Chapter 1394: The Legacy of Baihua Valley

The Black Marsh.

It was sinister and decaying. Rotting mud, omnipresent, exuded a peculiar, nauseating odor. Black miasma blotted out the sky, plunging the Black Marsh into perpetual gloom even at midday. Some of this miasma was composed of accumulated putrid air, while other parts were acutely poisonous, capable of proving fatal even to cultivators. Toxic miasma mixed indistinguishably with other noxious fumes, making it impossible to guard against.

Strangely, the Black Marsh was not barren. Trees and plants thrived, though they were all black, resembling withered wood. Yet, they lived remarkably well, radiating an alternative, eerie vitality. These spectral black trees lurked within the dim miasma, seemingly poised to devour any intruder.

This place was desolate, with few cultivation sects. The Black Marsh stretched vast, larger than any other landscape in the Crescent Realm, occupying its very core. Yet, despite its immense size, spiritual ley lines were scarce, and it was unsuitable for growing spirit herbs, rendering it exceptionally barren. Cultivators seeking treasures rarely ventured here, unless they needed something truly unusual.

A soft whooshing sound rippled through the swirling miasma. Moments later, several faint points of light, in various shades of green and blue, became visible deep within the miasma. The lights drew closer, revealing six cultivators. Five of them were around the tenth level of the Qi Refining stage, some youthful, others showing clear signs of age. They orbited a black-robed youth.

The youth was the sole cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage. Unlike the others, he appeared completely at ease in the poisonous miasma, standing with his hands behind his back on a silver, disk-shaped flying artifact. A faint, shimmering barrier surrounded him, keeping the miasma at bay. The other cultivators were not so relaxed; they sped along while activating their simple protective artifacts, constantly vigilant for dangers that could appear at any moment. They seemed to have been flying for a long time and were growing weary, but seeing that the black-robed youth showed no intention of stopping, they gritted their teeth and persevered.

"Fellow Daoist Yue, where exactly is this place? Why is it so far?" complained the only female cultivator, her face glistening with sweat.

A long-bearded man beside her chuckled apologetically, "Fairy Ming, just a bit longer, we'll be there soon. That place is one of the Black Marsh's rare spirit-rich locations. If it were easy to find, it wouldn't be our turn."

The female cultivator remained skeptical. "If there's such a valuable place, why haven't others discovered it?"

"The area around those mountains is surrounded by miasma, denser than the deepest parts of the Black Marsh, and naturally possesses hallucinatory power. I stumbled in by accident and discovered its potential. But my strength is low, I didn't dare to enter, so I had to call Senior Huang and the rest of you. If we can occupy this place and establish a cave dwelling, we…"

He was interrupted by the black-robed youth. "Is this it?"

The group halted their flight. Ahead, the miasma was as thick as clouds, permeated with a chilling aura. The long-bearded man nodded repeatedly. "This is it! Senior, please follow me."

With that, the long-bearded man found the mark he had left earlier, took a moment to adjust his breath, and led the way into the miasma. The black-robed youth put away his silver disk and conjured a short sword. The others also retrieved their respective artifacts and followed the man inside.

"Wait!"

No sooner had they entered the miasma than the black-robed youth suddenly stopped them, cocking his head to listen for a moment. His expression changed slightly. "What's that sound?"

Before he finished speaking, a loud buzzing erupted all around them. The sight that followed made everyone gasp. The depths of the miasma suddenly churned violently, and swarms of grotesque insects surged out, pouncing on them frantically. These creatures were shaped like mosquitoes, but each was the size of a baby's fist, with long, steel-needle-like proboscises that made one's scalp tingle.

"Blood Mosquitoes!" the youth exclaimed in alarm, his face drained of color.

The others also looked terrified. Blood Mosquitoes were infamous, fierce mosquitoes of the Black Marsh; a single one was insignificant, but encountering a swarm meant even Foundation Establishment cultivators had to flee for their lives. At this moment, hundreds of Blood Mosquitoes were flying out from the miasma, with shadowy forms and a dark, oppressive mass hinting at an endless supply behind them. If surrounded by thousands of these Blood Mosquitoes, they would all be doomed, instantly reduced to desiccated corpses.

"This is a Blood Mosquito nest! Run!" The black-robed youth cursed the long-bearded man a thousand times in his mind. Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

The long-bearded man hadn't expected to cause such a disaster. His legs turned to jelly, and he stumbled out of the miasma. For a moment, everyone was in chaos, only regretting they didn't have an extra pair of wings. Fortunately, the Blood Mosquitoes seemed unwilling to venture too far from the miasma. The group narrowly escaped, still reeling from fright, and flew until their strength gave out before daring to stop and catch their breath.

They didn't know that after they fled, two figures, a man and a woman, flew out from the miasma. They wore similarly styled cultivator robes; the man's left arm was embroidered with a spirit worm resembling a snake-like centipede with two horns on its head, while the woman's robe featured a seven-petaled spirit flower design.

"Junior Brother, your Starlight Worm's illusionary light and shadow technique is becoming increasingly proficient," the female cultivator praised, looking down at the spirit worm in the man's palm.

The worm was shaped like an earthly firefly, but completely transparent, its body flashing with a cool, starlike glow. The Starlight Worm rested in the man's palm, remarkably docile and extremely affectionate towards him. These two were indeed disciples of Baihua Valley. The Blood Mosquitoes that had just scared away the black-robed youth and his companions were only partially real; the rest were light and shadow illusions projected by the Starlight Worm.

The man chuckled, a hint of self-satisfaction on his face, though he complained, "The sect doesn't want people to know this is our Baihua Valley's mountain gate, so they should just seal it off with a grand formation. Instead, they make us patrol back and forth, putting on this charade to scare away intruders. Relying solely on natural miasma and a few strange insects living within it isn't very useful; it can't stop determined individuals."

The female cultivator rolled her eyes. "It was clearly you who slacked off last time, failed to drive that person away in time, and caused trouble, yet you dare to complain about the sect. A mountain-guarding formation can protect Baihua Valley, but these mountain ranges are so vast. If they were all sealed off with spiritual formations, how much energy would that consume? Besides, the sect merely doesn't want to be disturbed by low-level cultivators. If true masters intend to find us, we alone can't stop them."

"Senior Sister is right," the man conceded.

Having been scolded, the man didn't take it to heart at all, grinning cheekily in the direction the youth had fled. He blinked. "That guy's short sword is really good, extremely nimble. I heard Junior Sister has always wanted an artifact like that."

The female cultivator glared at him fiercely. "What are you trying to do? Be careful Master hears you, and punishes you to guard the snake cave for ten years! Go patrol quickly! If you dare to slack off again, I will certainly report you to Master and ensure you're disciplined!"

The man mumbled a few words, not daring to argue, and hastily stored the Starlight Worm back into his dantian before flying into the miasma.

At this moment, two streaks of light sped through the miasma, astonishingly fast and unrestricted.

"Baihua Valley is just ahead," Master Feng's voice rang out from one of the lights.

Qin Sang gazed forward, pleased. "Finally here! Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Feng, for accompanying me all this way and introducing me to so many fellow Daoists." They had traveled intermittently, stopping along the way to visit several Nascent Soul cultivators whom Master Feng knew well. From Master Feng, Qin Sang had also learned many rumors and hidden secrets, reaping considerable gains.

"Since Fellow Daoist needs Black Adamant Soft Gold, why not accept Fellow Daoist Ming's invitation? If Fellow Daoist just asks, Fellow Daoist Ming would surely be happy to delay for a few days, waiting for you to return before acting." Master Feng asked curiously.

As it turned out, they had just emerged from another Nascent Soul cultivator's cave dwelling. Black Adamant Soft Gold was precisely the spiritual material used to refine the Golden Sinking Sword, meeting another of Qin Sang's requirements.

Qin Sang gave a wry smile. "Fellow Daoist Ming is preparing to explore deep into the Bottomless Demonic Abyss! I've heard that several Nascent Soul cultivators once teamed up to enter the Bottomless Demonic Abyss and all perished. Ten thousand years ago, a great master even disappeared there. Although I don't know if these rumors are true, they're enough to illustrate how dangerous the Bottomless Demonic Abyss is. I certainly don't want to risk my life for a piece of Black Adamant Soft Gold…"

The Bottomless Demonic Abyss was renowned as the Crescent Realm's most perilous forbidden land. It was located northwest of the Black Marsh, near the sea. It was said that its entrance was just an ordinary stone cave, but the deeper one went, the more dangerous it became, and no one had ever reached its end. Although Black Adamant Soft Gold was rare, after careful consideration, Qin Sang still decided to give up.

As they spoke, the two arrived near Baihua Valley, witnessing firsthand the scene that had just unfolded, including the Baihua Valley disciple storing the Starlight Worm in his dantian.

"Did Fellow Daoist see that?" Master Feng asked meaningfully.

Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Indeed, very unique!" Master Feng did not notice the fleeting shock in Qin Sang's eyes. The method Baihua Valley disciples used to control their spirit worms, and the fluctuations between the spirit worms, felt remarkably familiar to Qin Sang. It was surprisingly similar to the Witch Clan's Natal Gu Worm technique!

Yet, Baihua Valley disciples were clearly human! Qin Sang had not heard any rumors about the Witch Clan in either the Beichen Realm or the three North Sea Realms. It could basically be confirmed that there were no traces of the Witch Clan's existence in the four North Sea Realms. Could it be that the Natal Gu Worm technique was not unique to the Witch Clan? Or perhaps, ancient Witch Clan ruins were discovered in the three North Sea Realms, and Baihua Valley obtained its inheritance from them? Humans don't possess the Witch Clan's innate talent; he himself relied on the Jade Buddha's abilities to dare cultivate it. How did *they* solve the hidden danger of the Natal Gu Worm devouring its master? In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Qin Sang's mind. In any case, this trip was definitely worth it. Qin Sang never expected that with the Azure Waves Sea Route severed, he would make such an unexpected discovery in the Crescent Realm. However, it was merely a fleeting glimpse, and Qin Sang couldn't yet confirm if Baihua Valley's inheritance was truly the authentic Witch Clan Natal Gu Worm secret art.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment," Master Feng said, halting his flight outside the miasma. He flicked his finger, sending a stream of light into the miasma.

Qin Sang, without a change in expression, suddenly remembered something. He pretended to casually look around. "Fellow Daoist said Baihua Valley's founder came from the Boundless Sea. Do you know what part of the Boundless Sea?"

Master Feng carefully recalled, then said, "…It seems they came from a place called Net Lake. As for its exact location, I didn't find it appropriate to ask further. Why do you ask about these things, Fellow Daoist?"

"Net Lake…" Qin Sang silently repeated these two words. It didn't sound like the name of a large geographical region, so it would probably be difficult to find. Baihua Valley would likely not easily reveal the secrets of its inheritance. He needed to make two preparations: starting with the origins of Baihua Valley's founder, he might be able to uncover something.

"I was wondering whether Baihua Valley considers itself a force of the Boundless Sea or the Crescent Realm?" Qin Sang chuckled.

"Do you suspect Baihua Valley is a spy placed by the Boundless Sea in the Crescent Realm?" Master Feng burst into laughter. "Fellow Daoist, you're overthinking it. The Boundless Sea is a disorganized mess, intricate and complex. Even if a great master were to step forward, they couldn't subdue all the factions and command their allegiance…"

Before he finished speaking, the miasma ahead suddenly churned violently, parting to create a path. A crisp, girlish voice echoed from within: "Esteemed guests have arrived; this humble one failed to greet you sooner. Please forgive my oversight, esteemed Daoists."

Master Feng exclaimed softly. "Is that Fellow Daoist Lan? Is Fellow Daoist Mu not in the valley?" He then explained to Qin Sang, "Fellow Daoist Lan is Fellow Daoist Mu's junior sister, named Lan Jingsi. She's a prodigy, successfully forming her Nascent Soul before turning three hundred, creating the splendid tale of 'two Nascent Souls in one sect'."

A bell-like laughter came from the opposite side. "Fellow Daoist Feng, you flatter me…" Before the words faded, a gentle breeze swept past them, and a young woman appeared before them, fresh and natural, without makeup, her beauty innate.

Lan Jingsi's beautiful eyes shifted, glancing at Qin Sang, then looked at Master Feng. "Senior Brother returned to the valley last time and repeatedly praised Fellow Daoist Feng's extraordinary abilities. This humble one has long admired you from afar, but alas, I was guarding the valley at the time and couldn't accompany Senior Brother to witness it firsthand."

Master Feng laughed heartily, repeatedly saying he dared not, then pointed to Qin Sang. "This is Fellow Daoist Mingyue. His abilities far surpass mine; even Bi Fang was defeated by him. I have come this time at Fellow Daoist Mingyue's request to visit Fellow Daoist Mu."

Lan Jingsi was greatly surprised by this. Qin Sang bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lan."

Lan Jingsi returned the bow, withdrew her scrutinizing gaze, and furrowed her delicate brows, truly showing a hint of girlish charm. "You two have come at an unfortunate time. Senior Brother just left the valley recently and likely won't return anytime soon…"

"This…" Master Feng and Qin Sang exchanged glances, feeling awkward. He had some acquaintance with Valley Master Mu, but this was his first meeting with Lan Jingsi, and some matters were not suitable to discuss directly with her.

At this point, Lan Jingsi changed her tone, saying, "This is not a place for conversation. Please follow me back to the valley, esteemed Daoists, and have a cup of floral tea. Since Senior Brother is absent, I can make decisions on certain matters."

Qin Sang readily agreed.

Passing through the miasma, they then realized that inside was a hidden paradise. Here, rolling mountains and clear waters stretched endlessly, entirely devoid of any decaying or sinister aura. Within the Black Marsh, it could be called an otherworldly immortal realm, truly a rare treasure land.

The three flew through the air towards Baihua Valley's mountain gate. Before long, they saw some Baihua Valley disciples practicing and sparring on a mountain, mostly female disciples, their sharp shouts echoing. Qin Sang couldn't help but glance twice. Indeed, he spotted several more disciples with Natal Gu Worms. This time, he saw more clearly. From Qin Sang's perspective, none of these disciples' Gu worms were at the 'exotic insect' level; they were all fairly standard. Had it been anyone else, it would have been easy to overlook what was truly special about their insect-controlling techniques. Qin Sang, possessing a Natal Gu Worm himself, instantly recognized the key insight: It shared the same origin as the Witch Clan's inheritance, yet it wasn't entirely identical!