Chapter 058: Qi Dongxuan

“He’s back. We can’t gather anymore, not now that Qingjin’s being watched. Who knows what twisted schemes the Dao Court will come up with next?” Uncle Zhao sighed heavily.

“Uncle Zhao, I’m now a personal disciple of the Dao Lord. They shouldn’t dare go too far,” Qingjin tried to reassure the old man.

Uncle Zhao shook his head. “Boy, you’re still too young. The Dao Court has never lacked madmen willing to do anything for their own gain. They talk about the good of humanity, yet all they do benefits only themselves. Over the years, I’ve grown deeply disappointed in the Dao Court.

Back then, my whole family was taken by them. To this day, I still don’t know where they went or why they were taken. The Dao Court owes me my family and an explanation. But who ever cared about what I needed?

All these years, I never wanted a family, never wanted children—wasn’t it all because I felt powerless before fate and the Dao Court?

Maybe it’s time I did start a family, so at least I can pass on the desire to seek the truth, to find my kin.”

Uncle Zhao revealed his past sorrows, warning Qingjin, “Don’t think that just because you have a Dao Lord backing you, you can stand against the Dao Court. There will always be madmen willing to do anything for their own ends.”

His words made Qingjin grow solemn, Ning Qi nodded in agreement, Qingzhen frowned deeply, and Qinghu felt a pang of discomfort. Why was it so hard for her to quietly gather herself together?

…

Wei Dongting walked out of Serpent Coil Mountain, a middle-aged Daoist in full martial attire appearing at his side, a long sword hanging at his waist.

“Uncle Mo, did you try to enter the Daoist sanctuary with me?”

The other man shook his head at once. “I just thought about stepping in when a forbidding voice sounded in my mind. I sensed that if I dared trespass, I’d never come out again.”

“Lucky you didn’t go in. Do you know who’s inside?” Wei Dongting’s tone was both excited and wary.

“Who?” the middle-aged Daoist asked, brow furrowed.

“It's the very one who gifted the Eastern Pavilion Stone Book all those years ago,” Wei Dongting said.

The Daoist trembled, nearly swearing aloud.

“How could that be? Wasn’t that supposed to be a tale invented by the old man from East Pavilion Mountain?”

“It wasn’t. I heard from my great-grandmaster that Helan Gulei truly received the Stone Book. Otherwise, how would Ancestor Helan Gulei have earned such a great reputation or such a high ranking among the human ancestors in the Dao Court?”

“Fifth in rank, right below the top four.”

At that, the Daoist grew excited. “Then what is this one’s honored name?”

“We cannot speak it aloud.” Wei Dongting’s tone turned solemn.

“Is it a primeval god or ancient demon then?” the Daoist asked, feeling helpless.

“I don’t know if it’s a god or a demon, but it’s definitely one of the two,” Wei Dongting replied.

“But how?”

“That one gave rise to a human ancestor with just a single Stone Book,” Wei Dongting reasoned. “How could it not be possible?”

“How did that one move from East Pavilion Mountain to here, then?”

“It was all the doing of Zhou Xiaocheng’s line. When they built Spirit Herb Mountain, they cut off the main underground river connecting East Pavilion Mountain. The spiritual meridians there dried up, and the one sleeping beneath was awakened. Silently, the sanctuary was relocated here,” Wei Dongting recounted, piecing together the truth as he saw it.

The Daoist broke out in a cold sweat. “If East Pavilion Mountain ever learns their ancestral root was moved here because of Spirit Herb Mountain, they’ll go to war with the Zhou family for sure.”

“With that one awake again, this won’t stay hidden for long,” Wei Dongting thought. Zhou Xiaocheng was famed among the new generation of Dao Court heirs, favored by several big names in the Dao Court—but now the Zhou family was in for real trouble.

“Trouble indeed,” the Daoist agreed. “No wonder, ever since that territory was established, no human lord has survived more than two years. Before the Shen family, six lords all met untimely ends.

Who could live peacefully above that one’s head—unless given permission? Like Shen Qingjin, who was accepted as a personal disciple—what fortune.”

“I’d heard rumors of something strange, thought perhaps a great treasure drew all the major factions to meddle. But we all failed. How could we not? That one’s slumber was more valuable than any treasure,” Wei Dongting sighed, a hint of envy in his heart. Why was Shen Qingjin chosen, accepted as a disciple, while he, Wei Dongting, was not?

He conveniently forgot he too was a Dao Court heir.

“But why Shen Qingjin? Is it because of his looks?” the Daoist asked, puzzled.

“Perhaps it’s the Fate of the Black Dragon That Defies Destiny,” Wei Dongting sighed again.

“Is that one then an ancient demon?”

“Whatever that one is, Shen Qingjin’s unique fate must have drawn profound interest,” Wei Dongting replied.

“If Shen Qingjin becomes a true demon lord, with a deity or demon as a patron, wouldn’t that be even more destructive?” The Daoist’s brows furrowed.

“Who can say? Let’s discuss this later. I’ll ask Qi Dongxuan how one becomes a demon lord.”

Wei Dongting, leading his guardian and Daoist troops, had just returned to Meishan County when the county magistrate hurried out to meet them, dropping his voice, “Sir, Lord Qi Dongxuan has arrived.”

Wei Dongting’s face darkened with trouble, but he could not avoid the meeting and forced himself into the main hall.

“Did you capture Shen Qingjin?” Qi Dongxuan asked without preamble.

“No.”

“Why not? Didn’t you go to capture him?” he demanded.

Elegant, cool, and otherworldly, like an immortal banished to the mortal realm, Qi Dongxuan kept one hand behind his back, his air full of accusation. With both his features and bearing, he lived up to his vast reputation within the Dao Court.

“What do you mean, ‘capture him’? We were only investigating the deaths of numerous Sky Ghosts around Serpent Coil Mountain,” Wei Dongting replied irritably, seating himself.

“Hmph. Who else could have killed those Sky Ghosts? It must have been the cult behind Shen Qingjin. Capture him and all mysteries will be solved,” Qi Dongxuan pressed.

“I’m beginning to think you’re losing your grip on reality. Who is Shen Qingjin, really?” Wei Dongting suddenly stood and countered.

“He’s a demon lord,” Qi Dongxuan replied without hesitation.

“That was just a vision in your nightmare. At present, he’s just a youth. On what grounds do you condemn him as a demon who deserves death?” Wei Dongting demanded angrily.

“Because… I…” Qi Dongxuan paused, then declared resolutely, “Because he associates with heretics.”