Chapter 17: Until Death Do Us Part

"According to that Purgatory God, this island is called Ten Thousand Mountains Island." Ji Ning said with a smile, while beside him were the seven Dragon Gods and the Celestial Xiu Ke.

"Ten Thousand Mountains Island? Not bad, not bad." The Violent Dragon God's bell-like eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked around, "These islands thrust into the sky like spears—interesting, interesting. Ten Thousand Mountains Island, a fine name, a fine name indeed."

Celestial Xiu Ke had also regained his true nature, carefree and elegant. He looked around, his heart full of joy: "I didn't expect to see this third island so soon. Originally, I thought I'd be content just to see the second. Haha... maybe Brother Beiming can break through in one go."

"Maybe he really can."

"Brother Beiming, we believe in you."

They all laughed and chatted.

Ji Ning, however, dared not boast. The nine of them walked along. Though Ten Thousand Mountains Island was vast, they moved quickly by shrinking the earth. After walking for a while, covering millions of li, they faintly heard distant laughter and cheers.

Ji Ning and the other eight exchanged glances, each showing curiosity.

"Seems like there are many people."

"Let's go take a look."

They immediately headed toward the source of the sound. As they drew closer, the noise became clearer.

"Good, good, good! Brother Feiyou sang well. I'll sing one too."

"Under the moon by the pool, truly at ease."

"Drinking fine wine, truly joyful."

"No worries, no worries."

"Bury my head in sleep, sleep till dawn."

The rough, thunderous voice carried a simple rhythm. Ji Ning blinked. Was that singing? It was truly mediocre.

Soon, Ji Ning and the other nine reached the source of the sound. In the distance, a bonfire blazed on the wilderness, roasting dozens of skinned beasts. Under the flames, the meat's surface oozed with fat, which dripped into the fire with a sizzling sound, spreading a rich aroma.

Around the fire, men and women sat or stood, singing. Most wore animal hides, carefree and at ease. Some wore robes, but all were casual, holding wine cups or jugs, drinking heavily, eating meat, laughing and shouting freely.

"Haha, you guys are really enjoying yourselves here, and there's even meat to eat!" The Blazing Dragon God laughed as he rushed over.

"I knew Brother Feiyou was here. You lot follow Brother Feiyou, and everyone gets meat. I'm starving!" The Violent Dragon God also charged forward.

The seven Dragon Gods each ran over, and Ji Ning and Celestial Xiu Ke followed.

"So many celestials?" Ji Ning was secretly astonished.

At a glance, there were nearly a hundred celestials.

"Seven Dragon Gods, you've finally come."

"You've been holed up on Volcano Island, refusing to come, insisting on making it on your own. So, you made it through now?"

"Haha, Brother Kulong, come, eat some meat."

The celestials who had been sitting there, lively and cheerful, welcomed them. After all, the seven Dragon Gods had been on Volcano Island for an extremely long time—nearly a chaos cycle. Every celestial present knew them. More than half also knew Celestial Xiu Ke. But Ji Ning was a stranger to all.

"Let me introduce you." The Withered Dragon God announced loudly, "This is my good brother, Beiming! To be honest, this time we came from Volcano Island to Ten Thousand Mountains Island thanks to Brother Beiming. He entered the Moon Underwater Pool and arrived here in one go, fighting all the way."

"Oh?"

"Brother Beiming, I toast you."

"To be able to fight all the way to Ten Thousand Mountains Island in one go—admirable!" Immediately, the nearly hundred celestials looked at Ji Ning differently, each coming forward to offer a toast.

Ji Ning drank and chatted with them. As they talked, he learned that aside from their group of nine newcomers, there were ninety-eight celestials here. However, the vast majority had followed other celestials, having given up hope of crossing the Moon Underwater Pool on their own.

Among those ninety-eight, only nine had truly reached this island by themselves.

They were the celestials Tian He, Wu Qi, Yun Hen, Fei You, Dong Xu, Ji Bu, Tong Qu, Zhen Bu, and Yi Qiu. Each had attained the fourth level of powers like Taiji Force, Wuji Force, Lightning Force, Sharpness Force, etc., giving them enough confidence to pass the Purgatory God, which attracted many followers.

"This is Brother Feiyou." The Withered Dragon God led Ji Ning to meet Celestial Feiyou.

"Brother Beiming is truly remarkable. To reach this point in one go is extremely rare. Even I only arrived after toiling on Volcano Island for tens of thousands of years and making a breakthrough." Celestial Feiyou smiled.

"Brother Beiming." The Withered Dragon God laughed, "Brother Feiyou here can't do without meat and wine. So he carries a small world treasure, inside which he raises a large number of beasts. Wine can be brewed using natural energy, but meat can only be obtained through raising. Wherever Brother Feiyou goes, the celestials there live comfortably. Look at them—eating meat, drinking wine, enjoying themselves like never before. We seven Dragon Gods on Volcano Island had long forgotten the taste of meat."

Ji Ning also laughed.

This Celestial Feiyou was truly a delightful person. Celestials who ventured into the Moon Underwater Pool were initially ambitious. Even if they brought wine and meat, it was only a small amount. Over time, the food would spoil. Wine and meat, especially meat, couldn't last for millions of years without going bad. So, after a long time, to eat meat in the Moon Underwater Pool, one had to be like Celestial Feiyou, who brought a small world with beasts inside, ensuring a continuous supply.

"Don't laugh at me, Brother Beiming." Celestial Feiyou smiled, "I have no great ambitions. I just love wine and meat. I can endure stagnation in cultivation, but I can't stand being without wine and meat. Without food and drink, what's the point of eternal life?"

"I've heard of Brother Feiyou's reputation even in the Three Realms. You even have a nickname: 'Until Death Do Us Part.'" Ji Ning laughed.

"Until Death Do Us Part?" Celestial Feiyou was startled, then burst into laughter.

"Yes, until death do us part." The Withered Dragon God nodded, "This fellow once said that he won't stop until the day he dies. Hence the name."

...

After drinking and eating for a long time, the celestials split into two groups: one was the rest of the celestials, and the other was the ten who had reached this island on their own, including Ji Ning, Celestial Feiyou, and Celestial Yun Hen.

Ji Ning looked at the nine before him. Among them, seven belonged to the Nuwa camp, and the other two were presumably from the Wujian Gate.

In ancient times, only those from the Nuwa camp entered. Later, in the Three Realms period, after Nuwa left the Three Realms, the Lord of All Demons brought back the remnants of the Wujian Gate. Naturally, fewer from the Wujian Gate entered the Moon Underwater Pool than from the Nuwa camp.

"They seem to get along very well," Ji Ning thought. "If they knew about the calamity in the outside world, they probably wouldn't be able to treat each other like brothers without any reservations."

Indeed, the celestials from the Wujian Gate and the Nuwa camp on Ten Thousand Mountains Island had excellent relations.

After all, none of them knew about the impending calamity. Ji Ning, the seven Dragon Gods, and Celestial Xiu Ke had no plans to disclose it for now, as they were still in the Moon Underwater Pool.

"Brother Beiming." The winged Celestial Yiqiu said, "The nine of us came to tell you something important."

"Hmm?" Ji Ning was puzzled and listened carefully.

"The islands ahead are dangerous, full of fear and worry. But Ten Thousand Mountains Island is much safer—there are no attacks every thousand years." Celestial Yiqiu looked at Ji Ning, "However, the Moon Underwater Pool won't let us live here completely carefree. After all, it's not a place to raise idlers."

Ji Ning nodded.

"On Ten Thousand Mountains Island, there's usually no danger for millions or even billions of years. But... once a new celestial arrives on Ten Thousand Mountains Island," Celestial Yiqiu looked at Ji Ning, "the Moon Underwater Pool will send a terrible calamity."

"A calamity?" Ji Ning was puzzled.

Celestial Wu Qi, squinting, said hoarsely, "Yes, a calamity! Whenever a new celestial reaches Ten Thousand Mountains Island, the calamity is imminent. Soon, the Moon Underwater Pool will send an army of demons. Only the ten of us can fight. The other celestials, brought by us, are not qualified to participate. If they do, they will anger the Moon Underwater Pool and die without a doubt."

Ji Ning nodded and asked curiously, "An army of demons?"

"You've encountered yakshas, snow demons, and the like—they're all demons. What we're about to face is an army composed of such demons." Celestial Wu Qi continued, "Under the army's assault, only the ten of us will fight. It's a life-and-death struggle. In past history, such calamities usually resulted in the death of celestials. The worst time, four celestials died. Only once did no one die."

"So..."

"Normally, one or two of us ten will die." Celestial Feiyou looked at Ji Ning, "We're telling you this so you can be mentally prepared."

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

"The Moon Underwater Pool's army attacks are actually meant to pressure us, so we dare not slack off on Ten Thousand Mountains Island and must often go to the Floating Wood Bridge to train ourselves." Celestial Yun Hen sighed, "Only through constant training, growing stronger, can we have a greater chance of survival when a new celestial arrives and the calamity descends."

Celestial Yun Hen looked at Ji Ning, "Brother Beiming, since ten of us must fight together, coordination is crucial. Before that, we need to understand your strength and know what you're good at, so we can cooperate better."

"Understood." Ji Ning nodded.

"Among us, Brother Feiyou is the strongest. Let him spar with you. Hold nothing back. Once we know your strengths and weaknesses, we can coordinate better." Celestial Yun Hen said.

"Haha... I'm not the strongest. Yun Hen has the best movement technique, Zhen Bu is the most ferocious, and I'm just the most stable in frontal attacks." Celestial Feiyou laughed, "Brother Beiming, are you ready? If you are, I'll make my move."