The Eternal Fragrance

The emperor was overjoyed and immediately ordered the servants to clean the courtyard and prepare incense in anticipation.

There was a clear distinction between immortals and mortals. Even as the ruler of a nation, in the eyes of cultivators, he was merely a common mortal. Though he owned vast territories, in the Central Land, a nation's true reliance was on the status and power of the Celestials within the imperial family. The more Celestials the imperial family had, and the higher their status, the fewer dared to invade. These Celestials and cultivators were the true rulers behind the nation, lofty and transcendent.

Take Ji Tongzhou, for example. Though his seniority and status were lower, the imperial family revered him even more because he possessed a Spirit Root and was one in ten thousand—a cultivator. Before this young brother, the emperor would never, and dared not, put on any airs.

Moreover, this Xuanshan Zi, who carried the bloodline of the Yue Kingdom's imperial family, was practically a proper ancestor in terms of seniority. Before he was severely injured by the Ferocious Beast Chaos, he would visit Ji Tongzhou three or four times a year. After his near-fatal injury, he never came again. Now, after eleven years, he had finally returned. Could it be that his cultivation had recovered?

Three quarters of an hour later, the people in the courtyard felt a fierce gale howling overhead, so strong it forced them to lower their heads and shield their eyes. Only Ji Tongzhou, his face alight with joy, suddenly soared on his sword to meet it. Under the moonlight stood a gaunt, elderly man in a blue robe, his figure ethereal like an immortal, with a few wisps of beard and an icy, austere expression—none other than Xuanshan Zi himself.

"Disciple pays respects to Elder Xuanshan Zi," Ji Tongzhou said respectfully, bowing deeply.

A trace of warmth flickered in Xuanshan Zi's cold eyes as he scrutinized the young man. When he spoke, his voice was so chilling it sent shivers down everyone's spines even on this sweltering summer night: "You are better than I imagined. Wuzheng Zi has indeed been diligent."

As the two descended into the courtyard, the emperor immediately moved to kneel in greeting, but Xuanshan Zi stopped him with a faint wave. "I am here today only for Tongzhou. The rest of you may withdraw."

But the emperor choked out, "Elder Xuanshan Zi, these years have been fraught with peril for our Yue Kingdom!"

Xuanshan Zi sighed inwardly. How could he not know of Long Mingzuo's repeated provocations? "I am aware. Withdraw for now."

No one dared to say another word, and the courtyard was swiftly emptied. Ji Tongzhou recalled that whenever Xuanshan Zi had visited Duan Tu in the past, he was always accompanied by one or two disciples—either Su Quan or Mingshi. Today, however, he had come alone, which was highly unusual. Unable to contain his curiosity, Ji Tongzhou asked, "Did Senior Brother Su Quan not come?"

Xuanshan Zi replied, "He is on the verge of breaking through the sixth Bottleneck to attain his Immortal Body and has been in seclusion for over a year."

As he spoke, his cold, distant gaze lingered on Ji Tongzhou, unmoving. The aura of flame emanating from this child was none other than the legendary Profound Splendor Fire. When he had first heard of it from Wuzheng Zi, he hadn't believed it. Yet here it was, undeniably real.

This rare, innate Black Fire could only manifest in those with a singular fire-attribute Spirit Root. Those with fire-attribute Spirit Roots both yearned for it and feared it. The founder of Star Rectitude Hall had possessed the Profound Splendor Fire, which was why this renowned Immortal Sect was divided into two distinct branches: the Profound School and the Splendor School. Like those who wielded the Profound Splendor Fire, they were both fiercely explosive and profoundly restrained, embodying two extremes of contradiction within a single body.When Ji Tongzhou was six years old, he had already discovered the deepest, hidden side of this child—an endless wild desire, extravagant and indulgent emotions. Back then, he had wondered what it would be like when he eventually unearthed the fiery passions buried within. For a cultivator, fervent obsession, even greedy desire, was not a bad thing. Instead, it could forge the most unshakable will in cultivation. To seek and obtain was one thing, but to seek and fail—that was what would ignite the Profound Splendor Fire within him.

There were countless cultivators in the world, and since ancient times, humanity had struggled against the will of heaven, striving to break free from the cycle of life and death. Yet even among the masses, even those who became Celestials, even now, they remained lost. The unseen fragility of the human heart made the path to the Great Dao perilous beyond measure. There were thousands of cultivation paths—who could say which was right or wrong?

Take Xuanshan Zi himself—his cultivation had long stagnated, unable to recover. Could it truly be said that the crises of Yue Country had nothing to do with it? The Profound School’s Immortal Techniques required severing emotions and desires, yet how could he cut off the worries and attachments in his heart? Like Zhen Yunzi, he was trapped in an inescapable deadlock. Was this the inevitable fate of all who pursued the Profound School’s path to the end?

Xuanshan Zi studied Ji Tongzhou for a long while before murmuring, “You already possess the Profound Splendor Fire. From now on, your life will be one of ceaseless torment. Do you know why this fire is both praised and reviled?”

Ji Tongzhou remained silent. He did not answer.

Xuanshan Zi said calmly, “One day, when you are satisfied, this fire will leave you. Only when you are steeped in suffering, when all you seek remains out of reach, when you drown in the sea of desire and indulge in wild thoughts—only then will it blaze with grandeur. This is the fire of the Heart Devil. Once tainted, there is no escape. Your cultivation is still shallow now. You can still turn back if you abandon it. But once you attain an Immortal Body, the deeper your obsessions grow, the more irreversible everything becomes. Have you truly thought this through?”

Ji Tongzhou still did not answer. His dark eyes stared fixedly at the green stone tiles beneath him, unblinking.

Xuanshan Zi watched the young man before him. Should he pull him back, or add more fuel to the inferno in his heart? His talent was extraordinary, rare even in a thousand years. His future achievements would far surpass his own. Yet time was running short—for them, for Yue Country.

With a long sigh, he said, “Think it over carefully. It’s late now. Tomorrow, accompany me to the Eastern Sea. The Sea Fall approaches—it’s time you broadened your horizons.”

The Eastern Sea? Ji Tongzhou’s lips twitched. He had just returned from there—must he go again? Jiang Li Fei and Lei Xiuyuan were there. He both longed to see them and dreaded it. Besides, Xuanshan Zi’s cultivation had not yet fully recovered. Taking him to the Eastern Sea at such a time seemed unwise. He was about to speak, but Xuanshan Zi’s figure had already vanished before him. Ji Tongzhou stood dazed for a long moment before silently returning to his courtyard.

The bedchamber was brightly lit by candles. A sweet, cloying fragrance of silk-tree blossoms wafted from the green jade censer. By the bed stood a young woman in lavish robes, her skin fair and smooth, her figure graceful. At the sight of him, her neck flushed red with shyness. She stood frozen in a bow, not daring to move, and whispered, “...My lord. Miaoqing is here to assist you in washing and changing.”

Had the stewards arranged this? They had always known how to please him since childhood. Whatever he liked, whatever his eyes lingered on for even a moment—by the next day at the latest, it would be brought before him. Once, it had been toys. Now, it was women.Ji Tongzhou slowly walked over, lowering his gaze to take in the courtly finery she now wore. In less than an hour, they had transformed her from a mere maidservant into a woman clad in luxurious garments. The full forehead she revealed, the shy and timid glances from her shimmering eyes—it all reminded him of that illusory dream once more.

He wanted to laugh, yet an indescribable fury simmered in his heart. Fury at himself for being the loser, fury at this powerless self-deception. But there was also an overwhelming joy—imperial authority, the realm, everything here was his to command, as long as he could protect it.

Ji Tongzhou lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her face upward. In a low voice, he said, "Apologize to me."

The little maidservant stared at him in shock and terror. His gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if he were looking not at her but at someone else entirely. After a long pause, she finally stammered, "I—I'm sorry…"

Ji Tongzhou waved his hand, extinguishing the candlelight in an instant. The lavish robes on the maidservant’s body also tore apart into shreds.

How wonderful—this indulgence, this bittersweet and fervent temptation of the unattainable. There were too many things he desired, yet too few he could grasp, making the taste of what little he had all the more addictive.

Could he truly turn back now?

Baili Gelin stood outside Li Fei’s guest room, having knocked for quite some time without any response from within. She turned helplessly to the others behind her. "Should we just break the door down?"

Li Fei and Lei Xiuyuan were now cultivation partners. If they barged in recklessly and stumbled upon something awkward, it would be disastrous.

Ye Ye stepped forward and knocked as well, calling out clearly, "Xiu Yuan! Li Fei! Are you awake? If there’s no answer, we’re coming in!"

After waiting a while longer and still hearing nothing, the group could no longer hold back and pushed the door open. The room was eerily silent, the bed curtains drawn, with no sign of anyone inside. Su Wan yanked the curtains aside, only to find the bedding neatly arranged—with nothing but a letter resting on the pillow.

"No way! When did they leave?!" Baili Gelin was utterly stunned. The shadows of the courtyard concealed the demonic creatures she had tamed—how could someone have left without them reacting at all?

Ye Ye quickly unfolded the letter. It bore only a single line, seemingly in Li Fei’s handwriting: "We left in haste, our apologies. Do not pursue us. The reasons will be explained another day."

He sighed. "What’s going on? One after another, just leaving like this."

Baili Gelin grinned. "She must’ve had a fight with Lei Xiuyuan. Hmm… it’s definitely related to Ji Tongzhou! Heh, I’m sure of it!"

No one knew the real reason, leaving her free to speculate wildly. As the group discussed where to go next, a deafening thunderclap suddenly erupted in the far distance, shaking the very ground beneath them. The entire outer town of the East Sea Myriad Immortals Assembly was startled, its inhabitants rushing out to see what had happened.

Far off by the Eastern Sea shore, the sky was thick with storm clouds, countless bolts of lightning striking down relentlessly. The heavens seemed split in two—while the town basked in bright sunlight, the seaside was engulfed in gales, thunder, and torrential rain, as dark as night.

The group stared in awe. Baili Gelin gasped, "Is this… the Heavenly Thunder disaster? Wasn’t it supposed to arrive months from now?!"Countless surges of Celestial spiritual energy streaked across the sky, racing toward the shores of the Eastern Sea. In an instant, a dense Spiritual Qi Net enveloped the heavens above. The deep, drawn-out sound of horns echoed throughout the town, accompanied by Shen Xiansheng's urgent and resonant voice transmission ringing in everyone's ears.

"Ferocious beast incoming! All cultivators must retreat three hundred li immediately! No delays!"

A Ferocious beast? The crowd soared into the air, gazing into the distance. The surface of the Eastern Sea churned violently as if boiling, the water beneath the thunderclouds unnaturally black. Then, a pair of white horns, as massive as small mountains, erupted from the depths—just the horns alone were that enormous?!

Baili Changyue yanked the stunned Ge Lin. "Move!"

In an instant, countless disciples of the Immortals within the city surged backward like a tidal wave. Behind them, the thunderous roars grew louder, the Spiritual Qi Net barely holding under the overwhelming pressure, as if it might shatter at any moment. A deafening howl suddenly reverberated across the heavens and earth, stunning the disciples momentarily. The sea abruptly surged a thousand zhang high, and amidst the white foam, a colossal Ferocious beast—resembling an ox but covered in thick fur—appeared in their sight.

It flapped its blood-red wings, and in the blink of an eye, it had already reached the center of the town. The Spiritual Qi Net shattered into fragments under its impact, and its savage Demon Qi crashed against the surroundings like a tidal wave. The disciples were crushed to the ground, unable to move.