Chapter 1104: Meigu

After retrieving the Fiend-Binding Rope, Qin Sang did not linger long in the ancient cultivator's abode.

Upon leaving the secret realm, Qin Sang decided to travel east and enter through Yinshan Pass. Yinshan Pass was previously occupied by Nascent Soul cultivators and served as a buffer zone between the righteous and demonic sects. It was safer than taking Xuanlu Pass, provided that the Seven Heroes Pass had not changed hands.

During his eastward journey, Qin Sang occasionally fed the Fiery Jade Centipede Crimson Fire Gilt. With constant companionship, the Fiery Jade Centipede became less resistant to him. Qin Sang kept a very small amount of Crimson Fire Gilt for emergencies, giving the rest to the Fiery Jade Centipede. Whether it could undergo transformation was now up to fate.

The spiritual tide waned day by day. By the time Qin Sang arrived near Yinshan Pass, the spiritual tide had mostly vanished. He finally encountered other cultivators, which was when he learned why there were so few cultivators in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. He also gained some understanding of the cultivation world's current situation.

As expected, after the Ziwei Palace closed that year, the Abyss of Sin launched a relentless invasion of the Heavenly Alliance. Fortunately, the Abyss of Sin's sneak attack using the immortal formation did not fundamentally cripple the Minor Cold Region and the Heavenly Alliance. Instead, it prompted the two regions to set aside their differences and unite against the Abyss of Sin. What followed was a century-long war that had yet to conclude.

The Abyss of Sin was powerful. Even though the Heavenly Alliance and the Minor Cold Region had allied, they were initially unable to resist, suffering repeated defeats. They abandoned most of the Heavenly Alliance's territory before finally stabilizing their position. The Abyss of Sin could not conquer the two regions quickly but consistently refused to withdraw its troops, frequently launching harassing attacks. The major factions had focused their primary efforts on countering the Abyss of Sin. It was only twenty-odd years before the Ziwei Palace emerged, when the spiritual tide appeared, that the situation eased slightly.

No one had expected the war to last so long. Cultivators from all three regions gradually adapted to this wartime environment. The Minor Cold Region and the Heavenly Alliance, united by a common enemy, formed an alliance. They were no longer as antagonistic as before and even began to show signs of integration. The Minor Cold Region also stopped restricting Heavenly Alliance cultivators from entering the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. Both sides confronted each other at the border.

Because of this, the cultivators stationed at the Seven Heroes Pass were reassigned. For various other reasons, most of the major passes were simply sealed off, with no entry or exit permitted except under special circumstances. Since Yinshan Pass was located between the righteous and demonic paths, it was the only one left open. Excluding the Ten Thousand Monster City controlled by the demon race, Yinshan Pass became the sole access point for cultivators entering the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. This was the result of a joint agreement among all major factions.

As he approached Yinshan Pass, he began to frequently encounter cultivators. They hailed from both the Minor Cold Region and the Heavenly Alliance, but their overall cultivation levels were not high; late Foundation Establishment cultivators were rare. It was said that before the Ziwei Palace opened, the alliance of the two regions had deployed a large number of troops along the border to guard against the Abyss of Sin.

This situation was much better than Qin Sang had anticipated; he had even prepared for the Minor Cold Region to be overwhelmed by the Abyss of Sin and completely annihilated. Qin Sang learned that due to the war, the two-region alliance placed great importance on cultivators within their borders who had surpassed the Foundation Establishment stage. Everyone had to register their names and be ready for conscription at any time.

Anyone entering or exiting Yinshan Pass would be inspected and required to possess a token issued by the two-region alliance. Twenty years ago, if Qin Sang had wanted to enter the pass under a disguised identity, he would have faced considerable difficulties. Fortunately, with the easing of the situation, inspections were no longer as strict. However, his late Core Formation cultivation stood out too much among these low-level cultivators. With such a cultivation level, even a rogue cultivator could not be obscure and would easily attract unwanted attention.

Learning that Shaohua Mountain and Marquis Dongyang were still alive and well, and their prestige even higher than before his departure, Qin Sang was even more reluctant to act conspicuously. After some thought, he decided to deliberately lower his cultivation beforehand. Dispelling the Killing Talismans created by Senior Green Bamboo, Qin Sang's cultivation level dropped back to the early Core Formation stage. By simply inscribing the sixth Killing Talisman, he could instantly return to the mid-stage. Qin Sang temporarily held back, put on a mask, and headed for Yinshan Pass.

Unexpectedly, signs of a celestial phenomenon appeared midway. Qin Sang flew for a while and found a shelter. The shelter was built at the bottom of a canyon between two barren mountains, with the ground hollowed out to form a circular space. Layers of restrictions indicated that this shelter had existed for a very long time, having protected countless cultivators.

Qin Sang walked inside and found dozens of cultivators already present. He concealed his aura, disguised himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and deliberately joined the crowd, subtly probing for information. As the celestial phenomenon approached, waves of cultivators arrived.

At this moment, three men and one woman entered the shelter. The female cultivator was exceptionally beautiful, with foxy, seductive eyes, and was skilled in enchantment arts. Among the other three, two were middle-aged men, and the remaining one had a youthful appearance. All four were actually Foundation Establishment masters!

"The Four Demonic Rogue Cultivators!" A hushed exclamation arose. A stir went through the crowd; these four seemed to have quite a notorious reputation. Under everyone's gaze, they remained composed and walked into the shelter. The somewhat crowded space quickly cleared an area for them.

Hearing the nearby cultivators discuss the foursome's deeds, Qin Sang looked up, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. The aura of one of the youths felt surprisingly familiar to him.

Immediately, Qin Sang took off his Thousand-Jins Ring, suddenly stood up, and walked directly towards the Four Demonic Rogue Cultivators. His actions drew many gazes. Everyone's expressions varied. The Four Demonic Rogue Cultivators noticed Qin Sang simultaneously. The charming woman revealed a radiant smile, secretly casting an enchantment spell, while the three men stared intently at Qin Sang with fierce eyes.

Qin Sang remained composed, walking step by step towards the four. At this point, they realized something was wrong. Their companion, the young man, was trembling, drenched in sweat, and his eyes were filled with terror, as if he had seen a ghost. The other three were well aware of their companion's strength, and seeing this scene, they were instantly filled with immense shock.

"Sit!" Qin Sang walked up to the young man and said softly.

The young man slumped to the ground, the terrifying pressure on him finally gone. He gasped for air, as if exhausted, and dared not wipe away the sweat profusely dripping from his head. He had intended to perform a grand salute, but Qin Sang stopped him. The other three were still shaken. Although they didn't know what their companion had experienced, they dared not act presumptuously, quietly sitting cross-legged beside their companion, silent as cicadas in winter.

"Are you Huomo? Who taught you the 'Seven Yang Art'?" Qin Sang set up a sound-isolating restriction and asked.

The 'Seven Yang Art' was a cultivation method that Daoist Jiupao, a Core Formation cultivator of the Kuiyin Sect, left for the disciples of the Demonic Flame Sect after establishing it, serving as the sect's true inheritance. This cultivation method required the use of earth fire for practice, and those who cultivated it possessed a unique aura. Back then, when Qin Sang received disciples from the Demonic Flame Sect, he had encountered it.

The young man obediently replied, "Reporting to Senior, this junior is from the Demonic Flame Sect, and the 'Seven Yang Art' was personally passed down by my Martial Uncle, the Sect Master."

Seeing Qin Sang instantly identify his cultivation method, the young man felt uneasy, fearing some past grievance between Qin Sang and his sect, but he dared not conceal anything.

The Demonic Flame Sect was still in existence! Qin Sang recalled that after eliminating the remnants of the Kuiyin Sect, he had entrusted the Demonic Flame Sect to a disciple named Mei Gu, allowing her to temporarily manage it. He had not returned since then. Back then, Mei Gu's cultivation was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, yet she was already the sect's top master at the time.