There was no need to dwell on the manifold turmoil in Zhongzhou.
After leaving the Moon-Veiling Nunnery, Qin Sang made another trip to Ganlu Zen Monastery.
His plan was to head west to the Western Lands first, inform the cultivators there about the Ascension Platform, and pay a personal visit to Master Huaiyin.
He had already learned from Ganlu Zen Monastery that Master Huaiyin hailed from the Great Compassion Zen Temple of the Western Lands' Buddhist sects. The temple was home to many ascetic cultivators and possessed a rare body cultivation legacy.
In addition, he intended to ask the Western Lands for assistance in searching for the Earth Killing Sword fragments.
He had always suspected that there were other fragments yet to be collected.
First, each domain had a corresponding Immortal Palace, and each of them housed an Earth Killing Sword fragment and remnant technique scriptures.
Second, there was the technique itself: whoever had created the *Essence Cultivation and Sword Nurturing Chapter* was bound to be a peerless genius. Could such a person truly have stopped at the Void Refining stage?
However, the Buddhist sects of Zhongzhou and the Western Lands had long maintained communication, and Master Xingji had confirmed that in the past, no Immortal Palace had ever been discovered in the Western Lands.
Then again, it was also possible that some cultivator or sect had found the palace and kept it a closely guarded secret to hoard the benefits for themselves.
Qin Sang could not possibly scour every corner of the Western Lands alone; he needed the help of local powers. If any Earth Killing Sword fragments or remnant scriptures were found, he naturally would not take them without offering fair compensation.
For this journey, Qin Sang took only his incarnation, leaving Great Sage Black Lion behind in Zhongzhou.
Once things in the Western Lands were settled, he would need to travel to other domains. Unlike the Western Lands, which had an ancient teleportation formation, reaching those places would require braving the storms, where the black lion would only be a hindrance.
Leaving Great Sage Black Lion served two purposes: first, as his mount, the lion could oversee Zhongzhou in his stead; second, as Qingyang Temple's guardian Great Sage, he could assist Shen Chen.
Aside from acting humble and obedient before Qin Sang, Great Sage Black Lion could strut unopposed anywhere in Zhongzhou. Regardless of which faction across the two races, everyone treated him with utmost deference.
Even without taking True Monarch Qin's reputation into account, Great Sage Black Lion was a top powerhouse in his own right, someone no one wished to offend.
Once Qin Sang was gone, the black lion would surely live a carefree, leisurely life.
Qin Sang brought only his external incarnation along.
The incarnation had been heavily depleted, leaving the Second Nascent Soul in a weakened state; returning to Qin Sang's true body to be nurtured might allow it to recover even faster.
In any case, cultivation was impossible while traversing the storms, so it would not hinder the true body's cultivation.
Bringing the incarnation also served as a safeguard against unforeseen hazards in the storm belt, such as encountering extraordinarily powerful ferocious beasts—just in case.
Yellow sands swirled across the Western Desert.
Qin Sang flew westward across the sea of sand alone.
The closer he got to the storm belt, the higher the temperature rose. A dry, scorching wind blew against him, carrying billowing waves of heat that visibly warped the empty air.
After flying for some time, a crimson swath suddenly appeared at the edge of his vision, resembling the most brilliant evening glow.
Only by seeing the true nature of this "sunset glow" could one feel its terror: this was no radiance of twilight, but towering, monstrous flames!
That was precisely the storm belt, yet it was not the ocean Qin Sang was familiar with, but land.
Upon the land, blazing light shot into the heavens. Raging flames formed a tempest of fire, while endless tongues and sparks drifted across the sky, blanketing heaven and earth in an unbroken expanse.
Qin Sang could clearly see that the normally invisible barrier had been dyed crimson, looking as if countless fire spirits were dancing across its surface, firmly holding back the firestorm from intruding into the cultivation realm.
The invisible barrier cleaved the storm's interior and exterior into two separate worlds. Across from him lay a realm of raging fire: the earth was fractured, with ravines yawning everywhere and magma blanketing the ground. Subterranean blaze continually surged from fissures, giving rise to towering pillars of flame erupting in every direction.
It was truly a miracle that this landmass had endured to this day without tearing completely apart.
Stirred by the tempest, magma storms raged below while firestorms whirled above, both equally scalding and vast beyond measure, capable of incinerating all things—far more terrifying than the oceanic tempests.
Low-level cultivators with enough courage might venture into the storm belts over the sea to explore, but none would dare linger deep within these flames.
In the distance, Qin Sang spotted two monks standing outside the barrier.
They also noticed Qin Sang and immediately flew over. Approaching him, they bowed and said, "Greetings, True Monarch Qin. We have received the abbot's transmission and will guide you to the ancient teleportation formation right away."
Without pausing for a moment, the three flew into the firestorm.
A faint blue glow surfaced on the monks' robes, looking like ripples of water dispersing around their bodies to ward off the searing fire—plainly artifacts specially crafted to endure such an environment.
Qin Sang, on the other hand, made no perceptible movement, yet the flames could not draw near him at all.
Looking down at the terrain below, Qin Sang thought to himself: *With this land existing like this year-round, I wonder if it could nurture some extraordinary spiritual fire.*
Such naturally formed spiritual fires were extremely rare. If its grade was high enough, it could be used to cultivate the *Golden Lotus of Fire Seeds*.
However, this expanse of land was boundlessly vast. Rumor had it that this fiery landscape stretched all the way to the Western Lands, the two domains sharing a single contiguous landmass. Late Nascent Soul cultivators could not withstand the constant searing heat to search deep inside the firestorm, so only Qin Sang could undertake such an effort in person.
*Business comes first. If the opportunity arises later, I can come back to search.*
Before long, the two guiding monks came to a stop.
Beneath them lay an endless lake of magma, its molten rock surging in towering waves like seawater, attesting to its extreme depth. The scenery here seemed identical to the rest, yet Qin Sang's keen senses detected subtle differences from elsewhere.
"Reporting to True Monarch, the ancient teleportation formation lies at the bottom of the lake," one of the monks said, pointing downward.
As it turned out, this magma lake was exceptional, possessing a spiritual array left over from ancient times. It was only by relying on this array that the ancient teleportation formation had managed to endure to this day.
Yet after countless years, the spiritual array had grown heavily burdened and was nearly impossible to repair. Any large disturbance might instead accelerate its destruction, so the Buddhist sects could only carry out minor patches, as did their counterparts on the other side.
Because one could not linger in the lake for long, the monks tasked with guarding the ancient teleportation formation had to stay outside it, which had given the Ghost Mother her opening.
Back then, it was only when the Ghost Mother activated the ancient teleportation formation that they had realized what was happening.
Qin Sang plunged deep into the magma and quickly located the ancient teleportation formation. Inserting spirit stones into it, a flash of light burst forth, and he vanished from the spot.
***
The Western Lands.
Above a certain magma lake, several figures stood suspended in midair, all of them Buddhist monks.
At the forefront was a lean, aged monk with a kindly, benevolent countenance and white hair. Beside him stood a monk seven feet tall with a handsome, heroic bearing—Master Huaiyin.
The monks watched the depths below in silence, seemingly waiting for someone.
*Splash!*
A figure suddenly flew out from the magma. Seeing the monks above, the figure paused slightly before flying straight over.
"Greetings, True Monarch Qin."
The old monk pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist prayer, and Master Huaiyin and the others bowed along with him.
"Greetings, Master Zhitan," Qin Sang said, steadying himself and returning the courtesy. "This humble Daoist has taken the liberty of visiting, intruding upon the venerable masters' quiet cultivation."
This Master Zhitan was the abbot of Great Compassion Zen Temple and the foremost powerhouse of the Western Lands.
Even Master Huaiyin had to conduct himself with the etiquette of a disciple before him.
"Why speak so modestly, True Monarch? This poor monk is already aware of your deeds in Zhongzhou and holds you in deep admiration. You harbor lofty aspirations and care for all under heaven; we will naturally cooperate with all our strength," Master Zhitan replied in a gentle voice that carried an undeniable conviction.
Qin Sang turned his gaze to Master Huaiyin. "Many years have passed since we parted, yet you remain as splendid as ever, Master."
Examining Master Huaiyin, Qin Sang was secretly amazed.
Master Huaiyin's complexion was flourishing and robust; evidently, his injuries had fully healed, and he looked even younger and more heroic than before.
Qin Sang noticed that his flesh was lustrous like jade and seemed to shimmer with a faint golden sheen—truly extraordinary. His strength had surely advanced once more, perhaps due to refining that Source Crystal of Xin Metal.
"Thinking back to those days, True Monarch's astonishing rise at the Wuxiang Immortal Sect and your peerless bearing remain etched in this poor monk's memory," Master Huaiyin said with a warm, pleasant expression, completely unlike the unmatched ferocity he displayed when confronting foes.
"This is hardly a place for exchanging pleasantries. Why don't we converse as we travel?" Master Zhitan interjected.
Qin Sang nodded. "This humble Daoist was just hoping to visit your venerable temple, and take the chance to observe the customs of the Western Lands along the way."
To his surprise, Master Zhitan shook his head. "There is no rush to return to the temple. First, allow this poor monk to take you to a place so that you may examine it."
Qin Sang was puzzled, wondering what he was being asked to identify.
The group flew northward alongside Master Zhitan.
Along the way, Qin Sang learned the truth of the matter, filling him with pleasant surprise and wonder.
As it turned out, their destination was a place suspected to be the ruins of an Immortal Palace!
The Buddhist sects of the Western Lands and Zhongzhou shared deep historical ties, and Saint Huiguang had briefed the Great Compassion Zen Temple on the truth before departing.
Upon learning that Zhongzhou's Immortal Palace had ascended, Master Zhitan deduced that if an Immortal Palace existed in the Western Lands as well, it might have ascended at the same time.
Unlike Zhongzhou, the regions surrounding the Western Lands consisted entirely of land. If an Immortal Palace had ascended, it might have left traces behind. Thus, he had secretly dispatched disciples to search far and wide.
Not long ago, they had finally made a discovery.
They learned from a small clan in an oasis that an ancestor of theirs had once entered the storm belt while traveling and witnessed an extraordinary celestial phenomenon.
At that time, skies filled with scarlet fire surged toward the firmament, looking like a crimson dragon bursting from beneath the earth, tearing through the void and ascending into the heavens. Terrified out of his wits, the man had fled in panic.
Counting back the days, that had occurred on the exact day the Immortal Palace ascended.
Master Zhitan and Master Huaiyin had just returned from there. A bottomless crater had been left at the site, though it was now flooded with magma, obscuring the most prominent traces. However, remnants of an immortal restriction seemed to linger deep within the crater.
Yet in the storm belt, even the subterranean origin qi was exceptionally chaotic. After descending a certain depth, both masters had found their strength insufficient and were forced to withdraw, which was why they wanted Qin Sang to identify it.
After explaining the background, the group arrived at the location.
Seen from above, it looked no different from anywhere else.
Leaving the other monks above, Qin Sang plunged into the magma alongside the two masters. Gradually, the two masters fell behind, and Qin Sang summoned the fire lotus to protect himself as he continued downward alone.
Upon reaching the deepest depths, he channeled his Heavenly Eye divine ability and conducted a thorough investigation for a long time.
A full half day passed before the three returned to the surface.
"The remnants of the immortal restriction down below are by no means inferior to those of the Immortal Palace!"
Qin Sang stated decisively, a trace of excitement in his voice. He had discovered fragments of an immortal restriction in the crater, and comparing them to the restrictions within the Inner Hall of the Hall of Seven Kills, they felt evenly matched.
The formations and restrictions of the Lesser Cold Realm's Blood Lake, the Sin Abyss's Abyss Ruins, and Xuantian Palace's Sacred Ground were simply not on the same level as an Immortal Palace's restrictions.
This was very likely the crash site of another Immortal Palace!
What that person had witnessed back then was indeed the sight of the Immortal Palace tearing through the void and soaring away.
"So the Western Lands truly did have an Immortal Palace; to think it was hidden underground."
Qin Sang cast a glance southward. He had already inquired about the geography of the Western Lands and learned that this was its northern region. This landmass was boundlessly vast; Zhongzhou lay at its eastern edge, but the Western Lands did not lie on its western edge—rather, it was surrounded by land on all sides.
"It seems this place is not particularly far from the cultivation realm—at the very least, Nascent Soul cultivators should be capable of reaching its vicinity. Could it be that no one ever noticed anything unusual and entered the Immortal Palace?" Qin Sang pressed.
Where there was an Immortal Palace, there could be cultivation techniques and Killing Sword fragments!
If some force had obtained them, he would have to acquire them no matter what.
Master Zhitan said solemnly, "We do not know what this place was like before the Immortal Palace ascended, but our humble temple indeed has no relevant records. This poor monk and past patriarchs joined forces with other temples on multiple occasions to search for an Immortal Palace, yet all ended in vain. Furthermore, as far as this poor monk knows, there has been no word of any sect suddenly rising to prominence after obtaining an extraordinary major legacy."
Pausing briefly, Master Zhitan added, "Before departing, this poor monk had already sent messages inviting the abbots of the various temples and other fellow Daoists to gather for a grand assembly. At this moment, they are awaiting your arrival at our temple. If some sect truly monopolized the Immortal Palace, now that the palace has ascended, there is no longer any need to cling to the secret. Moreover, True Monarch Qin arrives bearing news of the Ascension Platform, which can be leveraged to inquire about this matter."
Even without Qin Sang asking, Master Zhitan would have taken the initiative to investigate the matter.
It was not out of coveting anyone's treasures.
Every sign indicated that the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao was linked to the ascension of the immortal palaces. Perhaps someone had obtained something within the palace that could help trace the origin of the Demonic Voice.
Zhongzhou's Three Sects Alliance had long since begun doing so, and once Qin Sang returned to the Canglang Ocean and the North Sea, he would initiate investigations there as well.
Qin Sang nodded. "This humble Daoist has been collecting cultivation methods and secret arts related to the immortal palaces; even remnant fragments will do. Should there be any news, I trouble you to send word to me, Master."
Master Zhitan naturally agreed.
They did not linger long, setting off together toward the cultivation realm.
While conversing on the Dharma and the Dao with the eminent monks and discussing the upcoming grand assembly, Qin Sang pondered the matters concerning the immortal palaces.
Viewed within the scope of the entire minor world, Beichen Realm and the North Sea were not far apart and could be seen as one; in fact, Beichen Realm had been considered one of the four realms of the North Sea since ancient times.
The North Sea, Zhongzhou, the Western Lands, and the Canglang Ocean each possessed an Immortal Palace presiding over them.
Such a one-to-one correspondence was definitely no coincidence.
What was the relationship between the immortal palaces and the various domains of the cultivation world? Which came first?
Was it that refuges existed first, drawing down the immortal palaces? Or was it because of the immortal palaces that, when this realm verged on destruction, invisible barriers could be unfurled to shelter the nearby living beings?
Where was the Demon Sea? Did it also have an Immortal Palace and an Earth Killing Sword fragment?
If it did, what part of the Earth Killing Sword would it be? Could there be more than one such immortal sword?
Furthermore, back when he and Liuli were crossing the storms, they had encountered a deathly silent cultivation realm, far smaller in scope than the other domains. Did that place have an Immortal Palace as well?
Qin Sang had asked Master Huaiyin about this before; it turned out Zhongzhou had known about that place all along. To Great Cultivators, the distance between the two lands was not considered far.
It was said that in the past, not only were there living beings, but cultivators also practiced there, until an unknown great plague broke out. When Zhongzhou's powerhouses returned there, they were horrified to discover that all life had been extinguished, reducing it to a land of death.
Some suspected that local cultivators had inadvertently brought it out from some ancient secret realm—a plague so horrific could never have originated in the mortal world—yet no one dared to verify it.
As he contemplated these questions, the group reached the edge of the storm belt.
Passing through the invisible barrier, Qin Sang instinctively raised a hand and gave a gentle clasp in empty air, sighing inwardly, *I only hope the ascension of the immortal palaces does not affect the barriers of the cultivation world, leaving a glimmer of hope for the living beings of this realm.*
At this moment, Master Huaiyin, who had remained quiet most of the way, spoke up, interrupting Qin Sang's thoughts. "I observe that True Monarch's vitality and blood aura are truly extraordinary. Are you also skilled in the path of body refinement?"
Chapter 1724