Chapter 2398: Sealed

Qin Sang remained clear-headed, not swayed by temptation. The demon saints' subordinates had gathered here, surely under their masters' orders. The unknown entity attracting Qin Sang from the Dipper Mansion might also be the demon saints' objective!

Two streaks of light quickly disappeared into the depths of the Nine Heavens Profound Gang. Judging by their direction, they were heading straight for the Dipper Mansion. The Nine Heavens Profound Gang permeated the area, greatly affecting cultivators' spiritual senses and judgment. Given that they practiced new cultivation methods and lacked Qin Sang's unique abilities, it would normally be difficult for them to pinpoint the Dipper Mansion's exact location, even if they surmised the treasure was hidden there, unless they had guidance from a master. The implications behind this were even more terrifying: the demon saints were observing this place from afar!

Qin Sang shared his deductions with Mo Yan. Mo Yan replied, "We've only seen three so far. The situation might not be as dire as you imagine, Daoist friend. Since we've already emerged from the Ox Mansion, we should at least go and see the Dipper Mansion for ourselves." Harboring a sliver of unrealistic hope, Qin Sang and Mo Yan flew towards the Dipper Mansion together.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

The gangfeng winds, soul-corroding and bone-gnawing, blew ceaselessly. Fortunately, Qin Sang and Mo Yan were powerful enough that while the ever-changing winds affected their evasion speed, they didn't need to deliberately change direction to accommodate them. As they flew, Qin Sang saw another white streak of light flash through the gangfeng, heading in the same direction as them.

By this point, they were not far from the Dipper Mansion. Qin Sang and Mo Yan slowed down, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Gradually, they faintly saw the boundary of the Nine Heavens Profound Gang. Beyond it was pitch darkness, where a few scattered stars formed the constellation of the Dipper Mansion. The celestial mansion was high above, seemingly out of reach! An invisible force in the darkness seemed to block the Nine Heavens Profound Gang, keeping the demons out as well.

"Look there!" Qin Sang pointed towards the edge of the Nine Heavens Profound Gang. There was a fluctuating spiritual light, a mix of purple glow and crimson flames, very conspicuous in the gangfeng.

"It's Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra! They're fighting!" Mo Yan also saw it and stated with certainty. The master of Moon Mire Tundra belonged to the Purple Rhinoceros clan, while the Scarlet Meteor Mountain's lineage excelled in fire-controlling techniques. The characteristics of both their divine abilities were very distinct. Even through the gangfeng, they could sense the magical battle fluctuations coming from that direction; the fight was extremely intense.

"Are Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra really fighting?" A hint of doubt flickered in Qin Sang's eyes; he suspected they were still putting on a show, but for whom?

"It really is King Bi You!" Mo Yan gasped softly.

Qin Sang also noticed a blue-clad youth standing at the edge of the gangfeng, watching the battle from afar. King Bi You did not deliberately conceal his identity, as it was no longer necessary at this point. Those who could arrive so quickly were certainly top experts, and his identity would be revealed as soon as he made a move. Qin Sang and Mo Yan scanned the area and found figures in other directions, all like King Bi You, silently observing the battle without interfering.

"Princess Yulu of Immortal Dew Palace!"

"That one is Great Saint Garuda's beloved disciple..."

All those arriving were renowned powerhouses in this region, possessing top-tier identities, inheritances, and innate talents. Mo Yan quickly identified the origins of most of these demon cultivators. Without exception, they all had demon saints backing them! Qin Sang's last sliver of hope vanished. This was simply not a battlefield he could interfere with. If he were only facing the descendants of great saints, he wouldn't consider himself weaker than them. But what if the demon saints themselves directly intervened in the end? How could he possibly dare to contend with even one demon saint, let alone multiple? As the saying goes, when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits. He feared that before he could even get a chance to fish in troubled waters, he would be utterly destroyed. No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than another streak of light flew through the gangfeng, indicating that more demon saint subordinates would soon arrive.

King Bi You and the other demons did not disturb Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra. They watched the battle while observing the darkness before them. The Dipper Mansion was close at hand, yet the darkness seemed like a wall, blocking their path. King Bi You's gaze was gradually drawn to the darkness. After a moment of contemplation, a mass of rootless water appeared behind him.

'Splash!'

Water splashed everywhere, and eight tentacles emerged from the water. The tentacles were covered in suckers that continuously wriggled. These tentacles stretched past King Bi You and probed into the darkness. A moment later, King Bi You's expression subtly changed, and the tentacles recoiled abruptly as if shocked. However, only two of them escaped unharmed. The other six seemed to be entangled by something, and King Bi You, sensing danger, decisively severed the six tentacles at their base. The tentacles twisted violently and were finally yanked in by a force. King Bi You then lost all sensation of them. Before the six tentacles vanished, he only vaguely caught sight of a strange white shadow. Hidden dangers clearly lurked in the darkness; entering the Dipper Mansion would not be easy.

Other demon kings also arrived at the edge of the Dipper Mansion and attempted various probing methods, but all failed, making them hesitant to act rashly. The demon kings exchanged glances, recognizing each other's identities and origins, which was no surprise. Even those who tried to conceal themselves were certainly connected to a great saint.

"Everyone!" King Bi You was the first to speak, drawing the attention of the other demon kings. He then subtly gestured towards the battlefield with his chin and suggested, "Why don't we try to persuade them first?"

The demons immediately understood his meaning. The stargate had been opened by Scarlet Meteor Mountain and Moon Mire Tundra, meaning they surely knew more about this place. The fact that they could cooperate to open the stargate but then turned hostile upon reaching this point clearly indicated that both sides valued something more, making them unwilling to compromise.

"Daoist friends, please stop fighting! Why harm the harmony between us?"

"Indeed, indeed, why don't we all put our heads together and figure out how to get in first? It won't be too late to fight once we see the treasure..."

The demon kings began to persuade them, one after another.

On the battlefield, the two sides were locked in a fierce, indistinguishable battle, purple light and crimson flames intertwining, with curses echoing ceaselessly. Yuan Luo was fighting two opponents. Although she seemed at a disadvantage, a full assessment of the battle showed no signs of Scarlet Meteor Mountain being defeated. They were naturally putting on a show for others.

Hearing the demons' words of persuasion, Yuan Luo quietly exchanged a glance with the pair of cousins. Just then, the Immortal transmitted a message, reminding her: "The time is almost right. Act now and lock them all inside!"

"If we close the stargate, won't the demon saints outside force their way in?" Yuan Luo asked, a little worried.

"No, they all have their own agendas. They won't easily make a move until the last moment. As long as they don't completely lose contact, they will wait patiently..."

Yuan Luo assented in her heart. The astrolabe in her sleeve silently shattered, its fragments turning into invisible dust that subtly scattered. At the same time, the purple rhinoceroses controlled by Yuan Luo and the cousins collided fiercely. They separated instantly, and the two warring parties also naturally pulled apart. Though they had ceased fighting, they still glared fiercely at each other.

"Heh heh, your noses are sharper than dogs'; you came sniffing along as soon as you caught the scent!" Yuan Luo appeared, casting a glance around, and said irritably, showing no politeness to these demon saint subordinates.

"Haha, I wonder how our Calamity Dog Mountain has offended Fairy Yuan Luo? I'll offer my apologies to you now."

A hearty laugh came from the gangfeng, and a red-haired man flew out. He had broad shoulders, a slender waist, and a strikingly crimson nose. The demons recognized him as the chief disciple of the Great Saint of Calamity Dog Mountain. A 'Huo Dou' (Calamity Dog) is a type of spirit hound, and the Huo Dou clan was quite renowned in ancient times.

"It's not that our noses are sharp; it's just that the scent you all emit is too strong," another demon cultivator retorted.

Yuan Luo's expression turned cold, and she glared fiercely at Moon Mire Tundra. "I tried to persuade you kindly, but you failed to appreciate it and remain stubbornly misguided. Do you truly wish to let them profit without effort?"

"Hmph! Why should we listen to you and let you take the lead?" The cousins were still unconvinced, but their tone softened slightly. Their lips moved faintly as they transmitted a few words. Then, both sides began to move closer to each other, finally setting aside their disputes under external pressure and choosing to join forces.

Qin Sang and Mo Yan watched. Mo Yan asked, "Daoist friend, can you enter the Dipper Mansion before them?" Scarlet Meteor Mountain, Moon Mire Tundra, and the demon kings each harbored their own ulterior motives, and it was likely they would continue to contend. It would be best if they all started fighting.

"That's probably difficult. The Dipper Mansion is most likely still intact!" Qin Sang shook his head. That strong attraction constantly lured him and his life star, but it didn't show him a clear path. The reason they could break into the Ox Mansion so quickly was that it was already dilapidated, as evident from the fragments. The Dipper Mansion was different. To Qin Sang, it seemed a seamless whole, without any flaws. To break through the darkness and enter, constant attempts and deductions would be necessary. But even if he went in first and obtained the treasure, could he bring it out alive?

At this moment, Yuan Luo and the pair of cousins stood together, facing the demon kings, and coldly said, "I advise you..."

No sooner had she spoken than the expressions of the demon cultivators present suddenly changed. King Bi You withdrew his left hand into his sleeve. A jade-green archer's ring was on his thumb, and a wisp of aura coiled around it. This was the aura Great Saint Beiheng had personally left on it before their departure. Just now, this wisp of aura trembled, almost dissipating. A faint connection hidden within the aura suddenly became almost imperceptible. King Bi You secretly frowned, rubbing the archer's ring and silently performing a divine ability, but received no response, filling him with surprise and doubt. As long as he wore this ring, Great Saint Beiheng could manifest at any time. Who had severed his connection with Great Saint Beiheng now? No, the connection wasn't broken, just extremely weak. He didn't know how much power remained.

In front of the stargate, the weaker demon cultivators, hindered by the Nine Heavens Profound Gang, finally found the stargate after a laborious search. Some demon cultivators entered the stargate, while others lingered at the entrance, hesitating whether to go in. Although the treasure was good, life was more important, and there were already too many masters inside. However, the space beyond the gate looked vast. Even if they couldn't get the meat, surely they could at least have some soup?

Just as these demon cultivators hesitated, the stargate's surface suddenly blazed with light. The Black Tortoise's Seven Mansions, previously obscured by scars, now shone brilliantly with starlight.

'Ohm!'

The stargate vibrated. To the demons' surprise, the stargate was closing.

'Whoosh! Whoosh!'

Several divine abilities and treasures transformed into streaks of light shot towards the stargate. The demon cultivators all made their moves, attempting to prevent the stargate from closing, but to no avail. As the stargate slowly closed, the demon cultivators present made vastly different choices. Some feared being trapped inside and dared not enter, while others believed that since the demon saint's subordinates had dared to go in, there was nothing for them to worry about, and it would surely reopen later.

'Boom!'

As the last sliver of the gap closed, it was too late for those who hadn't entered to regret it. At that moment, myriad starlight suddenly retracted, and the stargate submerged. The Nine Heavens Profound Gang, which had been pushed aside by the stargate, surged back in. In an instant, the stargate vanished from the demons' sight, leaving no trace. No matter what methods they used, they couldn't detect the slightest fluctuation. The demons looked at each other, then one demon cultivator suddenly cried out, "This is bad!" and hastily flew back. The surrounding demon cultivators immediately realized that since the stargate had vanished, the underground spiritual array might also be closing.

Ox Mansion.

The Five Immortals had shaken off the pursuit of the Ink Beasts and were now standing before a piece of shattered rock. The surface of this shattered rock was smooth and flat, and upon it rested a wooden sculpture. The wood of the sculpture was warm and moist, depicting an old man with an otherworldly, immortal demeanor. The old man sat cross-legged, hands resting flat on his knees, palms facing upwards. However, his face had no features carved onto it, which was somewhat eerie.

The Five Immortals all regarded the wooden sculpture with respectful expressions. The Fox Immortal stood at the forefront, bowing respectfully to the wooden sculpture before forcing out her vital essence blood. The vital essence blood spontaneously ignited, turning into a wisp of light smoke that merged into the wooden sculpture. A strange luster appeared on the sculpture's surface.

"Sect Master, please give your instructions..."

After this blood sacrifice, the Fox Immortal chanted the name of the Five Immortals Sect Master, seeking guidance. Immediately, her expression shifted subtly as she tilted her head, listening intently. A moment later, she suddenly frowned.

"What did the Sect Master say?" the Black Protector eagerly asked.

The Fox Immortal gazed at the wooden sculpture and stated, "The connection is severed."

"Severed? What's severed?"

They looked at the wooden sculpture and saw that the luster which had just appeared was rapidly fading, yet they had clearly done nothing. The Five Immortals all looked up, feeling an inexplicable sense that the starry sky was different. What could have happened that even the Sect Master's personally transmitted secret art had been severed?

"Something's not right!"

Qin Sang noticed some strange actions from a few demon kings. A scroll suddenly flew out from the chest of one demon king. With a 'crack,' the scroll shattered, turning into a cloud of pink smoke. The smoke quickly dissipated, with only a wisp remaining, which the demon king swiftly collected. However, the aura that emerged in that instant was chilling.

"That's an artifact of a Great Saint!" Mo Yan said gravely.

Besides this demon, unusual auras also appeared on the other demon kings. As expected, these demon kings were acting under orders, each possessing treasures bestowed by demon saints. It was more than mere protective artifacts; the demon saints were likely monitoring this place through these means. If anything changed, their true forms or avatars could directly descend! For some reason, they were all exposed at the same time. Qin Sang's heart instantly sank. Any last sliver of hope vanished; he had vastly underestimated the demon saints' level of concern for this place! The scroll seemed shattered, but the methods of powerful beings were unfathomable. As long as a wisp of aura remained, a demon saint could still descend. Even a slight possibility of that would be a catastrophic disaster for him!

"Did you feel that, Daoist friend?" Mo Yan awkwardly twisted his neck. In an inexplicable way, he felt as if an invisible shackle had been placed upon him.

Qin Sang, who was even more sensitive to the changes here, vaguely guessed what had happened and said, "Let's go back!"