Chapter 2025: Mingling

Wuxia and Xianxia

These gall crystals might even have miraculous effects on a Sky-Eyed Butterfly that has undergone six transformations, making this an unexpected find.

"Buzzing..."

As Qin Sang neared the flowering tree, the sacrificial insects sensed a threat and went berserk in their frenzy to protect the gall crystals. The swarm of insects encircled Qin Sang, emitting rapid buzzing sounds and constantly sending out visible yellow ripples that attacked his primordial spirit.

Qin Sang stood unaffected within the vortex of the assault, his gaze clear, drawing ever closer to the flowering tree. When their attacks proved ineffective, the frenzied sacrificial insects began to ram Qin Sang with their bodies. However, they were all repelled by his Mingshan Armor, some instantly shattering into fragments. It was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Qin Sang, unharmed, walked to the flowering tree, plucked a flower pod, felt its weight, and put it away with satisfaction.

This action enraged the sacrificial insects further. Several special insects, many times larger than the others, flew out from the swarm. They had sharp tusks on either side of their mouthparts and shrieked piercingly at Qin Sang.

Upon seeing these special sacrificial insects, a thought struck Qin Sang. The Wu tribe's method of cultivating sacrificial insects is a secret passed down only within their respective clans. He didn't know how to cultivate them, nor could he subdue this entire swarm. However, he could attempt to take these special insects with him, hoping to discover some insights into their ways. Beyond aiding in rituals and producing gall crystals, sacrificial insects have many other marvelous uses.

He had no Wu tribe backing him, but he did have an entire Storm Realm. If he could cultivate his own sacrificial insects, it would benefit the entire realm. However, the difficulty of cultivating them was immense, and Qin Sang wasn't very confident.

A sword flash severed dozens of sacrificial insects in half, appearing directly above one of the special insects. The special sacrificial insect was exceptionally fierce, daring to actively attack the Grey Oriole Sword. Yet, enveloped by the sword light, it thrashed and struggled but couldn't break free, then was dragged back by the light.

Qin Sang acted, binding it and temporarily storing it in his spirit beast pouch. He then repeated the process, capturing the special sacrificial insects one by one.

The insect cloud outside thinned considerably, a layer of insect corpses lay scattered among the flowers, and with their leaders captured, the swarm's attack power was greatly diminished.

The sound of air breaking echoed from behind as Reverend Pei caught up. His gaze swept over the flowering tree; the flower pod containing the gall crystals had already been taken by Qin Sang, but a lingering, exotic fragrance remained.

His pupils constricted. Reverend Pei looked deeply at Qin Sang. "Elder Qin seems to know quite a lot about this place?"

"'I am not entirely engrossed in artifact refining; I also raise a few spiritual insects,' Qin Sang replied. 'There's a rumor that our human race's path of insect manipulation actually originated from the Wu tribe's legacy. Intrigued, I collected some ancient texts and found numerous records concerning the Wu tribe's insect manipulation techniques. Unfortunately, the relationship between humans and the Wu tribe is strained now, and the Fengju Jade Gate serves as an impassable chasm. Otherwise, I might have personally sought guidance from the Wu tribe.'"

"'Elder Qin is indeed vastly knowledgeable,' Reverend Pei nodded, offering a compliment. Whether he truly believed Qin Sang's explanation was something only he knew."

At this moment, the Xin family members also caught up. Even if they suspected there might be treasures here, Reverend Pei hadn't delved deeper, so they certainly didn't dare to inquire further.

Having neutralized the threat of the sacrificial insects, the group pressed onward. To their surprise, they found no entrance to a lower level. The space ahead seemed endless, with rolling mountains becoming increasingly desolate and gradually turning dark and eerie, constantly reminding them that they might be deep within a tomb.

After flying for a while, they encountered no further dangers, but then they came upon an unusual sight.

Atop a mountain peak ahead, a specially shaped high platform had been constructed. Not a single blade of green grass could be found on this mountain; its rocks appeared as if dyed with ink, and the entire peak exuded an ominous aura. The platform itself was empty, yet the sight before them made everyone halt, hesitant to approach.

The high platform almost entirely occupied the mountaintop, featuring three sheer cliffs and a stone staircase leading directly to the base of the mountain, clearly a meticulously constructed work. Furthermore, the marks on the stone steps were not solely from the erosion of time, but clearly indicated prolonged use. This suggested that someone had once lived here!

Gazing at the high platform from a distance, Reverend Pei asked, "Elder Qin, with your extensive knowledge, can you identify the purpose of that high platform?"

"'It could be an altar used by the Wu tribe for sacrificial rituals,' Qin Sang mused. In ancient times, Wu tribe clans often built their altars at the highest points, believing it allowed for better communication with heaven and earth." This mountain was indeed the highest peak in the vicinity.

With sacrificial insects and an altar, could this be the dwelling place of a Wu tribe clan? But who would build their home to resemble a tomb? Qin Sang found this place increasingly perplexing.

"'The Wu tribe again!' Reverend Pei frowned." The Wu tribe and human race possess different legacies, and some aspects cannot be judged by common sense. Variables were likely to emerge, beyond his control.

"'I recall, Daoist Xin, that you have never displayed any Wu tribe divine abilities,' Reverend Pei said, staring into Young Mistress Xin's eyes."

His mere gaze placed immense pressure on Young Mistress Xin. Her delicate body trembled slightly as she whispered, "Senior Pei is correct. My father never mentioned the Wu tribe to me either."

"'Oh?'" Reverend Pei's expression subtly shifted. "'So, Daoist Xin, you weren't aware this place was connected to the Wu tribe?'" If that were the case, the Xin family might not know as much about this tomb as he had initially presumed.

A flicker of nervousness crossed Steward Luo's eyes. The insight of Refinement Void cultivators was too sharp; no clue could escape their notice. Once they deemed the Xin family to have lost its value, and the roles of host and guest were reversed, the Xin family's best outcome would be to receive only scraps, or even be completely cast aside.

Young Mistress Xin remained relatively calm. "My father indeed never entered this place personally. He merely obtained some clues about it, from which he made his deductions. There was certain information my father might not have been certain about himself, and he worried it might lead me to misjudge, so he didn't mention it."

"'Is that so?' Reverend Pei said with a smile, looking at Qin Sang. 'It seems inviting Elder Qin on this journey was indeed the right decision. Elder Qin understands the Wu tribe far better than us. For the remainder of this journey, we'll have to trouble Elder Qin to take the lead.'"

"'I'll do my best,' Qin Sang replied indifferently."

The group bypassed the altar and continued onward, flying over countless mountains. Suddenly, the distinct sound of water reached them from ahead. It was the sound of waves lapping against the shore. As they flew further, they indeed saw the water surface: a vast, boundless expanse, an ocean existing within a tomb!

The wind and waves weren't strong; ripples gently lapped against the rocks. Strangely, however, the seawater was completely black. There were no islands on the surface, and in the depths, the sky was as ink-black as the water itself, giving the scene an air of profound mystery.

"'Is it still further ahead?' Reverend Pei asked, looking at Young Mistress Xin."

Young Mistress Xin nodded.

"'I will lead the way myself. You all follow behind me, and Elder Qin will guard the rear, so you won't be caught off guard should any unforeseen circumstances arise. What do you think, Elder Qin?' Reverend Pei proposed his arrangement."

Elder Qin had no objections.

While this formation sounded beneficial to the Xin family, Reverend Pei didn't bother to consult Young Mistress Xin for her opinion. The Xin family cultivators detected the shift in Reverend Pei's demeanor. Gazing at the gloomy sky in the distance, they felt the path ahead was uncertain and grew secretly worried.

They couldn't discern anything significant from the shore, so, following Reverend Pei's arrangement, they flew away from the land and continued deeper into the black sea. The seawater was ink-black, devoid of any living creatures beneath its surface. With no sounds other than the lapping of water, the eerie environment, and everything else, made everyone increasingly nervous.

Reverend Pei had declared he would lead the way, but after flying a certain distance, he seemed to detect something. Without hesitation, he unceremoniously ordered two Xin family cultivators to scout ahead. The two Xin family cultivators looked at Young Mistress Xin, but she would not openly defy Reverend Pei, so she could only nod silently.

The vast, open sea surface offered an unobstructed view, and there was no dangerous aura beneath the water. Just as everyone was beginning to think Reverend Pei was being overly cautious, they were astonished to see the two Xin family cultivators vanish into thin air before their very eyes.

The Xin family members' expressions changed dramatically. "What happened? Where did Old Fifth and the others go?"

A faint smile touched Reverend Pei's lips. He turned to Qin Sang. "Elder Qin, have you discerned anything?"

"'Spatial distortion!' Qin Sang stated gravely." Qin Sang's voice was grave. What appeared normal ahead was, in fact, two distinct spaces, as if two different Lesser Thousand Worlds had been stitched together. While shattered spaces were common in the Fengju Jade Gate, such a tranquil, almost imperceptible form, with no ripples upon entry, was something he had never witnessed before.

"'It might not be that reason; it could also be a type of formation,' Reverend Pei said, shaking his head."

Light and shadow flickered ahead, and the two Xin family cultivators reappeared. Seeing the others, they visibly relaxed, clearly having lost track of the group themselves earlier. The group entered the space ahead, discovering an identical black sea, though the sea wind here was stronger than before. They flew for a while longer, and the wind steadily grew stronger, while the sky became increasingly overcast.

"'Something's not right,' Qin Sang stated gravely."

Reverend Pei concurred. "'Indeed. Be careful, all of you. Where is that treasure bell? Bring it out!' Reverend Pei commanded the Xin family cultivators without ceremony."

Young Mistress Xin, following his command, summoned the treasure bell, its radiant light enveloping the Xin family cultivators. At the same time, fierce winds suddenly rose around them. In an instant, dark clouds filled the sky, and muffled thunder reverberated across the sea.

"CRACKLE!""RUMBLE!"

Lightning flashed and thunder roared within the clouds; a storm was fast approaching.

Initially, the group's expressions were relaxed, but that ease quickly vanished as lightning began to converge above them from all directions, accumulating rapidly. A terrifying aura hung heavy in the air. Aside from the absence of heavenly dao pressure, this scene was no less formidable than a heavenly tribulation.

"'This is bad! Quick, let's go!'" Reverend Pei's expression subtly changed, and his speed instantly surged. This space wasn't cohesive; breaking out of it should allow them to escape the danger. If even Reverend Pei was fleeing, it was clear how the Xin family cultivators must be feeling.

"BOOM!"

Countless bolts of lightning poured down, illuminating the sea surface like midday. The group was instantly engulfed by the electric deluge. The Jade Ruyi hovered above Reverend Pei's head, preventing the surrounding lightning from striking him.

Qin Sang wielded his sword, continuously cleaving through the lightning bolts, while his peripheral vision noted the Xin family members. The treasure bell was primarily for primordial spirit attacks and thus not very effective here. Steward Luo hastily brought out a long banner. The group jointly activated it, and the banner unfurled, enveloping them beneath its protective cover. Under the relentless bombardment of lightning, the banner vibrated continuously, emanating faint glows.

While it appeared to block the lightning, the true danger had only just begun.

It was at this moment that Qin Sang and Reverend Pei simultaneously looked up.

"'Danger!'"

At that instant, a strong warning signal arose in their hearts; both sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the dark clouds. This aura, appearing without warning, was powerful enough to threaten even Refinement Void cultivators!

Almost simultaneously with the warning, a bolt of electric light shot out from the dark clouds. Unlike the previous lightning, this one was shaped like a giant crescent moon, swiftly cutting down and sweeping across the entire void. The attack came too suddenly for Qin Sang and Reverend Pei to escape; they could only brace themselves and endure it.

As the saying goes, 'sweep the snow from your own doorstep.' Unsure of the crescent lightning's true power, their first priority was self-preservation, and they did not immediately act to shield the Xin family members. Qin Sang secretly observed Young Mistress Xin's movements, intending to use this opportunity to force out more of the Xin family's trump cards. He suspected Reverend Pei had the same idea.

"WHOOSH!"

The crescent lightning struck with astonishing force. The group was instantly swallowed by the lightning. Their surroundings turned a blinding silver, and a torrent of violent thunderforce surged towards them.

Amidst the sea of lightning, a sudden sword light emerged, bursting forth with astonishing sword intent. It bravely cleaved through the lightning, as Qin Sang wielded his Grey Oriole Sword, pushing against the overwhelming force. From his elevated position, Qin Sang saw a mass of green light emerge from beneath the thunderous glow. Reverend Pei, protected by the Jade Ruyi, also broke free.

The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked towards the Xin family members. This crescent lightning undoubtedly possessed the power of a Refinement Void level attack. They both had to handle it with caution, knowing that if the Xin family handled it improperly, some might perish on the spot.

What unfolded next, however, greatly astonished both Qin Sang and Reverend Pei. They watched as a hundred-zhang-long blade aura, just a step behind them, burst forth with an unstoppable momentum capable of cleaving through anything, boldly tearing apart the thunderous light. Immediately afterward, Young Mistress Xin led the Xin family members, soaring out from the chasm carved by the blade aura. The look of horror had not yet faded from their faces, but they were all completely unharmed.

Qin Sang's gaze narrowed slightly. He scrutinized Young Mistress Xin from head to toe, finally focusing on her back. A faint shadow lingered there, seemingly her own shadow, adhering tightly to her body.

"'This must be the Xin family's inherited Meditative Spirit, isn't it?' Reverend Pei exclaimed. 'I hadn't expected, Xin Sheng, that you could already control it so skillfully. Your talent is truly astonishing!'"

No one noticed the flicker of pleasure in Reverend Pei's eyes. It seemed that forcing Young Mistress Xin to summon the Meditative Spirit here and now was precisely what he had wanted to see. Young Mistress Xin, however, showed no trace of complacency. Her breathing was somewhat ragged, and her bright, jade-like eyes were streaked with blood, as if summoning the Meditative Spirit had come at a considerable cost.

Seeing that the dark clouds in the sky had not yet dispersed, Young Mistress Xin dared not hesitate. She swiftly led the Xin family members to rush forward.

As Qin Sang and the others sped across the black sea, they remained completely unaware of the changes unfolding behind them.

Outside the tomb, a wisp of breeze swept past, and an old man materialized out of thin air. The old man, with his youthful complexion and hair like crane's feathers, observed the ancient restriction on the stone gate that had already been breached. He stroked his white beard, a knowing smile gracing his lips.

"'Hmph! Old Ghost Pei, do you truly believe that you and that naive Xin family junior, with such meager tricks, can escape my notice?' he scoffed. 'To dare treat the Xin family as your exclusive property, I'll be keen to see what other capabilities you possess...'"

Before his words fully faded, the old man's figure flickered. He quietly slipped through the gap in the stone gate, transforming into a wisp of smoke, and trailed them along the tomb passage.