Chapter 847: True Demonic Aura

Rain Strikes Bluestone

“Fellow Daoist Yue, we’ve been heading directly north and should be nearing Senior Wu’s cultivation ground, right? This is the largest island at the northernmost edge of the cultivators’ sphere of influence; only someone with Senior Wu’s profound cultivation could hold it. Now Senior Wu has also retreated to Great Barren Island. Further north from here lies a wild, desolate land rarely visited by cultivators, rumored to be inhabited by powerful demon clans. Could your old friend, Fellow Daoist Yue, be trapped there?”

The group sped across the sea.

Kong Yun gazed at the vast northern sea, his expression solemn, and questioned Immortal Gu Yue.

After setting off, they traveled swiftly day and night.

Immortal Gu Yue led them northward, and unexpectedly, they were soon about to leave the former human sphere of influence, yet she showed no sign of stopping, seemingly intent on leading them into demon territory.

“That’s right.”

Immortal Gu Yue nodded, calmly explaining, “My old friend’s cultivation method is unique, requiring a special environment; otherwise, her progress would be extremely slow. After a long search, she fortunately found a suitable spot in the Demonic Sea, established a cave abode there, and has been cultivating ever since. We agreed that once her cultivation method reached completion, I would come to pick her up. Who would have thought that unforeseen changes would occur in the Demonic Sea, making it incredibly dangerous? I fear I wouldn't be able to protect her on my own. If not for this, why would I have been willing to offer so many treasures to invite you all to assist?”

Hearing Immortal Gu Yue’s explanation, Qin Sang and the others found it difficult to say more. After all, the remuneration Immortal Gu Yue offered was very valuable, making the trip worthwhile.

“Immortal Gu Yue offered so many treasures just to find powerful escorts for that person. This individual must be extremely important to her…”

Qin Sang glanced at Immortal Gu Yue’s snow-white temples, secretly wondering if it was a junior or a highly anticipated successor.

The journey continued in silence.

Three days later, they passed Senior Wu’s cultivation ground, which, like other large islands, had been occupied by demon beasts and reduced to ruins.

They proceeded cautiously to avoid alerting the demon beasts.

All four were very powerful, with no one lagging behind, and their cooperation was seamless. When encountering demon beasts, they either swiftly annihilated them with decisive force or covered each other, obscuring their presence from the beasts’ senses. They managed the entire journey without a single mishap.

Continuing north from Senior Wu’s cultivation ground, they entered demon territory, where demon beasts frequently appeared. The group was forced to slow their pace, taking over a month to reach their destination.

“My old friend’s cave abode is on an island a few tens of miles ahead. This island is vast and originally housed several great demon lairs. I don’t know if they’ve been summoned to Great Barren Island. That old friend’s safety now rests with you all.”

Immortal Gu Yue’s expression was serious as she cupped her hands towards the other three, then looked at Qin Sang.

Qin Sang affirmed that he would give his utmost.

The four found a nearby reef to rest and adjust their condition.

Fortune favored them; tonight was moonless and starless, pitch-black to the point of being unable to see one’s hand. The four each employed their unique methods, concealed their auras, and stealthily approached.

Qin Sang awakened his Heavenly Eye Butterfly, activating his Heavenly Eye, and could still clearly see his surroundings in the pitch-black night. Before long, a massive dark silhouette appeared before them.

They still couldn't see the island's edge; its size was probably comparable to Great Barren Island, a rare giant island.

Even before landing on the island, they heard bird calls and beast roars ahead. The four paused slightly, then swiftly flew onto the island and quickly concealed themselves in a dense forest.

Immortal Gu Yue took out a map, pointed to a spot on it, and said, “The target is here.”

Qin Sang looked closely and saw that the location Immortal Gu Yue indicated was not in the center of the island and could be reached by dawn. After confirming the direction, they wasted no time and immediately set off.

As they moved swiftly through the dense forest, they could sense the aura of a demon beast every so often, and deep within the forest, there was also a powerful demonic aura.

With so many demon beasts on the outskirts of the island, there must certainly be great demon lairs within.

As their mission was to rescue someone, the group decided to let these demon beasts be.

They traversed mountains and crossed ridges, the terrain becoming increasingly treacherous.

The island was covered in rolling, irregular mountains, but they posed no challenge to the group.

As dawn broke in the east, the group arrived before a deep valley; Immortal Gu Yue’s old friend’s cave abode was hidden within it.

The bottom of the deep valley was filled with dense mist, slowly rising upwards. Surrounded by towering mountains on both sides, the mist couldn't dissipate and accumulated in thick masses. Strangely, this mist was not white; it was mixed with faint black wisps, appearing grayish-white and exuding an abnormal chill.

Even with their high cultivation, they were forced to circulate their spiritual power to ward off the cold.

Upon seeing this sight, the smile that had appeared on Immortal Gu Yue’s face due to their smooth arrival abruptly vanished. She urgently said, “Have we arrived too late? The valley’s restrictions actually… Fellow Daoists, please keep watch from the valley rim while I go down to see if my old friend is still here.”

With that, Immortal Gu Yue tapped her foot, her plain robe enveloping her, and her figure vanished before their eyes.

A ripple appeared in the mist, then quickly subsided.

Qin Sang and the other two exchanged glances, then spread out a short distance, each guarding a direction.

Standing at the valley entrance, the mist’s chill was even more profound, seemingly able to penetrate one’s bones.

Qin Sang reached out and scooped up a handful of mist, then circulated his spiritual power to purify it, leaving behind a wisp of black smoke as fine as a strand of hair.

Qin Sang let out a soft exclamation and was about to focus on observing the black smoke when he suddenly heard the voice of Old Man Zhushan, “Daoist Priest, you’ve noticed it too? This mist seems to be mixed with demonic energy!”

“Demonic energy, really?”

Qin Sang looked up, questioning, “I’ve dealt with demonic cultivators before, but this seems different?”

Old Man Zhushan nodded. “It is different, because this might be ancient True Demonic Qi!”

“That’s right,” Kong Yun interjected. “I have several old acquaintances in the demonic cultivation path and have read their scriptures. These black wisps closely resemble the ancient True Demonic Qi described in those texts. In the current cultivation world, places containing True Demonic Qi are extremely rare, forming only due to unique circumstances. The demonic energy cultivated by demonic cultivators is naturally far inferior to ancient True Demonic Qi. The valley bottom is clearly a demonic ground permeated with True Demonic Qi. It’s extraordinary that Immortal Gu Yue’s old friend can cultivate by harnessing True Demonic Qi.”

Old Man Zhushan wondered, “I don’t recall hearing of any connection between Immortal Gu Yue and the demonic path.”

Kong Yun chuckled. “I don’t know either. Fellow Daoist might as well ask Immortal Gu Yue.”

Old Man Zhushan smiled but said nothing.

After a brief exchange, silence returned to the valley rim.

Qin Sang lowered his head, gazing at the black smoke, and couldn't help but recall something.

After meeting Madam Liu, he had carefully inquired about the scene when Xiang Yi activated the ancient divine platform in the Seven Kills Hall, hoping to uncover the secrets of the Eastern Extremity Alliance and the Western Gloom Alliance.

After he killed that young man from the Western Gloom Alliance, he obtained a strange spiritual talisman that he still couldn't decipher, not knowing its purpose.

According to Madam Liu, after the ancient divine platform was activated, Xiang Yi conjured a secret talisman to suppress the thunderous chains. The black dragon sealed within that talisman seemed to be composed of incredibly pure ancient True Demonic Qi.

The three major trade alliances operated outside the righteous and demonic paths, yet two late-Core Formation masters within the Eastern Extremity Alliance were connected to True Demonic Qi.