Chapter 154: The Origin of the Prophecy, For the Sake of Eternal Life

"No, that's not my trump card," Baili Feihong said, gritting his teeth. "I'm just worried that senior's frail and aged body might completely exhaust its remaining vitality and die before I even manage to strike you down."

Guliang Yumeng stood completely dumbfounded upon hearing this.

Gongyang Xi was, after all, a pinnacle Dharma Phase expert.

Moreover, he hailed from a Martial Saint family.

Had the Garrison Commander before her lost his mind?

No, he wasn't mad; he was simply a complete lunatic.

Guliang Yumeng felt a chill run down her spine.

To deal with such a lunatic—especially one who was an eighteen-fold blood-refining martial artist... Wait, eighteen-fold blood-refining?!

*Gasp!*

The five garrison commanders exchanged glances.

Blood-refining was by far the most grueling path in martial arts.

The Demon Suppressing Division had to expend vast mountains of resources and decades of unremitting effort just to cultivate a single qualified blood-refined warrior.

The growth of a blood-refined warrior differed fundamentally from the realm-based elevation of Qi.

Their blood was tempered again and again; with each completed refining cycle, their combat power would skyrocket.

Compared to mere breakthroughs in cultivation realms, the benefits were vastly superior.

The true terror of blood refining lay in the fact that it was virtually boundless.

Human martial arts possessed only six major realms:
Body Refining, Primordial Embryo, Divine Ability, Dharma Phase, Dao-Integrating Martial Saint, and Heaven-Opening Immortal.

Blood-refining, however, was entirely different. Every time the entire body's blood was completely tempered, their blood Qi would surge explosively.

And upon that foundation, they could repeatedly refine their blood over and over again to cultivate even greater blood Qi.

Eighteen refinements—with each completed refinement, the blood Qi would at least double.

What concept was an eighteen-fold multiplication of blood Qi?

It represented a horrifying, exponentially compounding magnitude of power.

"I truly must thank you for your concern."

Gongyang Xi's mocking expression hardened into absolute coldness.

Narrowing his eyes, a sharp glint flashed within them. At his age, he rarely felt the urge to kill.

Yet the person before him truly disgusted him to the core.

Gongyang Yan stepped between the two men.

"Elder Xi, you came here to assist me in repelling the Underworld's invasion. Feihong is a man of Dongbin City, and he traveled thousands of miles back here to slay the four Underworld army lords, making him the pivotal figure in dismantling the Underworld's operation this time."

Gongyang Yan stood quietly, gazing at them.

"I ask you to give me some face and avoid internal friction. Once the Underworld strikes again, it will no longer be merely four army lords, but the Ten Yama Kings. With our current strength, it will be extremely difficult to withstand the Ten Yama Kings. I believe that neither the family, the Headquarters, nor even the Imperial Household wishes to see you come into conflict with us at the Dongbin City Demon Suppressing Division."

Though Gongyang Yan's words sounded like a plea, they carried the weight of a silent threat.

"The girl has indeed grown up; it warms my old heart. However, if I recall correctly, a garrison commander from another region is not permitted to stray too far from his assigned post, lest it be considered dereliction of duty. Feiyuan Island is a vast distance from Dongbin City. I wonder if something were to happen to Feiyuan Island, whether the Demon Suppressing Headquarters would still shield a yellow-haired brat like you."

Gongyang Xi reined in his aura, calming his mind like still water to steady his Dao heart.

"There is no need for an outsider like you to show such concern; this is a matter for our Demon Suppressing Division. As for something happening to Feiyuan Island? Hmph, hmph. Does Senior seriously imagine Feiyuan Island to be so fragile and simple?"

An enemy that even the divine ability of the thirty-six golden figures could not handle—

Did this old fogey really think a few words from him would be enough to threaten Baili Feihong?

"Is that so? I've heard the scenery overseas is quite pleasant. I haven't seen it myself, so if I have the time, I might just take a trip out to sea."

Gongyang Xi rested one hand on the saber at his waist, his words endlessly circling back to pressure Baili Feihong.

"If you dare to set foot upon the sea, I will kill you without fail!"

Baili Feihong's eyes grew grim. This old fogey was certainly not easy to deal with.

However, that was only true given his current realm.

He was rather reluctant to use *Blood-Suppressing Rivers and Mountains*.

After all, it was his ultimate trump card.

No one knew that he had already elevated the divine ability *Blood-Suppressing Rivers and Mountains* to the ninth tier.

"Such audacity! How many years has it been since a wet-behind-the-ears junior like you dared to threaten me?"

Gongyang Xi laughed.

Baili Feihong said nothing more; a person this old and utterly devoid of shame was not worth wasting his breath on.

If not for Gongyang Yan's sake, he wouldn't even have bothered to speak; at the slightest disagreement, he would have driven the old man straight out of Dongbin City.

Gongyang Xi shifted his gaze once more to Gongyang Yan standing between them. "Xiaoyan, pack your things and return to the family with me."

Gongyang Yan shook her head instead. "I cannot violate the pact once made between the Ancestor and His Majesty. If Elder Xi refuses to help, please leave Dongbin City."

"Leave? Hmph. The business in Dongbin City is already concluded. His Majesty has ascended to the heavens as a dragon, so the pact is hereby rendered null and void."

Gongyang Xi waved his hand, making a tyrannical executive decision.

"Old man, you don't get to call the shots here."

Frosty coldness welled up in Baili Feihong's eyes.

The old bastard still hadn't given up; he was still clinging to the idea of a political marriage.

He must have been utterly convinced that the Eighteenth Prince would ascend the throne.

"Ignorant and courting death! I am sparing you for Xiaoyan's sake and refusing to bicker with you, but do you truly believe that practicing eighteen-fold blood refining gives you the right to act lawlessly within the Great Yuan?"

Gongyang Xi naturally understood what the realm of eighteen-fold blood refining meant.

It could be called a Blood-Refining Half-Saint.

Even when facing a Saint, given his status within the Gongyang family, the Saint would still have to grant him a modicum of respect.

"Relying on you? Or on Senior Gongyang Daosheng?"

Baili Feihong replied with a cold sneer.

"Feihong, say no more."

Gongyang Yan had a splitting headache.

"It's fine. A Martial Saint's keepsake is nothing to be feared."

Despite saying so, Baili Feihong regarded it with the utmost gravity internally.

Even so, they wanted to kill him using merely a Martial Saint's keepsake?

After all, a Martial Saint's keepsake merely represented a wisp of a Martial Saint's will.

He had even faced the will of Gods and Demons and still managed to survive to this day.

"This is Dongbin City."

Gongyang Yan murmured in a low voice.

"Precisely because this is Dongbin City, I will not allow any powerhouse to trespass here. If friends come, we treat them with fine wine; if enemies come, we greet them with artillery fire."

Baili Feihong looked back at Gongyang Xi. "Gongyang Yan is a member of the Demon Suppressing Division; no one can force her to do anything against her will. If the Eighteenth Prince wishes to marry her, very well—let him wait until he sits upon the throne as the Emperor of Great Yuan."

"Yumeng, is this the attitude of your Demon Suppressing Division?"

Gongyang Xi ignored Baili Feihong henceforth.

Instead, he fixed his gaze upon Guliang Yumeng.

"Although Garrison Commander Gongyang belongs to the Demon Suppressing Division, she is also a member of the Gongyang family. Baili Feihong is merely a garrison commander—and one of Feiyuan Island at that. He cannot speak for the Demon Suppressing Headquarters."

Guliang Yumeng finally snapped out of her shock.

With Gongyang Xi present, and with Heavenly Guardian Leiyu here as well, Baili Feihong could do nothing to her.

"Why is it that there are always people who commit such utter stupidity? The prestige of the Demon Suppressing Division has been completely ruined by people like you. Oh right, I remember your backgrounds—you all belong to the various noble clans and aristocratic families. Clearly, you have all forgotten the duties of the Demon Suppressing Division. Slashing demons and eliminating devils, suppressing sects, and monitoring aristocratic clans—the rules established by the Grand Ancestor have all been forgotten by you lot."

As soon as Baili Feihong uttered these words, the entire area erupted into an uproar.

"Then let me show you what it truly means to represent the Demon Suppressing Division!"

The corners of Baili Feihong's mouth curled up as the Demon Suppressing Divine Eye between his brows slowly opened.

Guliang Yumeng and the other four had cultivated the *Six Paths Demon Suppressing Scripture*, so they naturally understood what it meant for the Demon Suppressing Divine Eye to fully open.

The primordial Qi within their bodies was instantly suppressed, turning as stagnant as dead water.

The Power of Suppression!

*Gasp!*

And it was a Power of Suppression far superior to their own.

Clearly, they had forgotten that the man before them also cultivated the *Six Paths Demon Suppressing Scripture*.

And not just a fragment, but the complete volume of the scripture.

"You refuse to admit that your cultivation of the Six Paths Demon Suppressing Scripture is utter trash, so I will let you witness what the true Six Paths Demon Suppressing art looks like."

"Reverse Suppression!!"

The suppressed power within their bodies instantly rebelled. All five coughed up blood simultaneously, suffering severe injuries.

With just a single encounter, they were suppressed to the point of complete helplessness.

Gongyang Xi's expression turned grave.

"Senior Gongyang Xi, I must ask you to leave Dongbin City. You are not welcome here."

Blood Qi rolled like an ocean, enveloping the entirety of Dongbin City.

A majestic might swept over them.

Vast, boundless, upright, and grand.

In that fleeting instant, Gongyang Xi felt as though the entire world was rejecting him.

His blood Qi was like a blazing furnace, isolating everything in heaven and earth.

Having lived and fought for centuries, Gongyang Xi had indeed encountered individuals who had cultivated their blood Qi to eighteen refinements.

Yet their eighteen refinements of blood Qi had a heaven-and-earth divergence compared to Baili Feihong's.

The man before him had pushed every single step of cultivation to the absolute pinnacle.

Such a flawless foundation of cultivation was a rarity throughout the ages.

A wooden saber appeared in Gongyang Xi's hand.

It was an utterly ordinary wooden saber, yet the Demon Suppressing Divine Eye perceived the blessing of a wisp of Martial Saint will upon it.

"Do you two intend to reduce Dongbin City to ruins?"

Gongyang Yan barked angrily.

"Elder Xi, please leave Dongbin City. Even in matters concerning the Gongyang family, you are merely an elder; you do not have the final say," Gongyang Yan said in a deep voice.

Gongyang Xi silently put away the wooden saber, casting a deep, lingering glance at Baili Feihong. "Brat, you have no idea how terrifying the forces supporting Jinghong truly are."

"Is that so? A Martial Saint, an Immortal, or a Demon God?"

Baili Feihong replied with utter disdain.

He reined in his blood Qi.

Having reached his level of mastery, his power moved entirely at his will. If he wished to target someone, it was merely a matter of a single thought, and he could do so without harming ordinary citizens in the slightest.

"Ignorant and arrogant."

Gongyang Xi flicked his sleeve and departed.

"Are the five of you planning to stay for dinner before leaving?"

Baili Feihong's overbearing attitude left the five garrison commanders boiling with rage.

Yet circumstances dictated strength, and they had no choice but to retreat with their injuries.

"Such a damn hot temper," Baili Feihong muttered to himself.

With a single step, he had already arrived at Dali Mountain.

At this moment, Leiyu was standing at the foot of Dali Mountain, having chosen not to enter.

"Is everything handled?"

Leiyu stared up at Dali Mountain, knowing full well that Baili Feihong would never allow him to enter the mountain alone.

This young man possessed an intensely strong sense of territorial dominance.

"To your disappointment, a fight didn't break out."

Baili Feihong smiled faintly, using his Demon Suppressing Divine Eye to observe the mountain before them.

"Do you know why the Underworld is searching for the Gate of Yellow Springs?"

"For eternal life?"

"It is a passage leading to the outer realms. The Gate of Yellow Springs is the entrance along the Road of Yellow Springs, leading directly to the Netherworld. And through the Netherworld, one can trace the footsteps of the Demon Gods to discover even more ancient worlds and attain greater opportunities."

Leiyu did not conceal the truth. When one reached a certain height regarding such matters, one inevitably sensed the eerie, abnormal nature of this world.

"The Myriad Realms of the Heavens?"

Baili Feihong raised an eyebrow.

Naturally, he never believed that his current world was the only one in existence.

He was, after all, a transmigrator.

He was certain that the world he now inhabited did not share the same universe as the Earth of his past life.

Baili Feihong even suspected that his past and present lives did not exist within the same dimension.

Yet these matters were far too distant for Baili Feihong to worry about right now.

"Myriad Realms of the Heavens? You use that term well. Though I do not know whether the myriad realms truly exist, the Immortals passed down from antiquity all left this world through certain methods."

Leiyu sighed. "The wars against the Demon Gods actually exhausted the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth in this realm. The world we inhabit is currently in a trough of power; it is an aftereffect left behind from ancient times. Not to mention the Devil Sea, which constantly erodes this world. One day, the Devil Sea might swallow up every inch of land occupied by humanity."

Apart from routinely guarding the imperial household, the true purpose of becoming a Heavenly Guardian and their ultimate responsibility was to protect this very realm—

Humanity's dwelling place.

Baili Feihong's mind felt somewhat chaotic.

He hardly knew how to respond to Leiyu.

"The Gate of Yellow Springs once existed within Dali Mountain; that is a historical fact. But it was not arbitrarily opened by the second Grand Supervisor; rather, it was the Daoist Master of the Taiyi Sect who utilized the power of the sect's Immortals to sever heaven and earth and thoroughly seal the Gate of Heaven and Earth."

Leiyu spoke in a low voice, revealing an earth-shattering secret.

"The physical bodies of the Demon Gods could not enter, but humanity was also trapped within this realm. However, the Taiyi Sect tampered with the seal. To ensure the eternal survival of mankind, they added a curse-like rule to the seal: the reigning emperor's lifespan shall not exceed a hundred years. Influenced by this curse, the stronger the imperial bloodline became, the shorter their lifespans grew. The Guliang Imperial Clan, possessing the empire, was naturally furious; they rode their horses across the jianghu, attempting to exterminate the sects."

"More terrifyingly, this cursed rule also exerted a certain influence on the officials of the Great Yuan. The higher the official position, the greater the impact."

"Therefore, the imperial court from top to bottom eagerly sought to eliminate the Taiyi Sect solely to break this rule."

"The heritage I inherited, the ancient Shenxiao Sect, was completely destroyed in this very catastrophe."

"By the era of the Great Yuan's High Ancestor, the sects had already been suppressed by the Great Yuan Empire to the point where they could barely raise their heads. Meanwhile, the leader of the sects, the Taiyi Sect, had paid a heavy price for wielding the authority of heaven and earth, and thus dared not show its face ever again."

"The establishment of the Divine Supervision Division was, from the very beginning, meant to solve the problem of the imperial family's short lifespans."

"The second Grand Supervisor, much like you, possessed talent in his youth that ordinary people could hardly match. In fact, the path of the sorcerer was pioneered by him. After all, the first Grand Supervisor was one of the Three Elder Immortals of the Divine Supervision Division. They retreated behind the scenes precisely to avoid the backlash of the Great Yuan's national fortune and prevent their lifespans from being cut short by that cursed rule."

"This is why the Martial Saints of the various noble clans never assumed high-ranking official posts within the Great Yuan Empire after the Guliang Imperial Clan conquered the world."

"The second Grand Supervisor once proposed finding the Netherworld and using the rules of the nether realm to counter the curse suffered by the Guliang Imperial Clan."

"He won the support of the Great Yuan's High Ancestor. After becoming the second Grand Supervisor, he traveled across the land, measuring the terrain, until he finally discovered this special geographic configuration here."

"At that time, the Guliang Imperial Clan still possessed a large number of Immortals. He used the blood of an Immortal as a sacrifice, stirred the Road of Yellow Springs, and opened the Gate of Yellow Springs."

"In that very instant, overwhelming hordes of nether spirits poured forth endlessly from the Gate of Yellow Springs."

"Fortunately, three Immortals stepped into the Gate of Yellow Springs, severing the connection between the Road of Yellow Springs and the Great Yuan Empire, successfully closing the gate."

"Though the Gate of Yellow Springs was closed, its imprint had already been etched deep within Dali Mountain."

"Dongbin City began to experience a golden age of prosperity, while Dali Mountain, due to the Yellow Springs imprint, became an exceptionally marvelous burial ground for the Underworld."

"A massive number of the deceased were buried here, and the Yellow Springs imprint gradually began to revive by absorbing the nether Qi leaked as these wandering souls entered the reincarnation cycle. Thus, signs of the Gate of Yellow Springs reappearing began to emerge."

"Therefore, the Demon Suppressing Division suppressed the demonic soul of the Kunpeng beneath the earth of Dongbin City, sealing off the passage connecting Dongbin City to the reincarnation cycle. The souls of those who died in Dongbin City would remain within the city, devoured by the Kunpeng demonic soul suppressed within the Demon Suppressing Grand Array."

"The grand array sealed the souls of all living beings in Dongbin City from returning to the reincarnation cycle. Over a long period of time, Dongbin City would inevitably degenerate into a ghost domain. Yet the Kunpeng demonic soul devouring the souls of all living beings solved the hazard of souls lingering in the mortal world and turning into fierce ghosts."

"Can you imagine it? For so many years in Dongbin City, the souls of those who died could not find peace or be reborn through reincarnation."

"The souls lingering in Dali Mountain are all ghosts protected by the Yellow Springs imprint, unable to enter reincarnation."

"They have persisted here, relying every moment on the special power of the Yellow Springs imprint to avoid being devoured by the Kunpeng. Therefore, once the imperial court discovered this fact, they did not stop the common folk from burying their dead in Dali Mountain."

"The existence of a small number of ghosts can consume the Yellow Springs imprint."

Leiyu spoke at length, recounting the whole sequence of events from beginning to end.

Through the information conveyed in his words, Baili Feihong gradually began to understand.

Simply put, the imperial family desired eternal life, and in doing so, they opened the Gate of Yellow Springs—something even the Underworld could not find.

After opening it, they realized they had unlocked the gates of hell itself. Unable to control the situation, the Great Yuan Empire had no choice but to shut it closed.

Once closed, they discovered that the imprint of the Gate of Yellow Springs had already remained engraved between heaven and earth.

Whenever anyone died and their soul sought reincarnation, the nether realm would guide the soul and ferry it into the Yellow Springs underworld.

And the Yellow Springs imprint, having absorbed the nether power leaked during the soul-guiding process, began to revive.

Hence, the grand array sealing heaven and earth was erected.

Then they realized that by sealing heaven and earth, souls could not be reborn, and this place would surely degenerate into a mortal ghost domain.

Thus, they slaughtered a Kunpeng and forced it to devour these souls, neutralizing the hazard of ghosts roaming the night.

As for the existence of Dali Mountain, it actually utilized the Yellow Springs imprint to form a nether realm, sheltering the myriad ghosts, thereby consuming the power of the Yellow Springs imprint and ultimately attempting to erase the mark from heaven and earth.

"The ancient Profound Ice Maiden, Hansu."

Baili Feihong said in a low voice.

"The founder of the Underworld is Hansu's older brother. He stole the power of Yellow Springs in an attempt to revive his sister. That passage had always existed, and the second Grand Supervisor borrowed it, cooperating with several Immortals, to open the Gate of Yellow Springs."

Leiyu smiled brightly. "Hansu was revived, becoming a living corpse—all because of the second Grand Supervisor. Otherwise, if this ancient Profound Ice Maiden had truly been born into the world properly, she would certainly have become an Immortal, and wouldn't have fallen to the miserable state of lacking even Martial Saint strength."

Baili Feihong said in a deep voice, "So, you all knew about the prophecy all along."

"What does it matter if the Great Yuan collapses? What the Guliang Imperial Clan wants is not a mortal empire, but an immortal court, a heavenly court, and eternal life. Having Gongyang Yan serve as garrison commander once again was the will of the Star Sovereign Lord. According to the divination, the prophecy would only erupt seven years from now. However, the Daoist Master of the Taiyi Sect manifested and killed His Majesty, throwing all celestial secrets into chaos."

"Is the only way to resolve the crisis of Dongbin City to eradicate the Yellow Springs imprint?" Baili Feihong inquired.

"Indeed. Without the Yellow Springs imprint, the array sealing the nether order can be broken, and the Kunpeng demon ghost can then be slain. Naturally, this resolves the root cause behind the impending destruction of Dongbin City."

"And the Underworld will no longer take an interest in Dongbin City."

Leiyu's gaze flickered.

If the imprint of the Gate of Yellow Springs could be eradicated, the imperial family would undoubtedly mobilize the Demon Suppressing Division, the Divine Supervision Division, and even the secret forces of the Guliang Imperial Clan to destroy this Yellow Springs imprint.

Destroying the imprint was difficult, but what was even harder to destroy was human greed.

The Road of Yellow Springs was dangerous, yet it represented a sliver of hope to escape this realm and reach the outer worlds.

If the Yellow Springs imprint were destroyed, the grand dream of longevity for many people would be shattered right then and there.

Yet Baili Feihong's thoughts drifted to the Black Heaven Stele.

The Guliang Imperial Clan's search for a way to break the cursed rule imposed upon them by the Taiyi Sect had not relied solely on the Gate of Yellow Springs.

The Black Heaven Stele was likewise sealed by the Demon Suppressing Division beneath Feiyuan Island.

If the Black Heaven Stele hadn't been far too dangerous, the Guliang Imperial Clan would surely have stored it in the imperial treasury, wouldn't they?

"Why do I feel like the ultimate collapse of the Great Yuan Empire is entirely a mess brewed by the imperial family themselves?"

Baili Feihong muttered inwardly.

Had they not harbored the ambition to pursue eternal life, and instead diligently developed their national strength while focusing on conquering this world, the territory of the Great Yuan would have been at least ten times larger.

These fellows just loved meddling recklessly.

Yet, putting himself in their shoes, if he were in the position of the Guliang Imperial Clan, he would likewise exhaust the nation's resources to find a solution to his dwindling lifespan.

Still, the origin of the prophecy had finally been tracked down by Baili Feihong.

Every single event bore a cause that ultimately produced a fruit.

Clearly, the bitter fruit of the prophecy was something the Guliang Imperial Clan had planted with their own hands.

That explained why the Guliang Imperial Clan had dispatched Gongyang Yan to execute this mission.

If it were him,

upon learning of such a prophecy, he would have said nothing else and dispatched a Martial Saint directly to guard Dongbin City.

To guard it for a thousand years, just to see if the prophecy could come true.

That was how one handled a situation under conditions of uncertainty.

Yet the Guliang Imperial Clan dispatching Gongyang Yan to Dongbin City most likely meant they still harbored the hope that, once the Gate of Yellow Springs opened, they could step onto the Road of Yellow Springs and find a way to attain eternal life.

"His Majesty cares about the prophecy, but the Guliang Imperial Clan cares even more about eternal life, don't they?"

Baili Feihong looked toward Leiyu.

At this moment, a surge of anger rose within his heart.

"His Majesty understood the Mandate of Heaven; he wasn't particularly obsessed with eternal life. But the Guliang Imperial Clan—His Majesty's word wasn't absolute among them. There are quite a few surviving old monsters preserved within the imperial family, having prolonged their lives through the methods of the Divine Supervision Division. Their influence is immense, so they hope all the more to break the rules of the Taiyi Sect, step into the ranks of Immortals, pursue a higher level of cultivation, and attain eternal youth."

Leiyu spoke in a very soft voice.

"I understand. To them, an imperial dynasty doesn't matter nearly as much as themselves."

Only after experiencing the threat of death did one realize that one's own life was paramount.

The obsession of these old monsters was even deeper.

"You are mistaken. An imperial dynasty is equally important to them; the existence of the Great Yuan Empire is merely a tool for them to harvest the resources of the world to fuel their own cultivation."

Leiyu's mood remained tranquil.

"You are a Heavenly Guardian; why are you telling me all this?"

"You think I became a Heavenly Guardian to protect the imperial family? No. What I protect is this world, and what I guard are all living beings. Having emerged from the Demon Suppressing Division, how could I ever forget my original aspiration as a demon suppressor?"

The corners of Leiyu's mouth curved upward slightly.

He was a Heavenly Guardian now, and many things were beyond his control.

Baili Feihong was different. Not only was he a demon suppressor, but he also possessed a rebellious heart.

Not a heart of treason, but the strong heart of someone daring to say "no" to the imperial family, to the sects, and to absolute power.