Chapter Ninety-Four: A Favor Returned

The wish-fulfilling scepter hung motionless in midair, crystal-clear as ice. It seemed nothing remarkable at first glance, yet in that instant heaven and earth lost all color. Only that single scepter remained. Whether Azure Void or the Primordial Magnetism Fiend, all minds were seized by it, sinking into fascination from which they could not extricate themselves.

The scepter gave off not the slightest chill, and yet Azure Void felt as though all creation had frozen around it. A baffling, irresistible sense of helplessness welled up in him, and he could not even force his gaze away from the floating scepter.

“Fellow Daoist Azure Void, this is my humble Dao of Gui Water. It excels at beguiling the mind and collapsing one’s foundation. You must never lose yourself in it.”

A thunderous voice suddenly rang through Azure Void’s mind, instantly rousing him.

“It was far too perilous. Truly far too perilous. I had underestimated the White Dragon Daoist and overestimated myself. If we were to fight to the death in earnest, I would count myself fortunate to survive even ten exchanges.”

This was not false modesty on Azure Void’s part. If the White Dragon Daoist had not earlier unleashed that awakening divine voice like a blow to the head, he feared not only would this clone’s mind have sunk into confusion and collapse, but even his true body might have been grievously wounded. It was precisely this incident that revealed to Azure Void just how formidable the White Dragon Daoist truly was. That awakening voice had been perfectly measured, neither too much nor too little: more would have injured his spirit, less would have been insufficient and merely wasted magical power. In that singularly refined mastery of control, Azure Void could not hope to compare, not even close.

In truth, this clone of Azure Void’s, the Great Unity Yellow-Earth Divine Incarnation, still had much to be worked into harmony. Not only did it possess none of the divine arts proper to a deity, but even when his power was brought to bear, much of it was wasted. The leap from an earthly immortal to a great supreme immortal had happened all at once, and there was always that sense of being unaccustomed to it, of having twice the effort for half the result. Such harmonization could not be achieved in an instant. Fortunately, after hundreds of battles large and small, the surface-level adjustment was already more or less complete. The rest could only be refined slowly over time. Impatience was useless.

“Power gained all at once truly brings endless hidden troubles. Still, it was worth it. If I do not seize advantage amid this present chaos, there may be no opportunity left once the witches and demons have established their rule.”

After this, however, Azure Void’s guard toward the White Dragon Daoist actually lessened considerably.

The Primordial Magnetism Fiend’s state of mind was even inferior to Azure Void’s, and naturally he was far more helpless. He at once sank into the spellbinding resonance of the wish-fulfilling scepter and could not pull himself free, standing there blankly and stupidly as though bound by a fixation spell, ignoring even the attacks of the Nine-Palace Southern Bright Fire Dragon.

Thud.

A crisp and pleasing tapping sound reached his ears. Azure Void was startled to discover that the wish-fulfilling scepter, which should have been floating in the air, had suddenly appeared atop the Primordial Magnetism Fiend’s forehead. It tapped lightly, almost playfully. Even with his keen sight, he could not discern any mystery in it. It was as though the same scepter had always belonged in the air, and now equally ought to have been resting on the fiend’s brow, a mystery beyond words.

“It was like a movie cut in the middle, leaving only the beginning and the end. And yet why did it still feel so natural and seamless? More to the point, how could the beginning and end be one and the same? That makes no damn scientific sense.”

Today, Azure Void truly broadened his horizons.

Crack, crack, crack...

From the place where the scepter had struck, the Primordial Magnetism Fiend froze over inch by inch from head to toe. It was not merely the surface; the same happened within, and even his primordial spirit was no exception.

“In another moment or two, the fiend’s true spirit will be extinguished. At that point, Fellow Daoist may freely collect the four treasures of acquired magnetism, ice soul, earth fiend energy, and wind essence.” With a casual wave, the White Dragon Daoist recalled the scepter. When it was seen again, it had returned to its pure white jade color.

“Fellow Daoist gives kindness without seeking repayment, a man of utmost sincerity. I am deeply impressed. Still, you have expended great effort this time. If I do not take one treasure, I fear I could not rest easy. That acquired magnetism is no ordinary thing, so please do not refuse.”

When others offer peaches, one should repay them with plums. Though Azure Void had been the one to trap the Primordial Magnetism Fiend first, and resolving it was ultimately only a matter of time, the White Dragon Daoist had indeed contributed greatly. It would truly have been hard to justify offering no reward. Moreover, from the look of him, he was of good character and worth cultivating as a close acquaintance.

“Ha ha, among these four treasures, the acquired magnetism is by far the most precious. Even the other three together are not its equal. Since Fellow Daoist has such a heart, White Dragon has at last not misjudged you. Still, compared with that, the ice soul is actually more suitable for me.” The White Dragon Daoist said with a laugh.

Azure Void smacked his own forehead.

“How careless of me. You are born from a sliver of the essence of primordial Gui Water. You are naturally superb at water practices. In that case, I shall not be pretentious. The ice soul goes to you, and I will gratefully take the other three treasures.”

“You make too much of it, too much of it.”

“Oh, forgive my presumption, but why has Fellow Daoist entered the Northern Continent of Kuru this time? If possible, I should like to lend a hand.”

Azure Void asked this because the Northern Continent had always been a desolate place, rarely visited by beings from the other three great continents.

“It is nothing serious. I wish to refine a few meridian-restoring immortal pills to remake the channels of my unworthy disciple. Unfortunately, I am lacking several spirit herbs, and only this Northern Continent has them.”

“Oh? Then your disciple is indeed fortunate. Have you found them? If not, I would gladly offer what little help I can.”

After this brief exchange, Azure Void had come to think highly of the White Dragon Daoist. In his heart, he was one of those Red Cloud sorts of men, a man whom people called a soft-hearted good soul, absolutely worth making a deep and lasting friend.

“They are nothing especially rare. I have already found them. I had originally intended to return to my own Daoist abode to refine the pills, but I unexpectedly encountered Fellow Daoist. A trivial kindness on my part ended up earning me one of your treasures instead. I am rather ashamed.”

“White Dragon, you are far too modest. If not for you, it would have taken me at least several months to deal with this Primordial Magnetism Fiend, and I still could not have guaranteed that nothing would go wrong along the way. In truth, I should be the one thanking you. A mere ice soul is already a slighting of your generosity.”

The two spoke with such pleasure that they almost felt they had met too late. But the White Dragon Daoist was anxious to return and refine his pills, while Azure Void had to continue his journey to the Northern Abyss. Their roads were about to diverge.

Just as the White Dragon had said, after another moment or so the fiend’s true spirit was extinguished. Azure Void then withdrew the Earth and Fire Array and divided the four treasures with the White Dragon.

At parting, the White Dragon Daoist suddenly turned solemn and looked directly into Azure Void’s eyes.

“Fellow Daoist, do you trust me?”

“What sort of words are those? How could I not trust your character?”

“Then I will not conceal it from you. I have some skill in divination and in the principles of the Changes, and I previously saw a trace of dark qi between your brows. Boldly making a calculation, I believe that within three days you will face a life-and-death tribulation. The odds are grim.”

“What? Is there any way to avoid it?”

Azure Void was greatly startled as well. The White Dragon Daoist had been born in the earliest days of the primordial age, and his cultivation was unfathomable. He would not likely speak without cause. Moreover, caution was never a mistake.

“Do not enter the North Sea.”

“This...?”

If he did not enter the North Sea, how was he supposed to reach the Northern Abyss? Was this not making things difficult for him?

“Sigh. Avoiding calamity is not the best course. It may well trigger an even greater disaster. Better to let things follow their natural course. A life-and-death tribulation may not be a bad omen; it can also signify a great opportunity. All things have both sides. An opportunity, if mishandled, can become a calamity, and likewise a calamity can become an opportunity. This spirit treasure was refined by me personally. At a critical moment, it may be able to help you somewhat.”

The White Dragon scepter swept through the air, and a radiant, multicolored silk robe appeared out of nowhere.

A gentle force lifted the robe through the void and placed it into Azure Void’s hands. Then the White Dragon laughed aloud.

“Take care, Fellow Daoist. When you have leisure another day, come visit White Dragon Island in the South Sea. I shall certainly fulfill the duties of a host. I take my leave!”

With that, he transformed into a white rainbow and departed without delay.

“White Dragon Island in the South Sea?”

Azure Void silently committed the name to memory.

P.S.: Five chapters have been updated. From the first through the fifth day of the New Year, I will be visiting relatives and friends and going into the countryside to offer New Year’s greetings, so I will not have time to use the computer. Updates will resume on the sixth day. Wishing all of you a happy Year of the Snake, and an early happy New Year to everyone.