Volume One: The Celestial Palace of Misty Clouds Chapter 80: Essence of Solar Fire

Chapter Eighty: Essence of Solar Fire

“Is there really such a thing?” Zhou Hao was greatly astonished upon hearing this, his pupils contracting sharply.

“If I’d had enough power back then, I would certainly have killed her to avenge my wife. But an Immortal King is still an Immortal King. The difference of a single realm is as vast as the heavens. Even with the Yellow-Skinned Gourd, I couldn’t control its immense power enough to defeat her.” At this moment, Deng Tu Lang dispersed his immortal pressure with a long sigh, revealing a sense of helplessness.

As the pressure faded, Zhou Hao felt his whole body relax. He knew that Deng Tu Lang no longer misunderstood him. In the end, this predecessor was simply a pitiable, lovesick man. The events of the past were too heartbreaking and painful; recounting them now was like reopening a bloody wound. How could he not be sorrowful?

Reflecting on his first encounter with Deng Tu Lang, Zhou Hao recalled how the man always masked his true feelings with irreverence. As the saying goes, the more frivolous a person acts, the deeper his passion runs. Perhaps Deng Tu Lang was such a man.

“But why did Luo Tianyi target the Snow Maiden? Was it merely jealousy?” Zhou Hao asked.

“The Snow Maiden was kind throughout her life, treating all things with compassion—even her death came from protecting me.” Deng Tu Lang’s face was pale, his eyes filled with desolation. Memories surged in his mind like waves, all from that most painful chapter of his life.

“I thought that by leaving the sphere of influence of Luo Hai Dragon Palace, I could escape Luo Tianyi’s entanglement. Unfortunately, after a few hundred years of fleeting peace, my dream was shattered. When Luo Tianyi appeared before me again, she had changed utterly. I was shocked that in just a thousand years, she had broken through the heavenly barrier and entered the realm of Kings. She told me that ever since we parted, she constantly sought revenge. She knew that the four quasi-Immortal Kings who had tried to capture me were all defeated, so she understood that no power beneath an Immortal King could overcome me and my Yellow-Skinned Gourd. Thus, she began relentless cultivation, determined to settle things in her own way. In less than a millennium, she suffered countless bouts of madness and near-death, almost destroying herself in pursuit of becoming an Immortal King. She searched every corner of the Luo River Sect’s star domain, even venturing into territories ruled by other Immortal Kings to seek supreme fortune. She risked everything, even snatching food from a tiger’s mouth. Eventually, her dragon bloodline, talent, and hatred helped her succeed. She came, bearing endless hatred for me!”

“A woman's vengeance is often very different from a man's. Men act straightforwardly—meet and strike! But a woman, especially an ex-lover, will first sift through every memory, recounting all the details. Take Luo Tianyi: the first thing she said when she saw me again was, ‘Who is this woman beside you?’ She spoke in a cold tone, but behind that coldness lay a terrifying hostility capable of slaughtering all beings. The Snow Maiden, not highly cultivated, trembled uncontrollably, and I gripped her hand tightly. Seeing this, Luo Tianyi’s gaze grew even colder. Her second remark was overtly sarcastic: ‘I didn’t expect my “True Scripture of Yin Salvation” to be so effective. After breaking up with me, you immediately deceived another woman into dual cultivation. Seems my entire life relies on women to increase my power.’ The Snow Maiden, angered, refuted her passionately: ‘Meeting him was the happiest moment of my life. Between two people truly in love, there is no “yours and mine,” much less deceit or exploitation. Love teaches us to forget ourselves and only care for our partner. Love is selfless, entrusting life to the other, and vice versa. How could lovers who are so connected ever deceive or exploit each other? Their hearts are already one!’”

As Deng Tu Lang spoke, his eyes reddened, tears streaming down his face. Though he was now merely a strand of immortal consciousness, like a white mist, he still shed tears full of emotion.

“No sooner had the Snow Maiden finished speaking than Luo Tianyi sneered coldly. She was too jealous; when I was with her, she allowed no other women near me. So, facing my union with the Snow Maiden, she would never tolerate it. With a single cold snort, she unleashed Immortal King power on the Snow Maiden’s immortal body. I desperately tried to save her, but my cultivation, however high, could not match the methods of an Immortal King. I was furious and heartbroken, wishing I could give everything to kill Luo Tianyi and avenge the Snow Maiden, or even trade my life for hers!” Deng Tu Lang shouted, his voice full of gnashing teeth and pounding fists, the pain so intense and real that Zhou Hao was deeply moved.

He must have loved very deeply in those days. But for two people who understood love to such a degree, how could their feelings not be profound?

“Perhaps you two witnessed what people call true love. Even if the ending is sad, isn’t the journey the most precious thing to remember?” Zhou Hao looked at the human-shaped wisp of mist at the mouth of the gourd and smiled.

Deng Tu Lang nodded gently, and said with longing, “The Snow Maiden once said something similar. It was her last words in the Immortal Domain.”

“Luo Tianyi’s cold snort destroyed the Snow Maiden’s internal organs. I couldn’t save her, nor did I have the ability to, for that was the destructive force of the Immortal King realm. Watching her bleed from every orifice and her body grow cold, I realized for the first time how laughable and pitiable I was. I, Deng Tu Lang, a dignified Immortal, couldn’t even protect my own woman!”

“In the end, the Snow Maiden died in my arms. I still remember, she left with a smile, saying that even if the ending was sorrowful, it didn’t matter, as long as we cherished the beautiful moments we shared.” Deng Tu Lang’s lips curled bitterly, and after these words, he could say no more, as if he had exhausted his last bit of strength.

Zhou Hao nodded silently. Though he had never experienced such things, he fully understood Deng Tu Lang’s feelings. So, the two men remained silent for a long time in the fiery pool, the surging flames rolling like waves and washing over everything, while the two figures stood unmoved, like statues, unaffected by the heat.

“So, you and Luo Tianyi fought a life-and-death battle because of the Snow Maiden’s death, didn’t you?” Zhou Hao finally broke the silence.

“Exactly. I wanted her to pay, Immortal King or not—I would avenge the Snow Maiden! We fought for seven days and nights, and I unleashed the Yellow-Skinned Gourd’s power with all my might, enough to make an Immortal King tremble. Though I was defeated, not even leaving a corpse behind, I managed to seal Luo Tianyi. This Immortal’s Mansion is her burial ground. The Twin Polarity Yin-Yang Eyes reverse the essence of heaven and earth, solely to suppress her powerful soul. After so many years, even if she breaks the seal, her soul must be nearly exhausted—at best, a quasi-Immortal King. With the Yellow-Skinned Gourd, there’s still a chance to kill her. When she was an Immortal King, even at full power I couldn’t slay her outright, so I chose the risky method of sealing. The crystal coffin you saw outside holds a brocade box, containing Luo Tianyi’s head. Her essence pearl, the Dragon Pearl, is the source of all her power, and it resides within the dragon’s head. If anyone opens the brocade box, Luo Tianyi will certainly possess them, unleashing a catastrophe that would destroy the Immortal Mansion!” Deng Tu Lang explained the gravity of the situation.

“Senior, I suddenly thought of something—can you tell me what’s with this heart-shaped island? Why are there golden walls around it, with the words ‘Impenetrable as Gold and Soup’ written on them? And why do the sea beasts attack the walls so desperately?” Zhou Hao recalled what he’d seen earlier and asked Deng Tu Lang.

“Because beneath our feet is a world connected to the boundless sea—that’s where Luo Tianyi’s soul is suppressed. The Ice and Fire Pools are the Twin Polarity Yin-Yang Eyes, constantly rotating day and night, gradually consuming the Immortal King’s soul. But Luo Tianyi won’t sit idly by. Her dragon bloodline is domineering, and as a dragon Immortal King, she can influence the powerful sea beasts. She commands them to attack the heart-shaped island, hoping to reclaim the brocade box with her head. So I established a barrier. The golden wall is a defensive immortal treasure, called ‘Impenetrable Fortress Shield,’ able to transform into high walls and fortresses to resist any attack below the level of Immortal King. However, it bears cracks and flaws from blocking several of Luo Tianyi’s deadly assaults.” Deng Tu Lang replied.

“So that’s it…” Zhou Hao mused, realizing why the golden wall could withstand the sea beasts’ attacks but not drive them away, and why it showed signs of deterioration.

“All is entrusted to you. I am finally about to fulfill my last wish and join the Snow Maiden. You are the new master of the Yellow-Skinned Gourd—I believe you can accomplish this!” Deng Tu Lang, once again irreverent, grinned at Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao rolled his eyes at him, but then his gaze shifted to a certain spot: the mysterious well radiating golden light. Its mouth was perfectly round, about the size of a bowl.

He quickly picked up the gourd and approached the edge of the well, but this time he dared not look down. The mysterious golden radiance was too blinding; last time, he felt his eyes would be pierced by the light, and even he dared not try again.

“Senior, you mentioned the Twin Polarity Yin-Yang Eyes earlier. Is this the Yang Eye?” Remembering Deng Tu Lang’s words, Zhou Hao immediately associated them with the well. The more he looked, the more the well seemed like an eye, with the golden light at the bottom like a golden pupil.

“You’re a quick learner! The core of the Twin Polarity Yin-Yang Eyes is indeed like two eyes, containing the essence of solar fire and lunar essence, the only celestial treasures capable of refining an Immortal King’s soul imprint.” Deng Tu Lang nodded.

“So, the golden light at the bottom is the essence of solar fire—no wonder it’s so dazzling! But why does my body resonate with it? Do I possess something related to the essence of solar fire?” Zhou Hao grew more puzzled, feeling he’d gone in circles only to end up confused.

“For you to stand unharmed in the flame pool of the Twin Polarity Yin-Yang Eyes, you must have cultivated an advanced fire-path immortal technique—certainly not an ordinary one, or you’d have been burned or incinerated.” Deng Tu Lang advised Zhou Hao.

“An extraordinary fire-path technique? Could it be…the Great Radiant Sun Palm?!” Zhou Hao pondered deeply and, connecting it to himself, suddenly realized the truth.