Chapter 2345: Heaven and Earth Grand Sacrifice

In front of the Void Butterfly, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly seemed like a child sensing its mother's presence. Qin Sang felt a sense of peace radiating from her.

The spirit insect race truly was unique. Two Heavenly Eye Butterflies, who had never met before, coexisted harmoniously simply because they were of the same species. Qin Sang wondered if this was due to the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's gentle nature and disinclination for combat, or if all spirit insects were like this.

Perhaps it was because of their previous encounter that the Heavenly Eye Butterfly sensed goodwill from the Void Butterfly, allowing her to lower her guard.

The Heavenly Eye Butterfly stood on the Void Butterfly's fingertip, her wings slowly beating with decreasing frequency.

The Void Butterfly looked down at her. Her resentment and anger towards the Ghost Mother seemed to be diluted by the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's presence, and her gentle demeanor returned.

In the tranquil space, the two butterflies gazed silently at each other.

Qin Sang couldn't bear to break the atmosphere. After a moment, he spoke, "Senior..."

"Go back and tell her I agree."

The Void Butterfly gently raised her finger, and the Heavenly Eye Butterfly fluttered her wings, flying back to Qin Sang. Her gaze shifted from the Heavenly Eye Butterfly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke.

Qin Sang was momentarily stunned. He had expected to spend more time persuading her, but the Void Butterfly had suddenly agreed.

The allure of the Imperial Nectar was indeed powerful!

However, Qin Sang felt that the Void Butterfly's agreement wasn't solely due to the Imperial Nectar. When the Ghost Mother was mentioned, the Void Butterfly's demeanor and reaction were peculiar; she didn't seem like an enemy.

Qin Sang was curious about the true nature of the entanglement between the Void Butterfly and the Ghost Mother.

Overjoyed, and fearing the Void Butterfly might change her mind, Qin Sang quickly took out a communication talisman and presented it with both hands. "Before the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice, this junior will respectfully await your arrival outside Mount Dengbao!"

The Void Butterfly accepted the talisman and waved her hand, ready to send them out, kindly reminding them, "This is a turbulent time. Don't linger outside; leave as soon as possible."

Qin Sang's heart stirred. "Is Senior referring to those descendants of Shaohao? When this junior arrived, I noticed some people hidden there. Are they still coveting the divine blood?"

"Divine blood..."

As long as the Ghost Mother wasn't involved, even the Void Butterfly's cold snort sounded gentle and captivating. "We are peaceful and don't wish to interfere with the internal affairs of the Witch Tribe. Yet, some people want to drag us into it. Let them come; it seems the last lesson wasn't enough!"

Qin Sang realized. Given the Witch God's Oath and the existence of the Insect Realm, it was clear that the Witch Tribe and the Spirit Insect race had a very close relationship.

Now, the Witch Tribe sought to restore the ancient rule of the Five Clans. Once the Five Clans rose, there would undoubtedly be a significant debate among the Witch Tribe's powerful figures: would the Five Emperors jointly govern the tribe, or would one clan be revered above others?

If it were the latter, a great war would inevitably follow. The attitude of the Spirit Insect race would become crucial; whoever could win them over would undoubtedly have a significant advantage.

The descendants of Shaohao, who attempted to steal divine blood under the guise of repairing the White Emperor's Divine Armor, seemed more like a probing stone thrown by the powerful figures behind the Metal Clan.

As for the full extent of the machinations behind it, Qin Sang knew too little about the Witch Tribe to imagine. Whether the divine blood existed or not, as he had told the Ghost Mother, was not important.

The Void Butterfly's attitude clearly indicated her desire not to interfere in the Witch Tribe's internal power struggles, but sometimes, even when a tree desires calm, the wind will not cease.

Putting himself in their shoes, since the Insect Realm was located within the Witch Tribe's territory, how could the Witch Tribe ignore the existence of the Spirit Insect race?

First, the Wood Clan discovered the Metal Clan's movements, and now the Fire Clan and Water Clan had been drawn in by Qin Sang. It was likely that no one could predict how the situation would unfold.

Of course, the more chaotic the situation, the more advantageous it would be for them.

Qin Sang felt a gentle force push him, and in an instant, he was back in his original spot. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

The Void Butterfly had not guided the Heavenly Eye Butterfly as he had hoped.

However, since she had agreed, she would certainly teach the Heavenly Eye Butterfly the method of transformation after receiving the Imperial Nectar.

Thinking of this, Qin Sang couldn't help but feel hopeful for the future.

If the Heavenly Eye Butterfly could successfully break through to the Seventh Transformation, she would provide immense help when he reached the Integration stage. This might be an even more precious opportunity than the Dream Seed!

"I've successfully met both the Ghost Mother and the Void Butterfly this time. Once this is settled, I should start focusing on improving my cultivation..." Qin Sang thought to himself.

After leaving the Spirit Jade Realm, he had been constantly on the move, and his cultivation had barely progressed, leaving him a long way from the peak of the Void Refinement stage.

Turning to descend the mountain and retrace his steps, Qin Sang made plans for the future as he walked.

If the Ghost Mother retrieved what she had left on Mount Dengbao and could immediately recover her strength, then Liu Ying would be cared for, and he wouldn't need to worry about her.

If the Ghost Mother still needed time to recover, and with the Witch Tribe on the verge of chaos, he should ideally stay within the Witch Tribe for a while longer, until Liu Ying broke through to the Void Refinement stage and could protect herself. After all, cultivating in the Witch Tribe or Qingyangzhi would be the same.

Of course, he also needed to know what the Void Butterfly's method of transformation entailed. If it required a specific rare spiritual material, he would have to embark on another search for information.

The return journey was easier than the arrival. Qin Sang quickly left the forbidden area and headed straight for Mount Xuandan.

Mount Xuandan.

The Ghost Mother's cave dwelling.

Qin Sang broke the restriction and entered the cave dwelling. The jade bed and the precious mirror were still there, but the Ghost Mother was gone.

He wasn't surprised in the least. He walked to the precious mirror and rubbed its surface with his hand.

Mist immediately swirled within the mirror, gradually transforming into an unfamiliar woman. She was bright and captivating, with an air of unparalleled charm in her brows.

Her beautiful eyes shifted, spotting Qin Sang, and her lips curved into a slight smile. Her voice, unmistakably the Ghost Mother's, asked, "Boy, is it done?"

"I have fulfilled Senior's request!" Qin Sang bowed respectfully. "She has agreed to take this junior into Mount Dengbao."

"Good!" The woman nodded, her gaze falling upon a blue jade bead placed on the table in front of the mirror. "Take this bead. Once you enter Mount Dengbao, unseal it, and it will tell you what to do."

Qin Sang acknowledged, put away the precious bead, and watched as the figure in the mirror distorted and vanished.

The precious mirror returned to normal. Qin Sang glanced around, turned, and left the cave dwelling, activating the grand formation to seal it.

As the stone door closed, the light inside the cave dwelling immediately dimmed.

Suddenly, an imperceptible ripple appeared in the void above the jade bed. A butterfly's shadow seemed to flash, then disappeared instantly, without the protective formation of the dwelling reacting in the slightest.

Unaware of what had happened after his departure, Qin Sang quickly descended the mountain.

A short distance from Mount Xuandan, the Ghost Mother's voice suddenly echoed in his ear. "Boy, what did that butterfly say?"

The voice was coming from the jade bead in his sleeve.

Qin Sang's heart jolted, but his expression remained unchanged. He transmitted, "Senior, aren't you afraid the Void Butterfly is nearby?" He paused, then complained, "Why would Senior take such a great risk? What if..."

It turned out the Ghost Mother intended to enter Mount Dengbao with them. She had abandoned her physical body and taken refuge within this jade bead. The Ghost Mother had insisted he return to Mount Xuandan for the bead after seeing the Void Butterfly; their previous conversation through the precious mirror had merely been an act.

The Void Butterfly could have tracked him to Mount Xuandan, which would have exposed the jade bead to her. There were safer methods, and Qin Sang didn't understand why the Ghost Mother had taken such a risk.

"What's there to be afraid of? It wasn't exposed, was it? I just wanted to see what that fellow looked like. If I had followed you into her territory, I would have been found out," the Ghost Mother said nonchalantly.

"She really followed you?" Qin Sang's heart tightened.

The Ghost Mother hummed, "She's gone again. It seems we don't have any enmity after all!"

"So, you weren't even sure if you two were enemies, yet you sent me to her door with that wooden hairpin, asking for help?" Qin Sang's eyelid twitched.

Realizing her slip of the tongue, the Ghost Mother quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, I certainly had a plan. I wouldn't send you to your death in vain... What else did she say to you?"

Qin Sang said, "She called you a wretch."

"Haha..." The Ghost Mother laughed heartily, seemingly unoffended, even proud. "Why does it sound like I stole her lover? Then why would she agree to your request?"

"Perhaps the allure of the Imperial Nectar was too great," Qin Sang replied. "Of course, she might also be looking for an opportunity to seek revenge on Senior."

"That's possible! If you're going to conspire with me, you'd better be careful," the Ghost Mother kindly warned Qin Sang.

"What exactly did Senior do to offend her?" Qin Sang retorted sarcastically.

"Who knows!" The Ghost Mother sighed, feigning distress. "I was incredibly beautiful. Countless men were enchanted by me back then, enough to line up from Spirit Mountain to the Sea of Mist. What man would fancy a butterfly? It's only right that I took her man!"

Qin Sang was at a loss for how to deal with the Ghost Mother's shamelessness.

Of course, he had his own reasons for cooperating with the Ghost Mother. First, it concerned the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's transformation method. Second, although the Void Butterfly's tone was unkind, it was clear that she held only resentment, not hatred, towards the Ghost Mother.

They had already chosen a hiding place. Qin Sang concealed himself and arrived at the spot, waiting for the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice.

Qin Sang didn't simply wait there. He stealthily entered the vicinity of the sacred land, secretly apprehended a Witch Tribe cultivator, and disguised himself as the person to gather information.

The area near the sacred land was currently a mixed bag of people, but he wasn't worried about being exposed.

After Qin Sang and the Dongyang Clan parted ways, the divine patterns that She Chan had bestowed upon him with the power of the divine temple had dissipated. However, the Ghost Mother had a better way to help him disguise himself.

Days passed.

The Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice drew nearer, and everyone near the sacred land became busy.

Mount Dengbao was located within the Taihao Clan's territory, and previous Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifices always required the Taihao Clan's support. During the sacrifice, the previous High Priest would pray to the heavens, and the clan behind the High Priest would be the host of the ceremony.

While the struggle for the High Priest's position and the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice were undoubtedly important, it was even more crucial that the major clans used this opportunity to form alliances and discuss significant matters. It was expected that after this sacrifice, the Five Clans' plans would gradually come to light.

The day before the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice.

The Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice was a grand event for the entire Witch Tribe, considered the most important festival in the hearts of all Witch Tribe members.

Outside the sacred land, the various peaks were adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, presenting a joyous and peaceful scene.

However, beneath the joyous celebrations, undercurrents were stirring.

As usual, Qin Sang emerged to gather information. Not long after leaving his hiding place, he saw more than a dozen streaks of light suddenly fly out from the main peak in the distance. More escape lights continuously soared out of the mountain, seemingly in a great hurry, scattering in all directions.

The aura of these escape lights was extremely powerful, indicating they belonged to the pillars of the major clans.

With the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice approaching, the Witch Priests had to remain in their respective clans to personally preside over the ceremonies. Those sent to the sacred mountain were all tribal masters, some even holding positions second only to the Witch Priests, such as Grand Elders.

If anything significant happened within their clans, these masters would certainly return to assist.

It was impossible for so many clans to experience trouble simultaneously, especially at this critical juncture.

"Could it be that the Fire Clan and Water Clan have made their move?"

Qin Sang's heart brightened, and he paused to observe. He had been a bit worried before, as there had been no movement.

These past few days, he had spent time with the Ghost Mother, asking her many questions, such as the essence of the "Panhu True Scripture," methods for cultivating and sacrificing spirit insects, and the inheritances of various clans.

Although the Ghost Mother often spoke impudently, she patiently answered Qin Sang's questions. Qin Sang endured the insults and gained a great deal.

Observing now, he could deduce the origins of most of the individuals based on the aura emanating from their escape lights.

"The Earth Clan is also moving!" Qin Sang recognized many Earth Clan descendants among them. As expected, once the news spread, the Earth Clan naturally couldn't remain idle.

Gazing at the meteor-like escape lights in the sky, Qin Sang sensed the approaching storm. The great era of conflict within the Witch Tribe had been initiated by him!

At this moment, chaos had already erupted on all the peaks.

The High Priest's rule was the result of compromise among all clans in times of peace; anyone who dared to defy them would incur collective wrath.

But once chaos descended, whom could the High Priest constrain?

In ancient times, the Saintesses of various clans were more of a symbol; in the future, they would likely revert to their essential roles.

Qin Sang's gaze swept past the escape lights and fixed on the sky, wondering if this time, he could also draw the attention of those above.

There was no need to inquire further. Qin Sang turned and returned to his hiding place, only to suddenly hear a question, "Did you do that?"

Qin Sang was startled. He turned to see a small gray butterfly perched on the stone table in the cave dwelling, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

It was only the size of an ordinary butterfly, very inconspicuous. Its wings also bore a Heavenly Eye pattern, but it was distinctly different from the Heavenly Eye Butterfly.

Its Heavenly Eyes were also gray, appearing somewhat hollow, as if a void was hidden within them.

The deep Heavenly Eyes stared at Qin Sang. It was the one who had just asked the question.

"Greetings, Senior!" Qin Sang quickly bowed, curious why the Void Butterfly had not appeared in human form.

He respectfully replied, "That senior did say she would try to lure away the powerful Witch Tribe figures near Mount Dengbao to facilitate our actions. It seems she has made her move. I wonder if those powerful Witch Tribe figures have been lured away?"

Such an act would come at the cost of causing great chaos at Gonggong's Platform and disturbing the peace of the Insect Realm. No wonder the Void Butterfly's tone was unfriendly. Qin Sang absolutely could not admit that it was his idea.

"One just left," the Void Butterfly said faintly.

Qin Sang recalled what the Ghost Mother had said: after the gods disappeared, the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice lost its original meaning, becoming more about appeasing people's hearts. In the eyes of those powerful Witch Tribe figures, it was not a significant event at all.

Grand Witch Priests were either guarding the boundary walls or in seclusion, and would not emerge for the Grand Heaven and Earth Sacrifice. At most, a few Arch-Witches would make an appearance, and Qin Sang wondered how many remained.

The Void Butterfly lightly flew outside, her wings fluttering, and gazed towards the sacred mountain.

Qin Sang quickly emerged and followed her gaze, but he only saw an endless sea of clouds, sensing not the slightest trace of an Arch-Witch's aura.

"Follow me." The Void Butterfly suddenly spoke, her Heavenly Eyes flashing, and a gray light shot towards Qin Sang.