Chapter 1554: Gu God Cult

The fierce wind howled, and heavy snow poured down. Snowflakes, large as mats, fell. The world between sky and sea was consumed by white.

Centered around the Snow-Treading Divine Blade, an area of extreme cold formed. Wherever the frigid aura spread, the sea surface rapidly froze, transforming into a massive ice sheet. These 'snowflakes' were no ordinary ice crystals; they were condensed blade intent, incomparably sharp.

The Snow-Treading Divine Blade tore through the air, appearing precisely where the Sea Patrol Yaksha had vanished. Its tip angled sharply downward, pointing towards the seabed, as blade intent surged forth.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Countless snow-leaves pierced the ice sheet. The ice sheet was riddled with holes, yet the cold intensified, spreading rapidly downwards and outwards. At this rate, a vast expanse of the sea would soon be frozen solid.

Beneath the surface of the sea, the Sea Patrol Yaksha, astride a blue Jiao, darted away with extraordinary agility underwater, completely unimpeded.

Sensing the change in vital energy from above, the Sea Patrol Yaksha raised its head. It saw only a vast expanse of white, as if the sky itself were collapsing, and a ferocious glint flashed in its eyes. The Sea Patrol Yaksha's aura merged with that of the blue Jiao beneath it, accelerating them to their utmost speed. Its legs squeezed the blue Jiao tightly, causing the creature to grimace in pain, yet it was utterly unable to control its own body.

Simultaneously, the Sea Patrol Yaksha's expression momentarily stiffened, then instantly became fluid once more.

The Snow-Treading Divine Blade vibrated with a resonant hum. The blade trembled violently, unleashing a torrent of blade light. A white streak stretched across the sky, like a white rainbow piercing the sun. Even the midday sun seemed to grow cold.

Zhou Jin and the others, who were swiftly retreating on their flying magical artifacts, sensed something and turned back. What they saw left their faces etched with shock.

The divine blade descended!

The ice sheet shattered with a roar, and countless shards of ice, swept up by the Snow-Treading Divine Blade, tore through the ocean, leaving a massive trench on the surface. The seawater on either side, unable to converge, was instead slammed by the storm of ice shards, forming mountain-sized waves. At their apex, these waves froze, solidifying into two immense icebergs. The icebergs coiled like dragons. Between these towering icebergs, the trench appeared even more abyssal, underscoring the blade's astonishing power.

Within the trench, the figures of the Sea Patrol Yaksha and the blue Jiao were revealed. Even before the divine blade reached them, its chilling intent had already enveloped their forms, sealing the surrounding void. Layers of ice began to spread across their bodies. Unexpectedly, the Sea Patrol Yaksha made no attempt to resist, allowing itself to be encased in ice. In the blink of an eye, an ice sculpture took shape.

The Sea Patrol Yaksha's expression suddenly became rigid, then its figure vanished into thin air. It was merely an illusion; only the blue Jiao had been frozen.

Floating above, Qin Sang observed the scene from a vantage point. His expression remained unchanged. With a shift of his hand seal, the Snow-Treading Divine Blade reversed direction, bypassing the frozen blue Jiao and striking towards the trench's depths.

At that very moment, a roar suddenly erupted from within the trench. The roar reverberated between the ice walls, spiraling and intensifying. By the time it escaped the trench, it was powerful enough to shake heaven and earth, striking fear into the hearts of Zhou Jin and the others who heard it clearly. The roar originated from a blue Jiao. This particular blue Jiao bore no obvious external differences from others of its kind, but its immense size — more than ten times that of the frozen blue Jiao, comparable to a whale — set it apart.

The gigantic blue Jiao half-turned its body, glaring angrily at Qin Sang. With a flick of its massive tail, its scales rippled, and relying on its powerful physique and brute force, it slammed fiercely into the Snow-Treading Divine Blade.

Boom!

The resulting shockwave shattered the ice walls on either side, causing seawater to rush back in. Though initially obstructed, the Snow-Treading Divine Blade ultimately pierced through the blue Jiao's scales, cleaving its skull open.

Qin Sang's figure flashed, appearing above. He scanned the surroundings, muttering with a hint of regret, "What a masterful illusion and water escape technique! It's a pity I didn't bring the Heavenly Eye Butterfly." Before his words fully faded, the remnants of the blue Jiao's body dissipated its spiritual light, dissolving into two puddles of seawater. The Sea Patrol Yaksha had already vanished.

The ocean was its domain. The Sea Patrol Yaksha was exceedingly cautious, maintaining a constant distance from the battlefield. Seeing the tide turn, it had immediately fled far away. Qin Sang also had to consider the possibility of ambushes. Even if he had directly deployed the Four-Tier Teng Snake Seal just now, it was unlikely he would have gained anything. He extended his spiritual perception but failed to detect the Sea Patrol Yaksha's vital energy. He could only retract the Snow-Treading Divine Blade, flash out of the trench, and locate the ice sculpture that had been dislodged by the shockwave.

He had deliberately controlled his force; thus, this blue Jiao was still alive, floating belly-up on the sea. Its eyes darted wildly, and it struggled fiercely, but it could not break free from its icy prison. Seeing Qin Sang approach, its expression turned to terror.

“I know you possess sentience!” Qin Sang stepped onto the ice, declaring, "I ask, you answer!"

The blue Jiao nodded frantically, thumping against its icy prison.

“Have you demon cultivators been residing here all along, or did you drift here from elsewhere? Where is your lair? Why have you come? How many other demon kings are in the vicinity?” Qin Sang pressed, staring into the blue Jiao's eyes.

The blue Jiao dared not hesitate. It opened its cavernous mouth, revealing rows of fangs, yet its voice was timid and soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Reporting to Master, this humble demon has always cultivated with my Great King in the deep sea and has never provoked humans. Not long ago, my Great King suddenly led a large army here. The attack on the treasure ship was by the Great King's command, Master, please understand. This humble demon has always been a mere mount with limited knowledge and does not know my Great King's intentions, though I did hear my Great King mention that other Great Kings would soon arrive..."

“Master?” Qin Sang smiled wryly, ignoring the blue Jiao's fawning gaze as he sank into thought. He then asked more questions. The blue Jiao answered everything it knew, but could not provide the specific information Qin Sang sought.

The Sea Patrol Yaksha had indeed just arrived. With demon kings flocking to the Crimson South Island Chain, could there truly be some secret here that even the demon race has caught wind of? This place is not suitable for a prolonged stay!

Qin Sang exerted a slight pressure with his foot, shattering the ice. The blue Jiao regained its freedom but dared not leave without a command, trembling and staying close to Qin Sang's feet. Qin Sang landed on the blue Jiao's back, pointed towards the Crimson South Island Chain, and said, "Let's go!"

The blue Jiao dared not utter a sound, parting the waters and breaking through waves. It soon caught up with Zhou Jin and the others. With Qin Sang's permission, everyone was then carried back on the blue Jiao's back. Throughout the journey, Qin Sang remained silent, and the others dared not utter a word. They maintained this silence, encountered no beast hordes, and successfully returned to the Crimson South Island Chain.

“You may all disperse,” Qin Sang said lightly as he stepped onto dry land. Leng Qi and the others finally had a chance to express their gratitude. They bowed to Qin Sang one by one, then dispersed, each with their own thoughts.

Qin Sang turned his head to see the blue Jiao at the shoreline, its head peeking out, gazing at him expectantly. He casually scooped up some earth from the ground, molded it into a clay bowl, and conjured a bowl of water into it. To the blue Jiao, he said, "Get in."

The blue Jiao stared blankly at the crude clay bowl, utterly dumbfounded and highly reluctant. Yet, not daring to show any resistance, it obediently shrank its size. In the palm-sized bowl, the blue Jiao swam like a tiny fish fry.

Qin Sang handed the bowl to Zhou Jin. "Take it back to the inn and keep it in the backyard pond," he instructed. Zhou Jin, however, dared not be as casual as Qin Sang. The blue Jiao's strength surpassed his own, so he quickly extended both hands, carefully holding the bowl, terrified of spilling its contents, and followed Qin Sang closely.

Qin Sang leisurely returned to the inn and remained secluded. On the very day they landed, news of the great demon's appearance spread like a storm throughout the entire Crimson South Island Chain. Coupled with the thundery and rainy weather, it incited widespread panic.

As night fell, with gusting winds and torrential rain, a figure appeared before the small courtyard Qin Sang had rented. The protective enchantment was triggered.

Inside, Qin Sang's eyes narrowed slightly. "Faster than anticipated!" he remarked with surprise. “Open the courtyard gate and welcome our esteemed guest!” Qin Sang transmitted a message to the Zhou-Ruan couple. The couple, who were by the pond observing the blue Jiao, exchanged surprised glances. To their perception, there was clearly no one outside the courtyard. They hastily deactivated the enchantment and pulled open the courtyard gate. Their expressions turned solemn upon seeing the old man standing outside, and they respectfully invited, "Senior, please come in."

The old man was dressed simply in coarse linen robes, yet his demeanor was exceptionally distinguished. He nodded slightly and followed Zhou Jin to the main hall. He paused briefly, stroked his long beard, and critically surveyed Ruan Yu, who was standing by the door. Under the old man's gaze, Ruan Yu's pretty face flushed, and a tremor of panic ran through her heart. Zhou Jin seethed internally, daring not voice his anger.

“Excellent! Her talent is superb. It’s a pity her vital essence was previously damaged, otherwise, her chances of forming a Golden Core would be very high. I have a Chaoyuan Pill here that should be of some benefit to you, young lady.” The old man produced a jade bottle containing a pill. Both Zhou and Ruan were stunned. Ruan Yu's face was flustered, and she stammered, unsure how to respond, much less accept the offer.

“Ruan Yu, why haven’t you thanked Senior for his kindness?” Qin Sang's voice drifted from within the room. Hearing this, Ruan Yu's face lit up. She took the jade bottle, performed a deep curtsy, and said, "Thank you, Senior, for the pill."

“My surname is Leng,” the old man said with a smile, turning to enter the main hall. He announced loudly, "Leng You, Left Guardian of the Gu God Cult, has made a presumptuous and ill-timed visit. I hope I haven't disturbed Fellow Daoist Qin's secluded cultivation?"

Qin Sang emerged from the meditation chamber. "Fellow Daoist Leng has just arrived and already presented such a generous gift. I haven't even had time to express my gratitude," he said. With a gesture, Qin Sang invited the old man to sit. "The Three Heroes of Leng are..." he inquired curiously.

Old Leng nodded. "Indeed, they are my three unruly disciples. The juniors were ill-mannered earlier, and I hope Fellow Daoist Qin will not take offense. Fellow Daoist Qin saved their lives from the maw of demon beasts; compared to such life-saving grace, what is a mere Chaoyuan Pill?"

Qin Sang understood, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So, Fellow Daoist came in response to your disciples' plea for help? Your speed is truly impressive!” There was a subtle hint of sarcasm in his tone. Qin Sang keenly picked up on something: Old Leng must have been in the vicinity of the Crimson South Island Chain all along. Whether he was engaged in other matters or intentionally concealing himself, only heaven knew.

The disappearance of Soul Transformation cultivators, while significant, didn't largely concern most factions if it was deemed unimportant. Ancient immortal sect ruins remained merely legendary. Nascent Soul cultivators were preoccupied with cultivation and facing tribulations. Sending a few favored disciples to investigate in the East Sea was already a sign of considerable importance; they would only intervene personally after obtaining concrete clues. Had it not been for the search for the two immortal palaces, Qin Sang would not have personally involved himself, let alone sent an avatar.

Demon kings. Nascent Soul cultivators lurking in the shadows. Qin Sang suddenly felt a premonition of an impending storm. Finding himself at the center of a vortex, he wondered if it was a blessing or a curse.

Old Leng seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in Qin Sang's tone, his smile unwavering. "Hearing Leng Qi describe Fellow Daoist's awe-inspiring divine abilities, I confess my inferiority and deeply admire them. I usually pride myself on being well-informed, yet I was unaware that such a master as Fellow Daoist had emerged in the world! I am truly ashamed!"

“Your disciples must have exaggerated somewhat.” Qin Sang, impassive, replied lightly, "Moreover, the world is vast, and heroes constantly emerge; how can one possibly know them all? Fellow Daoist Leng, please don't take offense, but I too have never heard of the Gu God Cult before.”

Upon hearing Old Leng claim to be from the Gu God Cult, Qin Sang's mind raced, recalling the major powers from his memory. To familiarize himself with the Central Plains cultivation world, he had specifically gathered such information, but the Gu God Cult was not among them. Old Leng, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, was merely a Guardian-level figure within the Gu God Cult. This implied the existence of other Guardians and an even higher-ranking Cult Master. How could such a powerful force be utterly unknown? Was it a mysterious force always hidden in the shadows, or one that emerged only after the disappearance of the Soul Transformation cultivators? The name 'Gu God Cult' particularly piqued Qin Sang's interest.

He recalled the divine abilities demonstrated by the Three Heroes of Leng when they encountered the beast horde. After the treasure ship disintegrated, Leng Qi and his two companions joined forces, opening various pouches on their persons and scattering clumps of brightly colored powders or liquids, all highly toxic. The colors were chaotic, yet contained a peculiar underlying pattern. Around them, a multicolored toxic domain formed. Demon beasts that approached it convulsed and died, or dissolved into puddles of pus. Even the strongest physical bodies could not resist its extremely vicious effects. Leng Qi was particularly skilled in poison attacks. He opened his mouth, and a purple-scaled snake head emerged from his throat, spraying toxic smoke that merged with the poison domain, elevating its power further. Witnessing this, the other cultivators became extremely wary of the Three Heroes of Leng and maintained their distance.

“This isn’t *that* kind of Gu… it's the art of Gu poison! That snake isn't a spirit insect but a venomous demon beast snake, cultivated to become a Gu beast. It doesn't seem related to the insect Gu of the Witch tribe…” Qin Sang had largely deduced the true nature of the Three Heroes of Leng. What divine abilities would this old poisoner before him possess? The Fat Silkworm was, without a doubt, their nemesis. His avatar, being a spiritual wood body, was not afraid of common potent poisons. However, many toxins could harm the primordial spirit, causing true essence to become chaotic or even stagnant, necessitating careful handling.

Qin Sang spoke plainly. Old Leng, unfazed, smiled and said, "Our past unfamiliarity merely indicates insufficient predestined affinity." With that, Old Leng produced a token and offered it to Qin Sang. The token was made of black iron, bearing the characters 'Gu God' on its front and a strangely shaped crown on its reverse. In the design, five jade pieces of different colors were inserted into the crown's rim, their meaning unclear.

“What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist?” Qin Sang frowned.

“I have only ever bestowed two Gu God Tokens, both to fellow Daoists with whom I shared a congenial temperament. Though we have only just met, I am aware of your chivalrous spirit and am deeply impressed that you saved my disciples. Rest assured, the Gu God Token places no restrictions upon you; it merely signifies a distinguished status. You will often hear of my sect in the future, and should you encounter any trouble, my sect will provide its full assistance!” Old Leng declared with complete confidence.

Qin Sang, of course, did not believe such a good thing could exist in the world. Since there were no apparent restrictions, he decided to accept the Gu God Token to discern the true nature of the Gu God Cult. Seeing Qin Sang put away the token, Old Leng's smile became even more cordial.

After a series of pleasantries, Old Leng finally stated his purpose, inquiring about Qin Sang's discoveries while pursuing the demon king. Qin Sang had long anticipated this. He did not conceal anything and directed Zhou and Ruan to take Old Leng to the backyard pond to question the blue Jiao personally.