Chapter 105: Tongue Blossoms Like Lotus Flowers

The two individuals in Cell One of the Xuanwu Prison were naturally Ji Youfeng and Hongjian. Gong Tengfa was utterly determined to follow Ji Youyun, and at such a critical juncture he still regarded keeping the two of them under constant surveillance as his foremost priority. Qin Elder and the others all agreed that Gong Tengfa’s plan was truly brilliant. To say nothing of the fact that quite a few Golden Spirit Root Dao cultivators were being held in the Baihu and Zhuque prisons; releasing them now would set them directly against the demon cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect. With the Dao and Demon paths utterly separate, they had no choice but to fight to the death. Meanwhile, they were concealing the major criminals of Xuanwu Prison among the scattered Demonic Refining fragments. With no spiritual energy present and the Heavenly Demon Sect coming prepared, interception was impossible. In the end, the only ones they could kill would be those Golden Spirit Root Dao cultivators who refused to submit. The group was preparing to split up and act separately when a gust of wind passed, accompanied by the rustle of sleeves. Ding Qin and another elder who had been intercepting enemies outside rushed back in a hurry. Both were disheveled, soaking wet from head to toe, and streaked with blood and patches of charred black.

Ding Qin’s expression was rather grim. Before she could steady herself, she told everyone, “That old monster suddenly released a huge swarm of black poisonous insects. These bugs move with incredible speed in water and require no spiritual energy. Now that the Baihu Prison has fallen, who still has true essence left? Quick, go deal with them!”

The other elder added, “It’s the Stinking Sea Demonic Lice. Getting too many of those bites will scramble your mind.”

Qin Elder and Shao Qitian cursed loudly. Gong Tengfa urged, “Hurry, or it’ll be too late.”

Chaotic footsteps filled the air, and the prison echoed with every manner of noise. In the cell, Ji Youfeng and Hongjian had no idea what consequences the coming changes would bring to them, and both of their expressions grew grave. Hongjian extinguished the oil lamp. Ji Youfeng said, “Keep the lamp oil.”

No one who had ever witnessed the Demonic Refining being split into pieces could foresee what lay ahead. All he knew was that they were now deep beneath the polar ice caps, with the freezing seabed below and conditions unknown. Any flicker of light could prove invaluable. Hongjian shielded the lamp and stood guard by the bed in full alertness, her remaining water true essence fully mobilized and ready to be deployed at any moment. According to her thoughts, although Ji Youfeng was at the Nascent Soul stage, he was bound by the Severing Intestines Rope and had lost both legs. If the Stinking Sea Demonic Lice swarmed in, she would have to place herself in front of him. The chaos that erupted was an opportunity, but fortune and misfortune could reverse in an instant, and not a moment of slack could be allowed.

Outside the cell, confusion reigned, and even relying solely on hearing was insufficient to track Gong Tengfa and the others’ movements. She could not tell whether they would first dismantle the Demonic Refining or whether the Demon Sect would breach the main prison first. Hongjian and Ji Youfeng fell silent, quietly awaiting the outcome. Hongjian silently prayed to the gods and Buddhas above, hoping that whatever transpired, a ray of hope would appear for her and Ji Youfeng.

Just then, Hongjian felt a violent jolt beneath her feet, followed by the spinning of heaven and earth, as though she were inside a box being hurled outward at high speed. She could not control herself and would crash against the walls. She reached for Ji Youfeng at once, but before her hand could make contact he seized it firmly. The chain rattled, their hands clasped together, and Ji Youfeng’s voice came from the darkness. “Don’t be afraid!”

Ji Youfeng’s hand was steady, warm as always. Neither wasted true essence. Hongjian felt her body tumbling wildly inside the stone prison until it gradually steadied. It was Ji Youfeng gripping the Severing Intestines Rope piercing through her shoulder that provided the support. The process was brief. Soon the stone prison stopped tumbling, though it was still descending; something below had suddenly caught and held it, slowing the fall abruptly.

Hongjian let out a small breath of relief. Gong Tengfa and the others had finally dismantled the Demonic Refining ahead of the Demon Sect. Had their cell now separated completely from the other prisoner rooms and criminals? She still did not know where they were. Ji Youfeng said softly, “In the sea. We have fallen into the deep ocean beneath the ice caps.”

A voice suddenly rang out outside the stone prison: “The Great Master is right. We have dropped into the deep sea, thousands of zhang from the surface.” It was Gong Tengfa.

Hongjian’s heart sank. This Gong fellow had not let go of their trail. Yet he continued, “Rest assured, though. The Xuanwu Prison of the Demonic Refining was designed as a top priority from the start, especially this cell of yours. I have sealed it completely. Even in this frigid seawater, nothing can enter. We can wait here until Elder Ji and the others return.”

“Elder Gong, why is there still no spiritual energy here? I exhausted my true essence in the fight. Find a way to move this cell out of this water so I can recover some.”

Hongjian gripped Ji Youfeng’s hand tightly. Gong Tengfa had earlier said he wanted to recruit someone to join him, and it turned out the remaining elder was Ding Qin. Recalling her earlier actions, hope surged in her heart. Yet Gong Tengfa said, “Old Ding, having true essence or not makes no difference. Just stay calm and guard here. You know what sort of person we are protecting; you’re no stranger to the fact that any slip could doom us. It’s rare for the Great Master to be cornered like this. Let’s simply wait and cause no further trouble.”

Ding Qin gave an unwilling hum.

Outside, only Gong Tengfa and Ding Qin remained. Ding Qin was ugly in appearance and possessed a peculiar temperament. Not even Gong Tengfa had deep friendships with any of the Demonic Refining Prison elders.

Gong Tengfa was guarding such an important figure and did not wish to strain relations. After a moment’s thought he added, “Rest assured. We will stay here. Others will find ways to contact Elder Ji, and he will return shortly.”

The four of them were sealed within a small space inside and outside the cell, separated only by a stone door. Every word could be heard as clearly as if spoken into the ear. Ji Youfeng suddenly said, “Gong Tengfa, do you want to know your own fate?”

Ji Youfeng would normally speak no more than a few words to someone like Gong Tengfa, but his sudden question suggested he was deliberately seeking an opening to create an escape. Hongjian stood close by Ji Youfeng’s side and realized how powerless she felt at this moment.

Then Gong Tengfa chuckled and said carelessly, “Great Master, just stay put. Don’t try to deceive me. Although the bizarre technique passed down in the Ji family is profound, you are not its true inheritor. Even if you could spit out lotus flowers, don’t expect Gong to fall for it.”

“True inheritor?” Ji Youfeng’s tone carried a trace of mockery. Gong Tengfa had not taken the bait, yet Ji Youfeng showed no impatience. “Open the cell door and I’ll show you who the true inheritor of the Great Calamity Scripture is.”

Gong Tengfa remained silent. Ji Youfeng laughed lightly. “Only the three of us are here now, plus a newly founded female cultivator. I am already a cripple, pinned to the wall by your Severing Intestines Rope. What are you afraid of, Ding Qin? Is your courage this small?”

Before the words finished, Gong Tengfa suddenly shouted, “No!”

Ding Qin said, “With the Severing Intestines Rope present, he may not break free even if he exhausts his true essence. As long as you and I maintain firm resolve, listening to a few words from him is no great harm.”

Gong Tengfa’s tone was exceptionally resolute. “Old Ding, stop causing trouble. When Elder Ji left, he repeatedly warned us to stay far from him. He said not to believe a single word and best not even listen.”

Ji Youfeng laughed. “You trust Ji Youyun like that? Truly pitiful. He could harm even his own brother to this extent. Are you still hoping to gain an advantage from him?”

Gong Tengfa’s voice was stern. “Great Master, I respect you as a descendant of the Ji family and have shown you great tolerance. If you continue to provoke, do not blame me for being rude. My true essence remains intact.”

The atmosphere grew tense. Hongjian dared not breathe. Yet Ji Youfeng said as if yielding helplessly, “Stubborn indeed. Very well, I won’t mention it. Let’s talk about the present situation. Don’t you two find it strange? The Heavenly Demon Sect’s assault was so massive, yet your so-called true inheritor of the Great Calamity Scripture showed no awareness at all. Would you like to hear my speculation?”

Before Gong Tengfa could speak, Ding Qin said, “Say it.”

Gong Tengfa had been puzzled since the incident, and Ding Qin had voiced her opinion first, so he remained silent, waiting to hear what insights this Great Calamity Scripture learner might offer. “I believe that in your response to the Heavenly Demon Sect’s attack, you acted in confusion with no proper plan. It means not only is Ji Youyun absent, but he also took the souls from the Demonic Refining with him. Such a situation has never occurred since the Demonic Refining Prison was built. Ji Youyun’s decision to do so must have involved countless calculations to ensure no flaws. You have now witnessed the result firsthand. In these thousands of years there may be only one such opportunity, yet it was seized by the Demon Sect. Why did this happen? Hehe, it is not the traitor you imagine who could evade Ji Youyun’s eyes. There is only one possibility.”

He paused, then continued, “The half of the Great Calamity Scripture taken by the Demon Sect has already been learned by someone whose attainment surpasses Ji Youyun’s. I advise you not to pin all your hopes on Ji Youyun. Breaking through the Heavenly Curtain will surely involve setbacks. The day the Heavenly Curtain opens marks the resurgence of Dao-Magic conflict. The world will descend into chaos, and Ji Youyun may not have time to spare for you. Speaking of which, this is truly a disastrous move. The great opportunity bought with a life by the Ji family ancestors, who would have thought it would be destroyed by an unworthy descendant?”

Gong Tengfa was silent for a long while before saying, “If Heaven’s will is like this, then I and Old Ding are powerless to reverse it. Let us simply wait here and see.”

Ding Qin said, “Great Master Ji suddenly saying these things, I wonder what his intention is?”

Ji Youfeng replied calmly, “If you wish to watch a show, let us stay far away. If Ji Youyun truly has no prospects left, I do not mind your joining under my command.”