Chapter 1646: Magic Corruption

The Bodhi tree, ten thousand years old, still stands, its luxuriant branches now forming a vast canopy.

A meditation room, a small courtyard, exuding tranquility and solitude.

The bhikkhuni from Yan Yue Convent stood silently and solemnly before the small courtyard, seemingly contemplating the state of mind of her sect’s matriarch from long ago.

This was once the matriarch's secluded meditation place.

When her Taoist companion achieved soul transformation and ascended to the East, the matriarch of Yan Yue Convent, unable to bear the pangs of lovesickness, began studying Buddhism even before she became a nun. The Wuxiang Immortal Sect had specially established this sanctuary for her within their own sect. Even after she founded her own sect, Yan Yue Convent, this meditation courtyard was preserved.

The teleportation array to the former site of Yan Yue Convent was not far from the courtyard. They located the former site of Yan Yue Convent, but to their surprise, the convent itself had also been severely damaged in that world-shattering war. So much time had passed that it took considerable effort to pinpoint the precise location of the nunnery. Fortunately, the teleportation array was still intact, allowing all the nuns to enter.

The elder nun, with a respectful apology, pushed open the door. Inside, the furnishings were incredibly simple: only a prayer mat, and no other relics of the matriarch. Upon seeing this, the elder nun led her fellow nuns in paying their respects to the matriarch before they exited. Their primary objective for this journey was to seek opportunities within the Wuxiang Immortal Sect.

"What a magnificent immortal mansion!" a young nun couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Others, gazing at the inherited mansion with its towering, unusual peaks and intricate immortal restrictions, were equally captivated and profoundly agreed.

"Master, the Wuxiang Immortal Sect is vast. Where should we go first?" the young nun asked the elder nun.

The elder nun led them to a nearby peak to survey the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's terrain. After a moment's thought, she mused, "The Wuxiang Immortal Sect centers around its Five Veins, with the Imperial Mountain serving as their shared nexus. There's also an ancient immortal palace. All these places hold immense opportunities. Our matriarch studied the Water Aspect lineage, and her Taoist companion was once the master of the Metal Aspect. The cultivation methods and divine abilities of our Yan Yue Convent are rooted in these two lineages."

"'The Great Prime Metal-Adamant Sword Scripture' is a true Metal Aspect inheritance, isn't it? Our convent is missing the latter three sections. Can we find them here?" The young nun's face lit up with excitement.

"'Indeed. The Metal Aspect is primarily focused on combat, excelling particularly in swordsmanship. In its time, the immortal mountain housing the Metal Aspect Hall was revered as the holy land for sword cultivators in Zhongzhou. Due to an oath, our matriarch could only transmit the first six sections of the Sword Scripture to Yan Yue Convent. The remaining three sections were closely guarded secrets of the Metal Aspect Hall." The elder nun recounted the origins of their sect's cultivation techniques and divine abilities with intimate familiarity.

The young nun, whose primary cultivation was this very Sword Scripture, was overjoyed at this revelation and strongly urged them to head to the Metal Aspect Hall first. However, there were also fellow disciples present who practiced Water Aspect cultivation methods.

Naturally, most, including Liuli, preferred to first locate the entrance to the ancient immortal palace. She was recalling a rumor the elder nun had mentioned earlier: the Wuxiang Immortal Sect once controlled an ancient immortal palace!

'The Zhongzhou Immortal Palace... is it connected to the Ziwei Palace that took Master away?' A rare ripple of emotion stirred within Liuli's thoughts. At the same time, a figure appeared in her mind. She recalled Qin Sang once mentioning that another reason for his journey to Zhongzhou was to locate an immortal palace and acquire a crucial cultivation method. They were, in a way, seeking the same destination by different paths. Unfortunately, she had no idea where the immortal palace was located. Moreover, since their parting in the Western Desert, they hadn't seen each other for many years. The current events had unfolded too suddenly for her to contact him in time.

Liuli's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Unable to reach a consensus, someone suggested splitting up, but the elder nun immediately vetoed it. "We've already spent too much time searching for the nunnery," she explained. "Those at the entrance are likely close to finding a way through the cloud barrier. Furthermore, we don't know how many powerful cultivators of unknown origin have already entered. It's too dangerous for you to split up!"

Ultimately, they decided to first approach the most conspicuous Imperial Mountain to gain a clearer understanding of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's layout before deciding on their next destination.

***

Outside the Immortal Estate, more and more cultivators gathered. News of the immortal estate's emergence swept through the two Southern Barbarian states and quickly spread across all of Zhongzhou. Immortal cultivators converged from all directions. Taiyue Mountain was bustling with people.

Most immortal cultivators, lacking sufficient cultivation, were blocked by the turbulent currents at the entrance, gazing up at the vortex in the sky. As time passed, the turbulent currents within the passage weakened, allowing even Golden Core stage cultivators to withstand their impact and enter the storm. However, upon entering, they discovered that the pioneering Nascent Soul ancestors were halted by a cloud barrier, powerless to proceed. They inwardly sighed, realizing they could only patiently wait for the cloud barrier to dissipate.

Gradually, the cloud barrier grew denser and more formidable. The clouds and mist surged like a raging sea, filling the entire passage with their violent currents. After a period of exploration and experimentation, the Nascent Soul cultivators finally deciphered some patterns. With the exception of a few independent individuals, most began venturing into the clouds in groups.

Inside the sea of clouds.

Suddenly, a streak of green light pierced through the clouds, and several figures swiftly followed, emerging from the sea of clouds. The leader was none other than Hua Chenzi, the Grand Elder of Taiyue Sect, with experts from Taiyue Sect and the Daoist sect close behind.

"'Finally, we're inside!'" a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Eightfold View sect exclaimed, ascending the mountain peak at the entrance. Upon seeing the landscape within the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, he was visibly astonished by its profound heritage.

"'Quickly, find the secret marks left by the Abbot and Sect Master Yue!'" The experts from both sects exchanged brief words before immediately taking action.

Shortly after their entry, descendants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect also ventured through the sea of clouds in groups. Soon, more and more Nascent Soul cultivators poured in, and the Wuxiang Immortal Sect gradually grew livelier!

***

Imperial Mountain.

Qin Sang's true self chose to ascend the Imperial Mountain via a stone path on its southwestern side, taking a different route from Zhu Wudao and the others. Having set out early, he was already nearing the halfway point of the mountain.

The Soul-Searching Crying Spirit Cave Lord had learned of their agreement with Zhu Wudao. To save his life, Zhu Wudao had sworn an oath by his inner demon. If Zhu Wudao managed to escape the Daoist sect's pursuit and survive, they agreed to meet at the foot of Imperial Mountain. He also swore to lead them to an opportunity for soul transformation. However, the Crying Spirit Cave Lord and Mo Xingdao were not ones to take risks without certainty. They ultimately compelled Zhu Wudao to disclose crucial information about the Wordless Jade Stele and the Five Aspect Tokens. Even if Zhu Wudao were to be captured and killed by the Daoist sect, they could still use the Five Aspect Tokens to enter Imperial Mountain.

Qin Sang had no ties to Zhu Wudao or his companions and saw no reason to involve himself. As the Crying Spirit Cave Lord had been slain by him, meeting up was no longer possible. Qin Sang thus used the time Zhu Wudao and the others would take to arrive, moving ahead to verify the function of the Five Aspect Tokens. If Zhu Wudao had lied, it wouldn't be too late to track them.

From afar, the most striking feature of Imperial Mountain was the silhouette of an ancient temple nestled among its peaks. Upon entering the mountain, one would discover that there were surprisingly few structures on Imperial Mountain. Winding paths led to secluded spots. Qin Sang ascended the stone steps quickly. The scenery along the way was entirely natural; aside from the steps themselves, there were almost no man-made traces, not even a single wooden pavilion.

After passing through the dense woods, the path suddenly opened up. Ahead, a magnificent jade mountain gate, intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes, suddenly appeared. The towering jade gate bore four ancient characters, 'Cloud Mountain Realm,' imbued with an enduring aura. Behind the jade gate stretched a straight staircase of white jade, leading directly into the clouds. The mist there was like a boundless sea, ethereal as a fairyland, its destination unknown.

Every stone path on Imperial Mountain had similar mountain gates. The ancient characters on each gate varied, as did the areas they connected to, but without exception, all led to crucial or forbidden areas of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect! Qin Sang was unsure of the 'Cloud Mountain Realm's' true nature. However, Zhu Wudao had claimed that the Wordless Jade Stele was located at the summit of Imperial Mountain and accessible from any path, so Qin Sang didn't need to be overly concerned.

Arriving before the mountain gate, Qin Sang paused, holding the Wood Aspect Token in his left hand, and meticulously surveyed the jade gate and the scene beyond it. Moments later, a peculiar glint flickered in Qin Sang's eyes. After a brief deliberation, he summoned the Heavenly Eye Butterfly from his Dantian. The butterfly's shadow fluttered and landed on Qin Sang's shoulder. Qin Sang formed a hand seal, remarkably activating a secret technique of the Witch Tribe to unleash the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's full potential. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly unfurled its wings and stood still. The Heavenly Eye patterns on its wings shimmered with spiritual light, appearing like two truly divine, radiant eyes.

He gazed at the scene beyond the gate for a long time. Doubt gradually crept onto Qin Sang's face. 'An illusion?' The Heavenly Eye Butterfly's divine ability was undoubtedly the bane of illusions. Yet, Qin Sang's tone lacked confidence. The scene beyond the gate seemed to be an illusion, yet also contained elements that felt genuinely real, confusing his judgment and leaving him with a sense of paradox and strangeness.

Qin Sang tightened his grip on the Wood Aspect Token and took his first step towards the jade gate.

'Whoosh!'

The surrounding scenery remained unchanged. The moment Qin Sang passed through the jade gate, the light and shadows abruptly dimmed. The mist that had been above him suddenly collapsed, pouring down like a white waterfall, akin to a great river breaching its banks, rushing forth with an overwhelming force.

Qin Sang's breath hitched. He looked up sharply, only to find the jade gate had vanished without a trace. In the blink of an eye, the tide of mist surged closer, its power astonishing. Qin Sang was on the verge of being engulfed by the mist. Unexpectedly, the mist suddenly parted to both sides the moment it made contact with Qin Sang. Spiritual light flared, and a protective aura appeared on Qin Sang's body. He activated the Ruyi Pearl, but it was not this treasure that shielded him. Instead, it was the Wood Aspect Token in his hand that helped Qin Sang withstand the mist tide!

Qin Sang lowered his gaze to his left hand. The token emitted a faint blue glow, barely perceptible. He had not infused any true essence into the Wood Aspect Token. In fact, Qin Sang had tried multiple times on his way there, but no energy or mental incantations could elicit a response from the Wood Aspect Token. But upon stepping through the jade gate, the Wood Aspect Token had suddenly changed. The faint blue glow effortlessly parted the mist, and Qin Sang felt no impact whatsoever. After standing still for a moment, the blue glow persisted without fading.

Qin Sang noticed that the white jade staircase, which had initially led straight upward, had somehow shifted, now veering to the right. A faint blue glow also appeared on the surface of the steps, clearly a change caused by the Wood Aspect Token. His Heavenly Eye could penetrate the mist, but still couldn't perceive the end of the path. Only this single path lay before him. Qin Sang began his ascent. With his feet on solid ground, the white jade staircase proved to be real, not illusory. As he progressed, Qin Sang continuously observed the Wood Aspect Token. The blue glow pulsed rhythmically, like breathing, but showed no other changes. Observing this, Qin Sang accelerated his pace.

The white jade staircase was of an unnatural length! Qin Sang judged that the distance he had already covered should have been sufficient to reach the Imperial Mountain's summit, yet there was still no end to the white jade staircase in sight. An array was clearly at work. He didn't know how much further he had walked. Qin Sang's steps paused slightly. Finally, within the sea of mist, he spotted something new: an exceptionally exquisite three-story jade pavilion!

***

At the foot of Imperial Mountain.

The mountain wind rustled. Beneath an ancient tree, two figures suddenly emerged: two Daoist cultivators. One was a female Daoist, who, despite her robes, had a charming demeanor that hinted she wasn't a typical member of the Daoist sect. The other, a male Daoist wearing a Daoist crown and white robes, stood tall and elegant, holding a scarlet treasured sword, truly resembling an enlightened master. Both were Nascent Soul cultivators!

Gazing at the immortal mountain now within reach, and the ubiquitous celestial phenomena surrounding them, the female Daoist's excitement intensified. Then, recalling something, she playfully chided, "Senior Brother, you've kept this junior sister in suspense for far too long!"

The white-robed Daoist smiled faintly. "Both the Daoist and Buddhist sects are keeping a close watch," he replied. "If we revealed that our Yutai Sect is a descendant of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, where would our entire sect find refuge? This elder brother has simply followed our ancestral teachings. Since our ancestors' time, our sect has remained hidden from the world, and this secret was known only to the Sect Leader. I truly believed the Wuxiang Immortal Sect would never reappear, yet here we are, seeing its emergence!"

The female Daoist, feigning a pout, couldn't suppress her smile, giggling, "I never expected our sect also recorded another passage to the Wuxiang Immortal Sect! It seems our Yutai Sect is more than just a simple descendant of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect! Let those others wait outside; the treasures within this immortal mountain now belong to our Yutai Sect!"

The white-robed Daoist, however, was not so optimistic. His tone grew slightly serious as he cautioned, "Have you forgotten what others were discussing? Several powerful cultivators had already entered the immortal estate before the cloud barrier erupted. Junior Sister, you must not let your guard down!"

"'What's there to fear? Didn't they all head off to contend for the opportunities within the immortal palace?'"

Despite her words, the female Daoist suppressed her smile and turned to ask, "Senior Brother, you're still keeping secrets from me even now that we're here! What extraordinary treasure lies within this mountain? Why aren't you going to the immortal palace or the Five Aspects first? Why here, of all places?"

"'Imperial Mountain is the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's ancestral cultivation ground. You understand its significance, don't you?'" The white-robed Daoist glanced up at the peak. "'However, what I seek isn't the ancestral master's relics, but artifacts left by a Soul Transformation cultivator!'" He gazed up at the mountain's summit, a look of anticipation on his face.

"'Soul Transformation artifacts?'" The female Daoist's expression shifted from delight to surprise, then to profound confusion. "Didn't you say the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was destroyed by the betrayal of the Daoist and Buddhist sects, and its top experts were almost entirely annihilated? How could there be Soul Transformation artifacts here?"

The white-robed Daoist observed for a moment, then swiftly moved to the nearby stone steps, signaling the female Daoist to follow. He explained, "According to our sect's ancient records, the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's downfall wasn't solely due to the betrayal of the Daoist and Buddhist sects. The greatest factor was that the Wuxiang Immortal Sect suffered immense losses during a demonic tribulation. Their top experts sustained heavy casualties, and even the survivors were afflicted by demonic corruption, which created an opportunity for their enemies."

"'Demonic corruption?'" The female Daoist looked utterly perplexed, as if listening to an incomprehensible scripture. She had never heard of these secrets before.

The white-robed Daoist pondered for a moment before replying, "What demonic corruption specifically entails, the ancient records don't detail, and I can't fully explain it either. It's said that the Wuxiang Immortal Sect inadvertently released an unparalleled demon from an immortal palace, which triggered the demonic tribulation. The most terrifying aspect wasn't the demon's strength, but a bizarre method it possessed, which the records called 'demonic corruption.' Those afflicted would unknowingly lose their sense of self and transform into fiends. The Wuxiang Immortal Sect's momentary oversight led to the spread of this corruption, swiftly escalating into a demonic tribulation that nearly overwhelmed the entire cultivation world!"

The female Daoist grew more and more horrified with each word.

The white-robed Daoist also felt a shiver. He paused, then looked up at the mountain's summit. "When the demonic tribulation swept through the cultivation world, it was at the height of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's power. They paid an unimaginable price to quash the tribulation and subdue the unparalleled demon. But after the demonic tribulation, the surviving powerful cultivators of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect discovered that they, too, had unknowingly been afflicted by demonic corruption, with demonic intent deeply ingrained within them. Therefore, the remaining powerful cultivators of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, despite their severe injuries, had no choice but to seal themselves within Imperial Mountain. They intended to use a grand array and their profound cultivation to dispel the demonic corruption, planning for their descendants to awaken them once the hidden threat was removed. Alas... they never awakened."

As he spoke, he produced a token. Its form was identical to the Wood Aspect Token, but it was engraved with the character for 'Fire'!