast would be child’s play. A pity I never attained it!’ The Qingchi Sect’s inheritance was incomplete; the Dew Calamity Falling Blossom Method of the Calamity-Washing Dew lineage suffered from flawed qi-gathering methods. The Chi family had collected Calamity-Washing Dew cultivation manuals for years, but nearly all of them had issues with their qi gathering. Thus, even for a direct scion of the Chi family like him, refining Calamity-Washing Dew had been nearly impossible. Even though Lushui held the throne, qi gathering for Calamity-Washing Dew consistently failed. Chi Buzi had not dared think too deeply on this while at Qingchi, but upon arriving in the East Sea, it was clear as day to him: whose will could it be, if not their own True Monarch Lushui Wuyuan Fuyu? So long as the True Monarch harbored such an intent, it was enough to invalidate every qi-gathering method. Furthermore, the spiritual qi required by the Chi family’s methods had never been seen in any ruin. Chi Rui had attempted to reconcile it using the Lushui-dissolving water-combining method, failing repeatedly. Chi Wei had also failed to attain Calamity-Washing Dew, resorting to Jiaomu to substitute Yu Yangxing instead… While his thoughts flickered, the spirit sparrow darted forward, switching from defense to attack. Her sharp, goose-yellow beak snapped open, revealing rows of fine, densely packed teeth, and spewed a blast of deep-white brilliance. Chi Buzi finally took a solemn stance. His hand seals shifted, and the great cauldron finally burst forth from the Great Void to shield him. His pupils gradually shifted from pale green to deep azure. ‘Sound of the Cavern Spring’! The moment this formidable power—both a lifebound and a body divine ability—was unleashed, his body instantly transformed into cavern spring water and flowed into the great cauldron. The chiming, babbling sounds of spring water echoed forth. A full incense stick of time passed before the sparrow’s desperate deep-white brilliance finally tipped the great cauldron, producing a deafening clang. The cavern spring water was knocked free of the precious cauldron, and from the greenish-gray water, a voice echoed out of nowhere: “The cavern spring babbles, the turbidity rests in the water. Thus it neither congeals nor ceases, neither parches nor halts. Though your sovereign fire blazes bright, how can it harm me?” With that, the spring water held firm against the deep-white brilliance, and the great cauldron pressed down once more. The brilliance dimmed inch by inch, while the surrounding gray turbidity thickened anew, locking her down tight. This single display laid bare a depth of cultivation that was far beyond the beast’s reach. Despair surged in her heart. Having only recently broken through, no matter how she struggled, she was powerless to reverse her fate before Chi Buzi, whose cultivation, divine abilities, array, spiritual artifacts, and comprehension of spells completely eclipsed her own. “It’s ‘Sound of the Cavern Spring’!” The spirit sparrow hesitated for an instant, immediately realizing that his lifebound divine ability had been unleashed at full force to exploit her opening. But it was already too late; greenish-gray Lushui was already showering down upon her. Chi Buzi did not let down his guard. Though the spirit sparrow was trapped and could not escape, a desperate fight to the death remained within her power. If this creature died, all the preparations made over these years would come to nothing. Suppressing her with Lushui, he revealed his true form, a look of complete mastery gracing his features as he said, “Do not panic, Fellow Daoist. I did not go to such great lengths to take your life.” The beast did not believe him, responding only, “Then let us fight to the death! My divine abilities may be shallow, but if I stake my life, wounding you will be no difficult feat!” Chi Buzi blinked. He possessed decent looks, accentuated by the graceful flutter of his robes. His expression turned solemn as he made a sincere pledge: “I have no intention whatsoever of harming you, Fellow Daoist. Our lineages bear no relation, and no grudge exists between us. You possess neither spiritual artifacts nor treasures—why would I seek your harm? I merely wish to inaugurate a Shaoyin lineage, and fearing you might contest it, I was forced to put on this display.” The beast remained skeptical. Chi Buzi never halted his Lushui divine ability, continuing, “At worst, you can always fight to the death. Why not give this a chance, Fellow Daoist?” Even as he spoke, a silver-white cord within Chi Buzi’s sleeve gradually began to glow. His expression never wavered as he gazed at her with earnest sincerity, while the Lushui in his grip steadily applied heavier and heavier pressure. *** Within the Realm of the Mirror. Clouds and mist curled about, illuminating an orderly expanse of bright, translucent white tiles. Several stone lampstands stood in the courtyard, shedding a pale-yellow glow upon the surroundings, each carved with profound, enigmatic talismans. A youth with pale jade-green eyes lay sprawled across a stone table, looking thoroughly dispirited. ‘“Drumming the Mysterious to Refine Fire”… an art for controlling true fire. Let’s see… it follows the path of drawing fire through the Twelve Heavy Towers… What era is this ancient spell from? Let’s modify it a bit…’ After slouching there for a while, Dangjiang took up his brush to make edits. The pavilion around him was utterly deserted, save for two dull-witted yellow-armored strongmen who stared wide-eyed as they carried jade slips up the stairs. Ever since he had attained permanent status in heaven, Dangjiang’s workload had not decreased in the slightest, yet the people he saw had dwindled. Previously, while in the Master’s residence, he had lived at the foot of the throne where there were still a few souls to converse with. Now he had been cast into this pavilion, forbidden from wandering about casually, making life all the more agonizing. When he received a commendation last year, Dangjiang had begged on his knees, not daring to ask for a transfer back to the residence, but merely pleading for a companion. After great difficulty, Immortal Officer Liu had arranged for two strongmen to serve under him. He had never expected to become a chief in one stroke, and had returned to the pavilion overjoyed—only to discover that these two strongmen had not an ounce of wit between them, acting like mere puppets. Dangjiang felt somewhat regretful. Yet, as stupid as these strongmen were—so dim they seemed driven purely by instinct—at least there was someone to talk to, relieving a bit of his boredom. After all, strictly speaking, this place had little hauling work to justify two strongmen, which made Dangjiang feel a bit guilty and hesitant to complain. Yet every time he looked up to see those thick brows and big, blank eyes, it inevitably spoiled his mood. The youth could not help but pause, musing secretly: ‘Next time I get the chance, I must alter the Dharma bodies of these two fellows and replace them entirely with maidservants! They must be lithe and graceful, strikingly gorgeous. One holding an azure pipa and clad in white robes, the other carrying a jade pot in a pink skirt, with warm milk simmering inside… That would be true beauty…’ He had only daydreamed for a few breaths when he heard a rapid knocking at the door. Delighted, Dangjiang leapt up on the spot and shouted loudly: “Please enter, my lord!” Sure enough, an ordinary-looking immortal officer in white robes stepped into the courtyard. Seeing him, Dangjiang was overjoyed, tears of deep emotion welling in his eyes as he cried out, “Lord Liu, it really has been so long!” Immortal Officer Liu gave a slight nod and answered, “Greetings, Fellow Daoist. We have not met for some time; how is your progress?” Long accustomed to his aloof tone, Dangjiang paid it no mind, keeping a warm smile plastered on his face as he immediately launched into the technique on the table: “I am currently drafting this ‘Drumming the Mysterious to Refine Fire.’ The ‘mysterious’ in drumming the mysterious refers to the mysterious marsh, meaning the spreading of blessings across the great wilderness to cover the farthest reaches. This method of refining fire draws inspiration from antiquity, which means we must begin with the Twelve Heavy Towers…” Once his mouth opened, it never stopped, rambling from east to west and north to south in grand eloquence. As Lu Jiangxian listened, his fists clenched, relaxed, and clenched again. ‘I truly talk too much. Why did I have to ask that question?’ Lu Jiangxian had come in avatar form specifically regarding Chi Buzi. Chi Buzi was on the verge of offering up a Violet Palace demon. What Lu Jiangxian had to give was truly meager; he was loath to part with azure talismans and would likely have to compensate him with talisman pills and white talismans instead. Yet such a reward was hardly grand, and Chi Buzi was someone who never released his hawk without spotting the hare—he would not be easily duped. On one hand, to ensure he returned and dutifully continued to work for him, Lu Jiangxian needed to handle him properly; on the other hand, this could serve as a rehearsal for future contact with the Li family. Moreover, Lu Jiangxian was reluctant to step onto the stage in person, lest he be forced to transform and deal with him every time in the future. After all, Chi Buzi was formidable; no matter how well Lu Jiangxian acted, he could never match the natural sincerity of someone like Dangjiang, who believed wholeheartedly in the celestial illusion. Thus, he had intended to use this honest fellow. Yet Dangjiang had prattled on until Chi Buzi, outside in the mortal world, had battered the demon into full retreat and was practically about to capture it with his spiritual artifact. With Dangjiang showing no signs of stopping and the timing about to slip away, Lu Jiangxian finally could not bear it any longer. He lowered his voice and interjected: “Fellow Daoist, your words are exceedingly reasonable… Truly full of profound conjectures, thoroughly captivating. However, I came today… to bid you farewell!” “Ah?” Dangjiang had been in mid-stride, thoroughly enjoying his own speech. Hit by this thunderous news, he failed to process it for a moment. Only after freezing did he stammer, “Th-this… how can this be?! Is it the will of Lord Zhengao?” Immortal Officer Liu nodded heavily. Dangjiang felt an urge to hold his head and weep bitterly, crying out: “You are the only kindred spirit I have in heaven! No one else pays any attention to me… All my handovers and duties are done with you… If you leave like this, what am I supposed to do!” Immortal Officer Liu simply said, “I am not reincarnating into the lower realm, merely undergoing a transfer of duties. I simply cannot meet with you as frequently. Another will come to manage affairs with you… There is no need to worry. Once I have free time, I will come visit you.” Hearing this, Dangjiang breathed a sigh of relief. He no longer feared that Liu would vanish without return like that Immortal Officer Li, knowing they would still meet after a time. But then he saw Immortal Officer Liu sigh: “However, a certain matter has weighed heavily on my mind, and I must trouble you with it, Fellow Daoist… After much deliberation, I decided to speak.” “Please speak, my lord! I will certainly do my utmost!” Dangjiang had always wanted to curry favor with him, patting his chest in assurance. Immortal Officer Liu paused, then answered: “With this reassignment, my former duties in the residence will fall vacant. There are few people in heaven to begin with, and several colleagues have already descended to the lower realm. Furthermore, I must travel to the far side of the heavens, making traveling back and forth exceedingly inconvenient. So I consulted the Master… and thought to have you fill in for a period.” Dangjiang’s smile vanished instantly. His expression morphed into sheer shock and misery. His hand trembled as he raised it, pointing at himself, and stammered: “My… my lord means… you… your work… your chores…” “I have to do them too?!”