Luye

Shuo Commandery. Located in the northern part of Zhuo Prefecture bordering Zhaoyao Prefecture, the commandery was ten percent mountains and ninety percent water. The Wen clan of Shuo Commandery possessed no combatants beyond the Core Formation stage, yet enjoyed a transcendent standing within the commandery; neighboring powers all deferred to them somewhat. This was entirely because an elder of Mount Bunian had once hailed from their clan. Although that ancestor had long since passed away, and after so many years the Wen clan was no longer as prosperous as in the past, an old bond of sentiment with Mount Bunian still lingered. When the Wen clan sent an urgent call for help, Mount Bunian treated it with the utmost seriousness. An elder had already set out, and fearing relief might not arrive in time, they sent an urgent transmission straight to Mount Pu, requesting Qin Sang's intervention. For villains to dare infiltrate Zhuo Prefecture and target the Wen clan was an act of extreme audacity, and a clear sign that the cultivation realm was sliding toward turmoil. Qin Sang ordered Xie An to seal the mountain, then flew out from Mount Pu, driving his flying light straight toward Shuo Commandery. *** The Wen clan held sole dominion over a vast wetland. Blessed by the ancestor's legacy, the dao sanctuary occupied by the Wen clan boasted exceptional feng shui. Known as Wen Family Island, with its shimmering waters and scenic peaks, it truly deserved the name of an earthly immortal isle. The island-protecting grand formation had also been established personally by that ancestor, far surpassing what ordinary clans or sects could muster. At this moment, gruesome phantoms roamed unchecked across the main isle of Wen Family Island, accompanied by endless screams of agony. The island-protecting grand formation had unexpectedly been breached. Where was there any trace left of an immortal sanctuary? Most of the island's buildings had collapsed. A pungent stench of blood choked the air, and corpses littered the ground everywhere—not just cultivators, but even mortals had not been spared. Countless people had perished horribly; it was difficult to find even a single intact corpse, presenting a sight too ghastly to behold. At the center of Wen Family Island, a semicircular azure barrier was faintly visible. This was the only remaining place the enemies had not breached. The surviving members of the Wen clan huddled inside, their sole reliance this thin light barrier. Every face was fraught with terror and helplessness; the fainthearted were already weeping aloud. Boom! Boom! Boom! The trembling of the light barrier grew increasingly violent. Wild laughter rang out outside in waves, every burst sending chills of dread through the Wen clan members as they prayed desperately for an expert from Mount Bunian to arrive before the barrier shattered. A crowd surrounded the barrier, all clad in black robes and wearing ghost-faced masks—all magical tools deliberately crafted to conceal their identities. Attacking the barrier were blood swords and severed human heads, unmistakably techniques of the demonic path. The Central Plains was not lacking in demonic factions, including super sects no weaker than Mount Bunian, but they differed from the demonic sects of the Northern Barrens. Those sects were exceptionally savage and intolerable to the Central Plains factions, having all been driven out to the Northern Barrens in the past. The Wen clan resisted with all their might. Unable to break through after prolonged attacks, one who appeared to be the leader checked the time and lowered his voice. "Withdraw!" With that, he showed no reluctance whatsoever, retrieving his blood sword and turning to leave in a flash. Several of his companions put away their magic treasures and moved to depart with him. The rest, however, were displeased. "The formation will break any moment! The Wen clan had a Nascent Soul Patriarch, so there are bound to be plenty of treasures left behind! We agreed to split the treasures equally. For you to turn tail right before the finish, Wang, what are you doing to the rest of us?!" someone hollered angrily. The leader did not even look back, uttering a cold scoff. "I, Wang, indeed wanted those Nascent Soul treasures earlier, but I have changed my mind now. If you get the treasures, I guarantee I won't take a single one, and will offer you my congratulations. But if you all die here, don't go blaming anyone on the Road to the Yellow Springs... Suit yourselves, gentlemen!" At these words, the remaining attackers could not help cursing loudly. They had plotted to trick open Wen Family Island's island-protecting grand formation, yet hadn't expected that Wen Family Island still had an inner spiritual formation, which resisted all their efforts to break it down. Without their comrades' help, relying solely on themselves, even if they could eventually break the formation, the Nascent Soul cultivator from Mount Bunian would likely have arrived by then, and they would not live to enjoy any plundered treasures. Left with no choice, the group was forced to cease their attack. They flew straight north, scattering like birds and beasts as soon as they left Wen Family Island behind. Having escaped catastrophe, the surviving Wen clan members were still in shock. Looking at the carnage outside, sorrow surged in their hearts. Seeing the corpses of their closest kin, some broke down in tears and wanted to rush out, only to be stopped by the clan head. Before long, a streak of flying light flashed across the horizon, fast as lightning, and reached the sky above Wen Family Island in the blink of an eye. Seeing that the newcomer was an unfamiliar face, the Wen clan head was startled and swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue. "Are you the Wen clan head, Wen Qi? This poor Daoist is Qingfeng of Mount Pu. Having received a transmission sword from Mount Bunian, I have come to assist." The arrival was indeed Qin Sang. He had not tarried a single moment upon receiving word, yet he was still a step late. He hadn't expected the island-protecting grand formation of Wen Family Island to be breached so quickly. The island lay in utter ruins, and the enemies had fled swiftly, already vanished without a trace. Fortunately, the Wen clan had not been wiped out completely; at least the root of the clan was preserved. "Senior is Daoist Qingfeng of Mount Pu?" Learning Qin Sang's identity, only then did Wen Qi dare step outside the spiritual formation. He dropped to his knees amidst the corpses, blood soaking his robes, and wailed in grief, "Senior, please seek justice for my Wen clan!" Qin Sang neither agreed nor refused, merely sweeping his gaze around. "Do you know who attacked Wen Family Island? And in which direction did they flee?" Wen Qi raised his hand and pointed north, harboring bone-deep hatred toward those culprits. "Our Wen clan disciples have always been cautious in word and deed, never making enemies. Those people are devils from the Northern Barrens, ruthless and bloodthirsty! They must have coveted the magic treasures left behind by our ancestor. To seize those treasures, they actually sought to slaughter junior's entire clan!" Wen Qi's claim matched Mount Bunian's assessment. Descendants of a Nascent Soul cultivator always possessed some foundation of wealth, enough to tempt wicked sorts into taking desperate gambles. However, as Qin Sang swept his gaze around, he noticed something abnormal. He asked instead, "When those fiends first attacked Wen Family Island, were they busy burning, killing, and looting everywhere?" Wen Qi froze, then nodded. He was no fool; hearing Qin Sang's question, he immediately realized something. Qin Sang narrowed his eyes slightly. Compared to other forces, the Wen clan was indeed wealthy, and the raiders would certainly have reaped a rich harvest. Yet these were merely ordinary treasures that could be gathered by pillaging other places several times. Why take the enormous risk of infiltrating Zhuo Prefecture and offending Mount Bunian? Wen Qi insisted that the assailants coveted the ancestor's magic treasures, but the signs on the island indicated otherwise. Instead, the attackers seemed to have deliberately left a chance of escape for the Wen clan, giving the clan head time to activate the inner formation and call for outside help. If reinforcements were their true target, they were likely gunning for Mount Bunian! Qin Sang had employed schemes of this sort countless times. It was simple, yet very effective! Qin Sang's eyes flashed. The enemy would never have anticipated that Mount Bunian would ask him to step in. He had encountered no ambush along the way, but the Mount Bunian elder who came to assist might not be so lucky! "Fellow Daoist Chengweizi will arrive shortly. Go back inside first; let no one leave the spiritual formation for now!" Leaving these words behind, Qin Sang did not bother hunting down the fiends, turning around and flying toward the southeast. The scenery of Shuo Commandery was not in the least inferior to Ze Prefecture. Qin Sang was in no mood for sightseeing, pondering the pros and cons of the situation. Having shared life-and-death hardships with Lu Zhang, he enjoyed good relations with Mount Bunian, so if a Mount Bunian elder were in distress, he ought to lend a hand. Yet it remained unclear which faction had set its sights on Mount Bunian and for what purpose. If the enemy was too formidable and outstripped his abilities, he could only bide his time and await an opportunity. Qin Sang slowed his speed and concealed his form, maintaining vigilance. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a streak of light swept across the horizon like a shooting star, heading straight in Qin Sang's direction. Qin Sang gripped his spirit treasure in secret and peered closely; the newcomer was none other than Mount Bunian's Chengweizi. Chengweizi's aura was full and intact, showing no signs of having suffered an ambush. 'Could I have overthought this?' Qin Sang wondered to himself and revealed his figure in midair. At the same time, Chengweizi's puzzled voice rang out from within the flying light. "Daoist Qingfeng?" With a flash of light, Chengweizi landed before Qin Sang. "Daoist, have you come from Wen Family Island? Have the fiends who attacked the Wen clan been eliminated by you?" Qin Sang scrutinized Chengweizi and shook his head. "When this poor Daoist arrived at Wen Family Island, those fiends had already fled..." He recounted his findings and conjecture, explaining, "I suspected there was a conspiracy behind this affair and feared that Fellow Daoist might suffer an ambush, so I hurried over to meet you. It seems I overthought things. Regrettably, after delaying for so long, it will likely be difficult to catch those fiends..." As he spoke, Qin Sang noticed Chengweizi's expression abruptly change. "Not good!" Chengweizi seemed to remember something. He hastily wheeled his flying light around, breaking through the air without time for a detailed explanation. Qin Sang was taken aback for an instant, then urged his flying light to follow, drawing abreast with Chengweizi. Chengweizi cupped his hands to Qin Sang in gratitude. Yet the direction he was flying was not back toward Mount Bunian, but toward a famous mountain range in Zhuo Prefecture—Mount Dachi. Mount Dachi was famed for its grand, boundless expanse, second only to Mount Zhaoyao among the four northern prefectures. The spiritual energy in the mountains was somewhat thin and lacked secret realms, but it boasted an abundance of cave dwellings. Many rogue cultivators and minor sects cultivated here, all subordinate to Mount Bunian. After entering Mount Dachi, the two flew over dozens of peaks in succession. Chengweizi veered his flying light and descended into a very secluded valley. Qin Sang followed closely behind, only to be met with broken walls and ruined structures. Several people lay sprawled on the ground, blood pooling beneath them, entirely devoid of breath. Clearly, the valley had previously been concealed by a spiritual formation. Now the formation was breached, the marks still fresh. Apart from this, Qin Sang spotted signs of a clash between Nascent Soul cultivators. Both combatants were already gone; it was impossible to tell who had won or lost, or what had been stolen. Chengweizi had a bitter expression. "To be honest with you, Daoist, there was originally a spiritual tree of heaven and earth here—a rare crimson date. Consuming a crimson date every thirty years brings no small benefit even to Nascent Soul cultivators. The crimson date spiritual tree is the sect-guarding treasure of the Changfeng Sect. Every time the fruit ripens, our sect exchanges for a portion with them..." While speaking, Chengweizi flashed toward the depths of the valley and found a clear spring. Beside the spring lay a huge crater; the spiritual tree had been uprooted entirely. Qin Sang swept his gaze across the surroundings and asked, "Is the Sect Master of the Changfeng Sect also a fellow Daoist at the Nascent Soul stage?" Chengweizi nodded. "His cultivation is similar to mine. Our sect maintains several dao sanctuaries in Mount Dachi, where elders often cultivate. At present, only Senior Brother Chengshenzi and I were stationed here." Qin Sang let out a light chuckle. The enemy had gone to such roundabout lengths simply to target the Changfeng Sect's spiritual tree. Attacking Wen Family Island had merely been meant to draw Chengweizi away. The loss of the spiritual tree was a settled fact; it was unknown whether the Sect Master of the Changfeng Sect was dead or alive. The two dared not hesitate. After sending a transmission back to his sect, Chengweizi followed the trail in pursuit. "Fellow Daoist Chengshenzi is not at his cave dwelling right now?" Qin Sang pressed. Chengshenzi's strength was reportedly above even Lu Zhang's, making him Mount Bunian's second-greatest expert on the surface, subordinate only to the Sect Master. It was only because he had suffered grave injuries in the past that left chronic afflictions, causing severe damage to his potential and stagnating his cultivation for many years. With Chengshenzi overseeing Mount Dachi, it should have been impossible for the culprits to succeed so easily. Things having reached this stage, Chengweizi concealed it no longer. "Daoist probably hasn't received word yet. A few days ago, a transmission came from the Eastern Sea: someone spotted anomalies near the Chinan Island Chain, suspected to be the emergence of the Wuwang Hall ruins. That aside, Nascent Soul cultivators from Bajing Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery were actually sighted nearby in considerable numbers. The Sect Master and Senior Brother went together to the Eastern Sea; who would have thought turmoil would erupt the moment they left?" Chinan Island Chain! Wuwang Hall! Qin Sang certainly had not forgotten the disturbance from thirty years ago. He had experienced it firsthand, but because he had voluntarily stepped away, he did not know what followed. He had not imagined that the unrest would brew until now before finally erupting. "Is it confirmed to be Wuwang Hall?" Qin Sang hastily pressed. Chengweizi shook his head, distracted. "It's said they have already locked onto the target; news should arrive soon." Doubt flickered in his eyes. "The Sect Master and Senior Brother set off for the Eastern Sea less than three days ago, and departed in secret. Where did these fiends learn of it?" Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly, though he did not voice his thoughts. There were only two possibilities. Either the fiends had caught wind long ago and kept watch over the two elders' cave dwellings, striking the moment Chengshenzi left Mount Dachi; Or... Mount Bunian had a problem from within. Chengweizi had clearly thought of this as well, and his complexion darkened further. As they spoke, the two pursued beyond Mount Dachi. The trails grew scarcer and scarcer. After chasing for who knows how far, they finally located the Sect Master of the Changfeng Sect. The Sect Master of the Changfeng Sect sat cross-legged atop a mountain peak, his Daoist robe rumpled and his figure appearing somewhat bleak. Seeing Chengweizi arrive, he could only offer a bitter smile. Upon conferring with him, they learned that only one person had actually stolen the spiritual tree. "Did Fellow Daoist recognize his identity?" Chengweizi asked in a deep voice. Setting aside Lu Zhang's injury last time, Mount Bunian had not suffered such a grievous setback in a very long time. The Changfeng Sect Master hesitated a moment before saying, "Though the demon deliberately concealed himself, he still gave away some clues when warding off my Chaos Wind Piercers. However, I have only seen it in ancient texts, so I don't know if I mistook it... It closely resembled the legendary Dragon-Slaying Demonic Force!" "Old Fiend Lu's Dragon-Slaying Demonic Force?!" Chengweizi cried out in shock. Qin Sang's pupils constricted slightly. He knew nothing of this Dragon-Slaying Demonic Force, but he knew that the Old Fiend Lu mentioned by Chengweizi was precisely one of the Deity Transformation cultivators of the present demonic path. This devil's dao sanctuary, Luye, was located in the Northern Barrens; the title of Old Fiend Lu had come from "Luye," simply because no one knew his true Daoist moniker. This figure was exceptionally mysterious, having vanished even earlier than True Monarch Danyu and Saint Huiguang. Several centuries ago, he had disappeared without a trace, sealing off the Plain of Luye and retreating from the world. Over the years, there had been no shortage of people claiming to be Old Fiend Lu's successors, all later proven to be impostors. Rumors had it that Old Fiend Lu had already ascended, while others speculated that he had been destroyed by a joint effort of the Buddhist and Daoist factions. 'Is Luye about to reemerge into the world as well?' Qin Sang thought to himself. With the Wuwang Hall ruins coming to light, Bajing Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery no longer keeping silent, the Gu God Cult lurking in the two southern barbarian prefectures, and the suspected reemergence of Luye in the Northern Barrens, the realm's grand currents were becoming ever more inscrutable. After conferring with the Changfeng Sect Master, Chengweizi decided to keep searching in hopes of uncovering some clues. Right then, Qin Sang suddenly felt an intimation; deep delight flashed across his eyes. Hastily bidding the two farewell, he hurried back to Mount Pu.