Quheng Island

When Qin Sang pressed further, hoping to learn more, Cultivator Wang shook his head. "I have been traveling abroad for decades and haven't returned once during that time. Over several decades, the world changes and oceans turn to mulberry fields. Back then, I only learned from rumors that such an extraordinary recluse existed, and I know nothing about what followed. If you are interested, Fellow Daoist, I will give you the location of Spirit Tortoise Island. However, if that island master's temperament hasn't changed, seeing him will probably not be easy." "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang." Qin Sang noted down the location. Cultivator Wang wished to hunt demons in the Demon Sea and asked Qin Sang for advice. Having spent decades in the Demon Sea, Qin Sang had gained considerable experience. He immediately explained the precautions down to the smallest detail, leaving both men delighted. After chatting a while longer, Qin Sang rose, took his leave, and returned to his cave dwelling. He brought out the sea chart of the Southwestern Sea, located the Liefeng Archipelago, and pinpointed the location of Spirit Tortoise Island. Indeed, just as Cultivator Wang had said, Spirit Tortoise Island was exceedingly remote. Without guidance, Qin Sang never would have imagined in his wildest dreams that Senior Qingzhu would choose to open a cultivation site in such a place. The motif of peach blossoms had always been linked to Senior Qingzhu in countless subtle ways. Intuition told Qin Sang that it was best to go take a look in person. However, Tianxing Island and the Liefeng Archipelago were separated by a vast distance. A round trip would have to be measured in years, not to mention guarding against the various hidden perils along the way. Qin Sang pondered in his cave dwelling for a long time before finally deciding to make the trip himself. True to his decisive nature, he immediately set to preparing and purchasing necessary supplies, setting out just a few days later. Before leaving, Qin Sang sent a transmission to Madam Liu's informant. For over a year, there had been no word from Madam Liu. Ambushing a confidant of the Alliance Master—a late Core Formation expert in his own right—meant one could only bide one's time and wait for an opportunity. But compared to killing Xiang Yi, finding Senior Qingzhu was clearly more important. With preparations complete, Qin Sang departed Tianxing Island alone. Once he had traveled a fair distance away, he summoned the two-headed hou and mounted the spirit beast to tread across the water. Because he had never figured out the effect of the spiritual fruit, Qin Sang did not dare feed it rashly to the two-headed hou. The two-headed hou was thoroughly disgruntled, but under Qin Sang's firm suppression, it had no choice but to obey. One man and one beast embarked on the long journey in search of a person. Riding atop the two-headed hou, Qin Sang's cultivation was not overly delayed. Gripping spirit stones in his hand, he spent his days contemplating the killing talismans and his nights channeling astral essence to temper his body. Although he did not take the most bustling sea routes, he still encountered other cultivators at times. Qin Sang commanded the two-headed hou to avoid them as much as possible. Most cultivators, seeing someone riding a demon beast of such high cultivation, sensibly steered clear from afar. Even experts confident in their prowess would not bother him after sensing Qin Sang's aloof, unapproachable demeanor. In truth, Qin Sang now only feared Nascent Soul Patriarchs. Across the vast ocean, his luck couldn't possibly be so terrible as to bump into a Nascent Soul Patriarch. Following his planned route, he traveled while cultivating. When encountering large islands along the way, Qin Sang would also make a low-profile landing to look around, restock supplies, and get a feel for the local customs. He adhered strictly to his principles, interacting as little as possible with local major powers or great sects to avoid complications. The journey proved relatively smooth, and Qin Sang broadened his horizons considerably. Traveling without pause in this manner, Qin Sang drew closer and closer to the Liefeng Archipelago, eventually entering the boundaries of the Southwestern Sea. The Southwestern Sea was likely the most chaotic region in the Canglang Sea. Neither the righteous nor demonic paths had sufficient control here, and forces of the Witch Clan were also mixed in, stirring up trouble. Once inside the Southwestern Sea, Qin Sang could no longer travel so carefreely and preferred to slow his pace. "After nearly a year of refinement, the wings' power has doubled compared to before, and my flight speed has increased considerably. It seems this path was the right one..." Arriving over a deserted stretch of sea, Qin Sang unleashed his divine ability, flapping his wings as he darted up and down over the water. Having total control over his own body felt far freer and more exhilarating than steering a magic tool. The two-headed hou trailed close behind Qin Sang, its large eyes full of bewilderment. It could not fathom how this human could suddenly sprout wings out of thin air. Could he possess demon beast bloodline as well? Having enjoyed himself thoroughly, Qin Sang retracted his wings, landed on the two-headed hou's back, and took out his sea chart to inspect it. "Ahead lies a place called Jinhuan Island, occupied by the Jinhuan Sect. This sect is the largest faction nearby, with a rather questionable reputation—neither strictly righteous nor demonic—and its sect master is a Nascent Soul expert. Better to just bypass it..." Tracing an arc with his finger toward the Liefeng Archipelago, Qin Sang ordered the two-headed hou to change course. Twisting, turning, stopping, and starting, he finally arrived at the waters near the Liefeng Archipelago. Early one morning, the silhouettes of Qin Sang and the two-headed hou appeared over the sea. In the glow of the rising sun, seeing a long shadow emerge ahead, he came to a halt. "Finally here!" Qin Sang sighed from the bottom of his heart. After drifting across the sea for so long, even with his cultivation, he could not help feeling a touch of fatigue. "This must be Changshe Island at the northernmost tip of the Liefeng Archipelago. The long, slender island resembles a high wall, making it easy to identify. Passing Changshe Island is equivalent to entering the Liefeng Archipelago. Quheng Island, home to the largest city in the Liefeng Archipelago, lies just over three hundred li south of Changshe Island. Its island master was appointed by both the righteous and demonic paths, and this area is the most peaceful part of the Liefeng Archipelago. I can go there to gather some information..." Qin Sang recalled the two-headed hou, changed his appearance, concealed his aura, and set off unobtrusively. Passing Changshe Island, before long, a towering dark silhouette came into Qin Sang's view. Quheng Island was a high mountain jutting out from the sea, its slopes relatively gentle. From a distance, rows of buildings could be seen encircling the mountainside, while the summit pierced the clouds, with faint outlines of palaces visible. From time to time, cultivators could be seen flying in and out of Quheng Island. With a series of rapid flashes, Qin Sang set foot on Quheng Island. He faced no interrogation; paying a few spirit stones was enough to gain entry to the island, though visitors were required to leave within a designated time unless they paid more. Unlike other places in the Liefeng Archipelago, Quheng Island differed little from Tianxing Island—it was orderly, without so much strife. Disguising himself as a low-rank cultivator, Qin Sang inquired all around and gained a much more detailed understanding of the Liefeng Archipelago. The Liefeng Archipelago spanned a vast territory; if all its islands were connected, it would be larger than the Witch God Continent. Unfortunately, its environment was far worse than that of the Witch God Continent. In particular, the southern part of the archipelago was frequently ravaged by storms. The sea mist brought by these storms stretched boundlessly and lingered year-round, alongside powerful sea beasts. Such a place was naturally a paradise for wicked cultivators, and its situation could only be described as a tangled mess, with only the area around Quheng Island barely counting as a haven. Yet the righteous and demonic paths could only control this vicinity. Cultivators wanted by both paths fled into the depths of the Liefeng Archipelago, where hunting them down was exceedingly difficult. Having learned the situation of the Liefeng Archipelago, Qin Sang left Quheng Island that very night and continued south. Unexpectedly, as he drew near Spirit Tortoise Island, he was suddenly caught in a storm. Lowering his flying light, he stood upon the water and looked up at the sky. To the southwest, the sky was dim and choked with dark clouds, like a ravenous beast devouring everything at startling speed. A calm before the storm, the air was filled with a chilling, suffocating stillness.