Chapter 2017: Shadow of Beauty

"It's impossible to hide anything from your discerning eyes, Senior," Qu Zhen replied respectfully. "It is indeed related to the Sword Pavilion. My companions and I were fortunate enough to discover a secret location, which is highly likely to be a fragment of the ancient Sword Pavilion, and it has not yet been explored by others. However, the interior is fraught with danger, and we dare not venture deeper. We were wondering if Senior would be interested."

Qin Sang looked at Qu Zhen and said meaningfully, "I am a stranger to you. You dare to tell me these secrets and invite me to explore the ancient Sword Pavilion with you. Are you not afraid that I will keep all the treasures for myself, leaving you with nothing?"

"There are three reasons why this junior invited Senior."

Facing Qin Sang's almost threatening words, Qu Zhen remained calm, his expression unwavering.

"Firstly, my companions and I have been exploring that place, attempting to claim its treasures without external help. Unfortunately, our strength was insufficient, and we suffered repeated defeats and tragically lost several fellow cultivators. With more and more experts being drawn to the Sword Pavilion, we realized that if we delayed any longer, the location would eventually be exposed and claimed by others. Rather than letting someone else take it, it would be better for us to offer it ourselves. After our last unsuccessful attempt, we discussed seeking assistance from a powerful senior upon returning to Jade Gate Pass, and it was then that we fortunately encountered Elder Qin.

"Secondly, we have long accepted the truth that treasures of the world go to the virtuous. We believe Elder Qin, having benefited, would not mind sharing a portion with us. Given the profound resources of the ancient Sword Pavilion, even obtaining a mere fraction would greatly benefit us.

"Thirdly, we are not entirely unprepared. The Five Elements Alliance has a good reputation throughout Duizhou. As an elder of the Five Elements Alliance, Senior undoubtedly cherishes your reputation and is more trustworthy than others. Moreover, we believe we can still be useful to Elder Qin."

These words were polite and well-reasoned, but Qin Sang did not believe that the Hengsha Society, having been based in Jade Gate Pass for many years, couldn't find other Void Refining cultivators. He replied noncommittally, "Lead the way, then. I shall take a look."

"Yes!"

Qu Zhen stepped forward to lead the way.

Qin Sang also slowed his flight speed, following Qu Zhen and listening to his description of the Sword Pavilion fragment.

Of the five Sword Pavilions in the Storm Realm, he had personally visited the Ziwei Palace and the Seven Kills Hall, having learned about the Heavenly Concord Hall and Heavenly Aspect Hall in Central Continent at the Sweet Dew Zen Temple and the Eight Wonders View.

After Qu Zhen's detailed description, Qin Sang tried to find a match in his memory but still couldn't determine which Sword Pavilion the fragment came from.

As they ventured deeper, Qu Zhen's speed gradually slowed, and his movements became increasingly cautious. At this point, cultivators at the Soul Formation stage rarely traveled alone, usually preferring to go in groups.

Seeing this, Qin Sang enveloped Qu Zhen with a protective energy shield. Qu Zhen's heart first tightened, then he quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Elder Qin, for your protection."

With Qin Sang's protection, Qu Zhen's speed significantly increased. After traveling a short distance further, Qin Sang suddenly called out to him, "Wait."

Then, Qin Sang motioned for Qu Zhen to stay put, looked around, and flew towards one of the illusionary scenes.

Qu Zhen didn't know the reason but dared not ask, waiting patiently.

After entering the illusion, Qin Sang flicked his sleeve, and the Vermilion Bird tumbled out, letting out an excited cry. It eagerly spread its wings, soaring freely and enjoying its liberty, all while glaring at Qin Sang with a resentful look.

Qin Sang had been worried about its mischievous nature causing trouble, so he had kept it strictly confined to his side since entering Great Zhou, forbidding it from going out. This had clearly stifled the creature.

Ignoring the Vermilion Bird's resentment, Qin Sang handed it a topographic map.

"From now on, you will take Marquis Luo and the others to visit all these locations. Explore as deeply as possible and record the surrounding environment."

Qin Sang had graded the chosen locations, naturally entrusting the most crucial ones to his most trusted subordinates. The Vermilion Bird, combined with the two Demon Marquises, would be sufficient to protect themselves here.

The two Demon Marquises had already begun cultivating the 'Heavenly Demon Refinement' technique. The allure of this technique to any demon cultivator was undeniable; it even offered them a glimmer of hope for Void Refining. Unless there was a greater temptation, Qin Sang had no worries about their loyalty.

However, he was still a little uneasy about the Vermilion Bird.

"You are aware of the implications behind the Ziwei Palace; there is no room for error. You'd best behave yourself. In the Great Thousand World, humans and demons are sworn enemies. What's more, as a divine beast of a rare species, if you were to be captured by a powerful cultivator, no one could save you, and the Qilin origin seed would then be mine alone."

The Vermilion Bird snorted, clearly feeling underestimated by Qin Sang. It wasn't foolish; its arrogance depended on the situation and the target.

Seeing Qin Sang preparing to flee again, the Vermilion Bird grumbled discontentedly, "Following you, I've never had a peaceful day!"

Pretending not to hear, Qin Sang activated his talisman altar, releasing the two Demon Marquises and the Fiery Jade Centipede, instructing them to act together with the Vermilion Bird.

"Take these two individuals with you. If you sense danger, send them out to scout ahead."

Qin Sang dropped the two captives and passed on the methods for controlling their restraints to the two Demon Marquises, ensuring the captives would have no choice but to obey.

"Attack!"

The Vermilion Bird, perched majestically on the centipede's back, pointed its wings forward and let out a grand shout. The two Demon Marquises bowed to Qin Sang and, taking the captives with them, pursued the Vermilion Bird.

Qin Sang then returned to his original spot, summoned Qu Zhen, and continued their journey to the Sword Pavilion fragment.

After some detours, they finally reached their destination. Before them lay an expanse of multicolored radiant light. The location was extremely well-hidden; it was a mystery how the Hengsha Society had discovered it, explaining why others had never found it.

Within the radiant light was the Sword Pavilion fragment. These lights reminded Qin Sang of the immortal restrictions inside the Seven Kills Hall, but according to Qu Zhen's description, there should be no relation between the two.

"Elder Qin, this is the safest path we've found after multiple explorations," Qu Zhen offered, leading the way and entering from one side of the radiant light.

The surroundings were filled with vibrant multicolored light. Passing through it, they were met by a mountain peak, with more mountains behind it, each taller than the last, like towering walls obscuring the scenery beyond.

"The mountains are heavily laden with ancient restrictions. The farthest we've reached is the foot of the last mountain," Qu Zhen said, pointing behind him. "Although we don't know what lies beyond the mountain, we've encountered two anomalies: strange lights erupting from behind it, gushing like a spring, much like the radiant glow of some treasure."

Qin Sang observed closely, noting that the mountain peaks were barren, and nearly all the ancient restrictions were shattered.

Shattered ancient restrictions were not difficult to bypass, but they also posed greater danger, full of uncertainty.

Without expending any effort, Qin Sang brought Qu Zhen to the foot of the last mountain.

Looking up at the mountain peak, swirling masses of chaotic energy floated in the void. This was where the ancient restrictions were most intensely active, their aura shifting unpredictably. Even a subtle ripple could trigger a storm. Without sufficient strength, forcing one's way through would be certain death.

Qu Zhen looked at Qin Sang. Qin Sang merely pondered for a moment, then calmly said, "Stay behind me."

With that, Qin Sang began ascending the mountain. He noticed a stone staircase to his left that led directly to the summit. The dilapidated steps exuded an ancient aura, having endured countless ages.

Stepping onto the staircase, Qin Sang chose to walk, his pace leisurely, like an ordinary mountain climber. Qu Zhen, however, dared not be as relaxed as Qin Sang, following closely behind him, step by step.

Following behind Qin Sang, the dangers that had once terrified them were easily neutralized. The two successfully ascended to the summit and finally saw the scenery beyond the mountain.

Behind the mountain lay an endless swamp. There was nothing but foul mud, churning like a constantly agitated pool of sludge, its contents stirred into a sickening mess.

The moment he stepped onto the summit, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly narrowed. He reached out, trying to grasp something in the void, but only clutched empty air.

"Elder Qin?"

Qu Zhen saw Qin Sang's actions but had no idea what he was doing.

"There's poison here," Qin Sang said. Nothing unusual could be discerned from his tone, though unknown to Qu Zhen, his heart was already churning with thoughts.

A toxin pervaded the air, but it was extremely faint, barely detectable by ordinary individuals and indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Qin Sang had only encountered this type of poison in one other place: Yougu (Hidden Valley), one of the Seven Kills Hall's three poisoned lands! The Spirit-Suppressing Domain and Relying Heaven Peak, where the War of Demon Sealing once took place and where Senior Qingzhu left his last words, were all located within Yougu!

"Could this really be the Seven Kills Hall?"

Qin Sang's gaze swept inch by inch across the swamp.

Given this, it seemed that the Sword Pavilion fragments discovered in Fengju Yumen were likely pieces torn and stripped away from the five great Sword Pavilions when they ascended, miraculously surviving destruction and scattering throughout Fengju Yumen.

It seemed he would have to visit those other Sword Pavilion fragments; perhaps he might find places he had encountered before. Qin Sang mused, then took Qu Zhen and flew down the mountain.

The toxin was extremely faint, its lethality greatly diminished, and it posed no harm to them. Qu Zhen merely assumed Qin Sang was reminding him to be mindful of the toxin's source, not pondering it deeply.

Soon, Qin Sang traversed the swamp and reached its edge, but unfortunately, he found nothing more related to the Seven Kills Hall.

"Have you searched the vicinity thoroughly?" Qin Sang asked.

Qu Zhen nodded, saying, "Yes, we've searched thoroughly. There's only this one fragment here. Other Sword Pavilion fragments are also widely dispersed. It's said that Sword Pavilion fragments are scattered everywhere, and many have collided with illusionary scenes and been destroyed."

Returning to the center of the swamp, Qin Sang reached down and grabbed. The mud churned, and a white skeleton floated to the surface.

It was a beast's skeleton, similar in size to a tiger or leopard, with a fissure on its forehead, from which light flowed.

With a 'crack,' the skull split open, and a round pearl flew out—a demon core.

"The radiant light you saw earlier was likely from this," Qin Sang said.

Qin Sang drew the demon core into his hand. Judging by the luster of the skeleton and the demon core, the creature's cultivation before death was likely in the mid-to-late Soul Formation stage. It had been dead for a long time, but not excessively so.

Even more surprisingly, it was the skeleton of a fierce beast! Qin Sang had hunted countless fierce beasts in the Talisman Realm, making him intimately familiar with this aura.

Was it a fierce beast that had strayed in when the Sword Pavilion ascended, passing through the River of Karma? Or had fierce beasts always lived within the Seven Kills Hall? If they were bred by the Seven Kills Hall, it was fortunate they hadn't been released, or the entire Canglang Sea would have been devastated.

The Sword Pavilion held too many unsolved mysteries, and now there was one more.

Qin Sang tossed the skeleton to Qu Zhen. "This skeleton is the only treasure here. I'll keep the demon core; the rest belongs to you."

The skeleton of a Soul Formation stage fierce beast was excellent spiritual material, a significant gain for the Hengsha Society.

"Thank you, Elder Qin!"

Qu Zhen put away the skeleton, gazing thoughtfully at Qin Sang's back. It seemed Elder Qin truly was a person who valued his reputation.

They certainly couldn't truly trust an unknown Void Refining cultivator. Although they hadn't been able to cross the mountain earlier, they had used other methods to determine that the radiant glow was not from an unparalleled treasure.

This trip was, in fact, a test. The Hengsha Society had been operating in Fengju Yumen for many years and had found more than just this one Sword Pavilion fragment. There was another, far more important one, clearly of extraordinary origin, possibly a critical area of the ancient Sword Pavilion, containing untold treasures and legacies.

The Hengsha Society's strength alone was insufficient to unlock it, and they feared being completely exploited if they invited a Void Refining cultivator. Therefore, choosing a helper had to be done with extreme caution. The Hengsha Society was currently leveraging its many years of accumulated connections to identify suitable candidates; Qin Sang was just one of them.

Of course, this encounter wasn't enough for them to fully trust Qin Sang's character; they would continue to observe him during subsequent dealings.

"You must know the locations of many other Sword Pavilion fragments, don't you? This mere muddy swamp has a Soul Formation stage demon skeleton. I fear other places might hold even more treasures, no wonder so many experts are drawn here. Take me around; you won't be without your rewards," Qin Sang said, seemingly intrigued by the demon skeleton.

"Yes! This junior has been around Fengju Yumen for many years, so my information is quite reliable. In recent years, new Sword Pavilion fragments have been discovered successively. Some of these discoveries haven't spread widely yet, and few people have visited them..."

Qu Zhen then listed several locations, outlining the quickest route, and the two continued their journey.

Subsequently, they passed by three more Sword Pavilion fragments.

These Sword Pavilion fragments varied in size; smaller ones might be just a single mountain, while larger ones would require some time to explore. Due to their locations, cultivators were actively searching all three of these fragments.

People constantly left and were replaced, searching repeatedly, almost turning the places inside out. Indeed, it was said that overlooked opportunities were occasionally stumbled upon by fortunate individuals, with similar reports surfacing periodically.

"The next fragment is very dangerous. We only circled its periphery before; we didn't dare to go inside..."

Qu Zhen described their previous experiences, leading Qin Sang to the fourth fragment.

The moment he saw the fragment, Qin Sang inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity.

These so-called Sword Pavilion fragments had been repeatedly damaged during the ascension process, rendering them unrecognizable. However, their residual layout genuinely evoked a sense of familiarity in Qin Sang.

"It seems to be... an area on the outskirts of Ziwei Palace!"

A faint mist permeated the area, and within it, the faint outlines of immortal mountains and palaces were visible, making the sense of familiarity grow stronger.

Qin Sang was eighty percent certain that this was a fragment of the Ziwei Palace.

This was not the Ziwei Palace he had known before, but rather the Ziwei Palace after its immortal array had been triggered and the immortal palace revealed. Though it was merely a fleeting glimpse back then, that image was deeply etched in Qin Sang's memory.

The layout here seemed to correspond to a corner of the immortal palace, meaning the Ziwei Palace had also shattered!

From deep within the mist, intense fluctuations occasionally emanated, clearly indicating experts were exploring inside and attacking the immortal restrictions.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Qin Sang caught a glimpse of a graceful figure, who flashed and vanished before a palace.

Through the mist, the figure was indistinct, but the moment it flashed past, a feeling of déjà vu surged again, just as it had when he first saw this Sword Pavilion fragment!