Chapter 1176: Tianxing Plateau

The ancient scriptures corroborated the Witch Tribe's life-bound Gu worm techniques.

Although Qin Sang couldn't find information about the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, he was no longer as clueless as before. He had some ideas, which would, of course, require gradual verification in the future.

“Even the Spirit-Controlling Sect hasn't recorded anything about it. From now on, we'll have to support each other and slowly find our own way.”

Qin Sang turned his head, his gaze gentle, looking at the Sky-Eyed Butterfly.

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly seemed to sense Qin Sang's thoughts. Its soft wings gently brushed against Qin Sang's cheek, comforting him.

“Let's go!”

Qin Sang returned the ancient texts, bid farewell to the Vice Sect Master of the Spirit-Controlling Sect, and then headed directly south to Cangheng Island in the Cloudmist Great Lake.

Tan Yien, following instructions, had been waiting on the island early.

On the island, Qin Sang contacted a large merchant guild and tasked them with collecting the spirit herbs required for the Fire Melting Pill formula. Once he decided which major city to defend, they would deliver the herbs there.

Serving a demon king, the guild was naturally delighted, and their prices were very fair.

At the same time, Qin Sang bought some more materials. He still had many high-grade demon bones, which he planned to combine with Golden Sinking Wood to refine flying swords.

It was difficult to find top-tier spirit materials in a short time.

However, Qin Sang wasn't aiming too high; refining a mid-grade spirit sword would suffice for now. He would figure out how to upgrade it later.

After staying for a day and handling all miscellaneous matters, Qin Sang and Tan Yien set off, crossing the Cloudmist Great Lake to reach its southern shore.

It was Qin Sang's first time setting foot in the Heavenwalker Alliance!

His figure flashed, landing on a mountain by the shore, gazing southwards.

The Cloudmist Great Lake, extending to the Cloudmist River in the west, formed a natural barrier between the Minor Cold Domain and the Heavenwalker Alliance.

It was said that these two domains were once indistinguishable. However, at some unknown time and due to some unknown event, a rift appeared between them, leading to deepening conflicts and even armed confrontation.

The Heavenwalker Alliance takes its name, 'Heavenwalker,' from the Heavenwalker Plateau.

Southward from the Cloudmist Great Lake, the terrain rapidly ascended into a vast plateau region. Its size was equivalent to the Minor Cold Domain and the Heavenly Demon Mound combined, and it was named the Heavenwalker Plateau.

Records indicate that the summit of the Heavenwalker Plateau is also the highest point in the entire Northern Star Realm.

Compared to the Minor Cold Domain, the Heavenwalker Plateau, despite its rugged and varied terrain, and complex topography, has a much more monotonous landscape, primarily consisting of plateau snowfields. Mortal life there also differs significantly from that in the Minor Cold Domain.

Because the Minor Cold Domain lies between the Heavenwalker Plateau and the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, the path north for Heavenwalker Alliance cultivators is blocked. While high-level cultivators can still travel through, low-level cultivators face great difficulties in entering the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.

South of the Heavenwalker Plateau lies an endless, vast desert. This desert shares its name with the Northern Star Realm itself—the Northern Star Great Desert.

From this name, it's clear that deserts are the primary landform of the Northern Star Realm, with the Northern Star Great Desert covering over seventy percent of the realm's territory.

Qin Sang had heard his Senior Sister Qingjun mention that among the Four Northern Star Islands, Northern Star Island, despite not being the smallest in area, had the weakest overall cultivation world strength, and this was precisely why.

The desolate desert, with its sparse spiritual energy and meager resources, is not only unsuitable for mortal survival but also makes it very difficult for cultivators to find suitable cave dwellings, making cultivation extremely challenging.

In such a vast desert, life is scarce, and human habitation is sparse.

There are oases in the desert, with scattered forces of varying sizes, but none are significant.

In the Northern Star Realm, while the Northern Star Great Desert is the most expansive, the vast majority of cultivators reside in the Minor Cold Domain, the Heavenwalker Alliance, and the Sinister Abyss. These three major powers are considered sacred lands by desert cultivators, with the Minor Cold Domain, adjacent to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, being particularly blessed.

The Sinister Abyss is located southeast of the Heavenwalker Alliance, separated by a stretch of grassland that serves as a buffer zone between the two powers. It is said that this grassland is continuously being encroached upon by the desert.

Currently, the grassland that once served as a buffer has long been controlled by the Sinister Abyss.

The southern side of the Heavenwalker Plateau is much gentler in terrain compared to its northern side. However, the decrease in altitude is not uniform; often, after a flat stretch, a layer of cliffs appears ahead.

The two largest drops in elevation are known as the two great staircases of the southern Heavenwalker Plateau.

Despite its commanding position, the Heavenwalker Alliance suffered successive defeats in the last great war.

The pass at the first staircase has already fallen, captured by the Sinister Abyss. Now, the Sinister Abyss is slowly advancing along the first staircase. Once they break through the final barrier, the Heavenwalker Plateau will have no natural defenses left.

The Heavenwalker Alliance is an alliance formed by various forces on the Heavenwalker Plateau to resist enemies from all sides. It is currently led by Elder Zhenyi.

Qin Sang activated his Phoenix Wings, enveloping Tan Yien in his true essence, and flew high, finally reaching the summit of the Heavenwalker Plateau, where the Heavenwalker Alliance's central great city was located.

This was the highest peak Qin Sang had seen to date.

It was precisely nightfall.

The sky was cloudless and perfectly clear.

Stars twinkled across the sky, forming the Milky Way, seemingly within reach.

However, with Qin Sang's cultivation, he dared not easily venture into the high-altitude turbulent wind zone.

Qin Sang gazed at the deep, vast firmament, recalling the bold words he had once spoken to Princess Dongyang. After forming his Nascent Soul, he passed through the Great Sui and further refined the restrictions on the princess's tomb.

Now, he was one of the figures standing at the pinnacle of this world.

Yet, the higher his cultivation, the more he felt how minuscule he was.

Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, Grand Ascension; only after enduring tribulation and ascending could one become an immortal.

In the current era, late-stage Nascent Soul was already the strongest. Soul Transformation cultivators existed only in legends, let alone those of higher stages.

Where was the path ahead?

If the storm zone was a cage, could the path lie beyond it?

“Thinking too much,” Qin Sang chuckled self-deprecatingly. Each subsequent bottleneck would require him to break through it himself, and whether he could even break through to late-stage Nascent Soul was still unknown.

He finally saw the outline of Heavenwalker City.

Although far from comparable to Tianxing City in the Azure Waves Sea, it was already the foremost great city here.

Qin Sang did not conceal his aura. With a flap of his wings, he flew directly towards a city gate.

The guards at the gate spotted Qin Sang's presence, and immediately a Core Formation cultivator swiftly flew out, bowing respectfully, “Senior, are you Demon King Bright Moon?”

They had clearly received news of the demon kings' reinforcement, easily recognizing Qin Sang.

“Yes, that's me.”

Qin Sang retracted his wings, landed in front of the cultivator, and set down Tan Yien.

“Elder Ji is waiting for all you Venerable Demon Kings within the city. Please follow this junior into the city…”

“Wait for me here,” Qin Sang instructed. He then followed the cultivator and flew into the city, arriving moments later at a palace, clearly a vital core area of the city, where he met Elder Ji of the Heavenwalker Alliance.

“Just now, Fellow Daoist Snake King mentioned Fellow Daoist Bright Moon, and here you are,” Elder Ji, clad in a Daoist robe, had a slender face and appeared to be in his forties. He was exceptionally enthusiastic towards Qin Sang.

“Fellow Daoist Snake King was just singing praises of Fellow Daoist Bright Moon. I've only just learned that the Heavenly Demon Mound has produced another young talent! With Fellow Daoist Bright Moon guarding it, Three-Fold Pass will surely be impenetrable.”

“You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Ji. Fellow Daoist Snake King must have exaggerated quite a bit.” Qin Sang cupped his hands in return, “So, you've already decided for me to garrison Three-Fold Pass?”