Volume One: The Celestial Palace in the Clouds Chapter Thirty-Six: Mastery Over Objects

Chapter Thirty-six: The Object of Conquest

Clatter!
Pitch-black chains, dark as ink, stretched across the sky, like an iron dragon roaring toward Yun Miao the Immortal. The surrounding void thundered, and wind and lightning suddenly surged!

Clang!
Yun Miao’s radiant palm print met the jet-black chain—a stark clash of white and black. In that instant, their collision unleashed a surge of immortal power strong enough to shatter stars!

The starry expanse trembled, countless planets disintegrating in a blink, leaving the already vast space even emptier. Yet the disaster continued, and the true power of the Immortal was revealed without reservation!

Snowblow Wolf King, Night Palace Shade, Yun Miao the Immortal—these three had become absolute protagonists in this universe!

“Heh heh... Yun Miao Palace Lord has come in person. It seems the three children truly are rare talents among millions,” the Night Palace Shade said coldly, his eyes locked on the newcomers from Yun Miao Immortal Palace.

Whoosh!

Yun Miao said nothing. With a sweep of his sleeve, a vortex appeared overhead, from which countless flying swords shot out, slicing through the air toward the Shade at near-light speed. The Shade, for a moment, could barely fend off the assault.

“Clouds Disperse, Mist Clears!”

The seven elders standing at a distance cried out in shock. These flying swords were no ordinary weapons—they were nurtured by the immortal energy atop Yun Miao Immortal Mountain, the killing sword-qi of Yun Miao himself. Their destructive force was unmatched, capable of annihilating everything within millions of miles, earning the name “Clouds Disperse, Mist Clears, banishing all evil!”

Roar!

On the other side, the Wolf King’s immortal power was boundless. His roar shook the cosmos, the soundwaves reverberating through the void, forcing the seven elders to retreat, as cracks appeared across millions of miles of space...

“Heh heh, are you two attacking me together?” The Shade parried the Wolf King’s roar while using his black chains to withstand Yun Miao’s sword array. It was clear he was being besieged by both.

“Hand over your life!”
The Wolf King’s thunderous shout was relentless. With each beat of his icy wings, massive diamond-like shards crashed down upon the Night Palace Shade like a hailstorm.

“You won’t escape today!”
Yun Miao’s gaze was icy. Standing in the void, he commanded the grand sword array. Each gesture sent torrents of sword rain pouring down, the sharp blades piercing the void faster and faster, reaching a realm of unfathomable speed!

Buzz!

Suddenly, the Night Palace Shade’s entire body flashed with dark light, forming a circle—like a black sun. Strangely, this sun swallowed everything like a black hole; whether sword rain or ice shards, all were devoured. Thus, Yun Miao and the Wolf King’s attacks had no effect whatsoever.

“To force me to use Night Calamity’s Pull, you two have reason to be proud!”
The Shade stood calmly in the void, immune to the relentless attacks of Yun Miao and the Wolf King.

---

“How can this be? The Palace Lord’s ‘Clouds Disperse, Mist Clears’ forces even late-stage Immortals to defend with their full strength—what kind of cultivation does this fiend possess?”
The seven elders cried out repeatedly. Though they could not participate in such a battle, their Golden Immortal-level cultivation allowed them to witness the distant clash.

“Sigh... The Night Palace’s mysteries and terrors are beyond our comprehension. Even the Palace Lord may not be able to withstand their techniques...” Nangong Xun sighed quietly.

“Oh? Elder Nangong seems to know quite a bit about the Night Palace. What methods do they have? Perhaps you should share, so the Palace Lord can be informed!” Yun Fang glanced at Nangong Xun with a sneering smile.

“What do you mean by that, Yun Fang? I think your words are loaded!” Before Nangong Xun could respond, Cheng Bing spoke up indignantly.

“Loaded? Elder Cheng Bing, are you implying that I suspect Elder Nangong?” Yun Fang replied coolly.

“You know best whether you doubt him or not. The Night Palace villain is yet to be dealt with, and here you are slandering your own. Yun Fang, what’s your true motive?” Cheng Bing pointed at Yun Fang, seething with anger.

“A fine question—what’s my motive? Elder Cheng Bing, I hope you remember your own words! When I use them to question you someday, don’t play deaf!”

“How amusing. Do you think I, Cheng Bing, fear you, Yun Fang? Years ago, you watched your own disciple die without lifting a finger, couldn’t even find the killer. Now the tragedy is about to repeat itself—what right have you to make such a fuss here?”

Elder Li Qionghua, black lines across her face, whispered, “Strike not the face, nor reveal the wounds—Elder Cheng Bing, you’ve gone too far!”

“Elder Li, I see you’re at it again...”
Cheng Bing began, intending to accuse Li Qionghua of siding with Yun Fang, but Nangong Xun interrupted.

“Elder Cheng Bing, your words are truly inappropriate. That’s all in the past; why bring it up now? Yun Fang’s beloved disciple is waiting for us to rescue him. We seven should discuss how to support the Palace Lord!”

“Elder Nangong is right! We shouldn’t stand idle today—we must not let the Night Palace take away our three talented disciples!” The other elders quickly echoed.

Yun Fang glanced at these elders, his expression meaningful. But only for a moment before he looked away; those who had echoed him wore awkward faces.

It was well known in Yun Miao Immortal Palace that Yun Fang and Nangong Xun were bitter rivals—one the Palace Lord’s own brother, the other a renowned alchemy elder. Most elders preferred not to get involved, maintaining neutrality, though a few secretly supported Yun Fang, knowing Yun Miao’s time was nearly up, and the Palace would soon need a new master. This was the custom: when a new Immortal ascended, the Palace changed its name and master. Value determined everything; “when the man leaves, the tea cools” was the rule.

Yet after Yu Yang’s incident a hundred years ago, Yun Fang noticed that his support was waning, and more began associating with Nangong Xun. Though as the alchemy elder he had a legitimate reason, Yun Fang had held that post as well. It led him to a single conclusion...

Nangong Xun had achieved the rank of Immortal!

It was known that apart from the Palace Lord and his two death guards, Nangong Xun and Yun Fang were the strongest in Yun Miao Immortal Palace, both at the peak of the Golden Immortal stage. The vice palace lords held their posts only because Yun Miao had sworn brotherhood with them; their own power was merely late-stage Golden Immortal.

“Has Nangong Xun truly taken that step? Is that why the elders now support him for the Palace Lord’s seat? But...” Yun Fang’s mind raced.

He pondered deeply, his gaze shifting to the distant battlefield, where brilliance blazed and immortal might swept in every direction. Those of low cultivation or standing too close would perish instantly, for the battle of the three Immortals was reaching its climax!

Yun Miao Immortal Palace had stood for twenty thousand years; its name had changed with each generation, every Palace Lord lending his own. Yun Miao was the fourth, but his lifespan had less than a thousand years left. In two or three centuries, he would enter the most severe phase of the Five Decays of Immortals—the soul decay. According to the rules set by the Immortal King, a new Immortal must be chosen as Palace Lord at that time. If there was a new Immortal within the Palace, he could take over directly; otherwise, one would be appointed.

For all their power, Immortals were but servants to the Immortal Kings—used and dispatched at will, like dogs.

---

Such is the difference between strength and greater strength; in one place you may be the absolute master, but in a higher realm, you realize... you too are weak.

Strength and weakness are interchangeable; it reminds all those in the Immortal Domain to cultivate ceaselessly—never slacken, for falling behind means suffering...

Shhh!

Yun Miao’s eyes flashed with cold lightning. As he formed seals, a white sword of pure light appeared in his hands, its blade flickering uncertainly. The moment it materialized, the surrounding space grew chillingly cold!

In a heartbeat, Yun Miao brandished the white sword and charged at the Shade, moving too fast to discern. Yet the Shade parried, his chains binding the white sword, as if he knew Yun Miao’s tactics.

Snowblow Wolf King, enraged, launched a wild assault. His massive body seemed to possess endless strength; when his giant claws struck, five cracks in the void stretched toward the Shade, from which black, blade-shaped lightning leapt. The Shade was forced to act, as Night Calamity’s Pull could not swallow every attack.

Clang, clang, clang!

Yun Miao unleashed his true fury, the white sword so sharp it could cleave the void and slice through stars. This single sword was more effective than the thousands of sword rains before; if not for the Shade’s formidable chains, his head would have already fallen. Yet even so, the Shade was wounded—the sword’s qi appeared suddenly, invisible, striking unexpectedly, and even the Night Palace’s Shade was caught off guard.

“Damn it! What is the origin of this sword? I can withstand your sword techniques, but not this blade itself!” The Shade snorted coldly, realizing his wounds were serious. The sword’s qi began as white, then melted into the void, unseen and intangible, like a blade of air cutting his body. He tried various methods but could not shake it off.

“This sword was prepared especially for you. We may not find you, but we can gather intelligence on the Night Palace. The Voidlight Sword was a gift from a predecessor who died tragically at your hands—a swordsmith. Knowing you would seize it, he chose to die rather than surrender.” Yun Miao’s voice was icy.

“The Voidlight Sword!!”

The Shade cried out in shock, never expecting Yun Miao’s weapon to be the very object the Night Palace had sought for ages—a relic designed to counter Night Palace immortal arts.

Within the Night Palace, an Immortal-level Shade was nothing; above him, Great Immortals and Immortal Kings abounded. Yet these superiors gave the Shades two tasks: capture the souls of talented disciples from all corners, and search for the Conquering Objects!

The Night Palace would pay any price to obtain such relics, for they were pivotal to the cultivation of their upper ranks. With them, their practice could rise to new heights.

And to ordinary Shades, such objects were terrifying, for they naturally suppressed Night Palace powers, severely damaging their own strength. Thus, whenever a Shade encountered a Conquering Object, he would stop at nothing to bring it back.

“I can return your disciples, but the Voidlight Sword and another item must be handed over—or else...” The Shade fought two Immortal masters while threatening and bargaining.

“You villain, you dare negotiate with me?” Yun Miao’s every move was deadly, his body radiating murderous intent.

“I’m not afraid to tell you: after years of recuperation and investigation, I’ve learned that your Palace holds a Conquering Object. This trap was set only to acquire it, but unexpectedly, I found another. If I can trade three disciples for two relics, it’s worthwhile!” The Shade’s raspy laugh echoed, like a ghost from the underworld.

“What is the other Conquering Object you mention?” Yun Miao asked.

“A black stone tablet!” The Shade replied, then added, “In fact, your Voidlight Sword was forged from the same black stone material as the tablet!”