Stellar Transformation-Chapter 162: Volume 7 - 15 The Six Great Leaders

True Master Yan Xu, True Master Huo Tian, and True Master Di Feng took the lead, with dozens of Cultivators plunging straight down into the sea. The path through which they passed was naturally cleared by the Cultivators’ True Essence Power. In just a moment, they had reached the seabed and entered the territory that once was the Red Blood Territory, now the Star Domain.

True Master Yan Xu said indifferently, "Gentlemen, this place is the Star Domain, the territory of the Star Pavilion. I hope everyone will behave with a sense of propriety and not provoke the Star Pavilion—that would not be good."

"Rest assured, True Master, we will bear it in mind," most of the Cultivators responded in unison.

True Master Huo Tian looked around and then smiled, "True Master Di Feng, you see, I was right. There are hundreds of thousands of Demon Cultivators in the Star Domain, but their architecture is so crude. Don’t they understand formations?"

Qingxu Temple’s status in the Penglai Immortal Domain was unshakable, and the only sects that ranked just below Qingxu Temple were the Purple Sun Sect and the Lanyang Sect. Due to True Master Yan Xu’s exceptional prowess, the status of Qingxu Temple was naturally unshakable, but the two Great Elders from the Lanyang Sect and the Purple Sun Sect were like fire and water with each other.

True Master Di Feng replied with a light smile, "Humph, you do know that there are hundreds of thousands of Demon Cultivators here. In our Penglai Immortal Domain, the sect with the most disciples barely numbers in the tens of thousands, and only just over a million in total. The undersea Demon Cultivators, now the four major forces, each are not far behind us in strength. Green Dragon Palace and Bishui Mansion even have us outmatched. True Master Huo Tian, taste is secondary, it’s strength that matters most. Furthermore... I find your taste quite ordinary as well."

"What did you say!" True Master Huo Tian immediately became furious.

The Treasure Clothes worn by True Master Huo Tian was bestowed by the Purple Sun Sect at their headquarters on the Tenglong Continent, shimmering with auspicious energy—a true treasure indeed. He usually wore these Treasure Clothes for most significant events. However, True Master Di Difeng often criticized them, commenting that True Master Huo Tian’s Treasure Clothes were overly crude and of poor taste.

"What am I saying? You really think your Treasure Clothes are some kind of treasure..." scoffed True Master Di Feng dismissively.

"Enough, both of you, leave such disputes for when we return," True Master Yan Xu’s voice turned cold, and immediately both True Master Huo Tian and True Master Di Feng snorted coldly and fell silent. The other Cultivators dared not interject. Before long, the Cultivators finally saw the Star Pavilion from afar.

Upon glimpsing the Star Pavilion, the Cultivators were all dumbfounded, their faces unable to conceal their disbelief.

From a distance, the Star Pavilion radiated the brilliance of the sun and moon, dazzling at the bottom of the sea and attracting attention like a bright pearl. The overwhelming Spiritual Energy amazed all the Cultivators.

"Is this the Star Pavilion?"

The Cultivators present could hardly believe it. In their minds, Demon Cultivators were barbarians—while their power was decent, how could their buildings, Artifact Refining, and Alchemy possibly compare with humans’ creations? Yet, the Star Pavilion in front of them...

The surrounding structures were the guards’ living quarters, housing thirty thousand guards—something the Penglai Immortal Domain could not compare with.

"Who goes there!"

At the outer perimeter, a large squad was standing guard, a thousand Demon Cultivators in total, led by Wu Tong, who used to be the protector of the Red Blood Cave Mansion.

"We are from the Penglai Immortal Domain, here to congratulate the opening of the Star Pavilion. Please, friend, go ahead and notify them," a disciple from the Qingxu Temple took out a token and immediately said.

Wu Tong had already noticed that these people lacked Demon Qi, and having been informed that people from the other Five Great Forces would come, he already had an inkling. Upon hearing the reply, he said immediately, "Please wait, esteemed friends; I shall go and report this at once."

As Wu Tong spoke, he inwardly cursed, "Cultivators and Demon Cultivators sure are strange, insisting on calling each other ’esteemed friend.’ Wouldn’t it be simpler to just say ’brother’?" After saying this, Wu Tong quickly flew towards the Star Pavilion. Shortly after, Qin Yu and Hou Fei, accompanied by the Eight Guardians, personally came to greet the visitors. Of the high-ranking members of the Star Pavilion, only Hei Yu was too lazy to come.

"Haha... esteemed friends."

Qin Yu, clad in a long robe with a smile on his face, led the eight Guardians to welcome the visitors from the Penglai Immortal Domain.

"I am Qin Yu, the Star Pavilion Master, this is my brother, the Second Pavilion Master Hou Fei; these eight are the Guardians of my Star Pavilion." Qin Yu glanced at the Cultivators in front of him and introduced his people briefly.

True Master Yan Xu immediately smiled and said, "So you are Pavilion Master Qin Yu. I am Yan Xu, the Great Elder of Qingxu Temple; this is True Master Huo Tian from the Purple Sun Sect, and this is True Master Di Feng from the Lanyang Sect. The others are fellow Daoists who have come with us, so I won’t introduce everyone one by one."

"True Master Yan Xu, True Master Huo Tian, True Master Di Feng." Qin Yu greeted each one in turn, then smiled and said, "Please, follow me."

Qin Yu walked side by side with True Master Yan Xu, while Hou Fei, True Master Huo Tian, and True Master Di Feng followed closely behind. The eight Guardians and a group of other Cultivators also lingered at the back. The entire company thus majestically made their way directly toward the Star Pavilion.

The closer they got to the Star Pavilion, the more the likes of True Master Yan Xu and his group marveled.

Could this truly be the abode of a Demon Cultivator?

It probably far surpasses even the blessed lands of the Cultivators’ Cave Mansions.

Qin Yu secretly observed the expressions of various Cultivators, and thought with a chuckle, "Most Cultivators indeed look down upon the residences of Demon Cultivators; it seems to be true."

...

Upon entering the Star Pavilion, the Complete Heaven Star Formation created an environment within the whole area of the Pavilion shrouded in mist, with magnificent pavilions and winding path corridors that resembled celestial architecture. This stupefied each and every Cultivator present.

The Spiritual Energy was so dense that it formed Fog; while not something unseen in other Cultivator sects, the entire Star Pavilion area was engulfed in such rich Spiritual Energy, the expanse simply too vast. Moreover, the dawn light, evening glow, starlight, moonlight, sunlight...

The radiance from the Complete Heaven Star Formation, simulating the celestial bodies, left the Cultivators on site in disbelief.

"My fellow Daoists, this place is called ’Penglai Garden,’ specially constructed to host all of you. Please make yourselves at home, and if there is anything you need, feel free to instruct the maids," Qin Yu said with a smile.

However, having seen such wonders along the way, these Cultivators were utterly astonished, and when Qin Yu suddenly spoke, they had not yet snapped back to reality.

"My fellow Daoists, are you... perhaps dissatisfied with this place?" Qin Yu asked again.

"Ah, no!" True Master Yan Xu, eyes filled with delight, responded, "Such a blessed land as this, even an elder like myself has never seen before. To be able to admire such a celestial beauty of the Star Pavilion is truly a feast for the eyes, how could we be dissatisfied?"

True Master Di Feng also laughed and said, "Pavilion Master Qin Yu, the construction of the Star Pavilion is indeed more wondrous than we could have imagined." He suddenly glanced towards True Master Huo Tian and teased, "True Master Huo Tian, didn’t you say before coming that this Star Pavilion..."

"Di Feng,"

True Master Huo Tian swiftly interjected, worried that if Di Feng were to continue, he would indeed lose face. Despite his pride, he had to admit that the Star Pavilion truly exceeded his expectations; compared to the Star Pavilion, his own sect’s architecture seemed low in taste.

True Master Di Feng smiled, deciding not to continue on the topic.

*****

Before the arrival of the delegates from Penglai Immortal Domain, people from Green Dragon Palace had already arrived. As time passed, within half a month, representatives from Bishui Mansion, Nine Evil Hall, and Purple Flame Demon Prison, respectively, made their appearances. With this, people from all five great forces had arrived.

The opening of Star Pavilion was a grand occasion. Ordinary Cave Mansions could only dream of attending; only the five great forces were qualified to offer their congratulations.

A few days later came the day of the opening.

Above the Star Pavilion, within the Sun and Moon Hall.

The Sun and Moon Hall was vast, and at this moment, dozens of banquet tables were set up. The people from the other five forces marveled at the sight, as countless stars twinkled above their heads. Beautiful maids carried tray after tray of exquisite dishes, and the experts from the Overseas Cultivation World were quite joyful.

The innermost table kept a distance from all others.

Sitting at this table were just six individuals – Azure Dragon, Three-eyed Old Demon, True Master Yan Xu, Yida, Qin Yu, and Di Long. They were undoubtedly the leading figures of the six forces, while Hou Fei, Hei Yu, Di Jian, Teng Shan, Lou Ke, True Master Di Feng, True Master Huo Tian, Situ Xue, and others sat at another table.

"A toast to Brother Qin Yu on the occasion of the Star Pavilion’s opening," Azure Dragon was the first to raise his cup.

Immediately, the Three-eyed Old Demon, True Master Yan Xu, Yida, Di Long, and others also raised their glasses to congratulate, and Qin Yu humbly raised his own. After drinking in unison, the six engaged in lively conversation, mostly about trivial matters.

These six were also considered the Six Great Leaders of the Overseas Cultivation World, entirely representative of its powers. Ordinary people could hardly imagine that such powerful individuals would gather together and share personal anecdotes and jokes with one another.

"Brother Qin Yu, let me ask you a question. If you guess correctly, I’ll give you three top-grade spiritual artifacts. How does that sound?" Azure Dragon, tipsy from the wine, asked Qin Yu with a smile.

Qin Yu, less formal now than at the beginning, replied, "Three artifacts? Alright, just don’t renege on the bet later. Go ahead and ask."

Azure Dragon chuckled, "You should know Yida’s nickname, right? The Purple-haired Prison King! Do you know where his nickname comes from?"

Glancing at the Purple-haired Prison King Yida, Qin Yu promptly replied, "From the Purple Flame Demon Prison. Since Brother Yida is the leading figure of the Purple Flame Demon Prison, he’s naturally the Prison King. Plus, he has purple hair, hence the name Purple-haired Prison King. Am I right or not?"

"Incorrect!"

Azure Dragon shouted at once before erupting into triumphant laughter. "I knew you wouldn’t guess rightly."

Yida slowly put down his cup, his downcast eyes lifting toward Azure Dragon, the purple glow in his gaze lending him an otherworldly air, "Azure Dragon, I’ve noticed you like to bring me up often – even at the opening of Nine Evil Hall back then, you singled me out, didn’t you?"

True Master Yan Xu, with a warm smile on his face, interjected, "Yida, don’t take it to heart. You know what Azure Dragon’s like."

"Green Dragon Palace Master, you still haven’t told us how Brother Yida got his nickname of Purple-haired Prison King," Qin Yu immediately followed up.

The Three-eyed Old Demon spoke up instead, "Allow me. In the past, Jiao Jiu and Situ Xue from the Purple Flame Demon Prison fought over the title of number one Demon Cultivator. Yida, then unaffiliated with any Sect or Faction, simply captured both Jiao Jiu and Situ Xue, locking them away in prison for three full years. Without speaking to them at all, after three years, Yida finally asked if they would acknowledge him as the top figure of the Purple Flame Demon Prison."

Qin Yu was taken aback.

Azure Dragon laughed heartily, "Yida has this eccentric temperament where he locks people up in prison, seals their powers, and leaves them for a few years before he even talks to them. Because of his fondness for imprisoning people, some experts have dubbed him the Prison King."

After downing another cup of wine, Yida coldly added, "I detest wasting words with others - seal their powers, keep them for three years, the sheer loneliness is enough to drive them mad. Then after three years, whatever I ask them to do, if they don’t comply, they get another decade or two locked up."

Qin Yu was astonished.

Sealed from their powers, the prisoners would not even be able to go into isolated cultivation. Being confined and all alone – the notion itself was distressing.

"Before Yida, the top figure of the Purple Flame Demon Prison was usually called ’Demon King’, but with him, the title became ’Prison King’," the Three-eyed Old Demon said, laughing. It was evident from his tone that he appreciated Yida’s method of handling things.

Di Long, meanwhile, drank sullenly by himself.

Of the original nine brothers, five had perished; Nine Evil Hall’s strength was greatly diminished, naturally lowering its status in the eyes of the other factions.

The leaders of the five great forces engaged in casual conversation about each other’s matters for some time until True Master Yan Xu suddenly waved his hand, dousing them in True Essence Power and erecting a restriction around the group. The others looked at True Master Yan Xu, puzzled.

"I have installed a restriction because there is a serious matter I wish to discuss with you all," True Master Yan Xu said with a smile.

"Speak up, what’s so mysterious?" Azure Dragon chuckled.

Yida, however, glanced coldly at True Master Yan Xu, and the rest remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

With a smile, True Master Yan Xu proceeded, "Everyone here represents the entirety of the Overseas Cultivation World’s influence. Now, I’d like to discuss something regarding the Nine Sword Immortal Mansion."

Instantly, Azure Dragon, the Three-eyed Old Demon, and Yida, Qin Yu, Di Long – all set down their cups, turning their full attention to True Master Yan Xu.

True Master Yan Xu looked toward Qin Yu, "Master Qin Yu, you have the eighth Jade Sword in your possession, correct?"

Qin Yu felt wary, wondering what True Master Yan Xu intended to discuss. He suddenly recalled when Green Dragon Palace’s people first arrived at Star Pavilion, Azure Dragon had mentioned to him, "Brother Qin Yu, the legend of the Nine Swords involves a total of nine Jade Swords, and if there’s anyone who desperately wants another, it’s Penglai Immortal Domain. Penglai Immortal Domain has many sects, and the big ones number three, yet they possess only one Jade Sword, which makes distribution somewhat problematic."

"Yes, but why are you asking about it, True Master Yan Xu?" Qin Yu’s guard was up.

True Master Yan Xu nodded and continued, "To my knowledge, Penglai Immortal Domain has the first Jade Sword. Purple Flame Demon Prison has the third and fifth. Green Dragon Palace has the fourth and seventh. Bishui Mansion has the second Jade Sword. Nine Evil Hall has the sixth, and Star Pavilion – the eighth. Do I speak correctly?"

The leaders of the other five great forces nodded in agreement.

"So, I am hoping that each of you will lend your Jade Swords to me temporarily," True Master Yan Xu said with a smile.

(End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 will be released later today. I’ll do my best to have it ready by around 12 o’clock!)

(To be continued... If you wish to know what happens next, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM where more Chapters are available. Support the author and support legal reading!)