Chapter 1563: South Sea Has Immortal Palace

The power of the Gu King's poison far exceeded expectations, and the cost was equally high. The Strange-faced Man had underestimated this. This was understandable; with his cultivation level, there were few in the world who could contend with him, so he hadn't anticipated being unable to control a creature he had personally nurtured.

The Grey-robed Man was still concerned about his Gu beast, his urgency evident in his tone. "Master, that person snatched the venomous spider. How will we cultivate the Gu King now?"

"The Gu King is nearly complete; whether we have the Five-colored Venomous Spider or not is irrelevant. It will only take a few more years," the Strange-faced Man said. He glanced at his disciple with a hint of displeasure, thinking to himself that taking shortcuts in cultivation indeed leaves many hidden dangers, and his disciple's composure was even worse than someone who had just formed their Nascent Soul. "I had you choose the Five-colored Venomous Spider because it's the most suitable Gu beast for cultivating the Gu King. Do you think I couldn't find you one with even greater potential?"

The Grey-robed Man sheepishly lowered his gaze, then suddenly saw his master toss something towards him. It was a Gu God Token, though its form and pattern were distinctly different from Qin Sang's.

"That stone spirit is secondary. The spiritual wood aura on the other person is exceptionally pure, rarely seen in this world. This individual possesses a spiritual treasure, indicating a powerful background. Since he escaped to his lair, we won't encounter such an opportunity again. I will suppress the Gu King first. Take this token and go to the nearby Crying Spirit Cave to see the Crying Spirit Cave Master; ask him to assist."

The Strange-faced Man's right hand returned to normal skin. He plunged his thumb and forefinger directly into the bloody hole in his palm and extracted the Jade Armor Beetle.*Hiss…*The Jade Armor Beetle was extremely fierce, immediately turning to bite. He shook his left hand; the flesh inside the bloody hole had already festered, and the toxins had seeped into his meridians, with a grey aura spreading to his wrist. Fortunately, he had personally cultivated the Gu King, and by turning his left arm into withered wood, he could still resist the poison.

The Strange-faced Man sneered, "How could one easily recover from the Gu King's poison? The Taoist from Imperishable Mountain forced his qi, so the poison must have already entered his vital organs. If he abandons that person, then so be it, otherwise, he won't get far; he's bound to leave a trail!"With that, the Strange-faced Man rapidly descended, disappearing into the ground.

The Grey-robed Man put away the Gu God Token, looked around, and then flew back up to the surface.

At this very moment,Inside an underground tunnel, a blue light flickered into existence. As it darted forward, the light faded, becoming increasingly faint, until it finally stopped, revealing two figures: Qin Sang and Lu Zhang.

Qin Sang's complexion was normal, completely unharmed.Lu Zhang's face, however, was extremely pale, and his lips had begun to turn grey.Seeing this, Qin Sang spoke with a serious tone, "Fellow Daoist Lu, the poison in your body..."

"I won't die for now," Lu Zhang said with a bitter expression. "What potent poison! In this short time, my vital energy and blood have both withered, and my true essence is stagnating. I took a Soul-Preserving Pill to temporarily suppress the toxins. But now, forcibly activating my true essence to activate the Sitting Bell, the poison is attacking again. If it enters my Nascent Soul, even if my Nascent Soul leaves my body, I won't be able to use teleportation. I'd truly be trapped. Such a virulent poison is unheard of."

Qin Sang had heard of the Soul-Preserving Pill. It was rumored that only Imperishable Mountain could refine it, making it extremely precious, yet it could only suppress the poison.

As they spoke, the blue light grew weaker and weaker, eventually shrinking to a faint, pea-sized glow that circled Lu Zhang once, leaving a tiny blue trail.The large Sitting Bell was left with only a trace of its origin power.A pang of heartache flashed in Lu Zhang's eyes. He caught the glowing light, putting it away somewhere unknown, then began coughing violently, a grey aura faintly visible between his eyebrows.Forcibly using the Sitting Bell had given the toxins in his body another opportunity to spread.

Seeing his poor condition, Qin Sang said gravely, "We're still within the range of the underground miasma; we haven't escaped danger yet. We can't stay here long. I have a way to hide and move stealthily within the toxic miasma. If Fellow Daoist trusts me, you can temporarily seal your vital energy."

"Had it not been for your utmost efforts to save me, Daoist Priest, I fear I would have been doomed. How could I not trust you? I'll trouble you, Daoist Priest."Lu Zhang nodded without hesitation, closed his eyes tightly, secretly grasped a jade talisman, and entered a state of suspended animation, sealing off his vital energy and blood from the outside world.

Qin Sang conjured a cold light, freezing Lu Zhang in ice, then reached out and gripped the ice block. At the same time, he dispersed his protective true essence, his figure merging with the miasma until he disappeared.

He stealthily moved through the miasma for a long time.Qin Sang didn't sense any pursuers.He wasn't sure if it was due to Lu Zhang's exceptional divine ability, which allowed them to directly shake off the enemy, or for some other reason.

In fact, during the confrontation, Qin Sang had noticed that the Strange-faced Man's actions were somewhat abnormal. Based on his experience, he could vaguely guess a few things. For example, the Jade Armor Beetle's poison was terrifyingly powerful, yet it was only used once and then kept in the Strange-faced Man's left hand, which surely had a reason.

He himself possessed a spiritual treasure, so he didn't necessarily need to flee.However, there was no real need to take risks. The opponent was, after all, a Grand Cultivator. While victory might be possible, the chance of killing him was minuscule, and a desperate fight would yield no benefits.This was the opponent's territory, and he could summon allies at any time.

The extent of the underground miasma was far vaster than imagined.Qin Sang judged that they had already left the basin, but they were still far from the miasma's edge. Only the number of secret tunnels had become sparse.

After flying for a long time, he heard the gurgling of water ahead and discovered underground rivers, more than one.They were all poisonous rivers.The water of the underground rivers had blended with the toxic miasma. Qin Sang determined it posed little threat to him, so he jumped into an underground river and followed the current.

The Grey-robed Man flew to the surface, determined his direction, and then shot through the air.

Outside the basin,In a continuous expanse of toxic miasma, a mountain range loomed faintly, like a sinister dragon lying in wait, ready to devour, a chilling sight to behold.The Grey-robed Man flew close to the mountain range without concealing his aura. As soon as he approached, he was detected by the cultivators within the mountain, and a voice echoed from afar, "May I ask which fellow Daoist graces my humble abode?"

Before the voice finished, a figure emerged from the miasma.The Grey-robed Man halted his escape light, secretly vigilant. "Are you the Crying Spirit Cave Master?"

The newcomer was an old man with white hair and beard. He sized up the Grey-robed Man, then asked in confusion, "Indeed, I am! Fellow Daoist, you seem unfamiliar. You haven't cultivated in Southern State before, have you?"

The Grey-robed Man didn't answer. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the Gu God Token flying towards the Crying Spirit Cave Master.

The Crying Spirit Cave Master flicked his finger, sending out a ghost-like shadow that opened its mouth and caught the Gu God Token. Seeing what it was, his expression darkened, and he said with displeasure, "Didn't I say that unless you have absolute certainty, you shouldn't drag this old man into your affairs, and certainly not disturb my peaceful cultivation—"Mid-sentence, the Crying Spirit Cave Master's gaze suddenly froze, fixated on the Gu God Token. He exclaimed in surprise, "Wood Prime?"He abruptly looked up, scrutinizing the Grey-robed Man. "You must not be Lord Wood Prime, are you?"

"It is my master."The Grey-robed Man's lips moved as he transmitted a few words telepathically.

The Crying Spirit Cave Master's expression fluctuated uncertainly before he finally nodded.

Not long after the battle for the Stone Toad,Nearby cultivators discovered that the center of the basin had collapsed, forming a bottomless, miasma-filled pit, creating a new toxic miasma lake out of thin air.For a period afterward, streaks of escape light occasionally flashed across the sky at astonishing speeds, all belonging to mysterious, powerful cultivators who came and went without a trace.These unusual signs frightened the surrounding cultivators, who fled the area one after another. All sorts of strange legends began to circulate within the cultivation world.It wasn't until several months later that the chaos finally subsided somewhat, gradually returning to normal. Cultivators resumed their daily lives, but the large pit in the basin could never be restored.

By this time, Qin Sang had already left Southern State.He and Lu Zhang drifted safely along the underground poisonous river, eventually escaping. When they returned to the surface, they found themselves already in the territory of Barbarian State.

Barbarian State was vast and sparsely populated.After confirming they had shaken off their pursuers, the two found an uninhabited barren mountain and opened a cave dwelling to heal.

Qin Sang was unharmed and recovered completely after a brief period of meditation. He remained there to guard Lu Zhang.The protective barrier shimmered.Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly. He pushed open the door and saw Lu Zhang emerging from his cave dwelling.

Lu Zhang's face had regained its color, and he looked well, presumably having expelled the toxins from his body.Qin Sang nodded. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lu, on escaping danger."

Lu Zhang sighed and bowed to Qin Sang with clasped fists. "Fortunately, I had the foresight to invite you along, Daoist Priest, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."Had Qin Sang not restrained the Strange-faced Man and created an opportunity, even if he had escaped into the Green Bell, he would have merely become a timid turtle, eventually having his shell broken.

Qin Sang shook his head, taking no credit. "This escape from peril was largely due to Fellow Daoist Lu's Sitting Bell. It truly is an extraordinary treasure, possessing multiple remarkable powers."

"The Sitting Bell was developed by generations of our ancestors and is the treasure most suited to our sect's divine abilities," Lu Zhang explained. "These two divine abilities cause irreversible damage to it, at the cost of consuming the treasure's origin power. It is our sect's ultimate life-saving measure."

Recalling the now damaged Sitting Bell, Lu Zhang's eyes dimmed.Qin Sang consoled him, "Fortunately, its origin power wasn't destroyed. With Imperishable Mountain's resources, supporting you in refining the Sitting Bell again shouldn't be difficult. Relatively speaking, acquiring the Stone Toad is even more gratifying, more than enough to offset your losses."

Hearing this, Lu Zhang's expression improved slightly.He naturally understood that Qin Sang was deliberately changing the subject, so he wisely refrained from mentioning the spiritual treasure and instead asked Qin Sang for his impression of the Strange-faced Man.

"The Strange-faced Man has a peculiar appearance, and his wood-attribute divine ability is masterful. Does Fellow Daoist Lu truly have no impression of him?" Qin Sang retorted.In Central State, Grand Cultivators were extremely rare.The path of cultivation was all about 'contention'. There was no impenetrable wall in the world; as long as one emerged to vie for opportunities, news would inevitably spread and become known.Which cultivator, having reached such a realm, didn't have various opportunities bestowed upon them?Even Buddhist masters couldn't completely isolate themselves from the mundane world, like ancient buddhas by a solitary lamp.

Qin Sang specifically highlighted the Strange-faced Man's wood-attribute divine ability rather than the Jade Armor Beetle.It was evident that the Jade Armor Beetle was an external tool, while the path of wood-attribute cultivation was the Strange-faced Man's fundamental Dao.

Lu Zhang pondered for a long time. "The Grand Dao of Wood is one of the Five Elemental Grand Daos, and quite a few fellow Daoists are proficient in it. Cultivators from the Southern Barbarian States have always been known for their mystique. If this person recently advanced to the late stage and has been hiding here cultivating that Jade Armor Beetle, his reputation might not have spread yet. After returning to the mountain, I will ask my Senior Brother, the Sect Master, to pay attention to him. This person is ruthless in his actions, and now that he has refined that venomous creature, who knows how many fellow Daoists will suffer at his hands in the future."

Once the Jade Armor Beetle reached full maturity, any cultivator without means to ward off or counteract poison would face certain death if they were unfortunately struck.Qin Sang was also very wary of the Strange-faced Man.The opponent had set his sights on Qin Sang's avatar and likely wouldn't give up so easily. In the future, the avatar would need to be constantly vigilant when outside.

After their injuries healed, the two decided to leave the contentious area and return to Zhuo State.They detoured through the western part of Barbarian State, deliberately slowing down to observe the local customs and scenery.

Soon they made a discovery: the shadow of the Gu God Sect frequently appeared among the mortals of Barbarian State, having apparently spread secretly for an unknown period.The Gu God Sect only spread among mortals, deceiving them with hallucinogenic drugs. Cultivators in Barbarian State were accustomed to this, dismissing it with disdain, and it caused no stir in the cultivation world.Had Qin Sang not known that the Gu God Sect had Nascent Soul cultivators serving as protectors, he wouldn't have paid it any mind.

If the Gu God Sect were to emerge from the shadows and step into the public eye, would it cause earth-shaking changes? Qin Sang decided to stay out of it and let the major sects worry about it.

Unexpectedly, one night as they passed over a village, an overheard remark piqued Qin Sang's vigilance.The mortals in the Southern Barbarian States shared similar living environments, with villages having largely identical layouts and structures.That night, the village below was also performing rituals, worshipping an idol.The villagers had ingested genuine hallucinogenic drugs, making the scene even more chaotic than the first village they encountered, truly a wild dance of demons.

After the effects of the drug wore off, the village chief, nearly ninety years old, led the villagers in kneeling before the idol, mumbling what appeared to be some sort of scripture.This scripture indicated the location of the 'Vacant Immortal Realm', stating that a deity, out of pity for humanity, would descend an immortal palace into the world to guide believers. Only those with utmost faith and sincerity could gain qualification, escape all suffering, transcend life and death, and live in serene happiness.It described the Vacant Immortal Realm as having boundless immortal halls, stretching like a forest, located above the South Sea!

Qin Sang was most sensitive to the words 'immortal halls' and immediately stopped upon hearing them.If it were any other cult, he would dismiss it as nonsense. But the Gu God Sect had Nascent Soul protectors behind it; their scriptures might genuinely conceal profound secrets and not be entirely fictitious.

The scripture described the South Sea Immortal Halls with extravagant praise, depicting them as incredibly beautiful.Based on Qin Sang's experiences in the Ziwei Palace and the Seven Kills Hall, he couldn't find a single matching detail.However, different immortal halls might have different environments, and these scriptures were undoubtedly beautified and exaggerated to deceive mortals.

Connecting a mortal cult to a mysterious immortal hall seemed completely absurd.Yet, Qin Sang had investigated in the cultivation world for many years with no progress, and this was the first seemingly plausible clue he had encountered, which he could not ignore.

He glanced at Lu Zhang beside him, who showed no reaction when he heard "South Sea Immortal Halls."It was unclear what had happened in Central State or why the Tian Tong Hall and Tian Xiang Hall were so deeply hidden.Qin Sang didn't want to appear too obvious. After listening to the entire scripture, he continued north with Lu Zhang, but he had already made a mental note of the Gu God Sect.

The Southern Barbarian States were not a benevolent land, and the Gu God Sect was strange and unpredictable. To be safe, he decided it would be better to investigate personally after his main body achieved a breakthrough in the future.

Aside from the Fu River, there was another great river in the Central Plains — the Flying Cloud River.It flowed from north to south, originating in the Northern Wilderness, passing through Zhaoyao State and eastern Zhuo State. After converging with the Fu River in the Six States of Jiangzuo, it then branched out, traversing the Southern Barbarian States, finally emptying into the South Sea, thus spanning the entire Central Plains.

After leaving Barbarian State, the two boarded a ship on the Flying Cloud River and traveled upstream directly to Zhuo State.Imperishable Mountain's Daoist temple was located on the west bank of the Flying Cloud River.

After disembarking,Lu Zhang invited Qin Sang to Imperishable Mountain, but Qin Sang was eager to return to Pushan.Lu Zhang didn't insist further, solemnly stating, "Daoist Priest, rest assured. Upon my return, I will ask my Senior Brother, the Sect Master, for cold crystals and send someone to deliver them to your residence..."