Chapter Nine: The Duel of Sorcery on Kunlun

The vastness of the Primordial World was truly astonishing. It took an entire month just to journey from the Eastern Sea to the eastern reaches of Mount Kunlun, a feat that sent shockwaves throughout the entire eastern realm. The mighty warriors of the Dragon Clan swept in grand procession from the Crystal Palace beneath the Eastern Sea to the foot of Mount Kunlun.

Though there were attempts by the Qilin Clan’s champions to hinder their advance, even these proud warriors had no choice but to stand aside before the overwhelming power of Candle Dragon, one of the supreme beings of their age.

Upon the slopes of Kunlun, the Three Pure Ones were busy with their work when they noticed dark clouds spreading from the east, rolling toward the mountain. Ordinarily, such weather could be dispelled by any casual immortal, but within these clouds, lightning flickered faintly. The Three Pure Ones realized that the great powers of the three clans had come to call.

At the stage of the Great Golden Immortal, one acquired a unique divine ability known as the "Heavenly Eye." This eye could perceive all things in the vicinity, as well as the fate and changes surrounding them—a power far surpassing even the legendary "Fiery Eyes, Golden Gaze" of the Monkey King from later ages.

The Dragon Clan’s host assembled at the foot of Kunlun in orderly ranks, waiting in silence for Elder Candle Dragon’s command. Their discipline was obvious; otherwise, they would already have been clamoring to attack the mountain.

Candle Dragon sat quietly atop a cloud, the "Heavenly Eye" gleaming in his gaze. Twin beams of golden light shot skyward, circling above Kunlun’s peaks before plummeting downward, searching every inch of the mountain. Every living creature upon Kunlun was swept over by the radiance of his eye.

It was then that the Qilin and Phoenix clans recognized the Dragon Clan’s true destination: Kunlun itself. The one performing meritorious deeds must be here.

“Candle Dragon, do you not see where you stand? This is Qilin territory. How dare you search so wantonly? Do you care nothing for the courtesy owed to a guest?” The speaker was Jade Qilin, second only to the Qilin Ancestor.

Jade Qilin’s story was legendary. The last-born of the Qilin Ancestors, he was innately deficient, yet through sheer effort attained the power of a Golden Immortal—a feat worthy of admiration.

“Indeed! We are guests from afar; how can you so brazenly presume to take charge?” added Heavenly Phoenix, the first of the Phoenix Clan, born of the Phoenix Ancestor’s essence and blood, himself a Golden Immortal.

Candle Dragon, roused from his meditation, regarded Jade Qilin and Heavenly Phoenix without reply. With a sweeping gesture, he sent his mighty clan forth in the indicated direction.

“Are you too intent on that one of merit?” Candle Dragon asked, eyeing Jade Qilin and Heavenly Phoenix.

But the Dragon warriors had not flown far before the two clans blocked their way.

“Block us, and you die!” came the thunderous roar of the dragons, as treasures and spells were unleashed in a deadly assault.

Heavenly Phoenix and Jade Qilin immediately engaged Candle Dragon in battle. Celestial weapons clashed above, and the sky was filled with the thunderous impact as warriors from all three clans fell, their bodies turning to ash.

The Dragon Clan suffered the heaviest losses—two against one, how could they not?

Candle Dragon grew anxious. Though he could eventually subdue Jade Qilin and Heavenly Phoenix, by then his own people would be nearly wiped out.

“Form the Myriad Dragon Array!” With a desperate maneuver to drive back his foes, Candle Dragon called out to his clan.

The sky echoed with dragon roars as each took their position. Golden beams of light shot toward the two enemy clans, striking their strongest and leaving them gravely wounded.

In an instant, the Dragon Clan regained the upper hand.

Jade Qilin, no longer able to endure, produced the clan’s greatest treasure—the Qilin Seal. Forged beneath Mount Buzhou from foul miasma and baleful energy, it could only be wielded with the Qilin’s own auspicious aura, so the toxic forces within it posed no harm to the Qilin themselves, though using it left them unable to move.

Heavenly Phoenix likewise drew forth their supreme treasure—the Phoenix Feather. Fashioned from the Ancestor’s own plumes fused with the infernal fires beneath the Immortal Mountain, it could summon a tide of unquenchable flames from the heavens.

One treasure sent noxious vapors surging from the earth to corrode the dragons, while the other rained molten fire upon the Myriad Dragon Array. The array was awash with screams of agony, a scene too dreadful to behold.

Meanwhile, Candle Dragon hunted for Heavenly Phoenix's whereabouts. Pleased with his own performance, Heavenly Phoenix was suddenly attacked from the shadows. Caught off guard, he was struck a grievous blow, and the Qilin Seal, deprived of its master’s power, fell to the earth.

With a triumphant laugh, Candle Dragon snatched up the Qilin Seal. With the same method, he wounded Heavenly Phoenix and seized the Phoenix Feather as well.

This mission was now a resounding success.

The Dragon Clan’s true aim had always been these two treasures. With the Qilin Seal and Phoenix Feather in their grasp, the fortunes of the Qilin and Phoenix clans alike would fall under dragon control. As for the Three Pure Ones, Candle Dragon had seen their presence, but refrained from acting. When one beheld their fate, glowing with a divine aura the color of crimson and purple, one could not help but feel awe—a power sacred and supreme.

He knew well that the Three Pure Ones were not to be provoked. Even if captured, fate would surely grant them an escape. So Candle Dragon simply led his people back to the Dragon Palace beneath the Eastern Sea.

At that very moment, the Three Pure Ones found themselves in dire peril.

For had it not been said that behind the three clans came a host of rogue cultivators, brought by the Great Autumn Wind? These loose immortals were now converging upon the Three Pure Ones.

With supreme treasures to protect them, the Three Pure Ones could withstand a few, but what of ten thousand? Their only choice was flight, pursued relentlessly from Kunlun westward by the swarm of rogue immortals.

A strike from one of their treasures sent Yuanshi tumbling from the clouds, staggering before falling to the ground. Of the three, Yuanshi had the weakest cultivation; while Laozi and Tongtian evaded with magic and agility, Yuanshi, unable to keep pace, was lightly injured.

Laozi and Tongtian turned back. “How can we, the Three Pure Ones, abandon our brother and flee alone?”

Yuanshi managed a bitter smile. “They will avenge me.”

“What vengeance? We are one—we live and die together,” Tongtian replied, his back to Yuanshi.

“Indeed, we are the Three Pure Ones; as one, we live and die together,” Laozi declared, his voice resolute.

Yuanshi struggled to his feet and summoned the Chaos Box; Laozi called forth the Exquisite Tower of Heaven and Earth, placing it above their heads; Tongtian wielded the Nine-Petaled Purple Lotus as their defense.

The loose immortals closed in, encircling the Three Pure Ones, treasures above and enemies on all sides.

What fate awaited them now? Would they escape this calamity?