Chapter Thirty: The Orchid Fairy

Killing—since they dared provoke Kong Xuan, they must be powerful demons, possessed of extraordinary magical abilities. Nan Luo could naturally imagine this, yet he spoke as if it were a trivial matter, as though discussing something utterly mundane.

Though he and Kong Xuan conversed about the same event, their energies were starkly different: one held a restrained murderous intent; the other was calm and unruffled.

In Kong Xuan’s memory, Nan Luo had always been a silent figure who knew when to advance and retreat, understood gratitude, and carried a persistent determination in his heart. Now, Kong Xuan felt Nan Luo had changed. Regardless of his cultivation or magical prowess, his character and spiritual realm had risen greatly. He was still silent, still discerning, still grateful, and that streak of stubbornness remained. Yet he was no longer the Nan Luo of old. There was now a sense of unsullied purity, crystalline and transparent.

The gate to the Palace of the Supreme Ultimate had closed, seemingly retreating into another world. Kong Xuan understood it meant the palace’s master did not wish for him to pay a visit.

A cloud of multicolored mist materialized, bearing Nan Luo and Kong Xuan slowly upward.

In the high air, the wind was not fierce, yet it made Nan Luo’s azure Dao robe whip and flutter. He gazed below; the Palace of the Supreme Ultimate reclined serenely amid the mountains, and the buds of that plum blossom swayed in the wind, as if waving farewell…

Nan Luo had hoped to bid farewell to Gold Horn, Silver Horn, and the little green snake, but everything happened so suddenly, so naturally.

Three months spent recovering in bed, listening quietly as scriptures were recited outside. Three years seated motionless before the pill chamber, watching the vast falling snow, with only a solitary plum blossom for company. Three years meditating in the pill chamber, his heart pondering the day his Dao would be accomplished and he could return to his tribe. Over a year reciting the “Yellow Court” before the cliff face. One year spent climbing ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps before the Palace of Jade Void…

Unknowingly, ten years had passed. Ten years in these Kunlun Mountains. How long had it been since he left his tribe—twelve years, perhaps thirteen? Nan Luo himself could no longer recall clearly.

Yin and yang merged, the Great Dao evolved and shaped the world. Who could say when heaven and earth began to evolve? Even now, was it still expanding infinitely? Not even those self-proclaimed ancient beings born with the cosmos could answer.

Since the evolution of heaven and earth, the struggle and slaughter among living beings had never ceased; countless primordial creatures perished before the Dao was fully formed. Yet more creatures, blessed by the Dao, hid themselves deep in mountains and lakes, cultivating in isolation, untouched by the dust of the world, indifferent to worldly affairs.

Heaven and earth evolved, and billions of creatures were born, roughly divided into three types: birds, scaled creatures, and beasts. Each was led by a sovereign—Phoenix Mountain’s Undying Palace governed the birds of the world; Dragon Palace of the Heavenly Pool commanded all scaled monsters; among beasts, Qilin Cliff was supreme.

How vast was the world? Nan Luo did not know. Once, he could not even discern his own position; now, he saw clearly and transparently.

With only the rudimentary ability of his Celestial Sight, he could not see across millions of miles as if everything were before his eyes, but Kong Xuan could explain it to him.

Heaven and earth were boundless, divided into eight directions. To the east, there lay an immeasurable sea, harboring endless dangers. The extreme north was an unending cold, almost devoid of life—even great beings struggled to survive there. The far west was a desert so barren that even birds could not traverse it. The rest was endless mountains, countless rivers and lakes coursing through the land.

If one were to seek a center in this infinite expanse, only Buzhou Mountain, the Pillar of Heaven and Earth, could claim such a title. Kunlun Mountain lay to the northwest of Buzhou.

As they flew eastward, Kong Xuan’s cloud moved slowly, explaining to Nan Luo the famous mountains and great lakes, and which mighty beings hid within them. Naturally, they passed the Cang Python Cliff, where Nan Luo had been imprisoned for so long, and at last he learned that he and Master Yang Li had spent over a month traversing the vast mountain range called the Enchanted Spirit Range—the most expansive in all the world.

Nan Luo asked Kong Xuan if he knew of a mountain called Yangping Mountain. Kong Xuan shook his head and said he did not.

Phoenix Mountain’s Undying Palace remained unchanged, not even after ten years—magnificent, imposing, gazing down upon all beings.

The Palace of Peacock was no longer deserted; many people had arrived. This time, the Assembly of Ten Thousand Birds was to be presided over by Kong Xuan, so many attendants had been dispatched to the palace.

Despite their numbers, order prevailed. All attendants were led by Lady Orchid, a close companion of the Undying Palace’s master, who had served her for a long time. Naturally, she was sent to assist Kong Xuan in conducting the assembly.

Her name was personally bestowed by the master of the Undying Palace, the Phoenix, and her status was exalted, unmatched by ordinary folk.

Upon Kong Xuan’s return, he simply introduced Nan Luo to Lady Orchid before heading to the Phoenix Palace.

“Nan Luo, sword attendant of Peacock Palace, greets Lady Orchid.” Nan Luo bowed deeply.

Lady Orchid was not extraordinarily beautiful, but her smile was gentle and infectious. She smiled faintly and said, “Nan Luo, you truly possess a lofty bearing, no wonder the Crown Prince Kong Xuan cares for you so deeply.”

Nan Luo smiled in return and replied, “Thank you, Lady Orchid, for your praise… Yet I have not been in the palace since I was injured ten years ago. How did Lady Orchid know my name?” In truth, Nan Luo wanted to say, “I left the Palace of Peacock ten years ago, how do you know Crown Prince Kong Xuan cares for me so much?” During that time, Nan Luo never left his quarters, like a maiden in secluded chambers. The only time he ventured out, he nearly lost his life to Golden Roc.

Lady Orchid’s eyes seemed able to see through a person’s thoughts, yet her gaze was not sharp but infinitely gentle. “Ten years ago, Crown Prince Kong Xuan, angered by your injury, struck the Golden Roc Prince in his own palace, inflicting grievous wounds, plucked his Wind Spirit Feather, and severed his innate foundation…”

Nan Luo was stunned by Lady Orchid’s words; he hadn’t expected Kong Xuan to act so fiercely. His heart stirred inexplicably. With his current state of mind, he no longer clung to the grievances of ten years past, yet hearing this, a surge of inexpressible emotion welled up within him.

“He actually severed the foundation of another palace prince’s Dao for my sake.”

The foundation of the Dao—once, Nan Luo would not have understood, but now he knew it was the trace of Dao inherent in a creature at birth, also called divine power. With Golden Roc’s Dao foundation severed, unless he found another path, he would make no progress this year.

Lady Orchid’s gaze flowed gently as she continued, “After Kong Xuan sent you away and returned, the palace master was furious, demanding he return the Wind Spirit Feather to Golden Roc Prince. Kong Xuan refused outright, saying it was compensation for you, Nan Luo. The palace master, enraged, confined Kong Xuan beneath the Undying Palace for ten years. Only recently was he released.”

Her voice was mild and soft, but to Nan Luo, it thundered like a storm, leaving him speechless.

He had survived death, been brought into the Palace of Peacock, and cultivated tirelessly with hopes of someday returning in glory to his homeland. Yet one day, he was inexplicably beaten near to death. To say he felt no resentment would be a lie.

But after so many years, hearing that someone had stood up for him back then, all the bitterness in his heart vanished without a trace, replaced only by gratitude and a vow to follow faithfully for life.

“Lady Orchid, thank you for telling me.” Nan Luo bowed deeply, remaining so for a long time.

Lady Orchid’s smile was as gentle as the spring breeze.