Chapter 98: The Serpent Once More
Days later, Xiao Nanfeng's injuries were completely healed. The Red Emperor guided them straight in the direction of Emperor Wei's grave.
From afar, they could see a strange mountain, lush with trees and grasses, and filled with spiritual herbs. Spiritual energy weaved around its mist-filled peaks.
From within the dragon-quelling spike in Yu'er's hand came the Red Emperor's voice. "My consort's grave is within that mountain."
"We're here? We'll head there immediately," Xiao Nanfeng replied, panting lightly.
Just then, a dragon's howl came from high above the peak. A black serpent penetrated through the mists. Though it was still far away, the two cultivators could still feel its ferocious aura.
"It's the serpent that was in the river when we first entered the realm! It flicked its tail at you and struck you unconscious," Yu'er cried out.
Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He naturally remembered that serpent.
The serpent roared as it flew above a valley and sprayed out a blizzard over it. Shrieks and yells came from within the valley as countless crow spirits fled from the breath attack.
The serpent ignored these ordinary crow spirits. It glared in outrage at the giant crow spirit that flew out—the crow king. After a few days' worth of recuperation, its wounds had gotten much better, and new feathers were growing out. Right then and there, however, it didn't have the pride of a Spiritsong-realm spirit. Rather, there was a panicked, fearful look on its face.
"Envoy, please calm down! I've been seriously injured by a few scoundrels, who even killed the young miss that I serve! I'm here to report the news to my master. Please, consider all the benefits that my master, the marquis, granted you and let me off this once," the crow king begged.
"Are you incapable of understanding my words? No Spiritsong-realm spirit or cultivator is to remain within the spirits' or humans' domain, on penalty of death. Not only have you been lurking around here, you even emitted the aura of a Spiritsong-realm spirit. Should I view this as a threat? Do you not think me daring enough to eat you?" The serpent spat out another icy breath as it howled at the crow king.
The icy breath chilled the crow king from head to toe, but it didn't dare to resist.
"Please calm down, Envoy!" another voice rang out. Xiang Kun had climbed up to the top of the valley and was bowing to the black serpent.
"Shall I cater my emotions to your whims, then? If you continue pleading for mercy on its behalf, I'll eat you as well!" the serpent replied coldly.
"Envoy, the crow king is here with treasure for you!" Xiang Kun hurriedly continued.
"Hmm?" The incensed serpent's eyes brightened upon hearing the word 'treasure'. It was exceptionally greedy but simultaneously prideful. Feigning disdain, it questioned, "Didn't your father say that there were no more treasures? Where did you find more, then? Were you tricking me then, or are you tricking me now?"
Xiang Kun handed over a blue bangle respectfully. "This bangle is a storage treasure, but one of uncommon quality. My father and I tried to unlock it, but to no avail. It might have belonged to an Immortal, and could be filled with countless precious pills and weapons."
"Oh?" The serpent suddenly seemed interested.
"This treasure could be very valuable indeed, but none of us were fortunate enough to be able to use it. We thought that only someone like you, honored envoy, would deserve such a treasure." Xiang Kun heaped on the flattery, which was clearly very effective on the serpent.
It nodded. "You speak the truth. Come, show me the bangle."
The blue bangle slowly floated over to the dragon's claw. A wave of black energy shot into the bangle, which retaliated with blue light.
"Hmm? This could well be a treasure indeed." The serpent seemed overjoyed.
"If it may be of use to you, honored envoy, it would be well worth the effort of the crow king's travel here," Xiang Kun replied with a smile.
Even so, everyone could see the unwillingness on Xiang Kun's face. The crow king itself was exasperated, knowing that Xiang Kun had given up this treasure in order to protect itself. However, there was little it could do against the serpent.
"I am just and strict," the serpent began. "This trinket is worth little to me, but I'll reluctantly accept considering your intentions." The serpent made a show of great mercy, causing Xiang Kun's face to spasm. How shameless this serpent was!
"Honored envoy, the crow king has sustained serious injuries and cannot readily fly. Would you permit it a few days to rest before it headed to the divine domain?" Xiang Kun pleaded at an opportune moment.
The envoy, having just received a treasure which might well have come from an Immortal, was in an extremely good mood.
"Considering your sincerity, I'll let it slide this once. Recover quickly and head to the divine domain at once, or I'll eat you," the serpent threatened. Its mood was buoyant.
"Thank you, Envoy!" Xiang Kun and the crow king immediately replied respectfully.
The serpent flew back to the misty peaks, ready to attempt to attune to the bangle.
The crow king and Xiang Kun's eyes flashed with annoyance, but they didn't dare say a word. They had no choice but to return to the valley.
"If I'm not mistaken, that blue bangle belongs to the Lady Arclight. Marquis Wu must have snatched it from her when he caught her in that trap," Yu'er murmured.
Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The serpent looked to be exceptionally greedy, and trying to snatch the bangle back from it wouldn't be an easy task.
Just then, from among the mists came the serpent's booming voice. "All of you, listen up! I've set my sights on this mountain. From now on, no one is to approach it. I don't care if you're from Yan or Qi, or a foreigner from far beyond. All those who approach will be killed!"
"What a domineering serpent..." Yu'er murmured.
"It's just a little loach," the Red Emperor commented acidly from within her dragon-quelling spike. "To dare to take over the mountain containing my consort's tomb—it's asking to die!"
"A little loach?" Yu'er glanced at the mountain in the distance. Who knew what the serpent would think about being called a loach?
"Your Majesty, this little loach is no easy foe to take down. It would be difficult for us to force our way in," Xiao Nanfeng warned.
"When we were interred, my consort arranged for a group of officials to stand guard over this tomb. Have they left after just a millennium? Otherwise, this loach wouldn't have been able to usurp the mountain." The Red Emperor's voice was filled with frustration.
"Your Majesty, are you aware of any hidden routes into the grave while avoiding the serpent?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"Hidden routes? Perhaps if those guards were here. They have a number of seals that my consort handed them, allowing them access to the illusory realms within," the Red Emperor replied.
"Seals? Your Majesty, might these be the seals?" Xiao Nanfeng retrieved a seal and placed it by the dragon-quelling spike.
The seal was engraved with the character 'Wei', and belonged to Lord Wei of Great Yan. Xiao Nanfeng had tricked the centipede spirits with this seal before. He had a hypothesis that he was uncertain of, that he would need the Red Emperor to verify. [1]
The Red Emperor sent a thread of spiritual power into the seal, which glowed with blue light, surrounding the two cultivators and spike.
The cultivators' vision turned black. As they blinked, they found that they had arrived in a new land—the familiar city gates that they had already seen twice before.
"This is... the divine capital of great Wei? This seal really can transport us in?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed in surprise. Beside him were Yu'er and the Red Emperor.
"Why do you have a graveguard's seal?" The Red Emperor looked at Xiao Nanfeng quizzically.
Xiao Nanfeng quickly explained how he had come across the seals.
"In that case, all these graveguards have ignored my consort's orders and either forgotten or discarded their duties? They've gone to the humans' domain to make a name for themselves?" The Red Emperor's eyes shone with frost. She shook her head and smiled wryly. "Forget it. It is hardly as though I have a lack of traitorous officials."
"Your Majesty, our physical bodies lie defenseless outside. Will that be dangerous?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"I can sense any dangers outside through the seal. Within the short term, there will be no danger," the Red Emperor affirmed.
The Red Emperor was clearly not in a good mood as she stepped through the gates. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er followed behind her.
Everything remained the same—except for a pressure from the high heavens that seemed to impose restrictions around his body. His muscles bunched up in resistance, and he felt entirely uncomfortable.
"Your Majesty, what's going on? I feel like my spiritual power's being dampened," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.
"Mine too!" Yu'er added.
The Red Emperor ignored the two cultivators as she looked up toward the sky. Her features turned despondent.
The two cultivators followed her gaze. She was looking not at the islands that hung low in the air, but rather a golden cloud high above.
"That golden cloud? I remember that it was present in your illusory realm and that of the other empress, Your Majesty. That golden cloud took the form of a flying golden dragon in both those realms, but not here..." Xiao Nanfeng trailed off.
"Has the golden dragon of fortune really dissipated? My consort must truly be dead, then." The Red Emperor's despondence was palpable.
"Golden dragon of fortune?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.
Yu'er explained from beside him, "That golden cloud is formed of a kingdom's fortune, that of the Empire of Great Wei. I heard that the fate and fortune of a kingdom would congeal into the form of a golden dragon, one whose life is tethered to that of the emperor. While the emperor still lives, so too will the dragon."
"Oh? In that case, this fortune isn't part of the illusory realm, but of the Empire of Great Wei proper?" Xiao Nanfeng continued thoughtfully.
The Red Emperor stared at the golden cloud for quite some time before her emotions manifested in the form of a weary sigh. "I should have expected this, and yet..."
"Master!" Yu'er attempted to console the Red Emperor, but she didn't know where to start.
"Enough. Let's go," the Red Emperor stated, shaking her head. "Once we head to his grave, I can pass you some of his treasures. Better that they go to you than to Blue Lantern or the others. Come, follow me!"
The Red Emperor marched onward to the dragon's head mountain. Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er followed quietly behind, glancing at each other, sensing her deep-set pain.
1. Wei (卫) means guard. Please note that this is distinct from the Wei in the Empire of Great Wei (威). ?
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