Chapter 1324: The Fifth Domain

In an icy mountain gorge, a river roared and surged beneath drifting curtains of mist.

At the agreed time and place, in the old cave where Niu Youdao had first handed the Wuliang Fruits to Zhao Xiongge, Zhao Xiongge and Yuan Gang were already waiting when Niu Youdao arrived.

Niu Youdao flew inside and landed beside them. He looked Yuan Gang up and down, glanced at the newly grown stubble of hair on his head, and asked, "All right now?"

Yuan Gang tore the bandages from both hands. No matter how quickly his injuries healed, there still had to be some semblance of a recovery process. The bandages were only a disguise.

He showed Niu Youdao both palms, then clenched his fists with a rapid cracking of knuckles. "I'm fine."

"Good." Niu Youdao then looked Zhao Xiongge up and down. The man seemed cleaner than before, yet somehow not much had changed. The only difference was probably that he washed more often. Overall, he was still scruffy, and the wine gourd still hung from his person. Niu Youdao could not help asking, "Martial Uncle Zhao, didn't you say you'd let everything go once this was over? Why do you still look like this? Clean yourself up properly. Stop hanging a wine gourd on yourself all day."

Zhao Xiongge said, "Something puzzles me. Why are you always the one lecturing me? Which of us is the Martial Uncle here, you or me?"

Niu Youdao chuckled. "We're family. No need to stand on ceremony."

Zhao Xiongge snorted, then sighed. "After so many years, I'm used to it. Put me in new clothes and I feel uncomfortable all over. As for the wine, I've been drinking for too many years to quit all at once. There's no need to force it. Let nature take its course."

Niu Youdao had meant well. Since Zhao Xiongge put it that way, he said nothing further. It was the man's own freedom.

Shing! Yuan Gang suddenly drew the large saber from his back and extended it in front of Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao glanced at it. "What?"

"Master Dao, this saber doesn't feel right in my hands."

"If it doesn't feel right, replace it. Don't tell me the entire Demonic Sect can't find you one saber."

"I still prefer the Three-Roars Saber. A saber that moves too smoothly, without any resistance, doesn't feel satisfying. And the tiger roar when the Three-Roars Saber comes down, especially when it comes from my own hand, feels as if I'm the one roaring. It seems to add to my essence, qi, and spirit when I strike. When I wield it, I feel more like man and saber have become one."

Niu Youdao looked at him sidelong. "Why are you telling me this? What exactly are you getting at?"

Yuan Gang was simple and direct. "If possible, help me get the Three-Roars Saber back."

"Where is it?"

"I lost it in Wushuang Sacred Land. It should be in Lü Wushuang's hands."

Niu Youdao rolled his eyes. "Are you sick in the head? Do you think I'm omnipotent? It's in Lü Wushuang's hands. How am I supposed to get it, trade my life for it? Get lost!" He shoved Yuan Gang aside and turned to Zhao Xiongge. "Nothing unusual from Wu Chang toward the Demonic Sect?"

"Nothing unusual so far."

"Who knows what he's plotting behind everyone's backs. Stay alert and be careful. Contact me immediately if anything happens."

"We've been careful the whole time. We don't dare be negligent."

Niu Youdao produced a false-face mask from his sleeve and tossed it to Yuan Gang. "Put it on. You're coming with me."

Yuan Gang held it up and looked at it. It was red, probably prepared specifically for him. Then he obeyed.

Once Yuan Gang had fitted the mask over his face, Niu Youdao looked at him and still felt something was wrong. He turned away, felt awkward about it again, then turned back and gestured for Yuan Gang to lower his head.

Yuan Gang lowered it. Niu Youdao pressed a hand to his scalp and exerted spiritual power. Hair flew away in all directions. In an instant, Yuan Gang was bald.

Yuan Gang rubbed his head, his eyes full of confusion.

"The Demonic Sect probably recognizes that hairstyle of yours by now. And then there's that damned skin of yours. Better to go bald and remove one more thing that could draw suspicion." Niu Youdao offered the casual explanation, turned, and waved for them to go.

Yuan Gang followed behind. "Where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there."

Zhao Xiongge smiled faintly at the way the two interacted. Everything that had happened because of Yuan Gang's earlier recklessness seemed to have passed lightly between these two.

From a ravine on the plateau, a flying mount shot into the sky, carrying Niu Youdao, Yun Ji, and Yuan Gang swiftly away.

...

As they approached the Boundless Desert region, Niu Youdao took out a map. The section covering the Boundless Desert had been folded in advance. He called to Yun Ji, who was controlling the flying mount. "Make a detour and go to this location. There should be fewer people entering the Boundless Desert from there. It'll help us avoid anyone noticing what we're doing in the desert."

He rarely did anything unprepared. The fact that he could simply produce the map showed he had planned this well in advance.

Yun Ji reached out for it. Niu Youdao pointed out the route they should circle around. She nodded to show she understood.

Only then did Yuan Gang realize where they were going. "The Boundless Desert?"

"Mm."

"Looking for the Scorpion Emperor?" It was only a guess.

He happened to be right. Niu Youdao said, "Didn't you say you could control the Scorpion Emperor?"

"I can. But what can the three of us do?"

"Have you forgotten what you told me about Lü Wushuang? Let me tell you something else. The Demon Canon records that besides the mortal world we inhabit, the Tiandu Secret Realm, the Sacred Realm, and the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm, Shang Song also opened up a Fifth Domain."

"The Fifth Domain?" Yun Ji and Yuan Gang asked at the same time. Yun Ji added, "What's the Demon Canon?"

"That's right. There's also a Fifth Domain." Niu Youdao looked at Yun Ji and smiled. "The Demon Canon is Li Ge's Handwritten Notes, where she recorded these matters. I had no choice but to hand it to Wu Chang in order to save Monkey."

At that, Yuan Gang felt ashamed.

The fact that Niu Youdao had told her such a secret made Yun Ji's eyes flicker. Astonished, she asked, "Could the Boundless Desert be connected to the Fifth Domain?"

"The entrance to the Fifth Domain is hidden somewhere in this desert. I originally thought only two or three people in the world knew the secret. But after hearing Monkey talk about Lü Wushuang last time, I began to wonder whether Lü Wushuang knows as well. She went straight for the Scorpion Emperor, and that made me suspect the Scorpion Emperor might be the guiding object recorded in the Demon Canon, the one that leads to the Fifth Domain. I suspect it because apart from the sand scorpions, I simply can't think of anything else in this desert that could serve as the guiding object."

"Whether Lü Wushuang actually knows doesn't matter for now. At the very least, Wu Chang knows now. He should still be trying to find the key that allows entry. We can't compete with him for the things he's looking for. At least for now, we can't beat him to them. Showing our heads would be courting death."

Yun Ji said, "So you brought Monkey here to test whether the Scorpion Emperor can lead us into the Fifth Domain?"

"Exactly. If my judgment is right and the Scorpion Emperor truly can guide us into the Fifth Domain, then we'll get there ahead of everyone else and see what the Fifth Domain is actually like. Once we know the situation, we'll know what we're dealing with and can prepare for rain before it falls, instead of being caught completely off guard when the time comes."

Yuan Gang, who had been listening in silence, understood what he meant. He suddenly said, "If that's the case, there's no need to make such a troublesome detour."

Niu Youdao said, "The disturbance when you summon the Scorpion Emperor is too large. Choosing the right direction lets us minimize the chance that cultivators traveling to and from Boundless Pavilion will notice."

"I can make the disturbance smaller."

Niu Youdao looked back. "In a desert this large, don't tell me you can pinpoint the Scorpion Emperor's location."

"I have a way."

Niu Youdao knew Yuan Gang was not someone who boasted idly. Since he had said he could do it, Niu Youdao immediately turned to Yun Ji. "Listen to him."

The group headed straight for the Boundless Desert. Once they reached the desert region, they chose a foothill near the desert's edge and landed.

Yun Ji then took the flying mount to the mountaintop, where she kept watch over the surroundings and guarded against anyone approaching.

Yuan Gang stepped onto the sand and walked slowly up a dune. Facing the vast undulating desert, he spread both arms and suddenly threw back his head with a long roar. "Aaaah...!"

Niu Youdao flashed over and landed nearby, watching him.

Then orderly stretches of sand ahead began breaking open one after another. Near and far, perhaps a hundred sand scorpions emerged and came racing over.

Yuan Gang stopped roaring and waited.

When the swarm reached him and crawled close, Yuan Gang spent a long while making guttural calls. "Hoh... hoh... hoh..."

Niu Youdao stood with his hands behind his back, watching Yuan Gang communicate with the creatures. He paid little attention to the monsters themselves. His eyes were mainly on Yuan Gang, and there was something indescribable in his expression. This brother who had followed him across two lifetimes was surprising him more and more.

"Hoh!" Yuan Gang ended with one heavy bark.

The sand scorpions immediately turned and scattered in every direction, racing across the desert as though over level ground. Soon they slipped cleanly beneath the sand again, creatures born perfectly for this place.

Yuan Gang looked back. "With only a small number of sand scorpions, we won't be noticed like this."

Niu Youdao nodded calmly, already understanding. "You want these sand scorpions to carry the message and bring the Scorpion Emperor here?"

"That's right."

"Looks like you're getting more and more practiced at controlling these creatures."

"Practice makes skill. I've dealt with them more often now, and I've gradually developed a feel for it. I know how to communicate with them."

Niu Youdao asked lightly, "How long do we wait?"

"I don't know. But they should be able to find it."

"Then we'll wait."

After they had waited for some time, Yuan Gang took the canteen from his waist, pulled out the stopper, and handed it to Niu Youdao. The movement was perfectly natural. Doing this beside Niu Youdao seemed to have become habit.

Niu Youdao appeared just as accustomed to it. He accepted the canteen, took two casual swallows, then handed it back and slowly clasped his hands behind him again, his gaze sweeping in a broad arc across the desert ahead.

Yuan Gang took several long drinks himself, replaced the stopper, and hung the canteen back at his waist.

A bundle was strapped to his back as well, filled with food and water bought along the way against any contingency.

Niu Youdao, by contrast, carried only the sword hanging at his waist. His two sleeves held nothing but the breeze. He stood light and unencumbered, with nothing else upon him.

Yun Ji remained vigilant on the mountain. The two men below waited in the desert.

And they waited a long time.

Only after darkness had fallen and the sky filled with stars, vast and refreshing to the spirit, did they faintly sense a low droning rumble from beneath the desert.

Yun Ji seemed to notice it from the summit as well. Riding the flying mount, she swooped down and began circling at low altitude above the two men.

Crash!

The sand bulged upward into a mound, then poured down in torrents. Beneath the starlight, a hideous beast the size of a small mountain emerged from the desert. It was the Scorpion Emperor. Swinging its enormous pincers, it crawled to the foot of the dune and lowered itself, a foul, fishy breath issuing from its monstrous maw.

Facing it at close range, Niu Youdao remained completely unruffled. He glanced back at Yuan Gang.

"Hoh..." Yuan Gang gave a single call.

The Scorpion Emperor settled obediently against the sand.

The flying mount above them panicked and climbed higher, refusing to fly low.

Yun Ji, however, flashed down and landed behind the two men. At close range, she examined the legendary monster with wonder filling her eyes.

Niu Youdao said, "Ask it whether it knows where the entrance to another world is."

[End of Chapter 1324]