At the summit of the sacred mountain in the Immortal Mystery Domain, the mist was vast and the peaks were grand.
In the night sky the stars seemed close enough to touch among the ridges.
From far away the place looked like a fairyland that reached the heavens.
“Did Father call a meeting this late at night?”
In a grand hall of the Immortal Palace, lined with white jade and golden walls, a richly dressed red-haired youth sat in his study.
He looked at the boy who had come with the message and spoke in surprise.
The youth himself looked about eighteen.
His striking red hair flowed free.
He had a high nose and slightly upturned lips, a fresh, handsome face that made him easy to like.
The messenger had black hair and was clearly younger.
His skin was fair.
He looked cute and clever, but he was short and thin, like a little monkey.
He hurried to the red-haired youth’s desk, panting, and said, “Yes, yes, yes.
It is a decree from His Majesty the Emperor.
You must arrive within half an hour!”
The red-haired youth knew an urgent meeting this late was no small thing.
His face turned serious.
He said in a deep voice, “Since it is Father’s order, it must be important.
Let’s go.”
He stood, straightened his robes, and strode out of the study.
The black-haired boy followed close behind.
The handsome red-haired youth was named Wei Yufeng.
He was only eighteen this year.
He was the son of Emperor Wei Wuyin of the Heavenly Star Immortal Palace and the Emperor’s late first wife.
The thin youth beside him was named Wei Yuming.
He was sixteen, Wei Yufeng’s cousin, and the son of Emperor Wei Wuyin’s younger brother.
Wei Yufeng’s birth mother, Lady Jiang, had died in childbirth.
Emperor Wei Wuyin doted on this son and let him grow up in wealth and ease.
From a young age he raised him as heir to the Heavenly Star Immortal Palace.
Wei Yuming was his playmate.
They were close in age, grew up together, and shared a deep bond.
Wei Yuming was also meant to help the ruling house when he came of age.
Emperor Wei Wuyin of the Immortal Palace was the number one expert in the world.
It was said he had already caught a faint glimpse of the path to the Immortal Realm.
Because of his high rank he rarely fought anyone.
Eighteen years ago the whole world knew he had forced Ning Xuefei, the Number One Beauty of Longyue, to marry him.
Outsiders did not know the true state of their marriage.
The year after the wedding, Ning Xuefei gave birth to a daughter for Wei Wuyin.
The girl was named Wei Miaoshu.
Wei Yufeng was intelligent and quick.
Raised as heir from childhood, he was given love and favor.
He was gifted and serious in his work.
Though young, he was responsible and careful, and the elders thought highly of him.
A light rain fell on the peak of Immortal Palace Mountain in the dark.
The solemn, majestic Immortal Palace stood on the mountain.
Its walls were white jade and gold brick.
Pavilions, towers, carved beams, and painted rafters shone with splendor.
The Emperor never summoned him late at night.
Wei Yufeng could be mischievous and did not like to fuss over Immortal Palace business, but he knew something big must have happened.
He walked quickly to the inner hall.
The hall was brightly lit.
When the guards in front saw the two brothers, Wei Yufeng and Wei Yuming, they led them in at once.
They entered the inner hall.
It was usually the Emperor’s study, so it was not very large.
Several other people were already there.
Wei Yufeng looked around and saw the Emperor sitting behind a huge, luxurious desk.
The subordinates of the Immortal Palace stood in the hall.
He went in as well and knelt to the Emperor.
Wei Yufeng glanced at the Emperor seated behind the great table.
Emperor Wei Wuyin of the Heavenly Star Immortal Palace sat solemn and still.
His flowing red hair was tied neatly back.
Right now he was full of energy.
His eyes were bright and sharp.
Even in a wide robe his strong body showed underneath, and his temples bulged, a sign that his internal strength ran very deep.
Besides Wei Yufeng and the Emperor, five other people were at the meeting.
The white-bearded old man in a purple robe closest to the Emperor was Ning Yuanlong, an elder of the Immortal Palace.
He was over seventy.
He was the younger brother of Ning Yuanhong, who had been Master of the Immortal Palace before the Heavenly Star Rebellion.
He was also the man who spoke for the Ning family after they surrendered to Wei Wuyin.
The imposing, square-faced, tall, strong man to his left was Wei Wuyin’s younger brother, Wei Wuxin.
He was extremely loyal to his brother and had done great service over the years.
He was a leading figure among the Wei family of the old Tianxing Sect, and he was also Wei Yuming’s father.
The first man opposite him was middle-aged, short and fat, ugly, with a round belly, but dressed in rich clothes.
His name was Liu Ji.
He was a guest from the Western Regions who had come to the Heavenly Star Immortal Palace.
He was shrewd, intelligent, and eloquent, and he was the Emperor’s trusted advisor and persuader.
The middle-aged man beside him had a cold, stern face and an ugly, lewd look.
His name was Xiao Guang.
He was not good-looking, but he was extremely ruthless and cunning in martial arts, and he acted without mercy.
He was good at dirty, shady work and was deeply trusted by the Emperor.
The last person stood at the end of the table, a remarkably handsome young man.
He had long, elegant hair, a tall and slender figure, and striking good looks.
His face was like jade.
His features were like a blooming hibiscus, resembling the legendary Pan An.
His two sword-like brows added a touch of heroic spirit.
He was a truly dashing man.
He wore a fine white robe and waved a paper fan with ease.
The strong lines faintly visible under the robe suggested this was no ordinary person.
This man was Hu Hong, son of the master of Hundred Flowers Island, known as the Jade of a Hundred Flowers.
Hundred Flowers Island was a mysterious island in the remote East.
Legend said its people were descendants of the seven immortal heroes.
The island’s master, Song Xuanyue, was one of the three most beautiful women in the world, on a level with Immortal Palace Holy Empress Ning Xuefei and the Mysterious Enchantress of the Evil Moon Cult.
Her son, Hu Hong, had walked the martial world for a long time.
He was handsome and dashing, a well-known beauty in jianghu.
He had been a guest in the Immortal Palace for quite some time now, and it was unclear what he wanted.
When they saw Wei Yufeng enter the hall, everyone bowed and paid their respects.
As the Emperor’s only son, Wei Yufeng was the heir by law, and his status was naturally high.
He returned the bow and nodded.
His gaze swept over them.
Seeing their solemn faces, as if they had something heavy on their minds, his heart tightened.
Though young, he was careful.
He knew something important must happen tonight.
The Emperor waved his hand and said in a deep, firm voice, “Wuxin, everyone is here.
Speak.”
“Yes, sir!” Wei Wuxin cleared his throat and said loudly, “Since the beginning of this year the Evil Moon Cult has been making moves.
Not only have they assassinated disciples of our Immortal Palace several times, they have also intercepted and killed innocent civilians and massacred righteous people.
I have received secret word that the Evil Moon Cult has secretly joined with the northern frontier tribe called the Shituo, and will soon launch a secret attack on Qiyan Palace in order to seize the secret treasure of the Imperial Sword there.”
Everyone present grew solemn.
Qiyan Palace was the largest branch of the Immortal Palace in the outside world.
It held the secret treasures of the former sect leader of the Imperial Sword Sect, and many members of the Wei clan and relatives of the Immortal Palace lived there.
The Shituo were a barbarian tribe from the northern frontier, uncivilized in the eyes of the Central Plains, and long mortal enemies of that heartland.
That the Evil Moon Cult had allied with the Shituo showed a dark ambition.
They meant to set off a bloodbath in the Central Plains.
“Your Majesty, the Evil Moon Cult has always been a mortal enemy of our Immortal Palace.
Its members are skilled in all kinds of insidious arts.
We stand in the open while the enemy hides in the dark.
Now they have joined forces with the Shituo.
This old minister suggests we widen our search and send more people out to learn the enemy’s whereabouts.
We should make plans only after we know more.
It is not wise to act rashly now.”
He had always been mature and careful.
The others stayed silent for a moment.
The Emperor’s face was grim.
He asked the rest, “You are all my right-hand men.
What do you think?”
The short, stout strategist Liu Ji stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I have many friends and informants in the Northern Frontier, and some spies as well.
Why not let me look first into the state of the Shituo in the north?
Since they have moved so many troops south, the news cannot stay fully hidden.
Once we find their trail, we can think of ways to stop them from joining the Evil Moon Cult.
That is the best plan.”
Liu Ji always had a faint smile when he spoke.
Though he was ugly, the smile was easy to like, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
The Emperor nodded slightly, then turned to Xiao Guang and Hu Hong, who had not yet spoken, and asked, “What are your opinions?”
Xiao Guang stayed silent.
The handsome Hu Hong thought for a moment, put away his folding fan, bowed to the Emperor, and said, “Your Majesty, in my view, now that we have word the enemy will attack Qiyan Palace, reinforcing Qiyan Palace is the most important thing.
On one hand it protects the families of the Immortal Palace.
On the other it steadies the confidence of the righteous path.
We can send groups of experts to Qiyan Palace in batches, set an ambush, and wait for them to come to us.
Then we can defeat the demonic sect and the Shituo in one stroke, and leave a few prisoners alive for questioning.
At that time we can seize the initiative at once.”
Hu Hong was handsome and tall, and he spoke with a graceful, refined manner.
Even though everyone present was a man, his bearing still drew a sense of recognition and goodwill.
The Emperor nodded slightly and was silent for a while.
Then he suddenly turned to Wei Yufeng and asked, “Feng’er, what are your thoughts?”
Wei Yufeng was taken aback.
He had not expected his father to ask him on a matter this grave.
His mind raced.
His gaze swept the crowd.
Seeing his father’s stern face, he drew a deep breath, straightened, cupped his hands, and said loudly, “Father, I believe Qiyan Palace is a vital part of our Immortal Palace.
We keep our treasures and our relatives there.
We must not let the demonic sect lay a finger on it.
Since the Evil Moon Cult dares to provoke us, they must have another aim.
We should reinforce the palace quickly and strike with overwhelming force, to protect the foundation of the righteous path and deter such villains.
But the demonic sect is cunning and treacherous.
I suggest we defend Qiyan Palace while we secretly gather intelligence, taking care of both the inside and the outside, to keep us safe.”
Seeing that his son spoke neither too low nor too high, and that his reasoning was clear, a hint of approval showed on the Emperor’s hard face.
He waved his hand and said in a deep voice, “All of you are my trusted men and honored guests.
What you said just now was all reasonable.
Since the Battle of Desolate Water City, the demonic sect has lived in peace with our righteous sects for over a hundred years.
Now that they have risen again, there must be a reason.
I believe the battle at Qiyan Palace is of great importance.
I will go in person to face them and see what they are up to.”
Everyone present was deeply moved, and quite surprised, to hear that the Emperor would take charge himself.
Elder Ning Yuanlong said, “Your Majesty, there is no need for you to trouble yourself with this.
You only need to send one of your disciples…”
Before he could finish, the Emperor waved him off and said with pride, “Since the enemy dared to launch this attack, they must also want to smash our prestige in one blow.
I expect they will send out all their experts, and my disciples may not be their match.
Moreover, though I severely wounded my opponent in the battle with Cangli Dharma King ten years ago, he escaped with a substitution technique.
I still resent that.
My Heaven-Breaking Art has not been used in battle for a long time.
This time I will act in person, give them a proper beating, and crush the villains of the demonic sect, cutting their evil thoughts off while they are still young.”
When the Emperor spoke the name Heaven-Breaking Art, a slight fear and respect showed on every face.
This was a profound martial art passed down through the Wei family of the Tianxing Sect, with astonishing power.
But it was extremely hard to practice and took a long time.
Even the strongest among the Wei family’s predecessors had only mastered it to the fifth level, and that was already enough to stand among top experts.
Emperor Wei Wuyin was an unmatched martial prodigy.
He had already broken through to the seventh level when he launched the Heavenly Star Rebellion eighteen years ago.
After eighteen more years of cultivation, the Emperor’s aura was majestic and proud, and his strength was even harder to measure.