Refining the Mountains and Rivers

While the atmosphere within Nineheaven Mirrormoon Palace was becoming increasingly tense, Ning Liang was encountering her own troubles. She had received a notice to deal with some palace affairs, but when she entered the hall there was no one there. When she turned around, she discovered that the maids who led her here had disappeared without a trace.

Her heart shrinking, Ning Liang turned to leave. But, the hall doors had already closed. As she was immediately submerged in darkness, she felt as if she had fallen into an eternal night.

The darkness washed over her, placing a formidable imprisonment upon her. A low and deep voice asked in her heart, "Ning Liang, just how are you acquainted with His Highness?"

In a horrified panic, Ning Liang's eyes flew open. She tried to struggle, but all her efforts were for naught.

"Ning Liang, just how are you acquainted with His Highness?"

The voice sounded out once more, low and deep, as if there were all the time in the world.

"Ning Liang, just how are you acquainted with His Highness?"

Even deeper, even gentler.

Ning Liang's movements gradually slowed and her face began to grow slack. She tried to keep her eyes open, but she couldn't help but slowly close them.

She was so tired…if she closed her eyes and took a nap, it would surely be so, so wonderful.

The moment before her consciousness was about to fade away, Ning Liang's body stiffened. Her eyes flew open as if she were experiencing pain. On her clear eyes, blood vessels instantly bulged up. She opened her mouth to shout out loud, but it felt as if all the strength in her body had been sucked out, leaving her unable to make a single sound.

That voice within her continued to echo again and again.

"How do you know His Highness!"

"How do you know His Highness!"

"How do you know His Highness!"

"How do you know His Highness!"

"How do you know His Highness!"

The voice was no longer gentle. Rather, each echo was louder than the last, until it became like rumbling thunder, each word capable of crushing the mind.

Ning Liang's body twitched. She had already bitten through her lips and blood was dripping down. Still, she tried to preserve that final light in her mind.

Someone wanted to harm His Highness. She couldn't be controlled, she absolutely couldn't be controlled…

Her consciousness was like grass in a pouring rainstorm. Every breath of time seemed twisted into an infinitely long period.

Ning Liang thought of killing herself. But to her sorrow, she discovered that she couldn't do this even if she wanted to.

As she was lost in her thoughts, another voice suddenly rose up. "Stop. Let her go…"

It was His Highness!

In the next moment, Ning Liang's consciousness fell into darkness.

After an unknown period of time, when Ning Liang opened her eyes once more, she saw Qin Yu's concerned face. Hot tears fell down her cheeks.

Her body was sore and exhausted. She couldn't even lift up a hand to wipe away her tears. Qin Yu guiltily wiped the tears from her face and comfortingly said, "You're safe now. Don't worry."

Ning Liang regained her composure. She hurriedly said, "Your Highness, someone is trying to harm you!"

Qin Yu nodded. "I have already dealt with it. There is nothing for you to worry about. Take some pills and rest."

Seeing his tranquil expression, Ning Liang relaxed. A deep sense of exhaustion welled up once more. She stubbornly forced herself to eat some pills and then fell asleep.

Looking at her pale face, Qin Yu blamed himself. If he had thought of this possibility earlier, why would this girl have needed to suffer so?

He let out a breath and walked out of the room. Seeing the Demon Envoy standing across from him, his face darkened and he said, "There had best not be a second time."

The voice was calm, but the Demon Envoy actually sighed inwardly. He knew that after this matter, most of the favorable impression he had saved up had disappeared.

"I apologize. Your Highness has a precious status so I have no choice but to be careful…the one who did this has already been punished. He will never appear in front of Your Highness again."

Although Qin Yu knew that the Demon Envoy had his own reasons and difficulties, he still wasn't relaxed. He needed the Demon Envoy to remember this matter. "Lord Demon Envoy must have a great deal of work to do. Now that you have already confirmed my identity, why bother coming here?"

The Demon Envoy sighed. "The reason I came today is because there is a matter I need to discuss with Your Highness."

Seeing his furrowed eyebrows and serious expression, Qin Yu nodded, "Come with me."

After entering the great hall and sending everyone away, the Demon Envoy went straight to the point, "When Your Highness was still in the Endless Sea, I had already begun making preparations to obtain some Calamity Immortal level demon blood for you. But an incident has just recently occurred at the Sky Hub Division. The channel connecting to the Demon Realm has been destroyed and there is no way to reconstruct it in a short period of time."

His expression was heavy. "Of the previous Holy Monarchs, most of them cut down a Calamity Immortal demon beast from the Demon Realm to achieve a Saint level Demon Body. But it seems that path will no longer work."

Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows together. "Are you saying that I won't be able to achieve a Saint level Demon Body any time soon?"

When it came to cultivating the Demon Body, the most important limit was the bottleneck. If he were to be stranded at the Emperor level for too long, then even if he managed to obtain the necessary demon blood in the future, the chances of him making a breakthrough would be drastically reduced. As he thought of this possibility his complexion paled.

No, that didn't seem right. Could the Demon Envoy have come all the away here just to tell him this bad news while he was in a poor mood? Thinking of this, Qin Yu looked up.

The Demon Envoy smiled. "Your Highness is truly intelligent. Soon, an opportunity will open up. If Your Highness can grasp it, you may achieve a Saint level Demon Body."

Qin Yu nodded, hinting for him to continue.

The Demon Envoy said, "A Calamity Immortal demon beast cannot adapt to the rules within the Land of Divinity and Demons, thus it is difficult for them to survive in this world. But, that doesn't mean there aren't exceptions. Deep within the Chu Empire's Sea of Purgatory, there is a Calamity Immortal demon beast - the Water Marid. This beast has a vicious and cruel nature and possesses ever-changing supernatural arts. While hunting it down won't be easy, as long as you are prepared ahead of time, it is possible with your Highness' cultivation."

"Sea of Purgatory?" After becoming the Demonic Path's Holy Son, Qin Yu had gained the qualifications to learn most of the secret matters of this world. He thought deeply before recalling some information related to the Sea of Purgatory. He immediately frowned. "The Sea of Purgatory is a restricted zone in the Chu Empire and it is joined together with the capital city's great array. If the array formation isn't opened, no one can pass in or out. Even if the Water Marid is within, there is no way to approach it. Is Lord Demon Envoy making a joke?"

The Demon Envoy lightly said, "Two months from now, the Chu Empire will welcome the 30 million year anniversary of the founding of their nation. The Demonic Path will send an envoy to congratulate them. According to custom, at every 10 million year celebration, the Chu Empire will open the Sea of Purgatory and allow all guest cultivators below the Calamity Immortal realm to enter and seek out their own lucky chances."

His eyes sharpened, "This is Your Highness' chance!"

…

Within the Land of Divinity and Demons, there were superpowers in the Immortal Sect and Demonic Path. Below that were the seven great empires. They divided the endless lands between each other and all of them were unfathomably deep.

However, if the seven empires were ranked, no one would object to the Chu Empire taking first place.

They were a nation that had been founded 30 million years ago. Numerous powerhouses poured forth from their ranks and they had a successive line of startling emperors leading them. Throughout the long span of years, they constantly annexed countless smaller nations and expanded their domain. Right now, their vast territory occupied almost a fifth of the entire Land of Divinity and Demons. They were a true super empire.

From this alone, the Chu Empire was ranked at the top of the seven empires. Moreover, the Chu Empire's royal family had their own innate inheritance and each ruling emperor had a terrifying cultivation at least at the fourth level of the Calamity Immortal realm. And, with the destiny of the nation supporting them, that was enough for them to look down on all sides with disdain.

Qin and Zhao were close to the Demonic Path. Yan and Qi followed behind the Immortal Sect. Wei and Han swayed back and forth depending on the situation. Only the Chu Empire could face the Immortal Sect and Demonic Path as equals.

Because of this, the 30 million year founding anniversary of the Chu Empire became a grand festival celebrated throughout the entire Land of Divinity and Demons. Any influence with some degree of power would go up with generous gifts.

Of course, this was also because the Sea of Purgatory was opening.

The Chu Empire's Sea of Purgatory. It was rumored that a third of the world's spirit veins were gathered in this location. This was a supreme treasure of the heavens and earth. Even the Chu Empire's imperial city was built taking advantage of this place.

Because the Sea of Purgatory was filled with unknowns, after the first Chu Emperor founded the capital city, he sealed the Sea of Purgatory away with a great array formation. From that time onward, the Sea of Purgatory had only been opened a handful of times. But as long as it opened, great lucky chances would be born and numerous startling powerhouses would be born within the Land of Divinity and Demons. Due to these reasons, its famous reputation grew far and wide.

Now that the Chu Empire's 30 million year founding anniversary was arriving, the Sea of Purgatory was destined to open. As long as a person had any ambitions, who would be willing to miss out on such a chance? Indeed, the Sea of Purgatory was incredibly risky; riches and honor had always been accompanied by danger. In this world, free meat pies never fell from the skies.

For a time, the entire Land of Divinity and Demons was stirred into a ruckus!

…

Immortal Sect.

It was unknown how Purple Moon had accomplished it, but she had managed to persuade the Nether Domain Master and Buddhist Sovereign to agree to conceal Shen Yuanyin's identity and allow her to join the envoy headed towards the Chu Empire.

"Palace Master, within the Sea of Purgatory there is a beast called the Water Marid. Its life treasure is its jadesoul iceheart. You must succeed in obtaining it, otherwise…"

Shen Yuanyin had a faint expression. "Honorable master, do not worry. I will slay this Water Marid and obtain its jadesoul iceheart."

She turned and stepped away, vanishing from sight.

Purple Moon took a deep breath, her expression icy cold. "All of you remember. You must protect the Palace Master at all costs and help her obtain the jadesoul iceheart, even if it means your death!"

"Yes, Elder!"