Wei Mountain Waters

The small island spanned a hundred miles in circumference, its terrain gently undulating, vast green meadows draping the land like a verdant carpet. The northern heights of the island sloped gradually toward the south, dense forests dotted the meadows, and several rivers converged to form a lake that gleamed like a polished mirror set amidst the greenery.

By the lakeshore stood an expansive palace garden, its buildings adorned with red walls and golden tiles, pavilions and towers arranged in harmonious disorder, winding corridors weaving through the grounds.

A flash of crimson sword-light soared above the garden, pausing briefly against a transparent barrier of restriction. Pang Yue withdrew a jade talisman from his storage pouch, gave it a gentle shake, and the restriction dissolved, allowing him to enter with ease.

Below, a figure ascended to greet him, bowing respectfully.

“Liu He pays his respects to the master.”

This Liu He, a man in his fifties, wore immaculate clothing and exuded an air of shrewd diligence.

Pang Yue glanced at him—merely at the sixth level of Qi Absorption—he took little notice and casually inquired, “You are Liu He?”

Liu He answered with reverence, “I am the steward of Bright Lake Island, overseeing all affairs. Whatever instructions the master has, I am at your disposal.”

Pang Yue said, “Tell me briefly about the island’s situation.”

“Master, the island currently has one garden, ninety-nine residences, one hundred and eighty acres of spirit fields planted with Jade Crystal Rice, yielding one hundred eighty thousand pounds annually. There are nine spirit farmers, seven maids, thirteen immortal slaves… and one concubine. All other materials have been duly accounted for.”

With that, Liu He presented a jade slip.

Pang Yue took it, his expression shifting slightly. “A concubine?”

Liu He replied earnestly, “The concubine, Qin Shuyi, was acquired by Ning Daozhen, a true disciple of the Flame Demon Hall, from another true disciple, and later gifted to Ning Daoyu. She is at the ninth level of Qi Absorption and has prospects for establishing her Dao foundation.”

Pang Yue nodded indifferently, affixed the jade slip to his forehead, and browsed its contents.

Suddenly, he remarked in surprise, “Qin Shuyi is still untouched?”

The jade slip recorded everything in detail; even matters Liu He dared not speak were laid out.

Qin Shuyi’s background, connections, and experiences were exhaustively listed.

Liu He nodded, “Yes, master. She was raised by that true disciple as a furnace, having cultivated the Phoenix Reversal Nourishing Art since childhood. It’s said this technique has remarkable effects upon reaching the Dao Foundation, so she has remained pure all these years.”

“Very well. I understand. Follow me; I have tasks for you.”

Pang Yue descended to a tranquil courtyard by the lake, hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed the surroundings.

The courtyard, built by the water, featured elegant pavilions; nearby, one could gaze upon the lake and meadows, and in the distance, great mountains and the sea—truly picturesque.

“Master, this is the guest residence. Since its completion, no one has yet lived here…” Liu He followed Pang Yue’s light, observing his expression, and spoke softly.

Pang Yue smiled, “Good. From now on, I’ll reside here.”

He produced a pouch of spirit stones and a jade slip, handing them to Liu He. “In the coming days, visit the market and purchase materials for me. The list is in the jade slip.”

“Yes.” Liu He carefully accepted both, standing with cupped hands, awaiting further instructions.

Pang Yue waved, “That’s all. You may go. Maintain everything as usual; I’ll be in seclusion for some time. Turn away all visitors.”

“Yes.” Liu He turned and departed.

Pang Yue took out a set of formation flags, circled the courtyard to lay down restrictions, then soared directly toward Mount Zhuoguang.

…

The closer one approached Mount Zhuoguang, the more palpable became its immense, concentrated spiritual energy.

Cultivation atop this mountain was much swifter than elsewhere.

Alas, only true disciples and Golden Core elders were permitted to establish abodes here; others were denied the right to reside.

The Flame Demon Hall was situated halfway up the southern slope, the entire grand hall carved into an enormous cliff face!

Pang Yue’s light descended before the hall, and immediately, a mysterious aura enveloped him.

He sensed clearly that this aura circled his inner disciple’s identity token in his storage pouch, then withdrew like a receding tide.

He entered the hall; inside was empty and vast.

Eighteen colossal stone pillars, engraved with motifs of demons from beyond, lined either side, their tops ablaze with roaring flames that illuminated the hall.

“Hmm, you are…”

A voice sounded.

Pang Yue turned toward the source, and from the flames atop a nearby pillar, a figure emerged.

“You’re Daoist Xu!”

The newcomer landed before Pang Yue, finally recalling his identity.

This person appeared in his twenties, with a cherubic face and stout frame, clad in the inner disciple’s robe, a wine gourd at his waist, exuding a strong smell of alcohol.

“I am indeed Xu. May I ask your name, fellow Daoist?”

Pang Yue greeted him.

“My surname is Kui—Kui Shanshui. Though not as old as you, I entered the inner sect before you, so you should call me senior brother.”

Kui Shanshui chuckled amiably.

Pang Yue was bemused; the Flame Demon Hall had over thirty inner disciples, nearly all younger than he…

“Senior Kui.”

Cultivators cared little for convention; Pang Yue greeted him warmly.

Kui Shanshui looked Pang Yue up and down. “Junior Xu, I’m on duty in the Flame Demon Hall today. Is there anything you need?”

Pang Yue replied formally, “First, I wish to pay respects to my master. Second, I seek to observe the ‘True Flame Demon Canon.’”

Kui Shanshui’s face grew odd. “You probably won’t see Elder Yao… She’s in seclusion cultivating divine powers and won’t emerge for decades.”

Elder Yao, a Golden Core master of the Flame Demon Hall, mentor to Ning Daoyu.

“Ah…” Pang Yue’s gaze flickered as he nodded. “And the second matter?”

“That’s easy. Inner disciples may study the ‘True Flame Demon Canon’ at any time. I’ll escort you.”

“Thank you.”

Kui Shanshui laughed, pointed at Pang Yue, and a ray of fire descended from the hall’s dome, enveloping Pang Yue and whisking him away.

“This Junior Xu… Interesting!”

Kui Shanshui uncorked his gourd, took several hearty swigs, then spun away, vanishing into the flames atop the pillar.

The hall was once again silent and empty.

…

Pang Yue found himself in a sealed stone chamber.

Stone walls surrounded him on all sides, with no doors or windows; embedded jewels cast a gentle glow, illuminating the chamber.

At its center stood an ancient stele, covered in script and diagrams—the very ‘True Flame Demon Canon,’ the sect’s foundational legacy!

This method had been created nine thousand years ago by the first master of the Flame Demon Hall, inspired by the ‘Secret Codex of Chaotic Shadow Demon Runes.’ It allowed cultivation up to the peak of the Golden Core, and even the path to Nascent Soul.

The stele itself was personally refined by the first Hall Master, not only inscribed with the cultivation method, but imbued with his insights into the canon.

To study the stele was akin to conversing with an ancestor across nine millennia.

Pang Yue sat before it, summoned the Primal Infinity Stele, and began his meditation.

Ten days later.

A streak of light flew from the Flame Demon Hall, returning to Bright Lake Island.

In the cultivation chamber.

Pang Yue sat on the mat, sighing softly, “Worthy indeed of an inner sect legacy!”

The ‘True Flame Demon Canon’ was vast and profound, its mysteries unfathomable.

With the deduction power of the Primal Infinity Stele, after ten days of sleepless study, he had only mastered the Qi Absorption and Dao Foundation sections.

As for the latter parts—the Golden Core and fragments of the Nascent Soul chapters—his current realm and the stele’s grade were insufficient; he couldn’t even glimpse their surface, let alone comprehend them.

Thus, Pang Yue decisively ended his study and returned to the island.

…

The next phase was cultivation.

First, he had to transform Xu Daoist’s original mana into the True Flame Demon Canon’s mana.

Second, he continued refining the Primal Infinity Stele, increasing the number of restrictions placed upon it.

Months slipped by.

The maids and spirit farmers on Bright Lake Island were oblivious to any change in their master.

Only Liu He was busier than usual, frequently visiting the Demon Rune Sect’s marketplace, his movements shrouded in secrecy.

On this day.

In the southwestern elegant garden of the palace, Qin Shuyi sat beneath a peach tree, playing her zither.

She wore a moon-white gown, her waist slender and upright, her figure graceful with a proud chest and alluring curves.

The music was refined and pleasing, harmonizing with the cascade of falling blossoms, enchanting all who beheld the scene.

Lian’er boiled a pot of spirit tea beneath the tree, fragrant steam curling up and soothing the senses.

Yawning, Lian’er played with a string of luminous beads, muttering idly.

Suddenly, a palm-sized paper crane fluttered down from the sky, landing before Qin Shuyi.

Her eyes brightened; she reached out to take the crane, opened it, and immediately her face lit with joy.

“Sister Qin, has it worked?”

Lian’er caught her mistress’s expression and couldn’t help but ask.

Qin Shuyi’s lips curved faintly, and she nodded gently, “Young Master Qu has persuaded Ning Daozhen; he will step forward to coordinate the matter.”

“That’s wonderful!” Lian’er clapped her hands. “Young Master Qu is not only handsome, but his cultivation is impressive. His future prospects are boundless… More importantly, if you become his Dao partner, Sister Qin, you too may have the chance to cultivate the inner sect legacy.”

Qin Shuyi’s mood blossomed, as beautiful as the scenery around her.

Truthfully, these days had been torment for her.

Since Xu Daoist took over Bright Lake Island, she had lived in constant fear…

Xu Daoist’s cultivation had stagnated for decades, and with his advanced age, who knew when he might decide to use her as a furnace out of ill temper.

And with the Ning family connection, there might even be malicious intent during such “use.”

Even if he cherished her beauty and doted upon her, what would that matter?

Xu Daoist’s low-grade spirit root was no secret.

Though his prowess in combat was notable, what was martial skill compared to mastery of the Dao?

With his cultivation unable to rise, what use was any strength?

Qin Shuyi sought only a partner with great potential, one destined for the Golden Core.

The best candidates were the few true disciples, but those were high above, hard to reach.

Her only option was to aim for an inner disciple.

For a “pseudo-inner” disciple like Xu Daoist, she had no desire to submit.

…

Three days later, two streams of light hovered above Bright Lake Island.

“Is Junior Xu present?”

A clear voice resounded across every corner of the island.

After a moment, the island’s restriction opened, and Pang Yue’s calm voice came forth: “Honored guests have arrived; forgive me for not welcoming you from afar.”

The two streams of light paused briefly, then descended.