Chapter 154: Each Showing Their Own Means

Yu Daiyue's expression remained unchanged as he faced the White Cloud Hermit's questioning. "Fellow Daoist White Cloud, Senior Sister Qingting and I were merely taking precautions. Given your many years of experience roaming the martial world, you should understand. As long as the ancient cultivator's ruins are real, it makes no difference whether they are in the Heavenly Severance Mountains or the Cloud Cang Great Marsh.”

Qingting also said, “We had no intention to deceive; Junior Brother Yu and I were simply left with no choice. Fellow Daoists should have been able to roughly estimate from the speed of our magical artifacts that this location is at the border of the Heavenly Severance Mountain Range and the Cloud Cang Great Marsh. There's no need to worry about the appearance of rogue cultivators from the Demonic Sect. Ever since the Pure Yang Sect annihilated the Blood Nether Sect, a major Demonic Sect in the southern part of the Heavenly Severance Mountains, all minor and major Demonic Sects south of the Blood Nether Sect either fled north in a panic or retreated deep into the Heavenly Severance Mountains, not daring to show their faces. There is actually not much danger here.”

The White Cloud Hermit's expression softened slightly, and the others also nodded subtly, indicating they accepted the explanation.

Seeing that the general dissatisfaction was finally appeased, Yu Daiyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He walked to the edge of the mountain peak and pointed southeast, saying, “The ancient cultivator's ruins are just a few hundred miles ahead, within the valley between two mountains, protected by a layer of Yin Wind Barrier above it. For all of you, passing through the Yin Wind Barrier won't be an issue, and it won't cause much disturbance. However, when we break the formation, the commotion will certainly be significant, and there’s no guarantee it won't be heard outside, causing chaos and alarming the powerful demons deep within the Heavenly Severance Mountains. We will split into two teams, moving left and right, circling from the outside to secretly clear out the surrounding demonic beasts, preventing any disturbances.”

No one objected to this, and they quickly split into two teams.

Li Zai, the White Cloud Hermit, and the Liu brothers followed Qingting along the northern route, while Qin Sang and Wu Yuesheng followed Yu Daiyue along the southern route.

With three Foundation Establishment cultivators working together, they didn't encounter any overly difficult problems on the way. Qin Sang alone was enough to hold his own with just his Five Elements Law-Breaking Sword. Upon seeing the Five Elements Law-Breaking Sword, Yu Daiyue's eyes lit up.

“If breaking the formation doesn't go smoothly, Junior Brother Qin might still need to make a move.”

Qin Sang naturally agreed.

A deep valley lay nestled between two mountains.

A massive mountain range stretched from north to south, its ends out of sight, crawling across the earth like a coiled dragon. All the peaks in the range were extraordinarily steep.

However, the mountainsides of the valley where the ancient cultivator's ruins were located appeared quite ordinary and inconspicuous.

The cliffs stood close together, forming a narrow gorge opening. Yet, the deeper one descended, the wider it became. Thus, this valley was extremely well hidden; only upon venturing deep into the mountain range would one suddenly realize such a large valley existed there.

The cliffs were as steep as if carved by a knife, barren and devoid of any vegetation, making them impossible to climb. The rocks themselves were a dark greenish-black, without even a trace of moss, appearing utterly lifeless.

Dense mist and miasma floated above the valley, obscuring all visibility.

The Heavenly Severance Mountains were a continuous range, eerie and damp. They contained many large marshes and secluded valleys, where beneath layers of decaying leaves lay bottomless muck which bred poisonous miasma capable of killing people.

Along the way, they had encountered no small number of similar miasma-ridden areas.

However, the poisonous miasma in this particular valley was slightly different from elsewhere. Only upon investigation with their spiritual senses did they realize it wasn't just mist and miasma, but composed of streaks of black Yin wind, eerily intertwined like countless black pythons.

Qin Sang and the other two circled around, taking two days to clear out all the demonic beasts in the entire mountain range. When they arrived at the ancient cultivator's ruins, Qingting and her group had not yet arrived.

“The ancient cultivator's ruins are here?”

Qin Sang and the other two stood above the valley, looking down. Wu Yuesheng asked, somewhat surprised.

“Indeed,” Yu Daiyue nodded. “This place is exceptionally well hidden. Senior Sister Qingting and I searched for a long time before confirming this location. The Yin winds cunningly disguised themselves as poisonous miasma, and we nearly overlooked them. Junior Brothers, look at these Yin winds; they have form and substance, clearly not naturally occurring. Once inside the Yin winds, not only will one's form become erratic and difficult to maintain, but there are also endless demonic sounds that interfere. Any cultivator or demonic beast with weaker strength who accidentally enters will surely meet with misfortune. After we enter the Yin Wind Barrier, we must also descend as quickly as possible to escape this area.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang pondered briefly, then asked, “Is there a spiritual vein here?”

Yu Daiyue nodded and said, “Junior Brother Qin, you are very observant. There is indeed a hidden spiritual vein deep beneath this mountain range. Furthermore, Senior Sister Qingting and I only found two undeveloped spiritual eyes, which is quite abnormal. We suspect the spiritual eye of the spiritual vein is located beneath the valley. It is precisely for this reason that we dare to say this place is very likely an ancient cultivator's dwelling.”

Qin Sang secretly nodded. Powerful cultivators would certainly establish their dwellings at the location of a spiritual eye. If it were merely to seal away an evil creature, unless under special circumstances, there would be no need for such high requirements, thus wasting a prime dwelling location.

Moreover, he wasn't particularly afraid of evil creatures; the Gui Water Yin Thunder Spell was precisely a bane to fiendish beings. He only needed to be a little cautious then.

Thinking this, Qin Sang stared at the Yin Wind Barrier for a while, then said, “It looks more like a method to conceal a dwelling and prevent external intrusion. It seems the formation below is the actual guardian formation of the dwelling.”

The three of them sat quietly on the mountain peak, adjusting their breath. After several more hours, Qingting and her group finally arrived, somewhat late.

“We encountered a Black Tiger of the Demonic Spirit stage, which delayed us a bit.”

Upon hearing their explanation, Qin Sang and the others felt a twinge of envy. The corpse of a demonic beast at the Demonic Spirit stage was an excellent spiritual material. Looking at the excited expressions on the faces of the Liu brothers and the others, it was clear they had made a considerable haul.

After Qingting and her companions finished adjusting their breath, they all flew into the air above the valley.

Qingting's expression became slightly grave as she reminded them, “Fellow Daoists, do not be careless. Before entering the Yin Wind Barrier, take precautions for self-defense and protection of your spiritual essence. Once inside the barrier, the powerful Yin winds will immediately scatter us. Everyone will be too busy fending for themselves to offer assistance to others.”

Hearing this, everyone's expressions turned serious.

Qin Sang wasn't afraid of the so-called demonic sound erosion, so he merely activated the Heavenly Star Tear, forming a protective light film over his body. At the same time, he secretly held the Soul Devouring Spike in his palm, in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Looking at the others, each employed their own methods.

Qingting and Yu Daiyue, being experienced, also only activated a single defensive artifact, just like Qin Sang. Li Zai was even more flamboyant, his sword light swirling around his body like a swimming dragon.

Qin Sang, however, couldn't discern what method Wu Yuesheng used, as he could barely feel any aura fluctuations from him.

The White Cloud Hermit, meanwhile, conjured a cloth sack and placed it over his head. The sack looked like one ordinary mortals would use for grain, appearing drab and grey.

What intrigued Qin Sang the most were the Liu brothers. He wondered how these twin brothers would pass through Yin winds that even Foundation Establishment cultivators feared.

He saw the Liu brothers leaning back-to-back, holding identical magical seals and muttering incantations.

After performing their ritual, divine light shot from between their brows, forming a protective light barrier around them. Immediately, the light barrier contracted and adhered to their bodies, then vanished.

At that moment, Qin Sang actually felt a faint threat emanating from the Liu brothers. He was secretly surprised. It seemed Yu Daiyue hadn't exaggerated; the Liu brothers truly possessed the ability to contend with Foundation Establishment cultivators.