Volume One: The Celestial Cloud Palace Chapter Seventy-Six: Master of the Cave Mansion

Chapter Seventy-Six: The Master of the Cave Dwelling

This was a region of molten rock, where fiery magma flowed over scorching black stones—everywhere one looked was a vast expanse of glowing red earth. If not for the guidance of something within his body, Zhou Hao would never have discovered this inconspicuous "well."

The mouth of the well was less than half a meter wide, surrounded by lava and molten rock. At such temperatures, anything below an Immortal Lord would be incinerated instantly. Yet Zhou Hao navigated the lava unscathed, even finding it somewhat pleasant. Previously, he had exhausted too much immortal power during his battle with Feng Hehuo, but here, his strength was returning at a mysterious, rapid pace, leaving him even more astonished.

“My immortal power... is recovering so quickly! What’s happening?” Zhou Hao stood on the lava beside the well, feeling his weakened body restored and his immortal cultivation swiftly increasing.

Scratching his head, he pondered—what had guided him here? Was his recovery also related to it?

“Could it be connected to my immortal technique?” The thought suddenly struck him.

“If it’s the immortal technique, then it must be the Azure Cloud Tactic?” At this, Zhou Hao immediately circulated the Azure Cloud Tactic within him, and a blue radiance enveloped his body while misty immortal vapor billowed from his mouth and nose.

“No, it doesn’t seem to be the Azure Cloud Tactic!” Once activated, the tactic actually drew in immortal power even more slowly than usual, and he suddenly felt the external heat pouring into his body. Had he not stopped in time, he’d have fallen into demonic deviation and been reduced to ashes.

Whew!

Zhou Hao let out a heavy breath. The sense of crisis he’d just experienced was terrifying, as if his body was about to be consumed by raging flames. Apparently, using the Azure Cloud Tactic here disrupted the balance, preventing his immortal power from harmonizing with the dense fire energy in the surroundings—a prelude to disaster.

“That was close. I can’t lightly adjust my state here. The smallest misstep will disrupt the balance and get me incinerated.” Zhou Hao sat cross-legged on the lava, mind racing as he slowly grasped his predicament.

He did not know what within him had guided him to this well, nor could he investigate the mysterious golden light at its bottom. Clearly, something hidden in his body was intimately connected to that light—perhaps it was this very thing keeping him alive in the fiery depths.

“Maybe... you can help me?” With no other options, Zhou Hao searched himself again, this time recalling the yellow gourd. He had never explored its potential, and most importantly, he’d found it in the Crystal Palace’s treasury—its origins unknown.

He held the seven-inch gourd in the air, carefully examining it. The gourd had always been shrouded in mystery and power. Its previous outburst had summoned a deadly sword aura that shattered space and destroyed all before it. Beyond that, Zhou Hao knew nothing of its secrets.

“I don’t even dare unstopper the gourd; it’s too terrifying!” Zhou Hao meant to open it again, but his hand hesitated at the stopper, memories of the past vivid in his mind—the great coral forest had been swept away in an instant by invisible sword light, the space collapsing into a black void. How could he open it easily?

“But... aren’t there stories in the mortal world of immortals using gourds to capture demons and spirits? Maybe this one can, too. Perhaps it could absorb the golden light below?” As his mind wrestled with itself, Zhou Hao’s heart split into two factions—one urging him to unstopper the gourd, the other warning him away. The debate was lively indeed.

In his mind’s eye, the urging faction appeared as a band of little black devils, identical to him but miniature, with horns, bat wings, and trident-tipped tails. They waved red pitchforks, chattering, “Open the gourd! Open the gourd! The golden light below is a great treasure—capture it with the gourd!”

Opposing them were the little white angels, also resembling him but with golden halos and tiny white wings, holding star-shaped wands and protesting, “Don’t open it! Don’t open it! The gourd brings disaster—open it and you’ll die!”

“Don’t worry, our master has the mysterious stone sword. If anything goes wrong, just use the gourd to suppress it again!” the little devils clamored, urging Zhou Hao to open the gourd.

The angels refused to back down, waving their wands and shouting, “You’ll get our master killed! If he dies, we die, too. Don’t listen to those wicked devils—whatever you do, don’t open the gourd!”

“Nonsense! Don’t listen to these hypocritical angels. If you’re always afraid, how will you ever grow stronger? There’s no cultivation without danger, no courage without fear!” the devils retorted, scoffing at the angels’ words.

“Well said! How can there be cultivation without danger? How can you be brave without fear? Since I, Zhou Hao, seek strength and freedom among the immortal realms, I must forge ahead undaunted!” Suddenly, Zhou Hao sprang to his feet, eyes blazing with determination.

At that moment, the angels and devils within him vanished like smoke. His resolve was set.

“Yellow gourd, show me your power!”

With a pop, Zhou Hao pulled the stopper, and a wisp of pure white mist drifted from the gourd’s mouth.

“What?! Who’s there?” Zhou Hao was startled, hastily tossing the gourd away, for the mist was slowly taking human form—too bizarre for comfort.

Clang! Zhou Hao drew his black stone sword, pointing it directly at the misty figure.

“Wait, wait! It’s a misunderstanding, young man—I mean no harm. I’m merely the gourd’s former master, a dead man. I’m also the master of this cave dwelling.” At the sight of the stone sword, the human-shaped mist immediately pleaded, trembling like a mouse.

“Oh? You’re the master of the Great Immortal’s Cave?” Zhou Hao, who had been ready to strike, paused, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized the apparition.

The misty figure appeared as a handsome middle-aged man, graceful as jade in snowy white robes, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

“Young man, could you please lower your sword? I’m truly terrified of it. Even this supreme gourd fears that sword. In life, I was a great immortal and believed the gourd to be a top treasure of the celestial domain, but upon seeing your sword, I realized there are always greater heights!” The man averted his gaze from the sword, speaking with evident deference.

“All right, but you must answer my questions first.” Amused by the man’s fear, Zhou Hao agreed, though he kept the sword ready to ensure the man harbored no ill intent.

“Of course, ask away—I’ll tell you everything I know!” The middle-aged man nodded vigorously, inwardly weeping at his plight. Who would have thought a mighty immortal would be threatened by a mere junior?

“Are you truly the master of this cave dwelling?”

“Absolutely!”

“You’re not lying?”

“If I am, I’m a dog!”

“Are you human or ghost?”

“Well, at this point, I am neither. What remains is a wisp of immortal thought left behind in life, meant to guide the gourd’s next master.”

“Oh? So this gourd is the true legacy of this cave?” Zhou Hao’s eyes lit up with surprise.

“Yes! The purpose of this cave is to find the gourd’s next master and—”

“Amazing, I’ve already obtained the greatest fortune! That fool Cai Lingzi still thinks the Dragon King’s coffin is some great treasure. I bet there’s nothing inside at all. I can’t wait to see his face turn black with envy, ha!” Zhou Hao’s delight erupted into laughter.

“What? The Dragon King’s coffin? Did you open the brocade box?” The middle-aged man’s expression changed dramatically at Zhou Hao’s words.

“Not yet, I think. I was thrown into the Flaming Pool by that scoundrel Cai Lingzi, and after that, I don’t know what happened. Is there really something inside the box?” Zhou Hao asked, puzzled.

“Ai, it’s no treasure—it’s a disaster, a calamity!” The man sighed heavily.

“What do you mean? Explain,” Zhou Hao pressed.

“The thing in the brocade box is tied to my death. It must not be opened—if it is, this entire cave and even the surrounding starry sky will face destruction. The only way to contain it is with the gourd, but you lack the strength to control it!” The man’s expression darkened with worry.

“I suppose... the box contains the Dragon King?” Zhou Hao had suspected this place to be a sealed site since entering the Crystal Palace. Hearing the man’s words confirmed his unease, and he voiced his thoughts.

The man nodded gravely. “The Dragon King of Luo Sea’s own sister—Luo Tianyi!”

“What in the world! The Dragon King’s own sister? She’s the Dragon King?” Zhou Hao’s jaw dropped—a chicken egg could have fit in his mouth, no, an ostrich egg!

“But you’re only a great immortal—how did you offend a Celestial King?” Zhou Hao was perplexed.

“Well... because, because...” The man was suddenly embarrassed, unable to continue.

“Oh, come on! Out with it, or I’ll—” Zhou Hao threatened him with the stone sword, impatient.

“All right, all right—just don’t use that sword! It frightens me more than that tigress ever did. By the way, it appears to be sealed; otherwise, every master under heaven would be after it, and you’d be in grave danger!” In just two sentences, the man revealed the sword’s extraordinary nature.

But Zhou Hao’s curiosity was now piqued by something else—the “tigress.”

“Wait, did I hear that right? Tigress? Who is this tigress of yours?” Zhou Hao narrowed his eyes mischievously.

“Who else? Luo Tianyi, the Dragon King’s own sister! I regret it to this day—why did I, Deng Tulang, ever try to woo such a woman? Truly, I rue the day!” The middle-aged man beat his chest in remorse.

“What? You’re Deng Tulang? The infamous Deng Tulang from the ‘True Sutra of Salvation’?!” The revelation stunned Zhou Hao so much he felt both scorched and frozen.

“Yes, haven’t I told you? I’m the famous, peerless human immortal Deng Tulang—thirty thousand years ago, I captivated countless fairy maidens, unrivaled in talent and charm...” The man seemed to enjoy Zhou Hao’s astonishment, listing his own titles with relish.

“Indeed, your reputation exceeds reality!” Zhou Hao scoffed.

“Back in the day, I—”

“All right, enough about your past glories. Tell me about the brocade box!” Zhou Hao raised his brows, cutting him off.

“Oh!” Deng Tulang replied sheepishly.