The Witch Clan was the weakest among the three races. In dire need of time to recuperate and rebuild their strength, they wanted another war least of all.
Qin Sang stepping forward to mediate suited the Witch Clan's desires perfectly, meeting virtually no resistance within the clan.
Old Demon Fang had only discussed it with several Witch Clan elders over the banquet before making an immediate decision.
Although the Witch Clan of today was confined to an isolated corner, they had dominated the Canglang Ocean far longer than the Human Clan and knew many secrets unknown to humankind; Qin Sang thus regarded them with greater importance.
Host and guest enjoyed themselves thoroughly, but Qin Sang still had to wait for Old Demon Fang to issue proclamations to the various sects and search for the items Qin Sang required.
Qin Sang stayed the night on Witch God Mountain.
A sky canopy had been raised over Witch God Mountain, shielding it from the glare of lightning.
Shadows of trees swayed in the courtyard. Qin Sang looked up and could still see threads of silver serpents slithering across the heavens.
Just then, a figure walked in from outside the courtyard. It was Old Demon Fang. "True Monarch Qin has summoned me. Might I ask what important matter brings this about?"
Pulling his gaze back, Qin Sang took out a jade slip prepared beforehand and tossed it over.
Old Demon Fang was slightly surprised. Taking it, he cast a single glance and became deeply engrossed. Only with great effort did he tear his mind away. Inhaling deeply, he said, "Many thanks to the True Monarch for bestowing such a great gift. I am truly unworthy of it. If there is anything you require, please speak plainly!"
Inside the jade slip were divine glyphs Qin Sang had learned from the Ghost Mother. One of them was particularly special, rubbed from the physical body left behind by the Ghost Mother after her ascension.
The Ghost Mother had been able to refine a physical body using these divine glyphs. Old Demon Fang might not possess her divine abilities, but as long as he could comprehend it thoroughly, it would be of immense benefit to his current condition.
"I have no other demands, only a few spirit herbs, all written within," Qin Sang said, looking at the jade slip.
In his wild joy, Old Demon Fang had not noticed. He hurriedly reviewed it again, seeing that most were spirit herbs beneficial to spirit insects. Realizing Qin Sang must also be nurturing spirit insects, he mused, "Our clan's treasury can provide most of them, but we lack one: Heavenly Centipede Root."
Qin Sang hurriedly asked, "You have the Poshui Spirit Flower as well?"
Heavenly Centipede Root and the Poshui Spirit Flower were two of the three main ingredients of the Qingshuang Pill; he had already obtained the Hundred Insect Grass earlier.
From Old Demon Fang's tone, he could supply both the missing auxiliary herbs and the Poshui Spirit Flower.
Seeing Old Demon Fang confirm this, Qin Sang was overjoyed. The Qingshuang Pill now lacked only Heavenly Centipede Root!
Though he did not yet dare let the Heavenly Eye Butterfly attempt its fifth metamorphosis, concocting the Qingshuang Pill ahead of time was certainly a good thing.
He had already inquired before: the Witch Clan possessed none of the spirit herbs required for high-grade Spirit Calming Incense. Obtaining these was somewhat of a consolation.
Old Demon Fang immediately ordered a trusted confidant to fetch the spirit herbs, while subtly probing about where Qin Sang had obtained the divine glyphs. Unable to disclose the Ghost Mother's background, Qin Sang gave vague answers, leaving him thoroughly disappointed.
Before long, the herbs were delivered. Qin Sang accepted them all. Once the others withdrew, his fingers brushed over the Qianjun Ring, and he held out the Star Platform in his palm. "Does Fellow Daoist Fang recognize this item?"
He had tested it in his room just now, but the Star Platform showed no reaction.
Hearing this, Old Demon Fang looked at the Star Platform. At first, he was somewhat puzzled, but then seemed to recall something. Rising abruptly to his feet, he gasped, "This..."
Qin Sang narrowed his eyes at Old Demon Fang and noticed that the true body of the Star-Winged Cicada, which had remained dormant in his cranial palace, seemed to have been startled awake, staring intently at the Star Platform.
Sensing Qin Sang's gaze, Old Demon Fang looked over instinctively. Their eyes met, and he felt as though his very mind was seen through. Alarmed, he knew that if he did not explain, Qin Sang would never let the matter rest.
He hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands. "To tell the truth, True Monarch, this object bears an uncanny resemblance to a treasure depicted in the mural of our sacred mountain's shrine. Our clan searched for it long ago to no avail, never expecting it would end up in the True Monarch's hands."
Qin Sang looked up toward the summit, seeing an ancient stone hall there. "Is it that Witch God Shrine? Since this treasure is tied to the shrine, what power does it possess?"
"Ever since the shrine was revered as our sacred hall, it has always been the site of our clan's grand sacrifices, yet the shrine itself has shown no miraculous traits. As for the treasure depicted in the mural, we were not even certain whether it truly existed, so we do not know its powers," Old Demon Fang replied.
Qin Sang looked deeply at him and said, "May I enter the shrine to take a look?"
"This..."
Old Demon Fang hesitated for a moment, but ultimately nodded.
Both possessed consummate cultivation. Without alerting anyone, they arrived before the shrine in a matter of moments.
The shrine held mostly symbolic significance; there were no supreme treasures inside, and thus no overly formidable protective restrictions.
Old Demon Fang opened the shrine. Qin Sang stepped inside as lightning glare reflected within.
The hall was constructed of square stone blocks. Carved upon the coarse walls was a brightly colored mural.
The lines were straight, the brushwork simple, yet it possessed a majestic, archaic beauty.
Qin Sang gazed intently at it. The central focus of the mural was a group of figures gathered before the stone hall. There appeared to have been text as well, long since rubbed away.
The stone hall was none other than the shrine they currently stood in. The figures were outlined in just a few strokes without distinct features, impossible to tell whether they were Witch Clan or human.
Inside the shrine stood a solitary figure with his back to the crowd, bowing toward a circular stone platform. Pours of starlight fell upon the platform, connecting straight up into the boundless heavens.
This was the entirety of the mural.
Qin Sang lowered his gaze. The floor was smooth and even, devoid of any indentation, but inscribed with intricate, indecipherable patterns. In the very center was a circle whose dimensions perfectly matched the Star Platform in his hand.
Examining it closely, he felt the dots and strokes across the pattern were some never-before-seen runes. Trying to fathom them, he found no clues. Casting a glance at Old Demon Fang, he hesitated no longer, wrapping the Star Platform in true essence and lowering it toward the center.
Before it even touched down, Qin Sang sensed an anomaly, his gaze narrowing.
As though drawn by some attraction, the Star Platform plunged straight onto the floor. The ground shuddered with a boom. In an instant, brilliant starlight flared—not just from the Star Platform, but across the entire pattern on the floor, dazzling and luminous. An inexplicable rhythm coursed within, transforming the shrine into a dreamlike spectacle.
Qin Sang and Old Demon Fang exchanged a look, both astonished, while quietly bracing for unforeseen danger.
Immediately following, a familiar sensation welled up in Qin Sang's heart.
Hurriedly looking up, Qin Sang was astounded: with the naked eye, he could see the Milky Way, the sea of stars, and the deep cosmos across the celestial vault.
The hall's ceiling and the storm clouds above had vanished. Myriad stars seemed suspended right over their heads, gleaming with radiant splendor—and it was definitely no illusion!
The starlight waxed and waned like a breath, resonating with something unseen.
Shifting his gaze, Qin Sang stared fixedly at the Star Platform. By now, the platform had completely integrated with the pattern on the floor, gathering starlight on its own. A dim azure radiance spread along the patterns across the entire shrine.
The two instinctively took two steps back to the shrine's entrance.
Looking upward again, dark clouds and lightning were clearly still present, yet the other Nascent Souls cultivating in their cave abodes across Witch God Mountain noticed nothing at all!
Qin Sang's lips moved, about to ask something, when the changes within the shrine abruptly accelerated.
One rune after another was lit by starlight, leaping from the ground like living creatures, squirming like earthworms.
In an instant, countless runes drifted up, densely filling the shrine's space, all formed of starlight, shedding a pure luminescence.
In a flash, the runes settled into place. Fine threads of starlight formed between them, connecting at last to the Star Platform, with the platform at the center, creating an extraordinarily intricate runic array.
The moment the array formed, the stars in the heavens seemed to respond, brightening abruptly. Starlight poured down, the threads snapped taut, and drawn by the force, the runes gathered together. In the blink of an eye, they formed circular pedestals of light floating in midair, miniature replicas of the Star Platform.
At a glance, Qin Sang found the arrangement familiar. Counting them, there were twenty-eight in total, corresponding one-by-one to the Twenty-Eight Mansions in the heavens—a Universal Star Formation.
No, there should be twenty-nine!
The Star Platform had long since turned translucent and pure, its entire body appearing as though woven from starlight.
By now, the shrine gradually stabilized, yet the array's function was still indiscernible. Sensing the aura within, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly.
Old Demon Fang looked over. "True Monarch?"
Qin Sang remained silent, giving a nod.
Old Demon Fang immediately produced twenty-nine mid-grade spirit stones.
Both he and Qin Sang had sensed earlier that the twenty-eight light platforms suspended in midair were meant for spirit stones. The same went for the Star Platform, where a gap lingered amidst the floating starlight on its surface.
With the array's purpose unknown, they would first test it with lower-grade spirit stones.
Old Demon Fang flicked his fingers.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The spirit stones flew into place.
Blinding radiance erupted within the shrine. Just as the two were on high alert, the light suddenly dimmed, returning to normal.
Looking at the spirit stones on the light platforms, all had turned pale and cracked, entirely drained of luster—their spiritual energy had been sucked dry in an instant.
Seeing this, Old Demon Fang was not surprised and moved to take out top-grade spirit stones.
Light flashed in Qin Sang's eyes. "Wait!"
Old Demon Fang paused, then saw Qin Sang cast several streams of light that transformed into eight great banners, planting themselves in the eight directions around the shrine. The banners fluttered, billowing thick white mist that sealed the shrine off.
Knowing Qin Sang must have noticed something, Old Demon Fang asked no questions and cast out the top-grade spirit stones in his hands.
Top-grade spirit stones were indeed different. The radiance of the star array persisted unbroken, and Qin Sang faintly felt a wondrous fluctuation connecting far into the stellar palaces.
Looking back at the shrine's ceiling, myriad stars seemed drawn by the array, pulling closer to the earth. Starlight pooled like a deep abyss within the shrine, vast astral power gushing through the star array.
Both Qin Sang and Old Demon Fang had the illusion of being pulled toward the cosmos, sensing a boundless desolation in the unseen vastness.
Before they could savor the feeling, a sudden crack sounded.
Their faces fell. Hurriedly looking toward the center of the star array, they saw the stones at the Twenty-Eight Mansions positions intact, but the one atop the central Star Platform had fractured.
Old Demon Fang scrambled to replace the stone, but it was already too late. The aura within the star array fell into total disarray. With a resounding blast, all twenty-eight top-grade spirit stones shattered simultaneously. A violent surge of energy nearly tore the runic array apart and flipped the shrine.
Gazing at the utter chaos within the shrine, Qin Sang was in no hurry to act. Stopping the agitated Old Demon Fang, he asked, "Does the mountain possess any supreme-grade spirit stones?"
"Supreme-grade spirit stones?"
Old Demon Fang was stunned. He had wanted to try sustaining it with more top-grade spirit stones, but by Qin Sang's words, nothing less than a supreme-grade spirit stone would suffice!
Supreme-grade spirit stones were treasures once-in-a-millennium. Any cultivator who obtained one treasured it like life itself; a top-grade spirit mine might not yield a single one, and even scouring an entire domain would turn up only a handful.
Even if the Witch Clan had possessed them in the past, after continuous wars, not a single one remained.
The Witch Clan had inherited several ancient formations of staggering might, which, once activated, could deter both humans and demons alike. Yet all required supreme-grade spirit stones, leaving them shelved in futility.
The humans and demons were likely no better off.
Learning that the array required a supreme-grade spirit stone, Old Demon Fang's anticipation deflated considerably. Frowning, he asked, "Could the True Monarch tell the origin of this array?"
Qin Sang laughed aloud. "Wearing out iron shoes in a fruitless search, only to find it without any effort!"
"What? This is the Ascension Platform?"
Old Demon Fang was both shocked and overjoyed. Inhaling sharply, he paused to steady himself, only for doubt to creep in. "Why does this array differ from what the True Monarch described?"
"It is indeed different," Qin Sang nodded. "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is the origin of this shrine?"
Old Demon Fang hesitated for a moment before revealing the secret history.
As it turned out, whether Witch God Mountain and the Witch God Shrine were truly the dwelling place of the Witch God remained unsettled. One account held that during a period of turmoil, the Grand Shaman of that era had invoked the Witch God's name merely to reassure the clan.
Yet whether true or false, the Sacred Ground's status in the hearts of Witch Clan cultivators had become unshakable.
Qin Sang nodded secretly. No wonder no distinct Witch Clan traces could be identified from the runic array; even the Witch Clan itself could not be certain.
Gazing upward, he said pensively, "This array shouldn't be called an Ascension Platform; calling it a Reception Platform would be more fitting!"
When the star array activated earlier, a familiar feeling had welled up within him, akin to when the Ghost Mother broke through the realm and ascended back then. That was why he could be so certain.
Deep within the astral sea, an unknown force seemed to echo the star array, felt especially clearly just before the spirit stones shattered. An Ascension Platform displayed no such behavior.
The inside and outside of this realm were clearly communicating via astral power, perhaps even constructing a starlight passage to breach the realm barrier. No wonder the Star Platform could stir the stars.
Qin Sang felt mixed emotions of joy and dread.
The joy was that his perseverance had paid off; after traveling through so many domains, he had finally found a way out. Moreover, if the reception was still active, it should be easier than an Ascension Platform.
The dread was that he had no idea which mighty existence was doing the receiving.
One thing was certain: he was no match for them. If it was a human supreme or a Witch Clan powerhouse aligned with the Ghost Mother, that would be well enough; but if it were some demon or fiend, he might just leap from the birdcage into the tiger's maw.
While he pondered, the shrine settled into tranquility. Qin Sang stared at the star array. With a thought, his true essence formed a giant hand, reaching across the air to grasp the Star Platform. Amidst a metallic clang, he pulled the Star Platform up inch by inch.
Bereft of the Star Platform, the shrine reverted to an ordinary stone hall. Qin Sang had already committed the star array and the floor runes to memory, preparing to make rubbings of them later.
Stowing the Star Platform away, Qin Sang saw Old Demon Fang hesitating as if wanting to speak. Qin Sang said solemnly, "The origin of this array is unknown. I will find a way to investigate it. If it can be determined, on the day of ascension, there shall be a place for Fellow Daoist Fang."
Joy showed on Old Demon Fang's face. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Sang waved a hand to stop him. "Though this place is the Witch Clan's shrine, it may well be the sole way out of this realm. The Witch Clan cannot monopolize it. In the future, I will set up a grand array here. Henceforth, no matter which domain someone comes from, regardless of bloodline or race, all must ascend from here."
"Henceforth, this mountain shall be the Sacred Ground of the realm. My clan is willing to swear an oath to guard the Sacred Ground forever, treating fellow daoists from all quarters equally without imposing any restrictions." Old Demon Fang naturally recognized the benefits: the Witch Clan would transform into the guardian clan, backed by the True Monarch's decree. Who would dare provoke the Witch Clan then?
Qin Sang nodded in satisfaction. "Send word to Palace Master Bao and the Demon Sea. Next, you must work together with one heart to investigate the shrine's origins and collect supreme-grade spirit stones. I shall return to Zhongzhou shortly and gather fellow daoists from the outer domains to pore over ancient texts. Within a hundred years at latest, I will return."
Leaving aside that he held only one supreme-grade spirit stone in hand, even if he had extras, he could not act rashly.
How precious was a supreme-grade spirit stone? Not a single one could be wasted. Without knowing whether the star array held other purposes besides reception, preparations had to be made in advance.
Even if he ultimately decided on this path, he would have to enhance his capabilities to deal with contingencies as much as possible before ascending. His plans for the Qilin source seed and the Taiyi Astral Chariot were not yet complete, so Qin Sang was in no hurry.
...
Several days later.
An escaping light flew out from the Witch God Continent, heading straight west. Qin Sang intended to return to Zhongzhou immediately to make arrangements as soon as possible.
Having learned the positions of the various continents, he could take shortcuts rather than adhering strictly to the sea charts.
The top clans of Zhongzhou surely treasured supreme-grade spirit stones, so at least the first batch of ascenders could be guaranteed.
Qin Sang was not worried about having no one to blaze the trail; when the time came, there would certainly be those whose lifespans were nearly spent willing to serve as vanguards.
It was just that, separated by two realms, that might be of little use.
Regardless, finding the Reception Platform was good news for both him and Liuli.
This journey was truly well worth it; he had far more choices now!
Pondering this, Qin Sang flew across the ocean, pausing briefly at the Liefeng Archipelago.
The Peach Blossom Island where Senior Qingzhu had stayed in those years now had a new master. Qin Sang did not reveal himself, merely paying his respects outside the island.
Flying past the Liefeng Archipelago, the storm belt was not far off.
"Given time, I could search around for shelters and forge a sea route so that great cultivators could travel far to the Canglang Ocean as well. Still, supreme-grade spirit stones are finite after all; it's just a fleeting thought..."
Qin Sang mused. With the charts left by the Witch Clan's Deity Transformation cultivator as a basis, it would not take too much effort, just some time.
Rumble...
Storms were no longer a threat to him. Qin Sang casually activated his protective spiritual astral qi and charged straight through the barrier without pause, plunging into the storm belt.
Not long after flying out, Qin Sang suddenly felt something was amiss. Jolted from his contemplation, he jerked his head up.
The surrounding storms had turned blood-red at some unknown moment. High in the vault of heaven, a blood moon had appeared out of nowhere—faint at first, but growing clearer and clearer, piercing through the tempest to shine down upon this place!
Bathed in the blood moon's light, a chill instantly gripped Qin Sang, and his instincts shivered with dread.
Even more horrifying, as the blood moon took shape, the demonic voice in his ears grew ever more frenzied and rapid. Were it not for the jade Buddha's protection, Qin Sang might have had to exert all his strength just to fight off the madness rushing upon him.
It was as though the blood moon were the very source of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao!
"Run!"
The Vermilion Bird shrieked, sensing the danger as well.
With no time to think, Qin Sang retreated frantically.
To his shock, when he retreated back into the Canglang Ocean, the bloody light pursued him. Twisted bloodlight blanketed the barrier, unfurling a crimson curtain before Qin Sang. Warped by the storm, it seemed covered with a dense swarm of crawling blood insects, nauseating to behold.
Even though he had fled back, the demonic voice showed no signs of abating.
Then an even more terrifying scene unfolded: some of the "blood insects" actually wriggled their way inside.
The barrier that had sheltered the cultivators of this realm for countless millennia had been pierced!
Qin Sang's face darkened. He saw an even more frightful sight: high above, a smear of bloody light had appeared on the edge of the bright moon.
"Do you know what this is?"
Qin Sang maintained his composure, asking the Vermilion Bird.
"I've never seen it..."
The Vermilion Bird's voice trembled. "We're going to die!"
Qin Sang let out a cold snort. Seeing more and more "blood insects" seeping in, he hesitated no longer, instantly manifesting his phoenix wings and activating the Thunder Escape technique to tear through the air.
He did not know the origin of this blood moon, but it was certainly related to the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao.
Qin Sang knew his own limits. Even with the jade Buddha, he was by no means a match for it in a single clash. Yet the entity had clearly set its sights on him and was even able to penetrate the barrier to pursue him.
No matter what, he could not fall into the hands of such a fiend!
Beneath the moon, a bolt of lightning tore across the night sky.
At this moment, elsewhere in the Canglang Ocean, others noticed the moon's abnormality.
Starting from a single smear of bloodlight, it gradually spread across the full moon, steadily swallowing nearly half of it. Even more terrifying, as the moon set and the sun rose, the sun was infected as well, casting down blood-red sunlight.
"Could it be the legendary Heavenly Dog swallowing the sun?"
"Blood-red... Where did this demon come from! The sun and moon are about to be consumed—could the mythical cataclysm of worldly destruction truly exist?"
...
For a time, panic spread throughout the Canglang Ocean. Mortals and cultivators alike were gripped by overwhelming terror.
On Witch God Mountain.
Old Demon Fang led the elders beyond the reach of the dark clouds, looking up at the sky with troubled expressions.
They too could not comprehend what this celestial phenomenon portended, whether fortune or disaster.
"Had we known, we should have urged True Monarch Qin to stay a few more days, perhaps..."
One elder could not help sighing.
Before he could finish, he was cut off by a crash of thunder.
Old Demon Fang's eyes narrowed. Instinctively moving to meet the thunder, he saw a flash of lightning tear through the void a moment later—it was True Monarch Qin, returning!
Qin Sang looked up. It was already day, the sun high in the sky, yet it had been engulfed by bloody light, leaving behind only a crescent-like glow.
The demonic voice had grown exceedingly frantic and frenzied; in a little while, it might even assault the Nascent Soul cultivators.
The ominous premonition in his heart grew ever more intense.
"Open the shrine at once!" he bellowed.
Old Demon Fang vaguely guessed something. His expression shifted, and he leaped back toward Witch God Mountain. Just as he opened the shrine, a flash blinded his eyes as a streak of lightning dashed inside.
As Qin Sang drew near, Old Demon Fang felt an inexplicable oppression and dread, his mind showing signs of instability, and he stepped back instinctively.
"What happened?" Old Demon Fang asked urgently.
How could Qin Sang know the underlying reason? He could only transmit what he knew via divine sense. Flicking his sleeve, the Star Platform plummeted down.
The moment the star array formed, twenty-eight top-grade spirit stones and one supreme-grade spirit stone took their places, and the earlier spectacle reappeared.
Though it was daytime now, the shrine's ceiling still mirrored the starry expanse. Deep within the astral sea, the force resonating with the star array grew increasingly distinct.
"Are you willing to come with me?"
Qin Sang sensed that this platform was not limited to one person. Looking at Old Demon Fang, he knew that even with reception from above, he could protect a great cultivator at most; other Witch Clan cultivators stood no chance.
Struggle showed on Old Demon Fang's face, but in the end he shook his head with a long sigh. "The Witch Clan cannot be without a Grand Shaman!"
Qin Sang was clearly being pursued by a terrifying demon; this departure held unforeseen fortunes and perils.
Regardless of this unforeseen catastrophe, he could not leave like this.
In this turbulent time, he could not abandon his entire clan.
Qin Sang did not force him. Under these circumstances, he dared not hesitate a moment longer, stepping onto the Star Platform.
Boom!
Qin Sang was instantly submerged in dense starlight.
At the same time, the Witch Clan cultivators outside saw another phenomenon erupt across the sky. Atop Witch God Mountain, stars lit up across the blue sky, creating a stark contrast against the sinister blood sun.
The myriad stars rotated around Witch God Mountain. As starlight converged, it transformed into a watery rainbow of pure light descending from the heavens.
Simultaneously, Qin Sang's figure vanished from the Star Platform.
He had used teleportation arrays to escape for his life more than once.
Yet this time, luck was not on his side!
The bloody light upon the blood sun flared brilliantly, breaking free from the sun and hurtling downward, transforming out of thin air into a gale of bloody wind.
Wherever the blood wind passed, fissures appeared in the void, trembling violently.
At the very moment the starlight cascaded down, the blood wind swept in a step ahead, dyeing the entire summit of Witch God Mountain in crimson.
Fortunately, Old Demon Fang had been alert, retreating immediately after opening the shrine, and thus narrowly escaped death.
He stared in horror toward the shrine: the void there had split open, and the blood wind brazenly charged straight into the void rift!
Amidst the void storm, a bloody light emerged, within which seemed to be a contorted, struggling figure.
The void rift sealed shut in an instant.
The starlight swirled for a moment before dissipating.
The myriad stars faded.
By then, the blazing sun reappeared, as though nothing had ever happened.
Yet the summit of Witch God Mountain was completely empty.
The shrine along with the mountain summit had both been obliterated by the blood wind. Had the mountain's cultivators not been alarmed by the celestial phenomenon and left their cave abodes, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
The dark clouds and heavenly thunder that had cloaked the peak of Witch God Mountain for countless years were now dispersed!
Sunlight shone brightly upon the broken mountain and ruined remains.
Chapter 1743