Chapter 1870: Unrest

The Mortal World

“Hahahahaha…”

The dragon’s tail swept away the remnants of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Prisons and all the demons. The white-robed demon king’s wild laughter echoed through the Altar of Healing.

A mix of emotions swirled in the true masters’ hearts, but they couldn't dwell on them. The storm unleashed by the dragon’s tail was relentlessly devouring one illusion after another. They watched as the illusions they had just passed through were swallowed by the storm. Originally peaceful scenes were brutally torn apart, their fragments swept into the tempest with overwhelming force, which then surged forward to assault other illusions with even greater momentum. The storm was like a death knell; falling behind even a single step could lead to eternal perdition.

Above the Altar of Healing.

Golden light erupted from the large hole at the center of the auspicious clouds as the dragon’s tail finally withdrew from the Altar of Healing.

*Swish!*

The dragon’s tail vanished into the clouds, like a fleeting glimpse, becoming invisible. Then, a golden radiance was seen rapidly retreating within the clouds. The sea of clouds churned, accompanied by wind and thunder. From beginning to end, no one caught sight of the Great Sage of the Demon Race. The entire process, from the dragon’s tail piercing the Altar of Healing to sweeping away the remnants, occurred in mere instants.

Meanwhile, the brass bell was blocked by black wings, and the Star Talisman was trapped in a thunder domain.

*Ding-a-ling…*

The bell rang with unusual urgency. Rings of sound patterns erupted from the bell. These dense patterns connected, resembling mystical yellow-brown energy waves floating in the void, surging towards the black wings. There were no crashing waves, only layers upon layers of sound waves that appeared to push gently, yet accumulated astonishing power as they spread.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The sound waves repeatedly struck the black wings. The wings showed no weakness, their downward pressure irresistible, as if the sky itself were collapsing. The impact generated earth-shattering reverberations—a direct confrontation between a Daoist True Monarch and an Integration Stage monstrous beast.

The feathers on the surface of the black wings were no longer smooth, becoming disheveled. A yellow glow spread across the surface of the feathers, gradually covering the wings and extending over the entire body of the monstrous beast, finally outlining its complete form. A pair of wings unfurled across the vast heavens and earth, obscuring the highest sky, swooping down from beyond the heavens. It was a monstrous beast shaped like a giant falcon, with colossal eyes like the sun and moon, radiating terrifyingly fierce light. However, no falcon in the mortal world could ever possess such an enormous size. Anyone who witnessed this creature would recall the legendary Roc from Daoist scriptures, said to disperse clouds and carry the blue sky.

The brass bell itself was smaller than even a single feather of the monstrous beast, yet the yellow sound waves it emitted enveloped the creature’s entire body. The small opening of the bell faced the beast directly, serving as the source. The sound waves seemed like a pouch, threatening to swallow the enormous beast whole.

On another battlefield.

The Star Talisman was deeply entrenched in the thunder domain. Grey lightning bolts rained down, violently striking the Star Talisman. Yet, the moment they hit the talisman, it was as if they struck empty space; even the crackling thunder grew muffled. Looking at the center of the thunder domain, the talisman was gone, replaced by a cluster of starlight. The starlight was not concentrated but dispersed, with points of light scattered across a dark night sky.

This starry sky was now expanding outwards. Unlike the illusory starry sky that had appeared before, these stars were genuinely existent, though all lay on a single plane—it was, in fact, a star map. The talisman transformed into a star map. As the star map unfurled, the grey heavenly lightning continuously struck it, causing stars to shatter, but unable to destroy the map. The thunder sounded muffled, as if striking boundless void. Eventually, the star map surpassed the bounds of the thunder domain and continued to expand. The thunder domain, in turn, became part of the sea of stars. Soon, the star map extended beyond the brass bell, making it appear as an insignificant yellow star.

The stars within the map were many times brighter than their initial appearance, illuminating the sky and forming a true firmament. Night fell upon this realm. Previously, when the monstrous beast's wings obscured the heavens, they also brought darkness, but people could discern it was not real night, and only felt fear. In this moment, if the star map were to remain unchanged, people would not doubt it, but would genuinely believe that night had truly fallen.

Beneath the starry sky, a figure coalesced from starlight slowly emerged. Its form was ethereal, robed in starlight, identical in appearance to the Daoist in the Golden Hall of the Zhongmao Altar of Healing. As the Daoist’s phantom appeared, the expansion rate of the star map doubled, instantly encompassing the black-winged monstrous beast within the sea of stars. The Daoist pointed a finger into the void.

*Flash! Flash! Flash!*

Stars shot out beams of starlight, connecting to each other. The star map transformed into a vast net, seeking to trap both monstrous beasts with its sole power.

*Screech!*

Enraged, the monstrous beast let out a sharp cry, its wings beating violently as it fiercely slammed into the star map. Seizing this opportunity, the brass bell retracted its sound waves, trembled slightly, and transformed into a red light, shooting past the monstrous beast and towards the Great Sage of the Demon Race. By then, the dragon’s tail had already vanished into the clouds. The dark clouds receded like a tide, and the red light and golden radiance chased each other, disappearing into the horizon.

The Daoist figure stirred, as if to step out of the sea of stars, but then paused. The two monstrous beasts clearly wouldn’t be easily trapped, and the Daoist couldn't be sure if, upon his departure, they would pursue him or charge towards the Daoist cultivators below. If a Great Sage-level monstrous beast were to break into the battle formation, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Looking beyond the Altar of Healing, dust rose behind them, and a beast tide had formed in the distance. Deeper within the Land of Evil, the Daoist also sensed subtle auras, restless and agitated. The Guifang Kingdom’s act of sounding the Demon Summoning Drum here was undoubtedly a perilous gamble. If things went wrong, the Daoist sect would suffer heavy losses, and the Guifang Kingdom would not be spared either. The Daoist gazed towards the horizon, his brows furrowed.

Inside the Altar of Healing, unprecedented chaos reigned. Here, Nascent Soul cultivators were like ants, streaks of escape light darting through the endless illusions. Some fled frantically, others moved in the opposite direction, and some simply observed, seeking refuge.

One streak of lightning light was heading towards Qin Sang’s immortal’s cave. After True Master Zuo departed, Qin Sang immediately set off too, but instead of following True Master Zuo, he rushed back to his immortal’s cave with the utmost speed.

“That must have been the Great Sage of the Demon Race…”

The image of that dragon’s tail lingered in his mind, refusing to fade. Coupled with True Master Zuo’s behavior, the truth was self-evident.

“I still don’t know the situation outside the Altar of Healing. Since the Great Sage of the Demon Race personally intervened, the Daoist True Monarchs must have appeared too… To strike once and then leave, could the Divine Court have already been seized by the Great Sage of the Demon Race?”

Qin Sang felt a wave of unease. He was not a member of the Daoist sect, yet he relied on Daoist talismans to establish himself in this world. If the Daoist sect were to fail and lose the Divine Court, wouldn’t his path fall into the hands of demons? Before this, Qin Sang hadn’t realized how crucial and far-reaching this battle was.

Moreover, the impact of this battle extended beyond that. Qin Sang turned his head to look into the depths of the Altar of Healing. If his guess was correct, the dragon’s tail’s target was the place True Master Zuo had mentioned earlier, not far from the Scarlet Gold Spirit Needle. He feared the Scarlet Gold Spirit Needle had already been swept into the storm. It was hard to predict what impact this battle would have on the Two Worlds Passage, hindering his grand plan of return.

However, these were concerns for later. His immediate priority was the Flower Spirit in his own immortal’s cave. Regardless, the Flower Spirit could not be destroyed again.

*Whoosh!*

The escape light passed through the barrier and stopped above the large formation of the flower field. Qin Sang surveyed the flower field, seeing the Flower Spirit swaying. The dragon’s tail had shaken the Altar of Healing, and vibrations were already being transmitted. His expression was grave, his thoughts racing. After a moment of hesitation, he didn’t directly move the Flower Spirit, deciding to observe a little longer. A single strike from a Great Sage of the Demon Race shouldn’t be enough to destabilize the entire Altar of Healing, unless the Daoist True Monarchs and the Great Sage of the Demon Race were going to enter the Altar of Healing for a major battle. This immortal’s cave perhaps had a chance to be preserved. Going out now and getting caught in the battlefield of Integration Stage mighty figures might not be safer than staying here. The Altar of Healing also served as a barrier.

Qin Sang hovered above the flower field, monitoring the depths of the Altar of Healing, concentrating on sensing the fluctuations of the illusion storm, and occasionally looking up at the sky. His mind was constantly tense, ready to take the Flower Spirit away at any moment.

The storm intensified. Illusions were constantly devoured by the storm, which continuously expanded outwards. Qin Sang’s position in his immortal’s cave had not yet been directly affected by the storm, but the fluctuations he sensed were growing stronger. Soon, areas not directly hit by the main body of the storm also felt its profound impact. Illusions everywhere had their foundations shaken, causing unusual phenomena, just like when the golden light erupted.

A rumbling sound came from beneath Qin Sang’s feet, caused by the vibrations of the flower field’s grand formation. As time passed, the tremors grew more violent. Qin Sang also entered the formation, his eyes gleaming, seemingly calculating something.

“It seems the storm’s expansion rate is slowing down…” Qin Sang murmured.

It appeared that the long-maintained balance of the Altar of Healing was not so fragile. The ancient divine abilities, stable for countless years, could themselves resist the storm to a certain extent. Once a certain limit was reached, the storm would cease expanding, and a turning point would emerge. However, Qin Sang was unsure where that limit lay.

The impact on the grand formation continued to intensify. Qin Sang tried to stabilize the formation, but he couldn't keep the flower field settled.

“Oh no!”

A flash of insight struck Qin Sang, reminding him of something. He instantly vanished into the core of the flower field’s array and, sure enough, found the poisonous fruits inside violently shaking. The poison-gathering array within the core was added by later generations, cleverly embedded within the grand flower field formation. With the grand formation under attack, the poisonous fruits couldn't escape harm. If this continued, the remaining pulp would likely be destroyed. Qin Sang had no choice but to divide a part of his mind to monitor the poisonous fruits, while returning outside to manage the grand formation.

*Rumble, rumble, rumble…*

The storm’s expansion rate noticeably slowed. However, the poison-gathering array could no longer hold out. Qin Sang flashed back into the core, sighed softly, and picked the poisonous fruits, storing them in a jade bottle. Transplanting the Flower Spirit would require a long recovery period, and these pulps could support his breakthrough to the late Nascent Soul Stage. They couldn’t be ruined here. With the poisonous fruits removed, the poison-gathering array immediately fell into disarray. Due to their interconnected energies, the grand flower field formation was affected, developing significant flaws, worsening the situation. Qin Sang desperately tried to maintain it, resisting wave after wave of impact. He watched with a pained heart as the Flower Spirits below swayed precariously, some already showing signs of wilting.

While Qin Sang was protecting his own immortal’s cave, the old Daoist and his companions were desperately fleeing for their lives. Along the way, they had expended countless precious talismans and treasures. Finally, they encountered their first fellow cultivator.

“True Master Lei!”

The purple-robed True Master shouted, his voice filled with surprise. They had just endured a fierce battle and then protected so many juniors in their escape, already feeling overwhelmed. They had finally received aid. After the appearance of the South Heaven Gate, all the Daoist True Masters had been rushing towards it. Even with the storm emerging, these True Masters did not abandon their comrades but chose to move against the flow.

The newcomer was a refined-looking man, seemingly around twenty years old, with a short beard on his chin and an extraordinary demeanor. Upon seeing the old Daoist and his group, True Master Lei visibly relaxed. With a wave of his hand, he released over a dozen spirit talismans. Their light sprinkled over the battle formation, and everyone felt as if riding the wind, their escape speed greatly increasing.

“Where are the others?”

As the two groups converged, the purple-robed Daoist saw he was alone and asked.

“This humble Daoist hasn’t encountered any other fellow Daoists. As for the juniors, they are waiting behind…”

With that, True Master Lei maneuvered his talisman altar, merging into the formation to share the burden with the four great True Masters. Gradually, more and more great True Masters arrived as reinforcements, and finally, True Master Zuo also appeared. With the true masters working together, the pressure greatly eased, and the storm’s expansion rate began to slow.

Eventually, the true masters halted, looking back the way they came. From their position, they could see with their naked eyes a dim, chaotic storm, devouring everything. No trace of any illusion could be found within it. True Master Zuo and the others had already learned the truth. Gazing at the storm, the true masters fell into a prolonged silence.

“The Divine Court’s appearance… was it truly false?”

True Master Lei’s expression was dazed, his voice almost a whisper, filled with unwillingness. “Was it truly… just a lure from the Guifang Kingdom?”

The true masters remained silent. Everyone understood what the return of the Divine Court meant. To have hope ignited only to be extinguished was hard for even their resolute minds to accept. Even if half of the Divine Court had been taken by demons, it would have been better than the current situation.

“The anomaly at the Altar of Healing a hundred years ago, was it just a normal tremor?” True Master Ruo Quan frowned slightly, looking at the old Daoist.

Devising a scheme was not difficult; the challenge lay in how to convince the Daoist court and the True Monarchs that the Divine Court had truly emerged. The Guifang Kingdom’s plot had been brewing for an unknown duration, but it could be inferred that it likely began with that Altar of Healing anomaly. If it was just an ordinary tremor, no matter how realistic the Divine Court’s decree was made, it would be difficult to make the Daoist court go all-in, right?

The old Daoist remained silent. No one could answer True Master Ruo Quan’s question. They could sense that the question carried True Master Ruo Quan’s unwillingness. How they wished the Altar of Healing of Jushan still held unknown secrets, rather than being a pure conspiracy.

After a while, the purple-robed True Master sighed softly, “The remnants of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Prisons were lost in our hands. I don’t know how we will explain this to our fellow Daoists in the Palace of Heavenly Yin when we return.”

Everyone carefully looked at the old Daoist upon hearing this. Perhaps out of guilt and unease, the old Daoist had kept a tense expression and remained silent. The purple-robed True Master’s words now were meant to share the blame for the lost treasure.

Someone muttered, “For the Palace of Heavenly Yin, it might not be a bad thing. The Guifang Kingdom has been plotting for over a hundred years, with multiple demon kings sacrificing their cultivation. The scene of the Divine Court’s appearance was so realistic, indicating that the Great Sage of the Demon Race was determined to acquire the remnants of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Prisons. Even if we hadn’t brought them over, they would certainly have had other means to divert the two True Monarchs… If the Great Sage of the Demon Race personally attacked Crane Song Mountain, I’m afraid more than just the remnants would have been lost.”

While that was true, all the true masters knew inwardly that such words could only be spoken among themselves, not used to placate the Palace of Heavenly Yin.

“The True Monarchs will surely compensate the Palace of Heavenly Yin for its losses. I wonder what the situation is like outside. We shouldn’t stay here long. Let’s get out quickly! We might still be able to slay some demons and atone for our mistakes!”

True Master Zuo interjected. The true masters nodded in agreement, no longer delaying. They soared on streaks of escape light towards the outside of the Altar of Healing.