Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Origin of the Crimson Fire Nine Infants

Returning to Mei Bingyi’s residence, Shen Duoduo and the other two immediately came forward to greet him. Liu Junhuai addressed Mei Bingyi’s mother, saying, “Madam, hurry to the family hall—something major may happen in the Mei household. Remember to warn your brother-in-law to be wary of his third aunt.”

After Mei Bingyi’s mother rushed away, Liu Junhuai explained in detail everything that had transpired. The two sisters sighed repeatedly, and Shen Qianqian was so agitated she clenched her teeth in fury.

Shen Duoduo wrapped her arms around Liu Junhuai’s and rested her head on his shoulder. “Brother Junhuai, thank you for helping with my brother-in-law’s family. If I’d known his household was so chaotic, I’d never have come to stay. And to think I always called that old man ‘Grandfather’—pah!”

Liu Junhuai nodded in agreement. “Duoduo, it’s best to be in your own home. Once Uncle Huan arrives in Cloud Valley, our family will be reunited. What’s so great about these big clans? Just endless messes.”

Shen Duoduo chimed in, “Exactly! If you don’t have a home, you’ll stay with me. We’re family, and when we live together you’ll have to hold me to sleep.”

Liu Junhuai hastily glanced at Shen Qianqian, but fortunately, she seemed still shaken by the Mei family’s upheaval and paid no attention to the playful banter between the two youngsters.

Shen Duoduo, understanding Liu Junhuai’s concern, said, “Why worry about her? If she hears, so what? When we were little, you often held me to sleep. I never cared when brother-in-law held sister, so why should she care about me?”

Liu Junhuai spoke earnestly to Shen Duoduo, “Duoduo, you’re grown up now. If you keep talking like a child, people will laugh. If I held you now, it would be inappropriate. Let’s wait until you’re older.”

Shen Duoduo pouted in grievance. “But I like it when you’re inappropriate.” Her voice grew softer, lost in thought.

Liu Junhuai lovingly patted Shen Duoduo’s head, leaned in to inhale her scent, and hugged her shoulders tightly, feeling a sense of contentment.

Several hours passed before Mei Bingyi returned from outside.

From his account, they learned that the patriarch and the first wife had become involved not long after she married into the Mei family, and Mei Zishan was their child.

Mei Bingyi’s father accidentally encountered the pair during a rendezvous and, in a fit of anger, threatened to tell his elder brother. Mei Haichuan seized the opportunity to kill him.

On another occasion, Mei Haichuan drunkenly harassed the third wife and was stopped by the first wife. The third wife began to suspect something was amiss between them, and, connecting this to Mei Bingyi’s father’s sudden death, gradually pieced together the truth.

The third wife, a woman of deep cunning, was always gathering information and maintaining good relations with every household in hopes that her husband might one day become patriarch. Liu Junhuai’s arrival caught her attention, and when Mei Bingyi’s mother told her about the spiritual root cultivation method, she sensed an opportunity. She sowed discord with the first wife and subtly revealed details about Mei Bingyi’s father to him, leading to the events that unfolded.

The Mei family convened a meeting. Mei Haichuan voluntarily stepped down as patriarch. His eldest son, upon awakening, immediately drew his sword and killed his wife and Mei Zishan, then took his own life.

The patriarch’s seat temporarily passed to the third brother, Mei Xinshou. The third wife, after witnessing Mei Haichuan’s tragic fate, secretly discussed matters with Mei Bingyi’s mother and announced that Mei Xinshou’s claims about spiritual root cultivation were a fabrication by the first wife.

Liu Junhuai’s ruthless actions instilled fear in the Mei family, and none objected to Mei Bingyi’s family leaving.

Thus, the Mei family’s upheaval came to a temporary close.

When Mei Bingyi and his mother’s spirits had settled, Liu Junhuai had the three undergo the final step of bone cleansing and marrow purging that very night.

Early the next morning, Liu Junhuai left two storage rings for Mei Bingyi and his wife, containing a trove of spirit stones, elixirs, and flying swords. He then set off for Cloud Valley with Shen Duoduo.

Cloud Thread City’s mountain range.

Liu Junhuai and Shen Duoduo flew on a wide silver sword for five days, drawing ever closer to Cloud Valley.

With Shen Duoduo by his side, Liu Junhuai did not enter the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion to cultivate at night.

Shen Duoduo nestled happily against him, listening as Liu Junhuai recounted his experiences of the past year, pausing occasionally to restore her true energy.

After half a day, they finally arrived at the Jewel Pavilion in Cloud Valley.

The Wu family greeted them with joy. Wu Shaoyuan pulled Liu Junhuai aside for conversation, while Wu Bini immediately bonded with Shen Duoduo. The two girls huddled together, whispering secrets and giggling, their eyes frequently glancing at Liu Junhuai.

In anticipation of Mei Bingyi’s family soon joining them, Liu Junhuai covered the spirit stone costs, and Wu Yaohan purchased a spacious four-courtyard estate at the foot of the mountain near the Jewel Pavilion, ensuring accommodation for everyone.

The days passed swiftly.

Every day, Liu Junhuai led Shen Duoduo and the Wu siblings in cultivation at the mountain’s base, and at night, he entered the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion to follow the steward’s schedule.

Ten days later, Wu Shaoyuan advanced to the ninth rank of Qi training within the array, while the two girls reached the fourth rank.

Wu Yaohan, seeing the rapid progress of their cultivation, was delighted.

Before leaving for Cloud Thread City, Wu Yaohan had promised Liu Junhuai a treasure: a teleportation jade tablet. Its destination was an estate left behind by a Nascent Soul cultivator thousands of years ago, which opens once every century. Liu Junhuai had delayed returning to Pingdu City to retrieve Shen Yihuan precisely to await tomorrow’s opening.

The jade tablet had originally been left as collateral by an old client of Wu Yaohan’s ten years prior, with the agreement that if he did not return when the estate opened, ownership would pass to Wu Yaohan.

Entry to the estate was restricted: only cultivators under fifty years old at or below the Foundation Establishment stage could enter, with a quota of two hundred participants for seven days.

Wu Shaoyuan’s age was suitable, but his cultivation was too low, and the dangers inside were considerable. Survival and gain were difficult.

Every sect in the Cloud Thread Mountains sent their elite disciples, and each opening attracted powerful rogue cultivators.

Rumor had it that the estate held many opportunities, but most importantly, the next century’s teleportation tablet must be obtained within, representing the continuity of fortune for sects and cultivation families—a prime trial ground.

Wu Yaohan, shrewd and experienced, understood Liu Junhuai’s temperament and recognized the boundless luck that surrounded him, which was the main reason for his confidence in the young man.

Thus, Wu Yaohan had no worries that Wu Shaoyuan and his sister would miss out; on the contrary, he believed following Liu Junhuai would bring them greater prospects.

After sending Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini off to bed, Liu Junhuai entered the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion.

The steward, accustomed to his nightly routine, waited at the door.

For Liu Junhuai’s upcoming estate expedition, the steward had arranged a series of training plans. Each day, Liu Junhuai’s cultivation yielded new gains, and he looked forward eagerly to the estate’s opening.

The steward’s presence was invaluable to Liu Junhuai’s cultivation; his daily training was now systematic and steady, unlike the former days of groping blindly. His advancement was orderly and firm, laying a solid foundation and removing future worries.

“Did you notice any standing stone monuments or similar markers near the place where you encountered the Crimson Fire Nine Infant in Qingyun Hollow?” the steward asked as soon as Liu Junhuai arrived.

Liu Junhuai replied, surprised, “No, why?”

“The Pavilion Master instructed me to seek a way to subdue the Crimson Fire Nine Infant. I’ve been collecting relevant materials and finally found a clue.” The steward produced a thick ancient tome. “There’s a legend recorded here about the Crimson Fire Nine Infant. I suspect the place you described is the site of the legendary fragmented space. We must first confirm this before we can find a method to subdue it.”

Liu Junhuai took the book and read the passage marked by the steward.

It spoke of a chaotic realm beyond the Three Realms, where stood Mount Sumeru. When Pangu split the heavens, the space shattered, and the chaos beyond the Three Realms splintered as well, scattering Mount Sumeru across the world.

Centered on Mount Sumeru were nine mountains, eight seas, four continents, plus sun and moon, forming a world. Countless small kingdoms within used Sumeru stone as boundary markers.

Each Sumeru stone contained its own space for the inheritance of each kingdom.

Every Sumeru stone space had its unique environment and symbols; thus, the steward believed the cave in Qingyun Hollow, home to the Crimson Fire Nine Infant, was one such fragment of Mount Sumeru.

“What exactly is ‘beyond the Three Realms’?” Liu Junhuai asked.

“The Three Realms are Heaven, Earth, and Humanity—the space inhabited by those yet to achieve true liberation. Beyond them is freedom, unconstrained by the rules of Buddha, Dao, Man, or Netherworld,” the steward explained.

Liu Junhuai agreed with the steward’s theory. To prove the cave was indeed a fragment of Mount Sumeru, he would have to return and seek its markers.

“Tonight the Pavilion Master will refine that jade gourd. I estimate its internal space will be much larger than your storage ring. The pet chamber has been idle for too long.” The steward continued, “From now on, do not use Gold Essence Stones or Extreme Cold Crystals. Though the Pavilion Master has a good stock, each is irreplaceable and better saved for breaking through bottlenecks in cultivation.”

And so the story continued.