The duel between Yan Zhen and the Spirit Mountain Ancestor was scheduled for three days later, and the meeting ended on a sour note.
It was clear that the Jialan Fairy was doing everything in her power to extend the Spirit Mountain Ancestor’s life.
Ancestor Changsheng, Ancestor Jingang, Sunny Supreme, Fog Supreme, and Snow Supreme all tried their best to dissuade him, but the old man was dead set on avenging his grand-disciple. With a flick of his sleeve, he brushed them off and returned to his cave abode.
The Evil Consort didn’t even give the Jialan Fairy a chance to speak. Dissatisfied with the outcome, she whisked Yan Zhen away.
A pitch-black space portal ripped open directly inside God Mountain. The Evil Consort led Yan Zhen through it, with Granny Meng silently trailing behind them.
When they reached the entrance to Consort God Palace, Granny Meng halted and bowed slightly, watching the pair proceed without a word.
Yan Zhen glanced at the Evil Consort. Seeing her face still cold as ice, he ventured cautiously, “Evil Consort Master, please don’t be angry. Saint Lord Master has her reasons—the Spirit Mountain Ancestor is, after all, her senior uncle who watched her grow up.”
The Evil Consort stopped in her tracks and fixed Yan Zhen with a glare. “You’re still speaking up for Jialan? Even when her own disciple is bullied, she won’t lift a finger to protect you. What right does she have to keep being your master? From now on, Yan’er, stay in the Dead City and cultivate under This Palace. There’s no need to go back. The Holy Land might have its treasures, but so does the Dead City—you don’t need to envy hers!”
Yan Zhen’s emotions were a tangled mix. He was naturally touched that his Evil Consort Master was this furious on his behalf, but things had gotten a bit out of hand.
He was the one who should have been upset, with her comforting him. Instead, the roles were reversed, and for some reason, it made him want to laugh.
“Heh heh~”
“You’re laughing? This Palace feels indignant for you!” the Evil Consort snapped in annoyance. “Yan’er, you were clearly in the right, but Jialan took sides with her own people. That means you’re not close enough to her in her heart. Why stay there any longer?”
“Evil Consort Master, calm down. I’m fine, really. Saint Lord Master knows I can defeat the Spirit Mountain Ancestor, so she arranged for an open and fair duel to settle things once and for all.”
“And what of it? Those cards are your precious trump cards for self-preservation—how could you use them lightly?” The Evil Consort huffed. “No matter what you say, Yan’er, after this battle, you must stay in the Dead City. This Palace won’t let her disciple go back to suffer grievances!”
Deeply moved, Yan Zhen saw how resolute she was and could only agree for the time being.
The Evil Consort snorted coldly. “If Jialan doesn’t give This Palace a proper explanation, she can forget about taking Yan’er back!”
Yan Zhen blinked and quickly changed the subject. “Speaking of which, Evil Consort Master, you haven’t taught me how to control the Death City Core yet. Now that we have time, could you show me?”
“That’s exactly what This Palace had in mind.” Her tone softened a touch. “Wasting a card’s power on a mere Three-Turn Half-Saint would be a shame. This Palace will teach you how to wield the Death City Core and draw on the Dead City’s might—that will be more than enough to handle that decrepit old man on his last legs.”
“Really?”
“Would This Palace ever deceive you? Come, Yan’er. Let’s head outside God Mountain. It’ll be easier to connect with the Dead City there.”
With a flash of the space portal, the two appeared on the Floating Island that had hosted the previous ceremony. Teacher and student began their lesson.
As the Evil Consort explained, Yan Zhen activated the Death City Core through the Yin Mo Death Seal on his hand. Using the core as a conduit, he could commune with the Dead City itself. The amount of power he could borrow depended on his affinity with it.
It was somewhat similar to the Flame Yama Ninefold Transformation and its link to the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
The difference was that the Fire Refining Starry Sky tied closely to his Emperor Flame Technique and the Extreme Flame he had refined, making the connection straightforward. The Dead City, on the other hand, had almost no prior bond with him—only the core as a bridge—so it was naturally more challenging.
Yan Zhen took out the Pure Lotus Platform, intending to meditate on it for the communion, but the Evil Consort kicked it flying with one foot and summoned the Skeleton Throne for him instead.
“You’re not allowed to use Jialan’s things in front of This Palace!”
“Uh, alright.”
Yan Zhen had no choice but to obey his Evil Consort Master. Clutching the Death City Core, he settled onto the Skeleton Throne, circulated the method she taught him, and reached out to the Dead City.
With his Divine Soul Realm cultivation and exceptional aptitude, he succeeded on his first try in less time than it took to burn a stick of incense. The Evil Consort was greatly pleased.
Back when she had first connected with the Dead City—at the Mystic Ancestor Realm—it had taken her about the same amount of time.
Yan Zhen’s performance outshone even hers, perhaps due to the lingering power of the Yellow Springs Water in his body.
It was said that the Yellow Springs Water had condensed from the Dead City’s link to the underworld.
“Not bad, Yan’er. Keep going—the higher your affinity with the Dead City, the more power you can draw. Don’t stop until you hit your limit,” the Evil Consort instructed. “The Death City Core will show your affinity level, from white at the lowest to black at the highest. Once you exceed fifty percent—reaching gray—you can even manipulate parts of the Dead City’s form and alter its terrain.”
“Got it, Evil Consort Master. I’ll do my best.”
Yan Zhen buckled down with full determination.
This was a power he had never grasped in his previous life, but even without a script to guide him, he could imagine how formidable it would be: wielding the Fire Refining Starry Sky in one hand and the Dead City in the other, commanding two divine artifacts at once.
He spent the full three days immersed in communing with the Dead City. His divine soul wandered an endless sea of mystic power, like living in a dream.
On the fourth day, Yan Zhen emerged from his trance. He withdrew the Death City Core, now radiating gray light, and the Yin Mo Death Seal on his hand shifted from white to gray.
In just three days, he had achieved gray affinity—a full two days faster than the Evil Consort had managed.
“It seems the Dead City and you are fated, Yan’er.” She had stayed by his side the whole time. Now, she ruffled his hair with satisfaction. “Alright, time’s up. Let’s go show those old fogeys what you’re capable of!”
Yan Zhen gave a wry smile. “Don’t worry, Evil Consort Master. I’ll win this properly.”
“No holding back!” she huffed. “Otherwise, This Palace will step in and handle it for you.”
Ah… Yan Zhen broke out in a cold sweat inwardly. His Evil Consort Master’s personality hadn’t changed a bit—she reserved all her kindness for him, remaining as vicious as ever to outsiders.
The thought stirred something in him. Suddenly, he spread his arms and pulled the Evil Consort into a tight hug.
Her lithe body went rigid at the “ambush.” Flustered, her cheeks flushed crimson. After a moment of fidgeting, she hugged him back gently. “Wh-what is it, Yan’er? Scared? If you are, This Palace can just slaughter that old fool for you.”
Yan Zhen nuzzled her cheek softly and murmured, “Thank you for getting angry on my behalf, Evil Consort Master… It makes me so happy. But I don’t blame Saint Lord Master, so you don’t need to fight with her.”
“You’re still defending Jialan. Who knows what love potion she’s fed you.”
The Evil Consort sounded a bit jealous. Yan Zhen grinned confidently. “I’ll handle this myself, Evil Consort Master. Just watch.”
“Mm.”
“Then let’s go. Oh, should we bring Granny Meng?”
“…”
