Chapter 1556: True Void Immortal Village

"Is Fellow Daoist Qin also nearby? Can you contact him now, Daoist Priest?" Lu Zhang's first question was about Qin Sang's true self.

Qin Sang was slightly surprised. He couldn't directly take Lu Zhang to meet his true self, so he vaguely replied, "Fellow Daoist Qin has been in secluded cultivation for many years, and this is a critical period for him. I can only send a message to his cave dwelling. It's hard to say when he'll have free time. Moreover, even if Fellow Daoist Qin receives the message and rushes here, it will take some time... Is your matter very urgent, Fellow Daoist Lu?"

Currently, it wasn't the critical moment for his true self to break through a bottleneck, so he could emerge from cultivation, but only for extremely important matters.

Hearing Qin Sang's words, Lu Zhang's expression clearly showed disappointment. "Time is of the essence right now; there's no room for delay. Otherwise, I could simply return to my sect and ask our Sect Master brother to come out. I had hoped that Fellow Daoist Qin might be traveling with you, Daoist Priest, and that we could rely on his ability to see through illusions."

Qin Sang let out an "Oh," understanding dawned on him.

His true self had defeated Cheng Huanzi of the Six Illusions Sect and shattered Mount Six Illusions with his swordsmanship. However, anyone with discerning eyes could tell that he must possess other divine abilities to break illusions in order to accurately pinpoint Cheng Huanzi's true form.

Cheng Huanzi was the sect master, and his cultivation was no weaker than any of theirs. There were probably few who could easily break through Mount Six Illusions.

Unfortunately, this was the skill of the Celestial Eye Butterfly.

As his true self's vital insect-gu, the Celestial Eye Butterfly was intrinsically linked to him and greatly aided his cultivation and breakthroughs. Even though the Celestial Eye Butterfly possessed the ability to conceal itself and protect its life, it was impossible to let a clone carry it around.

Lu Zhang sighed and explained, "I've been cultivating a Daoist spell, and if I can master it, it can feed back into my cultivation method. However, I've been stuck at the final hurdle for many years. To master this spell, I need to find at least one of several rare wonders of the world and refine it into my body. My sect once knew the whereabouts of one such wonder, but unexpectedly, something went wrong, and we couldn't obtain it. Over the years, my sect has also been helping me search, but after so many disappointments, I had almost given up on this path. Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon a clue this time in the Chinnan Island Chain. But the opportunity is fleeting; I must leave as soon as possible, with no time to ask my sect for assistance..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang generally understood the situation. "Does this item specialize in illusionary transformations?"

"Precisely. Divine objects often conceal themselves. These rare wonders naturally possess a self-preservation instinct, making them difficult to find even if their whereabouts are known. I possess a magical treasure called the Precious Color Bell, an unusual artifact capable of dispelling illusions. However, it's not specialized in this art, nor is it as effective as Fellow Daoist Qin's divine abilities, and it's somewhat troublesome to use."

As he spoke, Lu Zhang brushed his hand across his waist, and golden light flashed in his palm, revealing an object.

From its appearance, the Precious Color Bell didn't resemble a bell; it was more like a pagoda.

The Precious Color Bell was square overall, with layers of neatly arranged ripples encircling its exterior, resembling stacked pagoda tiers that gradually narrowed upwards.

Its interior was hollow and lacked a clapper.

Lu Zhang infused it with true essence. The Precious Color Bell remained still, yet a crisp ringing sound emerged, and accompanying the sound, visible rings of precious light rippled outwards.

"This treasure dispels illusions using this precious light. As you can see, to ensure sufficient power, its range must be limited, and it requires constant activation with true essence. When activated, the vibrations produced by the Precious Color Bell cannot be hidden. If we can find the wondrous item quickly, it's fine, but if it takes too long, I worry about depleting myself too much and attracting trouble," Lu Zhang said, closing his fingers and putting away the Precious Color Bell. "Daoist Priest, would you be willing to accompany me on this journey? This item is hidden deep within Nanzhou, near the border of Manzhou. Bunian Mountain rarely ventures there, and I am unfamiliar with the area, so I also need an assistant."

The two states of Nanman and Manzhou were far from the four northern territories, located at the southernmost tip of the Central Plains continent.

Qin Sang had never been to Nanman and Manzhou before.

Traveling directly west from the Chinnan Island Chain would lead straight to Nanzhou.

Manzhou, on the other hand, was located southwest of Nanzhou. It was said to be the largest and most sparsely populated of the Nineteen Misty Rain States.

Unable to find a better helper at the moment, Lu Zhang did not hesitate to promise a valuable treasure to persuade Qin Sang. "Daoist Priest, you are proficient in divine abilities of the ice path. My Sect Master brother happens to possess a peculiar Cold Crystal that contains an extremely yin and frigid煞qi. If you can refine it, your divine abilities will gain an added chill. Whether this endeavor succeeds or fails, I will obtain that Cold Crystal from my Sect Master brother as a reward. If you do not require the Cold Crystal, simply state your request, and I will do my best to fulfill it."

After listening to Lu Zhang's description, Qin Sang couldn't help but feel tempted.

For many years, the progress of his Ice Soul Divine Light had been slow, and it was highly probable that the conventional path wouldn't work.

Qin Sang had long entertained the idea of taking a different approach, similar to what Liuli had done, using treasures of extreme cold and yin to forcefully enhance his ability until it reached mastery.

The Ice Soul Divine Light was one of the most powerful divine abilities Qin Sang had encountered in his cultivation. Even if his true self advanced to the late stage in the future, it could still provide immense assistance.

The Yinli Pearl and the shed skin of the Eight-winged Heart Cicada were treasures that could only be found by chance.

Other treasures might not be compatible with the Ice Soul Divine Light, and Qin Sang wasn't confident, so he could only try them little by little. A special treasure like the Cold Crystal was exactly what he needed.

Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, asking Lu Zhang about various details. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to accompany Lu Zhang on the journey.

Lu Zhang was overjoyed. He immediately stood up and eagerly said, "If you have no other urgent matters, Daoist Priest, shall we depart now?"

Qin Sang returned to his quiet room and summoned Zhou Ruan and his wife. He instructed them to remain in the East Sea and observe. After subduing the Blue Shark, their safety could be guaranteed as long as they didn't provoke Nascent Soul cultivators.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qin Sang and Lu Zhang left the market together and headed for Nanzhou.

Shuonan Port.

The largest port for sea travel in Nanzhou.

Bunian Mountain had an outpost here.

Qin Sang and Lu Zhang traveled almost without stopping. They flew to Shuonan Port, found the outpost, and after a brief rest and adjustment, requested a detailed map of Nanzhou before setting off again.

This time, their direction was southwest.

Delving deeper into the heartland of Nanzhou, the various sights that met Qin Sang's eyes evoked a sense of familiarity.

He quickly realized the source of this feeling: it was the Western Frontier of the Canglang Sea's Witch God Continent, the place where he had fallen after being teleported from the Ziwei Palace.

Both were regions of desolate mountains and harsh waters.

Mortals lived in fortified villages, transportation was inconvenient, the environment was isolated, and there were few opportunities for interaction with the outside world. Only the northern region, closest to the Six Jiangzuo States, was considered normal, and most of Nanzhou's sects were gathered there.

The difference was, however.

This place was not barren; rather, it was filled with colorful miasma everywhere, dangers were ubiquitous, and could even pose a threat to cultivators.

Lu Zhang chuckled, "Daoist Priest, do you perhaps feel that Nanzhou doesn't live up to the reputation of the Nineteen Misty Rain States? When you get a chance to visit Manzhou, you'll realize that Nanzhou is quite a good place in comparison. Manzhou often has tens of thousands of li of uninhabited land, making it even more desolate than the Northern Barrens. There have long been proposals to exclude the two states of Nanman and Manzhou from being ranked alongside the other seventeen states. However, legend has it that long ago, the two states of Nanman and Manzhou were not like this..."

As for what this place was like before, Lu Zhang couldn't offer any clear explanation.

Along the way, they passed by several market towns.

Qin Sang noticed that the deeper they went into Nanzhou's heartland, the more proficient the cultivators of Nanzhou became in the art of Gu poison due to the environment, similar to the methods of the Three Cold Masters.

They most likely originated from the two states of Nanman and Manzhou, and this area was probably the source of the Gu God Sect.

Qin Sang voiced this discovery.

Lu Zhang agreed wholeheartedly. "Indeed, if the Gu God Sect developed in the two states of Nanman and Manzhou, it wouldn't attract much attention. Once we secure the treasure, we can stay for a few days and investigate the origins of the Gu God Sect."

When they reached the border between Nanzhou and Manzhou, just as Lu Zhang had said, the population grew even sparser.

Lu Zhang held several geographical maps, verifying them back and forth for a while, finally confirming a direction.

They sped through the towering mountains for over half an hour.

As they neared their destination, Qin Sang inadvertently caught sight of a mortal village below. He let out a soft exclamation of surprise and pressed down his escape light.

Noticing Qin Sang's actions, Lu Zhang, who was ahead, also stopped and followed Qin Sang's gaze.

The village was quite large, built at the foot of the mountain by the river. Tiered stilted bamboo houses extended all the way up to the mountaintop, almost covering the entire slope.

The mountaintop was a single, massive, very flat rock, forming a natural stone platform.

There were no superfluous structures on the stone platform, only a wooden sculpture placed on the north side, and a fire pit dug in the center of the platform.

As night began to fall, the fire pit was piled high with firewood, burning fiercely red.

The wind was strong on the mountaintop. It fueled the flames, causing them to leap several zhang high. Sparks were carried into the air by the wind, shimmering like a river of stars, drifting far away.

Today might have been a special festival for the village.

Inside the village, everyone, regardless of gender or age, had gathered on the stone platform.

The dew was heavy, and the night was cold.

Perhaps the cold was dispelled by the fire pit, as these people didn't feel cold at all. They danced a strange dance around the fire pit, uttering rhythmic chants, as if performing some kind of ritual.

After a short while, everyone knelt on the ground, facing the northern sculpture, and chanted in unison.

Their cries and expressions were filled with fanaticism.

This was a world where cultivators existed.

Even a Qi Refining stage cultivator could lord over the mortal world. If they wished, simply bestowing a few pills for healing or curing diseases, or some talisman water, could indeed alleviate ailments, making it incredibly simple to delude ordinary mortals.

They could make mortals offer sacrifices and worship them for their own enjoyment.

In the Central Plains, various sects maintained strict control, leaving no ground for evil to breed. However, in remote areas like the two states of Nanman and Manzhou, it was different.

Similar situations were common in the mortal realm.

However, what caught Qin Sang's attention was the sculpture.

The carving of the sculpture was crude; its figure was gaunt and extremely disproportionate, and its face was a smooth, featureless plane, making it very bizarre.

Most peculiar was the crown on the sculpture's head, adorned with five jade pieces.

These jade pieces were naturally not of fine jade, being turbid and coarse, but both their shape and color corresponded to the pattern on the back of the Gu God Token.

"This is the Gu God Sect?" Qin Sang was surprised.

He hadn't expected to find traces of the Gu God Sect so easily, and even more surprisingly, in an ordinary mortal village.

If the Gu God Sect only preached among mortals in the two states of Nanman and Manzhou, it was no wonder not many people noticed them. But what benefit could a Gu God Sect, with a Nascent Soul guardian, gain from misleading these mortals?

Qin Sang recalled the Gu God Token.

He had not revealed this to Lu Zhang.

With the whereabouts of the Central Plains' Spirit Transformation cultivators unknown, and the direction of the cultivation world uncertain, his true self, upon achieving higher cultivation, would be fully qualified to establish his own sect and observe the world's developments. There was no need to bind himself to Bunian Mountain prematurely.

In the future, there might even be opportunities to cooperate with the Gu God Sect.

Qin Sang found an excuse, pointing to the crown on the sculpture's head, and told Lu Zhang that this sculpture might be related to the Gu God Sect.

Lu Zhang also didn't understand the Gu God Sect's intentions. He activated his spiritual sense and swept it over the sculpture several times. It was indeed just an ordinary wooden carving, not a magical artifact, and possessed no special power.

The mortals were still shouting, as if immersed in a world of fantasy. They repeated only one word over and over, yet no one chanted the name of the Gu God.

As the ritual drew to a close, an elderly man, presumably the village chief, lit a stack of yellow talismans and instructed someone to mix them into talisman water for the entire village to share.

Then, everyone contentedly returned home.

"It's not a spirit talisman; it has no effect. These people just drank a bellyful of ash water," Qin Sang said, shaking his head.

One village didn't signify much.

The two did not linger. After flying for a while longer, they arrived at a mountaintop.

The terrain here was extremely rugged, but this was very common in the two states of Nanman and Manzhou.

Ahead lay a rare, flat basin spanning thousands of miles. Not a single normal plant could be found within its vast expanse. A pervasive smell of decay hung everywhere, and there was no sense of vitality.

As night fell, wisps of miasma rose from unknown sources, already forming a thick layer in the basin and rapidly spreading upwards.

One could imagine that by deep night, this place would be completely enveloped by miasma.

"This should be it," Lu Zhang said, looking ahead.

In his hand was a greenish bead. The bead was emerald but opaque, soft to the touch, and looked like the seed of some flower or plant.

"Can't you find the Stone Toad through this Spirit Illusion Seed?" Qin Sang asked, looking at the bead.

The wondrous item Lu Zhang was searching for was called a Stone Toad.

This Stone Toad was nurtured by heaven and earth, said to be born from stone, possessing an innate ability for illusionary transformation.

The Stone Toad absorbed the purple qi of heaven and earth year-round, gradually maturing and eventually transforming into a Purple-patterned Spirit Toad. At that point, it would develop sentience and become a true living creature.

The Purple-patterned Spirit Toad was virtually untraceable and more effective, but it was almost impossible to capture.

This was also why Lu Zhang was so eager; he was looking for a Stone Toad that was close to maturity.

The process of the Stone Toad absorbing and expelling purple qi would trigger unusual phenomena. If a threat approached, it would scatter spores, disguising them as seeds of a flower called the Spirit Illusion Flower—Spirit Illusion Seeds.

Their appearance was almost identical, and their effects were similar.

Even Nascent Soul cultivators, if unaware, couldn't discern the difference.

Without needing refinement, infusing them with true essence could generate illusions, proving useful in combat and highly attractive to lower-level cultivators. Those who obtained a Spirit Illusion Seed would treat it as a precious treasure, completely unaware they had missed the genuine article.

The closer the Stone Toad was to maturity, the more potent the spores it scattered.

The one in Lu Zhang's hand could already conjure illusions of houses and courtyards, making it almost top-tier.

A Nascent Soul cultivator had displayed it when sharing rare items, and Lu Zhang discerned that it was not a Spirit Illusion Seed but a Stone Toad spore, indirectly coaxing out its origin.

Lu Zhang shook his head. "Once the Stone Toad scatters its spores, it completely severs ties, like a cicada shedding its skin."