Chapter 1989: Jitian Sect

Wuxia and Xianxia

A group of people crowded onto the deck of the multi-story ship, admiring the magnificent scenery below.

North of the Fire Domain, endless magma still flowed.

While mountains and land could still be seen in the Fire Domain, resembling islands in a vast sea, here, the land was entirely swallowed by magma.

As far as the eye could see, everything was a fiery red.

Everywhere lay an endless expanse of magma, a veritable sea of lava. There was no solid ground, and the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship had flown continuously day and night for several days without ever leaving the magma's expanse.

Even cultivators who practiced fire-element techniques in the Fire Domain dared not venture too deep.

For countless years, the magma had flowed continuously here, its flames burning eternally. For most living beings, this was a land of ultimate peril.

“Look! Look! Is that a Phoenix Blossom?”

A young woman pointed below and exclaimed.

Everyone looked in unison, seeing a flickering crimson glow amidst the surging magma.

This crimson glow was deeper and more vibrant than the magma's own light, yet it was so tiny and constantly bobbing up and down in the lava that it was easily overlooked.

Cultivators skilled in spiritual eye techniques activated their true essence and saw a uniquely shaped flower within the glow.

Able to bloom in magma, this flower was certainly a spirit flower. A cultivator familiar with herbal texts recognized it as the rather rare spirit flower the young woman had mentioned—the Phoenix Blossom.

“What a pity!”

As the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship flew over the spirit flower, the young woman’s face filled with disappointment.

The Phoenix Blossom was a spiritual medicine she needed for her cultivation, and she had searched for it fruitlessly for a long time. She had originally planned to try her luck at the Jitian Grand Assembly but unexpectedly found it here.

However, the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship was flying too fast and couldn't possibly stop for them, so it seemed they would miss it.

“Brother Liu, give me a hand! I’ll go retrieve the flower for my junior sister!”

A dashing young man stepped forward, took out a golden rope, flung it to his companion, then leapt over the deck railing.

His companion caught the golden rope, flicked his wrist, and swung it forcefully downwards.

Swoosh!

A streak of golden light shot through the air, swiftly following the young man.

Though the golden rope was less than a *zhang* in length, it now seemed endless, extending infinitely as it shot towards the ground with the young man.

The young man gauged the distance, performed a hand-seal Daoist technique, formed a single-hand seal, and a large hand materialized out of thin air, grasping towards the spirit flower from above.

Just then, the young man suddenly sensed a hidden presence in the magma, seething with monstrous rage. His heart sank, and he inwardly cried out, “This isn’t good!”

This flower had a guardian spirit beast!

Whoosh!

The magma churned into huge waves, and with a furious roar, a fiery red figure burst forth.

It was serpentine in form and slammed violently into the hand-seal, shattering it instantly.

The spirit beast's charge was relentless; the young man could already see its sharp fangs, and his face paled slightly.

Those on the ship also witnessed the scene. His companion tugged hard on the golden rope and shouted, “Danger! Brother Yin, come back quickly!”

In that critical moment, the young man snapped out of his trance, grabbed the end of the rope, but instead of fleeing directly, he opened his mouth and spat out a beam of green light.

Within the green light was a jade ring that suddenly expanded then sharply contracted, encircling the spirit beast like a tight hoop, firmly binding it.

Roar!

The spirit beast thrashed its head and tail, struggling wildly. The jade ring, unable to bear the strain, immediately developed cracks.

The young man seized the fleeting opportunity, flicked his sleeve, and unleashed a flying sword. The sword light swept up the spirit flower, and simultaneously, the golden rope recoiled, pulling him swiftly away with the treasure ship.

Bang!

The spirit beast shattered the jade ring. Its enemy was now just a wisp of green light, vanishing within a few breaths, leaving it only to roar wildly in place.

Faintly hearing the mournful roars from behind, everyone on the ship felt a lingering fear as they looked at the spirit flower in the young man's hand.

“You truly haven’t changed your flirtatious ways!”

His companion clapped the young man on the shoulder. “That Solitary Shadow Ring—I remember you were saving it as a trump card for the Grand Assembly. Was it worth sacrificing it here just for one Phoenix Blossom?”

The young man grinned, handed the spirit flower to the young woman, and seeing her cradling the flower in both hands, eyes downcast, her face flushed with shyness, it was clear that it was worth it.

“Look ahead!”

A commotion from the ship's bow drew everyone’s attention.

The young man and the young woman walked to the bow side-by-side, immediately captivated by the magnificent sight before them.

Before them, mist surged like a tide in the void, thick water vapor obscuring the sky and sun, forming a colossal wall of fog stretching across their path.

By activating their divine abilities, they could see that these mists had a boundary, forming a long belt of fog.

It turned out they had reached the boundary of the magma, and ahead lay an boundless expanse of water.

At the demarcation point, magma surged and water flowed majestically, clashing fiercely. Water vapor billowed, creating a magnificent sight where the land was distinctly divided into fiery red and deep blue, with a long black line in between, like a boundary separating two vast regions.

The Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship proudly broke through the mist.

Qin Sang and Old Man Guyun were discussing the Dao over tea in a quiet chamber.

Old Man Guyun glanced outside and said, “We’ve entered Yuanlan Lake. Daoist Friend Yu’s cultivation sanctuary is in the northern region of Yuanlan Lake.”

Qin Sang gazed intently, unable to see any boundary; it was astonishingly just a lake.

“Is Daoist Friend Yu’s Ancient Grain Garden on a central island in the lake?” Qin Sang deduced from the name that the Ancient Grain Garden’s heritage might be related to the wood element.

“You’ll see when we arrive, Daoist Priest.”

Old Man Guyun smiled mysteriously, keeping Qin Sang in suspense, then added seriously, “We are planning for a Lesser Thousand World. If we are to seek an alliance, Daoist Friend Yu’s Ancient Grain Garden is the best choice.”

“Oh?” Qin Sang’s expression remained unchanged as he listened attentively to Old Man Guyun’s detailed explanation.

“When Daoist Friend Yu was young, he was also a distinguished young talent. He won the heart of a fairy from the Jitian Sect, and the two became Daoist companions, a story widely praised at the time. Unfortunately, that fairy was unable to break through the Void Refinement barrier, and her lifespan ended. However, with this connection, Daoist Friend Yu holds influence within the Jitian Sect.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang pondered and asked, “Was Daoist Friend Yu’s Daoist companion perhaps the descendant of an elder?”

He didn’t ask this question idly.

While a connection between the Ancient Grain Garden and the Jitian Sect was certainly good, too much of a good thing could be detrimental.

If the Ancient Grain Garden were too powerful, they might take the dominant role, only offering the Green Ram Daoist Temple scraps, leaving them angry but unable to speak out.

“At that time, the Ancient Grain Garden was not yet a renowned sect. Daoist Friend Yu’s Daoist companion was just an ordinary disciple. She gained some recognition after Daoist Friend Yu broke through to Void Refinement, but she still couldn’t compare to the descendants of Jitian Sect elders,” Old Man Guyun explained, having guessed Qin Sang’s concerns.

All Jitian Sect elders were Void Refinement cultivators, holding high positions, wielding great authority, and possessing immense cultivation.

“Daoist Friend Yu is precisely worried that their relationship might weaken over time, so this time he brought his favored disciple, hoping to forge another marital alliance at the Grand Assembly,” Old Man Guyun chuckled.

From this, it was clear that the Ancient Grain Garden’s relationship with the Jitian Sect was not particularly close.

Qin Sang mused thoughtfully, then asked, “Have you discussed this with him, Daoist Friend?”

“Not yet,” Old Man Guyun shook his head. “We definitely need to discuss it with you first, Daoist Priest. This Daoist Friend Yu is very shrewd, and his appetite won’t be small.”

“First, ask him to investigate information about that small grotto-heaven. Other matters can be discussed later. If we truly need to leverage the Ancient Grain Garden’s influence, this humble Daoist will certainly not be stingy,” Qin Sang stated decisively.

An innocent man is guilty only for possessing treasure.

He had never intended for the Green Ram Daoist Temple to monopolize the small grotto-heaven; the legacy of the Soulfall Abyss alone would be inexhaustible for them.

After flying for several days, when they saw the Ancient Grain Garden’s main gate, Qin Sang understood why Old Man Guyun’s tone had been so peculiar.

The Ancient Grain Garden’s main gate was, astonishingly, an enormous ancient tree.

This ancient tree’s trunk lay horizontally, floating on the water, drifting with the currents.

The ancient tree’s trunk was several thousand *zhang* wide, and its massive canopy alone resembled a lush, green island. The Ancient Grain Garden was built right on the trunk.

Although the ancient tree appeared to be an ordinary spiritual pagoda tree, one of its immense size was certainly extraordinary.

As the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship arrived above the Ancient Grain Garden, streaks of escape light immediately flew up from below, boarding the treasure ship.

Qin Sang and Old Man Guyun stepped out together to greet them, meeting Sect Master Yu.

Sect Master Yu wore a blue robe, his face fair and clean. He resembled a middle-aged scholar, his eyes bright and piercing, gleaming with sharp intelligence.

Seeing Qin Sang, Sect Master Yu’s eyes lit up. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “This must be Daoist Priest Qingfeng, who vanquished that corpse demon! I’ve long admired you!”

Qin Sang naturally did not act humble. The more confidence he exuded, the more others would be wary of the Green Ram Daoist Temple.

“This humble Daoist has also long admired Sect Master Yu’s reputation,” Qin Sang replied, returning the courtesy.

“Heh heh, that corpse demon was incredibly ferocious and acted without restraint; he even provoked me once. If not for my sect’s matters tying me down, I would certainly have contended with him that day. For Daoist Priest to act and eliminate that demon, upholding righteousness, is truly gratifying! However, that corpse demon had a few like-minded demon lords who will also attend the Jitian Grand Assembly, so Daoist Priest must still be careful,” Sect Master Yu seemingly kindly reminded him.

Qin Sang’s expression remained calm as he lightly said, “Since ancient times, evil has never triumphed over righteousness. One simply deals with threats as they come.”

Having slain Demon Ancestor Minghu, he naturally had to inquire about the demon’s background.

This demon had no significant backing; most of his acquaintances were early-stage Void Refinement cultivators, with no powerful figures among his close friends.

Had it been before, he might have been wary.

His great battle with Demon Ancestor Minghu had proven his strength, and his cultivation in force had greatly increased afterward, making him fearless of any cultivators of the same rank.

Moreover, those in the Demonic Path were cunning and wary of each other; why would they seek revenge for Demon Ancestor Minghu?

Sect Master Yu was secretly surprised. He had thought Qin Sang was merely a helper invited by Old Man Guyun, and that the elimination of Demon Ancestor Minghu was thanks to Old Man Guyun’s planning.

Could it be that Old Man Guyun hadn’t exaggerated earlier?

Sect Master Yu burst into laughter. “Daoist Priest, you don’t need to worry. Those demon lords are selfish; they won’t do anything without benefit. If anyone truly dares to step out, we won’t let them run wild!”

“This humble Daoist thanks both Daoist Friends in advance,” Qin Sang replied with a faint smile, cupping his hands.

“This is not the place for conversation. Sect Master Yu, why don’t we move to the quiet chamber for a discussion?”

Old Man Guyun interjected at the opportune moment, instructing Yunxi to settle the Ancient Grain Garden disciples.

The three headed towards the quiet chamber.

Sect Master Yu explained to Qin Sang, “Our sect’s flying artifact is not as good as the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship from Cloud City Heaven. Last time, outside the Jitian Sect, we were almost ridiculed, so this time I won’t make a fool of myself and will simply share Daoist Friend Guyun’s glory.”

Old Man Guyun chuckled, “Once we meet Daoist Friend Ying, Daoist Friend Yu can see which looks better: the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship or the Uplands Palace.”

“Oh? Daoist Friend Ying will also be joining us?” Sect Master Yu looked at Qin Sang, then at Old Man Guyun, and remarked meaningfully, “Daoist Friends, your plans this time are quite extensive!”

After picking up the Ancient Grain Garden cultivators, the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship continued north.

After flying out of Yuanlan Lake, they finally saw normal land—vast stretches of jungle, rarely trodden by humans.

Along the way, the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship occasionally changed course to visit other Daoist Friends, stopping briefly.

This intermittent travel continued for three months.

Qin Sang was cultivating alone in his quiet chamber when he suddenly felt the restriction at his door being touched, and Old Man Guyun’s voice drifted in.

“Daoist Priest, are you awake? We’ve reached the Jitian Sect.”

Qin Sang’s heart stirred. He pushed open the door, walked out alongside Old Man Guyun, and gazed towards the horizon.

A boundless land, crisscrossed by rivers.

Above layers of mountain shadows, myriad rays of azure light shone, dazzling and eye-catching, rendering the sky as clear as if washed clean.

The substantial light, smooth as satin, wove itself into a colossal banner floating in the sky, stretching for unknown thousands of miles.

It fluttered in the wind, its clear waves rippling.

Even before entering the Jitian Sect, such a magnificent spectacle was displayed. Truly worthy of being the foremost sect in Moonlit Bay!

The Jitian Sect’s main gate was hidden within the azure light.

While admiring the beautiful scenery, Qin Sang’s peripheral vision caught sight of a magnificent palace flying alongside the Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship, above the clouds on one side.

This palace was precisely Daoist Friend Ying’s Uplands Palace.

Furthermore, Qin Sang noticed that occasionally a streak of light would merge into the azure light, representing various flying artifacts.

These flying artifacts were all exceptionally lavish, showcasing the grandeur of major sects, leaving Qin Sang greatly astonished.

The two flying artifacts soared over countless mountain ranges, approaching the azure light. Not only did their speed not diminish, but they erupted with an even grander momentum.

The Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship raised a giant sail, shimmering alongside the azure light. Beneath the ship, turquoise waves appeared, rippling forth, as if it were sailing from the sea into the heavens.

The Uplands Palace, meanwhile, transformed into a magnificent divine palace. Beneath it, the clouds shifted and flowed, appearing like dragons and phoenixes, or as if countless common people thrived there, embodying infinite mysteries.

Boom! Boom!

The Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship sailed into the azure light.

In an instant, a fantastical and magnificent scene unfolded before their eyes.

Here, the green mountains were like painted brows, fully embracing the spiritual essence of heaven and earth. Immortal peaks were countless, one after another.

Upon these green mountains, lush vegetation thrived, creating a scene of refreshing natural beauty.

Between the green mountains, covered bridges connected, laid out in an orderly yet varied manner. Their green and white hues were complemented by faint touches of pink, creating a breathtaking sight.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that these covered bridges were actually massive vines, growing from one mountain to another, forming pathways through the peaks.

Green tendrils hung down from the vines, resembling handrails for the bridges. At the lower ends of these tendrils, lantern-sized flowers dangled.

Some were white, some pink, pure and elegant, blooming year-round.

“The Jitian Sect itself is deep within the azure light. This is the outer city, and the Jitian Grand Assembly will be held here in the outer city.”

Old Man Guyun explained via spiritual transmission.

Qin Sang couldn’t help but exclaim, “How can this be called a city?”

The so-called city referred to these green mountains connected by vines. People dwelled beneath the trees and walked along the vine-covered bridges, completely integrated with nature.

Bursts of clamor drifted over.

Crowds gathered on the peaks of the green mountains, openly commenting on the flying artifacts as they entered, making no effort to conceal their voices.

Their mockery grew even louder.

“Hiss! See that flying eagle? It was refined by Cold Jade Mountain from the corpse of a Void Refinement stage demon! It’s ridiculous! Truly ridiculous!”

“Huh? That Cloud-Treading Treasure Ship… its insignia looks like it was just recently acquired by Cloud City Heaven.”

“Isn’t that Uplands Palace from the Uplands Institute? How many years has it been since they last changed it?”

“They can’t afford to replace their flying artifact, can they? The Uplands Institute is truly declining with each generation; it seems they’re heading for ruin.”

“Hahaha…”

Qin Sang glanced sideways at the Uplands Palace, noticing Sect Master Ying’s face had subtly turned green. He hadn’t expected that not replacing a flying artifact for years would also invite mockery.