Chapter 2410: Cloud Sea Star Spirit

In every direction, the scenery was monotonous: a silent sky, tranquil water, and the horizon where sea and sky merged, making it impossible to distinguish directions.

Moyan, however, could discern direction and led Qin Sang, flying steadily in one particular direction.

"Is this the secret realm you mentioned earlier, Fellow Daoist?"

Within the Guixu, an insidious tranquility subtly eroded the will of living beings.

Perhaps 'assimilation' was a more fitting term than 'erosion'!

The Guixu was like a gentle mother, soothing the mind with peace and tranquility, washing away weariness. Here, free from chaos, conflict, pain, or struggle, it was easy to let down one's guard and desire to sink deeper.

Qin Sang didn't know what would happen if one was completely enveloped by this tranquility, but he was certain it wasn't what he desired.

Legend had it that the Black Tortoise, known for its longevity and understanding of yin and yang, was naturally placid and could endure this tranquility, even considering the Guixu its home. Other races, however, would likely lose their sense of self and then... perish!

This seemed to be the Guixu's greatest, and perhaps only, danger.

Qin Sang and Moyan flew for a long time, but saw no other living beings, not even an ancient prohibition or a magic formation.

When the Three Flying Immortals invited him, they valued his strength and surely didn't know he possessed the Jade Buddha, which could resist the Guixu's assimilation. This implied other hidden dangers lay within.

Yet, within the Guixu, there was seemingly only water, and nothing attacked or obstructed them.

Moyan, sensing Qin Sang's confusion, said, "That's because we entered directly, coming into the Guixu straight from the Seven Mansions of the Black Tortoise!"

He looked ahead. "The entrance to this place should originally have been at the bottom of Reflecting Moon Lake."

"Reflecting Moon Lake?"

Qin Sang had long heard of the famed Lotus Lake Reflecting Moon.

Moyan nodded, revealing the full story. "We obtained the clam pearl and entered from Reflecting Moon Lake, but then encountered numerous obstacles, many of which were completely different from what we'd expected. Even with our combined strength, we couldn't overcome them and were eventually forced to retreat. However, we discovered some unusual traces, suggesting this place might have been opened and tampered with by someone else long before us!"

Qin Sang asked, surprised, "Are you saying, Fellow Daoist, that someone could enter without the clam pearl and even alter this place?"

Neither the Guixu nor the Black Tortoise Saint Palace was simple, and this secret realm was connected to both. Forcibly opening it was likely beyond the capabilities of a demon king!

"If it were the true master, we wouldn't dare act so presumptuously," Moyan sighed. "It must have been some unknown senior, who did this a long time ago. Besides, we found some newer traces. Someone entered not long ago, and their strength wasn't too formidable. So, we secretly investigated and eventually identified the Plague Lord. That senior must have left behind a 'shortcut' and never returned, and for some reason, the Plague Lord discovered it..."

At this point, Qin Sang roughly understood the Three Flying Immortals' predicament.

The Three Flying Immortals had sought to enter the Guixu but were unexpectedly blocked because the secret realm had been tampered with.

The Plague Lord and Gu Auntie held the shortcut, but their progress seemed just as difficult; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such elaborate lengths to set this trap.

Another question remained: what role did the Five Immortals' Abode play, and why did they interfere?

This also puzzled Moyan; all his findings pointed to the Plague Lord, with no trace of the Five Immortals' Abode.

As they spoke, they continued flying forward, covering an unknown distance, until at last, a different color appeared at the edge of their vision.

Between the sea and sky, a hint of white emerged – a mass of clouds.

Soon after, white clouds began to appear in patches, and the vast sky suddenly became filled with continuous cloud vapor. The vapor flowed ceaselessly, exceptionally rich with moisture, and a fine drizzle fell onto the sea. Occasionally, lightning would flash across the clouds.

As Qin Sang and Moyan flew beneath the clouds, the tranquility shattered, replaced by a lively atmosphere.

Curiously, though the waters where these clouds resided were connected to the Guixu, an invisible boundary existed. The vibrant activity here did not disturb the Guixu's tranquility, as if they were two distinct worlds.

Qin Sang scanned the area, sensing a force within the clouds that affected his vision. Even when he commanded the Celestial Eye Butterfly to use its divine ability, the effect was the same.

"This sea of clouds was what blocked us previously..."

Moyan looked into the depths of the clouds. Previously, his three brothers had returned empty-handed, but unexpectedly, this time they had bypassed the cloud sea and entered directly via the Seven Mansions of the Black Tortoise.

"Back then, we found star spirits wandering in this cloud sea. If you and I cooperate, we should be able to capture them more quickly," Moyan said, scanning his surroundings. Receiving no response from Qin Sang, he felt a little strange. "Fellow Daoist?"

Qin Sang was currently gazing intently at the sea of clouds, one hand clutching the wrist of his other hand.

After entering this sea of clouds, the 'black mole' on his wrist actually trembled!

This black mole was formed from the turtle shell he obtained in that mausoleum. Ever since it had been imprinted on him, Qin Sang had made various attempts to remove it, but to no avail. No matter what he tried, the black mole remained unresponsive.

Fortunately, for all this time, the black mole had not caused him any adverse effects.

Why was it suddenly reacting now, in this place?

Qin Sang was filled with doubt. The mausoleum was located in the Arctic ice plain, while the Black Tortoise Saint Palace was in the Lotus Crossing Great Marsh, vast distances apart. Could there be some connection between these two places...?

No, that's not it!

Qin Sang realized that the black mole's reaction must be caused by the sea of clouds before him. And Moyan suspected this cloud sea hadn't originally existed, but was the work of that senior!

He recalled the legends from the northern lands about that mausoleum being a demon saint's tomb.

Could the owner of the mausoleum and the senior who once intruded here actually be the same individual?

Qin Sang quietly activated his spiritual sense, attempting to probe inside the black mole, but as usual, he was blocked, and it remained unresponsive.

This was rather peculiar. The black mole was clearly linked to this sea of clouds, yet he had no way of understanding how to interact with it.

Qin Sang gently stroked the black mole, feeling as if the turtle shell within was trembling, subtly echoing the sea of clouds.

Was something still missing?

Puzzled, Qin Sang suppressed his doubts. Hearing Moyan's inquiry, he simply assented and followed Moyan into the cloud sea to search for star spirits.

As he sped through the clouds, the black mole continued to tremble, but nothing more happened.

Qin Sang recalled that the Great Saint Ghost Hiding had once specifically dispatched the Crying God Guards to search for this very turtle shell, indicating its importance to a demon saint. Perhaps this was the key to unlocking the turtle shell's secret, potentially holding a great fortune!

Of course, before any of that, the immediate opportunity was to capture the star spirits within the clouds.

"Found one, ahead!"

Moyan pointed forward.

Within a mass of white clouds, a small figure flickered in and out of view. This star spirit, like an elf of the clouds, leaped and tumbled, reminiscent of a happily playing child.

The star spirit's form was not large; it possessed features and limbs akin to a human, truly resembling a young child.

"Zii-la!"

The cloud vapor collided, sparking a flash of lightning.

The star spirit showed no fear; instead, it bounced and leaped, chasing the lightning. Its body was incredibly nimble, moving as swiftly as the wind.

While the star spirit appeared to be playing freely, uninhibited and joyful, Qin Sang knew that star spirits were not true sentient beings. They lacked emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness; such perceptions were merely the wishful thinking of onlookers.

The Black Tortoise Saint Palace created them, endowing them only with instincts akin to living beings, but not with intelligence or self-awareness.

They were tools, artificially created treasures used for artifact refinement, cultivation, or other purposes, distinguished only by their unique appearance.

However, they possessed an instinct for self-preservation, fleeing when sensing danger. Capturing them here was not as easy as it had been in the Spirit Pond.

"Capturing a star spirit requires a single, precise strike, otherwise it will flee into the depths of the cloud sea. Unlike us, they are completely at home here, moving far faster than outside. Once they sense danger, they can vanish from our sight in an instant," Moyan recalled his previous experience and quickly warned Qin Sang.

Qin Sang asked curiously, "So, even from here, we still can't enter the depths of this sea of clouds?"

"Probably not. Whether from outside or inside, the sea of clouds feels exactly the same to me," Moyan replied. "After this is done, I will enter the Guixu. If you have time, Fellow Daoist, you are welcome to stay and try. However, I advise against lingering here for too long. The Guixu's assimilation is subtle. Should you encounter trouble and fail to withdraw in time, sinking into it, I would be powerless to help."

"Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist, I understand the risks!"

Qin Sang gave a slight bow, his gaze following the star spirit. After a moment's thought, he flicked his fingers.

As the Envoy of the Five Thunders Court and possessing the Azure Luan bloodline, he dared not call himself the Lord of Ten Thousand Thunders, yet controlling the thunder within the clouds was effortless for him. The lightning arcing between the cloud masses was instantly brought under Qin Sang's control, its power silently transformed.

That power remained hidden, and the lightning retained its original appearance. The star spirit continued to chase the lightning, oblivious to the fact that the surrounding bolts were converging on it.

In a flash, thunder roared and lightning flashed, as dozens of bolts erupted simultaneously, weaving into a lightning net. The star spirit was startled and, just as Moyan had described, it vanished from its spot with exceptional swiftness. Yet, the very next moment, it reappeared directly in front of the lightning net.

"CRACK!"

The thunderbolt struck the star spirit with brutal force, sending it flying backward. Then, the lightning net abruptly tightened, firmly trapping the star spirit and drawing it back before Qin Sang.

Qin Sang cast a sealing incantation, and a star spirit was successfully captured!

Seeing Qin Sang's ease, Moyan nodded. "Let's split up to find star spirits; it'll be faster that way."

"Be cautious of the Plague Lord and his companions," Qin Sang warned.

"If we encounter them, use that token to communicate..." Moyan said, then leaped into the sea of clouds.

Qin Sang turned and flew in another direction. Moyan had claimed there were quite a few star spirits here, but the sea of clouds was exceptionally vast. Furthermore, they could only capture the spirits playing on the outer periphery, making them harder to find than anticipated.

Even with the Celestial Eye Butterfly's assistance, Qin Sang had to fly a considerable distance before locating the second one.

Some unknown time after Qin Sang and Moyan departed, the Plague Lord and the three other demons successively emerged from the well opening.

"Where did they go?"

Gu Auntie scanned the surroundings; there was no one in sight. Their opponents' escape speed had been astonishingly fast; they had been left behind.

She turned to the Plague Lord and asked, "What is this place? Is it that secret realm?"

The scene before them was utterly different from what they had previously witnessed in the secret realm, making Gu Auntie doubt if it was the same place.

"Big Sister, and both of you Fellow Daoists, please protect me," the Plague Lord said, clutching the crystal turtle shell in his hand and closing his eyes.

The crystal turtle shell flickered faintly, emitting spiritual light in regular pulsations.

"Hmm?"

Qin Sang, currently pursuing a star spirit, noticed a new unusual movement from the black mole on his wrist; its trembling speed had suddenly accelerated.

He raised his wrist to eye level and examined it closely, as if he could perceive the shadow of the turtle shell within the black mole.

What was causing this reaction now?

Qin Sang initially thought something had happened within the sea of clouds, but he soon realized that whatever was activating the turtle shell seemed to be coming from outside the clouds, not within.

Just as he concentrated his spiritual sense, the black mole reverted to its former state.

"Peculiar!" Qin Sang murmured, a puzzled expression on his face.

"This is it!"

A moment later, the Plague Lord opened his eyes, his tone resolute.

Gu Auntie trusted her junior brother's judgment. She scanned the surroundings and asked, surprised, "Is this the deepest part of the secret realm?"

"We'll know once we get there!"

The Plague Lord raised his hand and pointed in a direction, precisely where the crystal turtle shell was indicating.

When they first entered the secret realm, the crystal turtle shell had guided them to a sea of clouds. However, the realm was filled with countless ancient prohibitions and lurking dangers. They faced peril after peril, with Gu Auntie almost perishing. Ultimately, despite exhausting all their methods, they could not reach the sea of clouds, left only to sigh in frustration.

Later, they discovered traces left by the Three Flying Immortals, who had actually gone further than them. Realizing the turbulent undercurrents in the Lotus Crossing Great Marsh, they resolved to quickly decipher the secret realm's mysteries and leave this perilous region. That's why they allied with the three elders to set up this scheme.

Now, a similar force was attracting the crystal turtle shell. If this, too, led to a sea of clouds, it would confirm they were in the same secret realm!

He shifted his gaze and saw Qiu Zang Gong and Cha Yun Jun intently staring at the water's surface.

"Something's strange here!"

Qiu Zang Gong said in a deep voice.

By now, the Plague Lord and Gu Auntie also felt it: the eerie tranquility. The water surface was as smooth as a mirror, its calmness unsettling.

Moreover, that tranquility was subtly eroding their wills!

"I recall a legend..." Cha Yun Jun began.

"The Guixu!"

Gu Auntie slowly uttered the two words.

Though the siblings lacked powerful backgrounds, they had cultivated for many years and had heard various secrets and legends, including those concerning the Guixu and the Black Tortoise Saint Clan.

First discovering the Black Tortoise Saint Palace, and now arriving here from it, it wasn't difficult to associate this place with the Guixu.

"The Guixu... apart from the Black Tortoise Saint Clan, who view it as a pure land and home, unafraid of its assimilation, for all other beings, it's one of the most perilous places in the world, best avoided. Could there truly be any fortune here?" Qiu Zang Gong asked, a doubtful look on his face.

"The fortune I speak of isn't *here*, but in the place this is guiding us to," the Plague Lord said, stroking the turtle shell in his hand.

In truth, he himself wasn't entirely certain.

Most of the treasures previously retrieved from the secret realm were connected to ancient demon cultivators, such as the broken bowl used for fishing. While these items might seem like mere trifles to contemporary demon cultivators, their supreme quality was evident, which filled him with anticipation for the sea of clouds.

He had never imagined that the secret realm contained another distinct world, one linked to the legendary Guixu.

Who exactly opened the Guixu, and where are they now?

Without further delay, the four demons immediately set off.

Some time after they departed, three figures quietly emerged from the well opening.