Wuxiang Immortal Sect

After giving chase for some time, they could roughly pinpoint the snow fox's lair. It was not at the heart of the snow plain, but toward the southwest. Throughout the pursuit, Qin Sang and Old Man Yanshan took turns attacking, leaving the subterranean terrain severely devastated and battered beyond recognition. The snow fox showed no sign of speeding up, relying entirely on its instantaneous flash, but the distance of each leap was limited and insufficient to shake off its pursuers. *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* With brute force, the two cultivators smashed gaping holes through the stone walls separating the ravines. The thick snow layer muffled the commotion below, leaving no noticeable tremors on the surface. Up above, the cold spirits continued to frolic carefreely, completely oblivious. Yet, amid their rampaging charge, neither cultivator noticed that a few cold spirits differed from the rest. These spirits were few in number but widely scattered, dispersed across virtually every corner of the snow plain. Outwardly, they were barely distinguishable from ordinary cold spirits, except that their eyes lacked the usual spark of vitality and their movements were far less lively. Like mindless wandering ghosts, they drifted aimlessly across the snow plain. Even if an ordinary cultivator saw them, discerning the difference would be exceedingly difficult. Earlier, wishing to avoid startling the snow fox, Qin Sang and Old Man Yanshan had painstakingly concealed their auras from the moment they entered the snow plain, never catching the notice of these peculiar cold spirits. However, once they struck and began pursuing the snow fox, hiding their tracks became neither possible nor necessary. The instant their presence was exposed, every peculiar cold spirit froze in place. As if receiving a command, no matter where they were located, they turned in unison and stared fixedly toward Qin Sang and Old Man Yanshan's direction—even if all that lay before them was a solid stone wall. It was an eerie spectacle, yet there was no one to witness it. After a fleeting freeze, the peculiar cold spirits stirred together, rushing toward that direction in perfect accord. *** Beyond the snow plain. Within the expanse blanketed by the blizzard, gloomy clouds blotted out the sky and sun, hanging even heavier and thicker than the snow layer beneath them. Above the gloom, however, the night was far from dreary. Moonlight poured down like water, draping the surface of the dark clouds as though cascading across a boundless velvet curtain. Amidst these gloomy clouds, the moonlight shone with exceptional brilliance over one particular area. To the naked eye, apart from being slightly brighter, this spot looked no different from the rest, surrounded by identical rolling cloud waves extending to the horizon. Little could anyone guess that a landmass was actually floating amidst the clouds. Airborne and as light as a feather, the land hung suspended above the dark clouds like a ship anchored in the mists, perfectly motionless. Looking outward from the land afforded a sweeping, unobstructed view of the surrounding scenery. Clouds drifted around the perimeter and frigid gales howled, yet not a wisp of wind could penetrate inward, held back by an invisible barrier encasing the floating land. The terrain sloped from a high south to a low north. In the north lay an open plain, while two mountain ranges traced the eastern and western edges before converging at the southernmost point. At their confluence formed a valley, which was presumably the entrance. A stone stele stood erect at the gateway. Carved upon it were two archaic characters—*Luye*! Should anyone stumble upon this place and see these two characters, they would surely be scared out of their wits, for Luye was the sanctuary of the legendary Deity Transformation cultivator, Old Demon Lu! No wonder Luye had always been shrouded in mystery with its location unknown to all—it was suspended high in the heavens! If one were to venture further past the entrance, the astonishment would only deepen. Stepping onto the northern plain, what greeted the eyes was a vibrant sea of blooming flowers. Scarlet, orange, yellow, green, azure, blue, and purple. From the Northern Desolation to the Southern Barbarian provinces, and even celebrated blooms from overseas and the Western Desert—flowers of every origin flourished here, blooming concurrently across all seasons in a magnificent display of splendor. Not only that, but certain blossoms were not merely gorgeous; they brimmed with dense spiritual energy, clearly transcending ordinary flora. Three Elements Secret Flowers, Poison Essence Flowers, Butterfly Shadow Treasure Flowers, Dream Violet Mallows... Extremely rare spiritual flora seldom seen in the cultivation world were casually intermingled with mundane blooms, treated purely as ornamental scenery. Confronted with such staggering opulence, most cultivators would be struck dumb and lament the appalling extravagance. Exotic fragrance hung thick in the air. Spring water tinkled merrily. Among the blossoms wandered beauties far lovelier than the flowers themselves. Draped in gossamer garments, with ice-like skin and jade-like bones, every single one of them was a peerless beauty capable of sinking fish and dropping geese, eclipsing the moon and shaming the flowers, each possessing her own unique allure. Flitting like butterflies through the sea of flowers, some quietly admired the blooms, while others frolicked in pairs and groups. Under the moonlight, the interplay of maidens and scenery created a picture of breathtaking splendor. As if sharing an amusing thought, a sudden burst of silvery laughter rang out, utterly enchanting without the slightest hint of vulgarity. A young maiden blushed rosy red, her gaze brimmed with spring-like tenderness. Her clear, almond eyes carried a coy shyness as she glanced toward the bamboo grove and pavilion in the northern reaches of the plain, harboring a faint trace of wistful longing. Just within the flower sea, dozens of women strolled and played. There was no telling how many more resided in the bamboo pavilions. Some of these women were mortals, while others were cultivators, including several Core Formation experts. Old Demon Lu was the undisputed foremost figure of the devil path—a solitary, ruthless terror whose hands were stained with boundless blood. Countless supreme masters had fallen before him, and he had slaughtered entire sects on more than one occasion, striking terror into the hearts of all who heard his name. Yet no one had ever heard of this devil having an appetite for women. A gentle breeze swept through Luye. The bamboo forest rustled softly. These were no ordinary bamboos either, but a kind of spiritual bamboo whose leaves resembled sharp purple swords. Inside the innermost bamboo pavilion, an exquisitely beautiful woman sat with her eyes closed, quietly meditating. Her looks were naturally not in the least inferior to the beauties outside. Clad in a white palace gown, she bore not a shred of saintly purity; even in deep meditation, a soul-snatching smile seemed to linger at the corner of her lips. Anyone with a weak will would have their wits stolen away with a single glance. Between her brows was a vermilion crescent-moon insignia—a finishing touch that lent an extra three parts of bewitching charm to her visage. Just then, the palace-gowned woman seemed to sense something. Her long lashes quivered slightly, and her eyes slowly opened. Her gaze was like limpid water, radiating even greater allure. After a brief contemplation, her figure flashed. Drifting out of the pavilion, she reappeared deep in the bamboo forest, right beside a circular pool. The pool was filled not with clear water, but with a kaleidoscopic, iridescent medicinal broth. The fragrance rising from the broth cast a rainbow-like haze around the pool. Stopping at the edge, the woman moved her lips, murmuring soundlessly. A moment later, bubbles began to surface with gurgling sounds. A human head floated up. It bore no facial features whatsoever, its visage smooth as a mirror. Tilting slightly, it faced the palace-gowned woman. Though the head lacked eyes, the woman felt an intense gaze boring into her. Her expression tightened slightly as she hurriedly whispered a few remarks. The head gave a slight nod before sinking back into the broth. As if relieved of a heavy burden, the palace-gowned woman curtsied slightly, turned, and exited the bamboo forest, walking along the path winding through the flower sea toward the entrance of Luye. The moment she appeared, the maidens scattered among the blossoms fell silent, curtsied respectfully, and spoke in unison: "Greetings, Sister Yue." Before her, all these peerless beauties paled in comparison. Ignoring them, the palace-gowned woman walked forward with eyes fixed ahead, stepped out of Luye, glanced around to confirm her direction, and plunged into the gloomy clouds. Only after her figure vanished did the other women cast aside their deferential expressions. Not daring to harbor any resentment toward her haughty disregard, their eyes brimmed with profound envy instead. With their mood dampened by the interruption, the maidens' enthusiasm waned. Even so, there was no shortage of pleasures here. Aside from being forbidden to leave Luye, any desire they could imagine would be granted by the master of this realm. The only thing they had to do was preserve their flawless beauty. Before long, the restriction at the entrance of Luye was triggered again. A black-robed old man landed before the stone stele. True essence circulated around him, washing away the dust of travel before he stepped into Luye. Seeing the elder from afar, some maidens stood up while others merely cast a brief glance before returning to their own pursuits, lacking the deep reverence they had shown the palace-gowned woman. As the old man walked into the flower fields, a maiden greeted him, "Elder Wu has returned." Elder Wu wore a solemn expression, still unaccustomed to seeing Luye transformed into this state. Nonetheless, he returned each greeting courteously, even when addressing a mortal. Sweeping his gaze over these unworldly beauties, an unreadable look of pity or mockery flickered in the depths of his eyes. Over the years, he had seen far too many. Batch after batch. He could no longer remember which generation of beauties this was. Deep in the bamboo forest lay a snake pit. Once these women showed signs of age or the slightest physical imperfection, the master of Luye would cast them into the pit without hesitation to feed the serpents. Even those possessing spiritual roots and cultivation talent met the same fate if they failed to achieve a timely breakthrough, began to wither, or lost their physical perfection. They were nothing more than pets kept for amusement; from the moment they were selected to enter Luye, their doom was already sealed. Hardly any among them had survived to this day. As this thought crossed his mind, Elder Wu happened to walk past the snake pit in the bamboo forest. Casting a discreet glance at it, he halted and called out in a clear voice, "This old servant pays respects to Young Master." A moment later, a languid voice drifted from within the bamboo forest: "Elder Wu has returned at just the right time! Come in and speak." Elder Wu acknowledged the command and briskly walked deeper into the forest. Arriving beside the medicinal pool, he retrieved two jade caskets from his mustard seed bag and presented them forward. "Reporting to Young Master, we have fortunately fulfilled our mission. Both the black divine clay and the fruit of the ancient Tonghua tree have been obtained." "Oh?" A delighted voice came from the pool. Two silk-like threads shot out, sweeping the jade caskets away. "It truly is the black divine clay and the fruit of the ancient Tonghua tree! You have worked hard, Elder Wu! Securing these treasures must have been no easy feat. Did those fellows from Bajing Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery cause you any trouble?" Elder Wu replied, "They are overwhelmed with their own troubles and never showed themselves. However, recently many rogues have been burning, killing, and looting under the master's banner, seizing treasures and throwing the Central Plains into widespread panic. It has indeed created considerable turbulence." The person in the pool couldn't have cared less. "Once this young master perfects my divine art and refines the Three Corpses God-Perishing Banner, I will drag them all out to consecrate the banner." Then he let out a cold laugh. "Those two Deity Transformation masters from Bajing Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery are indeed trapped in Wuwang Hall. What reckless audacity! Back then, my adoptive father located the entrance of Wuwang Hall and observed it for a long time, yet in the end, he only circled its periphery. As for the two of them, having failed to emerge for two centuries, they have definitely ventured into the deepest depths—perhaps they will be trapped to death in there." Elder Wu cautioned, "Deity Transformation cultivators possess unfathomable divine abilities. Young Master must not become careless." "Naturally, I am aware..." Bubbles welled up from the medicinal pool once more. This time, four human heads floated to the surface. The three behind were just like the previous faceless head—devoid of features, yet turning their faces in unison to stare at Elder Wu. In front of the three faceless heads was a long-haired young man. The young man possessed peerless elegance, exceptionally handsome with sword-like brows and starry eyes. A lingering wicked smile played at the corner of his lips, enough to fulfill every maiden's romantic fantasies. Sweeping his eyes over the three faceless heads, Elder Wu's gaze turned solemn as he offered congratulations: "Congratulations, Young Master! The divine banner is close to completion!" The young man chuckled. "What a pity that my adoptive father devoted himself entirely to ascension and paid no heed to worldly matters, leaving me only this bit of heritage! Otherwise, why would Elder Wu need to rush about in person, and why would I have had to wait until now?" As he spoke, the young man cracked his neck with popping sounds. With a comfortable expression, he remarked, "Elder Wu, you have returned at an opportune moment. Just now, Lady Yue sensed someone trespassing upon the snow plain. I had intended to step out of seclusion... Elder Wu, why don't you make the trip instead?" "The snow plain?" Elder Wu paused briefly before sudden realization struck. "Young Master means the place where the Water Aspect Lord of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect is suspected to have fallen?" "Indeed," the young man nodded. "Have you forgotten, Elder Wu? When the Plain of Luye drifted into this area years ago, Lady Yue noticed a fellow acting suspiciously in the snow plain. Unfortunately, we did not pay enough attention back then. I suspected that this location might be where the Water Aspect Lord fell, yet we were unable to unravel its secrets. That person might be a successor of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. To avoid alarming the quarry, I had Lady Yue take control of a few cold spirits and kept Luye stationed nearby, waiting for that person to reappear. He certainly has remarkable patience, keeping me waiting for all these years." Elder Wu frowned. "Rumor has it that the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was once the supreme, unparalleled hegemon of the cultivation world. Each of its Five Great Immortal Halls was capable of producing Deity Transformation cultivators, wielding strength no lesser than a super sect. That such a colossal force suddenly disintegrated into ruins, with all Five Immortal Halls vanishing without a trace, remains an unsolved mystery to this day. If we can secure the relics of the Water Aspect Lord, it will surely give Young Master tremendous momentum!" "What unsolved mystery!" the young man sneered. "Bajing Abbey and Ganlu Zen Monastery have always been exceedingly tight-lipped regarding the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. Most likely, they deliberately purged the cultivation world of any traces left by the sect; the events of that era undoubtedly bore their fingerprints! A centipede dies but never falls down; the legacy of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect will not be severed so easily. Those hiding in the shadows have probably been itching for action for a long time. With the two sects' Deity Transformation ancestors missing, this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity; they will definitely emerge to stir up trouble. Just wait and see! So much time has passed—whether the Wuxiang Immortal Sect lives or dies has nothing to do with me, nor do I intend to avenge them. Still, Elder Wu speaks the truth: if the Water Aspect Lord truly fled to the Northern Desolation back then and perished here, he must have carried numerous treasures, perhaps even other pleasant surprises!" Pausing briefly, the young man added, "Lady Yue mentioned that the intruder is at the mid Nascent Soul stage. She probably cannot subdue him alone. Elder Wu, remember to assist her in taking that person down, preferably capturing his Nascent Soul alive. Once my Three Corpses God-Perishing Banner is completed, he shall serve as the first primary soul. A mid Nascent Soul cultivator is barely adequate for the role..." Elder Wu nodded repeatedly and hurried away.