I Build a Shelter in the Eternal Night

This world is all about luck.

If you weren’t born a special Cultivator, your path in life was basically set. Opportunities to rise up were few and far between.

’If I didn’t have the Eternal Night Lord Panel.’

’I might have also walked the path of a Demon Cultivator.’

Just then—

He suddenly frowned and looked toward the canyon. A carriage came stumbling along the canyon path toward the Celestial Pit. Its surface was already battered and dented. Of the three Skeleton Horses that originally pulled it, only one remained now.

Eternal Night had already descended.

This carriage had charged out of Mortal City, through the Eternal Night, and into the Mortal Realm.

Even though the distance wasn’t great, it was still the Eternal Night, teeming with unknown and savage Ghost Objects. He held his fire, simply allowing the carriage to reach the Celestial Pit and grind to a halt.

Only then did he look at Gongyang Yiyue, who was sitting on the carriage, and speak softly.

"Elder Gongyang."

"As a Night Watcher, a surprise visit to the Mortal Realm in the dead of night isn’t exactly a friendly gesture."

"If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have let you pass safely through the canyon."

The newcomers were indeed from the Sheep Race.

"Yes."

Gongyang Yiyue looked somewhat embarrassed and replied helplessly, "Domain Lord Chen, the Sheep Race will certainly offer a gift to apologize for this sudden intrusion, but... I’m sure you know about the situation with Qi Yue and my young miss."

"After she sensed the pain Qi Yue was enduring, she went half-mad insisting on coming to the Mortal Realm."

"If I didn’t come with her, she would have come by herself. I just couldn’t rest easy."

A young woman in a white dress rushed down from the carriage. She first offered Chen Fan a hurried apology, then stood aside, her eyes filled with anguish as she gazed at Qi Yue, who was being pierced by countless swords.

She knew she couldn’t do anything to help by being here.

She just wanted... for Qi Yue to see her the moment it was over. ’Maybe that will make him feel a little better.’

"This is..."

Gongyang Yiyue stared at Qi Yue being tempered by the countless swords, a look of horror flashing in his eyes. "A Demon Cultivator’s Ten Thousand Swords Heart Slaying Body Tempering!"

"Dare I ask, Domain Lord, how long has this been going on?"

"A stick of incense."

"That’s good."

Gongyang Yiyue let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "It seems Qi Yue has successfully endured it. He should have no problem breaking through to Martial King."

...

One hour passed.

Chen Fan and the others had all gone to sleep.

Only Qi Yue and the two from the Sheep Race remained in the Celestial Pit. Everyone else had gone to sleep, as they had to be up for work the next day.

"Elder."

Gongyang Yue looked up at Gongyang Yiyue, her face filled with unease. "Why isn’t Old Demon finished yet?"

"He’s pushing his limits."

Gongyang Yiyue’s expression had also turned grim. "He doesn’t just want to break through to Martial King," he said hoarsely. "He wants to become the *strongest* Martial King. An hour has passed, and his Body Tempering is already ninety-nine percent complete."

"But he’s still not satisfied."

"He wants to achieve Tenfold Body Tempering."

"Is Tenfold Body Tempering that much stronger?" Gongyang Yue’s face was a mask of worry and heartache. She didn’t understand much about Cultivation and couldn’t fathom why Qi Yue would endure such prolonged agony for what seemed like a minor advantage.

"Very."

Gongyang Yiyue was silent for a long while before speaking slowly. "Ghost Objects are naturally far more powerful than humans. Even an Ordinary human would find it nearly impossible to face down the lowest-level Ghost Object."

"A Level 5 Ghost Object can be called a Ghost King."

"Only a Level 10 Cultivator can be called a Martial King."

"But—"

"One Ghost King can take on three Martial Kings."

"Throughout history, the birth of a Ghost King has always meant rivers of blood and fields of corpses. This is why so many factions are paying attention to the Mortal Realm. The fact that the Mortal Realm slew a Ghost King during the rainy season is an astonishing feat, one that saved countless lives from slaughter."

"But the three Martial Kings I’m referring to are Ordinary Martial Kings, meaning those who’ve only completed ninety percent Body Tempering."

"If one can achieve Tenfold Body Tempering..."

"...and supplement it with some suitable, high-grade Martial Arts, Spirit Treasures, and Exotic Treasures, then upon breaking through to Level 10 Martial King, one could face a Ghost King one-on-one and not be at a disadvantage."

"Killing a Ghost King might be difficult, but the Ghost King wouldn’t be able to kill him, either."

"Right now, there isn’t a single Ghost King in the Jiangbei Eternal Night."

"If he truly achieves Tenfold Body Tempering, he’ll be the strongest Demon Cultivator in recent memory. Before his Spiritual Qi is depleted, he can run roughshod over the Jiangbei Eternal Night. No one will be able to kill him."

"Then... could he die?"

The anxiety in Gongyang Yue’s heart grew more pronounced. The greater the power the Elder described, the greater the risk it implied. She knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"Yes."

Gongyang Yiyue sighed softly and decided not to hide the truth. "The risk of death is very high. Even if he survives, there will be lasting repercussions."

"The Sheep Race has investigated him, but we only know who he’s killed. We don’t know the specifics of what he’s been through."

"But one thing is for sure."

"It must have been an unforgettable, soul-searing experience."

"The old saying goes that for a gentleman, ten years is not too long to wait for revenge."

"But in reality, almost no one can actually wait ten years for revenge. They might do it if the opportunity arises, but they won’t specifically seek it out. Hatred fades. As time passes, the drive for vengeance weakens."

"In the Ancient Era, there were Ghost Object Prisons that held some of the most powerful humans captive."

"They weren’t tortured. They were provided with enough food and daily entertainment."

"The guards were only strict for the first few years of their imprisonment. After that, security became much more lax."

"That’s because most escape attempts happen within the first few years. After staying for a while, they get used to it. You could offer them a chance to escape, and they wouldn’t take it. They’d automatically imagine the consequences of a failed attempt and compare that to their current life."

"And yet, after all this time, Qi Yue’s hatred hasn’t weakened in the slightest. He’s still willing to sacrifice everything for revenge. That kind of willpower is unimaginable. Without it, he never could have endured an hour of this Body Tempering."

"Young Miss."

After a long silence, Gongyang Yiyue said softly, "He might be a good friend, but he won’t be a good husband. Until his revenge is complete, he won’t fall in love with anyone."

However, Gongyang Yue wasn’t listening to a word Gongyang Yiyue said.

She just kept pacing back and forth, twisting the hem of her dress with a worried expression.

"..."

The corner of Gongyang Yiyue’s mouth twitched. He had just revealed a great secret—the Ancient Ghost Object Prison. It was information his clan had unearthed from Ancient Texts, a fact few other factions knew.

He had thought his young miss would surely ask him what the Ancient Era was, or what a Ghost Object Prison was.

Then he could have explained it all.

It would have helped distract her.

But in the end, she didn’t ask a thing, as if knowledge of the Ancient Ghost Object Prison was something everyone knew. It was truly frustrating.

...

Another two hours passed.

It was the middle of the night.

The canyon was exceptionally quiet. From the Celestial Pit, only the occasional SSSHHNK of Sword Qi cutting through the air could be heard, and now, even that sound was finally slowing down.

The surrounding Sword Qi gradually dissipated.

Puddles of black filth collected at his feet.

Qi Yue, who had stood in place with his eyes shut the entire time, slowly opened them. The moment he did, he saw Gongyang Yue standing on her tiptoes right in front of him. He was stunned for a second, then subconsciously turned his head to look toward the canyon.

He remembered that it had already been dark when he began his breakthrough, and Gongyang Yue wasn’t in the Mortal Realm at the time.

’Where did she come from?’

"Old Demon, are you okay?"

Ignoring the sweat and filth that covered him, Gongyang Yue threw herself into Qi Yue’s arms. Her voice trembled, thick with unshed tears. "Why are you so hard on yourself? Did you really have to achieve Tenfold Body Tempering to become a Martial King?"

"Was ninety-nine percent not good enough?"

"Hah."

Qi Yue let out a long breath. He could feel that his body was incredibly refreshed. He had completed the Tenfold Body Tempering, something he once thought was completely impossible.

He didn’t answer her.

He just gently stroked Gongyang Yue’s head and turned to look up at Chen Fan on the City Wall.

He dropped to one knee.

"My thanks, Domain Lord."

"That I, Qi Yue, could achieve this today is entirely thanks to the opportunity you granted me, Domain Lord. Once I have my revenge, I will go through hell and high water at your command."