Volume Two: Mountains and Rivers Block the Path, No Road Ahead Chapter Fifteen: Council

Within the Cloud Sky Stele, in the Palace of Spiritual Perception.

Yao Bogong was conferring with Zhuo Hua.

Yao Bogong said, “As soon as I received the secret decree from the Lord’s envoy, I rushed back overnight. I also brought with me the battlefield report from the night we attacked the Sun-worshipping Sect’s main stronghold. Please review it, Lord.” With that, he presented a scroll.

Zhuo Hua took it and unrolled the document, his brows furrowing deeply. He asked, “Why is this all there is? What about those so-called one thousand Spirit Helm soldiers? Wasn’t a single corpse found?”

Old Yao clasped his hands and bowed his head in reply, “I personally cleared the battlefield that night, and indeed, I found no soldiers wearing white helms. The entire fortress was scoured, yet not a trace of their white fur armor was discovered.”

Zhuo Hua grew increasingly uneasy and said to Old Yao, “This matter is of grave importance. There is a high likelihood that those thousand men escaped. Go at once and summon the four Palace Lords.”

Old Yao accepted the command and hurried from the Palace of Spiritual Perception to summon the four Palace Lords.

Moments later, a thunderous drum rolled through the Cloud Palace. Four beams of light—azure, scarlet, white, and green—rushed from the four cardinal points to converge at the heart of the Palace of Spiritual Perception.

The Palace Lord of Azure Dragon Palace, Jiao Mu Jiao, stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Reporting to the Lord of Cloud Palace, the three rounds of Phoenix Calling Drum are completed. The four Palace Lords are assembled, awaiting your instruction.”

Zhuo Hua’s expression was grave, his tone somber as he spoke: “No doubt you have all tried to ascertain the reason for my emergence from the Void of Auspicious Clouds these past few days. Let me explain the circumstances, so none of you harbor suspicion.”

He lifted the teacup beside him, took a sip, and continued, “Recently, we traveled to the Kingdom of Changshan in the Central Divine Continent, where we encountered traitors of the Sun-worshipping Sect sowing chaos. Old Yao and I, along with the Changshan Crown Prince—the young man of the Lan family whom you met—eliminated the Sun-worshipping Sect’s main stronghold which had plagued the land for over a decade. Their leader, Yuan Kang, sought to invoke a heavenly calamity to annihilate the Changshan army. Over the years, Yuan Kang and his sect have pillaged openly and covertly, wreaking havoc among the people. So I intervened, calling forth the Auspicious Clouds Calamity, and together Yuan Kang and I were drawn into the Void of Auspicious Clouds. Unexpectedly, that Lan Sheng was pulled in as well. Fortunately, he had a protective artifact and survived; Yuan Kang too was not torn apart by the fierce winds of the Great Red Spot. Thus, the two of us fought a fierce battle with Yuan Kang in the Void. The rest, you know. Here in the Cloud Palace, the Celestial Tree was opened. Lan Sheng severed Yuan Kang’s arm, and we both escaped.”

He paused, his gaze lingering with interest on the four below.

The Palace Lord of Black Tortoise Palace, Dou Mu Xie, wore a worried expression as he stepped forward to report, “We never expected the Lord to endure such peril. No one else would dare enter the Void of Auspicious Clouds. Thankfully, all ended well; otherwise, Yuan Kang’s crimes would be unforgivable. That night, the Palace Lord of Well Wood Huan returned urgently to Cloud Palace, requesting the four Palace Lords to open the Celestial Tree together. You know the rules, Lord: as long as three Palace Lords agree, they may insert their artifacts to activate the Celestial Tree. But at the time, Kui Mu Lang refused to insert his Wooden God Sword into the western White Tiger position.”

Kui Mu Lang hurried to defend himself, “Really? When did the Cloud Palace rules change? The situation was urgent—acting on Well Wood Huan’s word alone to open the Celestial Tree would be reckless. As White Tiger Palace Lord, I guard the Cloud Palace. These are tumultuous times—the Xuanhuang Mirror couldn’t reach the Lord, and without a decree, how could I open the Celestial Tree?”

Jiao Mu Jiao stepped in to smooth things over, patting Kui Mu Lang’s shoulder, “Old Stone, you needn’t be anxious. The Celestial Tree was opened in the end, and the Lord returned safely to Cloud Palace. Besides, the Lord hasn’t blamed you.”

Kui Mu Lang, still aggrieved, slapped Jiao Mu Jiao’s hand away and said, “That’s because you three overpowered me, seized my weapon, and forced me. I haven’t even reported you three to the Lord yet!”

Zhuo Hua glanced askance at Jiao Mu Jiao, asked ominously, “Old Jiao, you led the three Palace Lords in subduing Shi He Sheng, didn’t you?”

Old Jiao was about to admit it and take responsibility, but Well Wood Huan stepped forward and interjected, “It was my idea, and I acted first. The others had no part in it.”

Old Jiao agreed, “Exactly! With three Palace Lords in agreement, the Celestial Tree can be opened. That’s the rule!”

Zhuo Hua cut off Old Jiao’s banter, his tone serious, “According to the Lord’s decree, the Celestial Tree may only be opened with all four Palace Lords’ artifacts. Kui Mu Lang did nothing wrong; he bears the heavy responsibility of guarding Cloud Palace.” Zhuo Hua paused here. “But no one anticipated that the Lord’s disappearance would be linked to the Celestial Tree’s opening. This is a flaw in the Cloud Palace’s regulations, which must be amended.”

He thought for a moment and said, “Kui Mu Lang, for your meritorious defense of the Heavenly Laws and Cloud Palace, you are promoted to Second Rank Star Lord, with a fief of twenty thousand.”

Kui Mu Lang lifted his armor and bowed in gratitude.

Zhuo Hua turned to Qin Ying, “Well Wood Huan acted rashly in a moment of urgency, but his eagerness to save his Lord offsets his mistake. No punishment will be imposed.”

Qin Ying answered with indifference, “As long as the Lord is safe, what harm is there in suffering a little?”

“As for you two…” Zhuo Hua looked at Jiao Mu Jiao and Dou Mu Xie. “Dou Mu Xie, three days of reflection. Jiao Mu Jiao, one month of house arrest.”

“Ah! Zhuo—” Jiao Mu Jiao began to protest but was silenced by Zhuo Hua’s sharp glare.

Zhuo Hua said, “I didn’t summon you here for these trivial matters. The battle’s details remain unfinished. When Fang Ri Tu cleared the battlefield, he found more than a thousand Spirit Helm soldiers missing. These troops were elite forces secretly trained by the Sun-worshipping Sect. They scour the continents for spiritual silver fox and white dog pelts to make helms, hoping to allow the vanguard of the Dark Whisper tribe to possess them. If their plan succeeds, it would be a calamity for all of the Void.”

Jiao Mu Jiao snorted, glancing sideways at Dou Mu Xie, “This isn’t the first time those Dark Whisper scum have infiltrated our Void. Have the star wardens monitoring the heavens ever reported a single case?”

Dou Mu Xie’s face showed alarm as he hurried to reply, “Lord, the star wardens are all diligent and loyal, but the Dark Whisper tribe’s method of possession is tied to some unknown rift. At present, the stars of Black Tortoise Palace are searching the heavens, hoping to locate and repair any neglected monitoring rifts. Thus far, no anomalies have been found. The only detected abnormality was the Void of Auspicious Clouds you invoked, Lord.”

Zhuo Hua acknowledged him and continued, “We don’t yet know the power level of the possessed Dark Whisper tribe, but Yuan Kang, whom I fought, already possessed Third Grade Immortal strength. Conservatively, those sent over should be at least that powerful.”

At his words, murmurs spread among the assembly.

Lin Bai said, “Reporting to the Lord, Cloud Palace currently boasts twenty-six star wardens at the divine level, and over two thousand among the twelve guards at eighth-grade immortal level and above. Moreover, countless lower-grade immortal cultivators reside among the mortal immortal clans. I believe the Lord need not worry—a mere thousand possessed troops are not worth concern.”

Zhuo Hua coughed twice, signaling Lin Bai to mind his words. He drank some water and said, “The Dark Whisper tribe’s schemes are longstanding and not to be underestimated. From this day forward, White Tiger Palace shall fully fortify Cloud Palace and train the twelve guards. The task of exterminating the Sun-worshipping Sect remnants and pursuing the escaped Spirit Helm soldiers will be transferred to Azure Dragon Palace.”

White Tiger Palace Lord Kui Mu Lang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and declared loudly, “The seven star wardens of White Tiger Palace and the twelve guards of Cloud Palace shall defend Cloud Palace and the Lord’s safety with our lives. Please rest assured, Lord.”

Zhuo Hua nodded in approval and instructed Jiao Mu Jiao, “Jiao Mu Jiao, Lan Sheng will represent Cloud Palace in the mortal realm, handling all matters of pursuing the Spirit Helm soldiers. The star wardens of Azure Dragon Palace must fully cooperate. When necessary, you must personally assist that boy. If needed, the other three Palaces must also support Lan Sheng. The goal is singular: before the Dark Whisper tribe descends, annihilate the Spirit Helm soldiers and Sun-worshipping Sect.”

All four bowed to accept the orders, though Jiao Mu Jiao muttered quietly, “That may not be the only objective.”

“Dismissed!” Zhuo Hua ignored Jiao Mu Jiao, rising to leave the Palace of Spiritual Perception.

Those below echoed the decree, retreating as they exited the palace.