BW Chapter 163

Dark Domain (5)

 

Although the Dark Domain originated from the same place as the Floating Sky Realm, it was completely different from the beautiful scenery of the Floating Sky Realm’s blessed cave heaven. It was as if someone had forcibly drawn a dividing line through the middle—half was vast desert, half was scalding lava.

 

The sky here was extremely close to the ground, as if it would press down at any moment. The gray and gloomy sky was frequently split by pale blue lightning, with dull thunder rumbling near and far.

 

On the burnt brown ground, viscous black substances writhed. The scorching air was filled with nauseating fishy odors, and crimson ancient runes were everywhere, ghostly in form, following like shadows.

 

Ning Buwei cast a Great Cleansing Technique. The things originally clinging to the ground instantly dissipated, but when the spell collided with the runes, the surrounding dense spiritual energy produced a slight fluctuation. Then, like a stone thrown into water creating ripples, the originally dormant black substances began to writhe in unison.

 

This thoroughly disgusted Ning Buwei.

 

“What the hell are these things?” Ning Buwei forced himself to endure the sticky sensation under his feet and pushed the Suzaku that had poked its head out back into his sleeve.

 

“Some residual spiritual consciousness, corrupted by prolonged exposure to demonic energy.” Seeing that he wanted to cast another Cleansing Technique, Chu Jun reached out and grabbed him. “Cleansing Techniques are useless—they’ll only make them multiply.”

 

Ning Buwei frowned, then heard Chu Jun say, “Shall I carry you?”

 

“……” Ning Buwei stared at him expressionlessly. “Are you looking for a fight?”

 

Chu Jun said calmly, “I can see you find these things disgusting.”

 

“Sticky, gooey, and pitch black—who could like them?” Ning Buwei kicked at his boots again, found he couldn’t shake anything off, and had to give up.

 

“Hold on a bit longer. Up ahead is the core of the Dark Domain’s restriction.” Chu Jun said.

 

Ning Buwei looked up and saw a massive platform suspended in the distant mid-air. However, the platform was shrouded in black mist, only becoming barely visible when lightning struck.

 

“Good thing I didn’t bring Ning Xiu here.” Ning Buwei patted his sleeve. “The little thing would make a fuss even over mud on his shoes.”

 

Hearing this, Chu Jun said, “Pei Heguang is meticulous and understands you well enough. He was certain you would bring Ning Xiu to the Dark Domain.”

 

Ning Buwei raised an eyebrow. He had indeed initially wanted to bring Ning Xiu along. At a time like this, he wouldn’t feel at ease leaving Ning Xiu anywhere, but Chu Jun had persuaded him to abandon this idea.

 

“The Dark Domain’s restrictions are indeed in shambles, yet Ning Xiu remains perfectly safe. Just what—” Ning Buwei took a few more steps forward. Lightning flashed very close to him. He was momentarily stunned and didn’t react in time, but Chu Jun yanked him back forcefully.

 

“What are you spacing out for?” Chu Jun saw a streak of blood slowly appearing on his face and frowned. He didn’t use spiritual energy, but wiped it away with his hand.

 

Ning Buwei gripped his hand tightly and said in a low voice, “It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something. Let’s go.”

 

Moments later, they arrived before that massive platform.

 

The platform was over dozens of zhang high, like a lone boat in this wasteland of lava. Hundreds of chains emerged from underground, firmly anchoring the platform in place. The spreading black mist slowly parted before their eyes, revealing the true scene within.

 

There were no restrictions, no iron chains, and not a trace of evil or demonic energy—only clean, pure spiritual energy floating gently above.

 

At the center of the high platform sat a monk, his wide monk’s robes flowing across the ground. Countless golden Sanskrit characters spread outward from him as the center, with three thousand Buddha lights naturally emanating behind him.

 

Amidst this chaos of fishy blackness and scalding lava, he sat unmoved and unshaken, emerging from mud without being stained, firmly anchoring this high platform in place.

 

“Mingsang?” Ning Buwei’s tone was unfriendly. “Why do you appear here?”

 

“Amitabha.” Mingsang slowly opened his eyes. “Benefactor Ning, this poor monk was entrusted by the Chongzheng Alliance to guard the Dark Domain’s restrictions here, lest the spiritual energy leak too quickly and bring calamity to all living beings in both realms.”

 

Ning Buwei sneered coldly, “They told you to come and you came? Did you, this monk, chant sutras until you made yourself stupid? Rushing to do such thankless work—step aside, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”

 

“Amitabha.” Mingsang said, “Before the Chongzheng Alliance arrives, this poor monk will not let anyone enter.”

 

The Suzaku narrow blade hummed and flew out from Ning Buwei’s sleeve, pointing directly at Mingsang.

 

“Zen Master Mingsang.” Chu Jun suddenly spoke. “We can help repair the restrictions.”

 

Mingsang looked up at him.

 

Chu Jun said, “The spiritual energy leak is only getting faster. Rather than both sides suffering injury, why not let us go in and try?”

 

“That sounds nice! Who knows if this Dark Domain restriction wasn’t opened by you and Ning Buwei in the first place! Zen Master Mingsang, you absolutely cannot let them enter!”

 

A booming voice came from the horizon, followed by aggressive spiritual energy transforming into countless arrows shooting straight at Ning Buwei and Chu Jun.

 

Ning Buwei spun his blade and leaped up. Black mist a hundred times denser than the Dark Domain’s instantly spread out, swallowing all those arrows completely. The surrounding spiritual energy surged violently, pulling at the chains anchoring the high platform until they trembled continuously, making piercing sounds.

 

Wang Bin revealed himself from behind the arrows. Ning Buwei blocked Chu Jun’s path with his single blade, chuckling lightly, “So it’s you, old bastard.”

 

Wang Bin was about to launch his next attack when someone shouted loudly to stop him.

 

“Wang Bin, the Dark Domain’s restrictions are already precarious—what are you doing!” Chu Linyuan arrived with the Chongzheng Alliance members close behind him.

 

Hao Zheng and Shang Nuanwei brought several people with them, standing clearly separate from the Chongzheng Alliance crowd. Hao Zheng stroked his beard slowly and said, “Sect Master Chu, how about it? You searched our Wangxuan Academy inside and out, and Ning Buwei and the others are indeed not in our academy. Moreover, regarding the Linglong Bone, you came up aggressively demanding people—truly bullying others too much.”

 

“Dean Hao, please forgive us.” Chu Linyuan cupped his hands in salute and said respectfully, “This student will certainly visit to apologize and make amends another day.”

 

Shang Nuanwei snorted coldly from the side, saying sarcastically, “You Chongzheng Alliance people act without distinguishing right from wrong—truly chilling.”

 

Some people who had come from the Wangxuan Academy hung their heads in shame.

 

“Heh, who knows if you’re not in cahoots with Ning Buwei.” Wang Bin said, “Since Ning Buwei is here, the Linglong Bone must be nearby. What are you all waiting for?”

 

However, even with his instigation, the Chongzheng Alliance members didn’t dare act rashly.

 

Chu Linyuan stepped forward and performed a disciple’s grand salute to Chu Jun. “Venerable, your presence here is—”

 

Chu Jun was very forthright. “Repairing the restrictions.”

 

Xie family head Xie Zhiang said, “Then why would Venerable be mingling with this demon Ning Buwei? Could the rumors from outside be true—that you and this demon have an unclear relationship?”

 

The crowd immediately burst into noisy chatter.

 

“…Although we’ve long heard that Venerable Jinghe’s death was fake, back then on Dao Discussion Mountain, Venerable and Ning Buwei did save people together. Do they really have something going on?”

 

“Outrageous! How can you speak like that!”

 

“Exactly! Venerable is of noble character—how could he possibly mingle with a demon like Ning Buwei?”

 

“Venerable Jinghe is a martial uncle ancestor figure of the Wushi Sect—how dare you speculate!”

 

“But they’re standing so close together, and just now Ning Buwei was protecting Venerable…”

 

“What nonsense are you spouting? Venerable’s cultivation is unfathomably deep—would he need Ning Buwei’s protection?”

 

“Hehe, you don’t understand. It must be that Ning Buwei came to the Dark Domain to cause trouble, and Venerable definitely wants to deal with this demon.”

 

“Right, that makes sense. Those rumors were obviously false…”

 

Those who didn’t know the truth discussed among themselves, while those in the know had very subtle expressions on their faces.

 

Although Ning Buwei had dealt with the Chongzheng Alliance quite often, he was actually very cautious and rarely showed his true appearance in public. Everyone’s gazes—whether disgusted, curious, or puzzled—fell on him, speculation mixed with wariness, and the later guesses became increasingly malicious.

 

Xie Zhiang had asked the question that was in everyone’s hearts. Everyone’s gazes wandered between Chu Jun and Ning Buwei, hoping Chu Jun would give an answer.

 

The Chongzheng Alliance had mobilized all the heads from various sects and families this time, including among them were powerful figures comparable to the Venerable Nanshu of those days, and each had brought quite a few people under them. They formed a dark mass in the Dark Domain, very imposing.

 

Two fists couldn’t fight four hands, let alone so many high-level cultivators. However, there was plenty of evil energy in the Dark Domain, so Ning Buwei felt confident that escaping wouldn’t be a problem. As long as Chu Jun dodged the issue and denied it, he might even be able to infiltrate the Chongzheng Alliance…

 

Chu Jun had always been full of schemes and would never put himself in a difficult position. Ning Buwei felt he could guess his intentions, so he took a moment to make eye contact with Chu Jun and nodded lightly to him.

 

Ning Buwei tugged at the corner of his mouth, about to speak and distance himself from Chu Jun before taking the opportunity to flee, when he heard Chu Jun’s cold voice slowly spreading through the Dark Domain:

 

“Ning Buwei and I have already formed a dao contract, with Heavenly Dao as witness. What unclear relationship is there to speak of?”

 

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was in uproar.

 

Ning Buwei, who had been halfway through activating his Suzaku blade, suddenly turned to look at him.

 

Behind him were countless chains and the platform suspended in air, scalding lava flowing endlessly, pale lightning tearing through the dark sky. The person in snow-white robes stood with hands behind his back on the polluted earth, his gaze completely open and sincere.

 

This reflected in Ning Buwei’s astonished eyes.

 

Chu Jun showed him a gentle, faint smile.

 

For the first time, Ning Buwei realized his heart could beat so joyfully. He curved the corners of his mouth, his brows and eyes filled with uncontrollable delight. Then he simply and decisively put away his Suzaku blade, walked to Chu Jun’s side, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

 

Then he arrogantly and domineeringly raised his chin, smiling at the Chongzheng Alliance members with evil overflowing, “That’s right. Chu Jun has long been mine.”

 

Stupefaction, shock, disbelief, heartbreak, sighs of regret.

 

In a moment of eerie silence, only dull thunder and howling wind remained.

 

The decision Chu Jun made was impulsive and unwise, completely contrary to his usual style of deep scheming, calm composure, and steady action. Ning Buwei didn’t care about empty reputation, but precisely because Chu Jun had so frankly and generously admitted it in front of his mortal enemies, he felt refreshed from inside out, even down to his hair.

 

The great demon narrowed his eyes and vigorously licked his back molars.

 

If not for the wrong time and place, he would want to pin down Chu Jun right now and kiss him thoroughly.