*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The frigid wind howled as a torrential blizzard poured down, the falling snowflakes as large as woven straw mats.
Between the sky and the sea, nothing remained but boundless white.
Centered around the Snow-Treading Divine Saber, a realm of extreme frost materialized. Wherever the icy chill touched, the surface of the sea rapidly froze solid, forming an enormous ice sheet.
These snow flakes were no ordinary snow; they were the condensation of saber intent, incomparably sharp.
Tearing through the void, the Snow-Treading Divine Saber appeared where the sea-patrolling yaksha had vanished. Its tip pointed diagonally down toward the seabed, pouring forth a deluge of saber intent.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Countless snow blades pierced through the ice sheet.
Though riddled with holes, the ice sheet became even colder than before. The frost spread rapidly downward and outward; at this rate, an entire swath of the sea would soon be frozen solid.
Beneath the surface...
The sea-patrolling yaksha was fleeing astride the blue jiao, moving through the depths with remarkable agility, entirely unimpeded.
Sensing the shift in the aura above, the yaksha jerked his head up. Seeing only a vast expanse of white, as though the heavens were collapsing, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
The yaksha's aura fused into one with the blue jiao beneath him, pushing his speed to its utmost limit. He clamped his legs down hard around the jiao. A pained expression twisted the beast's features, but it had no control over its own body.
At the same time, the yaksha's expression stiffened for a fleeting moment before regaining its vigor.
The Snow-Treading Divine Saber let out a resonant hum.
Its blade trembled violently and unleashed ten thousand fathoms of saber radiance, stretching across the high sky like a white rainbow piercing the sun.
Though it was high noon, even the sunlight seemed to turn cold.
Zhou Jin and the others, fleeing in the distance aboard their flying magic treasures, felt the disturbance and looked back. Confronted by this astounding sight, their faces filled with utter shock.
The divine saber struck downward!
The ice sheet shattered with a resounding crash. Swept along by the saber, countless ice shards tore through the sea, leaving an enormous trench across its surface.
The parted waters on either side had no time to collapse inward. Instead, driven by the tempest of ice shards, they surged upward into mountain-like swells that froze the instant they reached their crests, transforming into two icy ridges winding like dragons.
Flanked by these icebergs, the trench appeared bottomless, highlighting the breathtaking might of the strike.
Inside the trench, the figures of the sea-patrolling yaksha and the blue jiao were laid bare.
Even before the blade reached them, the chilling saber intent enveloped them, locking down the surrounding space as frost spread across their bodies.
To everyone's surprise, the yaksha made no move to resist, allowing himself to be encased in ice.
In the blink of an eye, an ice sculpture took shape.
The yaksha's expression suddenly became rigid, and then his figure vanished into thin air. It was merely an illusion—the only thing truly frozen was the blue jiao.
Hovering above, Qin Sang looked down upon the scene without the slightest change in expression. Shifting his hand seal, he reversed the Snow-Treading Divine Saber's trajectory, sending it soaring right past the blue jiao to slash deep into the trench.
Right then, a sudden roar erupted from the depths of the trench.
The roar echoed and amplified between the ice walls on either side, spiraling upward until it broke free of the trench with earth-shattering force. Zhou Jin and the others heard it clearly, every one of them struck with terror.
The roar came from another blue jiao.
This one looked no different from the others, yet its size was gargantuan—more than ten times larger than the one trapped in the ice, comparable to a whale.
Half-rolling its massive body, the giant blue jiao glared up at Qin Sang. With a whip of its tail and the snapping of its scales, it relied on sheer brute force and a formidable physique to slam violently against the Snow-Treading Divine Saber.
*Rumble!*
The shockwaves pulverized the ice walls on both sides, and seawater rushed in to fill the void.
Though the Snow-Treading Divine Saber was initially checked, it ultimately breached the blue jiao's scales and cleaved its skull open.
Qin Sang flashed into view overhead. Scanning his surroundings, he murmured with a trace of regret, "What exquisite illusion and water-escape arts. A pity I didn't bring the Heavenly Eye Butterfly along."
Before his voice had faded, the spiritual light of the giant jiao's carcass dissolved, turning into two puddles of seawater.
The sea-patrolling yaksha was nowhere to be seen.
The ocean was the creature's domain.
Moreover, the yaksha had been exceedingly cautious, keeping his distance from the battlefield the entire time and fleeing the moment things went awry.
Qin Sang also had to consider the possibility of an ambush. Even if he had unleashed the Fourfold Tengshe Seal earlier, it likely would not have yielded much.
Releasing his spiritual sense, he found no trace of the yaksha's aura. With no other choice, he recalled the Snow-Treading Divine Saber, darted out of the trench, and tracked down the ice sculpture that had been tossed aside by the aftershocks.
He had deliberately reined in his power earlier, so this blue jiao was still alive. Floating belly-up on the surface, its eyes darted frantically as it struggled against the ice, yet it could not break free of its frozen prison. Seeing Qin Sang approach, sheer terror filled its eyes.
"I know you possess sentience," Qin Sang said, stepping onto the block of ice. "I ask, you answer."
The blue jiao nodded frantically, banging against the ice prison with dull thuds.
"Have you always cultivated in these waters, or did you wander here from elsewhere? Where is your lair? Why did you come here, and how many other demon kings are in the vicinity?" Qin Sang demanded, fixing it with a piercing stare.
Not daring to hesitate, the blue jiao parted its bloody maw, exposing rows of fangs. Yet its voice came out as faint as a mosquito's hum, timid and fearful. "Reporting to Old Master, this lowly demon has always cultivated alongside my Great King in the deep sea, never encroaching upon humankind. Not long ago, the Great King suddenly led an army here. Attacking the treasure ship was the Great King's direct order—please be discerning, Old Master! This lowly demon is merely a mount and knows very little. I do not know the Great King's intentions; I only heard him mention that other Great Kings would be arriving later..."
"'Old Master'?"
Qin Sang chuckled with amusement. Ignoring the blue jiao's ingratiating gaze, he fell into contemplation.
He proceeded to ask a few more questions. The blue jiao answered everything it knew, but it could offer nothing of the deeper secrets Qin Sang wanted to uncover.
The sea-patrolling yaksha had indeed arrived only recently.
With demon kings rushing to the Chinan Island Chain one after another, could there truly be some secret here that had even reached the ears of the demon race?
This was no place to linger.
Qin Sang applied a gentle pressure with his foot, shattering the ice block.
Having regained its freedom, the blue jiao dared not flee without permission. Trembling in fear, it huddled beside Qin Sang's feet.
Qin Sang landed on the blue jiao's back and pointed toward the Chinan Island Chain. "Let's go."
Not daring to utter a peep, the blue jiao cleaved through the waves. Before long, they caught up with Zhou Jin and the others. With Qin Sang's permission, everyone boarded the blue jiao to ride it back.
Qin Sang remained silent throughout the journey, and the others dared not speak a word.
In this hushed atmosphere, and without encountering any further beast hordes along the way, they returned smoothly to the Chinan Island Chain.
"You may disperse," Qin Sang said calmly as they stepped onto dry land.
Only then did Leng Qi and the others find the opportunity to express their gratitude. They bowed to Qin Sang and departed, each harboring their own thoughts.
Qin Sang glanced back to see the blue jiao poking its head out from the water near the shore, looking at him pleadingly.
Reaching down, he scooped up a lump of clay from the ground, molded it into an earthen bowl, and conjured a bowlful of water out of thin air. Turning to the blue jiao, he ordered, "Get in."
The blue jiao stared blankly at the crude earthen bowl, deeply reluctant. Yet having no courage to resist, it obediently shrank its body.
Inside the palm-sized bowl, the blue jiao swam around like a tiny fish fry.
Qin Sang handed the bowl to Zhou Jin. "Take it back to the inn and keep it in the backyard pond."
Zhou Jin dared not treat it as casually as Qin Sang did; the blue jiao was stronger than he was. He hurriedly extended both hands, holding the bowl with utmost care for fear of spilling a single drop, and followed Qin Sang step for step.
With leisurely strides, Qin Sang returned to the inn and shut himself inside his room.
On the very day they came ashore, news of the great demon's appearance spread like a tempest throughout the Chinan Island Chain. Coupled with the gathering thunderstorm, it threw the populace into a state of panic.
Come nightfall, a violent gale brought pouring rain.
A silhouette materialized outside the small courtyard Qin Sang had rented, tripping the ward.
Inside the room, Qin Sang narrowed his eyes slightly, murmuring in surprise, "He arrived sooner than expected."
"Go open the courtyard gate and welcome our honored guest," Qin Sang transmitted his voice to Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu.
The couple was by the pond watching the blue jiao. Exchanging a glance, both were startled; as far as their senses could tell, there was no one outside the courtyard.
Hurriedly undoing the restrictions, they pulled open the gate. Seeing the elderly man standing outside, their expressions turned solemn. "Senior, please come in," they greeted respectfully.
The old man was dressed simply in coarse hemp garments, yet his bearing was extraordinary.
He nodded slightly and followed Zhou Jin to the main hall. Pausing for a moment, he stroked his long beard and looked Ruan Yu up and down as she stood attentively by the door.
Under the old man's gaze, Ruan Yu's cheeks flushed slightly, panic rising in her heart.
Zhou Jin felt a surge of anger, though he dared not voice it.
"Not bad. Exceptional natural talent. What a pity that your vitality was previously damaged; otherwise, your chances of forming a core would be quite high. I happen to have a Chaoyuan Pill here, which should be of some help to you, young lady."
The old man produced a jade bottle containing the medicinal pill.
Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu were both stunned.
Flustered, Ruan Yu stammered, at a loss for how to respond, and dared not accept it.
"Ruan Yu, why haven't you thanked Senior for his kindness?" Qin Sang's voice echoed from inside the room.
Heartened by his words, Ruan Yu accepted the jade bottle and curtsied. "Thank you for the pill, Senior."
"My surname is Leng," the old man said with a genial smile. Turning to enter the main hall, he announced in a clear voice, "Leng You, Left Protector of the Gu God Cult. I hope my presumptuous and ill-timed visit has not disturbed Brother Qin's meditation?"
Qin Sang walked out from the quiet room. "Brother Leng has offered such a generous gift the moment you arrived; how could I be anything but grateful?"
With that, Qin Sang gestured for the old man to take a seat, asking curiously, "The Three Heroes of the Leng Clan are...?"
Elder Leng nodded. "They are indeed this old man's three unworthy disciples. If those juniors lacked manners earlier, I hope Brother Qin will not take offense. Compared to the favor of saving their lives from the jaws of demon beasts, what is a mere Chaoyuan Pill worth?"
Enlightenment dawned on Qin Sang, and he smiled faintly. "So Brother Leng came in response to your disciples' call for aid? You certainly arrived quickly!"
His tone held a faint touch of mockery.
Qin Sang had acutely picked up on the fact that Elder Leng must have been lingering near the Chinan Island Chain all along. As to whether he was attending to other matters or deliberately lying in wait, only the heavens knew.
The disappearance of the Deity Transformation cultivators might be important to some, but for most factions, it mattered little.
The ruins of the ancient immortal sect still existed only in rumor.
Nascent Soul cultivators were all occupied with their cultivation and preparing for tribulations. Dispatching a few prized disciples to the Eastern Sea to investigate already showed considerable concern; they would only intervene in person once concrete leads surfaced.
Had Qin Sang not been searching for the two immortal palaces, he would not have involved himself directly either—and even now, it was merely an avatar.
Demon kings.
Nascent Soul cultivators concealed in the shadows.
...
Qin Sang suddenly felt a brewing storm. Finding himself at the center of the vortex, he could not tell whether it was a blessing or a curse.
Elder Leng appeared oblivious to the mockery in Qin Sang's tone, his smile undiminished. "Hearing Leng Qi describe your earth-shattering divine abilities, this old man felt both humbled and full of admiration. I usually pride myself on being well-informed, yet I had no idea such an expert had emerged under heaven! I am ashamed, truly ashamed!"
"Your disciples must have exaggerated quite a bit," Qin Sang replied impassively. "Besides, the world is vast and full of heroes; how could anyone know them all? Do not take offense, Brother Leng, but I had never heard of the Gu God Cult before either."
When Elder Leng introduced himself as part of the Gu God Cult, Qin Sang's mind had raced, combing through his memories of the major factions.
To familiarize himself with the Zhongzhou cultivation world, he had deliberately gathered intelligence on such matters, yet the Gu God Cult was nowhere among them.
Elder Leng was a middle Nascent Soul stage cultivator, yet held only the rank of protector in the Gu God Cult. That implied there were other protectors, not to mention a cult master of even higher standing.
How could such a powerful faction remain completely unknown?
Was it a mysterious power that had always stayed in the shadows, or one that had surfaced only after the Deity Transformation cultivators vanished?
The name 'Gu God Cult' struck a particularly sensitive chord in Qin Sang.
He recalled the divine abilities the Three Heroes of the Leng Clan had displayed when facing the beast horde.
After the treasure ship broke apart, Leng Qi and the other two had joined forces, opening the various pouches on their bodies to scatter clouds of brightly colored powders and liquids, all of which were deadly poisons.
Though chaotic in color, they followed a specific order.
Around them, they had formed a kaleidoscopic poison domain. Any demon beast that drew near either convulsed to death or dissolved into a puddle of putrid water; no matter how formidable their physique, none could withstand it. It was exceptionally vicious.
Leng Qi's poison arts were particularly formidable. Opening his mouth, a purple-scaled snake head had emerged from his throat, spewing venomous fumes that merged into the poison domain to elevate its power even further.
Seeing that, the other cultivators had grown extremely wary of the three and kept their distance.
*Their 'gu' is not the other kind of gu... it is gu-poison arts! That snake is no spiritual insect; it is a gu-beast bred from a venomous demon serpent. It has nothing to do with the insect gu of the Witch Clan, nor does it seem related to the Witch Clan at all...*
Qin Sang had guessed most of the trio's background.
He wondered what divine abilities this old poison master before him possessed.
The fat silkworm was undoubtedly their natural bane.
Furthermore, his avatar possessed a spirit wood constitution and feared no ordinary poisons, though many toxins could harm the origin soul or disrupt and stagnate true essence, demanding utmost caution.
Qin Sang had spoken bluntly.
Yet Elder Leng took no offense, merely chuckling. "Not knowing each other before was simply a lack of affinity."
With that, Elder Leng produced a token and offered it to Qin Sang.
The token was forged from dark iron, bearing the words 'Gu God' engraved on the front, while the back depicted a uniquely shaped crown.
In the design, five jade plaques of different colors were set along the edge of the crown, their significance unclear.
"What is the meaning of this, Daoist Brother?" Qin Sang frowned.
"This old man has only ever gifted two Gu God Tokens, both to fellows of kindred spirits. Though we have only just met, I know of your chivalrous nature, and having had my disciples saved by your hand, I hold you in deep respect. Rest assured, Brother Qin, the Gu God Token places no obligations upon you; it merely signifies an esteemed status. You will hear of our cult often in the days to come. Should you encounter any trouble, our cult will spare no effort to assist you!" Elder Leng said with supreme confidence.
Naturally, Qin Sang did not believe in such gratuitous favors. However, since it carried no restrictions, he decided to accept the token to see what the Gu God Cult was really about.
Seeing Qin Sang put away the token, Elder Leng's smile grew even warmer.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Elder Leng finally stated his purpose, asking what Qin Sang had discovered while pursuing the demon king.
Qin Sang had anticipated this and hid nothing, having Zhou Jin and Ruan Yu lead Elder Leng to the backyard pond to question the blue jiao in person.
Chapter 1553