Against the Gods

Chapter 2167 - Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song

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The Vermillion Bird Flame did not grow weaker. On the contrary, it was burning brighter and hotter with every passing second. It looked like High Priest Ling Xian was trying to melt the entire sky of the Pure Land into a vast expanse of deep crimson radiance. Even the skylight was saturated by the divine fire and transformed into flowing patterns of molten gold.

When the eighth drop of blood essence fully condensed between those withered fingers, the fiery light had completely overwhelmed Divine Attendant Su Shang’s voice... but High Priest Ling Xian still did not withdraw her hand. The ninth drop of divine blood was beginning to form on her palm.

The fiery aura of a Vermillion Bird True God was beyond terrifying. Anyone else would have lost their spiritual perception and their consciousness completely. However, Yun Che could clearly sense that the immense divine aura contained within the ninth drop of divine blood.

It was definitely not your ordinary Vermillion Bird blood essence. It was the primordial divine blood rooted in her origin and the core of her life vein. Not only could it never be regenerated, but the loss of every strand was also accompanied by a diminution of one’s lifespan. It was, in every sense of the word, a sacrifice.

The fire immolating him was growing warmer by the second, but the fiery abysses in High Priest Ling Xian’s pupils were dimming just as quickly. Several times, Yun Che opened his mouth and forced his voice through the fiery aura of a True God, “Senior... you... can’t...”

This was his first meeting with High Priest Ling Xian. He had no idea what he did to deserve such a heavy gift from her. If she were just planning to pass down the Vermillion Bird Flame, a single drop or primordial blood essence would have sufficed!

High Priest Ling Xian ignored him. The ninth drop of Vermillion Bird divine blood eventually manifested fully in her grasp.

Finally, she began moving. Her fingers slowly clenched and halted for a brief moment. Then, she abruptly pointed out with her index finger and tapped Yun Che on his forehead.

The world before Yun Che’s eyes instantly transformed into a crimson sea of flames. A powerful, ancient yet unbelievably warm stream slowly circulated throughout his body. For a time, beautiful yet warm crimson light shone into his flesh and blood, his profound veins, and his soul sea, dispelling all physical pain and burning away all negative emotions. Never had he felt so safe and at peace since setting foot in the Abyss. He instinctively wanted to submerge in this sense of security and slumber contentedly in this divine warmth.

This wasn’t all he sensed, though. Yun Che also captured a hint of hidden desire amidst this endless sea of warmth and peace. At that moment, he suddenly understood why High Priest Ling Xian allowed herself to age to the extent she did, and why she had bestowed him such a ridiculous favor.

For three million years, she stood watch over him and prayed that he would one day accept her feelings. And yet, her figure never entered Mo Su’s lightless eyes for even an instant. Even if she were a hundred, even a thousand times more beautiful than she was, she would never be able to stir up a single ripple in his eyes...

So, her heart and soul slowly succumbed to despair, and her countenance with it. Her lifespan was approaching its end as well.

It was at this moment that a person who could stir up his heart and capture his gaze appeared in this world... That was why she was doing this. She wanted him to burn her Vermillion Bird Flame, keep him company, and continue watching over him in her stead.

Rather than the succession of the Vermillion Bird Flame, this was probably the true wish of her desires.

Another clear, piercing cry echoed across heaven and earth and roused Yun Che’s consciousness from the warm sea of flames. He opened his eyes and found that the world before him was rapidly shedding its crimson-gold halo. As if its soul had been sucked out, the divine silhouette of the Vermillion Bird, whose wings spanned thousands upon thousands of kilometers, slowly withered away. The fiery, glass-like radiance flowing across its feathers began to dim layer by layer, like the last vestiges of color of a sunset as it burned out. The fiery starfire burning at the tip of its tail feather had long since faded as well.

When the piercing cry echoing through the void finally faded into the distance, the blazing form of the Vermillion Bird shattered and dissolved into countless fragments of fiery dust in an instant. As the wind blew, they scattered across the sky like showers of crimson showers, cascading rivers of stars, or fireflies bidding farewell to the twilight.

The once-churning clouds of crimson transformed into layer upon layer of sheer gauze, slowly torn apart by an invisible wind. Eventually, High Priest Ling Xian appeared beneath the faded divine silhouette. Her complexion was deathly pale, but her lips were still curved into a light, benevolent smile.

“Master!!”

Su Shang staggered forward and caught High Priest Ling Xian’s unsteady form with both arms. Right now, her usually refined and serene countenance was drained of all color, just like High Priest Ling Xian. “You did not have to do this, master.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

There was no disappointment in High Priest Ling Xian’s smile, only a hint of satisfaction and release. “I simply lost seventy percent of my remaining lifespan, that’s all. The remaining thirty percent... to him... is enough.”

“......” Tears immediately streamed down the corners of Divine Attendant Su Shang’s eyes. She could not say anything for a long, long time.

There was no time for him to sense the Vermillion Bird’s blood inside his body. Yun Che got up to his feet and bowed deeply to her. “Junior Yun Che thanks you very much for this favor, senior Ling Xian.”

“There is no need for thanks.”

High Priest Ling Xian patted Su Shang on the hand before taking a slow step forward with her support. Although her eyes had become even murkier than before, she focused her gaze on Yun Che once more and said, “This is both the payment I owe you and the best home for the Vermillion Bird Flame.”

She lifted a finger, and a jade slip glowing with the fiery light of a crimson crystal appeared before Yun Che. It landed in his grasp.

“This... is the ‘Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song’. To others, it is merely sheet music for calming the mind and purifying the thoughts. However, if it is played with the Vermillion Bird Flame, it could ignite an absolute flame of divine music that could soothe the spirits and redeem the world!”

In fact, Yun Che had heard of the “Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song” long before he was in the lower realm. Together with the “Golden Crow’s Record of the Burning World” and the “World Ode of the Phoenix”, they were renowned throughout Primal Chaos.

Now that the “Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song” had entered his possession, it meant that the inheritances of the Three Supreme Fire Attribute Beasts had finally been reunited inside his body.

The moment the crimson crystal jade slip landed on his palm, it automatically unfolded itself and presented the “Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song” clearly to his eyes. At the same time, High Priest Ling Xian’s divine voice flowed into his ears and soul:

“There are eight music sheets in the ‘Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song’ in total. The first four sheets are ‘Ode to the Blazing Dawn’, ‘Tranquiling Hymn of Spirits’, ‘Melody of Burning Calamity’, and ‘Song of the Bird’s Heart’. They are all relatively easy to grasp. With your profound veins and sincere heart, I’m sure you’ll master them faster than Su Shang did.”

“The next three sheets are ‘Heavenly Plume Compassionate Voyage Melody’, ‘Ballad of Vermillion Cloud’s Passing’, and ‘Song of Ashes and Mercy’. The first two require a sufficient amount of harmony between the flame bearer and the Vermillion Bird Flame, extremely high power of comprehension, and a compassionate heart that feels for the suffering world.”

“The seventh sheet in particular requires perfect mastery of the Vermillion Bird Flame, absolute power of comprehension, a saintly heart, and an immaculate soul. Su Shang cannot ignite it, despite having cultivated it for ten thousand years. If you find yourself facing the same wall, you need not force yourself to master it.”

Yun Che listened in silence until High Priest Ling Xian was done talking. Then, he closed the jade slip and put it away solemnly, asking, “This junior will remember every word of your teaching, senior. However, you mentioned that there were eight music sheets in total... is the last music sheet lost to time?”

“No.”

The one who answered his question was Divine Attendant Su Shang. “The last music sheet of the ‘Vermillion Bird’s Consoling Spirit Song’ is titled the ‘Ode to Redemption’. Master is the only one in the world who can play it, but...”

She did not continue, but Yun Che understood her unsaid words perfectly. It turned out that the eighth sheet music was none other than the Flame of Redemption, one of the Three Ultimate Flames alongside the Flame of Nirvana of the Phoenix, and the Nine Heavens Cry of Dead Crow and Shattered Jade of the Golden Crow.

They were flames that could only ignite when the bearer met their end.

“Cough! Cough cough!”

A violent cough suddenly wracked High Priest Ling Xian’s body and caused her to tremble in pain. Divine Attendant Su Shang immediately extended a hand and blocked the showers of blood she was spitting.

Yun Che subconsciously stepped forward and said, “Senior, I—”

But High Priest Ling Xian waved him off and said consolingly, “There is no need to worry for me. As an old woman who should have entered her eternal slumber three million years ago, there is nothing more I desire than the ultimate release. I owe you much for the Primal Flame Crystal you gifted me. It ensured that I will not suffer the physical pain of the backlash for the last thousand years of my life.”

“The last thousand years of my life”... Yun Che’s heart beat strongly when he heard this. High Priest Ling Xian, one of the Four High Priests of the Pure Land, a woman who lived so long that she spanned nearly the entire history of the Abyss... only had a thousand years left after passing down the Vermillion Bird’s inheritance to him.

“If you truly must repay the favor somehow, then I have three pieces of advice to offer you. I beseech you to listen to them carefully.”

Yun Che immediately stood up straight and bowed to her with deep respect. “Of course. This junior promises not to miss a single word.”

“Cough... cough cough...”

High Priest Ling Xian already looked ancient to begin with, but her countenance was decaying visibly in front of him. It took her a few breaths to finally calm her physical reactions and say softly, “Since you possess Lord Ni Xuan’s profound veins and carry both the Phoenix Flame and the Golden Crow Flame in you, you should know that, in terms of destructive power, the Golden Crow Flame is the strongest, followed by the Phoenix Flame and the Vermillion Bird Flame.”

“However, the Vermilion Bird Flame is universally acknowledged as the foremost of the three divine flames.... Do you know why that is the case?”

Yun Che answered, “Although the Vermillion Bird Flame is ill-suited for burning lives, it can warm and comfort the soul, purge all impurities, and subdue all malevolent forces. That is why it is praised by all worlds and revered by all living creatures. It absolutely deserves to stand as the foremost of the three divine flames.”

High Priest Ling Xian nodded smilingly, “Good, very good. The ‘Eternal Pure Land’ is my homeland, but I am destined to never return. So, my first piece of advice to you is this... Should you ever set foot in the ‘Eternal Pure Land’, remember that the Vermilion Bird’s Flame may only be used to console the spirits—never to commit evil.”

She has a thousand years left to live... but she is destined never to return?

Yun Che was puzzled, but of course, he could not question her about it right now. He replied with the utmost gravity, “Got it! This junior solemnly swears that he will never—”

“You do not need to make an oath.” High Priest Ling Xian cut him off before he could finish. “Compassion lies in the heart, not words or deeds. Your response is enough for me.”

“My second piece of advice is...”

She looked at Yun Che like a parent would look at her child. “The nine drops of divine blood I bestowed upon you are derived from my Vermillion Bird origin. So, they contain some of my origin divine power. If you are just an ordinary person, you may refine them fully and become a Half-God instantly. As you possess Lord Ni Xuan’s profound veins, I am unsure how they will facilitate your growth. However...”

“Whatever you do, you must not allow impatience to get the better of you. Every time you refine a drop, remember to wait at least three years for the next one. Otherwise, losing your divine origin is one thing, but the damage you receive from the backlash... may very well be permanent.”

To Yun Che, the risk High Priest Ling Xian was warning him about simply did not exist. Still, he nodded obediently and said, “Okay. Although this junior harbors infinite longing toward the Vermillion Bird Flame, to waste even an ounce of your gift is an unforgivable sin. This junior promises to take it slow and steady, carefully refining your divine blood. This junior will never allow his desire for results to overtake his better senses.”

He was telling the truth, but exactly how “slow” and “steady” he would take his improvement was up to him.

“Good.”

High Priest Ling Xian nodded again. Her breathing had been slow and steady at first, but now it was obviously becoming shallow and rapid. Every time she inhaled, there was a tremor that she could not quite conceal. She looked like a flickering candle in the wind, to put it mildly.

Even the long red gown she was wearing had lost its luster. It did not possess the vibrancy of the vermillion flame that once enveloped it, either. Instead, weighed down by its owner’s frailty, it hung with a newfound heaviness.

Still, her weakness did not change the warmth in those murky eyes one bit. High Priest Ling Xian continued, “Have you heard of the ‘Pale Flame’ from your master, child?”

Yun Che nodded and replied, “The Ancestral God left behind Three Tribulations and Three Boons when she created the world, and the Pale Flame is one of the Three Tribulations. It was ultimately extinguished by Master.”

The truth was that Li Suo had told him just the day before.

“I thought you would know about this. That’s good.”

High Priest Ling Xian’s aura was only growing unsteadier as time passed. It eventually came to the point where the hand she had been clinging to Su Shang with was shaking as well. Still, she continued in an even voice, “Since you know about the Pale Flame, then you should know about its ending as well. Lord Ni Xuan had broken its origin seed into three fragments and bestowed them to the Vermillion Birds, the Phoenixes, and the Golden Crows.”

“My third piece of advice is this... cough, cough... never, ever attempt to merge the Vermillion Bird Flame, Phoenix Flame, and the Golden Crow Flame because of the legend of the Pale Flame.”

“But... why?”

Looking at High Priest Ling Xian’s condition, the best thing to do here was to accept her advice without question so she could catch some rest as soon as possible. However, he ultimately could not stop himself from asking the question.

The crimson jade hairpin seemed unable to endure the weight of her gray hair fully. A few strands slipped past the pin, falling to either side of her cheeks and partially concealing the cloudiness in her eyes. She lowered her gaze and offered Yun Che a clear enough answer, “Lord Ni Xuan was born for the elements and so did not fear any heavenly or earthly fire. However, even he did not dare to kindle the Pale Flame upon his own body.”

“It is because the Pale Flame would automatically give birth to a violent flame spirit when it is ignited.”

“Although your power kindles the flame, its fiery spirit will never obey your will. Driven solely by its instinct to consume, it will burn both itself and its foes, unleashing an unpredictable and uncontrollable inferno of terrible proportions.”

Yun Che: “......”

“However... this is not the main reason why you should not attempt this.”

“The Pale Flame is a flame of disaster that could easily burn even the body of a True God. It was a disaster that stunned the world even during the Era of Gods, much less the current one... cough... cough cough... therefore, it is impossible for a being of the current era to kindle the flame, nor should you try to...”

“If you succumb to your curiosity and desire for power and experiment, it is exceedingly likely that you will only destroy yourself... the consequences... would be... unimaginable—cough! Cough! Cough!...”

“Master, enough talking!”

Su Shang could not stay silent any longer and supported High Priest Ling Xian’s tottering body tightly. The old woman’s arm felt ice-cold to the touch. Even the skin that usually carried the lingering warmth of a Vermillion Bird felt as cold as an ancient jade that had lost its divine aura.

Yun Che swiftly replied, “This junior has engraved all of your teachings in my heart. This junior promises not to forget even half a word.”

“If there is nothing else, please catch some rest and treat yourself kindly, senior. This junior shan’t disturb you any further. Goodbye.”

Su Shang was in such a hurry that she did not even bother to bid Yun Che goodbye. She simply waved her long sleeve and caused a gust of wind to blow in front of him. Space rippled, and his vision blurred. The next thing he knew, he was standing outside High Priest Ling Xian’s divine abode. Yun Che did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood still for a long time, feeling a range of emotions and even a sense of unreality.

“To think she gave you such a heavy gift.”

Li Suo let out a sigh. “Is a ‘sincere smile’... truly that important and precious??”

Yun Che chose this moment to turn around and slowly walk away. “You haven’t experienced three million years of waiting and watching. Of course, you wouldn’t understand.”

“I... do not understand, all right.”

Li Suo said softly, “Love is Mo Su’s obsession. He of all people should understand Ling Xian’s love for him, so why... was he unwilling to offer her even a true smile?”

Yun Che answered, “Because there is nothing more selfish than the love between a man and a woman.”

This answer only confused Li Suo more, though. “If the love between a man and a woman is so selfish, then how do you explain the fact that you have multiple wives, concubines, lovers—”

“Shut up!”

Yun Che interrupted her forcefully, “Don’t interrupt my thinking.”

Li Suo was silent for a moment, but she gradually noticed the weight in Yun Che’s mind and asked again, “You’ve just received an enormous amount of Vermillion Bird divine origin. Not only would it allow you to kindle the Vermillion Bird Flame, but you’ll also achieve several times the growth you’ve achieved since entering the Abyss four years ago in just a short time after you fully refine it.”

“So why is there more solemnity in your heart than there is joy?”

Yun Che’s brows were slightly furrowed, but they refused to relax even after a long time. “The passage to the ‘Eternal Pure Land’ will open less than fifty years later. High Priest Ling Xian still has a thousand or so years left in her lifespan. However, she claims that she is destined never to return to the ‘Eternal Pure Land’...”

“Is it because... she didn’t want to go back??”

“That shouldn’t be the case.”

Yun Che shook his head. “To her, that is her homeland. Her desire to return home should only be greater than the natives’. Besides, she is literally nearing the end of her lifespan. Her desire to rest her bones in her homeland should only be greater...”

“Big Brother Yun!!”

It was at this moment that a distant cry interrupted his thoughts. The next moment, he saw Hua Caili flying toward him like an immaculate jade butterfly.

“Caili? Why are you here?” Yun Che exclaimed with pleasant surprise.

Hua Caili affectionately and naturally lifted his arms into the air and half-leaned against him, eyebrows curling into exquisite new moons. “Divine Son Xi told me that you are with Grandma Ling Xian, so I came to look for you. Now follow me.”

“Er, where are we going?”

A cool breeze brushed against his ears as Hua Caili gently pulled him into the sky. “You’ll find out very soon.”

Author’s Note: The “Secret Tome” Shenwu Yi is talking about appeared in two previous chapters. It first appeared in chapter 2063, when the Obsidian Evil Removing Crystal was procured. Then, it appeared again in chapter 2104, revealing that “the bearer’s love, will, heart, thoughts, loyalty... once engraved are constant, never-changing, and eternal.” Now that the Abyssal Heart Vine is “obtained” in the Forbidden Zone of Slumbering Gods, five of the six “necessary items” recorded in the Secret Tome have been obtained.

1. I was wondering how Yun Che is going to make up for his sins down the line, and I think I found my answer. ☜