Even if the other party had only just entered the Demon Dao, Shen Yingzhou was still startled. The other party was a Great Demon with thousands of years of cultivation, renowned throughout the world, and one of the top experts in Pingzhou—at the very least, far stronger than a Carp Spirit like him. Had the individual not had a checkered past, the previous dean of the Spirit Court would have even tried to recruit them.
"Are you sure?" Shen Yingzhou couldn’t help but ask. "The Celestial Star Dharma King is highly respected and of advanced age, renowned alongside the Feihong Ancestor. Moreover, he has never committed any evil deeds." His voice grew softer as he spoke.
Taoist Yan Song smiled. "Dean Shen can simply send someone to investigate the surroundings of Luoxing Lake. You’ll see if the number of fishermen who have perished in the last two years is several times higher than in previous years."
Taoist Jing Feng said indifferently, "Although he tried to cover it up by frequently churning the waters, it never actually caused a flood from start to finish. Such petty tricks shouldn’t be able to deceive the Spirit Court."
Shen Yingzhou’s eyes flickered before he gave a firm nod. "I will dispatch someone to investigate Luoxing Lake immediately."
The Celestial Star Dharma King was a Great Demon of Pingzhou with thousands of years of cultivation. Compared to the previous two Demon Fiends that had been discovered, his reputation was actually quite good, and his Dao Practice was even higher. Furthermore, he had only recently become a Fallen Demon, his evil deeds were not yet severe, and he had only just begun to show signs. Thus, Taoist Yan Song understood Shen Yingzhou’s hesitation. However, no matter how much this Dharma King tried to hide it, he could not deceive the Daoists of the Daluo Palace.
Hearing that Shen Yingzhou was willing to investigate, Taoist Yan Song was quite satisfied. "The Celestial Star Dharma King possesses profound Magical Power. I have already invited a few senior martial brothers to come. Just to be safe, we plan to make another trip to White Spirit Mountain."
Hearing this, Shen Yingzhou was ninety-nine percent convinced, his heart filled with both shock and fear. He was shocked by their immense confidence and great abilities to actually be able to invite the White Spirit Mountain Master. He was afraid because the Celestial Star Dharma King was extraordinary, and if a fight were to break out, it would likely turn the world upside down.
Shen Yingzhou thought for a moment. "I will go find the Li Altar Master." Although he was the dean of the Pingzhou Spirit Court, he only had three thousand years of Dao Practice. He was no match for the Celestial Star Dharma King at all. His only option was to seek the help of the Xuanwei Divine Sect’s Li Altar Master in Pingzhou.
Luoxing Lake.
The night sky was dotted with countless stars, shooting beams of starlight straight down. At the bottom of Luoxing Lake, there seemed to be a force attracting the light, gathering much of the surrounding starlight into the lake’s vicinity. The three-hundred-mile flat lake was like a mirror with crystal-clear waters; it should have theoretically been dazzlingly silver as it reflected the stars, but under the bright starlight, it resembled a swath of black cloth.
At the bottom of Luoxing Lake.
Ni Daxing had transformed into his true form, a Celestial Star Salamander. His pitch-black back was covered with countless silver stars, drawing in the boundless starlight that penetrated the waters. At the same time, clusters of black mist bubbled up from the lakebed, enveloping his body and wrapping around the starlight. This transformed into thick clouds of Demonic Qi, which he inhaled into his Dantian.
"It really works!" Ni Daxing exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling incredibly comfortable all over. "As expected of the Dharma Gate personally passed down by the Demon Ancestor. This Great Sun Inference Star Celestial Demon Scripture truly suits me. It allows me, someone who had reached the end of my cultivation path, to experience a Realm Breakthrough once again. Immortality is within reach, and Ascension to the Demon Realm is possible!
"It’s a pity that I am in the heartland of the Central Plains and can’t cause too much of a commotion.
"No, having just broken through to six thousand years of Dao Practice, this is exactly the time to forge ahead vigorously!
"Should I start a flood?" Ni Daxing’s eyes flickered, the silver stars and black mist reflecting each other in his gaze, projecting a world of the Celestial Demon. "Starting a flood and drowning a million mortals would be enough for me to open up a hundred-mile Demon Realm. My Dao Practice would advance further, and I could establish merit before the Demon Ancestor.
"In the future, when the heavens and earth are remade and transformed into the Demon Realm, I will be the number one Dharma King under the Demon Ancestor’s command. After my Ascension to the Demon Realm, I will also be a Demon Venerable of a region!"
Ni Daxing narrowed his eyes slightly.
"There aren’t many experts in Pingzhou. Merely causing a flood won’t attract top masters from other states. Neither Li Jue of the Xuanwei Divine Sect’s branch altar nor Shen Yingzhou of the Spirit Court’s branch is a match for me. As long as the Feihong Ancestor of Rainbow Mountain and the Yellow Heaven Sect Leader don’t stick their noses in, this plan is bound to succeed!
"The Feihong Ancestor has a good relationship with me, and the Yellow Heaven Sect Leader isn’t one to meddle in other people’s business. It shouldn’t be a big problem.
"The revival of the Celestial Demon... transforming the world..."
Just as Ni Daxing was lost in thought, he sensed a streak of light flying toward the outside of Luoxing Lake.
"The Feihong Ancestor?"
Ni Daxing instantly concealed all his Demonic Qi. With a spin of his body, he transformed into a middle-aged man wearing a Silver Star Black Robe.
"Is Brother Ni here?" The Feihong Ancestor’s voice reached the bottom of the lake.
"Please come in, Brother Feihong!" Ni Daxing waved his hand, and Luoxing Lake returned to a surface that reflected the starry sky. Then, a rift opened on the lake’s surface, revealing a passage leading straight to the cave mansion at the bottom.
The Feihong Ancestor swept into the passage and arrived at the Luoxing Cave Mansion in a matter of breaths.
The Luoxing Cave Mansion was not large, as Ni Daxing was its sole occupant. In terms of scale, the cave mansion was not even comparable to Bi Jingjing’s Bishui Palace. However, despite its modest size, the Luoxing Cave Mansion was exquisitely luxurious. With intricate carvings and paintings, an Array isolating the lake water, and Spirit Plants and mountain springs planted at the bottom of the lake, the starlight shining down from above made the waters in the cave mansion ripple and gleam, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
With a sweep of his sleeve, a jug of wine and two plates of dried fruit appeared on the stone table in the courtyard. Ni Daxing strolled forward to welcome him. "What brings Brother Feihong to Luoxing Lake today?"
The Feihong Ancestor cupped his hands in greeting. "You have been in secluded cultivation recently, so I didn’t disturb you. Seeing the surging waters up and down the Luoxing River lately, I knew you had emerged from seclusion, so I came especially to see you."
Ni Daxing’s eyes flashed. He knew there was a hidden meaning behind the Feihong Ancestor’s words. He had not only caused the waters of the Luoxing River to surge but had also killed many commoners along the banks. However, such things were not pleasant to say out loud, so the Feihong Ancestor naturally wouldn’t state it explicitly.
Ni Daxing invited the Feihong Ancestor to sit opposite him and personally poured him a cup of wine. "I miscalculated the days and missed Brother Feihong’s birthday banquet when I came out of seclusion. I haven’t even gone to Rainbow Mountain to apologize yet. I am truly ashamed."
"You attended my six-hundredth and seven-hundredth," the Feihong Ancestor smiled faintly, raising his cup and draining it in one gulp.
Ni Daxing also smiled and drank a cup in his company.
The two casually chatted about trivial matters from the past few years before the Feihong Ancestor abruptly shifted the topic. "You haven’t been out of seclusion recently, so you probably don’t know that another major event has occurred in the world."
"What major event?" Ni Daxing asked.
"The Dragon King of Ten Thousand Spirits, who disappeared thirty years ago, has reappeared," the Feihong Ancestor replied, not answering the implied question directly.
"Oh?" Ni Daxing raised an eyebrow. "Is he still mad?"
The Feihong Ancestor shook his head. "He was plotted against by his own godson back then."
Ni Daxing was quite surprised. "That Ink Flood Dragon only had three thousand years of Dao Practice. How could he scheme against the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Spirits?"
The Feihong Ancestor spoke faintly, "Because there was someone standing behind that Ink Flood Dragon."
Ni Daxing’s eyes flickered. "Who?"
The Feihong Ancestor said in a deep voice, "The Great Sun Profound Light Celestial Demon Ancestor!"
Silence fell over the Luoxing Cave Mansion. Ni Daxing raised his cup and took a light sip. "Wasn’t this Demon Ancestor killed tens of thousands of years ago?"
The Feihong Ancestor sighed. "Not only is he not dead, but he has recently awakened, widely disseminating Magic and opening up Demon Realms. Now, heroes all over the world are searching for Demonic traces and slaying Demons.
"The Yongzhou Netherfire Sect Leader, the Mountain State Cloud Celestial Palace Master, the Ming State Ancient Pine Elder, and the Lezhou Moon Devouring Sect Master—they were all seduced by the Demon Ancestor. After their exposure, they were ultimately executed."
Ni Daxing fell silent.
The Feihong Ancestor continued, "The Celestial Demon is endangering the world, so I am planning to travel around. However, walking around alone is somewhat boring, which is why I came specifically to ask Brother Ni if you’d be willing to travel with me."