Dishou

The connection was severed! Qin Sang had been keeping a close watch on the Fire Jade Centipede's reactions. The moment he tumbled out of the fissure and broke free of the Five Elements Divine Restriction, the Fire Jade Centipede ceased its agitation, and the Daoist nun was nowhere to be found. Unlike the murky gloom of the Nine Lands Metamagnetism, the light outside was bright as day. Qin Sang now stood upon a boulder, the murmuring rush of flowing water reaching his ears. Pulling his thoughts together, Qin Sang looked behind him to see a stone cliff and a waterfall. The cascade was slender and gentle, not noisy at all, lending the area a fresh and elegant serenity. The water spilled into a pool. The stone pool was not large, yet the surface remained flush with the shore. No matter how much water poured in, not a single drop overflowed. This was evidently the effect of some restriction, though not a lethal or offensive one. The surroundings appeared very peaceful, which was precisely why Qin Sang had chosen to emerge at this location. Though the scenery was lovely, it lacked any trace of human presence. Qin Sang shook his head slightly, stepped to the edge of the boulder, and looked down. Without question, he had traversed the Five Elements Divine Restriction and entered the interior of Dishou Mountain. The view here mirrored what he had seen from below: layered clouds and mist as far as the eye could see, forming a towering wall of iridescent splendor that encircled all of Dishou Mountain. Yet there were differences as well. Viewed from below, the Heavenly Ladder ascending Dishou Mountain had seemed directly exposed to the open air. Now, however, Qin Sang felt a strange sensation—as though an inexplicable power lingered in the air, isolating Dishou Mountain entirely from the world outside. If this power truly existed, one could deduce that the entirety of Dishou Mountain was shrouded beneath it, its outer perimeter sinking into the mist and joining with the Five Elements Divine Restriction. With this feeling lingering, Qin Sang could hardly tell whether the clear azure sky above him was real or an illusion. It was as if he had been cast into an enclosed boundary, with the Five Elements Divine Restriction serving as its entrance. Naturally, this was merely Qin Sang's conjecture. Aside from that, there was no noticeable difference between the inside and outside of the misty clouds. "That woman must be hiding somewhere, licking her wounds..." Qin Sang sneered inwardly. The Daoist nun had taken hits from both celestial thunder and the Death Seal; her injuries were genuine. Su Zinan's Death Seal in particular was exceedingly sinister and did not look easy to resolve. Qin Sang was not afraid of the nun tangling with him; his only fear was that she had been frightened away, which would leave the whereabouts of the crimson immortal pendant unknown once more. The woman held the geographical advantage, but neither Qin Sang nor Su Zinan feared her. With their discerning eyes, they could naturally tell that her control over the Five Elements Divine Restriction was limited, and her personal strength was far from terrifying. In a chaotic fray, if she lurked on the sidelines like a venomous viper in the dark, she would indeed pose a great danger and demand vigilance. But in a direct confrontation, Qin Sang did not believe he would lose. He turned around and looked up. From his vantage point, he could faintly make out shifting white light along the southern slope of Dishou Mountain, which was likely the Heavenly Ladder he had seen earlier. According to Zhu Wudao, the Heavenly Ladder was the sole path to the Wordless Jade Wall, and one should entertain no thoughts of finding shortcuts. Dishou Mountain was the core sanctum of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, packed with layers of restrictions and formations; even great cultivators like them had to tread with humility upon this mountain. Among the mountain forests, silhouettes of halls and pavilions could be vaguely glimpsed. Each was shrouded in mist, heavily guarded by defenses. "Can she manipulate the restrictions and spirit formations elsewhere, or can she only control the Five Elements Divine Restriction?" Qin Sang pondered, reminding himself to act with prudence going forward. With no sign of the Daoist nun, there was also no telling where Su Zinan, the Poison King, and the others had been flung. Qin Sang turned his palm and brought out the golden sword. Recalling the Boiling Snow Pill destroyed moments ago, Qin Sang felt deep regret as well, but had he not acted ruthlessly, it would have fallen into Su Zinan's hands, leaving him no choice. Having survived the brunt of the Nine Lands Metamagnetism, the luster of the golden sword was exceedingly dim, degraded to a dull gold. Qin Sang sent forth a wisp of divine sense to touch the golden sword. Sensing its nature, he was rather surprised: the sword was neither a spirit treasure nor a magic treasure, but a treasure akin to a jade slip. Due to its unique materials and refinement method, sword intent lingered within it, serving as both protection and seal. Had it been an ordinary jade slip, it would have been destroyed long ago in the explosion. Something sealed inside such a precious golden sword had to be either a top-tier cultivation method or secret art, or critical information. The jade sword had likely been similar, but unfortunately it was destroyed. Qin Sang's interest in the golden sword grew significantly, yet after some testing, he found it to be a tricky conundrum. Having suffered repeated battering, the seal was much weakened and not difficult to breach, but it had also become volatile. Forcing the seal open might well cause it to collapse, repeating the tragedy of the jade sword. Just as Qin Sang hesitated, a flare of light suddenly surged from the direction of the Heavenly Ladder. Someone had already entered the Heavenly Ladder. Qin Sang's expression tightened slightly. He lingered no longer, analyzing the golden sword's seal as he swept toward the Heavenly Ladder. The most crucial objective of this journey remained the Wordless Jade Wall; even the immortal pendant took second place. Dishou Mountain held an exalted status, and the Wuxiang Immortal Sect had meticulously arranged its scenery, presenting shifting vistas at every step—a breathtaking spectacle. Qin Sang had no lingering fondness for the beautiful sights. Sweeping through the mountains, he avoided areas with restrictions and formations as much as possible, yet it still took considerable effort to reach the vicinity of the Heavenly Ladder. Having traveled this far, Qin Sang had gained a fair understanding of the layout on Dishou Mountain. No wonder one had to climb via the Heavenly Ladder: most of the structures on Dishou Mountain were situated along its flanks. Magnificent pavilions towered high, multi-storied halls reached toward the sky, and most areas were sealed in thick mist, appearing far removed from the mortal realm. *Whoosh!* A breeze swept onto the Heavenly Ladder, revealing Qin Sang's figure. Looking up, he saw an archway bearing the two characters "Dishou." The strokes were vigorous and sharp, written with silver hooks and iron strokes; merely glancing at them brought a slight ache to his eyes, as though crisscrossing sword intent pierced straight to his inner organs, unsettling his mind. It had to have been inscribed by a supreme sword cultivator! Qin Sang knew that passing through the archway was the true entrance onto Dishou Mountain. Looking left and right, he still saw no sign of Su Zinan or the others. Looking higher up the Heavenly Ladder, clouds and winds shifted and light flickered erratically, triggered by the intruders, obscuring any figures from sight. Qin Sang stepped through the archway. For an instant, his scalp tingled with numbness, as though an actual sword were pointed straight at his head—a preemptive show of force. Along the way, he discovered traces of restrictions having been broken. The residual aura among them bore very distinct characteristics, likely the handiwork of Daoist Zilei. Traces of combat, however, were exceedingly scarce, leaving Qin Sang unable to determine the outcome of the battle between the Daoist and demonic factions. Pausing briefly, he accelerated his pace. Before long, he had ascended tens of thousands of steps. His figure suddenly halted; using his Heavenly Eye divine ability, he caught sight of two individuals—none other than the two Daoist masters of Bajing Abbey. The moment Qin Sang spotted them, Daoist Zilei seemed to sense something and abruptly turned around. Purple lightning flickered within his pupils, and a sharp, piercing gaze shot straight over. Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he stood in place with his hands clasped behind his back. Only now did he notice that the two Daoist masters were blocked by a strange gale. The gray, eerie wind swirled into a colossal vortex, firmly barring the way forward. The strange wind carried immense momentum yet little sound; Qin Sang could hear only faint, howling gusts. Before the vortex of wind, Daoist Hegao unleashed an Azure Silk Treasure Parasol. The parasol spun on its own, shooting beams of azure brilliance that continually sank into the vortex, yet they seemed to accomplish very little. "Who would have thought Old Demon Fan had refined a Yin Mystic Wind Pearl? With the wind pearl enhancing the wind formation Zhu Wudao triggered, it has become a major headache..." Daoist Hegao's brow was tightly furrowed as he racked his brains, pondering how to break the vortex. The Yin Mystic Wind Pearl was a secret treasure of Tianhao Tower. Refining it required gathering five naturally occurring yin winds from heaven and earth, supplemented by various precious spirit materials. As a single-use treasure, it was all the more precious, and no one had been seen refining one in a very long time. When paired with Tianhao Tower's Yin Mystic Demonic Formation, its might multiplied exponentially. Old Demon Fan currently had no subordinates to deploy and could not set up the demonic formation, but unexpectedly, used here in concert with the Heavenly Ladder's existing wind formation, it produced remarkable efficacy, stopping them in their tracks. Mid-sentence, Daoist Hegao noticed Daoist Zilei's reaction and asked in a low voice, "Someone else came in?" Daoist Zilei hummed an affirmative and pulled back his gaze, continuing to observe the wind vortex. Daoist Hegao, however, was distracted and snorted, "With Sect Master Yue absent, these demons and monsters see our lack of numbers and dare to harbor designs." Daoist Zilei remained utterly indifferent. "Zhu Wudao shattered the jade pavilion and created a flaw in the sword formation; it is only natural that they could enter. No need to pay them heed. We only need to keep a close watch on Zhu Wudao." "My only worry is that when fighting breaks out later, someone will try to fish in troubled waters." Given Daoist Hegao's temperament, whether demonic scoundrels or remnants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, it would be best to exterminate them all. But the current situation and their strength did not permit it. With the path to the Immortal Palace severed, they had to seize the opportunities on Dishou Mountain before the various factions gathered, lest their efforts come to naught like drawing water with a wicker basket. What Daoist Zilei said next, however, astonished Daoist Hegao greatly. "I previously consulted ancient records and found an account stating that Dishou Mountain possesses a Wordless Jade Wall of mysterious origin. It is said to contain the opportunity for Deity Transformation, allowing one to comprehend profound mysteries. Upon entering the mountain, I observed that the manifestations atop the peak matched the ancient records in every detail, so the account appears to be true. Zhu Wudao must have disclosed this secret to trade the Wordless Jade Wall for their assistance. Since they were lured by the Wordless Jade Wall, let them fight over it." Daoist Zilei spoke nonchalantly, completely unconcerned about the Wordless Jade Wall. "An opportunity for Deity Transformation—how could we yield it to others?" Daoist Hegao was bewildered. What had all their hard work been for, if not to obtain the opportunity in the Immortal Palace's Sword Tomb to pursue Deity Transformation? He could not fathom why his sect leader senior brother had changed his mind. "Junior Brother, there is something you do not know," Daoist Zilei shook his head. "That Wordless Jade Wall is rather peculiar. For reasons unknown, only by meditating in secluded cultivation on Dishou Mountain for a very long time, until one's qi harmonizes with the Wordless Jade Wall, can one truly comprehend its profound secrets. Though other cultivators might gain some minor benefits, the effect is far inferior. To me, its use is negligible, little more than a chicken rib. Zhu Wudao undoubtedly knows this as well, which is why he is unafraid of others competing with him for it." "This..." Daoist Hegao grew even more puzzled upon hearing these secrets. "If that is the case, why would Zhu Wudao risk being hunted down by us just to force his way into Dishou Mountain?" If what Daoist Zilei said was true, the Wordless Jade Wall was not worth Zhu Wudao risking his life like this, unless something else drew him here. "He is likely after a spirit treasure," Daoist Zilei said gravely. "That treasure was deeply concealed within the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, its origins unknown. Ever since it was obtained, it was sealed away on Dishou Mountain and rarely brought forth. Aside from the upper echelon of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, outsiders knew neither its form nor where it was kept. Rumors held that its power was peerless, and that it had performed great merits during the demonic tribulation. Back then, there were confident rumors hailing it as the number one spirit treasure of Zhongzhou!" Daoist Hegao was shocked and skeptical. "The number one spirit treasure of Zhongzhou? What grand arrogance! How does it compare to our Bajing Palace Lantern?" "Their purposes differ; they cannot be compared. If it is as formidable as rumored, even if I fail to achieve Deity Transformation, holding that spirit treasure, I would fear no Deity Transformation cultivator." Daoist Zilei had pursued Zhu Wudao precisely for this treasure. Daoist Zilei was well aware that without entering the Sword Tomb, ordinary opportunities could hardly propel him into Deity Transformation. Having personally stirred up this chaotic situation, he had to devise another way to protect Bajing Abbey, and thus set his sights on that mysterious spirit treasure. The treasure had been stored on Dishou Mountain and vanished without a trace after the sect's destruction; in all probability, it was still on the mountain. Zhu Wudao's actions also indicated that Dishou Mountain harbored a supreme treasure—if not that spirit treasure, then something else. Keeping an eye on him was certainly the right course. Yet he knew neither where the treasure was kept nor what it looked like, and the situation did not permit him to search leisurely. Zhu Wudao was an excellent guide. Daoist Hegao thought deeper and pressed, "If the spirit treasure was so formidable, why was it not used when the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was wiped out?" Daoist Zilei sighed. "Back then, the founding ancestors of the Abbey and the Monastery were alarmed to discover that the surviving experts of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect had been tainted by demonic corruption and had sealed themselves on Dishou Mountain. Demonic corruption is terrifying; early on, it can still be purged, but once the demonic will takes deep root, there is no turning back. That demonic tribulation had ravaged the two southern barbarian prefectures, leaving the cultivation world severely battered; had it happened again, there would have been no way to withstand it. To nip the danger in the bud, the patriarchs struck against the Wuxiang Immortal Sect to eliminate future troubles. When the assault was launched, they blockaded Dishou Mountain at all costs, forbidding anyone from taking a single step onto it. Naturally, no one could ascend the mountain to retrieve the treasure..." ... Behind the wind vortex, Zhu Wudao sat while Old Demon Fan stood. They were not far from the Daoist masters, but the wind vortex between them was like an impassable chasm. Seeing that the wind pearl paired with the vortex could block the two masters, both men appeared quite relaxed. Zhu Wudao sat cross-legged with eyes half-closed, his fingers blurring like spinning wheels as he sent out seal after seal. They flew not into the wind vortex, but toward both flanks of the Heavenly Ladder. Along the stone steps on either side of the ladder, talismans and seals lay concealed at intervals. Standing beside Zhu Wudao while manipulating the wind pearl, Old Demon Fan looked up toward the summit of Dishou Mountain, then down at Zhu Wudao with a chuckle. "Worthy of a successor of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. Junior Brother, you know this place so intimately; every formation and restriction obeys your command as easily as your own arms and fingers, completely at your disposal." Without halting his movements, Zhu Wudao replied modestly, "Senior Brother overpraises me. What I know is merely superficial; I can only activate the talismanic seals along the jade path step by step. If not for Senior Brother assisting with the wind pearl to buy some time, this formation could never take shape, and it would have been impossible to halt them in the slightest." "Old Ox-Nose Zilei is indeed not to be underestimated, but you needn't worry, Junior Brother. As the mastermind who provoked this chaos, that old Daoist has undoubtedly incurred universal outrage; Bajing Abbey will have plenty of trouble down the line. So long as the opportunity for Deity Transformation you spoke of is real, I will guarantee your safety," Old Demon Fan said with leisurely confidence. "The Wordless Jade Wall lies just above. Once the formation here is established and traps them, I shall guide you there, Senior Brother," Zhu Wudao replied candidly. As he spoke, the hand seals he cast grew ever more numerous. A faint, clear glow began to shimmer along both sides of the jade steps, followed by lantern-shaped phantoms slowly rising into the air. These were not lanterns, but wind cages. Their centers were hollow, filled with wisps of azure wind spiraling and coursing within. A single wind cage possessed no great might, but with many gathered together, they immediately formed a massive wind formation. In an instant, violent gales howled wildly up and down the Heavenly Ladder!