Immortal Paladin

293 Nineclouds City

The guards surrounded us with practiced formation, their spears leveled, but I couldn't help but think how absurd this all looked. Three Ascended Souls detained by 'basically' mortals barely worth the effort of lifting a finger, if not for our deliberate suppression. I had dropped my Spiritual Pressure to a humble Fifth Realm, Alice hid her power at the Sixth, and Da Ji dimmed herself all the way down to Third. Their leader stood taller than the rest, aura steady, at Seventh Realm. It was enough to play the role of righteous authority, though still laughably fragile compared to our true might.

When the silence dragged, I sighed and raised my pressure a notch higher, letting it swell to the Sixth Realm. Alice followed with hers, and even Da Ji flickered her aura to Fourth, the guards stiffening as though their spines had turned to iron rods. I lifted a hand in peace, voice steady, "I am sure there's a misunderstanding, somewhere."

Alice took one elegant step forward as she let her voice soften, rich with that tone of hidden-mountain sagacity. "We come from a reclusive sect," she explained, resting her hand on Da Ji's head with a matronly air, "and thought it best to bring this child to see the world. Consider this a journey to broaden her horizons."

Da Ji played her part without missing a beat, tugging at Alice's sleeve with wide eyes. "Master," she whispered loudly enough for all to hear, "are they going to fight us?"

I layered my role over theirs, stepping forward with my axe-hand resting just so. "My clients' safety is my duty. If we can avoid fighting, all the better… but make no mistake, you don't want this fight." To seal the statement, I drew Hellcleaver from my Item Box. Its demonic edge gleamed as the weapon's guttural laugh rumbled through the air. The guards recoiled as if the very sound gnawed at their marrow.

Damn. Maybe drawing out a demonic axe was a bit much.

The captain, face tightening as he steadied himself, took a long step forward. His voice carried suspicion as much as command. "Your timing is ill," he said slowly. "The Emperor has decreed that the sects close their gates. Any strangers wandering into Skyhold now… can only invite suspicion."

His words hit me harder than expected. The Emperor decreeing sects to close their gates was already troublesome enough, but being called out like that… ugh. I didn't even know how to spin it. Before I could open my mouth, Alice stepped forward, her tone sharp and cutting. "Demons attacked our Sect," she snapped, her voice carrying the sting of outrage. "Where are we supposed to go if not here?"

That gave the guards pause, but only for a moment. Some shifted uneasily, lowering their weapons, but their captain didn't budge. His eyes narrowed, and his sneer carved deeper lines into his face. "Seconds ago, you claim to be wandering for the sake of broadening your disciple's horizons, and now you claim your Sect was attacked by demons. Which is it?"

I raised my hands with mock exasperation. "Why? Can't two things be true at once?"

The captain's gaze darted to me, suspicion burning. "And what manner of creature even are you? I've never seen a man so small in my life! And that axe you carry… Its stench is foul. Are you a demon yourself?!"

Before I could choke out a retort, Alice cut in smoothly, her voice layered with firm conviction. "This man may be small in stature, and he may not be known to you, but he is a demon hunter. I trust him with my disciple's life, and my own."

What happened to sticking to the plan? Still, her words bailed me out of the mess I'd dug by pulling out Hellcleaver. If I had to be a demon hunter on top of a mercenary, fine… It sounded fun. I stepped forward and let my voice ring. "I've hunted demons all my life. This axe reeks because it has drunk their blood too often to be anything else. If you want proof, then watch."

I lifted my hand and cast Bless, divine radiance spilling outward in a brilliant flare. The glow spread not just over us, but across the guards as well, their armor reflecting it like fire caught in silver.

"That's divine power," I declared. "I possess the rare Yin-Yang spiritual root, and though I walk the Buddhist path, don't mistake me for a monk."

The display had them staring, caught between awe and doubt. The captain frowned, his suspicion only deepening as he asked, "Then tell me, what sect are you from?"

Alice answered plainly. "White Orchids Sect."

The guard narrowed his eyes, then muttered, "Never heard of it."

Alice immediately softened her tone, trying to diffuse the tension. "There has to be a misunderstanding," she said evenly, her voice smooth like silk. "I am sure we can talk about this."

The man hesitated, caught between dragging us in chains or risking the fight he clearly didn't want. His indecision hung thick in the air until, all at once, his expression brightened. He thumped his chest with a practiced motion and shouted, "Glory to the Lord of the Nineclouds!"

The others snapped to attention, forming a perfect line and echoing his cry. The shift in atmosphere was sudden, like the turning of the wind before a storm. Then, descending from above, came a man riding a cloud as though it were a throne. His presence pressed down like invisible weight, and even without my Divine Sense probing, I could tell… Eighth Realm cultivation.

"I am Tian Luo, Lord of Nineclouds," he declared, voice carrying with arrogant ease. "Now, what do you want?"

My jaw tightened, temper flaring at his pompous tone. Why did he have to float there, looking down as though the ground was too lowly for him? I forced a breath out, reminding myself that the Asura Soul had been making my anger surface at the smallest things. If I lost it here, the whole charade would collapse.

So I stepped back, letting Alice take the stage. She bowed her head respectfully, her voice a measured blend of humility and resolve. "We seek refuge from demons. Not long ago, the White Orchids Sect suffered an infernal attack. We are a small sect, devoted to celebrating life and mourning the dead. We remain hidden in our sacred mountains, so it is no surprise you have not heard of us. Our numbers are few, and we are not skilled in war. But we are healers, and in that art, our mastery is without rival."

Tian Luo regarded us in silence, his gaze unreadable as his cloud drifted slightly closer. He tapped a finger against his knee, thoughtful, then finally spoke. "Very well. I have little patience for wanderers, but healers… healers I can use. If you wish entry into my city, then offer your services. Do so, and the gates of Nineclouds shall open to you."

Alice lowered her head gracefully, her voice steady as she answered, "We would be honored to offer our services." The words were simple, but they carried enough sincerity to smooth away the last traces of suspicion in the air.

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Tian Luo gave a curt nod with a faint smile tugging at his lips. He raised one hand, and the soldiers immediately dispersed, leaving only a few to escort us. "Then so be it. Guests of Nineclouds should be treated with proper courtesy." His cloud shifted as though obeying his thoughts, carrying him toward the gates with us trailing behind.

The gates of Nineclouds swung open without question. Inside, the city was a marvel of pale stone towers and sky-bridges strung between them, like threads of silk weaving a tapestry above the streets. The mist clung to the edges of the city, giving everything an ethereal glow. Civilians bowed low as Tian Luo passed, their eyes filled with reverence that bordered on worship.

To my surprise, the lord of the city did not dismiss us once we crossed the threshold. Instead, he gestured toward his palace at the city's heart, declaring, "You are not merely visitors. You are honored guests. A feast shall be prepared in your name."

Alice maintained her composure, bowing once more, though I noticed her tightening grip on Da Ji's hand. "You have our gratitude, Lord Tian Luo. We will not forget this kindness."

Meanwhile, I just raised a brow. A feast? Really? Either he was trying to butter us up, or he thought we were worth showing off. Whatever his angle, I couldn't help but smirk. Free food was free food, after all.

Alice's voice brushed against my mind in Qi Speech. "Stay on your toes, my Danger Sense is telling me to be careful." I gave the faintest nod, not letting the others notice. She rarely gave such warnings lightly.

Tian Luo's tone shifted back into a lecturing rhythm as he guided us deeper into the city. "The City of Nineclouds is most famous for our sky bridges. As you know, the Empire is a technological powerhouse recognized across the world. The techniques perfected here laid the foundation for the Floating Boats and Soaring Boats that roam our skies."

I glanced upward, studying the nearest sky bridges, arched pathways of pale stone and reinforced metal, some suspending entire buildings, others simply binding towers together. They gleamed faintly in the mist. Honestly, compared to New Willow, they felt like a child's sketch beside a masterpiece. But Tian Luo looked so pleased with himself, I decided not to burst his bubble.

He puffed his chest slightly, continuing, "Even among the cities of Skyhold, Nineclouds possesses the most refined floating technology. We harness the attraction of fate itself, drawing upon the stars and celestial bodies above to sustain our flight."

I smirked inwardly. Stars and fate? Cute. New Willow floated because destiny itself was woven into its foundation, anchored by the Destiny Seeking Eyes. Sure, I couldn't replicate that completely now, with the Destiny Seeking Eyes gone, but with Gu Jie around, expansion was only a matter of time. What Nineclouds used was impressive, but compared to true destiny, it was just… scaffolding.

Out of habit, I spread my Divine Sense toward Tian Luo, amplifying it with my Immortal Art and the quiet faith of my people. His form unfolded in crisp detail before me… middle-aged in appearance, clear bright eyes, no visible impurities in his flesh. His spiritual root surprised me though: water and… slime? I blinked at that one. Never seen such a pairing. Still, nothing demonic stirred within him. After Bai Zheme, I knew exactly where to look. Here, I found nothing but an oddly pristine man who carried himself like a peacock on a cloud.

At last, we arrived before his palace, a grand structure of sweeping arches and towers that seemed to vanish into the mist above. Tian Luo dismounted his cloud with practiced ease, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "This afternoon, we shall meet again at the feast. Until then, my guards will escort you to your quarters."

He gave a short nod, already turning toward his palace gates as the guards moved into formation around us.

We soon reached our quarters, a modest set of rooms within one of Nineclouds' many sky-bridged towers. The pair of guards who escorted us bowed briefly, then left without further word, their footsteps fading down the hall. Silence settled, broken only by the faint hum of the city outside.

Da Ji gravitated immediately to the window. She perched on the sill, peering wide-eyed at the sprawl of Nineclouds below filled mist-shrouded bridges, drifting clouds, and towers built like spears piercing the heavens. Her curiosity was palpable. She'd lived her entire life in the False Earth, bound to that strange realm, and now every new horizon seemed to dazzle her.

Meanwhile, I got to work. Pulling a thread of quintessence from within, I began drawing warding arrays around the room. Thin silver light traced into the air and carved itself into the floor, weaving protective nets of silence and disruption. There weren't any existing arrays here, which was strange, given how most rulers paranoid enough to host "feasts" also loved their spying wards, but that didn't mean Tian Luo wasn't watching through other means. Better safe than sorry.

Alice broke the quiet. "We should exchange disguises, David."

I looked up from the array, squinting. "Nah."

Her tone sharpened. "You are superior to me in the healing arts, and the only spell I know is Mend Flesh. If Tian Luo presses us for service, it's better you appear as the healer. We should exchange disguise."

I groaned, dragging out the words. "Fiiiine, but don't expect any fanservice from me."

Alice exhaled in weary patience. "No one is expecting you to act girlish and cute. And this—" she gestured at herself, her illusory face calm and composed—"is basically an old woman."

Her remark stirred an old bitterness in me. My thoughts flickered back to the Great Desert, to the time Jue Bue reversed my gender. That had been humiliating enough. But worse was what came later in life, when I experienced the Dark Witch's memories in full clarity, in freaking 4K, as if her countless lives had been mine. I remembered the violations, the degradation she endured in every possible form both mind, body, and spirit. Each life had been a cruel cage, a reminder that being a woman in such a barbaric world often meant suffering that went beyond the physical.

Divine Possession had let me taste many perspectives, but none had been as harrowing as hers. Compared to the privilege of those who once gathered at the Summit, her lives were misery incarnate.

Alice's logic still stood though. I could argue all day, but she was right. Slowly, I let out a sigh, yielding. "Alright, fine. Let's switch."

With that, we both dispersed our current disguises, the faint shimmer of illusion cracking and falling away. I tore open a fresh Magic Scroll of Disguise, its light wrapping around me as my form shifted into the guise of a sagely old woman. Beside me, Alice's figure condensed into that of a small, stout dwarf.

Alice extended her hand. "The axe, please?"

Reluctantly, I passed her Hellcleaver, the demonic weapon snickering in her grip. My brows furrowed. "What's the plan?"

She shouldered the weapon as if it were nothing. "You entertain his lordship and provide healing services. Meanwhile, I will roam the city, gather intelligence, and do what I can."

I rubbed my chin, turning it over. "It's a sound plan. I'll tell the lord you went to sell a few of my treasures and trinkets."

Alice shook her head. "Too weak. Add that I am investigating any demonic activity or of the sorts."

I frowned. "That might provoke him… or any demons lurking here. They might target you. And forgive me for saying so, but you don't even have an Immortal Art. Even with ten layers of immortality, you'd be disadvantaged fighting an Ascended Soul at your level. Worse, if they have an Immortal Art, you'd be toast."

Her lips curved into a thin smile. "And then I will inform you. I'm sure you can come and save me in my time of need, right?" She strolled to the window, her steps deliberate.

I sighed. "Fine, but you should bring my Asura Soul with you."

She turned, arching a brow. "But then you will be defenseless."

I met her gaze. "We both know that isn't the case." An existing soul at hand bolstered my quintessence, true, adding weight to my strikes, but I didn't depend on them exclusively. And besides, I still had Da Ji with me.

"Fine."

I plucked out my Asura Soul, its burning essence swirling in my palm before I cast Divine Possession, sending it to dwell within Alice. She inhaled sharply as the presence settled inside her, then gave me a wicked grin.

"I'll be going now." With a wink, she leapt out the window in her dwarf form.

I grimaced. It might've been cute if she weren't disguised as a bearded little thing. On second thought, it was still kind of cute, just in a very different way.

From the side, Da Ji finally spoke, her voice carrying mischief. "So, old hag, any ideas to kill time?"

My face twitched. "My dear twin sister, what did you just call me?"

She faked a cough, her lips twitching into a grin. "Dried, wrinkly old hag with hearing problems."

A surge of irritation flared in me. Why did I feel so pissed? It was just a disguise… wasn't it?