Chapter 61: Desolation

The Human Realm

Black mist billowed and converged, revealing the figures of three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Uncle-master Wu glanced at the bones on the ground and sighed, "These desperadoes are getting bolder and bolder."

Uncle-master Yue frowned and said, "Their strength is also growing. Last time, there were only a few Qi Refining rogues; this time, even Foundation Establishment cultivators showed up. Judging by the magical artifacts they used, they don't seem like mere rogue cultivators. They're likely connected to some of the surrounding cultivation families. Greed is a powerful motivator! It seems we'll have to abandon this divine artifact pavilion. What a pity..."

Uncle-master Dong snorted coldly, "Next time, we'll ask a few senior brothers to come out and thoroughly cleanse the cultivation families around Mount You. Then we'll see which clown dares to jump out!"

Under the night sky, the flying shuttle, transformed into an escape light, sped like lightning.

The three Uncle-masters positioned themselves in a Three Talents formation, jointly controlling the flying shuttle, while Qin Sang and the others stayed in the middle.

Enveloped by the escape light, Qin Sang felt no bumps or cold wind. The mountains and plains below flashed past like fleeting shadows, stirring his memories of his previous life.

What incredible speed! Qin Sang greatly envied the abilities of Foundation Establishment cultivators, but for now, he could only cultivate diligently.

In front of others, Qin Sang dared not take out his Soul Pill to aid his cultivation. As expected, the Five-Element Spiritual Root lived up to its reputation; after one full cycle of cultivation, the spiritual energy accumulated in his body was negligible. He simply decided not to waste any more time and instead use this opportunity to practice spells.

Complex spells not only required vocal incantations but also accompanying hand seals.

Qin Sang originally thought he was quite intelligent and that learning would be simple. Unexpectedly, every single incantation was incredibly obscure and difficult to pronounce, their rhyming patterns unusually strange, and they were interspersed with various archaic sounds and recondite hidden meanings.

If that wasn't enough, chanting each incantation required the precise coordination of spiritual sense, hand seals, and spiritual energy. This made Qin Sang utterly flustered, and only then did he realize that cultivation was truly not so simple.

He could only stumble through the incantations of the "Cloud Evasion Art" for now; there was no way he could cast spells with incantations in a short time.

Even if he could barely release a spell, such a long casting time would be meaningless in actual combat; he'd be killed by his opponent before the spell was even ready.

To cast spells instinctively and instantly, only long periods of diligent practice would suffice, which would inevitably conflict with cultivating his spiritual arts.

The flying shuttle sped for three days. Qin Sang estimated that the distance covered in these three days was several times what he had covered in a year of strenuous travel previously.

This was a telling glimpse of the vast gap between immortals and mortals.

Although Mount You was still experiencing the lingering chill of early spring, the winter snow had completely melted. After the flying shuttle flew for a while, they saw withered vegetation and a landscape still clad in white. The further north they went, the colder the ice plains became, with heavy snow falling.

In the early morning of the fourth day, the flying shuttle suddenly descended. Qin Sang and the others were startled awake. At first, they were alarmed, but then they realized that their sect had finally arrived and couldn't help but be filled with anticipation.

Soon after, Qin Sang felt a heavy sensation underfoot. The escape light around him dissipated, and the flying shuttle shrank to palm size, falling into Uncle-master Dong's hand, who put it away.

Seeing the scene before him, Qin Sang's heart sank.

All around them was a vast, desolate snowfield, with no sign of human habitation.

Endless snow-capped mountains stretched into the distance, with perilous peaks piercing the sky. Cliffs plunged thousands of feet, with clouds and mist encircling the mountainsides. At their base lay an abyss ten thousand feet deep, where gloomy mists perpetually lingered, bottomless and obscuring everything.

This mountain seemed like a sharp sword extended from the depths of the Nine Underworlds, pointing towards the sky.

The barren mountains were covered in white snow. Not a single blade of grass or tree was visible, and any exposed rocks were a desolate, stark black.

There were no pavilions, terraces, or winding streams as he had imagined, nor was there lush greenery, birdsong, or fragrant flowers. He could only see a few cave dwellings carved into the cliffs, their entrances blocked by snow, making them appear incredibly crude and shabby.

This desolate and lonely mountain peak—was this truly his sect?

Seeing the bewildered expressions on Qin Sang and the others' faces, Uncle-master Yue smiled and said, "The Kuiyin Sect doesn't have any immortal aura at all. Are you all very disappointed?"

Everyone's gazes simultaneously turned to Uncle-master Yue. No one dared to speak explicitly, but their eyes clearly conveyed that very sentiment.

Uncle-masters Dong and Hu ascended on their magical artifacts towards the mountaintop, while Uncle-master Yue led Qin Sang and the others down into the canyon below.

"Since you've stepped through the gate of cultivation," Uncle-master Yue said, "the beautiful scenery, rich clothes, delicious food, and even your parents and relatives are all external matters. Only what helps you improve your cultivation is truly important... Now, feel what's different compared to the outside."

As he spoke, Uncle-master Yue opened a gap in the escape light. A cold wind immediately rushed in, making Qin Sang shiver. He quickly circulated his spiritual energy to dispel the cold, then heard gasps of surprise from around him.

At this moment, Qin Sang also felt it: within the confines of the Kuiyin Sect, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth had become incredibly dense.

For cultivators, the density of the surrounding spiritual energy directly affects the speed of their cultivation. However, all the blessed lands of cultivation have already been divided among cultivation sects and noble families. Only a few wealthy rogue cultivators can use spirit stones to set up Spirit Gathering Arrays to aid their cultivation.

The spiritual energy within the Kuiyin Sect was surprisingly dense; this place likely had legendary spiritual eyes or spiritual springs. This was the true foundation of a cultivation sect.

Uncle-master Yue was right. Compared to such dense spiritual energy, what did mere beautiful scenery count for?

Uncle-master Yue led them flying into the canyon. They quickly arrived above the mist, but unexpectedly, Uncle-master Yue showed no intention of stopping. Eventually, they were engulfed by the mist, their vision completely obstructed.

After descending for some more time, Uncle-master Yue finally stopped his sword light. Qin Sang landed on solid ground and looked around; it was a stone bridge at the edge of a cliff.

The stone bridge was narrow, and they stood at the edge of the cliff, below which was a ten-thousand-foot abyss. A timid senior brother pressed himself tightly against the stone wall, his face pale.

Qin Sang looked around and found that the entire cliff face had similar stone bridges, paths, and steps carved into it. Connected by these stone bridges were numerous cave dwellings; some had their stone doors tightly shut, while others were wide open. There was no one around.

Standing here, Qin Sang felt as if he were in an ice cave. This place was perpetually shrouded in dense fog, never seeing sunlight. The chilly winds from deep underground whistled and seeped into his bones; only cultivators could barely withstand it.

In such a place, no matter how dense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it would be difficult to cultivate.

"Follow me..." Uncle-master Yue said, lifting his foot and walking towards a cave dwelling at the end of the stone bridge. Everyone quickly followed.

Arriving in front of the cave dwelling, Uncle-master Yue waved his hand, sending out a golden light, and the stone door automatically opened. Everyone followed Uncle-master Yue inside. Immediately, the chill on their bodies disappeared, and only then did they realize there were hidden wonders within the cave dwelling.

The cave dwelling's interior was very simply furnished: a stone bed, a meditation mat, and an incense altar.

Behind the incense altar was a portrait of an old man in black robes, standing suspended in the clouds, appearing ethereal and immortal.

Uncle-master Yue walked to the incense altar, lit an incense stick, and bowed respectfully to the portrait. Turning around, he saw Qin Sang and the others standing respectfully. He nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "From today onwards, you are disciples of the Kuiyin Sect. The Kuiyin Sect was founded by our sect's Old Ancestor, Venerable Kuiyin. You may now pay your respects to the Old Ancestor."