Volume One: The Cloudy Immortal Palace Chapter Fourteen: The Nine-Petal Fire Lotus

Chapter Fourteen: The Nine-Petal Fire-Heart Lotus

The Immortal Hall was a miniature world of celestial earth, suffused with the essence of heavenly and earthly spirits. Here, even lesser immortals could cultivate their celestial power with little effort, while the hall masters themselves dwelled at the rank of high immortals. They served at the command of the Immortal King, and though outwardly they founded sects and accepted disciples, in truth, their charge was to defend the territories of the Immortal King. For the Immortal Domain was vast beyond measure, with countless living beings arising on life-bearing stars, floating isles, and even continents adrift in the starry void. Yet, due to the diversity of environments and cultures, these beings varied greatly in their development. Some could cultivate and grow powerful, while others spent their three-thousand-year lifespans—or even less—in ignorance and obscurity.

Among those capable of cultivation, arrogance and ambition inevitably arose. The annals of the Immortal Domain were full of tales of demonic immortals and evil spirits seeking dominion over entire regions. Their strength varied, and so did the scale of their deeds. Some were mere petty fiends, bullying the weak; others were mighty demons who seized mountains and declared themselves kings. A few became titanic monsters, capable of blotting out the sky with a single hand and wantonly devouring millions of souls. Rarest and most dangerous of all were those corrupted immortals who, driven by forbidden arts, dared to invade immortal cities and challenge the Immortal King himself.

Thus, for an Immortal King to sit securely on the throne, it was necessary to quell these “evil forces.” Moreover, with the myriad populations across the star domains and many immortals attaining the rank of high immortal, it was only fitting to recruit their strength to suppress rebellious demons both great and small. This was the perfect solution.

Yet, the greatest uncertainties were those truly formidable and troublesome beings who could threaten the king’s rule. Such creatures, each blessed with exceptional talent—some even born of the so-called peaceful factions but fallen for various reasons—harbored deep resentments against the Immortal Domain. They had become extreme, turning into demonic immortals who believed only in the might of force. What they sought was the restoration of lost dignity and the glory of supreme immortality.

The Cloudmist Immortal Hall was no exception. Beyond this patch of immortal earth, there existed other life-bearing stars, home to both minor and great demons. Cloudmist had to regularly dispatch disciples and elders to patrol these regions. Sometimes, upon higher orders, the hall master would personally travel to distant stars to subdue monsters and quell evil.

Such was the value of the Immortal Hall’s existence—to safeguard the peace of the Immortal King’s realms.

Deep within the earth’s veins, heat, crimson light, molten magma, and layers of rock reigned supreme. Yet, amidst a lake of molten lava, a single straight and slender red lotus took root. This lotus boasted eight petals, and at its center flickered a cluster of pure golden flame. The magma lay still; the red lotus swayed gently, shedding blossoms of scarlet radiance like showers of fiery meteors.

The Nine-Petal Fire-Heart Lotus!

“Master, do you have any way for me to consume a petal of the Fire-Heart Lotus without my body exploding?” Zhou Hao asked.

Unhurried, Yun Fang reached into his sleeve and produced a single silver-white glove, which he handed to Zhou Hao, whose face was full of curiosity. “Immortal silkworm glove—this is my treasure. Don’t stare, there’s only one. Now, you need to pluck a petal from the lotus. After that, I’ll teach you how to neutralize its power.”

Zhou Hao glanced at the glove, then at the Fire-Heart Lotus ahead, swallowing nervously. “Master, I have just one question.”

“Speak.”

“Will you come burn incense at my grave next year on this day?”

“What did you say?” Yun Fang’s mouth twitched.

Realizing his jest had gone too far, Zhou Hao hurriedly waved his hands. “Just kidding, Master! Watch me!”

With a nimble leap, Zhou Hao soared toward the Nine-Petal Fire-Heart Lotus, light as a swallow. In his right hand, he clutched an immortal sword; on his left, he wore the immortal silkworm glove.

He stopped three feet from the lotus—close enough to cut a petal with his sword, but also because the lotus itself radiated a heat even more intense than the magma. Zhou Hao suspected that, after so long in the lava, it had become the very source of heat itself.

“What a fragrance! The Fire-Heart Lotus’s scent is so rich… Wait, why does it seem almost intoxicating?” Zhou Hao shook his head, feeling a wave of dizziness.

The lotus was so close, its beauty beyond words, but its aroma was overwhelming and stupefying. Zhou Hao’s vision blurred; he saw four lotuses swaying before his eyes.

“Cover your mouth and nose with your left hand!” Yun Fang’s voice rang out, echoing in Zhou Hao’s ears. He quickly covered his mouth and nose with the silver-white glove.

The glove was soft and smooth, with a faint fragrance of its own. As soon as Zhou Hao covered his face, clarity returned, and his attention refocused on the Fire-Heart Lotus.

“It truly is beautiful, but I’m sorry—I need one of your petals!” Zhou Hao swung his immortal sword, aiming to cut a petal from the lotus.

Buzz!

Suddenly, the Fire-Heart Lotus flared with red light, so dazzling Zhou Hao dared not open his eyes. When the brilliance faded, the lotus had vanished completely.

“What happened? Where did the lotus go?” Zhou Hao looked around in confusion, then glanced at Yun Fang.

The latter merely smiled and shrugged, offering no help.

Zhou Hao knew this was a test—if he could not pass even this trial, twenty years of hellish training would be impossible. He finally understood: the game had begun, and the first challenge was to pluck a petal from the Fire-Heart Lotus.

“The scent is gone too—can’t even sniff it out. Has the lotus grown legs and run off?” Zhou Hao muttered to himself.

“Wait—legs! Right, the lotus can hide from the monk, but not the temple. Its roots are in the magma lake; it must have burrowed deeper. I’ll go find its lair—let’s see if it can hide from me!”

With that, Zhou Hao dove into the magma. His whole body felt ablaze, encased in searing molten rock. Were he not immortal, he would already be ash, but he withstood it.

The magma lake’s depths were unfathomable. This was the earth’s core of the immortal land, its heat beyond mortal measure. Here, the magma flowed like sluggish water, bubbles rising to the surface and bursting.

Enduring the scalding pain, Zhou Hao swam about like a fish, but the lake was vast and profound. The lotus’s roots must be at the very bottom, and now, hidden away, it was impossible to find all at once.

“Damn, where did it go? I’ve searched so long and not even a shadow.” Zhou Hao scratched his head.

“That red lotus must have some self-defense. Why not try a barrage—blanket the area and see if it comes out?” Suddenly, Zhou Hao had an idea.

Without hesitation, he set to work. He would sweep the lakebed clean, drive away the thick layers of magma, and force the lotus to reveal itself.

Swift!

Zhou Hao wielded his immortal sword, which began to tremble. White sword shadows filled the area, growing ever more numerous as he willed it, striving to cover the vast lakebed.

Chhh—chhh—chhh…

The immortal sword pierced the lake, its myriad shadows like a rain of arrows. The entire lakebed was awash with sword energy and divine light, but the results were less than ideal.

Only a few fragments of stone broke away from the lava rocks, and the magma itself remained unbroken—the sword energy could not cut through it!

Panting heavily, Zhou Hao was utterly spent—he had given it his all.

“Damn you, Fire-Heart Lotus, come out!” Zhou Hao cursed.

Just then, a black shadow flashed before Zhou Hao’s eyes, shooting straight upward.

The Fire-Heart Lotus had surfaced again!

Zhou Hao shot up from the lakebed, his gaze instantly locking onto the reemerged red lotus. His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets; gnashing his teeth, he stared at it.

“Strike!”

Without a second thought, Zhou Hao hurled his immortal sword. The blade shimmered with cold light, slicing through the air like a feathered arrow aimed true.

With a metallic clang, the sword lodged in the rocky wall, dislodging a shower of stone fragments. In the lake, the bewitching red lotus now had only seven petals left.

“Well done! As expected of my disciple, Zhou Hao—even faster than Yu Yang. Now, let me lay the first layer of your immortal foundation.” Yun Fang swept his dust whisk, and the petal, instead of falling into the magma, flew straight to his hand.

“Master, what method will you use? Please instruct me!” Zhou Hao approached Yun Fang and asked eagerly.

“Tell me, what do you think of this petal?” Yun Fang teased.

“The petal looks carved from blood jade, radiating a sweet fragrance… Wait, I don’t feel dizzy anymore. Why is that?” Zhou Hao wondered.

“The dizziness before was caused by the strange aroma emitted from the lotus’s golden flame—a defense mechanism. But this scent is the true fragrance of the lotus, pure benefit and no harm,” Yun Fang explained.

At the mention of “pure benefit and no harm,” Zhou Hao inhaled the fragrance with abandon. Immediately, he felt invigorated; the heat and exhaustion melted away, and his immortal power was restored by sixty or seventy percent.

“Incredible! This lotus fragrance heals the spirit and restores immortal power just like a celestial elixir!” Zhou Hao smiled in delight.

“Of course. All things under heaven can be both medicine and food—the two are one. Now that you’ve completed the first step, it’s time for your hellish training to begin!” Yun Fang’s tone turned stern in an instant.

The petal was nearly two feet long. Yun Fang tore off a tiny strip and stuffed it into Zhou Hao’s mouth. Zhou Hao’s eyes widened—so this was the “method”—just a matter of quantity!

To eat a whole petal would overwhelm the body with immortal energy and cause it to explode; now, Yun Fang merely gave him a morsel, and the problem was solved.

Zhou Hao felt a wave of disdain—his master’s “wisdom” was truly unparalleled!

The petal melted instantly, leaving fragrance on his lips and teeth, flooding his mouth with sweetness. It was like a cool spring entering his belly; at once, Zhou Hao felt his body brimming with immortal power, his strength reaching saturation and then gently ebbing, but his organs felt refreshingly nourished, his heart beating lightly, his energy abundant.

“What a miraculous Fire-Heart Lotus petal—truly effective! I feel like I’m no longer afraid of the heat here. Master, does this mean the hellish training begins now?” Zhou Hao asked.

“This is the Immortal-Summoning Jade. If you face any irresistible danger, crush it, and I will appear at once. My disciple, focus on your cultivation here!” Yun Fang handed over a small, jade-green token.

Before Zhou Hao could respond, Yun Fang’s figure vanished, leaving Zhou Hao alone deep within the earth.

Holding the jade token, Zhou Hao stood solitary atop the magma rock, his silhouette faint and forlorn.