Chapter Twenty-Four: Celestial Fiend Body Refining Technique (Part One)

By the time Ji Mo left the Southern Resonance Peak, the sky was already bathed in moonlight. She had managed to scrounge a dinner at Chu Qing’s, and, thoroughly satisfied, departed with two jars of nectar and five small bottles of fruit wine, straddling Chi Yan’s back as she flew toward the main Thunder Peak. As for the Southern Wind Drunk, Chu Qing was far more generous with Chi Yan than with Ji Mo—she handed over five large jars in one breath.

Upon returning to her own courtyard, Ji Mo stowed away the nectar and wine, then stretched out on her bed and enjoyed a deep, restful sleep. When she awoke the next morning, she washed and refreshed herself, ate a spiritual fruit, and finally remembered to cultivate. She closed her eyes and cultivated for two hours. She had just finished when Peony Fairy’s voice rang in her ears: “Ji Mo, get in here.”

Ji Mo paused, startled, unsure what business the ill-tempered Peony Fairy had with her. Though she felt a flicker of unease, she dared not delay, sending her soul consciousness into her sea of consciousness. After all, Peony Fairy’s strength far surpassed her own—she knew she was in no position to refuse.

The peerlessly beautiful Peony Fairy began to roar the moment she saw her. “Ji Mo, your master has been gone for a full seven days now. If I’m not mistaken, today is the first time you’ve cultivated since successfully drawing spiritual energy into your body, isn’t it?”

“Don’t shout so loud. Cultivation isn’t something accomplished in a day or two. I’ve just completed the process of drawing energy into my body; I need to stabilize my realm first. My master specifically instructed me about this,” Ji Mo replied nonchalantly, rubbing her ear.

“You—you’re simply indolent and wasting precious time! Do you realize you possess a Five Elements Spiritual Body, which requires you to cultivate all five elements simultaneously? You’re already much slower than those with a single spiritual root. With your lazy temperament, how long do you think it will take you to ascend to the Heavenly Realm?” Peony Fairy was so furious she almost twisted her nose out of shape, pointing at Ji Mo and unleashing a torrent of scolding.

“I never said I wanted to ascend. You’re the one always pushing me, hoping I’ll reach the Heavenly Realm,” Ji Mo muttered.

“You? Hmph! Listen carefully, Ji Mo. If you refuse to cooperate with me, if you keep shirking and slacking off, hoping to dash my expectations, I will make your life a living hell. Not just you, but your family, your master, your fellow disciples—everyone connected to you—I won’t spare any of them!” Peony Fairy’s voice was thick with menace, her teeth clenched in rage.

“Is that a threat?” Ji Mo’s heart chilled, then she flared up, narrowing her eyes and glaring back at Peony Fairy.

“Yes, it is a threat. And what will you do about it? Let me tell you: in addition to cultivating all five elements, you must also practice body refinement techniques. In the future, when you ascend, not only must you reach the great circle of unity in all five elements, but your body must also attain the state of Sanctified Flesh,” Peony Fairy declared.

“Sanctified Flesh? What sort of realm is that?” The unfamiliar term piqued Ji Mo’s curiosity, momentarily distracting her from her anger.

“Hmph. Your world divides cultivation into spiritual and physical paths, does it not? For a body refiner to ascend, only achieving Sanctified Flesh and shattering the void will suffice,” Peony Fairy snorted.

“Sanctified Flesh, shattering the void? But in all the recorded history of the Azure Profound Cultivation Realm, there’s never been a body refiner who achieved Sanctified Flesh and ascended to the Immortal Realm,” Ji Mo said, stunned. She had studied the history of Azure Profound cultivation closely during the months she couldn’t draw energy into her body.

“With the body refinement techniques of your realm, it’s naturally impossible for anyone to reach the level of Sanctified Flesh. If someone had, body refinement would not be so disrespected in your world,” Peony Fairy replied.

“Oh, so our world has no such body refinement techniques, but you do?” Ji Mo’s mind worked quickly, catching the implication.

“Of course. If I didn’t, why would I waste so many words on you? Have you not noticed the book suspended in your sea of consciousness? Open it and see for yourself,” Peony Fairy’s gaze settled on the black-covered book at the center of Ji Mo’s consciousness.

Faced with Peony Fairy, Ji Mo was like a slab of meat on a chopping board, utterly powerless to resist. Though she deeply resented being ordered around, she could only resign herself to fate. She walked over to the book and opened the first page: The Celestial Demon Body Refinement Manual. As the page turned, the five bold characters gleamed with a dark golden light, searing themselves into Ji Mo’s vision.

“The Celestial Demon Body Refinement Manual? Is this the technique that leads to Sanctified Flesh? But the name doesn’t sound like something meant for humans,” Ji Mo said, reeling from the revelation, her mind dazed by the force of those words. Regaining her composure, she glanced warily at Peony Fairy.

“The Celestial Demon Body Refinement Manual is a supreme body refinement technique of the demon race. The so-called Celestial Demons are those formidable demon warriors of the Heavenly Realm,” Peony Fairy responded.

“A supreme demon technique? Fairy, I am human, not demon. I understand your concern for my combat prowess and your hope that I cultivate both spirit and body, but if you want to give me a technique, it ought to suit humans. Why hand me a demon race manual instead? I really can’t accept this,” Ji Mo said angrily. Was she being mistaken for a demon now?

“Hmph. This is the only body refinement manual I possess, and the ones in your realm are so feeble as to be worthless. Weighing your options, you have no choice but to practice this Celestial Demon Body Refinement Manual,” Peony Fairy replied, her tone unyielding.

“First you barge uninvited into my consciousness and refuse to leave; now you give me a demon manual. Are you planning to turn me into a demon for your own purposes?” Ji Mo’s eyes narrowed, a faint glimmer of anger shining in their depths.

“You foolish girl, your imagination runs wild. Though I, too, was once a peony spirit who attained immortality, I am not a demon. Through ten cycles of reincarnation, each time I developed sentience, I was summoned to the Jade Pool to absorb its immortal energy until I took full form. So, though I originated as a flower spirit, I cannot inhabit any demon body. What benefit would it bring me to make you a demon?” Peony Fairy said, half exasperated, half amused.

Ji Mo gazed at her quietly, uncertain whether to believe her words. Peony Fairy glanced at Ji Mo, then continued, “Even if I harbored some ulterior motive, you couldn’t resist me now anyway. What’s the point of worrying? Though you are young, your mind is far keener than most your age. I trust you’ll make the correct choice.”

“Although the Celestial Demon Body Refinement Manual is a demon technique, many humans have practiced it. A few of the most illustrious generals in the Heavenly Realm, when still in the mortal world, all cultivated this manual, achieved Sanctified Flesh, and ascended,” Peony Fairy added before Ji Mo could reply.

“I already cultivate all five elements, which is much slower than most. If I also practice body refinement, won’t I die of old age before I even lay my foundation?” Ji Mo hesitated, struggling to win a little leeway for herself.

“Rest assured, I won’t let you die before laying your foundation. But if you defy me, searching for excuses to avoid cultivation and your progress stalls, I’ll slaughter everyone close to you before your time comes, then extract your soul and refine your spirit, ensuring you never know peace for all eternity,” Peony Fairy replied, her tone icy and forbidding.