Chapter 104: Secret Inscriptions of the Divine Cauldron

Gui Er, Lord of the West Sea, finally revealed this secret.

Before Nüwa mended the heavens, she prophesied to the gods: "When the Scarlet Flame arises, the Heavy Radiance shall perish. The Scarlet Flame Demon Star, forged from the greed of all living beings, possesses the power to refine heaven and earth. It can unlock the Void Cauldron, a divine artifact left behind by Chaos; whoever possesses the cauldron and its god-like power can reshape the world. If this star reaches maturity, it will bring catastrophe, and it must be destroyed by the power of the Heavy Radiance."

Forty thousand years ago, the astronomers of the Heavenly Palace reported two brilliant, twin stars appearing above the Great Brightness Peak. One was the divine star of the High God Yunxiao, which suddenly flared with intense light. The other was a newly emerged star of raging fire, belonging to his fiancée, Lu Xue. The Old Heavenly Emperor, interpreting Nüwa’s prophecy, concluded that one of these stars was the Heavy Radiance and the other the Scarlet Flame Demon Star.

The God of Slaughter insisted that the Scarlet Flame Demon Star could not be his nephew, Yunxiao. Yunxiao was of pure divine lineage, born to two High Gods, so his star was naturally brilliant. Lu Xue, however, had an obscure background, making her star more likely to be the Scarlet Flame. The Old Heavenly Emperor agreed that Yunxiao was not the demon star, but if he wasn't, then Lu Xue must be. She had to be eliminated using Yunxiao's "Power of Heavy Radiance."

The God of Slaughter refused, so the Emperor summoned the Four Sea Kings to persuade him to consider the greater good: "When the Scarlet Flame arises, the Heavy Radiance shall perish." If Lu Xue lived, Yunxiao would die. With a great war looming, the God of Slaughter weighed the consequences and decided to kill Lu Xue. The Four Sea Kings devised a plan: frame Lu Xue as a spy for the Witch Realm so that Yunxiao would execute her himself. The Emperor tasked Princess Changyang of the Heavenly Palace with carrying out the deception.

The God of Slaughter sentenced Lu Xue to death and ordered Yunxiao to carry out the sentence, hoping to fulfill Nüwa’s prophecy. Yunxiao and Chunfeng attempted to sabotage the execution, but the God of Slaughter, hardening his heart, summoned the Thirty-Three Levels of Thunderbolt Fire to strike Lu Xue, scattering her soul. Unexpectedly, this caused the heavens to crack, leading to a June snowfall of spirit-frost that killed countless innocent immortals alongside the enemy forces. Unable to bear the burden of the innocent lives lost, the God of Slaughter sacrificed himself to mend the tear in the heavens. Yunxiao inherited the divine post to guard the Kunlun Heavenly Waters, and peace was gradually restored.

The Old Heavenly Emperor and the Four Sea Kings swore to take this secret to their graves. The Four Sea Kings resigned from their posts, donated their fortunes to the Heavenly Realm, and lived in seclusion to guard the Void Cauldron. Convinced that Lu Xue was innocent and framed, Yunxiao investigated until he uncovered Princess Changyang’s role. Fearing that exposing the truth would lead to a civil war in the Heavenly Realm due to Yunxiao’s grief and rage, the Emperor pushed Changyang to the forefront, forcing her to confess that she had acted out of jealous passion. Only then did High God Yunxiao desist.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

So, Lu Xue’s death was not merely a matter of petty jealousy. "When the Scarlet Flame arises, the Heavy Radiance shall perish." It was a choice between life and death, so cruel. How could Master ever change a predetermined outcome?

"What about that Scarlet Flame Demon Star?" Tian Sheng asked.

"It fell," the West Sea Lord replied.

"Did the deaths of the Old Heavenly Emperor, the God of Slaughter, and the Four Sea Kings in the same year have something to do with this?" Tian Sheng asked.

"Most likely. That incident killed many innocent immortals. My grandfather said it was the only thing he ever did in his life that betrayed the common people. He wanted us to cultivate diligently through the generations to atone for it, and on his deathbed, he used the strength accumulated over his lifetime to reinforce the seal on the Void Cauldron in the ancestral tomb. Because I brought the cauldron out early, I saw the secret my grandfather had written upon the seal."

The Old Sea Lord continued, "The Thunderbolt Fire of the Thirty-Three Levels is the greatest natural disaster; it can destroy divine seals and utterly annihilate the soul of a High God. It is born of karma and cannot be controlled by immortals. Only the God of Slaughter has the authority to summon it to execute a god. But killing the innocent invokes a divine retribution. I suspect the tear in the heavens and the death of so many innocents caused the three High Gods to face that retribution and perish."

"Why should our family bear the cost for the deaths of the innocent? We are all royalty, yet the Emperor’s son remained the Emperor. Yunxiao lived securely as a High God for forty thousand years, while I, the grandson of a Sea King, have lived in misery. I ended up selling family heirlooms to survive; I didn't want this!" Gui Er lamented.

"Could this brat be making it all up? How could Lu Xue be the Scarlet Flame Demon Star?" Chunfeng doubted.

"I am telling the truth! I want you to protect my life; why would I lie to you? If I am lying, let the heavens strike me down!" Gui Er swore.

"You gave the Void Cauldron to Tian De; did he see the inscriptions on it?" I asked.

"No," the West Sea Lord said.

"Why didn't he?" I asked.

"I was cautious and used the Black Seal technique from our ancestral sealing arts to cover those words," the West Sea Lord replied.

"Meaning you are the only one who knows what you've told us," Tian Sheng noted.

"Princess Changyang knows too! She is the only survivor among the people involved; she experienced it firsthand. You can go ask her!" the West Sea Lord said.

Tian Sheng frowned.

"What is it?" I asked him in a low voice.

"After Princess Changyang learned of High God Yunxiao’s passing, she went on a journey and has not returned in five hundred years. No one has seen her," Tian Sheng said.

Tian Sheng ordered Gui Er to be detained and interrogated others. It was confirmed that Gui Er and his cousin had colluded with Tian De to drain the resources of the West Sea, but the truth of the Scarlet Flame Demon Star remained unverified based on his word alone.

The matter was tangled and obscure. The three High Gods involved had all perished, and the other witnesses were either dead or in hiding. Unless the Void Cauldron could be found and the seal covering the inscription removed, who could distinguish truth from falsehood or right from wrong? If I wanted to know the truth, I had to keep Gui Er alive. This brat was truly calculating.

"The past is gone. Now that the divine star has reappeared, they are pinning it on Mother again," Tian Sheng said.

"How could she be the Scarlet Flame Demon Star! Lu Xue couldn't be, either!" Chunfeng said angrily.

I smiled coldly. "They have always been good at pinning labels on people. But if that Void Cauldron falls into the hands of a real Scarlet Flame Demon Star, we will be in trouble."

"Perhaps they misread the star again! Can you trust anything those senile star-lords say?" Chunfeng added.

"It's possible. These past events are unclear. The Heavenly Palace is always paranoid. Since the Scarlet Flame Demon Star fell forty thousand years ago, bringing it up now is clearly a deliberate attempt to cause trouble," Tian Sheng said.

"Let’s set the past aside for now. Let’s deal with the present. Tian Sheng, you have been sent to exterminate the Sea Wolf clan; what is your plan?" I asked.

"War at the border has been ignited; I have no choice but to face it," Tian Sheng said coldly.

"Have you decided what to do?" I asked.

"Not yet. The best approach is to bring the Sea Wolf clan into the Heavenly Realm peacefully. But even when High God Yunxiao was alive, he only managed to achieve peace, not integration. It will be even harder for me," Tian Sheng said.

"Send an envoy; we might have news soon," I said.

"Whom should I send?" Tian Sheng asked.

"Me," I said.

"What trick are you playing?" Chunfeng asked with interest.

"A good one," I smiled.

"Second Prince, if you trust me, I will represent you. This might just work," I said.

"I trust you," Tian Sheng said, bowing.

"Chunfeng, please help me prepare the ten-thousand-year immortal peaches," I said to him.

"That's easy enough, but what exactly are you going to do?" Chunfeng asked curiously.

"I’ll tell you if it succeeds. Let me keep you in suspense for now," I smiled.

Chunfeng pestered me for the rest of the day. I threatened to have Shan He pester him instead if he didn't stop, and Chunfeng begrudgingly gave up. It wasn't that I didn't want to tell him; if he knew I was planning to use a little "honey trap," he would surely be even more anxious.

The negotiation took place on a small island within the Sea Wolf territory. Chunfeng was worried about me and wanted to accompany me, but I made him wait at the border.

Before landing on the island, I reverted to Yu Fei's appearance and donned a veil.

"Your West Sea lacks sincerity! I came in person, yet the West Sea Lord didn't show up, sending an old woman instead." Jiang Ye sat high upon his throne, looking very displeased.

"He can no longer come. I am the envoy of the Second Prince of the Heavenly Realm. I am not here to talk about buying your wolf oil at a high price to resell cheaply to the Nether Realm," I said.

Upon hearing "Nether Realm," a flicker of fear crossed Jiang Ye's eyes. It seemed that dream had truly frightened him.

"If I destroy the corpse oil and stop the trade, what benefit does the Heavenly Realm offer me?" Jiang Ye asked.

"None," I said.

"None? Then why should I agree?" Jiang Ye roared.

"Because as a member of the Heavenly Realm, your Sea Wolf clan will be equal to all other clans; because your people will not have to face the Nether Realm alone, but can live and die with the vast Heavenly Realm; because you will not have to watch your people, your family, and everyone you care about die miserably before your eyes. Do these not count as the greatest benefits?" I said.

"I don't want to be a lapdog for your Heavenly Realm!" Jiang Ye said with resentment.

"Yet you have been begging for scraps from Tian De and scraping by on handouts from the Nether Realm," I said.

"I..." Jiang Ye was speechless.

"Jiang Ye, you are wrong..." I said, lifting my veil.

Jiang Ye looked at me, his eyes gradually filling with surprise. He stood up and rushed down from the throne. "You... Little Fairy! Is it really you!"

I gave him a faint smile. "It is."

"It's really you! You're still alive! You're still alive!" Jiang Ye was overjoyed.

"I am the little puppy that was starving to death outside Tian De's back gate! Do you still recognize me? I ate many immortal peaches you gave me!" Jiang Ye said, transforming into a large black wolf, now far stronger than he had been back then.

"I recognize you," I said.

"Bring a seat! Quickly, bring a seat!" Jiang Ye ordered anxiously.

"Five hundred years ago, I stood and discovered you collapsed on the ground. Today, let us just stand and talk," I said.

"Fine." Jiang Ye’s eyes fell on my hair. "What happened to your hair? I remember back then your hair was pitch black, not gray."

"Yes, you remember correctly," I smiled.

"How did you become like this?" Jiang Ye asked with concern.

"Harmed by Tian De, harmed by the Nether Realm," I said.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ye flicked his sleeve and said angrily, "Then why do you still want me to submit to the Heavenly Realm!"

"You are submitting to the Heavenly Realm, not to Tian De. I will not let Tian De go," I said.

"I won't let him go either! I don't want any benefits anymore. As long as you stay and keep me company, my Sea Wolf clan will join the Heavenly Realm!" Jiang Ye said.

I smiled, thinking to myself that I had no choice but to reveal this scar. "Do you know how they harmed me?"

"Tell me," Jiang Ye said.

"They tied me up and sent me to the Nether Realm for a political marriage. I nearly vomited blood and died. Do you want to do the same?" I said.

"No..." Jiang Ye’s eyes showed a flash of memory, and his voice lowered.

"You do not belong to me, and I do not belong to you. Five hundred years ago, I gave you peaches to eat because I wanted you to live well," I said.

Jiang Ye looked disappointed. "I also wanted you to live well... but..."

I used magic to split a peach in half and placed one piece on the table. "Today's peach is not charity; it is for sharing and celebration. So that both you and I can live well and stand here, to be ordinary but not mediocre immortals. So that you will no longer be a dog begging for scraps tied to Tian De's back gate."

Jiang Ye picked up that half of the peach and took a fierce bite...