Chapter 5 (Part 2) Please follow me

  On the way down the mountain, I carefully asked Ji Danmei about the Nine Heavens.

  Originally, the nine heavens of the Northern Border were separated from each other, each with its own unique realm. The Red Dust Heaven where we are is a place of great commotion, with people and demons mixed together, and a large population, making it the most bustling place in the nine heavens. The Auspicious Heaven has the most beautiful scenery, with auspicious clouds and misty rainbows, making it a blessed land for discussing Taoist theories. However, ordinary people are forbidden from entering, only extremely powerful cultivators or demons will be invited to visit the Auspicious Heaven as guests. Even the Dragon Butterfly of the previous life had visited the Auspicious Heaven once. The Clear Void Heaven is mainly inhabited by cultivators, with the most secret techniques and schools of thought, and Gan Lingshan also came from there. As for the Luo Sheng Heaven, it is a place ruled by the Jiaoyu technique, where every three years, the Clear Void Heaven and the Luo Sheng Heaven will each send out their ten strongest people to come to the Red Dust Heaven for a competition. On that day, all cultivators from various places will rush over to watch the spectacle. It is said that twenty years ago, as the representative of the Clear Void Heaven, Gan Lingshan defeated his powerful opponent from the Luo Sheng Heaven in just ten moves.

  I exclaimed to Ji Danmei: "It seems that the Secret Path Technique is more powerful than the Jia Yu Technique."

  Hai Ji heard this and couldn't bear it anymore: "Don't spout nonsense, in that match, I also defeated an opponent from Qingxu Heaven."

  Gan Ning fell silent for a moment before saying, "The Secret Art and the Jiaoyu Art each have their own strengths, making them difficult to compare."

  "I asked again: 'What are the other layers of heaven like?'"

  "Xu Danmei replied, 'The Demon Realm is a world where demons run amok, it's extremely terrifying, filled with bloody slaughter. The Yellow Spring Heaven is the final resting place for all living beings in the Northern Territory when they die. In the Yellow Spring Heaven, no matter how powerful a person or demon is, they will be destroyed body and soul.'"

  "I asked in confusion: 'Then what about Long Die? Since he's dead, his soul should have scattered in the underworld. How can he still be reincarnated in the Tang Dynasty?'"

  Ji Dan Mei smiled wryly: "This is exactly the place where we three couldn't figure it out. At first, Long Die said he would be reborn, and we thought he was talking nonsense. It was just because of our oath that we had to wait foolishly. Until the last day of the 16th year, you suddenly appeared, and Long Die's inner elixir automatically returned to its master. Only then did we know that you were the reincarnation of Long Die."

  It turned out that the agate pillar was the inner elixir of Long Die's many years of cultivation. My spirit shook, it seems that my existence is an anomaly.

  "Long Die may have uncovered a secret about life and death. Birth, growth, decay, emptiness - life has a beginning and an end, it's the natural law of the North, I didn't expect Long Die to break through it."

  "Hai Ji coldly snorted: 'The demonic power of Long Die is not the strongest, but it's the most cunning demon I've ever seen.' After finishing, she glared at me."

  I made a face at her, and Ji Danmei continued: "Among the nine heavens, there is a treacherous heavenly chasm that separates them, making it difficult to fly across. On the night of the full moon every month, the heavenly chasm will disappear for an hour, during which time people from the Red Dust Heaven, Clear Void Heaven, Luo Sheng Heaven, and Mo Sha Heaven can come and go freely. As for the other five heavens, it's not that easy to get there. For example, the Color Desire Heaven can only be entered by demons when they enter a state of advanced evolution, but after one day, they will be sent out. And as for humans, they are fundamentally unable to enter the Color Desire Heaven. The Spiritual Treasure Heaven is similar in nature to the Color Desire Heaven, but it's only open to practicing humans, and demons can't enter."

  Hai Ji's eyes took on a wistful hue: "When I first mastered the Jīngū Méi Yù technique, I was fortunate enough to ascend to the Spirit Treasure Heaven. Unfortunately, I could only stay there for one day."

  I thought to myself, I am a personal demon, can't I go to both the Heaven of Carnal Desire and the Heaven of Spiritual Treasure?

  "What about in heaven?"

  The three beauties suddenly fell silent, Gan Ning stopped in his tracks and stared ahead.

  In the thick grass, a rugged suburban road stretches forward. We have already walked down the mountain.

  At this time, the sky was breaking dawn, revealing a fish-belly white. In the light purple sky, there was a very bright star, flickering uncertainly at the edge of the mist.

  I looked at Ji Danmei in confusion: "Why don't you answer? Is Zai Tian a very mysterious place?"

  "There has never been anyone who can find freedom in heaven." Haiji raised her head, gazing at the twinkling star that was hiding and revealing itself, and let out a sigh.

  "That's just a legendary place where there is hope, forever free from the calamities of heaven, and the cycle of birth, growth, decay, and emptiness." said Ji Danmei quietly.

  I grinned with a twinkle in my eye: "Great! I'll definitely find the Realm of Freedom and become immortal!"

  "Hai Ji let out a wry smile: "Don't dream about it. The number one master of the secret path technique in the northern border, Yan Cai Zi, spent his whole life searching for the carefree sky, and in the end, he went mad."

  "Shut up!" Gan Ningzhen suddenly turned around, his Taoist robe fluttering, his eyes cold as ice and snow. I was startled, having never seen Gan Ningzhen so agitated before.

  Hai Ji gave a cold hum and stared at Gan Ning: "Yan Cai Zi is your master, can't you say anything?"

  "Not bad."

  "I insist on saying it."

  "Say it again."

  "It's really ridiculous, you want me to say it, so I have to say it?"

  The two of them were at a stalemate, and Ji Danmei was watching the commotion with great relish. I was so annoyed that my head was about to explode, and I shouted loudly: "Damn it all, shut up, both of you!"

  Two beauties turned their heads in surprise, I felt a little embarrassed and muttered: "Ah, the weather is nice today. Hmm, I've finished all my dried fruit, who can get me some food?"

  "Go find it yourself!" Haidi and Gan Ning glared at me in unison, shouting in the same voice.

  I covered my ears and ran forward while nodding like a chick pecking at rice, the two mother tigers were indeed terrifying as they let out their might.

  On the outskirts, a desolate scene unfolded before me, devoid of any human presence. It wasn't until noon that I caught sight of a small city in the distance. I immediately sprinted forward, my top priority being to devour food and drink to replenish my energy.

  A low and short city wall gate, with a few people squatting at the entrance. On the dilapidated gray city gate, a wooden sign hangs crookedly, missing a corner, with the three words "Ruyi City" engraved on it. The wind blows by, causing the sign to sway back and forth.

  "What a broken place, far worse than Luoyang of the Tang Dynasty." I looked up and down, saying disdainfully.

  "Hey, don't underestimate Ruyi City. This is a famous underground trading market in the north. Some things that can't be seen in the light of day are often sold here. If you're lucky, you might find something good, but there's also no shortage of fake goods to cheat people."

  Several people at the city gate suddenly stood up and stared greedily at us.

  To be exact, they were demons, although they all wore clothes. One was big and sturdy, with a face full of black hair, and green eyes. One had a ferocious appearance, with fangs protruding from his lips. And there was another who, despite having a delicate appearance and elegant clothes, had a curved horn growing on his head.

  The first time I saw a monster, I was really scared, but thinking of the three beautiful female bodyguards by my side, I plucked up the courage and looked them up and down brazenly.

  They didn't even give me a glance, the monsters stared at the three beauties with wide eyes, their mouths agape, drooling, and their lower bodies pitched high tents. I took a peek at the monsters' things, then looked down at my own, feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

  It's really frustrating when people compare themselves to others and get jealous.

  "Hey! Little girl, come and play with me!" The single-horned demon suddenly let out a loud roar, stretched out his hand, and reached for Jū Dān Mèi's buttocks. Among the demons, this guy looked the most refined, but unexpectedly, he was the most lustful one.

  Jiudan Mei smiled and slightly twisted her waist, with a swift motion she struck the one-horned demon's hand like lightning. The latter let out a miserable cry, his palm turned pitch black, his body shriveled up into a ball, and fell to the ground. I saw clearly that from Jiudan Mei's fingertips emerged five sharp needles, colored bright red, emitting a fearsome glow.

  "Pffft", blood splattered everywhere, Ji Dan Mei stretched out her hand and tore open the one-legged monster's chest, dug around inside, and pulled out a yellow inner elixir. She took a look, furrowed her brow: "Not a suitable candidate." With a casual toss, she kicked away the opponent's corpse with one foot.

  Several monsters were frightened and trembling all over, one of them stared at Ji Danxiu in horror and trembled with fear, saying: "Dan Jingzhen! You are the nine-tailed scorpion demon Ji Danxiu!"

  "Sixteen years without coming out, and finally someone remembers me. Hmm, who else wants to touch me?"

  The monsters let out a shout and scattered in all directions. I stared at Ji Danmei in surprise, never expecting that she was actually a monster. This kind of talk-and-laugh killing ruthlessness, this kind of digging-up-the-past spiciness, made one's heart palpitate.

  Ji Dan gave me a flirtatious glance: "Not everyone can eat my tofu."

  I shrugged and walked into the city, which was extremely lively inside.

  On both sides of the street, countless stalls were set up, with all sorts of goods on display. People and demons of all shapes and sizes were loudly hawking their wares: "Rare meat from the Spirit Treasure Heaven, used by cultivators to ascend immediately! No deception, guaranteed genuine!", "Nine-section whip made from the White Tiger Demon's fur, eat it and you'll be hard for 365 days! And you'll be able to turn corners at will!", "Come take a look, the famous Heart Gate of the Armor Refining Sect's treasure - the Soul Severing Wheel! Kills demons and people, seals their throat with just a glimpse of blood. Don't believe it? Try putting it around your neck!"

  The chaotic din suddenly subsided after we entered the city, as if it had been abruptly cut off.

  All around was a dead silence, all transactions were suspended, countless pairs of eyes stared at the three beauties, motionless, like wooden chickens.

  "Excuse me, let us pass." I pushed the sturdy man in front of him, he was like a high and thick wall, blocking the street, staring only at the beauty.

  "Damn it, get out of here!" The burly man didn't even look at me, his massive fist as big as a millstone was already swinging towards me.