Chapter 2384: Empty Nothingness

His consciousness entered the water in the bowl. Although it was a bowl of stars and moonlight, he saw only pitch black.

There were no stars here; the deep night sky was incredibly silent, even deathly so, devoid of starlight and warmth.

Nothing existed around him except himself; there was only emptiness. He had become a qingluan wandering in the void, where the scenery was identical in every direction—boundless and unrestrained, yet also without support. A profound sense of loneliness enveloped him from all sides, making him think of death.

Was this what awaited people after death?

Qin Sang felt that the bowl shouldn't be like this. He sensed that he hadn't reached the end, that there was still a long way to the 'bottom' of the bowl. But what lay there?

He was so certain because he had sensed a star there.

It was the very star he had sensed years ago!

Ancient demon arts focused on the 'demon soul dwelling in a star.' Once a certain level of cultivation was reached, a practitioner would select a star to anchor their Dharma Form. As their cultivation deepened, they would draw closer to that star, culminating in their ultimate transformation.

Whether this involved the soul dwelling upon the star or replacing it entirely, Qin Sang couldn't clearly describe the exact state of that realm since his cultivation hadn't reached it, but the process itself was consistent.

Some called this star a Destiny Star.

Qin Sang hadn't deliberately chosen a Destiny Star because *Heavenly Demon Refinement Form* had made the selection for him; he had sensed his connection to a specific star long ago.

Over the years, the connection between Qin Sang and his Destiny Star had steadily deepened, yet he had never been able to see it in the Star Sea, as if it were a hidden star. Despite this, he clearly felt himself drawing closer and closer to it.

Day or night, Qin Sang could always sense his Destiny Star, and now he had sensed it again in this bowl of water!

He attempted to 'flap his wings,' following the sensation, and soared into the depths of the night sky. He actually succeeded; this was a bottomless 'bowl of water.' Moreover, he felt an unseen force pushing him forward, saving him considerable effort.

Qin Sang realized he was indeed moving closer to his Destiny Star, and with the aid of that force, he navigated effortlessly—something utterly impossible in reality.

He vaguely understood the stone bowl's purpose.

"Could I see my Destiny Star within the bowl?"

Qin Sang was filled with anticipation.

Under the moonlight.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the reef, holding the stone bowl, head bowed in contemplation. The gentle moonlight illuminating his back made him appear like a statue.

Within the bowl, he soared ceaselessly, no longer remembering how far he had traveled.

Emptiness still prevailed, and the scenery was monotonous, but it did not shake Qin Sang's resolve.

He would never waver, yet some things could not be achieved by sheer willpower alone. During his journey, even with the aid of that mysterious propelling force, his energy was constantly depleting.

Gradually, Qin Sang began to feel a long-unfelt weakness. He hadn't reached his destination and refused to give up, pushing himself to his limits. The sensation of weakness washed over him like a tide.

"How could this be?"

Qin Sang was filled with doubt. He clearly felt very close to his Destiny Star. Even if he couldn't touch it, he should at least see some signs, yet his vision remained one of darkness, coldness, and emptiness.

It was as if a layer of mist obscured his Destiny Star...

Qin Sang tried every method to search, but it was futile; he couldn't disperse the mist.

Finally, Qin Sang neared exhaustion, unable to maintain the state. With intense reluctance, his consciousness rapidly withdrew, pulling out of the stone bowl.

"Hah!"

In an instant, Qin Sang returned to reality. His breathing was rapid, and he felt immensely fatigued, more tired than after a magical battle against a well-matched opponent.

'Crack!'

A faint crack startled Qin Sang. He looked closely to see the stone bowl in his hands suddenly splitting open.

The water from the bowl flowed out through the cracks, spilling onto the lake surface. Yet, as it fell, it dissipated into thin air like moonlight, without creating the slightest ripple on the water.

Looking at the stone bowl in his hands, it had broken into several dry, coarse pottery shards. The previous spiritual fluctuations were gone; this treasure was completely ruined.

With a silent sigh, Qin Sang gathered the pottery shards, steadied his breath for a moment, then rose and walked away from the reef.

Seeing Qin Sang emerge, Mo Yan asked, "How was it?"

His eyes then fell on the pottery shards in Qin Sang's hand, and a look of surprise crossed his face.

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. I couldn't discern its origin from the stone bowl itself. As for its purpose..."

Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then shared his insights, not concealing anything from Mo Yan.

Based on his recent observations and sensations, it wasn't difficult to deduce that the stone bowl was likely a treasure used by ancient demon cultivators to prematurely interact with, or experience, their Destiny Stars.

To achieve the realm of 'demon soul dwelling in a star,' one first needed to understand their own Destiny Star. With the stone bowl's aid, demon cultivators could approach their Destiny Star in advance, and any insights gained would undoubtedly provide significant help and guidance for their future cultivation.

It was conceivable that in ancient times, such stone bowls were highly coveted treasures among countless demon cultivators.

Now, times had changed, and the stone bowl had lost its proper status. However, if it found a worthy master, it would still be an invaluable treasure.

But Qin Sang hadn't been able to see his Destiny Star!

"Then congratulations, fellow Daoist, on being able to advance further," Mo Yan said, quite envious after learning the stone bowl's function.

"It's hard to say for now... Besides, it's widely said that ancient methods are unfeasible and carry fatal hidden dangers. Even if I reach the peak of cultivation, what then?"

Qin Sang smiled bitterly to himself.

Was it due to the erosion of time, rendering the stone bowl less potent, or was it a problem with Qin Sang himself?

As a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator, just one step away from the Soul Fusion stage, his cultivation level was certainly not low; he undoubtedly qualified to activate the stone bowl.

Could it be an issue with his cultivation method?

The First Sword Attendant's warning resurfaced in Qin Sang's mind.

Perhaps it was even a problem of the era itself!

Everyone knew that ancient demon arts carried fatal hidden dangers, and that the path was broken. Yet, no one could clearly explain what these hidden dangers were, or why the path was no longer viable.

Could it be that, one day, all demon cultivators suddenly lost the ability to find their Destiny Stars?

Qin Sang considered various possibilities, which gave him a headache.

Mo Yan, unaware of Qin Sang's worries, pondered for a moment. Suddenly, an idea seemed to strike him, and he exclaimed happily, "So that's it! Thankfully, fellow Daoist has enlightened me; I think I understand now, which will save me a lot of effort. It's not convenient to stay longer at present. I'll share drinks and good conversation with you another day!"

Unsure of what specific insight he had provided Mo Yan, Qin Sang found it awkward to detain him. Before they parted, he said, "If there's an urgent matter, fellow Daoist can send the message directly to Tianyunpu..."

"I understand. Farewell!"

Mo Yan left in a hurry.

After seeing Mo Yan off, Qin Sang immediately returned to Water Dragon Palace, still feeling the lingering fatigue.

Back at Water Dragon Palace, Qin Sang immediately entered secluded cultivation, attempting to recapture that feeling.

For a period, Qin Sang remained almost constantly in seclusion, oblivious to outside affairs. The busiest, however, was Chi Lian; her presence was rarely seen in the Crystal Palace.

The number of envoys and experts gathering at Water Dragon Palace grew daily, with various factions convening for the grand event. However, none of this concerned Qin Sang; he continuously sought to comprehend his past sensations, attempting to peer into the star hidden within the mist.

In cultivation, time passed unnoticed.

One day, Qin Sang slowly awoke, gazing blankly at the Crystal Palace's dome. His aura had, surprisingly, improved slightly.

Although he hadn't seen his Destiny Star, he hadn't gained nothing. The stone bowl had carried him through the night sky, drawing him closer to it. During this process, his perception of the Destiny Star became clearer than ever before, and new insights continually emerged. Once he fully assimilated these insights, they would prove immensely beneficial for his future cultivation.

"Indeed, human greed is insatiable. This is already an unexpected boon; I shouldn't ask for too much. Judging by Mo Yan's reaction, the stone bowl and the star spirit might originate from the same place, and there might be even greater opportunities there..."

Qin Sang thought to himself, then personally pushed open the palace door.

Demon soldiers stood guard outside the door. Qin Sang waved, beckoning a demon general over. "During my seclusion, what major events have occurred in Water Dragon Palace? Where is His Majesty now?"

"Reporting, Sir," the demon general replied, "the White Dragon King held a grand banquet for guests a month ago, and it has since been hosted three times. This morning, His Majesty received the Dragon King's summons and has not yet returned..."

Chi Lian had declared herself 'Great King' and instructed them to call Qin Sang 'Second Great King.' Qin Sang, finding the title unpleasant, had ordered the demon soldiers of Tianyunpu to address him as 'Sir.'

"Three banquets... results should be imminent."

Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the White Dragon King's chambers, then turned and headed to the main hall to await Chi Lian.

It was not until midnight that Chi Lian finally returned.

"Fellow Daoist has finally emerged from seclusion."

Seeing Qin Sang, Chi Lian forced a smile, then sighed, her expression troubled.

Qin Sang noticed her troubled expression and asked, "Why the sigh, fellow Daoist? Has the Dragon King gone back on his word?"

"Not exactly," Chi Lian shook her head. "Tianyunpu and Water Dragon Palace have already formed an alliance, and the White Dragon King isn't as overbearing as we imagined; the terms aren't harsh."

"Then what is it?" Qin Sang asked, curious.

Chi Lian sighed again. "Tonight, the White Dragon King finally revealed his true reason for summoning all the powerful figures. You'd never guess the truth."

"Fellow Daoist, please don't keep me in suspense..."

Qin Sang invited Chi Lian to sit and personally poured her a cup of tea.

Chi Lian held the spiritual tea, her expression troubled, and slowly began to speak. As Qin Sang heard the full account, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Demon Saints missing?"

Chi Lian nodded. "And it's two Demon Saints, both of whom vanished in the Great Swamp of Lotus Crossing!"

Qin Sang was stunned. The truth was indeed unexpected: two Demon Saints had actually gone missing in the Great Swamp of Lotus Crossing. "Could the golden toad we saw last time be one of them...?"

Previously, through Mo Yan's inkstone, they had glimpsed a corner of the battlefield and only seen a golden toad.

However, some demon cultivators who had participated in the Four Kings' Alliance had survived. Through their eyewitness accounts, they could piece together what they hadn't seen.

At that time, countless mountain peaks had risen from the ground, just as they had witnessed, assembling into a massive divine mountain in mid-air.

The divine mountain was formed not only of mountain peaks but also of the demon cultivators who participated in the Four Kings' Alliance, including the Four Kings themselves, all of whom were struck into the mountain.

Until the end, frightened faces could be seen pressed against the cliffs, as if they were mountain spirits sealed within the mountain, condemned to eternal damnation.

Even a mere description was chilling.

There was no doubt that two Demon Saints had been fighting, one of whom had revealed his true form as a golden toad.

"Is the golden toad necessarily their true form? It could also be a manifestation of some divine ability. Based on that alone, we cannot conclude that the missing Demon Saints are them," Chi Lian shook her head.

"How could a Demon Saint perish so easily?" Qin Sang didn't believe it. Even he would find it difficult to kill a late-stage Void Refinement expert now.

"It's said that the life flame in one of their cave dwellings extinguished," Chi Lian replied.

"A Demon Saint's life flame?"

Qin Sang's expression grew solemn.

Methods such as life flames and soul lamps are not uncommon in the cultivation world; they usually extinguish only when the owner perishes or is trapped in a place isolated from the outside world.

In either case, the missing Demon Saints must be in a dire situation.

Qin Sang then recalled a scene he had witnessed in the Arctic Ice Plain: those two Demon Saints being seized by skeletal hands. He wondered if they had managed to escape.

"I don't know if the rumors are true or false," Chi Lian said, "but the factions of those two Demon Saints have already entered the Great Swamp of Lotus Crossing to search for them. Because the Four Kings' territory was once the site of a Demon Saint's battle, it has garnered their attention. The White Dragon King is currently gathering all the powerful figures primarily for this reason. Soon, trusted subordinates of the Demon Saints will arrive at Tianyunpu, so we must return quickly to prepare and receive them properly."

"How long will they stay here?" Qin Sang asked.

"Likely until they find traces of the Demon Saints," Chi Lian said, shrugging with a helpless expression.

Her expression was understandable. She had poured all her energy into making a name for herself amid the chaos in the Great Swamp of Lotus Crossing, hoping to impress the higher echelons of the Five Immortals Sect.

Now that the Demon Saint factions were here searching for their masters, Tianyunpu, no matter how powerful, was still just a regional force. How could they dare oppose a Demon Saint? Even the White Dragon King had to dutifully act as a messenger. Otherwise, if the Demon Saint wasn't truly dead, they might simply return and wipe them out, leaving no one to seek justice from.

Although the Demon Saint factions didn't explicitly state they were taking over local authority, as long as they remained, this region would not descend into chaos.

Qin Sang also hadn't anticipated such a situation. "What has been the reaction of the other Demon Saints?"

With two Demon Saints suddenly missing, the others couldn't possibly remain indifferent.

"They're probably all waiting and watching," Chi Lian speculated.

The minds of the Demon Saints were unfathomable; they wouldn't make a move easily before the truth was revealed, or else the world would descend into utter chaos.

"Let's go. Distinguished guests will arrive in a few days, and we absolutely cannot neglect them..."

Chi Lian drained her spiritual tea, summoned a demon general, contacted the other demon kings, and prepared for their return journey.

Soon after, Qin Sang and Chi Lian emerged from the Crystal Palace.

The demon soldiers were busy preparing the ceremonial procession. Seeing Chi Lian somewhat dispirited, Qin Sang advised, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be too pessimistic. The White Dragon King still chose to ally with Tianyunpu and used this opportunity to summon all the powerful figures for an alliance in Water Dragon Palace. Now that the White Dragon King has established his influence, should changes arise, he would undoubtedly be the prime candidate for alliance leader. This indicates he, too, harbors some ambitions!"

In fact, Qin Sang was already considering withdrawing from the Great Swamp of Lotus Crossing; he didn't possess Chi Lian's grand ambitions.

Chi Lian's eyes brightened slightly upon hearing this. "Fellow Daoist truly has keen insight! If that's the case, we shall sharpen our weapons and train our troops in the mountains, quietly awaiting their arrival."

With all the demons assembled, Chi Lian announced their departure. The ceremonial procession breached the lake's surface, parting the waters as it emerged.

A single stone had stirred up a thousand ripples.

The lake surface surged with ripples as envoys from all sides rushed back, carrying this astonishing news to their respective mountain gates.